Tabula Rasa (Unlike Loki: Book Two)

Chapter 74

(Loki)

I should be in her position. 

I should be the one confronting Thanos. 

I was supposed to protect her. 

So why did it seem like it was her protecting me, over and over again?

She walked towards him, not a single sign of hesitation in her step. 

Stop, Anna. You don't know what you're doing. You have no idea who you are dealing with. 

I do. 

I wanted to yell her name, tell her what to do, but the words wouldn't come. 

I'd like to say that all I could think about was her, but that would be a lie. 

I couldn't stop thinking about the look on Talia's face as she was taken away. The look of defeat and betrayal at Thanos. And then how her face turned to one of self-loathing, as if all of this was her fault. 

She reminded me so much of myself, it was insane. 

Had I not reacted the same way to my own father? To Odin, when I found out a truth I didn't want to hear. 

And then, just before it was too late, Anna saved me. She took me by the back of the shirt and reeled me back in just before I fell over the edge. 

And had she had the chance, she could have easily done the same for Talia. 

And then there was By. 

That stupid son of a bitch. He had given into a deal with Amora, a deal that played a part in dooming us all. She had been working for Thanos this entire time. And now she was free from her magical bonds. 

What kind of deal was so good, that By felt the need to sign his name on the dotted line of the contract?

And then there were the Frost Giants. Thanos was right. Those idiots would listen to any authroitative leader, as long as their previous one had been overthrown. And now Thanos had them in their grasps. They were strong and hard to kill. Brutal and unforgiving. 

And Helblindi was dead. 

My brother. 

A brother I was going to eventually make amends with. He was still a somewhat new King, and he had to get out of his father's shoes. He hadn't had time to do that before he had been murdered. 

What a mess my life continued to be. 

I looked at Anna, her back to me. 

She stood so tall, so strong. 

She wasn't afraid of a damned thing. 

I imagined the fight she had had with those who tracked her down when she was younger, after her parents had been killed and her brothers turned into HYDRA weapons. And this was the moment I saw how much she had grown. 

Because I didn't need to imagine the fight she had had on Midgard, because I had seen a videotape of it. She had been wild, uncontrollable, angry and full of rage. She went full blast, not caring who was in the war zone. She killed anyone who dared approach her. She was afraid and desperate. 

But that wasn't the girl who stood before me. No, the WOMAN who stood in front of the most feared being in the galaxy, was not afraid. She was in control. In control of her mind, her powers, her anger. She had lashed out, only to find her path blocked. She did not grow angry, but stepped back and reevaluated the situation. 

She had a single goal in mind here today, and that was to get our son back. 

The woman who stood tall and proud was not a scared girl from Midgard, but a Queen. 

"He's behind you." Thanos says in a strong voice. Had Anna been talking? I couldn't hear her over the sound of my thoughts. 

The harsh sound of metal sounded and I turned my attention to the small group of armoured soldiers shifting and returning back to their positions as they let someone through them. I couldn't quite see the figure, only that he was tall and seemed to glide as he walked. 

He stepped out of the soldiers and walked up to Anna, a smirk on his pale face. I could only get his side profile, so I couldn't see the rest of his features. His hair was dark and long, pulled back. He wore dark, thick clothing and his hands stayed behind his back. 

Anna took the man in, the age difference couldn't be much between them. Her eyes were wide and her face was slack. 

She took a small step back, not taking her eyes off of the man. 

She put a shaking hand to her mouth. 

Something was wrong. 

I struggled against my bonds, grunting in frustration at my lack of freedom. 

The man suddenly turned his attention to me. 

And I froze. 

I couldn't move a muscle. 

Even from this distance, it was like looking in a mirror. 

"Leolin." I whispered, barely a breath. 

He smiled horribly at me; so horribly, I hardly recognized him. 

And then, as fast as lightning, he whipped out a knife and charged towards Anna.