Switching Worlds - Loki x Reader

Chapter Twenty five

After a few days, things went back to normal. Kind of. Tension lingered in the air, but it was not as strong as before. With Loki, however, the tension was palpable. He didn't ignore me, but he treated me the same as the rest of the team, and somehow that was worse to me.

I wanted to apologize to him. That's what I would have done in any other situation with anyone else. But not with him. The thought of looking pathetic or desperate stopped me. Instead, I found myself casting glances at him, unsure how to bridge the gap I had created.

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"...So, to recap, we have the Reality Stone and the Space Stone in Asgard, the Time Stone is with Strange and the Mind Stone with Vision. That leaves the Power Stone and the Soul Stone," I said, summing up the situation as we sat in a meeting with all the Avengers and Loki. "I think the easiest option would be to go for the Power Stone, which, if I'm not mistaken, is currently with the Nova Corps on Xandar." I concluded my presentation, feeling a bit like I was giving a presentation, and sat down next to Natasha.

Then Thor, who was leaning against a wall, interjected, "The Nova Corps are formidable protectors. They won't hand over the Power Stone to us just because we ask nicely."

"So...," Sam said, tapping a finger on the table. "We negotiate. They may not want to hand it over, but if we can convince them the stone is in danger-"

Loki cut him off with scoff, rolling his eyes. "And what, pray tell, makes you think they'll trust a bunch of mortals with something so powerful? Let alone trust his word?" He gestured lazily toward Thor, his tone dripping with disdain.

Thor shot him a sharp glare but chose to shake his head instead of retaliating. "I'll reach out to the Nova Corps," Thor said firmly, his voice steady despite Loki's jab. "They'll at least grant me an audience."

"Thor, no offense, but diplomacy doesn't seem to be your strong suit," Natasha said, her tone neutral.

"And what's the alternative?" Thor replied, his frustration evident. "A sneak attack? We'd only make enemies of them."

The room fell silent, everyone looking at each other for a solution. I cleared my throat hesitantly. "What if we split the effort? Thor can lead diplomatically, but we have a contingency plan in case things go awry."

Tony nodded. "Okay, I hate to say it, but she's right. Thor, take the lead on this. We'll come up with a plan B if plan A blows up in our face."

Steve nodded reluctantly. "Agreed. Thor will go to Xandar to negotiate. Natasha, Sam, Tony and I will prepare for contingencies. The rest of you stay here and keep working on the big picture."

Loki folded his arms, his expression unimpressed. "What about me?" he asked, shooting a scathing look at Thor. It was clear from his posture that he didn't like the idea of staying in the compound. "I'm probably the most well-versed in the intricacies of dealing with diplomacy, and yet you'd still leave me behind?"

To tell the truth, the team still didn't fully trust Loki. They were a little less suspicious of him now, but that didn't mean they were one hundred percent sure of his intentions. "Loki," I began, trying to keep my voice steady. "Honestly, you're probably the most strategic thinker here. I need you to stay and help me plan what happens after we get the Power Stone-how to find the Soul Stone, secure allies, and contingencies... I need your insight."

I hoped my words sounded sincere because, well, they were. Even if things between us were still uncertain, I needed him to say yes. Natasha raised an eyebrow, the rest of the team exchanged glances, before Thor broke the tension with a slap on Loki's back.

"That's a great idea! You and Lady Y/N can stay here," Thor said enthusiastically, wiggling his eyebrows at me suggestively. I shot him a glare, but he just shook his head, still grinning.

I turned to Loki, waiting for his decision. He looked at me for what felt like an eternity before sighing. His expression shifted briefly, something unreadable flickering across his face, before he smirked. "Flattery will get you nowhere, dear. But since you seem to need me so desperately..." He sighed dramatically. "Very well, I'll stay." A small, almost reluctant smile graced his features.

I let out a breath of relief, offering him a tentative smile in return. For the first time in days, I felt a sliver of hope that we could mend things. I truly hoped we could. "Good," I said softly. "We have a lot to figure out."

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Third-Person POV

The man sat in the dimly lit room, his eyes fixed on the flickering screens in front of him. He replayed the footage, watching the Avengers over and over, his gaze cold and calculating. Sokovia had been their battlefield, but for him, it had been the end of everything.

With a sigh, he pushed aside a pile of documents: maps, files and scribbled notes. His initial plan was falling apart. The Winter Soldier was beyond his reach. But he refused to be stopped. This is nothing but a setback, he thought bitterly. His determination was strong. They were going to pay for what they'd done, one way or another.

He looked at the device beside him: a piece of technology that had clearly not been designed by him. Acquiring it had taken him months. He had stolen it during a chaotic exchange between black-market dealers, whose origin was probably Hydra or SHIELD. The device, though limited, was capable of briefly bypassing the most advanced firewalls. Leaning forward, his fingers moved deftly across the keyboard as he initiated the breach. It wouldn't last long, perhaps only a few seconds, but that was all he needed. The screen displayed scrambled fragments of communications between the Avengers. He scanned them and his eyes roamed over the fragments of conversation until one word stood out: Xandar.

His lips curved into a thin smile as the pieces began to come together. The Avengers were planning to leave Earth. He leaned back in his chair, humming as he began to formulate a new plan. The stolen technology hummed faintly, indicating that it had reached its limits. He cut the connection, making sure that no trace of his infiltration remained.

This will do, he thought, already scheming the next steps needed to achieve his goal.

One thing was certain-this time, he wouldn't fail.