Lady Dahlia | Loki Odinson

Chapter 26 - Civil War

"Come on. We need to talk." Tony tells Dahlia, pulling her out of the room after Steve leaves.

"I know what you're gonna ask, and I'm not signing, Tony." She replies, crossing her arms over her chest. He sighs and tugs on his hair.

"If you don't-" He starts to say.

"I'd rather go back to Asgard and face Odin than sign that and be under the control of humans. None of you know what's truly out there and I won't be under the thumb of the dumb men in charge. Besides, I'm not even an official member of the team." She tells him.

"Yes, but-" He starts to argue.

"Tony, I know you feel guilty about the lives lost, but think of all those who will die if we're unable to go where we're needed. I know about the dangers out there, and trust me, we want to be the ones to decide where we're needed." Dahlia says. 

She walks out of the room, ending the argument before it can damage their friendship. She stumbles backwards after bumping into someone.

"Oh, sorry, Dahlia." Sam tells her.

"Why the rush?" She asks.

"I'm going with Steve. Peggy passed away." He explains.

"Oh, no. How is he?" She asks, then shakes her head. "That was a dumb question. Do you think it'd be all right if I tag along? With all that's going on, I think he'll need all the support he can get."

***

Sam, Steve, and Dahlia listen to the news as Sharon makes calls behind them. Dahlia squeezes Steve's arm as Bucky is announced as the suspect, knowing how difficult things must be for him now.

"I have to go to work." Sharon tells them.

Once she's gone, the three change out of their nice clothes and head out of the hotel. Steve and Sam wear caps and sunglasses to cover their identities, while Dahlia doesn't, knowing no one will recognize her.

Steve leaves them at the cafe to check in with Nat, and Sam quickly and quietly explains everything that had happened with Bucky two years ago, so she has the full story. 

"She tell you to stay out of it?" Sam asks Steve when he joins them. He stays silent. "Might have a point."

"He'd do it for me." He replies.

"1945, maybe. I just wanna make sure we consider all our options. The people that shoot at you usually wind up shooting at me." He says.

"We're here for you, Steve. He's your friend and we'll make sure he gets the help he needs." Dahlia assures him, patting his arm.

"Tips have been pouring in since that footage went public. Everybody thinks the Winter Soldier goes to their gym. Most of it's noise. Except for this." Sharon tells them as she joins them. She slides a file over to Steve. "My boss expects a briefing, pretty much now, so that's all the head start you're gonna get."

"Thank you." He replies.

"You're gonna have to hurry. We have orders to shoot on sight."

***

Dahlia wanders around the apartment as Steve flips through the journal he found. She keeps her arms out in front of her, trying not to bump into anything. She and Steve agreed it would be best for her not to use her magic unless absolutely necessary, so she doesn't freak Bucky out. 

"Heads up, guys. German Special Forces, approaching from the south." Sam warns over the comms.

"Understood." Steve replies. He turns and spots Bucky. He glances over to Dahlia, who leans against the wall, already looking in Bucky's direction, having heard him enter. "Do you know me?"

"You're Steve. I read about you in a museum." Bucky answers.

"They've set the perimeter." Sam announces.

"I know you're nervous, and you have plenty of reason to be. But you're lying." Steve tells Bucky.

"I wasn't in Vienna. I don't do that anymore." He replies.

"They're entering the building." Sam says.

"Well, the people who think you did are coming here now. And they're not planning on taking you alive." Steve tells Bucky.

"That's smart. Good strategy." Bucky says. Dahlia's heart breaks for the man who'd been used and brainwashed, wishing they had more time for Steve to talk with his friend.

"They're on the roof. I'm compromised." Sam announces.

"This doesn't have to end in a fight, Buck." He tells him.

"It always ends in a fight." He replies.

"Five seconds." Sam warns.

"You pulled me from the river. Why?" Steve asks as Bucky removes his glove.

"I don't know." He answers.

"Yes, you do." He says.

"Breach! Breach! Breach!" Sam tells them as the windows shatter. Steve knocks one away, the other landing at Bucky's feet. He kicks it towards Steve, who covers it with his shield.

Bucky throws a side table at the door as the special forces try to break it down. Two come in through the windows and Bucky fights the one closest to him. The other raises his gun, but Steve pulls the rug out from under him.

"Dahlia!" Steve scolds as she summons her sword and armor. 

"Oh, right. Sorry." She says, transforming the sword into her staff. She takes out the soldier who came in through the door and Bucky moves towards him.

"Buck, stop! You're gonna kill someone." He tells him. Bucky flips him onto his back and punches through the floor next to his head.

"I'm not gonna kill anyone." He replies, pulling a bag from under the floor. He tosses it onto the roof of the building next to the one they're in, glancing at Dahlia. He eyes her magical armor and weapon before turning his attention to the men pushing through the door. 

Bucky pulls her behind him and raises his metal arm to shield them from the bullets. Steve gets up and quickly moves next to them, using his shield to protect them. Bucky throws him through the window at a soldier trying to sneak in.

"Stand back." Dahlia warns. She waves her hands at the door, sending a burst of magic that knocks the door and the men behind it to the ground. 

"What the hell?" He mutters before moving to take out the soldier in the room. He leads the way out of the apartment, Dahlia right behind him. They work together to take out the special forces, moving down the stairway.

"Come on, man." Steve says as he joins them, catching the man Bucky tossed over the railing. He rips the railing and jumps over the edge, twisting it around and launching the soldier in front of the door through the doorway below. 

"On it." Dahlia tells Steve as Bucky jumps down quite a few floors. She follows him as Steve takes out the special forces remaining.

She reaches the balcony and groans as she hears fighting on the other roof, knowing another person has joined the chase. She sighs before jumping over to join the fight.