Loki
"You could have just been honest with me." Ophelia said standing at the edge of her balcony holding a hot cup of tea. It was the middle of the night and the moon was full. The sounds of the city below her echoed softly in the wind swirling her hair around her shoulders. She turned her head to see the man she once knew as Levi in the doorway. His cape flapping lightly in the breeze and his eyes trained on her intently. "Do I call you Loki now?" She asked.
"If you wish." He replied then made his way over to her side.
"But that is your name." She replied then took a sip of her tea.
"You should get some rest." He said looking up at the bright moon.
"I think I'm done resting." She said softly.
"You aren't angry. I can sense it. You should be furious." Loki replied taking a step closer to her. "You should be scared." He said in a hushed tone.
Ophelia teleported her tea away from her grasp and then turned her body to face him. Normally looking into someones mind would cause her exhaustion. But not this time. After looking through Loki's mind Ophelia felt invigorated. As if all of her worries were gone and they replaced by pure energy. She was hurt that he had lied to her. But he was still Levi, deep down.
"I could never be afraid of you." She said. Loki looked at her with concern on his face.
"Have you not heard of the ruthless God of Mischief? The monster that destroyed half this city! I am nothing but a Frost Giant that which causes chaos. You should run from me. I will bring you nothing but pain." Loki replied with anger in his voice. He was being completely honest. For once.
"But you are not that. I may have been locked up most of my life but I know what you are. You are a hero. And an artist, a friend, and you are a good man." Ophelia said placing a hand on his armored chest.
"I am not a good man. And the stories you have herd of my heroism are an out of character rare occasion." He replied.
"Then why befriend me? And why save Tony?" She asked. During the battle with Thanos, Loki made himself known to have faked his death yet again. And when Tony Stark was about to bring everyone back who perished at Thano's hands Loki placed his hand on his shoulder and helped him bear the load of power that poured into Tony from the infinity stones. He saved him. And from then on he was no longer seen as the dangerous villain he once was to the public. He saved one of the worlds mightiest heroes. And the planet he so enjoyed to pretend he hated thought he had truly changed.
"For Thor." Loki replied with tears in his eyes. "I saved him for Thor. Because believe it or not the only reason I ever do the things I do are for two purposes and two purposes alone. My own gain and the prevention of anguish on the part of my family. It was a selfish act, not a heroic one. And as for you... I... it was a mistake running into you. I sensed your power that day we ran into each other, and I needed to know more. I was trying to live a quiet life away from everything. But then I ran into you. And nothing has ever been the same. My power was weakened the day I saved Stark. And it is just now growing to its full ability. I needed time to recover. And in that recovery I found you. And I feel as though through my lies to you I have created more harm than good in this world. Yet again." He said and tears brimmed his eyes further. True emotion swarmed Ophelia. She could feel the hurt radiate off of him. He was in pain.
"I admit I do feel betrayed by knowing you have lied to me. But..." Ophelia started but trailed off.
"But nothing. Ophelia, my crimson love. I cannot be the man you so deserve. You deserve a man who can live a mortal life with you. Who will not lie to you for his own benefit. Who will put you before others." Loki said placing a hand on top of the hand she still held upon his chest.
"You are that man. You may be immortal. But I know you now. I know the you who drinks coffee and makes jokes, the you who stops to pets each dog he comes across, and the you who cares for me. And I have seen into your mind. And I see a person who has been through too much in their life. Too much grief and pain for one soul to bear. But I also see a person who protects the ones they love. Who would do anything to keep them from harm. And to love them. And that person is the one I will stand beside." Ophelia pulled herself to Loki's chest and rested her head upon it. The coldness of his armor prickling her. "I have seen within your mind that you miss your family. And I know the Avengers have caused us both heartache in our lives. But I can tell you care for them. Especially your brother." She said closing her eyes and allowing herself to fully envelope into him. He finally gave in and wrapped his arms around her.
"It has been too long to reunite with them." Loki said softly resting his head atop hers.
"It's never too late. And I have a feeling our lives are about to change. I think we both need to be courageous. Face our fears head on. I think it's time we pay the Avengers a visit." Ophelia said. Loki stiffened.
"Only with you by my side." Loki said in a hushed tone.
"Always."