It had been a full day since she had met the Guardians, but time had moved so quickly that Naomi felt as though it had only been a few hours. Her desperate attempt to convince Gamora had worked, and planning out their next moves had begun immediately. The Guardians were not so used to calculating their steps with rigor, but they were also technically getting paid by Odin, so they kept their complaining to a minimum. Only Gamora knew the true stakes. Usually Naomi made a point to keep all heroes informed of the dangers of losing this battle, but they were running out of time, so Naomi left it up to Gamora to tell them.

Their plan was simple. Divide and conquer in order to obtain the two remaining stones- Power and Reality, and track down Nebula at the same time. After each team completed their mission, they were to meet back on the Guardian's ship and subsequently head to Earth. The plan was widely agreed with, although some had issues with how the teams had been distributed. Rocket, Groot, Drax and Mantis were assigned to the Power stone, and would be heading to Xandar in the Guardians ship. Thor, Loki, Bruce and Valkyrie would retrieve the Reality stone, which left only Gamora, Peter, and Naomi to find and recruit Nebula.

Gamora hd insisted on keeping Naomi with her- not out of any sentimental means, but likely as a way of keeping an eye on the prophet with a disturbing amount of knowledge. The rest of the teams had been decided with consideration, although one God of Mischief had some issues with his placement that he refrained from voicing until later that night, when he would once again knock on Naomi's door.

"Why can't you be with us?" Was his question, which he sprung on her after she invited him inside and shut the door. His tone was gentle, and not angry, and Naomi appreciated that he hadn't made a scene when the teams were actually being decided.

"Because Gamora wants to keep an eye on me. And I want to keep an eye on Gamora." Naomi answered, taking a seat on her bed and motioning for Loki to sit beside her. They were still clothed in their armor, a long way away from being ready to sleep.

"You do... understand of course that I don't want you alone." Loki said slowly, staring off at the wall and clasping his hands in between his knees. Naomi smiled at his concern, and leaned against him. She took in a deep breath before answering.

"I know. But I trust both Gamora and Peter. And Nebula, for that matter."

"You trust everyone, darling."

"Not everyone." She corrected. "I've just been primarily surrounded by very trustworthy people so far." Naomi laughed, thinking back on all the wonderful people she had crossed paths with thus far. All the wonderful people that she had a duty to save, to stop from the senseless annihilation that Thanos would bring.

"I suppose you're right. But I still worry, you see." Loki sighed, and leaned his head on top of hers. "Suppose you ran into Thanos while rescuing this Nebula woman. You and I both know how formidable he is."

Naomi was silent for a few moments. She did know how dangerous Thanos was, she knew all too well. She also knew what had happened when Loki met Thanos in Infinity War, and just how short their meeting was.

"I don't want you running into Thanos." Naomi whispered. She tensed, and Loki responded the same, pulling away from her. She felt his eyes on her but she refused to meet them and stared at the wall instead.

"I suppose this has to do with your visions." He said, not as a question but as an acknowledgment. Naomi nodded, and tried to get the image of Loki being held up by Thanos out of her head. It wasn't working. "You can tell me, Naomi." He muttered softly. When she remained silent, Loki reached out and caressed her jaw softly, pulling her face toward him. Naomi met his gaze reluctantly, and could only bear to hold it for a second. His eyes looked so different in person, so full of emotion and teeming with life. His expression was so calm, so gentle that she was sent reeling at the contrast of the Loki in front of her, and the image of him that wouldn't leave her mind. Naomi could not imagine having to see him die here, offscreen and right in front of her.

She pulled him into a hug so he could not see her face. He returned her embrace gladly.

"He killed you." She whispered, her voice strained and shaken. Loki's grip tightened around her, but he did not speak. "I'm sorry." Naomi breathed, burying her face into his hair.

"Don't apologize." He replied quickly, his voice strong. "Naomi, you have nothing to apologize for. You must know that." She did not reply, and so they sat in silence, each holding the other against them as if it was the last time they would see each other. And for all either of them knew, once they left to complete their missions, Thanos could arrive and separate them forever. As time went on, the stakes in the fight against the Mad Titan only got higher and higher. Collecting almost all of the infinity stones on Earth was a risky move, but Tony and Naomi had decided long ago that it was a necessary one.

Naomi and Loki had met not too long ago, when one truly looked back at the timespan of their relationship. But despite that, they fit together, and in this dangerous time, they felt safer together than apart. Which is why when the morning inevitably came, and it was time to leave, they said no goodbye's. Just a parting promise to return safely, and quickly.

So they cherished their fleeting time together as they sat in Naomi's room, each one holding the other close.

"I love you."

"I love you too."