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"That's a lie."
The first time Mantis said that, Loki thought nothing of it. Just a lucky guess of her calling out his bluff. Of course he wasn't going to carve 'Thor sux' on the Moon. That'd be too much of a hassle...
But then, she called him out a few more times. And she was getting more and more specific.
"He's lying, Jeff. He doesn't want you to fight because he cares. You are not a burden." she said softly as she petted the shark.
"Have I lost my edge?" Loki whispered to himself in a slight panic once he was alone. "Thank goodness only the cute water dog heard that."
He decided to find out more about this Mantis. As he – transformed into a small lizard – spied on her fellow Star Guardians, he found something interesting: she was an empath. Suddenly it all made sense! He hasn't lost his edge, she was just cheating!
Just as he thought that, Mantis' back straightened and her eyes grew slithly wider, like a meerkat.
"What's up, Mantis?" Rocket asked casually.
"I sense great relief..."
Loki's heart dropped.
"It turned into dread... Someone is watching us."
As the group all stood up in position, not leaving a blind spot, Loki quickly skedaddled away and turned back to normal once he was alone.
"Well now..." he held his chin, his gaze wandering. "How to deal with her...?"
He couldn't get rid of her, now wasn't the time to make more enemies. And he had to admit, she was quiet proficient in battle.
He recalled the first time he saw her in action. He was having a tough time in the middle of the battle. Not only was he severely injured, but the enemies were closing in. With everyone being busy, he knew he had to tough it out on his own.
Then, he felt a hand on his shoulder, and he felt lighter.
He looked up, just as the healer walked past him. It was that weird alien girl. She passed by a few other injured allies and healed them, while also fighting approaching enemies.
She healed him without a second thought. Loki fully believed that she didn't realize it was him.
"Pfff." he stood up. "Show off." he smirked.
He noticed an enemy jumping towards her from behind. Loki shot a missile at them. Mantis looked to his direction and he bowed.
"I sense bitterness..." she said under her breath with a small confused frown.
Loki couldn't help but snicker as he remembered her dumbfounded look.
"She was probably regretting healing me." he thought out loud and audibly sighed. "Another addition to the 'we hate Loki because he's so charming and witty' club." he snickered again.
Still her powers of lie detector would put most of his plans into jeopardy.
'There has to be a way to nullify her telepathic abilities...'
He thought for a moment, but no idea popped up. He sighed and moved on with his day. Until he finds a more permanent solution, he supposed he'd just have to simply just make sure she isn't around when he causes chaos.
'How hard can that be? It's a big world after all!'
Unfortunately, it would seem that fate was also a member of the 'we hate Loki' club.
Anytime Loki was having a conversation with anyone – being his charming self and offering witty banter no one could keep up with – eight times out of ten, Mantis would arrive and he'd quickly leave before she could get into his head. Sometimes in the middle of his own sentence.
After a few days, he was starting to wonder if she was actively hunting him. If that was the case, he'd definitely have to take her out before she does. He needed to dig out more info on her if he wanted to hatch a perfect plan as always.
"Let's see..." he mumbled to himself. "Someone who's naive enough to get along with everyone, yet dumb enough to spill the beans to me..."
Someone immediately popped in his mind.
"Oh brotheeeer!" he leaned towards Thor as he sat across from him.
"Hello brother!" he greeted, his mouth full after taking a big bite of his lunch. "It's been so long since you've sat with me!"
As he spoke, a piece of meat shot out of his mouth and landed on his brother's suit. Loki's eye twitched, but he kept himself together.
"Yes..." he swated the food away with a quick movement. "Tell me something," he went back to his casual facade. "what are you doing all by your lonesome? I thought you had many friends." he said with a concerned look.
"I do. One needs some alone time, once in a while."
"My, am I interupting?"
"You don't count, of course, brother." he beamed. "You're always welcomed."
'Eww.' Loki tried really hard not to cringe.
"Where are all your friends, anyway?" he looked around. "Have they finally grown tired of your buffoonery?"
"Everyone seems to be handling yours quite well, already." he raised an eyebrow with a smile.
"Aaaah, it seems I need to step up my game, then."
"Maybe you do."
Loki's smile fell.
"What's that supposed to mean?" he frowned, dropping the fake friendliness.
"Oh nothing, nothing at all." Thor waved. "I'm really happy for you, brother."
"Happy for- What are you talking about?"
"What everyone else is talking about of course."
"Just tell me." he exhaled as he rolled his eyes.
"About you and the alien woman."
"Which one?"
"Mantis. The one you love."
For a moment, the two brothers just stared at each-other. Then, Loki burst out laughing.
"Oh brother, I swear! If that wasn't so funny-" he slammed his fist on the table, making Thor's plate jump. "I would've taken great offense to this." he said between his teeth, with a big forced smile.
"Ah, I see. You're embarrassed."
"Whatever put that idea in your feeble little minds?!" he leaned closer, gesturing to his brother's head.
"The simple fact that you keep avoiding her whenever she comes near." he took a sip of wine. "Since she can read hearts, people have figured you are simply scared that she'd find out your true feelings."
"Ha! Feelings!" he folded his arms and pouted. "That is ludicrous. How could you – my brother! – even believe such a thing? You know my one true love is the absolute control of the Gods!"
"I think you'd make a wonderful couple." he beamed. "She could be a good influence on you."
Loki groaned and left. This was a waste of his time.
'I have to kill her.'
Of course, he thought that in the heat of the moment. But now, taking her telepathic powers was indeed a much bigger problem than he anticipated.
'Does she know about this? Have the others told her? What does she think of this?' he couldn't help but wonder, despite trying not to.
He began to observe her from afar. Through trial and errors, he discovered there were certain limits to her powers. At a far enough distance, and with enough people around her, he could go undetected.
"Good to know..."
As he thought about how to take advantage of that, he realized just how much time and effort he was puting into this. He let out a frustrated groan as he rubbed his face. Why was he so focused on this woman?! All that time could've been spent causing havoc and confusion! In the end, he was the confused one.
"I blame Thor." he mumbled. "It's always his fault, somehow."
Another battle was about to start. Loki kept his eyes on Mantis, who seemed completely oblivious.
'That stupid rumor's going around and she doesn't even look my way?' he frowned. 'The gall.'
Mantis tensed up and turned her head towards him, like a meerkat. Loki quickly turned her back to her before their eyes met.
'Focus on the battle.' he took a deep breath through his nose. 'Picture the enemies as your father.'
Loki staring at her then looking away just as she looked his way was witnessed by everyone, who then looked at each-other concerned and confused (except Thor), some more than others.
This battle was a rough one. The supports and healers were working overtime. And although Loki tried to avoid Mantis, once again, fate had other plans for him.
As he became surrounded, he felt someone press their back on his. The two of them turned around. Loki's and Mantis' eyes met.
"Why are you following me?" she asked.
"Pardon?"
They both dodged an attack.
"You were avoiding me before, now you're following me. Why?"
"How did- I thought-" he scoffed.
"Normally, you'd be too far for me to sense anything. But you feel more strongly than others."
He scoffed again and shot a missile at an enemy, creating an explosion in the distance.
"So why?" Mantis asked.
"Is now really the time for this conversation?!" he glared at her.
"You won't let me approach you."
"Well excuse me for not wanting anyone to enter my mind without permission."
"I don't enter your mind." she killed an enemy behind him. "I just sense. Empath and telepath aren't-"
"I know that!" he caught a grenade before it could hit her head and threw it back, never once looking away form her. "It's still very intrusive!"
"I don't do it on purpose!"
"Oh reeeally?" he tilted his head. "As if you don't foil my plans at the first opportunity. Will you claim that it's not on purpose?" he placed his hands on his hips and leaned closer to her.
Mantis glared at him for a moment. Then she glanced to the side and pursed her lips.
"Ah-ha!" Loki leaned back and pointed at her. "You admit it!"
"Stop bickering like a couple of teenagers!!!" Rocket shouted as he ran past them. "We need support over here!!!"
"Sorry!" Mantis exclaimed as she followed him.
"Don't think you can get away now!" Loki ran by her side. "You wanted to have this conversation here and now, let's continue, shall we?" he smirked.
"I just don't want my friends to be tricked by your lies!"
"I'm not doing anything earth-shattering! These guys are doing a great job already." he said as he killed at enemy. "You know, for someone who senses emotions, you're being rather insensitive to how I feel!"
"Trouble in paradise, brother?" Thor asked as they ran past him.
"Oh shut up!" / "We're not together!" both Loki and Mantis exclaimed at the same time as they kept going.
Unfortunatley, at some point, they needed to really focus on the battle, and they naturally separated.
The battle was finally over after what felt like an eternity. Everyone was exhausted and a lot of them couldn't even stand up. Loki was dragging his feet, looking for a proper seat.
'Not one thank you. After I spent so much energy making sure nobody dies.' he huffed a strand of hair away from his eyes. 'Ungrateful bunch.'
He finally found a crate and let himself fall back on it with a long sigh. He took out his helmet and let it fall to his feet.
He was too tired to realize that Mantis sat beside him at the exact same time. She was also too tired to notice him. As soon as their backs touched, they looked at each-other, their shallow breathing was the only thing they could hear for a moment.
Loki had no more energy to argue.
"I don't have feelings for you." he exhaled.
"Neither do I."
"Great." he rested his foreharms on his lap. "Glad we cleared up that silly misunderstanding."
"And...I'm sorry for reading your emotions so often. But you can't blame for being suspicious of your every word, King of Lies." she gave him a side-eye.
"I'll accept this apology," he sat up. "on the condition that you won't do it again."
"I can't promise that... But I understand. I know why you're avoiding me." she looked away.
"Oh really?" he blinked twice. "And what uh... Why do you think that is?" he glanced at her.
"You're afraid of being vulnerable and of others knowing how you truly feel." she said in a matter-of-fact way.
Loki scoffed and looked around to make sure no one heard that.
"If it makes you feel any better, it's not an uncommun fear." she shrugged.
"Fear? Feelings?" he turned to look at her. "I am Loki of Asgard, God of Mischief and Trickery. I have no feelings."
"Your brother Thor is a god. He has feelings."
"My brother is a idiot."
"My father is a god. He had feelings."
Loki's eyes widened.
"...Your father is a god?"
"Yes."
"Well why didn't you start with that?!" he leaned closer, making her lean back. "You're a god?!"
"I'm not. I'm a Star Guardian."
He scoffed and rolled his eyes as he leaned back.
"Don't you want to command respect when you walk into a room?!"
"You don't command respect."
"You're right. I command fear." he smirked. "This is the problem with you, dear. You're much too soft outside of battle. You need to channel that fire in every aspect of your life."
"I don't want to."
"Do you want to keep being a doormat?" he raised an eyebrow.
"I'm not a doormat." she glared. "I'm clearly a person with limbs and such."
They were indeed too far for anyone to hear, but anyone could tell they were arguing.
"I got him on sight." Rocket aimed his weapon at Loki's head.
"Wait..." Starlord lowered it.
Then, slowly and steadily, the yelling turned into laughter. Everyone was dumbfounded. Except Thor. Thor audibly sighed, smiling, happy for his brother.
"By the way." Mantis said at some point. "Thank you."
"Why, you're very welcome, darling!" he chuckled, but his smile faded. "...For what?"
"For saving me, during our first battle." she smiled.
His eyes widened. He felt something.
"My, Darling, do you thank every one of our allies here afer every battle?" he leaned back with a chuckle. "Making sure none of us dies is part of the contract. Besides, I only killed that thing because it was on my radar." he turned away and shrugged, his chin high. "I didn't even notice you until it was already dead."
"That's a lie."
"Hey!" he pointed. "You just promised you'd stop doing that!"
"I said 'less often'. And I don't need any power to know that was a lie."
"Well then, once again," he smiled and bowed his head dramatically. "you're welcome."
She smiled.
"You owe me now." he said.
"What?"
"I could make good use of your powers." he smirked. "Oooo," he excitedly tapped his fingertips together. "my creative juices are flowing!"
"I will not be part of your schemes, King of Lies." she frowned and leaned back.
"'Scheme' is such a nasty word, Darling. Harmless pranks, really!"
"I don't believe you."
"We'll brainstorm later."
"We will not."
"Ow, but imagine the look on Quill's face." he leaned closer.
Mantis kept glaring at him. Then she glanced to the side and pursed her lips. She was thinking about it! Loki couldn't help but chuckle.
'It would seem I have mind powers of my own!'
"Yo Doc." Rocket turned towards Doctor Strange. "Please tell me this is a dimentional anomaly or somethin'! Whatever this is will be over once the timelines are restores, right?"
"...You won't like my answer." he lightly shook his head.
Rocket screamed. Mantis would be sensing lots of concern if she hadn't start using her powers less often.