[Interim]
Chapter 26: [Interim]
“Do you really have to go there? Can’t we wait for Rhodey’s signal here?” Bruce asked Natasha when the elevator doors closed.
Natasha waited for the elevator to move before replying. “It’s a good way to survey the area and know who we are facing.”
He sipped on his green tea and hummed in wonder. “But you aren’t going to the base. Just Stella and Loki.”
She leaned on the corner of the elevator, arms crossed on her chest. “It would depend on what we see there.”
Bruce shook his head. “Very unlikely of you.” He sipped again.
“We’re facing an unknown enemy.” She sighed, then added, “I can’t believe I have said that sentence one too many times since they showed up.” Silence fell between them.
“Why are we doing this again?” Bruce gave her a skeptical look.
“Because we’re Earth's mightiest protectors.”
Bruce chuckled. “And you don’t sound so convinced with yourself.”
She sighed. “I did have my reservations, okay? But since the tower got attacked and we got to talk to that demigod, everything felt real. This is real.”
“You wouldn’t know if anything is real until it happens -.”
The doors opened to the 77th floor and she raised a finger to hush Bruce when she saw a shadow projected on the hallway wall. Bruce's brows furrowed in confusion but he held himself from speaking. He knew something was up.
Natasha moved forward at a slow pace. The elevator dinged when the doors opened but the shadows did not move. Bruce followed, clutching his mug.
When she saw Stella’s armored back, she quietly but swiftly opened her bedroom door and pulled him inside. He gasped and dropped his mug. It broke and spilled its contents.
“Shit!” She hissed and closed the door quietly.
On the other hand, Stella and Loki were still talking softly when the elevator doors opened. They didn’t hear a thing. Stella was pressed to Loki’s chest when Natasha saw a glimpse of them. When Bruce’s mug shattered on the floor, they snapped from their moment and turned to the direction of the sound.
“Did someone see us?” was Loki’s first question.
Stella pulled away from Loki and walked to Natasha’s room. “Nat? Is that you?” She knocked on the door.
The door opened, showing Natasha still grabbing Bruce’s shirt in a fist. “I’m sorry I dropped my mug. I didn’t see anything!” Bruce admitted. Loki raised an eyebrow when he heard Banner’s voice.
Natasha released Bruce. “I’m sorry. We didn’t know you’re already here.”
Stella smirked, but rather sadly. “It’s okay.”
Loki followed Stella and saw Natasha and Bruce inside. “What did you see?” His tone was not threatening, much to Bruce’s surprise. Loki was concerned. But Bruce knew better than to talk.
“We didn’t see anything aside from Stella’s back,” Natasha replied.
Loki lowered his eyes on them. “Whatever you see should not reach the others.”
“It won’t.” Bruce was quick to reply. Natasha released her grip on his shirt.
Loki sighed. “We’ve had a long day. I don’t want to explain anything.”
“Natasha already knows,” Stella told her.
Loki stopped in his tracks and turned back to them. “How?” He asked Stella.
Stella flicked her hand and the broken pieces of the mug moved. “I told her.” The mug reconnected as the pieces levitated. She gave the mug back to Bruce.
“You did?” Loki narrowed his eyes.
“I’m sorry.” Stella’s body moved back an inch. “I just needed to talk to someone about how I feel.”
Loki’s eyes flicked to Stella and then to Natasha. Bruce was long forgotten, back pressed to the wall of Natasha’s room. Exhaustion suddenly left Stella’s body, replaced with a cold sensation running through her veins.
“Very well.” Loki slightly lowered his head and turned to head to his room.
Stella gulped and glanced at Natasha and Bruce. Natasha moved her head, motioning her to follow him. Stella left them and followed Loki. “Loki, I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner.” She closed the door behind her.
Loki stopped in the middle of his room, still facing the wide windows. He turned on his heel. “What if they’ll think you’re working with me and you’ll betray them?”
Her lips parted in shock. “What?”
“You working with me was one thing. You being involved with me is another thing.”
“Loki, where are you heading with this?”
“I don’t want them to see you as a threat.”
Stella walked closer to him but stopped two meters from him. “They already did when I first showed up out of nowhere.”
“And I don’t want to add to that.” Loki kept his distance from her.
“Loki, tell me what you’re trying to say. Please.”
He pressed his lips together. His hands curled up in a fist. After a moment, he said “I don’t think this is a good idea. They already know it. At least Natasha and Bru-”
“I trust them to keep a secret!” Stella tried not to yell. Her words came out in a whisper-yell.
“How sure are you Romanoff won’t use that against you?” He stepped forward to make a point.
“She won’t!” Her voice was now down to a whisper. Stella was trying so hard not to let the tears fall. But her heart was already beating fast and it’s about to force the tears out.
Loki cast his eyes down. “I think you should not be associated with me now.”
“No…”
“Yes.” He glowered at her, though he replied softly.
This time Stella closed the distance between them. She laced her fingers with his and her heart dropped when she saw how Loki was keeping his expression stern despite him wanting to break down.
“We have to, Stella. It’s for your protection.” He pulled his hand from her.
“No, Loki. Listen to me.” Her tears were now streaming down her face. “I trust Natasha and Bruce. I believe they won’t tell a soul about us.”
“You can’t be so sure about that.”
“Don’t you trust me, at least?”
Loki looked at her. It was heartbreaking to watch her like this - broken and pleading before him. All he wanted was for her to be safe and this was his idea.
“Do you even think it would make a difference? We’re both strangers to them. They don’t know us. I -” He pointed at himself - “I even fought them to death.”
“We could put all of those behind -”
“But I don’t think they will. I’m just here for Thor!”
Stella was taken aback when he raised his voice at her. She pulled back her hand and held it with her other hand. She covered her mouth and closed her eyes as the tears rolled down her cheeks again. She thought she had no more tears left to shed but she was wrong.
Loki pinched his nose bridge when he realized what he had done. His left hand landed on his waist. But before he could do anything, Stella spoke. “You think I didn’t worry about that before?” She covered her shaking mouth and then dropped her hand. “I did! I was even wary they would not believe me and tie me up for questioning. I just popped out of nowhere! Don’t you think that’s suspicious?!”
“Stella.”
She raised a finger to shush him. “But right now I’ve gotten Natasha’s trust. Not just her, everyone.” Her hand dropped to the side. “All I’m saying is, they’re giving you a second chance.”
“Stella, no,” he firmly replied. She looked back at him, defeated. “I don’t want you to risk yourself because of me.” He approached her and held her by the arms.
“What do you mean? Please don’t tell me…”
He pressed his lips tight. “Let’s not do this, for now, Stella. At least not while we’re around them.”
“I-I can hide it.”
“No. If it was my way I wouldn’t go around hiding our relationship. I’m sorry, Stella. Now is just not the time.”
Stella started sobbing. She pushed his arms away from her. He didn’t even fight her; it felt like a stab to her chest. She held her sobs when she left Loki’s room and locked the door behind her when she reached her room. She went to the bathroom and slowly removed her clothes. She climbed into the tub and turned on the water, not even bothering to turn the heat.