I Can't Save Us ☄

If One Of Them Is Dead

12. 《 Smile, even in death. 》

xii. listen before i go
Billie Eilish

     A cup of water was pushed towards his mouth. But he didn't want it so he used his magic to materialize a few inches away from it. "You need it. You're all sweaty and pale."

     "I don't, I promise."

     Wanda thrusted Loki towards the chair and he fell into it sideways, one leg dangling on the side.

     "I might break the chair."

Wanda stifled a small laugh.

     "You need to drink, I've seen what you do to yourself."

     Strange put a hand on the young god's jaw to keep it open in place meanwhile Fury seized the cup from Wanda's hands and splashed it all over Loki.

     "Agh! You've made the bed wet!"

     That's when Fury started laughing and Stephen covered his small laugh with his one dry hand.

     Taking a deep breath, Wanda closed her eyes. "We go get food, then come back to Natasha. Deal?"

     Loki hovered a hand over the bed and made it dry.

     He nodded in agreement.

     "But after Natasha, I want to see New Asgard, and Thor. I must see him."

☄

     Walking into a surprisingly full hospital cafeteria was a challenge for them, as they made quite the scene. Loki (who was very tall) accidentally left his shirt stained with water, Fury certainly looked off with his long, dark coat and pirate eyepatch, Wanda was an Avenger, and if you looked hard enough you'd recognize her quickly, and lastly, Doctor Strange had quite the eye catching costume on, it was bright red and blue and he had a cape that danced.

     "I'll go over there," and Loki darted to a white, empty cafeteria bench in the corner that you would most likely miss when walking inside.

     Clever.

     Strange followed closely behind him. "I've got to..."

     "Guess we're getting the food."

     "Guess we are."

☄

     When the duo returned with their two trays they noticed Loki had put on a dark colored jacket and he was constantly adjusting the sleeves that were too short for him.

     "Back."

     Wanda placed a cup of soup in front of Loki while the old doctor grabbed a sandwich.

     "While we're gathered together, tell us what happened. What you know."

     Loki declined the spoon that the Maximoff was offering and pushed his soup away. "Alright, where do I start then? From the end of the invasion?"

     Stephen laced his fingers, propped his elbows up on the table and leaned his chin on his hands. "Yeah, but what exactly happened there?"

     Wanda inhaled then exhaled dramatically. Pointing her fingers at Fury and Strange, red magic shot out and their eyes turned into a hypnotized red for a moment.

     Loki, who was busy rubbing his eyes to buy himself time, only realized what she had done after he had changed the color of his jacket once more.

     He had felt the presence of magic but it was always incredibly strong with Wanda that he could not tell when she was using it or not.

     "Oh."

     "So that's what happened."

     Loki lightly slapped his hands onto his face, "Why... why did you have to do that?"

     Wanda smiled.

     "You're an interesting immortal."

☄

     After Loki ate three spoonfuls of soup, they returned back to Natasha's gloomy hospital room.

     "I'll do whatever more I can do."

     Fury and Strange bid their goodbyes afterwards and Wanda virtually collapsed on an empty chair.

     When Loki was finished, Natasha opened her eyes.

     "Hey."

     He smiled sadly and inclined his head at the sleeping Wanda.

     'Can Wanda call Clint?' She mouthed the words.

     "I'll... I'll tell her. Later, maybe..."

     He sunk down to the ground a bit more, his crouch turned into him half lying on the floor.

     Natasha weakly took his wrist into her hand and squeezed.

     Suddenly, it felt awfully warm, much warmer then before, as if the sunlight was beating directly into his face. His body felt as if he were lying down? When he tried to feel... it felt heavy. Something grainy, again? Warm wind? He lost his sense of direction and he leaned his forehead into the plastic part of the bed.

     Black dots danced in his vision.

     He wasn't sure how to move his body anymore, it was like his soul was trying to be in two places at one, and maybe split in half.

    He absolutely hated the feeling.

     The prince lifted his head to look at Natasha.

     But her face blurred as Loki touched the smooth surface of the dirty floor. "It's okay," Natasha smiled. Smile, even in death.

     She let go of his hand a placed it on his cheek instead, as if that would keep him up.

     Then he opened his eyes.

4/2/21
M/D/Y

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