Unexpected

XXVII

Loki was brought back to his senses when Nina's hands slowly slid up from his arms to his shoulder.

What was she doing? She didn't understand either.

Little did they know, but when Loki first tried to gain control of her mind, he accidentally joined their minds together. They now had a telepathic bond going on. They were linked strongly then they could ever imagine. Not only their minds were joined, but their souls were one. One could now feel the other, in a way of speech. Not physically, no. But if one were to be in grave danger, the other would know, feel, imemdiatly.

Loki kept staring at her eyes while his hands traveled slowly to her waist. Nina wasn't sure what was happening, but she wasn't complaining. She had grown to like this Loki. She had seen compassion  and empathy in his eyes, even if it was for just a second, and she now knew he was capable of being better, he just needed someone to give him a chance to try. She knew Loki's story. She knew how he had been neglected his whole life, always second one after Thor. She knew how he didn't fit in in Asgard, because he wasn't even from there. Nina believed that he just wanted to be Thor's equal, be accepted by someone, prove to others and to himself that he was worth it. This was her, giving him his chance.

Loki saw no regret, no hesitation in Nina's eyes. It was almost as if she... wanted him. Loki was confused. How could someone want him? She probably just hadn't met Thor yet. And then it hit him, she had. She had worked with Thor for a bit, back at that Hellicarrier. And yet, here they were. She was not leaving to go to Thor. She was not neglecting him, not looking for someone better. She was there for him, and him alone.

Loki pulled Nina closed to his body, earning a yelp from her. She definetly hadn't excepted that. She thought Loki was about to push her off him. She had made the first move, after all. Yet, here they were. Loki slowly moved his right hand. His fingers went to her neck, her thumb on the side of her face,  feeling her soft skin underneath it. Loki stared directly into her eyes, before taking a quick glance at her lips, while biting into his own.

Before he knew, Nina had leaned in and their lips touched. For a few seconds, Loki did not dare to move. Was he not only shocked that she had made a move, but also afraid to go on. He had never lived through this kind of attachment. After some short few moments, his other hand raised to her face and kissed her back.

Only to realise: this is wrong. He had definetly grown to like Lady Jones, but he couldn't afford to distract himself, not now. He was wining, his army was in reach, he only had to get rid of the Avengers.

The Avengers.

That meant gettig rid of Nina.

Loki had to make a decision. He knew he couldn't get too attached to this girl. If he lost this war, he would be sent back to Asgard, and rot inside a cell. If he won, that would mean killing the Avengers. That would mean he would have to claw her off. And even if he did manage to leave her alive, if he managed to win without killing her, she would hate him. She would hate him for killing all of her friends. Everyone she cared for and loved would be dead, again.

Yet, with every millisecond that passed, he found himself loving her more and more. It was like their bodies were meant to be together. For the first time, he felt like he belonged somewhere, belonged with someone. For the first time in his entire life, he felt home.

But this wouldn't last. He had no chance of ending up with her. Not with Thanos constantly in his mind. He would have to kill him first, and until that was done, he couldn't be with her. With that, Loki pulled off the kiss, removing his hands from her face to gently push her off him.

"Why?" She barely whispered. By the look on her face, Loki could see how hurt, but mostly confused she was, and he tried his best to hide the fact that her whimper broke his heart. Nina couldn't understand why he would go against his plan to kiss her, if he was just going to push her off and run away. "What's the problem?"

"The problem is," he said, gently taking her hands off his shoulder. He knew how much this hurt her, but he couldn't help it. "If I kiss you again, I don't think I'll ever be able to stop."