Summary: In an attempt to right his wrongs on Earth Loki is enlisted by S.H.I.E.L.D to take down a vigilante, you. Little do they know you and Loki have history and he intends to right those wrongs as well.
----------
The marble column was cold against your skin, a stark contrast between that and the heat of the room, undoubtedly from the multitude of lights that left no corner to its natural darkness. Unfortunately, said corners were what you usually stuck to during occasions like this one, auctions. Well, an auction to everyone in the room but yourself.
You scanned the room, nothing seeming out of place, from the extravagant artwork that graced the walls to the few seats the host provided for some of the older guests. No one seemed like they didn't belong either; even you were able to blend in amongst the grossly wealthy.
Continuing to survey the room, you did notice someone who stood out, a man. While his attire of a fitted black tuxedo worked naturally for the event, his hair gave him away.
His hair was black, almost shining in the room's bright lights, similar to the reflection of the spotless floors. His hair was also long, no less than shoulder length. Typically anyone coming to such an affair would put up the long locks, but not this man. Everything about this man was unsettlingly familiar.
You took your time to rack your brain on why the man seemed so familiar, despite only seeing him from behind. His fitted tuxedo helped you take in his build. He was tall and on the slimmer side with limbs to match. His back and shoulder muscles still made their presence known past the cloth that restricted them.
You quickly realized why the view was so familiar to you. You had watched the back of this man for longer than you would like to admit to yourself. Whether that be from glances as he read, as you rose from your slumber, or when he walked out of your life for what you thought was the last time.
It was Loki.
In your stunned haze, you didn't have time to avert your stare as the god turned, revealing his even more familiar face. You made brief eye contact with the man causing you to curse silently. In the slim hope that he hadn't seen you, you shifted your gaze slowly, as if you were taking in your surroundings, and Loki just so happened to be a stop on that journey.
You took a sip from your flute of champagne as you noticed the intricate details of the ceiling above. You admired it for a while as if Michelangelo himself painted it.
Risking a glance at Loki's previous location, you no longer saw him, only the server who offered him hors d'oeuvres, to which he politely declined.
Before you could make a move to search for Loki further, a voice cut through your plans, "It seems you've caught my attention."
"How unfortunate for me," You responded, taking another sip from your alcoholic beverage, voice smooth and unbothered. You cut your eyes to the man, taking him in with greater detail now that he was closer.
Since you two were facing the same direction, you could only make out the side of his face, but that was enough for you. Loki was cladded in all black from his hair down to his shoes. The only difference was his distinct blue eyes, contrasting white skin, and a gold watch that adorned his wrist. He looked well, as if he was taking better care of himself.
Due to your position, if anyone were to look now, they would surely be confused. The auction's patrons would wonder if the two of you were having a conversation or simply victims of the semi-crowded room, both looking for a secluded space.
Observing enough of his appearance in the brief moment, you looked forward again, "What are you doing here?"
"I've come to say hello."
"No, what are you doing here, on Midgard, at this auction?" You clarified.
"Oh yes, that. Well, funny story," Loki chuckled lowly to himself, ducking his head down, trying to refrain from a smile. "I'm actually here to arrest you."
"You're right. That is funny," You said sarcastically before throwing your head back to finish off your drink. Deciding it best to leave the conversation there, you left Loki's side to place your now empty glass on a tray carried by a server before disappearing into the crowd.
Not soon after, you and Loki went your separate ways; the host announced that the auction would soon begin and that everyone should make their way to where it will be held. You instead headed for the bathroom, or at least that's what you told the worker who tried to guide you in the correct location of the auction room.
Once you were sure no one else would interrupt your pursuit, you made your way up a grand staircase, onto the third floor of the home, and into a hallway.
The hall was abandoned as expected, considering everyone was gathered in a room for the main event. The hall was laced with finely decorated art pieces, some dating back centuries. A wine-colored rug went the length of the corridor; it was trimmed with gold detail to match those of the cream and gold accented walls.
Many doors broke up the lengthy walls. If someone didn't know their way around the house, they would easily get lost. Luckily for you, you did extensive research before even stepping foot in the home.
You wasted no time in reaching the door that blocked you from getting what you came here for, a diadem. This diadem was said to be one of the oldest and most expensive in the world, and yet here it was behind some door that betrayed the house's aesthetic by having an electronic lock.
Leaning forward, you began to input the code but halted once you felt the presence of someone behind you.
"Can I help you with something?" You asked disingenuously, straightening your posture but not removing your gaze from the door ahead.
"Actually, yes," replied Loki, confirming that the person behind you was him, as you suspected.
"That was rhetorical," You said before finishing the code and pushing the door to the room open.
The room had dark blue walls that, like the hall, had gold embellishments that paired nicely with the light, almost white carpet below your feet. It was also dimly lit, mainly by the lights that shone upon small nooks in the walls that held lavish busts and the high-priced objects in cases around the room. The only thing missing was what you came for, the diadem.
"What have you done with it?" You questioned the god, knowing he had something to do with the missing headwear.
"I've put it away for safekeeping," Loki explained as you turned to face him, fighting hard to hide the irritation on your face. "But, I'll hand it over in exchange for a favor."
"I'd rather die than be in your debt."
"Harsh words."
"I've heard harsher," You snapped back, memories taking over your mind swiftly but leaving just as fast.
"I can help you," Loki attempted to reason, trying his best to ignore the words you just spat.
"I don't need your help."
"You do if you plan to get past the agents at every exit to this building," countered Loki.
You were shocked. You were always sure to keep a low profile when it came to things like this. Why would the government even care if you stole a few things from some overly wealthy assholes? Then you realized that those words were sometimes one and the same.
After a second of letting you process, Loki spoke up, "I'll give you the crown and help you get out of here if you do a favor for me."
You noticed he accented the 'if' when he spoke. "What's the favor?"
"We can discuss that at a later date," the god said, you detecting a touch of hesitation.
There was no guarantee to what Loki would have you agree to. You couldn't take that chance. "No deal."
"It won't be bad, trust me."
"Trust you?" You challenged Loki, daring him to remember that the last time he uttered those words to you.
Loki sighed, making a mental note to choose his words more carefully from here on out. "We don't have time for this. If I'm radio silent for too long, they're going to come in anyway."
You contemplated. Now that the government was on to you, who knows the next time you'll have an opportunity to steal again, let alone the diadem in which you came for. You sighed, "Okay."
At your response, Loki smiled. You ignored it.
"How are you going to get me past the agents?"
Loki walked towards you, but you stepped out of the way when you realized his gaze wasn't upon you but something behind you. "You're going to throw me out of the window," he said, once at the only window in the room.
"I was thinking of doing that anyway," You remarked as Loki turned to face you. "How does that help?"
"I'll project an image of you to fall with me and have it run away. The agents will be distracted, and you can go out another exit."
The thought of Loki going through a window by your hand made you smile slightly. "Okay, let's do it."
Now back at your hotel room, you sat along a provided loveseat, legs sprawled across the two cushions. You fiddled with the diadem, it sparkling in the little moonlight that entered your room from the window.
For the first time all night, you had time to think properly. You hadn't seen Loki in years. The last time you saw him, you assumed or rather hoped it would be the last given what had happened.
You'd be lying if you said the god hadn't plagued your mind during his absence, but it had grown less and less frequent. You prided yourself for ridding him from your mind, and yet here he was erasing all the progress you made in just one evening.
You cursed him and cursed yourself for letting such a small encounter affect you so heavily.
"You could've killed me, you know," came a voice ripping you from your thoughts. Loki was now in your room, though you were unsure if it was actually him or a projection of his powerful magic. He seemed to be talking about how roughly you had chucked him from the window.
You quirked your eyebrow up. "Is that not what we were going for?" You snarked back unapologetically, glancing at the man before looking back to the diadem.
Loki ignored your response, changing the subject, "I don't remember you being of the materialistic kind."
"I'm not."
"Then why all the thievery?" Loki questioned, taking you in as you examined the crown, turning it over in your hands.
"I sell things like this to someone I think is deserving of it and give the money to people who need it."
"How noble of you."
"Depends on who you ask," You sighed as you spoke, shifting to sit correctly in the loveseat—placing the headdress on the glass coffee table before you. While it was now between you and Loki, you knew that wasn't what he was after, so you did not need to worry. "What do you want?" You asked.
"I'd like to call in that favor now," Loki said shortly, getting to the point.
"Well, you don't waste any time."
"I'd like to see you again."
Chuckling softly, you crossed your legs, "Ah, but you intend to waste mine."
"I can assure you that I won't," Loki stated, taking a step closer to where you sat. You sent him a look of warning halting him where he stood. Loki raised his hands in understanding, "I only mean to make amends."
"You had years to do that," You countered, some emotion breaking through your previously indifferent tone. You quickly composed yourself.
"Years in which I was a fool. Years that I wish I could take back, but I can't," Loki began, a hint of desperation in his voice. "I am asking for your ear now. A chance to right my wrongs, no matter how late I may be."
Loki rarely owned up to his mistakes; him admitting that he knew he should have tried to fix things long ago showed growth. However, you still weren't sure if this was enough to have him back in your life, no matter how long or short that may be.
Loki saw the uncertainty on your face, "All I ask is for one evening."
You pondered for a bit. Loki seemed to be different from the god he was before. He appeared to finally realize that the words he spoke to you broke you, affecting you to no end. You acknowledged even if you did agree to meet with him, it did not mean you had to forgive him or ever see him again past that night. Your debt would be forgiven, and you could move on with your life, move on from him.
" Fine," You sighed, regretting it almost as soon as you said it.
"Great, I'll see you then, Friday," Loki quickly voiced. He surely did this so you would not have time to retract your agreement. "It's a date," he added.
"It's not a date," You spat back, but it was too late. Loki had disappeared. Whether he heard your response or not, you weren't sure.
I guess you would find out Friday.
----------
A/N: Thank you all so much for reading! I hope you enjoyed reading this imagine as much as I enjoyed writing it. Feel free to let me know what you guys think! Also I had a British accent the whole time I wrote this, for some reason it made the reader seem sassier. What do you guys think? Do you all read with some kind of accent or voice that isn’t your own?
