Twisted in Ties (Loki x OC)

The universe had obtained a great balance, as our heroes found out soon enough. Izetta's spell had done much more than anyone had realized. It had ensured a happy future for trillions. People had a chance for happiness. All but one.

Stark began raising Morgan just like her sister. Morgan had already started to take after the eldest Stark sibling. Her curiosity never wavered. She remembered her sister and missed her dearly. She came to desire to make her family proud, all of them.

The rest of the team had their lives to put back together. Many of the friends had gone their separate ways, but they still always knew that, if the world called them to it, they would find each other again. New heroes were bound to rise and the world was still preparing for them.

Things were starting to go back to normal and they were getting better everywhere. Her sacrifice had brought so much back. It was almost hard to believe. Everyone had a true chance for themselves now, but there was one person who had been left behind. He was the only one who couldn't seem to move beyond what had happened. The whole universe had changed for the better...but had it really?

Loki's POV

I was sitting at a local bar, but not as myself. I had taken on an old persona of mine, but I had changed my name of course. The activities I'd done as my previous name had been...less than legal, but at least nobody in this age knew that I was the same person as that.

I didn't talk to anyone other than the bartender. I was lucky that nobody seemed to want to talk to me either. I just wanted to be on my own. I wasn't getting pass-out drunk, but I had been having more of it a bit more frequently. I only ever had enough to numb myself somewhat. I didn't even feel like I deserved full numbness. All of it was my fault, after all.

It had been very difficult lately. Whenever I wasn't alone or having a drink, I was tense. I didn't trust anyone around me. I didn't want to trust humans. I trusted my brother and his friends. I trusted the Avengers slightly, but anything else was either a threat or an annoyance. None of them mattered to me. Nothing mattered to me other than trying to get rid of this terrible slump I was in.

I got another small drink, but I didn't take a sip for a few moments. Eventually, I tried it, but the moment it touched my tongue, I felt sick. I set it back down, putting a hand over my mouth as I tried to control myself. I shut my eyes, focusing on repressing the new feeling in my gut. I simply left the money on the counter and left without a word. I couldn't be here any longer.

Walking out of the establishment, I began to head somewhere that I knew would be vacant. I wanted to be alone. Of course, that was nearly every day now. I didn't care much about it. I just couldn't even talk about it anymore, so I didn't. I found places where nobody would find me and I stayed there. I felt it was better, in the end.

I walked for a long time as the town soon was only faded noise behind me. It wasn't long before that faded away as well. All I could hear were the sounds of the sea and the rustling of the grass in the wind. The breeze felt nice, I had to admit. And the fresh air was probably good for me. It was better than nothing at least.

I walked silently as I made my way to the place I'd found about three weeks ago. It was a little tree along the cliffside by the sea. It was a place where I could gather my thoughts. Well, I suppose I should say that rather it was a place where my thoughts would consume me. I allowed them to.

I sat down underneath the tree, looking out at the water. Sometimes I would see different creatures far out in the water, jumping over the waves. Izetta would've loved it out here. It was peaceful and beautiful. I knew that she would've been happy to sit with me underneath the tree. I wished she could've.