magpietoriches

[magpietoriches]

LockDown Part XXI: Freedom

Summary: The time has finally come for you and Loki to venture outside. 

Setting: 2018 in an alternate timeline where Loki made it to Earth after the events of “Thor: Ragnarok” and Sam Wilson, Wanda Maximoff, Clint Barton, and Scott Lang are still on the Raft.

Pairing: Loki x Reader (First Person)

Content Warning: Smut.

Playlist ~ Masterlist ~ Next Part (Coming soon)

Merry Christmas and happy holidays. 

************************************************

     Loki’s hands roamed the small of my back. My skin was like a drug he could not get enough of. I straddled his hips, while he laid across his caramel coloured sofa, my moans filled the air and my head tilted back in pleasure.

     The second Loki had pulled me into his lap it was all over. Butterflies erupted in my stomach with each fervent kiss. I stopped to catch my breath, Loki held me closer. He gently pressed his forehead against mine.

     “Is everything okay?” Loki asked. He sounded so genuine. I was still growing accustomed to how Loki looked at me. No one had ever looked at me the way Loki did. And then it finally hit me, a swirl of memories flooded in. The first day I met Loki and every night after. Loki had always looked at me Like he was in awe. There was something else there too. Fear. A fear I’d break his heart, fear he’d break mine.

     It had taken a week for Loki’s insults to turn into mutual banter. Two weeks for him to stop flinching every time I tried to sit next to him. And now he was letting me straddle his hips and kiss his neck.  

     FRIDAY’s voice went unnoticed by both of us. She said something about the LockDown. I was too distracted by the light from Loki’s window, that washed over his face in a silver glow. I leaned down to kiss him once more and then stopped. There was light coming from Loki’s window.

     The metal shields that blocked Loki’s windows were slowly escalating toward the ceiling, allowing more light to seep through. I watched in delight as I was greeted to the early morning sky. “Loki, look.”

     I peered down at Loki, who was looking towards his door, which was now free. He gently moved me off his lap, and cautiously placed both his feet on the ground. To both our relief there was silence.

      I watched Loki as he walked toward his door and grasped the silver handle. I think we both held our breaths as he slowly opened the only exit.

The hardwood floor of Loki’s room abruptly ended, and beyond it, a grey carpet ran along the dimly lit hallway.

     Something came over me, an unbridled joy. I was finally free. I ran towards the hallway and jumped onto the scratchy grey carpet. Without any care for sleeping neighbours, I threw my head back, and with open arms, I proclaimed I was free. “Loki. We can run in the halls.”

     “No, please don’t,” Loki said dryly. I paid no mind to his unamused face and took off down the long hall. “You’re ridiculous,” Loki smiled, as I skipped back towards him. His hands wrapped around my waist once I had returned, pulling me in for a kiss.

     “Let’s go outside!” I suggested, excitedly.

      “Will you shut up,” a tired voice bellowed behind me. I turned around to see an agent wearing silk pyjamas, standing outside the room across from Loki’s. She was barely able to keep her eyes open. “Do you have any idea what time it is?” Susan Mayweather asked.

     “Sorry, Susan. We’ve been locked in Loki’s room all night and just got out.”

     “What are you talking about. Lockdown ended hours ago,” Susan yawned.

     “Well Loki’s room-“

      “I don’t care,” Susan said, waving her hand dismissively. “Just…” her eyes darted between Loki and I. “Keep it down.” Susan opened her mouth, as if to say something else but then turned around and closed the door behind her.

      There was a window at the end of the hall. Its glass had become covered in rain. “Loki grab your coat. We’re going outside.”

     “I’m not going outside.”

************************************************

      “I can’t believe I’m outside.” Loki groaned arms crossed over his chest. He remained completely dry in the rain. His magic allowed the droplets to bounce off of him. He had tried to protect me from getting wet, but I quickly told him not to. I wanted to enjoy the fresh air, and have the rain soak my skin.

     I twirled around the nearly empty parking lot of the compound, while Loki stood off to the side like the curmudgeon he was.

     My night was not supposed to end with me dancing barefoot in the rain. I didn’t anticipate falling in love, or my life almost ending. I entered Loki’s room believing him and I could only ever be one thing. I stopped to look back at Loki, his face softened when I smiled at him.

     “Is your car here?” Loki shouted over the rain.

     “It’s the Kia,” I pointed to the metallic red car in the back, illuminated by a lamp post and wondered what Loki could possibly want with it.

     “Let me know when you’re ready to go.”

       “Go where?” I smiled, running up to Loki. He blinked at me, seemingly surprised at my obliviousness. “Loki where am I supposed to go?”

      “Home. You’re safe to leave me now.”

      “Do you want me to leave?” I silently prayed he would say no. The thought of being alone petrified me.

     “No, but you seem to want to.”

     “Loki I wanted to leave your room, but not you.”

      Loki closed his eyes and sighed, reassured by my words. “I think we’ve spent enough time in my room.”

     I shook my head. I couldn’t believe what he was implying. He was going to send me away. “Loki,” I pressed my hand against his chest and looked up at him pleadingly. “I can’t-“ I swallowed back tears. “I can’t be alone right now. There’s a killer and every time I close my eyes I see your-“

     “Shh,” Loki pulled me into his embrace. He whispered calming words into my hair and kissed my temple. “I’m not going to leave you. We are going to get your things from my room.” I open my mouth to protest. “And then I am going to take you home,” Loki quickly finished. “We’ll come back in the morning before the police arrive.”

      “Okay,” I agreed. My hands slowly stopped shaking as Loki and I headed back inside.

     “Wait,” I abruptly stopped in the foyer of the compound lobby. “You can’t take me home,” I told Loki, while he used his magic to dry my clothes and soothe my sore feet. “You’re still on house arrest, remember? You can’t leave the compound.”

     “Unless I’m accompanied by an agent, which you are. Trust me,” Loki added. He must have noticed how unsure I seemed. “I know your rules.”

     “Really?” I asked.

      “Can’t break the rules if I don’t know them.”

************************************************

       I placed my phone inside my purse and then gathered my dress into a ball. “Do you want to take Thor’s poems?” I asked, grabbing the book.

      “Just leave it here,” Loki told me, as I slipped on my heels.

      I shrugged and placed the book on Loki’s coffee table. “You never told me what the cover says.”

     “I don’t know. I told you, it’s Jötan.”

     “Oh, I just thought you would have had it translated.”

     Loki looked at me, confused. “I don’t understand. Why would I do that?”

       I waited for Loki to answer his own question. Instead, he just stared back at me, completely unable to think of any reason he would want to read something in the language of his birth family. “Okay then,” I said.

       “Fine,” Loki rolled his eyes and grabbed the book. “If it’ll make you happy.” He waved his hand across the cover, the words melted and contorted into English text. He handed the book back to me, not once looking down.

      “To our son,” I read aloud. It wasn’t until I read the last part that Loki’s back visibly stiffened. “Love Laufey and Farbauti.”

     “Laufey,” Loki said to himself.

     “That was your father, wasn’t it?” I asked despite already knowing the answer.

      “Yes,” Loki sighed. “It appears the book Odin stole for me was actually stolen from me.”

      “So that means your mother is-“

       “Frigga,” Loki cut me off. His voice was as sharp as daggers. “My mother was Frigga. My mother was the queen of Asgard and she never would have left me alone in a cave to be abducted just because I was born a runt. She would have fought to protect me.”

        “The first three years of my life I was raised by my grandparents. Before I was the favourite, my parents didn’t want me.” I sat down on Loki’s couch. He hovered by the door for a few minutes before joining me. “My parents were young when they had me. My dad had just been laid off. I wasn’t planned for. So they had to make a difficult decision about what to do with me. It’s hard being a parent.”

        “Your parents must have loved you though, they took you back. I appreciate you trying to relate to me, but you can’t.”

        “I’m not trying to. And you’re right. I have no idea what it was like for you. But I don’t want you to think that the only reason your birth mother left you, was because there was something wrong with you. Maybe your birth mother was a bad person, or maybe she didn’t have a choice. Maybe leaving was the hardest thing she ever had to do. Either way, it wasn’t your fault. There was never anything wrong with you, Loki.”

       “Why did your parents take you back?”

        “My parents got lucky. My dad found a decent paying job. My mom got a short story published. They could finally afford to raise me. I think that's why they always fawned over me so much. It was guilt. It’s terrifying, isn’t it? How much our parent’s decisions have an effect on us and shapes who we are.”

        “Not just our parents. I often think about the lives I’ve impacted. It keeps me up at night, thinking about the 80 people I’ve killed and their families. I wonder if they had wives or husbands. I think about their children still missing them. I didn’t just kill 80 people. I killed relationships, communities. The ability for those people left behind to create any more memories,” Loki’s head was cast down as he spoke. He turned to look at me. “I may not be a monster, but I’ve done monstrous things.”

      Loki was right. He wasn’t a bad person, but he had done bad things. And I had to reconcile with the notion that I was in love with someone who had once taken lives. “Would you ever kill again?” I needed Loki to say no, except to my disappointment he didn’t.

        “I would,” Loki said without hesitation. “But only if it meant protecting you, or Thor.”

        I thought of the stick figure Loki had drawn of himself killing Eric. I knew deep down if, given the chance, he would make that drawing a reality. I never wanted someone to kill for me. That's not what love meant to me, and I didn't deserve such a reaction. "Don't kill for me Loki. Trust me. I'm not worth it."

       "You are though. I want to find those boys who hurt you and rip their throats out," Loki declared with clenched fists.

       "If you really loved me you wouldn't."

        Loki leaned forward. I closed my eyes as he pressed his lips to my forehead. "Are you ready to go home?" Loki asked.

      “Yeah I-“

“Once I'm with the Wizard My whole life will change 'Cuz once you're with the Wizard No one thinks you're strange!”

       I walked over to where I had left Wanda’s phone and immediately recognised the number displayed on the screen.

      “Stark again?”

      “I’ll meet you by the elevator.”

     Loki narrowed his eyes at me. “You sure?”

      “Yeah. It’s fine.” I waited for Loki to leave the room and listened as his footsteps faded down the hall before I answered the phone.

      “Hi, mom.” I had almost forgotten what my mother's voice sounded like. When I heard her say my name over the phone I was transported back to early mornings, when she would call Emily and me down for breakfast. We would fight each other for the last pancake and laugh at our father’s jokes.

      “While I was at work I received a call from a number I didn’t recognise. Come to find it was my daughter who said she never wanted to speak to me again.”

      “Mom-“ I said rolling my eyes.

     “Are you okay?”

     “Yes. I’m fine. I’ve missed you, that’s all.”

      “You sure. You sounded pretty stressed in your message. I was wondering if it had anything to do with the attack on the Avengers compound.”

     “You know about that?”

     “Yes. They have news stations in London," my mother said, confirming she was still be working for her UK publisher in the process.

      “You always said the news depressed you.”

      “I felt the need to watch when I found out the place where you work had an anthrax outbreak. I'm your mother. I worry. You're safe though, right? Do you need me to fly down?"

        "Mom, I'm fine," I said. I pictured my worried mother mentally calculating how long it would take for her to fly from London to New York.”

      "Okay. Well, do you want to talk then?"

      Tears I didn't realise I had been holding poured out. I held Wanda's phone away from my ear, not wanting my mother to hear me cry. I swallowed back my anguish. "Yeah, that would be nice,” I told my mom, fighting to stop my voice from quivering. “I've been thinking a lot about Emily."

      "Me too. I think about her every day."

     "We could have done more for her."

      "Your father and I still go to schools every year to talk to students about the impacts of bullying." I shook my head. After all this time my mom still didn't understand. "I know we can't bring Emily back, but I hope we can prevent another family from going through what we went through."

       "Mom, enough already. Okay," I no longer tried to hold back my tears. "Emily didn't kill herself because she was bullied. She killed herself because of us."

     "Stop blaming yourself."

     "It was us, mom. We treated Emily like the black sheep of the family."

     "I was a good mother," my mom asserted.

     "You are mom. You were a wonderful mother to me, but not to Emily. And I was a horrible sister. We let her down."

      "I see."

     "Mom, I don't want to fight with you.“

     "I've got to get back to work. I'm 5 hours ahead of you."

     "Of course."

     "I love you," my mom quickly said before hanging up. I wiped the tears from my eyes. I knew I did the right thing. As painful as it was, my mother needed to be told the truth.

************************************************      "Everything alright?" Loki asked when I met him at the elevator. Loki seemed to be observant when it came to me, but it wouldn't take a genius to notice my eyes were puffy and read.

     "I'm okay," I lied. Loki didn't pry further. We entered the elevator in silence, standing side by side, looking straight ahead. I'm not sure who made the first move. I just remember tossing my dress onto the ground and then wrapping my hands around the back of Loki's neck. I kissed Loki as if he were the very air I needed to breathe. He moaned into my mouth and pushed my back against the elevator. In one swift movement, he lifted my leg around his waist and leaned further into me, leaving me breathless. I looked to see what floor we were on. It was 10.

      “We have time,” Loki told me, kissing my neck. I didn’t have a chance to ask what he had in mind. Loki already had me turned around, my chest pressed against the metal walls of the elevator. I could see Loki’s reflection. He pulled my sweat pants down. I instinctually arched my back in anticipation. “Don’t wake the compound.”

     “Oh god,” I moaned when Loki’s fingers trailed across my clit. My eyes widened in a panic and I quickly covered my mouth.

       I turned my head just slightly to see we were on the 9th floor. I could hear Loki unzipping his pants. I reached behind me and began stroking Loki’s cock. If it wasn’t for Loki holding me in place I would have turned around and dropped to my knees and worshipped him like the god he was. As we approached the 8th floor, Loki grabbed my hips. On the 7th floor, I could feel the tip of his cock running along my pussy. And on the 6th floor, I let out a moan of ecstasy when the full length of Loki’s cock entered me.

        There was no sense in covering up my moans. The sound of Loki fucking me against the wall was loud enough anyway. “Fuck, yes,” I practically screamed. I should have been worried that the floor numbers were getting lower and lower but all I could think about was how incredible I felt. Loki trailed kisses along the back of my neck in an attempt to stifle his own moans. I didn’t want him to be quiet. Knowing he was getting pleasure from fucking me in the elevator just turned me on even more.

        Loki began thrusting into me harder and faster as we started to approach the last two floors. “You may want to cum now,” Loki told me. “Unless you want the night watchman on the ground floor lobby to see you like this.”

       “Just make me cum. Don’t stop.” I wouldn’t care if the entire compound saw me with Loki. He clearly cared about my modesty though, just as we landed on the first floor, Loki leaned over and pressed the button to stop the door from opening. “I thought you would have gotten tired of being locked in a room with me,” I teased.

       “It’s technically an elevator.” I gasped as Loki slowly pulled his cock out of me. “And I would never grow tired of you around my cock.”

      “Ahhh,” I cried in pleasure at the feeling of Loki filling me again. I could feel every ridge of his cock inside of me and my own juices dripping down my leg. My legs began to shake. Loki’s strong arms held me in place so that I wouldn’t fall to the floor.  “Harder,” I pleaded.

       Loki’s palm spread across the grey metal wall. And I watched, as it slowly turned into a mirror. I stared back at my reflection. The button of Loki’s shirt I had on was undone. My hair was a tangled mess and my lips were swollen. “I want you to watch yourself as you cum,” Loki whispered in my ear.

        This beautiful woman in the mirror, whose mouth fell open as she confidently demanded to be fucked, was unrecognizable. And yet she had my eyes and my skin. And fuckkkk Loki was amazing.

      “Oh my god. I’m going to cum,” I cried.

      “Don’t close your eyes.”

      I followed Loki’s command and watched my pupils dilate as I felt Loki pour himself into me. Even after Loki came his thrust never faltered. I clenched my inner walls around Loki, wanting to squeeze out every last drop of his cum as my own pleasure built up inside of me.

      “Loki. Fuckkkkk,” I reached over, and wrapped my hand around the back of Loki’s neck, pulling him in closer to me.

       Loki continued his thrust, allowing me to ride out my climax. I thought about Loki’s cum and how inhumanly delicious it tasted. I pulled up my pants and without any hesitation, I dropped to my knees and brought Loki to my mouth, savouring the taste of myself and him.

       “Well aren’t you a good girl,” Loki complimented with hooded eyes. His warm cum fell down the back of my throat.

     I wiped my hand over my mouth before standing up. The elevator doors chimed seconds after I pressed the release button. I strutted into the lobby, leaving a stunned Loki to gain his exposure.

************************************************

      Loki and I steadily approached the night watchman on guard. The 1:00 am shift was always relegated to the rookies. Travis used to complain about it all the time. The young security guard tonight, was sitting behind the lobby desk, engrossed in his comic.

      “Hey,” I said, ringing the bell on the lobby desk. “Hello,” I repeated.

     “Can I help you?” The night watchman said in a monotone voice.

        “Hi, Javier,” I smiled, as I leaned forward to read the young man’s name tag. “I’m just going to take Loki out for a bit,” I pointed over my shoulder with my thumb. “But don’t worry, I’ll return him later today by 9:00 am. Sound good?”

      “I uh-“ Javier stuttered. He was probably unsure if he even had the authority to argue.

        “It’ll be good,” I announced, clapping my hands and giving a single nod. “Good talk, Javier. We’ll see you later.”

       “Do you need to sign some papers to check him out or something?” Javier called after us.

      “After you Bug,” Loki said, holding the door open, ignoring the inexperienced guard.

      I breathed in the cool morning air once again. There was still the mystery of who killed Daniel, and who planted the bomb. I still had to clear TJ’s name and find a lawyer named Matt who attended the same church as Stanley. But Lockdown had finally ended and freedom had begun.

End of Volume 1

************************************************

Author’s commentary

I’m back. Thanks, everyone for your patience, as I was helping a friend with a personal matter. I’ve been wanting to write some parts in Loki’s POV, but didn’t like the idea of abruptly changing perspectives. So I’ve decided to take this story in a slightly different direction. I’m going to split the story into two parts; the second part will be in Loki’s POV. 

Tag list under the cut. 

Tag List

@oneofakindkindalassposts

@thinkingth0ts  

@roundtableguests

@kneelingsince2012

@mrsdarcyinlovewithbuckybarnes

@uselesssapphickitten  

@moriarty-queen-of drama

@purplekitten30  

@addictofsupernatural

@kingtwhiddleston

@darkerking

@bilesxbilinskixlahey

@deitysnips

@the-bilkush

@freyathehuntress

@mrs–barnes

@mando831  

@senuritaawsome226  

@delightfulheartdream  

@spacedaddydinn

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@jordynhartley2001  

@thelastpyle

@lexxierave

@nyxrae

@heckdick

@deezy-061

@purple-blommie

@dank-memes19

@pleasebringcookie

@flawed—by—design

@vivloki

@jo-pqrstuvwxyz

@Valupa

@Taurusbeing

@darkacademictrash

@suvikamahes98blr

@frostay

@johnmurphys-sass

@rinlynray

@i-beg-your-pardon-laufeyson

@imkindalikeaprettierjesus

@marianraven13

@xthefuckerysquaredx

@savoryloki

@ordinarylokix

[magpietoriches]

Hi! I just found your account a couple days ago and I absolutely love the Lockdown series! I seen you said you were going through some personal stuff so I hope everything works out okay for you 💕 can’t wait to see where the story leads!

Thank you so much. I’m doing fine, but I’m still on hiatus. Not sure for how much longer.

I’m on vacation thanks to COVID, so I might get a chance to update.

[magpietoriches]

Hi guys,

I know I haven’t updated in awhile.

I’ve been dealing with some unexpected personal stuff.

Work has also been really busy.

I haven’t abandoned my story. I’m going to be off for a few days soon, and hopefully can start writing then.

[magpietoriches]

Hi, hi, hiii! I’ve just finished reading LockDown chapter XX and let me tell you, I LOVE YOU! I’m currently watching Daredevil and you’re hinting him, and Vanessa, and Fisk in the fic and I’m SCREAMING!! Can’t wait for next part ♥️♥️♥️

Thank you so much. Your message makes me so happy. I’m doing a Daredevil rewatch myself in preparation for some some upcoming chapters.

The NYPD detectives, John Polsky and Eddy Costa, mentioned in chapter 19, are also from Luke Cage and Jessica Jones. 🥚

[magpietoriches]

My thoughts on Loki/Sylvie that no one asked for aka why it’s not selfcest

I’m pretty neutral when it comes to Sylvie/Loki. And I can understand why some people feel like Sylvie/Loki is incest. But here is why I don’t think it is.

They aren’t the same person. Variants don’t always equal same person.

Using the rules of the show, I think there are two types of variants. (Note this is also a bit of a headcanon)

We see that Kang the Conqueror’s variants all look like him (or at least that’s what he chooses to present to Sylvie and Loki). It’s basically the exact same person on different time lines. Their DNA is the same, gender, etc. their environment is different.

The other type of variants aren’t the same person, but the same role.

Loki isn’t just an individual. There is Loki the person, and then there is Loki as a broader concept. Loki is also a role, it’s a title. There are many cultures and religions that have a trickster god.

I don’t think ALL of Loki’s variants are “him.” Instead, they are their universe’s trickster god. And in the MCU, they are all called “Loki.”

The only exception is Old Loki and Kid Loki. I think they are the same person at different ages.

I understand that Loki could be all these variants cause he shape shifts, but this is just how I like to understand the variants.

Another way to understand it is, into the Spider-verse movie. There are multiple Peter Parker’s in that movie, but not every Spider person is Peter Parker. Spider-Man is also an idea.

[magpietoriches]

Lockdown Part XX: Purple

Summary: Loki accuses Tony of not knowing anything about the Avengers. You learn about a secret pass time of Thor’s, and Travis shares a rumour about Stanley West. 

Setting: 2018 in an alternate timeline where Loki made it to Earth after the events of “Thor: Ragnarok” and Sam Wilson, Wanda Maximoff, Clint Barton, and Scott Lang are still on the Raft.

Pairing: Loki x Reader (First Person)

Playlist ~ Masterlist~ Next Part

************************************************

   “I guess we’ll just have to do this again,” Loki chuckled.

     The hardwood floor felt like ice against my bareback. It reminded me of my grandfather’s pond in the winter. I buried my face into the crook of Loki's neck, while he traced patterns across the back of my arm. "Maybe we should wait for my legs to stop shaking first."

     Loki laughed again, softer this time. His lips felt like petals against my skin as he began kissing every part of me he could reach. The time between each kiss would grow shorter and shorter. It was as if Loki had tried to restrain himself before giving up entirely.

     Times like this made me hate being a fragile mortal. Had my body not been aching, I would have climbed back on top of Loki and fucked him until the floor cracked like the ice I used to skate on. Loki was addictive.

     Despite the pain, I was content. The entire universe was in colour for the first time, and it infuriated me to think I had lived such a dull life without even knowing. There was a euphoria that was bitter as it was sweet. It was depressing to feel real joy for the first time.  

     Loki sat up, but he didn't leave me alone for long. With an outstretched hand, he softly spoke. "Come on my sweet girl, it's time we get up."

     A blast of cold air hit me when I rose to my feet. I wrapped my arms around my torso. "Can you pass me your shirt?" I asked through chattering teeth. A golden hue washed over Loki. His clothes instantly materialised. "Why do you keep it so cold in here it's like-"

     "I'm a Frost Giant," Loki replied, handing me back his shirt which had been tossed over his lamp. His tone denoted a sense of shame.

     "What exactly happened?” I pointed towards Loki's scar and then fiddled with the buttons of his shirt.

     “A dark elf stabbed me while I was trying to protect Jane and Thor,” Loki shrugged, his eyes cast down. I stepped towards him, but he failed to look up. "I remember thinking I was ready to die. I doubted anyone was going to miss me.” I took another step forward. It wasn’t until our feet were toe-to-toe that Loki finally looked at me.

     "Hi," I said softly.

     "Hi, Bug," Loki smiled. He took a deep sigh. I could see his shoulder’s relaxing.

     "Do you still feel like you're ready to die?"

     Loki tucked a lock of hair behind my ear. "I'm not afraid to die." Loki's pressed his lips against my forehead. "But that doesn't mean I want to."

*******************************************************

      "Tony hasn’t called us back and it’s making me nervous," I called out to Loki while he was rummaging through his closet. He had offered to look for something of Wanda's I could wear over my legs.

     "I wouldn’t worry too much about Stark. Here try these on," Loki said, tossing me a pair of dark grey sweat pants with fleece lining. I threw my head back in ecstasy when the soft fabric touched my skin. "And here I thought I was the only one who could get you to react that way," Loki remarked.

     "You're a very close second."

     "It's always bothered me, having Wanda's things left here," Loki said in a more serious tone, running his hands along the bookshelf. "I've tried to make this place feel like home. I even had this shelf painted And yet it's like I'm haunted by this woman I've never met."

     "You feel like an intruder," I added.

     "Precisely. I'm just a temporary guest in someone else’s home."

     "Don't worry. You'll find your own home."

     "What, like New Asgard?" Loki scoffed.

     "Once this is all over you can live where you want. You don’t have to live in New Asgard or stay in New York. You could live in Paris, or even on Mars.” I tapped my feet as I tried to think of another place. “Broxton. You could live in Broxton.”

     "Broxton,” Loki said, scrunching his nose.

     "It’s a small town in Oklahoma. I drove through there once on a road trip with my family. It’s nice.”

     “Hmm, Broxton,” Loki said to himself.

     "When I meet the Wizard,       Once I prove my worth,      And then I'll meet the Wizard     What I've waited for since birth.”

     The soundtrack of Wicked echoed through Loki’s room causing me to jump a little. “Oh fuck me!” I proclaimed, placing a hand over my rapidly beating heart.

     “You should probably get the phone first,” Loki said into my ear, his voice a low husk.

     “Haha,” I remarked sarcastically. “You’re cute.” I tossed my head back and groaned after I looked down at the phone screen on the nightstand. “This is just perfect. Tony wants to FaceTime call. We’re in for it now.”

     "5 minutes,” a tired-looking Tony said before I could even speak. “You only had fi-“ Tony paused to scan me up and down. I felt exposed under his intense stare. “Did you two have sex?”

     “What? No. Nope,” I stammered.

     Tony blinked rapidly back at me. “I’ll take that as a yes.”

     “Don’t blame her for the alarm going off,” Loki said from behind me, “It was my fault.”

     “I’m not, and I’m sure it was. The NYPD called, they aren’t coming.”

     “Really?”

     Tony raised his hand. “Before you get excited, they aren’t coming tonight. It’s already midnight. I need to sleep. They’ll come by in the morning.”

     “Fuck is it really that late?” I looked at the clock on the bookshelf.

     “What can I say? Time flys when you’re having fun,” Tony said with a suggestive wink.

     I rubbed the back of my neck with my free hand and avoided looking my boss in the eyes. I could see myself in the corner of the phone screen. Shirt wrinkled and hair tangled. Of course Tony deduced I had sex. “I just noticed, Wanda’s phone is off by three hours,” I said.

     “Wanda’s phone,” Tony huffed and crossed his arms over his chest. “I’m still upset Wanda didn’t save my number.”

     “Tony.”

     “I built her that Stark Phone,” Tony began shaking his finger at the phone screen, “Took me weeks to develop a battery that self charges.”

     I rolled my eyes. “You can’t seriously be mad at Wanda over a phone.”

     Tony took a deep breath. “It’s not about the phone. It’s that I thought we were friends. I thought we all were before everything went to shit. I’ve been reading about the X-Men these past few weeks. Now that was a superhero team. They were like family. What are the Avengers? We’re just co-workers.”

     “Do you know what your problem is?” Loki said. I reached for his hand and gave it a small squeeze. “You think because you pay for everyone’s food, weapons, accommodations, that you’re somehow owed their friendship. Do you know why it was so easy for me to split your team apart? Because you were never a team, to begin with. You don’t know a single thing about each other beyond your skill sets.”

     “I know plenty about my team,” Tony said, lifting his chin up at Loki.

      “Oh, you have files on every person in this compound, which you can access at the snap of your fingers. But you don’t really know the people you work with. The Avengers feel like co-workers because that's all they ever were. Co-workers. Nothing more, nothing less. Your precious liaison, who you affectionately call Kid, what's her favourite colour?”

     “Tony you don’t have to answer that.”

     Tony closed his eyes. “I don’t know,” he admitted with a slight shake of his head.

      “It’s purple. Do you know she likes going to art galleries on her lunch break? Or perhaps you know that she’s a remarkably terrible dancer.” I covered my mouth, trying to hide my smile. “I doubt you even notice that she always taps her left foot when she’s thinking,” Loki continued.

     “No,” Tony answered. “I didn’t know any of that stuff.”

     “Tony it’s fine. So you don’t know my favourite colour,” I shrugged.

      “I bet you know mine.”

      “It’s red, but the whole world knows that.” What the whole world doesn’t know is that Tony loves red because it's the colour of Pepper’s hair.

     “You don’t even know about Emily, do you?”

     “Loki that’s enough,” I said pushing his shoulder.

     “Who’s Emily?” Tony began looking back and forth between the two of us.

     “Emily was my sister. She died in 2007. I don’t like to talk about her. No one knows I have a sister. Travis doesn’t even know.”

     “But Loki did,” Tony let out a short breathy laugh. “I’ve known you for an entire year and I didn’t even know you had a sister.” Tony’s voice was so quiet, it was almost as if he was speaking the revelation to himself more than anything. “Kid, be honest with me, do you consider us friends?”

     “I have work friends, Tony.”

     “I see,” Tony frowned. “Well. It’s getting late. I should probably get going. I’m going to try resetting the alarm again. All I ask is that you two don’t set off the motion sensors. Oh and by the way. Your work friend, Travis,” Tony said bitingly, “He’s worried about you. I gave him Wanda’s number so he might call.”

     “Tony-“ I wanted to tell him I was sorry but I never got the chance.

     “The door should be open in the next 30 minutes. It's late so if you need someone to escort you home let me know. I’d hate for anything to happen to you, Kid.”

     Tony signed off leaving me feeling like there was a lump stuck in my throat.

     I sharply turned towards Loki. “What were you trying to prove exactly?”

     “Are you mad at me?”

     “No, I’m not mad at you. I’m mad at myself. I’ve wasted so many years pushing people away. Tony didn’t know any of that stuff about me because I never told him. Despite what you may think, he does try. He wants to know us.”

     “You shouldn’t shield yourself from those around you. Not everyone is going to be as observant as I am. You have to let people in yourself.” Loki pressed a finger to my lips. “And before you say anything, I am fully aware that coming from me, that sounds hypocritical.”

     “How do you know so much about me?”

     “Same way I know my mother’s favourite flowers were narcissus, and that my brother secretly likes to write poetry.”

     “Does he really?” I smiled.

     “When I love someone, I like to know everything about them. And you, my little Bug, are the most remarkable person I’ve ever gotten to know.”

*******************************************************      Loki and I were basked in the warm glow of his TV. We had both found ourselves back on his sofa once Loki agreed to not take up so much room. He continued to read his book, while I carelessly channel surfed.

     I turned to an episode of Community. “You wanna make a bet, you jerks? Lockdown! Abed, seal the doors. Nobody leaves until this pen shows up.” And then changed the channel after remembering I had seen the episode before.

     “Are you nearly done?” Loki sighed by the time I had gotten to the 50th show. I stopped at a late-night movie station.

     “We now return to Shadow Warrior.”

     “You don’t understand Shadow Warrior. I love you.” A beautiful woman with dark hair, wearing a pink sari passionately pleaded with the man standing next to her.

     “Aanya, we have only known each other for a short time. I am the Shadow Warrior and my heart belongs to the road.”

     “Huh,” Loki tilted his head and placed his book down. He stared intently at the TV screen. “That man in purple, riding the motorcycle,” Loki pointed.

     “Shadow Warrior. What about him?”

      “He looks familiar. I feel like I know him.” Loki leaned in closer and squinted his eyes at the screen. “Oh well,” Loki leaned back and continued reading. “Probably not important.”

      “What are you reading anyway?” I asked after I had muted the television. I twisted my head in an attempt to read the silver lettering on the cover. “Is that Asgardian?”

     “Jötan,” Loki quickly answered before licking his finger to turn the page. I couldn’t help but think about where those fingers had been a few minutes ago.

      “What's it about?”

       “Thor’s poetry. Odin gave me this notebook on the day of Thor’s coronation. Like myself, it was another artefact stolen from Jötunheim. He thought I would enjoy filling its pages with stories.”

      “You’re a reader though, not a writer.” Sure Loki was a lie-smith, and able to spin any tale he wanted. He was an expert manipulator. But his skills lied with his tongue and not with a pen. Fuck me, did it ever.

     Loki looked at me fondly. “The real reason he gave me this book; He assumed I would be envious of Thor’s coronation, and it was just his poor attempt at making me feel like I had something for myself. I was never envious of Thor becoming King. I was envious that Odin knew almost everything about his eldest son but never bothered to learn a thing about me. I tried to let Odin in.”

      I moved closer to Loki and squeezed his arm. He had been happy only a few seconds ago. It then dawned on me that, like myself, any happiness Loki felt would forever be accompanied by the sobering realization that he’s hardly ever felt happiness before.

     “My dad used to tell me that the worst part of dying was realising all the moments you never got to experience. Sometimes you have to mourn things that never existed. You don’t have to forgive Odin, but you can’t hold onto your anger forever. Cause when you do die one day, I don’t want you to think back on what a shitty dad Odin was. I want you to think of Frigga and Thor. And of me. And everyone else who loves you.”

     Loki wrapped his arm around me and pulled me in closer to his side. “Thor would kill me if he knew I had this book. Thor’s love for poems was the one thing Odin didn’t know about him. It’s why I gave him the notebook.”

     “What does Thor write about?” I peered down at the ivory pages, the gold ink was in a language I didn’t recognise.

     “Love poems about Jane mostly.”

      “Loki,” I hit him playfully in the ribs. “That sounds private. You shouldn’t be reading those.”

     “Would you like me to read you some?”

     “Yes, please.” I settled in closer to Loki and closed my eyes.

*******************************************************      “Once I'm with the Wizard       My whole life will change      'Cuz once you're with the Wizard      No one thinks you're strange!.”

     “What?” I asked groggily, rubbing sleep from my eyes. I looked up to see Loki smiling down at me, affectionately.

     I lifted my head off Loki’s shoulders and began feeling around for the phone. I could barely keep my eyes open.

     “Here,” Loki said, placing the device in my hands.

     “Hello?” I yawned.

     “She’s tired, but she lives,” Travis’s warm voice greeted me.

     I immediately perked up. “Damn right,” I smiled.

     “Never doubted you for a second.”

     “It’s Travis,” I explained to Loki who gave me a curt nod.

     “You still in Loki’s room?” Travis asked. I could hear what sounded like the chime of an elevator.

     “Yup. Tony is working on getting the door open.”

     “Yeah, I could hear him in his office trying to come up with a plan like some sort of mad scientist. So what did he come up with?”

     “Fuck if I know,” I laughed. “FRIDAY still thinks Loki’s room is under threat. So Tony keeps resetting the Lockdown alarm and now he’s trying to trick FRIDAY into thinking Loki’s room is empty because-“

     “Because FRIDAY doesn’t seal off empty rooms,” Travis finished. “That’s brilliant.”

     “Yeah, exactly. How do you know that?”

     “Cause unlike you, I actually listened during my orientation.”

     “Show off,” I teased.

     “What can I say? I’m a company man. It’s why I was named employee of the month three times in a row at Whole Foods, and it’s why I’m the last one leaving the compound.”

     “Dude. What the hell are you still doing here? Go home and get some sleep.”

     “I wanted to make sure you were okay before I left.” I could hear Travis’s car engine starting. “I’m going to switch you over to speaker, hold on.”

     “You’re a good friend Travis, you know that right?”

     “I know.”

     “I’ve got to ask you something. Stanley West. He works in your department. What do you know about him?”

     “Not much. He keeps mostly to himself. I heard rumours that his wife Vanessa left him for another man though. Why do you ask?”

     “Loki and I think West maybe one of the bombers.”

     Loki cleared his throat and reach for his book. “Something you want to say?” I asked Loki. “Hey Travis, I’ve got Loki on speakerphone.”

     “Hello Travis,” Loki replied cordially. “How are you?”

     “Other than the fact I accidentally helped poison the entire compound, pretty good. Yourself?”

     “Well, I’m feeling a bit conflicted because I now have to explain to our beautiful friend here that no, I don’t actually believe Stanley West is the bomber.”

     “What are you talking about?” I frowned.

     “You think it’s West. I’m not entirely sure,” Loki said hesitantly. “I’m sorry, Bug.”

     “I heard one of the bombers is Sherwood.”

     “It’s not TJ, Travis.”

     “Why not?” Loki asked.

     “Because it just isn’t,” I snapped back.

     “Why do you think it’s West?” Travis questioned.

     I told Travis about the painting in Loki’s room and how Logan connected me with the Power Broker. I explained with enthusiasm about how the Power Broker and West quoted the same Bible verse and my theory that the Power Broker sold West the painting.

     “I also think West and the Power Broker met at the Clinton Church, but I’ll admit that theory may be a bit of a stretch,” I said, concluding my story. “So what do you think Travis?”

     “Wow, that’s a lot to take in.”

     “I’m still going to see if I can reach out to this Matt person the Broker mentioned. I know the Clinton Church won’t reveal its current or past members, so I’m hoping he’ll be able to help if I describe the Broker to him.”

     “Describe,” Loki repeated. “You mean to say you saw her actual face?”

      “Yeah,” I tilted my head. “We had a video call. Of course, I saw her face.”

      “I’m just surprised she didn’t wear a disguise, that’s all. She doesn’t use her real name, and yet she shows her face.”

     “Move asshole!” Travis shouted. His car horn blaring. “Have I ever mentioned how much I hate driving in New York? I think I’m with Loki on this one. What you’ve got at this point are just theories. What’s that Sherlock Holmes quote again?”

     "Twisting facts to suit theories, instead of theories to suit facts," I groaned.

     "All I'm saying is you've spoken to one art dealer and now you think you have everything figured out.“

     "Travis is right. There's no shame in being wrong."

     "I’m not wrong. Not yet anyway.”

     Travis’s car engine fell silent and I could hear his door opening and closing. “I’m home. If you need anything just ask. But I’m telling you, West is harmless. The dude colour codes his socks for crying out loud. He’s been an Avengers super fan since 2012. He wouldn’t want to destroy Stark’s property with some bomb.”

     “If he’s such a fan, why did he only apply to work for the Avengers after Loki arrived?” I questioned.

     “Well to be fair the people funding the Avengers turned out to be Nazis. Then the entire team decided to fight each other. And in between, West was too busy arresting his ex-wife’s boyfriend.”

     “Where did you hear that?”

     “People talk. The rumour about his ex-wife is that she left him for some mafia guy named Wilson Frank, or something like that. He had a street name. What was it? Kingtied. King-“

     “Kingpin?”

     “That’s it,” Travis said triumphantly. “Fisk was his last name. Yeah, I remember now. Wilson Fisk. If West wants to kill anyone it’s probably that guy. So unless Loki has fucked his ex-wife…”

     “I know the two of you think I’m some sort of tramp, but the entire time I’ve been here, I’ve only had sex with a total of 13 people. And none of them was named Vanessa.”

     “Only,” I said, my eyebrows raised.

     “13? Nah, man. There’s no way. I work security every night and I’ve only seen 12 people going up to your floor. Unless…Hold on…” I could tell Travis was grinning.

     “Yeah, Travis. Love you. Gotta go. bye. Few,” I swiped the non-existent sweat off my forehead. “That was a close one.”

     “You’re ridiculous,” Loki shook his head and smiled. “I love you.”

     “I’m not ashamed I had sex with you, I just don’t want to shout it from the rooftops. You understand, right?”

     “Why shout from the rooftops when I can have you moaning in my ear?” Loki said, pulling me into his lap.

*******************************************************

Author’s commentary

Sorry, this chapter took so long guys. I ended up having to re-write most of it. The stuff with Travis was originally written for the previous chapter but got cut. And if you can’t tell, I saw Eternals. 

Wanda’s ring tone being “The Wizard and I” was a nod to the Agent of Asgard comic where Loki sings the song in the shower. And now there’s going to be a Wicked movie. I’m experiencing a Baader–Meinhof phenomenon. 

Tag List

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[magpietoriches]

LockDown Part XIX: Feet Off The Ground

Summary: Tony is less than supportive when you tell him that Stanley West may be one of the bombers. Meanwhile, the only way to get Loki’s door open is for you and him to share a bed. It’s a trope within a trope this chapter.

Setting: 2018 in an alternate timeline where Loki made it to Earth after the events of “Thor: Ragnarok” and Sam Wilson, Wanda Maximoff, Clint Barton, and Scott Lang are still on the Raft.

Pairing: Loki x Reader (First Person)

Content Warning: Hey, y’all. This part has really hardcore smut. So I need you to be at least 18, and then also not look at me for the next 48 hours. This chapter is almost 5k words. 

Playlist ~ Masterlist~ Next Part 

************************************************

     Tony Stark’s entire life was out in the open, even before he announced to the world he was Iron Man. Tony wasn’t just a philanthropist or a billionaire. He was an Exhibitionist. Anyone could Google his name, and in seconds they’d have his address, his favourite restaurant, where he liked to vacation. He even had an article in GQ about the types of socks he likes to wear. Tony was a man that hid in plain sight. The only thing he kept off the grid was his personal cell phone number.

     Wanda’s phone, which never seemed to die, felt heavy in my hands as I pressed the 6 on the touch screen. I entered the number several times before the poorly constructed Samsung knock off registered anything. With one final sigh, I held the phone to my ear.

      “Hello, thanks for calling Prince Street Pizza. This is Tammy. How can I help you?”

      “Sorry, wrong number,” I said before disconnecting. “Damn it. Why couldn’t Wanda save Tony’s number?” I muttered to myself.

     This was partially my fault though. I never felt any reason to memorize phone numbers. No, instead of phone numbers I saved useless trivia facts on serial killers and painters.

     “Wrong number again,” Loki remarked from across the room. He had taken some trash bags out from under the kitchen sink and had begun sorting his purgatory items.

     “This time I actually got to speak to someone,” I remarked dryly.

     “That’s good. You must be getting closer.”

    “That’s not how phone numbers work, Loki,” I tapped my foot against the floor as I tried to remember if Tony’s number had a 3 or 4. Maybe it was a 2?”

     “Stark will call back,” Loki said.

     “You think so?”

     “Of course. After you hanged upon him and called him your father. I’m surprised he hasn’t called back sooner.”

     Trash bags ruffled while I swiped through Wanda’s phone and brought up the Bible Hub web page I was looking at earlier. “Here’s something interesting. The New King James Version, and the New American Standard Bible, are the only ones that use the word “cunning” in their translation of Genesis 3:1. I wonder what Bibles the Clinton Church uses. Loki, are you listening?”

     “I’m sorry,” Loki remarked with a shake of his head, “What were you saying?”

     “You’re really just going to throw all this stuff away?”

     Loki tossed a melted toy soldier into a trash bag. It reminded me of how Loki’s flesh had been melted before, and I tried not to shutter. “No,” he sighed. “Just what’s broken.”

     “You can get a new purgatory, can’t you?”

     “They’re easy enough to make,” Loki nodded.

     “You just can’t replace what’s inside them,” I concluded.

     “No. I can’t,” Loki confirmed, his eyes cast down. “But worry not,” he said, sounding chipper as he picked up some rotten apples between his fingers and tossed them away. “I may have overstated how important all this stuff is. A lot of it is really just junk.”

     “You kept spoiled food in that thing,” I said, scrunching my face in disgust.

     “Yes, Thor,” Loki mocked. “I was keeping a supply of apples to give Fandral’s horse, Firehooves.”

     “Fandral? Isn’t that-“

     “Once I'm with the Wizard. My whole life will change. 'Cuz once you're with the Wizard, no one thinks you're strange!” Wanda’s phone chimed in my hands. I slid the talk button and pressed it against my ear.

     “Wanda’s phone.” I greeted, using my full name.

     “So are you going to tell me what’s going on, or are you going to hang up on me again?”

     “Tony,” I proclaimed. Loki dropped the garbage bag and walked towards me.

     “Tony? I thought I was dad?”

     “Yeah, I know,” I said, with a brush of my hand. “I was meeting someone, and I didn’t want them to know I work for you. And I couldn’t think of what else to say. I’m sorry for hanging up on you. But I got some good news,” I grinned. “Loki and I might have solved this thing.”

     Loki cleared his throat. He was looking around the room at everything but me.

     The only response I got in return was silence.“Tony? Tony, are you going to say something?” I morphed my smile into a frown. “You seriously can’t be mad at me for hanging up on you? I was talking to an art dealer named the Power Broker. I think she sold the painting the bombers delivered to Loki on Sunday. Her work isn’t exactly legal, and she wouldn’t have spoken to me if she knew you were my boss.”

     Tony eventually released me from his silent treatment. “I’m not mad,” he said, sounding glum.

     “Is everything okay? I thought you’d be happier to hear that Loki and I may have figured out who may have killed Daniel and who at least one of the bombers were.”

     “Kid, 45 minutes ago I got a call from Karl telling me your phone died and that the bomb in Loki’s room was about to go off any second. So I had to be the one to give the orders for Karl to leave you behind. I thought you had died. I’m still trying to process everything, so sorry if I’m not popping champagne bottles just yet.”

     “If it makes you feel any better, I’m not mad either. Actually, I’m happy I got to spend my night in lockdown. And if our roles were reversed, I would have told Karl to leave you too.”

     “I guess I’ve trained you well.” I could hear the smile in Tony’s voice.

      “Thanks, Dad.”

     “Don’t ever call me that again,” Tony remarked with his dry sense of humour.

      “Yeah. It felt weird after I said it.”

       “I’ve got some detectives coming by, but if you’ve got some solid evidence I can pass it along. So…who was it?”

      “Stanley West.”

     “The weird cop that smells like oatmeal? Huh,” Tony said in contemplation. “The umm Power Ranger told you this?”

      “Broker. Power Broker. And no, not exactly. Long story short. Loki and I watched Stanley’s job interview with Happy and he quoted the Bible, and the Power Broker quoted the exact same thing. So, I’m thinking Stanley and the Power Broker met.”

     “Wow,” Tony replied with over-exaggerated enthusiasm.

     “I know, right?” I said, his sarcasm going over my head.

      “So when you said you have evidence what you meant was, you didn’t?”

     “Well, I-“

       “But the Broker at least told you she sold the painting?” 

      “No,” I sighed. “She said she knew nothing about it.”

      “Do you even know this person’s real name?” Tony inquired. “That’s what I thought,” he said when I didn’t answer him.

     “I know she’s catholic, just like Stanley.”

     “The Power Broker is catholic,” Tony repeated. “Yeah, so are 70 million other people in this country.”

      “I know it sounds like I’m grasping at straws. But you weren’t there, Tony. There was something about this woman. I know she’s hiding something.”

      “You could be right kid, but we can’t just arrest someone off a hunch. Until this whole senate thing gets cleared up, we’ve got to play by the rules. You don’t need to worry anymore about who’s responsible for the bomb, or who may have killed Daniel.”

     “Excuse me?” I asked, flabbergasted.

     “The anthrax is cleared. The bomb is no longer a threat. We’re bringing in the professionals now. You’ve done excellent work so far, Kid. Take a break.”

     “You calling me Kid is starting to feel really patronizing.”

      “I’ve been cooperating with detective Eddy Costa and officer John Polsky from NYPD,” Tony said, choosing to ignore my last comment. “They have Dr. Dean in their custody, and they’re up to speed with what’s been going on. They’re coming down to examine some evidence. I should have Loki’s room opened by then.”

     “NYPD. Stanley use to work for the NYPD. It’s a conflict of interest.”

     “If there’s a conflict we’ll deal with it. I doubt there will be.”

      “Why? What makes you so sure? What aren’t you telling me?”

      “I guess you’re going to find out eventually. They think TJ is responsible.”

      “What?! That’s ridiculous. And how did they come to that conclusion? The cops haven’t even been to the compound. Did they what, look at the evidence you sent them, while they sat comfortably in their…” My voice trailed off.

      “TJ has a criminal record. Last week he purchased a gun, the same one used to kill Daniel. The NYPD also think Daniel was most likely the other bomber. There’s evidence,” Tony stated. He made sure to say my name this time instead of his usual “Kid.”

     “It wasn’t TJ,” I asserted.

     Tony sighed. He knew I was right, he just couldn’t admit it. “I never figured out the door code,” Tony confessed, in an attempt to change the topic of conversation. “There were too many possible combinations, not even FRIDAY could get through them all. I’ve got a plan though. I just need some favours from you.”

     “Yeah. What is it?” I asked, slightly annoyed.

     “First one. Save my number into Wanda’s phone.”

     Wanda had managed to avoid adding Tony’s number into her phone for all these years, and now he was getting the last laugh. I couldn’t help but smile at the request.

     “What’s the other favour?”

     “For the next 30-35 minutes, I need you and Loki to not touch the floor.”

************************************************

     A tingling sensation ran up both my feet, threatening to reach my legs.

     “Hey,” Loki admonished with playful annoyance when I accidentally kicked him upon outstretching my crossed feet.

     Loki was leaning against the armrest of the couch, his long legs stretched out. He left me very little room. In his hands was a red leather-bound journal from his purgatory. The book was slightly scorched from the blast. He read the frayed pages with silent fondness.

      “My legs are starting to cramp. That’s it. I’m standing up,” I announced.

      “Wait,” Loki outstretched his hand but it was too late. My feet were already on the ground. I moved both my legs in a circular motion before doing a few lunges.

     “Get back here before-“

     “Motion sensors activated,” FRIDAY’s automated message said. “Attention all personal presently in this room. LockDown procedures have commenced. Please remain where you are until further notice.”

     “-The alarm goes off,” Loki sighed.

     “…Once I’m with the Wizard. My Whole Life Will Change.”

      “What was it this time?” Tony immediately ask when I picked up the phone. “Did you have to pee again?”

     “No. This time, I had a leg cramp.”

     “I know what you’re trying to do,” Tony said.

     “And what am I trying to do, exactly?”

     “The detectives are coming down. And I’m going to get that door open one way or another. You’re just prolonging the inevitable.”

     “I’m not trying to do anything,” I said with an edge to my voice.

     “Really? You’re not trying to stop me from opening the door so that the NYPD can’t collect any evidence that might point to TJ?”

     “I’m not,” I replied honestly. And besides, there was no evidence pointing to TJ.

     “Just let me know when your feet are off the ground so I can begin FRIDAY’s reset”

      According to Tony, FRIDAY was designed to be impossible to hack. But someone, probably Stanley, managed to do the impossible. And once he had FRIDAY at his fingertips, all he cared about, was keeping Loki’s door locked. It could have been a lot worst.

      Every new Avengers employee has to endure a two-week orientation. Day 2 is when Happy is forced to fumble through a PowerPoint presentation on how FRIDAY’s security protocols work. Suffice to say I never listened. I doubt anyone else did either. I learned more about FRIDAY from Tony in the past 10 minutes than ever before. Like how each room was individually connected to her server, or how the hacker didn’t just change the code to Loki’s door, they also programmed FRIDAY to think there was still a threat.

      I also learned that Tony’s need to protect everyone would be his greatest downfall. Trying to convince FRIDAY there was no threat was difficult because Tony had programmed her with backups, and backups of the backups.

      It was a lot easier to convince FRIDAY there was no one to protect. Another fact I learned, not every room gets sealed off during lockdown. The empty rooms are left open.

      Every code that FRIDAY had been engineered with to recognize and identify life signs, had been temporarily turned off in Loki’s room by Tony. Except one. The motion sensors, which were apparently much more complicated to shut off.

      I marched to the other side of the room and slumped down onto Loki’s queen size bed like a disgruntled teenager.

     With the book in hand, Loki stood up and sighed. “I guess we’re waiting on my bed now.”

     “Loki, you can stay on the couch if you were more comfortable there,” I said as he sat down next to me.

     “I want to be where ever you are,” Loki said with conviction and without any hesitation.

      A red beam of light swirled around the room immediately after I told Tony that Loki and I were off the ground. I didn’t think it was necessary to tell him where exactly we were.

      “Initial LockDown procedure has commenced. Beginning scan,” FRIDAY’s automated message announced for the third time. In 10 minutes she was going to say, “Warning, warning, visual scans have failed. If there is anyone in this room, please remain inside for your own safety.”

     FRIDAY was going to give the same warning a few more times as her auditory, and heat detection scans would inevitably fail.

     “Is everyone comfortable? Has everyone gone to the bathroom?” Tony asked. “Good. Let’s go again.”

************************************************

      Loki and I were next to each other in what I’d like to think was the same type of comfortable silence afforded to old married couples. Loki was sitting up against his bed frame with his book, and I was laying down with my thoughts. I looked up at him admiringly with a slight smile, “Did you and Fandral date?” I asked.

     “We did,” Loki said matter of factly, not looking up from his book.

     I rolled over onto my stomach, wrinkling Loki’s forest green comforter. I wasn’t sure how to proceed. Loki and I confessed our love for each other, it was only natural to have the talk about our ex’s.

     “Did you love him?”

     Loki placed his book down on his nightstand, next to Wanda’s phone, as he contemplated my question. “I thought I did. Before him, I thought I had loved Sif. Every time I’m in love, it’s always different. It’s one thing I’ve always liked about it. But nothing ever seemed real. I was never enough. Everyone always preferred Thor. How could they not? I never had anyone or anything that was just mine. Truth is, Bug, love has always eluded me.”

     “My first love was Charlie Pendergast. I met him when I was 12 years old at summer camp. We used to sneak off at night to make out. We were going to get married.” I rolled over onto my back, and laid horizontally across the mattress, clinging Loki’s pillow to my chest. “I had it all planned out. I was going to wear a purple dress because white is too boring. My sister was going to be my maid of honour.”

     “What happened?”

      “Summer ended,” I answered, tucking the pillow under my head. “We went our separate ways. It just wasn’t meant to be.”

     “When I first met you, I wanted to hate you,” Loki remarked.

     “Why were you so cruel to me?” I asked while I fiddled with the buttons of Loki’s shirt that I still had on. “Because it wasn’t just banter, let’s be honest. You said some horrible things to me.”

     “I don’t know why.”

     “Yes, you do.”

       Loki closed his eyes, and let out a breath of air. “I wanted to hate you. And yet, every day you came by my room I found something new to love. You can be shy and reserved. Except for when you’re annoyed with me, or when you think of something clever, or when you kiss me. You admit your mistakes and tell me to forgive my own. I’ve always admired your ability to see the best in people. I found myself going from dreading your visits, to counting the minutes until I’d get to see you again. It scared me. I didn’t think I deserved to have these feelings, so I did what I did best. I tried to pretend I hated you.”

     Getting on my hands and knees, I crawled over towards Loki. He instinctually closed his eyes when I kissed his cheek. “I don’t believe you,” I simply said.

      Loki’s eyes flew open. “What?” he asked.

       “I don’t believe love has eluded you,” I shrugged, before settling in next to my favourite god. I rested my head on Loki’s shoulder. “I think you’ve been fortunate enough to live a life full of love.”

       “The only real love I’ve ever experienced is the love I had with my mother, and the love I have for my brother. Every other kind, inevitably, always ends.”

      I raised my head slightly to look into Loki’s eyes. “Just because something ends, doesn’t mean it wasn’t real.”

      “I may start to regret joining you in my bed. I’m not sure how long I can keep my hands off of you.”

      “Well…I am kind of bored,” I said as I unbutton the top of my shirt. “Maybe you could play with me?” I asked, biting my bottom lip.

      “Come here you silly little bug,” Loki said, pulling me into his lap. Our lips came together like magnets.

     Loki had the sweetest sounding voice, but nothing compared to the sound of his moans. His hands wrapped around my waist and he pulled me in closer. I could feel him harden against me

     I tossed my head back when Loki trailed kisses down my sensitive neck and towards my sternum. The reality of my situation sunk in, and I shivered. I was making out with this gorgeous god. A god who had models in this very bed. How could I possibly compare?

     “Loki-“ I began to speak but he cut me off with another kiss, “I just want you to know.” His soft lips silenced me again. I was beginning to lose my train of thought.

     “Is everything okay?” He asked, concern evident on his face.

     “Loki, I just want you to know-“ I was going to tell Loki to manage his expectations. I was going to warn him that my body wasn’t perfect. That I might not be what he wanted. That disclaimer was quickly forgotten when I saw Loki look at me like I was a work of art. I had never seen someone so in love.

     “If you want to stop we can,” Loki said gently, kissing the top of my head.

     “I want you,” I told him. “I’m just a bit nervous.”

     “You have nothing to be afraid of,” Loki said, playing with the strands of my hair. Our lips connected once more. Mine had turned swollen. Our breathless moans lingered in the air, as Loki’s fingertips lingered on my skin. My hands roamed over the stupid green sweater Loki had on. The damn shirt infuriated me the first time I saw it, and now I hated it more than ever. Sensing my frustration, Loki pulled his shirt off revealing his toned muscles. He was every bit as breathtaking as I expected him to be. He looked like a marbled statue, crafted by the gods themselves. He was a work of art I would gladly ignore the “don’t touch” sign for.

     “Loki,” I said, reaching to touch him. Any part of him.

     “Oh, that’s just a scar I got from some Dark Elves.”

     “What?” I tilted my head to the side, confused. I hadn’t realized there was a scar right above his heart until he pointed it out. “I was going to say you’re beautiful.”

     “You’re the only person who’s ever told me that,” Loki revealed.

     “Not everyone feels the need to state the obvious,” I said before kissing Loki’s scar.

     “I said I was going to take this off of you,” Loki whispered in my ear, his fingers swiftly making their way through the buttons of my shirt. He removed each sleeve with care and kissed my exposed shoulders. I was sitting on Loki’s lap in nothing but my underwear. I didn’t hide my body like I thought I would. Loki continued to trail kisses down my neck until he reached my breasts. His tongue swirled around my nipple.

     “Mmm,” I whimpered, grinding my hips just enough to make Loki groan.

     “These are pretty,” Loki said, snapping the waistband of my black lace lingerie. “Did you wear these for Eric?”

     “Would you have preferred I wore green for you?”

     “For me, you shouldn’t of worn any.” Before I had time to respond, Loki had gently thrown me onto my back and was already ripping off my underwear. The entire ordeal happened so quickly. I was left breathless. My chest heaving up and down. My hair spilt across Loki’s pillow-like a waterfall.

     “What?” I laughed when I noticed Loki staring at me.

     “I thought I had experienced all of beauty’s endless possibilities. Then I met you. And now that I have you, naked, in my bed, all I can think about is how badly I want to taste you.”

     “Lean back,” I instructed Loki. Once Loki was laying down, I grabbed his headboard for balance and lowered myself onto his waiting tongue.

     I felt Loki’s tongue flat against my pussy. I could almost feel his taste puds as he plunged his tongue further into me. His hums sent vibrations, which caused my toes to curl. I was beginning to think that no one in the world would ever, or had ever, experienced the amount of pleasure I was experiencing right now. That was until I looked down and caught Loki’s dilated pupils. He didn’t keep eye contact long though before his eyes rolled into the back of his head. The fucker was enjoying this more than I was if that was possible.

     Loki moaned while he swirled his tongue around my clit like I was the sweetest thing he had ever tasted. Fuck, he really did have a silver tongue. And damn, if he wasn’t putting it to good use.

     My knuckles turned white from gripping the headboard. I began grinding my hips on Loki’s open and inviting mouth. I squeezed my thighs a bit more. Some part of me didn’t want to hurt him, the other part didn’t care if he never breathed again. Not everyone loved Loki as I did. I’d be hailed a hero if I killed him. “Good for her,” they’d all say when I would tell stories of how I-

     “Fuckkkk,” I exclaimed when Loki began flicking his tongue back and forth like I was an ice cream cone about to melt. The pleasure was too much. I could feel the pressure building up. My legs started to shake. Loki chuckled into me. I felt his proud smirk.

     “Loki?” My moan came out as a question. He inserted a long finger inside of me and then curled it as if he was enticing me to come towards him. I felt his breath against my heat once more. He continued to pump his fingers in and out of me as he ate me out.

     I couldn’t hold it any longer. “Fuck, you’re gonna make me cum like that.” I withered as if I had been hit by a bolt of electricity. Loki’s mouth remained on me the entire time. I came until my legs were shaking and I was practically dripping down Loki’s face.

     When I was finished, I rolled over onto my back. I closed my eyes and sighed contently.

     “I’m not done with you yet little love. On your hands and knees, now,” Loki commanded, he was already sitting on his knees by the end of the bed. His hard cock was making his pants look uncomfortably tight.

     “What happens if I don’t?” I teased, biting the tip of my index finger.

     “When I was king, I used to punish people that didn’t follow my orders.”

      “Is that what you want Loki?” I asked fluttering my eyelashes. “Do you want to punish me?”

     “Hands and knees, now!” Loki said in a voice that told me he wasn’t going to ask again.

     Once I was resting in the position Loki wanted me in, I looked over my shoulder to see Loki had finally removed his trousers. I almost drooled, when I saw his cock. It was slightly swollen at the tip and dripping with pre-cum. I had never seen a man so big. He truly was a god.

     “Don’t worry,” Loki said, grabbing my hips and pulling me in closer. He ran his hand down the middle of my spine and pushed me down until my ass was in the air. “I’ll go easy on you.” I could feel his tip rubbing against my entrance.

     “Please don’t.”

      “That’s my good girl,” Loki said before he thrust himself inside of me.

      “Ah god,” I moaned. “You’re too big.” Loki paused, giving me time to adjust to the size of him. He brushed my hair over my shoulder and kissed the back of my neck.

     “I know you can take it,” Loki said, slapping my ass.

     I quickly began shimmying around Loki’s cock. I could feel every ridge of him around my inner walls.

     “Ughhh,” Loki moaned. “You’re perfect.”

     “Harder,” I pleaded.

     “Are you sure?” Loki teased, as he slowly began pulling out of me.

     I couldn’t help but wine in response to the loss of him. “Loki I’m begging you.”

     “Then beg. I want to hear it.”

     “Loki I need you. Please fuck me. I’ll do anything.”

     I gasped when Loki thrust his cock back inside of me. The feeling was indescribable. He was slowly rolling his hips, ensuring he would go deeper, and deeper into me. It didn’t take long before Loki was making me cum for a second time.

      Still, on my hands and knees, I turned around and crawled towards Loki, who was sitting up on his own knees. His cock was still hard and glistening in my juices. “Can I suck your cock, please?,” I asked innocently.

     “Yes,” Loki proclaimed. He lifted my chin with his index finger. “Anytime you want. You never have to ask.”

     I brought Loki into my mouth. I could taste myself on him. I looked up to see Loki’s eyes widen. And I just kept staring up at him.

     “You seem to enjoy having me in your mouth.”

     I hummed in agreement. I didn’t know how, but he tasted like honey and vanilla. He was far too big for me to take all of him, so the parts of his cock I couldn’t reach, I stroked with my hand. I relished in Loki’s glorious moans. I wanted to drink in all of him. Loki had other plans. After he pulled himself out of my mouth, he laid down on his back.

     “I want to feel you ride me,” Loki explained. We both gasped when I lowered myself onto his dick. I bounced up and down, only stopping when Loki pulled me in for a kiss.

     “Ugh. Fuck. Yes. Lokiiiiii.” I grasped Loki’s legs and leaned back. He was bucking his hips forward. Loki placed his hand on the small of my back and pulled me further towards him. With his free hand, he used his strength to push himself up until he was sitting further up against the headboard. My breasts were in perfect position for Loki to lick and suck at my nipples.

     “Mmmmm,” Loki sighed into my neck when I started rolling my hips. His teeth gently grazed my skin. “You’re taking me so well. I’m proud of you. It was like the gods made you for me.”

     I kissed the top of Loki’s head. “I was thinking the same thing.”

     With his cock still in me, Loki spun me onto my back and began pounding into me harder, and faster. I was starting to see stars, my legs were shaking violently. He reached down and began rubbing my clit. That left me screaming.

     “Loki. Oh my god. Fuckkkkk. Yes.”

     “Are you going to continue to be a good girl and take all of me?”

     “Yes,” I nodded. “Please come inside me. Fuck me.” I was on birth control. Loki and I were of different species, technically. So I wasn’t worried about any unwanted consequences. I was desperate to feel him spill into me. I wanted to watch him as he climaxed.

     In our frenzied state of moans and sweat, Loki tried to move us once more but unintentionally rolled us both onto the floor. We both ignored the motion sensor alarm. Loki was once again on his back. I sat right on top of him again and ignored the sound of Wanda’s phone as we continued to fuck.

     “Loki, I’m gonna-“ I felt his warm cum leaking into me, my own orgasm quickly followed.

     Loki rested the back of his hand against his brow. I allowed for him to soften inside of me a little before I climbed off of him. I crawled over to Loki and laid against his chest. He pulled me in closer and kissed the top of my head.

     “The alarm went off again,” Loki commented, as he gently stroked my back.

     Tony must of hung up when we hadn’t answered.

     I buried myself into Loki’s chest. “Tony is going to be so pissed.”

     “I guess we’ll just have to do this again,” Loki chuckled.

*******************************************************

Author’s commentary

Happy Halloween everyone. I had a lot of fun writing this chapter. And if you had fun reading it 😏, I’ll see you in church. Sorry it was sooo long. 

I actually had a completely different idea for this chapter, but I’ll save that for the next part. 

Also, fun fact; The pizza place at the start is a real restaurant in New York. Their phone number does end in a 6. 

Tag list is under the cut.

Tag List

@oneofakindkindalassposts

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@roundtableguests

@kneelingsince2012

@mrsdarcyinlovewithbuckybarnes

@uselesssapphickitten  

@moriarty-queen-of drama

@purplekitten30  

@addictofsupernatural

@kingtwhiddleston

@darkerking

@bilesxbilinskixlahey

@deitysnips

@the-bilkush

@freyathehuntress

@mrs–barnes

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@marianraven13

@xthefuckerysquaredx

@savoryloki

@ordinarylokix

[magpietoriches]

just wanted to let you know that lockdown is the best fan fic I've read and you are a wonderful writer ❤

Some days as a writer you’re looking up alternative words for penis wondering, if it’s all worth it. And then you get asks like this, and you realize, it is.

Thank you so much.

[magpietoriches]

LockDown Part XVIII: The Woman, The Man, and the Serpent

Summary: You finally get to speak with the Power Broker, but things prove to be more difficult when you realise how ill-prepared you actually are. Luckily Loki is around to help you find your confidence. 

Setting: 2018 in an alternate timeline where Loki made it to Earth after the events of “Thor: Ragnarok” and Sam Wilson, Wanda Maximoff, Clint Barton, and Scott Lang are still on the Raft.

Pairing: Loki x Reader (First Person)

Content Warning: The following chapter contains mild smut. 

Playlist ~ Masterlist ~ Next Part 

************************************************

       The announcement of the Power Broker had reduced me to a catatonic state. Wanda’s laptop sat where we had left it. And from where we stood, it was in our direct line of sight. My eyes never left the screen as I absentmindedly tugged at Loki’s sleeve

     The entire evening I had been at the mercy of lock doors, codes and countdowns. And In the midst of all the chaos, I had forgotten about the Power Broker.

     “Uh, I see,” Loki huffed. “NOW, they want to speak with us.”

     “Loki,” I said in a trance.

     The count down went from 2 to 1.

     “This is absolutely unacceptable,” Loki ranted, his hands on his hips. Doing his best, “I want to speak to the manager” pose.

     My eyes broadened, as Logan’s warning replayed in my head, “Don’t let the Power Broker know you work with the Avengers.” As far as instructions go it was simple enough. But now there was no time to come up with an elaborate story, beyond just lying about my employment. The only thing preventing me from convincingly keeping up the ruse was…

     “LOKI, move,” I shouted. Adrenaline had awakened all my senses. Mere seconds before the Power Broker came onto the screen I had wrapped my arms around Loki’s waist, and had tackled him to the ground. The only way to convincingly lie was to hide the God of lies himself.

     There was a loud thud as we both hit the ground. Loki winced underneath me and leaned his head back against the surface of the floor.

     “I don’t see anyone,” a woman’s voice came from the laptop speakers above us.

     Loki instinctually wrapped his arms protectively around me and held me closer to his chest.

     I felt Loki’s soft lips on my forehead, and the rapid beating of his heart seemed to have slowed down. It was then that I realized he wasn’t comforting me, but himself. Logan’s warning was probably playing in Loki’s mind as well. Except for him, it was the part of the Power Broker being dangerous.

     “Stay down here,” I whispered into Loki’s ear. “I’m just going to speak to the Broker.” Strong arms kept me in place. “Loki, let me go,” I said, trying to wiggle out of his grasp.

     “I have to keep you safe,” Loki simply said.

     “It’s fine. The Broker is in another country.”

      If Loki had his way, he would have held me against his chest forever, but he didn’t have a good enough reason to keep me. Hesitantly, Loki released me. And I left my favourite person on the floor.

     “Well a video call was not on the schedule for today but I-“ The woman on the computer screen abruptly ended her sentence. Her jaw fell slightly open in lieu of my sudden appearance. She had shoulder-length blonde hair, a short face, and dark eyes.

     “Hi.” I introduced myself while brushing my hair away from my face.

     “I’ll need to call you back,” The woman said into the cell phone pressed against her ear.

     “Are you the Power Broker?” I questioned.

     “Yeah, yes,” The Power Broker stammered. She sat in a black leather chair in front of a large office desk. On her desk was an executive pen holder, and several stacks of files. Several works of art were behind her. Most of it half-heartedly leaning against the wall, on the floor. I could hear the faint sound of classical music. The dimly lit room gave her golden hair a heavenly glow. She looked down at her desk and immediately began shuffling around papers in an attempt to seem busy. She seemed ill-prepared and lacked the confidence one would expect from someone so notorious.

     “Sorry if I scared you. I was just…looking for something on the ground.”

     “Good luck trying to find it,” The Power Broker lifted her chin and smirked. I turned my head and looked at the frenzied mess on the floor that she was clearly gesturing towards.

     “Yeah, it’s Umm. It’s been a long night.” I made a conscious effort not to stare at Loki as he crawled around the kitchen island so that he could stand safely behind the laptop.

     When the Power Broker didn’t respond, Loki began waving his right hand in circles, urging me to keep going. “A friend put me in contact with you?” I looked over at Loki for reassurance and he gave a nod.

     “Yes. Logan’s friend,” The woman said while setting aside a stack of papers. She looked up at me and smiled. “So how can I be of service?”

     “I was-“ my eyes darted towards Loki.

     “Ask her where she's eaten,” Loki appeared to silently mouth.

     “What?” I asked, my eyebrows furrowed.

     The Power Broker tilted her head to the side, “I didn’t say anything?”

     Loki rolled his eyes.

      “I wanted to know why you’re late,” I said. Loki nodded along to each word I spoke. It was a definite distraction. I made sure to glare at him as covertly as I could.

     “Let's get one thing straight,” The Power Broker said, as she leaned back in her office chair with her arms crossed over her chest. “I’m not on your schedule. I call potential clients when I am ready.”

     And there it was. Any sign of nerves or trepidation on the part of the Power Broker was gone.

     “Right. Sorry for asking,” I said sheepishly.

     Any confidence I initially had, had been completely drained. I had interviewed some of the worst people humanity had to offer, with nothing but a desk to shield me. But the stakes seemed higher this time, and undoubtedly more personal.

     “Okay,” The Power Broker replied, tapping her desk impatiently, “I really don’t have all day. So shoot. Tell me what you want.”

     “There is this-“

     “When I meet the Wizard, Once I prove my worth, And then I'll meet the Wizard. What I've waited for since birth.”

     Wanda’s ringtone filled the room. I looked over at Wanda’s cell, which lay cracked and damaged on the floor in the spot I had landed earlier. The phone screen displayed the words, “Private Caller.”

     “Is that Wicked?”

     I shook my head. “Umm Yeah, it’s my phone,” I quickly lied.

     “Are you going to answer it?” The Power Broker asked as I stood frozen in place.

     “Wha-Yes. I am,” I stuttered before cautiously picking up the phone. I silently cursed myself for acting like such an idiot. “Hello?” I asked. All I could hear was the sound of someone breathing. “Hello?” I repeated.

     “Kid,” Tony eventually answered. A slight crack in his voice.

    “Yeah?” I replied, trying to remain as neutral as possible.

     Tony released a long sigh. “I promise, first thing tomorrow morning, you’re getting a raise and 4 weeks vacation. When Karl called me I thought…well I’m just glad you’re okay.”

     “Sorry Dad,” I answered, my eyes locked on the Power Broker’s brown ones, “I can’t talk.”

     “Did you jus-“ Tony began, but I had already disconnected the call.

     “Everything okay?” The Power Broker asked with a raised eyebrow.

     “Fathers, am I right?” I said in an attempt to lighten the mood. Neither Loki nor the Power Broker looked amused. “Do you have a father?” I asked, rubbing the back of my neck.

     “Is that why you wanted me to contact you? To talk about our fathers?”

      “No,” I quickly retorted with a wave of my hand. “There’s a painting I want to buy. I don’t know who has it.”

     “You got a name?” The Power Broker asked, taking a felt tip pen from her desk.

     “I don’t know who has it.”

     “The name of the painting,” the Power Broker sighed.

     “The Man, the Woman and the Serpent. It’s a painting by-“

     “Bayam Shaw,” The Power Broker nodded, sucking her teeth. “Yeah, I’m familiar. I don’t have it.”

     “No, I know. I was hoping you could maybe, possibly, if you have time that is. It’s fine if you don’t-“

      The Power Broker waved her hand at me. “Oh my god, enough. This is painful to watch. The painting is part of a private collection, okay. Tracking it down might be difficult, and I’m a busy person.”

     “I’m willing to pay you.”

      “Willing?” The Power Broker laughed, “Well isn’t that generous of you. You better be willing because I don’t work for free.”

      I began swaying back and forth on the balls of my feet. “Soooo, can you help me?”

     “I don’t know,” The Power Broker admitted. She held up a hand in front of her face, and examined her perfectly manicured nails. “Seems like a lot of work. Let me talk to a friend of mine, and I’ll call you back in half an hour.”

     “Great,” I smiled. “I Look fo-“ The screen had already faded to black. “I’m fucking this up, aren’t I?” I grumbled as I slumped down onto Loki’s couch, and held my face in my hands.

     “You’re doing fine, Bug,” Loki lied, as he sat down next to me. He placed his hand on my knee. “I know people like the Power Broker. Trust me, I’m all too familiar. People like her can smell weakness. If you want her help, you need to demand it. Be more confident,” Loki gave my knee a gentle squeeze. “Tell her exactly what you want.”

     “You’re right. I think I’m just nervous.”

     “It’s because you're tense,” Loki tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. “Find something, anything, to distract yourself for the next few minutes.”

     I closed my eyes and leaned my head against the back of the sofa. I could still feel Loki’s hand on my knee. I let out a content sigh.

     I awoke to the sudden loss of Loki’s hands against my bare skin. “Why did you move your hand?” I sunk down further into Loki’s sofa. I stifled a yawn before closing my eyes again. “It felt nice.”

     Loki’s hand returned to my leg. His cool hand contrasted against my warm skin and lulled me into a tranquil state.

     “I think I might know how to make you relax, Bug,” Loki whispered in my ear. His voice was a low husk. “I’ll stop the second you tell me to.”

     “Why, what did you have in mind?” I asked, turning my head to face Loki.

     “Close your eyes,” Loki instructed with a kiss to my forehead.

     I felt Loki’s hand roam further up my leg until it reached my thigh. I closed my eyes, and relaxed further into the couch.

     “Loki?” I whimpered, as his hand brushed along my inner thigh.

     “Do you want me to stop?” Loki asked. I could already feel him retrieving his hand. My eyes flew open.

     “No,” I said quickly, sounding more desperate than I had intended.

     Loki let out a low chuckle and kissed my cheek. “That’s my good girl,” Loki said, his words causing me to shiver.

     I sucked in my breath when Loki returned his hand to my inner thigh. He continued to slowly caress my skin. I was already obscenely wet and could hardly contain my moan when Loki’s finger tapped against my soaked panties. Loki’s name fell from my lips like a prayer.

       “I’m all out of ideas,” Loki announced. His fingers had mercilessly stopped moving. “What do you purpose I do next?” Loki asked, speaking my name.

     This was all a cruel lesson. Loki was trying to teach me how to ask for what I wanted. Well, I wasn’t going to disappoint him.

     I opened my mouth. I was going to tell Loki to explore me with his fingers. To make me scream his name.

     “I want-,” was all I managed to let out. I couldn’t think with Loki’s fingers still near my black lace underwear.

     “Yes?” Loki smirked.

     “I want,” I bit my lip. “I want you to make me cum on your fingers.” My body stiffened in anticipation.

      “Shhh, relax. I’ve got you,” Loki whispered into my hair. I took a deep breath and did as he told me.

     “Loki. Fuckugh.” The words were stolen out of my mouth when Loki entered a long finger inside of me. My entire body trembled as Loki inserted yet another finger, and my legs instinctually opened wider.

      “Loki,” I whimpered.

      “Yes, love?” Loki sucked and nipped at my neck.

       “Don’t stop,” I moaned.

        “Yes, ma’am.”

     Loki’s hands were always my favourite part of him, but I was so naive to think I had experienced all of their glory. His fingers reached places inside me that I never could.

     “More,” I said breathlessly. Loki inserted another finger inside me. His fingers slowly circled my inner walls, before gently curling along my clit. “Yes, fuck,” I mewled in pleasure.

      “You’re so beautiful like this.” Loki rubbed the centre of my throbbing clit with his middle finger as he simultaneously squeezed either side with his wedding and index finger.

     As I squirmed, Loki moved along with me. He was studying my reaction. Every moan, every toe-curling scream, every time I begged him for more. Loki was a quick study. And the more Loki learned what gave me joy, the better he got. It was as if pleasuring me was his life’s calling. I had never known him to be so determined.

      “Do you know how often I imagined you just like this? Screaming my name as you come undone, on my fingers?”

     “Fuck,” I moaned, running my fingers through my hair. I then grabbed Loki’s neck and brought him to my lips. My mouth opened, allowing for Loki to begin exploring me with his tongue. He tasted like mint and vanilla.

     The need to breathe was the only reason I pulled away. My own fingers began roaming through Loki’s raven locks, as I bucked my hips towards him.

     I could feel my orgasm building up, threatening to spill out. Loki was alternating between moving his fingers agonizingly slow around my clit, to mind-numbingly fast.

     “I’m going to cum. Please make me cum,” I pleaded. “I need you, Loki.”

     “I know. I told you,” Loki kissed my forehead. “I’ve got you. You know you’re perfect, right?”

     “You’re not so bad yourself,” I smiled. “Lokiiiii,” I screamed, as he pumped his fingers in and out of me. Loki wrapped his free hand around the back of my neck and brought me in for another kiss. He swallowed each of my moans.

     Loki was no longer alternating between slow and fast movements. He was circling his fingers around my g-spot at a steadily fast pace, never once falling out of rhythm.

     “Oh my god, Loki. Fuckkkk.” My orgasm crashed over me like a wave. Loki gradually slowed his movements, as he allowed me to ride out my climax. He then built up more momentum, causing me to cum for a second time before he slowly pulled his fingers out of me.

     Loki’s eyes rolled into the back of his head as he sucked my juices off each one of his soaked fingers. He moaned at the taste.

     “Power Broker should be calling back any time now. Do you feel better?” Loki asked, as he stood up and walked behind the laptop.

     “Yeah,” I said sarcastically, standing up from the sofa myself. I was still dripping. “I feel too good. Who’s the Power Broker again?”

     Loki smiled. “Just take a seat,” he replied with a slight shake of his head as he pointed to one of his barstools.

*********************************

     “I see you’re still here,” The Power Broker said before pulling out her chair to take a seat. “Everything okay, you seem more disheveled.”

   I looked over at Loki. “As I said, it’s been a long night. So let’s not waste each other’s time.”

     “This painting must be really important to you. What's so special about a painting of Adam and Eve?”

     “I was told, you exercise discretion. My reasons for wanting that painting are none of your business.”

     “Fair enough,” The Power Broker said, sounding impressed with me. “I made some phone calls. The person who owned the painting was a catholic priest. He doesn’t have it anymore. He had someone sell it.”

     “And?” I blinked rapidly. “Wait? Is that it?”

     “That’s all I know. What can I say? You may want something, but sometimes it’s just not meant to be.”

     “Great,” I huffed.

     “I may have a number for someone who can help?”

     “Sure whatever,” I groaned and waved my hand dismissively as the Power Broker opened a desk drawer. While she looked for the phone number, I caught Loki’s eyes and shook my head. He opened his mouth as if about to speak but then quickly thought against it. 

     “Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field,” I heard the Power Broker mumble to herself. “Damn. Looks like it’s not here,” she said, closing her drawer and looking up at me.

     The image of Stanley West, sitting across an interview table from Happy flashed through my mind. “- he thought he was more cunning than any beast of the field.” My eyes slightly widen.

     “What did you just say?” I asked in an even tone, but the hairs on my arm had stood straight up.

     “The number I was trying to find. I must have misplaced it.”

     “You said something about a serpent?”

      “Serpent? Oh, that. It’s just a quote from Genesis. Only reason I know is my father. My family is catholic. They tried to get me to join the church, but I hated it. The constant rules. The hypocrisy. Wasn’t for me.” The Broker laughed. “Well looks like you got me to talk about my father after all.”

     “Yeah, and look at you. Quoting scripture. Your father would be proud.”

     “The only good thing about my family’s church was the handsome lawyer that went to it. Matt,” The Power Broker cleared her throat. “Umm, Something.”

     “Hey, I once joined the track and field team for a boy and I hate running.”

     “Running is the worst, isn’t it? Anyway, it was nice meeting you. I’m sorry I couldn’t be of more help.”

     “You were plenty of help,” I smiled before signing off.

     “You seem happy,” Loki commented.

     “Cause I know who’s responsible for the bomb.”

      “You think it’s the cop, don’t you, because he and the Power Broker used the same quote? Humans are very fond of their scripture. How do you know it’s not a coincidence?”

      “Cause whoever this broker is, she and Stanley West went to the same church.”

      “I must have missed that,” Loki said, running his hand along his jaw. “When did she say that?”

     “Okay fine, It’s just a theory,” I admitted. “But I have a hunch that I’m right, and I know how we can figure out if she and West went to the same church.”

     “Okay,” Loki nodded for me to continue.

      “We just need to find Matt Something.”

*******************************************************

Author’s commentary

Smut, finally. Am I right? I had to read a lot of smut in preparation for this chapter. And I did all for you guys. So, you’re welcome. For those of you who started reading this story because I said there would be smut, thank you for your patience, and don’t worry, there will be more.

On a serious note; I want to thank everyone who is still reading my story. I know it’s been a while since I’ve posted. I’ve had this chapter finished for a while, but didn’t want to post it because I was contemplating giving up on this story. Even though this story isn’t “good” to me, other people seem to enjoy it. So I’ll do my best to finish it. Thank you to @too-many-idiots​ and @lokisdisneyprincess​ for your kind words. 

As usual, tag list is under the cut

Tag List

@oneofakindkindalassposts

@thinkingth0ts  

@roundtableguests

@kneelingsince2012

@mrsdarcyinlovewithbuckybarnes

@uselesssapphickitten  

@moriarty-queen-of drama

@purplekitten30  

@addictofsupernatural

@kingtwhiddleston

@darkerking

@bilesxbilinskixlahey

@deitysnips

@the-bilkush

@freyathehuntress

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@marianraven13

@xthefuckerysquaredx

@savoryloki

@ordinarylokix

[magpietoriches]

Currently editing new chapter. Should be up tonight.

[magpietoriches]

How do you know if people genuinely like your story cause it’s good, or if they like it in a “it’s so bad, it’s good” way? Cause I’m having an existential crisis. Actually, I’m sensitive. Don’t tell me. Wait, tell me. No, don’t tell me. AHHHHHHHH.

[magpietoriches]

LockDown Masterlist

Your plans for the evening take a turn for the worst when you find yourself stuck in a room with Loki during a compound wide lockdown.

When you both learn that there are far greater dangers inside of Loki’s room, than there are on the outside, the two of you have to work together to solve the mystery of who is behind everything.

It’s the bottle episode trope told in a slow burn enemies to friends to lovers fanfic. With poison, explosions, paintings, mystery, and murder. Oh, there will also be smut.

Pairing: Loki x Reader (First Person)

Genre: Enemies to lovers, romance, mystery, thriller, eventual smut

Inspired by: A Job A Million PRs Would Die For by @saiansha​ and, of course, countless themed bottle episodes on television. 

Setting: 2018 in an alternate timeline where Loki made it to Earth after the events of “Thor: Ragnarok” and Sam Wilson, Wanda Maximoff, Clint Barton, and Scott Lang are still on the Raft.

Playlist 

Parts 

Part I: Bottle Episode

Part II: My Dinner with Anthrax

Part III: Oldie but a Goodie

Part IV: The Good in People

Part V: Someone Who Screams, “I Want to Kill Loki.”

Part VI: The Closet

Part VII: Dead Cat Society

Part VIII: Say, You Wanna Dance?

Part IX: Sister

Part X: Hand Held

Part XI: Ask, What Do Demons Want?

Part XII: Favourite Anything

Part XIII: Confessions

Part XIV: Theodore

Part XV: Forget the Rest

Part XVI: Frog Catchers

Part XVII: The Worst Part of Dying

[magpietoriches]

LockDown Part XVII: The Worst Part of Dying

Summary: Death triggers a memory you don’t want to relive and inspires you to create one you don’t want to forget.

Setting: 2018 in an alternate timeline where Loki made it to Earth after the events of “Thor: Ragnarok” and Sam Wilson, Wanda Maximoff, Clint Barton, and Scott Lang are still on the Raft.

Pairing: Loki x Reader (First Person)

Content Warning: The following chapter contains mentions of death and suicide. As well as blood and gore. 

Playlist ~ Masterlist ~ Next Part 

************************************************

     I was 8 years old when I first became acquainted with death. My father had flipped our family station wagon on black ice. He had been clinically dead for one minute, and in that minute, he saw his entire life flash before his eyes.

     I found my father’s stories of death almost whimsical. He described the quintessential bright light. And as a child, I yearned to reach this magical place my father spoke of. I had no understanding of the consequences one must endure in order to reach such a place, or the sacrifices one has to make.

     As I got older, I recognised my father’s brush with death for what it was. A chemical reaction in his brain. There was nothing after death. At least not for humans.

************************************************

     Death was imminent the second I was thrown across the room. Loki’s magic had encased the bomb, but he was not quick enough.  The image of Loki, looking at me with love and sorrow, would be the last I would ever see. I supposed, as far as last moments went, it wasn’t the worst.

     Just like my father had warned me; I began to watch my entire life play out like a movie. Most things were just a blur; a disjointed mess of seemingly aimless moments. My first kiss with Charlie Pendergast on the park swing. The countless times I ran through my grandfather’s garden. The time I broke my arm, and swore off skiing. Every moment I had spent with Loki. The first time I told someone I loved them, and the first time I had my heartbroken.

     I spent only a few seconds with each moment. Some had gone by too fast for me to identify. There was one moment that my mind didn’t fast forward. A memory I had spent my entire life trying to forget, and now I was watching it unfold with the utmost clarity.

     An 18-year-old me ran around her childhood bedroom, leaving a frenzied mess of clothes. I had been searching for my sequenced coined purse.

     In a few seconds, there would be a knock on my door.

     “I need to talk to you,” Emily would tell me, before inviting herself inside. She took a seat on the edge of my bed and covered her stomach with my heart-shaped pillow.

     It was a hot day in July. I wore shorts and an icy blue tank top. Emily on the other hand stood out with her leggings and long-sleeved grey shirt. I never questioned why my sister dressed so modestly. I assumed it was simply a preference. I ignored how uncomfortably overheated she looked.

     Looking back, my sister wore a lot of greys and blacks during the last few weeks of her life. It was as if all colour and life was slowly being drained out of her.

     I notice her tug at her sleeve in an attempt to hide the scars that ran along her arm. I should have said something.

     The signs of my sister’s depression, and eventual suicide, had all always been there. She never talked about it, or asked for help, but anyone could see she was hurting. Anyone that cared to pay attention.

     When Emily died no one was surprised, which made it all the more preventable. We-I had chosen to ignore her cries at night. Emily had been my best friend, only for me to reduce her to annoying sister.

     “You can see I’m busy,” I grumbled impatiently. “Danielle is going to be here in 10 minutes.”

     “I know. It’s really important,” Emily squeezed my pillow tighter.

     “Have you seen my purse?” I asked.

     “No,” Emily shook her head. “I Ummm. I’m no longer friends with Tiffany”

     “Uhuh,” I said, distracted. I headed toward our shared bathroom.

     “Can you stop looking for your purse for 2 minutes?” Emily called out.

     I had exited the bathroom. My lips were a bright shade of pink.

     “Why aren’t you friends with Tiffany,” I sighed, impatiently.

     “I don’t want to be friends with Eric’s sister. Not after what he did to you.”

     “God Emily, it happened 2 weeks ago,” I rolled my eyes.

     “That’s not that long ago-“

     “It also happened to ME,” I said sharply.

     I wasn’t immediately angry after getting raped. The anger came after. I spent most of my time pretending it never happened. Emily on the other hand had been absorbed by the empathy that was eating away at her.

     “I know,” Emily hanged her head, and started picking at a loose thread on the pillow. “But you act like it never happened.”

     “What is there to talk about? Mom and dad called the police. Nothing could be done. End of story. Fucking get over it.”

     “I care about you,” Emily cried. “Do you think it’s a good idea to be going to another party?”

     “I’m not going to sit in my room all day with no friends. I’m not like you.”

     “You’re right,” Emily replied before standing up. She hovered by my door, “You’re not like me. Cause unlike you I care about my sister.” Emily slammed the door behind her. I gave a snort of contention. It would be the last time I saw my sister alive.

     The night my sister died, was the night orange became my least favourite colour. I found her, lying face down on the floor of our shared bathroom. An empty orange pill bottle laid just out of reach of her hand. I only looked at my sister for a few seconds. I made a conscious effort to only stare at the pill bottle. The shock of finding my sister had reinstated a child’s logic in me. If I couldn’t see my sister, laying on the floor, maybe then she wasn’t really dead. I stared at that orange pill bottle until paramedics arrived.

     I wondered what flashes of life Emily saw when she had died. The one thing my father said to me about death was that the flashes you see are not always the good moments. “You will have to relive some traumatic moments, but the worst part is the moments you don’t see. The moments that never happened.” There was no moment of me asking my sister if she was okay.

     When my own flashes of memories ended, I opened my eyes. There was no white light. In fact, I had awoken to the familiar view of Loki’s ceiling fan. All my senses slowly began to resurface. I could feel a sharp pain running along my right shoulder, and a quick glance down told me it had been dislocated.  My mind was absorbed by thoughts of insurmountable pain and of Loki.

      I tried to get up, or rather, I wanted to. But my body was paralysed. I heard the sound of my name being called. It sounded so far away, but I knew it was Loki. The sound of Loki desperately calling my name made me even more determined to stand up. But wanting something, and getting what you wanted were two different things. I wasn’t strong enough to push past the pain.

     I laid my head back down on the floor and stared at the ceiling. I was too scared to look anywhere else. Loki called my name once more; it was louder and even more desperate. My head fell to the side, and I heard a familiar voice telling me to wake up.

     “Loki,” I grumbled. My eyes felt heavy. There was a figure lying a few feet across from me, its arm was stretched out. “Loki,” I said clearer this time. A surge of adrenaline coursed through my veins as everything came into focus, and I started to recognise the body laying just beyond my reach.

     Loki’s outstretched fingers were the first thing I saw. They were twitching as if trying to reach for something; for me. I could only see the left side of Loki’s face. He was staring up at the ceiling, his mouth partly open as he took low, shallow breaths. Unlike myself, Loki looked to be intact. It at least offered me some comfort.

    “Loki, please say something.”

     Loki’s head turned to the face me. He opened his mouth to speak, but my screams came out first. There was a gaping hole where Loki’s eye had been. I could see his cheekbones and his exposed brain matter. His pale skin had melted into a scalding red. Loki opened his mouth. All he managed to let out was a gurgling sound. It was a sound I recognised my grandfather making during his last moments. A sound I seldom heard, but would never forget. A death rattle.

     There was no pill bottle to avert my gaze to, so I closed my eyes.  I tried to picture my Loki. However, all I saw was the horrific image of him lying across from me. “Loki, I’m sorry.”

    Loki whispered my name. “Open your eyes.”

     I complied. I didn’t want to remember Loki like this, but I wanted him to be able to see me in his last moments. “You’re safe,” Loki replied.

   “I lo-“

    Loki took one last gasp of air. His hands, which I wish I could hold, ceased their twitching.

     I felt as if my heart had been shattered. There was a tightness in my chest. I let out a blood-curdling scream. Loki died without knowing that I really loved him. I closed my eyes and wept. I wept until I was overcome with exhaustion.

************************************************

     A familiar voice begged me to wake up. I knew it wasn’t real. Loki was dead. My mind was playing tricks on me.

     My auditory hallucination, manifested by grief, was relentless though. Noises turned into touch that made me question my own reality.

     “Bug, wake up,” my illusion gently shook my uninjured shoulder.

    I didn’t open my eyes. I was too scared that my hallucination wouldn’t be of Loki the way I knew him, but the horrific image of how he looked before he died.

     “Am I dead?” I asked. My eyes sealed shut.

     “You’re not dead,” Loki told me.

     I shook my head. Tears staining my cheek. I wasn’t dead, so this Loki was just an illusion after all. “You promised everything would be okay.”

     Loki kissed my cheek. It felt as real as the last time he had done it. “Everything is okay.”

     “I was going to tell you something,” I spoke softly.

     “Open your eyes,” Loki gently urged. “What were you going to tell me?”

     “It’s too late. You’re not real.”

     “Can you look at me, please?” Loki pleaded.

     I found myself being unable to say no to Loki. Even when he was just a figment of my imagination.

     “There’s my beautiful girl,” Loki smiled down at me, he was sitting on his knees. His face showed no evidence of the injury he once had. My brain was both merciful and cruel for allowing me to conjure up such a vivid hallucination of Loki. I felt him wipe a tear from my cheek. His hands were just as soft as I had remembered, and they felt just as real.

     “Your face-“ I sat up slightly, leaning all my weight on my uninjured arm.

     “Is there something wrong with it?” Loki asked, touching the very cheek that had been missing just a few minutes ago.

    “No, it’s um-“ I laid back down. “You’re perfect.”

    “Why don’t you think I’m real?”

     “I saw you die. You were laying across from me,” was all I managed to say.

     Loki searched my face, realisation appearing to wash over him. “You think I died,” he said more as a comment than a question.

     “Think? No, I saw you. You were-,” I swallowed back my tears. “The bomb, it went off and now you’re dead and I’m just imagining you.”

     Loki grabbed my uninjured arm and pulled me into a seated position. “Look,” Loki gestured around the room “Everything is fine.”

     The four walls around Loki’s room were still standing. However, the room itself looked like a tornado had ransacked through it. There were strewn pages from books that hadn’t been on Loki’s shelf earlier. A gold horned crown. A few daggers and sceptres had become lodged into the floors and walls. It was like a war zone, equipped with its own tiny toy soldiers. The same ones Thor had in his room. I even saw the hideous jewellery box Thor had made, broken into several pieces.

     “What the hell happened?” I asked, looking around at the lifetime of memories now broken and shattered. I couldn’t identify most of it.

    “All that matters is we’re both okay.”

    “No,” I shook my head. “I saw you. You were laying right there,” I pointed.

    “I know, I know,” Loki said, stroking my arm, “I had to use magic to push you away to safety. You were just passed out for a few minutes.”

   “You dying, it was what? Just a dream?”

    “No, not just a dream.” Loki frowned, “My purgatory. Well, it has ruins Bug. To protect it. One such spell causes vivid nightmares.”

    “Why would you do something like that?” I asked mortified. I used all my strength to sit up. I began punching Loki with my uninjured arm.

    “Ow,” Loki winced. Despite his cries of pain, he did absolutely nothing to prevent my assault. “I’m sorry.”

    “Sorry?” I smacked Loki, “Your spell made me think you died. I had to watch another person I love die, and be unable to do anything about it.” Tears fell down my cheek as my strikes against Loki became more, and more laboured.

    Loki gently grabbed my arm. “Do you actually love me or is this just another impromptu outburst?”

    I reached my hand to touch Loki’s face but he flinched.

    “You should be careful what you say, Bug. You’re making it really hard for me to pretend I don’t love you.”

    “I don’t want you to pretend,” I confessed.

     Loki rubbed his temple. “First you tell me not to love you. Now you want me to. I can’t keep playing these games anymore. So just tell me, what do you want? Please. I’ll do anything to make you happy.“

     The worst part of dying was not getting to relive the experiences that you wish had happened. I had already died once. I was going to ensure the second time would be different.

    I lifted myself up onto my knees so that, for a rare moment, I was the one with the height advantage. I held the back of Loki’s neck with my uninjured hand and brought him closer to my lips. Loki’s eyes instinctually closed, as did mine. To my delight and relief, I wasn’t inundated with the horrific image of Loki’s lifeless body.

      I felt Loki’s breath on my face, and his fingers brushing along my jawline. When our lips finally touched, I felt a bolt of electricity run through my body, and a warmth that was indescribable. He tasted like mint and frost.

The god of mischief leaned back until he was laying on the floor, taking me with him. Our lips never once separating.  

     I could feel Loki’s heartbeat against my chest, as I straddled his hips. It was comforting to know that his heart was beating just as rapidly as mine was. I moaned as Loki’s tongue entered my mouth.

    “I love you,” I said softly in between Loki’s kisses. He pressed his nose against my temple and breathed in my scent, as he allowed my words to sink in. 

     “You love me,” Loki happily mumbled to himself. Loki kissed me again with just as much passion as the first time. I felt his cold hands roaming the small of my back, the shirt of his I still wore began to ride up past my navel. True to my nature, I giggled when Loki kissed my forehead. I winced, however, when he kissed my shoulder.

    Loki immediately moved me off of him the second I had made any indication of discomfort.

   “What?” I pouted.

    “I’m going to hurt you,” Loki said, standing up. He offered my hand and pulled me off the ground.

     “You need to get over this fear of hurting me. And I need to get over this fear of getting hurt. People fight, they have arguments. It doesn’t mean they care for each other any less. Your entire life you’ve been forced to play these roles given to you. I’m sorry for forcing you into one where you couldn’t love me.”

    “I’m glad to hear that, Bug.” Loki leaned down to kiss my cheek. “But I was talking about the dislocated shoulder of yours.”

    “Oh, right.” I looked down at the large bump which protruded slightly from my shoulder. “There isn’t much we can do about it except, SON OF A FUCK,” I screamed when Loki abruptly snapped my bone back into place.

    “Forgive me. I thought the element of surprise would make the process more bearable.”

    “How about I surprise you with my foot up you-“

     My threat was hindered by the monotone beeping coming from Wanda’s laptop which had still remained open on the Power Broker’s website. What could only be described as an old style Hollywood film reel countdown, appeared across the screen. “The power broker will see you in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1,” a robotic voice began to announce.

*******************************************************

Author’s commentary

Thank you to everyone for your patience as I worked on revising some of my chapters. The task was much bigger than I anticipated, so I only ended up revising just a few. Most changes were minor, but I think it helps with the overall pacing. Nothing in the plot changed, so if you don’t feel like re-reading anything, that is totally fine. 

Tag list is open

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[magpietoriches]

I’ve given it some thought, and I think I will re-write my chapters. The first chapter set the tone with a lot of exposition because this story was only supposed to be two parts.

I’ve been re-reading my story in order to avoid any plot holes for my next chapter, and I think, while I like the plot, the writing could still be better.

I wish I had come to this conclusion earlier. It does feel a bit too late. The chapters are already posted. However, I have this compulsion I can’t get out of my head.

So here is the plan. During my hiatus, I will re-write until I’m happy or until I go “fuck it.” It might turn out that not every chapter needs to be fixed. Just the first few.

This also helps me re-discover my motivation to write. Hopefully this re-writing will only take a few weeks.

LockDown Series Update

I’m heavily considering re-writing my entire Lockdown series. No one has said anything, it’s just something I’m personally considering.

All my chapters were posted as first drafts. I always write off the cuff without an outline. And now I’m thinking about going back and tweaking each chapter. Focusing mostly on pacing, and show vs telling.

I’ve been watching a few YouTube videos for writers and realized my own writing could be better.

The perfectionist part of me, wants to pause this story, edit it, and then continue.

The other part of me can’t be bothered. And is saying, “It’s not that deep.”

Either way, it’s going to be a while since I post another chapter. I’m feeling a little burned out, and don’t have a lot of momentum to write like I used to. Hence the whole, “Don’t bother side of me.”

I don’t want to give up. And I will continue the story…eventually. But consider this a hiatus for me.

[magpietoriches]

LockDown Part XVI: Frog Catchers [Revised Edition]

Summary: Karl calls to offer a helping hand. You tell Loki about your time as a frog catcher. 

Setting: 2018 in an alternate timeline where Loki made it to Earth after the events of “Thor: Ragnarok” and Sam Wilson, Wanda Maximoff, Clint Barton, and Scott Lang are still on the Raft.

Pairing: Loki x Reader (First Person)

Playlist ~ Masterlist ~ Next Part

************************************************

gif source @lokihiddleston​

 00:20:00 minutes until the bomb goes off. 

     The first time I met Loki he insisted I sit as far away from him as possible. Our lives were never supposed to intertwine, let alone our hands, or even our lips. 

     I don’t know if Loki remembers the first night we met, but I remember crying afterwards because I was expected to help this person who was repelled by me.

************************************************

    “Ugh,” Loki groaned, “Look who’s back.”

“I told you I would be,” I shrugged, clinging my laptop to my chest. 

    “I supposed there’s no sense in fighting this,” Loki sighed, and opened the door wider for me. The shirt he wore was wrinkled, and his hair a mess. 

    “I’m glad you’ve- Oh,” I blinked at the scantily clad man and woman sitting on Loki’s sofa. “I didn’t know you had guests.”

    “They were just leaving,” Loki said. 

    “I guess that’s our cue, Amara,” The red-headed man announced. I stood awkwardly by the door as the handsome man with abs for days collected his shirt and pants. 

    “I guess you’re right,” Amara replied in a thick Wakandan accent

     Amara scanned me up and down. Looking decidedly unimpressed. I felt like a lawn gnome next to the statuesque woman. “If you really want to have a fun time, ask Loki to show you thing he does with his-”

     “OKAY!” I smiled, “Yup, thank you for coming. Loki and I have work to do.” Loki chuckled as I ushered his guest out of his room. 

     “I thought you didn’t like humans,” I said, as I eyed Loki’s sofa, contemplating whether or not to sit on it. 

     “They have their uses. I can’t say the same for you though.”

     “While I didn’t come here to have sex with you.” I unraveled the throw blanket on the back of the sofa and smoothed it out along the seat. As I did, I found a pink lace bra. 

     “You’d be lucky, Bug. But I tend to have higher standards.” 

     I wanted to make some snide remark about how Loki never had a repeat customer, but nothing came out. All I could think about were the two models who just left Loki’s room, and how I was wearing sweat pants and a paint stained flannel shirt. 

************************************************

     The remainder of the first official meeting I had with Loki consisted of him doing everything in his power to avoid being near me. Even if it meant he had to stand the entire time. When I returned to my room that night, I stood in front of the mirror, picking and prodding my skin. I had almost told Tony I wanted to quit and return to my work as a liaison. Loki wasn’t the first man to reduce me to such a state, but he had been the first in a long time. And normally I’d walk away from those men, not work with them. It wasn’t easy, searching for the good in people. It took me years not to be affected by the cruel words of strangers. And in an instant, Loki reduced me to my former self.

     I would have quit, that is if it wasn’t for Thor.

     “Don’t let my brother upset you. If he insults you, you have my permission to insult him back,” Thor had told me. 

     “What if I take it too far and he…you know?” I  flopped my head to the side and stuck out my tongue, doing my best impression of a corpse. 

     “He won’t. Loki just wants someone to play with him. You’ve got to get on his level. It took me a long time to learn that.”

     “I’m only going to be working with him for a few months, tops. So he can play with himself.” 

     I realised Thor had been right though. Loki would continue to insult me, but he wasn’t just insulting me, he was provoking me. The second week I finally gave him what he wanted, a reaction. I was no longer a wilted flower. 

      The space between Loki and me was never supposed to be broken, but now I wanted to shatter it. He was like forbidden fruit, enticing me. And I believed, whatever consequences may come from taking a bite were worth it. I never understood why Adam and Eve wanted to be trapped inside a garden anyway. 

     I could almost taste Loki’s lips. He searched my eyes for any sign of uncertainty. Loki had imperfections that I had failed to notice before; a faint scar over the bridge of his nose. A few wrinkles around his eyes from the times he used to smile. His imperfections were negligible compared to how beautiful he was. 

     I was certain my heartbeat could be heard and felt by the beautiful God pressed against me. I didn’t close my eyes at first, the way most people would when they kiss. I wanted to look at Loki for as long as possible. My eyes eventually fluttered shut. I let out a soft laugh at the feeling of his lips against my forehead.

     “You really can’t help but smile, can you?”

     “Shut up,” I laughed. 

       I could feel the ghost of Loki’s lips brushing against my own. Like every part of him, they were simultaneously rough and understatedly soft. It reminded me of the flowers I used to pick from my grandfather’s garden and pressed into my journals when I was older and had retired from catching frogs. My mother always scowled me for picking the most beautiful ones. I didn’t see the sense in wasting beauty when I could have it in my grasp.

Buzz, buzz, buzz

     “Loki,” I whispered, pulling my head back. I opened my eyes. Loki still had his closed. “I think I hear my phone.”

     “No you don’t,” he mumbled. His left arm wrapped around my waist, pulling me in closer. 

     “I hate to do this.” I was already pulling away. “It might be important.”

     “It’s not,” Loki affirmed, pulling me back in. “This is important. Stay with me.” He was practically pleading with me.

     Saying no to Loki, was one of the hardest things I ever had to do. I wanted to kiss him so badly, it almost consumed every other thought. If it wasn’t for the rational part of my brain, I’d be all too happy to make out with the God of Mischief as the world ended around us. But my human need for self-preservation was stronger. “Loki, please.”

     “Okay,” he conceded. His forehead pressed against mine. “But later, I am going to destroy that phone of yours,” Loki grumbled under his breath before pressing a chaste kiss to my cheek. 

     “Hey, Karl,” I greeted the smiling face on the other side of the FaceTime call.

     “I hope you forgive me for being so blunt, but I imagine you folks want to get rid of that pesky bomb ya got there,” Karl replied. His Minnesotan accent seemed thicker for some reason. 

     “I appreciate that, Karl. But, did Tony tell you the door is still locked?” I looked over at the door as I spoke, half expecting it to open. 

     “He and I had a nice little chit-chat. We both agreed I should walk you through taking apart the bomb yourselves.”

     “No, that’s fine” I shook my head. “We can wait for the door.” I had much rather have Karl do the work of disposing of the bomb himself. 

     “Oh, I’m afraid we may not have enough time. But don’t you worry. Taking apart a bomb is rather easy, so with my direction, I’m positive we’ll be able to diffuse the gosh darn thing. Hopefully, you’ll be better at listening than my husband. He and I were trying to install kitchen cabinets. Well if it didn’t take the handsome bastard 30 minutes just to hand me the correct screwdriver.” 

     “Karl,” I shouted, desperately. “I don’t think Tony told you everything. We think the bomb has a similar design to Ted Kaczynski’s.”

     Karl stared back at me with a blank expression on his face. 

     “He was the Unabomber,” I explained.

     “I’ve been a bomb technician for 30 years. I know who Ted is. I’ve studied a lot of his work.”

     “That’s good,” I exclaimed, “I was worried you wouldn’t be able to walk us through how to diffuse the damn thing.”

     Karl just stared back at us.

     “You’re being suspiciously quiet,” Loki pointed out. “Can you direct us on removing this thing, or not?”

     “I saw the bomb earlier. I’m sure it’s a simple delayed-action bomb. Although….” Karl’s voice began to trail off. 

     “What?” I asked.

     “I’m going to need to get a better look at the thing.”

     ************************************************

     I tapped my barefoot against the hardwood floor as Loki slowly waved my phone around the bomb. 

“Oh, ya. That makes a lot of sense,” Karl eventually said. “Okay, I’ve seen enough.”

     “So?” I asked apprehensively once Loki had handed me my phone. “It’s still good, right?”

     “It’s like my grandmother used to say, bless her heart, you’ve got a problem.”

“I fucking knew it. We’re going to die.” I said, resigning to our fate. 

     “Hey-“

     “Correction,” I interrupted whatever Loki was about to say, “I’M going to die. I don’t know about you. Maybe getting blown up will feel like a spicy tickle for you.”

     “No one is going to die,” Loki said firmly. “I won’t let that happen. Do you understand?”

     “Yes, but-“

      “Good,” Loki didn’t let me finish. “Besides, I’ve died before. It’s boring. You’d hate it.”

     “I got an okay look at the wiring back there. It looks like one of Ted’s old designs. I’m afraid I’ve never walked an amateur through something like this.”  The way Karl looked at us scared me. It was as if we had already died. 

     “What are you trying to say, Karl?” I asked. 

     Karl took a deep breath. “I don’t-

      “What he’s trying to say is that he will do his best to help us, despite this being a difficult situation.” Loki’s eyes pierced Karl’s grey ones. Daring him to disagree. 

     “I can try my best, but I can’t guarantee anything.” 

      “Karl, earlier you told me you were the best bomb tech,” Loki reminded him.

      “I still am, but you folks sure aren’t. I can’t just instruct you on taking apart a bomb. Maybe if it were a simple one like I had anticipated. But it takes years of practice to diffuse a bomb, like the one you have.”

     “Karl, listen. I never really cared much about whether I lived or died, but I am not alone in this room. I’m with someone whose life I care very much about.” I could hear the quiver in Loki’s voice as he pleaded for Karl to help us.

     “I want to help. But like I said, I can’t guarantee anything.”

     “Let’s take it one step at a time,” Loki said, his voice now calmer. “How’s that sound? You tell me what to do.” 

    ************************************************

       “Alright, the first thing we want to do is get the bomb out of the wall. You’re gonna wanna make a wider hole, but don’t touch any of the wires.” Karl instructed after Loki materialised a pair of wire cutters and tweezers.

     “Is that it?” Loki asked, sarcastically, before placing the palm of his hand against the wall. His fingers slide across the grey surface like he was searching for a heartbeat. I jumped at the sudden sound of a dagger being stabbed into the drywall. Loki winced as he pulled the dagger out, the sheer force almost causing him to stumble backward. He continued his assault on the wall. 

      “My desk,” Loki pointed toward his bedroom area with the sharp end of his knife, “Clear it off and push it over here.” 

     “I have to hold my phone for Karl to see.”

      Loki grabbed the phone from my hand. “It’s fine. Go.”

      “Fuck,” I panted. The sound of metal against wood burned my ears and I left a trail of scrape marks behind me. “Your room-“ I gave the desk one final push towards Loki. “Too big.” 

     “Hold this,” Loki handed me back my phone. 

      “Hey, Karl,” I waved. I was still trying to catch my breath. 

      “I think I made the hole wide enough,” Loki explained. His hands were already reaching towards the bomb. 

       “Now, what you want are steady hands. And then slowly, gently, place the bomb on the desk,” Karl instructed. 

      “Bug, you may want to move,” Loki said, from the corner of his mouth.

      I remained frozen in place. Loki looked disappointed. I held my breath as Loki’s long fingers touched the explosive. “Loki,” I whispered. I wanted to shout his name but had enough sense not to.

       “It’s okay.” Loki had grasped either side of the bomb and slowly removed it from the wall. He pivoted on his heel until he was facing his desk. Slowly, carefully, he lowered the bomb onto the wooden surface. “We’re okay,” Loki smiled at me. 

      I let out the breath I had been holding. “We got the bomb on the desk,” I flipped my phone around for Karl to see. 

      “Great. I need to get a look at the back,” Karl requested. Karl gave a low whistle as I walked to the other side of the desk. I didn’t need to be a bomb expert to understand what warranted his reaction. The bomb was a mullet. Boring and seemingly harmless in the front, but the back was where things got really crazy. The overwhelming plethora of wires weaving in and out of the circuit board made my head spin.

     “Someone went through a lot of effort,” I said. 

     “Almost makes you feel bad for taking it apart,” Loki joked, trying to relieve some of the tension. 

     “Have ya ever played Operation before?” Karl asked Loki.

     “No,” Loki replied bluntly. 

       “Well, that’s fine. No shame in it. The object of the game is to not touch anything on the circuit board. So all ya got to worry about is cutting the wires. Some of the wires are tangled together, as you can plainly see. I want you to take your tweezers and carefully untangle them.” 

************************************************

     The plethora of wires appeared endless. Although my legs were tired, I refused to leave Loki’s side as he quickly began his task of untangling the wired mess. I wished desperately that we didn’t have to be in this predicament. I wanted Loki’s fingers entwined in my hair, not around some wires. 

The only time I left Loki’s side was to build a makeshift phone stand, so Karl wouldn’t have to deliver Loki instructions while watching my shaky footage.  

     “I’m not trying to tell you how to do your job, but shouldn’t our first step be turning off the timer?” Loki asked Karl.

      “Slow your roll there, buddy. Disabling the timer is the hardest part. Do that wrong and the bomb will automatically detonate.” 

     “Hey, Bug?” Loki looked up at me for a brief second.

     “Yeah?” 

       Loki didn’t immediately answer, he remained fixated on the green wire that was tightly woven around the blue one. 

      “Tell me more about your sister,” he eventually said once the two wires were separated. “What was her name?”

     “Loki, you need to concentrate.” 

      “I’m perfectly capable of multi-tasking,” Loki asserted. His eyes remained on his work. “I could use the distraction. Tell her, Karl.”

      At some point, Karl had grabbed a textbook. I watched as he looked down at a specific page, and then up at Loki’s handy work. “He seems to be doing well from what I can see,” Karl praised. “I once worked with a guy named Joe who liked to talk a lot on the job. Said it helped him think. He was a really good guy.”

     “Was?” I asked. 

     “Probably best not to talk about it,” Karl sheepishly answered.

     “Come on, Bug, I’m waiting.”

      “My-my sister's name was Emily,” I stammered. Her name felt odd on my tongue. I hadn’t spoken Emily's name in so long. “She was named after Emily Dickinson.”

      “I recall having to read Emily Dickinson for English class back in high school. No idea what any of her poems meant, but they sure sounded pretty,” Karl commented. 

      Loki’s smirked, and his eyes quickly flickered up towards my phone for a brief second. “You must have some good memories between you and Emily.”

     “Yeah, we umm-“ I noticed Loki was struggling to untwist a wire. The tip of the tweezers almost made contact with the circuit board. “Maybe I should tell you later.”

     Loki meticulously untangled the orange and red wire. “It’s fine. Continue your story.”

     “There’s no sense in arguing with you, is there?” 

     “Nope,” Loki smiled at me. “Right now I want my favourite person to tell me about her sister.”

     “Fine! Emily and I used to go to our grandfather’s house. He lived out in the country. He had this beautiful garden with a pond. She and I would try to catch frogs. We thought if we kissed them they would turn into princes,” I laughed at the memory of our own naivety. 

     “My brother once had a pet frog who he claimed could wield Mjölnir. I have a feeling he only said that so I’d be jealous of a frog.”

      “Speaking of making your younger sibling jealous of frogs. So this was a long time ago. I was probably 9 or 10 at the time. We get to our grandfather’s house on the first weekend of summer. Emily and I immediately head for the pond. We see this beautiful, fat, green frog sitting on a lily pad. And we just knew it was secretly a handsome prince.”

      “Two sisters fighting over a man, that’s never a good thing,” Karl commented.

     “You have no idea. We almost killed each other over this innocent frog,” I confirmed. “Emily was always the best frog catcher, so of course she caught it. Then she kissed it, and to my delight, nothing happened. I should have let the whole thing slide, but 10 years old me was also a little shit. So the next morning at breakfast I tell my sister I found a frog that turned into a prince. Not only that, but my prince was going to come by the house.”

     “Then what happened?” Karl asked, completely enthralled. 

      “I didn’t know this at the time, but our grandfather was having a guy come over to work on his deck. Anyway, we get a knock on the door at 12:00 in the afternoon and I tell Emily it’s my prince. And she starts having a meltdown. When I open the door I see this creepy old man in stained overalls and he’s missing teeth. Of course, I’m trying to keep this lie going and not look too disappointed. So I spent the entire day following this Scooby-Do villain come to life. And this poor guy doesn’t know why I’m there. He eventually starts handing me tools. Long story short, that’s how I learned to use a power sander.” 

     “I assume you eventually told your sister the truth,” Loki said.

     “Oh, I had to. She started crying when she thought I was going to go live with the creepy man. I had to tell her it was a joke, and promise that I would never leave her,” I said, my smile slowly fading. “She would have adored you. Emily loved misunderstood people,” I told Loki. 

      “Misunderstood like the man who taught you how to use a power sander?” Loki smirked.

     “Actually, he did turn out to be a creep. He got arrested for sneaking into the women’s changing room at the rec centre.”

     “Ugh,” Loki scrunched his face in disgust. “That’s horrible.”

     “Yup,” I concurred. “Life isn’t always like to Kill a Mockingbird.”

     “Karl, I’ve got all the wires untangled. Which one do I cut?” 

     “You need to-“

     “No, no, shit,” I swore when my phone screen turned black. “My phone just died. Loki, my phone died. I don’t- What do I do?” 

     Loki stood up and placed both his hands on my shoulders. “Breathe. We still have Wanda’s cell.”

     “Okay,” I nodded before going to grab it. “Except I don’t know Karl’s number.” My heartbeat quickened and I could feel my throat tighten. 

     “Call Stark.” 

     “Call Stark, Call Stark,” I repeated. I went to dial the last number on Wanda’s cell but it showed up as ���Private Caller’. “I don’t know his number either and Wanda didn’t save it to her phone,” I began to cry.

      I felt my knees begin to give out. Loki must have noticed as well. He caught me around the waist and secured me safely in his arms before I fell to the floor. Loki stroked my hair and mumbled soft words of comfort to me. “You’re okay,” he assured me. “You should call your mother.”

     “Why?” I looked up at Loki, perplexed. “You promised everything would be okay.” 

     Loki stroked my back soothingly. “I know, and we will be. I just think it’s a good idea.”

       I then understood; Despite Loki’s reassurances he still wanted to give me an opportunity he had been denied. The chance to say goodbye. I dialled my mother's number. One of the few I knew by heart. Her answering machine picked up.

       “Hey Mom, it’s me. I know I haven’t called you or dad in a long time. I just really need to hear your voice. I’m sorry for everything. I’m sorry for accusing you of never loving Emily. I’m…I’m in a really bad situation right now,” I cried. “But don’t worry. I’m not alone and I think it might be okay. But In case it isn’t, I love you.”

         “It will be okay,” Loki assured me after I ended the call. He brushed a fallen tear from my cheek. “I’m going to move the bomb to my purgatory.”

         “Loki, I told you. Don’t destroy everything you love for me.” 

       “I won’t be destroying everything I love if it means saving you.”

          “Wait,” I shook my head, “That would mean...Loki do you love me?” 

        “Yes!” Loki affirmed, throwing his head back. “For one of the smartest people I know, you’re also one of the dumbest.”

          “Okay, you say you love me but let’s just think about this for a second. You’ve only loved me for how long, 5-6 hours? And we’ve been locked in a room together under very stressful circumstances.”

          Loki narrowed his eyes at me. “Are you actually trying to rationalise my feelings for you?” 

         “The feelings you have for me are going to fade. Right now, you’re like….a person walking the desert for some water and I’m the dirty puddle of water you really shouldn’t drink from, but you’re going to; cause what else do you have?” 

      “No, enough,” Loki screamed. “Just stop. You don’t get to tell me how I feel. I’m sorry that I love you, and that scares you, but it's the truth. And no, I didn’t start falling in love with you these past 6 hours. I’ve been falling in love with you from the first day I met you. I thought I had destroyed everything that was good about me. Loving you is the best thing I’ve ever done. Why can’t you let me have this?” A tear fell upon Loki’s cheek.

      “Because everyone I love leaves me. And I can’t lose you. Can’t you just, not love me?” 

     “I just want you to be happy. That’s all that matters. You’re afraid I’ll break your heart. And the last thing I want to do is hurt you. Which is why I must do this.” 

       Loki cautiously lifted the bomb in his hand. The timer began counting down from 20 seconds. He let go, and the bomb remained suspended in mid-air. 

15 seconds left. 

      I worried there would be no more time left with Loki, and no more chances to kiss him. I was an idiot. Why couldn’t I let Loki love me? After all, I told myself the consequences were worth it. 

     At the 10 second mark, Loki waved his hand. 

        Remaining inside the mental garden I created to keep myself safe from heartbreak used to be easy. But I had grown out of frog catching and picking flowers. It was impossible to remain in this comfort zone, knowing now what I did; Loki loved me. Nothing would ever be the same. I never understood why Adam and Eve wanted to remain inside their garden, so why did I insist on staying inside mine? 

     “Loki. I-“ 

     The blast threw me across the room.

*******************************************************

Author's Commentary

As I mentioned in my last Author’s Commentary, this chapter was going to be part of Chapter 15. I decided there was enough material for it to be its own part. The Power Broker is also coming…eventually.

Did I spend too much time watching Fargo clips in preparation for writing Karl? Yes, I did. 

Tag list is still open. If you want on it, please let me know.

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[magpietoriches]

LockDown Part XV: Forget the Rest

Summary: An old “friend” of yours arranges a meeting with a mysterious figure. 

Setting: 2018 in an alternate timeline where Loki made it to Earth after the events of “Thor: Ragnarok” and Sam Wilson, Wanda Maximoff, Clint Barton, and Scott Lang are still on the Raft.

Pairing: Loki x Reader (First Person)

Playlist ~ Masterlist ~ Next Part

************************************************

0:30:00 until the Bomb goes off

     “Yeah,” I said. I had my phone resting between my shoulder and neck, ensuring that my hands were free. “I’m just opening the link you sent me.”

     “It should take you to a private chat room,” Logan instructed. 

     I looked at the website with uncertainty and switched the phone to my other ear. “It says I need to enter an access code?” I was starting to fucking hate access codes.

     “It’s 0982.” 

      I entered each digit as Logan spoke. The chat room looked like a website designed in the 90s, complete with cheap graphics and neon text. The second I entered the passcode a text box appeared. “The Power Broker will see you soon. Please have your web camera ready,” I read. “How soon?” I asked Logan as the website morphed into a white canvas. In the middle of the screen was an 8-bit-cartoon man, in a suit, who kept taking his top hat on and off. Each time the hat was removed a speech bubble would appear over the man’s head saying, “The Power Broker will see you soon. Please stand by.”

     Loki tilted his head to the side, seemingly mesmerised by the looping cartoon. “What is your friend telling you?” Loki asked. I held up my hand impatiently to get Loki to be quiet and he blinked at me in surprise, his mouth fell open in shock. 

     “Whenever they’re ready,” Logan told me, “The Power Broker is a busy person. You don’t call The Power Broker. The Power Broker calls you.” 

     I turned away from Loki and lowered my voice. “I just assumed when you said you could connect me...“

     “That’s not what I said. I said I could maybe arrange a meeting.”

     I returned to where Loki stood and took a seat across from the laptop, still perched on the kitchen island. The built-in webcam, on the computer, had a piece of scotch tape over it, which had been coloured in black. The tape began to fray as I peeled it off. The cartoon man was replaced by the image of my face and of Loki standing behind me. Due to Loki’s height, all you could see of him was his torso. I winced when I saw myself. I looked every bit as horrible as I had imagined. I pulled out the hair-tie that had now become lost in my mess of curls and attempted to brush out my tangles with my fingers. I looked more like I had survived an explosion than someone about to have a virtual meeting with a prestige broker.

     “You’ve used the Power Broker’s services before, right?” I asked, rubbing my hands along my thighs, nervously.

     “Mmm,” Logan responded, “No, I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting them.”

     “WHAT?” I shouted in shock. Loki’s look of concern did not go unnoticed. His hands clenched into fists as he stepped towards me in a manner that could only be described as protective. 

     “I was going to hire them, but Charles died. What would have been the point?” Logan explained. 

     The last time Logan and I saw each other was when he returned to New York for Charles Xavier's funeral. He and I spoke about Charles for hours. I discovered the infamous mind reader and I had something in common; a love for paintings. Logan mentioned he had been trying to purchase a painting for Charles before he died. It was the first time I had learned of the Power Broker. 

     “I’m sorry Logan. I know how much Charles meant to you. I just- when you told me you were going to purchase a painting for him, I assumed you had already met the Power Broker.”

     “I haven’t met the Power Broker but I’ve met a lot of people who have. Let’s just say the Power Broker deals in more than just paintings.”

     “Are you still trying to live out your X-Men days? Logan, if the government finds-“

     “Yeah, yeah, if the government finds out I didn’t take the mandated cure I’ll be arrested. I heard the speech. I’m fine in Madripoor. You shouldn’t worry about me.”

     I lightly shook my head. “How dangerous is this Power Broker?”

     “Dangerous?” Loki asked, panicked. “No. I’m not letting you connect with anyone who is dangerous. Tell your friend the plan is off.” Before I had time to react Loki grabbed the phone from my hands. I stood up and tried to retrieve my cell, but it was to no avail. “Hello, this is Loki,” he greeted with a forced smile. Loki’s tone was even despite the fact I could see him brimming with anger. When Loki mentioned my first name a familiar shiver ran down my spine at the sound of it. The last thing I heard Loki tell Logan, before he handed the phone back to me was, “If you put her in harm's way I will find you Logan, and I will rip you limb from limb.” 

     I gave Loki a disapproving glare. “He was kidding,” I told Logan when the phone was back in my hand.

     “Tell Loki, I’d like to see him try.” I rolled my eyes and made a mental note to associate myself with more mundane people. “If you’re worried about the Power Broker being dangerous, don’t be,” Logan told me. I put my phone on speaker so Loki would be able to hear. “The Power Broker is only as dangerous as you need them to be. So, some words of advice; Don’t mention you’re working with the Avengers. The second you do, the Power Broker is going to end the call.”

     “I’m not working with the Avengers, got it. I’ll just explain that my friend was given an original painting and I was wondering if they may have brokered the sale and, if so, with who,” I replied, giving Loki a thumbs up.

     “That’s a horrible plan,” Loki chastised. My thumb immediately fell down.  

     “No, it's a great plan,” Logan responded. I nudged Loki’s stomach. “Great if you want the Power Broker to never speak with you again. Do you know what kind of clients the Power Broker has?”

     “No?” I said, unsurely. 

     “Exactly. They’re good at their job because of one reason and one reason only, discretion. You can't ask who their clients are, you need to approach this as if you’re a potential client. Trust me.”

     “Is there anything else I should know?”

     “There is,” Logan revealed and I held my breath in anticipation. “I hope everything works out.”

     “That makes two of us. We all can’t be immortal,” I smiled.

     “I’m not immortal,” Logan replied in a serious tone, “No one is.” 

     “Yeah,” I replied, staring at Loki, “That’s what I’m afraid of.” 

     “I thought you said you didn’t have any friends,” Loki said after I ended the call. 

     “Oh, Logan. He’s more of an acquaintance.”

     “How do you know each other?”

     “Have you ever heard of mutants?” I asked and Loki shook his head. “They’re humans born with a gene that gives them superpowers. They’ve always been hated. Seven years ago the UN developed what they called a cure to get rid of the X gene for anyone who wanted it. A lot of people thought the cure should be mandatory. I wasn’t one of them. I was 22, fresh out of journalism school and I got assigned my first big story. I was going to write a piece on the X-Men. They were a team of mutants that lived at a school in New York. They weren’t unlike the Avengers, except they were actually friends with each other. Anyway, I was hoping my story would show the X-Men in a new light. Get people to sympathise with them.”

     “Did it work?”

     “I don’t know. My editor rejected the story. A few months later the UN signed a bill, making the cure mandatory. Now there are no more mutants. Well... there are a few, Logan being one of them, but you aren’t supposed to know about that.”

     “Seven years ago,” Loki said to himself. I could practically see the wheels turning in his head.

     “If it wasn’t for the cure the X-Men would have fought you in New York,” I said, confirming what I guessed Loki was probably thinking. 

      “The humans must have regretted their decision.”

      “You’d think. The earth needs more than just the Avengers, but a lot of humans can’t get past their hatred of mutants.”

     “Why?” Loki asked, sounding baffled. 

     I found Loki’s naivety refreshing. “Humans hate what they can’t control, or understand. Basically, they’re racist.”

     “Humans hate what they can’t control or understand,” Loki repeated sombrely. I could see the worry in his eyes, and I could imagine the weight on his shoulders. “I guess I’ll never find a place where I’m accepted, then. Humans loath me for being the God of Mischief and Asgaridans loath me for being a Frost Giant.”

     “I don’t,” I revealed. Loki opened his mouth to argue but I cut him off. “Not everyone is going to accept you. But not everyone hates you. You just have to surround yourself with people that love you, for you, and forget the rest.”

     “I’m afraid I don’t know who I am anymore.”

     “You said you wanted the freedom to choose who you are. Besides not being a monster, who do you want to be, Loki?”

     “I want to be worthy of love.” 

     Loki’s words shattered my heart. “You are worthy.”

     “Have you ever been in love?” Loki inquired. 

     I took a deep breath. 

     “Besides with me of course,” Loki teased when I hadn’t answered his question.

     I wish I hadn’t said I loved him. Not because it was a lie, but because it was the most honest thing I had ever blurted out in my life. Loki promised he would never hurt me, and I believed him. But now I was making it nearly impossible for him to keep that vow. 

     “I told you to forget I ever said that.”

     “Maybe I don’t want to forget it.” 

     Earlier in the evening, I told Loki that he never gave me the false hope that he might love me. What I never accounted for was that I might fall for him. But how could I not? When the asshole goes and waits outside the closet door for me, and dances with me. And kisses me because it makes me smile. 

     “I’ve been in love before,” I said, deciding to answer Loki’s question. “The problem is people don’t love me back. I tend to ruin things whenever I get close to people. I let my mask slip and no one ever seemed to like wasn’t underneath.”

     “What’s underneath?”

     “Where do I even begin?” I snickered, “I try to maintain this facade that I have any idea of what I am doing, but I’m just hanging by a thread. Underneath it all, I am depressed and filled with anxiety. I’ve gone days without getting out of bed. I neglect to love myself and then people forget to love me. I’m not okay, Loki. And people resent that. And I don’t blame them, cause deep down I’m not good company. I’m broken and I’m afraid no one is ever going to love me.”

     “You’re allowed to not be okay around me,” Loki said, brushing a loose strand of hair behind my ear, “I won’t think any less of you.”

     “Yeah, but it’s different. You don’t love me. You just care about my well being and knowing that I'm hap-“ I stopped, my eyes widened. Loki couldn't be in love with me. People don’t do that, and yet...“Loki, a few minutes ago, were you going to kiss me?”

     “You’re not afraid that no one will ever love you. You’re afraid that someone will love you.” Loki leaned down and whispered in my ear, “And yes, I was going to kiss you.” 

     “Why didn’t you?” I frowned. 

     “I could tell you didn’t want me to. I would never force you to do something you didn’t want to do. You just need to find someone that is going to love all parts of you, bug. And forget the rest. Once you do it won’t be so scary.”

       “Okay, but if I cut out those who don’t love every part of me, who would I have left?” I argued.

     “You’d have me.”

     “You’re wrong,” I proclaimed, “I did want you to kiss me.”

      Loki breathed a sigh of relief and stepped towards me.

*******************************************************

Author's Commentary

Thank you to everyone that liked my last chapter. Comments and reblogs really keep me motivated. This chapter was going to be Loki and Reader meeting the Power Broker, and it was going to be twice as long. I’m saving all of that for later. 

Tag list is still open. If you want on it, please message me or leave a comment on the most recent chapter. 

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@thinkingth0ts  

@roundtableguests

@kneelingsince2012

@mrsdarcyinlovewithbuckybarnes

@uselesssapphickitten  

@moriarty-queen-of drama @purplekitten30  

@addictofsupernatural

@kingtwhiddleston

@darkerking

@bilesxbilinskixlahey

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@suvikamahes98blr

@frostay

@johnmurphys-sass

@rinlynray​

[magpietoriches]

Lockdown Part XIV: Theodore [Revised Edition]

Summary: Lockdown is over for everyone but you and Loki. Loki comes up with a contingency plan and you realize there’s been a clue staring at you this entire time. 

Setting: 2018 in an alternate timeline where Loki made it to Earth after the events of “Thor: Ragnarok” and Sam Wilson, Wanda Maximoff, Clint Barton, and Scott Lang are still on the Raft.

Pairing: Loki x Reader (First Person)

Playlist ~ Masterlist ~ Next Part 

************************************************

0:40:00  until the bomb goes off.

     “Tony, what is FRIDAY talking about?” I looked at my boss; the man I considered a friend, with an accusatory stare.

     “I don’t know,” Tony sounded defensive. “Because I definitely didn’t authorise Loki’s room to be kept locked.”

     “If you’re lying, Stark-” Loki began to threaten.

     Tony threw his hands in the air. “Oh, you caught me. I authorised that FRIDAY keeps your door sealed. I thought it would be funny to see your faces when you realised you’re still in lockdown.”

     I closed my eyes to drown out the sound of Loki and Tony arguing. “Can’t you just override FRIDAY’s commands?” I asked.

     “I’ve been trying to manually override the commands,” Tony said. I could see him frantically pushing some buttons on a control panel attached to his desk. “I’m not just sitting here, looking pretty. I don’t know what to tell you. We’ve been hacked.”

     “No,” Loki said abruptly, “You’ve been hacked. This facility is supposed to have the best security but you hired a terrorist. You put your entire staff at risk.” Even though there were others who had been hurt far worse than I had, Loki mentioned my name specifically. And when he did, he had such passion and anger. His concern both terrified and comforted me.

     I never gave much thought to what would happen after I died. I figured only a few people would miss me, and eventually, they would move on. After all, that's what was supposed to happen. You grieve and then you move on. But if someone told me, a few hours ago, that Loki, of all people, would worry about my safety, I wouldn’t believe them. If I died today, I had no doubt that Loki would grieve my loss.

     “I know,” Tony admitted, interrupting my own thoughts.

     “4 people are dead,” Loki reminded him.

     “I KNOW, OKAY,” Tony slammed his fist against his desk. “I don’t need you to remind me of what I’ve lost. Of what we’ve all lost.  I approved Arthur’s hiring. It’s my fault. I admit it, okay? Hell, I helped fund his research.” Tony took a deep inhale. “I try to protect the earth and all I ever seem to do is create super villains and the people I care about most get hurt. Maybe the SFN is right, maybe there shouldn’t be an Avengers.”

     “You should have had this moral dilemma eons ago,” Loki stated, “You went through the portal during the battle of New York. You’ve seen what’s out there. It’s far too late to argue whether or not the universe needs the Avengers. Let’s not dwell on what could have been, or what you should have done. The threats are already here.”

     “I hate to say this but there’s only one other person who could have hacked FRIDAY,” I spoke up.

     “Daniel,” Tony said, finishing my thought.

     I ran my fingers through my hair. “And now he’s dead.”

     “He would have programmed FRIDAY with an authorisation code. If we could just figure out what that was,” Tony's eyes lit up with excitement.

     “Hey, hey,” I said, holding my hand up to my phone screen, “Before you throw us another mystery, let’s think for a second. We still don’t know if Daniel was involved. We still have TJ left. Now that we know the bomb has nothing to do with the SFN, Henry is back on our list.”

     “Why are we even looking at these men at all?” Tony asked, looking between me and Loki. We both looked back at Tony, confused. “Our suspect list was based on the theory that the men who planted the bomb were the same ones responsible for anthrax,” Tony paused and waited for Loki and me to nod our heads. “And we assumed the SFN would have applied to work at the compound the same time Loki arrived. That's why I had FRIDAY lookup white men hired within the past 4 months.”

      I pinched the bridge of my nose “What's your point, Tony?”

     “The bomb could be from anyone, not just employees we hired recently. We don’t even know if your bombers are still in the building.”

     I shook my head. “Oh, I think they are. Whoever planted this bomb is smart, and they went through a lot of trouble learning Loki’s routine and finding the perfect time to strike. They didn’t just get lucky. They found out about the Anthrax long before any of us ever did. We got those vaguely threatening letters from the SFN a few weeks ago, but I think our bombers figured out their exact plan earlier. They knew it was coming and they used it to their advantage. No, they’re going to want to stay close and make sure their bomb goes off. I also think it’s one of our original suspects. They applied to work at the compound to kill Loki. This wasn’t a crime of opportunity. This was planned.”

     “I’m not going to give them the satisfaction,” Tony affirmed, “And I’m sending Karl up to you guys.”

     “To do what?” I asked. “The door is locked.”

     “I don’t care. We need to do something. We could ask TJ, or Henry, or Stanley, but I doubt they’d tell us anything. Karl can walk you through defusing the bomb if he needs to. I mean, how hard could it be? Karl said it was one of those basic bombs. A kid could probably diffuse it. I’m not going to let either of you die.”

     I gave Tony a heartfelt smile and added him to the list of people who would miss me when I’m gone. I almost didn’t notice Loki tugging at my sleeve. “The laptop,” he pointed. “I think the FBI file is starting to load.”

     I held my phone down to my side and walked over to the laptop. The screen was no longer paper-white. A blank template started to form, and words slowly followed. I could hear Tony asking what was going on, and why he was suddenly looking at my bare thigh. The first word to appear on the computer screen was a name, “Theodore.” My heart started pounding as the letter J. Began to appear under the header for “initial.” I grabbed Loki’s hand, I’m not sure what for. I closed my eyes. I didn’t want to see the last name load. I knew it was going to be “Sherwood.” I didn’t want TJ to be involved. He was so much like Loki.

     “Kaczynski?” Loki asked.

     “What?” I opened my eyes. I ignored Tony’s cries of confusion.

      “It’s a file for Theodore J. Kaczynski,” Loki squinted at the computer, his arms crossed over his chest.

      “The Unabomber?” I set my phone down on the counter and pushed Loki to the side. Sure enough, the FBI profile was for Theodore J. Kaczynski. Aka, the Unabomber.

     “Unabomber?” I heard Tony ask, “Did you just say Unabomber? Is anyone going to tell me what’s going on?”

     I picked up my phone and held it up to my face. “The note Daniel wrote was the FBI file number for Ted Kaczynski. That’s the TJ he was referring to.”

      “In May of 1978 Kaczynski mailed his first bomb to Buckley Crist,” Loki read over my shoulder. I could feel his breath on the back of my neck. “What if he’s-“

     “He’s not,” I interrupted. “Unabomber is one of America’s most infamous serial bombers. He wrote this manifesto. Lived out in the wilderness. He designed these intricate bombs and targeted airports and universities,” I began talking at a mile a minute. I had to contain my excitement. “But he was eventually caught, and now he’s in prison somewhere. I think California.”

     “Pretty odd that Daniel would be reading about a bomber the same time you and Loki have a bomb,” Tony added.

     I simply nodded in agreement. “Tony, try to get this door open. Loki and I will see what we can do from our end.”

     “Probably there isn't much you can do, but if you figure out the code, let me know.”

     Loki rolled his eyes in response to Tony. “What a novel idea. I was thinking we should just keep it to ourselves.”

     Tony smirked back at Loki before signing off.

************************************************

     I had taken a seat in one of Loki’s barstools and started scrolling through the FBI vault. I had read about the Unabomber years ago, but never his actual file.

     “Wait, go back?” I heard Loki say from over my shoulder. I slowly began to scroll back up, and looked over my shoulder for further instructions. Loki just shook his head. “Allow me.” I held my breath as Loki pressed himself closer to my back. The sweet familiar scent of mint and pine washed over me. Loki reached his arm around me and began manipulating the laptop trackpad. I quickly moved my hands into my lap in order to give him room. “There,” he whispered in my ear. Loki had settled on a section of the document that said, “Classified.”

     “Hmm,” I mumbled. My brows furrowed. I reach towards the laptop trackpad. It was Loki’s turn to move his hands. But unlike myself, Loki didn’t retreat. His hands lingered on the trackpad, taking up space. I lifted his wrist between my fingers and carelessly dropped his hand away from the computer. I felt his low chuckle more than I heard it. Loki was still flushed against my back. His breath was close enough to rustle my hair. I selected the, “Click here for more information” button. “The following section includes detailed descriptions of Ted Kaczynski bomb designs and as such, it has been classified by the FBI. If you would like to view the contents, a formal request must be submitted,” I read aloud. Below the blurb I read was a record of the last time a formal request had been made. It offered no names, but the date was only a few months ago. I looked over at the painting which was shielding us from the bomb. “I have a feeling this bomb is a lot more complex than we originally thought.”

     “Karl is an expert in defusing bombs. It’ll be fine,” Loki said nonchalantly.

     I spun around in the barstool so I could face Loki, who had stepped back. “Yeah, maybe when he does it himself. Do you really think we can diffuse a Unabomber level bomb over a FaceTime call? We’re amateurs.”

     “Shh,” Loki said, rubbing his thumb on my shoulder. “I won’t let anything happen to you. And if I have to,” Loki paused. His eyes closed. “I’ll teleport the bomb into purgatory.”

     I fervently shook my head. “Loki, no. Don’t destroy the things you love for me. You have so many memories there.”

     “I can’t let you die,” Loki’s voice was so soft. I almost didn’t hear it. “I told you I’d never hurt you. And I’m not going to let you get hurt by anyone else, either. What would I do without you?”

     “You’d miss me, but then you’d move on,” I shrugged. “What you have in your purgatory is an accumulation of memories from places and people you have known way before you met me. I’m just a mortal you’ll forget about. Don’t destroy your entire life for one person.”

     “They’re just things,” Loki scoffed. I didn’t believe him.

     “Things that are important to you,” I remarked sternly.

     “My past hasn’t exactly been happy. Why would I want to hold onto it anyway?”

     “I bet you can remember the bad stuff like it was yesterday, but you need a reminder of the good parts. So just, hold off on your plan.”

     “Okay,” Loki replied. “You’re wrong though. You aren’t just some mortal and I would never forget you. How could I forget my favourite anything?” Loki smiled and I let out a laugh.

     “You’re going to have so many favourite anything’s in your life.”

     Loki pressed a kiss to the top of my head. I closed my eyes and felt an even softer kiss on my forehead. “But they’ll be nothing like you bug.”

     “Why do you keep doing that?” I asked as Loki pulled away from me. “Kissing my head.”

     “There are only a few things that make you smile, and that seems to be one of them,” Loki said plainly.

     “I didn’t even realise.” I squinted my eyes back at Loki. “Wait, I think I’d notice if I smiled every time you kissed my forehead.” I maybe smiled a few times, but for the most part, I remained emotionally stoic.

     Loki leaned down and kissed my forehead again. I bit down on my lips. “See,” he said.

     I gave Loki an exaggerated frown. “I’m not smiling.”

     “Oh really?” Loki smirked. He leaned down and pressed kisses against my forehead, the tip of my nose, and against my cheeks. I could barely suppress my giggles and I felt Loki’s own smile against the top of my head. Loki put his arm around my waist, lifting me from my chair. He held me against his chest. I stared down at Loki’s feet and he lifted my chin with his finger. I stared at Loki’s lips. He leaned in closer. My eyes closed. Loki’s nose brushed against mine. And I thought about this being our last moment.

     “I’d miss you too,” I announced abruptly. I couldn’t let Loki go a second longer without knowing that. Loki pulled away and looked at me with genuine surprise.

     “You would?”

     “Of course I would. I’d miss everything about you. But I’d miss the person I am when I’m with you. I’m mostly shy and reserved. When I’m with you, I feel…”

     “Alive?”

     “I was going to say annoyed,” I smiled. “But yeah, you certainly bring a lot of excitement into my life.” I gestured towards the painting, “Perhaps too much.”

     “I do rather enjoy the painting, though,” Loki commented, walking towards the fireplace. I pouted as Loki walked away. He was going to kiss me and I fucking ruined it.

     “Mmm,” I replied as I returned to Wanda’s laptop. “It’s a nice replica.”

     “Replica?”

     “Yeah,” I looked over at Loki, “It’s not the original.”

     “I know my fair share of Midgaridan art. This is a real piece.”

     “You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.” I jumped from my chair. “The painting is real!” I said as I began pacing.

     “Yeah, but does it really matter?”

     I stopped my pacing. “Yeah, it matters. It matters because that painting, if it is real, it wasn’t in an art gallery. I’m pretty sure it was part of a private collection. So someone bought it, and if we can find out who, we got our bombers.”

     “How do we find out who purchased it?”

     “Good question. That’s where the pacing comes in. Helps me think.”

     “Typically when the All-Father wanted a painting he’d just contact a broker of some sort, or he’d just take it.”

     “A broker,” I mumbled to myself. My feet froze in place and my eyes widened at the painting.

     “You thought of something,” Loki remarked as I grabbed my phone. I scrolled through my contacts until I came across one I hadn’t called in years.

     “We should have paid more attention to the painting,” I told Loki as my phone continued to ring. “Logan,” I smiled into my phone and then mentioned my full name.

     “Well isn’t this a pleasant surprise? How are you?” A gruff voice asked me.

     “Logan, listen. I’d love to catch up but right now we have a life or death situation here. Are you still in Madripoor?”

     “Yeah, what do you need?”

     “There was this guy you told me about. Said they had a lot of artwork. You called them the Broker, I think?”

     “Yeah,” Logan confirmed, “The Power Broker.”

     “I need to speak with the Power Broker.”

*******************************************************

Author's Commentary

I hate writing summaries. Also, I was going to make them kiss. That’s what I wrote but I didn’t think the vibe was right. Also, a little inside baseball, the Unabomber thing was a complete coincident.  I had no idea what Daniel’s note was going to mean. Thank god the Unabomber’s middle name is John. 

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