Loki
“You wanted to see me, darling,” Loki asked from where he lounged on Bucky’s bed.
Bucky rubbed at his forehead, feeling a headache building. Loki came and went as he pleased. And it was never when Bucky actually wanted him.
“I would have liked to see you, oh, about a month back before Stevie could get his claws into me,” Bucky sighed.
“Oh, come now. Where’s the fun in that? I thought you’d like the challenge,” Loki pouted.
“Stevie’s not a challenge; he’s a natural disaster. Better to fight a tsunami.”
“Well, you’re the one who chose to run and hide after the fall of that ridiculous organization. What was it called? Veil?”
“It’s SHIELD, you ass. And now there’s nothing holding Stevie back.”
“Darling, SHIELD wasn’t holding your Captain back with people like the blind Hawkeye and the Mewling Quim,” Loki laughed. “They lacked the resources to be a threat, and they chained the only real threat whenever possible for money. So very human—shortsighted,” he sighed.
“Yeah, well, I thought you were playing the long game? That’s why you kept me safe from that petty bitch.”
“Ha! Lovely word play. Nothing like a good rhyme, but she’s a witch, darling.”
Bucky rolled his eyes.
“Whatever she is, it’s nothing I want anywhere near me. WHY did you let Stevie get Stark,” Bucky yelled. “He was the only one making any sort of preparations for what’s coming. Stevie sure ain’t thinking about it.”
Loki eyed him.
“You haven’t figured it out, then? I thought better of you, James. At least as it concerned the good Captain.”
Bucky leaned back against the wall and gave the Asgardian God a questioning look.
“Figured out what?”
“Why do you think I so love chaos, darling,” Loki asked, seemingly off-topic as he glanced at this nails.
“Well, because you’re a twisted bastard? Was there some other reason,” Bucky sighed, tired of it all. Strategy really just gave him a headache. He was a murderbot who followed order for about 60 years . . . until Zemo (cough—Loki—cough) began moving up the ranks of Hydra in leaps and bounds. Yes, the god had freed his mind, but there was always a cost. He’d just traded Stevie for Loki—and he couldn’t really say which was better or worse.
“Chop off one head,” Loki began.
“Oh, please . . . NO . . . not that STUPID catchphrase,” Bucky groaned dramatically.
“And another will rise from the ashes to take its place,” Loki sing-songed, rising from the bed and walking over to drape his arm around Bucky’s shoulder.
“So,” Bucky asked, not bothering to pull away. Loki did what he wanted. That’s just the way things were.
“I’m disappointed, darling. It’s what people like your Captain (he’s not MY Captain, Bucky muttered) and I do. We rise from the ashes. It’s what chaos is good for after all.”
“Why move on Stark, then,” Bucky asked.
“Oh, him,” Loki said dismissively and walking towards the door to the barracks. “He’s not about chaos. He’s all about progress. What fun is that! And it makes him the only real threat to the Titan, who is counting on the complete ineptitude of the Midgardian race.”
“Lokes, please,” Bucky sighed.
“Alright, darling,” Loki said, looking over his shoulder at Bucky. “Your Captain hasn’t considered what to do about Stark’s greatest fear because he has no intention of fighting the Titan.”
“WHAT!”
“James, please don’t be dull. The Captain has no other goal than to rise. What beautiful chaos the Titan will wreak upon this Universe. And with the futurist under his thumb, there will be nothing to stop the Titan . . . or what comes after.”
"Then why did you set Stark up like that," Bucky asked skeptically.
"Oh, he owed me a drink," Loki grinned. "And my drink of choice is pain. Other people's that is," he laughed.
"So, you're on Stevie's side now," Bucky huffed, crossing his arms.
"Oh, James. That would be telling. The real question is, what will you do." Loki shifted, appearing as the less memorable Zemo, and strutted out of the barracks.
"Well, fuck," Bucky sighed. "I guess this is the end of the line."