Loki Laufeyson - Ordinary
Loki Laufeyson - Ordinary
An unsettling quiet followed Tony's challenge, the words hanging heavily in the air between us. I managed a curt nod in response; my throat felt tight and my heart pounded against my ribcage. As the echoes of his statement faded, I felt a reassuring presence appear beside me. The warmth radiated from Thor's body as he stood at my side, his silence offering more comfort than any words ever could. His protective stance was subtle, yet unmistakable, and it gave me a sense of security despite the gnawing self-doubt that wore away at me.
"Alright..." Clint said awkwardly, breaking the silence. "What's the plan?'
I watched everyone quietly, their conversation fading in and out of my focus. They were single-minded, determined - yet all I could think about was how… lacking, I felt standing among them.
As they dove into deeper discussion, my mind wandered back to the time when I was their enemy. I had been so powerful then, feared and respected. Now, I was only a weakened version of myself, struggling to regain even a fraction of my former abilities. The thought of it ate at me, consuming my thoughts.
"Loki," Steve called out, drawing me back to the present. "We'll drop you half a mile from the terrorist base. You'll need to get inside and convince them to talk to you. Think you can handle that?"
His query carried a subtle challenge - My pride stung, but I knew he was right to question me. Clenching my jaw, I replied. "I'll manage."
"Good." Natasha chimed in, her voice cool and collected.
"Once you've gained their trust," Steve continued, his brow furrowed in concentration. "We'll be waiting for your signal to move in."
"Right." I muttered, trying to ignore the nagging internal voice that threatened to surface. I glanced around the room, catching Bucky's unexpected empathetic gaze. He gave me a curt nod, clearly understanding the weight of my responsibility.
"Hey." Bruce suddenly interjected, his voice hesitant. "What if they don't buy Loki's act? What if they don't believe he wants to betray us?"
Steve paused, locking eyes with me. The air became inexplicably thick and heavy, the obvious truth hanging between us like a noose. "We'd better cross our fingers they do." He finally replied, his voice grim. "Because we won't be able to reach Loki in time if things go south."
The shiver that ran down my spine was ice cold, but I kept my eyes downward.
A moment of silence followed before anyone spoke again.
"... What?"
I looked to Amelie, confused at her icy tone.
The sudden tension in the room was palpable and I could see the anger flashing across Amelie's delicate features. Her hands clenched into fists at her sides and her grey-green eyes sparking with indignation.
No one answered her. The silence was deafening as she looked around the room to each person in turn.
"Wait just a bloody minute!" She burst out, her voice shaking with barely-contained fury. "You're seriously going to put all of this on Loki's shoulders? He's not even fully recovered yet!"
"Amelie." Tony began, his tone firm but laced with frustration. "I don't love this idea either but we don't have a choice."
She laughed humourlessly. "We don't have a choice? We're literally the ones making the decisions."
A deep sigh escaped from Tony’s lips, his fingers pinching the bridge of his nose. "What is with you? We've found a solution!"
"Tony, Amelie, please." I interjected, my desperation ringing clear in my words, but Stark cut me off before I could continue.
"Stay out of it, Loki." He growled, apparently losing the battle with his own temper, his gaze never leaving Amelie. "This doesn't concern you."
I balked. "Doesn't concern me?" I asked incredulously, a flare of indignation at his dismissal rising in me. "This entire plan revolves around me!"
"Exactly." Amelie countered, turning her fiery gaze on Stark once more. "And it's too much to ask of him. You're literally putting his life on the line."
Tony rolled his eyes. "Risking one life to potentially save everyone else's." He retorted, his voice low and dangerous. "That's the sacrifice play."
Steve’s eyebrows rose as Amelie's eyes blazed. “Oh yeah?” She asked. "What happened to just cutting the wire? What happened to finding a way for everyone to get out safely?" She demanded, her eyes shining with unshed tears. My heart leapt to my throat at the sight of it.
I watched helplessly as they continued to argue.
"Amelie, I understand your concern." Tony's voice wavered with a mix of authority and anger. "But we don't have another option!"
"Can't you see that this is unfair!?" Amelie shot back, her eyes welling up with more tears. Her hands were clenched into fists at her sides, the tendons in her arms tight with tension.
"Of course I can see that!" Tony roared, slamming his fist down on the worktop, making me flinch. The room seemed to shrink around us, the air thick with unspoken thoughts and opinions.
"And still, you want to throw him in front of the danger like a sacrifice?" She accused, her voice cracking.
"Enough!" Tony exclaimed, any semblance of calm long gone. "You're letting your emotions cloud your judgement. This is not your call to make."
"But it is yours? Why? Just because I don't have powers or a fancy suit, my opinion doesn't count?!"
Tony scoffed. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"I'm not an Avenger - I get that. But did it ever occur to you that one of the reasons I might connect so well with Loki is that he knows what it's like to be on the outside of this team too?"
"Outside?" Tony was incredulous. "You're my niece… You're a Stark!"
"But I'm no hero. You suddenly decide to belittle the difficulty of Loki trying to live here, but you couldn't possible comprehend what it feels like to be the underdog. To be the person in the room who isn't friends with everyone." Amelie began to pace slightly back and forth, her golden hair swaying gently with every step. I stood rooted next to Thor, watching her, sensing the storm of emotions brewing within. She finally stopped, taking a deep breath before turning to face Stark, her eyes filled with a mixture of hurt and frustration. "Tony." She started, her voice shaky. The words seemed to be stuck in her throat, but she forced them out. "I'm not like you – or any of you. I don't have powers. I can't fly or shoot bloody laser beams from my hands. I can't save the world."
Tony's brow furrowed, anger swiftly being replaced by genuine concern.
"Every day..." She continued, her voice gaining strength. "I watch all of you risking your lives to protect others, and I feel so... inadequate. Like I don't belong in this team, with you. Like I'm just some burden you have to carry around because we're family and I asked to join in."
I could see Tony's jaw tighten, the pain in his eyes mirroring hers. It was obvious how much he cared for Amelie.
"Sometimes I wish I had never come into this life." Amelie whispered, her voice cracking. "You probably wouldn't even notice if I never joined in another mission again, with all the amazing things you all do. You'll never understand what it feels like to be so... ordinary, when you’re surrounded by superheroes."
In that moment, I felt a surge of empathy for Amelie. I, too, had felt like an outsider – once trapped in the shadow of my brother, and now here on Earth in the shadow of my past. I knew all too well the pain of feeling insignificant, unworthy of love or recognition.
I watched as Amelie's eyes brimmed with tears, the sparkle that usually danced within them now replaced with a storm of uncertainty. Her very being seemed to have lost its usual vibrancy.
Tony’s mouth opened and closed like a fish, no words coming out.
The room was silent, no one daring to speak.
I watched Tony's face harden as he suddenly crossed his arms. His eyes narrowed in on me, his jaw set firmly. "The plan goes ahead." He said curtly, his eyes flicking to his niece once more. "We can discuss this later."
His words were like a slap to the face for Amelie, her eyes widening.
I wanted to scream, grab them both by the shoulders and shake them. After losing my own family through my reckless choices and being fortunate enough to find Thor again, it hurt me to see Amelie and Stark fighting. Since I had arrived they had always been so close, the bond between them unspoken but unyielding.
"Fine." Amelie whispered, her voice thick with tears. "But if anything happens to him, I swear to the gods I'll never forgive you."
My breath caught in my throat as Amelie's words echoed in the silent room. My heart stuttered and my cheeks burned at how easily she admitted she cared.
And with that, she stormed out of the room, the doors slamming behind her with a resounding bang.