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that awaited her at the office. She reluctantly watched the news channel, where her outburst was the top story.

"Alexandra Clark, seen lashing out at a reporter at the Stark Industries press conference yesterday. Was she justified in doing so?"

"Honestly, Mark, I think she is. She's clearly still healing from the traumatic events five years ago. We all are. For someone to get up in your face and say it's your fault, that's a lot to take."

"Now, now, I disagree. For us ordinary people, we couldn't do anything to stop it. Her, the Avengers? That's their damn job, isn't it? Who can we trust to save us, if not them? I--"

Alex angrily switched the television off.

"Don't watch the news." She heard.

"Too late."

"They're a bunch of idiots. They don't know shit about what happened that day." Tony comforted.

"Still sucks." She mumbled. "How was the meeting?"

Tony waved his hand, making a 'pfft' sound.

"They wanted to make sure that, you know, the West end of the company doesn't...."

Alex zoned out. She was interested in the meeting, sure, but she had more on her mind. Her thoughts went back to the figure she saw in her mirror the night before, and why it was there. Surely, it was her imagination.

However, she was unsure of why her imagination would even conjure up something of the nature, given she had put those feelings in a box years ago.

She glanced down at her fingers, feeling the familiar buzz of energy orbiting around. She hadn't used her powers at all really. She didn't see the need to anymore, but if she was being honest, she was scared to. The last time she used them, she had almost gotten herself killed.

"Are you even listening?" Tony's voice interjected.

"Yes, sorry."

"So, I might want you out there, in that West branch. Temporarily, of course, but I don't trust anyone else with something so big. I'd go, but I've got Morgan, and you know--"

"--Tony, Tony, of course I'll go. I can run back and forth if need be."

"This is why you're the face of Stark Industries."

"Really? I thought it was because of my stunning features,"

"If by stunning, you mean painstakingly average, then sure." Tony jabbed.

"Well, we all can't look like you, now can we?"

"In a perfect world."

She stood up, clasping her hands. "Well, I'm going to go pack for the trip tomorrow."

Tony nodded.

She made her way upstairs to her room. She had waited until the last minute to pack for the company trip to Los Angeles, where they'd attend a ribbon cutting for the brand new Stark Tower out west. She opened her door before turning to close it behind her.

Once she turned back toward her bed, she noticed someone standing in the corner of the room.

She clutched her chest, a small shriek leaving her lips. He rose his eyebrows, looking her up and down.

"I'm sure that wasn't necessary."

She opened her mouth to scream, but he shook his finger at her.

"No, no."

"Alex, everything okay?" She heard Tony yell.

"Yeah, just thought I saw a snake!" She yelled back, glaring at Loki.

"I knew you missed me." He smirked.

"You're here? I-I thought you vanished."

"No, not really."

"'Not really'? Where the hell have you been?"

She regretted the question as soon as she asked it. His lips slid into a full on grin. "So you did miss me?"

"All these years, I thought you had..."

Her eyes fell to the floor. She almost grieved him. Almost. She stopped herself whenever she felt sad over his death, reminding herself that he didn't deserve it. That was hard, though. Old habits die hard, or so they say. Her thoughts were cut off by his cold, mischievous laughter.

"No, I was actually quite close by," He casually walked over to the chair in the corner. Sitting down, he shifted into a familiar looking man. "Hiya, boss."

Alex's eyes widened, then suddenly narrowed as soon as she realized.

Every moment between them two manifested in front of her eyes. He'd bring her coffee, crack jokes at her. She realized, though, she never really saw him leave the office. Nor did she see him outside of work.

"You....you were Tom?!"

He chuckled again. "Guilty."

She scoffed. "You are fucking delusional."

"Maybe."

"I can't believe you!" She threw a pillow his way, which he waved into a portal. "You have serious issues, Loki!"

"Says the one who's turned to violence."

"You want to talk about violence? You sided with wiping out half the universe!"

"You're just fine."

"But you know who isn't fine?" She snapped. "The hundreds of thousands of people ripped away from those they love! Our own teammates! Wanda, a-and Bucky--"

"--Right, I forgot your precious beau was one of the vanished."

Her voice lowly growled. "You have no right."

"I wish I could say that was my picking, but of course it was all random."

Alex stops, angrily holding her hands out to him. She immediately goes to drain him, but quickly finds that it doesn't work.

"Wha--"

"It won't work."

"What the hell," She muttered, frustrated. "Why not!?"

"I'm not here."

"Where the fuck are you?"

"Wouldn't you like to know?"

She rolled her eyes. "What are you, five?"

He chuckled, shaking his head. "I'm afraid, my dear Alexandra, that you won't be able to touch me for a while."

"What a fucking pity, huh?"

"Don't think I don't know what you dream about at night." He stalked toward her, circling around confidently. "I'm skilled in astral projection, which is what makes this feel so real,"

She could've sworn she could feel his breath on her neck. The hair on her arms stood as his low voice penetrated the air.

"I don't know what you think you've seen, Loki, but my feelings for you are long gone. They've been gone since that night on the ship."

"Say what you must. But you and I both know the truth." He stopped his circle right in front of you. "And I know you."

"You knew me. You don't know who I've become."

"The only thing you've 'become', is a coward. You've stopped using your powers, in fear of what? Thanos is dead."

"How do you know that?"

"I'd obviously know if the master I serve has perished."

She rolled her eyes again. "There's nothing left to do. What's done is done, and frankly, life has to move on."

"Alexandra, you're lying to yourself if you think this all can't be reversed."

She looked up at him, her eyebrows furrowed.

"What the hell are you talking about?"

"Hey, Alex!" She heard a voice come near.

"That's my cue," Loki winked.

"No--"

With that, he was gone.

"Alex--" Tony stepped into the room, raising an eyebrow upon seeing her standing in the middle of the room. "--Who were you talking to?"

"Uh, nobody. Seriously Tony, you should get your hearing checked."

"Enough with the old man jokes. Anyway, you should come downstairs. You'll never guess who's paid us a visit."

Alex cocked her eyebrow, glancing out the window to see a parked Audi in the driveway. She walked over to the window slowly, her eyes widening when she saw who it was.

"Well I'll be damned."

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𝙷𝙸 𝙻𝙾𝚅𝙴𝚁𝚂

𝚜𝚘𝚛𝚛𝚢 𝚒𝚝𝚜 𝚊 𝚜𝚑𝚘𝚛𝚝 𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚢𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚊𝚕𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚢 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝𝚜 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚒𝚗 𝚞𝚙 𝚗𝚎𝚡𝚝 𝚜𝚘 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚢 𝚝𝚞𝚗𝚎𝚍!!

𝚊𝚕𝚜𝚘, 𝚍𝚒𝚍 𝚢𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚔 𝚕𝚘𝚔𝚒 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝚟𝚊𝚗𝚒𝚜𝚑𝚎𝚍? 𝚕𝚘𝚝𝚜 𝚘𝚏 𝚢𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚌𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚎𝚍 𝚒𝚝 𝚘𝚗 𝚝𝚘𝚖....𝚜𝚘 𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚍