Chapter Text
I didn’t get to talk to Loki about Lorelei. Instead, the next few days were spent in chaos.
That night, Tony was hosting a private party as he usually does. The whole team was there, including Loki, along with SHIELD agents and military contractors that Tony knew well. There was also a low-level politician here, but I couldn’t remember his name or position.
I was dressed in a simple red dress to bring out my olive skin. Everyone was looking their best: Tony and Steve with their nice suits, Bruce with a formal jacket, and Natasha with a nice white blouse and black skirt. Even Loki was dressed nicely, and he looked incredible.
He was in a suit, and the white button-up clung to his chest in all the right places. He didn’t bother with his jacket, instead placing it on the chair near him.
When we made eye contact, it was intense. I was so mesmerized by him, and he caught me staring. His lips curled in bemusement as he strode towards me to continue the torture.
“You know staring is considered rude on your planet?” he teased me.
Rolling my eyes, I grabbed a glass of champagne and chugged it. “I’m going to need more alcohol if you’re going to be looking like this all night.”
Loki chuckled, grabbing a glass for himself. “The feeling is mutual, darling,” he whispered in my ear. Tiny little shivers ran up my spine. Curse him.
“I see my brother made his way right towards you!” Thor came up behind us, hugging me. Loki’s eyes glared daggers at his brother, daring him to say something to the team.
I punched Thor in the shoulder. “Ouch!” he said, pretending to be hurt even though he probably didn’t even feel it.
“Brother, how kind of you to join us,” Loki seethed.
I could tell this would move into an argument soon. “Thor, I think Steve was asking for you earlier,” I giggled.
Thor rolled his eyes. “Oh okay, I see how it is,” he muttered, a tiny smile appearing briefly. “But let me just say, she was my friend first.”
Loki raised his glass sarcastically. “Good to know, brother.”
I was playfully pushing Thor away when a sudden wave of energy ran through the tower, shaking the walls.
We didn’t have a moment to process what happened before the windows crashed and pieces of glass were flying at us. I felt a body over mine in the next instant, taking the blast for me. Looking up, I realized it was Loki, and he was staring down at me.
“Are you okay?” he asked, concern etched in his face. I nodded, and he took off.
I looked around to see Tony had his suit assembling on his body while Thor and Loki had magically appeared in their armor. Natasha and Clint had their guns ready next to Steve.
Staying on the floor, I turned behind me to see some of the partygoers coming towards the team. I waved my hand at them to leave. Their eyes wide, they nodded and ran out the door.
A sudden crash returned my attention to the team. But something else caught my eye. A figure was emerging from the destroyed windows, walking barefoot on the glass.
The figure had long copper hair that curled down to her breasts. A loose-fitting green dress draped over her body, making her look like she was floating. She was pretty, with full lips and piercing hazel
eyes.
The woman was smiling, brandishing her white teeth, not as a greeting but more of a sign of dominance. Loki pulled out his knife immediately, his body tense and alert.
She stopped a few yards in front of him. “Hello, my love,” she purred, grinning wickedly at him.
I could see a shiver run through Loki, and his fist clenched around the dagger even harder. He was holding himself back. “Hello, Lorelei,” he hissed.
Seeing his obvious attitude towards her, she pouted. “Come on Loki is that any way to treat a former fiancée?”
“I can treat you very differently in a minute, just you wait.” I saw Loki grin, showing his teeth back.
My breath caught in my throat. This was the old Loki. The Loki we saw in New York all those years ago. He had to put on his most dangerous face for this.
Her laugh was like a chime. It was addictive. “There’s the Loki I know,” she harassed. “Such a strong man, with such potential for power.”
She sauntered closer to him, reaching out to put her hand on his chest. “Sad, that you wasted your potential for stupid ambitions like Midgard.”
“What do you want?” Thor bellowed. His face was red with fury; she was his responsibility on Asgard, but she had escaped.
She smirked back at the God of Thunder. “To be free,” she whispered.
Loki glared at her with a lethal look. If looks could kill….
“You will never be free after what you’ve done,” Loki roared. “You will die, alone.”
Lorelei’s face looked strangled. Apparently, he had hit a nerve.
Then she attacked. She flew at Loki, but he easily dodged her. His brought his dagger and towards her face, slightly slashing her cheek. Thor held her from behind, but she easily escaped and knocked him over with a red light.
The other Avengers caved in on her, but her capabilities far exceeded what they were prepared for. Her magic was strong and the only one who seemed to keep up was Loki.
I stood up, brushing the debris off me. Tony’s suit was badly damaged, and she was still coming for him. I quickly grabbed his cuffs. “Tony!” I called, throwing them at him. He put them on and in a second, another suit materialized around him.
Lorelei’s eyes found me for the first time, scathing.
Suddenly, her form disappeared, and a flash of red appeared behind me. Her hand grabbed my throat and lifted me off my feet.
“Dana!” Loki yelled.
Lorelei quirked her eyebrows at me, as if deciding something, and smiled at me.
She pulled a knife from thin air, dropping me to my feet and holding me to her, then had the knife at my throat all in a moment. Loki was already by us, his eyes on my face but not making any moves for my sake.
“Lorelei,” he growled. “Let her go!”
She was still choking me, and I couldn’t think long enough to surface my powers. There was also the possibility that I could kill other people here if my blast was too big. I wasn’t prepared.
“Oh, is this her?” she laughed. “How adorable.”
Loki’s body was shaking with rage, but he put away his weapon. “What do you want?” he yelled.
“You.”
Her hand holding the knife moved and, in an instant, Loki teleported behind her.
I didn’t know what happened next. All I saw was that Lorelei got away. But if she got away, why was there so much blood? Red was pooled around me. I reached up to my shoulder, but something wasn’t right. There was a… gash.
Shock started to seep in. I heard Loki’s voice telling me to hang on, that he was there and I was going to be okay.
“I’ll be okay,” I repeated as my vision went first.
My hearing was the last to go as I felt numb on the cold floor.