Loki x Reader: Into the MCU

Chapter 8: The Unexpected

"Don't call us plucky, we don't know what it means," you said in your best Peter Quill voice. Before you could explain Steve chimed in, "Another quote?"

You turned to him and smiled guiltily, "yeah, sorry, I couldn't help myself. He literally said the EXACT line he does in Infinity War."

"This isn't a movie, Wren," Tony said roughly, turning your attention back to him, "This is real. We're not fiction, we are real people who can really get hurt. And so are you." His voice was quiet and serious.

"I-I know that, I- it's just..." you said, suddenly finding yourself losing your words.

"No, you don't seem to know," he continued, not giving you time to search for something to say, "you think the future will just be easy to change? You saw my death. And many others, and you're now here, in this world, trying to alter that. You mess with the universe and it tends to mess back. You may think you can just do a few things and everything will be fine, but that may not be how it works. Loki, your favorite guy, is currently still a villain. Not one you can see on tv and sympathize with because of his backstory, no. In the real world, you don't have time to sympathize with them because they are too busy trying to kill you, do you get that?"

The room was deathly silent after that. You didn't know what to say or do, but you looked anywhere but at Tony's face in front of you. He let go of your arms and walked over to pour himself a drink, slamming the top of the ice down aggressively and storming back over to his couch.

Finally you spoke quietly, "You're right." You turned around to face the team.

"I have had a hard time accepting this as real. It feels like a dream come true, and I do think that I can just help you guys win and everything will be sunshine and rainbows. But I know that's not how it works. It will be hard, harder than I can currently comprehend because it will continue to feel like a dream until it doesn't. I know Loki is dangerous. I can admire how badass he is, but it won't seem so cool when I'm on the other end of the fire. But I have seen what happens three years from now...and believe me when I say that it is far worse than whatever we are going to face in order to stop this. Half of all life extinguished like that" you snapped. "So please, excuse me for being overly optimistic when I am thrown into a position where I can stop it."

"And what if you die?" Tony shot back.

You heard traces of anger still in his voice, but his face was nothing but poorly hidden concern. You realized that his whole outburst before wasn't because he was worried that you might get one of them killed, but rather that you yourself might get hurt.

"You don't even know me, Tony. If I die and you live, you'll forget and move on, getting to live your life. But if I don't try, and I go home, I have to watch you die every time that movie is on somewhere. I have to replay it in my head over and over knowing that you are a real person and that I let you die. That I let you guys die," you pointed to Nat and Vis. "And...that I let Loki die."

"You're wrong," Tony said, standing up and walking over to you, "You may know us more than we know you, but I'd never forget."

"Soldiers never do," Steve added, standing up as well, "You risked your life coming here, Wren, so like it or not, you're a part of the team. That means you're going to have to deal with us worrying about you."

You smiled, "I guess there are worse things to deal with." You turned to Tony again. "Listen, I know I may seem reckless. But you know that we have to try this, no matter the risks. I accept that something may happen to me, and I also know that if something does... then I will have a sick group of weirdos to avenge me."

A smile finally made its way back to his face. "Damn straight," he said before turning back to the team, "What the hell, the new girl is right. Let's go."

Everyone stood up and made their way outside, with you and Tony bringing up the rear.

"You are reckless, by the way."

"Must be from watching you on screen for ten years."

He laughed and held open the door for you, "I haven't the slightest idea what you mean."

Once the group was out in the yard, you stepped forward.

"Ok, this may seem majorly weird. I'm going to be talking to the sky for a bit."

With that, you walked about ten paces away and looked up at the sky.

"Heimdall?" you yelled, "Heimdall if you can hear me, we need your help. Or Skurge, if you're there and can hear me. We need you to--"

Before you could finish, the world around you broke into a million colors and the ground below you fell away. Your heart raced as you realized what had happened.

I'm in the bifrost! You thought. You looked out to see galaxies beyond the rainbow colors, all of them flashing before your eyes in a tremendous onslaught of beauty and wonder. You felt like you were simply floating, weightless and free, yet at the same time felt that you were being pulled up and away. You thought you heard your name being called, but the shock of what was happening made it impossible to think anything but one thought.

Oh God, Tony was right.