Chapter Text
They were companionably silent as they made their way to Peter’s small apartment. He didn’t have much, but then again, why would he? He was on his own in a world that didn’t know him.
Loki felt a bit awkward following him like this. She did wish to speak with him, find out more about what had happened to him. It did seem like he desperately needed the connection as well; she recalled so many times when her Peter had been there to drag her out of whatever downward spiral she was in. She could at least be an ear, a friendly face, someone who understood his struggles.
Because weren’t they eerily similar to hers?
Technically, she had a cottage she could return to at any point, but she bristled at the idea. Everyone in New Asgard had been kind, but clearly saw her as filling the role of another. No, that would not be, could not be her life.
At least this time she had her seiðr. And perhaps she could be useful in some way: helping Peter.
Before Bucky even had a chance to knock, the door of the Sanctum Santorum opened for him. He stepped in to see Dr. Strange standing in front of the staircase, clearly expecting him.
“Hey, Doc. I guess you know what I’m here for?”
Strange smiled, motioning to some chairs. “Take a seat. Tea?”
“I’ll take coffee, if you’ve got it.” No sooner had the words left his mouth than he had a mug of black coffee in his hands. He took a sip, nodding appreciatively.
Stephen sipped his own cup of tea, looking at Bucky expectantly.
Feeling a bit awkward, Bucky held the mug in his left hand, while his flesh hand reached up to scratch the back of his head. “Ahh, so. I guess I’ve just been wondering. Did Loki and the other me make it back okay? I just… You know, got a bit invested.”
“Oh, I know. And I do still appreciate you getting Loki out of our hair for a while; she was driving me just a bit crazy.” Strange shook his head with a chuckle.
“It was no trouble, really.” Bucky tried not to let any wayward emotions show, but the sorcerer was perceptive.
“She figured out what happened. She was able to send James back, but the price for the magic she had used before made it impossible for her to return with him. Since the Loki of this universe was killed by Thanos, well… Let’s just say there was an opening.”
“She’s stuck here?”
“As far as we can tell, yes.”
“Where is she? Is she here?” He couldn’t hold back his enthusiasm anymore. Damn it, that woman had possessed him.
Strange shook his head with a smirk. “She went back to New Asgard. King Valkyrie offered her a cottage to stay in indefinitely, and since she didn’t really have anywhere else, well— I guess that was easiest.”
Bucky nodded. “I don’t suppose you could get me there?”
“I don’t know if she’ll want to see anyone. She took it pretty hard.”
“Still, I think I’d like to try, Doc.”
Strange smiled knowingly. “Alright then, we’ll go see if the King can show us the way.”
Loki and Peter spent time talking; he was very interested in learning more about her universe, and he did his best to catch her up on what had happened in this one. She slept on his couch, as they tried to figure out where to go from there.
When she woke the next morning, Peter was already making breakfast. She stretched groggily, trying to consider her best options. She did want to stay in New York; it was similar enough to the place she had begun to consider “home” that she was far more comfortable here. She supposed that since she had her seiðr she could find a way to conjure currency or enchant her way into an apartment, but something in her bristled at that— wasn’t she claiming to be a “good guy”? It would be better to earn it somehow.
She might stay with Peter a day or two more, but as little as he had, she would be loathe to impose. She certainly planned to keep in touch, but it was looking like her best option would be taking Wong up on his offer to stay at the Sanctum.
Peter handed her a plate of scrambled eggs.
“I’m not much of a cook, but it’s edible.”
“Thank you Peter. You didn’t have to do all this.”
He shrugged. “I don’t mind. I don’t exactly have a lot of company.”
Loki hummed, and they ate their meals quietly.
When she had finished, Loki decided to continue their conversation from the night before.
“In my universe, you brought me to my first baseball game. Are you a Mets fan here, too?”
Peter grinned. “Sure am! You like baseball?”
“Oh, I was surrounded by a few passionate fans.” She winked. “I learned to love it; it makes for such a good story.”
“It really does.”
“Maybe we should go to a game? If you’re not too busy.”
“That would be great! I think they’re in town playing the Phillies this weekend.”
Loki tilted her head thoughtfully. “That’s the one with the strange green mascot, right?”
Peter laughed. “The Phanatic, yeah..”
“Then let’s go on Saturday. I think we could both use the entertainment.”
“She’s basically a recluse.” Val was walking Bucky to Loki’s cottage by the cliffside. “I hardly ever see her. It seems she only goes into town when she runs out of supplies. I think she doesn’t know how to live in the other Loki’s shadow.”
Bucky hummed. “I can understand that. Trying to be yourself when people think you’re someone else. Always quick to judge you without really knowin’ you.”
“I suppose that is a feeling you are familiar with. As are many of us here.”
“All too familiar.”
They continued walking, and before long reached the small home. Val knocked on the door.
“Loki, there’s someone here who wants to see you.”
They were met with silence.
“I don’t hear any movement.” Bucky said, his heightened senses not picking up anything. “Are you sure she’s home?”
Val thought for a moment. “No one’s seen her for a while, but that’s not unusual. Still, there’s only so many places she could go, unless…” She tried the door, finding it unlocked. “I hope you’re decent! I’m coming in!”
They walked in, finding the place still and empty. Loki could not have been gone very long, but there was no evidence of her having gone out the door.
“Maybe she teleported somewhere?”
Bucky looked up at that. “Can she do that? I thought she was stuck.”
“Stuck in this universe. She still has enough seiðr to go somewhere else on this planet.”
“Huh.” Bucky looked around, when a stack of notebooks caught his eye from the kitchen table. He went to take a look and saw a note on top of them. Scanning it quickly, he motioned Val over. “I guess she’s gone.” He handed her the note.
I am leaving my story; the Midgard I knew and cannot return to. I need to start a new story, and I cannot do that as the ghost of another. Instead I will return to what has become familiar, and see if I can find an old friend in Queens.
(don’t worry, I brought my phone.)
L
“Ugh, is being dramatic a requirement for being a Loki?” Valkyrie rolled her eyes.
Bucky chuckled to himself. “She went back to New York. Son of a bitch.”
Peter and Loki arrived at the stadium early, thinking it would be nice to have time to get some food first, maybe dessert, and of course be settled in their seats in time for the first pitch. After the obligatory hot dog, Loki went to use the washroom while Peter went to get them some ice cream.
Saturday morning rolled around, and Bucky still had no idea what he wanted to do.
He thought back to Loki’s note— she went somewhere in Queens. What was even in Queens?
Well, they had that baseball team out there. Maybe he ought to finally see a game.
There was no doubt it was her; Bucky watched her pause a moment before walking up to him.
“James.” Loki said quietly, almost disbelieving. “I’m sorry, I mean Bucky.”
He rubbed the back of his head with his flesh hand absentmindedly. “I don’t mind you callin’ me James… It sounds better’n your voice.”
She stared at him, a hint of a smile coming to her face. Their moment was interrupted by a young man who went up to her side, holding two plastic helmets full of ice cream.
“Hey Loki, I got the…” He trailed off, looking up at Bucky like he’d seen a ghost. “Uhh, what’s going on here?”
Loki seemed to snap out of it as she turned toward the youth. “Peter. You’re back. This is—”
“I know who he is.” He seemed to be sizing Bucky up, and Bucky couldn’t help wondering what his connection to Loki was, and why he looked so familiar. “Oh crap, it’s melting.” He handed one of the sundaes to Loki, along with a spoon. She scraped at the sides of the dessert, making sure none of it spilled over the edge, before greedily attacking the swirl on top, eating enough that it no longer threatened to topple over the side. She had some of the vanilla concoction dripping down the side of her face, and Bucky’s mind wandered…
He brought his right thumb up to her cheek to wipe it off. “You’ve got some there.” Very smooth, Barnes.
Loki looked back up at him. “Oh, thanks.” She murmured shyly. They were both lost in the moment, not noticing Peter looking between the two of them incredulously.
“Uh, I’ll just go find our seats, then.”
“Sure. I’ll catch up.” Loki responded, her eyes never leaving Bucky’s. Peter walked off awkwardly, seeming to contemplate what he had just witnessed.
“Who was that?” Bucky asked, gaze unwavering.
“Oh, Peter. He was my best friend in my universe. Here… He’s been through a lot. You’ve met him though. He’s Spider-Man.”
She said it so casually. “Should you be telling me that?”
“Probably not. But… I trust you, James.”
He moved closer, his mind no longer in control of his body. “You shouldn’t.” He put his hands on her shoulders, looking at her hooded eyes, her bashful expression, and before he knew it he kissed the top of her head.
“Ah, careful.” Loki said quietly. “I don’t want to get ice cream all over you.”
He pulled away with a start. “Oh, right.”
“I should get some napkins.” She walked toward a table that held condiments and cutlery. Bucky followed close behind, watching her grab a handful of napkins and a second spoon, which she handed to him. “Help me finish?”
How could he say no to that? They moved to a less crowded area and leaned against a wall. She held the bowl as they both ate spoonfuls of soft serve in an amicable silence. When they finished, she moved to take the garbage, but before he had time to overthink it, Bucky pulled Loki flush against him, cupping her cheek with his flesh hand and pulling her in for a proper kiss.
Her eyebrows raised in surprise and he pulled back hesitantly, a question in his blue eyes, answered in her emerald ones as she leaned forward and he deepened the kiss, not caring where he was or who might see.
When they finally broke for air, Loki was flushed, and he could see a mixture of emotions across her face.
“I… should probably go. Peter will be waiting.”
“Yeah.” Bucky shifted his feet awkwardly. She reached for the spoon and napkins in his hand, but instead he grabbed the helmet and spoon out of hers. “I’ve got it. Go have fun, Loki.”
She nodded, then turned and went off in search of her seat.
Bucky watched her go, sighing. What was he thinking? He threw the spoons and napkins into a garbage can, and stared at the plastic helmet. He went into the nearest restroom, washing out the ice cream and patting it dry with a paper towel.
With the ice cream gone, he turned it over to look at the orange NY of the Mets logo. It would make a nice souvenir. A decoration in his sparse apartment.
A pleasant memory for once.