CHAPTER 160

[Draul St. Cross POV]

We were all in the living room, huddled together in a chair, and opposite us was a very surprising guest. 

"Give us a good reason not to beat you to a pulp, Loki." The small smirk that was on his face reduced significantly. 

"I believe we might have gotten on the proverbial wrong foot. So how about a drink to new alliances?" He just glossed over that with the same easygoing smile. 

"What are you doing here, Loki?" I asked again. 

"I thought it wise to make some amends while we still can. And besides, I recalled an open invitation for drinks, where are they?" He shrugged. 

I sighed at Loki's antics knowing fully well how full of crap they were. It still didn't prevent me from floated a bottle of whiskey and a few glasses to the table despite the surprised looks I got. 

I turned the drink in the glasses and slid one towards Loki. "You can have the bottle."

He smiled at my comment, increasing the suspicious factor that everyone was getting. "Then I will most certainly oblige."

I took a drink first and he mirrored me, his eyes not leaving mine the entire time. "Passable. Weaker than the normal Asgardian standard. While I do consider myself different from the lot of brutes, I must say that they do quite make the best wine in the nine realms." He commented after drinking his own. 

"Now that that's out of the way, mind reeling us the true reason as to why you are here, without a contingent no less?" The atmosphere turned somber as tension started brewing but none of it got to the God of Lies. 

"Why do you think I am here?" He questioned back. 

"Listen man, we square. You had your drink so as far as I'm concerned, that's a clear slate with me unless you do something fucked up again. I don't have time for you tricks and schemes so if you want to take the bottle when you leave, take it." This farce had gone on for too long with us entertaining Loki but I am a man of words, so if he came here for drinks, the least I could give him was a drink. 

I made to leave when Loki called me back, finally wiping off the ever present smile that was always on his face. 

"What do you want, Loki?" I asked again as I sat down. 

"Can I see it?" I raised an eye at him for him to clarify. "The Infinity Stone."

Oh…oh!! Fuck. 

Of course Loki would be interested the moment he knew that the Infinity Stones were real.. 

I started hard at him for a moment, wondering what his play was and going some of the likely scenarios Loki would want to pull if an Infinity Stone was ever in his presence. 

The orb housing the Power Stone appeared in my hands, surprising the others once more seeing as I agreed to entertain Loki once more. 

The orb opened, revealing the purple gem that was an Infinity Stone. 

"They are real." I heard Loki mutter before closing it back. 

"Now spill." It was admittedly quite foolish of me to show Loki an Infinity Stone given who he was but I was intrigued by what he wanted to do. Either with it or with the knowledge of it. 

"I take it you are not a fan of my brother?" He started. 

"I'm not a fan of either of you, but you being more communicable is a nice perk. So points for that. Congratulations, you are now my favorite Asgardian." I said sarcastically. 

"Not that it amuses me any, but I will take your token of gratitude." Loki made a show of patting his shoulders, no doubt mocking my sarcastic reply. 

"Stop stalling Loki, why are you here? I have more important things to do than entertaining a spoilt prince." My eyes glowed red for a brief moment, informing him that I was running out of my patience with him. 

Loki sat straight in his couch and trailed his eyes over everyone in the room, from Nat at the extreme right edge to Steve at the left before he opened his mouth. 

"I want to join your glorious cause."

The moment those words left his mouth, the atmosphere inside the house was immediately shattered, literally. 

Spatial energy rolled out in droves and before Loki could move a muscle, he found a single finger touching the middle of his forehead. 

"Another veiled lie and you die." He swallowed nervously as he knew I meant each word. 

"The stones, the reason you seek them is to conquer the universe right? I, Loki, rightful heir to the throne of Asgard, Odinson, want an alliance with you to claim Asgard as mine, and when the time is right, I will aid you in your conquest of the universe. We shall both be kings of our own realms… You will have the universe under you as the Emperor of everything living and I will have the nine realms and the Council of Godheads under me as it's God King… What say you to this humble alliance?"

Not just me but everyone did a double take at the words that just came out of Loki's mouth. 

I had to struggle to keep my game face from breaking down in a vicious laugh, the same as others due to the ridiculousness of what Loki just said, so instead I answered him as slowly as I could so as not to break character. 

"Listen Loki, I am not embarking on any war to conquer the universe."

He seemed genuinely surprised at that but I couldn't fault the man. He who was the God of Lies have told so many lies, more to himself, that he truly believed that every strong being seeks power. 

"Then for what reason do you collect stones? To add them to your vault as a collection of your greatest tales when you are finally old and weary? For what reason do you seek the powers of the universe? So they can rot in the confines of your wretched pathetic self? Answer me!" Loki's snarl changed to a raging shout at the middle of his sentence and by the end of it he was up in my face. 

Before he could let put another word, Bucky was already at his side with an Adamantium blade in his hands. "Another outburst like that and it's your head, capisce?"

To his credit, he raised his hands and tried another one of his disarming smile buy what he met was our collective unamused faces.

The smile however was temporary as it was gone the moment he realized where he was. 

Gone were the furniture, the couches and the drinks. The only thing present was an all red sea covering the entire floor except for the chair the others were seated on. 

It looks like my statements are not being taken as facts anymore. 

All the colors drained from Loki's face as he realized that I was done with whatever it was that he was planning. 

I was a muscle movement away from declaring an all out way with Asgard after the death of Loki but Bucky stopped me. 

"Why?" Was the only thing I asked him. 

"Because he's not worth it. Not our peace." 

What the hell is wrong with me? 

It wasn't the berserker staff because I had put enough sealing matrices on that thing that it wouldn't even twitch without my express permission. 

It felt as if anytime I was provoked beyond a certain point, the only thing that will come to mind would be to wipe any trace of that annoyance. 

I took a deep breath and the living room changed back to its former state. 

"Trust me Loki. Annoying me right now is not the best path of action for you. So would you mind ending this and maybe picking it up two days after never?"

"Fine. But before that, what is your plans for the stone?" For the first time since I've met him, this time his tone was the closest thing to genuine. 

"Nothing much. I just need them to fight some stupidly strong people that's all." I told him honestly. 

"Then what next? What happens after you've vanquished this mighty foe?"

"Then…. I'll finally rest, and watch the sun rise on a grateful universe." I looked at my hands, turning it over and I briefly wondered what I would have to do to get to that height if power. 

"A grateful universe huh?" Loki thought about what I said, if his pensive expression were any giveaway, before turning to me. "The universe is far from anything grateful that you would ever have imagined. I have lived in this wretched void of emptiness for far longer than any of you have being alive put together. If news of the Infinity Stones resurgence spreads into the wider void, it'll be the start of an Infinity War. The power structure of the universe would be in shambles. Are you saying that you possess no ambition for power?"

"None."

"Then why are you strong? This might you possess, how did you come of it then? You weren't born with it, so how do you possess such might without ambition? Or did the universe play favorites once more?" His tone was slight mockery, sarcasm and… longing? 

"I'm strong because there will be dire consequences if I'm not. That is the only reason why I am strong. If you expected something inane like trying to take control of my destiny or take control of my own freedom through might then you will be disappointed. Take it from me, overwhelming strength makes everything else underwhelming. If it weren't for said consequences then I would still be serving drinks in a bar downtown." I told him. I don't know what Loki was gunning at but at least he didn't seem outright scheming like he did when he came through that door. 

"I see. Then what will happen to the power vacuum that will fill the universe when the incoming war starts? What will you do?"

"I think I've told you this before. Nothing. It has nothing to do with me if the universe collapses in on itself. As long as it steers clear of me."

"Then you will have no problem if I take the crown for myself after you've done all the work of slaying the pitiful opponents, would you?" Loki asked and immediately I knew that this was the main reason he came here, not just for an alliance. Loki looked at me seriously and it was worth saying that I've never seen a serious Loki before. 

"Do whatever it is you want. As long as you don't get in my way then we can't be anymore cooler. Deal?"

"An accord of mutual interest it is." Loki stretched his hands for a handshake which I took. 

"Now that we've established our alliance, I should be on my way now, wouldn't want Heimdall or even father to know of my absence. I'll be meeting you soon, Draul."

With that the Nordic God of Lies went away from our dimensionally obstructed home. 

"That was… intense." Steve said but other than that he didn't look too concerned. 

"Are you sure you should have made such a deal with Loki, the God of Lies no less?"

"I would arguably agree that Loki has a good head on his shoulders, at least better than Thor. As for trusting a mythical God of Lies, it's not as if I have anything to gain or lose. And it's not a matter of trust but rather a matter of leaving everyone to their own devices. On my part, Loki's betrayal is expected but then again it's not as if he is my ally or anything except someone who is too ambitious and wants to pick up the scraps and form a throne with it."

"And if he comes back?"

"Give him a drink." Why are they all looking at me with a tired expression?

=======================

Don't forget to vote

Can't wait to find out what happens next?

Read up to 30 chapters ahead at pa*treon.com/Draul_TheOminous