🥀 12 🥀

~♡~

Lyla's eyes flutter open as she stretches her arms out into the cold space around her.

She feels the silkiness of the sheets, looking around the room and instantly panicking when she doesn't recognise it at first, before remembering that she stayed the night at Loki's.

Lyla cringes as yesterday comes back to her. Her head pounds in time with her heartbeat as she realises how much she actually drank. But that smile tugging on her lips tells her that she doesn't completely hate what happened last night.

Far from it.

Loki had finally fucked her, and she'd never felt pleasure like it. She pulls the cover up over her face as she squeals silently into the blanket in excitement.

She suddenly feels so dirty that she touched herself last night in Loki's bedsheets to the thought of how he fucked her so good. Her sex life before had been nothing compared to the fireworks that had exploded through. The way his fingers knew instinctively which spots to hit. Was it definitely not a dream?

But then she quickly remembers the conversation she overheard in hushed tones coming from that room...she remembers Loki's words and how he told James it meant nothing. Lyla wasn't sure whether to believe it or not, but that imposter living inside of her head was telling her it was all true and she was a fool.

Being let into Loki's home and life just a little had changed how Lyla felt about him. Sure, she thought he was devilishly handsome and intriguing, but now she was beginning to see little slips behind the mask he so stringently wore, she wanted more. And she knew it wouldn't end well.

She pulls back the covers, seeing that she was in one of Loki's shirts and gripped the fabric, pulling it close to her face as she inhaled that aftershave he wore. Lyla felt dizzy with lust and confused feelings as she felt her brain rattle with thoughts. Too many to think about at once.

She was starting to like him.

She caught that thought as it slipped through her defences, steeling herself and remembering Nat's words that she would stop if she developed feelings. She couldn't say for sure what the feelings were, but something was happening, despite all the confusion and contracts.

Perhaps it was just that Loki was the first person who'd treated her with vague respect, or perhaps it was the way his body could do things to hers that no one else could. She couldn't untangle it all right now. Neither did she want to.

She sighs as she swings her legs out of bed, seeing a note pushed under the door on the other side of the spacious room. Lyla frowns, walking over and picking up the crisp paper.

Dearest Lyla,

I had business to attend to, I hope you will understand.

Phil will let you out the grounds when you are ready, no rush so please take your time.

I have left out some clothes by the door which I hope will be suitable for you.

-Loki x

Lyla read over and over the calligraphy on the page, her heart feeling heavy at the thought of not seeing him this morning.

She knows he told her not to rush out, but she couldn't help feeling like this was an invitation to get up and leave.

Opening the wooden door carefully, she sees a Louis Vuitton paper bag stuffed with brown tissue paper. Lyla peers inside as she sees Loki has selected a whole outfit for her, leggings and a jumper with trainers to match. She also notes that inside the bag is a separately wrapped tissue paper parcel. Pulling this out, she smiles to herself as she realises that Loki has also bought her new underwear, considering he'd still got hers hidden somewhere from last night.

Lyla's thoughts drift back to last night once more as she pulls the bag into the room and gets changed, taking her time to stroke her fingers over the luxurious fabric that was far beyond her paycheck.

The ache between her thighs from where Loki had fucked her was obvious, there was no denying it happened. Her scalp and neck felt sore too, and she traces a hand up to where she remembered the hickey was that Loki marked her with, biting her lip and smiling to herself.

Once Lyla was dressed, she makes the bed and grabs her purse, slowly heading out down the long corridors and remembering that she needed to find the elevator to the ground floor.

Without Loki in the house it feels strange, eerie and grand. She cannot imagine him wandering these halls on his own. She wonders what he thinks about when he gets in from work, or who gets to see the real him. Lyla isn't even sure herself she's seen that other than a few fleeting moments.

Lyla feels awkward hanging around, eventually finding Phil by the main entrance as he greets her with a smile and opens the door for her.

"Ah, Miss Glass. Mr Odinson said that you would be needing a ride home, Peter is outside waiting for you if that pleases you." Phil says kindly.

Lyla smiles at him as she studies his face. She's not sure how well this man knows Loki either, but she'd guess it was a lot better than her. There was so many things she wants to ask him, but she knows he wouldn't tell her anyway.

"Thanks Phil, I really appreciate it." Lyla says as she squints out into the sunlight, seeing a car pull around to the main entrance of the grounds.

"Miss Glass?" Phil calls as Lyla approaches the open door of the Rolls Royce now with Peter holding it open for her.

She looks up at Phil questioningly.

"Mr Odinson was extremely sorry he couldn't be here when you awoke." He says with a tight-lipped smile.

Lyla nods sadly, half of her worrying now he'd gotten what he wanted from her she might not hear from him again. Surely he wouldn't go to all this trouble for a one night stand? The inner saboteur in her mind grew louder.

"That's okay Phil, I know he's very busy. Thanks." Lyla says before she climbs into the back of the car with a heavy heart and head.

~♤~

"How fucking dare you invite him brother? You knew we would have the girls there. He knows about them now. They could be collateral." Loki hisses through gritted teeth as he leans over Thor's office desk menacingly.

Thor looks guilty as he flinches back at his brother's words, knowing they needed to keep it down as their father would be in soon for their next meeting with the Zemos to discuss further business.

"Loki, I swear I didn't think that far ahead. You heard what father said anyway, we are meant to be keeping him close not making mortal enemies with the man and his family. We need them, and they know it. We can threaten them all they want, send you after their loved ones, whatever, it makes no difference, we need them onside." Thor tries to explain but Loki is livid.

The thought of Lyla, or her friend, getting caught in this fucked up crossfire enrages him.

Loki had half the mind to call off his arrangement with Lyla. She was too innocent for all of this. But the selfish part of him couldn't bear to let her go. He wanted to be the only one to continue to make her feel how she did last night. The thought of another man claiming her set his teeth on edge.

"This doesn't just affect me brother. You should've heard how he spoke about the girls." Loki scowls as he sits down in a chair behind him, eyes piercing like blades into his brother's.

Thor cracks his neck slightly as he thinks.

"Careful brother dearest, anyone would think you actually had genuine feelings for once in your life." Thor teases as he looks his brother up and down.

Something had definitely changed within his brother since he met Lyla. He couldn't tell yet if it was a good or bad thing.

He knew his family's business, he knew it wasn't for the faint of heart. There was no room for emotions in it. He would never admit it to Loki, but as much as he absolutely adored his mother, he was glad she was out of this world she never belonged in now. He couldn't keep watching her heart break every time she heard Odin order someone to be terminated. He was glad it was the cancer that had gotten her instead of an enemy.

Loki wasn't of the same opinion though, he knew that. Loki and his mother had always had a strong bond, a bond even he was jealous of. He knew that his father and Loki were complete opposites and never saw eye to eye, but Frigga was a different story for his adopted brother. When she had died, that last part of morality Loki had died with her.

Loki glares at Thor full of spite, licking his lips as he thinks what to say next.

"Don't tell me you're happy with the thought of Barnes touching your girl either brother." Loki retorts defensively, avoiding the spotlight being on him.

He knows his brother likes the redhead, whether just because she was a good fuck or something more, he wasn't sure. Thor nods carefully.

"We'll keep an eye on him. In the mean time we need to prepare for the Zemos, and you and father need to sort your shit out. I'm not having a full on civil war breaking out, not at this time when we're trying to expand our relations." Thor says, turning back into business mode.

Loki rolls his eyes, he doesn't give a shit about the Zemos in Sokovia. As far as he was concerned it was a pointless endeavour. The only positive was that it'd be something to rub into Barnes' face and that made him grin.

"The old man will die soon Thor, you and I both know it with the way he's going. Who will lead then?" Loki asks sincerely as he places a palm against his chin in thought.

Thor frowns at Loki's callousness.

"Loki, don't speak of such things." Thor chides but Loki leans forward, liking that he's riled his brother up now.

"It's true, none of us last long in this business anyway. It doesn't exactly go hand in hand with being in the mob. What then? You and I have very different ideas of how to run this family." Loki presses even more.

Thor shakes his head. "We will cross that bridge when we come to it. Besides, isn't it obvious? We'll keep doing what we do now, you get your bloodshed and I do the politics." Thor asks.

Loki bites the inside of his cheek in anger.

"Is that all I'm good for brother? The adopted sociopathic son who just does the hits and torturing?" Loki grins manically now as if to prove his point.

Thor rises from his seat and walks round to Loki, sighing and patting him on the back.

"We all have our strong suits Loki. I don't think you'd be one to sit in meetings all day negotiating. It's not your style." Thor explains as he tries to calm his brother down.

He knows the darkness that lies inside him. If he was related by blood, he'd think it'd have been hereditary from his father. But who knew if it was nature or nurture? Loki had a tough start to life and the constant criticism and disappointment from Odin had helped to pull the trigger on the gun that genetics had loaded for him.

"You're right. It's not my style. But I'll change things. We import half of the weapons on the black market in this country, as well as single-handedly holding down the supply chain of exports of cocaine. We have even more power than you or I realise right now, and we should be using it even more than we are. We've already bought out two-thirds of the NYPD's taskforce and a good few feds. We could take over the city!" Loki says as he shoots up from his seat, annoyed by his brother's patience at playing the long game.

"Who's been helping to fuel these ideas into your head? Clint? Pietro? Do as your told for once in your life Loki." Thor says angrily.

Loki narrows his eyes as he feels his lips turn into a snarl.

"I'll remove anyone who stands in my way." He says with finality before strutting out of the room.

Loki can't get that girl out his thoughts. Leaving the house this morning knowing she was in the next room in one of his shirts and pantiless had been physically painful. Hearing her moan for him quietly in her room was a fucking turn on to no end. He wanted to be buried deep inside her perfect pussy again. It was like an addiction and he was craving her endlessly.

If it was up to him he'd never let her leave his bed. He reaches into his jacket pocket, tracing his fingertips over the lacy material that he'd stashed away to calm himself down. He needed her right now.

Knowing he couldn't have her, he heads to his private bathroom to take care of it himself.

~♡~

Lyla swallows down the painkillers for her hangover as she shoots Nat a text to make sure she's still alive after last night.

Her phone pings with a notification of a bank transfer. Lyla frowns at the screen as she sees a message pop up on her phone from an unknown number.

Unknown: Your winnings from last night.

Lyla stares at the phone before her, trying to figure out how one of them has her number and who it is. Her jaw drops when she sees the amount that's been wired through, not believing her eyes.

Lyla takes a breath in, wondering what Loki would think if he knew someone was messaging her. Or was it him that passed on her number? She isn't sure.

Lyla: Who is this?

The three ellipses appear on the screen before the message notification pings through again.

Unknown: Take a guess, Doll.

Lyla shivers at the nickname, instantly realising who has messaged her.

Her heart races as she remembers that strange man with the metal arm who stared through her soul, looking at her like she was his last meal. The man who obviously was not a friend of Loki's.

Lyla: You didn't need to pay me. How did you get my number?

Lyla's thoughts are fast as she hits send, waiting for the next message to come through. She sees the dots appear before disappearing again. She frowns, confused until a message finally comes through.

Bucky: I have my ways, especially for a girl as beautiful as you.

Lyla rolls her eyes. These men and their 'ways' were getting really old now. How the fuck were people finding out where she lived or her cell number?

Lyla: Not at all creepy. Well thanks anyway Bucky.

Lyla presses send as she throws her phone down, not even wanting to bother seeing the reply. She can't help but feel like she's just a pawn in a bigger game here that she doesn't fully understand yet.

---

The next day, Lyla finds herself at work in the basement putting the finishing touches on an old book that Peggy had started off for her.

She works diligently with the radio on in the background, humming to a Beatles track that plays softly in the quiet space and heavy air. This was Lyla's peace and sanctuary. This felt more at home than even her flat did.

Now that Lyla had more money she wonders about moving out of her run down building block and finding somewhere better. But Lyla was still hesitant to spend any of the money, not trusting that it was even real, or that it wouldn't be taken away from her.

Truth be told when she'd caught up with Nat last night and Nat had spoken about overhearing Thor talk about a weapons deal with Tony on the phone, it had scared Lyla. The money suddenly came with a heavier price. It could've been bloody money for all she knew. Going into this, she knew the Odinsons weren't exactly innocent, but now it was only just dawning on her what she might be getting into.

Loki had rang her that night to apologise for being pulled away that day, letting her know they would arrange another date as soon as possible, but that he would be busy with work for a couple of days now as they closed a deal.

Lyla wanted to ask him more about his life. Had he ever hurt someone? Worse, had he killed someone? That's what people in the Mobs did right? She had no clue other than what she'd seen in movies. The thought she could've slept with a killer made her stomach turn.

But then she'd think back to how he made her feel and the way he felt inside her and all would be forgotten as quickly as it came on.

She wasn't sure who she was becoming.

And she didn't mind.

She hears soft footsteps trudge down to the basement, and from the gait she could tell it was Peggy, but Lyla was too focused on the task at hand to bother looking up.

"You have a letter delivered for you Dear." Peggy croaks as she places an envelope down on the desk beside Lyla.

Lyla looks up from her work, confused as she sees printed writing on the letter addressed to her at the library. Perhaps Loki had decided to send her something at work? It wouldn't be the first time. A few days ago he'd sent over flowers.

"Thanks Peg." Lyla smiles softly as Peggy nods and makes her way back up the stairs, leaving Lyla alone once more.

Lyla takes the craft knife she was using and slides it carefully to the envelope's seal, tipping the envelope upside down to empty the contents.

In front of her is a short typed up message in large font. Her heart halts when she realises what's happening.

SEE YOU SOON BABY.

The air is knocked from her lungs as she reads that tiny sentence over and over, her veins freezing over with ice. Hey eyes are wide open, barely able to blink and feelings of terror wash back over her.

There's only one person who would send her this.

He's found her.

——