I have a new fanfic, Lords & Towers, read it if you're interested.
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It had been a week since Loki had moved in with Natasha. His routine hadn't changed much, but the mere fact that he didn't have to see his brother acting like a fool made his stay far more tolerable.
Still, something had been bothering him lately. He was sitting in an armchair, reading in silence, while Wanda practiced magic on the couch. Her erratic movements exasperated him.
"What the hell are you doing?" he finally asked, closing his book with a sigh.
Wanda blinked, surprised by the sudden interest. She hadn't expected Loki to start a conversation.
"Practicing magic" she replied naturally.
That answer only increased Loki's annoyance.
"Practicing? Aren't you supposed to be an expert? From here, it looks like you don't even know the basics."
Wanda frowned.
"Mind your business. I'm still learning."
"Learning? From whom? I'd love to meet your teacher and give them a good lesson."
In truth, Wanda learned by instinct. With no guidance, she had achieved in months what took others years. Her talent was undeniable. But to someone like Loki, with centuries of experience and absolute mastery, it looked like a childish game.
Wanda ignored him and continued her practice, letting the magic flow through her body to improve her control.
But Loki interrupted her again.
"No, no... What are you doing? Why are you letting it flow on the outside?"
"I'm practicing control" she replied, frustrated.
"That makes no sense. Don't let it flow outside. Guide it within. Magic isn't a weapon, it's part of you."
Wanda was about to ignore him again, but the comment threw her off. A tip?
She decided to give it a try. At first it was difficult, but with each attempt, she felt her power flow more naturally. By channeling it from within, she gained precision, as if the magic responded more faithfully to her will.
Loki smiled—barely.
"See? You don't understand anything. Let it follow your bloodstream."
"For what?"
"Because if you rely on your mind all the time, you'll burn out. Give it a clear instruction and let it run its course. Later, once you've mastered it, you'll be able to redirect it without thinking."
Wanda looked at him silently, eyes wide.
"What?" he asked, uncomfortable with her stare.
"Nothing. I just... didn't expect you to teach me."
Loki clicked his tongue, annoyed.
"It just bothers me to feel your uncontrolled magic near me."
"Thanks" Wanda said with a small smile, before continuing on her own.
Loki returned to his armchair and resumed reading.
---
A few days later, Loki was interrupted again. This time, by Pietro.
Since his visit to Laplace, Pietro had acquired powers. Super speed. Which meant he now spent the day running around the house, crashing into everything.
At first, Loki ignored it. He even laughed from time to time. But Natasha didn't.
"You don't do anything. You don't cook, you don't clean. At least make sure they don't kill themselves" she had complained.
Loki agreed reluctantly. Even he considered it dishonorable to live in someone else's house without contributing.
So, while trying to focus on his book, he also had to keep an eye on the speedster. Fortunately, his magic didn't require constant commands; it was autonomous. But if it didn't detect danger, it wouldn't react.
That ability was particularly useful in combat. Magic that acts without conscious thought allows you to counterattack even when the enemy is unpredictable.
Still, the situation became so irritating that Loki got up.
"Can you stop doing that?"
Pietro ignored him… until he realized he was no longer running. He was still. Everything was an illusion.
"Let me go!" he demanded, furious.
"Relax, brat" Loki said calmly. "You're in your mind. Train here. You won't get hurt. Once you master your reflexes, you'll be able to move freely outside."
Pietro understood. Loki just wanted to avoid further damage, so he agreed to train in that mental space. What he didn't know was that maintaining the illusion required effort. Loki couldn't read while holding it, but as long as Pietro learned quickly, he'd earn some time for himself.
---
Days later, Pietro had finally stopped being a human projectile. Loki regained his peace. But not for long.
While reading, he began to feel intermittent psychic bursts. Interrupted again, he went straight to Wanda.
"What the hell are you doing now?"
"Trying to break through mental resistance faster" she said naturally.
"Mental resistance?" Loki repeated, raising an eyebrow.
"That's what I call the force that keeps me from entering minds."
She hoped Loki would intervene again. And it worked.
"What are you talking about? That doesn't exist."
Wanda looked confused.
"What do you mean?"
"Only very powerful artifacts can block mental access. Minds defend themselves from within. If a consciousness is strong, it will push you out. But it can't stop you from entering."
Curious, Wanda explained how she was training.
Loki took a moment to understand… and then sighed.
"Why do you visualize minds as doors that open?"
Wanda didn't know how to respond.
"You're blocking yourself. Minds aren't doors. They're houses you're already inside. Don't think of them as something forbidden. It's just a matter of positioning."
Wanda, a little embarrassed, followed his advice.
Suddenly, the mental landscape changed. No more doors. It was a vast ecosystem, chaotic but beautiful. Each mind was like a biome with its own terrain, creatures, and obstacles. Some would be easy to explore, others hostile. But there were no artificial barriers anymore.
And Loki, finally, returned to reading in peace… at least until Pietro had another problem. And the cycle continued.
---
~ S.H.I.E.L.D. base ~
Natasha had been summoned by Fury. Apparently, he had important information for her.
When she entered the office, he looked at her with a grave expression, almost unsure whether to speak.
"The Red Room is still active."
Those words made Natasha's heart stop for a moment.
The Red Room. The Russian organization that shaped her. They kidnapped girls, indoctrinated them, turned them into human weapons. She had escaped, broken the mind control, and killed the leader: Dreykov.
She thought she'd destroyed it.
During her escape, S.H.I.E.L.D. hunted her like a fugitive. Clint Barton, who was supposed to kill her, chose to spare her instead. He brought her to the agency, offered her redemption. Years later, she was one of the most respected agents, alongside him.
But now… her past had returned. Not just as a ghost. As an open wound.
"Everything's here" Fury said, handing her a thick report.
Apparently, among the HYDRA agents who had recently joined S.H.I.E.L.D., some confessed to having infiltrated the Red Room. All the gathered intel was in that file.
Fury had decided not to send another team. This was a personal mission.
Natasha nodded seriously. She didn't say a word. But her determination was clear.
This wasn't just revenge. It was justice. And redemption—for all the ones who could still be saved.
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+20 chapters in advance on Patreon.
p-atreon.com/IAMME26
(just delete the hyphen)
80 power stones = 1 extra chapter (cumulative)