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For some reason, people really liked to throw things at Loki.

The moment we stepped inside Clint's house, a dart came whirring past my face, planting itself in the wooden doorframe less than an inch from Loki's head. Laura stormed over next, cocking back her hand and delivering a clean slap across Loki's face. I let that slide. He deserved it for what he'd done to Clint.

But I placed a hand on Steve's chest, holding him back when he began to approach Loki.

"I know you hate him," I said lowly to Steve, "Believe me, I do too. But he's willing to help, and we need all the help we can get."

I looked around at all of them. "He won't try anything, otherwise his father is really going to give him hell." I looked back to Loki, "How does imprisonment on the Dark World sound?"

"Not favourable," he answered with a small smirk.

I looked back to Steve. "Please. I'm not asking you to trust him, to be nice to him, to like him. I'm just asking you not to kill him. Let him help."

Steve looked down at my hand, which I then realized was still planted firmly against his chest. I sheepishly lowered it, my face colouring. Steve smiled a little, then looked up at Loki.

"Try anything—"

"Let me guess," Loki said, stepping forward with his arms folded, "You'll kill me?"

"I'm not in the business of killing people," Steve said.

"But I am," Nick cut in from the other end of the room, looking down his nose at Loki, "If you put so much as one toe out of line—Let's just say that I'm not above killing sons of bitches that deserve it."

"Watch it, boss, Steve doesn't like that kinda talk," Nat said from where she was seated at the table.

"You know what Romanoff—" Steve rolled his eyes, turning and lifting a finger.

"Yes, let's all keep it PG for Steve, it's impolite to swear in front of your elders," I jested, before turning to Nick, "What did I miss?"

"Well, a hell of a lot of fighting thanks to your brilliant idea of employing the last global catastrophe to help fend off this one," Nick answered, "Otherwise," he nodded his head toward Bruce, "Banner might be onto something."

"I think Ultron's next move is going to be in Seoul," Bruce explained to me, "There's a geneticist there called Helen Cho, who's leading the U-GIN research group. I think Ultron is... Evolving."

"What does that mean?"

"That vibranium he got from Klaue?" Nat said to me with a raise brow, "We think he's using it to build himself a new body. With the help of Cho's technology."

I gnawed at my lip. "Well, that's not what you want."

"And my scepter," Loki said, stepping forward, "Where exactly might that be?"

"First of all, no," Tony said, glaring pointedly at him, "We are not going to be letting you anywhere near that thing. Second, your scepter is currently in Ultron's possession."

"Is he going to use it to build his new body?" I asked.

"He's going to try," Tony answered me.

"So, when do we leave?" I looked between their faces.

"First thing tomorrow morning," said Steve.

"If you're all sleeping here, you're going to have to double up," Laura said, before glaring at Loki, "And he sleeps in the barn."

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Laura handed me a bundle of blankets and a pillow. I took them in my arms and offered her a meek smile.

"No hard feelings, right? I really didn't want to invite him into your home I just... I'm scared. I really don't know if we can handle this and I just want to be as prepared as possible to fight Ultron."

"Of course, I understand. No hard feelings at all," Laura answered, rubbing my arm comfortingly, "Doesn't mean I'm gonna like it though," she smiled, and so did I.

With that, I turned on my heel, making for Loki's five star quarters outside. I entered onto the front porch, and jumped when I saw a figure leaned against the banister.

"Steve?" I asked cautiously, setting the blankets down on a chair.

"Oh, Alivia," he turned to me and offered a small smile.

"What's on your mind?" I asked, coming to stand beside him and resting my arms on the banister.

"A lot, apparently," he answered vaguely, not meeting my eye.

"Listen, Nat told me about James—"

"Bucky," Steve interrupted, before looking at me sheepishly. "Sorry. Just, his name was, uh—Bucky."

"Bucky," I corrected myself. "How are you... How are you doing with that?"

"I guess as great as you'd expect," he shrugged, "He was my best friend. I thought he'd died that day, but he—all this time, he's been alive. He's been tortured. He's been used as a... As a weapon."

I placed a hand over his. "Steve," I said comfortingly, and he looked down at me. "I'm sorry. Really."

"He didn't even recognize me," Steve went on, "But then he saved my life. And then vanished. I haven't seen him since. Thought I was doing okay with it, then that Maximoff girl..."

I wrapped an arm around his shoulders, pulling him close for a hug. Slowly, I felt his hands against me as he hugged back.

After a few minutes, I pulled away.

"I've gotta take those to the barn," I said, nodding at the blankets, "And Steve," I said, as I collected my things and stepped off the porch, "I'm always here, if you need to talk."

He smiled again. A genuine one this time. "I'll keep that in mind."

I turned, headed for the barn at the edge of the property. It was mostly dark, except for the flickering light of an oil lamp in the loft.

I ducked inside, pulling myself up the ladder until I'd reached the loft. And he was there, leaned against the wall, and eyes glued on the window. From up here, I realized he'd had a clear view of the porch.

I didn't mention it, depositing the blankets on the cot that Laura had set up for him.

"Surprisingly, staying at a common Midgardian residence manages to be worse than an Asgardian prison," Loki said, as I made the bed.

"Just because you're helping us doesn't mean that all your actions have been forgiven Loki," I answered without turning, "I haven't even forgiven you. How can you expect them to?"

"Something I find rather amusing," he said as I stood, shocking me by appearing directly behind me, "Is that despite everything I've done to you, I think that our last conversation is the thing that angers you most. The thing you can't bring yourself to forgive."

"I was alone before Loki," I said, trying to take a step back and distance myself, but instead tripping and falling on my ass on the cot, "You were all I had in Asgard. That's not the case anymore. I've moved on. I don't forgive you for it, but I'm done wasting time crying over it."

His brows lifted a fraction. "You cried?"

"That was meant metaphorically," I rolled my eyes, about to stand up and leave. I was forced down by his face coming within an inch of mine, his hand sprawled out in the space between my thighs. I was suddenly painfully aware of the very thin piece of fabric beneath my dress that separated his hand from...

"I can see plainly that you've tried to distract yourself with other escapades," Loki said lowly in my ear, "Is he your latest?"

Loki didn't have to say his name, but I knew he meant Steve. So, he had seen us out on the porch.

"What does that matter to you?" I looked up at him, a challenge in my voice, and a dare in my eyes. "I'm free to do whatever I want with whoever I want. I don't belong to anyone."

He released his breath in a low chuckle, shaking his head. "I've always loved that defiance of yours, pet. But I'm afraid you're wrong."

He leaned in. His lips brushed up against mine. Heat curled low in my stomach. But I drew back. He looked down at me, pointedly.

"Except that I'm not," I said, glaring at him, "I could have been yours, Loki. I offered you that. But just like your freedom, you refused it. You more than refused it, you ridiculed me for thinking you might want it." I stood up, brushing past him and making for the ladder.

I looked up at him once last time before I lowered myself down. "You've lost your chance. You won't have me now, Loki."

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