#Loki’s told Thor to cover up too many times for Thor not to double take. triple take. maybe a few more times even—

[worstloki]

I don’t ship Thor and Loki but I do believe that Thor is the only one who would really be able to appreciate Loki being underdressed

[thedarklightwithinus]

Part One; Avengers MC

Summary; The beginning. 

Series Masterlist.

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The day had started out just like any for Y/N. She had awoken from her slumber in the passenger side of the car she and her sister were using for their road trip around America and switched seats with her sister whose turn it was to sleep while she continued the drive along the lone road.

They had taken to driving through the night until they made it to the destination in which they had picked out when they had last sopped for a few days. The pair would not plan their journey outright but rather plan their next move once they were settled from the previous long drive.

Around midday, the two sisters had pulled in to a small town with a population of three hundred people, give or take. At least, that's what the sign welcoming them had said.

Y/N pulled in to the only bar she had managed to find, parking up a good distance away from the door. She let out a breath, turning the engine off and slouching in her seat for a moment. While she relaxed, she took in the structure of the bar.

The bar didn't look to be brand new but then, it didn't look to be run down either. It looked as though it was maintained enough to where the owners were happy with the rustic look it gave off. The longer she looked at it, the more Y/N came to like the look of it.

Y/N sighed once more, turning to look at her sleeping sister. Even while she slept, Peggy looked as though she had stepped straight out of a magazine cover. Her brown hair sat in casual curls that framed her face to perfection while her lashes fluttered as she slept.

With a quick glance at the bar, Y/N pushed herself forward and pulled the key from the car ignition. She turned her body, resting her hand on Peggy's thigh and shaking it slightly. "Peg? We're here."

The brunette mumbled something, beginning to awake from her slumber. Y/N gave her a moment to shed to sleep from her brain. "What time is it?" Peggy mumbled, pulling the car sun visor down and checking her appearance in the small mirror.

"Just gone one." Y/N told her, nodding out Peggy's window at the bar. "This seems to be the only bar in town. I drove around for a little while. just to be sure but I suppose it doesn't look too bad. I kind of like it."

"Yes. I suppose the longer you look at it the more welcoming it looks." Peggy nodded, tilting her head as she took in the building.

"Right?" Y/N nodded, agreeing with her older sister. "We going in then?"

"Of course. My bottoms starting to go numb from being in this car for so long."

Y/N chuckled at Peggy, shaking her head as she opened the car door and climbed out. She waited until Peggy had closed her door before she locked it with the key.

She moved around the car, walking alongside Peggy as they advanced on the bar, taking in more of the structure the closer they got. Y/N could hear the steady beat of rock music that she knew would dominate the atmosphere once they were inside

Peggy reached out, gripping the door handle and pushing it open. The hinges squealed, almost as a warning to those inside. Once the door was open enough for the two women to enter, they quickly did.

"Jesus..." Y/N trailed off, not expecting the bar to be so welcoming.

Almost instantly, she felt as though she wanted to soak in the laughter and the chatter that was barely audible over the sound of the rock music. The lights were slightly dim, illuminating that of the bottle stacked up behind the bar while the neon signs that were screwed to some of the walls added to the wonderful colours.

"Bar or booth?" Peggy tore Y/N from her own thoughts.

"Bar." She answered, not wanting to take up a whole booth for just the two of them.

As she followed after her sister, Y/N kept her eyes on the back of Peggy's head. She didn't want to risk looking at someone within the bar and have a re-play of the events that happened weeks prior because she 'looked at a man funny.'

Although she initially felt that she and Peggy didn't belong within the walls, she knew that as the time goes on, they'll be more comfortable in the bar.

The two made it to the bar and took the two stools that wouldn't cause them to be out in the open and easily bothered. The bartender, a tall thin man with dark, shoulder length hair was cleaning a pallet of glasses at the other end of the bar. He spotted them and called to someone through the opening behind that bar that lead to somewhere Y/N was unsure of.

Seconds later, an even taller man came out, smiling politely at the sisters. Compared to the first guy, this one was much different. He had muscles enough for him and two other men and long blonde hair that was pushed out of his face by a blue bandana. "What can I get you both?"

"Can we get two gin and lemonade's please?" Peggy politely asked, returning the smile.

"Coming right up." He nodded, turning on his heal to grab two glasses. He filled them with ice before moving over to the spirit's and choosing the one he wanted.

"Can you make them double's please?" Y/N asked after a second thought.

"Rough day?" The blonde chuckled, looking at the time with a raise of a brow.

"Long day." Y/N said, thanking him when he handed over the two drinks. "You take card, right?"

The man from before suddenly appeared from behind the blonde and held out a card machine. Y/N took it with a small thanks and shoved her card in it, waiting or it to read her card.

"I'm just going to pop to the bathroom a moment." Peggy all but whispered in Y/N's ear who nodded.

"You two aren't from around here?" The blonde asked the obvious question.

"We're travelling through America." Y/N answered politely. "We're from England. Peggy's always wanted to see America for herself. Ever since we we're little girls so we've both decided to finally do it."

"It sound's like fun." The blonde grinned, crossing his arms over his chest as he continued to speak. "So, you're sisters? Full sisters? Adopted?"

Y/N frowned, taking a sip of her drink and eyeing the blonde as though he really wasn't all there. The silence seemed to pull the other guy back over as he looked at Y/N's awkward face while the blonde continued to grin.

"We're full sisters..." Y/N said after another moments silence.

"Ah, he's adopted you see, still brothers though." The blonde added after a seconds though clearly realising his awkward mistake. "Loki and I are as close as can be."

"That's debatable, Thor."

"I'll go ahead and assume your parent's were big on mythology?"

"Our great-grandparent's actually." Loki said, rolling his eyes as he grabbed the card machine and walked away.

"Don't mind him, he's a lone wolf."

It was as Loki walked away that she finally realised that he was wearing some type of leather vest. She had never seen one in the flesh but had seen them on pictures and shows. "Are you guys in a gang?" She found herself asking, regretting it almost instantly.

Thor laughed, a full belly one as he chucked his head back and grinned. "Not a gang no. A club."

"A... Motorcycle club?"

"Indeed." Thor nodded, motioning to the picture on the wall beside his head. Y/N stood up from her stool and moved towards the wall to get a better look at the picture.

Stood in three lines were men of many different shapes and sizes all grinning or laughing at the camera and all wearing the same leather jackets with different wears and tears. Y/N looked out the corner of her eye at the patches on Thor's and read the tope one.

Avengers MC.

Before she had a chance to say anything, the doors flew open and loud laughter filled her ears. She looked over her shoulder to see a group of well built and overly tall bed enter the bar with grins that matched that of the picture.

"Boys!" Thor grinned, welcoming them into the bar instantly.

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[xneens]

thank u, next (ft. loki) - part two

Warnings: angst, swearing, jealousy, mentions of sex, violence

Word count: 5.7k

Summary: A mission goes wrong, leaving you stranded with the two men who despise each other, competing for your attention.

Or: In which Steve breaks up with Sharon after realizing how much he loves you, only to be put on hold while you spend time with Loki.

Tony kept glancing at you, his eyes narrowing as if he was trying to figure out what kind of mind manipulation Loki had hexed you with. Natasha was torn between proud and shock. Clint had been positive it was a prank on his behalf until he had learned it was true, the archer studying you, wondering if you were under Loki's influence. And Bruce—well, he still couldn't get over the shock to actually word his opinion.

Steve, on the other hand, wasted no time blaming Loki, accusing him of using his magic to manipulate you into bed. When Thor has came back with news that Loki hadn't—with Heimdell being all knowing and watching—it had made Steve go to Fury, who had shown emotion on his face other than boredom and disappointment. Yet the surprise wore off and the director found it not relevant as the issue had not broken one of the rules Loki had agreed to.

The super soldier had hit the gym in a hurry, pounding the sandbag, probably wishing it was Loki. And Thor, like everyone else, it took him time to process it but unlike everyone, he barely gave it a thought. With word from Heimdell, knowing that his brother wasn't planning anything to harm you or the others, he was at peace with the situation as long as it was two consenting adults.

As you sat in the conference room, waiting for Steve and Loki to show up for the meeting, you wondered why he thought it was okay to overreact to something so...normal. People have sex, he must've known that you weren't any different. And unfortunately, Fury has picked the same day to spring a mission on the team, forcing all of you into a room, not caring about the act you committed with Loki.

Loki came in first, dressed in his usual black color, a suit almost identical to the one he wore the day before. Even from across the room, you could easily spot the hickeys he kept, a bunch peeking out from under the suit. It had given you a sense of pride and embarrassment, going down on the God of Mischief.

He caught your eye, the corner of his lips turned up, twitching without their permission. Loki wouldn't admit it out loud but he liked you to the point of sacrificing everyone in the room to save the one decent person who hadn't judge him. Everyone had turned to look at him, following his every move whilst he moved to the empty seat besides you.

The one that everyone knew was Steve's. Yet, no one said a word, secretly enjoying the show.

"Greetings," he said curtly, nodding once to everyone with an expressionless face. They all nodded back to him, Tony covering the smile that was trying to force itself on his face. Loki turned to you, sitting down in Steve seat as he gave you a smirk, amused by your attempt to cover up his marks. "Hello, angel."

The nickname alone wanted to make you want to ditch the meeting for a dick appointment with the Asgardian, the name slipping from his tongue. The same name he had whispered into you ear as he thrusted into you. Instead, you gave him a small smile, unconsciously rubbing your thighs together. "Hey."

Loki noticed the motion, his smirk widening. Pulling the chair closer to your own, his arm leaning up against yours. Leaning in, he put his lips to your ears, ignoring everyone's stares, including his brother's. "Your attempt to cover my hard work is very amusing, love."

"Loki..." you warned, using the same tone you had last night when he teased you too far, wishing for release. There was a twinkle of mischief in his eyes. "Shut up, not everyone has magic."

"All you have to do is ask, although I prefer to see them on your skin." Loki whispered, not caring how many people team members had subconsciously leaned in, straining to hear what the raven-haired God had to say.

Before you could answer, the door opened, Steve and Fury entering. The super soldier had an exhausted look on his face while Fury kept his emotionless facade up. Steve started walking towards his seat, so distracted by the uncovered hickeys on your neck to notice it had been taken. The blond did a double take, seeing Loki in his chair. If it wasn't for the barely contained anger in his eyes, you would've bursted out laughing at his comical expression.

The team stayed quiet, their eyes glued on the silent war between the two men. Loki nonchalantly looked up, his lips brushing against your hair as he pulled away, smirking at Steve. The silence was broken by Fury's tired sigh.

"Well, hello, Captain." Loki sneered, not having any intention of getting up. Steve's eyes stormed with anger, a tick away from letting loose. The God of Mischief pointed to the chair across from you, the one next to Tony, giving the super soldier a pointed look. "You should take your seat."

Tony muffled a snort at Steve's scowl, yet America's Sweetheart didn't move a muscle, glaring at Loki. Fury rolled his eyes, taking a deep breath. "Rogers, take a seat next to Stark. Loki, stop being an asshole. Back to business."

Steve followed Fury's order, sitting down besides Tony, his angry expression turning blank, waiting for whatever Fury had to say. Yet, his eyes still looked murderous, often glancing at the lack of space between you and Loki. Tony didn't hide his amusement, biting back a laugh, and trying to focus on whatever Fury was saying while the rest of the team kept looking at Steve, expecting him to reach across the table and punch Loki back to Asgard.

"While you agents were partying, drinking all your problems away, SHIELD got a tip from an undercover agent." Fury started, sliding your folders across the table, giving you something to look at other than the tension between Steve and Loki. You opened the folder to find pictures of blood-covered bodies. "Normally, we wouldn't bring the Avengers into a mafia-related crimes but this one's different.

"The Chinese Mafia is after a USB flash drive, one that we suspect, contains secrets that could bring down the American government. Emphasis on could; SHIELD isn't that well informed on what exactly the flash drive holds." Fury continued. Looking at you, he called your name. "Along with Rogers and Laufeyson. I'm assigning the three of you on the mission. You'll get the mission details as soon as Agent Hill gets here. The rest of you are irrelevant. Everyone go away now."

He left the room before anyone could even move a muscle. The team glanced between Loki and Steve, trying to figure out what they felt. It was clear neither of them were too happy about going on a mission together but the photographs of dead bodies made them bury their resentment down, for the sake of the government and all, but mostly for your sake.

Tony cleared his throat, trying not to burst out laughing. "So, Cap—"

Steve called out your name, standing up from his seat. "Can I talk to you for a minute? Alone? It's urgent."

"Yeah, sure." you said, following him out the door without looking back at the rest. You didn't notice the way Loki oozed with madness, his eyes deadly. Steve led you away from the view of room, stopping in the middle of a private hallway. It was secluded enough, yet Steve kept fidgeting like someone was listening. "Steve, I know you aren't particularly fond of Loki but he's a good—"

"I broke up with Sharon." Steve blurted. You stopped talking, your mouth open from your earlier words. The blond ran a hand through his hair. "I broke up with her last night, just before the party started ... before you walked in with Loki."

"That's not what it looked like."

"I was trying to be her friend, just like I'm trying to be yours." Steve explained, almost begging. "I never got the chance to apologize for hurting you. When you came back from Asgard, it had been too long for me to even mention it without it being awkward. So, I didn't. I wanted to but you didn't want to spend time with me anymore. And that's my fault, I'm not blaming you for being hurt. I understand what I did was so selfish, and wrong. It was wrong and if I could go back in time, I would've never done it."

You closed your gaping mouth, a little surprised by the apology. Rocking back on your heels, you awkwardly looked everywhere but at him. "Okay, um, thanks?"

Dejected, Steve nodded, his head hanging from the lack of sympathy in your voice. "Yeah. I wanted you to know. That's what I was coming to tell you this morning, but instead found you in bed with .... him."

"Uh," it was all you could say. Clueless of how to respond, you started to back away slowly, like there was a bear coming towards you. "Okay. So ... I'm gonna go. Get prepared for the mission or whatever. I'll see you later."

Before he could utter another word, you walked away,  feeling completely numb by the news. There was a part of you that wanted to forgive him, another part was feeling satisfied for his pain, and the last was confused. If he had been telling the truth—breaking up with Sharon before the party—then why hadn't he told you or apologized when he came to talk to you? It made you question whether he was just jealous or genuinely sorry for hurting you.

You weren't ready to forgive him yet, not after he made you doubt your self worth. Thor had made you feel better when you had came to him, showering you with golden gifts, shoes, and brotherly love. Despite popular belief, Loki wasn't that much different than his brother. Yes, he wasn't a people person, but he was gruffer, rougher, meaner...sexier. He knew what it was like to feel unwanted, feeling the need to show how powerful he was. If you had been in his situation—and you practically almost were if it hadn't been for Natasha—you would've taken the same road he had.

Speak of the devil, you bumped right into him, his chest only covered by a black silk sweater. With all the heavy thinking you hadn't realized you had walked back to your room. Gathering your thoughts, you looked up at his blue eyes. "Shit, sorry."

"Are you well, angel?" Loki asked, genuinely concerned. He had heard every word Steve had said, and to Loki's dismay, they had all been true. Loki hated Steve as much as Steve hated him, Steve had a reason and so did the God of Lies. The main reason? You.

You nodded, seeing how your room was messy. Books and blankets were on the ground, a broken glass scattered on the floor near your bedside table, a lamp covered in feathers, and last night's clothes strewn around the room. "I'm fine. But my room isn't, holy fuck."

With a wave of his hand, Loki cleared the room, the disastrous mess cleaned up before your eyes. He gave you a smile. "There. Director Cyclops wanted me to inform you and Sleeping Beauty that Maria Hill is in the building. She's ready if we are."

"Great. One thing before we step out this room: be nice."

"I'll try."

—

The mission was far easier than you originally thought. It was less than 24 hours, meaning you wouldn't be trapped in a designated safe house with them, or would you be in any kind of trouble. Just like Fury had said, it was an extract mission. Get the flash drive, get out.

Unfortunately, we'd be forced to go to a gala, one of those unnecessarily fancy parties where the champagne was watered down and the men showed how powerful they were with girls clinging onto their arm. It was a pre-kidnapped Tony Stark kind of party. Thankfully, you had more than a few practice with walking in heels.

The two men were able to put their hatred aside to focus on the job, Loki's magic still restrained even with the urgency of the mission. Maria Hill had filled you in, giving you all the details, the layout of the building, and all the places they suspected the drive to be. The plan was to fly to Hong Kong, get dressed for the party in the Quinjet, attend the gala long enough to find Zhang Wei, and run with the USB flash drive. Simple enough.

The flight from New York to Hong Kong was tiring, even with the eight hour slumber you had, finding yourself in Loki's arms once again. Fortunately, Steve hadn't seen you with Thor's brother, knocking this time and finding you alone, reading the mission file for the millionth time. He had smiled, probably happy he didn't see Loki in your room. That smile didn't last, dropping as soon as he stepped in the Quinjet, greeted Loki and saw the quick smile you sent the raven-haired God. It tugged on his heartstrings; you used to smile at him like that.

At least they kept their snide comments to themselves, only sending the other a glare when you weren't looking. As soon as you looked up, a slightly perplexed expression would come on their face, like they were trying to think of a word that rhymes with orange. Yet, you didn't dare question it, leaving the topic alone and quietly stewing in the testosterone-filled aircraft.

When the Quinjet finally reached Hong Kong, you had already changed into your formal wear. Loki didn't have to move to change his clothes; instead he used his magic, making him look presentable in a blink of an eye. Steve had frowned on that, but decided to let it go considering he had a lot to make up to you. Getting into a fight with your ... whatever Loki was, would not be a great start.

Getting ready for the party had been easy, the dress fit you just right, your hair being in the mood to cooperate, and even your makeup was flawless. The reaction from Steve and Loki certainly didn't help your ego, their comical reactions to your beauty had been amusing and slightly embarrassing.

Steve's mouth has hung open, his jaw unwilling to close while he stared at you. "Wow. Y-you look gorgeous. Wow."

"Truly breathtaking, love." Loki added, licking his lips in appreciation. If there was one thing both he and Steve could agree on, was the way you always turned heads. If anything, Loki wanted to make you his goddess—he just didn't want to admit it to himself just yet.

And since you were too emotionally invested, you took the easy way out and rolled your eyes. Dressed in their tuxes, they looked like they stepped out of a Hugo Boss ad. "Thanks. You guys clean up well."

Steve was too busy admiring you to notice Loki pull out a diamond encrusted ring, not exactly a engagement ring from Jared but one of those rings you get with friends during a drunken girl's night out. Loki stepped up to you, bringing your right hand, placing the ring on your index finger.

"The ring ... goes well with your dress." Loki explained, watching you stare at the ring he had placed. Steve's wonderment has turned sour, a little sad by the gesture. "It was my mother's."

"Loki," you gasped softly, knowing the how special their relationship had been. Thor had explained how Loki spent most his childhood with Frigga, spending his time learning magic, being a mama's boy. With Frigga dead, Loki must've felt some resentment to those dark elves that had been responsible for her death. "I can't— I can't take this."

Loki shrugged, brushing away a stray hair on your cheek. "Yes, you can. You will. It looks beautiful on you. Don't you agree, Captain?"

To be completely honest, Loki had forgotten Steve had existed until his heart faltered at the mention of Frigga. Steve didn't like the way the ring looked like it belonged on you, almost like it had been made specially for you. He nodded, agreeing with Loki once again. "Looks beautiful."

Before it could get any more awkward or embarrassing, an alarm had sounded, the noise saying you from any further feels. All three of you moved to the front, seeing how you hovered a few feet off the landing spot assigned for the Quinjet. With the many SHIELD headquarters, it wasn't a surprise they had in Tokyo just as modernly technical like the one in New York.

The limo ride that took you to the party was tense. Maybe it was the mission that was about to go down, or that awkward moment in the Quinjet. The navy blue, floor-length dress was silky, the fabric soft against your skin. The one-inch straps that came together at the back of your neck accentuated your cleavage, brining them to look bigger than they were. It clung to your curves, but not tight like the dress you had worn the yesterday. This one was far more elegant.

Wrapped in your thoughts, you hadn't noticed when the limo had stopped, the crowded building to your right. The doors opened, both Steve and Loki reaching out a hand to help you out of the limo. Taking them both, you snaked an arm around both of theirs, letting others know you had two dates. You thought the red carpet leading to the entrance was a bit much, even for the Chinese mafia.

Two suited men opened the double glass doors, revealing the fancy gala. Dangerous men and mafia families filled the large room, eyes flickering to your entrance, widening when they realized who had entered. They knew your dates, but SHIELD had made sure to keep your place on the team a secret for missions like this one. No criminal would trust an Avenger, but they might be dumb—or arrogant—enough to be manipulated by a "mole" in SHIELD.

The talking stopped briefly, only to turn to hushed murmurs before they continued as they had before. Both Steve and Loki turned down the campaign, not trusting whatever was put in the liquid. Looking around the room, there was nothing out of the ordinary, well, for a party held by a mafia of course.

"Should we proceed as planned?" Loki confirmed, surveying the room as he tried to find his own target. He locked eyes with the man he needed to distract while Steve and you would sneak away and find Zhang Wei and the flash drive.

Steve nodded, slyly touching his earpiece hidden by his growing hair. You had no idea how Tony convinced him how to grow it out but you were going to thank him later. "Yes. Keep in contact and check in every ten minutes. Be careful."

Loki nodded, heading off to his target but not before giving you a reassuring smile, tiny enough for no one else to notice but it was enough to ease your worries. Yes, he's an all-powerful god but that didn't mean he couldn't die.

Turning to Steve, you smiled at him, almost naughtily. Eyes twinkling with evilness, you hold out your free hand, challenging him with your eyebrows. "Would you like to dance, Stevie?"

You've never seen so much fear in someone's eyes come in such a short time. Steve's contained so much fear you were worried he was going to combust. "Um, I d-don't really know how."

"Why, that's a shame, Captain." a man behind you said. Turning around, you found yourself only a foot away from the mafia leader himself, Zhang Wei. Steve's jaw clenched at the unprepared confrontation. Zhang turned to you, holding his unnaturally thin hand out. You could see the bones through the thin skin, shivering at the sight. "Would you like to dance, darling?"

Taking the opportunity, you nodded, taking his hand, hoping Steve would get the hint to not look so stiff. "I would love to."

Zhang took you to the almost empty dance floor, the music starting as soon as his foot hit the designated area. Smiling maliciously, he tugged on your waist, pulling you close for a proper dance. "You look beautiful, my dear. I'm certain your date is jealous I stole you away."

"He doesn't mind." you answered, returning the smile. Glancing at Steve, you saw him glaring at the back of Zhang's head, burning a hole. "Steve is rather hesitant when it comes to dancing, so, I'm sure he doesn't mind you helping a lady out."

The mafia leader's smiled widened. His eyes briefly landed on Loki, narrowing slightly at the way he interacted with his second in command. You took the brief amount of time to inspect him, noticing how much thinner he looked. With eye bags under his eyes, bones peeking through his hands, and the way his footsteps faltered ever so slightly made you realize he isn't going to be hard to take down. He may be the big bad criminal but from the looks of it, he was dying.

Zhang Wei nodded. "You look familiar. Have I seen you before?"

"I'm an escort. You may or may not have seen me on a bunch of powerful men's arms." you lied, flashing him your most charming smile. Zhang raised an eyebrow, gesturing towards Steve with a tilt of his head. "Steve's the same, poor baby was too shy to ask anyone to be his date."

"Didn't think Captain America would have such a hard time finding a date." Zhang mumbled aloud. He kept the false smile on his face. "If the time came, would you tell me your name, in case I can't find myself a date?"

"Tatia Sinclair." you lied, twirling in his arms.

The mafia leader nodded. The dance floor had filled up, nearly overcrowding. It took you a second to find Steve with all the bodies in the way. Zhang cleared his throat. "What a lovely name. Tatia, darling, would you accompany me to my study? I have to fetch something special of mine and would like you pleasant company."

Steve snarled your name through the earpiece, Loki's growl following along. Again, the super soldier and the god agreed. Steve murmured your name. "Don't."

Ignoring his order—and unnecessary concern—you grinned, taking Zhang outstretched arm. "I would love to."

He led you to the elegant stairs while you discreetly turned off your earpiece, no longer wanting to hear Steve's overprotective ass grumbling about sticking to the plan. If he had checked his folder, he would've seen you were sticking to the plan, just not the way he wanted.

The walk to his office was a slow one, considering how sick the mafia leader was, you weren't surprised when he was out of breath just from climbing the stairs. You didn't comment, instead helping him out and pointing out random things a dumb escort would say. Your personal plan was to make this guy underestimate you, and with the way he was looking at you, he was convinced you were just a body with no brains.

He opened the door to his mahogany office, the room was just as elegant as the party below, oozing power and money. Zhang went to his desk, opening his cabinet. From where he left you, you couldn't see what considering how he held it in his hand without opening his palm. A knock at the door stopped you from asking.

Surprisingly his right hand man came in, the one Loki was supposed to be distracting, at least long enough for us to figure out where the flash drive was. And guessing from the amount of evidence, you were guessing the flash drive was in the mafia leader's hand. He glanced at you, tilting his head at Zhang before speaking.

They talked in Chinese--surprise, surprise--a bit fast for you to fully decipher but the gist of the conversation had been finding a safe, more guarded location for the drive considering both Steve Rogers and Loki Laufeyson were in the building, just a floor below them. The two men paid you no attention as you tried to look clueless, bored, and in all, dumb. In their eyes, you were just checking out the room when actually you had been trying to find more dirt. If it wasn't the drive in his hand, it had to be close by.

"Tatia." Zhang called out, using the fake name you had given him. You turned around, a little glass globe in your hand. You raised an eyebrow, twirling the little sphere. "Would you excuse me? I have some rather pressing issues that need to be dealt with."

And once again, the door opened before you could answer the question. This time, at the door stood Steve and Loki, a man laying on the floor between the two. From the way both their suits were a little ruffled, they had enough waiting and decided to take action. A few appeared out of knowhere, tacking the two but you were left alone to deal with the men in the room. Zhang reached under his desk, where you had discreetly took the hidden gun while they had been talking.

Zhang's second in command quickly pointed his loaded gun at you, and you at him, your eyes reflecting the same emotion: hate. The man spoke to Zhang, keeping his gun steady while Zhang tried to get away. Even for a dying man, he moved fast, leaving you the choice of shooting his second in command in the knee. He cried out, firing his gun out of anguish but you were faster, quickly following Zhang, leaving a big group of men to fight Loki and Steve. They would be able to handle it.

Running in heels was always an annoyance to you, considering how unnecessary they were on missions. They looked hot but the fact that you were forced to wear them was a little sexist. You'd have to talk with Fury about that.

The halls were lit up with chanderliers dangling from the ceiling, all of them shining brightly. For someone who had been limping out of the room, he had been fast, or was hiding but the fact was that you lost him. You could still hear the grunts from where Loki and Steve were punching the fuck out of those mafia men.

You slowed, looking at the painting-decorated walls in search of some kind of secret door, maybe a fake wall. It sounded ridiculous but at the compound, Tony had a bunch of hiding spots, a few you knew and others you didn't. It was infuriating.

The hallway must've lasted forever, and you were convinced he had vanished into thin air. Then you spotted a cracked door, it was enough to be left opened on accident, but that didn't mean it was. With caution, you walked slowly, holding your gun in front of you. With your foot, you cracked the door open, entering a room of complete darkness. From what you could tell, there were no windows, and most likely a fake safe room.

Still, you flipped the light switch on, the room lighting up with it's obnoxiously bright white paint reflecting even brighter with the light. Scanning the room, you noticed how it smelled slightly sweet, the sweetness making you slightly dizzy. You shook your head, trying to find something wrong, like a hidden wall, or maybe another escape route from inside the room.

It didn't take long for you to realize the sweet scent was toxic, the side effect making you dizzier, the room spinning under your feet. As soon as you grasped the wall for support, Zhang came from the wall beside you, the little door opening to reveal the mafia leader holding his own gun, the flash drive in his hand as he taunted you with it.

He laughed at your weakened state, aiming his gun at your heart. It triggered your fight or flight and even with the side effect, you decided to fight. He was weaker than you, slower, his aged brain not processing you running at him. His gun dropped on the ground, along with the USB drive as your hand wrapped around his neck, pushing him against the wall with all your remaining strength.

Zhang had to been immune to the fast-acting toxin while you crumbled, unable to hold your body with the dizziness and fatigue bringing you down. Taking the upper hand, he knocked you over, his fist colliding with your jaw. You grunted, pouncing for the gun and flash drive, hiding the latter in your bra while the mafia leader shook his hand in pain.

Just as you had wrapped your fingers around the barrel of the gun, you heard the gunshot, and felt it hit your shoulder. Your hand was useless, your body way too weak from the toxins to defend yourself against the man, at this point just hoping they would find the flash drive in your bra when they autopsied you.

Another bullet was fired, and this one right on your arm, the pain numb. Maybe this was the way you were going to die, but at least it wasn't painful. That was the best you could've hoped for. And then another bullet was fired, but you didn't feel it, the fire inside you too hot for you to even register the pain. You laid on the ground, eyes drifting close. Zhang dropped dead a couple of feet next to you, his head bleeding out.

Your vision had already blackened when you felt Steve knelt down to you, pulling you into his arms. You were unconscious by the the time you figured out Steve had killed.

—

You woke up to the sound of the irritating beat of your heart of the monitor, and heavy breathing. Despite the very difficult task, you opened your eyes, instantly regretting it when you were met with a blinding light. Thankfully, it went away, revealing where you were in the Medbay, laying on the stiff bed with needles pierced into your skin.

Steve got up from his seat beside you, instantly hovering over you with a worried look on his face. If you hadn't felt like shit, you would've thought his face was permanently like that. "Hey, hey. Are you okay? How do you feel?"

"Am I in hell?"

He let out a strained chuckle, taking your hand with the both of his. His furrowed eyebrows remained furrowed, his forehead filled with crinkles. "Sweetheart? How do you feel? Are you in pain? Do you need anything?"

"Holy fuck, you're spitting in my face. Steve, I feel like shit but I promise I'm fine. Come on, don't you don't have to worry so much." you replied, wishing you could do something other than lie in pain.

"You're fine? I watched you get shot, held you in my arms while you bled out in front of me. If it wasn't for Loki, you'd be dead. Don't you understand how not fine that is? What the hell were you thinking?" Steve raged, letting go of your hand to pace around the room. Judging from the lack of sunlight coming from the windows, it was nighttime, the whole compound barely lit.

"Did you find the drive? I had it—"

"Are you actually worrying about the flash drive when you almost died? Do you not care whether or not you live?" Steve blurted, throwing his hands up in the air, clearly frustrated with how the conversation was going.

"Where's Loki?" you whispered, your eyes slowly closing. You fought to keep them open, hoping for an answer and wishing you could postpone this argument with Steve until morning when you finally could argue back.

Steve calmed down, appreciating the God of Mischief a lot more when he saved your life. "He's filling out Fury on the whole situation. And we found the flash drive, which made Fury gleam with glee."

"Good." you yawned, letting your eyes close knowing Loki was safe and found the flash drive. Steve whispered something but you were already too far gone, falling asleep as soon as your eyes closed.

Loki came into the room a few minutes after you fell asleep, stepping up next to Steve who had been staring your sleeping form. The raven-haired God pulled up a chair, his eyes never leaving your face. "How is she?"

"More worried about the aftermath of the mission more than herself." Steve answered, his voice wavering for a second at the thought of losing you. The super soldier turned to Loki. "Thank you for going against the rules and using your magic to save her. I think it's safe to say you won't get into any trouble, especially with her fighting Tony about it."

Loki shrugged, waving away the compliment. "You would've done the same if you could've."

A beat of silence passed before Steve spoke again, more determined than ever to win back your trust. "I like her, you know?"

"I care for her, too." Loki replied. "And I know that you care for her but don't you understand that I'm far better for her than you ever will? You hurt her. You broke her trust. I may only know her for a few days but I know breaking trust is important to her. To earn it back—"

"Would almost be impossible." Steve finished, his eyes dropping to the bed. "But I have to try. I really like her."

"As do I. And I'm not giving up."

"Neither will I."

< previous next >

[tokoyamisstuff]

Dark Side Of The Moon Ch. 2 - Dark! Loki x Reader

Chapter 2: “On The Run”

Chapter Summary: Even though you can’t help feeling drawn to the lunatic that looks like your deceased lover, you try to surpress your feelings and flee to find your friends.

Warnings: Loki is fucking crazy, Violence, Torture, Jotun! Loki, Mentions of Death, Abuse, Unhealthy Relationship, Mentions of Rape

Words: 3360

[Story Masterlist]

Masterlist to my other works right ->Here<-

“And the shark, it has tears,

And they run down its face.

But the shark lives in the water -

So the teardrops one can’t see.”

- Rammstein - Haifisch

Taglist: @winterglcw​ @commonintrest​ @emmojoy​ @satansbra @just-someone-who-likes-to-write​​

“She died through my hands.”

That sentence replayed over and over in your head, forming a continuous loop as you silently formed those words with your own lips.

“It’s not him!” you called out to yourself, since your reason had seemingly disappeared ever  since you first saw the person that was a perfect copy of the man you once loved.

You were rolling around on the bare floor, shivering as you softly punched your head to not get lost in thought again. The emperor didn’t even have the basic decency to give you any clothes back, only having the Citauri throw you into an old dungeon to keep you prisoner - or whatever he’d plan to do with you.

That man was so different of your Loki.

And the timeline both of you were currently in had exceeded your worst expectations, making you wonder if fate just wanted to torment you.

In this universe, Thanos never even got so far as to collect all of the Infinity Stones. Loki Laufeyson had won the battle of New York and took over this world, then somehow double-crossed and killed the Titan. So right now, he possessed the power of the Tesseract, as well as the Cascet of Ancient Winters. For what reason he kept that Jotun relic was unknown, probably out of nostalgic sentiment you assumed.

Afterwards, the God of Mischief had killed his brother Thor in bad blood, as well as torturing Natasha - the exact way he threatened her back in your world, when he was in his cell. Clint was still his servant, as it seemed. You had seen him when they took you to his cell.

He couldn’t get rid of all the Avengers, however - even though their current location was unknown. They were in hiding for many years now, probably trying to get their hands on the other Infinity Stones. 

Also noticeable was the fact that this universe had neither Hela, nor Captain Marvel - so one good and one bad thing to compensate for each other. Not that they’d be a match for Loki in his current form anyway...

And there was no Dr. Strange on this version of Earth, your last bit hope to escape disappearing as you learned about this fact.

That much was all you had learned by now, mainly through tricking and manipulating some of your guards into giving you information.

All in all, you only knew for sure was that this world’s Loki was a terribly trong, murderous sociopath, intoxicated by power and loneliness.

And you had become the focus of the little emotion left in him.

It was hard trying to surpress all the voices and memory submerging in your mind. So there was nothing left for you except for rolling up into a ball, lying on the cold floor as you prepared to be washed over with sadness and guilt once again.

_____

“Would you help me recieve the greatest honor by becoming mine and mine only, Lady Y/N?”

How could you ever forget this moment?

Back on the Asgardian refugee ship, your Loki had asked you that very question, now popping up in your mind once again.

Every detail was still as bright as daylight, preserved deep into your heart.

You clearly remembered the small, green box he had summoned out of thin air, presenting you a plain but still incredibly beautiful ring. The golden piece of jewlery formed a snake eating itself - a symbol of infinity and wholeness.

It was just his way of being thoughtful.

“I-I prepared this a while go, to be precize...but I never thought of being worthy” he had stammered and you found yourself speechless, admiring that very scene playing in front of your eyes. “A-Anyway, after all that happened, I realized that all moments I spent happy, were when I was with you. I don’t want to lose you again, Y/N! And I feared, well...that it might be too late to ask someday.”

It was most unjust that this most blissful moment would be interrupted by a great rumbling shaking through the whole spaceship - and even before Thor would crash Loki’s proposal, both of you were aware just what kind of danger you would have to face soon:

Thanos.

Your numbers had already been decimated by Ragnarok, all that’s left being some civilian refugees, injured and traumatized. The only ones capable of fighting left were Loki, Thor, Heimdall, you and the Hulk.

Yet all of your struggles were to no avail, only able to watch and scream and bag at the Titan, so he’d at least spare those innocent lives as he mercilessly slaughtered woman and children alike.

“Fucking monster!” Pulling out a gun, your mind went completely blank as you gave it some last, desperate attempt to save or avenge just anyone.

No bullet would even come close enough to pierce his skin, as Ebony Maw would deflect them to hit yourself and people close to you. “I’m not the only one you should see responsible for this outcome” Thanos scoffed.

“What do you mea-” Your voice got swallowed by a pained groan as you saw Loki, kneeling in front of Thanos and revealing the one thing he was after:

The Tesseract.

“You......took it?!?” The only thing managing to escape your throat was a high-pitched yell as Loki’s face contorted in disappointment and regret - just now realizing that he had put you all in danger.

They would’ve never went after you if it wasn’t for him. He had doomed his race, failed you and what was left of his family.

“How could you put us all in danger?! I thought you had changed! You swore it with your life, Loki! That you loved me more than you desired power!”

No answer.

Instead, the god would prepare one of his speeches, directing words of undying fidelity at Thanos and his arms. And even though it was meant to be lies, a play to make the threat feel save, every single word hit your heart like knives.

“How could I ever marry someone like you?!” feeling as if Loki most recent, selfish act was suffocating you, you could only whisper - yet he understood very clearly, the facade dropping in an instant.  “I-I hate you...traitor...”

If only you knew that those would be the last words you’d ever direct at him...

Loki materializes a dagger, desperately trying to make up for his biggest mistake yet, and at least save you, the light of his cursed existence, and the only thing he had ever done in his life full of wrongs.

But Thanos looked right through the charade from the very beginning, using the stones to trap Loki in their hold - and then, grabbing the god’s throat.

“You have what you want, Thanos!” Thor tried to bargain, “There’s even less than half of my race left. Please, just let us go!”

“Oh, I will” he spoke stony, then shifting his attention to the god in his hands. “But first, I’ll do you a favor and erase that disgraceful pest all of you were too weak to take care of.”

As he was struggling for air, gasping uncontrollably as he tried to free his neck from the Giant, Loki’s glare wandered to you - and when your eyes met, both of your hearts skipped a beat.

He smiled. In the face of death, the last thing he wanted you to remember was the good things after all.

And seeing the ring on your finger, how couldn’t he? Loki knew you were about to say yes - and knowing this was more than enough for someone like him.

After all, the God of Mischief was used to happiness being taken away from him as soon as he thought it to be okay to open up to someone.

But you were safe. That’s all that counted for him!

It was like his eyes were telling you “It’s gonna be alright. I’m sorry, Y/N...I love you.”

You don’t remember much after that, having a mental breakdown as you had to watch the love of your life perish - and forever thinking about how you had turned him down just seconds before.

A part of you had died with him back then.

_____

The creaking sound of the cell’s door made you jump from your dream - but the person which entered was one you had never seen before.

A monster.

It’s silhouette very much resembled Loki, yet his skin was painted in a dark shade of blue, with thin linings carved across his whole body. He had fangs and even horns coming out of his temple to add at that.

The beast’s eyes were shining in a threatening red, glistering contrastful in the dark hallway. But the worst were those black irises, absent of any form of compassion - there seemed to be only rage, confusion and hate.

“Fuck!” you screamed, terrified and fearing for your life. Shuffling until your back hit the wall of a corner of the room, you defendingly put your arms in front of yourself. “Go away! Don’t to-ouch me!”

Loki cleared his voice as he put the Casket away, not making any efforts to revert his outer appearance back to ‘normal’. He had admired it on his way to your cell, like he’d do many times a day when he was reminiscing about the day he learned about his heritage...

...and how he had killed Odin, his adoptive father, with that very relic, afterwards clearing the universe of that despiseful race of the Jotunn - making him the last of his kind.

“Oh my” a dark voice finally declared, “Seems like ‘your’ Loki never dared to show you his true form. Pathetic.”

No, that wasn’t completely true. Your lover had at least told you back then. But when did you ever have the time to talk things over and heal, being dragged from one fight to another?!

The Jotunn felt great joy as he towered over you, gleefully watching your naked body cowering to his knees, covered in goosebumps and shaking heavily. Your breath was clearly visible while you tried to cover your shame as best as you could, wary glare never leaving the abomination that was just lurking right in front of you.

“Wha- OUCH!” you hissed as the Frost Giant took ahold of your wrist, monitoring the pain spreading across your face as his touch would frostburn any skin he was touching with ease.

Loki grinned menacingly as he let go off of you, admiring his handywork as the first layer of your skin had already died, crumbling away to reveal your pink flesh.

“Oh, how I missed that” he explained, much to your surprise ripping a piece of his own clothing apart to cover the wound with it. “Your kind is so easily broken. It’s always fascinating to watch.”

“Just kill me already, you freak!”

Well, Loki had in fact spent hours after hours thinking about how to handle you, and yet he couldn’t decide. Obviously he would’ve killed you right away if it was otherwise, but he still had a soft spot for you somewhere deep in his heart, after all.

And it upset him more than he’d ever admit. So he tried to assert his dominance, to ease the feeling of weakness and loss of control.

“I’m only doing you a favor, woman.” The god would touch your cheek, making you flinch away - but this time, it wouldn’t hurt. Never would he dare to scar this most beautiful face!

“The man you loved was just the same as me, yet it seemed he wasn’t completely honest with you. What you are seeing right now is the form of a Frost Giant...the monstrosity you chose to love.”

“L-Loki��”

It was no surprise that he saw tears filling the rim of your eyes - yet out of a whim, you pulled your arms around his neck, tears wetting his robe. He gasped, unable to act in any way as he stiffened in the pose.

That was by far not the reaction he had been expecting - and he surprised you as well. You had thought him to instantly shove you away, beat you agaib or even bite - but he just kneeled there, not daring to make a move.

"Why?” Now his voice was much softer, pained even. “I’m a monster. I hurt you. So why?”

“I’m so sorry” you whimpered, words being interrupted by heavy sobbing. “I try to fight it, I really do. But I just can’t, I-I”

“Aren’t you afraid?”

“How could I be? It’s you, Loki...no matter what you look like.” Eventually, you’d face him again, wiping the tears out of your face when for another moment, you made yourself forget that this was a completely different person. “I was just surprised, that’s all. Letting me see this form out of nowhere...”

“Y/N, I’m not the same as him” he retorted, knowing very well what it’s like to lose oneself in daydreams and illusions to ease the pain of loss. His sight wandered around the room instead of your face, stating “I did horrendous things, dear. Tormented and killed countless. It’s unforgiveable.”

“So did he” you stated, even though you knew those two Loki’s couldn’t be compared. “And you should already know: I feel dead inside, ever since he died.”

“You really loved him, didn’t you?” When you nodded confidently, Loki sighed ashamed, reluctantly touching your wrist again. A warm magic would flow through you, healing the wound in no time. “I wish she had felt the same for me...”

For a while, both of you were plainly sitting in uncomfortable silence, with Loki even lending you his cloak to warm yourself up.

“It’s not him” you told yourself once again. “It’s not him. It’s not him. IT’S NOT HIM!!! That man is dangerous and instable. He can’t be trusted!”

And then, finally, you dared asking, cutting through the thick air:

“What exactly happened to me, in this world?”

Loki’s face contorted in agony, rubbing his face as if in deep pain. “Is this really necessary? I already told you. She died because of me.”

“More details would be nice” you retorted bluntly, not really caring if he was to have a violent outburst again. Curiosity got the better of you at that moment.

The emperor’s voice was low and husky, and just now you realized how damn tired he looked - with dark rings under his eyes, and more pale than you had ever remembered him.

The weight of his sins sure had taken a stroll on that sensitive man.

"I saw the ring” he uttered deeply affected, “That’s something I could only dream of. Thinking about it, I think she never really loved me in the first place. Or maybe she just grew tired of my lies. Understandable, I have to admit...”

“Yes, it was quite the opposite, even” he continued after a long, strained breath of his. “She hated me. Joined the Avengers and tried to kill me, several times. Only years later I learned about the truth: Already far in the past, back on Asgard, she betrayed me. After I fell off the Bifrost, she thought myself dead - and consoled herself by bedding my brother. I had to kill him, I-I-I just had to!”

Loki’s hands were shaking so frantically you could feel it from over there, mad eyes darting over your physique to take in your reaction. “After they finally lost, I took her prisoner. Seven months of trying to make her mine, no matter the methods. Mind-controlling her would not be satisfying. So I tortured her, played games with her sanity, and- I’d rather not speak about how else I violated her.”

“You, wha-” Now you were the one shivering in horrid anticipation, “You raped me...?”

No answer. Instead he just finished this disastrous story.

“One day, I went to her cell like I always did. I hoped once her mind was broken she’d stop struggling to be mine. But she never did. You Y/N’s are quite the fighters, as it seems.”

“Wha- wwhat happened to me...I mean, ‘her’?”

A loud whine escaped his vocal cords as he hit the wall right next to your face, making you suck in a pained breath.

“She used her chains to hang herself. There was nothing I could do. Ever since then I knew I’m cursed to inflict pain on anything I hold dear.”

"D-Don’t give me that self-pitying bullshit” you wanted to shout at his face - but the cramping in your heart as well as the hyperventillation made talking impossible.

How could one do something like that to a person they claimed to love?!

“Go” you whimpered, already shuffling away from him and he could hear anguish and fear drop out of every vocal, and he realized you were having a panic attack. “Please!”

Loki closed his eyes, letting out one last, deep sigh. He knew he owed you that much.

“Very well.”

That whole night, you spent crying and screaming to your hearts avail, unable to process your current situation and newfound knowledge.

So that would be your life from now on? Being hurt mentally and physically, frostburnt and hurt and violated against your will - all while looking at a face that remembered you of happier days?

Never!

Things were just like that evil Loki said: You are a fighter!

And if you couldn’t help that crazy man, you would at least help yourself! The Avengers are still out there, somewhere. You needed to escape and help them!

How could you have been so blind all those years?

Loki - your Loki - would have never wanted to you give up. He’d want you to survive and live your life to it’s fullest, trying to make the best out of everything you’ve got.

Just like he always did. That much you had learned from him.

“I’m sorry, Loki. If I die, I can’t even remember you...I love you…”

Breaking out succeeded faster than you could ever think it would take - because when you’d finally get out of your fetal courl and wandered across the cell, you realized Loki didn’t properly close the heavy steel door back when he rushed away from you.

“It’s not him. There’s no helping that man. I have to find my friends, I-”

Still shocked and scared and traumatized, you didn’t even realize that someone was watching you, not even questioning that the hallways were oddly empty.

You sneaked out of an open window, bare feet feeling the morning dew as you shook away Lokis cloak and ran as fast as your feet could carry you.

There was it - the fence.

No one could tell you what kind of world would await you outside of that property as you swiftly avoided some guards, rushing through the all so beautiful garden.

But as soon as you reached out to climb the railing, you felt someone balling a fist in your hair, harshly holding you back and causing you to stumble and fall.

“I thought you to be different…” an all too familiar voice grumbled. Loki didn’t even want to hear any apology or excuse, kicking your guts so heavily that you had to throw up, cramping on the ground.

“Don’t you dare to run away ever again!” he now yelled furiously, "She tried it too...so damn.many.times…!”

But before you could even respond, he suddenly began to cry uncontrollably. “I thought you would stay. Do you think I like to do this?!”

His voice was laced with grief and regret, yet he kept on forming countless bruises on your body. “Why can’t you fucking love me, hel?!”

You didn’t know how long his violent crying fit lasted, with him weeping as he let off some steam on your helpless self.

There was no trace of the hurt, regretful man left you talked to in your cell earlier. After being finished, having reclaimed a fraction of composure, Loki pressed your face in between his hands, ripping on your mangled body to face him.

“Fate gifted me another chance to possess you, Y/N. And I will form you into a magnificent pet, I promise.”

_______

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[boop-le-snoot]

PARTY FAVOURS I CHAPTER 17

First time reader click here

TWs/Summary: Feelings! PTSD! Anxiety! Clint! Team bonding! Reader is a badass 😍 And comic book medical accuracy .

Un-beta-ed.

"It smells like a liquor factory in here," Bucky's voice came from the kitchenside, followed by noises of the team's arrival. Via portal, because the elevator made zero noise.

"I suggest you avoid the area around me and Clint. It might be contaminated." My voice sounded sharp to my own ears. I sat in silence for several hours, waiting for the team's return, while Clint restlessly dozed next to me.

My words caused the team to freeze in their tracks, owlishly blinking at me and at Clint laying sprawled on the floor, surrounded by plastic bags and biological hazard containment units. Tony's helmet swiftly covered his face - I heard muffled sounds coming from within, probably Friday's explanations. In seconds, the helmet retracted, showing an extremely worried Tony.

"How do you feel, Princess? Any weakness, any pain?"

"No symptoms, Tony. Just a fuckton of anxiety," I admitted, avoiding the concerned looks of Tony's teammates. "I almost drowned the room in alcohol but warned you just to be safe. Also, your alien pathogen protocol sucks."

"We made it so unauthorized personnel wouldn't get their hands on Thor's or Loki's blood samples," Bruce supplied meekly from where he was leaning against Steve, wearing a tattered hoodie and his hulk-out pants. "Off to decon we go," The scientist sighed. "Friday, code seven-zero-three-five-five. Pull up the data you gathered. In the shower." The man was exhausted, yet the call of science seemed to give Bruce a tiny energy boost. With newfound determination, he waddled to the communal showers, the rest of the team in tow.

Natasha's stare was truly unnerving. I was fully aware she and Barton had long history; the fact that I had to respond to one of the deadliest assassins if I had made even the slightest mistake - anxiety mixed with blind terror in me. I fought the nausea and the headache, focusing on Clint's hair between my fingers. His steady breathing.

He'd be okay. He had to be okay.

"You did great, Princess," The time passed in a blink. Bruce's warm hands were encompassing mine - gently pulling me away from Clint. I looked at Banner's face with unseeing eyes.

"I heard what Friday said and I can only applaud your quick thinking. You saved his life," Strange, sounding uncharacteristically quiet and bashful, parroted Bruce, hovering behind the scientist. His angular face was contorted in sorrow. "I believe I should apologize for dropping Barton onto you like that. I underestimated the extent of his injuries." The man sounded so, so guilty.

"I saved his life," I repeated in disbelief. Surely they were exaggerating.

"You did, malysh. For that, I am grateful," Natasha's hand found my own, squeezing briefly, before following Steve that had picked up a still-sleeping Clint, to, presumably, carry him to medical. "Come on, Banner, we need you."

Banner gave me a brief squeeze of his own, taking his leave, scurrying after Romanoff. I was left awkwardly standing in front of Strange, both of us disheveled and dazed.

"I ordered pizza," I said, just to fill the grim silence.

"Okay," Just like that, he snapped out of his trance, sitting down on the couch and picking up his food.

The others trickled in, Bucky, Pete, Thor, Loki, Sam, Wanda, Pietro. I saw it all like it was tinted by a thick fog. Their words made a jumbled cacophony when they reached my ears. Tony's arm around me - that woke me up, slightly. I focused on my favourite thing in the world - the faint smell of him, a mix of soap, machine oil and expensive cologne.

"She's shellshocked," Bucky suddenly said, pointing at me.

"No," I frowned. "No. I may be a fumbling idiot but I don't have PTSD."

Tony's breath stuttered in his chest. Promptly, I was turned around, a pair of intelligent brown orbs sharply gazing into my eyes. "Princess?"

"I'm so glad y'all are alright," I choked out, fisting the cotton of his shirt in my palm. "Even Stephen the asshole. Team bonding wouldn't be the same without his sarcasm," Hurrying to hide the fact that I was scared shitless, I did what I do best. I joked.

"Gods, you two are really a match made in heaven," Wanda's tired voice had 110% eye-roll in it. "So much self-deprication, almost as much as brilliance." The witch usually refrained from commenting on people's private thoughts. Usually, but not that day.

"I am relieved to know you hold me in high regards," Stephen's sarcastic remark made it's way around a mouthful of pizza.

Bucky's phone beeped. "They're saying Clint will be out in a few hours. No permanent damage, the gash on his leg won't scar and he's demanding Tony buy his saviour a cake," With a smile, the soldier read the text's contents out loud. "Also, the resident doc wants to hire you." Bucky pointed at me with a teasing grin.

"I, umm, I," Stammering, way to go. "I just - uh, I googled and I improvised? I'm not a doctor or a scientist, I'm a high school student," I replied, voice raising half an octave higher.

"Told you Tony, she's a friggin' genius," Peter sounded way too smug for someone who had a bruise half the size of his head.

"That she is," Tony's voice... Was different. It was honeyed and warm, blanketing me, surrounding me with safety. His arms tightened around me - not uncomfortably so, just enough to ground his presence in my personal space. I snuggled into him happily - he didn't mind at all. The cold glow and faint humming of his arc reactor calmed me. "Friday, cake. Princess cake from the bakery on Seventeenth."

Wow, Tony knew my favourite kind of cake. That was amazing.

"On it, boss." The AI immediately replied. "Well done, Miss." Friday addressed me with the same tone I heard in the lab. Gentle and understanding. It was so very strange.

We mulled around the living room until the pizza was gone and half the occupants were snoring away, dead where they sat. It was an unanimous decision to pull out the unfolding couch and form a cuddle pile of sorts - after such a long and grueling mission with one of their own facing the brink of death, all the superheroes were more than a little unsettled. I didn't exactly know where I fit in that. Obviously, all of them were close in one way or another. Even Loki and Stephen, seeing them get cussed out by Thor for attempting to leave was kind of amusing.

But it got me wondering. Maybe they felt like imposters, too? After all, I wasn't special. Loki wasn't considered a good guy. And Stephen was too much of a lone wolf. All three of us were comfortable alone, used to dealing on our own.

One look from Tony, Stark-patented puppy eyes, and I was making space for myself and for Stephen. Even if Loki insisted on grumbling all the way through, his exhaustion showed in the way he leaned on Thor's arm, using a weakly glimmering spell to summon himself a book and then closing his eyes for a moment.

Muted cheering broke out the moment elevator doors opened, showcasing a pale but smiling Clint held up on both sides by Natasha and Steve, Bruce half asleep on the blonde's other side.

"Looking pretty good for a dead bitch," Clint grinned in my direction.

I couldn't resist the bait. The boomer knew his memes, after all. "She's alive!"

He patted my leg, making his way to a free spot on the ginormous sofa bed. "Aw, pizza," He groused, spying the empty boxes.

"Should arrive in ten minutes," Bucky quipped, waving his phone. Then, the brunette super-soldier looked at me pointedly. "We usually order double after long missions."

"Duly noted, y'all hungry peoples." I said, filing it away for later. Thinking about more missions, more near-death experiences wasn't something I wanted to handle that very moment.

"So, uh, what exactly happened? My memory is pretty spotty," Clint demanded once he got his hands on some food.

"I also need to know. You're going to have to sign a statement and a mission report," Natasha stated apologetically.

I looked at her, confused. "Like... How many details do you need?"

Tony shifted beside me uncomfortably. I put a steadying hand on his leg - my palm was immediately dwarfed by his own. Natasha gave him a Look. "Fury's eyes only, but SHIELD needs to know how you figured out to neutralise a potential alien threat. Bruce ran some tests and this pathogen is... Pretty nasty, to say the least. It has the survivability to be classified as a potential weapon." Natasha's voice was apologetic, once more.

What have I gotten myself into? I was just trying to save a friend. "First of all, I'm not working for Men in Black, like, ever," I made the point to look her in the eyes. A brief moment later, she nodded. Tony relaxed, exhaling soundly. "Okay, get your reading glasses on. It went like this..." I retold the story, taking careful note to voice my thought processes as much as I remembered them. Save for a few surprised gasps and Tony haphazardly kissing the top of my head, the team gave me no interruptions.

Bruce was the first one to react once I was done. "But... How did you think of bloodletting? It's such an unusual solution," He mumbled more to himself.

"I've watched enough horror movies to know better than to introduce a foreign bacteria, such as antibiotics, to a person with an alien infection," I deadpanned, spying a satisfied smile on Stephen's face. "Worst case scenario, the substitution of infected blood with healthy would have diluted the amount of parasites or deflected their attention from eating away Clint's nerve endings. Him going bazinga from pain was my main concern," I admitted, the archer's pained cries once again filling my ears. The memory was still fresh.

"That makes sense," Bruce nodded.

"And what would you have done?" I asked, unable to withhold my curiosity.

"Sedated Clint while I examine the specimens," Banner replied with the obvious. "Then figure out how to cure the infection."

I nodded along slowly. "I considered that option but ultimately, I was too chicken to entertain the possibility of the parasites interacting with heavy sedatives. Fentanyl affects some of the blood components the parasites eat so only God knows how it might have ended."

Banner was impressed, that much was obvious. Tony's lips once again landed on the crown of my head, gentle and warm. More and more people in the room were giving me impressed, happy, grateful looks. It was strange and I squirmed in my spot, putting the half-eaten pizza slice back in the box, Steve immediately eyeing it in contemplation.

"Have at it, you human garbage disposal," I muttered, laying down comfortably. I was still shivering from the adrenaline rush and the soft blanket cocoon I shared with Tony and Stephen - their combined body heat under it - called to me like a siren.

"Are you well?" Loki noticed my state, casting a dark look over the edge of his book.

"Yeah, just cold. Us humans shiver when coming off an adrenaline rush," I remarked absently, pressing myself closer to Tony.

The engineer laid down, spooning me, tangling our legs together. We slept like that, all over each other, every time I stayed in his bed. It felt comfortable, like home, and nobody seemed to mind. Peter and Wanda, already snoozing away, were in a similarly indisposed state, octopus-ing their nearest teammates. Friends. Family.

My eyes drooped. My chest was about to burst with an odd sort of content - quiet, steady and welcoming. Tony's beard tickled my neck, breaths coming in soft puffs against my nape, spreading warmth all over me.

And there was something - someone warm in front of me, too, I could smell the sandalwood and spices of his cologne. Abandoning all reservations, I shamelessly wrapped both of my arms around a larger, more muscular one, taking note to avoid Stephen's scarred, sensitive hands. The flat of his tummy under my palm was rising and falling steadily, his breathing almost in sync with Tony's and mine.

All of us were safe and alive. It mattered to me, perhaps, more than I'd ever cared to admit out loud. As much as I refused to let them all in, for real and beyond silly gimmicks, they still wormed their way inside my heart, inside my brain. Not with long discussions and talking feelings - hell no, that's the hard and the boring shit, but with simply their presence.

Hugs. Mario Kart tournaments. Cake after I'd done good at something. Sunday morning pancakes for all. Homework. Sciencing together. Catching up on memes and just watching funny YouTube videos together. Playing Twister and Monopoly.

For the first time in my life, I had a stable presence. I belonged somwhere. It felt too good to deny, so once again, I allowed myself to be selfish.

✨ Taglist of my lovelies ✨ still open.

@another-stark-sub ​ @mostly-marvel-musings  @vozit ​ @littlegasps ​ @pilloclock ​ @shereadsinquiet @downeyreads @hermione-grangers-wife ​ @individualistfem ​ @sleep-i-ness @capbrie @lillsxd @agustdowney @dee-vn @justanotherblonde23 @fanngirl19 @persephonehemingway @softie-socks @schemefrenzy @letsby @cutenessloading

[rainydaydream-gal18]

Steve Rogers x Reader: The Nutcracker(AU) Part 4- Final Part

   (Warning, this is kind of long)

You noticed as the four of you wandered the island, it began to grow warmer.  It wasn’t a major change in the beginning, but after a while you were able to shed your coat.

   “Anyone else feel it getting warmer?” you called.  The group had split up to explore.  You saw Tony a little ways away give a shrug.

   “It hasn’t been this warm anywhere in the kingdom since the Mouse King took over,” he called back.  “For once, I have no explanation.”

   “It’s the Sugarplum Princess,” Steve called from the other side of a ruin. “She’s on the move.”

   “Oh my goodness, this is turning into Narnia,” you muttered under your breath. Still, you started to feel something. Something was calling you, beckoning you further into the island.  With a final glance at your comrades, you started heading in that direction. However, you halted at the sight of a figure wandering in what looked like it used to be a courtyard.  It looked like Thor from the Marvel movies. It was, sort of.  He was wearing princely garb similar to Steve’s, but in his usual gray and red colors.

   “Hello?” he called, noticing you.  “Who goes there?”

   “Hi,” you greeted, noticing him raise his hammer in an attack stance. “I’m ____________.  I’m a friend, not a foe.”

   “Is that so?” he gazed at you seriously.  “How do I know that you are not a follower of the Mouse King?”  

   Huh.  Good question.  How do you prove something like that to a stranger?  You did the only thing you could think of in that moment.

   “Steeeve?” you called over your shoulder.  “Natasha?  Tony?”

   The three of them appeared momentarily.

   “Your highness,” Steve greeted with a smile when he saw the man in front of you.  “It has been far too long.”  

   Thor’s shoulders relaxed as he lowered his attack stance. “Prince Steve Rogers!” he boomed with a jolly grin.  The two clasped their hands on each other’s forearms in a warrior-like sort of greeting.  Then, Thor called over his shoulder, “Bruce!  Come hither!  It is Prince Rogers!”

   Bruce Banner poked his head around a ruin, looking nervous at first before he noticed Steve.  “Oh, it’s the prince!”  He approached, pushing his glasses up his nose, looking quite overwhelmed.  “How’s it going?  You guys notice it got warmer here?  It’s been a long time since it was this warm.  You look different, Steve.  Are…are you a nutcracker?”

   “Good to see you again, Banner,” Nat spoke up.

   “Oh, hi, Natasha.  You look well.”

   “As do you.”

   “Bruce,” Tony greeted, going in for a bro-hug.  “What on earth are you doing out here?”

   “We have come in search of the Sugarplum Princess,” Thor stated.  “Is that why you all are here?”

   “As a matter of fact, yes,” Steve nodded.  “This is ____________.  She is a victim of the Mouse King’s crazy tricks too.  I brought her here in hopes that the Sugarplum Princess can change her back to her normal size, turn me back from a nutcracker, and even restore the kingdom.”

   “That’s a tall order,” Bruce said.  “But legend says she could do it.”

   “That’s if we even find her,” Tony, ever the skeptic, pointed out.  “It did get warmer here all of a sudden, but I don’t see any signs or arrows pointing us in the right direction.”

   “Well….” You interjected quietly, and everyone looked at you, making you feel a little overwhelmed at seeing so many fictional heroes in one place. “I’ve been getting this weird feeling, like something’s calling me.  It was leading me that way before I came upon Thor.”

   “Then we need to go.  Lead the way, ____________,” Steve said.

   “Just like that?” Tony protested.  “Could be last night’s dinner calling her, for all we know.  Shouldn’t we think this through?”

   “You said it yourself,” Nat retorted.  “We don’t have anything else to go on.  ___________ says something’s calling her, and I believe her.”

   “I agree,” Thor said.  “Banner and I have been here for some time now, and we found nothing until you all arrived.”

   Tony held his hands up.  “Alright, alright.  Good point.  Go ahead,    _____________.”

   You nodded and began heading in the direction that feeling led you to. Meanwhile, you found out that Thor in this story was the prince of a neighboring kingdom and Steve’s good friend. Bruce had been another scientist in the land, and due to an accident, he had the ability to turn into the Hulk- just like Bruce in the movies.  The Hulk was a member of the royal guard and would only be called upon in the direst situations.

   You couldn’t help but notice Steve remained at your side the entire walk across the ruins.  Even as he conversed with others from time to time, he didn’t leave you for a second.

   “You okay?” you asked.

   “Yes,” he assured you.  “I’m just trying to be ready for whatever it is we find.”

   “Do not worry, Steve,” Thor nudged him.  “There are many great warriors here.  If we must fight, there is no other group I’d rather be with!”

   “I agree,” Nat said.  “We’d make a pretty good team in battle.”

   “It’s a good thing you think so, Nat, because it looks like we’re going to have to test that theory,” Bruce said.  All of you looked ahead to see the Mouse King and his soldiers surrounding a glowing light in the center of what looked like it used to be a vast room in the palace.

   “How did he get here?” you asked, drawing closer to your nutcracker.

   “Not sure,” Tony replied.  “He must have some transport that we didn’t know about.”

   “Greetings!” the Mouse King called, raising his scepter.  “Why, don’t you all look so good together?  Ah, brother, it’s been a while.”

   “Stop this madness,” Thor told him.  “Step away from that glowing orb.  Come home to our palace and give up this poisonous dream.”

   “I’m afraid I enjoy ruling far too much,” the Mouse King smirked.  “If I go back to our little kingdom, I have no chance at being a king.”

   “He’s not standing down,” Steve said.  “If a fight is what he wants, it’s a fight he’s going to get.”

   Natasha and Steve both got into fighting stances on either side of you. Tony did something to his watch, and a steam punk Ironman suit generated from it to envelop him.  He lowered into an attack stance while Bruce morphed into the Hulk beside him.  Thor raised his hammer.

   “____________,” Steve said in a low voice that you barely heard.

   “Yes?”

   “We’re going to distract the Mouse King and his minions.  I need you to find a way to that orb.  Can you do that for me?”

   You took a deep breath.  “Should be a walk in the park, Prince Rogers.”

   He gave you a sideways glance and chuckled.  “Be safe.  I’ll cover you.”

   “You be safe as well.  And thanks.”

   Then, Steve raised his voice to shout at the Mouse King.  “We’re here to avenge the kingdom. We are-”

   “The Avengers,” you whispered.

   “The Avengers!” Steve called.  Then, he grabbed his shield from his back.  “Avengers, assemble!”

   It was an interesting battle.  Despite the seriousness of the situation, you were fangirling big time. Steve was taking down chitauri left and right with his shield.  Tony was blasting the minions in his suit.  Natasha was doing her awesome Black Widow thing, defeating enemies swiftly and with precision.  Thor wielded his hammer and even shocked some chitauri at  one point.  Hulk, well…he smashed.

   You managed to slip past the fight and head for the orb.  The Mouse King even joined the fight, facing off with Steve himself.  This gave you the perfect opportunity to approach the glowing object and see what would happen.  This was what had been calling you.  You extended a hand, feeling it grow warm as you reached out to touch the orb.

   “Very clever,” you heard Loki’s voice behind you.  “But you see, this orb is the key to my victory.  Do you think I’d leave it unguarded?”

   He had used his scepter to create a double of himself to fight Steve, but the real Mouse King had been waiting by the orb, blending in with the scenery with his illusion tricks.  He raised the scepter, and his double disappeared.

   “No!” Steve called.  “___________, get back!”

   In a moment of quick-thinking, you snatched up the orb before Mouse-Loki brought the scepter down on you.  The glowing brightened into a flash of light, and the warmth spread from your hand throughout your body.  A blast of energy left your other hand, sending the corrupt king flying.

   “_____________!”  Steve came running over as you fell to the ground.  “Are you alright?”

   “Yes, I’m fine,” you replied, staring straight ahead in shock.  Then, you laughed.  “Did you see that?”  You held the orb against your side as you rose to your feet.  The light in it had subsided to a soft glow, but something else was happening.  Your clothes began to shimmer.

   “What’s happening?” Nat asked, hurrying over.  The chitauri had been defeated; save for a few that seemed stunned as they watched what was taking place.

   “I’m not sure,” Steve murmured.

   You were enveloped in the glow entirely until you didn’t see around you.  Moments passed until the light faded and you were met with everyone’s surprised looks.

   Hulk had reverted back to Bruce, fortunately clothed.  He adjusted his glasses and smiled.  “It’s ____________.  She’s the Sugarplum princess.”

   You glanced down to see your outfit had changed.  It was a shimmering dress of (favorite color) that flowed to the crystal shoes on your feet.  The long sleeves were sheer and sparkling, and the glowing orb had become a large, singular pearl on a necklace draped around your neck.  

   “Well, this is a game-changer,” Tony said in his suit.

   “I’m-?”  You paused, unable to comprehend the situation.  “I’m the Sugarplum princess?  How?”

   “It all makes sense,” Steve said in awe.  “I left the Kingdom in search of a solution, and I found you.”

   “But…”  You gave a humorless laugh.  “I’m no princess.  I’m just ____________.”

   Natasha walked to your side, resting a hand on your shoulder.  A soft smile played on her lips.  “Sometimes it’s hard for us to realize how special we are.”

   “And princess or not, you’re special,” Steve added.

   “Well, thank you.”

   “I really hate to interrupt this touching moment,” Tony interjected.  “But what are we going to do with the Mouse King, here?”

   Thor cracked his knuckles, jaw set.  “Do not fear, I will handle this.”  The Mouse King’s eyes widened from his spot where he lay pitifully in the snow.  Thor marched up to his brother, but you hurried forward and stood between them.

   “Wait, no.  I think I know what to do.”  You offered a smile and turned around to face the Mouse King.  Closing your eyes, you focused on the pearl’s energy and saw the light flash in front of your eyelids.  You looked to see the Mouse King’s fur giving way to pale skin.  

   “No!” He snarled, writhing in the snow.  “You can’t get rid of me!  How dare you?”

   Soon, it was Loki sitting in the snow in green and gold princely garb.  His eyes were wide from the transformation, looking totally different from the twisted creature he was.  He looked at his human hands and actually smiled, the expression making his eyes crinkle with genuine happiness.

   “Princess,” he said, standing to his feet.  The smile never left his face.  “My greed and lust for power cursed me.  The Mouse King took over until I was almost gone, but you’ve brought me back.”  He got down on one knee, bowing his head in respect.  “Thank you.”

    “Of course.” Then, you turned to gaze at the ruins around you, feeling a pull to restore this palace to what it was before. “Looks like I’ve got a lot of work to do.”

   - - - - 

   The ballroom looked magical.  Lights were strung across the ceiling and along the walls to give the room an elegant shine.  An orchestra played music that made your heart swell as you watched your friends on the dance floor.  Bruce twirled Natasha, Tony dipped Pepper, and you even saw Coulson on the scene with Maria Hill.  The ladies wore stunning dresses, and the gentleman looked handsome in their suits. Loki and Thor stood off to the side, looking rather dashing in their princely uniforms even as they talked idly. Steve, the nutcracker, was nowhere to be found.  For whatever reason, you hadn’t been able to change him back.  With that being said, you refused to return to your normal size and go home until he was back to normal.

   “I’m sure he’ll be here any minute,” a deep voice said beside you.

   “I don’t know, Fury.”  You bit your lip.  “I think he’s angry with me.”

   He shifted and gave you an incredulous stare.  

   You raised a brow.  “What?”

   “You really think Prince Steve Rogers is mad at the young woman who defeated the Mouse King and brought order back to the kingdom?”

   “Well, he’s still a nutcracker, and I have no idea why.”  You sighed, glancing down at the pearl necklace.  “I wish there was some sort of manual for this thing.”

   Fury shrugged.  “How did you go about fixing the castle and turning the Mouse King back into Loki?”

   “I don’t know.  It was just instinct.”

   “Then instinct will tell you when the time is right.”

   As you soaked in his words, someone tapped your shoulder.  You turned around to see none other than Prince Steve the nutcracker.  He extended his wooden hand, smiling, and you took it.

   “May I have this dance?”

   “Of course you may,” you said.

   Your cheeks grew warm as the crowd parted to make room for you and Steve to dance in the center.  The next song began, and you giggled as Steve twirled you in a circle.  The faces around you began to fade until it felt like it was just you and him.  Your feelings had definitely grown over the course of the journey.  You saw beyond his appearance to the man inside with a kind heart. If only you knew how to change him back…

   Suddenly, the pearl necklace began to glow.  You paused, glancing down at it and then back up to meet Steve’s surprised expression.

   “Prince Steve,” Natasha called.

   He began to change.

   “What’s happening?” you asked, and he gave you a joking smile.

   “I was hoping you could tell me.”  The nutcracker was surrounded in the light until he was no more.  In his place stood Steve Rogers in his princely garb and not made of wood.   His eyes crinkled at the edges from the smile on his face as he gazed at you. “_____________, I’m me again.”

   Tears welled up in your eyes as he stepped forward and took your hand in his. It was soft and warm, and you ran your thumb over his knuckles while reaching up with your other hand to cup his cheek.

   “I have no idea how I did that,” you murmured.

   “Maybe it was the dance?”  The two of you shared a quiet laugh, and he leaned his forehead against yours.  The small act took your breath away as you gazed into his blue eyes that glistened in the lights.  He let out a shaky breath and whispered.  “I want to try something.”

   Goosebumps bloomed along your skin at his words.  “Yes?”

   “I want to…”

   “Kiss me?” you offered.

   He pulled away slightly and nodded.  “Is that okay?”

   “Definitely okay.”  You smiled, and he leaned in to brush his lips against yours lightly.  You responded quickly by resting your hand on his shoulder and returning the feathery kiss.

   Applause broke out in the dance hall, and you ducked your head in embarrassment at the realization that you still were surrounded by his subjects. Natasha was giving you a thumbs-up, and Bruce smiled happily and clapped.  Tony was rolling his eyes, but smiling.

   Everything felt right.

   And then you woke up.

   You sat up on the couch, breathing out a sigh.  You had returned your grandparents’ house, and the fire had burned out in the fireplace.  Feeling rather chilly, you reached over for the blanket that was kicked onto the floor and pulled it over your form.  All the while, you wondered how you’d gotten back.  Their old clock struck eight in the morning.

   Had it been a dream?  You wiped the tears that threatened to fall.  It had to have been a dream- a wild one with Avengers and nutcrackers and mouse kings. Your Prince Steve wasn’t really there.

   Prince Steve.

   The nutcracker.

   Your gaze darted to the floor in search of any sign of the gift from Aunt Lily. You lifted the blanket and sat up, running your hand along the cushions in case he was trapped in between them. There was no sign of him.  Perhaps your brother knew.  He had already taken him without permission once before.

   “Good morning, ____________!” the feminine voice cut through your thoughts, and you jumped.

   “Oh, good morning, Aunt Lily.”  You hadn’t even heard her come down the stairs.  “How are you?”

   “Excited!” she practically squealed.  “I just got a call from my friend, Barbara.  She’s stopping by later, and she’s bringing her nephew. He’s young, handsome, and is related to royalty in Europe.”  She gave you a nudge and a pointed look.

   You rolled your eyes.  “Yeah, right.”

   Little did you know, you’d be absolutely captivated by the man.   It was late in the afternoon, and you were doing a more thorough search for your nutcracker in the living room, lifting couch cushions and checking under the coffee table.  Several voices could be heard in the other room, and Aunt Lily’s rose above the others.

   “Oh, yes!  You must meet my niece, _____________!”

   You sighed, arranging the couch cushions in their rightful places, and stood up straight when your Aunt Lily poked her head in.  

   “There she is!  Come, darling, meet my good friend, Barbara, and her nephew.”

   “Okay,” you said, managing a small smile.  Meeting new people could be intimidating enough, let alone people who were related to royalty.

   When you rounded the corner, two bright blue eyes captured your gaze to the point where you couldn’t look away.  They were very familiar eyes, but yet distant like you’d seen them in a dream. The person belonging to those eyes extended a hand in greeting.  Your hand was warmed by his, and that’s when it clicked.

   But with so many of your relatives looking at you, you just smiled. “Nice to see you.  I’m ___________.”

   “I know,” he said, and when he got a curious look from you, he corrected, “oh, I mean, your aunt has told us a lot about you.”

  “Hopefully nothing embarrassing.”

   “Certainly not.  She speaks very highly of you.”

   “Aw, they’ll get along well,” the woman you presumed to be Barbara gushed, and she turned to speak with Aunt Lily.  

   When all eyes were off you, you looked at the blonde and mustered a quiet, “Prince Steve?”

   He looked at you with a twinkle in his eye.  “Hello, Princess ___________.  I missed you.”

[hela-avenger]

poison & wine- part 21

Author: hela-avenger

Word Count: 1743

Summary: Prince Loki of Asgard is in need of a date to take back home. That’s where you come in with a task of your own to make the whole trip with an insufferable prince worth it. Too bad that things don’t always go as planned and you end up giving more than you can take. Fake-Dating AU.

A/N:  I don’t know if you guys are ready for this one but here it is! Thanks for liking/commenting/reblogging! Please send me a message/ask if you’ll like to be tagged!

poison & wine masterlist

Though they seemed to love to spread their opinion of the prince, they really did seem to know to keep their lips sealed at the banquet. You overlook their temporal content and keep your focus ahead of you. You’re nervous, as you should be in this type of situation, but you clear your mind of those thoughts as you stop right in front of the Allfather.

Loki’s hand anchors you as Odin inspects you both.

“Lady Y/N of Midgard,” Odin calls out, immediately gaining everyone’s attention. The room falls into a silence awaiting for the king to continue. His eyes narrow down at the both of you as if trying to find a crack between you two. ”Your work is quite… admirable.”

You allow yourself to glow in his vague comment. 

“Thank you, your Majesty.” 

Odin doesn’t respond to you and simply shifts his focus to Loki. 

“The dagger?”

Loki doesn’t deem a verbal response as he raises his free hand and plucks a dagger out of the air. He looks down at you and offers the dagger for you to take. 

You do and you can’t help but marvel at the sight of it. 

The dagger has a double edged blade. Slender in shape and sharp enough that you don’t bother to touch the edge knowing it’ll slice your skin at the slight caress. The blade is fixed on a gold encrusted handle with an emerald jewel at the end. A set of runes are carved into the hilt of the handle making you wonder what is inscribed. 

“It’s beautiful, Loki,” you tell him. “Very beautiful.” 

Loki smiles down at you and takes the dagger from your hands. 

“May I?” 

Without waiting for your response, Loki takes a knee and as gently as he was in his bedroom he slides the dagger into the sheath. Murmured gasps are heard around you as Loki’s hand slips out of the slit of your dress but Loki doesn’t care for it. He simply grins and offers you a wink.  

“Thank you,” you blush genuinely as he rises up once more. “That wasn’t necessary.” 

“I’m more than happy to be on my knees for you.” 

You laugh at his response knowing the insinuation he was making and it seemed like Odin knew too. 

“Loki!” he exclaims. “Act accordingly.” 

“I shall,” Loki responds as he stares down at you. 

You should have known what was coming next but it still catches you by surprise. His hand pulls you close and his lips press against yours.

You melt into it. You have to. 

Loki’s hands are holding you against him and you have no other choice but to play the role you’re given. You let yourself be swooned and it seems easier this time. 

The kiss breaks the silence in the room as cheers erupt loudly.  

You feel Loki pull away from you and you smile up at him. He smiles in return and presses one quick kiss on the palm of your hand before leading you towards your seat. You spare a glance to the Allfather who doesn’t seem too pleased at the both of you.

You manage to sit by the queen once more and Loki holds no objections as he takes the seat next to you.  A server walks by with a jug of wine but the moment she comes close to serve you, Loki is quick to turn your glass down. 

“You’re human, remember?” Loki whispers to you. “No Asgardian wine or mead. Just water.”

“I have to be sober for this,” you mutter at him. “That’s not fair.”   

Loki shrugs as he takes up his own cup of mead and takes a drink. 

“Can’t afford having someone else find out your secret.” 

You knew he was right so you resign yourself to enjoy the rest of the meal. Frigga is kind as always and the lords and ladies who arrive at the table to pass well wishes are sweet with their words.

You fall into a sense of security that is soon easily disrupted as Odin attention returns to you. 

“To the merry couple,” he calls out to you and Loki with a glass raised. “I hope you don’t mind answering a few questions of mine.” 

Loki’s hand takes a hold of yours and he simply smiles. 

“Not at all.”

You weren’t prepared for this but Loki was the God of Lies and you’ve been good so far at evading the truth. 

“How did you two meet?” 

You open your mouth to respond but Odin raises his hand to silence you. He looks over at Loki who is surprised that his father has even acknowledged him with this type of question. It makes the both of you suspicious. 

“It was an evening quite like this one with all of Thor’s mortal friends,” Loki begins to answer. “And I wasn’t in the greatest of moods. I usually never am. The drinks were subpar as was the company and ...” 

“Permit me to interrupt,” Odin states as a smile takes over his face. “But I fear I’ve heard otherwise.” 

“What do you mean?” Loki asks. 

Your suspicions are proven correct as Odin shifts his stare to you. It doesn’t take much to realize that he knew of what you said to the girls. He had set a trap and you had fallen for it.

“I said we met through Thor,” you tell him. “He introduced us and you blew me off.” 

Loki doesn’t tense up at your mistake nor does he show any other sign of nervousness. Instead, he nods in agreement. 

“Yes, that’s how we formally met,” Loki answers. “Informally, I saw you at Tony’s gala.” 

You frown as you try to figure out what he could possibly be referring to. Loki simply leans forward and presses a kiss on your forehead and chuckles.

“I see I’m the romantic one in this courtship,” Loki states. “You really don’t remember, do you?” 

You simply shrug and Loki takes his cue to explain. You were interested to see what lie he was orchestrating to cover your mistake. 

“As I was saying, I was dragged out by my brother for a night,” Loki tells you. “He was trying to lift my mood but I wasn’t having it. I was ready to leave when I caught sight of the most beautiful being in existence.” 

He turns to look at you and you knew he was really packing it thick with flirtations.

“Me,” Loki answers. “I caught sight of my reflection and might I say I looked magnificent.” 

You snort caught off guard by that. 

“Seriously?” you ask. 

Loki presses another kiss on your embraced hands. 

“It’s not my fault you don’t recall this,” Loki chuckles. “But then again, how could you? I was not the one you came for that night.” 

You want to ask what he was droning on about but Odin beats you to it. 

“Loki, enough with the stalling.” 

Loki looks over at Odin and lets out a sigh. He turns to look at you again and takes a deep breath. His hold on your hand tightens and you wonder why. 

“You came bursting into the night,” Loki tells you. “Your hair wild and untamed, clearly underdressed and out of breath, but you had come running with this smile that illuminated the entire room.”

Your mind flickers with recognition and you are surprised he recalls that many details in the first place. 

“I had every intention of learning your name,” he continues. “Of course, I never got the chance. Your friends found you first and they were the ones whose attention you sought for. You laughed and danced the night away. Told them of your new adventures and they hung to your every word. Any chance of learning your name was gone that night and so I left. Thor introduced us the morning after and I was caught by surprise.” 

You don’t know how to respond. You had expected a lie to be told but he had spoken his truth. A truth that was yours too. 

“You acted as if you didn’t know me,” you laugh. “But you did… This whole time you did.” 

Loki looks away having been caught in his own lie and takes a drink from his mead. 

“Why didn’t you say something before?” 

“Because it was obvious that I did not have the same effect on you that you had on me.” 

“But you did,” you answer with a smile. “How could I not notice the handsome brooding man in the corner of the party?”

“I was not brooding.” 

“You were,” you laugh. “All scowls and frowns.” 

“I was not.” 

“Yes, you were.” 

“Enough, children,” Frigga interrupts with a laugh. “You’ve made your point. It was love at first sight.” 

Loki shakes his head and your face warms at her comment. 

“Perhaps it was,” you answer, feeling suddenly warm at the coolness of his hand in yours. Loki’s stare is still on you and you can’t bear to look at him at the moment. You didn’t know what was happening and it seemed like Odin shared the same sentiment.

“You two are quite the pair,” Odin states in disbelief. “Quite the pair indeed.” 

His hands slam down onto the table alarming you but gathering everyone’s attention. He picks up his golden chalice and rises from his seat ready to make an announcement. The action causing Loki to tense under you.

“People of Asgard,” Odin addresses. “We are gathered here today to celebrate the start of a strong courtship between Prince Loki and Lady Y/N. A strong step forward in the alliance between Asgard and Midgard.” 

Cheers erupt throughout the room as gold glasses were raised in praise. 

“To solidify their union further, I have decided it is high time for a tournament!” 

Loki’s grip on your hand tightens and you don’t understand why. 

“The Contest of Warriors,” Odin continues before smiling down at the both of you. “Asgards’ best putting their skills to the test and our two lovers facing the wild beast of the Forbidden Forest.” 

The whole room is filled with roars of excitement that Loki’s anger goes unseen. The tight grip on your hand disappears as his own hands slam the table. 

“You can’t be serious,” Loki exclaims. “She’s a mortal.” 

“Even more of a reason to protect the woman you so love, Loki,” Odin responds. “Take as much time as you like to prepare her. The tournament stands.”

poison & wine tag: @damalseer @just-the-hiddles @jessiejunebug @nonsensicalobsessions @smollest-soybean @assassinoftheworld @readerbandit @doyoufeelikeayounggod @strangemcuvlogs @ha-tep @i-dont-know-eiither @gene-king @day-dreaming-fox @bn-studies @is-it-madness @devilbat @victor-criss-bish @skinny-macncheese @musicconversedance @baby-bunnyxn @fandoms-allovertheplace @marvelloonie @jinxjinxednova @queenmuahaha @accio-boys @eternalqueensworld @umlvk @roger-the-reindeer @punkrockhufflefluff @your-local-abyss @horsesandwolvesaremyanimals​

Loki Tag: @unicorniorosacomefrutillas @thesilentbluesparrow @oddly-drawn-muse @josiehosiedaninja @hp-hogwartsexpress @sadwaywardkid @wolf-lover74 @sizzlingbarbarianglitter @sigyn-njorddottir

All Works Tag: @jmb959 @astudyoftimeywimeystuff @hellocookiecutter @steve-rogers-personal-hell @buckybarnesyard @not-zari-tak @strangersstranger @thefridgeismybestie 

[idy-ll-ique]

Holi Hai! 

Pairing: Loki x Desi!F!Reader

Warnings: None

Genre: Pure Fluff

Requested: By @marvel-madness

Hi there! Could you do a Loki x Desi American!reader where she takes everyone to a holi festival? And it’s super adorable and kinda crack!fic at the same time?

Summary: Y/N, an American born Desi, takes her friends, the Avengers, to India to show them what a real party looks like.

Author's Note: Hi!!! A huge thanks to @marvel-madness for requesting this fic and sending the prompt! It was amazing to write! For the Indian friends, I used the names of my own friends (and I oop). I hope y'all desis reading this enjoy it! Sorry if it's crappy I tried my best—

---

Loki stared at his girlfriend of 8 months in confusion. He was confused as to why she was staring at the calendar so longingly. "Um, love, is anything—" She groaned loudly, startling him. "I wanna go! I wanna go home so bad! Haaye mein mar jawa…" That phrase was spoken in Punjabi, even though Loki knew his girlfriend was of Marathi origins. 

He didn't understand it, but her sadness was clear. "What happened? Where do you want to go?" he asked soothingly, wrapping his arms around her. "Back to India! The festival of Holi is in a week and my family is inviting me. I want to go, but…" she sighed, turning around in his arms. Y/N was a second generation desi American, her parents having moved to New York. 

Y/N was born here, but she had a lot of family back in India. She loved Bollywood, the Indian festivals, the culture, the food, everything. Every year, she went to India during the festival of Holi, it being her favorite one. This year, though, things seemed difficult. Now she was a part of the Avengers and had a lot of work. If only she could get a 2 week break. 

"But what? You have to go! It's your favorite festival, you've told me that a hundred times," Loki scoffed as she buried her face in his chest. "I know! But the Avengers, my work…" she whined. "Don't worry about that, we'll be fine," Loki laughed. Suddenly, she had a brilliant idea. They should go to India with her! "Why don't you come with me?"

"Me? Uh… okay, I don't have plans, visiting India sounds nice…" Loki stammered, taken aback. "Not only you, all of you! Thor, Tony, Steve, Nat, Bruce, Clint, Wanda, Vision, Sam, Bucky… I'll take you to a brilliant Holi festival! You'll have a lot of fun," Y/N said excitedly, jumping up and down. Loki smiled softly at her excitement. 

"Why don't we call a meeting and ask them?"

Fifteen minutes later, all the aforementioned people were assembled in the sitting room, smiling at the couple. "So, did Loki propose? Are you getting married? Is Y/N pregnant?" Loki and Y/N rolled their eyes at Tony's questions while the others laughed. "This one is pretty mild. I have a question to ask you all." Steve beckoned for Y/N to go on, everyone listening attentively. 

"As you all know, the festival of Holi is a week away, and I've been to India for the festival every single year of my life. This year, too, there isn't a problem with me going there but I wanna ask… any of you interested in tagging along?" For a few seconds, all was silent. Y/N grew nervous, should she not have asked? She got startled badly when everyone cheered loudly.

"We're going to India! We're going to India! Finally!"

A wide smile bloomed on Y/N's face; she glanced at Loki to see him already looking at her with a smile of his own. "Okay, my dudes, start packing! We leave tomorrow! Can we borrow your private jets, Tones?" He agreed instantly, hugging Y/N. "We better get to packing," Steve laughed, running out of the room with Nat, Wanda, Sam and Bucky. 

---

"Ugh… so… hot…"

"It was your idea to come to India, Y/N."

"Yeah, we feel fine."

Y/N glared at her teammates, which caused them to look at her smugly. Their jet had just landed at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, in Mumbai. One of Y/N's relatives lived in a huge apartment complex in Mumbai, and she had invited their other relatives, too. Every year, that complex saw the best Holi party ever, complete with water, colours, bhaang, songs and dance. 

Y/N had been there a couple times. The Avengers and herself had decided to stay at a nearby hotel. Being 12 people, they had booked 6 double rooms in one of the hotels at the airport, called Grand Hyatt. The entire trip was sponsored by Tony Stark. Since Tony and Bruce spoke Hindi a little bit and Y/N… well, she was Indian, they decided to get 3 cabs. 

In one cab sat Loki, Y/N, Thor and Vision, in the second sat Tony, Steve, Wanda and Nat while in the third cab sat Bruce, Clint, Sam and Bucky. Their cab arrived at the hotel, they checked in and went to their rooms. 

---

"Loki, Lokes, wakey-wakey!"

Loki blinked his eyes open at the persistent awakening, turning over on the hotel bed. Y/N grabbed his shoulder, shaking him. "What? It's… 7 in the morning!" he whined shamelessly, pushing her hands away. "It'll take us 15 minutes to reach the apartment complex but the celebrations start early there," Y/N insisted. He sighed, right, today was the day of Holi.

"Fine, I'm getting up," he muttered as he sat up. Y/N stood in front of him, wearing a white kurti and white pants underneath. She looked so beautiful, he couldn't resist pulling her on his lap. "Loki," Y/N chuckled bashfully as he kissed her cheek. She turned her head to face him and placed a proper kiss to his lips. "That dress is beautiful, like you," he whispered to her.

She giggled, giving him a hug. "Okay, go get ready, I need to wake the others up," she smiled, pushing away from him. He nodded and stood up, stretching. He picked up his suitcase which was kept in the corner of the room while Y/N left to wake the others up. He picked out a white t-shirt and a pair of jeans. 

Y/N had explained to the others how wearing white during the festival was the best option. Everyone had brought along a white tee to wear. He first cleaned up and wore his clothes, finally sitting down to apply some oil to the exposed parts of his body. Y/N said it helped the colours come out faster. After preparing, he grabbed the room keys and left, locking the door. 

---

"Y/N! How are you? I thought you wouldn't visit this year," Krsna, one of Y/N's friends, grinned as she moved to hug her. The Avengers quietly stood behind, taking in all the beautiful sights. The buildings were decorated, there was a drinks table nearby, the colours were neatly kept on another table and nearly 30 other people there. Many children, a few adults and even fewer oldies. 

Since Y/N visited the apartment complex nearly every single year, you could say she practically grew up with the kids there, meaning Krsna and a few others. They had formed a strong bond.

Most of the kids were staring at these foreigners in shock and awe. "Hell no! I wouldn't miss my favorite festival for anything. Meet my friends." Krsna gathered a few of her friends too, namely Shruti, Drishti, Harsh and Ritvik. "This is Loki," Y/N introduced first. Loki moved forward to wrap his arms around his girl from behind, smiling at her Indian friends. 

"Oooh," Harsh smirked, which earned him a slap on the arm from Krsna. "Kadhi pasun?" Drishti asked cheekily, crossing her arms. "Since 8 months," Y/N replied, shaking her head. She quickly introduced the others too. They were a bit surprised, because holy hell, the Avengers but they got over their shock immediately. "This place looks nice," Wanda commented. 

"Thank you! We usually start preparing a week before Holi," Ritvik grinned. Harsh, Drishti and Ritvik decided to give the Avengers a tour of the apartment complex and they readily agreed to go along with them. Loki, Y/N, Tony, Natasha, Krsna and Shruti decided to stay back. "Tujhya mom dad la mahiti aahe?" Shruti questioned, motioning towards Loki. 

"Ho! Tyana kahi farak nahi padla," Y/N laughed, sending a smile in Loki's direction. "New York ka kya? Isne hi kiya tha na? News mein dekha meine…" Krsna asked worriedly. "Don't worry about that! Abhi thik ho gaya hai ye…" Y/N winked. Loki was trying his hardest to decipher what they were saying, but all in vain. As Tony stood to the side, listening to the three ladies talking in their native tongue, he noticed a few people walking up to him. 

They were small kids, around 8-9 years old. "Happy Holi!" one boy grinned, raising his colour filled hands up to wipe them on Tony's cheeks. Tony grinned broadly, taking some colour to return the favor. "Happy Holi, kid!" he said happily. Natasha joined him, applying some red colour to the kids' cheeks. The kids led them somewhere and the two of them went readily. 

Y/N looked around the place, trying to find her friends. She smiled proudly when she saw everyone enjoying themselves. A few of them were talking to the adults, most of them were playing with the kids and Wanda was following Drishti, who was teaching her a dance step to the songs that were playing. The scene warmed her heart. As she enjoyed the scene, a water balloon collided hard with her back.

She turned, shocked, only for Loki to cover her face in pink colour. He ruffled her hair, screaming 'Happy Holi'. "Grr, get back, a-hole!" she screamed, quickly wiping her face before she took off running after him. Krsna handed her a water balloon and with expert precision, Y/N threw it at Loki. It hit his back. He turned around and smirked at her. 

She grabbed a handful of colour and went to each of her friends, applying colour to their faces and wishing them a happy holi. She chatted with some of the aunties of the society, and also wished her relatives. Soon, the volume of the songs increased and party, holi songs started playing. The first song was Balam Pichkari. Y/N cheered loudly, dancing along with some of the others. 

"Balam pichkari, jo tune mujhe maari, toh seedhi saadhi chori sharabi ho gayi!" Y/N sang along, enjoying very much. Loki stood to the side and took out his phone, discreetly taking a few photos as she enjoyed. By the end of 2 hours, all the Avengers were soaked in water, every single colour visible on their clothes, their faces and their hair. They were a bit drunk, having had nearly 4 glasses of bhaang each. Still, they had huge grins on their faces. 

"Stay for lunch! We also organize lunch! After lunch and ice cream, we also have a game of housie but I'd understand if you—" Y/N scoffed, cutting off Ritvik's trail of words. "We're staying for as long as we can! We'll be back in about an hour, after cleaning up." She checked the time, it was 12 noon. "Sure, sure. We'll be waiting. Bye!" Harsh, Krsna, Shruti, Drishti and Ritvik waved as the Avengers walked out of the complex. 

"Did you enjoy?" Y/N asked the Avengers immediately. "Of course we did! This was the most fun I've had in years. I wanna celebrate Holi every year now," Wanda squealed. Everyone agreed with her. "See? Indian festivals, always the best," Y/N winked. They booked cabs, went to their hotels and cleaned up, taking a bath and wearing fresh clothes. 

They went back to the apartment complex just in time for lunch. Everyone there had also cleaned up. As Y/N watched her friends mingle with her Indian friends, she made up her mind— to bring the Avengers to every single Holi party from that year onwards. 

---

A/N: Yeeeee!!!! I'm sad because I couldn't play Holi this year [one of my relatives passed away, RIP :')] but writing this released dopamine in my brain.

For those of you who don't know-

Balam Pichkari is very famous Bollywood song related to Holi

Bhaang is kind of an alcoholic drink prepared from milk (?)

I've mostly used Hindi and Marathi since those two are the Indian languages I speak (I can also speak Gujarati and understand Telugu, which is my father tongue) but yeah :/

I hope you like this!!

[asongofmarvelanddc]

Loki’s Lie

PAIRING: Loki X Reader

WORD COUNT: 1030

WARNINGS: None.

SUMMARY: You thought Loki’s been dead for years, until Bruce returned with some news.

Damn, grief really sucks.

Five years.

It had been five years since Loki died. Thor delivered the news to you about a week after it happened.

“Loki’s dead.”

Despite the fact that it felt like your heart had just been ripped out of your chest, stomped on and squeezed until it fell apart...you didn’t cry. You didn’t scream, you didn’t yell...you didn’t do anything. You just swallowed the lump in your throat and told Thor that you were sorry for his loss.

For the next few weeks after, all you got from the rest of your friends were pity and sympathetic looks - which you hated. Steve and Natasha tried to talk to you about it. Natasha gave up after the first two tries and tried to convince Steve, who was way more persistent, to leave you alone.

“Everyone deals with grief in their own way.”

That was true. And you dealt with it by ignoring it. It was going pretty well for you, what with Ultron and the Avengers falling out, you were kept pretty busy. Yes, it was working for you...until today.

You, along with Steve, Natasha and Sam had just rescued Wanda and Vision from an attack by the Black Order, before finally deciding to return home to New York City.

New York City, where apparently, everything had gone to shit - again. Except one thing: Bruce was back, and he had news about what sounded like the end of the world. Or at least half of it.

“Thor’s gone,” he informed you all and you sucked in a sharp breath, crossing your arms for comfort. All eyes turned to you, with Steve muttering, “Are you okay?” You nodded quickly and shook your head, “Yeah, I’m fine.”

Bruce shot you a sympathetic glance, “He killed Loki too.” You did a double take, blinking rapidly, “I’m sorry, what?”

“Thanos...he killed Loki,” he repeated, “I’m really sorry.” You frowned in confusion as you looked around at your team members. They were all staring at you with held breaths, waiting to see how you’d react.

You let out a nervous chuckle and turned back to Bruce, “Loki died five years ago.”

“Yeah, uh...” he scratched the back of his neck awkwardly, “Apparently, he faked his death.”

“He what?”

Bruce just shrugged apologetically and shook his head. You turned to your staring friends as you drew in short, laboured breaths. “I, um...I have to go,” you murmured before dashing out of the room.

                           __________________________

Somehow, you found yourself standing in front of your old room at the Avengers facility. Tony hadn’t changed a thing. After you all fell out, you half expected him to convert your rooms for other uses, but no. Everything was in the exact same place you left it.

You slowly walked towards your bed and sat down on it before opening your bed-side drawer. Lying on top of all the junk was a book: Julius Caesar. It had been delivered sometime after Loki’s incarceration on Asgard. The message, “To Y/N. I hope we see each other again. Loki.” was written in his handwriting on the title page. Bastard probably thought the choice of literature was funny after what he’d done. You? Not so much.

You only saw him once after the book arrived, the only time you visited him after the attack on New York City. You just assumed that he would always...be there. Before you knew it, Thor was here telling you that he was dead. And this whole time - this whole time - he was alive?

Why?

There was this rage in your heart at the thought of all that time wasted, when he was alive and well. You wanted to punch, yell and scream at him for letting you think he was dead. But at the same time, you wanted him to hold you as you sobbed and pepper his face with soft kisses and promise that you would never, never, leave him again.

There was a knock at your door and you let out a sigh, knowing who it was. “Go away, Steve,” you said as you pulled the book out of the drawer and held it in your hands. Steve, being Steve, didn’t take the hint and decided to enter the room anyways. He hovered by the door for a second before shutting it and walking over to sit beside you on the bed.

“You okay?” he asked in that damned sympathetic tone. You rolled your eyes when he asked that same stupid question again. When you didn’t answer, he spoke up again, “Where’d you get that?”

He was referring to the book in your hands. You glanced down, running your fingers over the cover and tracing the letters. “Julius Caesar,” you muttered, “It was a birthday gift. From Loki.”

“Really?” he asked, “When?”

“He sent it while he was locked up on Asgard, before he, um...” you trailed off and swallowed the lump in your throat, “I have no idea how he got it here,” you said with a soft chuckle, “But then, he never did like disappointing me...”

Your voice cracked as a sob left your lips and tears began to roll down your cheeks. “God! Why am I even crying?” you groaned as you wiped your eyes furiously, but to no avail. The tears just kept coming until your whole body wracked with sobs.

“I love you.”

Those three words kept ringing in your ears over and over. You’d said those words to each other many times before, but they never amounted to anything. And ever since Loki “died”, you’d felt like it was your fault. Those feelings had tripled since finding out that he was dead. For good this time.  

You couldn’t help but feel like you were the one who closed the door on any future you could’ve had together by choosing to leave Asgard. Who knows? Maybe if you’d stayed, you two would be married by now. Maybe he wouldn’t have become so...broken.

Maybe he wouldn’t be dead.

But he was. And you couldn’t change the past. So instead, you buried your head into Steve’s chest, and cried your heart out.

[lokimostly]

Polaris (Ch.2/?)

Loki x Reader, Pirate!AU Word count: 3,707 Warnings: mentions of blood, angst Summary: Your life has always been set in stone. Born to a wealthy merchant family in the Caribbean, you’ve spent your years as an heiress in the daytime, escaping at night to wander the streets of St. Thomas. Now, on the eve before your life settles into mundanity for good, you discover someone who could change everything– if you choose to trust him, that is.

A/N: Tag list is open! Sorry for any typos, I really need a beta reader, lol. Enjoy!

Previous Chapter ~ Chapter Three ~  Chapter Four ~ Chapter Five ~  Chapter Six ~ Chapter Seven ~ Chapter Eight ~ Chapter Ten ~ Chapter Eleven ~ Chapter Twelve ~ Chapter Thirteen ~ Chapter Fourteen

“Daughter, if we don’t leave now, we’re going to be late!”

“It’s not like it starts without me!” You snapped. You heard your father let out an exasperated noise, quickly followed by his footsteps down the hallway, and then they disappeared entirely. He’d given up fighting with you for the meantime, it seemed.

One of the maids your father employed stuck her head cautiously through your open door like she was peeking into the lair of a waking dragon. “Miss, would you like any help–”

“– I’m fine,” you replied curtly. “You may go.”

She dismissed herself with a relieved expression.

You returned your gaze to the vanity mirror in front of you. You didn’t look anything like yourself. Your hair had been tousled with and brought to heel, stacked so high that you felt like you might topple over if you leaned your head the wrong way. Your face was painted with vermillion, cheeks unnaturally red. Your lips were pigmented, too– they tasted sour and metallic when you ran your tongue over them.

You stared at yourself. You looked miserable. Your eyes dropped to the ornate set of jewelry that had been laid out for you on the vanity. You sighed noisily and reached up to the mountain of hair, searching for the clips that held it so carefully in place. If you were going to be forced into a corset, an obnoxiously heavy dress and even heavier jewelry, you had to compromise somewhere. Besides, how was your future fianceé supposed to know what you looked like if he couldn’t see your real features?

You paused with a hair clip between your fingers. Huh. You’d never thought about your betrothed before. Not as a person, at least – he was always a concept, an abstract figure that you could argue about and passionately loathe for ruining your life’s plans. You didn’t even know what he looked like.

If you were lucky, he might be that handsome stranger.

You threw away the thought just as quickly as it came, and began undoing the mountain of curls on your head. What a foolish thing to think. You’ll never see him again. You don’t even know his name.

He didn’t know yours, either. It was an arrangement he suggested at the beginning of the night, and you had agreed. After all, the less he knew about you, the better, right?

But he was the first thing on your mind when you were roused by the maids, only a few hours after falling into bed. You blamed the dark circles under your eyes on a bad night of sleep, on account of nervousness – which was laughable. This marriage had been arranged since before your birth. What did you have to be nervous about?

After you pulled a final clip your hair came loose, tumbling down your back in loose curls. Much better. You sighed again – you seemed to be doing that a lot lately – and gave yourself one last look. No, as much as you could daydream about the handsome stranger who walked along the docks with you on your last night of freedom, you knew the truth. You would never see him again.

You tried to convince yourself that it was for the best.

“Daughter–”

“I’m coming down!” You called, pulling at the dress to try and ease your discomfort somehow. It was peach-colored – sweet, soft and innocent, as you were supposed to be. You reached up and rubbed the back of your hand against your lips, removing the blood-red stain from them at the last minute.

You could practically feel your father’s veins about to burst when he called you again, this time by your first name. You picked up the hem of your dress, stood, and smiled politely at your reflection: half-practice, half-goodbye. This was, after all, your farewell to your better self. The girl that would walk out of your room would be someone else entirely.

Your eyes pricked with tears and you inhaled quickly– no crying. Instead, you put your chin up, took as deep a breath as you could manage, and walked out the door.

The lone candle stood flickering on the windowsill.

~

It was mid-afternoon by the time you arrived.

“You changed your hair,” Your father observed as he stepped out, offering you his hand.

“It looks better this way,” you replied testily, taking it. You picked up the fabric of your dress with one hand and carefully descended the steps, until your soft-soled slippers touched cobblestone. You purposefully avoided your father’s expression of displeasure. Instead, you looked ahead.

The estate was enormous. You couldn’t have imagined a house so large, even though yours was the biggest in St. Thomas by far. There were more windows than you could count. The gardens went on forever. Ornate pillars of alabaster stone framed a wide, curving staircase up to the gilded double doors. They were wide open: music and light chatter flooded out like water, ringing out across the grounds and reaching you even as you stood in the drive.

“It seems that it does start without you,” Your father remarked as he offered you his arm– a jab at your comment from earlier.

Your eyes flitted over the estate with an unenthused expression. However skilled the musicians inside may have been, to you the distant music only sounded discordant.

You took his arm and travelled up the stone walkway. Your stomach felt like it was sinking to the depths of the ocean. By the time you reached the stairs, you were surprised there wasn’t a visible thundercloud looming over your head. The servants at the door greeted you – you didn’t hear a word.

When you came through the foyer and into the main ballroom, you had begun preparation for a swift exit.

There were too many people, far too many. The afternoon heat only amplified your feeling of claustrophobia. The room was obscenely large and still felt crowded: lords and ladies dressed to the nines, not a beauty mark or a wig hair out of place. You were immediately grateful for altering your appearance. You stood out now. To this crowd, you undoubtedly looked childish and plain. To your fianceé, at least you might look something like yourself.

A string quartet played subdued, slightly melancholic notes from one corner. You were reminded of the four-string fiddler in the tavern last night – and the sea-green eyes of the man who’d saved you. You felt a pang in your chest. Why hadn’t you run away for good? Smuggled yourself onto a ship and let it take you far away from this?

I’m a coward, you thought miserably, as you flashed a reassuring smile towards your father. No matter how hard I try, I’ll will always be afraid.

You were vaguely aware that the servants had announced your presence, because suddenly the music quieted, and everyone turned to look at you. Hundreds of eyes burned holes in your skin, tearing apart your clothes, makeup, expression– you felt more naked than if you’d stripped. And yet muscle memory prevailed: you smiled, just enough to look seemly, and told yourself it would all be over soon.

Your father tugged subtly on your arm, ushering you into the room. Your heart felt like a bird trying to escape through your chest as you continued to draw the gaze of the crowd. Why were they still staring? Surely your appearance wasn’t that shocking.

“My friend, how good to see you. You look well.”

You turned your gaze and found your father shaking hands with someone: an older man. Your soon-to-be father-in-law. You knew him only by the name of his company: Odin & Sons, the wealthiest shipping merchants in every corner of the Caribbean. Unlike most of the English guests, he wore no wig or lace-covered clothing. There were a few metal clasps in his greying hair, and nothing more. Somewhere in the back of your mind, you recognised it to be a more traditional Scandinavian style of dress.

Not that it matters, you reminded yourself. He’s the richest man in the South Pacific, he can wear what he likes.

“And you must be her,” he said, turning his attention to you and extending his hand. You snapped out of your thoughts and forced a smile, giving it to him. He pressed a kiss to your knuckles as you curtsied.

“It’s an honor, Sir,” you said robotically, faltering a little at his title- you weren’t sure if it was the right one.

He noticed, and chuckled. “Odin will suffice, my dear.”

You forced a titter through your lips and straightened up – a small laugh that meant silly me, what an easy mistake. There had to be some kind of award for a performance this convincing.

Odin gestured broadly behind him, directing your gaze as he spoke. “May I introduce my sons– Thor, my firstborn, and Loki.”

Your eyes fell on the two tall figures, and then your jaw dropped.

It was him.

The one who walked the town with you last night, who saved you in the tavern, standing there and smiling with all the congeniality his handsome face could offer, like nothing had happened.

And next to him was your fianceé.

“My dear, that’s hardly becoming,” your father teased nervously, and you quickly closed your gaping mouth. Your father chuckled, trying to make light of your inappropriate expression. “I hadn’t told her of your son’s good looks.”

Thor laughed, and you looked at him for the first time. He was good-looking. Like his father, his golden hair was pulled half-back and tied with metal clasps; there were a few braids hiding behind his ears as well. Broad shouldered, with a light beard and twinkling blue eyes … yes, he was handsome.

But then there was Loki.

Gone was the simple dress you’d seen him in the night prior. The wide-sleeved shirt he wore now was a deep sea-green, embroidered to shimmer like water when he moved. The only addition to his appearance was a loose braid that fell to his collarbone, but God if it didn’t do wonders. He looked marvelous: understated yet elegant, with a smirk that betrayed exactly nothing. Even here, he had that air of mystery, like he was somehow a touch out of place.

You let Thor take your hand automatically, but your eyes stayed fixed to his brother: staring at him with such intensity that you were surprised you didn’t leave burn marks in his forehead.

It’s me, your eyes said desperately. We’ve met before.

Loki’s eyes said nothing in return.

“May I have the first dance?” Thor asked politely. Right, there was dancing. You broke your gaze from Loki (with difficulty) and allowed Thor to take you from your father, capturing you with a hand around your waist. You stiffened at his touch, and then forced yourself to relax. This would be your husband soon— you couldn’t flinch every time he touched you.

The string quartet music swelled and in one choreographed movement, the guests paired themselves up. You knew how to dance, of course, but given the nature of your predetermined marriage you had never actually danced with anyone other than your instructor.

“You must forgive me,” Thor said, smiling apologetically. “I’m usually too busy for dancing. I haven’t made a habit of it.”

“You and I both,” You responded distractedly. Your hand barely touched his shoulder as the music steadied to a waltz. Simple enough. You avoided Thor’s gaze like the plague, looking around the room instead – searching for his brother. Did he really not recognise you, after last night’s excursion? Your appearance wasn’t that different.

Then again, if he was feigning ignorance, you wouldn’t be surprised. He had already proved that he was clever beyond your understanding.

“Your hair is lovely.”

You forced yourself to pay attention to your partner. “Thank you,” you murmured, still avoiding his gaze. “I like yours, too.”

On cue with the music, Thor spun you out and brought you back seamlessly, pulling you to him once more. You found yourself staring at the floor, watching the marble tiles move beneath you. He was obviously taking great care not to step on your feet.

“If we are going to be wed, we should learn to look each other in the eye,” he said gently.

Your gaze snapped up to him as your face flushed. Apparently Loki wasn’t the only one with a watchful gaze. “My apologies.”

“Not necessary,” He smiled, which only made you feel worse.

There was another beat of music-filled silence. You combed your brain for something witty to say, and came up empty. How were you supposed to talk to him? With respect? As a friend? The two of you barely knew each other– you hadn’t the faintest idea where to begin.

You heard Loki’s familiar, musical laugh and glanced across the dance floor– he had a woman caught up in his arms, spinning her like she weighed nothing and smiling as though he was having the time of his life. You felt an unfamiliar twinge of jealousy, and quickly shoved it back down, forcing yourself to look at Thor again.

By the time you had half a sentence constructed in your mind, the song was over.

Thor parted from you and bowed politely, offering you a genuine smile. “If you’ll excuse me – there is business to attend to that I must oversee.”

Your eyebrows raised and you managed to conjure a mildly disappointed expression. “Oh, it’s alright,” you said, and gave him a condoling smile. “I understand.”

“Don’t worry, brother,” came a familiar voice over your shoulder, as two large hands set themselves on your shoulders. You froze. “I’ll ensure that she won’t perish of boredom.”

Thor laughed. “I have no doubt of that.” He gave you a final nod, and strode through the crowds, disappearing from your sight.

As soon as he was gone, you whirled around with wide eyes, feeling like you were about to combust. “You–” you began accusingly.

He didn’t let you finish. Instead, he swept you up into his arms just as the music swelled again, grasping your hand and wrapping his arm around your waist. It sent shivers up your spine that you did your best to ignore.

“Darling, we must stop meeting like this,” he said, and began twirling you across the dance floor. You were forced to stare at his face so you wouldn’t get dizzy. He led effortlessly, weaving through other pairs and picking you up off the ground by a fraction of an inch when called for – unlike Thor, whose dancing required rigid focus, you felt free in Loki’s arms.

Loki. You savored the name in your mind, wondering how it would taste on your tongue. It certainly suited him.

“So you did recognize me,” you said, after you’d reigned your thoughts back in and remembered what you were talking about.

Loki merely smirked, tilting his head slightly in a nod. “You’re hard to forget.”

Your cheeks burned and you scowled. “Don’t try and flatter your way out of this,” you warned him. “Did you know I was your brother’s betrothed when we met? Is that why you wouldn’t tell me your name?”

“Surprisingly, I was unaware,” he admitted, lifting you up and forcing you to hold tightly to his shoulder before setting you back down again. So fluid and simple, but your heart was racing from the adrenaline of it. “It’s a shame. He’ll have a hard time reining you in.”

Your scowl deepened as you tried to discern the meaning behind his statement. “Is that an insult?” You asked, gazing up at his face. Goodness, that jaw of his could cut glass.

In contrast to your faithful stare, Loki’s eyes never seemed to meet yours. “A compliment,” he corrected. He spun you out without warning, pulling you in and holding your back against his chest. His elegant hands gripped your waist just enough to lead without ever making you feel like he was touching you indecently. The irony was that it left you wanting for more of his touch. You wanted to feel his fingers dig against your skin.

You felt a surge of guilt. You shouldn’t be thinking of him that way, not when you were going to marry his brother.

Why wouldn’t it have been him?

He brought you back to face him once more, catching your hand and bowing as the song ended. Unlike the first, this waltz seemed only too short. You had a hard time masking your regret when you curtsied.

Then he offered you his hand again.

“What say we catch our breath?”

~

The gardens were a maze. Tall, neat hedges lined the walkways and climbing vines wove around overhanging tree branches, hiding you from the sweltering heat of the evening sun. The grass underfoot was obviously well-tended: there wasn’t a blade out of place.

Loki looked different in sunlight.

The night before, you hadn’t been blessed by the opportunity to observe him in full. You had only seen the shadows and suggestions of his features, alluding to what he truly looked like. Now, you could see the curve of his cheekbones, the angle of his nose, the way his eyes spoke volumes before he ever said a word. He was mesmerizing, and you had a difficult time diverting your eyes.

So he’s not a pirate after all, you thought amiably. Just a wealthy merchant’s second son.

When you put it like that, he hardly sounded impressive – but he held your fascination nonetheless.

“Tell me, is there something on my face?” He asked suddenly without looking at you. His eyes were, in fact, drawn upward towards the low-hanging bows of the trees.

Your face flushed and you diverted your gaze. “No. I’m sorry, it was rude of me to stare.”

“You’ve been doing it all evening, don’t stop now,” he remarked sarcastically, dropping his eyes and gazing at you. In the light of day, they were more of a light green than the deep sea color you had previously thought. “And you sound terribly mechanical when you talk that way.”

You pressed your lips together to hide a smile, and dropped the formalities. “You don’t know me like you think you do.”

It was true, to an extent: you had told him almost nothing about yourself last night. Then again, you knew he saw more than he let on.

But to your surprise, he agreed. “No, I don’t.” He paused, slowing down to consider the roses that were blooming elegantly along the archway above you. They were the same color as your dress. “But I know you’re already tired of him.”

You frowned. “Thor?”

Loki rolled his eyes. “Stupidity isn’t becoming on you, either. Who else?”

You crossed your arms over your chest and watched him through narrowed eyes as he looked up at the roses. “I’ve only just met him, I couldn’t be tired of him.”

“I saw your face.” Loki reached up, and there was a small snap as he broke the stem of one flower between his fingers. “This world you’ve found yourself in, full of business meetings, garden parties, empty conversations– it bores you to tears. And Thor is all of that personified.”

His voice and face held no emotional weight– only cold calculation. He was stating a matter of fact.

You reached out to take the flower when he offered it. The wheels of your mind mulled over his words. He was probably right... they had grown up side by side, and if Loki said it, then it must be so.

Thor had left you for a business meeting right after your dance. You hadn’t cared at the time. But the duration of your interaction – and the fact that it felt like he was doing the bare minimum – did make his entrance into your life lackluster. And when you married him, what then? The least you could expect from your fianceé was his attention. And today, Thor hadn’t been able to give you that.

You had a feeling it wasn’t going to change.

Loki watched silently as you thought it over and your countenance fell, and he hummed through his nose.

You looked up sharply. “What?”

He raised his eyebrows and tilted his head, smirking. “So unhappy and yet you do so little to prevent it.”

You stiffened as a rush of heat rose to your face. “You don’t know me,” you repeated, more serious this time.

“No?” He asked, stepping towards you so suddenly that you took a few steps back, hitting the trunk of a willow tree. The bark dug into your back as you stared up at him with wide eyes.

His expression had changed. The deep sea-green color of his eyes was back, dark and dangerous like an impending storm.

“I know that it wasn’t just surprise that held your gaze on me and not your beloved,” He stated. His voice was low and sultry as he reached forward, holding your chin between his forefinger and thumb so you wouldn’t look away. “Tell me, little one, when you’ve finally wedded him and resigned yourself to a life full of everything you despise, how long will it take before I find you in my bed, whimpering in the dark, begging me for the comfort your husband cannot give?”

There was a sharp sound.

You stared, petrified, as you watched the pale skin of Loki’s cheek blush crimson from where your hand had struck him. He pulled away from you and reached up, slowly, ghosting his fingers over his skin.

You were speechless.

Loki stepped away, leaving you pressed against the willow. You were gripping the rose so tightly that the thorns had pricked your skin, little rivulets of blood trickling through your fingers. Your chest heaved with emotion, but still you made no sound.

He chuckled, dropping his hand and narrowing his eyes. His genuine smile sent a shiver down your spine - and not an unpleasant one, either.

“I think," he said slowly, offering you his arm with a smirk to walk back, "that you and I are going to get along.”

Next Chapter

~ ~ ~

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[sighingstarbeam]

Spies and Gods - Chapter 11

Summary: You're getting really tired of Loki's ego and arrogance.

Word Count: 3,144

A/N: WARNING: This chapter will depict sensitive subjects towards the end. Read at your own risk.

Chapter 10 | Chapter 12

You’ve been inside of many nightclubs in your life, but every time you enter one it’s an entirely different experience. Behind the double doors from the lobby was the actual club full of flashing neon lights, electronic music with a heavy bass, and intoxicated people shoulder to shoulder sweating on each other. Not only did you see all of this, but the smell was thick with sweat, alcohol, and smoke from the fog machines. The first time you were in a nightclub it was in Germany for a mission. You were seventeen at the time and never had alcohol, so before the mission you were forced to drink to the brink of intoxication to build a tolerance, which would explain why you can down three shots in under an hour and still feel fine. You were so nervous that your cover would be blown, you almost puked on your target as you flirted with him. Fortunately you managed to take him out successfully with no witnesses and no vomit. After that there was only one other time you went to a club for business rather than pleasure, but living with Maya and Lilly you learned to enjoy the blaring music and fancy light shows. You didn’t have to look over your shoulder expecting a gun to your head. You could finally have fun.

Your attention shifted to Loki, his expression vacant. You couldn’t tell if he was overwhelmed, underwhelmed, the right-amount-of-whelmed. You nudged his shoulder, his focus on you now, “Let’s go find my friends, they rented a private booth somewhere.” You yelled over the music. He nodded, allowing you to take the lead.   

You squeezed by people, looking at every table and booth trying to recognize your friends. At one time you thought you found Maya dancing on the table, but it was some other girl who definitely had too much to drink. You finally spotted them on the side of the club opposite of the bar with some other girls. They all had drinks in hand, laughing and dancing along with the music. You didn’t recognize the other girls, but you trudged your way towards them. The crowd got a bit tighter as you moved, without thinking you grabbed Loki’s hand so you didn’t lose him. You didn’t realize what you’ve done until the crowd cleared, allowing you easier access to the booth. You let go of his hand the moment you were in clear sight of the table. 

“Oh my God Y/N!” Lilly squealed, bending over the velvet rope divider to give you a tight hug, “I’m so happy you came! I want you to meet Gabby and Kat, they’re my coworkers, and this is Ana, my roommate from college.” They waved to you except for Kat, who was dancing, lost to the music. She noticed the present you bought her, “Is this for me? Thank you!” Lilly grabbed it and placed it in a small pile of other gifts.

Maya stepped out from behind Lilly, going in to give you a hug as well, “It’s good to see you girl. You scared us when we found-” Maya’s eyes shifted to the tall figure by your side, suddenly adjusting her hair, “And uh, is this your plus one?” You found Lilly also goggled to Loki.

“Guys, this is Loki. He lives in the headquarters with me. And he’s only being limited to two drinks tonight so don’t even order anything for him.”

Loki scooted you over to be in front of the girls, “The pleasure is all mine. Y/N never told me I would be in the presence of two goddesses.” If you were in a cartoon, you’d roll your eyes right out of your skull. Maya and Lilly were instantly swooned by his charms. You were already second guessing yourself, now for sure you regret bringing him along. 

“Drinks? Anyone? Me, yes. I need a drink.” You interjected between them, eyeing the self service bottles on the group’s table. From what you could tell there was a bottle of champagne, vodka, two skinny pitchers of cranberry and orange juice, and a container filled with ice. You poured yourself a glass filled heavily of vodka with a splash of orange juice, knowing that this was going to be a long night.

---

After an hour of drinking, present opening, and listening to Loki schmooze his way with the group, you were beginning to feel mentally drained. You didn’t want to leave yet however, you wanted to at least stay to make sure everyone went home safely. Somehow you felt protective over Lilly and Maya. Not in a controlling matter, but you would do anything to make sure no harm came to them. Maybe it was because they were the first people you met that showed you an ounce of compassion. Your years on your own weren’t kind to you. Getting a job was near impossible, which left you living in abandoned cars and homeless shelters. It wasn’t paradise, but it was better than your previous situation. On the other hand, when Maya and Lilly offered you a home, you thought there was some twist. You even thought they were Hydra agents trying to take you back. After a week of staying with them, you realized they were normal people who could offer you a normal life.

You began to zone out when Loki started talking about himself. Again. As interesting as it is to learn about Asgard and space, it’s not as interesting when they’re only footnotes and him the main focus. The girls were all ogling from his captivating words, maybe a few of them weren’t listening at all while they were too mesmerized by his looks. Not that you were thinking about his attractiveness, you only noticed some of the girls weren’t blinking for a solid minute, their gaze only at Loki. 

“And then, I let go.” Loki finished. You snapped back into reality when everybody erupted into a fit of laughter.

“Y/N, your friend here is something else. Have you been keeping him to yourself?” Ana, or maybe it was Kat, teased.

You gulped down some of your drink before speaking, “Uh, no. Technically he’s not even supposed to be out of the building, let alone in the city.”

“The stuff you told me and Lilly was just the tip of the iceberg, wasn’t it?” Maya slurred, the drinks already getting to her. 

Loki turned to you, “Oh, you’ve told them about me?” He placed his hand under his chin in curiosity, his grin toying you, “Do tell, what did you share?”

“Nothing much,” you shrugged, you had a feeling he was trying to play a game that you weren’t going to fall for, “I only told them how you live across from me, how annoying you are, oh- and how you’re the little brother of Thor.”

Loki didn’t like you bringing up his brother at all. However, that didn’t stop him from showing off his cheerful facade. If you blinked you would have missed the flicker in his eye giving away his true emotion.

“Thor’s your brother!” Lilly exclaimed, “What’s he like? Oh he seems so nice-”

“Not to mention he’s really cute,” Kat, or maybe it was Ana, chimed in, “all of those muscles that could tear through a shirt…”

Gabby scooted in on the conversation, “Is Captain America really tall in person? I bet he’s tall!” 

Loki’s mask was slowly falling as the girls discussed which Avenger was cuter instead of paying attention to him. You couldn’t help but smile when his eye twitched in irritation from the mention of his brother. From the stories you were told you could tell he was outshined by his brother’s fame and power, even if they were raised in a lavish royal lifestyle together. You would think that they would be treated as equals. Then again, Thor was the oldest, making him first in line to be king. Whatever, now wasn’t the time to throw a pity party for Loki. You wanted a nice night out with your friends instead of being stuck playing nanny while Loki gets all of the attention. You might as well have fun with it.

The girls squabbled back and forth between each other for a while over who was the best and sexiest Avenger before Loki piped in, “As much as I love to hear you discuss about my, associates, you should really be asking Y/N here.”

Where was he going with this? You thought, staring Loki down questionably.  

“Y/N?” Gabby asked.

“Oh yes,” he continued, “she has more of a relationship with them. Especially with the dear old Captain.”

You choked on your drink. There’s no way he would think that you and Steve were more than friends. True you thought of him as handsome, and nice, and funny, and you get along with him very well, but that didn’t mean you had feelings for him in a romantic way. You respected him too much as a leader of the team. However, you’d be lying if you said you never thought about Steve in that matter for a brief second, except you would never act on it. It would be too weird to date a coworker, especially one in the same building where you live and work no doubt.

The girls scooted in closer, suddenly interested in you for the first time the entire night. “You didn’t say you were getting close with Captain America.” Lilly said.

You set your now empty glass down, “No- I mean yes, but not like that.” You sputtered out, “Steve and I are friends. He was very kind when I first moved in and in general is a very pleasant guy.”

“So you’re saying he’s single?” Ana, you were sure this time, asked. “You don’t happen to have his number on you, do you?”

“I don’t know. We don’t talk about relationships much-”

“Is there anyone there you are dating?” asked Gabby.

“Maybe it’s Thor, I can definitely see you two dating.”

“No, no I can see her with that bow guy, Birdeye or something?”

“Hawkeye, and I see her with Falcon, he seems like the bold type.”

You were at a loss for words. Lilly and Maya excused themselves to go to the bathroom, leaving you with Lilly’s friends talking over each other.  It was a constant string of questions and assumptions about your relationship with the group. Not even the blaring music could drown their endless jabbering.

You went to pour another glass when you realized the bottle was empty. “I’m gonna go grab something strong from the bar.” Without waiting for an answer, you hastily crossed the velvet barrier to the bar on the opposite end of the room. You waited for the bartender, forcing yourself not to look back at your party who was just on the other side of the room, the view obstructed by a mob of dancers.

Anger was boiling inside you. How dare Loki ruin your rare night of fun. You didn’t want to bring him in the first place, you had no other choice but to. Well, technically you could have stayed in your room to binge watch TV, but you already owed Maya and Lilly so much, the least you could do was show up and celebrate Lilly’s birthday. Instead you had to listen to Loki ramble on and on about how great he is, the worst part that everyone was sucking it up. It wasn’t like you expected to be the center of attention, however it would be appreciated if you could have a conversation that wasn’t Avengers related for five minutes. That’s what pissed you off the most. That was Loki’s play. He knew that you needed a break from the team after weeks of being around them every second of the day. Bringing them up would get the girls going, therefore Loki winning this selfish game.

Your drink was brought yet you didn’t move from your spot. You weren’t ready to go back, not yet, until a presence appeared next to you.

It was none other than the prick of the night, “What do you want?” You spat.

“The ladies wondered where you slithered off to.” Loki replied, flagging down the bartender for a drink, “They have so many more questions for you about your companions.”

Your grip was tight on the glass. You refrained from breaking it into a million shards, “Tell them that after this drink we’re leaving.”

“So soon? The night is still young.”

“Yeah, well I didn’t want to leave either, but you proved that you can’t be trusted  one night outside of HQ.”

“Trusted?” Loki was taken aback, “Possibly what have I done to make myself untrustworthy?”

You turned to him, your eyes piercing like daggers, “Oh, I don’t know, making this night all about you instead of my friend who deserves it, implying that I’m hooking up with one of the guys, which led to a tidal wave of questions that were a bit too personal about my colleagues.”

“May I remind you that you were the one who started it?” Loki retorted.

“Excuse me?”

“You were the one who brought up Thor,” the bartender brought Loki his drink. He ignored it, his focus on you, “if you didn’t say his name then the night would have run smoothly. It’s just like him to mess everything up, even when he’s not here.”

Jaw tight, you sneered your next words, “Is that what happened during your failed conquest?”

Loki stiffened. If he had his drink there would be no doubt that it would be shattered in his palm. “Finish your damn drink so we may go.” With that Loki grabbed his glass, storming off back to the girls. 

If only you could punch something right about now. All you could think about was how much of an ass he was before, but now he crossed so many lines. You were dreading the drive back home. 

As you drank you calmed yourself down. You don’t remember what number you were at with your drinks, but you could finally feel a slight buzz. This was your final drink before drinking some water and heading out.

You waved down the bartender for a glass of water when you felt another presence next to you. “Can you just leave me alo-” You assumed it was Loki, but you were greeted by an unfamiliar, yet attractive, face.

“Oh, I’m sorry. I just thought you were looking lonely by yourself here.” He grinned, taking a sip of his own drink.

“Shit, no I should be the one apologizing.” You rubbed the back of your neck in embarrassment, “I thought you were somebody else.”

“This somebody else sounds like a not so pleasant person.” He extended a hand, “I’m Nick.”

You shook his hand, “Y/N.”

“So Y/N, what’s a girl like you doing in a place like this?”

You snorted, “You’re really gonna use that cheesy phrase?”

Nick laughed, “Only if it works.”

You sighed, “I’m here for a friend’s birthday. I would stay longer but I have to take another… friend, home soon.”

“Is this friend the one you don’t want to deal with right now?”

“Yes. Not the one with the birthday, the other one.”

“I’m sure they wouldn’t mind if you stayed for another drink, I’ll buy.” Without a response he ordered two drinks, one for him and one for you. 

You shook your head, “I really shouldn’t. I’m the driver so I gotta stay as sober as I can.”

“You don’t have to finish it,” when the drinks came he pushed one towards you, “I just want to make up an excuse to talk to you. Only if you humor me.”

It only took one look to your table to see Loki, once again, charming the women with his egotistical stories. “Hell, we're here to have fun, right? One more drink couldn’t hurt, he can wait fifteen more minutes.” Nick and you clinked glasses before taking a swig.

Talking to Nick helped you get your mind off of not only Loki, but the Avengers as well. You talked about your favorite things, which you both had a lot similar interests. He didn’t talk about himself much, he was more interested in you. For the first time tonight you were having an enjoyable time.

About twenty minutes passed while you were talking to Nick. “Do you want to go dance?” He motioned to the dance floor, filled with sweaty people and flashing lights. “Just for a bit, I promise.”

You looked again at your group, still enthralled with Loki. “Absolutely.” Before the two of you stood, you took one last gulp of liquid courage, eyeing the table. Maybe it was the trick of the lights, but as you and Nick left for the dance floor you saw Loki look at you with either wariness, worry, or maybe jealousy? Either way, you left with Nick to the flashing floor and blaring bass music. 

The phrase “dance like nobody's watching” did justice for the crowd. So many people were so engulfed in the moment they didn’t notice two more squeeze in. You wanted to follow along. Let everything go, get lost in the music, feel your limbs go limp.

That last part was happening a bit more quickly than you expected. 

You thought at first that you danced too hard too fast, or maybe the drinks were finally hitting you all at once. Your arms felt slumped to your sides while your head was spinning in circles, black dots were darting everywhere. A body was keeping you from falling to the ground, but there were so many people you couldn’t tell if it was Nick or someone else.

“Hey, you okay?” Nick asked, holding you steady.

“Y-Yeah, I just d-don’t feel so hot.” You slurred.

“Let’s get you out of here.” Nick wrapped his arm around your waist, his other arm on your shoulders to keep your balance.

“I-I can’t, I need to get my friend home.” For some reason you could only think about Loki. He needed to get home. You needed to get home.

Nick hushed you, “I’ll make sure he gets home. I’ll take care of you.”

You vaguely remember Nick taking you outside, but it wasn’t from the front entrance. There was another door that led to an alley where you started losing consciousness. A black truck was parked on the side. Fear immediately took control.

If only you could scream until your throat gave out. Yell for somebody to help you, to get you out of here. You wanted to fight with every ounce of strength you had, but all of it was depleted elsewhere. You wished you stayed in your room, ordered a pizza, take Lilly and Maya out another day, your treat. But that never happened.

Everything went black.

[madsmikkelsenschesthair]

Blood of the Dragon ch. 8

Summary: Freyja meets the Mad Grandfather and has a strange but prophetic dream.

A/n: yaaaallll I am so sooo sorry but our dear Danny won’t be in this story. I will be using her to make my aesthetics so technically y’all are kinda her? But not really her HER? Get it? No? Me neither! Enjoy! Remember to send me a message for comments, questions, and concerns. Like I said before, Keep it nice.

Warnings: insults, uncomfortable situations, mad Grandfather, one sad papa Rhaegar, fluff, cursing, violence, angst, a hint of death of character

“Look sister! That’s Dragonstone” Little Robb pointed excitedly towards the grey castle that nearly stood on the edge of a cliff. Freyja couldn’t believe it! She had never seen such a big castle in all her life. According to her books and her father, Dragonstone was where her family first settled when they fled Old Valyria. Hundreds of generations have lived in that very same castle and gave birth to new generations and now here she was! This was far too exciting! Freyja could only imagine how big and beautiful Kingslanding was. She couldn’t hardly contain herself her body was jittery and she was grinning from ear to ear until she could no longer feel her face. Little Robb coughed into his cloak breaking Freyja out of her daze, it had been getting chillier these past few weeks and her little brother seemed weaker than when she first met him. On the other hand, Fenrir was growing fast and strong and his puppy eagerness was gone replaced by the adulthood overcoming him. He was ever so faithful as well always by her side, 

Freyja took off her own cloak, red with black fur trim and gold dragons, and put it around his shoulders. “Go back to your chambers,” she told him, “I think we will be there in an hour or so. Stay warm” The cold wind brushed against her cheeks reminding her to do the same, Freyja was far too excited to go back to her own chambers though. Today she will meet her Grandfather Aerys. Her father had not told her much about him or his other brother and she wondered why. Anytime Freyja asked about them the conversation was immediately changed to another topic or her parents would ask her about her day. Freyja kept a mental note of that for later. 

Little Robb stopped midway to the stairs that lead below deck and stared at her, “Are you coming? You’ll get sick too” Freyja kept her eyes on Dragonstone, she could feel magic swarming in her blood as they grew closer. This would be their first and last stop before they left for Kingslanding. She looked down to her wolf, “Come on, Fen” and the pair followed her little brother below deck.

After sailing for so many weeks, the Targaryen fleet stopped and the family got back on the little boats and sailed to the shore. Freyja had no problem stepping off the boat and getting her boots and dress a little wet but her family looked to be in anguish to have their fine clothes soiled. She was used to it after so many years of fishing with her boys. Looking at it now, Dragonstone castle was bigger that it loomed over them. The closer they walked to the entrance the more nervous she got. Freyja saw a group of people waiting for them at the top of the grey steps all of them wearing dark clothes. Her hand closed around the Thor’s Mjolnir on her neck homesickness tightening her stomach. She followed her father and his guards close behind enclosing them, protecting them. The leader of the group that was waiting for them was a short man, an imp, with curly dark hair and a beard and he smiled at her.

“Welcome home Your Grace!” he said his smile growing wider. 

Her King Father’s face broke into a grin, “Lord Tyrion, such a pleasant surprise we thought you would be back in Kingslanding”

“There is no ‘we’ my love” Cersei intervened, her voice cold, “what are you doing here? You should be helping father at the Red Keep”

Freyja was surprised by how much malice there was in her voice towards the little man but he didn’t seem so phased, he only smiled sweetly at her.

“Good to see you too, sweet sister,” Lord Tyrion answered, “but I couldn’t wait to see my new niece” Freyja smiled shyly at her new uncle and she stepped forward. “Look at you!” he gushed “Pure Valyrian beauty! You look just like your father, Princess Y/n” He took her hand and gingerly placed a kiss on top.

She flinched at her new name and her smile almost disappeared but Freyja managed to compose herself after all Tyrion seemed like such a kind man, “Thank you, Uncle Tyrion. It is very nice to meet you and I can’t wait to meet my grandfather”

The grownups gave each other wary looks. Even Uncle Tyrion’s smile faded, “Speaking of,” he turned to Rhaegar, “Your father wishes to speak to you, Your Grace even you Cersei. In the meantime, I will help the children settle and get to know my new niece”

Her parents wasted no time and hurried up the steps with Uncle Jaime and a group of knights following. Freyja watched them, dumbfounded. What were they hiding from her? Why did everyone grow quiet when her grandfather was mentioned? She would have to ask her Uncle these questions.

The interior of Dragonstone was as breathtaking as it was outside. The was seemed to be made of some rare dark stone, the torches on the wall gave it a hint of red golden streaks. That wasn’t all; carvings, drawings, and statues of dragons stood on almost every corner and wall. It truly lived up to its’ name. It was also surprisingly warm, so warm that Freyja took off her cloak. 

“I can’t believe I’m really here,” she said smiling her eyes still wandering up and down the walls and ceiling. “The home of my ancestors” 

Tyrion watched her facial expressions, how happy she looked and even the sparkle in her eyes. And there was something else but he couldn’t quite figure out what it was. All he knew was that he was glad the rightful heir to the throne was home Even with her Valyrian looks, Y/n looked Viking or at least a small one in the making. Still, she carried the heavy and dreadful burden of homesickness. Tyrion could see it. 

A woman came in making Freyja lookup. She had on a plain grey dress along with the same colored wimp on her head covering her hair. Little Rob instantly lit up when he saw her. “Ah, dear Septa please take my nephew to his room,” Tyrion said and the woman curtsied. The pair left them alone. He smiled at his niece. “Come, you and I have much to talk about dear Niece. Tell me about Kattegat, your home” 

Freyja’s throat began to close, she followed her uncle down a long corridor it took a bit for her to find her words. “My home”, she began to say slowly, “is very beautiful. There is so much green everywhere and it rains a lot. During the winter it gets really cold but I love it”

“It does sound like paradise” Uncle Tyrion commented with a smile, “I hear you worship different gods”

“We do! We worship Odin, Frigg, Thor, Baldur, Loki, Freyja” her eyes had that sparkle again, “I was born during the wrath of Thor and that’s why I’m Thorsdottir”

Tyrion chuckled. “And you were named Freyja after your mother. It was a nickname Ragnar Lothbrok gave your mother”

Freyja’s smile faded. She missed her family so much and prayed to the Gods Ragnar was safe wherever he was. Uncle Tyrion led her and her wolf to a room that was more elegant than the one she had on the ship. Like the rest of the castle, there were beautiful soaring dragons on the walls and ceiling but in the middle of the ceiling, there was a painting of a man with short pale hair and a beard his gaze hard and intimidating. By his side, two beautiful women; one feminine and the other wearing armor. Both of them with the same pale hair and violet eyes as the man. 

“Who’s that?” 

Tyrion followed her eyes, “Ah! That my sweet niece is Aegon the Conqueror and his sister-wives Visenya and Rhaenys”

“Conqueror?” she said full of wonder and curiosity.

“Yes, he is Aegon the Conqueror. Many Targaryens were named after him” Tyrion explained as he poured himself a cup of wine, “Many of them not as brave or sane as him though”

The painting was beautiful but her favorite part of the room was the window. She could see the dark ocean from here and smell the sea salt that was stronger than any pungent smell. Freyja was about to open the window when a knock on the door brought their attention. Uncle Tyrion opened the door to find a knight.

“Pardoned me Your Grace but your grandfather has asked to see you,” he said.

There was that look on her uncle’s face again and now Freyja knew that this meeting with her grandfather was not going to end very well. How she wished Bjorn was here to protect her. Even Ragnar. Suddenly the halls of Dragonstone were no longer welcoming and Freyja wished to be anywhere else but here. The whole way to her grandfather’s sickroom, they were quiet not making the situation any better. Finally, they reached two heavy double doors guarded by two more knights. Before they could go in, Tyrion turned to Freyja. 

“Be careful, sweet niece, Your Grandfather is not right in the head.” And the guards opened the door before she could even open her mouth. They were all waiting for them, Father, Stepmother, Uncle Jaime, and...grandfather. He was laying in a large bed with many pillows to keep him propped up, his pale white hair long and matted, lilac eyes sickly and frail or at least what she thought was frail. His nails were longer than hers and the room smelled heavily of illness. Her father motioned her forward. Even the air was uneasy. 

“Father,” King Father said gently, “Y/n is home. This is your granddaughter”

Aerys Targaryen’s eyes studied the girl, “Rhaella? Is that you?” Freyja looked at her father and he gave a dry chuckle. “No father, It’s Y/n. Your grandchild”. Her grandfather’s face molded into a bitter twist. “Come here, girl let me take a look at you”. Freyja gulped and inched her way closer to him. She gasped when he suddenly snatched her wrist gripping it tightly. Aerys’s pulled her closer until she could smell his foul breath. He didn’t say anything only his eyes wandering her face. Freyja’s heart pounded loudly against her chest. The more he stared the angrier he got. There was no illness in those eyes only madness and he was swimming in insanity.

“You smell like the Norse,” he said harshly, “You smell like your bitch mother”

“Father!” Rhaegar hissed and stepmother gasped, Freyja only stared at him dumbfounded. 

“You little wench! Your mother was the one to cause that Rebellion! You are exactly like her. You look like the dragon but you have the stench of a wolf!” Her grandfather roared startling Freyja and everyone else in the room. She then felt a sharp hot sting on her cheek and she fell to the floor from the harsh blow. Stepmother shrieked next she heard the wrestling of men and through watery eyes, Freyja watched her father fight his own. He called for the guards and immediately they busted in holding back the Mad King from hitting her more. Fear shook her entire body. 

“I’ll burn them all!” he screamed, his face red and eyes on fire. “I’ll burn them all starting with you!”

Freyja ignored Uncle Jaime’s strong arms and Stepmother’s desperate cries, she fled from that room as if fleeing from the wrath of Hel. She ran, ran all the way to her room slamming the door behind her. Freyja collapsed on to her bed sobbing inconsolably. No one in her life had hit her. Ever. Everyone had always treated her kindly, her home was full of love and laughter and here she didn’t have that. She missed her Bear, Kraka, Lagertha, Athelstan, her boys. Everyone! It wasn’t fair that these people had to take her away from her family! 

“Freyja? It’s us, Uncle Jaime and Uncle Tyrion, can we come in?” 

She didn’t wipe away her tears or respond. Freyja was far too heartbroken. Her uncles came in anyway. 

“I want to go home!” she wailed “I want my family! I miss my bear!”

Uncle Jaime sat on the edge of the bed, rubbing her back. “Don’t cry, little Freyja. Your grandfather will not burn anyone” She sat up still sobbing. Jaime put her head against his chest, letting the tears run down his armor. 

“Hey, hey now,” Uncle Tyrion said, his voice soft and kind “Let’s get your mind of that, hm? Tell me about your family, about Bjorn and Ragnar”

“They would have killed that monster!”

Jaime shot his little brother a look and Tyrion’s eyes went wide. “Alright let’s not talk about that! Please, tell me about Bjorn. You talk about him a lot” Jaime took out a handkerchief and wiped away her tears.

“His name literally means bear,” Freyja said, she touched her necklace, “I call him bear because he is protective of me. A bit overprotective, really. He loves me a lot. I am like his daughter”

“Are you?”

“Yes, and he is like my father” Talking about Bjorn made tears swell in her eyes again. “I really, really, really want to go home. I miss my family”

Uncle Jaime got on one knee taking her hands in his, “I understand, little one but I cannot take you home. We don’t have that power”

“But we can speak to your father,” Uncle Tyrion said, “we can tell him how you feel. In the meantime, you have us to come to for anything else”

Freyja thanked them with all her heart. Stepmother came in after her face was back to its normal bright self and she was laughing at a funny story her Uncle Tyrion was telling. Her stepmother comforted and told her she loved her but her King Father did not come in to talk to her. It stung her. Such coldness from a man who had not seen her once, nonetheless this being the first time as a family. Her supper and dinner were brought to her room and she spent most of her time avoiding her father as much as he had been avoiding her. Freyja spent her time with the rest of her new family, She played with Little Rob, had tea with her stepmother, took a long walk on the shores with Uncle Tyrion and Uncle Jaime. Still, Freyja couldn’t help but have a tiny bit of hope that her King Father would speak to her. 

Thunder roared through the skies, dark clouds covered the blue sky and sun. Waves crashed against the cliffs dangerously. Every time lightning struck, Freyja was seen walking through the corridors of Dragonstone. The dragons on the walls and their statues looked more terrifying than they did during the day. Yet Freyja was not scared, she could hear her people’s music through the thunder. In between those flashes, she saw the familiar woods of home or at least she thought was home.

“How the little piglets' would grunt if they knew how the old boar suffered?” A voice boomed. He sounded familiar but Freyja couldn’t name the owner of the voice. 

A heavy door with the Targaryen sigil opened by itself, creaking. Freyja grabbed a torch from the wall and entered.

“It gladdens me to know that Odin prepares for a feast. Soon I shall be drinking ale from curved horns. This hero that comes into Valhalla does not lament his death!”

Freyja walked down the stone steps, the smell of humidity hung heavy through the air. Thor’s wrath pounding the sky. As she walked, the images of home came flashing back. Somewhere an eagle screeched. The sky was too cloudy for her to see where it was. Freyja followed several more flights of steps until she stumbled on a trap door. She almost missed it through the very dirty floor. Freyja struggled to open it and the door hit the floor with a loud clang. It was very dark down there, she grabbed the torch and squinted to see.

“I shall not enter Odin's hall with fear. There I shall wait for my sons to join me.”

Freyja finally found felt a wooden step and she went into the darkness, careful not to fall. Another image. This time she saw a cage hanging from a tree, sturdy enough to hold a man. Something dreadful will happen here. The closer she got to it the more afraid she was and the more her heart dropped.

“And when they do, I will bask in their tales of triumph. The Aesir will welcome me!”

When she reached the bottom, Freyja was shocked when she came face to face with rows and rows of eggs. All of them as large as a child's head and all of them came in different colors. Their shells scaley and weathered they almost looked to be made of stone. A thousand years old. Freyja put the torch where it could help her see and she picked up an egg, admiring it. Back home, crows circled above her cawing. She braced herself for what she was about to see. There, surrounded by serpents of all sizes, laid her Ragnar. Dead. In the dungeon, the dragon egg burned into glowed but it did not harm her, boiling until it cracked and a baby dragon with golden eyes screeched at her. With Ragnar, Freyja’s screams of terror and anguish turned to the roars of a dragon.

“My death comes without apology! And I welcome the valkyries to summon me home!”

Freyja lurched forward, cold sweat sticking to her skin and her heart pounding. Fenrir padded to his mistress sniffing her to see if she was alright. The princess stroked her wolf’s fur and she was stunned to see that the window was wide open. Thor pounding his hammer furiously.

@lettersofwrittencollective @mellxander1993 @faeeiiry @blonddnamedhandz @-thatgirloverthere- @wanderlustimagines @i-only-signed-up-for-fanfiction @colie87 @whatwhyc-c

[starscreamloki]

It’s a Guard’s Life

Short fic

Warnings: Odin’s A+ parenting

Words: 1343

Summary: Loki has to take the full brunt from Odin while he is actually innocent and Kjelt, one of Asgard’s new palace Guards, is a witness to this. 

A/N: Recently I came across this post where people blogged about the guards in Thor 1 and that they didn’t come into the Asgard’s vault as Loki discovered his true heritage even though there was a lot of shouting. This actually inspired a short fic about a guard who kind witnesses one of such fights in the house of Odin. This is set Pre-Thor 2011. A big shout out and thanks to @thesaltofcarthage who gave me the inspiration to write this drabble.

-----

It was his first day on the job and Kjelt was so happy to have it. He had worked so hard for this and now he finally was a palace guard. His parents would be so proud!

This morning Rumir had explained him everything he needed to know, though he hadn’t expected to be in need of that information so quickly.

“It’s a very shouty household,” Rumir said and then shrugged. “You’ll get used to it. Often it sounds as if King Odin is flaying his sons alive every night at dinner, but that’s pretty much just how they talk. The hammer might bang against the wall every once in a while, but if the wall stands, it’s alright, no need to take action.

“If you see lights flashing, that’s the younger Prince’s Seidr. Again, if the wall doesn’t fall down, you don’t have to intervene. The only time you have to hop to is if one them yells the word ‘Guards!’ That’s a summons, and you’d better be there on the double if that happens. Beyond that, you’re part of the furniture. If you aren’t getting blood splashed on you, just look the other way.

“Don’t worry too much about it though. Prince Loki deserves it with all his mischief making and Thor learns from those fights to be our future king. Oh, and don’t worry if something comes flying at you, Queen Frigga shall protect you. Unless she is not in the room, then keep your eyes open!”

Kjelt was standing in the dinning hall of the palace, gripping his spear harder with every single minute that passed. Rumir had not lied to him.

The King was having dinner with his wife and children, well, if a dinner was what one could call it. They were scarcely eating and heated words and sly jabs were being handed out over the table as if it was nothing.

Odin had yet to shout, but something in Kjelt’s gut told him it wouldn’t be long for that to happen. He tried to focus his attention on the wall opposite of him, but he couldn’t help catching the conversation.

“And then I threw my hammer at the Warg and it was dead,” Thor declared proudly, his voice resonating through the room for all to hear.

“No, it was not,” Loki interjected coldly, putting down his glass of wine. “I killed it with my knife, laying it low on the spot.”

“Liar!” Thor bellowed and Kjelt was sure he could see some dust falling from the ceiling as that booming voice echoed through the room again.

“Then explain the lethal stab wound in the beasts side and the blood on my armour,” Loki snarled, and Kjelt caught the withering glare the younger Prince gave his brother.

“How can I help it that you accidentally cut yourself on your own knives, brother?” Thor said with a mouthful of food.

Loki gave his brother a disgusted look and the poignant look Thor received from the Queen betrayed that she probably had said many times before that it was bad behavior to speak with one’s mouth full of food. Minutely Thor’s face dropped, but a grin quickly found his lips again.

“I did not and you know it,” the younger Prince growled. “I slew the Warg and you are taking credit for it.”

When Thor answered he sounded like a petulant child. “Am not.”

“I’m very proud of you my son,” Odin said, laying a hand on Thor’s shoulder and gave him a warm smile.

Kjelt could see the anger burning in Loki’s green eyes, but underneath that something he couldn’t quite place. Hurt maybe? He wasn’t sure and it was already gone, covered up by the young prince’s rage. “Thor is honorless and taking credit that belongs to another. me!”

Whatever Thor said next was lost on Kjelt, but it obviously dismayed the younger Prince. Kjelt hadn’t thought he would witness the Prince’s Seidr, let alone on his first day, but there it was. Just a flash of green and suddenly Thor’s food had turned into a plate of writhing leeches.

“A plate full of creatures that reflect very well how you are leeching of my victory!” Loki said vicious and pointedly took a bite of his own food as to rub it in.

If Kjelt had ever thought that Thor’s voice could be booming, he was now entirely sure from who he had inherited it. Odin’s voice boomed through the room and Kjelt couldn’t keep himself from flinching.

“LOKI ODINSON!” Odin shouted and jumped to his feet while banging the table with his fist, the chair he had been sitting on skittering to the floor.

“Husband, calm down. It was but a minor spell.” Frigga turned her attention to her youngest. “Loki, reverse the spell. And how many times do I have to tell you no spells at the dinner table?”

Thor piped in as well. “Give me my food back, brother!”

“If I am not allowed my Seidr at the table, then so shouldn’t Mjolnir be,” Loki shrugged unperturbed, taking another bite of his food.

“Mjolnir is a tool, your Seidr is not,” Queen Frigga said, but her words seemed to fall on deaf ears.

Odin leaned down over the table to give Loki a withering look and said, “Turn your brothers food back. Now!”

There was no mistaking in Odin’s ire, and it was even obvious to Kjelt that the young Prince had only one change to obey the command or otherwise there would be repercussions. Even Kjelt didn’t think that Loki would dare to oppose his father, and yet he did.

“I shall not,” Loki said haughty, tilting up his chin. “Not until he tells the truth!” 

“I am not the liar at this table,” Thor growled.

This time it was Loki who jumped to his feet, though it was without a falling of a chair or a fist banging on the table. “You are the liar and you well know it!”

Apparently that was all that there was needed and Thor jumped to his feet as well.

It happened faster then Kjelt could anticipate, and suddenly Mjolnir flew at the younger Prince’s form who ducked aside. The hammer continued its course, narrowly missing one of Kjelt’s fellow guards who didn’t even flinch, and the weapon crashed into the wall next to him. Kjelt was sure that if it had been him, he would have wet his undergarments.

The green flash appeared again, but if anything had happened, Kjelt couldn’t see what Loki had done. However, the King did, or he was just through with this fight, and with two big strides he bridged the distance between himself and the youngest Prince and grabbed him by the neck.

“You should do well to know your place, boy,” he growled and began steering Loki out of the room. “You and I are going to have a talk about modesty and you should be glad if I allow for you to finish your dinner after that!”

Loki struggled in the King’s grip, but it was obviously futile as the older man proved stronger.

“I have done nothing wrong. Thor is lying and too honorless to admit the truth!” Loki spat.

“Hold your forked tongue, Loki,” Odin chastised, but Loki wasn’t done yet with making his case.

“I have not even harmed him while he just tried to kill me with Mjolnir!”

“Silence!” Odin bellowed, and that was the last Kjelt saw of the both of them before they exited the dinning hall.

With dread in his stomach he watched the doors fall shut with a loud bang, almost fearing for the Prince’s well-being. He agreed with Loki and he didn’t understand why he was receiving a reprimand and not Thor.

But it was not his place to speak. It was not his place to intervene. His place was to be the invisible furniture along the wall and thus Kjelt relaxed his grip on his spear and kept staring at the wall as if nothing had happened.

[70swonderpoisonstark]

Wait, you survived? ( V )

// You and Steve survive the plane wreck and end up seventy years in the future. Everything’s different and the only person that understands the confusion and pain of losing your entire world is your now dead husband’s best friend. When the two of you are forced to adapt to the world around you, things can get complicated. //

 “If you love someone, tell them.

                         For hearts are often broken 

   by words left unspoken.”

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Buildings were falling, crashing onto the streets. Aliens flying everywhere. You and Steve were helping civilians get inside or underground. Trying your hardest to keep everyone safe while also fighting for your lives. Your shots were dead on, head shots killed aliens just as effectively as they killed Nazi's. You went down the streets, rushing people away from the action while aiding the team with killing down the numbers. You'd lost Steve at this point, you'd been running up and down the streets, listening for the sound of Tony's blasters as you vigilantly fought the hoard of creatures that had been released through a giant portal in the sky. You were in the main part of the city, at the center of the action, punching, kicking, flipping through the air as you avoided being dusted by the alien weapons.

Steve watched helplessly as you were cornered time and time again by the horde that was unleashed on the city. He tried to fight his way over to you, but they kept coming, pulling him away from you. There were too many, they'd never make it out of this alive if they kept coming at this rate. Giant centipede-from-hell creatures filling the skies with fury, destroying everything in their path, releasing more aliens onto the ground. It was hopeless, but you kept on fighting, with the rest of them.

Energy blasts were coming from every direction, time itself seem to slow as you dodged blast after blast, shot after shot. Pure adrenaline forcing every move you made. Instinct driving you to fight, kill, survive. A crash a couples miles away lead you towards the rest of the group. You circled up, watching as more of them came out of the giant blue hole.

Steve ran off, helping the local police align their plan with his own. Saving the people was what mattered right now and he had to focus.

You fought alongside Natasha and Clint, dropping alien bodies as quickly as they came. Thor made an electrifying entrance, and Steve finally made his way over to you. He looked you up and down, checking for any obvious injuries and silently panicking about you being non-enhanced and not an assassin. He couldn't stop the fight to physically check you over, but by God that would be the first thing he did when this was all over.

Dr. Banner had finally showed, driving on a beaten down motorcycle. His look of shame had been replaced with strength. He seemed ready to do what needed to be done, and make up for his past mistakes in New York. He was ready to be the hero he had always been.

"That's my secret Cap, I'm always angry." A devastating blow demolished the skull of whatever armored alien whale, causing it to fall literally head over heels onto you guys. Steve covered you and Natasha as it came crumbling down. Igniting a fury in what was left of the aliens as they screamed their battle cries at the top of their lungs. Steve took the lead, shouting out a plan as the group fanned out. You, Steve, and Natasha stayed on the ground, taking out as many aliens as you could, bouncing creatures between the three of you as you tired out, working in unison as you ripped throats out. Natasha bounced, clasping onto one of the hover machines being flown by the aliens, flying off to God knows where. You and Steve stayed behind, throwing each other looks as you fought side by side, fighting memories as you kicked ass. They'd redone both of your original suits, his was more vibrantly star spangled and yours a much more abstract collection of dark navy, maroon and gray. It was hard not to imagine the two of you doing the same thing all across Europe before the fall as your moves synchronized together. Every crippling blow, every strike of the feet and hands, it was impossible not to see the symmetry you possessed on the battlefield; mirroring each others move without even a glance.

Steve focused on his fight, shield, punch, hit, uppercut, roundhouse. Fighting his way through squadron after squadron of evil. How was he reminiscing and battling at the same time? Aliens mirroring HYDRA goons time after time, the howling commandos behind and around him, you and Bucky on either side, taking down foe's with ease. His heart ached for the old days when the whole team was together, he'd have something smart to say to Dum Dum, only to be reminded that you were all he had left. He had to adjust to the times and realize he was fighting aliens, not Nazi's.

"Captain, the bank on 42nd past madison. They've cornered a lot of civilians in there." Clint radioed. He looked at you, torn between leaving for another fight or staying here with you.

You grabbed two aliens by the back of the head, breaking their necks in one swift pull forward as you looked at Steve. "Go! They need you, I can handle myself."

After a brief hesitation, he left to defend the civilians, all the worry for you pushed to the back of his mind as he found another clan of invaders. Silencing a bomb as he resourcefully kicked tables and mantles to take the aliens off their feet. Taking the full force knocked him out the window, and shortly he found his way back to another fight.

You looked up just as Tony had flown into the belly of the beast, shortly blowing himself up and flying out into the street.

"Try not to die, Tony. I haven't had a chance to clown your tech yet." You shouted as you continued to fight. He'd smashed into a few signs, slightly injuring himself but accomplishing the task at hand.

"I can shut the portal down." Natasha yelled throughout the comms.Finally, victory was in sight.

"Do it!"

"No, wait." Tony exclaimed, his voice strained from all the damage he'd taken.

"Stark these things are still coming!"

"I've got a nuke coming in and it's gonna blow in less than a minute." Was the last thing you heard before you saw a hundred pound nuke being flown into the sky by none other than Tony Stark. He barely missed his own building, and you heard the cheers of the city as the nuke passed through the wormhole. You and the team knew it was a one way trip, but they didn't. They hugged their coworkers and their families as you watched Tony sacrifice himself for the world. You couldn't move as you watched the portal collapse with Tony inside, as the opening narrowed slowly, Tony's armor nowhere in sight. You wanted to cry, but forced yourself to have hope that somehow he'd show up. The aliens around you powered down one by-

You inhaled sharply, knowing the intense feeling too well, one of the Chitauri had managed to stay up long enough to sneak attack you, driving a blade clean through your abdomen, the blade sticking out the back, you tried to radio for help, but just as the alien soldier fell, so did you.

Steve and the team moved to corner Loki in the tower, you weren't responding, but your coms may have been damaged in battle so there wasn't anything to worrisome about that. Thor handcuffed him with asgardian cuffs, and shortly after muzzled him. The team was given assignments and handed equipment off to other agents as they slowly cleared out the room. Thor kept Loki guarded, with the magic that was entwined in his cuffs he wasn't going anywhere, but nobody was willing to take their eyes off him regardless. Steve went to coordinate search and rescue making his way down the stairs, starting with the Stark tower to look for any survivors. He wandered around the city in a two block radius from the tower, knowing eventually you'd make your way there even with busted comms. After his check he asked the team if anybody had seen you, told them to scan around and see if they could see you walking around lost. Nobody had seen you since Tony fell the first time. A gut feeling told Steve something was wrong, and he frantically searched the surrounding area, praying you were only mildly injured, even though the voice in his head was telling him otherwise. Clint was the first to speak, and his words froze Steve in his tracks.

"Cap. I found her, but you're not gonna like it." And just like that Steve's heart stopped, his blood chilled as he listened, no details nothing as he sprinted to the nearest window. Clint gave him your location and Steve found you immediately.

"Tony. (Y/N)'s down. I need medics on 40th past the deli." Tony didn't bother radioing back as he quickly armored up and flew to where you were, he collapsed next to you, taking his helmet off as he felt the sting of each of his own injuries. He checked your neck for a pulse, hearing the sirens and knowing Steve was on his way, you had to be alive. He held his two fingers on your neck, praying to feel something, anything bounding around. He was dizzy himself from his fall, so keeping focus on something as simple as seeing if you had a pulse was hard when he could feel his own beating his skull. Tony used all his strength to to focus on you, pressing deep down onto your carotid. His head dropped, nothing. With the puddle of blood around you it didn't shock him, but he knew it would unravel Steve. He'd lost hope knowing the reality of the situation was heartbreaking, and then he felt it. Nothing strong, but he felt a slight pressure against his fingertips. You were holding on, barely, he heard the sirens getting closer but they needed to get there soon.

Steve's knees hitched as he saw you, blade impaling your side. You're unconscious body laying on its unaffected side, the sword holding you up unevenly.

"Is, Tony is she.." Steve couldn't breathe, the sight in front of him made him dizzy, he ran five feet and threw up, staring at your pale body he doubled over, hands on his knees. He couldn't force himself to believe the sight that was so real in front on his eyes. He dropped to his knees, grabbing your hand as he watched your chest with scrutiny. You were struggling, but he could see your breathing, it was definitely not as much as it should have been, and your chest shook with every half breath you took, but it was something, right?

"Tony, tony, she, she's not, she's gonna be." He pushed your hair out of your face, you'd taken a beating and a half and still you were the most beautiful woman in the world. He held back the tears he so desperately wanted to cry.

"Steve, it doesn't look good, but let me handle this, I promise I'll do my best." Steve couldn't let go, you were all he had, you were everything, and now you were dying in his arms. He was helpless yet again, watching another person he loved die before him.

Cheeks stained with silent tears, you used what was left of your strength to squeeze Steve's hand, he knew you loved him, he was your best friend, but you couldn't leave him, not like this. Stark pulled you from him and disappeared into the sky. Blasters the last thing Steve saw before he broke. Sight going black, the last thing he see's is Natasha running his way.

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//There goes Tony being the most selfless person on the planet like ALWAYS(Tony Anti’s will be blocked SNS) You’re kind of a badass huh? Who knew, oh wait, YOU DID BECAUSE YOU’RE FUCKING AMAZING AND I LOVE YOU SO NEVER DOUBT YOUR SELF WORTH BECAUSE YOU ARE ALWAYS IMPORTANT, ALWAYS LOVED, AND ALWAYS HAVE A PURPOSE AND A REASON TO BE HERE AND ALIVE NO MATTER WHAT. FIGHT LIKE HELL, BECAUSE AFTER YOU SURFACE AGAIN NOTHING AND NOBODY CAN FUCK WITH YOU. BE PROUD OF YOUR SMALL VICTORIES AND NEVER DOWNPLAY YOUR EMOTIONS. YOU. ARE. VALUABLE. AND NOT BECAUSE OF WHAT YOU CAN DO, JUST BECAUSE YOU’RE HERE, ALIVE, AND BREATHING IN AIR. YOU MATTER, ALWAYS, AND FOREVER. Sorry for the all caps rant but my own personal anxiety/depression has been kicking my ass so I know there’s others who may need to hear that. If anybody reading this needs to talk to somebody, or just vent to an unbiased person I am MORE than willing to be your sounding board. No issue is too big or small. Message me, please. I know what it’s like to have all these feelings and emotions and not have nobody to tell them too because they wouldn’t understand or you don’t wanna be a bother or it’ll go away eventually. SO TALK TO ME, if I can’t help you’ll at least be able to get it out.//

//You guys are going to love this! This is such a fun story for me to write, and all the positive feedback is really helping, so thank you all for your likes and reblogs, every one of them brings a smile to my face and makes my day. Let me know what you guys think, what you’d like to see, what you don’t wanna see, and some crazy vocab words and I’ll write accordingly, thanks for the read, and HAPPY SPOOKY SEASON!!//

[evien-stark]

✧I Need You✧ Chapter 55

You’d never seen anything like the things, the aliens, raining from out of that hole. Big ugly, gray and black things. Riding futuristic looking carriages through the air. Bearing down, looming over New York City before descending completely, destroying everything in their path. Even from as high up as the top floor of the Tower, you could hear people screaming.

Afraid for their lives. Nowhere to run.

Without a second thought you and Tony leapt into the air, jetting up, up, up, trying to cut off the supply as they rained down. LUNA engaged your boosts at your back, freeing your hands up to take shot after shot, but there were just so many. And despite your dual best efforts, they were getting by. Sneaking past to start shooting down at the city below. Terrorizing everyone in their paths.

“You have new artillery, follow me.” Tony instructed. Though his voice was calm, in your close proximity as your zoomed around each other you could feel the tremble of uncertainty.

“I’m right behind you!” Following his lead, you took to his left. This was out of your league, and Tony was far more battle experienced than you, not to mention smarter. “LUNA give me a weapons list- start with whatever Tony’s doing-”

A small shell box unloaded from your shoulder, just in time with his, unleashing a barrage of missiles that took out twenty or so of those carriages, sending the riders tumbling down below. They weren’t hard to take out, it was just their numbers that seemed insurmountable. Even with your combined effort, it seemed like you were getting nowhere. There were just so many. And even with your trying to stop them at the head, they were now flooding the city.

Many people would die today. A thought that once heard was impossible to shake.

“I need a headcount.” You said over the comm quickly. Who of your team was left? There was no time to all meet up and formulate a plan. Not this second. Right now you needed quickly to utilize your people, and then start helping the ones on the ground.

Nat sounded off. “Inbound with Rogers and Barton. We’re on your three, headed northeast.” So. Five people. Five of this so called Avengers team. Would that be enough for the might you were currently facing? You had to hope. There were no other options.

Tony scoffed, “What, did you stop for drive through? Swing up Park I’m gonna lay ‘em out for you.” At your side, “I’ll go high, you go low.” Aiming a double laser shot just above you to fry a handful of aliens.

Fear threatened to paralyze you. “I-” How in the world could you ever hope to overcome this? “I’ll get on street level.” Just parroting his words back, basically. Fighting wasn’t your thing, and after taking Loki down, you were more than worse for wear.

Just as you were about to illuminate a path for yourself, LUNA pulled a red target behind you, and you swung around to see Stark Tower- rather two people on top of it. “Tower debris is falling!”

“Debris??” Loki and Thor were hand to hand with each other, curbing your instinct to go to ground level as you turned back around. Just above them you aimed a shot at Loki, blasting him off his feet. “Could you not damage my property?!” Far more anger in the fact that you thought you had been finished with him. But while he took his time getting up, you came to a stop just aside Thor and emotions got the better of you.

Make that six. Leaning up on tip-top-tip toe you gave him a quick hug. Perhaps a little overbearing. But up until that last second, you hadn’t been sure he was still alive. “I’m sorry-” Unable to help saying this to him.

“Now is not the time for apologies.” He set you back down and the two of you turned on Loki who was stuck in another one of those hissy toothy snarls of his.

“I thought we settled this.”

“You have no idea what drives me.”

Had it all been for nothing? Had you been a fool? Wasting your time with this child of a man… maybe he was beyond your help after all. Maybe you did have no idea about anything. No more time to waste thinking about it as you and Thor launched forward, taking him on double, blow for blow.

He got the better of you, throwing you from your feet into one of the glass guards, shattering it and sending you over the edge to the lower balcony. It took you longer than it should have to get back to your feet, and in doing so, you registered the Quinjet appearing just aside the building too late- and Loki’s shot at them later than that. He hit the side of the jet, sending it in a tailspin.

“I’m coming, hang on!” Leaving Thor to deal with his brother as you sprang off the balcony. Positioning yourself underneath the jet, you caught it with both palms under, fingers digging in through the metal to get a stronger grip. “LUNA I need everything we got! Give me a clear path down!” It wasn’t like the suit made holding a jet in midair feel like nothing, feeling the strain in your muscles. But it definitely made it possible at all.

What were you, after all? Mostly just human. Trying her best.

Allowing yourself to drop into a semi-quick fall, you eased as much as you could to get the jet and its passengers to the ground. Something underneath the ramp exploded, flames licking the side of your suit, getting you to turn your head just as the ground crushed up underneath you. The real weight of the aircraft became apparent then, and you just barely slid out from under it as it cracked the concrete.

The ramp pushed out, and the hatch doors opened. Steve, Clint, and Natasha scrambled out and away just as you got back to standing fully. She smiled at you. “Thanks for the assist.”

Clint seemed not as sure. “I could’ve landed it.” But his grin after told the real story.

The only one more focused than the rest of you ran past, grabbing your hand to get you to follow. Steve pointed up to the Tower. “We gotta get back up there!”

He was right. It would be no use to keep trying to fight these things forever. Someone had to get up there and try to figure out how to turn off the power source creating that portal in the first place. “I can give one of you a lift up!” You could carry at least one of them. But who had the best chance?

A warble of a roar cut all your motion, everyone standing suddenly still, directing your eyes skyward. From the hole a monstrous beast swam out. Some mangled, armored… space whale- the best way you could think to describe it. Beyond your understanding. And far bigger than anything you’d seen in your life.

As it flew just overhead, close enough for you to reach out and touch it, knocking over edges of buildings and monuments in its path, you saw more aliens deploy from the sides. Jumping out in tethered strikes to the buildings closest and beginning a climb upwards. Knocking out windows and invading offices. Fear locked you up again.

“Tony...” Terror clear in the shake of your voice.

Steve followed suit. Seemed like the only one your group thought might have a handle on this was him. “Stark, you seeing this?”

“Seeing. Still working on believing. Where’s Banner, has he shown up yet?”

Your surprise showed. “Bruce?” You had no idea where he was. Where he’d ended up after the helicarrier had been attacked. But Tony was waiting for him?

“Just keep me posted. Hey, honey, wanna give me a hand with this thing?” His better sense right again. You two were the only people on this team capable of taking it out right now, especially with the way it was moving.

Clint spoke first. “We got civilians trapped.”

Before you could answer, another squad flew by, Loki the leader among them, unleashing a blast on the people and cars locked on the street below, sending heavy machinery into the air only to crash back down. “Keep it busy. I’ll be right there.”

“Yeah I’ll just read it a bedtime story.”

Steve’s attention was where yours was. “They’re fish in a barrel down there.”

You gave him a nod. “We have to start making paths. But we need to clear here first.” You couldn’t just take off and leave two of them behind. This had to be a concerted effort.

Just behind you was another crew on foot. Nat stood, taking aim and firing off a few shots. “Go. We’ve got this. We’re good.”

Steve looked at Clint. “You think you can hold ‘em off?”

Clint just smiled. “Captain, Lady, it would be my genuine pleasure.” He stood, after configuring that high tech quiver of his and took a single shot that wiped out six.

You turned to Steve, jumping up into the air, catching your boosts into flight. “I’ll cover you.”

He gave a nod and the two of you wasted no more time. Taking a dive off the overpass, he caught the top of a bus and you focused your blasts on the aliens charging his sides, taking them out one after the other, making way for him to continue in a roll of the top of a taxi and onto the ground. Once there you followed him up the street, sweeping another battalion up with one concentrated missile blast.

Eyeing a squadron of officers you cut your jets, landing on your feet in front of them. The two standing closest took the sight of you in. You didn’t have time to waste on introductions or their boggling. “There are people trapped in the buildings. You need to direct your squads to find them paths down. Keep them off the streets. Bring them down into the basements or the subways.”

Steve caught up finally, drawing their attention. He pointed, “We need a perimeter as far back as 49th.”

They seemed annoyed. “Why the hell should we take orders from you?”

A flyby carriage dropped two aliens on top of the two of you. As Steve raised his SHIELD to take one, you leaned in to the other, twisting back and carrying a punch with force that knocked it back a yard into a lamppost. Once you were finished you both turned on the cop who stood there bewildered for only a second more before he started barking your orders into his radio as he walked away.

Steve took off behind you again, so without a thought you followed. But where he was heading back up to the bridge, and already too far beyond you, you found yourself distracted by an onslaught of terror that had you nearly losing your footing. Taking off, you rounded the building it was coming from, scaling up it and to its backside to see a woman dangling from a window ledge, screaming for her life.

Springing into action you came up right beside her, “Hang on, I’ve got you!” And then broke out the rest of the double wide frame to help her up and through. She seemed not to want to let go of you, which became a problem as you spotted a group of no less than ten people huddling in a corner, and six or so aliens with guns pointed their way.

And then yours.

“LUNA give me the big shield!” About all you could think to say, raising your arm in tandem, as fire opened on you. “Stay behind me!” Calling to the young woman who was cowering in a crouch doing just that. There was no open room for fire, so you had to bend out to get a shot off, taking out only a single one of them, but doing just enough to knock it into the others.

It gave you an open to rush them, and got the group they’d pinned to move out of the way. Thankfully. But they all then took shelter behind you. Which wasn’t the smartest thing to do, considering you were now drawing fire. “LUNA show me some exits, please!” Still holding your arm up to keep the fresh wave of fire at bay.

“All exits blocked- shield power running at fifty percent capacity!”

Blocked. Meaning if you didn’t deal with these things, everyone in this room was probably going to die. You included. But now you were stuck in a corner with them. What to do what to do? What should you do?

“Forty percent!”

In your haste to make any right call you raised your other hand to try and fire a blast off, getting a return hit in the shoulder for your efforts, knocking you back into one of the people standing behind you. You tried to stay firm. What to do?

“Thirty percent! We can’t take much more!”

What would Tony do? Or Steve? Or Natasha? Artillery? Did you have anything that you could let off without becoming an open target? Or without opening the others to attack?

“Twenty percent!” You were feeling the force now. Shot after shot. The next one a heavier blast as they started focusing their efforts. Shifting you back in your stance, really pushing you almost right up against the wall with everyone. As if you were just like them. Another human cowering in this mess. No control. Nothing to do but wait for someone to come save you. Or die.

“Fifteen percent!”

The floor dropped out from under you and for a few sweet seconds all sound died. This wasn’t where you wanted to be. In that murky darkness. Alone- well… except for the several foreign bodies that were polluting your water.

As you looked out to them, you wondered still what should I do? And knew the longer you stayed where you were, the sooner the answer would just become die. You couldn’t do that. You couldn’t let that happen. And finally you saw it.

The ripples.

The little movements in the water. They were all connected.

You were sure you felt a white hot laser dig into your side somewhere on the surface, and it threatened to pull you back. This had to be quick. And you had to hope you were right.

Easing down you spread your hands forward into their combined waves, and you pulled. Like reins. Turning them one after one after one… on each other.

One blink and then the next you were present again, watching them all take one shot at each other. Not enough to kill, but certainly enough to confuse. And in that momentary ceasefire as they all stared at each other, you raised both hands. “LUNA everything we’ve got please!” Now or never.

A bright, powerful burst left from both hands, effectively incinerating all attacking parties. You nearly went down with them, hands on your knees.

“...are you with Iron Man?”

How to even answer that? “Come on-” You were breathing heavy, pushing yourself to stand. “Follow me- there are officers on the ground who are going to lead you to a safe zone. Stay low!” Someone grabbed your hand as you led them out in a cluster, through the door and down the stairwell. Thankfully your way was clear. For once.

Outside, you whistled to call the attention of an office who came jogging over. “Take them lower.”

“Ma’am!” An older gentleman called to you just as you were turning away to take off again. When you gave him a momentary glance he saluted you. “Thank you!”

Your brain wasn’t working enough. All you did was salute back. Tony’s voice broke through the mindless clutter. “Honey, I’ve uh, got it’s attention. What’s your ETA?”

“Just a second- I’m coming-”

You checked your power once to make sure you wouldn’t jump up and immediately fall flat on your face, and once you saw enough juice on the screen, you took a running start and then took off into the air. Running a quick scan and locate, you found your people.

Regrouping with the team on the ground, you felt their overwhelming sense of exhaustion, but thankfully there was no hint of defeat. A squad tried to flank you, so you put your hands up, going fist-to-fist with a few of them. One caught you in the side with some sort of electrified blade, but as you went down to a knee, you held your hand up, throwing it back with a blast.

Just as another set came upon you, a burst of lightning shorted your attackers out, and you and Nat turned to Thor who found his footing a little shaky as he came over. You got to your own feet just as wearily. Steve went over to him first. “What’s the story upstairs?”

“The power surrounding the cube is impenetrable.”

Tony flew overhead, catching everyone’s attention. “Thor’s right, we gotta deal with these guys.” You weren’t quite sure when Tony had equipped everyone with comms- maybe it had been SHIELD when you’d all arrived on the helicarrier, but you were grateful for it now.

“How do we do this?” While Nat wasn’t yet giving up, she was just as lost as you.

You could only think to say the one thing you kept saying to Tony. “As a team.”

Thor shook his head. “I have unfinished business with Loki.”

Clint scoffed. “Yeah? Get in line.”

And, despite this absolutely not being the time for it, you agreed. “No kidding.”

Steve bore down on the two of you. “Save it. Loki’s gonna keep this fight focused on us, and that’s what we need. Without him these things could run wild.”

You shook your head. “He only thinks he’s in control. Let me just tell you, he’s not.”

Thor took your side. “Lady is correct. When we-”

The sound of a sputtering motor approaching interrupted your little group discussion. Your own relief overwhelmed you as you turned, seeing Bruce riding up on a motorcycle that looked as beaten up as he did. While you’d had no time to question his condition in the aftermath of allowing yourself to get kidnapped, thrown around, and dealing with these things-

As he approached, you let it all wash over you. Unable to help yourself, now completely drowning in not only your own emotions, but everyone else’s- you went to him and wrapped him up tight in a hug. There was even a trickle of surprise as he returned it. Although a little awkwardly. “I’m glad you’re okay.” You found you really were.

“Okay’s putting it mildly.” He was smiling, as you let go, but it disappeared in the next instant. “So.” He said, waving his hands low. “This all seems horrible.”

Natasha approached. “I’ve seen worse.”

Bruce’s guilt struck you. “I’m sorry.” Looking back and forth at the two of you.

You let Nat take the lead. “No- we could use a little worse.”

Turning your head skyward, you spoke to the only other person who had been waiting for Bruce’s arrival. “Tony. He’s here.”

“Banner?” Your eyes locked on his image on your HUD and the two of you smiled at one another. “Good. Tell him to suit up. I’m bringing the party to you. If you’re done powwowing.” You watched him curve around a building, bringing-… a party, sure, literally, with him on his tail. That giant angry space whale and a whole fresh battalion of aliens.

Meeting over, you jumped into flight, following his path and taking the lead with him. “I’m with you!”

“About time. Follow me.” The two of you turned right back around in time to see Bruce transforming. It pinched a chord of now learned fear inside of you, but you swallowed it and focused ahead as the Hulk sprung forth while that whale bore down on him. One punch of huge force stopped its forward motion, lifting it high into the air. “Soft spot, lock on right there!” Tony recaptured your attention.

The two of you lifted your arms, a bullseye target confirmed for you, firing a double missile that exploded on impact. It sent the monster careening forward further into a literal dead stop on the ground, sliding a few hundred feet out where it finally stopped moving.

Trying to take stock of your next move, you and Tony lowered to the ground once more, surrounded by angry screams from the sides of buildings. The team looked up, facing down the wrath of those aliens. But if you took out that giant beast, there was hope. Hope that you could face the rest and end this.

That was, at least, until that light died under the warble and rumble of two more pouring out from the hole in the sky. With them came thousands of more soldiers. Unable to do anything in a new wake of senseless fear, you reached out, taking Tony’s hand in yours. Your eyes locked on his image, the screen centering, moving with your iris to pull up a private channel. “We can still do this?” Not really sure what you were asking. There was no way to answer other than that you’d try. But would that be enough?

His hand squeezed yours. “We can do this.”

You smiled weakly. “Promise?”

His, by contrast, was much more sure. “Since I’m the better out of the two of us at keeping them… I promise.”

[realityhelixcreates]

Needs

Chapters: One-shot Fandom: Thor (Movies), Marvel Cinematic Universe Avengers Movies Rating: Teen And Up Warnings: Major Character Death Relationships: Loki x Reader  Characters: Loki (Marvel), Reader, Thor,  Additional Tags: Spans From Avengers-Post Endgame, Post Loki Series, Sadder Than My Usual, Not Quite What The Summary Might Seem To Promise, Kinda Angsty, Kinda Clinical In Tone? It’s Supposed To Feel More Hollow IDK Summary:   You are a new worker at the Project P.E.G.A.S.U.S. facility the day Loki shows up to steal the Tesseract. Like Agent Barton and Dr. Selvig, he decides to steal you too.

It had only been four days.

All the transfers, and patience, and working your way steadily up through the ranks of your peers. Finally making it to the proper clearance to do the one thing you had dreamed of doing, ever since you had learned of its existence: Working with the fabled Tesseract.

It hadn’t even been a week.

You’d been warned this could happen, of course. The free world had many enemies, and S.H.E.I.L.D. sometimes had to act as a barrier against them. But there were only supposed to be scientists here, and whatever Agent Barton was. Some kind of bodyguard?  The place was hidden underground even! Who could get in here? Who could know it was here?

Four days of your dream career.

The alarms blared, but only shortly, before everything except emergency power went out, leaving you in a dark hallway, carrying the coffee you were going to offer everyone as the sounds of gunfire and shouting echoed all around you.

You flattened yourself against the wall, as even those sounds ceased, leaving you encased in darkness and eerie silence. You were no combatant, and you certainly had no weapons, only the hot coffee in your hands.

The sound of footsteps reached you, and quiet voices, only one of which you didn’t recognize. A soft glow came into view, and you squinted, just barely able to make out a handful of shadows in the darkness. The footsteps stopped abruptly.

“Sir?” Someone asked. That was Barton. That might be a good sign.

“Someone is there. I can see you.” This was a voice you had never heard before, but it set off alarm bells in your head, the way a tiger’s growl would. The glow intensified, revealing Agent Barton and Doctor Selvig, and also an oddly dressed man you had never seen before. He seemed unhealthy, maybe even injured, but he was carrying an unusual object; not quite a spear and not a club either, it was bladed and socketed with a glowing crystal of some kind. The blades were bloody.

“Oh, that’s _____.” Doctor Selvig said. “She transferred here a few days ago to begin working on energy fields.”

“She’s harmless.” Agent Barton tacked on quickly.

“Is everything all right?” You asked quietly. “I heard a lot of noise just now.”

“Yes.” The strange man said, after a moments hesitation. “But only if we all leave, now.”

“Sir?” Agent Barton asked.

“You work hard, don’t you?” The strange man asked you, stepping forward. “You are a person who gives much of herself?”

You felt like you should run, but Barton was right there. You shouldn’t really be in danger. You just nodded.

“Good. Because I have many needs.” He closed the distance between you and, before you could drop the tray of coffee you had been gripping so tightly and run, he jabbed the tip of the blade gently into your chest. You froze, all thoughts of running draining away-

-After all, why run away from your best friend in the whole world? The man you adored more than anything? He needed you. And you would fulfill those needs. Every single one.

                                                                              *****

You began almost immediately, the very instant you all reached a safe place, away from the destruction in the desert. A small, cheap, roadside motel. It wasn’t really proper for accommodating a king, but he had welcomed it, for the time being.

You had filled the ice bucket and raided the vending machine for snacks. It would make a poor supper, but Loki had accepted it all with ferocious charm. He sent the other two out on their own specific orders, but you he kept close by. He needed things from you.

He allowed you to care for him freely, in whatever ways you deemed appropriate, so you gave him ice for his bruised eyes, used a cool, damp wash cloth to wipe the sweat from his face and soothe his burning skin. You were even blessed with permission to care for his hair, and massage his scalp.

Because he asked, you spoke to him about your work on energy fields, and how much you had hoped to study the Tesseract. Because he asked, you told him everything you could about yourself, your hobbies, your dreams for the future. Because he asked, you swore eternal fidelity to him. You would have no other king.

He kept you close whenever he visited the underground lab. S.H.I.E.L.D. had many enemies, and Loki didn't want you involved with any of them. He also didn't want to share. Just because you fed and pampered him, did not mean he allowed anyone else to take advantage of those services. You still expressed the occasional bit of curiosity about the Tesseract, but he usually just shushed you, in his firm way, and told you about the great things he would do for the world, once he was king.

Petty conflicts would be laid to rest, and resource hoarding would become a thing of the past. There would be no more scrambling for fortune or fame. Everyone would have an equal place under the king. Everyone would have a job, and their basic needs would be met. Everyone who could, would be trained in the defense of the planet, from any outside enemies.

He spoke also of worrying things; of shackles he needed to throw off, of his birthright, of the dangers of the universe that were closing in on your beautiful planet. Of contingency plans, and royal responsibilities.

You couldn't help but notice the underlying tone of loneliness in everything he spoke of. He never once mentioned family. Never named a friend. In everything, he was alone.

                                                                                *****

You didn't speak any German, but that was alright. You wouldn't be here long. You had only one job to do here, and it didn't involve talking to anybody.

You lounged on a bench outside the museum the men had sneaked into. Some kind of soiree was going on inside, but not for much longer.  When the doors burst open and people poured, screaming, into the streets, you leaped up and joined them, running all willy-nilly, crying out in faux terror. Loki's illusory doubles materialized all around, herding the people into a small area; only you knowing for sure that they weren't real. When his command to kneel rang out, you were the first to do so. The others followed your example, just like he had predicted they would, their confusion and fear convincing them to mirror what they saw as an outlet to safety.

It was only supposed to be a distraction, Loki had told you so. While Barton and the others escaped with the real prize, you would help Loki create a ruckus, a lure for the team of heroes Loki was so curious to test. It was just supposed to be a show of power, Loki standing tall over kneeling subjects, delivering a soothing speech...but then the old man had stood up. He spoke back defiantly and you wanted to shush him, but you could not risk your cover by speaking. Stomach churning, you watched Loki raise his scepter to the old man, fearing what was to come. Death was inevitable in any regime change, sacrifices had to be made for the greater good. You just had to remember that. Defiance couldn't be tolerated, not right now. There had to be ruthlessness now; Fairness would come later.

The blast never hit home, reflecting instead at the very last moment and striking Loki instead, bowling him over. You cried out in real fear this time, at the sight of your king thrown to the ground like that. But dutifully, you dashed away from the sudden battle, instead of towards him. You had been expressly forbidden from entering combat, instead, you escaped into the back streets and returned to the designated meeting place, to be extracted to the secondary meeting place.

Loki did not return.

This was, of course, part of the plan. He was exactly where he wanted to be now, up, up above the clouds, on one of the largest structures to ever fly. Everyone on it was at his mercy, and unfortunately, some of them would die in the mayhem he meant to unleash up there. Sacrifices had to be made. But after this, there would be peace, as Loki took over for the failed governments of the world and put an end to the pointless fighting and bottomless greed. Earth would become a respected galactic power.  Just a few sacrifices to be made.

                                                                               *****

You infiltrated the helicarrier with the rest of Loki's allies, dressed as a S.H.I.E.L.D. Operative and wearing a magical device that your king had left with Barton to give to you. It changed your appearance to that of a large, rather generic man who looked rough enough that others might give pause before tangling with. You could not wear your own face, having been labeled M.I.A., or possibly dead after the collapse of the Project P.E.G.A.S.U.S. Facility. It was alright. You didn't have any family to worry over you.

Your orders were to make your way straight to the glassy cell your king was being held in, where  he provided you the code to free him. Then he commanded you to hide behind the console.

“Thor will be coming, I know it.” He said. “Nothing must come between him and his new suite. It is my gift to him.”

You'd heard of Thor-who hadn't? No amount of cover-up had managed to keep his existence quiet. From what you had heard, there was no safe place if you were in his way. He'd go right through you without even pausing.

You huddled down behind the console with Loki, as the rapid thudding of heavy footsteps rushed towards you. The Thunder God burst into the room, shouting and rushing a false image of Loki, falling head first into his trap. So easy. Loki clearly knew the other god quite well.

The two of you left your hiding space, Loki gloating and toying with the other god while you watched the door. Thor railed at him, even managing to crack the glass.

Fearful that he would break free, you kept your gaze firmly on the door. Surely Loki could handle it.

You were so fixed on your task, that you didn't realize someone had come up behind you until he cracked you across the head, sending you into instant darkness.

                                                                                                ******

You awoke in an outlying New York suburb, in the small home of an elderly couple your king had commanded to see to your health. Your head hurt, but he assured you that nothing had been broken. He assured you that the man who hurt you had been permanently dealt with. He assured you that revenge had been taken for your pain.  

He seemed pleased. He'd dropped the Thunder God thousands of feet, torn the great helicarrier from the sky, unleashed a monster, wrought chaos!  It didn't matter that Thor survived, that the helicarrier hadn't actually crashed, that the Hulk was no longer rampaging, or even that he had lost Agent Barton in the fray; the chaos remained. His plans were coming together, and he reveled in it.

When you were fully awake, and certain that you weren't injured, he allowed you to dote on him once more, sharing a small meal, sitting in his lap and massaging his scalp. He sighed, his eyes drooping closed from the pleasure of it.

He was so beautiful, so perfect, so radiant. You would happily do anything for him.

You leaned in and pressed your lips to his, ready to offer anything.  He flinched away at the suddenness of it, but you followed the movement of his head, and within moments, he was holding you tightly, hungrily claiming you lips, your mouth, your tongue. It was all his, your everything, all his.

He lifted you effortlessly, laying your down on the bed you had just left, writhing against you while keeping claim of your mouth, and swallowing your happy whimpers until he just stopped. He drew back from your face, staring right into your eyes as you gazed up at him with adoration.

His expression changed then, as he looked down at you, and for just a few seconds he looked like a different person. Younger, more vulnerable than you had ever thought he could look. Sympathetic. Guilty.

“No.” He said finally. “I don't have to. They're coming together now, I don't have to do anything worse in order to galvanize them. This is a line I don't have to cross, a monster I don't have to become.”

He rose, retreating to the door, while you sat up in the bed.

“No, your Majesty?” you wondered.

He shook his head. “Not this day. Perhaps some other time, under better circumstances. Depending, of course, upon which of my plans bears fruit. But for now, you must stay here. Do not venture outside, not for anything but my express summons. The Jensens will take care of you until I return. Or until I don't, in which case, my orders will no longer matter.”

He left then, to make his grand takeover a reality.

Through the Jensen's radio you heard disturbing news. Holes opening in the sky, from whence poured unknown, alien beings and horrifying creations. Tremendous destruction and mayhem in the middle of the city. All defenses being easily overturned, and only a handful of people were able to hold them back at all. The Iron Man was doing what he could, the monstrous Hulk had been spotted again, only a year after the terror he rained down on Harlem, and the near legendary Captain America had somehow risen once more. Thor, God of Thunder, and a few, unknown others were all locked in battle, but the radio announcer could give few details beyond that.

And so, you stayed quietly where you were, awaiting your kings triumphant return.

It came upon you very suddenly, a breaking sensation. A cutting off, a departure, a sudden absence. Whatever it was that had cast its veil over your mind and steered your thoughts was gone, and you were alone inside your own head once again.

You hardly had time to realize what it meant, before the elderly Jensens, no longer coerced into helpfulness, ran you out of their home in fury over how they had been used.

You wandered the streets for hours after that, drawn to the city center, wraith-like in the emptiness of your thoughts, until the police picked you up. When they questioned you, you found yourself unable to lie, unable to argue, unable to do anything but obey. The things you said caused you to rapidly find yourself back in S.H.I.E.L.D custody, truthfully answering every question posed to you, faithfully following every order given to you.

It was quickly surmised that you had been altered by the influence of the scepter Loki had carried, the thing he used to control the minds of all he touched with it. That control had been broken when the Hulk had 'broken' him, so to speak, but it left its victims different than they had been. Dr. Selvig, for instance, had grown so hypersensitive, that he could no longer think hard with his clothes on, the texture of the cloth preventing him from concentrating.

As for you, you could no longer deny anyone anything. If you were ordered, or asked, or even suggested to, you automatically obeyed, to the letter. You could not say no, could not protest, could not voice displeasure. You couldn't even feel hesitant, you simply acted.

S.H.I.E.L.D kept you in yet another of their research facilities, testing and trying to find some way to return your independence, but as years passed with little success, you slipped further and further into the background. By the time the Calamity occurred, you had been shuttled away into the psyche ward, and left there, gently cared for, but no longer worth the effort to fix.

When everyone disappeared, you almost starved to death. You had long ago been told you couldn't leave by yourself.

Some surviving members of S.H.I.E.L.D finally came to the facility, in search of any living agents, and took you away with them, finding you harmless and obedient.  Over the next five years, you did everything you were told, no matter how unsavory or uplifting. Time melded together, until you almost couldn't remember that you used to be a brilliant researcher, who worked on energy fields for the enrichment of all mankind. Until you almost couldn't remember that you'd used to be anything.

S.H.I.E.L.D still provided for you, since you hadn't actually quit, and the insurance plan was amazing, so you did have a place to live, and your basic needs met, though, because of your emptiness, you had little to no social life.  Many people had difficulty understanding the depths of your delicate condition, and far too many of those who did took advantage of it.

The Return was a time of celebration, and of great confusion and upheaval. For you, it was a time of staying inside, and not talking to anyone until things got sorted out, and you could be guaranteed safety.

It was likely because of this that nobody noticed when he returned to you.

You still watched the news and used the internet, albeit with every adblocker available installed.  You knew that the people of Asgard had relocated to Earth after the terrible loss of their homeland. You knew Thor was there, but you, like everyone else, thought that Loki had died.

But he was there in your apartment one day, looking older, softer, and incredibly penitent.  

“Please don't be afraid.” He said. And so you weren't.

“Please tell me what happened.” He said. And so you did.

There were tears in his eyes by the end of it, his hands trembling with the strength of his regret. Since you were not afraid, he was able to approach and hold you tenderly.

“Let me make this up to you.” He pleaded, and you had no choice but to agree.

He took you away from your apartment-the first time in months that you had left-and he brought you to a young, red-haired woman.

“Is there anything you can do for her?” He asked, after explaining what the problem was. She seemed very put out with him, and he took her accented sarcasm with contrition, but she eventually agreed.  Then she touched your head, and you went to sleep.

                                                                                            *****

You awoke after what felt like a decade of the most refreshing sleep you'd ever had, and feeling better than you had in years. The layer of molasses that had covered your thoughts for so long seemed to have thinned; you felt sharper than ever.

Loki was there, waiting eagerly.

“How do you feel?” He asked.

“So good.” You replied. “You bastard.”

He looked taken aback.

“Tell me what happened!” You demanded. “Tell me everything!”

You knew inside that you hadn't exactly been cured. If you were ordered, you would still obey. But you could think now. You could talk back, you could refuse requests that weren't orders. You could give orders of your own.

Loki was grinning wide. You still found him beautiful.

He told you everything; about escaping with the Tesseract, and traveling far and wide, only to return and find out that, somehow, he had never left. That, while he was off adventuring, learning, healing, there was another him, still here, who had lived entirely different experiences. That version of him had apparently been defined by loss and sacrifice, to the point where he had actually died.

This Loki wasn't without understanding  of why his other self would take that direction in life. He felt terrible remorse for the things he had done, helpless to do anywhere near enough to make up for it.

“But I have thousands of years to fix what I've done. I can do so much more with my life than I can with my death.  And as for that: May I help you? I want to make this up to you. I want to make the rest of your life comfortable. Idyllic, if I can. Would you want me to do that?”

You were actually able to think about it. To contemplate refusal. You could walk away, you could tell him to never visit you again. But he owed you. He owed all of mankind a debt, and helping you was a start for all the payback he owed. So you agreed.

And he began taking care of your needs.

                                                                                *****

For someone with such a reputation for trickery and lies, Loki was as good as his word, and perhaps better. He gave you everything you requested, up to and including his affection. You knew it was fueled by his great remorse, but sometimes it felt like love. Neither of you believed yourselves to be fully capable of that emotion anymore, though he stayed with you most nights, and the friendly domesticity between you felt close enough.

You never asked for marriage, believing that it would prove ultimately false, but you lived as a couple, and allowed him to dote on you as he saw fit. That Loki had never been in a long-term relationship was clear, but he showed no frustration over the arrangement. Instead, he often thanked you for teaching him. He often expressed his fear that his efforts at reparations were not enough.

Dr. Selvig's research had been funded for years to come. Agent Barton's children would be going to college on Loki's donations. He put great effort into the continued rebuilding of downtown New York, volunteered information about advanced Asgardian technology, and the universe. He became, in general, the very image of the good king who went out among the people to commit charitable acts, but he still felt that it wasn't enough.

Even as you grew steadily older, and he saw more to your health and companionship needs, he never commented on the graying of your hair, never showed a drop of resentment. He remained gentle and steadfast until the night you had to leave.

Nestled in his arms, you knew he was watching you sleep, as he always did. You had been particularly foggy and calm today. You knew it was time.

You hadn't said anything to him about it, Loki, who looked at you with the same beautiful eyes you had seen every day since you were still young. He would have frantically done everything he could to prolong the inevitable, but you didn't want it. You had said goodnight, like you always had, let him tuck you gently into bed, and settle down beside you, just like every night. If it wasn't love, it was at least comfortable.

You gazed upon his lovely face once more, as he pressed a goodnight kiss to your forehead, and then let your eyes flutter closed for the very last time.

A short time later, you lifted yourself back out of the bed, light and airy, and for the first time in decades, completely free. Somehow, you managed to look back for just a moment before moving on entirely, to behold him tenderly embracing your empty body, begging forgiveness, and knowing, like you both had always known, that it would never be enough.