#buckyskifecollectionchallenge

[rosecoloredbi-writes]

3 am

This was originally written for @buckysknifecollection 's writing challenge from about a year ago. Prompt is 'I can't sleep' and is bolded.

Warnings: Swearing, bad dreams, sleep deprivation.

Fem reader x Loki

This is also a fix-it, Loki isn't murdered by Thanos :)

You sat on the cold marble counter while you waited for the toaster to pop, legs gently swaying. Looking out the large floor-to-ceiling windows, you focused on the stars hovering just above the outline of pine trees that bordered the edge of the compound’s grounds. Some song stuck in your head that you quietly hum - better that than allow the thoughts and images that plague your nightmares to run rampant.

“I don’t want to frighten you, Y/N by not announcing myself, so,” Loki clears his throat before bowing. “It is I, Loki, the God of Mischief.”

You look up to see the handsome god approach you from the dark hallway, now illuminated by the moon and stars through the large windows. “Hey, Loki,” you said with a light chuckle. “I appreciate the announcement, heaven knows how much longer I would have lasted from you sneaking up on me.”

Loki finished his approach and glanced at the toaster to your left. “I believe those have to be plugged in for it to do its job properly, yes?”

“Goddamn,” you mutter, reaching to plug the toaster in and pushing the lever down.

“What are you doing awake, my dear?” he asked, tucking some hair that had come out of the messy bun behind your ear.

You shrugged, eyes on your bare toes. “Can’t sleep.”

A slim finger is placed under your chin, and blue eyes meet your now misty eyes.

“And what, my love, is plaguing you?”

Loki had a tendency to call you pet names and overtly flirt with you, however, you were absolutely positive it was just because it was Loki. He flirted with everyone.

You sighed before jumping out of your skin as the toaster popped. “Shit!”

Loki chuckled as you quickly grabbed your food, setting them down on a paper towel you had on the counter. Once you thought it had cooled down enough you picked up one and held the other out to Loki.

“Have you ever had a poptart?” you asked, as he took it from you.

Loki shook his head as he took a bite, “What in the nine realms is this?” Loki asked, a confused look on his face.

“It’s a poptart,” you replied simply.

“This is not tart, although I do understand where the pop comes from,” nodding his head towards the toaster.

You just shrug and watch as he tentatively takes another bite now that he knows what to expect.

“You did not answer my question, darling,” Loki said after another moment.

You nodded, and Loki watched as your shoulders slumped.

“I keep having nightmares,” you replied after repeating the answer in your mind a few times, pushing yourself to answer him. “Thanos,” you say, assuming his next question.

“Ah, I see,” he replies, setting the poptart on the paper towel.

“I should be fine though,” you say, hopping off the counter. “I think I’m gonna go try to sleep some more.”

“Y/N,” he calls after you’ve successfully forced yourself to take a few steps towards your room. “Should you find you are not ‘fine’ after all, I could help if you’d like.”

Your eyes find your bare toes again and you bite your lip, “Thanks, Loki.”

You continue to cross paths with Loki throughout the day and you knew that he knew you hadn’t been successful, so you avoid giving him the opportunity to bring it up. This is how the next few days continued and Loki could see you visibly deteriorating due to lack of sleep, yet you kept pushing yourself forward.

Loki had had enough during training one day.

You were sparring with Steve who had a tendency to push you past what you believed to be your limit and oftentimes, good things came out of it. This was not one of those times.

“Come on, Y/N!” Steve yelled, “Get back up! Get on your feet!”

You drag your hands underneath your body and struggle to push yourself off of the mat.

“Steve,” Loki’s voice was low and dangerous. “You are pushing too hard.”

Steve ignored Loki’s warning and you used it to fuel yourself back up to your feet just to prove him wrong.

You sway, trying to keep your balance and raise your fists, squaring up. Steve does the same and throws a punch but it’s like things are moving in slow motion before his eyes. He looks to your face and finally sees the dark circles under your eyes and the dead weight in your eyes, but then his fist is making contact and he does his best to pull back but it isn’t enough.

You wake up in your bed, body sweating, your mind racing, and your body is in pain. You struggle to move to a sitting position and notice the man sitting beside your bed.

“Please don’t say-”

Loki cuts you off, “Normally, I’d take the opportunity to make some mischief but you are far past the point where it would even remotely be fun. So please, rest.”

You let the weight of Loki’s words rest on your chest before turning your face towards him and nod.

“That’s all I have to do?” you ask Loki. “I thought this was going to be more complicated.”

“This is in fact, it,” he says as he runs his fingers through your hair soothingly. “You rest and I will be in here with you,” he taps your forehead.

Loki does something to make it easier for you to fall asleep and you begin to see the cursed images form before your eyes.

Thanos has his large hand wrapped around your neck while simultaneously forcing you to watch all of your teammates die. You are sobbing, desperately trying to breathe and your heart keeps breaking as they all die over and over and over and ov-

“Y/N,” You hear Loki’s voice and you follow with your eyes to where he is standing off to the side. “This is just a dream and it cannot hurt you.”

As the words leave his lips Thanos’s hand is no longer cutting off your airway. One by one you stop Thanos from torturing and murdering your family and soon you are standing in the sun with Loki brushing tears from your cheeks.

“Loki,” you whisper, “Can we just, stay here a little longer?”

“Of course, love. We can stay here as long as you’d like,” Loki mumbles as he tucks some hair behind your ears.

When you wake up you find yourself in Loki’s arms, his nose nuzzling your hair.

“Good morning, pet,” he greets you, a smile threatening to slip onto his lips.

“Thank you, Loki,” you whisper, tilting your face up and brushing your lips against his.