Scars

Loki and Alice continued their secret relationship for four months, and no one knew. Their late-night visits went undetected by the others. Then the Avengers started to go on a mission, leaving Loki behind with one or more teammates. Loki made a habit of pissing people off, so they often left him alone during these times. This also allowed him to sneak off to see Alice during the day. 

And today was one of those days. Tony was saying his final farewell to Alice as he prepared to leave as the others prepared the quinjet. 

“We should be back by tomorrow morning. Bruce and Loki are staying behind. You are to stay on your floor. I’ll send Bruce to check on you, and I’ll call before bed.” 

 “yes, sir” Alice knew this routine she was used to it already, but that didn’t mean she worried any less. Alice stood next to her window, watching the quinjet take off and into the distance. 

When she was sure they were gone and out of sight, she turned around, grabbed her blanket, and took off to her room, where Loki was sitting and waiting for her at her desk. 

With Cameras and security around the whole building, the only real place they could meet was her bedroom. While was indeed monitored by Jarvis, there was no camera or visual of her room to be seen. Unlike her previous accommodations.

She rushed for her ceiling swing chair as Loki pulled two books from a stack he’s brought from the library. Books her father probably would disapprove of. 

“They’ve gone until tomorrow. Bruce is here” 

Another thing about their visits Alice has started using her voice more, even If it is only for Loki. It took a while, but she started responding to Loki until she was telling him stories instead of the other way around. While it was no longer a whispered, her voice was still soft and gentle. 

"well, that's good we'll be undisrupted," Loki says as he goes to hand her a book.

“Can you read to me today?”

“Alright, I have Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky. It might be a bit mature and violent for you, but it's a good book. If you don't like that, there is also 1984 by George Orwell. Which would you like?”

“I’ve heard of 1984. Daddy won’t like me reading that one.” Alice pouted looking at both books. Her father deprived her of many things, and she still had no clue as to why. 

“You’re father’s not here. And he doesn’t need to know” Loki smirked Alice smiled as well. Letting out a giggle, Alice sat back as Loki made the decision to choose 1984, he hadn’t read it before, either. 

He begins to read out loud. She lays back and closes her eyes, listening to his voice. This goes on for hours. 

Even though the book is very interesting, with her chair swaying back and forth and Loki’s soothing voice, she eventually falls asleep. 

Loki watches as she nods off at Part 2, chapter 3. Bookmarking their place, Standing up, he comes over, taking her blanket and covering her up further.  Sitting back in his seat, he drifts off as well. 

“WHAT THE ACTUAL HELL” Bruce shouts as he comes into Alice’s room to see Loki sleeping at her desk. Both Loki and Alice jump awake to see Bruce at her door. 

"what is this? What is happening? Oh my god," Bruce started hyperventilation, and his eyes changed colors from brown to green.

“Dr. Banner, please. Let us-Let me explain.” Loki stood up while Alice shrank in her seat. Loki had seen and experienced Bruce's outburst first handed and did not want Alice to experience any of it.

Bruce takes a few deep breaths to calm himself, and then he basically growls, “ Explain”

Loki turned to Alice "Darling, how about you go to the kitchen and get something to eat. I'll be there soon" he gave her hand a kiss before watching her leave hesitantly.

Bruce looked to Loki "You're explaining"

"yes, um... The helicarrier"

"you meet on the helicarrier. I saw, everyone saw"

“...She’s a very kind girl. I appreciate and am drawn to her kindness. I don’t get much of it. She’s understanding, we have the same interests, and... she trusts me. I’m the god of lies, and she trusts me. I’ve never had that before, it feels strange to have it, but I want to keep it. I like this feeling.” Loki says in this mist of his emotions. “ She’s a good and Kind girl. And she is locked up here all day, all night, all alone with no one but her so-called father for company. I’ve never seen or heard her leave this floor all the time I've been in this tower. This is healthy. But if I can’t help her leave this place, the least I can do is keep her company. 

You’re a doctor and a good man. Look me in the eye and tell me what is happening to her is okay.”

Bruce looks at the door, which she disappeared behind. What happening to her isn’t okay? He knew that all of them knew that. But most of them did nothing to stop him beyond a lecture here and there. Clint, who had his own daughter,  was the only one who really stepped up and spoke more often than not, arguing with Tony about his daughter's treatment but between missions and his own children, he didn’t always have time to fight for her. Everyone else was bystanders. 

“Did you tell her about New York?” Bruce asked 

“ I didn’t need to,” Loki answered honestly. She didn’t ask, so he didn’t tell her, but he knew that he didn’t tell her anything that she already knew. Even if she never spoke about knowing. He knew she knew. 

While the green was still there, Hulk was very much present, if not in anger, pity, and sadness. 

Bruce sighed as he ran a face over his hand he groaned. He knew he would come to regret this, he knew he’d feel guilt, but...

“I won't tell Tony or the others. But if she hurt her, I’ll remove your limbs from your body, watch you bleed out, and stomp on your corpse. 

Loki agreed quickly, she was his only friend on earth he wasn’t going to leave or hurt her. 

Alice sat in the kitchen, waiting patiently for one of them to come out, in front of her were three sandwiches, two on one plate and one on the other plate. Hearing footsteps coming her way, she looks up at Bruce. She pushes the plate with the single sandwich toward him. 

“Thank you,” he says he opens his mouth to say something else, but nothing comes to mind. Reaching for her, he squeezes her hand and leaves with nothing else to say. 

And with nothing being said, she was left to assume. 

Taking the plate with two sandwiches to her room to find Loki sitting at her desk still. 

She stood at the door threshold. “I... ar-re we okay?” she stuttered.

“Hey, Hey, it’s okay, we’re okay.” Loki crossed the room to hug her, putting the plate on her dresser.  Loki held her to his chest as she cried, worried about the outcome of their outing. He tried to tell her it would be alright, but she wouldn’t hear it. 

Loki would be sent back to prison, and she would return to hers. That’s all she could think of as she sobbed into his chest. This would be their end, she thought.

-

Fortunately for her, she’d be wrong, and Bruce would keep quiet and allow their friendship to continue untouched and unseen.