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Chapter Text

There were no signs of anything unnormal happening this morning that could make this day so different from every previous one. This is supposed to be a normal day like every other day.

Last night, whole Team was celebrating Bucky’s and Steve’s new relationship until dawn. Both were keeping their feelings to each other for ages. Until last night, when they finally decided to announce shocking news to their closest friends. Tony thought it is a grate opportunity to throw a massive party.

Wanda and Natasha were sitting at the kitchen island, drinking freshly made coffee. Nat was trying to get rid of a severe hangover, the young one, however, was keeping her company and updating her with every possible gossip that she read about this morning. Steve on the other hand was struggling with breakfast for James, who decided to take a shower, after waking up in the pool of alcohol, among the sleeping crewmates.

“Dam it!” Steve groaned “this stupid blender is not working again”

Natasha turned her head and looked at the blonde, who was struggling with starting the blender.

“Have you checked if it’s plugged?” Nat asked sleepily.

“Yes! And I swear to God I’ll blend Stark in it as soon as he wakes up and doesn’t fix it!” Steve shouted, banging on the lid.

The redhead shrugged, turned and lay on the countertop. On top of the kitchen island Tony was still sleeping surrounded by many empty cans.

Suddenly a pale merciless bright wave of white light spreaded across the living room, and a moment later, there was a knock on the terrace door. All three immediately turned that way. On the balcony where Quin-jet usually landed stand tall, inpatient men, dressed in suit like the one that Thor sometimes wore.

“Who is this?” Wanda asked.

“What the fuck is he doing here?!” Natasha asked.

“Isn’t he ashamed to coming here?” Steve asked.

While still holding a spatula for flipping pancakes, Cap walked to the glass door. When he opened them cold, morning wind entered the room along with tall man.

“Where’s Thor?” He asked hard

“What happened to good morning these days” Nat mutter under her breath, putting her head back on the countertop. Sleepiness was really hitting her and Steve, who gave up his fight with a blender and sat down at kitchen island with Wanda and Nat “Your brother? I guess he’s somewhere here. Find him if you want”

Loki grimaced with disgust, looking around the living room. He have seen many Asgardian balls, so he got used to seeing this type of things, but either way he still was disgusted. Wanda quietly watched conversation between half conscious friends and disgusted guest.

“Coffee?”

“Excuse me?” Loki turned and with confusion raised his eyebrow

“Do you want a cup of coffee?” Steve repeat, he gave God a tired look.

“I don’t drink coffee”

“So, what does a grate God of Mischief drink, Loki?” Nat giggled

“Not coffee, don’t you have any wine?” he asked

“As you can see my dear, we don’t. Everything was drank last night” The redhead answered

“Do you have any water perhaps?”

“Yes, we do have water” Steve answered with a smile on his mouth

Steve stood up and filled a glass halfway with water. When Loki sat next to Wanda, Steve pushed the glass towards him and sat down again.

“Why are you sitting here anyway? Shouldn’t you be on your way back to Asgard? You don’t even like us…” Nat asked, raising her head and straightening herself up.

“I’m tired of Odin. I’ve rather spend a while with you than with him” He sighed deeply. After a moment a streak of green light surrounded him, and the gold-green outfit changed to a black suit.

“So, mighty Loki is now doing as a squire?” the redheaded laughed

“Very funny” he responded hard, scolding the woman with his green eyes

“Don’t be so angry” She snorted

“Anger harms beauty” Wanda added after a moment, giggling over her cup of coffee

“I don’t think we’ve met before” Loki replied, glaring at the girl

“Wanda Maximoff, and you are…” she asked, extending a hand in greeting

“Loki Laufeyson” A gallant smile flashed on his face. The brunette grabbed her delicate hand and placed a short kiss on it’s back. A slight blush appeared on the girl’s face.

Natasha and Steve quietly watched a scene happening on the other side of the kitchen island with shock.

In the distance there was the sound of a door closing. Before Loki could raise his head, and look away from the young woman, a bullet pierced his forearm, ripping open his suit. Everyone’s look turned toward a place form where bullet was measured. In one of the door frames they saw James, standing with his gun pointed directly at the God’s face.

“What the fuck is he doing here?” Asked Bucky, still pointing in Loki’s direction

“James!” three of them screamed

“I’ll ask again. What the fuck is he doing here?”

“I offered him a cup of coffee” Steve answered

“Have you lost your mind? Are you even conscious? Do you even thought who are you inviting for a cup of coffee?” James waved his hands up and headed to the kitchen “And you? Why are you still here? Get lost

“I’ve came here to get Thor” He hissed still tightly holding his bleeding forearm.

“So, take your Barbie and get the fuck out of here” James replied sharply, handing him legs of his not fully sober brother.

“Hey! Why are you asking our guest to leave?” Natasha was outraged “ He was really nice, not like you…”

“Not going to lie, it’s nicer here than in a cell” Loki shrugged

The atmosphere in the kitchen was getting thicker by the minute. Pissed James, still pointing at Loki, barely conscious Nat and Steve and shocked Wanda and Loki. James sighed deeply and put down his gun.

“Mabey you’d like to stay with us for a little longer?” Steve asked quickly

His boyfriend and Wanda gave him a dumbfounded look.

“I think you’ve had enough. Let’s go” James helped Steve withstanding up, but Cap refused his help and got up on his own. Then both headed to their room “And You” he pointed at Loki “Don’t move until I come back”

As soon as the two men disappeared behind the door of their room, Wanda grabbed the black-haired God by his heathy wrist. By using her powers, she took a few bandages and similar supplies from one of the kitchen cabins and pulled Loki. They stopped at the end of the corridor where her room was. She closed the door after him.

Her room was little. Smallest of all in Stark Tower. Most of the space was taken by a big, built-up mattress, what she considered a comfortable bed. Next to the entrance was a big wardrobe with sild doors and mirrors on them. There was a chest of drawers full of different accessories on the perpendicular wall. At the wall to which the back of the bed was attached, on both sides of it were two small nightstands. On the same wall there was also a door to the bathroom. The floor and bed were full of different clothes and weird stuff.

“Sit here” She said, pointing at the piece of free space on her bed “Now fold your sleave, and hold on because it will be burning as hell”

Loki politely did what the woman asked for. He calmly looked at her while she kneeled before him and with concentration on her face, cleaned his wound with spiritus. He didn’t felt any burning that she mention, only a little tickling. He looked at her attentively. She had a long, copper colour hair, green eyes, straight nose covered by little freckles, fair skin and subtle facial features. He felt her delicate hands sometimes touching his cold skin. The warmness of her hands lingers on his arm for a long time.

“Ready” She smiled, leaving his arm. She pushed a strand of hair away from her face behind her ear and, getting up from her knees, dusted of her flared skirt and knee-high socks.

“I should go now” Loki stood up and headed towards the doors.

“hey” The redhead extended her hand to stop him, but she quickly took it back to say, „Don’t you want to stay here for a while?” She asked, as he back to her, she looked at him with innocent look “At least until Thot will get fully sober…”

“You want me to stay here?” The same gallant smile started to appear on his face again

“You know, we could go on a walk or something. You could tell me about where you are from. Thor always said that the Asgard is the most beautiful place he ever seen.”
God’s smile has diminished a bit. Deep inside his soul he thought she wanted to stay in her bedroom for obvious reasons. However, the girl’s intention seemed rather trivial and childish to him. He didn’t even know how old she was. Mabey her intentions were adequate to her age?

“Alright, I’ll tell you” He nodded, driving away strange thoughts.

Chapter Text

Wanda didn’t hide the fact that Thor’s mysterious brother intrigued her. He made her want to know everything about him. He was tall, handsome, and enigmatic—qualities that, for some reason, drew her in.

For company and a sense of security, she persuaded Natasha, Steve, and James to join her for a walk. At first, none of them were eager to go—thanks to their raging hangovers—but after several minutes of Wanda’s persistent pleading, they finally gave in. A bit of fresh air wouldn’t hurt anyone.

“Isn’t it a little too cold for a walk?” Steve groaned, adjusting his beige beanie.

“It’s the middle of February. What did you expect?” Nat retorted, shooting him a pointed look. She shoved her hands into her jacket pockets and followed Wanda and Loki, who were leading the way.

The weather that day was surprisingly nice. The sun was shining, and though the streets were still covered in snow, there was no wind, and the temperature hovered around 24.8°F. For midwinter in New York, these were fairly tolerable conditions.

“Look!” Natasha suddenly exclaimed, causing the group to halt and turn toward her. “They’re opening a new butterfly house and aquarium at the Central Park Zoo. Wanna check it out?”

Bucky shot her a skeptical look.

“Natasha… It’s the middle of winter, and you want to go to the zoo?” he asked, his steel-gray eyes fixed on her. “How old are you again?”

“Thirty-one, but that doesn’t change the fact—”

“I think it’s a great idea,” Wanda interrupted.

“Quit whining, Bucky. We’re going,” Steve said, grabbing his friend by the arm and dragging him forward.

It took them only twenty minutes to walk from Midtown Manhattan to the world-famous zoo. Along the way, they passed several interesting (and less interesting) sights, which Wanda eagerly pointed out to Loki.

Rather than ignoring her, as one might expect from him, Loki listened attentively, his gaze shifting between her and whatever she was pointing at.

“Good afternoon! What can I get for you?” the cashier asked as Natasha stepped up to the ticket window.

“We’ll take two senior tickets and three regular ones,” she replied with a smile.

“That’ll be ninety-three dollars and seventy-five cents.”

Moments later, they each had their tickets in hand. None of them encountered any trouble at the entrance—except for Loki. The unfamiliar technology nearly sent the god into a fit of rage. No matter how many times he tried to scan his ticket, the machine refused to cooperate.

Bucky and Natasha had no qualms about snickering at his struggle.

Wanda rolled her eyes and sighed, clearly exasperated by her friends’ behavior. She stepped forward and approached the frustrated trickster.

“Here, let me help you.”

She took his paper ticket and ran it through the scanner, which immediately lit up green and unlocked the gate. Loki took back his ticket, crumpled it up, and tossed it into the nearest trash bin.

Wanda gave him an amused look and let out a short laugh.

“Anger doesn’t suit you,” she teased.

They rejoined the rest of the group.

“So, where to first?” Steve asked.

“The aquarium,” Bucky answered without hesitation.

“Oh, come on…” Wanda groaned. “Let’s go to the butterfly house first.”

“Then go on your own. You’re a grown-up,” James shrugged, popping another piece of gum into his mouth and heading in the opposite direction.

Natasha and Steve also shrugged and followed him.

Wanda spun on her heel and crossed her arms over her chest, her frustration evident. Loki watched the others disappear through the aquarium’s glass doors before shifting his gaze back to her.

This time, her face was set in an irritated scowl.

“Sometimes, I swear I could tear them apart, split them in half, crush them under a massive column, or just blow their loud mouths right off,” she muttered, irony and amusement lacing her voice.

Slowly, they made their way to the nearby butterfly house. Inside, the air was thick and humid, but the breathtaking scenery made up for it. Strange plants covered the walls and ceiling, while colorful butterflies fluttered all around them. There were also benches scattered throughout the exhibit and a glass incubator displaying cocoons in various stages of development.

Wanda sat down on one of the benches, and Loki took a seat beside her.

“Tell me something about yourself,” she said. “Why, despite supposedly not liking us, do you choose to stay here instead of going back?”

“You seriously care who I am?” Loki asked, his sharp green eyes narrowing in surprise.

“Does that surprise you? You show up out of nowhere, claim to be the brother of my friend—who, mind you, has never mentioned you before—and on top of that, it seems like everyone here has some kind of history with you… Don’t you think that’s intriguing?” she explained.

“Well, if you insist…” he sighed.

“Oh no, I’m not insisting. If you don’t want to talk, you don’t have to. You don’t even know me,” she said, lowering her head slightly as her auburn waves fell over her face. “I know what it’s like… to fear your own past, to be afraid of thinking about it—let alone talking about it with others. Even with the ones you trust the most.”

The tense silence was suddenly interrupted by a tiny blue butterfly landing right on Loki’s nose.

Wanda quickly pulled a small camera from her bag and snapped a picture of the unexpectedly adorable moment.

“Some believe that sommerfugl is a harbinger of change—a symbol of love and beauty,” Loki mused, gently removing the insect from his nose.

“And where do people believe in fairy tales like that?” Wanda chuckled.

“In the fairy tale I come from,” he replied. A faint, almost imperceptible smile flickered across his lips as he conjured a copy of Norse Mythology and handed it to her.

From that moment on, Loki became even more of an enigma in Wanda’s eyes. There was something dark and deeply hidden within him—something she was determined to uncover. She had always loved solving puzzles, and Loki Laufeyson was the most intriguing one she had ever encountered.

She had to know what lay beneath the surface.

⸻

“You know…” Wanda began, suddenly sounding a little nervous. “I think we should probably get going.”

“Why? It’s nice here,” Loki replied, still gazing at the colorful fish swimming behind the glass.

“Because in two minutes, they’re going to close this stupid zoo—with us still inside!” she nearly shouted.

“Why didn’t you say something sooner?” he asked, equally startled.

“Because I forgot!”

“Alright, no time for explanations now,” he said, grabbing her wrist. “We need to hurry.”

He pulled her along as they sprinted toward the main gate. From a distance, they could see its heavy iron doors slowly closing. On the other side, James, Steve, and Natasha were waiting.

At the very last second, they managed to slip through. They nearly crashed into each other in the process, stopping just inches apart.

“You guys made it just in time,” Natasha remarked. “What were you even doing in there for so long?”

“I bet a hundred bucks it was fondue,” James smirked, exchanging a high five with Steve, who was doubled over with laughter.

“You guys are insufferable… What are you even talking about?” Wanda huffed.

“Never mind,” Steve said, straightening up, still trying to stifle his laughter. “I’ll explain someday. For now, let’s keep the night going—there should be a traveling amusement park nearby.”

Without another word, they all followed Steve.

By evening, the temperature had dropped slightly, and light snowflakes began to drift down from the sky.

Through the trees, colorful lights and towering rides started to come into view. A massive Ferris wheel loomed over the other attractions, likely offering one of the most breathtaking views of New York City at night.

“Loki and I are going on the Ferris wheel,” Wanda announced, pointing at the structure.

“We are?” Loki arched a brow.

“You? Up there? With your fear of heights? Not likely,” Steve teased.

“You don’t think I can do it?” she challenged.

“I do. I just prefer to watch from the ground,” he replied. “Who knows if that rickety thing won’t come crashing down?”

Flipping her auburn hair over her shoulder, Wanda grabbed Loki’s coat sleeve and tugged him toward the ride.

“You know,” she said as they stepped into the gondola, “sometimes I feel like—”

“Tearing them apart, splitting them in half, crushing them under a massive column, or blowing their loud mouths right off? Yes, I remember,” Loki chuckled, repeating her earlier words.

Leaning against the railing, they both gazed at the breathtaking cityscape below.

“It looks magical,” Wanda sighed.

“It does,” Loki admitted. “You’d love Asgard. It’s a city of wonders—like something out of a fairy tale. Though, to me, it’s simply… beautiful.”

“To me, everything feels like a fairy tale compared to my hometown.”

Chapter Text

The morning sun’s rays, just like every other day, woke Wanda from her sleep.

She sat up in bed and stretched, a faint blush on her cheeks. The braid she had made before falling asleep had come slightly undone. Smiling, she threw off the covers and headed toward the bathroom, selecting her clothes from the closet along the way.

After undoing her braid, her auburn hair cascaded in soft, delicate waves. She applied a light touch of makeup—just a bit of blush, mascara, and lip gloss—then slipped into a cozy tracksuit in a style reminiscent of the early 2000s. Once ready, she stepped out of the bathroom and walked into the living room, where everyone was already awake and alert.

Which meant that everything could go back to normal. That Thor’s mysterious brother would leave and never return.

Though charming in his own way, nobody really liked him when sober. In fact, most of them wanted to kill him for what he had done in the past.

Wanda couldn’t form an opinion on the matter. She didn’t know him the way they did. She didn’t know what he had done or what he used to be like. She only saw him as he was now—cold, serious, eloquent, charming, handsome, intelligent, sarcastic… yet, above all, someone deeply scarred by life.

Steve and Bucky were curled up on the couch together, as they almost always were. Natasha and Pepper were preparing breakfast for Tony and Sam, who sat at the kitchen island. Meanwhile, in the corner of the living room, Thor was locked in a heated argument with his brother in a language Wanda didn’t understand.

“Coffee’s hot. Want some?” Natasha asked when she spotted Wanda standing in the kitchen doorway.

“No, thanks,” the redhead replied, leaning against the island. After a moment, she frowned. “What language are they arguing in?”

“Probably some Scandinavian dialect,” Natasha guessed.

“I’d bet on something dead,” Tony chimed in.

“Dead like my will to live,” Sam muttered under his breath, his head resting against the counter.

The entire time, Wanda’s gaze remained on Loki.

Part of her wanted him to stay. She wanted to understand him, to uncover the mystery that he was.

But another part wished he would just leave and never return. Before she could want him to stay more. Before she could start thinking about him all the time…

Suddenly, Loki fell silent. He lifted his head high and, with a detached stride, as if his brother’s words no longer interested him, turned and left for the guest room. Everyone watched him go.

“How am I supposed to talk to him when he acts like a child?” Thor sighed. He walked over to the kitchen island and collapsed onto one of the barstools.

Wanda handed him the cup of coffee Natasha had offered her earlier.

“Maybe…” she hesitated. She didn’t want to say it. She wanted to say it. Desperately. “I’ll go check on him.”

“No way! What if he does something to you?” James practically leapt from Steve’s lap, as if burned.

“I just want to see how his hand is doing,” she said pointedly, emphasizing his name. “You know, the one you shot—JAMES.”

Bucky pressed his lips into a thin line and slumped back into place.

Without another word, Wanda pushed off the counter and made her way toward the guest room. She knocked cautiously.

A moment later, the door swung open to reveal Loki, towering over her.

Without waiting for an invitation, she slipped past him and into the room. He turned and shut the door with a sharp thud.

“What do you want?” he asked, his icy stare making her shiver slightly.

“I wanted to check on your hand,” she answered softly.

His gaze instantly softened. He closed the distance between them and rolled up the sleeve of his black shirt.

Wanda carefully unwrapped the bandage from his forearm. To her astonishment, there was no trace of the bullet wound. Not even the faintest scar.

Gently, she touched the spot where the injury had been. Under her fingertips, his skin was cold as ice.

“How is that even possible…” she whispered, disbelief evident in her voice.

“Did I not tell you?” A barely noticeable smirk flickered across his lips. “In my fairy tale, miracles happen.”

“Well, then… I guess there’s no reason for me to stay,” she said, turning toward the door.

She had to leave. She couldn’t get caught up in his games, couldn’t let herself be drawn in. She saw through him—she knew exactly what he was trying to do. And she had to be above it.

Loki only wanted to mess with her head, use her, then leave. They were all like that.

“You know we won’t see each other again,” he said, his voice unexpectedly soft… and sad.

Something inside Wanda wavered.

It didn’t break completely. Just wavered.

She turned to look at him, tilting her head slightly as she took in his displeased expression.

“You say that like you actually want me to stay,” she said, her eyes narrowing slightly. “Why?”

Loki stepped closer, shrinking the space between them to mere inches.

Their shoes nearly touched.

“Because I want to tell you my fairy tale,” he whispered.

Slowly, he lifted his hand and brushed his fingers against her cheek. Wanda shivered from the coldness of his touch.

Their faces inched dangerously closer.

“Loki, we’re leaving!”

The door swung open with a loud bang, and Thor stormed in, shattering the tension in an instant.

Loki pulled his hand away from her cheek and met her deep green eyes.

“Goodbye, Wanda Maximoff.”

⸻

He hadn’t slept all night.

All he could think about were her green eyes, her chestnut hair, the warmth radiating from her, and the faint scent of vanilla cookies that lingered around her.

He didn’t want to forget her.

But he had to.

Because they would never see each other again.

And it didn’t matter.

Rising from the bed, he pulled on a black robe and stepped out onto the massive stone balcony. From there, he could see the entire northern stretch of Asgard. In the distance, the Bifrost shimmered—a rainbow bridge that had brought him to her. And taken him away.

The night was cold and dark.

But silent.

So very silent.

Leaning against the balustrade, he gazed up at the stars.

“Oh, Wanda,” he murmured. “You have no idea how powerful you are.”

He could only hope that, one day, she would hear it.

That she would hear from him just how much she had unsettled his mind with that one fleeting encounter.

Chapter Text

He used to spend his evenings in the same way. Once he had finished all his princely and commissioner duties, he would return to his chambers and with a cup of warm lavender tea in hand, Immerse himself in books. Rarely did he read something he hadn’t read before.

Throughout his life in the shadow of his older brother, he had found solace for his mind in books. By now he had read every book in the Royal Library- ranging from historical texts detailing wars and the lives of their ancestors to short novellas about grand balls and feasts. Among the duties assigned to him as penance for the crimes committed on Midgard, he was serving the All-father as a commissioner in various matters. He was also tasked with collecting reports from the outposts at the edges of the realms and offering counsel during times of unrest and dispute.

Loki was one of the most educated individuals in the kingdom, capable of answering nearly any question in almost any field. He knew a little bit about everything. Thus, despite his crime, Odin recognized the wisdom in seeking the advice of his adopted son. There was no one better suited for the role. Yet Odin never wanted to place Loki at his right hand - let alone on the throne.

“Your highness, with all due respect, you seem quite absent today. May I ask why” Dorian approached the dark-haired man, who had just risen from the ground after failing to notice the elf’s strike for the third time.

“I am fully present” Loki said, raising his chin high. “Merely a bit tired”

“A rough night?”

“Oh, that is none of your concern, Dorian” Loki replied, placing his saber on the bench and walking away toward the gardens. The elf quickly closed the distance between them.

Dorian Seveilson was the son of the king of Alfheim, a rebellious heir who had no desire for the throne. Elves were exceptionally intelligent and beautiful creatures, naturally tall as well. Yet Dorian only surpassed Loki in height by half a head. He had long brown hair, eyes as blue as a morning sky, pointed ears, and a flawlessly handsome face with delicate features.

“Your highness, perhaps I should prepare some herbal tea for you. It would surely sooth your restless thoughts” the elf suggested, stepping ahead of the prince. His long brown hair fell from his shoulders to his back.

“How many times a day must I tell you, Dorian, to address me by my name? You are as much a prince as I am” Loki snapped irritably

“Of course, Loki…” The elf nodded. “Shall I brew the tea, then?”

“Do something useful, Dorian, and stop bothering me today” Loki replied, brushing past him toward his chambers.

Since his return to Asgard, Loki had thought of nothing but her. He longed to return to Earth, to spend more time with her, to get to know her. To understand why she didn’t look at him the way everyone else always had. Wanda Maximoff had completely taken over his thoughts.

Walkin down the long corridor, its walls and ceiling made of gold and floors of marble, Loki spotted a figure running toward him. As it drew closer, he recognized his older brother, sprinting at near-lighting speed toward the palace exit. Loki watched with a frown as Thor came to a stop beside him.

“And where are you rushing off to, brother?” Loki asked, eyeing Thor critically

“Earth needs me!” Thor called out briefly before running off again.

Loki stood still for a moment, turning his brother’s words over in his mind.

“Earth needs him…” he murmured under his breath “Earth…”

Without further thought. Loki set off in pursuit of his brother.

***

Nothing had returned to normal. Nothing. Her thoughts were still consumed by one thing:

“When will I see him again?”

A week had passed, and Wanda Maximoff found it impossible to focus on anything. She was absent during every conversation, and with each passing night, sleep became harder to find. Thor’s enigmatic brother was supposed to leave and never return to the place he still lingered: her mind, where he roamed as though it were his private estate, with no intention of leaving.

The redhead was sitting on the couch with Clint, wo had stopped by the tower that day. They were watching a western when Steve burst into the room, carrying an injured Natasha in his arms. Both immediately sprang from the leather couch and rushed to Steve.

“My God, what happened?!” Clint shouted.

“Is she going to be okay? Where’s Bucky?” Wanda asked, panic-stricken.

“It happened so fast!” Steve stammered, trembling. “We were out on the walk when Bucky suddenly started muttering to himself, crying and screaming and then he attacked us. I couldn’t do anything because others showed up!”

Steve spoke quickly, his voice shaking and tears welling in his eyes. No one had ever seen Rogers in such a state on the verge of hysteria.

“Others? What others? What are you talking about, Rogers?” Clint frowned.

“Hydra soldiers” Steve whispered.

Wanda and Clint exchanged alarmed glances. Then without hesitation, they sprang into action.

“Jarvis, call Helen Cho and sent an alert to Barbie” Clint ordered as he rushed toward the weapons storage. Wanda stayed behind with Steve and Nat.

The young woman pressed her hand against Natasha’s wound to slow the bleeding. Her clothes were already soaked in blood. Natasha was losing far too much of it. If no one helped her soon, she wouldn’t survive.

“Listen, I have to help Barton. Don’t move from here. Helen will be here soon, to tend to Nat” Wanda instructed calmly before hurrying to the weapons room.

Clint was busy packing his quiver with his specialized arrow. Although Wanda didn’t need additional weapons, her powers were more than sufficient, she only clipped a small pistol to her belt. Together, they briefed the brown-haired doctor on what to expect three floors up, before heading outside.

What awaited them was a horrifying sight: the wounded everywhere – children, adults and the elderly. Streets reduced to rubble. Wholes in the buildings. What happened here?

They followed the vehicle’s trail, scanning their surroundings for Barnes. Hydra seemed determined to retrieve their Winter Soldier at any cost.

A few weeks earlier a similar incident had occurred, but it had been during a covert mission that turned out to be not so covert. During that mission, Hydra had brutally exploited James, leaving him barely alive. He had spent 40 days in a coma, and until the very end, only Steve had believed he would pull through.

After several blocks, they finally spotted the vehicle – a massive, armored tank, far too large for them to handle alone. It moved slowly, demolishing everything in his path: people, cars, roads, and anything else that stood before it.

“We need a plan” Clint said.

“Wat kind of plan do you want?” Wanda snapped. “They’re about to destroy half of the city and kidnap our friend! What’s there to plan”

“Let’s at least wait for backup” Barton said, placing a and on her shoulder and trying to pull her below the enemy’s line of sight. “We called S.H.I.E.L.D. and Thor, they’ll be here any moment. Just wait”

But Wanda launched herself into the air, flying toward the tank.

“And how am I supposed to reason with her when she acts like a child…” Clint muttered, sighing deeply before following her into the fray.

Wanda used her powers to locate and incapacitate each hydra agent rendering them unconscious or worse. Meanwhile, Clint scaled the tank, searching for a way inside to rescue Barnes.

The area was swarming with hydra soldiers, and without a miracle or reinforcement they wouldn’t last long. Gunfire erupted everywhere, and now the wounded included Wanda and Clint. Despite their injuries, they fought on, determined to save James.

Suddenly, the sky darkened with storm clouds. Thunder roared, lightning flashed, and rain poured down, reducing visibility and footing. Just as they thought all hope was lost, a blinding flash of light struck the ground before the tank, and Thor emerged.

Wanda turned her head toward him - a mistake. She didn’t see the bullet that pierced her abdomen. With loud thud, she collapsed onto the metal roof of the tank. No one could help her until they found James. He was their priority.

“What in the nine realms is going here?” Tor demanded, swinging his hammer to scatter hydra agents.

“They took James and tried to use him to hurt Natasha and Steve earlier” Clint explained hurriedly, struggling with the hatch.

Thor reached down, ripped the hatch off its hinges, and tossed it at the hydra soldiers. Clint climbed inside.

“Don’t worry Bucky. I’ll get you out of here” Clint muttered, grabbing James by the jacket.

Lacking the strength to carry him, clint dragged Barnes back to the hatch, where Thor was waiting. Together, they lifted him out.

“It’s time to leave” Clint said glancing at the thunder god. “I’ll take care of Wanda, You handle him”

“I believe someone else had already seen to her” Thor replied, nodding toward Wanda, over whom Loki Laufeyson now stood.

Chapter Text

"What's he doing here?" Clint shouted, striding toward the younger of the two brothers. He shoved him aside, pushing him away from Wanda, who lay motionless on the ground. "Did you come to watch her suffer? Huh? Is that your kind of entertainment? Don't even try to deny it."

Loki said nothing. Without a word and with an impassive expression, he stepped aside and helped his brother lift James from the ground. He had never had the chance to get to know him well. In truth, aside from his half-brother, he didn't know anyone particularly well. Not that it was surprising.

He had never found the courage to go to Earth with Thor and apologize for what he had done. He had blamed himself for a long time. Even though he had been under Thanos's influence back then, it made no difference to him. He was the one who had done all those terrible things to those people. But he would never admit it. After all, he was Loki.

"She's not doing well. We need to get her to the tower as soon as possible," Clint said, barely detecting a pulse in the red-haired woman's wrist.

As Thor descended from the tank's roof, Loki watched Clint struggle to lift Wanda. The grimace on his face revealed that, despite his strength, he wouldn't be able to carry her off the damn roof—not with his twisted, sprained, or possibly broken ankle.

"Are you going to help, or just stand there staring?" Clint asked pointedly.

"I was waiting for you to ask," Loki replied, unbothered, before lifting the barely conscious girl.

He helped the archer climb down from the roof, and together they followed the path Barton indicated. The trickster god had also been wounded by Hydra's soldiers, something that hadn't escaped Clint's notice. His attire was torn at the shoulder, exposing a bullet wound. Blood trickled from it in a thin stream, staining his dark clothing.

The journey to the tower took longer than expected. Time was of the essence for Wanda, and they should have arrived as quickly as possible, but Clint's injury slowed them down. He refused to let Loki take Wanda to the tower alone, so every time he lagged or stopped, Loki had to do the same.

"Where the hell have you been?!" Natasha's indignant voice rang out as soon as the elevator doors opened, accompanied by Pepper's equally concerned expression.

Clint immediately fell into Natasha's arms, who had clearly been waiting for him. Helen Cho must have done a good job patching her up if she was already back on her feet. Meanwhile, Pepper rushed to Wanda's side, her small steps barely keeping up with Loki. She grasped Wanda's hand gently, guiding the trickster god toward Helen's lab.

Loki placed the girl on the first available examination table. In an instant, a dark-haired woman rushed to her side.

"Why didn't you bring her sooner? She's in critical condition!" Helen snapped.

"We just got here," Pepper responded quickly, her golden hair disheveled, cascading over her cream-colored pajamas adorned with moons and stars.

"You're lucky. She's still alive, and I can stabilize her. But I'm warning you—next time you cut it this close, I might not be able to save her."

***

Clint and Natasha stood in the doorway, waiting for the young woman to regain consciousness. They didn't approach the bed, though—Loki was already sitting there, watching over her. For the past two hours, he had done nothing but stare, as if waiting for something inevitable.

"How much longer is he going to sit there?" Clint whispered to Natasha.

"Oh, come on, Clint. He's not doing anything. You're just being paranoid," Natasha murmured in response.

"I am paranoid because the last time he showed up here, he nearly destroyed the entire city and killed at least eighty people," Clint muttered through gritted teeth. "And if you haven't noticed, after his visit today, the city is in ruins again—and at least a hundred people are dead."

"Hey! This time, it wasn't his fault. He came to help—" she hesitated, the words feeling strange on her tongue. "Okay, that does sound weird, but still—"

She didn't get to finish her sentence. Wanda stirred, her eyelids fluttering open as she adjusted to the harsh light.

Clint immediately moved forward, but Natasha, noticing Loki shift uneasily, held him back.

"Wait. I want to see what he does," she murmured, gripping Barton's arm.

Loki leaned in slightly.

"It's too bright," Wanda groaned softly, shielding her eyes with her hand.

With a flick of his wrist, the god dimmed the lights, leaving only a faint glow in the room.

"Where's Bucky? Is he okay?" Wanda asked, glancing around and realizing where she was. "Can you take me to him, please?" She grasped Loki's cold hand.

Her touch was unbelievably warm. And though he hated to admit it, it was pleasant. Her skin was soft, velvety, and smelled like freshly baked cookies.

Loki merely nodded and helped her to her feet. After a few steps, he noticed she was barefoot.

"Hold onto my neck," he instructed, lifting her into his arms.

It was easier this time. The wound on his shoulder had mostly healed, and the pain had nearly faded. But something else lingered—an unsettling feeling, a quiet voice in his mind telling him that what he was doing was wrong. That he was being driven by something other than logic and reason.

"Your skin is so cold," Wanda murmured, resting her head against his chest. "You should wear something warmer."

Loki didn't respond. He had already realized—on the journey to Earth—that coming here had been a mistake. He should have stayed away from her. But now, it was too late to turn back.

A part of him wanted to stay. To be close to her. To breathe in the scent of vanilla cookies that clung to her skin, to run his fingers through her fiery, silk-soft hair, to listen to her gentle, melodious voice.

But he knew better. His place was in a gilded palace of marble, in a realm of myths and legends.

He could not love her. He could not want her. She deserved someone better—someone more than what he could ever be.

And so, he had to disappear into the shadows. Forget. And never return.

***

Night had fallen, and the living room was illuminated by soft, warm lights. Almost everyone was gathered on the couch—except for Steve and James, who were likely spending this traumatic evening alone.

The moment Wanda spotted Natasha, she tore herself from Loki's arms and ran to her, wrapping her in a tight embrace. Tears streamed down her flushed cheeks.

"You have no idea how good it is to see you safe," Wanda smiled.

"You too," Natasha replied.

Loki met his brother's gaze. Thor turned toward him instinctively. The trickster god's expression was so cold that, even from across the room, it sent a chill down Thor's spine. Loki had a way of making people feel his stare, as if it burned through their very core.

"It's time for us to go," Loki said coolly. "Midgard no longer needs you."

"Let's stay a little longer," Thor responded casually, ignoring his brother's words.

"Yeah, you should stay," Natasha chimed in. "Nothing's going to happen to you if you do."

"I'm not so sure," Loki muttered.

"Neither am I," Clint grumbled, turning an arrow between his fingers. "I can't promise I won't stab you in your sleep."

"Try it, archer," Loki shot back, lifting his chin.

A quiet laugh rang out from the other side of the room. Pepper covered her mouth, giggling at the exchange. Soon, Natasha and Wanda joined in.

"Alright, enough with the testosterone contest," Pepper teased.

“Clint… Shouldn’t you be heading home by now? Laura and the kids are probably waiting,” Natasha added with a laugh.

An offended Barton stood up from the couch and headed to his room to grab his things. Loki watched him with a smug expression, tracking his every move until he disappeared through the door.

“And what are you staring at?” Thor asked, raising an eyebrow at his brother. He knew Loki inside and out, could read him like an open book, even when Loki insisted otherwise. “Enough with your princely sulking. Sit down.” He patted the seat beside him, smirking. “We’ll teach you how to play a game or two.” With a cheerful grin, he grabbed Loki’s arm as soon as he got close to the couch.

“About time we befriended the mighty God of Mischief,” Tony quipped with a smirk.

***

The evening stretched on, and the clock crept toward three in the morning. By that point, Loki had long since forgotten his earlier resolve—to return to Asgard, to push aside thoughts of the red-haired girl who had somehow taken up space in his mind. In fact, he had forgotten all the promises he had made to himself. The more time he spent near Wanda, the more he wanted to understand her. He didn’t even need to speak to her; just her presence was enough to push all other thoughts to the back of his mind. He watched her, studied every move she made, almost obsessively.

“Look at the time,” Natasha sighed, a little surprised. “It’s nearly three. I think we should all head to bed.”

“Oh, come on, one more round,” Thor said, shuffling the deck of cards in his hands. “Look at them,” Natasha gestured toward Tony, who was dozing off with Pepper curled up against him, and Wanda and Wilson, leaning sleepily against each other.

“Fair point. I suppose we should all call it a night,” Loki agreed.

Natasha got up, gently nudging Wanda and Sam awake. With a swift motion, she snatched the cards from Thor’s hands, slid them back into their box, and snapped the lid shut.

“You can play tomorrow. Right now, it’s bedtime,” she said with a small smile. “Loki, would you carry Wanda to her room? She’s so exhausted, I doubt she’d make it there on her own.”

“Of course,” he murmured, barely above a whisper.

Without hesitation, he scooped the red-haired girl into his arms. Her hands instinctively wrapped around his neck, and her head rested against his chest. Looking down at her, she seemed so innocent, so pure and beautiful, so… perfect.

He laid her gently on the bed, tucked the blanket around her, and pulled the curtains closed, knowing she wouldn’t appreciate waking up to blinding sunlight in the morning. He was about to leave when her quiet, barely audible voice stopped him at the door.

“Will you stay with me?” she murmured sleepily.

For a moment, he stood frozen, torn between reason and something far more dangerous. Should he stay, or should he walk away and forget? Step back into the shadows, or let himself feel what he had sworn to suppress? He hovered on the edge of logic and recklessness, but in the end, there was only one choice. He was Loki. The God of Mischief. He did not show feelings. He did not deserve this.

Turning away, he pulled the door shut behind him and vanished into the darkness.

He couldn’t stay

Chapter Text

Shadow… A place where no one can see you, yet you can see everything bathed in light. A perfect hiding spot for an observer. No flaws are visible, no emotions can be seen—nothing exists except for the light and those who bask in it.

Darkness… A place where no one can see you, but where you, too, see nothing. If you step into it, mistaking it for a shadow, it will begin to envelop you with its tendrils, blinding you to everything but itself, suffocating you with fear. Over time, however, it will allow you to see a small space around you, to feel something other than terror. It will offer a twisted sense of comfort, a reluctance to return to the light, a growing fear of it… an attachment.

Darkness is like a captor. It lures you in, pretending to be a shadow, then pulls you deeper, slowly blotting out the light. At first, panic grips you—you want to escape, but you can’t, because darkness has already taken hold. There is no way back. Thoughts you never noticed before start to haunt you, creeping closer, tormenting you. They surround you, making you desperate to break free, making it hard to breathe. It crushes you. You want to leave.

But in time, you adjust. You begin to perceive small objects, little details nearby. You start to feel at ease, convincing yourself that this is better. Darkness wraps around you like a cocoon, spreading an illusion of peace and silence.

Until…

Until one day, the darkness Loki had grown comfortable in was disturbed by a sliver—a droplet? A speck? A flicker of light. It wasn’t too bright at first, so he could simply step aside, retreat further into the shadows. But as the days passed, it grew, expanding, bringing with it countless consequences. Loki didn’t know what to do. The light burned him, seared his eyes, revealing the flaws, the cracks, the scars he had long kept hidden. It disrupted the calm he had carefully constructed in his mind. That light carried sound—or perhaps something else?

Or… someone?

The night stretched on endlessly for Loki. Sleep wouldn’t come, and there was nothing to occupy his thoughts—nothing engaging, nothing even remotely interesting. Midgard held no distractions for him, at least not in the dead of night, in the towering glass fortress at the heart of the largest city in the United States.

He sat up, then rose from the bed. Leaving the bedroom, he walked forward, heading toward the living area and kitchen. His steps were imperceptible, soundless, as if he were floating just above the ground. He glanced into rooms whose doors had been left ajar, peering inside. The living room was empty, so without hesitation, he poured himself a cup of tea—now cold—and stepped out onto the massive terrace overlooking the landing pad.

Despite the deep night, no stars could be seen in the sky. Loki loathed humanity for that. They built their sprawling metropolises, their artificial lights swallowing up the stars—those most beautiful, most extraordinary celestial bodies, hiding behind their brilliance vast mysteries and unspeakable horrors.

Why do humans destroy and obscure such beauty? he wondered.

“They don’t want anyone admiring them instead of themselves, because they know the stars are more beautiful,” answered a quiet voice from the shadows.

But then, the city’s glow illuminated the figure moving silently toward him—Wanda Maximoff.

How? How could she have answered my thought?

“I can hear your mind,” she said, a faint, knowing smile gracing her lips.

“Please… stop.” His voice was barely above a murmur as he lowered his head.

He didn’t want anyone to know what went on inside his mind. Especially not her. It would cause too many complications—ones he had no desire to deal with. He didn’t want to face his demons, nor did he want anyone else attempting to.

Wanda stepped closer, though she still kept some distance. Leaning against the railing, she took a deep breath of the cool air, closing her eyes for a moment. Loki, still slightly stunned, watched her—her flushed cheeks, her coppery auburn hair, her delicate posture. Then, suddenly, the question that had plagued him hours earlier resurfaced in his mind.

Why did she look at him differently than everyone else?

He was about to speak when she turned to him, gazing deep into his eyes as if searching for a glimpse of his hidden soul. And then, as if reading his unspoken thoughts, she answered softly:

“Because I see something in you that tells me you’re not who they think you are. I see unfinished stories—ones that, when left untold, paint an entirely different picture of you. And I want to see the real one.”

Loki stared at her, masking the fear that coursed through him like a cold wave. The light—it was drawing closer, trying to pull him from the darkness’s embrace. He couldn’t allow it. He had to be stronger than it. He had to retreat into the shadows where he belonged. The light had to disappear.

Lifting his head, he met her gaze with an icy stare. He reached out, gently tilting her chin up with a single finger, forcing himself not to recoil at the warmth of her skin. Leaning in, he whispered against her ear:

“There is no other picture, darling. They are right about me.”

Then he let her go, leaving behind only the chill of his touch on her cheek as he stepped back into the darkness of the room.

He had to put an end to this. The longer he stayed near her, the weaker his control became. Another moment, and he would have done something foolish, something unacceptable. He had already gone too far. He needed to leave. As soon as dawn broke, he had to take Thor and return home.

Odin had stripped him of his power—he could not open the Bifröst himself. He had to convince his brother to return. Otherwise… something unwanted might happen.

***

“May I have a word, brother?” Loki stood in front of Thor, looking down at him as he lounged on the couch, engrossed in a movie playing on the screen.

“Oh, come on, this is my favorite part!” Thor groaned but, sensing Loki’s icy impatience, he sighed and got up. They walked a few paces away, into the corner of the living room. “Alright, what is so important that you actually asked me for a private conversation?”

Loki never asked for anything unless it was of great importance—or on someone else’s behalf. This time was no exception. He had no intention of asking Thor to return to Asgard. He would make him. The request for a private talk was courtesy enough.

“We need to return to Asgard,” he stated bluntly.

“Oh, come on, we’re having a great time here!” Thor grinned, spreading his arms.

“Who” is having a great time? Loki thought bitterly. “That’s not why we came here,” he reminded, crossing his arms.

“Relax, brother.” Thor threw an arm around Loki’s shoulders, grinning. “No one minds that you’re here. They actually like you!” He nudged him playfully.

“Odin will not be pleased that I’m absent from the court. In case you haven’t noticed, I serve as your father’s—our father’s—right hand,” he added after a moment, clearing his throat.

For a second, Thor’s smile faltered as if he had momentarily forgotten that detail. Loki felt a flicker of triumph—perhaps he had won.

But the victory was short-lived.

“Oh! That reminds me—Wanda’s birthday is tomorrow. We’re throwing her a little party, and guess what?” Thor turned him around, gripping his shoulders. “You’re invited too!”

Loki’s expression darkened. He was utterly bewildered. What in the Nine Realms is happening?

And yet… something about the mention of Wanda Maximoff’s birthday intrigued him.

“Thor, are you alright?” Natasha called from across the room.

From an outsider’s perspective, their conversation—held in Asgardian—must have seemed bizarre.

“Yes! Loki’s going to help with our little surprise,” Thor announced cheerfully.

Both Loki and Natasha looked equally taken aback. She smirked and nodded, while Loki simply stood there, staring into space, replaying the last few moments.

What the Hel just happened?

Chapter Text

“I want to clarify from the start that I didn’t plan to drag you into this. It wasn’t my idea,” Natasha said in a calm tone, standing over a counter full of various ingredients, bowls, and other kitchen gadgets.

“Did I say anything?” Loki rolled his eyes, placing his hands on his hips.

Seeing him dressed in a black shirt and fitted trousers, topped off with a kitchen apron covered in colorful polka dots, the redhead nearly burst into laughter. She covered her mouth with her hand, but it didn’t help— a soft chuckle slipped through her lips.

Thor, about a dozen hours earlier, had assigned them the task of making a birthday cake for Wanda. However, despite the entire team’s efforts to get her involved throughout the day, she had stayed in her tower, leaving them no choice but to start baking late at night.

The clock was approaching one in the morning. They had to finish making the creams, baking the sponge cakes, and assembling everything by three. The cake needed at least two hours to chill in the fridge so they could decorate it first thing in the morning. It was going to be a long night.

“Well, since we’re both properly dressed,” Natasha said, still trying to suppress her laughter, “you can take care of the cake, and I’ll make the creams.”

Loki, without another word, grabbed one of the large metal bowls and the necessary ingredients. He and Natasha had spent the entire day planning the cake’s design, flavors, and decorations. They had everything sketched out on a few sheets of notebook paper, now scattered across the kitchen.

The plan was simple: a two-tiered cake. The bottom tier would be layered with pistachio cream, white chocolate, and raspberry mousse. The top tier would have lemon cream and a strawberry-basil mousse. All the sponge layers would be pink, as would the frosting and decorations. At the very top, a white inscription would read “Wanda M,” alongside a large number eighteen. Quite simple.

Loki didn’t know why he had agreed to help with all these preparations. He could have easily washed his hands of it and left it to someone else. It wasn’t like he cared… right? And yet, something in his mind had pushed him to assist. Guilt? Pfft. Someone like Loki Laufeyson couldn’t possibly feel guilt. And yet… something—or someone—had nudged him into this decision.

It unsettled him.

His thoughts swirled around the same questions. Why had he done this? What did it mean? Was this the start of something different? A shift in his nature? Was he finally stepping out of the darkness and into the light? The answers would come soon—though Loki didn’t yet realize it.

“Do you think Wanda will like the gifts?”

A soft, slightly tired voice pulled him from his thoughts. Natasha stood with her back to him, working at the kitchen island.

Loki hesitated before answering, even though the response came to him immediately.

Why wouldn’t she be happy with such a surprise? Thor loved throwing surprise parties, which was why he had delegated tasks to the entire Avengers team—some bought and wrapped presents, others decorated the common area and the tower. Thor himself had planned the activities for the birthday girl.

Someone would have to be a complete fool to not appreciate a surprise like this.

And yet, Loki was that fool. He hated surprises, despised cheerful birthday parties, and loathed the tea-filled social gatherings that were so common in the palace. It was why he hadn’t celebrated his own birthday in years.

“Why wouldn’t she like it?” he sighed, pausing his stirring.

Natasha hesitated before answering. “Because… these are her first birthday without them.”

Loki frowned. “Without who?” He didn’t understand.

She turned to face him. “Last year, during one of our missions, Wanda lost her brother. And before that, she lost her parents. We took her in because she had powers she couldn’t fully control… and because she was alone.”

Loki said nothing. Natasha took his silence as understanding and returned to mixing the ingredients for the cream.

The god felt lost. He had never struggled for words before—never been at a loss for a response, a retort, a sarcastic remark. But now? This was too… mundane for him.

Loki had never been asked about such trivial matters. Or at least, he had always considered them trivial. He had always viewed others as fools for concerning themselves with such things.

And yet, in this moment, he was the fool.

***

This day was bound to be difficult.

Even the night before, Wanda hadn’t felt right. The thought of spending her first birthday without her parents and brother weighed heavily on her.

For the first time, she had to endure what was supposed to be a joyous day alone. A day she had always loved now brought nothing but painful memories.

A single tear slipped down her cheek. Then another. And another.

Turning onto her side, she pulled the warm blanket over herself, pressing her face into the fabric. She wished—more than anything—that someone would hold her. That someone would simply be there, as she battled the emotions crushing her chest.

The clock read eight in the morning. She could still lie in bed for a while without anyone questioning it.

Outside the window, snowflakes drifted lazily to the ground.

Her lips parted slightly in surprise.

It was the first time it had ever snowed on her birthday. Sokovia’s climate usually meant the snow had long since melted by February.

Slowly, she got out of bed and approached the window, placing a hand against the glass.

Could this be a sign? A small message from her loved ones, telling her they were still with her?

Maybe. But she would never know for sure.

Taking a deep breath, Wanda turned toward her closet. She pulled out a black hoodie with white accents on the shoulders, a short black skirt, and a fitted white long-sleeve shirt. After dressing, she fastened a necklace around her neck—inside was a locket holding pictures of her parents and Pietro.

It was the closest she could get to them today.

She inhaled deeply and reached for the door handle.

As soon as she crossed the threshold of the room, colorful confetti was launched at her from both sides, and in front of her stood a group of her friends, who began singing “Happy Birthday” in unison. A wave of warmth spread through her chest, wrapping around her from all sides. Maybe this birthday wouldn’t be so bad after all?

“Happy Birthday, Wanda!” they shouted at the end.

Natasha, Clint, Sam, Bucky, Steve, Thor, Tony, and Pepper—all stood before her, holding gifts in their hands and a massive cake carried by Thor. It was completely pink and had two tiers. She had never dreamed of such a beautiful cake, or any cake at all…

A few stray tears ran down her cheeks, quickly wiped away by the people who pulled her into a tight embrace.

“Thank you,” she laughed through her sniffles.

“It’s all thanks to Thor. You should thank him. He planned everything and organized us to make it happen,” Steve replied.

As the group loosened their embrace and started placing candles on the cake, Wanda had another chance to express her gratitude to the blond god.

“I don’t even know how to thank you. I… I’ve never had a birthday party like this before,” she said, hugging herself.

“Oh, the pleasure is all mine. Next year, we’ll throw you a birthday celebration as grand as those in Asgard!” he grinned, wrapping an arm around her and leading her toward the kitchen island, where the cake with lit candles stood.

Asgard… She wondered what that mythical place looked like.

“Hey! I think someone’s missing,” Thor suddenly called out.

Indeed… There was no sign of Loki anywhere. Even though he wasn’t technically part of the Avengers, he was still here, so he could have shown up. Did he not like birthdays? No… Everyone likes birthdays and fun surprises, right?

After a brief moment, the two brothers entered the living room. Thor was smiling, his arm draped around his brother’s neck. Loki, on the other hand, looked utterly unimpressed, as if he had been forced to be here. His gaze swept across the room before he subtly straightened up, assuming a slightly less sulky posture.

“Well? Blow out the candles,” Natasha instructed.

“And don’t forget to make a wish!” Tony added playfully.

Wanda brushed her hair back and leaned slightly forward, blowing out all eighteen candles. Cheers erupted, and soon, they started cutting the cake. Once everyone had taken a slice, they settled onto the couches, indulging in the dessert, snacks, and a movie playing from a DVD.

“Oh my God,” Wanda sighed, her mouth full of creamy cake. “Who made this? It’s phenomenal.”

Natasha glanced briefly at Loki, and just as he opened his mouth to speak, she beat him to it.

“Actually, Loki made the entire cake,” she said quickly. “I just helped a little.” She smiled, shrugging.

All eyes turned toward the dark-haired god with admiration. He wasn’t sure how to respond. He knew his culinary skills were above average, but should he boast about it or feign humility? What was the better approach?

“Who knows? Maybe I poisoned it,” he said coolly, a slight smirk on his lips. A moment later, however, he let out a dry chuckle, signaling to everyone that he was joking… or was he?

He didn’t have much time to dwell on it, because suddenly, someone’s arms wrapped around his neck. It was her. The scent of vanilla cookies surrounded him like a pleasant mist. Yet, her touch wasn’t so comforting. Her skin burned against his, and emotions churned inside him.

At that moment, he realized he was losing control.

He already knew that going back home would be very, very difficult—perhaps even impossible. He wanted her, and he didn’t care whether she wanted him as much as he wanted her.

She was his damn light at the end of the tunnel, and despite the pain it caused him, it was pulling him in. And he had no intention of resisting.

He had to have her… and it had to be tonight.

Chapter Text

Although Wanda thought that the day couldn’t be wonderful without Pietro and her parents, she was mistaken. Everyone surrounded her with a familial atmosphere and good fun to prevent her from feeling the sadness that the day might have brought. They spent it watching movies, laughing, and playing various games.

Thanks to different interesting ideas and continuous fun, she learned more about the mysterious, celestial visitor who had occupied her thoughts for the past few weeks. He was not very talkative, but during a game of “Never Have I Ever,” he had no choice but to reveal some information to her. She refrained from reading his mind, as he confessed everything himself and answered her questions.

She now knew that he never drank excessively, that he often took care of Thor after boisterous parties, and that he was an absolute master of tricks and surprises. Not much information, but enough to leave room for her to discover the rest.

She didn’t yet know if Loki would allow her to get closer to him and reveal all his cards.

***

It was already late; most of the household was either asleep or preparing for bed, just like Wanda. She washed the remnants of makeup from her face and combed her tangled hair. She swapped her daytime outfit for panties and a completely oversized shirt she had long ago borrowed from Steve. The marble tiles pleasantly cooled her feet as she stood in front of the mirror, brushing her hair.

At one point, she heard a soft knocking. It wasn’t coming from the bathroom door but further away—from her room door. Not worrying too much about who might be standing behind them, she used her power to open both sets of doors.

“I’m in the bathroom; you can come in!” she called out to the person standing in the hallway.

After a brief moment of silence, footsteps echoed through the room, and Loki appeared in the doorway. Wanda turned and gave him a slightly tired yet shocked look. What could Loki want from her, especially at such a late hour?

They stood in silence for a few minutes, merely looking into each other’s eyes. However, Wanda already knew why he had come. He also knew that she knew. His thoughts were racing, but they all led to one thing.

“Do it,” she whispered.

The brunette closed the distance between them in just two steps and swept her into his arms. A shiver ran through her body as she touched his icy skin. He devoured her with kisses, as if he had long been craving them and only they could keep him alive. When he pressed her against the wall, she lifted herself slightly off the ground to equalize their height difference, then wrapped her arms around his neck.

She reveled in each of his kisses. They were quick, deep, yet still gentle and passionate. He took all of her, and she allowed him to. Because, like him, she was craving this—his closeness, the darkness, and the secrets he hid. She wanted to have him all to herself, to be able to know him at will and delight in him.

They both attracted each other. Without practically knowing each other, they felt a bond as if they had found a matching puzzle piece, though without a clear color or pattern.

“Take all of me,” she moaned softly, directly into his mouth. “Please…”

Loki didn’t need to be asked again. He desired her and wanted to have her here and now. He longed to feel her warm skin all over his body, her scent on his clothes and bedding, her hair between his fingers.

He grabbed her by the thighs and lifted her onto his hips, then, without breaking the kiss, moved to the room and placed her on the bed. Her hands ran over his torso as he leaned toward her. She looked so innocent and delicate in just a T-shirt and panties, with her long, red hair spilling over the bedding.

He hovered over her, planting light kisses on almost every spot on her jaw and neck, while she, in the meantime, removed his black turtleneck. He took a deep breath when her warm, delicate hands touched his chest. She ran her fingers up and down, slowly exploring every inch of his body.

He liked the way she surrendered to him and what she was doing to him. It was new to him because he had never desired anyone in this way, nor had anyone desired him with such intensity. So much so that nothing and no one around mattered at all. The whole world disappeared, leaving only them.

The redhead slid her hands lower until she reached the edge of his dress pants. She quickly dealt with the belt and pulled them down along with his boxers. The god smiled slyly and pulled away from her neck. He grabbed the hem of her shirt and swiftly removed it; soon, her panties joined the shirt on the floor. He pressed his lips to hers again.

“From now on, you’re only mine,” he murmured in a low voice between kisses.

“I am,” she replied softly. Her words quickly turned into a loud moan as he entered her and filled her completely.

He moved within her at a fast pace, not giving her a moment’s respite. He kissed her greedily, unable to tear himself away from her. His desire grew with each second, fueled by her sight, sound, touch, scent, and taste. She surrounded him from every side, bringing him pleasure.

He slid his hand, previously resting beside her head, under her back, pulling her closer. Their bodies touched in almost every place. He entered her faster, accelerating with each movement. He savored the taste of her lips, the moans, and murmurs that escaped them. He wanted to have her like this forever. Beautiful, delicate, and his.

She felt him everywhere; his kisses burned her skin, yet at the same time, they were so cold, giving her relief as he made her entire body burn. Loki was a divine mix of ice, which covered her on the outside, and fire, which he ignited within her. She draped her arms around his neck and ran one hand through his jet-black hair. She had to remove the hair tie that held his hair in a low bun. It was soft to the touch and smelled of spices.

After long minutes of rhythmic movements, she felt fulfillment coursing through her entire body. It flooded her heart with warmth, pressed against her lungs, and culminated at the junction of her thighs. Loki moved within her more slowly, also feeling everything she felt, as if some bond caused their sensations to merge into one, allowing them both to experience it mutually.

He lowered her onto the bedding, collapsing right beside her. He pulled her closer and wrapped his arms around her. His heart was still racing. This woman did something to him that he couldn’t name or explain. He felt more, stronger; he wanted her only for himself forever, wanted to know everything about her and be everything for her. But this couldn’t end well… He didn’t deserve her. No one would willingly want to have him so close. No one, not even her, would want to sleep with the monster he was, in the same bed. He had to pull away once again…

***

She lay beside him, nestled against his naked, cold body. She wanted this moment to last forever, to feel all these emotions all the time. But that wasn’t possible. Loki wasn’t like that… At least he didn’t look or behave like someone who commits to someone permanently. He looked like someone who disappears after everything or when things start to get 

A question was rising in her throat—one she desperately wanted to ask, yet it could ruin the moment. He might answer in a way that went against her hopes and simply leave. What was she supposed to do? They couldn’t lie there forever. The time would come when they’d have to get up and part ways.

What if he left then… and never came back? What if he abandoned her?

She couldn’t let that happen—no matter the cost.

Chapter Text

What made him stay? What compelled him to remain by her side that night, not to leave…?

In silence, he stared at her peaceful face, partially hidden against his neck, where she had nestled into the hollow of his collarbone. He ran his fingers through her long, wavy hair, scattered like silk across the pillows. It was soft like cotton, smooth like satin, and carried a delicate scent of vanilla.

That sweet, cookie-vanilla aroma enveloped her entirely — unique and unforgettable.

They were still completely naked, covered only by a thin blanket adorned with tiny red patterns. Their clothes remained on the floor, untouched. Everything around them was exactly the same as before — except for him.

He should have left already. He should have returned to Asgard.

Carefully, trying not to wake the girl sleeping beside him, he rose from the bed. He dressed in the clothes lying on the ground and left the room, heading straight for the living room.

There was hardly anyone there, except for Natasha Romanoff, who stood at the counter pouring herself some coffee.

Does this woman ever sleep?

“Coffee?” came her question from across the room.

“Sorry?” he replied after a moment, sounding distracted.

“Do you want a cup of coffee?” she repeated, raising the coffee pot slightly.

“Sure,” he sighed, sitting down at the kitchen island.

A moment later, Natasha placed a steaming white cup in front of him. She sat down beside him, pulled her phone out of her bathrobe pocket, and began scrolling through her messages.

Loki was intrigued by the small device — how a simple touch could make so many different things appear.

“What is that?” he asked, peering over her shoulder.

“This?” she said, glancing at the phone. “It’s a funny little invention — used to communicate with the world. You can write messages to people or post updates where everyone can see them. You can also talk to people live, whether they’re far away or right next to you. It has other fun features too.”

“Interesting. And what do you call it?” he asked, even more curious now.

“Phone, smartphone, mobile… Depends who you ask. It’s a gadget of the future. But as far as I know, they’re only made here on Earth,” she chuckled.

“You might be right. In Asgard, we still use ravens and messengers to deliver messages,” he said with a slight shrug. “Searching the entire castle just to pass along one trivial thing can be maddening.”

“See? Earth has its perks,” she smiled faintly. “Have a good day,” she added, heading toward what was likely her room.

Maybe he should stay? With her?

Maybe the decision he made last night wasn’t a mistake after all.

Could it be… he was falling for her? Was it even possible for him to feel something like that — to truly love?

He took the untouched cup of coffee and returned to Wanda Maximoff’s room.

When he opened the door, she was still asleep — lying in the same position he had left her in nearly an hour ago.

She looked heavenly. Like an angel.

Her long reddish hair, those mesmerizing green eyes, soft skin, full raspberry lips, and the perfectly shaped body that fit so effortlessly beneath his hands.

She had been made for him.

She was meant to be his light in the darkness…

He sat on the edge of the bed and looked at her radiant face once more.

Her eyelids began to flutter, but instead of opening, she only squeezed them shut tighter, then ran her hand across the spot where he had just been lying — until her fingers brushed against his.

She flinched, quickly opening her eyes and sitting up in bed, pulling the blanket up around her.

She looked startled — maybe even shocked to see him still there.

She ran a hand through her hair and muttered something under her breath, too quietly for him to catch the words.

“I brought you some coffee,” he said, handing her the cup and saucer.

Still somewhat stunned, she took the cup from him.

She sipped the warm drink, and whatever emotions had flooded her moments before began to fade.

She stared into his eyes, smiling slightly — and he did the same, utterly captivated by the unearthly glow of hers.

“How did you sleep?” she asked playfully, setting the cup on the nightstand.

“Surprisingly well,” he answered, a mischievous smile forming on his lips. “Must be your doing.”

“Mine? I don’t remember,” she laughed softly, leaning closer. “You’ll have to remind me.”

Loki placed a hand gently on her cheek, pulling her toward him and kissing her deeply — starving for the warmth of her body.

He kissed her like a man possessed, needing to feel her consume him once more, just as she had the night before.

He wanted to feel again how much he loved being near her… having her for himself.

***

They stood together, wrapped in each other’s arms, on one of the lower floors of the tower — hidden from sight.

No one could know what had happened between them last night or what now existed between them.

Neither of them was fully sure of their feelings yet, so it was better if no one else knew — for everyone’s safety.

“Do you really have to go?” she asked again, resting her head on his chest.

“I do…”

“We could have more time. Please tell me you feel it too,” she said, pulling back slightly, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears.

“I do. I feel it too,” he replied quietly, eyes downcast. “But I have to go.”

He turned away and began walking toward the stairs that led to the roof — where the Bifrost would take him and his brother back to Asgard, to the place where he belonged.

“Promise me you’ll come back to me,” she whispered.

At those words, he turned back to look at her one last time.

Her eyes sparkled in the lamplight — like stars, damn it.

“Please…” she murmured.

“I promise, my dearest,” he said, voice heavy with pain, and turned to climb the stairs.

As soon as he was out of sight, she collapsed to her knees, tears streaming down her cheeks.

What had she done?

She never believed this could work, and now it was too late to undo it.

Why hadn’t she let him leave earlier?

Would it have hurt less than this?

Yes.

Did she regret her decision?

Yes.

Did she know he’d find out eventually?

Yes.

Was she ready for the consequences?

No…

Chapter Text

Something was wrong. Something was wrong… Something was very wrong.

He had never felt such a strong bond with anyone before. No one had consumed him like she had. No one had ever taken hold of his heart and mind the way she did. No one had ever been so addictive to him. No one had ever touched him the way she did.

Of course, the Asgardian Prince had had many women in his life—eager companions for passionate nights—but none of them were like Wanda. None of them smelled like vanilla cookies. None of them had fiery hair, soft as silk. None moved with such grace. None had eyes filled with stars. None had ever touched him like they were trying to uncover every secret he held, every story behind each scar he bore. No one had ever wanted to know him like she did.

He had to go back to her and find out what had made him stay that night. It was so unlike him. He never stayed. Why did he stay, just that once?

Wanda was one of a kind—captivating and unique. But beneath her beauty and charm, there was something more. A deeper layer. Maybe her past? Something that made her so exceptional. He had to get closer to her, to discover what she was hiding. He couldn’t read her mind like she could read his, but he was an expert in deception—and she wouldn’t be able to hide the truth from him for long.

***

She couldn’t sleep, couldn’t eat, couldn’t drink, couldn’t function. What had happened that night haunted her, keeping her awake night after night. She thought only of him. She needed him back. She had to find out if he knew. She had to undo what she had done… and fast. No one could find out. No one but her.

The redhead jumped out of bed, wrapped her satin robe around her body, and stood before the massive wall of windows. Soft snow fell from the sky, glittering like stardust in the light of the still-pulsing city below. Wanda nervously ran her fingers through her hair, then turned and walked out of the room. She moved quickly through the hallway, as if she didn’t want anyone to notice her. But at half past four, everyone in the compound was fast asleep. Everyone but her.

She walked into the living room and stepped onto the curved balcony beneath the Quinjet landing pad. A chill ran down her spine as the cold hit her skin. The freezing winter air stung her nose, but she welcomed the feeling.

It let her focus on something else—if only for a moment. It helped her silence the storm of emotions raging inside her. She couldn’t afford to lose control. Someone might get hurt if she did.

Wanda took a deep breath, looking up at the sky. There were no stars tonight. She exhaled—and tears spilled from her eyes.

She didn’t know that somewhere far across the universe, someone was watching. She believed she was alone. Believed no one could possibly know what she had done. But there was someone who had seen it all. Someone who heard everything.

***

The redhead got out of bed at her usual hour to avoid suspicion. She didn’t want anyone thinking something was wrong. She dressed in clean clothes and picked up the ones scattered across the floor. She needed something to occupy herself, and cleaning seemed like the best distraction.

She tossed the clothes into the laundry chute, sending them to the lower level. It worked one way only—down.

In the living room, Steve, Bucky, and Natasha were already gathered. They were probably planning a wedding or engagement. Ever since James and Steve announced they were together, their relationship had been the number one topic at the table, in conversations, everywhere. It was sweet—but exhausting.

As a little girl, Wanda had always dreamed of a beautiful wedding and walking down the aisle with the love of her life. But now… now she couldn’t bear the thought of it. Not without her father to walk her down the aisle, her brother to stand by her side, or her mother to design the most beautiful dress and help plan the day. They would’ve laughed, cried, and celebrated together. But now there was no one left. Her whole family was gone. She was alone, surrounded by people who had taken her in and became her friends—but it wasn’t the same.

“Hey!” she heard James’ warm, slightly husky voice—just like her father’s. “How’d you sleep?”

“Fine,” she replied with a small smile, making her way to the coffee machine. She needed something to keep her going.

“Steve and I are thinking of redoing our room,” he said, smiling. “We’re looking through catalogs. Want to help?”

“Sorry, I’ve got a lot of cleaning to do,” she said with feigned regret, backing away toward the kitchen.

“Didn’t you clean just yesterday?” Natasha asked, narrowing her eyes slightly. Wanda froze, startled.

“Well, you know how it is,” she replied awkwardly, trying to laugh it off. “Mess builds up—it’s a vicious cycle.” Then she nearly ran out of the room.

Once the doors closed behind her, she fell to her knees, overwhelmed by sobs. Controlling her emotions was becoming harder and harder. Even the smallest thing triggered her panic. The guilt was too much. She had to bring him back to Earth. Undo it all. Make sure he never found out. But how? How do you bring back someone you can’t even reach?

She couldn’t go on like this. It was too much. She couldn’t lie to him like this. She couldn’t lie to herself. It would lead nowhere.

Feeling unworthy wasn’t a good reason—it wasn’t any reason at all. If she really wanted to keep him, she never should’ve done what she did, and she knew it. If she didn’t fix this in time, it would turn against her. She was at a dead end.

Tears blurred her vision as she struggled to breathe through the sobs. Her heart pounded violently. She had no idea what to do.

“Hey, kid, you okay in there?” came James’ voice from behind the door.

She shut her eyes tight and pressed her hand over her mouth, trying with all her might to keep any sound from escaping—no sobs, no cries. Nothing. But it was stronger than her. Nothing could stop it. She wanted to scream, to cry, to tear the world apart just to go back in time and stop herself from making that mistake.

The door creaked open—not with force, but with purpose. Bucky stepped inside and closed it behind him with a soft thud. He must have heard her crying. He didn’t say a word—just sat down beside her and wrapped his arms around her.

He knew exactly what she was going through. He’d felt that way far too often himself. And in those moments, all he had ever needed was someone to hold his hand and lead him out of the darkness. He couldn’t just walk away from Wanda. He couldn’t let her get lost in that same darkness.

Through the fabric of his hoodie, he felt her heart and breath slowly start to calm.

“Hey, it’s going to be okay,” he said gently, pressing his cool metal hand to her forehead. “You need some sleep. You look like you haven’t slept in a week.”

His warm, slightly hoarse voice was like honey and milk—soothing every ache in her soul. She felt his arms around her again, lifting her up. And then, she was in bed.

She didn’t have the strength to resist. She didn’t have the strength for anything anymore. She just wanted to sleep… and never wake up. So no one could ever hurt her again—not even herself.

Sleep was the only place left where she could dream. Where everything could be beautiful again. Where he was still by her side

Chapter Text

Days passed, and Loki had begun to get used to the strange feeling that occasionally made itself known. A hint of anxiety, mixed with curiosity and anger. He returned to his daily activities, hoping that one day he would have the chance to meet Wanda Maximoff again—the only woman who had managed to stir his mind.

In Asgard, the mythical abode of all gods, the weather was almost always perfect. It didn’t matter what season it was, as they didn’t apply here. Usually, a beautiful sun shone over Asgard, and the temperature was pleasant, not too hot. However, there were days when Thor had a whim and brought foul weather to the castle. He loved snowy weather, so whenever it was winter in Midgard, it was winter in Asgard as well—thanks to Thor’s initiative.

Loki stood leaning against the railing of a grand balcony, from which a breathtaking view of the mountains unfolded. At night, the Asgardian sky looked like a fairy tale. All the constellations, colors of the cosmos, and other wonders and planets were visible to the naked eye. No one tried to overshadow the brilliance of the stars. Everything was clearly visible, adding just a bit more magic to the place. Tonight was one of the most beautiful nights—the night of falling stars, where comets and stars traversed the cosmos, summoned by the unquenchable star of Nidavellir.

The man gazed at the sky, lost in various thoughts. He usually looked at the stars when he sought answers to questions or needed to calm his frayed nerves. They gave him space to breathe. But tonight, he had no clear questions or dilemmas. He simply couldn’t sleep... or at least that’s what it seemed.

A knock echoed from the depths of the room. With a flick of his wrist, Loki opened the distant door. His chambers consisted of a slightly shadowed salon, which was surrounded on almost all sides by a raised platform that held a grand royal bed. The salon was separated from the sleeping area only by a dais and arcades adorned with intricate columns and delicate curtains, which provided a minimal sense of privacy and seclusion. There were no windows in the passage to the balcony—just ordinary columns, allowing the temperature in the room to match that outside the palace.

“My prince,” a familiar male voice called out, belonging to the court messenger, advisor, and perhaps the only person Loki referred to as a friend. Dorian Seveilson stood at the edge of the room and terrace, dressed in a long, dark coat adorned with silver patterns like stardust. “Your brother would like to speak with you in private.”

Loki turned to him with theatrical disdain and irritation.

“Then why did he send you instead of coming himself?” the god exclaimed, throwing his hands up in frustration. “Idiot…”

The brunette moved from his spot toward his brother’s chambers located on the other side of the palace. The elf slowly followed him. The only source of light in the palace corridors at night were two enormous stained glass windows located at opposite ends of the hallway, through which light streamed in. Loki pushed open the large wooden door and disappeared behind it. His and Thor’s rooms were practically indistinguishable, except for their color schemes and minor changes in furniture arrangement. The brunette looked around his brother’s room and, seeing him nowhere in sight, concluded that his dear brother must be hiding in the wardrobe.

“Are you in there?” Loki called out, peeking around the ajar door.

“No!” Thor replied with a hint of irony, then stepped out of the room with a leather bag in hand. Loki rolled his eyes, placing his hands on his hips, looking questioningly at his brother. “I’m heading to Midgard for a while. As your wonderful older brother, I thought you might want to visit your beloved.”

“What are you talking about?” Loki grimaced in distaste.

“I saw the way you look at her. You like her,” the blond grinned foolishly, nudging his brother in the arm.

“No—”

Before Loki could say anything, Thor shoved an object into his hand and, gripping his shoulders, turned him toward the exit.

“Don’t whine; you’ll relax a bit. You have no obligations right now, so you’re coming with me,” his brother interrupted and pushed him toward the exit.

***

“We should wake her up,” a soft and caring voice of Pepper could be heard from behind the wall. “She hasn’t eaten anything for several days. If she keeps sleeping, she’ll starve.”

“Calm down, Pepp; if she gets hungry, she’ll wake up,” James replied.

“What, calm down, James?! She won’t tell you she’s hungry. She’ll say everything is fine and that she ate when no one was around!” the blonde continued.

For the past several minutes, Wanda had been sitting against the wall in the salon, listening to the conversation between Clint, Nat, Pepper, and Bucky. In case someone passed by, she was hiding under the cloak of her powers, which allowed her to warp reality and create so-called “illusions.” Single tears streamed down her cheeks. She felt terrible being a burden to her friends.

“Clint? Nat? What do you think?” James asked.

“Pepper is right. We should wake her up and make sure she eats regularly... at least for a while. She needs to recover. Later, we’ll think about how to cheer her up and ensure this doesn’t happen again,” Nat stated.

“I think a compromise would be to give her an IV with something to keep her alive,” Clint shrugged.

Barton and Natasha sat on the couch, James leaned against the wall where the television hung, and Pepper nervously paced around the salon.

“Thor? What do you think?” Clint’s voice suddenly jolted the redhead to her feet, like a bucket of cold water.

What? When did he arrive? Is he here too?

Wanda stood up from the floor and peeked around the corner. No one saw her, but she could see them all. He was there too, dressed in a dark green turtleneck and black dress pants that contrasted with his pale complexion. His hair was slicked back and tied in a low bun. He leaned against the countertop, looking either bored or lost in deep thought. Suddenly, he lifted his head and looked directly into her green eyes, as if her magic posed no obstacle for him.

“I think your sleeping beauty is no longer asleep,” he remarked lightly.

A cold shiver ran down Wanda’s spine. Without a moment’s hesitation, she dashed to her room. Within seconds, everyone rushed to her bedroom. She hurriedly climbed into bed and covered herself with a blanket.

A soft knock echoed in the room. Then, one person entered. From the way he walked, Wanda deduced it was James.

“Hey, kiddo, how are you feeling?” he asked, sitting on the edge of the bed.

“I’m fine,” she replied with a faint smile, sitting up.

“I expected you to say that. I won’t pry if you don’t want me to, but know that I can see something’s not right,” Bucky said, placing his hand over hers. “I used to convince myself and everyone around me that I was fine, even when I was in the worst pit imaginable.” It struck her as strange that James spoke so calmly about his trauma and the issues he had gone through not long ago—about what he must have felt when they had tried to abduct and exploit him. “Remember, you can always come to any of us and vent... or just cry. Bottling it up won’t help you. I assure you.”

He ran his thumb over the back of her hand and then smiled gently.

“I’m really hungry. Can we cook something?” she asked, trying not to cry again, despite what James had said. Now everything would be fine; she would fix everything, and even if HE left, he wouldn’t find out anything, and she would manage. Everything is and will be fine.

“We have guests, and dinner is practically ready,” James said, rising from the bed and handing Wanda a warm hoodie that was hanging on her door. “We were hoping you’d eat with us, and we tried to make something to cheer you up. I don’t know how it turned out, but I hope you won’t kill us for it,” the brunette chuckled lightly, wrapping an arm around her.

“No matter what you made, it will be good,” Wanda rested her head on his shoulder. “Thank you, Buck.”

***

The day was drawing to a close. For the past few hours, Wanda had been watching her favorite movies with all the residents. They interspersed this with playing board games, one of the favorite pastimes of the Tower’s inhabitants. She felt much better thanks to this than when she spent time alone. However, she still felt a sense of lack of control and fear lingering in her heart and mind.

The redhead was getting ready for bed. Although she had slept for many hours, she needed to reset her biological clock. This was to be one of the few small steps that would help her shake off this emotional slump. Standing in front of the mirror, with her cheeks wet from the constant flow of tears, she slowly brushed her chestnut-red waves. A knock sounded at the door.

“Come in,” she replied, guessing who might be on the other side. She was right. A tall, dark-haired god with the most beautiful green eyes entered the bathroom. However, those eyes no longer held their usual sparkle. They were empty and expressionless, as if all feeling had evaporated from him... She couldn’t leave it like that, even if it meant deceiving herself. “You’re back,” she whispered softly, giving him a look through her tear-streaked eyes.

In an instant, his expression softened, and that spark returned to his eyes. Now everything was alright.

“I promised I would return, my dear,” he approached her and wiped away a tear rolling down her cheek. “Don’t cry,” he gently grasped her chin between two fingers and lifted it so she would look at him. “Now everything will be alright.”

“I know,” she replied quietly as he embraced her.

Chapter Text

That night turned out to be heavier than he had imagined. The touch of her warm skin, the otherworldly scent, her angelic voice, and those emerald eyes filled with colorful sparks... Beautiful sparks. All of this distracted him. He couldn't focus on anything. Not even on sleep. Everything seemed more interesting than sleeping, although not for long, because soon another even more fascinating thing appeared to divert his attention.

He watched her, her long, red waves spread out on the pillow. Her beautiful body, covered in satin bedding, and her delicate face, nestled against his torso. She looked so peaceful and happy. At least, that’s how she seemed. Happy and the kind of person everyone around would care for, the one everyone wanted to protect.

He wanted to be her one and only.

But he didn't know it yet...

Not wanting to wake her, he carefully got up from the bed and headed to the bathroom. It looked much different from the one Loki had in Asgard. He still wasn't used to Earth's inventions. He often didn't understand their purpose or how to operate them. It was hard for him to learn their world. It was incredibly complicated. Wanda’s bathroom appeared very modest and delicate. White tiles on the floor and walls of the large shower cabin; the rest of the walls were beige, just like her entire room. Next to the sink with a long countertop, there was a laundry basket, a small rug, and a clay pot with a small tree. The bathtub was right next to the shower, surrounded by more potted plants. Everything was very tidy and looked like a place inhabited by a red-haired woman.

During the quick shower, he had a moment to think. His mind was muddled. He didn’t know how to handle the situation. He felt something for this girl—something that wasn’t just friendship or the usual affection one feels for friends. She was someone more to him. But he suspected that what had motivated her to do what she did was certainly not a conscious feeling from his side. Yet, he couldn't tell her that he knew. Not now, not after what she had gone through in recent weeks.

When he first arrived on Earth and learned that Wanda had behaved strangely during his absence—certainly not as she used to—he knew he had to prevent it. He was worried about her. It was a completely new feeling for him. He had never cared about anyone except himself before. And yet, this time, he decided to help the girl who had turned his entire mind upside down and who needed his help.

It sounded strange in his head. Someone needed his help. What could he offer her? Pain, suffering, a bit of his darkness, and his flawless appearance? It puzzled him because Wanda had many people around her who would likely jump into the fire for her. Someone like Thor, even though they weren’t best friends, had abandoned all his duties as future king to come to Earth and look after the girl. James, who didn't seem like someone interested in helping anyone—since Wanda had fallen into his arms in a complete hysteria and cried for hours—sat by her bed, watching over her so she wouldn’t hurt herself and so she wouldn’t be alone after waking up.

So why did Haimdal tell him before flying away that she needed him?

After thirty long minutes, he stepped out of the bathroom, wrapping a towel around his waist. He stood in front of the mirror, staring at his face for a moment. He tied his black hair into a bun and left the bathroom. It was good that the day before yesterday, Dorian had shaved his several-day stubble. He couldn't go to Earth not looking like a typical prince with a perfectly smooth face. Living in Asgard, he didn’t care so much about appearances, but outside Asgard, when going somewhere to negotiate or for other matters, he preferred to look perfect—best he could. Even if this was a foolish trip to Earth, with his brother, just to take a break from duties.

He stood in the room, looking at Wanda, still asleep. She looked so peaceful. He knew that his close presence, talking to him, calmed her down. She wanted to have everything under control and panicked when she didn’t know what was happening. He understood her, even though he had never attached himself emotionally to anyone like this before. It hurt him what she was doing, but he knew that if he loved her as much as she loved him, he would do the same.

He sat on the bed, and with a quick wrist movement, changed his towel into a tight black T-shirt—similar to those Thor often wore on Midgard—and black sweatpants. Also, with a simple gesture, a book appeared in his hand, one of his favorites, depicting the story of his grandfather Bor. He never had the chance to meet him, so he loved reading about him. During reading, he began to run his fingers through Wanda’s red hair, which lay beside him. He hoped she wouldn't wake up too soon, so she could get some sleep, but he was mistaken.

Seeing her start to move and slowly open her eyes, he put the book aside carefully and gently embraced her with his arm. He wasn’t sure if it was right to close the distance between them, but he knew he couldn’t leave her alone—at least for now—until she fought her tormenting demons. Only then could he leave... but would he want to after so long?

If only he could turn back time, never enter her room, never help her, nor save her from the battlefield. He would do it. He wouldn’t start this twisted relationship. But everything he did was impulsive, he didn’t think about the consequences. Now, he realized that those consequences would come, and unless they clarified everything in time and decided what to do about the situation, it wouldn’t end well.

"Read to me what you were reading. Please," Wanda muttered, still somewhat sleepy, resting her head on his chest.

"Sure, I will, but first, you should eat something," Loki gave her a cold look—not to be cruel but because he simply didn’t want to hear her excuses. He knew that for her to recover, she needed to get well, and a step toward that was proper eating.

He had flown here especially for her, but he couldn’t be with her. He couldn’t love her, even though he probably did. He could only help her deal with her demons. He couldn’t want anything more or expect anything in return. If she found out who he really was, nothing she did would matter anymore, and he would have to end this game. He planned to help her recover and then go his own way because no one as good and somewhat lost as her deserved someone like him—ruthless and merciless, a prince hiding something far worse and more disgusting behind his mask and stern face.

"I’m not hungry, I’ll eat later," she replied, sitting up in bed and covering her naked body with one hand, while the other ran through her red hair.

"Wanda, I’m not going to argue with you. You’re going to get dressed and eat breakfast now, or I’ll force you out of this bed," he said, not intending to be harsh but wanting her to understand that she needed to recover. Her friends were worried about her, and he... he was worried too.

"I'm not going anywhere," she replied, turning her back to him.

Loki sat in silence for a moment, unsure whether he should follow her command or give in this time. He was a man of his word and always kept his promises. He got up from the bed, effortlessly lifting Wanda over his shoulder, leaving her wrapped in satin bedding. The girl immediately started to struggle and scream.

"Put me down right now!—" she yelled, almost into his ear, "I’m not even dressed!"

"You had your chance, dear. Do you know how much I care right now?" he paused briefly, adjusting her for the hanging fabric that still kicked him with her legs and punched his back. "I couldn’t care less."

Loki moved forward. Upon crossing the threshold into the living room, he paid no attention to the shocked Clint and Nat, who sat at the island, drinking coffee. He sat Wanda on the sofa and approached the fridge, where on a small plate, James had left her sandwiches. He poured himself a cup of coffee, then sat beside the girl and handed her the plate.

Eat this, then we’ll talk about reading books and other entertainment.

"I won’t eat that!" she snapped, crossing her arms over her chest.

"Do whatever you want. I don’t care," he lost patience and left the living room, heading toward the room that was technically reserved for him during his stay.

How much he wanted to help Wanda, yet how much he hated her defiance. This girl drove him crazy. He loved everything about her—except her stubbornness. In the long run, it didn’t make sense to him to keep arguing with an emotionally unstable girl who only cried and refused help. So how could he help her when she didn’t want it?

He sat on the bed, covering his face with his hands. He didn’t know how much longer he could go on like this. He was already broken after the first attempt. He was completely unfit to help others; he lacked patience. He couldn’t be kind or supportive. Why did Haimdal say that Wanda needed him? Why did everyone expect him to help Wanda? He barely knew her—didn’t know her preferences, her story, or what she needed. He knew almost nothing about her. Only that she needed help.

"Loki," a soft voice called in the room.

The girl, only covered with a blanket, stood in front of him with her head lowered.

"Until you eat something, we have nothing to discuss, Wanda," he replied, gazing at her tiredly.

"I ate. Natasha and Clint can confirm," she answered even softer. "I want to apologize. I acted like a child. I don’t want you to be mad at me."

The red-haired girl stepped a little closer, almost standing between his parted legs. Loki lifted his gaze and looked her over from top to bottom. He didn’t expect her to come apologetic and ready to admit her fault. He wouldn’t do that—never would. His ego was too big, and he knew it well. It didn’t bother him at all.

"I'm not mad at you," he said, placing his hands on her hips, then standing up and looking down at her. "We just all worry about you. You can’t reject our help just because you’re stubborn. We only want you to feel better."

"I feel good when I’m with you," she whispered softly, slipping the blanket off one shoulder, then the other, revealing her breasts, which slipped out of the slick fabric.

"I know, my dear," he whispered, then suddenly pulled her to him with force and pressed his lips to hers.

All he could smell was the scent of vanilla cookies. Wanda smelled like cookies—his secret favorite. He kissed her passionately, as if trying to show her how much he needed her. Because deep down, he knew he loved her, just like his cookies. Deep down, he knew he needed her to help him emerge from darkness, to show him what the world looks like and how to show feelings and share them with others.

His hands traced her body, completely removing her only covering. She had an ideal body, perfectly suited for his touch. He, on the other hand, was made perfectly for her. They were made for each other, but still needed to realize it. The dark-haired man lifted her up, and just as she was about to wrap her legs around his hips, he threw her onto the bed behind them.

He quickly shed his T-shirt and pants, then hovered over the red-haired girl, pressing his hands on either side of her face. He looked into her beautiful green eyes, which sparkled like stars. He already knew what that meant—pain. It hurt him too, but he was always accustomed to pain. He could ignore it and lose himself in her again, before regretting it and claiming he didn’t deserve her.

He began to place quick, wet kisses on her neck, slowly moving down to her cleavage and stomach. He left a long, red mark on her skin, so she would remember it for a long time. He stopped at her navel, then looked back at her face, contorted in a slight grimace of pleasure. With a magic trick, two identical bracelets appeared in his hand, made of gold and adorned with green crystals.

"Give me your hand," he whispered softly, extending his hand. The girl willingly gave him her hand, and he placed the gold ornament on her.

"What is this?" she asked, examining the jewelry.

"A piece of Asgardian technology. It protects against unwanted offspring," he said briefly, pulling her closer to the edge of the bed.

He grabbed her wrists between his fingers and pinned them above her head, causing her to emit a soft moan. More moans escaped her lips as he swiftly entered her and started moving slowly.

She loved him. She had loved him from the first glance. From the beginning, she knew there was something between them. She couldn’t let it slip away, which is why she did something that now haunted her with guilt. She should have let him go that night if they were truly destined to be together. But she was too afraid to let go.

She didn’t want to do it, but she saw no other option. She didn’t realize how much he loved her. If only she had the courage and honesty to tell him what she felt, maybe she wouldn’t have to do this...

If only they could talk openly...

He owned her entire body. With a single look, move, or gesture, he made her do everything he wanted. She was completely his. Each movement was harmonious and perfect; they complemented each other. He dominated her, and she dominated him. They were meant for each other, to remain forever devoted.

Chapter Text

Guilt tormented her even when Loki was nearby. Even when everything seemed under control, she still felt ashamed of what she had done.

She wished she could undo it all, but doing so would mean confessing—something she couldn’t bring herself to do. She wasn’t capable of giving up what she had gained through lies. She was addicted to it.

Addicted to his gaze, to the icy touch that sent shivers down her spine, to his voice, to everything about him. She couldn’t bear being away from him. It was strange—after all, they barely knew each other. Yet they already needed one another like an addict needs a fix.

They were entangled in a toxic relationship built on unspoken truths, desire, and childhood trauma.

After learning the truth about his real family, Loki distanced himself from the royal court. He stopped feeling loved, convinced that every kind gesture was a lie. He no longer believed in love and avoided everyone. Living his entire life in his brother’s shadow, never feeling truly loved, left him unable to express love or kindness to others.

When Wanda came into his life, he saw a reflection of himself in her—a part of her that had also been starved of love. But she could love. And he took a dark satisfaction in uncovering what she had done. A part of him whispered that he didn’t deserve her, that he should let her go. That he was unworthy of any love. A storm raged endlessly in his mind.

As a little girl, Wanda grew up in a poor but loving home. She had caring parents and a brother. But one by one, fate took them all from her, leaving her aching for love, attention, and someone to care for her. The superhero team welcomed her like family, offering warmth and support, but it wasn’t enough.

Then one day, a scarred but devastatingly handsome god stood in her living room—carrying a darkness that intrigued her. She told herself she’d uncover the reason for his torment. What she didn’t realize was that before she could get close to his truth, she’d have to win his attention. And the pursuit of it blinded her.

She needed him—he filled the empty places in her heart.

They were toxic for each other, but maybe they needed that toxicity to relearn things they’d lost.

A burning pain in her stomach and sudden nausea tore her from sleep. She bolted from bed and ran to the bathroom, vomiting violently into the toilet. She wept, shaking uncontrollably. The guilt was beginning to consume her.

She wanted it to end—but she couldn’t give up her addiction. Slowly, she stood, rinsed her mouth with cold water, still trembling, her mind spiraling toward a breakdown.

The redhead left the bathroom and glanced at the small clock on the dresser—6:15. She picked up Loki’s linen shirt from the floor and slipped it over her body, clad only in underwear. Pulling on a pair of soft shorts, she quietly exited the bedroom, leaving Loki fast asleep.

In the living room, Natasha was sitting with James, Steve, Tony, and Pepper. They were flipping through magazines piled on the coffee table. Wanda sat beside Natasha, resting her head on her shoulder as she glanced at the magazines.

They were all about baby products and parenting tips.

“Why are we looking through baby catalogs?” Wanda asked, eyeing each of them.

“A friend of a good friend is expecting a baby and has no idea what to buy. We’re putting together a starter kit,” Tony replied, marking items with a pen.

“And we know anything about babies?” Wanda scoffed, taking a catalog.

“Natasha and Barton do,” James chimed in. “Nat’s the godmother of some of Barton’s kids. They know what they’re doing. We’re just helping.” He shrugged.

Odd, really—that this couple turned to a team of mostly childless superheroes who spent most of their time holed up in a tower. Sure, they were heroes—but hardly family consultants. Most of them didn’t even have families.

“I’m bored,” James groaned, letting his head fall onto Steve’s shoulder. “Let’s do something fun. There’s nothing going on here.” He dropped a magazine on his face and folded his hands over his chest.

“If you’re bored, you could clean the kitchen,” Natasha remarked, glancing at the sink full of dirty dishes.

“No thanks,” he replied instantly after seeing the disaster zone. “Let’s go somewhere cool.”

“Let’s fly to Cuba,” Tony suggested with surprising seriousness.

“Tony, come back to Earth,” Pepper said, amused, with Tony’s head in her lap.

“But James is right. Let’s take a vacation. I vote Cuba. Jarvis, find the fastest flight to Havana.” Tony stood, retrieved his laptop, and opened it.

“Tony, seriously. We’re not going anywhere,” Pepper protested.

“I would go,” James said. “Steve and I have never traveled anywhere that wasn’t a mission. It’d be nice, right babe?” He nudged Steve, who nodded while still flipping through magazines.

“Bruce and I are in,” Natasha added. “We could use a vacation.”

“I’d love to go too,” Wanda agreed, outvoting Pepper.

“Perfect!” Tony grinned. “Better start packing—our flight’s at seven. You’ve got just under thirteen hours for a week-and-a-half getaway.” He paused to read from the screen. “Yep—ten days of sun and peace.”

“You’re impossible, Anthony,” Pepper muttered, standing from the couch.

“I know. And that’s why you love me.” Tony twirled her around, kissing her cheek.

***

Convincing everyone to go to Cuba wasn’t that difficult.

From early morning, the tower buzzed with energy and last-minute packing. James and Steve were the most relaxed, packing not only for themselves but helping others and helping Tony find a hotel.

They chose a small, secluded hotel with a private beach to guarantee some privacy. For fun, they booked economy class to stir media interest—a classic Tony move, who secretly loved the spotlight. He was the brightest star among stars.

Some needed a wardrobe upgrade, so Wanda, Natasha, Thor, and Loki hit the local mall. It took nearly five hours to find beachwear for the godly brothers, whose closets severely lacked summer attire.

By around two p.m., they emerged with bags full of colorful shirts, shorts, basic tees, and other summer gear.

The next few hours flew by with final packing and a drive to the airport. Upon arrival, they were instantly surrounded by fans snapping photos. Baseball caps and sunglasses didn’t help much—Tony’s glowing arc reactor, James’s cybernetic arm, Steve’s physique, and Thor’s build made them instantly recognizable. And then there were Natasha’s and Wanda’s striking red hair, and Pepper’s signature blonde ponytail.

The flight was short—just over 90 minutes—filled with chatting with fans and taking selfies. Only Loki remained silent, observing. He found it baffling that people still adored the Avengers. Every battle left cities in ruins and innocent lives lost. Did no one see that, for all their glory, none of them considered the collateral damage?

In a just world, they’d all be behind bars for manslaughter or negligence.

Once in Cuba, they took a ferry to a smaller island. The hotel wasn’t luxury, but it was secluded, quiet, and comfortable.

“Buenas noches. Reservation under Stark,” Natasha said at the reception, handing Bruce her suitcase.

“Okay, let me check… Four rooms with double beds and one with twin beds. Correct?”

“Uh, wait a second,” Natasha turned to the group, clearly annoyed. “Whoever booked the rooms needs a math lesson. There are four rooms with one bed and one with two twins. So, who’s bunking together?”

Silence. Everyone exchanged nervous glances. The only ones still to be assigned were Sam, Thor, Loki, and Wanda. All eyes turned to them.

“I’m not sharing a bed with him,” Sam said, pointing at Thor. “He’d crush me in his sleep.”

“I don’t plan to share with you either,” Thor shot back, arms crossed.

The group sighed as the two dissolved into childish bickering.

“Wanda? Loki? Please tell me you don’t care,” Natasha pleaded.

Loki looked at Wanda, and she met his gaze. Their eyes said it all—they wanted to share.

“Doesn’t matter,” Loki shrugged. “Worst case, Wanda sleeps on the floor.” His tone was cold, maintaining his narcissistic image.

No one in the group suspected a thing. Loki and Wanda never showed affection around others. Only in private did they give in to their emotions—sharing a bed, their bodies, whispered conversations. In public, they were just teammates.

Natasha finished check-in and handed out keys. They had an hour to settle in before heading to the beach to celebrate.

Loki dragged two suitcases behind him; Wanda skipped down the corridor with just her purse. Room 7 was theirs.

“Now, forget your worries, darling, and enjoy the moment,” Loki murmured, dropping the bags and pinning Wanda against the wall.

She gasped as he kissed her, covering her skin in cold yet electrifying kisses. Each one sent a soft moan from her lips. His lips were like ice and yet so intoxicating. She craved his hands, his scent—a mix of fresh tea and forest air. She could spend hours inhaling him.

Loki wanted the next few days to be free of sorrow. Just her, joy, and their friends. Once he was sure she was safe—from herself—he planned to tell her the truth. Then disappear from her life.

He wanted to savor every last moment with her—her body, her scent, her voice, everything. He wanted to stay longer, but he knew it would never work.

If she ever learned who he really was, she would leave. And he couldn’t bear being rejected again.Better to walk away than be cast aside.

Chapter Text

Another day in Cuba was shaping up to be wonderful. The sun warmed the air gently, and the soothing sound of waves echoed through the entire guesthouse, calming frayed thoughts. The cries of birds could also be heard as they flew over the houses, searching for food.

Wanda was awakened by the warm sunrays brushing her face. With a smile painted across her lips, she opened her eyes and stretched. She turned onto her side, facing the sleeping Loki. In slumber, he looked like a marble statue sculpted by Michelangelo—his pale skin contrasting with his pitch-black hair, adding an air of mystery and elegance. She rested her head on her bent hand and began tracing her finger slowly across his chest. A rare smile immediately appeared on his face.

She loved making him smile. Beneath his mask of indifference and coldness lay a painful past he never spoke of—a past that had hurt him deeply. She wanted him to smile with her all the time, to always look at her the way he did that morning. She wanted him by her side, and to be by his. That was all she desired: for him to be happy—with her. For them to be happy together.

The dark-haired man wrapped one arm around her waist and pulled her on top of him, so she straddled his hips. Her long red curls cascaded over her shoulders and down her back like a waterfall. Dressed only in white bedsheets, without makeup and with tousled hair, she looked like a true angel.

“I had an amazing idea,” she said, pressing a soft kiss to his lips before pulling back again. But Loki drew her against his chest and held her tightly.

“I was thinking we could take a little trip to Havana today,” she continued, running her fingers along his jaw. “We can fly to the main island by helicopter and come back in the evening. Just you and me.” She smiled gently.

The god gave her a curious look.

“So you’re saying… just you, me, and Havana. All day long,” he spoke slowly, as if weighing a decision he had already made. “Sounds tempting,” he murmured, giving her a light kiss.

They stayed in bed a little while longer before finally deciding to get up and get dressed. Wanda put on a woven top, loose white linen pants, and a matching linen shirt. She wore colorful sandals and covered her head with a straw hat. Loki threw on a light linen shirt, deliberately left unbuttoned, white pants with a brown belt, and leather sandals.

Unnoticed by their friends, they slipped out of the hotel. A quick ride brought them to the airport, where they managed to find a pilot who agreed to take them to Havana and back for just forty Cuban pesos. They found it a fair price and, in less than thirty minutes, they were in the capital.

***

They spent most of the day in Havana admiring the city and exploring historical landmarks.

The place had a unique charm. Most of the houses were built in a similar style and painted in bright pastel colors that gave the city its distinct character. However, like many parts of Central and South America, it was a bit run-down and slowly losing its shine.

As they wandered from one attraction to another, they often stopped at street stalls selling bracelets, jewelry, and souvenirs. Wanda’s wrists were now adorned with numerous colorful bracelets, while Loki’s hands carried various bags filled with the redhead’s purchases. A few Cuban cigars, a bottle of fine rum, fridge magnets, a keychain, and other strange trinkets hawked by persistent vendors.

“How about a little break, darling?” Loki asked, nodding toward a small but cozy-looking bar. “We can get a drink and something to eat, then head back to the airport.”

“Fine by me, my legs are giving out anyway,” the redhead replied, taking a seat across from Loki. “This place is so beautiful. I could live here,” she sighed, looking around at the vibrant city.

“Well, I can’t deny it’s quite charming,” Loki nodded, scanning the menu handed to him by the waiter. “But there are more beautiful places,” he added under his breath, immediately catching Wanda’s attention.

“What place could possibly be more beautiful than this?” she asked, folding her arms and leaning back in her chair, waiting for his answer.

“My home. You’ll never find a place more beautiful than Asgard. Most of the time, it’s summer there—warm and blooming with flowers, alive and full of color. The night sky is filled with stars more dazzling than anything you’ll ever see on Earth. Life there… it’s better,” he said, his voice soft, almost wistful, and Wanda listened intently.

“If you’re going to talk to me about Asgard like that, I think you owe me a visit there someday,” she said, resting her chin on her hands.

“I’ll take you wherever you want to go.”

He gazed into her emerald eyes. They still sparkled—she was doing that thing again. He wanted what was growing between them to be real. But life had never been kind to him. It had always thrown obstacles in his path, waiting for the moment he couldn’t get back up. From childhood, he had been tested, brutally, and it had left its mark. Loki no longer believed a happy ending was in store for him. He believed he was destined for lies, loneliness, and darkness.

The bar where they sat was located in one of Havana’s main squares. The pillars were decorated with colorful garlands, and lanterns cast a warm yellow glow over the plaza and the people enjoying themselves there. Everyone around was dancing and singing along with the street musicians. No one cared about age, appearance, or skin color—they just wanted to enjoy life. The atmosphere was magical, as if time had stopped.

“Dance with me,” the redhead said suddenly, reaching out her hand toward Loki.

“I don’t really dance,” he replied, sipping his piña colada.

“Please, Loki,” her eyes sparkled even brighter than before. He couldn’t resist them. He couldn’t ignore her beautiful emerald eyes.

With a deep sigh, he took her hand, and in an instant, she had pulled him into the middle of the plaza where others were already dancing to the lively rhythm of guitars and trumpets.

“Do you know how to dance salsa?” Wanda asked.

“Let’s just say I know how to dance, darling” Loki replied with a charming smile, tightening his grip on her hand and sweeping her into the music.

He led her effortlessly, spinning her and guiding her to the beat of the fast, energetic music. With every passing moment, her smile grew wider. Her loose red curls moved like ocean waves each time Loki twirled her around.

Time stood still, and their hearts beat in sync, as if they were one. Their gazes met again and again, bringing new smiles and fresh waves of oxytocin that made them crave more. They wanted each other—here, now, and forever. Because they were meant to be.

Chapter Text

The Cuban vacation was slowly coming to an end. Their flight was scheduled for the next day, so they would make it back to the Tower in time for dinner. Even though they had spent just over a week on the tropical island, everyone felt relaxed and ready to return. Everyone except Wanda—who neither looked nor felt her best.

For the past two days, she had been sluggish, and any food or drink made her nauseous. She blamed it all on something she and Loki had eaten in Havana. There didn’t seem to be any other reasonable explanation for how she was feeling. Still, Wanda didn’t let it bother her much and spent another hour sunbathing on the beach.

The gentle waves, chirping birds, and warm sun eased her thoughts and brought peace to her soul. It was her time to reflect on what she should do when they returned home. Should she confess to Loki? Or keep it to herself? But could she really go on lying to both him and herself? Was any of it even worth it?

These thoughts had been haunting her for days. Being around her friends gave her some relief, helped her forget—for a while—about the uncertainty ahead. But the moment she was alone, the unwelcome thoughts came rushing back stronger than ever.

She pulled her knees to her chest and rested her chin on them, watching a lone crab carrying shells across the sand. The tiny red creature scuttled around the golden beach without a care in the world.

To walk along the warm Cuban sand, collect seashells, and not worry about anything… just live and enjoy life.

But her life wasn’t that simple. The decisions she had made in the past were catching up to her. There was no undoing them, and no clear solution on the horizon. All she could see ahead was the vast, deep Caribbean Sea, offering no answers.

“What am I supposed to do now?” she sighed, looking up at the sky, hoping for a sign.

“With what?” came a voice from behind. A moment later, Natasha sat down on the lounge chair beside her, a colorful drink in hand.

“It’s nothing, really…” Wanda waved it off.

“Come on. I can tell something’s bothering you. You can talk to me.”

“Well… This might sound crazy, but I think I have feelings for Loki. And before you say anything—I know he’s ‘the bad guy,’ the one who tried to conquer Earth and caused the whole New York disaster and more, but… I’ve seen something different in him. He can be kind, even sweet, but he’s just so hurt,” she said, the words spilling out faster than she could control. “Also, he’s really handsome and… really good in—well, never mind. The point is, he doesn’t feel the same. And I… I need him. I want him to stay. I want to help him, show him the world doesn’t have to be so cruel.”

“You’re telling me that you and Loki… slept together?!” Natasha nearly shouted, prompting Wanda to quickly slap a hand over her mouth.

“Shut up, Nat! I don’t want everyone to know,” Wanda whispered, removing her hand.

“When did this start?” Natasha asked, eyes gleaming with curiosity.

“About a month and a half ago. He came over after my birthday… and things just happened,” Wanda admitted, clearly flustered.

“I knew something was going on,” Nat said, sipping her drink. “I saw you in his shirt more than once, and then there was that day when both of you vanished and no one could find you. Honestly, most people started suspecting something after James showed us that photo from the morning after your birthday,” she laughed. “He went to borrow a hair tie and walked in on you two cuddled up and fast asleep.”

Wanda blushed deeply, covering her face with her hands. She couldn’t believe it. All that effort pretending there was nothing between them, only to learn everyone knew from the start.

“Fantastic… So, any advice on what I should do now?” she asked wearily.

“If you ask me, you should just tell him how you feel before it’s too late. If he doesn’t feel the same… well, I can’t make him fall in love with you, I’m no sorceress—but I can kick his ass back to wherever he came from,” Natasha smirked.

“Yeah… I should talk to him. And if it doesn’t work out, maybe I’ll just cast a little spell,” Wanda chuckled softly. “Could be a solution, right?”

***

Returning home turned out to be more difficult than anyone had expected.

Packing took longer than planned, so they had to literally sprint through the airport to catch their flight. They barely made it through the gates in time. The journey itself only deepened their regret about leaving Cuba. First came the unbearable turbulence that kept Wanda in the plane’s bathroom for most of the flight. Then, mid-air, they hit a storm that forced them to circle over the New York airport three times before they finally landed—with more turbulence to greet them.

The car ride from the airport to the Tower took nearly forty exhausting minutes. Most of the team dozed off during the trip, but not Wanda—she was too sick, overwhelmed by waves of nausea and intense stomach and body pain. All she wanted was to bury herself in her own bed, under soft blankets, and sleep for eternity.

As soon as the elevator doors opened, Wanda headed straight to her room. She didn’t even bother unpacking. She collapsed onto her bed, pulled the covers over herself, and turned off the lights with the remote. She closed her eyes, hoping for sleep to come quickly—but it didn’t.

“How are you feeling, kid?” James entered quietly and sat on the edge of her bed.

“Not great,” Wanda sighed, rolling over.

“I brought you some mint tea. Might help.” He smiled, placing the cup on her nightstand. “You should go see Helen tomorrow, just in case it’s something serious.”

“Thanks for worrying, James. I think I just ate something weird in Havana. I tried a lot of new things, maybe one of them didn’t agree with me,” she replied, taking a sip of the warm tea.

“Do what you want, but don’t expect me to spend all day in the med bay with you,” he chuckled.

“That sounds like you’ve got something better to do,” Wanda gave him a teasing look.

“Steve and I… we’ve been thinking about adoption,” he said, answering all her questions while opening the door to new ones. “We know it’s a crazy idea—we have no clue how to raise a kid. And we just got engaged. But the adoption process takes time, so we figured we’d start now and be ready by the time it happens.”

“Oh my God, James! I can’t wait for you two to be a family,” Wanda squealed, throwing her arms around his neck. “You both deserve happiness, and you’re going to be amazing parents.” She kissed his cheeks in excitement. “God, I don’t even know what I’d do if I found out I was pregnant right now. That would be a complete nightmare.” She rolled her eyes and leaned back against the headboard.

“It would definitely be… interesting. A little redheaded version of you and Loki? That sounds like a dangerous combo,” he laughed. “But you’d raise that chaos into something beautiful.” He smiled, brushing her copper hair gently. “I’ll leave you alone now. Get some rest. I want to see you in Helen’s office tomorrow.”

“Of course,” she replied, as James quietly closed the door behind him.

From the moment he left, her thoughts circled only one thing.

What if she was pregnant with Loki’s child?

How would he react to the news? Would they stay on Earth—or would he take her to Asgard? What would her friends say? What would Thor say if he found out he was going to be an uncle?

Should I tell him everything? What would I even do?

Chapter Text

Mornings were the hardest for Wanda. Everything irritated her—the sunlight pouring in through the large windows, the blaring alarm clock, or the loud conversations of her friends coming from the kitchen and living room. Despite its size and grandeur, Stark Tower had one major flaw: thin walls that often let through a little too much sound.

The redhead squinted, a grimace on her face, and rolled onto her other side. After an exhausting journey, all she wanted was to get some sleep—but it seemed fate had other plans. Unlike her, most of the team were early birds, already up and buzzing with energy by eight in the morning. Wanda, on the other hand, preferred to sleep in and dream of her ideal future.

Ever since she was a child, Wanda had dreamed of becoming a doctor. She loved helping and taking care of people. She knew Sokovia didn’t offer many opportunities, but there were still countries nearby where medical education was top-tier. All she had to do was study hard and pass her exams—then the career she dreamed of would be within reach. But all of that had crumbled when tragedy struck her hometown. Her dreams had to take a backseat to the harsh present.

She got out of bed and ran her fingers through her long, slightly tangled hair. Almost instantly, a now-familiar wave of nausea swept over her. She pressed her lips into a thin line and forced herself to move. Pulling a pink tracksuit from the wardrobe, she quickly changed out of her pajamas, brushed her hair, and applied a touch of mascara. Still groggy, she stepped out of her room and headed to the kitchen, where James and Steve were sitting—Steve talking to someone on the phone.

Not wanting to interrupt, Wanda poured herself a cup of fresh tea and sat next to James, who was reading a newspaper in an old-fashioned manner on the couch.

“How’d you sleep, kid?” he asked, setting the paper aside.

“Not bad, but I could’ve used a few more hours,” she said, stretching. “Where is everyone?”

“They went upstairs to play. That’s what happens when they have nothing to do. Only Stark and Banner are actually doing something useful,” he sighed, shaking his head.

“Well, the life of a world-famous superhero has its downsides. Hard to live a normal life, have a regular job, or go back to what once was.”

“It does get boring,” James admitted. “But most of them are heading out soon for Easter. I’m visiting my family, Natasha’s spending it with Clint, Tony and Pepper are going to her family for a few days… looks like it’ll just be us—those of us with no one left.” There was a tinge of melancholy in his voice.

None of them really had anyone anymore, except the brothers from Asgard. Bruce was alone, and both Steve and James had lost their families long ago during World War II and the decades since. The others had someone—Tony had Pepper, even after losing his parents. Natasha had always been alone, but now she had Clint, and Wanda had become part of their found family. Sam, meanwhile, still had his parents, siblings, and a dozen nieces and nephews. The rest were just lonely outcasts, forced to adapt to the harsh realities of the world.

“Will you come with me to see Helen? I don’t like going alone. That place creeps me out,” Wanda asked.

“Ah, so you’ve decided to follow the advice of a nearly hundred-year-old, slightly unhinged soldier,” James chuckled, making Wanda laugh. “I don’t like going there either, so sure—I’ll go with you.”

Before heading down to Helen Cho’s lab a few floors below, James made them breakfast. Though he never claimed to be a great cook, no one could deny that his pancakes with whipped cream and strawberries were legendary. After their almost royal breakfast, they took the elevator down three floors to the high-tech lab and medical wing.

“Let’s hope I don’t have to stay here long. Just give me something for the stomach ache and let me go,” Wanda grumbled.

“You won’t be here long, I promise,” James smiled, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder.

They stepped into a large, sterile white room filled with equipment and hospital beds. It looked like a fully functional clinic. After walking across the room, they went up to the mezzanine level, where Helen’s smaller office was. She was hunched over a microscope when they arrived.

“What brings you two to me?” Helen asked, glancing up.

“I’ve been vomiting for a few days now, my stomach hurts—things like that. James insisted you check me out,” Wanda explained.

“Hop up on the table, let’s take a look,” the doctor said, gesturing to the exam bed.

For the next several minutes, James kept Wanda company, rambling on about his ideas for adopting a child and how excited and terrified he was at the same time. Meanwhile, Helen asked Wanda a series of questions to form a diagnosis. She drew blood and listened to her heartbeat. So far, everything pointed to a simple case of food poisoning.

“Well, I have your results—and you need to start taking better care of yourself,” Helen said, entering the room with a stack of papers. “You’re deficient in several vitamins. If you don’t start eating properly and sleeping enough, things could get worse.”

“I’ll keep an eye on her,” James assured, wrapping an arm around Wanda’s shoulder.

“Oh, and one more thing…”

***

Loki had been searching the tower for Wanda for hours. He had thought long and hard about everything he knew—everything that had happened. If he truly wanted to help Wanda and move forward, he needed to talk to her and tell her what he knew. For the first time in his life, he wanted to be honest with someone.

He roamed every floor of Stark Tower, looking for the redhead, but she was nowhere to be found—not even in her own room. Frustrated, he finally sank onto a couch beside his brother.

“You look down,” Thor remarked, scrolling through his phone.

“I need to talk to Wanda, but I can’t find her anywhere,” Loki sighed. “I’ve looked everywhere.”

“I saw her in the medical wing with James. Then she left for a walk,” Thor shrugged. “James probably knows where she went.”

“Great. And where is he?”

“Probably in his room.”

Loki got up and headed down the corridor, knocking on James’ door. After a moment, the man opened it, and the cheerful expression on his face vanished when he saw who was standing there. He leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed.

“What do you want?” James asked coldly.

“Where’s Wanda? I need to talk to her.”

“She went for a walk—to clear her head before talking to you.”

“Fantastic. Where exactly did she go? This is really important.”

“She’s in Central Park,” James replied.

Loki turned quickly toward the elevator, but James grabbed his wrist with his metal hand, stopping him. The god glared at him.

“If you hurt her—or make her cry—don’t bother coming back. Because if I see you again, I will mess up that smug little face of yours.”

Loki just scoffed and slipped away from the tower. He didn’t know New York all that well, but the park was visible from the windows, so at least he knew which direction to go. It took him nearly an hour to find her.

Wanda was sitting alone on a bench, away from everyone. When he approached, she looked up with tear-filled eyes. Her nose was red, her eyes puffy, and tears were still running down her cheeks. The sight terrified him.

“We need to talk,” they said in unison.

For a moment, there was silence, then Loki spoke.

“Are you happy with me?” he asked, sitting beside her, his gaze never leaving her face. It took Wanda a moment to respond.

She was happiest with him. She felt wanted, safe. He was her entire world. She wanted him by her side always—but she knew it wasn’t real.

“Yes, I am,” she whispered, wiping a tear away. Loki gently took her hand and enclosed it in both of his.

“Then if you’re truly happy, remove the spell from me,” he said softly. Wanda froze. “You’re incredibly skilled at manipulating minds—it took me a while to realize what you did. I’m not angry,” he added, still watching her as new tears welled in her eyes.

“How long have you known?” she whispered.

“Since the day I came back to you.”

“You’ve been pretending all this time…” she said, brokenly.

“I wasn’t pretending, my dearest. No, because I feel the same as you. I want to be with you, every day, every hour. I want to love you. I want to show you just how much you mean to me. You’re the only one who’s awakened something in me again. I never thought anyone could love me enough to do what you did. I thought I didn’t deserve love. I ruin everything I touch—but you… you resisted. You pulled me out of my darkness. And I love you, Wanda. I love being with you. I love making love to you under the stars on a Cuban beach. I love your laughter, your eyes, the way you care for everyone. I love that you saw something in me no one else did. I love you because you gave me the chance to be better.”

Wanda didn’t know what to say for a long time. Loki waited patiently. She was torn. It hurt that she had lied to him and herself for so long, not realizing they had fallen in love.

“I… I don’t know what to say. I’m sorry for lying to you. For forcing this,” she whispered, trying to hold back her tears. “I’m so sorry.”

Loki wrapped his arm around her, pulling her close. He wanted her to feel safe. He had to change. He had to show her that she mattered more than anything.

They sat there in silence, holding each other for long minutes, each lost in thoughts of what the future might bring. At last, Wanda spoke, voice trembling.

“Loki, there’s something I need to tell you too…” she began, gazing into his pensive face.

“Yes, my darling?”

“I…”

Chapter Text

Wanda had harboured reservations about telling Loki from the outset. She feared rejection. However, James persuaded her to confide in him, assuring her it was for their mutual benefit. He promised to keep her secret until she felt ready to inform the rest of the team.

The redhead gazed into Loki’s green eyes, which were filled with concern. This gave her hope that everything would turn out well.

“I…” she stammered, nervously twisting the hem of her hoodie. “I’m pregnant, Loki.”

The smile and sparkle in the man’s eyes vanished instantly, alarming Wanda. She immediately sensed that Loki was not pleased.

“Excuse me?” he grimaced, releasing her hand.

“We’re going to have a baby, Loki,” she said softly, feeling a pang of guilt.

He rose from the bench and stepped back, his eyes fixed on Wanda with a look of fear.

“No, we won’t,” he denied, retreating further as she moved toward him. “I can’t have children. You need to get rid of it.”

“What?!” Wanda exclaimed, instinctively placing a protective hand over her abdomen.

Although she had only known about the pregnancy for a few hours and hadn’t fully grasped the reality that she would become a mother in nine months, she already felt a deep love for the life growing inside her. It was terrifying, and she wasn’t prepared for this child to arrive so soon, but that didn’t change the fact that, as a mother—young or not—she wanted to protect it at all costs.

“You have to get rid of it,” he insisted. “This isn’t even possible… How?” he whispered, more to himself than to her. “How!” he shouted.

“The first time… we didn’t use protection,” she murmured.

“I can’t… No, you must terminate it,” he said, grabbing her wrist.

“I don’t understand, Loki… You said you loved me. Isn’t this the fruit of our love? Proof that it was real? That we’re meant to be together?” she asked, tears streaming down her face.

“That child is a monster! You have to get rid of it!” he shouted directly into her terrified face.

Loki’s beautiful green eyes, which in sunlight resembled the purest emeralds, no longer sparkled. They were shrouded in shadow and darkness, filled with anger, fury, and fear. For the first time in his life, Loki was afraid.

“I’m not going to do that, Loki,” the redhead said, pulling her hand free from his grip.

“Fine. Then I’ll remove myself from your life. Forever…” he said, turning and walking deeper into the park.

Desperate, the girl didn’t know what to do. She clung to her last hope. Using her powers, she stopped Loki and turned him to face her. His face contorted with even more fury. He struggled against her, trying to break free. The redhead, however, seemed stronger.

“You can’t just walk away!” she screamed, choking on her tears. “I can’t do this without you. I don’t want to be alone again…”

“You were! You are! And you will be alone!” he shouted, breaking free from her power, causing her to be thrown back and fall to the ground.

She no longer had the strength to fight. She wanted to give up. And Loki was right. She was alone. She had no parents, no brother, no friends, no family. She no longer had the love of her life, no home, and no prospects for the future. She wanted to go to sleep and never wake up. To forget her problems and the consequences of her actions.

***

Evening had settled over New York. The temperature continued to drop. Although it was already March, the city’s weather had yet to offer its residents warmer days.

James sat idly on the couch, unsure of what to do. Neither Wanda nor Loki had returned to the tower. There was no contact with them. Loki didn’t have a phone, and Wanda wasn’t answering calls or messages. He didn’t know if something had happened or, conversely, if everything was fine and the two had gone off to celebrate the moment.

It seemed unlikely, at least in James’s opinion. He was no longer an optimist, always expecting the worst-case scenarios. He couldn’t envision Loki as a father. In James’s view, Loki wasn’t suited for it. Fatherhood required more thoughtfulness, something James doubted Loki possessed. Generally, he didn’t think Loki used his brain—unless it was for his own selfish desires.

“Have you managed to reach Wanda?” Natasha asked, entering the living room, with Barton trailing behind her like a shadow.

Bucky shook his head, then stood up and grabbed the leather jacket lying next to him.

“She’s not answering or replying. I’m going to look for her,” he said, heading toward the elevator.

“Can someone explain what’s going on?” Clint interjected. “You two have been on edge all day, and now Wanda and Loki have suddenly disappeared… What the hell is going on?”

“Clint… As much as I’d like to tell you, Wanda asked us not to say anything. You’ll have to talk to her yourself,” Bucky replied before leaving the tower.

He headed toward Central Park, putting on his headphones and playing the playlist Steve had created with their favourite old songs. He listened to it every time he had to leave the house for errands or any outing.

James was a highly trained Hydra agent—the best of the best. He could find anyone within minutes. However, he usually had complete files, making the task easier. This time, he had to start from scratch. He only knew that Wanda had been in Central Park a few hours ago. So, he decided to search there first. If he found nothing, he’d resort to his old methods.

Locating the redhead in a crowd wasn’t easy, but it wasn’t impossible—especially for a former Hydra agent. However, Bucky wasn’t prepared for the sight that awaited him in one of the park’s alleys. A redheaded woman, unaware and completely distraught, was being helped up from the ground by a middle-aged man with a repulsive smile. As he lifted her, he seemed to grope every part of her body, immediately raising red flags for James.

“Leave her alone!” James shouted, striking the man in the face with his metal arm, causing him to fall and release Wanda, whom Bucky caught just in time. “You’re freezing, kid. Good thing I found you in time.”

He picked her up and wrapped her in his jacket. He wanted to get her back to the tower as quickly as possible to place her in Helen Cho’s care, and then track down that cosmic bastard and make him pay. His restraint had vanished; he was ready for a reckoning.

He reached the tower within minutes. He stopped the elevator on one of the floors below the residential apartments of the Avengers team and rushed toward Helen Cho’s laboratory.

“Helen!” he shouted, placing the redhead on a bed. The dark-haired Asian woman appeared at his side instantly. “Examine her and tell me if they’re both okay.”

She nodded and immediately got to work. James turned around and unexpectedly encountered Natasha and Clint, who stood in slight shock.

“‘Both’?” Clint asked, bewildered.

“Wanda should tell you herself,” Natasha replied.

“So you know too?!” Clint exclaimed accusatorily.

“That’s how it turned out… but you should talk to her directly. This isn’t something you’d want to hear from someone else,” Natasha explained.

“She’s unconscious, isn’t she?! Sleeping?! Or just unresponsive! So either you tell me, or I’ll tear you both apart,” he threatened.

“Wanda got pregnant by that cosmic bastard!” Bucky shouted.

“Excuse me?!”

“Wanda and Loki have been involved since he arrived here. They’ve been together for the past few weeks, during which they had sex and, as it turns out, didn’t use proper protection,” James explained, already exhausted. “Wanda found out this morning; she didn’t want me to tell anyone because she wanted to discuss it with Loki first. I found her crying in the park, and some creep nearly assaulted her.”

“That cosmic bastard is getting a beating the moment he returns. I won’t let this slide!”

“Get in line,” James muttered.

Chapter Text

Bright light from the slowly rising sun spilled into the room. Its rays painted golden streaks across the walls. Wanda’s eyelids were heavy and swollen from constant crying. Her lips were so dry that breathing felt like a struggle. The redhead sat up in bed, her heart pounding wildly and sweat trickling down her forehead. She glanced around the room. No one was there except James, who had fallen asleep on the stool beside her bed.

“Bucky?” she whispered in fear, unable to speak any louder.

The dream that had haunted her that night wasn’t like the others. It wasn’t beautiful in any way. She heard a scream—terrifying, blood-curdling. A cry of pain and despair. All she could see were white lights in a white room. And she felt an unbearable pain, as if someone were tearing something vital from her body, leaving her helpless—essentially dead. Her dreams were usually unreal, but this one… this one felt painfully real. She could hear the scream, feel the pain, and something deep inside told her it meant something.

The man sitting by the bed stirred, giving her a sleepy yet gentle look. He took her hand and stroked it softly. Without a word, he handed her a glass of water from the nearby table.

“How are you feeling? Are you cold? Do you need anything?” James asked, his concern pouring out in a steady stream.

“I’m okay,” she answered, swallowing the last sip of water.

James didn’t want to push her with too many questions. He knew she wasn’t “okay,” but there were more important things than arguing with a teenager. He needed to help her recover and keep an eye on her. Of all of them, he had the most experience—and if anyone could help Wanda, it was him. He knew when someone was truly okay, and when they weren’t. And he knew what to do—and what never to do—when someone was on the edge.

There were always things that were certain, and things that weren’t. James could only guess at what was right or wrong, using his own past and the experience of pulling Steve out of heartbreak as his compass. Now, it was Wanda who needed help mending a broken heart. But he couldn’t expect much from her. Wanda was unpredictable, and only God knew the chaos brewing inside her.

“I’ll bring you some clothes to change into and ask someone to get breakfast started for you, okay?” James said.

The redhead shook her head. “No, please… I don’t want anything to eat right now,” she mumbled.

“Wanda, I know you may not feel like eating. I’ve been through something similar. I mean… not pregnancy, but… never mind. You need to eat. For your own good,” James said, giving her a fatherly look. He hadn’t planned on being a father figure—especially with other plans on the horizon—but in this moment, it was clear she needed one.

He hadn’t intended to become Wanda’s mentor for long, especially since he and Steve were considering adopting a child. They wanted to take the next step toward a future they were denied in the 1940s. He hoped Clint might step in and help guide Wanda, especially since he was already a father to several children.

“I won’t force you. You’re sensible. But you still need to eat,” James sighed. “Wait here for me.”

Wanda sat on the bed, once again pondering Loki’s words. She wanted to keep her beloved by her side—but not at the cost of their child. Not at the cost of what they had created. She knew she wasn’t ready to be a mother, but the thought of anything happening to the baby was unbearable.

Her situation was far from ideal. The only light she saw in the darkness was the hope that if she took control of her life, a beautiful future awaited her. A future where she could be truly happy—with her child.

“I’m back,” James called as he entered the hospital room, carrying a stack of clothes and a few other things. “I found some sweats and a hoodie in your closet—thought it might be more comfortable. I also brought warm socks and slippers. Breakfast is waiting in the kitchen.”

“Thank you, James,” the girl said, hugging him before heading to the bathroom with the clothes, pulling the IV stand behind her.

Inside, she realized the hoodie James brought once belonged to her brother, Pietro. Black, with white arrows on the sleeves. A wave of melancholy and sorrow hit her, but passed quickly. She stared into the mirror, wondering what her child would look like. A boy or a girl? More like her, or Loki? What color hair? Would they be a mutant like her?

She had so many questions—but no answers. It was too soon. She finished getting ready and left the bathroom, joining James to go upstairs.

***

All day, she tried to distract herself from the fact that she was alone now. James and Steve helped—both of them preparing to welcome a child into their lives too. Natasha was also there for her, the only one who acted like it was just another ordinary day, giving Wanda space to feel normal. Like nothing had changed. But it didn’t always help…

Wanda kept wondering what her life would become. Would she manage? Would her child resent growing up without a father? Endless questions spun through her mind, nesting in the deepest corners of her thoughts and refusing to leave. Whenever she had a moment of stillness, the intrusive questions haunted her like nightmares. She didn’t know how to silence them.

She used to have one way to quiet her thoughts—but that method wasn’t here anymore. In fact, he was the reason those thoughts now consumed her. Everything around her seemed to close in, pulling at her attention, trying to drag her down. The light she used to see was slowly being smothered by her own demons. There was simply too much of everything, and it left her feeling completely lost. It was exhausting. She was utterly drained.

“Hey, kid,” James said, noticing the distant look on her face. “Wanna watch a comedy with us?”

“No, I think I’ll lie down,” she replied with a faint smile, rising from the couch. “I’ve got a bit of a headache. Just need to rest.”

“Sweet dreams then,” James said, smiling softly as he wrapped an arm around Steve and started the movie.

Wanda walked to her room, feeling the blood pulsing in her veins, the intrusive thoughts clawing at her skin, begging to escape. The moment she stepped inside, everything she had held in all day came crashing down. Her inner light was fading fast, swallowed by the black fog of her thoughts. She collapsed to her knees, tears streaming down her face. The physical pain mingled with emotional torment—loneliness, helplessness, despair. She felt utterly alone, powerless, unnecessary. She had no strength left to fight for happiness.

Every time she thought things would get better, everything crumbled again. Everyone left—her parents, Pietro, Loki. Everything she loved was ripped away, as if she didn’t deserve it.

She began to wonder again: maybe Loki had been right. Maybe getting rid of the baby would’ve been for the best. Maybe he would’ve stayed. Maybe they could’ve had their happy ending.

But how could she get rid of something born from their love? Maybe it wasn’t an accident. Maybe it was a sign—they were meant to be. A test to see if their love, born from chance, was actually fate. Maybe they had failed that test. They were apart now. Neither of them rejoiced in what they’d created. Did that mean they were never meant to be?

She didn’t want anyone to see or hear her cry—her silent cry for help. She didn’t want help anymore. She wanted to be alone. Completely alone. With the last of her strength, she locked herself in the bathroom. She sat on the cold floor, back against the tiles, sobbing with her head between her knees. Finally, her emotions burst out. Every piece of glass in the room shattered into fragments, scattering across the floor. She cried even harder as the shards cut into her skin—from her face to her feet.

But even that brought no peace. It only made things worse. Her mind was in chaos. But through her tear-filled eyes, she saw only one thought—the one she feared most. She realized she had no solution. Everything she once cared about was gone. She was completely alone and now regretted every decision she had ever made. She wanted to go back—desperately. But she had nothing left to give. Nothing.

She sat there, clothed in a red robe of blood from her wounds. There were so many… Her feet, hands, body, and face—covered in cuts from the flying glass. Everything was lost.

***

Loki landed in the golden pavilion and was immediately met by a tall, dark-skinned guard clad in shining armor. Heimdall stood as always, watching everything with an emotionless, unforgiving gaze. But this time, Loki felt it cut deeper—more personal. He knew Heimdall already knew. It was his duty to watch over the princes beyond Asgard.

“You should go back to her,” Heimdall said in a low, deep voice.

“Don’t lecture me. I did what had to be done,” Loki replied, walking past without hesitation.

“You only think of yourself, Loki,” Heimdall said again, his voice piercing the god’s soul like an arrow. “There will be consequences, Loki. Great ones.” He continued, though Loki seemed to stop listening. “She’ll be destroyed by this… eventually,” he added, softer now.

The god spun around and in a blink, crossed the distance between them, pressing a blade to Heimdall’s throat.

“What did you just say?” he hissed.

“You will destroy her someday, Loki…” Heimdall met Loki’s eyes with sorrow. He spoke as if the blade meant nothing. “She’s at the edge of her strength… I know you feel it too. You feel how her energy is fading.”

They locked eyes, until Loki’s breath quickened and his hands began to tremble.

In a flash, the god vanished and reappeared in his chamber. Leaning against the marble balcony, his whole body shook with Heimdall’s words. He tried to sort through his thoughts.

It was known that Heimdall could see the past and future as clearly as the present. That he saw and knew everything. But he had never used his power to warn someone before. Did he truly know what was coming? Was Wanda’s life in danger? Was it his fault?

For the first time, Loki felt guilt. Regret. He wanted to go back and apologize. Loki Laufeyson wanted to fall to his knees and beg for forgiveness.

Did that mean something?

Yes.

It meant everything.

Chapter Text

The sharp, painfully bright bathroom lights pierced her tired eyelids mercilessly. She tried to open them, to look around, but they were too heavy. Suddenly, everything began to make itself known. She was slowly waking up. She felt the cold of her soaked clothes clinging to her skin, the glow of the overhead lights, and a monstrous pain coursing through her body.

She felt… Did that mean there was still a chance to reverse everything? Had fate finally shown her mercy? Summoning all her strength, she opened her eyes and looked around the room. The mirror and shower cabin glass were gone. Shards of glass littered the floor, streaked with blood.

Her heart began to race. She didn’t have much time to fix her mistakes. There was blood everywhere. So much blood. She had to get up and find help. She had to do something. Otherwise, she would lose her child—lose everyone. This was her chance. The time had come to fight the hardest battle for her own happiness. If only she could ask for help—if only she could find someone.

Even though deep down, she wanted to stay. To bleed out and die, because she couldn’t imagine life without Loki. But she couldn’t give up so easily—not when a new life was growing inside her. Every time fate had taken her loved ones, she had been too far away to help. But this time, she was close enough to protect her child… or so she believed.

With the last of her strength, she pushed herself off the floor. She could feel the glass shifting, tearing through her muscles and skin. Holding onto the wall, she started moving toward the bathroom door. It had been locked, and it took her a while to get it open. Her breath trembled, as did her hands and her entire body. She had no strength left, but she had only a short distance to go. Like a monster from a horror film, she left a trail of blood behind her. Her vision blurred, her head pounded with sensory overload, and her limbs refused to obey. She was fading, just like the light at the end of her tunnel.

She stopped in the living room doorway, knowing she was running out of time. She was terrified. She saw James, standing in silence and shock, staring at her bloodied, broken face. They were both horrified. Feeling she couldn’t hold on any longer, she whispered her final words to the man.

“Bucky… I’m sorry,” she breathed, before collapsing and losing consciousness.

***

Several hours passed, though they felt like centuries. During that time, the entire team had gathered in the medical wing, waiting anxiously and fearfully for the end of Wanda’s surgery. They were worried—about what would come next. Would Wanda be okay? Would the baby?

Hope, they say, is the mother of fools. After losing nearly half her blood, “okay” was a distant hope. But Helen Cho was irreplaceable, capable of working miracles—something the team already knew. Wanda had bled through the night in her room, and the fact she’d woken up around five and managed to leave her room to seek help was a miracle in itself.

James, who hadn’t slept that night and was just heading to bed at around five, was the one who found Wanda—or rather, the one Wanda found. What he saw left him in such shock that he couldn’t speak or move. He simply picked her up and fired a shot at his bedroom door, waking Steve. He knew he couldn’t do anything on his own. Fear had paralyzed him.

He had been blaming himself for hours. He felt sick over how he’d done nothing. He hadn’t rushed her to the medical wing, as Steve had. He’d just stared at the blood dripping from her fingers, at her torn-up face, which no longer resembled her sweet, smiling one. He’d stood frozen as she collapsed, unconscious and fading. He knew that if anything happened to her—or to her child—if either of them didn’t make it, it would be his fault. Because all he’d done was watch.

Minutes and hours passed in uncertainty. It was nearly 3 PM when finally, news came. Helen emerged from the operating room, and behind her, Wanda was wheeled out on a hospital bed.

Her body was covered in bandages and gauze. Her face, hands, and feet were all wrapped. It was clear her condition was serious and her wounds many.

“Helen! How’s Wanda?” Clint asked nervously, rising from his chair.

“I won’t lie to you. She’s not okay,” Helen began. “Wanda lost more than half her blood. I honestly don’t know how she managed to leave her room. Luckily, we were able to save her in time. If all goes according to plan, she’ll be physically healed by next month.” Helen exhaled deeply. “She’ll have many scars—but not on her face or hands. I did everything I could to make them less visible. But now, Wanda will need constant supervision. Intensive rehabilitation and therapy. And by supervision, I mean literally twenty-four hours a day. She can’t be alone for even a minute. If she does something that reckless again, we might not be able to save her.”

“We’ll take care of her,” Natasha said calmly. “What about the baby?”

Helen lowered her head and stared at the floor for a moment. She didn’t have to say anything—everyone understood. The answer was painfully clear. Still, she lifted her head and shook it slowly, regret etched into her face.

“There was nothing I could do. It was already too late. I’m sorry,” she whispered before disappearing behind the lab doors.

Everyone looked at each other, wondering how they would break the news to Wanda—yet another tragedy. They all feared she might try to end her life again. Helen’s words hadn’t been a warning or a suggestion—they were a command. They had to watch over Wanda, help her recover—if that was even possible after everything.

“I’m going to kill that cosmic bastard,” Bucky whispered at last, eyes full of tears and fists clenched.

“Get in line, James,” Thor said before storming out. Clint, Steve, and James followed closely behind.

“Where are you going?!” Steve called after him.

“I’m going to kill my brother!” Thor shouted, and before anyone could respond or stop him, he vanished in a swirl of Bifrost light.

***

The day in Asgard had dawned beautiful. The sun hung high in the sky, the small lake in front of the palace rippled in the breeze, and flowers bloomed in vibrant colors. The vast meadows between Asgard and Alfheim were blanketed in blossoms.

But Loki hadn’t left his chamber. He sat in the darkness, consumed by thoughts of what he should do. Only Heimdall knew what had happened on Midgard. Not his father, not his mother, not even his right-hand man, Dorian Seveilson—the future king of Alfheim.

More than anything, he wanted to go back to Wanda. To fall to his knees, beg for forgiveness, and apologize. He wanted to rebuild what he had destroyed. He loved her desperately. But he knew he’d hurt her, and that rebuilding her trust wouldn’t be easy. On the other hand, when he thought of the child, he felt convinced he’d done the right thing by leaving.

He feared the child would be too much like him—a vile creature. He didn’t want such a child. He didn’t want any child. He couldn’t see himself as a father. That child would grow to hate him, just like everyone else. He would ruin its life. No one would want a monster for a father.

Loki had long hated himself for what he truly was. He hated the truth that lay beneath Odin’s spell—without it, he’d appear as a frost giant: six meters tall, blue-skinned, red-eyed, his body covered in ridged patterns. Only when he touched the “Casket of Ancient Winters,” hidden away by Odin, would parts of his true form show through. His skin would turn blue, his eyes red. Only his height remained unchanged, for reasons unknown.

He didn’t want such a life for an innocent child. But his disappearance wouldn’t change its fate. It might still be a frost giant, even without him. He had never told Wanda what he truly was—beyond being the God of Mischief and Asgardian prince. He hadn’t warned her the child might not be entirely… normal. And if it looked like a monster, she might not be able to look at it either. No one could look at him without the “handsome prince” mask.

People always turned away. Children screamed and cried. Adults dragged them inside and locked the doors. Frost giants weren’t welcome in Asgard. They existed only in scary bedtime stories, in children’s nightmares—terrifying beasts that came to devour the world.

He lay on a small couch tucked into the darkest corner of his room, sunlight unable to reach it. One arm hung over the side, the other rested on his forehead, his eyes tracing the painted constellations on the ceiling. Since his return, he hadn’t left the room—not even for meals. He’d brushed off the servants, his parents, and even Dorian. He didn’t want to speak to anyone. He didn’t know what to do—only that everyone would have their own ideas of what he should do.

Looking briefly out the window, he saw the Bifrost fade. At first, he thought it was just a guard or a messenger. But he quickly realized who had crossed the realms. The sky darkened with storm clouds in an instant. Loki’s room turned pitch black—his only source of light being the sun, which was now gone, and a small desk lamp he hadn’t switched on.

He sat up, waiting for his visitor. He didn’t wait long.

The door burst open with a deafening crack, nearly ripped from its hinges. Thor stormed in, murder in his eyes. The moment he saw Loki sitting in the corner, he charged, grabbed him by the throat, and slammed him against the wall.

“Nice to see you again, Brother,” Loki croaked, barely able to speak—but sarcasm still clinging to his tone.

“How could you hurt her like that?!” Thor roared, tightening his grip. “Do you even know how much she’s suffering? What you drove her to?!”

Over and over, Thor demanded answers. Loki stared at him coldly.

“Answer me!”

“That was the plan. She was meant to suffer,” Loki rasped.

He saw the fury in Thor’s eyes flare brighter, and couldn’t resist stoking it further.

In truth, his words were a lie. The guilt came crashing down again. But he didn’t know what else to say. Provoking Thor was easier than confessing.

“I’ll kill you,” Thor whispered, cutting off Loki’s air.

“Go ahead…” Loki gasped. “Do it. I’ve got nothing to live for anyway.”

“Enough! Both of you, stop this!”

Odin burst into the room, followed closely by Frigga, who immediately rushed to separate the brothers. Thor turned to their father and, staring blankly into his eyes, let go of Loki’s throat. Loki barely stayed upright, and stared at Odin with a dead expression.

He had nothing left to say, but he knew he’d have to speak eventually.

He had expected Thor to come eventually and drag him back to Midgard. He just hadn’t expected Thor would try to kill him. Was Wanda really doing that badly? Or was it just Thor’s uncontrollable rage?

What he’d told Thor about Wanda—that had been a lie. But the rest… was true. He had nothing left to live for without her. And getting her back seemed impossible.

Because Loki never apologized.

Chapter Text

The awareness of what had happened, of what she had done to herself, was unbearably heavy. She had caused everyone so much trouble, so many sleepless nights. She didn’t want their help, didn’t want anyone to pity or fuss over her. She didn’t want anything anymore—because, in her mind, nothing was worth anything now. She didn’t cry, didn’t try to smile, wasn’t even angry.

Since waking up from the coma a few weeks ago, she hadn’t said a single word to anyone. Not a single tear had fallen, not a single action had been taken. She was simply absent—lost in her thoughts and memories. Even though everyone was trying to help her, no one could draw out a word or emotion.

It didn’t even bother her that someone was always watching her. James usually stayed with her at night, Natasha from morning until noon, and Clint from noon until evening. They monitored her to make sure she wouldn’t do anything reckless. Wanda, however, was so indifferent that it didn’t matter to her anymore. When they tried to take her to therapy to help her process everything, she went. But once in the office, she wouldn’t speak a word to the therapist—until the woman would eventually give up and say maybe she’d want to talk tomorrow. But the same thing happened day after day. Over and over again.

The only visible progress was during her physical rehabilitation. Her body was slowly healing. The wounds on her face healed quickly, leaving almost no trace. She could walk again without pain, and her hands, worked daily by the therapist, were regaining their former strength.

All the wounds seemed to be healing—except for those inflicted on her heart. Those didn’t heal and wouldn’t until she opened up and stopped trying to remain silent.

It was late evening. Most of the team sat on the couch, watching a medical drama. Wanda sat with them, but paid no attention to what was on the screen. She sat curled up, blankly staring at a spot near the door that led to the terrace—also the landing pad for the Quinjet.

She stared and replayed in her mind the moment she met the love of her life—that one day that was supposed to be like any other, with no warning it would be different. “Anger doesn’t suit a pretty face,” were her first words to him. He replied almost instantly, “I don’t believe we’ve met.” She had been instantly intrigued—he was aloof and sarcastic, dark and intimidating, but also incredibly captivating. That’s why she introduced herself: “Wanda Maximoff. And you are?” She had addressed him formally, not knowing who he was or how much older.

She sighed softly, her gaze drifting to the place where they once took their first steps together. She didn’t notice Steve and James entering the living room, both soaked to the bone in their suits, still holding hands and smiling. Yes… it had rained that day.

“You won’t believe this,” Steve began, drawing everyone’s attention. Everyone except Wanda, who remained lost in her memories.

“Come on, what won’t I believe?” Natasha asked.

James and Steve looked at each other, then at the others. Steve set down his leather briefcase, pulled out a document, and proudly smiled, wrapping his arm around James.

“The Supreme Court has officially approved us to adopt a child,” he said joyfully.

Natasha and Pepper squealed simultaneously and threw their arms around the two men. Steve and Bucky hugged them back, then handed the court papers to the others. Tony took the document, squinting as he read it aloud, with Clint peeking over his shoulder—both in disbelief.

Still holding Steve and Natasha, Bucky turned his head to glance at Wanda. For the first time in what felt like forever, she looked back at him—her gaze alive, filled with joy and tenderness. The corners of her lips lifted into a small smile.

Could there still be something worth fighting for?

“Come here, kiddo,” Bucky smiled, reaching out to her.

The redhead stood from the couch and hugged James tightly. Uncontrollable tears streamed down her cheeks—but they weren’t tears of sorrow. They were tears of joy. She was truly happy for Steve and James. She knew what they’d been through and believed with all her heart that if anyone deserved peace and a family, it was them. After all those years of suffering, they finally deserved to rest.

She wasn’t jealous. She didn’t want to cry anymore. She wasn’t sad. She would have felt terrible if she’d been jealous of Steve and James getting their chance. Instead, thanks to them, she started to believe—just a little—that maybe she could have a chance too. Despite the dark thoughts constantly trying to cloud her mind, preventing her from feeling joy, she decided to cling to that one bright thought. She wanted to hold on to it with all her might and drive away the darkness.

Now, a small, joyful being was about to enter the lives of everyone in the Tower. She knew it wouldn’t be her child, and she wouldn’t be able to care for it like a mother, to have it with her at all times, or devote every moment to it—but she wanted to be the best aunt she could be. To help the guys out when needed. She couldn’t wait. Even with all she had lost, this little child would still, in some way, become part of her life.

And that gave her the strength to do something with herself—to try to forget about Loki and what had happened and to move forward. Someone she’d known for just over two months couldn’t be someone she couldn’t forget. She was ready to open up in therapy and accept the help of her friends. The help of her family.

***

The redhead woke up early in the morning. It wasn’t easy, not with the thoughts still haunting her and the nightmares that disturbed her sleep, but she got out of bed. She changed out of her pajamas into comfortable fabric pants and a loose t-shirt—one she had borrowed from Clint a long time ago. She tied her long hair into a bun and put on some light makeup to cover the tiredness.

The nightmares wouldn’t let her sleep. She’d wake up multiple times each night, drenched in sweat or gasping for air. It was the one thing she couldn’t control. Dark, depressing thoughts she could chase away with music or pleasant activities—but the nightmares came uninvited, unstoppable.

She left her room and headed to the kitchen, where Steve, James, and Natasha were already chatting and laughing about something.

“Good morning,” Wanda greeted as she entered the living room, heading straight for the kitchen to finally eat a proper meal. For weeks, she had refused food, and they’d had to practically force-feed her.

“Oh, there’s my little one!” Natasha exclaimed, grabbing her by the waist and hugging her tightly. “How are you feeling today?”

“Better than on any other day,” Wanda smiled faintly, returning the hug. “I’m finally going to talk to my therapist. For real this time. It’s about time I got it together. Loki’s not coming back. My child isn’t either,” she added with a hint of sadness. “There’s no point in wasting my life.”

“Wow, I didn’t expect that,” Bucky said, slowly turning on his stool. “I’m proud of you for realizing that, kid,” he added with a warm smile.

“Okay, now tell me more about the adoption,” Wanda quickly changed the subject and sat down with her breakfast at the kitchen island.

The couple spent over an hour talking about their plans and the next steps in the adoption process. The next step was a visit from a caseworker to evaluate the home. After that, they had a mandatory four-week parenting course—three-hour sessions, three times a week. Once they completed the course, they could go to the adoption center to pick up a child based on the criteria they had set. Then they would finally be able to start caring for their baby—always knowing that a social worker could drop by at any time for a check-up.

Steve and James didn’t have many strict preferences for the child. They just wanted to raise it from a young age, like most couples hoping to adopt. They didn’t care if it was a boy or a girl. They didn’t care about the child’s skin color. They knew, no matter who the child was, they would love it with all their hearts.

After their sweet talk about parenthood, Wanda got ready and left for her appointment with her therapist. Unfortunately, Stark Tower didn’t include a psychiatric floor in its unusual layout, which meant Wanda had to travel across town daily to a private clinic. This time, on her own.

She took the elevator down to the -1 level of the underground garage. From a fingerprint-locked box, she took the keys to a red Toyota RAV4 parked near Tony’s line of luxury and collectible cars.

The drive to the clinic took about half an hour. The building was made of red brick and covered in ivy, resembling the elegant brownstones once common in Brooklyn. A little unsure, she stepped inside and walked to the reception desk where the same young woman always sat—blonde hair in a ponytail, side-swept bangs, glasses, and a black headband.

“Wanda Maximoff, one o’clock with Ms. Ashby,” the redhead said quietly.

The receptionist looked at her in surprise, then quickly typed something into the computer.

“Ms. Ashby is waiting for you in the usual room,” she said, watching Wanda head to the elevator.

Wanda’s therapist had her office on the top floor, with windows overlooking the nearby park and surrounding neighborhood. Wanda approached door number 57 and knocked gently. When she heard the familiar voice inviting her in, she entered slowly.

A wave of anxiety came over her. Before, she hadn’t cared where they took her or what they said. Now, aware of her surroundings and her need for help, she was afraid.

“Hello, Wanda,” the kind brunette smiled warmly and stood from behind her desk. “I heard you came alone today. That’s new.” She sat on a comfortable woven armchair with soft cushions and motioned for Wanda to take the seat across from her. “You look much better today. What brought on the change?”

“Thank you,” Wanda replied softly. “Last night I started feeling better. And I finally want to help myself.”

“That’s wonderful to hear, sweetheart,” the therapist said with a genuine smile. “Will you tell me what helped you feel better?”

And just like that, each of her sessions would begin—from simple questions and answers, growing deeper with each meeting, until every card was on the table. Every trauma, every wound. And Wanda had many.

Chapter Text

Three months had passed since the tragic events at Stark Tower. A lot had changed for the better, and it showed in everyone’s faces. Summer was approaching fast — the air warmer every day, the sun lingering above their heads much longer.

Among the Avengers, though, “vacation” wasn’t really a thing. None of them had a steady job. From time to time, they’d gather to save something, help on a mission, or handle some trouble — but it wasn’t an everyday routine. They had their own pursuits, things that kept them busy, but more as hobbies than obligations.

Tony spent hours in his lab with Banner, designing new inventions. Pepper occasionally took care of Stark Industries’ accounting. Clint dropped by now and then, though he still had his family to look after. Sam didn’t have a regular gig, but sometimes visited his sister to go boating. Natasha was most often away on missions, so when she was at the Tower, she usually just rested. Steve and James were constantly out dealing with adoption matters. Wanda’s days were filled with therapy and caring for her little cat — a gift from Clint so she wouldn’t feel too lonely.

Life had settled into a calm rhythm. But this day would be different.

Today, Steve and James were bringing home their long-awaited child.

For weeks, everything had been ready, and they’d been on edge daily, waiting for that one call inviting them to meet their match. Today, the wait was over.

Everyone was in the lounge, surrounded by small stacks of wrapped gifts — toys, plush animals, onesies in every color. Nobody knew the gender of the child Steve and Bucky were adopting, so they’d bought a bit of everything. The room was decorated with garlands and balloons. It looked like something straight out of a baby shower scene in a movie.

The only thing missing was the couple themselves.

“Hey! — Wanda jumped to her feet, pointing toward the elevator — It’s coming down. They’re here!”

Everyone got up, confetti in hand. Natasha had chosen the quiet kind — no loud bangs. The moment the doors opened and Steve and James stepped out, the team let the paper fly.

“Surprise!” they all shouted, while Wanda snapped photos to capture the moment.

It took a few seconds for anyone to notice: Steve and James weren’t carrying just one baby carrier. They had two.

“What the hell—? Weren’t you supposed to adopt one kid?” Tony blurted, crouching down to get a closer look at the babies.

“Language, Stark,” Steve said, walking into the room, Bucky right behind him.

Once everyone was seated, the men took the babies out of their carriers. The joy from earlier shifted into puzzled silence.

“So… are we doing a Q&A here?” Clint asked.

“Go ahead,” Steve said.

“All right then. How exactly did you walk out with two kids instead of one?”

Steve sighed and rolled his eyes.

“They introduced us to a sweet little girl — matched perfectly for us,” Bucky explained, looking down at the sleeping baby in his arms. “Then they mentioned she had a twin brother. We couldn’t separate them.”

“Okay, but give us the details,” Natasha said, leaning forward. “Names, ages?”

“Everyone, meet Natasha Wanda Barnes and Nathaniel Samuel Barnes,” Steve said with a broad smile. Wanda and Natasha melted when they realized the girl had been named after them. “The twins were born on April Fool’s Day, so… about two and a half months old.”

Tony chuckled. “Now that’s a joke.”

***

That day, Wanda couldn’t remember feeling happier. She was surrounded by people she loved — and who loved her — and now there were two tiny new members of their family. She’d fallen for them almost instantly. Little Natasha was sweet beyond words, but it was her brother who would soon be her godson, at Steve and Bucky’s request.

It meant she could take him under her wing in a special way — spoil him a bit more, be the best aunt in the world. She hadn’t stopped smiling since morning. Holding the baby girl for a moment, she felt almost like a mother herself. But she knew better than to let herself imagine too much.

The twins weren’t her children, and never would be. If she got too attached, moving forward would be impossible. She’d worried about that before the babies even arrived. Would she be strong enough not to get jealous, not to overstep, not to make a mistake?

Her therapist, Madie Ashby, had helped her prepare for this. She’d given Wanda advice on what to do — and what not to do. They still met daily, talking through everything that had been happening in Wanda’s life in recent weeks. It helped her return to normal and handle everyday problems. She was grateful her friends had found her such a wonderful therapist.

Thanks to Madie’s help, Wanda had found peace again. She understood herself better now — where her own reactions came from, and those of others. She had finally accepted the loss of her child. The grief still visited from time to time, but she knew it wasn’t the end of the world.

Little by little, joy was returning. She went out more often. She discovered hobbies and passions. Reading and crocheting became her favorites. She’d already made a small stuffed bunny for Steve and James’s baby. When she found out there were two, she started making another so there’d be no fighting over toys, like she and Pietro used to.

The twins reminded her of her brother — of their childhood, of the life they had before. They hadn’t been wealthy, but their parents had made sure they had everything that mattered: warm meals, love, encouragement to learn English so they’d have more opportunities.

After their parents died, they’d ended up in an orphanage. Hope for a better life faded — until Hydra appeared, promising something more. That’s how they’d gotten their powers. She still wondered if it had been the right choice. But without all that, she wouldn’t have the family she had now. Without the Avengers, she wouldn’t have met Loki.

Now she stood in front of the mirror, brushing her long red hair for the past twenty minutes. Madie was on a short vacation, so Wanda had a few days without therapy. They’d agreed the day before that this would be a perfect start to switching to weekly sessions. She was in control now — not fully, but enough.

Getting ready took two hours. The hardest part was choosing what to wear. She finally settled on a red turtleneck, low-rise denim flares, a brown leather jacket, black ankle boots, a brown belt with a decorative buckle, and a matching shoulder bag. Cross earrings, worn silver rings.

“Hurry up, kid!” James’s voice called from the hallway.

“Coming!” she answered, tossing a brush and a few cosmetics into her bag.

She joined James, Natasha, Steve, and the twins in the elevator. Without a proper stroller and a few other essentials for bringing home two babies, Steve and James had decided on a trip to the nearby mall — with both godmothers in tow.

The twins were snug in special baby slings. Steve and Bucky knew paparazzi would be waiting, eager to get pictures, see the babies, write endless articles. Raising kids in such a public spotlight wouldn’t be easy — but if anyone could handle it, it was two century-old veterans.

“I can’t wait for their first Christmas,” Wanda whispered to Natasha as they stepped out of the Tower.

“Right? There’ll be more presents under the tree than ever before,” Natasha replied, shielding her goddaughter’s face from a camera.

“You know, if you spoil them too much, they’ll end up as mouthy as Stark,” James teased.

“Oh, please,” Wanda laughed. “That’s what kids are for.”

They managed to reach the mall without trouble. The crowd of photographers had thinned. Sunglasses and hats didn’t work anymore — they were too recognizable.

“So, what’s the plan?” Wanda asked.

“Straight to the baby store. We’ll see what they have and go from there,” Steve said.

Natasha smirked. “You even plan shopping trips? Do you ever do anything spontaneous?”

Steve gave her a look. “We just adopted two kids instead of one. Spontaneous enough for you?”

Inside the store, they split up. Steve and Bucky hunted for the missing essentials. Natasha and Wanda headed straight for the fun stuff — toys and cute clothes.

“Oh my God, Nat, look at this!” Wanda held up a navy onesie with Captain America’s shield on the chest.

Natasha burst out laughing. “We’re buying it. Steve’s going to—”

“—pretend to hate it, but secretly love it,” Wanda finished, dropping it in the basket.

***

By the time Wanda returned to the Tower, the day was nearly over. After the shopping trip, she’d stopped at a salon. She spent an hour and a half in the hairdresser’s chair, another three with the beautician. Her long waves were gone, replaced by shoulder-length curls. Burgundy nails gleamed in the light. She felt like a million bucks.

“Oh my God!” Natasha exclaimed as Wanda stepped out of the elevator. “You look amazing! But where are the long waves?”

“I donated them to a foundation,” Wanda said with a smile.

“Girl, you’re looking better every day,” Clint said warmly.

“So… marathon time?” Wanda asked, heading toward the couch.

“Always,” came the answer.

Chapter Text

“Now you will explain yourselves!” Odin’s voice thundered through the library as he pressed his younger son down onto one sofa and gestured for the elder to sit on the other. The All-Father took his place in the tall chair opposite them. Frigga settled beside her younger son, gently holding a cold compress to his neck.

The silence was suffocating. Thor sat rigid, fists still clenched, every muscle taut with fury. Loki leaned forward, forearms resting on his knees, head bowed, staring at the floor. Their father’s gaze shifted between them, sharp and unrelenting.

“Will you ever cease acting like children? You are a thousand years old, and yet you still resolve your quarrels with fists.”

Thor shot to his feet. “He bewitched a mortal woman with his tricks, lured her into his bed, and when she conceived, he fled like a coward. He left her alone, broken, abandoned! He wanted her to suffer!” Thor made to strike again, but Odin’s hand restrained him.

“Is this true?” Odin’s eyes burned into Loki, both furious and wounded.

Loki hesitated. His whole body stiffened. Should he lie? Confess? Stay silent? He longed for Wanda, but not for the child. He wanted no part of that burden.

“Yes,” he whispered at last. “I left her.

Thor blinked in disbelief. Frigga’s face fell. Odin’s silence was heavy with disappointment.

“Why?” Odin demanded.

“Because I never asked for a child!” Loki shot to his feet, his voice cracking. “Would you want a monster for a father? A nightmare children whisper about? My child would inherit everything vile within me—it would be cursed from birth!” His voice trembled, but his anger drove him on. “I told her to get rid of it. She refused, so I left. She did not deserve such a father.”

“Loki… you are not a monster,” Frigga breathed, her voice fragile with sorrow.

“You will return to her,” Odin declared coldly. “You will make amends, and you will take responsibility for what you have done.” He rose and turned toward the door.

Thor’s bitter laugh halted him. “There is nothing left to return to. The child is gone—exactly as he wished.”

Loki’s chest tightened; his breath caught.

“After you abandoned her,” Thor continued, his voice a growl, “she broke. She tried to end her life. And in the process… she lost the child. Your child.”

Loki collapsed back onto the sofa as though struck. His vision blurred. Rage, grief, and guilt tore through him. He had not known. He had not believed his cruelty could lead her so far. And yet, even now, a part of him mourned the child he had once rejected.

“You loved her, didn’t you?” Odin asked softly.

“I never wanted to hurt her,” Loki whispered. Tears streamed freely down his face. “She saw more in me than I ever did in myself. She loved me when she should have fled. And still, I destroyed her, as I destroy everything I touch. I wanted to beg her forgiveness, to care for her, because I cannot live without her. From the moment I met her, I could not bear a day without her presence. But now…” He turned toward Thor. “Now there is nothing left. She will never forgive me.”

“Loki…” Frigga laid her hand gently over his.

“You must try,” Odin said simply. “Even if forgiveness never comes.”

***

Caring for two three-month-old infants proved far harder than anyone imagined. Steve and James carried the heaviest burden, but even helping left the others exhausted. The babies were sweet and beautiful, but they resisted sleep, meals, and baths, and their cries were relentless.

“Hey, still alive?” Wanda asked from the sofa as James slipped quietly out of his room.

“They’re asleep—for now,” he whispered with a smile. “I’ll make us something quick to eat before they wake again.”

“You both look terrible,” Tony smirked.

“Remind me of that when you have kids,” James shot back, too tired to argue further.

Tony returned to the screen of his laptop, half-watching the flickering TV. He had already decided to sell Stark Tower and build a new headquarters far from the city—a home, not a gilded hotel. The architect had sent him the first designs, and he was absorbed in them.

Wanda, meanwhile, drifted into her own thoughts. Once she had dreamed of a garden filled with flowers, a husband she adored, children laughing in the yard, her brother visiting with his family, holidays spent together with their parents.

But those dreams had been buried—first with her parents, then her brother, then with the love she lost, and the child she could not keep. She had made some peace with it, but still… when she thought of her friends building families of their own, she could not see herself in that future. Everything ahead of her felt clouded. Yet beyond the fog, she sensed a faint light, as if something good still waited.

“I’ll step out for some air,” she murmured.

She wrapped herself in a blanket and stepped onto the balcony. Though night had fallen, the city lights made the sky pale and empty. Only one star remained, faint and small against the glowing haze.

She closed her eyes, her face lifted toward it, breathing slowly, feeling for a moment as though held in a gentle embrace.

“Please… give me a sign that not all my dreams are gone,” she whispered to the night.

When she opened her eyes, the star had vanished.

She lowered her head and stepped back inside, only to hear Tony groaning.

“Wanda, feed Orion, would you? He’s whining,” Tony muttered, dangling a tiny black kitten over his head.

Her face broke into a smile. She scooped the kitten from his hands, cradling him against her chest. “You’ve been pestering Uncle Tony, haven’t you? Good boy.” Hugging Orion, she headed for her room, calling, “Good night!” over her shoulder.

But when she turned inside, she froze.

By the window stood Loki. Dressed in black, silent, his gaze fixed on the city lights.

Wanda’s breath caught. Was this real, or just a cruel dream? Why now, after so long?

Emotions surged through her—anger, longing, grief, love. Part of her wanted to strike him, to drive him out forever. Another part wanted nothing more than to throw herself into his arms and weep with relief.

At last he turned to her. His eyes fell upon her arms, her chest, the scars that marked her skin. She clutched the blanket tighter around herself, setting Orion gently on the bed. Loki’s breath faltered; his eyes brimmed with tears.

She had never seen him cry. It shattered her heart.

“I…” His voice cracked. “I came to apologize. For leaving you. For—”

Her finger pressed softly to his lips.

“You don’t have to finish,” she whispered. Her eyes shone with sadness, yet there was tenderness too. She lifted her hands to his face. “I already forgave you. It wasn’t your fault. The mistake was mine—hurting myself, and with it, our child.”

Loki’s hands trembled as he covered hers, feeling the scars beneath his touch.

“No. It was my fault. I left you alone. I told you to cast away our child. I was not there when you needed me. All of it is on me. I don’t deserve your forgiveness.” He turned toward the door.

“Stay. Please.” She caught his hand, her voice shaking. Tears spilled from her eyes. “Let’s not keep punishing ourselves.”

She had held her grief in silence for so long, but she could not anymore. The moment he whispered sorry, she forgave him everything. She only wanted him to stay, to hold her, to let her finally break and weep in his arms.

“Let’s face this together,” she pleaded. “Let’s fix what we can. Just… come home.”

“Wanda…” His voice was raw. “How can I accept your forgiveness when I cannot forgive myself? I can hardly bear to look at you.”

“Then I’ll teach you,” she whispered. She lifted his chin, forcing him to meet her gaze.

His emerald eyes glistened in the lamplight, full of tears, yet achingly familiar. Wanda rose onto her toes and brushed her lips against his.

That was the sign—the one star that had descended from the sky, lighting her future once more.

Chapter Text

That night was the hardest night he had ever lived through. On the one hand, he was happy that at last he could be next to his beloved; on the other hand, he had a strange feeling, as if he didn’t want to be there. Especially when he had to watch and listen to Wanda’s quiet sobbing almost the entire night. Yet he didn’t say a single word, because he understood her. Not going through the proper process of grief could lead to serious emotional problems later on. The trauma that arises from that is often impossible to overcome.

All night long, he also wondered why Wanda hadn’t let him finish. He felt bad about it and wanted to talk to her again, explain everything to her. Why he had left, why he didn’t want that child. He wanted to tell her how many times he had missed her and longed to come back. He wanted to finally take off the mask before her, reveal all the cards, and open up to her.

The girl was lying with her head resting on his chest. Her now much shorter hair still fell across her face as she slept. Her face was calm, still angelically beautiful. But when he looked at the rest of her body, his heart shattered into tiny pieces. Uneven scars covered parts of her arms, forearms and hands, her shins, her neckline, and the outer parts of her thighs. On the rest of her body, there could only be small, healed wounds. Each of them would forever remind Loki of what had happened because of him.

He desperately wanted to hold Wanda, take her in his arms, and make love to her. But his body refused to obey whenever his hands felt a scar somewhere on her skin. His muscles would freeze, and all his attention would focus on that one place he wished he could forget. Still, for their relationship to work, he had to overcome his fear. Because if Wanda could live with them and not cover them every day, then he could get used to them and learn to love them too. It would just take time.

He brushed away the strands of hair that had fallen onto her face, tucking them behind her ear. He couldn’t sleep the whole night; he was terribly exhausted, yet every time he tried to fall asleep, it wouldn’t come, leaving him in complete fatigue. Most of the time, he just watched her, wondering what she might be dreaming about.

The red-haired woman snuggled closer against his chest, then slowly opened her eyes. She was still drowsy, the image before her eyes forming only gradually. The dark walls of the room were lit by the sunlight streaming through the large windows. A soft duvet wrapped her body, and the gentle hands of her beloved wandered across her arms. It was all she needed now. Nothing more.

That silence and peace soothed her. She was beginning to believe that after yesterday’s emotional evening, now everything would be better. True, they still had many conversations ahead of them and owed each other some explanations, but she felt that this time it really would work out, that they would both find the courage to be honest, to set common priorities, and to start over.

“Good morning, my dearest,” Loki whispered, brushing her lips with his. The girl smiled and returned the kiss, resting her hand on his cheek. “I missed you so much.”

“I missed you too, Loki,” she replied almost immediately.

“Wanda,” he said softly, pulling a little away from her. She sat up in bed, covering herself with the blanket, then took his hand, giving him a sign that she was ready to listen. “There’s still one thing I need to tell you. I can’t find peace otherwise.”

“Whatever you have to say, Loki, I’m listening,” she answered, her gaze caring and understanding.

“I left because I was afraid. I wasn’t ready to be in a relationship with anyone, let alone become a father. I’m not fit to be a father. I was terrified that the child would be the same kind of monster as me. I didn’t want that. I didn’t want that for you. I didn’t want the child to have a monster for a father and for others to look at it the way they look at me. What hides behind my mask is hideous. And I… I’m not worthy of you.”

“Loki, you are not a monster,” she said quietly. “You lost your way once and did many foolish things because of it, but that doesn’t mean you are a monster. Do you know why I fell in love with you? Because I saw the hidden goodness in you, the part you kept from everyone else.”

“Wanda…” Loki sighed deeply, then with a flick of his wrist lifted Odin’s spell that concealed his true appearance. His skin turned blue, covered with raised markings, and his eyes shifted from bright green to red. “I am a monster. A nightmare used to scare children before bed.”

Without saying a word, Wanda rolled up her sleeve, then his, and pressed their arms together, scar to scar. Both of them bore marks, almost in the same places.

“See, you’re not a monster. You’re wounded. Just like me. We are the same,” she smiled softly, hoping he would understand what she meant.

Appearance does not define whether someone is good or evil, a monster or not. A person is defined by their actions and words. And Wanda knew well who Loki really was. She had discovered what he showed no one else. That he could be caring, that he could apologize, that he could be kind, feel guilt—but most importantly, that he could love.

For a long moment, Loki thought about Wanda’s words. Maybe she was right, and he wasn’t such a monster after all. Everyone was afraid of something and made mistakes, just like they had. Maybe, thanks to her, he could finally accept who he truly was and learn to love himself.

“You weren’t the only one who was afraid, Loki. We’re all afraid of something—it’s natural and normal.” She kissed his hand softly, then began pulling herself out of the covers.

“Are you going somewhere?” he asked, catching her by the waist and pulling her closer.

“I have to talk to James and Clint. Tell them that we cleared things up, that everything is fine. I don’t want them to hurt you if they happen to see us together.” Wanda stood up and slipped on a sweatshirt lying somewhere on the floor.

“So they want to kill me?” he asked ironically.

“Yes,” she answered without irony. “I’ll talk to them, calm them down, and then come back to you.” She smiled again—the smile Loki loved so much.

The redhead slipped into her slippers and left the room, followed closely by her cat, Orion. The little one accompanied her absolutely everywhere. Slowly she headed to the living room, wondering how to put into words what she wanted to tell them so that no one would get hurt.

She knew both Clint and James were very hot-headed and would gladly tear Loki to pieces—literally. She hoped, however, that if she spoke calmly with them, they could reach an understanding and no one would get hurt.

As she had expected, James and Clint were sitting on the couch in the living room, drinking their morning coffee. Steve was busy preparing milk for the twins, who luckily were still asleep. She greeted the Captain in the kitchen first, then approached the couch and stood, unsure how to begin.

“What’s up, kid?” James asked cheerfully. “What’s with the serious face?”

“Sit down,” Clint said, patting the empty spot on the couch.

“Listen, there’s something important you need to know,” she began nervously, twisting her fingers in all directions from stress.

“We’re all ears,” they replied in unison.

“Don’t be mad at me, and don’t do anything stupid,” she warned, and the two men exchanged glances. “Yesterday evening, after I went to my room, something happened that I didn’t expect. At first, I was shocked myself and didn’t know what to do, but somehow I managed to handle it.”

“Get to the point, kid. You’re making me nervous,” the brunet muttered, putting his coffee cup on the table.

The girl took a deep breath.

“Yesterday evening, Loki came to apologize to me.”

But she didn’t get to finish, because both men jumped up from the couch and headed straight for her room.

“Where’s that cosmic freak? As soon as I see him, I’ll smash his filthy face against the pavement,” Clint spat.

Wanda grabbed their hands, trying to stop them and explain.

“Wait, it’s not what you think. He’s changed. He came to apologize. I forgave him!” she said, stressed, but the two still lunged to kill the black-haired god.

“You forgave him?! Are you out of your mind?” James yelled. “I’ll kill him!”

The brunet tore free from her grasp and ran into her room, Clint right behind him, Wanda chasing after them, desperate to prevent the tragedy. James stormed in and immediately punched Loki, who was sitting on the bed, straight in the nose. Clint, from the side, landed a knee strike in the same spot. When both were ready to continue, Wanda burst into the room and restrained them with her powers.

“Enough! How could you?!” she cried, tears in her eyes, watching her beloved choke on blood. “I told you he apologized, and I forgave him!”

“Did you forget what he did to you? What you went through because of him?!” Barton shouted.

“No! But I love him, and I was able to forgive because he apologized!”

She released her hold, moving them away from Loki, then sat beside him.

“You think some stupid sorry changes everything?” James demanded, fury still burning in his eyes.

“No!” she sobbed. “But I know he regrets what he did. We both regret many things, but that’s why I gave him a chance—to fix it and work on it. You should give him a chance too!”

“Never,” Clint muttered and stormed out, slamming the door.

James still stood by the door, staring at the floor, one hand on his hip. After a long moment, he lifted his gaze, giving Wanda a slightly softer look, though anger still lingered in his eyes.

“I’ll get some ice,” he sighed. “We’ll come back to this later. As for you—” he turned to the god—“you deserved it.”

He left the room in silence, leaving Wanda and Loki alone. The girl immediately grabbed a box of tissues from the nightstand and began pressing them to his face.

“That didn’t go as smoothly as you thought,” Loki chuckled softly.

“They wanted to beat you to death,” she sighed, worried. “But luckily James came to his senses. Maybe he’ll realize he’s acting like an idiot.”

“Give them time. They’ll come around eventually,” Loki said in consolation. “And honestly, I did deserve it.”

***

Wanda returned with a box full of medicine and bandages they kept in the kitchen for small accidents. Kneeling before Loki, who sat hunched on the bed holding ice to his face, she lifted his chin with her hands. She examined his face, then tied his black hair into a bun so it wouldn’t get in the way.

“This may hurt a little,” she warned, and without further notice set the bone in his nose. Loki growled in pain, jerking his head away.

“Don’t whine, it’s over,” she smiled, stroking his hair and placing a quick kiss on his forehead.

“So, Wanda, how do you see things now?” asked Bucky at last, still standing in the corner of the room.

“Loki apologized to me, I forgave him, so he stays with me. Maybe he’ll meet Ashby if I decide it’s necessary,” she shrugged, cleaning Loki’s wound.

“And did he tell you why he left you?” James pressed further.

“Yes, but I’d rather keep that between me and Wanda,” Loki replied this time, lifting his head and giving the brunet a serious look.

“All right, then let me ask the other way—did you tell Loki what happened here?” James folded his arms.

“Only what was necessary for now. We still have time to talk about everything that’s happened to us,” the redhead admitted.

“I see. So what exactly do you want from us?”

“James,” she sighed, turning to him. “I just want you to give Loki a chance, without attacking him with fists. I want you to see in him what I see.” Her gaze softened, melting James’s heart. He took a deep breath and relaxed his posture slightly.

“I’ll try,” he muttered. “As for you, Loki—” his expression hardened again, though less fiercely—“this is your one and only chance. Next time I won’t be forgiving. Don’t you dare hurt her.” With that, he left.

The girl placed a bandage on Loki’s nose and kissed the wound lightly. He pulled her into his arms, so suddenly that they both fell onto the bed. Wanda lay on his chest, smiling as she looked into his serious face.

“I’ll do anything, my dearest, to make this right and prove to them that I’ve changed,” he whispered. “I’ll do anything for you, and I’ll never hurt you again.”

The redhead smiled wider and nestled into his body. His words, his promise to change, were like honey to her heart. She believed in him and believed the others would see his change too. Now everything would be fine. Everything would fall into place, and they would finally be able to enjoy each other forever.

Chapter Text

From now on, everything was supposed to go their way. They were meant to be happy together, to enjoy life and the second chance fate had given them. And they were happy. They spent every free moment together, learning about each other, discovering things they hadn’t known before. They paid attention even to the smallest details, wanting to understand each other as deeply as possible. The feeling that had once sparked between them blossomed more and more with each passing day. They kept finding new things that connected them.

Loki began making an effort for others to notice his change. It wasn’t easy — being kind from time to time, admitting mistakes, or helping others — but it wasn’t fruitless either. Most of the team noticed and appreciated his efforts. It seemed like everyone was finally getting along. Everyone except Clint, who still had a lot to say about Loki living in Stark Tower and getting along with the others.

James and Steve’s twins were growing like weeds, bringing endless joy to everyone around. It hadn’t been that lively and cheerful in the tower for a long time. But that also had its downsides — some people were starting to get a bit tired of having little children constantly around. Even though everyone had grown used to the toddlers’ moods, bedtime cries were still not a pleasant sound. Loki, in particular, hated hearing them. Every time he did, he was reminded of the greatest mistake he had ever made.

He regretted what he had done every single day. Watching his beloved play with the twins, seeing how much heart she put into caring for them, how happy she looked — he wished he could go back in time and never leave her. He could have learned to be a father. They could have managed together. Taking care of one child as a couple couldn’t have been that hard, right? If only he hadn’t left her, she would already be five months along — they would soon be expecting a baby. But he ruined it all.

Still, maybe it had some kind of purpose. Maybe they hadn’t been ready yet?

***

“What are you thinking about?” Wanda asked, sipping her frozen slushy and pushing a stroller with little Natasha and Nathaniel inside.

“About us,” he replied softly, turning his head toward her with a faint smile.

He loved it when she wore red lipstick and smiled at him. It melted his heart every time. She had the most beautiful smile. No one was as stunning as she was — her fiery curls, green eyes, vanilla perfume, divine figure, and angelic voice. To him, she was a goddess of beauty.

“And what exactly are you thinking about?” she asked, biting her lip as she stopped on the sidewalk.

“I’m thinking about taking you on a trip,” he answered, wrapping his arm around her so that she had to tilt her head up to look at him. “I can see you’re tired — all the crying and sleepless nights. A little vacation would do us good.”

“And where would you take us then?” she asked, gazing deeply into his green eyes.

“Somewhere we haven’t been yet. We’ll find a place you’ll love.”

Loki pressed a gentle kiss to her lips.

She savored every one of his kisses — slow, deep, still tender and passionate. He led her, and she let him, because she craved it just as much — his closeness, his love, his irresistible charm. She wanted to have him all to herself and indulge in him as much as she pleased.

They stood there for a while, almost in the middle of the park path, kissing and enjoying the moment. Everything seemed perfect — the two of them, two children (not theirs, but let’s overlook that), the sun, and the green park full of flowers. A dream.

“You make a lovely couple,” they suddenly heard a voice behind them. They turned around, still holding each other close.

On a nearby bench sat an elderly man with a gray beard, dressed in a light linen suit. What stood out about him was a brown patch over one eye and a wooden cane. On the backrest of the bench, near his shoulder, perched a jet-black raven.

The smile vanished from Loki’s face almost instantly, though Wanda kept grinning from ear to ear, unaware of what was happening. Loki turned slightly, still holding her by the waist.

“What are their names?” the man asked, rising from the bench and glancing at the sleeping twins.

“Natasha and Nathaniel — the sweetest children in the world,” the redhead replied cheerfully, adjusting their blanket.

“We should go,” Loki whispered quietly so that only she could hear.

“Goodbye, sir! Have a nice day!” she said cheerfully and walked away with Loki by her side.

They strolled through a few more park alleys, passing happy people enjoying the beautiful weather. The sun was warm, the sky clear, and there was no wind. Central Park was bustling — families at playgrounds, teenagers having picnics, and couples walking peacefully through the greenery.

After about half an hour, they reached the tower. Wanda handed the twins over to Bucky and Steve, who had a few free hours to catch up on chores and other things. The pair was always grateful when someone offered to take care of the kids for a bit. Lately, they had been missing time just for themselves — time not revolving around the children.

“Thanks for helping out,” James said, smiling as he took his son into his arms, while Steve picked up their daughter.

“Our pleasure, isn’t it, darling?” Loki replied, glancing at Wanda.

“Of course! You can leave them with us anytime you want,” she laughed softly.

The couple turned and headed toward their room. Wanda was genuinely surprised by Loki’s words. She didn’t know if he had said it to impress someone or because he truly thought spending time with the children was enjoyable.

“Did you really enjoy it?” she asked as she closed the door behind them.

“Of course,” he smiled, sitting down on the bed and pulling her close. “Spending time with you — seeing you smiling and happy — that’s pure joy.” He brushed a few strands of her red hair from her face. “So, what do you say we start planning our trip?”

***

It took them several hours to come up with the entire travel plan — the places they wanted to visit, book flights, and reserve hotels. Despite the difficulties of the busy vacation season and high demand, they managed to finalize everything in just six hours.

Their flight was scheduled for tomorrow afternoon. The first stop: London, where they would spend two days exploring its landmarks. Next: Lisbon, two days of sightseeing and relaxing on the beach. The third destination: Madrid, another city they intended to explore thoroughly. Then Rome, where they planned to stay for three days — there was simply too much to see in the Italian capital. Finally, Paris, where they would spend five days, balancing rest and sightseeing. Wanda insisted they visit Disneyland Paris, and Loki had decided to indulge her wish.

“You can start packing. I need to talk to Thor,” Loki said, kissing her before leaving the room.

He walked down the long, dimly lit corridor and stepped into the living room. Thor, as usual, was watching a new episode of a medical drama with the rest of the team.

“Brother, may I speak with you for a moment?” Loki asked. Thor, a little reluctant to leave the TV, finally stood up, and the two of them moved aside.

“What do you want to talk about?” Thor asked, slinging an arm over his brother’s shoulder.

“Father was here today,” Loki began. Thor frowned, clearly not believing him.

“What do you mean, here?”

“Exactly that. I was walking with Wanda and the Barnes-Rogers kids in the park, and suddenly — there he was, sitting on a bench with that wretched raven of his. Luckily, he didn’t say who he was, but still, I don’t like him being here, following me and Wanda. Who knows why? Doesn’t he have enough to do in Asgard?” Loki’s voice rose with irritation.“So, please, tell him to leave me the hell alone. Oh, and one more thing — tomorrow Wanda and I are going on a little trip. We’ll be gone for about two weeks. If I see him in any of the places we’re visiting, I won’t be responsible for my actions.”

“I’ll talk to him,” Thor said, patting Loki on the back. “You just take care of your girl. Make sure she’s happy the whole time.”

With that, Thor returned to the couch.

Chapter Text

The entire day passed unbelievably quickly for them. They got up early in the morning, had breakfast, packed the last of their suitcases, said their goodbyes, and headed to the airport. They arrived several hours before the flight, but since it was a very busy one, they didn’t want to risk being delayed by the queue. They went through security and check-in smoothly, which helped Wanda stay calm. Ahead of them was nearly a six-hour flight to London.

Most of the time on the plane, they spent sleeping to lessen the effects of jet lag. Their flight was overnight, so the cabin was quiet; most people were either sleeping or minding their own business. The first-class seats offered plenty of comfort and space. Their seats were connected, which made the flight even more pleasant than they had expected.

When they arrived, they ordered a taxi from the airport straight to their hotel. The building was luxurious, located in the very heart of London — right next to Big Ben and less than a twenty-minute walk from Buckingham Palace. They left their luggage at reception and, without wasting any time, set off to explore.

Wanda had bought a camera and plenty of memory cards specifically for this trip so she could take countless photos throughout their journey.

“Do you like it?” Loki asked, holding Wanda’s hand as they walked across the bridge where everyone was taking pictures with Big Ben in the background.

“Like never before!” she squealed. “I’ve always wanted to travel the world, to see as much as possible of what Earth has to offer.” Wanda leaned against the stone railing of the bridge and looked ahead at the skyline in the distance. “Maybe it’s because Sokovia never had much to offer. For as long as I can remember, there was war among the people, poverty, and constant unrest. And now I have everything I ever wanted — I go on expensive vacations, I’m somewhat recognizable… Isn’t that strange?” she turned to face her beloved, who was standing right behind her.

“Oh, my dearest,” he sighed, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. “Did we come here to worry about such things? We came to explore, to have fun, and to enjoy ourselves.” Loki wrapped his arm around her waist and called to a couple passing by. “Would you take a picture of me and my beloved?” he asked. When the young woman agreed, he handed her the camera. Turning back to Wanda, he continued, “I am a prince and a god, born in a golden cradle inside a golden palace filled with other gods — yet I choose to live here. Because if I didn’t, I wouldn’t live with you. And that’s all that matters to me.” He finished with a gentle kiss on her lips.

A moment later, the same woman returned the camera to them. With smiles, they wished each other a pleasant day and went off in opposite directions. Hand in hand again, Wanda and Loki walked toward Buckingham Palace. Along the way, they passed several museums and the vast St. James’s Park. When they reached the palace, they took a few photos and decided to walk further.

“Do you live in a palace like this?” Wanda asked, sounding quite serious.

Loki laughed but eventually replied “No, my dearest. My palace is much larger,” he said, still chuckling. Yet it was true.

The palace in Asgard was the largest in the entire universe — unmatched in size, majesty, and splendor. Its exterior was almost entirely covered in gold. It had countless floors and chambers and was built to accommodate the entire population of Asgard if ever necessary.

“Tell me about Asgard. What’s it like?” Wanda asked as they walked through a green park on their way back to the hotel.

“Well,” he began, “it’s without a doubt a unique and extraordinary place. There are no inventions like cars, phones, or computers — but there are flying ships and other kinds of technology you won’t find here. There are no seasons; the weather is always beautiful. Although sometimes it rains or storms — that mostly depends on Thor’s mood,” Loki chuckled.

“What do you mean, on Thor’s mood?”

“My brother isn’t just the prince and god of thunder wielding Mjolnir. He also controls the weather in Asgard. When he’s angry or sad, it rains. When he’s deep in thought or melancholy, fog covers everything and the sun disappears. But most of the time he’s either happy or away, so the weather stays pleasant,” he explained. “The people there tend to crops, trade with nearby realms, raise animals, and live simple lives. Life there is truly peaceful.”

“If that’s so, then what do you do all day, my prince?” Wanda teased playfully.

“Me, my dear?” he looked at her, pausing for a moment. “I’m a prince — I do nothing,” he laughed, and Wanda joined him. “Most days, I spend my time in the library or serving as my father’s right hand. When something happens, I advise him. I help organize balls or other palace events. I negotiate with different kingdoms. In short, I take care of the kingdom’s daily affairs.”

By the time they returned to the hotel, it was nearly lunchtime, so they decided to eat at the hotel restaurant. The place was breathtakingly beautiful and luxurious, with a glass ceiling that allowed them to admire the bright, sunny sky. Like the rest of the hotel, the restaurant was elegant and light. The walls, couches, and chairs were covered in shades of beige, complemented by white tablecloths and vases with fresh flowers on every table. The food was just as exquisite as the setting.

Most guests and staff gave them curious glances. Many of the hotel’s visitors looked as though they had just stepped out of the most luxurious boutiques. Meanwhile, Wanda and Loki weren’t particularly dressed up. She wore a beige striped sweater, dark jeans, beige Converse sneakers, and gold jewelry. Loki looked slightly more elegant — though that was his usual attire — a black turtleneck, black dress pants, and black leather shoes. They stood out a little but didn’t mind at all; they were simply enjoying their trip.

After lunch, they finally went up to their room, where their luggage was already waiting. The room was just as beautiful and luxurious as the rest of the hotel, with subtle modern touches. Upon entering, there was a vestibule lined with white built-in wardrobes. To the left, a door led to a bathroom with a large bathtub and an even larger shower. The next room was a spacious living area — not as large as the one in Stark Tower, but far from small. Most of the furniture was made of dark wood, while the fabrics and other accents came in creamy whites and pistachio greens, creating a warm, cozy atmosphere. On one of the tables stood a bouquet of peonies — Wanda’s favorite flowers.

Through another door, they entered the bedroom. The bed was twice the size of Wanda’s usual one. The room also had another bathroom identical to the first, with a walk-in closet just before it. There was also a small vanity table, a TV, and a checkered armchair.

As soon as the redhead saw the bed, she kicked off her shoes and threw herself onto it, pulling Loki down with her. He landed above her, stopping just in time by placing his hands on either side of her head.

“Isn’t this the most beautiful hotel in the world?” Wanda sighed, sinking into the soft sheets.

“How about we rest until dinner and then go out tonight?” Loki suggested, kissing her neck and trailing lower toward her collarbone. Wanda giggled softly and nodded.

***

Darkness had long since fallen over London. Only the streetlights cast a warm, yellowish glow, illuminating the main streets of the city. The nightlife was just beginning — young people headed to pubs and clubs, couples went on dates, tourists strolled along the Thames, and pickpockets looked for easy profit.

Just as they had planned, Wanda and Loki had a pleasant dinner in the hotel restaurant, accompanied by live music. This time, they looked far more elegant than they had at lunch. Loki wore a white shirt with a black tie and suit, topped with a long black coat. Wanda wore a long, pleated skirt in light beige, a white blouse, and a fitted white blazer. On her feet were beige patent heels, and she finished the look with deep red lipstick.

The evening was pleasantly cool. They strolled slowly across the same bridge they had visited earlier that day. Their goal was to see the night panorama of London from the top of the “London Eye,” the world-famous Ferris wheel.

When they arrived, they realized they weren’t the only ones with the idea — there was quite a crowd. The line stretched far from the ticket booths. Loki sighed and pulled Wanda close.

“Are you sure you want to do this?” he asked, looking up. “It looks much higher than the one in the park…”

She followed his gaze to the top of the white structure. A chill ran down her spine. He was right — it was much taller than the one in New York. What if it broke while they were at the top? She could use her powers, but would she react in time?

“I think I changed my mind…” she murmured quietly.

“I thought so,” he chuckled, stepping out of the line and gently pulling her along. “Let’s find something just as interesting.”

They walked along the Thames and stopped by a food truck selling frozen yogurt. It was a completely new experience for Loki. Wanda chose for him — vanilla yogurt with strawberry syrup, strawberries, raspberries, and a sprinkle of pistachios. For herself, she got toffee yogurt with cookie pieces.

When they reached the bridge again, the first thing they noticed was the number of padlocks attached to the metal railings — hundreds, if not thousands. Curious, Wanda walked closer and began to examine them.

“Look, Loki,” she called, and he appeared behind her in an instant, his cool breath brushing her neck. “This lock is over seventy years old,” she pointed to one that read, ‘S + J 1943.’ “I wonder if those people are still alive?”

“Wanda, they’d be around a hundred by now. I highly doubt it,” he murmured near her ear.

“How do you know? Some people live that long,” she retorted, slightly annoyed, turning toward him.

There was almost no space between them — their chests brushed with every breath. Loki’s gloved hands rested on either side of her arms, pinning her gently against the railing.

He leaned in to kiss her — but before he could, he felt a sudden sharp pain on his face and fell to the ground.

“Leave her alone, mate!” shouted a man who had appeared beside Wanda, grabbing her by the arm. “You alright, miss?” he asked in a distinctly British accent.

“Are you out of your mind?!” she yelled, jerking away and slapping him across the face. “That’s my boyfriend! Is it normal here to hit random people on the street?” she snapped, tossing her hair back before hurrying to Loki, who was still sitting on the ground. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah,” he muttered, sitting up on the curb with just a red mark on his cheek.

“What an idiot. You can’t even kiss someone on a bridge without getting punched,” she sighed, sitting down beside him and resting her elbows on her knees.

“Charming city,” Loki added dryly.

***

That day, they were flying from London straight to sunny Lisbon. The flight was in the late evening, so they had planned a few activities beforehand. They intended to head to the airport after lunch.

Early in the morning, they went to tour Buckingham Palace, where they spent a full three hours exploring the public sections and learning about the royal family and the palace itself. In a place like Buckingham Palace, one could almost feel more important just by walking through the residence of Queen Elizabeth — and so many monarchs before her.

In the Royal Gallery, they admired stunning works of art and historical objects once owned by monarchs — tiaras, crowns, relics, royal garments. A great piece of history preserved in one place.

After visiting London’s most iconic site, they took the metro to a nearby park that had a large butterfly house. Wanda had been excited about it all morning. As they strolled through the park’s green paths and the building came into view, she nearly jumped for joy.

Inside, the air was humid and heavy, as it always was in such places, but that didn’t stop Wanda from marveling at the many species of butterflies.

“Do you remember where we went the first time we met?” Loki asked, watching her smile

“Of course I do. How could I forget?” she said, sitting beside him on a bench and adjusting a ring with a small blue butterfly on it. “A butterfly just like this one landed on your nose,” she laughed. “You also told me that in the fairy tale you come from, butterflies are a sign of change — not just symbols of love and beauty.”

“And do you believe in my fairy tale?”

“I think I do,” she whispered softly, joining his lips with hers and their hands in a gentle clasp.