are you broken? so am i. (Strangefrost story)

III

Ever since the apologies, Strange and Loki successfully ignored each other, not even staying in the same room for more than five minutes. It had been around two months, Strange was heading into Stark's lab, needing a quiet place to relax, this was the only room in the compound no one visited. Entering the room, he noticed he wasn't the only one with the same idea. As he saw who the person was, anger immediately started boiling in his veins: "I can't believe it. What are you doing here, you bastard?"

Loki stood next to Dum-E, running his hand over Stark's creation. He slowly turned as he heard Strange's voice behind him, trying his best to hide his puffy eyes. When the god said nothing, Strange continued, not really thinking about his words: "It wasn't enough for you that almost killed him? Did you come to destroy the very last what remained after his death?" Loki didn't understand why was Strange shouting at him, insulted by sorcerer's question. How could he think such a thing about him? "Don't you think that I'd do it months ago if it was my intention? And stop acting like I'm the one who killed him. I don't know who gave Thanos the time stone."

Strange looked Loki in the eyes, his mouth slightly from a sudden realisation. Was it a tear? For a second he thought that he might be hard on Loki but god's words hit him hard and anger soon overshadowed all other feelings and thoughts, ready to return the pain. "As much as I know I wasn't the only one who let Thanos get one of the stones, was I?" "I did it to save my brother's life!!" Loki half-shouted, stepping closer to the sorcerer, ready to actually fight if needed, hand clenched into fists.

"His or your own, huh?" "How could such a heartless pathetic mortal as you possibly know?" They were inching closer and closer, anger boiling inside of both of them. "What are you even doing here? With Avengers. Don't tell me you wanna become a good guy or even a hero?" "That's none of your business." Loki hissed. They were staring into each other's eyes, by the time the tension was so thick one could cut with a knife.

Strange wasn't satisfied with the answer tho. "It is since I'm the one protecting this reality. If you're so innocent why have you been shielding your mind since you arrived? Is Mr I-changed-now-I-am-the-good-one hiding something?" Loki's jaw clenched, Strange's sarcasm getting him on the edge. He did change, he was sure about it and he wanted to prove it to his brother, to the team, to the world. He wanted them to forgive him so he could finally forgive himself and become a man his mother saw within him.

"So this is it?" "This is what?" "That's the reason you're treating me like the biggest criminal alive? Witchdoctor is pissed because he can't read my mind. Wow." Loki suddenly smirked. "That was unexpected." "You still didn't answer my question." Strange's expression was still serious. "I didn't and I won't. As I said, it's none of your business." Loki couldn't take it anymore and left the lab. He had a reason he was hiding his thoughts and emotions but not one that douchebag thought. After all those months Loki was really frustrated with Strange and exhausted, so was Strange with Loki.

Loki went to his room, lying on the bed, letting a cry of despair slip out of his throat. Maybe it would be best to move to New Asgard again. He didn't see any way how to get well with Strange or even take his presence any longer. There still was Valkyrie but to be honest, she was a far better option than what he had now. At least he didn't feel like she wanted to rip out his guts every time they were in the room together. But could he give up so easily and let Strange win? Never.