Brownies make things better: Rogue and Loki
This was her glimpse of what the real Loki was like. She wasn’t a fan. But she also believed there was more to him than that. If she didn’t have the plate of brownies in her hand, she would have crossed her arms. The best Rogue could do was give him that look her momma patented whenever she turned up covered in mud and scrapes.
“Yeah, what you’re describing? Not actually a hero.” It was likely best to drop it for now. Hell, maybe she was incredibly wrong about him and this was just going to blow up in her face. She had no idea at this point.
“Depends on the favor. Suppose most people don’t really feel like doing villans favors.”
“Do you know what heroes do, Rogue?” His voice had gone soft at that point, his stare still intent. “They die.” He tilted his head. “Yes, they may save one life. Perhaps dozens. Perhaps even hundreds or thousands or even hundreds of thousands of lives, but in doing so, more often than not they die.” His tone grew cold. “In the end, all mortals have the same feelings before death. Fear. Cowardice. Loneliness. Regret.” His eyes bored into hers.
“Then again, some are too foolish or stupid to have such regard for their mortal lives.”
He straightened in his seat, leaning back against the wall, hands relaxed on his lap.
“I am no hero, Rogue. Those around me have decided my role for me. My choices paint me a villain, it is as simple as that. I am not with them, therefore I am against them, it seems. And what choice would you have me make, then? To follow along like a dog, doing only what my master bids me do?” His eyes narrowed, and he shook his head. “I will be bound by no one. I will serve no master. My choices. My path. My punishment.”
He sighed, and shook his head. ”I do not know why I tell you this.” Loki exhaled and stood, taking several slow steps forward. ”The favor I require from you is quite simple, really. I merely wish to know the state of things within this tower. I have so few visitors…and even fewer friends.”
The look he gave her shook her core but she steeled herself, not letting him see that. There was too many regrets in her life and she knew loneliness all too well. This was not sitting well with her. "Everyone dies, Loki. I'd rather go out fighting for something I believed in than making a mess of myself in my old age. So I wouldn't call that stupidity or foolishness." Rogue hadn't thought about death in a long time, not since she'd gotten the streaks in her hair. Sure, the thought passed her mind while she was out fighting with the other X-Men, but this was different. It brought her mortality to light and the selfish notion of what, if anything, she would be leaving behind. She hadn't made a mark on the world and kids weren't an option. It was depressing.
She took a deep breath and listening to him go on about him being a villain. Maybe he was. Maybe she had only seen the illusion he had wanted her to see. Part of her really didn't care. There was something about him that made her give a damn. "But you're locked up. It may have been your choice but as you said, don't they want it that way? Seems like you're giving in to what other people expect of you."
Placing the plate on the floor, she looked around and found a chair to drag over. "I guess things are okay. I moved in so that's really big news. And another guy, Johnny? He seems nice enough, when he's not singeing things anyway. He can produce fire." Rogue crossed her legs as she eyed the man in the glass cage. "Is there someone in particular you're curious about?"
