Shadow of a Villain

The ring of the elevator was overly loud for the quiet as I stepped off on the main floor. A feeling of lightness filled me, something I hadn't experienced in years, as I strolled down the hall into the main lounge. Suddenly a loud noise broke my reverie. My eyes met Amelie's and I froze. She was staring at me, her hands free from the heavy book that had just slipped from them.

An awkward silence rang through the room as we stared at each other. I offered her a small smile. "Good morning."

Unexpectedly, a violent rage distorted her beautiful features as she stalked towards me, her fists clenched tight at her sides. I stumbled back in surprise, unsure what I had done to provoke such fury from her. She stopped just inches away from me, the air around us seeming to crackle with anticipation. Her eyes narrowed and burned into me as if she were trying to read my very thoughts, which were searching desperately for an answer amidst my growing panic.

Amelie angrily clasped her hands in front of her, face red with rage. "What. The. Hell!!" She fumed, and I cringed at the volume of her voice echoing through the early morning air. I opened my mouth to answer before she cut me off again. "Where the hell have you been?! You up and vanish for an entire night without a word??"

I brought my hands in front of me, palms spread open in a gesture of peace. "Amelie, please."

She turned away from me suddenly, taking a few steps back as she brought a hand to her hair. Her sudden retreat perplexed me, my mind coming up with reasons for why she was avoiding me. Something must have happened, I'd missed something important. My heart raced with concern as my eyes scanned her body for signs of injury or pain, but I couldn't find any. The tension grew between us as I took a tentative step forward. Despite all my questions, I couldn't make myself ask what was going on.

Amelie abruptly twisted towards me, her exhaustion suddenly evident in her expression. I quietly uttered her name as she moved closer. "Amelie, what is wrong?" I asked, my voice laced with apprehension.

She stopped in front of me. "You left."

I swallowed. "I went for a walk, to clear my head. Has something happened? Are you alright?"

Amelie's head tipped back as she turned her eyes to the ceiling, tutting slightly, the tender moment broken. "No. No I'm not alright, you complete dickhead."

Her lips pressed together tight enough for them to turn white. "You. Left. I just said. You completely up and vanished. I know yesterday was shit but you can't just disappear whenever you bloody feel like it!"

"My apologies Miss Stark, I wasn't aware I had a curfew." I snapped, moving around her as I clasped my hands behind my back in their usual position. She followed close behind me.

"Wow, so mature. How many hundreds of years old are you?"

I rolled my eyes. "It's not as though I were running away, I just needed a moment."

"A moment? That's all it takes for you to up and leave without a word? You do remember that this is my home too, don't you?"

Anger boiled inside me as she spoke. “I was just looking for some peace and quiet! Is that really so bad?"

Her eyes widened in disbelief and her face blushed a deep shade of scarlet. "You were looking for some peace and quiet?! Are you serious right now? What do you think this is? A holiday?!" She threw her hands in the air, exasperation evident on her face.

I felt my own temper rising at the tone of her voice: high-pitched and filled with contempt. "I see. Forgive me for thinking I could go for a walk without the Avengers assuming I would go back on my word. I'll be sure to take a chaperone next time to prove I'm not sneaking out to level the city."

"Oh, don't be so melodramatic! I'm not accusing you of anything! I was worried."

"Worried about what?" I asked, my voice dripping with sarcasm. "Worried I'd need to go on a quick killing spree to properly calm down?"

"Worried about you!! I thought something had happened to you!"

I laughed, the sound short and sarcastic. "So worried you felt the need to interrogate me upon my return?"

Amelie's eyes widened. "Interrogate you? I have been in your corner since you got here! You leave for 10 hours unannounced and I'm being unreasonable by sitting here worrying all night?!"

"I didn't ask you to wait around!"

"Oh so I should have just gone to bed and assumed you'd be okay!?"

“Perfect, wonderful. That would have been so much better than you snipping at me like this!"

Her eyes narrowed as she moved closer, barely an inch between us. "That's the price Loki."

"The price?"

"Yes. You want people to care about you, then you have to remember that it doesn't just stop whenever you feel like it."

I sighed in frustration, throwing my hands in the air. “For goodness sakes, what are you talking about? What doesn't stop?"

"Me caring about you!"

"Caring? I wasn't in another realm, I went for a walk! You're telling me you waited around for me like you actually give a damn?"

"Yes!"

I took a step back, not wanting to let myself get too close. "Why?"

"Because!! How could I go to sleep not knowing where you were?!"

"Why wouldn't you?"

"Why wouldn't I what?"

"Why wouldn't you go to sleep not knowing where I was?"

Amelie shook her head, her voice full of exasperation. "You're missing the point..."

I took a step closer. "I don't think so."

"Argh! Why are you being like this!?"

"Answer the question." I could almost see the anger rolling off of her.

"I'm not the one who needs to answer for anything!"

Another step. "Tell me."

She tried to turn away but I caught her arm, pulling her back round. She glared at me. "Why do you care so much all of a sudden?"

"Tell me."

"Because!!"

"Because what?"

"Because I care about you!"