Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The cold breeze softly blowing through New York City’s night sky stung your cheeks as you carefully manipulated the wind to allow you to hover in the air, watching as Tony dove towards the seabed to disconnect transmission lines on the fiber optic cables. He had insisted you join him, asking you to use your powers to part the ocean for him even though his suit was 100% waterproof.

You knew this was just his and Pepper’s way to get you out of bed and do something instead of rotting into your mattress as you would’ve preferred.

Admittedly, it has been over three days since you left your quarters in Stark Tower - in fact, you haven’t left your bed at all since you flew here on Tony’s private jet from California with them. Tony and Pepper were right to be worried about you - you were barely sleeping to avoid any nightmares that seemed to plague your nights ever since you left that cave in Afghanistan. It’s been four years. One would think you’d get over it by now.

It has gotten significantly better over the years compared to the early days when Tony first brought you back, but they were still there, nonetheless.

Whatever Tony did to the transmission lines on the seabed didn’t take too long and soon enough he flew up towards you, telling you it’s time to go back to the tower. In the interest of flying faster, you held on to Tony's suit as he flew past the New York City skyline back to Stark Tower, ignoring his nagging about how at your age, you should go out more and that you should give therapy a try.

“All I’m saying is, perhaps it’ll help. You know, with all that, young-adult, pent-up angst you’ve got in that pretty little head of yours. I’ll pay for it, just go to therapy,” he babbled, setting you down onto the platform outside his office while his suit was taken off his body.

“It’ll help? Really? Then why aren’t you in therapy?” you smirked, walking ahead of him.

“Hey! I’m not the one who spends days cooped up in my room! I’m fine!” he protested.

You ignored him in favor of walking into Pepper’s arms - you’ve always found comfort in her hugs. When Tony brought you back almost four years ago, Pepper’s hug was the first thing that greeted you. You were 17, desperate for any form of love, and Pepper provided you with the kindest and purest forms there was in one single hug. Both had been your parental figures ever since, despite how immature Tony can be. Notwithstanding his erratic, sometimes borderline psychotic behavior, you suppose he was trying his best to take care of you.

Pepper rubbed your head affectionately before putting you at arms’ length.

“How are you doing? I haven’t seen you since we flew here,” she asked.

“I’m fine, don’t worry about me,” you smiled softly.

“No she’s not, she’s avoiding therapy!” Tony yelled back.

“Tony, so are you,” Pepper said, her tone flat.

“This is so not about me,” he muttered, putting his arm around Pepper’s waist.

You let them walk ahead of you, watching as they bickered affectionately. Never in your life had you seen a couple love each other so much and still argue as much as they did. Granted, the only other couple you’ve ever had close proximity to were your parents, but they died when you were 10, so you couldn’t really draw a conclusion from there.

Your thoughts were interrupted when Tony shoved a flute filled with champagne in front of you, grinning happily as you took it in your hands.

“To Stark Tower becoming the beacon of clean energy - the only self-sufficient building in this city - no, the world. Here’s to us - mostly me,” he said, lifting his own glass up.

Pepper rolled her eyes and they then started bickering about their shares in Stark Industries and you sighed, sipping on your glass, letting the bubbles dance on your tongue. Your stomach growled and you realized that you haven’t eaten anything since morning.

“Do you have snacks?” you asked aloud, heading towards the bar to see if Tony has anything other than peanuts, blueberries or alcohol in his office. They stopped their bickering and turned to you, frustrated expressions gracing their faces.

“Alright, Tinkerbell, when’s the last time you had a proper meal?” he asked you back, glaring at you as you popped some peanuts into your mouth, shrugging indifferently.

Winx Club, Tinkerbell, Avatar were only some of the nicknames Tony had given you due to your powers and alias, “The Fae”. You don’t know how that happened, but somewhere between utilizing your healing, element manipulation and force-field wielding powers, after coming back from Afghanistan with Tony, the public had come up with the name for you. You didn’t mind since it was infinitely better than being known as “Tony Stark’s girl sidekick” or “Goddess of Gulmira”, the latter sending a chill down your spine which you quickly shrugged off.

“I kind of want shawarma,” you muttered through a mouthful of peanuts.

“What the hell is shawarma?”

“There’s a great place two blocks down from here,” you replied, ignoring Tony’s question and looking at Pepper who looked at you with fond exasperation.

Suddenly J.A.R.V.I.S’ smooth voice interrupted you from the overhead speakers, making Tony perk up in attention.

“Sir, Agent Coulson from S.H.I.E.L.D. is here to see you,” said the A.I, making Tony groan.

“Tell him I’m not in. Tell him I’m attending something important. Tell him it’s family time. You don’t interrupt family time,” Tony blurted out.

“Yes, sir,” said J.A.R.V.I.S. dutifully.

You saw Tony sigh in relief but that only lasted for a few seconds before J.A.R.V.I.S. spoke again.

“Sir, it seems that my security systems are being overridden,” J.A.R.V.I.S. trailed off.

Tony visibly winced as the elevator doors opened to find a middle-aged man with the hairline to match in a crisp suit, a kind expression on his face. Four years ago, S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Phil Coulson had approached you during Tony’s press conference as Tony wreaked havoc by announcing that he is Iron Man. He told you that he was there on behalf of Director Nick Fury, and that he wanted to talk to you about something called the “Avengers Initiative”. Well, he ended up mostly talking to Pepper because you were terrified of everyone back then, but eventually you warmed up to him and found that he was one of the kindest people to ever exist.

However, after a stint involving Tony fighting an evil Russian man with electrical tentacles and Pepper’s new assistant turning out to be a really cool international super spy (who is apparently, also Russian), you were told that the Avengers Initiative was scrapped as its prospective members were deemed “too unstable”.

So you just ended up gaining a friend in the form of a middle-aged man and a weird fascination with Russians.

When Phil crossed the threshold, Tony started mouthing off at all of you when he found out you and Pepper were on a first-name basis with Phil, claiming that his first name was ‘Agent’. Phil handed out a declassified file towards Tony, which he downright refused due to his dislike of being handed things. Unfortunately for him, Pepper likes being handed things, and you almost always instinctively take things you’re being handed.

You flipped open the written file, reading through the report of a group of people with extraordinary abilities - yourself included, while Pepper handed Tony the one that projected the same in hologram form.

“I thought this whole boyband project Fury wanted to put together failed? You know, he called me too unstable and all,” Tony quipped, walking towards an open space as he looked around him to project the files. He sure knew how to hold a grudge.

“Well, we are under dire circumstances,” Phil replied solemnly. “Director Fury has declared that we are at war with this… being. Loki. He has some of our people. And the Tesseract,”

Tony looked at him with wide eyes. You didn’t know much about the Tesseract, but you knew that Tony’s father, Howard Stark, had worked with it before. You suppose it meant something to Tony, because he didn’t say anything, as opposed to his usual, smartass retort.

“Perhaps this is your chance to get your Captain America trading cards signed,” you said to Phil, who had a mixture of embarrassment and pride on his face.

Tony played the clip of a S.H.I.E.L.D. facility collapsing, and a man at the center of it. Well, if you could call him that. He didn’t wear what a typical, human man would wear and he held a scepter in his hands, which he used as a weapon against the S.H.I.E.L.D. agent that went after him. The man had a gaunt-looking face, with his cheeks sunken in and dark circles that made him look like he hadn’t slept for months. His hair was greasy and in any other case, you would mistake him for a homeless man in dire need of a shower. But for some reason, he had an ethereal, almost god-like quality to him. You somehow knew he was not of Earth, and this was confirmed when Phil told you that he suddenly appeared from a portal through the Tesseract.

And apparently, Clint Barton, one of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s best agents, also known as Hawkeye, was under Loki’s grasp.

According to Phil, just a few weeks ago, a similar, more stocky, beautiful-looking man-god-alien who called himself Thor, claiming that he was the God of Thunder, arrived (or crashed) on Earth through a bright light in the middle of nowhere in New Mexico, and then a robot-like thing, whom Thor referred to as “Loki” came to a small town and nearly destroyed it before Thor defeated it.

Since the common denominator here seemed to be Loki, S.H.I.E.L.D. theorized that these two incidents must be related.

“So Loki is a robot?” you asked, utterly confused by the entire thing.

“No, we believe Thor was simply communicating with Loki through the robot. We think Loki, like Thor, is also a God, since they happen to be siblings,” replied Phil.

“Looks like you both have homework to do,” Pepper sighed, collecting her things to leave.

Tony started to protest, but Pepper whispered something in his ear that made him perk up, which meant it was probably something you never ever want to know.

“I’ll send some food over for you, sweetie,” Pepper kissed your cheek and bid goodbye to you and Tony before heading towards the elevator with Phil, talking about some cellist he was seeing.

You turned to Tony, walking towards the hologram files being projected.

“So… Loki, God of Mischief?” you asked, reading the name flashing on the hologram. “I didn’t know Norse mythology was a real thing,”

“Well, you’re a product of a human and celestial being. Anything can be real these days,” he replied.

You nodded. He just made a very valid point. You stared at the picture of the Norse God. Loki. You swallowed nervously, getting a weird, uncomfortable pit in your stomach. Tony put his hand on your shoulder gently.

“Hey, you don’t have to do this if you don’t want to. I’ll handle it,” he said, squeezing your shoulder in a way you assumed he hoped was comforting, his voice uncharacteristically soft. You took a deep breath and sighed.

“I’ll do it. It’s better than staying here and rotting in bed, right?” you replied, smiling at him.

You closed your hands into fists to hide the fact that you were trembling. If Tony noticed, he didn’t say anything.

Chapter Text

While perusing and studying the materials given by Phil, you and Tony received intel that Loki was spotted in Stuttgart, Germany. A picture of him smiling in a suit amongst other, rich-looking people were sent to J.A.R.V.I.S. who then projected it amongst the other holograms in Tony’s office. You were surprised to see how much better Loki looked - his dark circles were gone, and he generally looked healthier. If he wasn’t an alien-terrorist who committed several murders in the past two days, you might even say he looked fairly attractive.

Apparently, according to S.H.I.E.L.D. intel, the scepter, or “glow stick of destiny”, as Tony liked to call it, could not only shoot energy blasts like an engineered shotgun, but it could also mind-control people, which explained why Hawkeye and a bunch of other S.H.I.E.L.D. agents were working with Loki. You and Tony read up on the incident that happened and studied the other prospective members of the Avengers, which, to your excitement, included Natasha Romanoff.

“Well, I guess it’s time to suit up,” said Tony with a grim expression.

When you came back from Afghanistan with Tony, upon asking you every detail about your powers, he promptly worked on designing a suit that worked around them. As it was today, the suit was temperature-resistant, waterproof, bulletproof and equipped with a tracker and vital monitors. It was surprisingly light and comfortable too.

“Listen, kid. I can probably handle this myself. If you’re not ready for this…” he trailed off.

“I’m ready,” you quickly interrupted. “I’ll be fine, Tony. I want to help,” you added, smiling softly to ease his concern.

He hesitated for a few seconds before groaning.

“Fine. But may I remind you that I will know if you get even a scratch on that pretty face of yours. The moment I get the alert, I’m pulling you out,” he said sternly, making you roll your eyes.

“You do realize that I have healing abilities right? My body will probably heal itself even before the suit detects it,” you replied, walking away from him.

“You can’t do that! If you do that you’re grounded!” he shouted back at you.

“I’m an adult, you can’t ground me,”

“Try me, kid!”

You both decided that traveling via his suit is probably faster than taking a plane, so you held on tightly to him as you flew through the airspace all the way to Stuttgart. While you had no trouble flying, you didn’t have the speed his suit did. When you arrived, you noticed that Natasha and the Captain America were already there, the latter fighting off Loki amongst the crowd. Loki was wearing a giant, gold helmet with horns and you wondered how he moved so gracefully under that heavy-looking, gaudy atrocity. Tony gently put you down and told you to be on crowd-control duty. You nodded and herded the crowd away from the fight, forming a force field along the parameter so collateral damage could be mitigated.

When you were done, AC/DC’s ‘Shoot to Thrill’ burst through the speakers of the little jet plane Natasha was in, which told you that Tony had hacked into its systems to make an entrance. The song burst through the streets, causing Captain America to look up in confusion. Tony shot a blast out towards Loki and joined the fight. After a while, the latter quickly realized he was outnumbered and stopped fighting, a shimmer of magic running over his body, leaving him only in his leather-suit as he put up his hands in surrender.

Tony and the Captain loaded Loki into the jet while you greeted Natasha like an old friend.

“Long time no see,” she said, her hoarse voice making her sound sexy and seductive even if she didn’t intend to (or maybe she did?).

“Hi, Natasha,” you grinned at her as she piloted the plane back to S.H.I.E.L.D.’s base.

Subsequently, you introduced yourself to Captain America, who was the embodiment of righteousness. Integrity just seeped through his pores. You could see why Phil was such a huge fan of his. He insisted that you called him Steve, making you feel instantly comfortable around him. Unfortunately, Tony didn’t feel the same way, teasing and mocking him instead. It was probably due to his deep-rooted daddy issues - he once told you that his father revered Captain America more than he ever did Tony. You sighed and turned to Loki to gauge what he's like.

He was a lot taller in person, and the permanent scowl on his face did nothing to hide his high cheekbones and sharp jawline. His eyes, out-worldly blue, made him look like he could see through your soul and turn you into stone. His raven hair fell upon his shoulders in waves. He looked like sin personified. Then you noticed that Loki wasn’t strapped into his seat, which would cause problems if he attempted to escape, even if he was handcuffed.

You approached him slowly, kneeling in front of him and fastening his seat belts for him with trembling hands as you felt his gaze on you. You glanced up at him and noticed that he had a gash on his right cheek that was still bleeding, so you put your hand over it and healed the cut, making him smirk. His eyes, no longer that cold shade of blue, turned warmer, like the ocean on a hot summer day, suddenly making him look kinder.

“You must be The Fae. You are as ethereal as your name suggests,” he spoke, his voice smooth like velvet that made a shiver run down your spine.

Before you could even think of a reply, Tony abruptly pulled you away and pointed an accusatory finger towards Loki.

“Don’t get any funny ideas, Rudolph. She is off-limits!” he growled.

“Tony, stop embarrassing me in front of the ancient Norse God!” you groaned, pulling Tony away from Loki, your cheeks flushed red, but you’re not sure if it was from Tony’s overprotective outburst or Loki’s compliment.

Loki simply smirked and stayed silent as Tony continued to nag, keeping his eyes on you while you very consciously tried not to squirm. A rumble of thunder and lightning paraded through the night skies, making Loki look up towards the roof, looking anxious.

“What’s the matter? Afraid of a little thunder?” asked Steve. Even while mocking someone, he sounded righteous.

“I’m not overly fond of what follows,” replied Loki flatly.

Suddenly a loud thump was heard, like something landed on the roof of the jet. The jet doors burst open, and a blonde, muscular man wearing a red cape, looking like he just walked out of a college production of Hamlet, pulled Loki out of his seat and they both flew down to God knows where, leaving everyone stunned. Tony and Steve quickly followed, chasing after them.

“Why don’t you stay with me? Let the boys fight and avoid that sea of testosterone,” said Natasha nonchalantly.

“Someone just took Loki, Nat! How are you so calm?” you asked, looking at her with wide eyes.

“They’ll handle it,” she shrugged, focusing on piloting the jet.

“I’m just going to make sure Loki doesn’t get away while they compare dick sizes,” you replied, sighing at her before flying down where Loki was sitting down on a boulder, smirking and watching Tony and the blonde-muscular man fight like it was a rerun of a weekend sitcom. Funnily enough, he didn’t even attempt to get away. You promptly dragged Loki up back to the jet and strapped him back up again.

“Anyone else that might kidnap you like this that you could warn us about?” you asked, glaring at him. He ignored your question and chuckled.

“So you’re a celestial,” he said with a tilt in his voice that made you want to slap that smirk off of his face.

“Half. Why do you know so much about me?” you asked back.

“Because you are very interesting, darling,” he replied.

“Clint Barton must’ve told you about each of us,” you deadpanned, before walking away.

If your heart skipped a beat at his stupid comment and stupider pet name, you didn’t pay attention to it. You internally scolded yourself for even entertaining that thought - were you so starved for love and attention that a perverse comment from an actual supervillain made your heart flutter? It was utterly ridiculous.

Eventually, Tony and Steve returned to the jet with the muscular blonde, who apparently was Thor, Loki’s brother and the God of Thunder, in tow. You returned to S.H.I.E.L.D.’s base which was an invisible hovercraft and met Dr. Bruce Banner, who was there to track down the Tesseract via gamma rays.

Contrary to what you had read about his green alter ego with incredible anger issues, Dr. Banner was a gentle, kind man who was incredibly soft-spoken. Loki was taken away to a cell as everyone gathered in a room to plan the next course of action, under the leadership of Director Nick Fury, an intimidating man who wore an eye-patch over one eye. However, nobody came to an agreement as to what to do next - Thor insisted on bringing Loki back to Asgard, another realm where they came from, to “face Asgardian justice” while the rest of the Earthlings wanted to keep him here. Bruce made a crude comment about Loki, and Thor quickly came to his defense.

“Have care of how you speak of him. Loki is beyond reason, but he is of Asgard, and he is my brother,” said Thor in his baritone voice.

“He killed 80 people in two days,” said Natasha dryly.

“He’s adopted,” replied Thor sheepishly.

After a series of back and forth between everyone, you could truly see that this was a group of misfits and you were hesitant on whether everyone could work together or not, especially with Tony and Steve having very opposing views on what to do. You kept silent, keeping your eyes on the monitor that showed Loki in his cell, looking oddly calm.

“He seems weirdly interested in you,” Natasha said from beside you, causing you to startle.

“What? Who? Loki? No, I think that’s just the way he talks to people,” you replied, trying to hide the scarlet blush that suddenly spread through your face, suddenly feeling stupid again.

“Right. Just be careful anyway. Nothing good can come up with associating with villains,”

“Every hero is a villain in his own mind, Nat,” you said, suddenly empathizing with Loki.

Natasha raised an eyebrow at you but didn’t say anything. You continued to watch the monitor, watching as he walked back and forth through the glass cell. Suddenly, he stopped and looked at the camera, and it was as if he was looking directly at you, causing your heart rate to fasten. You quickly looked away, turning your attention to the rest of the room, where they were still bickering. It was weird that Loki surrendered so easily when he supposedly destroyed an entire building and killed so many people that got in his way. Even Director Fury off-handedly mentioned through all that fighting that Loki seemed to be the only person who wanted to be here.

You felt that Loki was up to something, that there was definitely more than meets the eye, so you quietly got up and sneaked to where he was being held, strengthening your resolve to find out more about him and what his play was.

Chapter Text

You walked into the chambers where Loki was held at and saw that he was sitting on the bench in his glass cell, legs spread like he was on a throne, smirking at you as if he was expecting you. You swallowed down your anxiety and walked towards the glass separating you from him, straightening your spine up.

“To what do I owe this pleasure, darling?” he said, his velvet voice making your toes curl in your shoes.

“Don’t call me that,” you snapped.

“Shall I call you love, then?” he retorted, his smirk growing wider.

“You don’t get to call me anything, Loki,” you replied, hoping that you sounded firm.

He smiled slyly, getting up and pacing around in his cell, his body lithe like a cat.

“Why are you here then, Fae?” he asked.

“That’s a question I’d like to ask you. Why are you here? On Earth? What’s your motive?” you asked.

He stared at you for a moment, before stopping directly in front of you. You had to look up at him since he was on a raised platform.

“I am burdened with glorious purpose. I was born to be King, and I was a King, until that was taken from me so ruthlessly. I am simply here to reclaim what was rightfully mine,” he replied, his voice low and menacing.

“You’re a God, are you not? Gods are supposed to be benevolent,”

“I came here to rule as a benevolent God, my sweetness,” he smirked, the way a demon would right before it possessed someone.

“Killing 80 people in two days isn’t very benevolent of you,”

“It was a necessary evil. You would know, you were a goddess too, were you not? The Goddess of Gulmira,” he said. You tensed up, feeling your heart rate increase.

“I didn’t have a choice,” you spat out. Perhaps your eyes deceived you, or perhaps you believed what you wanted to believe, but you could have sworn that his eyes softened.

“And did you think I had one?” he asked quietly, surprising you.

A moment of silence washed over you and Loki as you looked at each other, but all of a sudden, his expression hardened, turning cold and ruthless again. You turned to see that Natasha had sneaked up behind you, her expression schooled into one that was calm and calculating. Loki painted his face with that infuriating smirk again. You stepped back to get some space between you and the glass, passing the reins to Natasha.

“You figured I’d come,” said Natasha.

“After,” Loki smiled. “After whatever tortures Fury can concoct - you would appear as a friend, as a balm - and I would cooperate,” said Loki, his tone friendly, but anyone could sense the concealed hostility behind it.

Natasha began questioning him about Hawkeye - Agent Barton. Loki kept his voice level - soft, even, making you even more anxious. He told her that he expanded Agent Barton’s mind, which would then prove S.H.I.E.L.D.’s theory of Loki brainwashing the agents to be true. Natasha stepped closer to the glass, standing directly in front of Loki.

“And once you’ve won, once you’re king of the mountain -” she said, crossing her arms over her chest. “What happens to his mind?”

“Is this love, Agent Romanoff?” Loki smirks, glancing at you for the tiniest millisecond.

“Love is for children, I owe him a debt,” she replied.

Loki walked backwards and sat down on the bench in his cell. You watched them intently, unable to shake the uneasiness that has crept up your spine.

“Tell me,” said Loki, mirth in his voice.

Natasha sighed, walking to sit down on a nearby chair before telling him a part of her past - before she worked for S.H.I.E.L.D. Her past, like many others here, was dark, and you were surprised to see her open up to Loki like that. She told Loki how Agent Barton was supposed to kill her, but saved her instead.

“And what will you do if I vow to spare him?” Loki asked.

“Not let you out -”

“Ah no, but I like this,” he interrupted, smiling like a child on Christmas morning. Cold sweat dripped down your nape, and you fumbled with your hands, trying to stop it from trembling.

“Your world, in the balance, and you bargain for one man?” he asked.

“Regimes fall every day. I tend not to weep over that,” she replied. Of course she said that. She’s Russian. “It’s really not that complicated,” Natasha continued, standing up. “I got red on my ledger, I’d like to wipe it out,”

“Can you? Can you wipe out that much red?” he asked, his voice even more menacing now. “Dreykov’s daughter? São Paulo? The hospital fire? Barton told me everything.”

Natasha seemed unnerved, and you felt a headache start to form in your temples. It seemed that Loki had hit a nerve in Natasha. Loki walked towards Natasha, all traces of tenderness gone and replaced with red, hot fury and hatred.

“Your ledger is dripping, gushing red, and you think saving a man no more virtuous than yourself would change anything? This is the basest sentimentality - this is a child at prayer - PATHETIC!” he spat out.

Natasha stood still, her eyes wavering as Loki went on his rant.

“You lie and kill in the service of liars and killers. You pretend to be separate, to have your own code. Something that makes up for the horrors. But they are part of you. And they will never go away,” he snarled.

He banged on the glass with his fist, making both Natasha and you jump, looking up at him in horror.

“I won’t touch Barton. Not until I make him kill you - slowly, intimately - in every way he knows you fear. And then he’ll wake just long enough to see his good work. And when he screams I’ll split his skull,” he threatened, making Natasha gasp and turn around in disgust. “This is my bargain, you mewling quim,” he barked.

You stood frozen, watching as Natasha hid her face and sobbed.

“You monster,” she cried, making Loki chuckle.

“Oh no, you brought the monster,” he replied, grinning.

Suddenly Natasha stopped crying and turned around, looking at him with an impassive expression.

“So, Banner? That’s your play?” she asked.

“What?” he asked.

Loki’s face fell, having been caught off-guard. You looked at Natasha in surprise as she spoke into the comms on her wrist.

“Loki means to unleash the Hulk. Keep Banner in the lab, I’m on my way. Send Thor as well,” she murmured. She turned to you and smiled. “Let’s go,”

You quickly followed her, and she stopped at the exit to look at Loki again.

“Thank you. For your cooperation,” she said, before leaving.

You looked back at Loki and grinned, thoroughly impressed with Natasha’s performance.

“You just got played,” you smirked, before following Natasha to the exit.

You and Natasha rushed back to the labs only to find Tony, Dr. Banner and Director Fury arguing. Apparently, Tony had hacked into S.H.I.E.L.D.’s systems and found out that they were planning to use the Tesseract as a power source to create weapons of mass destruction. Moments later, Steve walked in and threw an odd-looking weapon that was previously used by HYDRA, which also used the Tesseract as a power source. Arguments broke out, mostly between Steve and Tony as Director Fury shouted over them. Thor began to condescendingly mock everyone for their human tendencies as Natasha tried to take control over the situation.

Over all that chaos, you noticed that Dr. Banner had picked Loki’s scepter up.

“Dr. Banner,” you called out, making everyone’s attention turn to you. “Put the scepter down, Dr. Banner,” you said slowly, as to not cause any alarm.

A shrill sound came from the monitor where they were locating the Tesseract, signifying that it had been found. Oddly, it seemed to be closer than ever.

All of a sudden, a loud noise burst through the atmosphere and the floor below you collapsed. Luckily, you escaped unharmed, so Steve quickly told everyone to suit up. You noticed Natasha and Dr. Banner were missing, but you didn’t have any time to contemplate over that before Tony had pulled you out of the room. You ran into the main room and quickly attended to the injured agents, healing their split skin and broken bones while Tony and Steve went to repair a blown engine.

By the 13th agent, you felt your energy quickly depleting, but you pushed on until you were sure that all the agents were out of danger. An alarm sounded, and you rushed to Loki’s cell, only to find Thor jumping into the cell, while Loki had escaped.

You made to move towards the control panel to release him, but Loki stopped you.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” he said, smiling.

“Let him go, Loki,” you growled.

He ignored you and turned to Thor, who used his hammer to crack the glass, which made the entire cell shift. Loki chuckled.

“The humans think us immortal,” he began, bending over the control panel. “Should we test that?”

You made to move again before Loki stopped you again.

“Don’t try anything stupid, darling. One move and I’ll drop him,” he smirked at you.

“You wouldn’t. He’s your brother,” you said sternly.

“Try me,” he replied.

Someone grunted and you turned to see that Phil had knocked one of Loki’s lackey’s unconscious, and he was holding a gun, pointing it at Loki.

“Move away, please,” he said politely.

Loki slowly backed away from the control panel.

“You like this? We started working on the prototype after you sent the Destroyer. Even I don’t know what it does,” said Phil calmly, loading the gun. “Wanna find out?”

Suddenly the Loki in front of the control panel disappeared and another Loki, the real one, appeared behind Phil and stabbed him with his scepter, making both Thor and you scream in horror. Phil never stood a chance.

You instinctively went to Phil, trying to heal him, only to find out that you had run out of energy, causing your healing powers to not work. You sobbed, pressing at Phil’s wound to stop the bleeding.

“I thought I told you not to move, sweet Faerie,” said Loki mockingly, before pressing some buttons, making the floor below the holding cell open.

He dropped Thor without any hesitation, causing you to scream in protest. Loki looked at you and for a moment, you thought you saw a flash of regret in his eyes before his gaze hardened again. Ignoring him, you pressed your hands to Phil’s wound, making him wince.

“You’re going to lose,” he choked out, making Loki turn to face him again.

“Am I?” asked Loki, smirking.

“Shut up, Phil, he’s not worth it. Save your energy, please,” you sobbed, trying your best to muster up enough energy to heal him. Phil ignored you.

“It’s in your nature,” said Phil.

“Your heroes are scattered, your floating fortress falls from the sky. Where exactly is my disadvantage?” Loki scoffed.

“You lack conviction,” said Phil. Loki pinched his mouth.

“I don’t think I-”

Phil quickly blasted Loki with his gun, throwing Loki several feet away.

“So that’s what it does,” he said quietly. You chuckled incredulously, looking at him in surprise.

“You better not die on me. I can’t wait to tell Tony what you just did - he’ll be so impressed,” you said, smiling through your tears.

You pressed the emergency button for the medics to come, but he was bleeding too profusely. He gripped your hand tightly and you looked at him teary-eyed.

“Go help Thor,” he choked out.

“What? No, I’ll stay here with you until the medics get here,” you quickly replied. You heard footsteps behind you and saw Director Fury run in, looking worried.

“Go,” repeated Phil.

You hesitated, but seeing as Phil wouldn’t be alone, you quickly kissed his forehead and said goodbye. Nodding towards Director Fury, you jumped through the hole where Thor fell through, flying towards where the jail cell was still falling.

You formed a force-field around the cell right before it hit the ground, shielding it from impact. Thor managed to break the glass and escaped, and you landed next to him on the ground, panting.

“Are you alright?” you asked, helping Thor get up.

“I am fine,” he grunted.

Somewhere in the back of your mind, you knew Phil wouldn’t survive his injuries. You clenched your fists, pure, hot anger overcoming any sort of empathy you might have had for Loki.

“Thor, I know Loki is your brother and all, but I will not hesitate to kill him if it comes to it,” you said slowly.

“I will not fault you for that,” he replied, nodding grimly.

This was war.

Chapter Text

It was decided that in order to save time, you would cling to Thor’s incredibly fit physique while he swung his hammer to fly to the city to confront Loki. Ever the gentleman, he wrapped his arm around your waist and held you tightly as you jet through the New York skyline. To your horror, a giant wormhole opened in the sky, and out came hideous, reptile-like creatures that waged war over New York City. It seemed like the Tesseract had opened up the portal from right on top of Stark Tower. You and Thor spotted Loki, wearing his horned helmet and holding his scepter, standing on the platform at Stark Tower, overlooking his rampage with his nose held high in the air. Thor landed on the Stark Tower platform, slightly lower than where Loki was standing, and gently set you down.

You braced yourself as Thor began yelling at Loki.

“Loki! Turn off the Tesseract or I’ll destroy it,” he threatened, glaring at his brother.

“You can’t! There is no stopping it. There is only the war,” Loki replied, pointing his scepter right at Thor.

“So be it,” said Thor, his voice decisive.

Loki launched into an attack with a loud roar, striking his scepter against Thor’s hammer. You threw an energy blast towards him, which he quickly deflected and retaliated by shooting at you with his scepter. Around you, Loki’s alien army began attacking the city, destroying buildings and murdering civilians. You spotted Natasha and refreshingly, Agent Barton in a jet, aiming to shoot towards Loki, but Loki was quicker and shot towards them, causing it to lose control.

Thor threw his hammer at Loki which made him drop the scepter. They then resorted to using fists until Thor finally held Loki by his collar.

“Look at this! Look around you! You think this madness will end with your rule?” Thor shouted.

“It’s too late…. It’s too late to stop it,” Loki replied.

For a moment, you saw Loki’s eyes clear, and he looked as if he was about to burst into tears, desperately seeking help.

“No,” Thor’s voice softened. “We can, together,”

Loki looked at him, and you held up hope that all of this would end and nobody else had to get hurt. Suddenly Thor groaned in pain, and you saw that Loki had stabbed Thor with a small dagger.

“Sentiment,” Loki spat out, as if only the idea of it made him disgusted.

Thor quickly jumped up and attacked Loki, slamming him onto the floor. Only a few moments passed before Loki rolled himself off the building, and your heart dropped. It turned out that one of the members of his alien army had caught him and prevented him from becoming a splat on the New York pavement and they quickly flew away.

You ran up to Thor, who pulled the dagger out like it was just a splinter. You placed your hand on his wound, finally having mustered enough energy to use your healing powers.

“That was some sibling fight,” you commented dryly.

“Well, it wouldn’t be the first time Loki has stabbed me,” he replied, chuckling as you looked at him in horror.

“I’m so glad I don’t have siblings,” you murmured.

You and Thor joined Steve, Natasha and Clint on the ground, discussing what had happened. You eyed Agent Barton warily, trying to make sure that he was no longer under Loki’s control, and he groaned at you.

“I’m fine,” he snapped, and you put up your hands in surrender.

“Just checking,” you retorted.

A loud buzz of a motorcycle interrupted the discussion, and you turned around to see Dr. Banner riding up towards you casually.

“So… this all seems horrible,” he said candidly.

“I’ve seen worse,” Natasha replied. They shared an odd gaze towards each other.

“Sorry,” said Dr. Banner sheepishly.

“No, we could use a little worse,” she replied, smiling slightly.

They held each other’s gazes which told you that something must’ve happened to them when the explosion occurred on the helicarrier. You turned to see Steve talking to Tony via the comms line.

“Stark, we got him,” he said.

“Banner?” Tony’s voice appeared through the comms line.

“Yeah, just like you said,”

“Then tell him to suit up, I’m bringing the party to you,” Tony replied.

Suddenly a giant, mechanical whale-like creature appeared through the buildings, chasing Tony around.

“I- I don’t see how that’s a party,” Natasha stuttered.

“Well, Tony’s parties do tend to be a little wild,” you swallowed nervously.

Bruce sighed and walked towards the whale-like creature as it crashed through the buildings along the streets, and Steve followed him.

“Dr. Banner, now might be a really good time for you to get angry,” said Steve. Bruce smiled wryly at him.

“That’s my secret, Captain,” he replied. “I’m always angry,”

You watched in sheer amazement as he morphed into the Hulk and punched the whale-like creature, causing it to flip over. Tony took the opportunity to hit its soft spot, and the creature exploded over you as everyone ducked for cover. You promptly formed a force field over yourself and everyone else, ensuring that nobody would get injured from the explosion.

All around you, Loki’s alien army started roaring in protest as all of you got into position. Above you, more giant mechanical whale-like creatures came out of the wormhole.

“Guys…” Natasha began.

“Call it, Captain,” said Tony.

“Alright, listen up. Until we can close that portal, our priority is containment,” he said, speaking like a true soldier.

“Barton, I want you on that roof, eyes on everything, call out patterns and strays. Stark, you got the perimeter. Anything gets more than three blocks out, you turn it back or you turn it to ash,” he ordered. Agent Barton turned to Tony.

“Wanna give me a lift?” he asked.

“Right, better clench up, Legolas,” replied Tony, before taking Barton up and flying away.

“Thor, you gotta try to bottleneck that portal, slow ‘em down. You got the lightning, light the bastards up” said Steve, before calling up your name.

“Get on the roof and figure out how to close that portal,” You nodded, quickly flying up on top of Stark Tower, where you found Dr. Selvig, his eyes that eerie blue that tells you that he’s still brainwashed.

“I’m so sorry,” you said to him, before knocking him out with your elbow.

He laid down unconscious as you approached the contraption that held the Tesseract, trying to remember everything Tony had ever taught you about fail-safes. In your peripheral vision, you saw Agent Barton shoot an arrow towards Loki, which the latter caught, but it suddenly exploded, throwing Loki onto the platform of Stark Tower. Subsequently, you saw the Hulk roar and jump up towards him, so you put Loki out of your mind and focused on the task at hand.

You were just about to just use your powers to destroy the device at the risk of blowing up the entire building when you heard Dr. Selvig’s voice from behind you.

“The scepter…” he trailed off. His eyes have cleared - it seemed like he was no longer under Loki's control.

“Doctor…” you turned around, helping him up.

“Loki’s scepter. The energy. The Tesseract can’t fight, but you can’t protect against yourself,” he babbled, looking troubled.

“It’s not your fault, you didn’t know what you were doing,” you replied, comforting him.

“Actually, I think I did,” he paused. “I built in a safety to cut the power source,” he continued.

“Loki’s scepter…” you trailed off, realization beginning to dawn upon you.

“It may be able to close the portal,” he finished for you. He motioned his head down below towards the platform. “And I’m looking right at it,”

You took in a deep breath as you looked down, seeing the scepter laying on the platform, Loki nowhere near it. You swiftly flew down to retrieve it, finally spotting Loki in Tony’s office, laying in a large dent on the floor, looking like he had seen better days. Ignoring him, you flew back up to the roof, carrying the scepter with you as Dr. Selvig flipped open a monitor and pressed some buttons.

“Right at the crown,” he yelled, motioning for you to jam the scepter into the energy field around the Tesseract.

You did as you were told and only felt the slight resistance as the scepter penetrated the field.

“I can close it,” you said aloud into the comms line. “Can anybody copy? I can shut the portal down,” you continued, your arms trembling under the weight of the scepter.

“Do it!” said Steve, but suddenly Tony interrupted him.

“No, wait,” said Tony.

“Stark, these things are still coming!” Steve retorted.

“I got a nuke coming in, it’s gonna blow in less than a minute, and I know just where to put it,” said Tony, as if it was an everyday occurrence.

“Tony, what the hell are you doing with a nuke?” you shouted into the line. “

Stark, you know that’s a one-way trip,” said Steve solemnly.

“Tony, listen to him! I can form a barrier around the nuke, just don’t do anything stupid!” you shouted again, panic filling your veins at the prospect of losing Tony.

Tony, the asshole that he is, simply ignored you and turned off his comms line.

Shortly after, you saw Tony flying through the skies carrying a fucking nuclear bomb into the portal.

“TONY!” you screamed, tears streaming down your face.

You gripped the scepter tighter as Tony disappeared into the wormhole.

There was a small moment of silence before one by one, Loki’s army died down, crashing to the ground. You sobbed as you waited for Tony to come back through the portal. A minute went by, and yet there were still no signs of him.

“Close it,” ordered Steve, his voice grave.

Understanding that it was for the greater good, you sobbed as you stabbed the scepter into the space right below where the Tesseract was floating. You watched as the portal got shrunk in size, already trying to think of ways to relay this whole situation to Pepper.

Suddenly, a figure fell through the portal and you let out a sob in relief.

“It’s Tony!” you shouted over the line.

You watched as he fell, and fell, and fell, but he didn’t slow down, so panic seized you once more.

“Somebody catch him!” you screamed.

Somewhere in the distance, you heard the Hulk roar and saw him catch Tony before landing on the ground.

“Is he okay? Someone tell me if he’s okay!” you shouted over the comms line again.

Nobody replied, but you heard the Hulk roar one more time and suddenly Tony’s voice boomed through the comms, making you sigh in relief.

You dropped the scepter and fell to the ground, closing your eyes and laying down, taking deep breaths to center yourself. You opened your eyes and realized that somewhere in Tony’s office, Loki was still there, so you grunted and got up, heading towards the office.

Loki was still laying on the ground, his eyes wide, as if in shock of what has become of himself. You assumed he was still trying to recover from the Hulk’s wrath - that or he had broken too many bones that he couldn’t move. You walked over him and found both cases to be true.

You sighed and knelt before him, healing most of his fractures before slapping a pair of cuffs onto his wrists, pulling him up into a sitting position.

“I almost killed you and you still choose to heal me. You should be called the Angel, not just the Fae,” he said, smiling at you charmingly.

A sudden anger overcame you and you threw a right hook at him, causing a dark bruise to blossom right below his chin.

“I suppose I deserved that,” he said, blinking the pain away.

You ignored him and waited for the rest of the Avengers to arrive.

After a while, the rest of the Avengers arrived along with numerous S.H.I.E.L.D. agents to take Loki into custody. Meanwhile, you found out that everyone got Shawarma without you, making you whine.

“I can’t believe you went without me. You didn’t even know what it was!” you pointed an accusatory finger at Tony.

“Give me a break, Tinkerbell, I just saved New York from getting blown into a million pieces,” he retorted.

After discussions were held, it was agreed upon by everyone that Thor would bring Loki back to Asgard so he’d face Asgardian justice. It was also agreed upon that the Tesseract would be safer if it wasn’t on Earth, where nobody understood the true extent of its power.

Everyone watched as Thor and Loki grasped the handle of a device that held the Tesseract. They twisted the handle, and a blue light shimmered over them. You made eye-contact with Loki, but he winked at you, so you flipped him off.

You would be glad to never see him again.

Chapter Text

You've never liked Tony’s mansion in California. You’ve always felt like it was too isolated, too lifeless. It never felt like a home, but Tony had always had a penchant for hedonism. You hated it even more now that things are tense between Tony and Pepper.

Ever since the Battle of New York, to say that Tony had not been acting normally would be the understatement of the entire century. He was reckless and irresponsible in the worst possible way. The way he acted put a strain in his and Pepper’s relationship, so Pepper whisked you off to New York with her while Tony sorted his shit out.

But then Tony’s mansion got bombed because he provoked a terrorist, and then he went missing for a while, then a geek kidnapped Pepper and made her really hot (quite literally) and Tony destroyed all of his suits.

So yeah, the past year had been insane, but you were glad that things were finally starting to calm down.

As it was, Stark Tower had been converted into the Avengers Tower, so you practically live there now. You enjoyed living there – your quarters were pretty big since you got first pick when Tony offered them to the rest of the Avengers, and it was nice to finally have a friend your age around to feel relatively normal. You and Natasha trained together in the mornings - something you begged her to do after what you felt was a lackluster performance during Loki's rampage - which would usually be followed by breakfast and other shenanigans.

And then one day, everyone was called into a meeting room by Director Fury.

Anxiety gnawed at you as you walked into the room, Director Fury’s face even more glum than usual. This felt eerily similar to when Phil first walked into Tony’s office with the brief on Loki last year. You saw that Steve, Clint, Bruce, Nat and Maria Hill were already there, and Tony walked in shortly after you did. You started pinching the meaty part of your palm in a gesture of pure nervousness, but Nat gently put her hands on yours to stop you.

“Great. We’re all here. Let’s start,” Director Fury began, grunting as he turned on the large television at the head of the table, where there was a news clip of London being attacked by an otherworldly creature.

“Is that an alien?” you wondered aloud, squinting to watch a blurry clip captured by a random civilian.

“I think so,” replied Nat.

“It’s so ugly,” you commented.

It was ugly. It had a pale face that was half charred, its eyes were black with tiny white pupils and he dressed like he had just walked out of a World of Warcraft convention.

“Are we going to London, then?” asked Clint.

“No, that problem has been settled” replied Director Fury, switching to another clip.

It showed Thor fighting the creature, eventually defeating it with a huge lightning blast. While it was always fun to watch Thor fight, that wasn’t what earned the gasps and curses that went around the room.

“That is the problem,” Director Fury deadpanned, pointing to the screen.

The screen showed Thor tossing his hammer towards the creature, and beside him was Loki. The Loki who tried to conquer New York, was defeated, and who was supposed to be rotting away in some dungeon on Asgard.

The screen switched to a British reporter clutching a microphone in his hand, his back against the scene of destruction left by the battle. He recapped the fight, how both Thor and Loki fought against the creature and won.

“What does this mean for us now that the God who tried to conquer the Earth just last year - has now saved our planet from further extinction? We look forward to seeing how this unravels as governments rush to provide an explanation to its citizens. For more updates, tune in to BBC News –”

Director Fury shut the television off.

“Thor has requested to see all of us today. And he’s bringing Loki with him,” he announced to the room.

“So, wait, let me get this straight - Thor is bringing Loki - the psycho who tried to take over the world - to see us? What, is he coming back for more?” asked Tony, standing up from his seat.

“Sit down, Stark. Let’s just see what Thor has to say,” said Steve, looking at Tony the way a father would reprimand a child.

“Don’t tell me what to do, Rogers,” replied Tony, but he sat down anyway.

Director Fury studied everyone’s faces before clearing his throat, motioning towards the glass doors.

“They’re here,”

Thor walked into the room with conviction, shaking Director Fury’s hand and nodding to the rest of the room. Behind him, Loki followed, his spine straight and his hands behind his back. Everyone tensed in their seats, ready to attack if he ever stepped out of line. He stopped at the head of the table, staring everyone down before his gaze settled on you.

“Hello, darling. It’s wonderful to see you again,” he smirked.

Hearing his velvety voice again caused a shiver to run down your spine.

“Shut up, Rudolph. Do I have to remind you what happened the last time you saw us?” asked Tony, glaring at him.

“Oh, I remember quite well. I just think she looks even more beautiful than she did last time, now that she isn’t plagued by a threat that might destroy her home,” Loki replied smoothly, making Tony growl while your cheeks burned red.

“Brother,” Thor tugged at Loki’s arm in warning. Loki scoffed and kept quiet.

“Thank you everyone, for being here,” Thor said, addressing the room.

“What’s going on, Thor? Why is your brother here? What did you fight in London?” asked Bruce, a mixture of fear and confusion evident on his face.

“I shall explain the London incident in due time. Today, I am here to ask you all for a favor,” replied Thor, placing his hands on the back of one of the chairs, his knuckles white as if he was nervous.

“Spit it out, Point Break,” said Tony.

“When I brought Loki back to Asgard, our father, the King of Asgard, had sentenced him to prison for the rest of his life,” Thor began.

“Deservedly,” Clint quipped. He and Nat high-fived before he crossed his arms over his chest.

“Yes, well, I agree. Loki deserved to be punished for his crimes he committed here on Midgard,” replied Thor.

Everyone kept silent as they waited for him to continue. You kept your attention on Thor, but you could see Loki rolling his eyes in your peripheral vision.

“But he has then made amends. You see, the creature you saw in London was Malekith. He was a Dark Elf from the pits of Alfheim. He intended to unleash an ancient weapon called the Aether upon the Nine Realms and plunge the realms into eternal darkness,” he said solemnly.

“So? You defeated him, didn’t you? The Sun’s still shining,” asked Nat.

“That I did, but I couldn’t have done it without Loki,” replied Thor, stepping back and gesturing towards his brother. Loki kept quiet, a small smile on his face.

“Thor’s father came to see me last night,” Director Fury interrupted. “Imagine my surprise when I was about to get ready for bed when a big-ass bright light burst through my windows and an old man walked into my house. I thought I was about to get attacked,” he grumbled.

“Yes, well, Odin does like to make an entrance,” Loki smirked. Director Fury ignored him.

“He and I came to an agreement. Loki will atone for his sins here on Earth,” said Fury.

His statement was immediately met with numerous protests, especially from Tony and Clint. You kept quiet, watching the mini-pandemonium that erupted as Loki’s smirk grew wider.

“Settle down!” yelled Fury. “I agreed because it would be easier for S.H.I.E.L.D. to keep an eye on him. Plus, I ran this with Rogers, and he agreed that this would be the best course,” he continued.

Everyone turned to Steve, who had been uncharacteristically quiet throughout the meeting.

“You knew?” asked Tony.

“Fury called me last night. Trust me, I had my doubts, but after sleeping on it, I think it wouldn’t be such a bad idea,” replied Steve.

“How is harboring an ancient supervillain intergalactic terrorist within our walls not a bad idea?” Tony asked again, exasperated.

“He’s right. What if Loki tries something and we’re unprepared? Isn’t he like, a magician or something?” added Nat.

“I prefer the term ‘sorcerer’,” said Loki, mirth evident in his voice.

“Shut up,” Thor growled next to him.

“Everyone deserves a second chance, Nat. You out of all people should understand that,” said Steve, making Natasha tense up. “As for his sorcery, Thor’s got that covered,” said Steve, turning to Thor.

“Yes, well. One of the conditions of his release to Midgard is for him to not have access to his seidr. My father has made arrangements to have it restricted until further notice,” said Thor, smiling in a way what you think he thought was assuring.

“The proposal is to have Loki stay here with us in the Avengers Tower. He will be monitored closely, and he will share a floor with Thor,” said Steve.

“Hold on a second, you want cat-brain extraordinaire over there to live here? In the tower I built, using my resources and my money just so you can keep an eye on him?” asked Tony in disbelief.

“Tony…” Steve trailed off. “It’s better to know what he’s up to rather than not. Plus, he did save the Earth from those Dark Elves. That’s gotta count for something, right?”

“I can’t believe this,” said Tony, shaking his head before burying his face in his palms.

There was a moment of silence as everyone weighed the pros and cons of having Loki here. Sure, he brought an entire alien army to take over New York, but apparently, he repented and saved the Earth from getting plunged into eternal darkness - as Thor put it. After a while Tony let out a huge sigh.

“He won’t step a foot out of the parameters I’ll set for him. No interactions with my staff unless explicitly authorized. He must be accompanied by security at all times. 24/7 surveillance. Plus, he has to stop flirting with Tinkerbell over here. Those are my terms,” said Tony.

“Tony!” you yelled at him, embarrassed.

“I’ll make sure he abides by your terms, Stark,” said Thor, smiling widely like he just won a trophy. “Though I’m not sure I can do much about your last condition…” he added, grinning sheepishly.

“What about the rest of you? Are you good?” asked Steve.

“As long as I have permission to blow his brains out if he steps out of line,” Clint shrugged.

Bruce simply said yes quietly, but Loki seemed terrified of him. You suppose anybody would be terrified after getting smashed by the Hulk. It’s a wonder that Loki even survived that.

“A second chance then. Don’t blow it,” said Nat, looking directly at Loki.

Steve called your name out, raising an eyebrow at you for your opinion.

“Yes,” you said, after a moment of hesitation.

You glanced at Loki, and he was smiling at you softly, before he schooled it into a smirk again.

“I shall appreciate your hospitality, Avengers,” Loki said, bowing slightly, reminding everyone that despite all his indiscretions, he was a Prince.

“It’s settled then. Welcome, Loki. We look forward to working with you,” said Steve, offering his hand out towards the Asgardian God.

“We shall see,” replied Loki smugly, shaking Steve’s hand.

-

You were never good at combat. No, your powers are meant to heal, to protect. But as an Avenger, you had to know how to fight, if not for yourself, then for the rest of your team.

This was why you didn’t mind waking up at ungodly hours in the morning to head to the gym, trying to build up your strength and sharpen your skills. Tony had built a room within the gym catered specifically to your powers, so you were even able to harness your element and energy manipulation skills there.

In order to sharpen your hand-combat skills, you usually trained with Nat. Unfortunately, she was away on a mission with Steve in Washington D.C., so you were alone today. You started by stretching, warming up your body for the intense work-out that was about to come. You had planned on kickboxing today, to build muscle and strengthen your core.

As you started, you noticed movement at the corner of your eye and was surprised to see Loki in the gym.

“What are you doing here?” you asked, tensing up.

“Relax, Stark has stationed two incredibly burly men outside to keep watch over me,” he replied nonchalantly. You eyed him warily before turning back to the sandbag before you.

“Fine,” you said.

You continued to punch and kick at the sandbag, making use of the skills Nat had taught you weeks earlier, when suddenly you felt a hand at the small of your back, correcting your posture. You turned to see Loki and you immediately flipped him over onto his back on the floor.

“I’ve missed this,” he laughed, shaking his head with mirth.

You glared at him, walked away and went to do some other exercises, anything to keep some distance between you and him, but he kept following you, trying to talk to you. Finally reaching your boiling point, you snapped.

“You sure love the sound of your voice don’t you? With all this yapping you could become a politician or something,” you snarled, glaring daggers at him. He simply smirked.

“It got your attention, didn’t it? Has anyone ever told you that you look insanely beautiful when you’re angry?” he asked teasingly.

You felt your cheeks heat up and attempted to leave, but suddenly he threw a punch at you which you quickly dodged. He continued to attack you, rendering you out of breath as you blocked his attacks. Finally, you grabbed him and flipped him onto the floor again - because that was the only move you knew, honestly - pinning his wrists to the floor as you straddled him.

“Beautiful and strong. Though, if you wanted to be on top of me, you could’ve just said so,” he smirked.

You finally realized the precarious position you were in and quickly got up to collect your things, willing your blush to fade lest he saw it and teased you further.

“Your skills aren’t bad, but they could be better,” he said, standing up, wiping off imaginary dust off his pants for what you suppose was dramatic effect. “I could help you,”

“Fuck off, Loki,” you replied, showing him your middle finger as you walked out of the gym.

Your heart beat faster than normal, but you convinced yourself that it was just the adrenaline running through your veins, and it had nothing to do with the fact that Loki called you beautiful twice.

Chapter Text

“Mom! Dad! Look at what I can do!” you screamed with joy as you shaped the cold water into a flower-shaped blob.

You were by the small stream running just behind the small cottage you lived in, your parents behind you looking over you fondly. It was the end of summer, and you were turning 5 in the fall, so you were milking the warm weather and greenery as much as possible before the leaves turned yellow.

Your little cottage sat in the middle of a remote forest, away from any form of civilization. Your father had built the house himself. You moved frequently because according to your parents, it was necessary so the ‘bad guys’ wouldn’t catch you and your family. You honestly didn’t mind as long as you got to be with them.

You continued forming various shapes using your abilities until you heard your mother call out your name. You quickly ran towards them, drying yourself by manipulating the soft winds that blew through the trees. Your parents had set up a small table - having decided to eat dinner outside the cottage today since the weather was wonderful. They had cooked dinner, which consisted of a roasted pheasant your father had hunted earlier today and some herbs and fungi your mother had foraged from the forest.

“Are you cold, darling?” your father asked your mother, which made you perk up.

“Mom’s cold? I’ll help!” you chirped excitedly.

Before either of your parents could stop you, you conjured a huge flame right next to the table, almost burning your dinner. Your mother quickly used her own powers, which were similar to yours, to put the fire out.

“Sorry,” you said sheepishly.

Your parents simply laughed at you, which in turn made you giggle. You enjoyed dinner with your parents as the crickets began to chirp and the sun began to set.

Life was good.

You were 10 years old when they took everything from you.

You looked around you in horror, bloodied hair matted to your face as you stared at the lifeless bodies of your parents laying on the ground. You parents fought hard to protect you, but they were outgunned and outnumbered.

You had lost the ability to use your powers - your energy had been depleted and you were too weak to defend them. Still, you screamed and shouted as the “bad men” took you away, crying out as you watched them burn your cottage, your parents’ bodies still inside.

“You’ll make such a fun toy, just like your mother was,” said one of the men, flashing his yellowing teeth in a gruesome grin at you, his voice as grotesque as his intentions were.

Right then, you knew that your life was just about to get worse.

“Goddess of Gulmira!”

People kissed your feet as you sat on the elevated chair, staring blankly into space. They had dressed you in elaborate, scratchy clothing and adorned your body with heavy jewelry. You moved on auto-pilot, conjuring water, fire or soil should any of the worshippers asked for it. Just as you were told to. They offered you food and gifts and all sorts of things to which you didn’t react to. They called you a goddess, they worshiped the ground you walked on, yet at night…

You dreaded the night. That was when your keepers would throw you inside a tiny room within a cave, with only a sheet to sleep on, and a small bucket of water in the corner of your room. They’d serve you food - which consisted of whatever scraps that were available that day, sometimes there were none at all. They’d shut you inside, sitting in the dark, cold cave, not allowing you to interact with anyone. You’d hear them speak loudly and sing merrily outside your door. You’d lie on the thin sheet, hugging knees to your body in an attempt to keep warm until the conversation and laughter died down.

That was when your dread would multiply infinitely.

They’d come inside and have their way with you. They’d beat and abuse you in every way possible, just to see your body heal itself. They’d laugh as they did it, despite your tears and screams for them to stop. Only once your body had run out of energy and stopped healing itself would they stop, leaving you broken and blue on the floor. By morning, your body would heal itself again, and the cycle would begin all over again.

Get up. Get dressed. Sit on the litter. Get carried to the village. Serve the villagers. Suffer. Heal. Suffer. Heal.

Suffer.

Heal.

In the first few months of the abuse, you fought back, kicking and screaming, hoping someone would be kind enough to take pity on you and stop the madness. By the end of the fifth month, you had stopped fighting, simply letting do whatever atrocities they wanted to inflict on your body.

You were a child. But they kept doing it again and again.

And again.

And again.

And again.

You woke up with a start in cold sweat, your heart pounding in your chest, tears descending your cheeks. You tried to control your breathing, willing your heart rate to go back to normal as you tried to remind yourself that you are safe, it’s all over, no one will hurt you like that anymore.

After a while, you sighed deeply and decided to get some fresh air, so you quietly exited your quarters and made your way to the elevators, going up all the way to the rooftop. You silently walked towards one of the benches, but stopped suddenly when you spotted a figure already sitting there.

Loki was sitting on the bench, looking over the New York City skyline with a tranquil expression on his face.

“It seems like security isn’t doing a very good job of keeping track of you,” you commented dryly, approaching the bench.

“It takes more than mere mortals to keep a God in place, I’m afraid,” he replied with a smirk. If he seemed surprised to see you, he didn’t show it.

Not in the mood to bicker with him, you let out a deep sigh and sat down on the bench, leaving a healthy distance between you and Loki. For a moment, you both sat together in comfortable silence, only the sounds of distant cars horns and the occasional yelling of a citizen in the city that never sleeps filling the night air.

“Are you alright?” he asked softly, breaking the silence.

“Why’d you ask?” you snorted, trying to hide your melancholy.

“There are tear streaks on your face,” he replied.

You turned to him with wide eyes, surprised that he even noticed that you had been crying. You quickly swiped at your face, trying to rid of the evidence he had already seen. You didn’t even realize that you had started crying again.

Loki scooted closer to you, concern marring his usually sly features. He sat in silence, a warm presence next to you as you cried into your hands. After a while, your sobs subsided and you looked up and away from him, suddenly embarrassed that you had a meltdown in front of him, out of all people.

You noticed a shimmer of green and gold and you quickly turned to him, surprised to see that he had conjured up a green, silk handkerchief with gold seams, offering it to you.

“I thought your magic was restricted?” you asked in shock.

“Yes, well, I can still do simple conjuring magic like this, but even that takes a lot of energy since magic isn’t very potent here on Midgard,” he replied.

You silently took the handkerchief from him, dabbing your tears and snot away as he looked at you with a disgusted expression.

“I won’t tell anyone about how ugly you look when you’re crying if you don’t say anything about my very limited magic,” he said.

You stared at him for a moment before bursting out into laughter. He looked surprised at first, before chuckling himself.

“Sorry,” you murmured, once your laughter died down.

“It’s alright,” he smiled. “You’re not actually ugly, by the way. I just said that to cheer you up,” he continued.

“Sure,” you scoffed.

You both settled into comfortable silence again, the night breeze softly blowing through your hair.

“Aren’t you going to ask me why I’m such a mess?” you asked quietly, breaking the silence.

“You don’t have to tell me anything you do not wish to share, my sweetness. But if you do choose to do so, I am willing to lend my ears for you,” he replied.

You sat there in silence, wondering if it was a good idea to tell him. You didn’t trust him, but he already saw you at one of your most vulnerable moments, so what else do you have to lose?

“I had a nightmare,” you confessed hesitantly.

“What about?” he asked.

“Just… it’s stupid,” you sighed, pausing, pushing your hair out of your face from where the wind had made a mess of it. “You must think it’s so childish to still cry from nightmares like this,” you chuckled self-deprecatingly.

“Do not assume what my thoughts are, darling. I do not find it childish,” he replied, his tone serious.

“But it’s stupid…” you trailed off.

He had a soft expression on his face, and for the first time since you’ve met him, you admitted to yourself that he was beautiful. His sharp features made him look distinguished, and his eyes would make the ocean and skies cry in shame with its depth.

“Do not undermine your struggles like that. Your nightmare clearly affected you, thus it isn’t stupid nor childish to react the way you did,” he continued, looking out at the New York City skyline.

You swallowed the lump that started to form in your throat, threatening to make you burst into tears again. You had never confided in anyone about your nightmares, not even Tony or Pepper, but Loki pried the truth from you so easily.

“It was about my past… Before Tony saved me,” you confessed.

Loki didn’t say anything, prompting you to continue.

“It was… It was really bad. I haven’t had a nightmare like that in a while, so I guess it caught me off guard,” you said quietly.

“I get nightmares too,” said Loki. You didn’t want to overstep any boundaries, so you simply nodded.

“Is that why you’re up here?” you asked.

He didn’t answer, simply smiling wryly and ignoring your question.

“Just so you know, having nightmares are normal when you’ve gone through something majorly traumatic. I’m sorry you had to go through what you went through,” he paused, clearing his throat. “But, if you could, you shouldn’t let it define you. Instead, perhaps, if you want, you should learn to grow from it,” he continued.

You looked at him, watching as the city lights reflected off his eyes. He looked wistful, and you thought that perhaps he really was trying to better himself. You looked over the city again, seeing hints of pinks and oranges starting to peek through the skyline, signifying a brand-new day.

“Grow from it,” you repeated, taking the words to heart.

You sighed and straightened your legs, stretching them before standing up.

“At least the worst is over,” you replied, turning around to head towards the door.

“Where are you going?” he asked, calling out after you.

“Back to bed,” you replied, holding the door open. “And you’re going back too, trickster. Don’t think I forgot about the conditions of you staying here in the Tower. You’re not supposed to be alone,” you replied, smirking.

He smiled back before standing up and following you through the door, as you saw him back to his quarters. You noticed the security guards stationed in front of his door were sleeping, and you sighed.

As he entered his quarters, he turned around and looked at you, as if wanting to say something, but you beat him to it.

“Goodnight, Loki. More like, morning, actually… And thank you,” you said, smiling at him.

“See you soon, darling,” he replied, matching your smile.

Perhaps Loki wasn’t too bad after all.

Chapter Text

It was a brand-new day, and you woke up right before the sun rose to head to the training room so you could get a head start before Natasha drilled her deadly Russian-spy training regime into you. You put on your training gear and trotted towards the training room, which was really just a giant, modern-looking gym. The hallways were empty, save for some security guards who were about to switch shifts for the day, whom you nodded genially to.

As you walked into the training room, you were surprised to see Thor and Loki there, holding wooden sticks and chattering with each other, Thor's booming voice in contrast with Loki's hushed whispers. Thor noticed you immediately and beamed at you, greeting you ferociously.

“Good morning, Lady Faerie! My brother and I were just about to spar with each other,” he smiled, slapping Loki on his back, making the latter roll his eyes.

“I guess even gods need to train huh?” you smiled, placing your things in one of the lockers by the side of the training room.

“Of course, we do. Where do you think I got these muscles?” replied Thor playfully, flexing his biceps.

“I would’ve thought you were just born with them, Thor,” you joked back, stretching your limbs.

“If only you trained your mind as well as you do your muscles,” said Loki, scowling at his brother.

“Now, now, brother. Your muscles may not be as defined as mine, but you are formidable in your own right too,” Thor replied, smiling happily at Loki.

You couldn’t help but steal a peek at Loki, trying to discreetly check him out. Now that he wasn’t wearing his elaborate armor, you could see his body better. Thor was right, while Loki wasn’t as hefty and herculean as his brother, his muscles were defined in a way that complimented his height. He was wearing a black, short-sleeved t-shirt that clung to his body, and you could see slight hints of a well-defined pectorals and abdomen. He wore loose black trousers, which made his legs look like they went on forever. Your eyes trailed over them, up to his slim waist, his chest, his broad shoulders, up to his sinewy neck until it landed on his face. You locked eyes with his, and he seemed to notice that you were checking him out, because he was smirking as if he could read every single dirty thought that has ever crossed your mind. You quickly looked away, your face burning as you focused on your stretches.

Natasha walked in a few moments later, noticing your scarlet cheeks.

“Did you start without me?” she asked, raising a brow.

“No, come on,” you replied, taking her hand and pulling her to the other side of the room.

Natasha suggested doing a few laps around the room to build endurance, which you quickly agreed to. While running, you couldn’t help but steal glances and Thor and Loki, who were sparring in the middle of the room. Loki fought as if he was dancing a waltz. Every step and blow he made was calculated and meticulously delivered. Where Thor was all brute force, Loki planned his attacks - he hit where it would hurt most, where it would cause most damage. It was mesmerizing. You didn’t even notice you were staring until you hit Natasha’s back, causing her to grunt.

“Sorry,” you muttered.

“Eyes on me, not Asgardian gods, sweetheart,” said Natasha with a smirk.

“Shut up,” you glared at her.

You and Natasha ran some drills before she trained you in combative fighting. You generally did everything well, but when it came to a roundhouse kick, you never really landed the blow no matter how many times Natasha had corrected you. After a while, she could tell that you were getting frustrated, so she called it a day.

“Damn it,” you cursed as she handed you a water bottle.

“Relax, solnyshko, you’ll get it with practice,” Nat comforted, patting you on the shoulder.

You huffed irritably, frustrated with yourself. You saw in your peripheral vision that Thor and Loki were also concluding their sparring sessions. Thor called out to Natasha and you, walking towards you with Loki in tow.

“Agent Romanoff, I saw that you were training this fair lady here. I hope everything is going well,” he said politely.

Thor and Natasha launched into some idle chatter as you noticed Loki scoot closer to you, leaning in to whisper in your ear.

“Might I say you look absolutely ravishing all flushed and sweaty like this?” he said teasingly, making your cheeks even redder.

“Might I say that I can report you to Human Resources for sexual harassment?” you replied dryly.

“I am merely complimenting you, my darling. Besides, I’m not human,” he retorted with a grin.

“Still harassment, Loki,” you said, packing away your things.

You walked away from Loki and thanked Natasha for today’s session, and Thor offered to help next time, which you graciously accepted. You felt Loki’s eyes on you the entire time, but you made an extremely conscious effort to appear nonchalant. Unfortunately for you, your mind is too curious for its own good, so you stole a glance at him right before you exited the training room and found that his eyes were locked on you, his grin almost predatory.

This went on for a week.

You’d walk into the training room to bump into Thor and Loki, let Natasha torture you with drills, then Loki would flirt with you and drive you insane.

Which is why when you found out that Thor was away, you were relieved since that meant there would be no Loki in the training room today. It wasn’t that he made you uncomfortable, it was just that he flirted so well and so smoothly that you had to fight off a heart attack every time he spoke to you. Nobody had ever shown interest in you like that before, so Loki’s actions made you squirm in bed at night whenever he crossed your mind.

Was it giddiness?

You convinced yourself it was simply irritability.

Natasha was away on a mission with Steve and Clint again, so you were training alone today. You were eager to work on that stupid roundhouse kick that you kept screwing up on so that Natasha would see some improvement once she got back from her mission. You walked into the training room, setting your stuff away and putting on your headphones and some music. You stretched and ran a few laps around the room before approaching the sandbag, going into the sequence of offensive moves that Natasha had taught you. You started with a series of punches, then a few high-kicks and flips before coming to the dreaded roundhouse kick. You braced yourself and clenched your fists, lifting your leg and twisting your body, ready to deliver the kick to the sandbag, but as you turned, you lost your balance and fell on your butt. You huffed annoyedly as you got up, shaking it off and repeated the movements again, only to lose your balance and fall again.

And again.

And again.

By the fifth time, you groaned in frustration, burying your face in your hands, ready to pull out your hair.

“It’s because you’re too tense,” a velvety voice said behind you, making you groan even louder.

“I’m not in the mood to play, Loki,” you replied, getting up.

“Then don’t. I’m merely offering you some advice,” he said, smiling at you.

He was wearing that tight black shirt again, but this time with gray sweatpants. He had tied his hair in a ponytail, making him look somewhat endearing.

You ignored him and got yourself back into position to try the move again when you felt a cool hand at the small of your back. You froze, feeling Loki flex his fingers against you. He shoved one leg between yours, making you tense even more.

“Relax,” he whispered. He was so close that you could smell his aftershave - something like pine and musk and something minty.

“Relax your shoulders and spread your legs a little wider. Yes, that’s it, darling. Focus on your target. Now when you turn, ensure that you don’t put all your weight on the leg holding you up. Instead, distribute that weight between your legs. That way, you’ll keep your balance and be able to deliver a formidable force in your kick,” he said, stepping back.

“Now try,” he continued.

You took a deep breath and twisted your body, keeping Loki’s advice in mind. You braced yourself for another fall, but it didn’t happen.

Your foot made contact with the sandbag with a loud thud, and you stayed upright. You stood there shocked, before turning to Loki with the biggest grin on your face.

“I did it!” you exclaimed gleefully, so elated that you didn’t even realize that you had thrown your arms around his neck and pulled him into a hug. You felt his arms around your waist before you noticed what you just did, so you quickly pulled away, putting at least three feet between you and him.

“Sorry,” you cleared your throat, embarrassed.

“It was no trouble, my sweetness,” he replied, smiling and looking proud.

“What are you doing here? I thought Thor was away?” you asked, turning around to grab your water bottle.

“He is, but I wanted to kill time by training. There isn’t much you can do when you’re stuck in a tower with your seidr partially restricted, you know. And before you ask, there are two guards outside keeping watch over me, so I am not violating any of your conditions,” he replied.

“Are you sure you’re not stalking me?” you snorted, taking a sip out of your water bottle.

“You flatter yourself, my dear. I don’t need to stalk you to see you,” he scoffed.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” you asked, glaring at him.

“It means that you are naturally drawn to me, that’s all. Why else would we have so many encounters together like this?” he said as-a-matter-of-factly.

“It’s because you’re stalking me!” you exclaimed.

“Keep telling yourself that, pet,” he smirked.

Annoyed, you turned away from him and started delivering punches against the sandbag, imagining it was his face. He seemed to understand what you were doing, but he simply laughed and sat on the bleachers that lined the training room, right next to your stuff, watching you.

Eventually you got tired, so you went to the bleachers to rest, taking a swig out of your water bottle.

“How are you sleeping at night? Any more nightmares?” he asked, surprising you.

“I’m okay. Nothing too bad,” you said, shrugging it off.

“But you’re still having them?” he asked again.

“Yes,” you replied.

He kept quiet for a moment before calling out your name again. You turned to him and suddenly he put his palm on your forehead.

A sudden rush of memories ran through your mind, the joys of your childhood, the pain of losing your parents, the fear you felt when your kidnappers abused you, the utter helplessness when people worshiped you and the hope you felt when Tony brought you out of that cave.

When you came to, you realized that Loki had seen all your memories, because he looked at you as if you were about to break. Furious, you pushed him off the bench and started attacking him. Once again, he dodged your attacks easily and gracefully, making you even more angry. Finally, you resorted to throwing a large gust of wind towards him, which knocked him off his feet and he fell on his back. You quickly stepped on his chest and put your forearm against his throat, snarling at him.

“What the fuck was that?” you growled. He just laughed.

“You really do have a habit of knocking me off my feet, darling,” he replied.

Annoyed, you quickly got off him and walked back to your stuff, wanting to get the hell out of there. But Loki swiftly caught your arm, looking apologetic.

“I’m sorry. I just wanted to see what torments you so,” he said softly. You yanked your arm out of his grip.

“You had no right,” you replied, packing your things into your gym bag. He called your name out softly.

“If it will place us on even ground, I’ll let you look at my memories,” he offered, which made you pause.

You looked at him suspiciously, but he offered his hand, his palm open and eyes honest. You hesitated and put your bag down. You considered your options, but ultimately decided that it wouldn’t hurt to catch a glimpse of his past, and whatever else that’s going on in that pretty little head of his.

You sighed and placed your hand in his, ignoring the electric shocks that traveled from where your skin touched his and straight to your groin. He smiled and pulled you down to sit next to him.

“Close your eyes,” he said, taking your hand and placing it against his forehead.

You took a deep breath and did as he said. Suddenly you saw a bright white flash, and then you were in his memories.

A golden palace sat high and mighty across a bridge that flickered with every color of the rainbow. You recognized Thor, riding his horse and yelling loudly, followed by four other people who were also on horses. You felt a sense of fondness run over you, but strangely, it was followed by a deep loneliness you couldn’t shake off.

You saw a man who looked formidable, holding a spear, sitting on a golden throne. He wore an eyepatch over one eye, and a sense of admiration, but also bitterness rushed through you. However, all that hostility disappeared once you turned to your left and saw a woman who looked ethereal. She had a kind smile on her face, eyes which were similar to Loki’s in a sense where they contained a certain amount of mischief within them. All you felt then was pure, unconditional love.

The scene changed and suddenly you felt unadulterated anger and betrayal. You looked at your hands, which were now blue like the coldest of ices, and back at the man opposite you, whom you now recognized as Thor and Loki’s father.

The scene switched once more and you were now hanging off the rainbow bridge, holding on to the spear. Above you, Thor was upside down, clutching the spear tightly while their father held on to Thor’s leg. You felt helpless, scared, sad and worst of all, you felt resigned, despondent. You felt yourself let go, accepting that you are absolutely worthless, unworthy of the throne, unworthy of love.

Unworthy of life.

Now you were in a dark room. It was terribly hot. You were thirsty and worn out, you had open wounds on your body, your mouth was dry, and you were drenched in your own sweat and tears. Just as your body started to relax, the heating in the room was turned up, causing you to writhe uncomfortably on the floor.

A hooded creature watched you through a thick glass. He grinned, indoctrinating into your mind that you were made to serve the Mad Titan.

Your mind was corrupted. All you felt was white, hot rage and hatred. You watched in satisfaction as your army destroyed Midgard. You wanted everyone to suffer.

But in small moments of clarity, all you felt was fear when you saw the destruction you had left in your wake.

The rage, the utter devastation you felt when a guard mentioned that Queen Frigga had been killed by the Dark Elves knocked the breath out of you. The all-consuming guilt that followed was worse. You wanted to die, you wanted to just end it all.

You were in the conference room in front of The Avengers. You felt out of place. You were relieved that you had been pardoned, but you didn’t want to go to Midgard. But here you were, begging for asylum from the very mortals you fought merely a year ago. You hated it. You hated it all.

But then you saw yourself, and a strange sense of kinship and fondness washed over you.

The scene was abruptly interrupted when Loki ripped your hand off his forehead, and you both stared at each other, breathing heavily. Whatever you just saw was incredibly intense for the both of you. Loki’s eyes instantly turned cold, and he stood up tersely.

“Loki…” you called out, your voice sympathetic.

“I don’t need your pity,” he snapped.

You suddenly felt an uncontrollable urge to hug him, so you stood up and wrapped your arms around his waist, pressing him against your body. You pressed your hand on the back of his head so it rested on your shoulder, and you scratched his scalp gently, like you would to a cat. Loki tensed up at first, but after a few seconds, he relaxed in your arms and wrapped his own around your waist, hugging you back. You stayed like that for a while, silently comforting him. For some reason, you needed this, you needed someone who would understand this pain, and by some wicked twist of fate, Loki seemed to be the best person for it.

You pulled away and looked into his eyes, holding his hands in a tight grip.

“You don’t have to be in pain anymore, Loki,” you said softly, rubbing your thumbs over his knuckles.

He let out a watery chuckle, almost as if he was holding back tears.

“Your penchant for kindness may lead you to destruction, pet,” he said, his voice low. “Be careful of who you hand your trust to,” he continued.

Despite his warning, as you felt his hands squeeze yours back, you knew, without a doubt, that you would equivocally, wholeheartedly, trust Loki for the rest of your life.

Chapter Text

It was movie night, and you were incredibly excited because tonight was Natasha’s turn to pick a movie. Despite her ruthlessness as a spy, Natasha was an absolute sucker for rom-coms, so you enjoyed the movies she picked out the most – especially because Tony liked to pick movies that were crude comedies which usually left a bad taste in your mouth, Bruce and Clint enjoyed family movies that were truthfully boring, you tend to pick tear-jerkers that ruined everyone’s night, and Steve was banned from picking movies after that one time he picked a devastatingly boring documentary for everyone to watch.

You were also excited because this would be Loki’s first time joining the Avengers’ bi-monthly movie night, though you would never admit it out loud.

Over the past few weeks, you and Loki had grown closer to each other, even training together with Natasha, who still had her own reservations about him, but ultimately acted professional during training sessions. Despite the occasional bickering between the both of you, you actually enjoyed spending time with Loki. He was pretty fun to talk to, once you got over the insane amount of flirtations that dripped off his tongue. Conversations flowed easily between you, and you didn’t feel the pressure or burden of having to carry it. You liked talking to him.

Unfortunately, this meant Tony gets pretty pissy whenever he sees you together, his overprotective instincts kicking in. One time, you were eating lunch next to Loki when Tony dragged a chair in between you and sat there the entire time.

He didn’t even eat.

You walked into the theater, where most of the team were already seated. The theater was arranged more like a family room – there were couches adorned with soft blankets and cozy bean bags spread throughout the room, along with a snack bar filled with various sweet and savory treats shoved against the walls.

You spotted Thor at the snack bar, hogging the popcorn and animatedly talking to Bruce. This was his first time joining too, so he was evidently giddy with excitement. You scanned the room and spotted Loki on one of the loveseats, scowling until he spotted you. He perked up and patted the spot next to him, inviting you to sit with him, so you happily trotted towards him.

Just as you were about to sit, Tony slid in front of you with a frown on his face.

“You will not sit next to him in a dark room while everyone else is distracted,” he said, crossing his arms over his chest. Smirking, you took this opportunity to tease Tony.

“Why? Are you afraid he’s gonna touch me inappropriately?” you teased, running your hands over your body.

“Oh, darling, we’ll definitely be doing more than that,” added Loki, matching the smirk on your face, making Tony furious.

“That’s it. You’re grounded. You’re not allowed to talk to boys until you’re at least 40 years old,” Tony said intimidatingly, pointing a finger at you. He turned to Loki. “And you. I’m getting a restraining order against you on her behalf,”

“You can’t ground me, I’m an adult,” you rolled your eyes playfully at him.

“Yes, Stark, she’s an adult so she’ll do adult things,” Loki teased further.

It was clear that Tony was about to blow a fuse until Pepper called out his name.

“Tony, leave them alone,” she scolded.

Tony pursed his lips and turned to Loki.

“If you touch her, I will saw your arm off, mark my words,” he threatened, making Loki laugh.

You smiled cheekily at Pepper, mouthing a ‘thank you’ to her as you both laughed at Tony’s antics. Tony took his seat next to Pepper begrudgingly and you walked to him, kissing his cheek and apologizing sweetly. He grumpily dismissed you and you made your way next to Loki and sat down, giggling at how annoyed Tony looked.

Loki smiled at you as you settled on the couch, your thighs brushing against each other as he slid an arm over your shoulders. Loki was very touchy, much to Tony’s dismay, but you didn’t mind at all. Perhaps you were touch-starved, or perhaps you liked the way his body warmth felt against yours, but Loki’s touches always made you feel comfortable rather than perverse. You liked having him close to you.

Nat had picked out “10 Things I Hate About You” to watch tonight, and Loki kept asking questions about the characters. He commented on how the main character, Kat, played by Julia Stiles had a stick up her ass like you did, and how anyone could ever be attracted to her intended love interest, Patrick, played by Heath Ledger.

“Everyone’s attracted to Heath Ledger, Loki,” you replied dryly.

“I’m not,” he retorted.

He kept making comments about the movie, little jabs here and there until you grew annoyed, so you took a handful of popcorn and shoved it into his mouth, telling him to shut up and just watch the goddamn movie.

At some point during the movie, you got up to get more popcorn and bumped into Thor by the snack stand.

“Lady Tinkerbell, it’s always a pleasure to see you,” he said, smiling joyfully at you.

“Hey, Thor. You do know that Tinkerbell isn’t my actual name, right?” you asked, chuckling.

“Of course I do! Banner showed me a picture of this Tinkerbell character and it was a cute little fairy, just like you! I just think it is a name befitting of you,” he replied.

You nodded and smiled at him, scooping some more popcorn into the large bowl for you and Loki before Thor leaned in to whisper in your ear.

“I’d like to thank you for being so kind to Loki. I know he isn’t the easiest person to get along with, but I’m glad that you seem to like him,” he whispered. You looked at him flustered.

“I don’t like him! I just enjoy his company. He’s witty and a great conversationalist, so I enjoy spending time with him. We’re just friends,” you clarified.

“Sure, just friends as Baldr and Nanna were,” he smirked.

You rolled your eyes, not really getting what he was referring to, and walked back to your seat, where Loki looked at you curiously.

“What did you and Thor talk about?” he asked.

“Nothing, he’s just rambling about how good the snacks are,” you lied.

He eyed you suspiciously, and it only occurred to you that it was probably a bad idea to lie to the God of Lies.

You let a moment of silence pass between you before leaning to whisper to him.

"Who's Baldr and Nanna?" you asked. Loki rolled his eyes.

"They were two idiots who sacrificed themselves in the name of love. Romantic, but utterly stupid," he replied.

Your cheeks burned - so Thor was teasing you. Loki seemed to notice, but thankfully, he dropped it and turned his attention to the movie. He kept quiet afterwards, but when it came to the scene where Kat starts reading her poem in tears, Loki watched it intently, and you knew that he actually enjoyed the movie. Smiling to yourself, you shifted closer to him, enjoying the cool press of his body against yours.

You liked Loki.

As a friend, of course.

It was another early morning of training. You and Nat had just finished running laps around the training room when Loki entered the room with Thor. You perked up, waving at them as Nat raised her eyebrow at you.

“You seem oddly excited to see the space vikings,” she commented.

“Shut up, Nat,” you retorted as the said space vikings approached you.

“Good morning, Romanoff, Lady Tinkerbell,” said Thor, making Loki roll his eyes.

“She has an actual name, Thor,” he said flatly.

“Yes, but Stark calls her Tinkerbell and the real Tinkerbell is just as cute and pretty as her,” replied Thor, smiling at you. Loki scoffed.

“In my opinion, while she may be called ‘The Fae’, she suits ‘The Goddess’ more,” said Loki off-handedly, making you and Natasha tense up.

“Loki…” Natasha warned, her tone low.

“What? She was worshipped as a goddess just a few years ago, was she not?” he asked, looking at her.

“Not by choice,” you said, glaring at him.

“Nobody becomes a God by choice, darling,” he replied.

“What’s going on?” Thor asked, confused as he sensed the atmosphere had become tense.

“What’s your problem?” you asked Loki, furrowing your eyebrows.

“What’s your problem? I am simply recalling the time you were worshiped and revered upon, you are divine and deserved to be -”

Before he could even finish his sentence, you sent a fire blast against him and walked out of the training room, not even bothering to take your things with you.

He knew that the time you spent as a “goddess” was the worst time of your life, how could he bring it up as if it was nothing?

A week had gone by without you speaking with Loki. You were still too hurt to talk to him, and if you learned anything about him so far, you knew that he wasn’t talking to you either because his pride wouldn’t let him.

And so numerous days went by where you both ignored each other’s presence, neither wanting to admit that you longed for the other’s companionship.

Then one day, as you were exiting your quarters, you startled when you saw Loki leaning against the wall opposite your door, a deep frown on his face.

“What the fuck, Loki, you scared the shit out of me,” you exclaimed, clutching your chest.

“May I talk to you?” he asked, his voice solemn.

You stared at him for a moment, suddenly realizing how much you'd missed him and decided the hallway probably wasn’t the best place to talk, so you invited him into your quarters.

He looked around, absorbing his environment. Your quarters were bigger than everyone else’s due to Tony’s preferential treatment, so anyone who entered was always quite surprised. You had filled the living room with plants, so it looked more like a jungle than an upscale apartment in the middle of the city.

You sat down on the couch facing him and crossed your arms, staring at him.

“What?” you asked curtly.

He looked around him, looking like a lost boy in the middle of the forest before deciding to lean against one of the plant cabinets.

“I… I’d like to apologize,” he began.

You stared at him blankly and he cleared his throat.

“I never meant to hurt you. When I said what I said, I just meant…” he trailed off before standing up straight. “It didn’t matter what I meant. What matters is that I’m sorry that I hurt you, and I’m sorry it took me this long to apologize,” he continued.

You continued to stare at him. He seemed genuinely sorry, but the sadistic streak in you sort of enjoyed watching him squirm.

“It’s just that… You are my first genuine friend. All the friends I had in Asgard only associated with me because I was Thor’s brother. They were more Thor’s friends than they were mine,” he said, making you soften.

“I don’t know nor do I understand the rules of friendship, but I do know that I treasure you. I do not want to lose you,” he continued quietly.

You stared at him for a moment, studying his expressions. He looked vulnerable, and you were beginning to feel bad for him.

“What about Thor?” you asked, walking closer to him.

“What about him?” he asked back.

“He cares about you a lot. Wouldn’t you consider him a friend?”

“He’s an oaf at best,” he rolled his eyes.

You unconsciously stepped closer to him, staring at him intently. Loki put his hands on your shoulders, looking apologetic.

“I’m truly sorry I hurt you,” he said softly.

You nodded, your heart beating slightly faster at the proximity. Loki must’ve felt awkward, because he leaned in for a moment before stepping back and away from you.

“So, are we cool?” he asked, clearing his throat.

“We’re cool,” you replied.

A moment of silence passed before you punched his harm really hard.

“Ow! What was that for?” he asked, looking baffled, rubbing the spot you punched.

“Revenge. Now we’re even,” you replied, grinning at him.

“We were even when you shot at me with a fire blast two weeks ago!” he exclaimed, sending a mean glare at you.

“Oh please, it was just a spark. It probably didn’t even hurt,” you said, smiling and making your way towards the door.

“Yes, it did, you wretched woman!” he growled.

You turned and smiled at him.

“Have lunch with me?” you asked innocently.

He let out an exasperated sigh before following you out, grumbling under his breath.

Just like that you were friends again, and you liked him again.

As a friend, of course.

Chapter Text

Meeting up with Loki in the early mornings at the training room had been such a routine occurrence that when you didn’t show up one morning, Loki got worried and went looking for you, disregarding his brother who called out for him behind him.

It had been over six months since he first came to stay at the tower, and people are starting to loosen up around him, so not as many guards were on his ass as they were when he first arrived.

Loki checked the kitchens, the common room and even your quarters, but you were nowhere to be found. Annoyed, he headed up to the rooftop. If you weren’t there, he’d force Stark to notify the authorities and report you as a missing person.

Murphy’s law seemed to be at play today because the elevator that went up to the rooftop was under maintenance. Grumbling, he climbed the stairs, grunting in exertion.

When he opened the door to the rooftop, his heart dropped to his stomach. You were standing at the edge, your eyes closed, and your arms spread. Behind you, the sun was just about to rise, painting the skies with pink and golden hues, making your silhouette look otherworldly.

Panicking, he ran towards you and grabbed you by the waist, pulling you down from the roof’s edge.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing? I don’t care if you’ll heal yourself when you reach the ground, hurting yourself isn’t the solution. You can talk to me! You know you can talk to me!” he yelled, cupping your face, looking as if he was on the verge of tears.

You stared at him in surprise, placing your hands over his and slowly pulling them away from your face. You giggled, making him confused and even more frustrated.

“Oh, Loki,” you laughed. “Did you forget that I could fly?” you smiled, letting go of his hands.

As if to demonstrate, you floated and did a small flip in the air before settling down on the ground again.

“What?” he asked, still shaking, still on the verge of tears, his voice cracking.

“I’m fine, Loki,” you replied, grabbing his hands again and squeezing them to comfort him.

“Why weren’t you in training?” he asked, his voice slightly hoarse from worry.

“I just didn’t feel like training today,”

“So you decided to throw yourself off of a building?!”

“I wanted some fresh air,” you smiled, letting go of his hands and sitting at the edge of the building.

He looked at you, completely exasperated before sitting down next to you with a deep sigh.

“I’m glad the God of Mischief cares so much about me,” you teased, poking his sides.

“I told you, I don’t want to lose you,” he replied quietly.

His reply caught you off-guard, making your cheeks heat up. You were glad that the early morning sun bathed the both of you in golden light, so your blush wasn’t as obvious.

You sat on the rooftop next to him in comfortable silence, watching the sun rise and enjoying each other’s presence. After a while, Loki took a deep breath and sighed.

“Penny for your thoughts?” you asked, looking at him curiously.

“It’s just strange,” he replied.

“What is?”

“Looking over this city in moments of peace like right now. It was just a little over a year ago that I was so determined to seize it by any means,” he said quietly.

“Loki…” you trailed off, but he held a hand up.

“I claimed that I was burdened with glorious purpose, but it was more burden than glory. I regret my actions, even if they were motivated by what I thought was right at that time,” he confessed.

“That purpose is now gone, along with my motivations. I destroyed my relationship with my father, my mother is gone, and Thor is merely tolerating me because of my exile,” he continued.

“Thor is not merely tolerating you. He loves you, Loki. If he didn’t, he wouldn’t go through all this trouble to fight for you. Even back when you went batshit crazy on us last year, he continued to believe in you,” you replied, holding his hand and brushing your thumb over his knuckles.

“Besides, you don’t need a glorious purpose to be here. You just need to be here. With me. I want you here, Loki,” you said seriously.

He kept quiet, looking over the horizon as if weighing the meaning of your words. After a while, he interlaced his fingers with yours and turned to you, smiling.

“You have a way with words, pet. And they call me Silvertongue,” he said, making you smile.

You didn’t reply, instead you just turned to look over the city. The sound of birds chirping and the distant sound of car horns below you signified that the city was about to wake up, beginning a new day. You kept your hand intertwined with his, ignoring the fact that it made your heart flutter and how perfectly it fit in his.

“Hey Loki?” you asked, turning to him.

“Hmm?”

“Don’t you ever get bored being stuck here in the tower?”

“Not really,” he shrugged. “I enjoy the solitude,”

“You truly sound like an old man,” you commented, scrunching your nose at him.

“Well, I am over a thousand years old,” he joked. “Besides, I could never get bored with you next to me,” he continued.

You stared at him, suddenly noticing how attractive he was. You quickly shook the thought off, clearing your throat.

“Would you like to join us on missions?” you asked. He looked at you in surprise.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea, darling. Besides, a lot of the Avengers still don’t trust me,” he replied, making your brows furrow.

“Thor trusts you. You’re starting to grow on Natasha and Steve too,” you paused. “Also… I trust you,” you said sincerely.

He raised his brows in surprise before his features melted into an easy smile. He brought your hand up to his mouth and kissed your knuckles softly, making your heart flutter.

“That means the world to me, my sweetness,” he said, his voice low and seductive. Blushing, you quickly pulled your hand away.

“You’re such a flirt, Loki,” you grumbled.

“Only with beautiful persons such as yourself,” he replied smoothly.

You groaned, rolling your eyes and making him laugh – which sounded like music to your ears, but you dismissed the thought.

“Since you have such a way with words, you must’ve had numerous paramours back in Asgard,” you teased.

“Oh yes, I’ve had plenty of them,” he replied, smirking.

“Anyone special in particular?” you asked, suddenly feeling a pang of jealousy run through you. You chided your brain for setting yourself up, but it’s too late to take the question back now.

Loki stared at you for a moment, raising his eyebrow before shrugging.

“Not quite. I’ve never really believed in the notion of having only one lover. Why restrict yourself to one person when there are so many choices out there?” he said. You made a disgusted face at him.

“You should get yourself tested for STDs,” you replied, annoyed. “For the record, it is not a waste to dedicate yourself to one person for the rest of your life. Imagine having someone you can confide in, no matter what the issue is or what time of day it is. Imagine having someone loving you so unconditionally and unequivocally, and feeling the same way about them,” you argued.

“That is so incredibly naive, pet,” he replied.

You huffed, standing up and brushing your pants.

“Well, for your sake, I hope you find someone like that one day. I can’t wait to see the day the God of Mischief falls in love and your face when you realize that I was right all along,” you said, your tone sounding more defensive than you intended it to be.

Loki stood up with you, smirking at you.

“And what about you? Have you fallen in love?” he asked, leaning in so close that you could feel his breath on your face.

You pushed him away, glaring at him.

“No, but I will one day,” you replied.

“One day,” he smiled knowingly.

That afternoon, you met up with Thor to discuss your plans to involve Loki for the next mission, which he gladly agreed to, so you both called the rest of the Avengers into a meeting.

You were met with raised eyebrows when you and Thor stood in front of the table with nervous smiles on your faces.

“Hi team!” you said cheerfully. “The reason we called you into this meeting today is…”

“You want Loki to join in on missions. Yeah, we know,” Tony interrupted.

“Wait, what? How did you know?” you asked, surprised.

“Why else would you and Point Break over there collab like this?” Tony replied flatly.

Thor and you looked at each other sheepishly, before turning to the rest of the team.

“Well, since you already know why Thor and I are here, we'll just get straight to the point. We’d like to propose for Loki to join us on missions. We think his skills are -”

“The answer is no, kiddo. Sorry,” Tony interrupted again.

“Stark,” Thor growled, getting annoyed at Tony.

“Let them make their case, Stark,” said Steve, frowning at Tony, before turning back to you. “Continue,”

“Thank you, Captain,” you said, leering at Tony, stressing the word 'Captain' to remind Tony who's really in charge.

“As I was saying, Loki has formidable skills that we believe will help us on the field. Thor, why don’t you elaborate?” you smiled, turning to Thor as he stepped up, just as you had practiced earlier.

“Loki is a master of magic. He can shapeshift, cast illusions, he can even use astral projections!” Thor said excitedly.

“Yeah, he can mind-control people too,” Clint added sarcastically.

“Not quite,” Thor replied, shaking his finger. “Barton, when your mind was controlled, it wasn’t by Loki’s powers. It was due to the scepter. Loki can penetrate your mind and see what lies within it, but he cannot control it,” he clarified.

“Still, who’s to say he won’t betray us? He’s betrayed you multiple times, hasn’t he, Thor?” Bruce asked, making Thor cringe.

“We can trust him. He has been behaving for the past six months, and I’ve been with him for all that time. Even Lady Tinkerbell here has become friends with him,” Thor replied, gesturing towards you.

“Well… Yes. I do trust him. He has told me that he regrets his past actions, and I believe Loki has turned over a new leaf,” you said firmly.

“Even if that’s true, what’s your guarantee that he won’t flip the switch?” asked Natasha.

“I am. I am the guarantee. I will stay with him, I will make sure he doesn’t betray us. I know he won’t,” you quickly replied.

The whole room went silent, making you swallow nervously.

“I trust him, wholeheartedly, and I trust that he would not betray me. So, I beg of you, please consider this. I will take responsibility for him,” you said seriously.

Tony scoffed while the rest of the Avengers looked at you contemplatively. You turned to Thor nervously, and he patted your back reassuringly.

“Thor? Can you endorse what she’s saying?” asked Steve.

“Loki is my brother. I out of all people understand the best where your doubts come from. However, I truly believe that his time here on Midgard has changed him for the better. He is calmer, a lot happier. We can trust him,” Thor replied.

Steve nodded and turned to Natasha, and they seemed to be having a silent conversation with their eyes. You turned to Tony, looking at him pleadingly.

“Tony… I understand that you have reservations about Loki, but if you can’t trust him… Can you at least trust me?” you asked.

Tony looked at you, his gaze hard before he sighed, massaging his temples.

“Captain, it’s your call,” he said, turning to Steve.

Steve stared at you and Thor, before nodding.

“We’ll give him a chance. But if he steps out of line, it’s back to being restricted to the Tower,” he said firmly.

You beamed with joy and turned to Thor, who immediately pulled you into a bear hug.

“Thank you, guys! We’ll make sure he doesn’t disappoint!” you cheered once Thor let you go.

“I trust you, both of you,” said Steve, smiling at you and Thor.

You turned to Tony, who was still frowning in his seat and walked towards him, crouching before him. You grabbed his hands and laid your head in it, smiling up at him affectionately.

“Thank you, Tony,” you said softly.

“You’ll be the death of me kid,” he replied, ruffling your hair.

Chapter Text

Steve was found severely injured on a riverbank in Washington D.C.

He had just exposed a bunch of S.H.I.E.L.D. agents that turned out to be working for HYDRA, a terrorist organization hell-bent on world domination. Only a handful of S.H.I.E.L.D. agents turned out to be genuine, the rest of them were corrupted with HYDRA’s indoctrination.

It was then revealed that after Loki’s defeat during the Battle of New York almost two years ago, HYDRA agents, disguised as S.H.I.E.L.D., had stolen Loki’s scepter to develop lethal weapons with it. Upon investigation, the team received intel that the scepter was in Sokovia, and the Avengers were expected to retrieve it.

It was the perfect opportunity for Loki to join in on his first mission, especially since nobody understood the scepter more than him. The team agreed to have him join the mission, but Director Fury had placed a condition that he has to be accompanied by you or Thor at all times.

Basically, you and Thor had to babysit Loki.

Not that neither of you minded, but Loki was pretty furious when he learned of this. In fact, he refused to join the mission, out of some misplaced pride of his. However, after much persuading by you and Thor, he finally agreed, especially since it meant that his seidr would no longer be restricted.

It turned out that Loki had worn a bracelet that kept his magic restricted, kind of like an ankle bracelet prisoners on house arrest would wear. Apparently only his father and Thor can unlock it, so when the team agreed to let Loki join in on the mission, Thor had graciously unlocked the bracelet, allowing Loki to use the full extent of his powers.

You were excited to see him in action, but of course, you didn’t tell him that in case it would inflate his already humongous ego.

The team arrived in Sokovia on a quinjet, turning its reflective panels on so everyone could go in undetected.

Unfortunately, that didn’t stop the team from running into HYDRA agents, who immediately retaliated the moment the quinjet landed.

“Don’t trip,” you teased Loki right before you exited the quinjet.

“You’ll be the one tripping over my amazing skills and indisputable good looks later, darling, and so will everyone else,” he replied, smirking.

“You guys are like a married couple,” Thor chimed in from behind you, grinning at the both of you.

Loki looked at him and tripped him using his newly reinstated magic, making Thor fall flat on his face.

“See?” he smiled smugly at you as Thor glared at him.

“Okay, boys. Enough playing, let’s go,” you replied, rolling your eyes.

Tony worked on infiltrating HYDRA’s facility, led by Baron Wolfgang von Strucker, while the rest of the team fought the agents on the ground. The training you had gone through with Natasha and Loki had finally paid off, as you managed to fight without breaking a sweat. Being in the middle of a forest also benefited you as you didn’t have to muster so much energy to harness and manipulate the elements.

You watched from your peripheral vision as Loki fought the enemies, using his daggers and magic to his advantage. Just like the first time you saw him spar with Thor, you were mesmerized by how fluid his movements were. It looked like a well-choreographed dance, more than anything. Every single time he grunted as he fought off an enemy, it made your heart beat a little faster, and unfortunately for you, the sounds he made also went straight to the heat between your legs, making your cheeks heat up just thinking about it. You couldn’t help it.

Despite his indiscretions, you had to admit that he was so, so gorgeous.

You quickly shook that thought off, willing yourself to not feel guilty to have such thoughts about him. Friends can think of each other as attractive right?

Right?

Your train of thought was interrupted when you saw the Hulk smash a bunker, significantly reducing the amount of firepower that was shot at the team. You saw Natasha thank him, and then Tony’s voice rang through the comms line, letting everyone know that he had managed to disable the force field that was formed around the HYDRA facility, which looked somewhat like Dracula’s castle. Tony had quickly retrieved the scepter and the rest of the team apprehended Strucker.

After handing Strucker to S.H.I.E.L.D., everyone headed back to the tower, where Tony immediately decided to throw a party to celebrate the scepter’s retrieval.

While you got dressed, you couldn’t help but think of Loki, Thor’s insinuations during movie night about how you liked him ringing through your head. It was impossible. Loki was your first best friend ever, that was why you were so affectionate with him. Plus, Loki’s flirty nature often made the friendship seem like it was more than it actually was.

Taking a deep breath, you fixed your hair, which you had styled into big, flowy curls. You smoothed out your dress - a velvet, midnight blue dress with long sleeves, which had a square neckline to show off your collarbones. You paired it with black Louboutin pumps Pepper had gotten you and some simple, silver jewelry. To complete the look, you put on some make-up to enhance your features. It has been a while since you dressed up, so you were excited to have an excuse to do so.

Walking into the room where the party was held, you landed on the mezzanine floor, looking over the partygoers. Your eyes scanned the room for Loki, but he was nowhere to be found, so you headed to the bar where Nat and Bruce were. There was some sort of sexual tension between them, so you raised your eyebrow at Nat, who simply winked at you.

Nat made you a drink and you sipped on it, cringing at how strong it was. Suddenly, you heard your name being called and turned around to see a tall, young man with dirty blonde hair that was cropped neatly, smiling sheepishly at you. You recognized him as one of Stark Industries’ legal associates, but you couldn’t really remember his name. He had a charming smile and he seemed around your age.

“Hi, I’m Nate Donovan. I’ve been working up the courage to talk to you ever since I got into Stark Industries,” he said, holding out a hand towards you.

“Hello, Nate. It’s a pleasure to meet you,” you replied, smiling cordially and shaking his hand.

“Likewise. I’m sorry if this seems very forward of me, but I really can’t help myself. You look beautiful tonight,” he grinned.

“Thank you so much, you don’t look so bad yourself, Nate. You’re from legal, right?” you asked, blushing slightly at his compliment.

“Yes. Wow, I’m surprised you knew that,” he said, scratching his head.

“Well, I’m bad with names, but I do remember your face,” you replied, laughing.

He was cute. His eyes were a warm, honey color that seemed open and friendly. He had a boyish look that you found attractive, so you truly didn’t mind conversing with him. You continued to talk to him, the conversation slightly flirty and playful. You saw Natasha smirk at you from your peripheral vision, but you ignored her in favor of talking to Nate.

“I-I was just wondering… If you’d like, of course, you can always say no, but would you like to dance with me?” he asked bashfully.

Just as you were about to say yes, Loki swept in between you and Nate, slipping his arm around your waist.

“Why would she dance with a stuttering boy like you?” he said condescendingly.

“Loki!” you scolded, shaking off his arm.

“What? He’s not your type,” said Loki, looking genuinely confused.

“You don’t know what my type is,” you growled, before turning back to Nate. “Let’s dance, Nate,”

You grabbed his arm and led him to the dance floor, ignoring an irate Loki at the bar. Nate looked back at him, looking worried, but you simply pulled him further away.

“Ignore him. He’s just being a pain in the ass,” you grumbled as Nate put his hands on your waist while you placed yours on his shoulders.

“Are you sure this is fine? He seems really mad,” said Nate, his eyes trailing back to Loki. You poked his right cheek, so he’d turn to you.

“It is. Just stop looking at him,” you replied curtly. Nate raised an eyebrow at you.

“Is there anything going on between you two?” he asked, swaying slightly to the rhythm of the music.

“We’re just friends, I swear. I’m really sorry for how he acted. He may be a Prince, but he clearly lacks the manners. He hasn’t really had much human interaction,” you said apologetically.

“Oh, don’t apologize! I’m just happy the great Loki didn’t kill me right there and then,” he joked, grinning.

“I’ll protect you if he tries, I promise,” you joked back.

You continued to dance and converse with him, feeling Loki’s glare on the back of your head the whole time. After about two dances, you and Nate went to get something to eat and by the time the party died down, he had given you his number, asking you to call him in the future.

As the partygoers started to leave, you joined the rest of the Avengers who were at the sitting area on the mezzanine floor, sipping on their drinks. You ignored Loki who was sulking on a one-seater and sat next to Tony as everyone tried their hand at lifting Thor’s hammer, Mjolnir. Everyone failed, of course, and Thor went on a spiel about how everyone wasn't worthy.

Suddenly the elevator doors opened and one of Tony’s broken, beat-up drone models dragged itself into the room, muttering to itself.

“No, how could you be worthy? You’re all killers,” it said.

Everyone stood up, on high alert. Steve called out to Tony, who then called out to J.A.R.V.I.S, but the A.I. didn’t respond.

“I’m sorry, I was asleep… or, I was a dream,” said the drone, while Tony started trying to reboot the A.I. system.

“There was a terrible noise, and I was tangled in strings. Had to kill the other guy. He was a good guy,” the drone continued.

“You killed someone?” Steve asked.

“Wouldn’t have been my first call, but down in the real world, we’re faced with ugly choices,” replied the drone.

“Who sent you?” asked Thor.

Suddenly the drone played Tony’s voice, surprising everyone.

“I see a suit of armor around the world,”

Realization dawned upon Bruce, and he turned to Tony.

“Ultron,” he said with surprise.

“In the flesh. Or no, not this… chrysalis… But I’m ready. I’m on a mission,” said Ultron.

Around you, you saw that everyone had started bracing themselves, readying their weapons.

“What mission?” asked Natasha.

“Peace in our time,” Ultron replied, before explosions started going off behind him.

An army of Tony’s drones burst through the walls, attacking everyone. Steve immediately went into action as people started to dodge the attacks. Havoc wreaked through the room as everyone started battling the drones. Eventually the drones were fought off, but Ultron remained standing.

“That was dramatic,” he said. “I’m sorry, I know you mean well, you just didn’t think it through,”

Panting, everyone looked at him, confused on what the hell just happened.

“You want to protect the world, but you don’t want it to change… How is humanity saved if it’s not allowed to… evolve?” Ultron asked, picking up a broken drone.

“With these? These puppets,” he continued, throwing the broken down to the side.

“There’s only one path to peace - The Avengers’ extinction,” he said, before Thor threw his hammer at its body, destroying it.

With its last amount of energy, it sang, “I had strings but now I’m free,” before turning completely off.

Everyone stayed silent until Loki broke it.

“Was this how you felt when I arrived on Earth last time?” he asked, making Tony roll his eyes.

Thor grabbed Tony by the collar, asking him what he had done. It was then revealed that Tony and Bruce had discovered an Artificial Intelligence within the scepter and had secretly decided to use it to complete Tony’s global defense program, Ultron. Unfortunately, that ended up in a shitstorm, and Ultron unexpectedly became sentient and escaped with the scepter.

“That was a terrible idea, Stark. The scepter isn’t some toy you can fondle with. It’s an ancient power – one none of you could even imagine to understand,” Loki spat out.

“It doesn’t matter. What matters now is stopping Ultron,” said Steve.

Steve immediately began formulating a plan with Maria Hill, which meant everyone was headed back out for another mission. You sighed and sat on the ruined couch, burying your face in your hands. Suddenly you felt a presence right next to you, and you turned to see Loki.

“Don’t talk to me right now,” you said, putting a hand up.

“Why? Would you rather talk to that boy? What was his name? Nick? Nate?” he asked accusingly.

“Are you jealous? What, do you like me or something?” you scoffed.

“No! I just think you deserve better than a mere boy,” he replied condescendingly.

You looked at him, completely exasperated. He was acting jealous, but you really didn’t have the energy to deal with him right now.

“Whatever, Loki,” you sighed, standing up, ready to collapse into your bed.

“Wait,” he said, grabbing your wrist. He rubbed the inside of your wrist with his thumb, stirring something deep within you.

“What?” you asked.

“Let me walk you back to your quarters. Don’t stay mad at me,” he said softly.

You stared at him, his eyes pulling you into his allure. How could he look so innocent when you definitely knew he wasn’t? Not wanting to argue with him, you agreed and walked back to your quarters with him.

“I didn’t get the chance to tell you that you looked absolutely ravishing tonight. Completely breathtaking. You know, at least you did, before the crazy robot attacked us,” he said, picking a small piece of debris out of your hair.

You turned to him and studied his outfit. He had worn a dark suit, paired with an emerald satin shirt which he left the top buttons undone. You were sure it would’ve looked amazing if it wasn’t all torn and dirty.

“I can’t stand you, you know?” you said, sighing as you reached the door of your quarters. He smirked, taking your hand and kissing your knuckles.

“Then go lie down and sleep, darling. I’ll see you tomorrow,” he replied, before walking away.

That night, you dreamed of dark hair, bluish-green eyes and an annoyingly charming smirk.

Chapter Text

The team received intel that HYDRA had used the scepter to give a pair of Sokovian twins, Wanda & Pietro Maximoff, powers - Pietro had superhuman speed, while Wanda had telepathic and telekinetic powers. Since their powers were unpredictable, everyone was told to proceed with caution.

You had also found out that Ultron had killed Strucker and teamed up with the Maximoff twins. They had gone to Johannesburg to meet up with an arms’ dealer called Ulysses Klaus to retrieve a rare metal called Vibranium to form Ultron’s “perfect form”. Armed with that information, you once again boarded the quinjet with the rest of the Avengers and went straight to Klaus’ base.

The team entered the fort-like building, confronting Ultron, who had already found Klaus. The twins were nowhere in sight, so you split up in teams to find them.

Unfortunately, you had gotten separated from both Thor and Loki, so you stealthily made your way through the building, trying to reunite with them. A flash of blue passed you and you turned quickly, seeing no one around you. Just as you were about to continue trekking through the building, you suddenly felt a pressure at your temple, and then it felt like you were thrown on the ground harshly.

When you opened your eyes, you were horrified to find that you were back in that dark, damp cave in Afghanistan, laying on the sheet that you’ve slept on for so many years before.

You felt your body start to ache, looking down at your hands to see that you had run out of energy to heal yourself. You were covered in bruises and cuts and dirt.

The metal door to your dingy room opened and about five men walked in, all leering at you with menacing smiles on their faces. You begged them to spare you. You offered to get hit instead, anything except for this.

Your pleas fell on deaf ears, and you wailed as they started untying their pants and taking off their shirts. You cried loudly, you needed help, you wanted to die.

Suddenly you felt your body being shaken vigorously, and you shut your eyes tightly. You heard a familiar voice call out your name. It sounded so gentle, so comforting.

“Darling? Look at me, you’re okay,” said the voice.

Loki.

You slowly opened your eyes to see him cupping your cheeks gently, his eyes full of concern. You slumped against him in relief and cried into his chest, letting him hold you as he whispered sweet comforts that made you stop shaking.

He brought you back to the quinjet and you saw how shaken the rest of the team were, except for Clint and Loki. Loki gently seated you and wrapped a blanket around your shoulders before sitting next to you, holding you tightly.

This time around, not even Tony said anything about it.

Clint had piloted the quinjet to a remote field where a big farmhouse sat, and everyone walked towards the house, led by Clint. Loki held your hand the entire time, not saying a word about what just happened. Upon entering, a pregnant woman greeted Clint with an affectionate hug and kiss, confusing the rest of the team. Tony was convinced that she was an undercover agent, until two children ran up to Clint, hugging him as well. They even ran up to Natasha and called her ‘Aunty Nat’.

Clint proceeded to explain that this was his family, and Director Fury had helped him set this safehouse up when he first joined S.H.I.E.L.D. to keep his family safe. His wife had introduced herself as Laura, stating that she already knew everyone by name.

Laura then settled everyone into several rooms, placing you together with Natasha. You took a quick shower and a nap to replenish your energy. By the time you woke up, the sun had already set, and Laura had prepared dinner for everyone.

You were surprised to see Director Fury, but you figured he wanted to see everyone for a debrief. You walked into the dining room and saw Loki who immediately stood up and walked to you. He took your hand and used his other hand to brush your hair away from your face in a disgustingly affectionate gesture, but you didn’t mind one bit.

“Are you alright?” he asked softly, caressing your cheek.

“Yes, thank you, Loki,” you replied, smiling at him, your heart fluttering.

It was fine. You didn’t have feelings for him, this was a completely normal interaction between friends.

During the debriefing, you had found out that Wanda Maximoff had used her powers to mess with everyone’s minds, projecting visions that depicted their worst fears and traumas. You had learned that under her influence, the Hulk had destroyed a major part of the city in Johannesburg until Tony had stopped him using his Hulk-proof armor. You also learned that Loki wasn’t affected because he had trained his mind to not give in to such things, and Clint managed to avoid getting mind-controlled due to sheer competence and skill. You also found out that there was a worldwide backlash against the Avengers for causing too much destruction and fighting enemies with little to no regulations. Director Fury stated that while it was a wise decision to go into hiding right now, the team must formulate a plan to stop Ultron.

You saw Thor and Loki whisper to each other, both looking as if they just got served a death sentence. After a while, Thor patted Loki on the shoulder before announcing to the group that he was going away to find Dr. Selvig for some answers. You looked at Loki with a questioning look, but he simply shrugged you off.

After a few days of recuperating, Director Fury informed the team that Ultron and the twins were spotted in Seoul, South Korea, and they had used the scepter to control the mind of a brilliant scientist who pioneered synthetic-tissue technology, Helen Cho. Apparently, Ultron plans on creating a ‘perfect body’ for himself using a combination of her technology, the Vibranium he stole from Klaus and the scepter’s gem.

And so, Steve, Clint, Natasha, Loki and you went to Seoul, while Bruce and Tony stayed at the Tower to work on hiding information from Ultron, who has taken over the internet and tried to access nuclear codes. Thor still hadn’t returned, so in the quinjet, you sat next to Loki and poked his bicep.

“What does Thor want to know from Dr. Selvig?” you asked.

“Apparently his vision was quite apocalyptic. He thinks this is more than just Ultron, so he sought Selvig to confide in him,” Loki replied, shrugging.

“Why didn’t you go with him?”

“I wanted to stay here with you to make sure you’re okay,” he replied.

You nodded, willing your heart to not flutter at his words, trying your hardest to convince yourself that his words didn’t affect you. That's just the way Loki was. He was simply a good, caring friend.

Arriving in Seoul, the team intercepted Ultron and fought his army of droids. You also found out that the Maximoff twins had turned against Ultron, as Wanda discovered Ultron’s plans for human extinction. Loki wanted to murder Wanda the minute he saw her, but Steve convinced him that he out of everybody should understand that everyone deserves a second chance.

The team managed to retrieve Ultron’s synthetic body and brought it back to the tower. Unfortunately, Natasha was captured by Ultron, and there was no way to contact her without Ultron finding out. While trying to figure out your next move, you discovered that Tony and Bruce tried to upload J.A.R.V.I.S. into Ultron’s synthetic body, causing a fight to break out between Tony and Steve.

“I’m going to say this once,” said Steve sternly.

“How about nonce?” Tony retorted.

“Shut it down!” Steve yelled.

“Nope. Not gonna happen,” Tony replied, continuing to press buttons and switches around him.

“You don’t know what you’re doing,” Steve warned.

“And you do? She’s not in your head?” asked Bruce, pointing at Wanda with disdain.

“I know you’re angry-” she started, but Bruce interrupted her quickly.

“Oh, we’re way past that. I could choke the life out of you and never change a shade,” Bruce threatened her.

Loki poked your side, smiling excitedly, seemingly enjoying the show. You rolled your eyes and pinched him. Steve stepped towards Bruce.

“Banner, after everything that’s happened-”

“Nothing compared to what’s coming,” Tony interrupted him.

“You don’t know what’s in there!” yelled Wanda.

“This isn’t a game!” Tony yelled back.

Before any of you could blink, Pietro ran around the lab and disconnected all the cables, stopping the upload.

“No, no. Go on, you were saying?” he asked, looking directly at Tony.

Suddenly a bullet came through the glass he was standing on and he fell to the bottom, where Clint placed his boot on Pietro’s chest, pinning him to the ground.

Tony immediately tried to reroute the upload, prompting Steve to throw his shield at him. In retaliation, Tony used part of his suit to shoot a blast towards Steve, throwing him across the room.

“Go ahead, piss me off,” said Bruce, who had Wanda in a chokehold.

Loki immediately turned to you, looking worried.

“Perhaps we should go and leave them at it,” he said, grabbing your wrist.

“And let them tear each other apart? I don’t think so,” you replied, yanking your hand from his and running towards Tony and Steve, throwing a wind bomb towards them so they’d break apart from each other.

Suddenly, Thor arrived and used his hammer to harness lightning before powering the cradle Ultron’s body was in. Loki rolled his eyes at his brother.

“Always with the dramatics,” he stated dryly.

A moment of silence passed where everyone (except Loki - he just looked bored) looked at Thor and the cradle in horror before something burst through the cradle like an explosion, throwing Thor across the room.

Someone, no, a creature climbed out of the cradle, putting everyone on high alert. It had a red body and a glowing, yellow, stone right in the middle of its forehead. It jumped towards Thor, but Thor was quick to throw him off, sending him to the floor below, off the mezzanine where everyone was standing. Steve quickly jumped down, ready to attack, but Thor held out an arm towards him, silently telling him to hold on for a moment.

The creature floated in front of the ceiling-to-floor windows, looking out towards the city. Slowly, it turned around as everyone began to approach it.

“I’m sorry, that was… odd. Thank you,” it said, nodding politely towards Thor.

“Thor, you helped create this?” asked Steve.

“I’ve had a vision,” Thor replied. “A whirlpool that sucks in all hope of life, and at its center is that,” he continued, pointing towards the stone in the middle of the creature’s head.

“So, it’s true then? The gem is an Infinity Stone?” Loki asked anxiously.

“It’s the Mind Stone,” Thor nodded, before turning to the rest of the team. “It’s one of the six Infinity Stones, the greatest power in the universe, unparalleled in its destructive capabilities,”

“Then why would you bring-” Steve asked, before Loki interrupted him.

“Because Stark is right,” said Loki solemnly.

“Oh, it’s definitely the end times,” said Bruce half-jokingly.

“The Avengers can’t defeat Ultron,” Loki added.

“Not alone,” the creature suddenly spoke.

“Why does your vision sound like J.A.R.V.I.S?” asked Steve.

“We reconfigured J.A.R.V.I.S.'s matrix to create something new,” answered Tony, staring the creature down.

“I think I’ve had my fill of new,” Steve grumbled.

“You think I’m a child of Ultron,” said the creature.

“You’re not?” Steve retorted.

“I’m not Ultron. I’m not J.A.R.V.I.S., I am… I am.” said the creature.

Wanda slowly approached the creature.

“I looked in your head and saw annihilation,” she said cautiously.

“Look again,” replied the creature. Clint scoffed.

“Her seal of approval means jack to me,” said Clint bluntly.

“Their powers, the horrors in our heads, Ultron himself - they all came from the Mind Stone,” said Thor.

“And they’re nothing compared to what it can unleash,” added Loki.

“But with it on our side…” Thor began.

“Is it?” asked Steve. “Are you? On our side?” he continued, turning to the creature.

“It isn’t that simple,” the creature replied.

“Well, it better get real simple real soon,” Clint said, rolling his eyes.

“I am on the side of life. Ultron isn’t. He will end it all,” said the creature.

“What’s he waiting for?” you asked, swallowing nervously.

“You.” it replied, looking at everyone.

“Where?” you asked again.

“Sokovia. He’s got Nat there, too,” said Clint, having found Nat through old school spy methods that didn't require the internet.

Bruce slowly approached Ultron, looking at him suspiciously.

“If we’re wrong about you… If you’re the monster that Ultron made you out to be…” Bruce trailed off.

“What will you do?” asked the creature.

Bruce raised an eyebrow at it, and for a second, you thought it seemed nervous.

“I don’t want to kill Ultron. He’s unique and he’s in pain. But that pain will roll over the Earth, so he must be destroyed. Every form he’s built, every trace of his presence on the net. We have to act now, and not one of us can do it without the others,” said the creature, looking over everyone.

“Maybe I am a monster,” it continued. “I don’t think I’d know if I were one. I’m not what you are and not what you intended, so there may be no way for you to trust me. But we need to go,”

It lifted Mjolnir and handed it to Thor, leaving everyone baffled. Thor took the hammer from it as it walked away and turned to the rest of the team sheepishly.

“Right. Well done,” he smiled, patting Tony on the shoulder a little too hard before following the creature.

You looked at Loki in surprise.

“It’s worthy!” you whisper-yelled at him.

“It can’t be, it’s a machine,” he replied, looking annoyed.

“It’s conscious, so it’s definitely worthy,” you grinned, trying to piss him off.

He was about to retort but Steve interrupted.

“Three minutes,” Steve called out. “Get what you need,”

We all boarded the quinjet, suited up and ready to fight. You eyed Wanda warily, but she looked so young, so confused, that you didn’t really have the heart to stay mad at her. She noticed you staring so you quickly turned away, but she called your name out.

“I’m sorry for what I did,” she said sincerely, her heavily-accented voice cracking slightly.

You simply nodded and looked away, wanting to put the vision behind you. Steve stood at the front of the plane, looking over everybody.

“Ultron knows we’re coming. Odds are we’ll be riding into heavy fire, and that’s what we signed up for. But the people of Sokovia, they didn’t. So our priority is getting them out,” said Steve.

“All they want is to live their lives in peace, and that’s not gonna happen today, but we can do our best to protect them. And we can get the job done. We find out what Ultron has been building, we find Romanoff, and we clear the field. Keep the fight between us. Ultron thinks we’re monsters, that we’re what’s wrong with the world.

“This isn’t just about beating him. It’s about whether he’s right,” Steve continued.

He promptly assigned posts for each team member. You, Clint, Wanda and Pietro oversaw the evacuation of civilians, while the others were assigned to act as the offensive team against Ultron and his droids. You had the added responsibility to heal any injured civilians as well.

Pietro ran to numerous police stations, issuing the order to evacuate. Using your powers, you created a clearing that would house the civilians for the time being and formed a force field around it. Wanda used her powers to get people out of their houses into the safe ground, while Clint stood by, ready to attack in case any of Ultron’s droids decide to launch their attacks on the civilians.

Soon Ultron’s army had begun to attack, so you tried to hasten the civilians while fighting against the droids. The ground shook and began cracking, rendering the safety ground you created useless. You began to slip through the cracks, but Loki appeared next to you and pulled you to safety.

“Are you alright?” he asked.

“Yes. Loki, we’ve gotta get these people to safety!” you yelled.

Suddenly, the city began to float, and Ultron’s voice echoed through the air.

“Do you see? The beauty of it? The inevitability? You rise, only to fall. You, Avengers, you are my meteor - my swift, terrible sword and the earth will crack with the weight of your failure. Purge me from your computers, turn my own flesh against me – it means nothing. When the dust settles, the only thing living in this world will be metal,” he said.

Slowly, the city began to rise higher and higher. Loki stood by you and continued to fight the hoard of droids, which seemed to never end.

“Huh, I’ve fought numerous battles before, but this is my first time fighting against robots,” he said, grunting as he destroyed another droid.

“Can we have this conversation later?” you yelled back, crushing two droids together.

Through the comms line, Tony’s new A.I assistant, F.R.I.D.A.Y.’s voice came through, letting everyone know that Ultron had used the remaining Vibranium that he stole from Klaus to build a machine that lifted the city up, intending to crash it into the ground to cause global extinction.

“Stark, you worry about getting the city down safely. The rest of us have one job - tear these things apart. You get hurt, hurt them back. You get killed, walk it off,” said Steve through the comms line.

Beside you, Loki rolled his eyes.

“Does being an Avenger really mean that you have to be that dramatic?” he asked, thrusting a dagger into the neck of a droid.

“Must be, since you are one now,” you snorted, throwing fire blasts at the droids.

The city continued to rise, and you began to get nervous.

“Tony, if I form a force field around the city, would it survive the drop?” you asked through the comms line.

“Not unless you can hold your force field down for eternity. The moment you let it down, global destruction would still follow,” he replied.

You cursed, continuing to fight against the droids until there were none left, but you knew the next wave was coming. You heard Steve ask Tony for an update, but Tony solemnly informed everyone that the only choice you had to prevent global extinction was to destroy the city, and everyone on it. A chill ran down your spine when you realized that everyone was going to die on the floating city.

You looked at Loki and locked eyes with him, feeling a sudden, overwhelming need to tell him something you might regret later.

“Loki, I-” you started, but suddenly another voice came through the comms line.

“Glad you like the view, Romanoff. It’s about to get better,” Director Fury’s voice came as a relief as the helicarrier appeared on the horizon.

A bunch of lifeboats appeared from it. Even Rhodey came, fighting off a bunch of droids headed for the helicarrier. You let out a huge sigh of relief, turning back to Loki, dropping whatever it was you wanted to say to him.

“We have to get these people on the carrier,” you said.

“Alright,” he replied.

You began to guide the civilians into the lifeboats as Tony came up with a solution. He told Rhodey to continue the evacuation efforts while the rest of the team gathered at the church where Ultron was waiting.

You watched as everyone gathered, relieved that Natasha was back with the rest of the team.

“What’s the drill?” she asked.

“This is the drill,” replied Tony, gesturing towards the Vibranium core.

“If Ultron gets a hand on the core, we lose,” he continued.

The fight continued ferociously as a swarm of droids began their attack on the team. One by one you destroyed the droids together until there were barely any left.

Eventually Steve asked everyone to evacuate. The air was getting thinner as the city rose higher and higher into the atmosphere, making it difficult to breathe. Wanda offered to stay to protect the core as the rest of the team continued to help the remaining civilians get on the lifeboats and onto the helicarrier.

Once all the civilians got into the helicarrier, Tony began efforts to bring the city down with Thor’s help. Ultron, escaping in a quinjet, began firing down towards everyone, so you formed a force field around the civilians to keep them safe. You heard a loud yell and recognized it as Wanda’s, so you quickly turned around only to see that Pietro had been hit, his lifeless body lying on the ground before Clint. Steve quickly helped Clint, a child he was saving and Pietro’s body onto the helicarrier. A few moments later, the Hulk jumped onboard, depositing Natasha and then jumping off again, onto the quinjet Ultron was on. He threw Ultron off the quinjet, and you saw how Ultron crashed into the floating city.

Suddenly the city came onto an abrupt drop, and you watched with a bated breath as Tony and Thor blew it up. You felt a hand on your shoulder, and you turned around to see Loki.

“It’s over,” he said.

“Congratulations, Loki, you just helped save the world with us,” you replied quietly.

-

After the defeat of Ultron, Tony had the Avengers’ base relocated to upstate New York, which allowed the team to practice, plan and better monitor threats around the world.

You found out later that the Hulk disappeared on the quinjet, despite Natasha’s efforts to turn him back into Bruce. You guessed that he didn’t want to put Natasha in any further danger. You tried to comfort Natasha, but she simply shrugged it off, hiding her feelings as usual.

The creature Tony and Bruce had uploaded J.A.R.V.I.S. into had acquired the name Vision. He, along with Wanda, Rhodey and Steve’s friend, Sam Wilson began training as new members of the Avengers. Loki was supposed to join them, but he refused, and no one could force him to join the training (not that he needed it, since he was a God).

Clint had decided to retire and focus on his family, while Thor chose to return to Asgard, believing that there are forces at play involving the Infinity Stones, which manipulated recent events. Tony decided to go back home to spend time with Pepper, but you chose to stay at the base to be close to Loki.

“Why’d you let Thor go on his own? His adventure seemed like the exact kind of chaos you’d enjoy,” you asked Loki as you watched Thor leave via the Bifrost.

“I think I’ve had enough adventures for now. Besides, I won’t be able to stand being with Thor for more than a couple of days,” he replied.

“Don’t you think you’re kinda mean to him? I mean, adopted or not, he is your brother,” you said. He furrowed his brows.

“Why do you always have to defend him? Why can’t you be on my side for once?” he asked, his tone accusatory.

“I am on your side, Loki. That means calling you out when I have to,” you replied, looking at him. His expression softened.

“Are you? Are you truly on my side?” he asked, his voice dropping an octave lower as he stepped closer towards you.

“Yes,” you said, flustered.

“Promise me then. Promise me that you’ll stay on my side, by my side, no matter what. Promise me, and I shall promise you the same,” he said. You blinked, your heart beating faster than ever.

“I promise,” you replied, completely mesmerized by him.

The horrifying realization finally dawned on you that you did in fact, have very real feelings for Loki.

Chapter Text

You honestly didn’t know how to function as a normal, young adult. Having been isolated from the general public for the first seventeen years of your life, you’ve only started learning the nuances of humanity fairly recently.

You are, however, certain of two things:

1. You have never had a best friend before Loki came along.
2. You had never fallen in love with anyone before.

Which brings you to your current predicament, in which you are basically drowning in extremely confusing and disorienting feelings for your best friend. After the shitstorm that was Ultron had finally settled down, it dawned on you that perhaps your feelings towards Loki were a little bit intense. So intense, that it might ruin this precious friendship you had with the God of Mischief. Therefore, in your inexperienced, still-learning, naive mind, there was only one thing to do.

Find Nate.

You made your way into the Legal Department’s offices with steadfast steps, not wanting anything, or anyone to distract you. The day had barely begun, so when you walked into the office lined with cubicles and the dreary hum of fax machines and printers, a lot of them spilled their coffees and yelped when you walked past them. You thought you probably should apologize for startling them, since it wasn’t every day that an Avenger other than Tony walked into the Law Department offices, but you were too determined to get to Nate as soon as possible.

You reached his office, taking a deep breath as you saw him sitting at his desk through the glass door of his office. Clenching your fists tightly, you knocked three times before you heard his voice call out for you to come in.

You opened the door and there he was, looking a lot more poised and professional than he was when you first saw him at the party.

“Nate,” you called out, clearing your throat. He looked up at you and immediately stood up, smoothing his tie against his shirt in a nervous gesture.

“Hi. Oh my god, what are you doing here?” he asked, quickly going around the table and motioning for you to sit down.

“Hello. Sorry to barge in on you like this, I meant to call you, but I sort of lost your number because a bunch of robots decided to attack us after the party ended the other day,” you said, taking a seat.

“Right, I heard. Are you alright?” he asked, sitting next to you, concern dripping from his honey-colored eyes.

“It’s fine. I mean, Bruce is still missing and there’s a major backlash against the Avengers now, but all in all, it’s fine. At least we managed to save the world,” you replied.

“Yeah, everyone in our department had to work overtime to work out compensation packages and draft statements to congress,” he chuckled.

“Sorry about that,” you cringed, but he quickly shrugged you off.

“Nonsense. Thank you for saving us from supervillains, yet again,” he grinned.

One thing you liked about Nate was that he made you comfortable. Conversation came easy with both him and Loki, but whilst Loki made you blush and kept you on your toes, with Nate, you were relaxed and at ease.

“Anyway, what brings the great Fae to our humble little office down here?” he asked, flashing a charming smile at you.

“Right. I actually wanted to ask you out,” you said quickly.

“Like on a date?” he asked, his cheeks flushing red, which you thought was adorable.

“Yeah, on a date. You know, we can go out for dinner or a movie or whatever you want,” you replied, grinning.

“I’d love to,” he said, smiling from ear-to-ear.

“Great! Oh, just so you know, I’ve never done this whole “dating” thing before, so I was kinda hoping that you’d be the one who’d guide me through it?” you asked sheepishly.

“Of course! I’ve been meaning to ask you out, but you never called so I sort of thought you weren’t interested. I’m glad that wasn’t the case,” he replied.

“Yeah, like I said. Angry robots and all,” you said jokingly, making him laugh.

“Okay then, how about tonight? Dinner at 8 P.M.? I can pick you up at the compound, if you’d like,” he said, his eyes shining.

“Dinner sounds great. Do I have to wear anything fancy?” you asked.

“Well, you can wear a sack and you’d still look beautiful, but yes, go ahead and dress up a little,” he replied, making you blush.

“Okay, it’s a date then,” you smiled, standing up to leave his office.

“It’s a date,” he replied, grinning.

“A DATE?” yelled Loki whilst you held up two dresses against your body in front of a mirror, trying to see which would look better on you.

Loki had walked into your quarters and asked if you wanted to hang out, but you told him that you had to get ready for a date, hence his outburst. You rolled your eyes at him.

“Yes, Loki. I’m going on a date,” you said, ignoring him and deciding on a maroon dress that complimented your figure.

“With whom? Is it that boy from Stark’s party?” he hissed, full of hostility.

“That boy has a name. Besides, he’s cute and nice,” you replied, shrugging as you walked towards your shoe closet.

“‘Cute and nice’? Those are your required merits when it comes to dating? Darling, we’re going to need to raise your standards a little bit,” he spat, rolling his eyes.

“It’s just one date, Loki. I’ve never been on a date before, so I’d like to see how this will pan out,” you said, picking out a pair of Jimmy Choos and setting it aside.

“Your first date ever and you decide to go out with a boy who had barely reached puberty,” he scoffed.

“Just because you’re a thousand years old, doesn’t mean everyone else around you is a baby, Loki,” you snorted.

“Well fine. Have fun on your date. Don’t come crying to me when he bores you to death,” he said, walking away towards your front door.

“Loki…” you trailed off, following him but he slammed the door in your face, making you sigh.

He’ll get over it.

The date with Nate turned out amazing. You had fun and he ended up asking you out on a second date, and then a third. You spent more and more time with Nate, which meant you saw Loki a lot less, which also meant that you were getting over your silly crush on him. At least, that’s what you’d like to believe was happening.

After the sixth date, you decided to bring Nate along during the monthly movie night, wanting to introduce him to the rest of the team. Everyone greeted him cordially - even Tony didn’t seem as hostile as he usually was when a man was in close proximity to you. You saw Loki scowling at you, so you took a deep breath and walked towards him, hand-in-hand with Nate in tow.

Loki stared Nate down, looking at him from top to bottom condescendingly. You had told Nate in advance that Loki was probably going to be hard on him since he was pretty protective over you, but Nate took it like a good sport.

“Your Highness, she has told me so much about you. It’s a pleasure to officially be introduced to you,” said Nate, offering his hand out to Loki. Loki stared at his hand in disgust.

“I wish I could say the same,” he said, making you frown at him.

Nate sheepishly put his hand down and you laced your fingers with his to comfort him. Loki’s gaze hardened.

“Well, if you’ll excuse me, I am done with this charity case and would like to enjoy the movie in peace,” said Loki, turning away from us.

You sighed and pulled Nate away, sitting on one of the loveseats that you sat with Loki in during the last movie night. You shook that thought away and focused on Nate.

“Wow, he’s a tough one for sure,” said Nate, rubbing his thumb over your knuckles.

“Sorry about that. He’s a bit peculiar, but once you get to know him, he’ll warm up and you’ll realize that he’s one of the best persons to ever live,” you replied, looking at him apologetically.

“It’s fine. I know he means a lot to you, so I’ll try my best to get along with him,” he said, smiling at you.

Nate was perfect.

He didn’t rush you into things, he was patient and kind, he was everything Loki wasn’t. You supposed you would be happy with him. Yet you couldn’t help but steal glances at Loki, who sat alone in his seat, his eyes locked on the screen at the front of the room. He looked so lonely.

Halfway through the movie, Nate stood up to refill your drinks, so you let him go towards the snack bar while you focused your attention on the screen before you. Suddenly, you heard a loud yelp and turned around to see Nate laying on the ground, your drinks spilled all over him. You quickly ran towards him as someone paused the movie, helping him up.

“What happened?” you asked, grabbing a bunch of napkins to dab at his shirt. He was soaked.

“I was walking back towards our seats, and I swore I saw a snake slither across my feet,” he exclaimed.

“A snake?” you asked confusedly, before realization dawned upon you. You turned towards Loki angrily.

“What the hell, Loki?” you yelled. He shrugged, looking at his nails.

“I thought it was just a harmless prank,” said Loki, not a hint of regret in his voice, making your blood boil.

“Come on, Nate, let’s get you cleaned up,” you said, placing a hand on his back and pushing him out. Then you turned to Loki.

“And you. Stay away from us. I don’t want to see or talk to you,” you growled, pointing a finger at him. Hurt flashed in his eyes for just a moment before they hardened.

“Fine. I don’t want to see you dallying around with that sorry excuse of a mule either,” he spat, turning away from you.

You quickly led Nate out of the theater, ignoring Loki’s comment.

Days went by since you last spoke to Loki. Days eventually turned into weeks, then months.

Two whole months passed by since you last spoke to Loki. Whenever you passed each other in the hallways or in the gym or the kitchens, you actively ignored and avoided each other. You were still so angry at him, and he seemed angry at you as well.

You and Nate continued to date casually, but you never really went beyond making out or the occasional heavy petting. You weren’t ready for that sort of intimacy yet. Fortunately, Nate, being the absolute sweetheart that he was, never pressured you into anything more.

One day, Steve, Natasha and Tony approached you, asking you to look at something in one of the training rooms within the gym. You followed, not thinking much of it, but the moment you stepped into the room and spotted Loki there, also looking confused, you immediately knew it was a set up.

Before you could turn around and bolt out of the room, they had shut the door in your face, and you heard the dreaded sound of the door locking. You glared at them through the small window on the door where they were looking at you with raised eyebrows.

“Work things out, you two are bringing team morale down,” said Tony, before walking away with Steve and Natasha.

You banged on the door, pulling on the handle trying to pry it open to no avail. You cursed Tony for making these doors so indestructible. Suddenly you heard a growl behind you.

“You can’t even stand being in the same room with me now?” asked Loki, his voice rough and angry.

You continued to attempt to break down the door, refusing to turn around and even acknowledge him.

Suddenly you were thrown across the room, landing on the padded floors with a loud thump. You groaned in pain, looking at Loki whose hands glowed green.

This little bitch just used his magic to knock you out.

Feeling your anger rise, you threw numerous fire blasts at him, which he swiftly avoided. Eventually, you formed icicles at his feet, trapping him in one place before blasting him with a wind bomb, throwing him against the wall.

You continued to fight until the room shook, and eventually, Steve, Tony and Natasha rushed inside, pulling you away from each other.

“You insolent, wretched woman! You are beneath me. How ridiculous of me to think that you are even worth spending a millisecond with! No wonder everyone you loved left you!” he growled as Tony pulled you out of the room.

“Fuck you! What kind of god is as insecure as you are? You will never be worthy! You are alone and will always be alone!” you screamed.

Tony pulled you into one of the common rooms, looking at you in complete shock. You breathed heavily, still angry before you burst into tears. Tony quickly pulled you into his arms, hugging you tightly.

“That was a bad idea. I’m so sorry,” he muttered as you sobbed into his chest.

After you had calmed down, Tony took you back to your quarters, where you locked yourself in your room. You were hurt and angry, but mostly at yourself. No matter how furious you were at Loki, how could you have said the things you did? It was venomous and downright vicious, intended to hit him where you knew it would hurt the most. You cried into your pillow until you fell asleep.

A few hours later, you woke up feeling groggy and awful, your eyes swollen and your nose stuffy. You sat up and sniffed, wiping some stray tears away from your face. You looked around your room and screamed, spotting a dark figure coming out from behind your bedroom door.

“Will you keep it down? People will think I’m murdering you or something,” Loki mumbled, crossing his arms across his chest.

“HOW THE HELL DID YOU GET IN HERE? I LOCKED THE DOOR DIDN’T I?” you screamed, looking back and forth at Loki and your door. Loki rolled his eyes.

“That doesn’t matter. I need to talk to you,” he said.

“I don’t want to talk to you! Get out!” you screamed, standing up and walking towards him.

He walked towards you and grabbed your wrists, not strong enough to hurt you but firm enough that you couldn’t get away.

“Let go of me, Loki!” you yelled, glaring at him and struggling to get out of his grip.

“Will you just listen to me?!” he hissed.

Eventually you gave up and stopped struggling, still glaring at him. He slowly let your wrists go and you sat on the bed, crossing your arms across your chest.

“What do you want?” you asked.

He looked at you, his brows furrowed and sighed before calling out your name, his voice softer in comparison to before.

“Darling,” he began. “I… I’d like to apologize for how I acted,” he said quietly, surprising you.

“What?”

“I’m sorry for playing that prank on your partner. I’m sorry for making you angry. I’m sorry for attacking you the way I did, and I’m sorry for the things I said just now,” he said.

You stared at him, your brows still furrowed until you saw genuine regret flash across his eyes. Curse your soft heart, you felt the anger immediately leaving your body. You sighed and patted the spot next to you on the bed.

“Come here,” you said.

He slowly sat down next to you, and you saw the cuts and bruises he got from your fight earlier. You brought your hands to cup his cheek and silently healed him. He leaned into your touch, closing his eyes as his bruises faded and his wounds closed. When he opened them again, your eyes were looking directly into his.

“I’m sorry as well, Loki. I’m sorry for ignoring you and I’m sorry for what I said as well,” you said, your voice barely a whisper.

“You must know that I said those words out of anger, and I did not mean a single thing I said,” you continued, rubbing your thumb across his cheekbone.

“I know,” he replied, placing his hand on your own.

For a while, you stared at each other, slowly leaning in until you realized what you were doing, and you quickly dropped your hand from his face and turned away, clearing your throat.

“I do want to know why on earth you decided to embarrass Nate like you did during movie night. It was mean, even for you,” you said firmly.

“I guess I just wanted your attention. I felt like he was hogging all of your time, and I wanted you all to myself. Like I said before, you’re my only friend, remember?” he said as-a-matter-of-factly. You sighed.

“You know you could’ve just talked to me, right? We’re friends. Best friends, in fact. You know I would’ve dropped everything for you if you wanted me to,” you replied.

“If I asked you to drop Nate, would you?” he asked suddenly.

“Why?” you asked.

“Why? I just told you why - I want you all to myself,” he replied, crossing his arms around his chest again. You sighed heavily.

“Loki, I adore you, I truly do. But being friends with you doesn’t mean that I can’t have any other personal relationships,” you said gently.

“But all you do is spend time with him and ignore me. What do you see in him anyway?” he grumbled.

“Well, he’s nice. He treats me kindly, and I enjoy spending time with him,” you replied.

“I’m nice. I treat you kindly, most of the time, and I know you enjoy spending time with me, too,” he retorted immaturely.

“Yeah, well, that’s different, I…”

“Do you love him?” he asked.

You looked at him, surprised by his question. Do you love Nate? You considered your feelings for him - while you liked spending time with him and getting to know him, you weren’t sure if your feelings had extended to that extent yet. You wanted to say yes, but whenever Loki crossed your mind, you weren’t so sure. Your brain kept telling you that Nate was the one for you, but your heart could not help but scream Loki’s name.

“No, I don’t think so. At least not yet. But I do, truly like him, Loki,” you replied honestly. His shoulders sagged for just a second before he straightened up again.

“Fine. As long as you’re happy, then I shall support you. I suppose he isn’t too bad. At least he has… hair. Lots of it,” he said. You smiled at him and bumped his shoulder with yours.

“Thank you, Loki. You don’t know how much that means to me,” you replied.

He looked at you with a soft, almost sad gaze before grabbing your hand and kissing your knuckles.

“I’ve missed you,” he said softly.

You couldn’t help but pull him into a hug, nuzzling your face into the crook of his neck and inhaling his scent deeply.

Pine. Mint. Musk.

“I’ve missed you too, Loki,” you replied.

You knew right then that despite whatever you felt for Loki, you would never, ever want to lose him as a friend.

So you decided to keep him as a friend, determined to get rid of these confusing feelings you had towards him.

The next day, you and Loki walked into the common kitchen and ate breakfast together as if nothing happened. The other Avengers tiptoed around you both, afraid that a single wrong step could trigger another fight between you.

Tony walked into the room and scoffed at the both of you, shaking his head.

“Well, I’m glad Beauty and The Beast here have made up,” he commented, making you chuckle.

“Thank god. It was difficult to breathe whenever either of you walked into the room and threw icy glares at each other when you guys were fighting,” said Wanda, rubbing her chest dramatically.

“I heard Thor is coming back soon. Why don’t we throw a party? Have some fun,” said Tony, drinking his orange juice.

“A party sounds excellent,” said Natasha, smiling slyly at you.

You agreed. After Ultron and everything that happened afterwards, you felt like you all deserved to let your hair down for a bit.

Besides, now that you were convinced that you and Loki would never be anything more than friends, you were determined to open up your heart to Nate properly, and this party seemed like the perfect opportunity to do it.

Chapter Text

You looked at yourself in the mirror, smoothing out your silky emerald-colored dress that stuck to your body like skin. Your ears, neck, wrists and fingers were adorned in gold jewelry, and you had artfully done your make-up to look like a femme fatale. Your lips were painted a deep shade of red and your eyes were lined sharply.

You looked like someone who would look perfect next to Loki.

But that definitely wasn’t why you chose this ensemble. No, you wore this because you were planning to take things further with Nate for the first time tonight, and if he wanted to, you were willing to take him to your room to seal the deal.

This was a full-proof way to get over Loki completely and solidify your feelings for Nate.

A sharp knock broke you out of your reverie and you startled, quickly spraying some perfume on your neck and wrists and picking up your purse before walking towards your door, opening to see Nate looking sharp in a tuxedo.

“Wow,” he gasped, his eyes raking your body from top to toe. “You look breathtaking,” he finished.

You giggled, leaning in to kiss him gently.

“Thank you, Nate. Ready to go?” you asked, closing your door behind you.

“Yeah, let’s go,” he smiled, offering his arm to you and you linked yours with his.

You both took the elevator and landed on the mezzanine floor in the room where the party was held, overlooking all the partygoers. Nate kept whispering praises into your ear, flirty and playful, making you giggle and blush.

You spotted Loki across the room, talking to a group of women who seemed to hang onto his every word. A pang of jealousy crossed your heart, but you quickly shook it off, turning your attention to Nate instead. You greeted the rest of the partygoers together with Nate, shaking their hands cordially. Whilst talking to a handful of Nate’s colleagues, your eyes locked with Loki’s, who smiled and raised his glass at you as acknowledgement. You smiled back and nodded at him, before turning your attention back to the conversation.

Everything was going pretty smoothly. Suddenly you heard a loud, booming voice call out your name, and you turned around to see Thor walking up to you, holding his arms out. You smiled and let go of Nate’s hand to hug him, having not seen him in a while.

“How are you? How are your travels?” you asked, letting go of him.

“It was great, Lady Tinkerbell. I fought glorious battles and sought justice for those who could not do it themselves!” he boasted.

“Lady Tinkerbell?” asked Nate from beside me.

“Oh! Right. Thor! This is Nate Donovan. Nate, Thor,” you said, introducing them to each other.

“Hello, sir. I’m a huge fan,” said Nate, shaking Thor’s hand a little bit longer than one usually would.

“Thank you… Nate?” replied Thor, looking at you confusedly.

“Nate works in Stark Industries’ Legal Department. He’s my boyfriend,” you said, quickly, the word leaving an oddly bitter taste on your tongue. Thor looked at you in surprise.

“Boyfriend… As in a friend who is a boy or lover?” he asked, still looking confused.

“I guess you could say we’re lovers,” replied Nate proudly, wrapping an arm around your waist. Thor’s brows furrowed at you.

“But I thought you liked -” Thor trailed off but to your relief, he was interrupted by Tony at the DJ booth, welcoming everyone to the party.

You quickly said bye to Thor and pulled Nate onto the dance floor and started dancing with him. Fortunately, Nate – bless his heart – never caught on what Thor was about to say, or if he did, he pretended not to. You and Nate danced together for a few songs until you were left parched, so you excused yourself from the dance floor to head to the bar, where once again, Natasha was bartending.

“Hey,” you greeted her, slightly panting from your dance.

“Hey. The usual?” she asked, already making your favorite drink.

“Yes please,” you smiled, before turning around to look at the partygoers on the dancefloor.

You smiled as you watched Pepper and Tony dancing together, Thor having the time of his life and Steve awkwardly trying to fend off the hoard of ladies that tried to grind against him. You continued to scan the crowd until you spotted Loki, looking extremely pleased as a woman - probably from HR, ground her ass against his front. You frowned, feeling that pang of jealousy hit you again. You quickly turned back to face the bar where Natasha was already serving your drink for you.

“Thanks,” you mumbled, sipping on your drink.

“You okay?” she asked leaning against the bar.

“Of course, I am. Why wouldn’t I be?” you replied, trying your best to seem unaffected by what Loki was doing. If Nat noticed, she pretended she didn't.

“You seem to be getting quite serious with that boy from legal. How is everything?” she asked, smirking at you.

“Everything’s great. Nate is great. I feel great. Everything is… great,” you replied, trailing off.

“Great?”

“Yeah,”

“Okay, solnyshka. As long as you’re happy,” she smiled as you took another sip of your drink.

“I am. I think? I don’t know. I’m content, at least,” you said, tracing your finger on the rim of your glass.

“That’s good enough,” she replied. After a moment of silence, you spoke again.

“I think I’m going sleep with him tonight,” you said to Natasha.

“Are you sure?” she asked, raising her brow at you.

“Yes. Unless you think I shouldn’t,” you replied, slightly flustered.

“No, no. It doesn’t matter what I think. If you’re sure and you’re comfortable, I say go for it,” she said, smirking at you.

“Right, of course. Yes,” you said, downing the rest your drink, ready to join Nate back on the dance floor.

“Word of advice though, honey? Listen to your heart. Sometimes it may seem irrational and ridiculous, but most of the time, it’ll lead you to making the right choices,” said Natasha.

You smiled at her and nodded, heading back onto the dance floor and meeting Nate. The song had turned sensual, so you smiled at him seductively and wrapped your arms around his neck, dancing closely to him. His hands squeezed your hips, matching its sway as you moved to the beat of the music. You brushed your lips teasingly against his, making him chase you as you pulled away, smirking. You turned around and ground your ass against him, feeling his arms snake around your waist as he pulled you closer. You mimicked the woman who was with Loki earlier, hoping that whatever you were doing looked half as good as she did. Nate brushed his nose against the side of your neck, making you sigh in pleasure. He placed soft kisses against your neck, making goosebumps rise on your skin. For some reason, all you could think of was Loki, imagining it was him instead of Nate. Despite the twinge of guilt you felt, your arousal heightened, feeling yourself growing damp between your legs.

Suddenly, you were yanked out of his arms by Loki, who looked absolutely livid. Before you could even ask him what he was doing, he dragged you towards the elevator, leaving a confused Nate on the dance floor. As soon as the elevator doors closed, you turned to him angrily.

“What the hell is your problem?” you yelled.

“My problem? My problem is you acting like a little whore, grinding against the boy shamelessly in the middle of the party where everyone can see,” he growled.

“So what? He’s my boyfriend! He can do whatever he wants to me,” you yelled, shoving him back.

“Oh, that’s nice. You’re not even denying that you were acting like a whore,” he glared at you.

“Where do you get off by calling me a whore when you were doing the exact same thing just moments ago with some random girl? Yeah, I saw you. If I’m a whore for dancing with my boyfriend, then what does that make you?” you spat.

“That’s different, I wasn’t planning to sleep with her,” he replied.

“Please. I saw the way you looked at her, like you wanted to devour her whole,” you said, letting your petty jealousy take over.

“You’re imagining things,” he growled.

“I did not! Don't you start gaslighting me! Also, so what if I wanted to sleep with Nate? Like I said before, he’s my boyfriend! If I wanted to take him back to my room and fuck him – what the hell is that to you?”

You weren’t sure how it happened, but suddenly you were pressed against the elevator wall, and Loki was kissing the life out of you. One of his hands pinned your hips back while the other buried itself in your hair as he tilted his head to the side to deepen the kiss. Surprisingly, you didn’t even attempt to push him off. For some reason, it just felt right. Your hands bunched up his shirt as you kissed him back, opening your mouth as his tongue teased the seam of your lips. You moaned into the kiss, pulling him closer, wanting more of him.

A ding came from the elevator speakers and the doors opened, making you both break away from the kiss, staring at each other breathlessly. You panted as you looked into his eyes, his pupils so dilated that you could barely see the greens in them.

“If you don’t want this, I shall let you go. But if you do, I’ll take you back to my room and have my way with you,” he said, his nose brushing against yours, fingers trailing down your cheek reverently as he breathed heavily.

You didn’t even hesitate as pulled him into another kiss before replying.

“I want this. I want you,” you breathed out.

He kissed you one more time before grabbing your hand and pulling you through the hallways that led to his quarters. He stopped at the door, turning back to you with a serious expression on his face.

“Last chance to back out,” he said, his voice hoarse.

“Open the door, Loki,” you replied.

He opened the door and pulled you inside. You barely got to take in the interior of his quarters before he pushed you against the door, kissing you again. You felt his hands roam over your curves, squeezing your hips, making you whimper into the kiss. He pulled away to look at you as he placed his hands right below your ass.

“Jump,” he whispered.

You did a little jump and lifted you effortlessly, making you wrapped your legs around his slim waist, already grinding desperately against him.

He carried you into his bedroom and gently placed you on his king-sized bed adorned with silky black sheets before climbing on top of you, leaning down to kiss you. You pushed his jacket off his shoulders and undid his tie before pulling his shirt from where it was tucked in his pants and unbuttoning it, wanting to feel his skin under your palms. He pulled away from your mouth to place a kiss on your cheeks, then along your jaw down to your neck, making you moan softly. You tilted your head back to allow him more access to your neck as you snaked your hands under his shirt, letting them roam the hard panes of his chest. The growl he let out against your skin went straight to your groin, and you bucked your hips up, desperate for some sort of relief.

He bit into the skin of your neck and licked it to soothe the pain, making you whimper. Your dress had spaghetti straps, so there was a good amount of skin exposed even without taking it off. You felt his teeth scrape against your neck, and you moaned, your thumbs brushing against his nipples. He groaned and took his shirt off, throwing it off to god knows where before returning to lavish your collarbones and cleavage with kisses and teasing licks. You squirmed underneath him, feeling him smirk against your skin.

He slowly pushed down the straps of your dress from your shoulders, and you slipped your arms out of them. You didn’t bother with a bra since the dress was dark, so when he pulled it down, your heaving breasts were exposed to him, nipples pebbling from the cold temperature of his room. He pulled your dress down all the way and took off your shoes, leaving you in your panties. You had worn a lacy, skimpy pair that hid absolutely nothing since you had been planning to sleep with Nate tonight, but you were glad that Loki was the one who got to see you like this instead. The stare he gave you – full of lust and impure thoughts – made you feel so wanted.

“Loki…” you whimpered, suddenly shy under his gaze.

He quickly leaned in and kissed you softly, his long lashes fluttering against your cheekbones.

“You’re so beautiful…” he breathed out, placing soft kisses all over your body.

You bucked your hips up again, feeling his stiff member poking against your thighs. He kissed down your jaw again, to your neck, your collarbones and chest. One of his hands caressed your sides while the other groped your left breast, massaging it gently as you moaned underneath him. He leaned down and took the hardened peak into his mouth, swirling his tongue around it before sucking it gently. You arched your back, your hands gripping the sheets underneath you as you writhed with pleasure. He pinched and rolled your other nipple between his fingers before switching sides to give the same treatment to the other. You rubbed your thighs together, desperate for some friction as your panties became uncomfortably wet.

“Fuck, Loki… Please…” you begged, lacing your hands through his silky, dark hair.

He hummed against your skin before kissing down your stomach, nipping at your hip bones as he reached the waistband of your panties. He sat up and slowly took them off, leaving a trail of wetness on your inner thighs. He spread your legs to reveal your glistening cunt, making him groan as he undid his belt and shoved his pants down, leaving him in his tenting underwear. You couldn’t help but whimper when you saw how hard and large he was through them.

He smirked at you before leaning down to place teasing kisses up your inner thighs, sucking red marks into them, making you squirm and mewl. He held your hips down to ensure that you wouldn’t move as he continued his assault, kissing up your thighs and licking up the crease where your thigh met your hip before moving on to the other side, purposely teasing and making you want more.

“Please… Loki,” you begged, panting heavily as he teased you.

“Hmm? Please what darling?” he asked, smirking against your sensitive skin.

“Please put your mouth on me,” you begged, throwing any form of shame out the window.

“But my mouth is on you,” he teased, kissing right above your mound.

You groaned and gripped his hair tighter, pushing his head down to where you wanted him the most.

“Loki,” you growled.

“Fine, fine. So impatient,” he smirked, before licking a wide stripe up your cunt, making you gasp loudly.

He groaned at your taste, swirling his tongue around your clit before sucking on it softly, making you grip his hair tighter.

“You’re positively dripping, darling. So sweet,” he murmured against your heat.

You moaned loudly, throwing your head back as he pleasured you with his mouth, alternating between quick flicks of his tongue and sucking softly. You felt his finger rub against your entrance before he pushed it in with barely any resistance due to how slick you were. You moaned as he moved his finger slowly, curling it to brush against the soft spot within you.

“Loki, fuck, m-more…” you moaned.

He gladly obliged, eating you out like a man dying of thirst as he slipped another finger inside of you, thrusting in and out at a leisurely pace and stretching you out. After a while, you felt the pleasure steadily building within you about to burst, so you whined, trying to push his face away from your weeping cunt.

“Loki… Oh god, stop, I’m about to cum,” you warned.

“Mhmm… Then cum, my darling, let me taste you,” he murmured against your pussy, quickening the pace of his fingers and continuing to eat you out unabatedly.

You squirmed under his grip, moaning his name over and over again as you tried to push him away. He merely held your hips down harder with one arm, showcasing his god-like strength. You felt your body grow tighter and tighter, and after a few moments, you snapped, your pleasure crashing over you like waves as you screamed his name.

His mouth and fingers didn’t relent even as you reached your climax, making you sob in sheer pleasure, clamping his head between your thighs. Eventually he slowed down, kissing your thighs and pulling his fingers out of you as he gently pried your thighs apart so he could sit up. You breathed heavily as you looked up at him, his lips glistening with spit and your arousal, making you whine again as he cleaned his fingers off with his tongue. He hovered over you and smiled.

“You’re delicious,” he commented, making you blush.

You pulled him down by his nape to kiss him, tasting yourself on his tongue and lips. Your hands trailed down his body and you sneaked your thumbs into the waistband of his underwear, pushing it down. He helped you take them off and you gasped when you saw his cock slap against his stomach, standing tall and proud. He was perfect. His cock was long and thick, veins popping out from arousal. You slowly reached down and wrapped your hand around it, making him groan as he held himself above you on his arms. You gently stroked him, your thumb brushing away the bead of precum that formed at the tip.

“Darling, I need you,” he groaned, his voice strained and hoarse from arousal.

You nodded, letting his cock go and pulling him into another kiss.

“Take me,” you whispered against his lips.

He kissed you one more time and stroked his cock before brushing it against your pussy, gathering up the wetness there with his tip. He looked into your eyes as he aligned it with your entrance before slowly pushing it in, both of you moaning as you finally got the relief you so desperately sought. He pressed his lips to yours as you adjusted to his size, moaning into each other’s mouths. Slowly, he began to move, sending shockwaves of pleasure up your spine.

“Loki…” you moaned, burying your face against his shoulder.

“Oh, pet… You feel so good, so tight… You’re perfect,” he whispered into your ear, nipping at your earlobe.

Soon he quickened his pace, the blunt tip of his cock brushing against all the right spots within you, making you see stars. You whined and moaned underneath him, watching his expressions closely as he took his pleasure from your body. After a while, you felt your body tighten and your pussy walls clenched around him.

“Loki! Oh my god, Loki! I’m so close,” you whimpered, your nails digging into his back.

“That’s it, my sweet girl. Go ahead and let go. I want to feel you cum around my cock,” he murmured, burying his face in your neck.

It didn’t take long until you reached your climax again, screaming his name as he continued to fuck you untiringly. He sat up, holding on to your arms as he continued to thrust into you fast and hard, moaning your name repeatedly.

Moments later, you reached your third orgasm of the night, sobbing in pleasure as he continued his relentless assault. His thrusts started to become erratic, and not long after he froze as he spilled into you, spurts of his hot seed filling you up as he groaned your name out.

He collapsed onto you, gently kissing you, both of you breathing heavily before pulling out of you with a pop and rolling next to you. You felt your mixed fluids seep out of your used hole, but you barely gave it any attention, especially since Loki had pulled you into his arms, kissing your hair and holding you tightly against him. You nuzzled your face into his neck, breathing in his scent as your eyes grew heavier and heavier as each moment passed. You wrapped your arm around his waist, throwing your leg over his as you got comfortable.

As you drifted off to sleep, a little voice inside your head warned you about what a huge mistake this was, but in the comfort of Loki’s arms, you couldn’t bring yourself to care.

Chapter Text

You woke up the next day with a pleasant ache on your lower body. You were warm and comfortable, completely sated. You snuggled closer to the warmth next to you, but just as you were about to fall back asleep, your eyes shot open when you realized that ‘the warmth next to you’ was Loki.

As in, you best friend, the God of Mischief, Loki, and he was very, very naked under the thick blankets that surrounded you. It didn’t take long for you to realize that you were also very, very naked, and as the pleasantness of feeling his skin pressed against yours washed over you, the events of last night played back in your mind.

Oh my god.

Oh my god! You had sex with Loki!

You quietly slipped out of his arms, trying your absolute best to not wake him up, cringing when he grunted. He quickly fell back asleep as he turned over, so you quickly got dressed, picking various articles of clothing off the floor and back onto your body. You were just about to exit his room when you heard his voice call out your name, startling you.

“Tired of me already?” he asked, his voice hoarse from sleep, which you'd find incredibly sexy if not for the situation you're in.

“Loki, I…” you began, not knowing what to say.

He snorted and sat up, leaning against the headboard of his bed as the blankets fell off his shoulders, gathering at his hips and revealing his well-defined torso that you definitely had the pleasure of ogling and caressing last night. Your cheeks turned red at the memory, quickly shaking it off.

“Listen, Loki, we shouldn’t have done what we did last night, it was a bad idea and -” you started, but he quickly interrupted.

“Did you enjoy yourself?” he asked, casually stretching and yawning.

“What?”

“Did you enjoy yourself last night? When we fucked?” he asked again, his tone so nonchalant you’d think he was asking about what you wanted for breakfast. You blinked at him confusedly, feeling your cheeks get hotter.

“Yes, but-”

“Then I don’t have any regrets. And neither should you,” he shrugged.

You took a deep breath, taking the opportunity to look at him for one last time before turning around, sighing.

“I’ll see you later, Loki,” you mumble, walking out his door and out of his quarters.

On your walk of shame back to your room, you bumped into Natasha, who looked a little worse for wear.

“Last night’s dress, smudged make-up, messy hair. Somebody must’ve had fun huh?” she smirked.

“Haha, yeah totally. Party was great!” you replied, flustered.

“Wait, why are you coming from Loki’s quarters?” she asked suspiciously.

“Oh, I just… sent him a hangover cure. I supposed he partied a little too hard last night,” you lied.

“Right. That was obviously a lie, but I’m too hungover to deal with you right now. I’ll see you later,” she replied, rolling her eyes before walking away.

You let out a sigh of relief before rushing back to your quarters, eager to wash out any evidence of the sweet, sweet sin you committed last night.

You had to break up with Nate.

You figured that was the best thing to do now that things had turned out the way it did. You suddenly realized that while Nate was the sensible, incredible choice of a partner, you could never replicate the passion you experienced with Loki with anybody else. Until you got over Loki, it was best that you stayed single so nobody could get hurt.

After showering, you quickly got dressed in sweats and an old t-shirt that used to belong to Tony until you stole it. Without even waiting for your hair to dry, you picked up your phone and opened the door to your quarters, only to be startled when you found Nate about to knock on your door.

“Nate! I was just about to look for you,” you said breathlessly.

“Right. You found me. Can I come in?” he asked.

You glanced back at your quarters, which was quite messy in your haste to see him, but you figured it was best to get this over with once and for all.

“Sure,” you replied, opening the door wider to let him in.

As he walked in, you quickly picked up all the stray clothing that were strewn about, doing your best to clean up.

“Sorry about the mess, I didn’t have time to tidy the room after getting ready for the party last night,” you muttered, throwing the clothes into your laundry hamper and shoving all your make-up into a drawer.

Nate sat down on the couch, smiling politely at you.

“It’s fine, no worries,” he said.

“Do you want anything to drink? I have juice and soda and some liquor, though it is pretty early to drink, but I don’t judge!” you rambled on, until he called out your name.

“Come sit,” he said, patting the seat next to him.

He was eerily calm, making you nervous, but you sat anyway, fumbling with your hands. He leaned forward with his elbows on his knees, staring at one of your potted plants as he tried to find the right words to say to you.

“You disappeared last night,” he finally said. “We were dancing, then Loki pulled you away, and then you just… never came back,” he continued.

You stayed silent, mouth gaping like a fish out of water as you tried to form an explanation that didn’t make you seem like a complete asshole.

“You didn’t come back, and neither did Loki…” he trailed off.

“Nate…” you called out, but he held a hand up to stop you.

“Before you explain, please understand that my feelings for you are very intense - I absolutely, completely adore you. But if you don’t feel the same, you need to tell me,” he said, his tone serious and hurt.

“I… I don’t know. I don’t know how I feel. I mean, I like you, I like spending time with you, but…” you trailed off.

“But I’m not Loki,” he finished for you.

You sighed, burying your face in your hands.

“I’m so sorry, Nate,” you muttered, feeling awful that you just hurt someone who had only ever been nice to you.

“Damn, I was kinda hoping that you’d tell me that Loki pulled you out for a mission or something,” he chuckled bitterly. “I guess that wasn’t the case,”

“I’m sorry, Nate, I’m awful. I don’t know how else to make it up to you other than the fact that I am terribly, truly sorry,” you said, looking at him pleadingly. He let out a heavy sigh.

“It’s okay. I should’ve known from the very first day that I could never compete with him. You looked at him as if he picked out the stars from the sky for you,” he replied.

“No. Last night was just a one-time thing. It was a mistake, honestly,” you scoffed.

“Why? Why would it be a one-time thing if he looks at you the same way?” he asked, looking genuinely confused.

“What? No! Loki doesn’t… He doesn’t like me like that,” you said, suddenly flustered.

Nate looked at you and smiled sadly, taking your hand in his.

“I was really hoping this would work out, but I guess the universe had different plans,” he said, rubbing your knuckles with his thumb.

“Again, I am so sorry, Nate. But I do hope we can stay friends after this,” you replied, squeezing his hand.

“Probably not,” he chuckled, letting go of your hand. “At least not until I get over you,” you continued, standing up.

You followed him, walking him to the door and opening it for him. He looked at you and opened his arms to you, so you hugged him tightly.

“I’d wish you happiness and all, but I’m kinda hoping you suffer for a bit. Not too much – just enough. Grovel in guilt a bit, you know?” he joked, making you laugh pathetically.

“Goodbye, Nate,” you whispered, pulling away from his embrace.

“Bye, sweetheart,” he said, walking out of the door. Suddenly, he turned around.

“Also, word of advice? Be honest to yourself. If you like Loki, just tell him. I’m sure everything will turn out alright,” he said, smiling.

“Thanks, Nate,” you replied, watching him walk away until he disappeared into the elevators.

You walked into the common kitchens and grabbed a piece of bread, smearing some peanut butter on it. You were lost in thought about what Nate said to you - about how you should be honest to Loki about your feelings. But what if he didn’t feel the same? If you told him, and he rejected you, you were sure that your friendship would never be the same, and you couldn’t risk ruining something you treasured so much like that.

Suddenly you felt a presence behind you and Loki’s alluring voice whispered in your ear.

“Morning, darling,” You jumped, almost dropping your bread and he quickly stepped back, smirking at you.

“Fucking hell, Loki, don’t sneak up on me like that,” you scolded, placing the butter knife down and folding your bread in half.

“Is that what you’re having for breakfast?” he asked, scrunching his nose in disgust.

“It’s peanut butter, it’s delicious. Do you want one?” you asked, taking a bite out of your sandwich.

“No thank you, I’d much rather eat something else for breakfast,” he replied suggestively, his eyes roaming up and down your body. You glared at him.

“Last night was a one-time thing, Loki. It shouldn’t happen again,” you said, turning around to hide your blush.

He stepped closer to you and pinned you between himself and the counter, caging you in his arms.

“Why shouldn’t it happen again? We had so much fun,” he said, his voice dropping an octave lower as he brushed his nose against your nape.

You held back a moan as he pressed further against you, feeling your arousal start to grow. He started kissing your neck softly, making you sigh in pleasure before you snapped out of it. You quickly turned around and pushed him off, glaring at him again.

“Stop trying to seduce me!” you whisper-yelled at him, but he simply chuckled.

“Is it working?” he asked, that infuriating smirk growing wider.

“No, leave me alone!” you yelled, walking away, but he grabbed your wrist and pinned you against the counter again, brushing his nose against your cheek.

“I know you want it darling, just give in,” he whispered, kissing your cheek.

Your knees started to wobble, but you looked away, knowing that if you looked at him, you would most definitely give in. Unfortunately for you, Loki seemed to be aware of this fact, so he gently grabbed your chin and turned your face towards him, his eyes locking with yours.

“I want you, my sweetness,” he whispered against your lips.

Taking in a shaky breath, you considered your options for a moment, weighing the pros and cons of sleeping with him again. However, as he pressed his erection against your thigh, any resemblance of logic in your brain flew out the window and you pulled him into a kiss, his tongue immediately seeking yours.

You both stumbled into your quarters, lips connected in a messy kiss as you tried to tear each other’s clothes off. It was a miracle that you didn’t bump into anyone on your way to your rooms, but you figured that everyone was still hungover from last night’s party and was still sleeping in.

You tried to take Loki's shirt off, but then you felt a warm glow run over you and suddenly you were both naked. Loki had used his magic to take your clothes off, and you saw in your peripheral vision that your clothes had been neatly folded on the coffee table.

“Well, isn't that a convenient trick?” you gasped as he kissed down your neck.

“Oh, trust me darling, I have a lot of other tricks up my sleeve,” he muttered against your skin.

“What sleeve?” you mutter jokingly, running your hands over his bare arms and all over his body, appreciating the contours of his muscles underneath your palm, making him chuckle. “Fuck, you’re gorgeous, Loki,” you said, feeling him smirk against your neck.

“So are you, my sweet Faerie,” he replied, nipping at a particularly sensitive spot on your neck, making you whimper.

You looked down and spotted his glorious cock, already so hard, standing at attention. You reached down to stroke it slowly, making him groan in pleasure.

“Oh darling, that feels so good,” he muttered, resting his forehead against your shoulder. You kissed his cheek and kneeled before him, making his eyes widen in surprise.

“You don’t have to do this, you know,” he said, brushing some of your hair out of your face.

“I want to,” you smiled up at him, before looking back down at his cock.

Now that you get to see it in daylight, you couldn’t help but marvel at how beautiful his cock was. The flushed tip dripped with precum, making your mouth water. Grabbing the base of his cock, you kissed the tip slowly, making him grip your hair. He gathered your hair into a ponytail and held it gently, breathing heavily as he looked down at you. You smirked and looked up at him, licking the precum off with the tip of your tongue, humming at the taste.

“Darling, please,” he begged, his voice needy.

Taking mercy upon him, you swirled your tongue around the tip before taking it into your mouth, sucking gently. He let out a loud moan, gripping your hair tighter. You took more of him in, the weight of his cock on your tongue making you ridiculously aroused, and you started bobbing your head up and down his cock, sucking your cheeks in to ensure his pleasure. He threw his head back and moaned loudly, both his hands now buried in your hair. You took him in deeper, feeling the tip of his cock hit the back of your throat, making you gag slightly. You breathed through your nose and took more of him into your mouth until the tip of your nose met the coarse hairs at the base of his cock. He bucked his hips slightly and you put your hands on his hips, glaring up at him through your lashes. He muttered an apology, but you only sucked him harder, wordlessly telling him to fuck your mouth.

He took a deep breath and placed one of his hands behind your head while the other gripped your shoulder. He started thrusting in and out of your mouth, groaning your name loudly as you moaned around his cock, sending vibrations up his shaft. One of your hands started fondling his balls, massaging it until he gasped. Just as you were about to enjoy the feeling of him cumming down your throat, he pulled your mouth away, making you stand and then lifting you up bridal style, breathing heavily.

“What?” you asked dazedly, your lips swollen and glistening with spit.

“I don’t want to cum yet,” he said, kissing you softly before taking you into the bedroom.

He laid you on the edge of the bed gently, your legs hanging off the mattress before he kneeled on the floor, spreading your legs wide. He licked away the arousal that coated your inner thighs, biting and licking at your skin, making you whine.

“It’s a shame that you heal so quickly, pet. I would’ve loved to see you covered in my marks,” he whispered, placing your legs on his broad shoulders.

You smiled at him and laced your fingers through his curls, scratching at his scalp gently. He smiled back before leaning into your dripping wet pussy, taking a deep breath, inhaling your scent deeply.

“Loki…” you moaned, desperate for some type of relief to the ache between your legs.

"You smell so sweet... like the finest honeys," he murmured, running his fingers through your slick folds gently, parting them to expose your swollen, sensitive bud.

"What?" you laughed breathlessly as he placed soft kisses near your dripping cunt, teasing and building the anticipation, not giving you the contact you yearned for quite yet.

“I could bury my face between your thighs all day and just breathe in your scent," he whispered, his breath warm against you. "And the way you taste... oh, your taste..."

"What about it?" you whimpered, clutching the bedsheets tightly. He chuckled, the vibration of his voice against your sensitive flesh making you shiver.

"It's utterly addictive. It's more intoxicating than the finest meads in the Nine Realms, I could get lost in it forever," he replied, finally kissing your swollen clit, his tongue flicking out to tease it. "And your beautiful, desperate clit..." he growls, making you gasp.

His tongue swirled around your clit before sucking it into his mouth, making you buck your hips up, moaning his name. You felt him smile against your sensitive flesh as he held on to your thighs tightly, so your movements were limited as he continued to pleasure you with his tongue. He continued his ministrations, his tongue delving deeper into your folds, licking and sucking at your sopping wet pussy. He alternated between your clit and your entrance, driving you wild with pleasure. After a while, he pulled away, staring at your quivering cunt before looking up at you, smirking. He rubbed your clit with two fingers before inserting them into you, making you moan his name.

“Do you like it when I do this?” he asked, kissing your thighs. “Here?” he asked curling his fingers to press against your sweet spot.

“Yes! Yes, yes, yes, Loki!” you moaned, pulling at his hair slightly.

He chuckled before licking your pussy again, his fingers relentlessly pressing against the roof of your cunt.

“Mhmm, I can feel you clenching around my fingers, darling,” he murmured against your pussy. “Are you going to cum for me?” he asked, his fingers moving faster.

“Yes Loki! I’m gonna cum for you!” you yelled, feeling your walls clamp down on his fingers even more.

“Then cum, my sweetness. Cum on my face and around my fingers,” he growled, before leaning in to flick his tongue on your clit and sucking on it again, matching the pace of his fingers.

“LOKI!” you screamed as you felt your pussy gush against his mouth, making him moan as he continued his ministrations, prolonging your orgasm.

Eventually, he stopped and pulled away from your cunt, kissing up your body until he reached your face. You looked at him as he smiled at you, panting from your orgasm.

“Hi,” he said cheekily.

"Hello," you giggled and kissed him, reaching down to align his cock with your entrance.

He slowly pushed into you, sliding in easily since you were soaked. You both moaned in unison, and he immediately set a hard and fast pace, fucking you relentlessly. You wrapped your legs around his waist to pull him deeper, digging your nails into his back. He continued this pace for a while before groaning and pulling out, turning you on your front and lifting your ass up. You turned your head just in time to see him give your asscheeks a little slap before slipping into you again. You moaned his name, burying your face in the pillows to muffle your moans. Soon you felt your climax start to build, clenching around his cock, making him groan. He squeezed your hips harder as he quickened his pace, the sounds of skin slapping against skin filling the room.

“Loki…” you whined, feeling your orgasm approaching fast.

You heard him chuckle, then felt his hand snake around your waist and down towards your clit, drawing gentle circles around it, contrasting his hard thrusts. You moaned louder, and it wasn’t long until you came hard, shaking uncontrollably. He held onto you, making sure you didn’t collapse before he spilled inside of you, groaning out your name. He continued to thrust in and out of you slowly, riding out his orgasm before he came to a complete stop, keeping his cock buried inside of you. He leaned down to kiss up your spine, then your shoulders and neck. You turned your head and his lips met yours in a gentle kiss before he pulled out and collapsed next to you.

You laid on your stomach, turning to look at him as he rested his arm over his eyes, trying to catch his breath. After a moment, his eyes met yours and he pulled you into his chest, kissing your forehead.

“Loki…” you started, kissing his chest gently.

“Shh… Just enjoy this,” he whispered, stroking your hair affectionately.

“Loki, we have to talk about this,” you said, squirming out of his embrace and sitting up, leaning against the headboard.

“What’s there to talk about, darling?” he said lazily, tracing random patterns on your stomach.

“Loki, we’re friends. Friends don’t fuck each other,” you replied, looking at him pleadingly. He looked up at you and sighed, sitting up next to you.

“You mortals are such prudes sometimes,” he grumbled.

"What, Asgardians go around fucking everyone around them freely?" you snorted.

"No, but we're not so fuddy-duddy about it when we do," he replied, chuckling mirthlessly.

A moment of silence fell between you two before he sighed again.

“Darling, I’ve found you ridiculously attractive the moment I laid my eyes on you. Clearly, you feel the same way about me. We’re both healthy adults. What we’re doing is simply us acting upon our natural instincts. We shouldn’t let this affect our friendship,” he replied, running his fingers up and down your right thigh.

“Do you really think we could go back to normal after this? You can’t even look at me without jumping me,” you scoffed, slapping his hand away. He laughed.

“That’s true. I simply can’t resist you,” he replied, leaning in to kiss you, but you avoided him.

He sighed, taking your hands and settling on kissing your knuckles instead.

“Listen, pet. I treasure you. But I don’t want any complicated feelings to muddle this all up. We can remain best friends and still help each other meet our needs,” he said, kissing your fingertips now.

“Are you seriously proposing that we start a friends with benefits relationship with each other?” you scoffed, staring at him him intently.

“Well, does that mean I still get to fuck you?” he asked, grinning.

“You’re terrible,” you replied, rolling your eyes and pulling your hands away. He chuckled and pulled you into his lap, kissing your forehead.

“Why not? We can still have sex, and remain best friends,” he said, smiling gently at you.

You looked at him with furrowed brows, contemplating his proposal. On one hand, you never, ever wanted to lose him as a friend. The months that went by when you were ignoring each other were pure torture. On the other hand, you knew deep down that this was a terrible idea, considering the gravity of your feelings for him, and this could all crash and burn in the worst way possible.

But Loki was so adamant on remaining friends. You figured that this was the closest you’ll ever get to calling him yours.

Plus, the sex was so good.

You took a deep breath and leaned in to kiss him gently.

“Okay,” you whispered against his lips.

“Okay?” he asked.

“Okay, let’s be fuck buddies,” you replied.

He grinned and rolled you onto your back, kissing you deeply before you went for another round of mind-blowing, earth-shattering sex.

Chapter Text

You had died and went to heaven.

You were sure of it. Because there is absolutely no way one can feel such bliss and not be in heaven. There was no way.

You pressed your body closer against the hard panes of muscles on Loki’s body as you kissed him deeply. His hands roamed your body, tongue swirling around yours, making you wetter than you already were. He had already made you cum three times since you woke up this morning, just by his hands and mouth.

You somehow needed more.

You wanted him inside you, on top of you, in any position as long as he could give you more of that pleasure he so freely and expertly provided.

It had been a little over two weeks since you and Loki had started this little arrangement, and you’ve had sex with him almost every day, either in his quarters or yours.

And once in the supply closet in the gym, in the early hours of the morning, when the sun wasn’t up yet, with his hand clamped on your mouth as he pounded into you from behind. That was fun, except the part that you had to limp back into your quarters, giving Natasha some lame excuse about how you sprained your ankle, so she’d let you skip training that morning.

Your thoughts floated back to the present day, where you ground your hips into his, whining into his mouth desperately, earning a low groan from him. You could feel his cock against your thigh, hot and hard as he moved in tandem with you.

“Loki…” you whimpered against his mouth, pressing into him further.

“What is it, my darling?” he whispered teasingly, brushing your hair out of your face.

“Tell me what you want,” he grinned.

“I want you,” you replied, nuzzling your cheek against his hand.

“Mhmmm… But you already have me, sweetling. Be specific,” he teased further.

Annoyed, you glared at him and pushed him to lay on his back, promptly climbing on top of him to straddle him. You ground your hips harder against his erection, making him throw his head back, moaning your name. You took the opportunity to press your mouth against his adam's apple, licking a stripe up from his collarbones to his throat.

“It seems like you know exactly what I want, mischief,” you whispered in his ear, nibbling on his earlobe gently.

“Ride me,” he panted, his hands gripping your hips so hard that if you didn’t have healing abilities, you would’ve had bruises in the shape of his fingers for weeks.

You grinned at him, leaning down to kiss him as you reached down to stroke his cock, positioning yourself above it so you could sink down on him.

Suddenly, F.R.I.D.A.Y.’s voice rang through the overhead speakers, making you jump off his body and push him off your bed instinctively. He landed on his butt on the floor with a loud thump, groaning in pain.

“Ow! What the hell is wrong with you woman?!” he growled but you shushed him.

“Good morning, Tinkerbell, Captain Rogers is calling for a team meeting in fifteen minutes in the conference room,” said F.R.I.D.A.Y.

“Thanks F.R.I.D.A.Y.! I’ll be there soon!” you called out, dismissing the A.I.

You looked at Loki sitting on the floor, naked and still fully erect, rolling his eyes. You were glad that there were no cameras in everyone’s quarters, or else you would’ve been screwed, and not just by Loki.

You got off the bed, pulling the sheets with you as you ran to the bathroom. Loki followed behind you, leaning on the doorframe as you sat on the toilet to clean yourself up.

“Are you seriously going to leave me hanging?” he asked, pointing towards his very obvious erection.

“Sorry, Loki. We gotta be at the meeting in fifteen minutes, we don’t have time,” you replied, smiling apologetically as you finished cleaning up.

You went to the sink to wash your hands and brush your teeth, but Loki came up behind you, putting his veiny arms around your waist and pulling your hair to one side so he could kiss your neck gently.

“I only need ten minutes,” he muttered against your skin.

“Loki, we can’t. We’ll be late,” you replied, feeling your breath hitch.

“We won’t. Trust me,” he replied.

You gasped as you felt his teeth bite into a particularly sensitive spot on your neck. You felt your resolve waiver as he pressed his erection against your ass, and you pushed your hips back into him.

“Ten minutes,” you said, giving in as he grinned at you through the mirror.

You both ended up being fifteen minutes late to the meeting, taking the extra time to recover from the mind-numbing orgasms you both just experienced.

You made Loki come in five minutes after you did so as to not arouse suspicion. You murmured an apology as you took your seat next to Natasha, and then Loki walked in five minutes later, a proud smirk on his face and not a hint of remorse for being late as he took his seat next to Wanda. Natasha raised her perfectly manicured brow at you, which you shrugged off. You stole a glance at Loki who seemed perfectly composed, envious of how he seemed so unaffected when your legs still felt wobbly from your latest orgasm.

“As I was saying, S.H.I.E.L.D. discovered a group of mercenaries who traded weapons developed by HYDRA to high-profile clients. This includes businessmen, politicians and celebrities,” said Steve, looking at everyone seriously.

“Why would celebrities need HYDRA weapons?” you muttered underneath your breath.

“Probably as a keepsake. I know celebrities who collect weirder stuff,” Natasha whispered back, not taking her eyes off the screen behind Steve.

“We just received intel that there will be a major trade off happening in Lithuania, which is where most of us are going. We need all hands on deck if we’re going to stop them, especially since we’re missing some members,” Steve continued.

Tony was off somewhere with Pepper. Their relationship was somewhat strained due to Tony’s job as an Avenger, so they decided to take some time off to mend their relationship. Bruce was still missing, Thor was off world again, and Clint retired after Ultron, so the only people available were Steve, Natasha, Sam, Wanda, Vision, Loki and you.

Steve called Loki’s and your name out.

“I have a special mission for both of you. Apparently, a smaller tradeoff is happening right here in New York. It’s happening at a private party on the Upper East Side. You both need to go undercover as attendees. Stark has already secured an invitation and your aliases,” he said, handing out an invitation printed on a cream-colored card.

You picked it up and snorted at the names printed in navy blue ink.

Mr. Charles Rhodes and Mrs. Evelyn Rhodes.

“We’re going as a couple?” you asked, handing the invitation to Loki, who sat across from you.

“Husband and wife, to be exact. We need you to blend in with that elite society, so this should be the perfect disguise. Loki will be Charles Rhodes, C.E.O. of the Empire group of companies, which specializes in weapons trading. You will be his doting wife,” Steve replied, a sly smile forming on his handsome face.

You batted your eyelashes at Loki, who looked at you indifferently.

“Be nice to me, husband,” you teased.

“Oh, I’ll be nice alright,” he smirked.

You felt a blush creep upon your cheeks as you rolled your eyes and turned to Steve again.

“So, what’s the plan?” you asked.

“S.H.I.E.L.D. has already planted information that Charles Rhodes will be there. The mercenaries will probably approach Loki sometime during the night, to make an offer. Catch them in the act, and hand them over the agents who will be on standby outside the venue,” said Steve.

“Sounds simple enough,” said Loki, thumbing the corners of the invitation.

“Well then, Avengers. Suit up,” said Steve.

You and Loki had been provided a hotel suite right above the venue to make the whole story more believable. You watched as Loki strapped a dagger on his calf and another one on his forearm. He wore a black suit and a white shirt, complete with a bowtie, looking sharp as ever.

“Do you really need two daggers?” you asked, clasping a dangly, diamond earring on your left ear.

“I have more on me,” he simply replied, fixing his cufflinks.

You were wearing a strapless, off-white evening gown, looking very Upper East Side. Loki turned to you and let out a low growl.

“Oh my, are you sure we don’t have time for a little bit of fun?” he asked, his eyes darkening with desire.

You rolled your eyes and fixed your make-up in the large mirror, looking at him through it.

“Focus, Loki. We can’t screw this up,” you replied.

He walked towards you and wrapped his arms around your waist, brushing his nose against the side of your neck. You shivered, getting a slight deja vu of this morning’s activities.

“You look divine, pet,” he whispered, placing a gentle kiss against your neck.

You took a deep breath and closed your eyes, trying to tamper down your arousal so you wouldn’t just jump on him right there and then. You turned around in his arms and smiled up at him, placing your hands on his chest.

“Let’s go, husband,” you said teasingly.

“After you, my darling wife,” he replied with a grin.

You held onto Loki’s arm as you walked towards the entrance of the party, which was held in a ballroom at the hotel you and Loki were staying in. You both approached the burly man who looked at everyone with a frown. standing by the entrance and guarding it against any uninvited visitors.

“Good evening, good sir. Charles and Evelyn Rhodes,” said Loki, charm oozing out of every inch of him. Even the guard didn’t seem to be immune, as he immediately perked up and smiled at Loki.

“Right this way sir, ma’am,” the guard replied, gesturing towards the entrance of the party.

You both smiled at him and thanked him, walking into the ballroom. The guests were mingling with champagne flutes in their hands, and there was a string quartet playing classical renditions of pop songs at the corner of the hall. You scanned the crowd, looking for any suspicious faces.

“This seems lovely. Nothing like the festivities on Asgard, of course, but I could settle for this,” said Loki, plucking two champagne flutes off a tray carried by a passing waiter and offering one to you.

“Yeah, well, don’t have too much fun. We still have a mission to carry out,” you whispered, taking the flute and sipping on the champagne.

“Loosen up, my beloved, you look like you’re about to kill someone,” he whispered, resting a hand on the small of your back.

“Heads up,” you said as a group of couples approached you, the men talking to Loki while the women cornered you.

“Mrs. Rhodes, it’s such an honor to finally meet you. You and your husband are so elusive, so when we heard that you were coming to this party, we were all excited!” said a woman who smelled of strong perfume, making you instantly dizzy.

“Thank you. We just thought it was about time for us to expand our network, so this party seemed like the perfect place to do it,” you replied politely, hoping that they wouldn’t see through your fake smile and act.

The woman then introduced herself as Anne Russell, whose husband, Kurt Russell, owned a line of hotels all over the world. The other two were Lily Abrams, wife of business mogul Daniel Abrams, and Penelope Morgan, heir to the Morgan group of companies. They all addressed each other on a first-name basis, so you told them to call you Evelyn.

“We heard that you and your husband are close to Tony Stark. Tell us, why aren’t he and Virginia Potts here? Is he busy saving the world again?” asked Lily, tilting her head back, letting out a loud laugh.

“I’m sure he is, but last I heard, they’re both currently vacationing in the Bahamas,” you replied.

At least that wasn’t a lie. In the corner of your eye, you saw how Loki charmed their husbands effortlessly, making them laugh. You smiled to yourself, adoring how easy he carried himself in these situations.

“You and your husband truly look magnificent tonight, Evelyn. Tell me, how long have you two been married?” asked Penelope, fawning over you.

“Three. Four this fall,” you replied smoothly, repeating the facts you had read and memorized on your undercover alias profile.

“How wonderful. He seems absolutely smitten with you,” Penelope added, sighing wistfully as she looked at Loki.

“Does he?” you asked, amused.

You turned to Loki and his eyes locked with yours, startling you a little. He smiled at you and excused himself from the group of men before walking towards you.

“I’m sorry to interrupt ladies, but I’d really like to dance with my beautiful wife right now,” he said to the women, as you blushed.

The women squealed and shooed you away as Loki wrapped an arm around your waist, leading you to the dance floor. He placed his hands one hand on your hip while the other held your hand, so you placed your other hand on his shoulder as you both swayed to the gentle music.

“Aren’t you quite the charmer?” you teased, smiling up at him. Even in heels, he was still a head taller than you.

“Well, my charm seemed to have worked in our favor, darling. That git over there, Daniel Abrams, just told me he knows someone who might have an interesting business proposition, so he’s introducing us later,” the replied, looking at you softly as if he adored you. You gulped, ignoring the weird feeling that started to cloud over your heart.

“You think he’s one of the mercenaries?” you asked as he spun you and caught you back in his arms, your faces close to each other’s.

“Well, we’re about to find out, they’re approaching us right now,” he replied, glancing at your lips before Daniel Abrams called out his name.

“Mr. Rhodes! Mrs. Rhodes, a pleasure to meet you,” said Daniel Abrams, nodding at you politely, before turning back to Loki.

“This is Richard Wu. He’s the one I was telling you about,” he continued. Loki turned to you and smiled, leaning in to kiss your cheek.

“Excuse me darling, go ahead and have fun. I wouldn’t want to bore you with business matters,” he said as he let go of your waist and you nodded, smiling at him.

You walked towards the refreshments table, discreetly issuing a command for the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents outside to be on standby via your comms line. You picked up another flute of champagne and watched as Loki spoke to the men.

All seemed well until all of a sudden, a shot was fired into the crowd, ricocheting off the floor. A series of screams and shouts followed as you desperately tried to find the shooter, telling the agents outside about the situation.

You spotted a man in black clothing holding a sniper on the mezzanine floor trying to get away, so you quickly flew up to him, landing right in front of him.

“Hello!” you greeted cheerfully, before harnessing the wind to knock the gun out of his hands.

He quickly brandished a serrated knife, and you braced yourself as he started to swing the knife towards you. You fought him, kicking the knife out of his hands as you twisted his arm and pinned him to the ground. He groaned and quickly reached out for the knife. In a split second, he swung the knife at you and stabbed it into your rib and pulled it out, causing you to gasp in pain as you fell to the floor as you clutched your side.

Suddenly Loki was in front of you. He glanced at you for a second before turning towards the man, looking murderous. You were focused on healing the stab wound so you didn’t see what Loki did to him, but you heard a blood-curdling scream, so you turned to see the man cowering on the floor, Loki standing over him.

Loki didn’t even touch him, but the man looked as if he just greeted death right in the face.

Soon a bunch of agents appeared, taking the man away. Loki quickly crouched next to you, his hands trembling as you reached for your bloodied hands.

“I’m fine, Loki, I’m all healed,” you said, showing him your side, where the torn, bloodied dress exposed your skin, which was smooth and unhurt. There wasn’t even a scar.

He kept quiet as he pulled you on your feet, grasping your hands tightly. He simply pulled you away from the party, away from the crowd, the agents and into the elevator, and back to your suite.

He didn’t let you go the entire time, and the blood on your hand smearing on his. As you entered the suite, he promptly pulled you into the bathroom, stripped you naked and turned on the shower, shoving you into the shower stall before stripping himself and stepping in with you.

“Loki?” you asked slowly, as if approaching an injured animal. He simply took your hands and scrubbed the blood off, his expression solemn.

“Loki,” you repeated, once your hands were clean.

You cupped his face and forced him to look at you.

“Loki, it’s okay. I’m okay,” you said, rubbing your thumbs against his cheekbones.

You took one of his hands and put it where the stab wound was. He slowly rubbed the skin there, feeling for any injury or pain.

“See? I’m okay, Loki,” you repeated, and he finally locked eyes with yours.

He let out a shaky breath and rested his head on your shoulder, pulling you close against him as the warm water washed over your bodies.

“I… I don’t ever want to see you hurt,” he said slowly.

You wrapped your arms around him, nodding and kissing his hair.

“I know,” you replied.

He lifted his head and looked at you, his eyes vulnerable. You placed one hand on his nape and pulled him into a kiss, your tongue teasing the seam of his lips until he opened his mouth. Slowly, you kissed him, burying your hands in his hair as he pressed his body against yours, seemingly having a conversation without any words.

After the shower, you both dried off and wrapped yourselves in fluffy white robes, sitting at the mini-bar that was filled with top-shelf liquors. You brought out two shot glasses and a bottle of single-malt whiskey, sitting across him and pouring the dark liquid into the glasses.

You smiled at him, and clinked glasses with him before taking down the shot, cringing as it burned your throat.

“Eck, why do people even like this?” you hissed, glaring at the whiskey bottle.

Loki laughed and poured another shot for each of you. You both continued taking shots having idle conversation until your vision started to blur. You glanced at the bottle and noticed that three-quarters of the bottle was gone, but Loki seemed fine.

“Are you not drunk?” you slurred, struggling to keep your eyes open.

“Midgardian liquor is nothing compared to Asgardian mead, my dear,” he smiled, downing another shot.

“Hmmm… Perhaps one day you can bring a bottle down for me,” you replied, almost stumbling off the barstool. Loki quickly caught you by the waist, preventing you from falling flat on your face.

“Perhaps,” he replied, his face so close that your breaths mixed.

You looked into his eyes, then his mouth, before pressing your mouth to his, licking into his mouth. He tasted like the whiskey you had been drinking and something else that was sweet, something purely Loki.

Your hands slipped into the slit in his robe and roamed his chest, causing him to groan and pull away. You whined, chasing him but he turned his face away.

“You’re drunk, darling,” he said, running his fingers through your hair.

“So? I want you, I always want you,” you whispered, leaning in to kiss him again, but he avoided you.

“So I do not want to take advantage of you when your inhibitions are low,” he replied, holding you by the hips to make you stand up straight.

You snorted, clutching to his robe.

“But I want you to take advantage of me,” you slurred.

“Not like this, sweetheart,” he replied, smiling softly at you.

As if on cue, you felt all that alcohol coming back up your throat, so you dashed into the bathroom and hurled into the toilet. Moments later, you felt Loki brush your hair away, holding it out of your face so it wouldn’t get tainted with vomit.

After you were done, Loki helped you up, brushed your teeth and handed you a glass of water for you to drink, before carrying you to the bed.

You whined as he settled next to you, pulling the ties of his robe.

“Can I at least feel you while we sleep?” you asked, hands already roaming his body.

He sighed, giving in and taking his robe off and helping you get yours off before turning the lights off. He covered your bodies with the thick comforter, pulling you into his strong arms. You snuggled against him, nuzzling your face into the crook of his neck.

“Thank you,” you said quietly against his skin. He kissed your hair in reply.

“Goodnight, darling,” he said.

“Goodnight, Loki,” you whispered, slowly drifting off to sleep.

Chapter Text

The early morning light peeked through the closed curtains, hitting your face directly, stirring you awake from sleep. You slowly opened your eyes only to come face to face with Loki. He was still sound asleep, his breathing even and slow. You took in his features, his tall nose and thin lips, the little crow's feet by his eyes and the slight stubble on his lower face, his dark, unruly curls, trussed from sleep. Everything about him made your heart flutter. You were wrapped in his arms, legs so intertwined with his that it was difficult to tell where you began and where he ended. It was eerily reminiscent of the first time you had slept together, except this time, the feelings of horror have been replaced with fondness.

You ran a finger down his cheek and cupped his face with one hand, brushing your thumb against his cheekbone gently. He let out a low grumble and slowly opened his eyes, turning his head to place a soft kiss against your palm.

“How’s your hangover?” he asked, his voice still hoarse from sleep.

“I don’t get hangovers. Healing abilities, remember?” you replied, smiling at him.

He groaned and grabbed your hand in his, bringing it to his chest as he turned to lie on his back. You promptly climbed on top of him, leaning down to kiss him gently. His hands immediately buried themselves into your hair as he kissed you back, humming into the kiss. After a while, you pulled away and leaned your forehead against his.

“Thank you for taking care of me last night, Loki,” you whispered, brushing your nose against his. He smiled and ran his fingers down your back.

“I’ll always take care of you, darling,” he replied, before placing one hand on your nape to pull you into another kiss.

What started as gentle kisses soon grew more heated as you ground your hips down against his, feeling his cock start to harden against your stomach. Without breaking the kiss, you reached down to stroke him slowly, making him groan against your mouth. You pulled away to place kisses below his ear, down to his neck, leaving red marks on his pale skin. You continued to stroke him to full hardness, and he grabbed your wrist, stopping you.

“I want you,” he growled, bucking his hips into your hand.

“Me too,” you replied breathlessly.

You were already soaked as you positioned yourself above him, rubbing the blunt tip of his cock against your clit. Slowly, you sank down onto him, earning a gasp from both of you as he entered you fully. You leaned down to kiss him as you moved your hips.

“God, Loki, you feel so good,” you moaned as you pulled away from the kiss, burying your face in his right shoulder.

“Mhmm… As do you, pet,” he murmured, placing soft kisses against your neck.

His hands held onto your hips tightly as he guided you over his cock, keeping a slow, sensuous pace. You lifted yourself look at him and he quickly attached his mouth to your breasts, licking and sucking on your nipples as you gripped his shoulders. It wasn’t long until you both reached your highs, cumming together and moaning each other’s names. You continued to move over him slowly, riding out both your orgasms until you finally came to a stop, resting your forehead on his. You both looked into each other's eyes, breathing heavily.

You felt your heart flutter again, and this time, when dawned on you again of the gravity of your feelings for him, you didn’t feel as terrified anymore.

You and Loki returned to the Avengers’ compound late afternoon and immediately debriefed the rest of the team. They managed to snatch the mercenaries in Lithuania, and you gave the report on how it went down in New York.

Apparently one of the mercenaries recognized Loki at the party, so he fired into the crowd, hoping to hit his partner to save himself. Fortunately, he was a terrible shot, so not only did he miss and managed to get both himself and his partner caught, but he also inadvertently leaked the list of high-profile names who owned HYDRA weapons to S.H.I.E.L.D. All in all, the mission was completed successfully, but you were required to write a report on your injury, despite having healed yourself.

You stayed in the conference room, sighing as you filled in the paperwork when Nat sat across from you. You looked up at her and she was staring at you suspiciously.

“What?” you asked, kind of annoyed since you just wanted to complete the paperwork and take a long nap.

“What’s going on between you and Loki?” she asked bluntly. You tensed.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” you replied, looking back down at your paperwork.

“I know you’ve been sleeping together. I don’t know when it began, but I’m assuming it started after that party. That’s why you broke up with Nate, right?” she replied, crossing her arms.

You sighed and leaned back in your seat. You suppose you should’ve known better than to hide anything from her - she always found out anyway.

“Nothing is going on. What we’re doing is purely physical. It’s just a way of blowing off some steam,” you replied, fumbling with the pen in your hand.

“Are you sure there are no feelings involved?” she raised her eyebrow.

“No. None,” you lied. “He’s made it very clear that we’re just friends. He doesn’t have feelings for me,” you continued.

“But do you have feelings for him?” she asked.

You stayed silent. You’ve barely managed to admit it to yourself, so the idea of saying it out loud was intimidating to say the least. Natasha stood up and sighed, walking towards you and patting your shoulder.

“Even a blind man can see that you do, sweetheart. My advice is for you to end it before you get seriously hurt,” she said, squeezing your shoulder and leaving the conference room.

You took a deep breath and let it out. You knew Natasha’s advice had merit in it, but you didn’t want to end things with Loki. You enjoyed spending time with him intimately and you never wanted to lose that.

So you decided to just keep quiet.

You had been stressed all week. For some reason, Steve had put you in charge of a bunch of paperwork, drowning you in endless reports. You also had to deal with your feelings for Loki, which only served to amplify your stress.

It was a bright afternoon, and you were in the middle of filing a report when Loki suddenly appeared behind you, startling you.

“What the fuck, Loki, you have got to stop doing that!” you scolded. He chuckled and kissed your cheek.

“Sorry darling. Are you busy?” he asked, his eyes gleaming with mischief or excitement, you couldn’t tell.

“I am. What do you want?” you replied, motioning to the stack of papers in your arms.

He rolled his eyes and grabbed the papers, quickly sorting through them and putting them into the appropriate files. He was surprisingly efficient when he wanted to be. He finished filing the report and turned to you, spreading his arms with a grin.

“Ta-dah! You’re not busy anymore,” he exclaimed. You raised an eyebrow at him.

“And you still haven’t told me what you want. If you want sex, you’ll have to wait until tonight, I am not -”

“It’s not sex! I’d like to bring you somewhere,” he interrupted with a smirk.

“To kill me?” you asked.

“With kindness,” he replied.

You chuckled, leaning against one of the bookshelves.

“Where are you taking me then, mischief?” you asked.

“It’s a surprise. I promise you’ll like it,” he replied, taking your hand, kissing it and pulling you out of the room.

You sighed and followed him out into the yard. Once there, he turned to you and grinned, before grabbing your waist and pulling you close.

“Loki?” you asked, startled, worried that someone might see you.

He shushed you, and suddenly a warm, green glow enveloped you, prompting you to close your eyes on instinct. When you opened your eyes, you noticed that your surroundings have changed. You were suddenly in a meadow. You were surrounded by purple, white and blue flowers, and somewhere in the distance, you could hear water running through a stream and birds chirping happily. There were remnants of some kind of structure, but it has been overtaken by vines and other plants that seemed to thrive here.

You felt Loki let go of you and you turned, absorbing your surroundings.

“Where are we?” you asked, in absolute awe.

“We’re in Norway,” he replied. You immediately turned back to him.

“What? How?” you asked, eyes wide.

“I am a Master Sorcerer, my dear Fae. This is nothing compared to what I can actually do,” he said smugly. You rolled your eyes at him.

“Yeah, but how did you find this place?” you asked, still stunned by the change in environment.

“Centuries ago, there was a group of Midgardians in Norway that worshiped deities like myself. This used to be one of their places of worship. I used to visit occasionally, back when this place was still a temple. It has been long gone, and nature has overtaken it, but I still come here to reminisce,” he replied wistfully.

“It’s beautiful,” you paused, looking at him. “It suits you,” you continued.

He looked at you and smiled, holding out his hand towards you.

“Come. I’d like to show you my favorite spot to relax,” he said.

You laced your fingers through his and followed him as he took you deeper into the meadow. After a while, you arrived at a clearing where there was already a blanket set on the ground, with an assortment of cheese, crackers and berries, along with two glasses and a bottle of wine.

“Ooh, God of Mischief, I didn’t know you could be so romantic,” you teased as you both sat down on the blanket.

“You’d be surprised at my romancing skills, darling. People, no matter what their races or origins, used to woo at my feet,” he smirked, popping the bottle of wine open and pouring it into the glasses before handing one to you.

“Figures, you were a prince. I bet there were a lot of princesses or other princes you dallied with in the past,” you replied, hoping that he couldn’t detect the hint of jealousy in your voice.

“None of them hold a flame to you, my darling,” he replied smoothly, clinking his glass against yours.

You felt your heart skip a beat, but you rolled your eyes at him, hoping it would conceal your slightly flushed cheeks, and sipped on your wine.

“Silvertongue,” you muttered.

“Well, you certainly are very well acquainted with my tongue,” he replied teasingly, making you sputter and cough.

He snickered, and you hit his arm, glaring at him. As a peace offering, he offered a strawberry to you, pressing it against your lips. You stared at him before taking a bite of it, feeling a wave of arousal rush through you when you saw how his eyes darkened. You grabbed the strawberry from him and finished it, trying to shrug it off.

“So, why’d you bring me here?” you asked, looking towards the endless field of flowers.

“No reason. Thought it’d be nice to spend time with you outside the compound, that’s all,” he replied, shrugging nonchalantly.

You both sat in comfortable silence, sipping on wine and munching on the food. After a while, you broke the silence, turning to him.

“Are you happy, Loki?” you asked. He chuckled.

“Are you having an existential crisis?” he asked back. You laughed with him.

“No, I’m serious. I want to know. Are you happy?” you asked again, looking at him earnestly.

He turned to you and locked eyes with you before smiling softly.

“I am,” he finally said.

You smiled at him as you felt his pinky finger hooked around yours.

“All my life, I’ve always been on the outside. Always living in the shadow of my brother. Always the bad guy,” he said quietly.

“You’re not a bad guy, Loki. Sure, you’ve done some really questionable shit, you’re mischievous and complex and intense and misunderstood and infuriating at best, but you’re not evil,” you replied, trailing your fingers across the back of his hand.

“That feels a little back-handed,” he chuckled, looking down at your hands.

You simply grinned at him, the sound of his laughter making your heart flutter.

“All I’m saying is that I’ve always felt like I was second to everything, I was extremely discontent and dissatisfied - always wanting more. But for the first time in my life, I’m okay with that,” he paused, intertwining his fingers with yours, before looking back at you.

“So, to answer your question, yes, my sweetness. I am happy,” he continued, squeezing your hand.

You stared at him, admiring him when all of a sudden, the gravity of your feelings for him weighed on your heart and mind. You knew it - you’ve always known it in the back of your mind, but even so the idea of it was extremely jarring. You love him.

You love Loki Laufeyson.

You took a deep breath and climbed onto his lap, where he instinctively wrapped his arms around your waist. You connected your forehead with his and closed your eyes, simply relishing the proximity to him.

“I’m happy that you’re happy, Loki,” you whispered.

“I’m happy that you’re happy that I’m happy,” he grinned.

He pulled you into a deep kiss, burying his hands in your hair. You gladly kissed him back, deepening the kiss as you pressed your body closer to his.

You have kissed him numerous times ever since you began this relationship with him, but this one felt different. For some reason, this one felt more meaningful than all the other kisses you shared - you didn’t know if it was due to the fact that you finally admitted it to yourself that you loved him, or the fact that he was kissing you like he loved you too. Either way, you never wanted to stop.

Alas, you still needed air to breathe, so when you pulled away to take a gulp of air, he pressed his lips against your neck, flipping you over so you were laying on your back against the blanket. You pulled him back up to kiss him again, and he kissed you like you’ve never been kissed before - the kind of kiss that left you breathless and wanting more.

“Loki,” you gasped as he ran his hands down your body.

“You’re perfect, my darling. Absolutely perfect,” he muttered, kissing you again.

You buried your hands in his inky black air as you rolled your hips against his, making him groan. You felt a warm glow run over you and suddenly both of you were bare, skin against skin.

He kissed down your collarbones down to your chest, taking your left nipple into his mouth and teasing it with his tongue. You moaned as his teeth grazed your nipple, and once he was satisfied, he moved on to the right one. You writhed beneath him, and he whispered soft praises against your skin, making you feel like you were the most beautiful woman to ever live.

He kissed down your stomach, taking small bites and making you whine, before placing a soft kiss right on your mound. He looked up at you and gently spread your legs open, letting out a low rumble from his chest as you revealed your soaked cunt to him.

“I am the luckiest man in the universe,” he murmured to himself as he lavished the insides of your thighs with soft kisses and kitten licks. “You are absolutely beautiful, and all mine,” he growled, making goosebumps appear on your skin.

“I am yours,” you said breathlessly, running your fingers through his hair. “I am yours, Loki. If you’ll have me,” you confessed.

He paused, locking his eyes with yours. For a moment, it seemed like he wanted to say something, but he ultimately decided against it as he dove between your legs, licking a wide stripe up from your sopping hole up to your clit, making you gasp loudly.

“You are mine,” he repeated, before flicking his tongue against your clit at a rapid pace, making you buck your hips against his face.

“Loki!” you screamed, tugging at his hair as pleasure flooded every inch of your body.

He slowly inserted two fingers inside you, immediately finding that sensitive spot inside you and massaging them against it as he sucked on your clit. You arched your back, quickly spiraling towards your climax as he pressed your hips down with one arm, never stopping his assault on your core. It only took mere seconds for you to cum against his face, making him groan as he gradually slowed down his ministrations, before finally pulling away and kissing your thighs gently.

You stared at his glistening lips in a daze, and he immediately climbed on top of you, barely giving you a moment of respite. He brushed his lips against yours, brushing some hair out of your face affectionately.

“All mine,” he whispered against your mouth.

You nodded, tears forming at the corner of your eyes from the intensity of the orgasm. He kissed you gently as he aligned his cock with your hole before slowly pushing in, moaning into the kiss. You shivered as he entered you, still sensitive from your previous orgasm as your walls wrapped around his hot member.

“You feel so good. So perfect, so divine, and all mine,” he whispered again as he started moving his hips slowly. He caressed your face reverently, looking at you like you were the center of his universe.

“I’m yours,” you moaned, nuzzling your cheek into his palm. “Loki, I’m yours,”

“Yes, you are. I adore you, I’m absolutely infatuated with you,” he replied, placing soft kisses all over your face.

Love bloomed in your heart, like the flowers that surrounded you in the meadow. You couldn’t help yourself. You loved him.

“Loki, I -”

“I know,” he interrupted, moving his hips faster, making you moan louder.

“I have to tell you,” you said in between moans, your nails digging into his back.

“I know,” he repeated.

You both were quickly hurtling towards your climaxes as he started thrusting harder and faster into you. You felt your walls clench around his twitching cock, and it wasn’t long before you felt the precipice of your second orgasm started to form.

“Loki,” you moaned, cupping his face.

He looked into your eyes, breathing heavily as he chased his own orgasm. Tears falling from your eyes, you decided that if you didn’t tell him now, you would probably die.

“Loki, I love you,” you gasped as your orgasm finally washed over you.

He groaned as he found his release, spurting his thick, hot load inside of you. He continued to thrust in and out of you slowly, riding out both your orgasms before collapsing onto you, placing kisses all over your neck and shoulders. You wrapped your arms tightly around him, reeling in your feelings.

“I love you,” you repeated breathlessly.

He hummed and continued to shower you with kisses. You felt your eyes slowly grow heavier, and the last thing you remember was Loki placing a soft kiss against your mouth before sleep engulfed you.

When you woke up, you were alone in your bed, inside your quarters, at the Avengers’ compound, fully dressed. There was an unsettling stillness in the air, a dread that began in your heart and spread like poisonous vines all over your entire body.

You quickly jumped off the bed, sprinting towards Loki’s quarters. You rushed into his living space, only to find that it had been restored to the default apartment setting every Avenger who lived here would be first greeted with. You frantically looked around for him, for any trace of him, but gone were the extravagant paintings and tapestries that used to line the walls, and the little trinkets he neatly arranged on the shelves. Even his books were no longer here.

You fell onto your knees, running through and replaying every interaction you have ever had with him in your head. As that dread started to spiral into panic, you began hyperventilating. You didn’t know how long you sat there on the floor, head buried in your hands as you desperately tried to make sense of what had happened. You heard someone wail, not realizing it was coming from you.

You could barely feel Natasha’s arms wrapping around you, yelling for help and whispering soft, comforting words into your ears. All you could focus on was the high-pitched ringing in your ear, and the sound of your own voice telling Loki that you loved him.

You told him you loved him, and he left, taking your heart with him.

Chapter Text

Natasha had led you back to your quarters, settled you into bed and laid next to you, running her fingers through your hair comfortingly. You couldn’t stop sobbing, couldn’t stop replaying your last moments with Loki, and she stayed until you had calmed down, not even saying a word. After a while, your sobs turning into small hiccups.

“Are you going to tell me ‘I told you so’?” you asked quietly, not meeting her eyes.

“Of course not, solnyshko. I’m here because I care about you,” she replied, cupping your cheek, prompting you to look at her.

“But you were right,” you said, your eyes watering again. Her brows furrowed.

“What happened between you and Loki?” she asked.

“He was kind and sweet to me, and I was stupid enough to believe that he had feelings for me too. I told him I loved him, then he left,” you muttered.

“You are not stupid,” said Natasha, wiping your tears away with her thumb.

“But he’s still gone,” you paused, letting out a stuttered breath. "I don’t know how to breathe without him,”

Suddenly there was a knock on your door, and you turned to see Pepper and Tony standing in your doorway, looking concerned. Suddenly sobs wrecked your body again and you jumped off the bed and ran into Pepper’s arms, crying into her shoulder.

“Oh sweetie,” she cooed, holding you tightly.

Natasha took that as a cue for her to leave, so she did so silently, exchanging knowing looks with Tony.

“You’ll be alright, kid. You don’t need that greasy, self-centered, cats-for-brains god-of-whatever anyway. You have us. We’re a team, remember?” said Tony, patting your back in a poor attempt to comfort you.

“Yeah? Then why do I feel the loneliest I’ve ever been right now?” you asked through sobs.

“I’m gonna kill him,” Tony muttered.

You were in the cave again. The men were leering at you with perverse grins as you tried your best to cover your body. Your face was swollen, but you could feel your body mending itself, albeit slowly, as you were running out of energy.

“Please… stop…” you begged, your voice hoarse from crying and screaming.

“Why should we stop? It won’t hurt you, you can heal yourself,” said one of the men, followed by a chorus of roaring laughter behind him.

“I… I can’t… No energy…” you breathed out, only to be met by another round of thunderous laughter.

Suddenly a familiar, comforting voice appeared behind the men, and they parted to reveal Loki leaning against the cave walls across from you.

“My darling, little Fae…” he smirked.

“Loki?” you perked up, your vision blurry due to the tears that spilled non-stop.

“Look at you. Even when you’re all dirty and worn, you’re beautiful. Perfect,” he said, walking towards you.

“Loki, please, you have to save me!” you begged, crawling towards him as he crouched before you.

He smiled, putting his hand under your chin, looking at you in the gentle way he always had.

“Please,” you sobbed. “Please, Loki. I love you,” you exclaimed.

“I know,” he replied, caressing your face, before standing up, turning around.

“No! Loki, no! Please don’t leave me!” you screamed.

You watched him walking out the door as the other men continued laughing, surrounding you again. You screamed and begged for him to come back, but he never did.

“No!” you screamed, sitting up in bed, cold sweat running down your nape, startling Pepper, who slept next to you.

“Honey, what’s wrong?” she asked, putting one arm around your shoulders while the other hand smoothed your hair.

You willed your breathing to go back to normal, pressing the heels of your palms to your eyes.

“I’m sorry. It was just a nightmare,” you muttered as soon as you calmed down.

Pepper kept quiet, holding you and offering you silent comfort. It had been two weeks since Loki left. You had gotten so used to him sleeping next to you that you were unable to sleep alone anymore. When Pepper offered to sleep with you to keep you company, you refused at first, but she insisted, and you were so, so tired. You really needed sleep.

It was fine for the first few nights, but then your nightmares returned in full force. Only this time, it was a thousand times worse because it always ended with Loki leaving you.

“I’m sorry, Pepper. Go back to sleep,” you said.

“Are you sure? Do you want a cup of tea or something?” she asked, still patting your head like you were a child.

“Yeah, I’m fine. You have work tomorrow, go back to sleep,” you replied, trying to smile.

She sighed and hesitantly nodded, before laying back down. You could tell that she was as exhausted as you were, if not more. You laid back down as well, curling up and facing her, looking at her apologetically.

“Please consider coming back with me and Tony,” she said quietly.

They had both proposed the idea of you going back to their home in the Hamptons, which was set by a large lake away from the compound, but close enough that you would be able to go back to the compound if needed.

“What if he comes back?” you asked, feeling like a fool.

Pepper sighed again, brushing some hair out of your face.

“Alright. Go back to sleep, sweetie,” she said.

You choked back another sob, closing your eyes and trying to fall back asleep. You missed Loki so, so much that every inch of your body hurt. You knew that you were probably stupid to believe that he’d come back, but a part of you held on to the hope that if he even had an ounce of appreciation for your friendship, he’d at least return to give you an explanation, even if he didn't feel the same way as you did.

A few days later, Thor arrived at the compound through the Bifrost, and you had excitedly run into the yard, hoping to see Loki with him, only to be met with disappointment.

“Could you at least try to look less disappointed?” asked Thor jokingly.

You smiled half-heartedly, walking towards him to give him a hug.

“Sorry, I really thought you were…”

“Yes. That’s why I’ve returned. I’d like to speak with you regarding my brother,” he interrupted, his expression turning somber. You took in a sharp breath.

“Yes, of course. Let’s go inside,” you said, leading him into the facility and to one of the common areas.

You curled up on one of the loveseats, tucking your legs close to your body as if trying to shield yourself from an attack. You felt lost and scared, and your heart hurt so much that you felt like the world was ending.

Perhaps that was a little bit petulant and dramatic, but it was true. For some reason, the world seemed slightly duller now that Loki wasn’t by your side.

Thor sat across from you and gave you a sympathetic smile. It annoyed you, but you bit your tongue lest you lashed out at him simply for being kind.

“Where is he?” you asked quietly, picking at the sides of your nails in a nervous gesture.

“Before I get to that, how have you been? No offense but you look terrible,” he replied, probably trying to lighten the mood. You snorted.

“I feel terrible, Thor. Where is Loki?” you asked, wanting to get straight to the point.

Thor took in a deep breath and gave you that sympathetic smile again. You tried your best not to jump on him so you could slap that expression off his handsome face.

“Loki has returned to Asgard. Since this means that he broke the terms of his banishment, it was considered treason, so the All-father had commanded for him to be imprisoned,” he replied somberly. You gasped.

“For how long?” you asked.

“I’m not sure. The only reason he was not sentenced to death was because father seemed to still have mercy over him,” he replied.

You scoffed. From what Loki had told you about Odin, you doubted that it was mercy that kept him from killing Loki. You swallowed a lump in your throat, one that threatened to make your tears fall.

“And he went willingly?” you asked, clenching your fists.

“Yes. And I need to know why,” he said.

“What do you mean why? He’d rather be imprisoned than be with me, that’s why,” you spat out, resentment filling your veins.

Thor gently called out your name.

“I know that you and my brother had an… arrangement together,” said Thor, his cheeks turning the lightest shade of red. “But I thought things were going well. He seemed the happiest I had ever seen him,” he continued.

You felt your cheeks burn. So Thor had known about your secret little scurrilous relationship with Loki. Loki must have told him, or Thor must have noticed it on his own, just like Natasha noticed it with you.

“I thought things were going great too,” you paused, trying to steady your voice so you wouldn’t burst into tears in front of Thor. “He was affectionate and sweet with me, he acted like he cared about me, so I thought he felt the same,” you continued.

Thor kept quiet, listening to you intently. You avoided eye-contact with him, afraid that if you saw that soft, kind, empathetic gaze, you would combust in the most pathetic, pitiful way.

“I told him I loved him. Because I do, I do love him. I told him I loved him, and he kissed me like he felt the same, he made me feel so important and beautiful that I kept telling him that I loved him. And he told me he knew,” you said, unable to stop the dam of tears that streamed down your cheeks.

“He had brought me out to this beautiful little meadow in Norway. Apparently, it used to be one of his worship sites in the past,” you said in between hiccups.

“He brought you to Lokabrenna?” asked Thor, his eyes wide in shock.

“I don’t know what it’s called,” you replied.

He nodded, bringing his hand to his mouth, covering it, as if he accidentally blurted out a secret.

“Anyway, that’s what happened. I told him I loved him, and then he left me so he could be imprisoned in a faraway world,” you deadpanned, wiping your tears away.

Thor stood up, walking towards you and pulling you up to stand, then suddenly pulled you into his huge arms and held you tightly. For a moment you froze in shock, but then you relaxed and cried into his chest, hugging him back. You both stood there for a while, holding each other as you sobbed, and he gently rubbed your back comfortingly.

You needed this. Even though it still felt like Loki had ripped your heart out of your chest and stomped on it without any regard of how you felt, Thor’s embrace gave you a sense of comfort and you felt slightly better.

After a while, you pulled away, sniffling.

“Thanks Thor. For telling me and the hug,” you said, smiling softly at him. He stroked your hair gently.

“It is not trouble, Lady Tinkerbell. For what it’s worth, I think Loki does feel the same way about you. Perhaps he’s just a little stupid. A lot stupid, even” he said.

“Perhaps he is,” you laughed slightly, feeling your heart lighten a little bit.

You decided to take some time away from the compound. You took Pepper’s suggestion to go back to their house in the Hamptons and took some time to nurse your broken heart. You liked this house. It was a far cry from Tony's old mansion in California - it was a simple cottage that had room for all three of you and perhaps a little more if they choose so.

After Thor’s visit, you realized that it might take a while for you to get over Loki. There was also a very real possibility that you never will, but this felt a little bit like closure, even if it formed fresh new wounds on your heart to admit it.

But then again, you have always been good at healing yourself.

April.

May.

June.

July.

August.

September.

You finally knew what Bella Swan felt like when Edward Cullen left her in the second instalment of that insipid vampire romance series, Twilight.

But six months had passed since that fateful spring day where you told Loki you loved him and he responded by abandoning your pitiful ass alone and haunted, breaking the terms of his banishment and getting himself imprisoned for an indefinite amount of time.

You scoffed. You couldn’t believe that you were comparing yourself to Bella Swan of Twilight, out of all things.

In the first few months, all you did was mope around. You spoke only when necessary, barely ate and just rotted in bed in Tony and Pepper’s little cottage. By the end of the second month, you had lost a significant amount of weight, so Tony dragged your ass to therapy so you could learn how to manage your emotions better.

It was his way to show that he cared, and even though you hated him for it initially, you ended up appreciating the sentiment. You still haven’t told neither him nor Pepper regarding the nature and extent of your relationship with Loki, but you had a feeling that they had an inkling of what it was like. You were also thankful that despite Tony’s hostility towards Loki, he didn’t say anything beyond the occasional name-calling.

Therapy helped a little, you supposed. It gave you an outlet to vent and make sense of what happened. Your therapist, a middle-aged, spectacled woman who looked like she had dealt with a lot of people’s shit, listened intently as you described your interactions with Loki, not a hint of judgment on her withered face. She encouraged you to simply feel the weight of your grief and deal with the aftermath of your disastrous confession, but after four months, all you felt towards Loki was anger.

How could he just abandon you? Weren’t you friends, at the very least? He could’ve simply spoken to you if he didn’t feel the same way. You would’ve understood. He didn’t have to go back to Asgard and get his stupid ass thrown in prison. What a dick move.

You took a deep breath, sitting on the porch of Tony and Pepper’s porch. It was late afternoon, the air was starting to cool, and the leaves were starting to change colors. Summer was finally bidding goodbye, and the precipices of fall were beginning to show. You were thankful for the respite from the summer heat, but a part of you stayed in melancholy as you watched the seasons change.

Two seasons had passed without Loki.

You missed him. Despite your anger, despite his infuriating nature, you could not help but miss him. If not the sex, you missed his presence. You missed your best friend.

Shrugging it off, you tried to focus on techniques your therapist had taught you to avoid plunging yourself into a panic attack.

At least you were eating. At least your nightmares didn’t plague you as frequently anymore. At least you had Tony and Pepper, and Natasha, whenever you visited the compound.

At least, despite feeling like your soul had been ripped into numerous pieces, you were alive.

You could survive this. You repeated this mantra repeatedly in your head, willing yourself to believe it.

Suddenly Tony burst through the door, looking panicked. You looked at him in shock, confused as to what caused his outburst.

“Did Pepper catch you doing something you shouldn’t be doing again?” you asked dryly, raising your eyebrow at him.

“No. But you need to come with me,” he replied, grabbing his car keys and heading towards his Dodge Viper, parked inside the garage next to the porch, motioning for you to follow him.

You sighed, knowing better than to question his antics and silently sat in the passenger seat as he started the car.

“Where are we going?” you asked.

“The Compound. Romanoff needs to talk to you,” he answered, his voice clipped.

“Couldn’t she just call me?” you muttered, looking out the window as Tony sped out of Long Island towards the outskirts of New York.

“I think she needs to tell you this in person, kid,” he replied.

Your brows furrowed at his vague answers, but you weren’t in the mood to ask any more questions which would only lead to more questions.

You sat in silence as Tony drove, and after a while, you arrived at the compound. Tony stopped his car right in front of the lobby, where Steve and Natasha were already waiting. You made to exit the car, but Tony stopped you.

“Listen. Whatever happens, remember what your therapist said. ‘Feel the weight of your grief’ and all that shit. And remember that Pepper and I love you,” he said, in the neurotic way he always spoke when he was on the verge of panicking.

“You’re scaring me,” you replied, looking at him cautiously.

“Let’s go,” he replied, patting your shoulder and exiting the car.

You eyed him suspiciously as you followed him out of the car, walking towards Steve and Nat. Nat immediately pulled you into a hug, asking how you’ve been.

“I’m okay. What the hell is this? Tony said you needed to talk to me?” you asked, pulling out of her embrace.

“It isn’t much of a talk more than a show kind of thing,” she replied, avoiding eye contact.

When you raised your eyebrow at her, she sighed.

“Follow me,” she said.

You followed her, Tony and Steve trailing behind you as they began whispering to each other. You began to feel your annoyance rise, but you huffed silently, wondering why everyone was being so secretive.

Natasha led you towards the gyms, and to your surprise, Thor was standing in front of the closed gym doors, beaming and waving as he spotted you. Natasha suddenly turned around and looked at you with a serious expression, placing her hands on your shoulders.

“Listen. Whatever happens in there, remember that I am on your side. I will always be on your side, you’re always right, everybody else is stupid and wrong,” she said, squeezing your shoulders.

“Okay, what the fuck is going on? Why are all of you being so fucking weird? Am I dying?” you finally asked, your irritability finally reaching its peak.

“Please see for yourself, Lady Tinkerbell,” Thor replied, opening the gym doors for you.

You glared at him but walked into the gym anyway, a bit cautious because you somehow had a feeling that something was going to jump at you and kill you.

At first, you saw that nothing was out of place. The gym still smelled like sweat and rubber, and all the equipment were neatly arranged at its respective spots.

But then you spotted it. The one thing that was out of place. It stood out like a sore thumb, standing in the middle of the gym like a flagpole.

Except this flagpole was shaped like a man, or a god, and it wore green, black and gold.

Chapter Text

You stared at Loki, who looked at you with sad eyes that made you want to kiss the living hell out of him. He called out your name, his voice gentle and almost reverent, and your heart bloomed with affection. You slowly walked towards him until you stood directly in front of him. You could feel the warmth of his body as you reached up to cup his left cheek gently. Loki closed his eyes and leaned into your touch, putting his hand over yours. He said your name again, so softly it was barely a whisper, then suddenly all that affection turned into white, hot, blinding rage when you remembered that he left you after you told him you loved him.

You threw a punch against his pretty face, and he fell to the ground, eyes wide in shock as a bruise started to blossom on his cheek. You threw him against the wall with a ball of wind energy, glaring at him with murderous eyes. He called out your name again, putting both his hands up in surrender.

“Darling, I can explain,” he said.

“Don't call me that! Explain what?! How you left me high and dry when I exposed my most vulnerable moment to you? How you broke my heart? How you shattered me?” you growled, your hands heating up and ready to blast him with a fireball.

“Well, if you put it that way, I can’t really explain myself, but…”

You didn’t let him finish, throwing numerous fire-blasts towards him that he irritatingly avoided with ease.

“Sweetheart, please, if you could just stop for a moment and let me talk…” he pleaded, but you ignored him and threw icicles at him, which he managed to shatter using his magic.

“I don’t want to hear a word you say, you liar!” you shouted.

Somewhere behind you, you heard Steve ask if they should interfere, but then Tony told him to let you and Loki be. You barely noticed them walking away from the gym as you continued to attack Loki, and he continued to avoid your blows.

Your anger just grew every time he deflected your attacks, so you increased your power tenfold, making him struggle a bit more. He kept pleading for you to stop, calling out to you pathetically. You couldn’t see beyond your fury, beyond your hurt. Your clothes were burnt and dirty from soot, but you didn’t stop your attacks, even as you feel your energy levels drop rapidly.

Suddenly he appeared right in front of you, wrapping his arms around you and trapping you. You struggled in his arms, trying your best to escape his clutches. You only stopped when he shouted your name in your face, making you freeze in shock. You glared at him, breathing heavily as exhaustion started to flood your veins.

“You don’t deserve me,” you growled.

“I agree. I don’t,” he replied.

“You lied to me. Betrayed me,” you added.

“I did,” he replied, looking like he was about to burst into tears.

“You broke my heart!” you exclaimed, not even realizing that tears were already streaming down your face.

“I know. Darling, I know,” he said, finally letting his own tears fall.

You let out a huge sob before slumping against him, crying so hard that your head began to hurt. He held you tighter, crying with you as he murmured apologies into your hair. You stole a glance at your surroundings. You had practically destroyed the gym, but suddenly your anger felt like it didn’t matter anymore. Not when you were finally back in Loki’s arms.

“Loki… I told you I loved you and you left me,” you said sadly, sobbing against his shoulder.

You heard him let out his own sob, holding you tighter against him.

“I know, my love. I am so sorry. I am here now,” he replied.

You didn’t know how long you stood there in the wrecked gym, crying in each other’s embrace. Suddenly, you felt yourself being lifted effortlessly into his arms, but you didn’t even bother struggling now. You kept crying, even as Loki carried you through the halls – gaining odd glances from the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents who worked in the compound – into what used to be his quarters, and onto what used to be his bed.

You cried even as he laid beside you, pressing kisses all over your face, licking your tears away. You kept crying even as he pulled you against his chest, stroking your back gently, murmuring apologies into your hair repeatedly. You cried until you couldn’t anymore, until you ran out of tears, remnants of it clinging to your lashes as you fell asleep in his arms, listening to his soft, murmured apologies.

You woke up the most rested you had ever been in months, albeit slightly disoriented. Loki still had his arms wrapped around your body, and he was stroking your hair gently. You looked up at him, a mixture of relief and regret creeping into your heart when you saw the cuts and bruises you had caused when you attacked him earlier. You slowly cupped his face and healed all his injuries, and he closed his eyes in appreciation.

“What time is it?” you asked, once you finished healing him, your voice still hoarse from slumber.

“It's barely past six o’ clock in the morning,” he replied.

You hummed in response, but didn’t say anything else. You nuzzled your face back into the crook of his neck, breathing in his scent deeply, afraid that you would suddenly wake up, and this would all just be a dream. You both laid in comfortable silence, only the sounds of your soft breaths and the hum of the air-conditioner filling the room. He buried one hand in your hair and his other arm wrapped tightly around you. After a while, you looked back at him.

“You’re really here,” you said, your voice barely a whisper, as if you were afraid that a loud sudden noise would make him disappear.

“I am,” he said, scratching at your scalp gently.

“So why’d you leave?” you asked, not meeting his eyes, instead toying with the collar of his tunic.

He let out a deep sigh. You were afraid of his answer. You were afraid that he’d tell you that he left because he didn’t feel the same as you did, and that he only came back to end things cleanly. You were afraid to lose him again. You didn’t think you’d survive it the second time around.

He pulled back slightly, brought your hand to his mouth and kissed your knuckles before sitting up, leaning against the headboard of the bed. You mimicked his position, finally gathering the guts to look at him properly. He looked tired, despite having just woken up from sleep. You had half the heart to tell him to go back to sleep, that you could continue this conversation for another day, but you knew that if neither of you laid all your cards on the table now, nothing would be resolved.

“You told me you loved me. Does that still ring true, even today?” he asked wearily.

“Well, my answer probably depends on why you left me,” you replied, glaring at him. He chuckled and kissed your knuckles again.

“I left because I felt like I didn’t deserve you – I still don’t,” he said quietly, pausing to take a deep, stuttered breath, as if saying it out loud made his entire body hurt. “I left, because I didn’t trust myself to not hurt you, just like I’ve hurt so many others who cared for me before,” he continued.

“But you hurt me by leaving, Loki,” you said, looking down at your intertwined fingers.

“I know, but at the time, I would rather hurt you by making you hate me than hurt you because I loved you too much,” he said. You felt your heart jump at his little confession, but you didn’t say anything.

“I knew from the moment I met you that you would be a force to be reckoned with. My dearest, beautiful Fae. I did everything I could to not fall for you, I convinced myself that we were better off as friends, but the heart wants what it wants. And mine wanted you,” he said.

“That night when we first slept together, I knew I had screwed up. You were so bright, so pure, but I tainted you with my darkness. But I couldn’t stop. No, I kept wanting more,” he repeated, making your hands tremble in his.

“So what happened?” you asked, your voice shaky.

“I had a feeling you had fallen for me by the fourth or fifth time we slept together. I didn’t want to say anything because I was too drunk in the pleasure of being with you. And then, when you told me you loved me at my temple, I realized that I had to stop, that I had to leave, and never return. I had to stay away from you, I had to make you hate me, because nothing good would come out of our being together. You deserve better,” he replied. You scoffed.

“That’s not for you to decide. You should’ve just talked to me. All romantic feelings aside, we were friends, Loki. If you had just talked to me, then I would’ve understood,” you said, your eyes welling up with tears.

He looked up at you and cupped your face, caressing your cheeks so gently, as if you would break.

“I know that now, my darling, but back at the temple, all I thought about was to protect you from myself,” he replied as you sniffled. He took a deep breath and continued.

“I went back to Asgard with the full knowledge that what awaited me was either death or imprisonment,” he said, his voice low and serious.

That made you choke out a sob. He’d really rather die or be imprisoned than risk hurting you.

“Essentially, I had committed treason, so that was what I sought. I knew that the only way I would be able to stay away from you is by my father’s restraints, or death itself,” he continued.

“Why are you so keen on dying?” you grumbled through tears, making him chuckle. He leaned in to kiss you on the forehead before continuing.

“When I arrived, Odin was already expecting me. He didn’t say anything, thankfully. He simply had his guards bring me to the dungeons and locked me up, and I was grateful for it. After all, it was what I wanted,” he shrugged.

“Days passed; I didn’t know how many – it was hard to tell time within the dungeons – but then he summoned me again. I had a private audience with him, albeit very hesitantly on my part. As you know, I wasn’t very fond of him,” he scoffed, before continuing. “But something’s changed in him. He wasn’t as infuriating as I remembered him to be,” You smiled despite yourself, watching his expressions intently.

“Perhaps the death of my mother changed him, perhaps he’s growing old. But he spoke to me with an affection that I had never experienced. He asked me how I was, and if I was alright,” he said quietly.

“I was shocked, to say the least. So shocked that I burst into tears in front of him. Mind you, I haven’t cried in front of him since I was a babe. At least not like that. But I suppose it was the culmination of everything that has happened - from the revelation of my true parentage to my glorious, failed attempt to conquer Midgard, to my mother’s death and leaving you. All of that culminated into one, humongous breakdown,” he said. You nuzzled your head against his shoulder, attempting to comfort him.

“I didn’t stop crying. Even as he came down from his throne and held me, I couldn’t stop sobbing in my father’s arms. He must’ve held me for hours. When I finally stopped, he apologized to me. He told me that he should’ve been a better father, to both Thor and I. He said that now that my mother is gone, he will try to be better. And while it didn’t erase the years of trauma he caused, I felt like it was a step in the right direction,” he said.

“You reconciled with your father?” you asked, amazed at this development. He smiled and nodded.

“I did. He released me from prison and issued a pardon immediately, but I wasn’t ready to face you,” he said, looking apologetic. You kept quiet, encouraging him to talk.

“I asked him to keep my release and pardon a secret, even from Thor. I didn’t want to be with you yet, not when I was such a mess. My father recommended that I go to the healers. Apparently, some of the healers specialized in regulating one's emotions,” he said.

“You went to therapy?” you asked, surprised.

“Sort of. They encouraged me to not bottle up my emotions and taught me techniques on how to express them better. We talked about my trauma – the experiences I face that made me who I am and how I turned out,” he said shyly, making you smile slightly.

“I went to therapy too, Loki. It isn’t something to be ashamed of,” you said, rubbing your thumbs over his knuckles. He nodded.

“Anyway, after months of treatment, I was finally feeling better. Then my father surprised me by asking me about you,” he cleared his throat, and you could see his cheeks blush.

“Your father knew about me?” you asked.

“Oh, he knows everything. He asked if I wanted to go back, of my feelings for you. He told me that I deserve a shot at happiness, despite what I believed. Fast forward a few days later, now we’re here,” he said, looking down at your hands, still laced with his. You swallowed nervously.

“And what are your feelings for me?” you asked. He looked at you, his eyes softening as he said your name.

“I love you,” he said.

“Oh,” you replied.

You both stared at each other, not knowing what to say. The sun had begun peeking through the closed curtains, which meant that you both had talked for over an hour. Your hands were still intertwined, both of you trembling with the weight of his confession.

“If you’ll still have me,” he began, his voice deep and slightly hesitant. “I’d like to properly be with you,” he continued. You nodded.

“I… I’d like that,” you replied, feeling your cheeks heat up. He smiled.

“I missed you, my love,” he said, brushing your hair behind your ear.

Suddenly all the grievances that occurred for the past six months didn’t matter anymore, because all you wanted was him. You just wanted to be with him, and now that you can finally be together, properly this time, you wanted to throw everything else out the window and just be with him. “

You love me,” you said, as if in disbelief. He nodded.

“I do, I love you. I’m in love with you,” he replied smiling.

“Oh Loki,” you sighed. “You’re such an ass. A stupid, idiotic, pain in the ass,” you grumbled, releasing his hands and covering your face with your hands.

“I beg your pardon?” he asked, brows furrowing.

“I’m in love with you too, you stupid dick,” you replied, glaring at him.

He looked at you in surprise, then burst into laughter. You felt a smile creeping up to your mouth, and you ended up laughing with him.

Once your laughter died down, you smiled brightly at him, leaning in to kiss his cheek.

“How should we proceed from here?” you asked, brushing your lips against his cheek. He took in a sharp breath.

You felt something hot and feral stir in your lower stomach. You had gone six months without any sexual relief, not that you even wanted to because of all that sadness and longing you experience, and being in such close proximity to the very object of your affections shot a sudden electrifying current of arousal within you, making your heart beat faster.

“We should take it slow, no?” he replied, turning his head towards you.

You felt the tendrils of disappointment creep around your heart, but ultimately, you agreed that you should take it slow, so you smiled and pulled away, sighing.

“Okay then. Let’s get up,” you said, getting off the bed, looking down at your ruined clothes from your battle with Loki yesterday.

“I can’t believe you let me sleep in dirty clothes,” you mumbled, scrunching your nose.

“I’m sorry, love. You’re free to wash here, if you want,” he replied.

“I don’t have any clothes here,”

“I can get them for you. With magic,” he said, wiggling his eyebrows.

“Fine,” you agreed, walking towards the cabinets to grab a towel.

You walked into the bathroom and shut the door before leaning on it, holding the towel close to your chest. You took a deep breath before smiling to yourself, feeling your cheeks heat up and your heart blooming with giddiness.

Loki loves you!

You stripped your dirty, torn clothes off, piling them on the bathroom floor and stepped into the shower booth. To your surprise, the shower was already equipped with Loki’s bath gels and shampoos. He must’ve used his magic to make them appear too. You smiled happily, starting the shower and relaxing as the warm water washed over you.

You couldn’t stop feeling giddy though. You held your hand to your mouth, trying to stifle your giggles as you stomped your feet. You felt like a little girl. Loki loves you! He’s in love with you, and you’re in love with him too! You jumped in celebration, but ended up slipping and falling on your butt, making you yelp loudly.

You stood back up, rubbing the painful spot on your butt just as the door bathroom burst open, revealing a worried looking Loki.

“Are you alright? I heard you…” his voice trailed off as he his eyes raked down your naked body.

You stood still, the shock of falling and then having the love of your life catching you naked in the shower making you freeze. You saw something darken in his eyes as he stepped inside the bathroom, closing the door behind him.

“Loki?” you asked, recognizing the meaning of that gaze.

He stepped towards you, his eyes roaming down your body hungrily, making you tremble slightly. He stopped right in front of you and slowly straightened you up, his hands gripping your forearms.

“Are you alright?” he asked, his voice low and sultry.

“Yes,” you replied breathlessly, staring at his mouth. You wanted to kiss him so badly.

“Good,” he said, still holding on to you.

“Yes,” you said again, unable to form any other words. You felt yourself leaning in closer to him, but then he took a deep breath and cleared his throat, before taking a step back.

“Alright then,” he said, turning around to leave.

You quickly grabbed his sleeve, making him turn towards you again.

“Loki, I… May I kiss you?” you asked, throwing any caution you might have had to the wind. He took in another sharp breath and slowly exhaled.

“We agreed to take it slow,” he replied, his voice low and gravelly.

“Yes, well. It’s just a kiss,” you said, clutching at his sleeve tighter. He swallowed.

“If I kiss you now, I don’t think I’d be able to stop at just a kiss,” he said, his voice dropping an octave lower, causing a dull throb between your legs.

“Good. I’ve missed you, kiss me already, damn it,” you grumbled.

That was all it took for him to push you back into the shower booth, up against the wall and pressing his mouth against you messily, making you moan as he squeezed your hips. You buried your hands up in his hair, kissing him deeply as the water soaked his clothes. He wasn’t in them for long though, as a warm green glow flowed over him and suddenly he was as naked as you are. You pulled him closer, pressing your body against his, his cock already hot and hard against your stomach.

You brought your hand down to it and started stroking it slowly, missing the weight of it in your palm. He moaned and kissed down your neck, sinking his teeth into your sensitive skin and licking it soothingly when you yelped in pain. He shoved one leg between yours, spreading them and bringing his fingers down to your pussy, groaning when he felt that you were already slick and ready for him. He rubbed your clit in small circles with his thumb while his middle finger teased at your entrance. You wrapped your arms around his shoulders, whining, desperate for relief. He finally slipped a finger into you, pushing it in and out slowly before he added another finger, all while continuing to circle your clit with his thumb. You mewled wantonly, kissing his neck and shoulders as he toyed with your cunt. You continued to stroke his cock, teasing the underside of his tip with your thumb.

“I want you,” you whispered, nibbling on his earlobe.

“Fuck,” he groaned, before lifting you up and pushing you against the wall.

You wrapped your legs around his waist as he aligned his cock with your entrance. He locked eyes with you to seek your consent and you nodded frantically, wanting him inside you already. He pushed his cock inside you and you both moaned in relief, your velvety walls wrapping tightly around the throbbing heat of his dick.

“Fuck, I’ve missed this so much,” he growled, kissing you again.

You moaned into his mouth, clenching around him as he immediately started a hard and fast pace, the tip of his cock brushing against your sweet spot repeatedly. You were already so close to your climax due to his earlier teasing. You held onto him as he fucked you roughly, burying your face in the crook of his neck, trying to hold off your pending orgasm for as long as you can.

“I know you’re close, love. Just let go, you can cum,” he whispered, nipping at your ear.

“Loki!” you gasped, as your first orgasm washed over you immediately.

“That’s it, that’s my good girl, you’re doing great,” he murmured against your hair, fucking you through your orgasm.

He slowed his hips down as you rode out your high, pressing soft kisses against your temple. You sobbed in pleasure, his slow, teasing thrusts prolonging your climax and making you clench tighter around him. He continued his assault on your pussy, whispering praises and sweet nothings into your ear as he moved his hips against yours.

“You can give me one more, can’t you, darling?” he asked, licking a stripe up the side of your neck.

“I can’t, Loki,” you sobbed, already overstimulated.

“You can, my love. You can, because you’re my good girl,” he whispered, pulling away slightly to look at your face.

You took a deep breath before nodding, and he smiled, leaning in to kiss you. He increased the pace of his hips again, and you couldn’t help the loud moans that spilled out of your mouth as he hit all the right spots within you. The sound of skin slapping against skin and your joint groans of pleasure bounced off the shower walls, mixing with the sound of the water hitting the floor. You repeated his name against his lips over and over again, encouraging him to go faster and harder. It wasn’t long until you were hurtling towards your second orgasm, digging your nails into his back.

“Are you going to cum again for me, my sweet love?” he asked, kissing your shoulders.

You nodded, unable to form any words due to the sheer pleasure.

“Good. Hold it in. Let’s cum together, I’m close too,” he said, fucking you harder as he chased his own orgasm.

It didn’t take long until you were both cumming, your walls clenching around his cock while he spilled inside of you, screaming each other’s names. He pressed his mouth against yours passionately, slowing his thrusts down before stopping completely, keeping his cock buried inside you as you both pulled away from the kiss.

“Damn it,” he sighed, leaning his forehead against yours.

“What’s wrong?” you asked, still panting as you ran your fingers through his damp hair.

“I was hoping to make love to you properly upon our reunion, not a flimsy fuck in the shower, as good as it was,” he muttered grumpily, making you giggle.

You leaned in to kiss him softly, before pulling away again.

“I thought it was perfect,” you whispered, cupping his face gently.

He looked at you and sighed, rolling his eyes and chuckling.

“I love you, you insolent woman,” he said, smiling handsomely. You grinned at him.

“I love you too, God of Mischief,” you replied.

He simply responded by rolling his hips against yours again.

Chapter Text

Loki made love to you two more times before you finally got dressed, walking into the common dining area for breakfast, hand-in-hand. The dining area was filled with the rest of the team, but it was so quiet that the only sound that was heard was that of Sam chewing his cereal very, very slowly. You rolled your eyes and cleared your throat, and they all turned to look at both of you with various degrees of nonchalance, pretending like nothing is amiss.

“You can all stop being so awkward now, we worked things out and we’re together,” you deadpanned.

Everyone let out a collective sigh of relief before congratulating both of you, making you smile. Tony approached the both of you with a frown, staring at your intertwined hands.

“Tony…” you warned, your voice low, but he quickly interrupted you.

“Yeah, yeah, congratulations and all, but listen up Rock of Ages, if you hurt her again, I will shove your head so far up your ass that you will be smelling your own shit for the rest of your miserable life. Do you understand?” Tony threatened, poking Loki in the chest.

“Tony, stop it,” you scolded, but to your surprise, Loki nodded and placed his hand on his chest, bowing slightly.

“I understand. I swear on it - I will never hurt her again,” said Loki, looking straight into Tony’s eyes.

Tony’s eyes narrowed, but he nodded and walked away. You immediately turned to Loki, beaming with joy. Oh my god, you were so in love with him!

You were about to pull him into a kiss when Thor swooped in and pulled you both into a giant hug, making Loki grumble.

“My little brother! I’m so happy for both of you,” he exclaimed, holding you tighter, almost cutting off your circulation.

“Thor, you fool, unhand us right this instant!” Loki growled.

Thor immediately let you both go, scratching the back of his head sheepishly.

“Sorry, I got too excited,” he blushed, making you giggle.

Loki rolled his eyes as Thor patted him on his back, but you could tell that Loki wasn’t really annoyed. In fact, you could even see a hint of a smile on the corner of his lips. It was an endearing sight to witness, honestly, because no matter how many times Loki would try to deny it, anyone could tell that Loki loved his brother.

You had inadvertently moved into Loki’s quarters.

It started with just a few nights, the both of you being unable to stand the idea of being apart from each other, even if it was just for a few hours of sleep. You started leaving your personal belongings inside his bedroom, merely for convenience’s sake, but eventually you ended up having a drawer or two filled with your things at his quarters. After he moved back into the compound, Loki had promptly restored his quarters back to how it was before he left. The only difference now was that for every few items that were his, there’s a sudden odd item that belonged to you.

The idea of ‘taking things slow’ was entirely abandoned after that first day you were together, especially since neither of you could keep your hands off each other. Neither of you minded of course, as long as you get to start and end the day in each other’s arms.

It was another day of waking up in his arms, and your biological clock woke you up at an ungodly hour. You quietly pried Loki’s arms off your body, earning a few sleepy groans from him, but you managed to wriggle out of his embrace without waking him up. You smiled as you watched him sleep, pressing a gentle kiss on his forehead before getting up to get ready for the day. You had re-commenced training with Natasha, having abandoned it for the past six months, but things were going better than you expected.

You walked into the gym, which had been quickly restored after you nearly destroyed it the other day, to find Natasha already there, stretching her muscles. You quickly set your things on one of the bleachers and joined her.

“Good morning, solnyshka. You’re glowing. Did you have a good sleep?” she teased, and you blushed, the sudden memory of your passionate night with Loki flashing in your mind.

“Shut up, Natasha,” you muttered, making her laugh.

You both continued to stretch in silence before getting ready to do laps around the gym.

“Seriously though, you look great. You deserve to be happy,” she said in between controlled breaths as she ran alongside you.

“Thank you,” you smiled, your heart blooming with affection.

You trained with her until the sun rose, and after a few drinks of water, you quickly rushed back to Loki’s quarters, only to find him already awake and dressed in a simple green tunic and tan trousers, sitting on the couch and reading a book. His hair was left unstyled, so his curls looked soft and bouncy. Your heart fluttered at how breathtaking he looked even without all that extravagant clothing.

By the way he ignored you when you walked in, you knew he was sulking because he woke up alone. You sighed fondly, curling up next to him and leaning against his side.

“Good morning, my love,” you said, trying to get his attention.

He kept quiet, licking his finger before flipping a page. You stifled a giggle, tilting your head so he’d look at you.

“Loki?” you said, smiling in what you hope is in a cute way.

“Go away. You are sweaty, and you smell,” he said, not taking his eyes off his book.

You gasped in mock offence and sat straight up, subtly sniffing your armpits to see if he was telling the truth. When you confirmed that you didn’t smell too bad - at least nothing beyond the smell of sweat, you cuddled against him again.

“Loki~” you cooed, nuzzling your cheek against his shoulder.

He continued to ignore you. If he were anyone else, you would have found this behavior annoying, but this was Loki. Your Loki, so you were happy to indulge in his antics or quirks.

“Loki~” you sang.

“My love, you must be mad at me for leaving you alone in bed this morning. I’m sorry, I had to go train with Natasha,” you said.

He kept his eyes on his book, still ignoring you. You sighed, deciding to proceed with the one thing you’d know will catch his attention.

“I know how to make it up to you,” you grinned, gathering your hair up into a ponytail and tying it with an elastic you had on your wrist.

You spied the catch in his breath and the twitch in his eyebrows. It’s already working, you thought. You grabbed a cushion from the couch and set it on the floor in front of him before kneeling on it, placing your hands on his knees.

“Loki,” you said, your voice low and sultry as your hands traveled up his thighs. “Honey, look at me,”

He finally put his book down and looked at you, narrowing his eyes.

“What are you doing?” he asked.

“What do you think I’m doing?” you asked back, pressing your cheek against his thigh and grinning.

His breath hitched as your hands neared his crotch, and you could already see that his cock was coming to life through his thin, linen pants.

“Well? Would you let me make it up to you?” you asked, pressing your mouth against his clothed thigh.

He took a deep breath, still keeping his nonchalant facade and cleared his throat before crossing his arms over his chest.

“Go on then,” he said.

You grinned as you unlaced his pants, pulling them down and revealing his semi-hard cock. Your mouth watered at the sight – his cock was long and thick and so beautiful – but you wanted to prolong this for a little bit, so you started by kissing the insides of his thighs, grazing your teeth against them. The sounds he attempted to muffle only encouraged you more, so you spread his legs wider and shuffled closer to him, sucking bright red marks onto his pale thighs. One of his hands flew to your head, making you smirk. His cock was fully hard now, twitching desperately against his stomach as a drop of precum formed on the tip. His grip in your hair tightened as he growled out your name.

“Aren’t you supposed to be making up to me?” he said, glaring at you.

“I am. Patience is key, baby. You’re the one who taught me that,” you chuckled, taking another gentle bite of his thighs, making him sigh in pleasure and frustration.

“Get on with it,” he growled, tugging slightly at the roots of your hair, his voice strained.

His cock throbbed, the red tip angry and weeping with precum. You decided to take mercy upon him and finally grabbed the base of his thick cock, stroking lazily. He sighed in relief, but you could tell that it wasn’t exactly what he hoped for.

“You okay?” you asked teasingly, swiping the dripping precum with your thumb.

He groaned your name out, fisting your hair. Smiling, you finally leaned down and pressed your lips against the tip of his cock, humming as you smeared the clear, sticky liquid over your lips. He let out a stuttered gasp, pushing your head towards the rest of his cock. You opened your mouth and took the head into your mouth, moaning as the musky taste of him hit your tastebuds. You sucked him softly, earning a delicious groan from him that made your panties uncomfortably wet.

“Fuck,” he cursed, staring at you as you pulled away, still stroking him with your hands.

“You taste so good, I’m so lucky you’re mine,” you cooed, kissing up his shaft before taking him into your mouth again, this time deeper.

You tried not to gag as the tip of his cock hit the back of your throat, breathing slowly through your nose. Once your throat grew accustomed to it, you started bobbing your head up and down his cock, using your hands to cover the parts of him that didn’t fit in your mouth to maximize his pleasure. He was so big, so delicious. Loud moans and groans spilled out of his mouth, and it didn’t take long until he lifted his hips off the couch, fucking your mouth as you sucked him harder. You opened your watery eyes to meet his stare as you sucked him off, the beads of sweat falling down his forehead making him look absolutely feral. You couldn’t help but moan as your eyes locked, making him shiver as the vibrations traveled up his cock to his spine.

The movement of his hips started to falter after a while, and you knew it wouldn’t be long until he would reach his climax. You pressed his hips down and started bobbing your head with a renewed speed, increasing the strength of your suction until he gasped your name out. True enough, he exploded in your mouth shortly, cumming so hard and yelling out your name. He came so much that it dripped out of your mouth, but you swallowed every drop diligently, using your fingers to shove whatever that spilled out back into your mouth. He looked at you with wide eyes, breathing heavily as you licked him clean and wiped your mouth with the back of your hand.

His cock was still rock-hard, twitching violently against his stomach. You smiled innocently at him, as if you didn’t just suck the life out of him. You made to stand when you were suddenly lifted off the floor, barely having the mind to wrap your legs around his slim waist before you were carried into his bedroom and unceremoniously thrown onto the bed, bouncing off the mattress a few times. You grinned at him, loving it when he got like this, pure lust dripping out of his eyes.

Showcasing his godly strength, he tore your sports bra and leggings off, leaving you only in your panties, before taking his own tunic off.

“Hey! Loki, that was new!” you scolded, looking at your workout gear lying on the floor pathetically, in shreds.

“I’ll mend them later,” he mumbled as he climbed on top of you, pressing his mouth to yours hungrily.

You buried your fingers into his hair, moaning into his mouth as he ground his hips against yours, his cock brushing against your soaked underwear. He tore those off you too, spreading your legs and brushing his fingertips against your wetness.

“Did you get off from sucking my cock, you little slut?” he asked, making you shiver.

“Who are you calling a slut?” you smirked, caressing his face gently.

“You. Honestly, darling, you’re the love of my life, but you’re such a whore for me. My little slut,” he grinned, before pressing his mouth back to yours.

A sudden spike of arousal rushed through you. The name-calling was new, but you couldn’t help but get turned on. Everything he did turned you on. You licked into his mouth before pulling away, whining.

“What are you gonna do to your little slut then?” you asked as he chuckled, kissing down your jaw and rubbed teasing circles around your clit, occasionally dipping the tips of his fingers inside your sopping wet hole.

“I’m gonna fuck you, obviously,” he replied.

You felt him smile against your skin, making the butterflies in your stomach explode in giddiness. You rolled your hips against his hand, throwing all sense of shame out the window.

“Then please get on with it, Loki,” you begged.

He kissed your collarbones before lifting himself up, positioning the tip of his cock against your entrance and smiled down at you.

“You’re beautiful,” he said, his voice suddenly going soft, making you blush.

“I love you,” you replied, cupping his face.

“I love you too,” he said, kissing you softly before pushing into you.

You moaned against his mouth as he inserted his entire length against you, pausing to let you adjust to his size, as he always did. He ground his pubic bone against you, the coarse, dark hairs there brushing against our swollen clit, making you mewl. You pulled him closer, wanting to feel his full weight on top of you and he obliged, pushing his hips against yours. He started to move slowly, feeling your silky walls wrap around his cock like a perfect puzzle-piece, his moans low in his throat. He pulled away from your mouth only to latch against your neck, licking and nipping at the sensitive skin there. You ran your fingers through his hair, pressing soft kisses against his temple as he thrust in and out of you at a slow, steady pace.

Soon, he increased his pace, moving his hips faster and harder, groaning into your ear, making you moan louder. You wrapped your legs around his hips, sinking the balls of your feet into his asscheeks to take him deeper. He hovered above you, putting most of his weight on his arms, looking down at you as if you were the only person that existed. You ran your hands up his arms, to his shoulders then finally wrapping around his neck, locking your gaze with his as he gave you pleasure.

“I love you so much,” he said sincerely, making your heart flutter and emotional.

You swallowed the lump in your throat, thinking about everything that occurred between you and the utter bliss you both were finally in right now. You moved one trembling hand to cup his face, caressing his cheek softly as you took in a sharp breath.

“Loki,” you breathed out.

You tensed and let out a strangled moan when the tip of his cock brushed against a particularly sensitive spot inside you, making you clench around him. He groaned in pleasure, fucking you faster and harder against that spot, spiraling you into a wave-like intensity that made you scream his name.

Soon both of you reached the pinnacle of your pleasure, you writhing under him as he spilled inside of you in long, hot spurts. He collapsed onto you, burying his face in your shoulder as you both tried to catch your breath. Eventually he got too heavy for you, so you tapped his bicep and he groaned, pressing a small kiss to your throat before pulling out of you and rolling next to you, sighing in satisfaction.

He immediately pulled you into his arms, tucking your head into the crook of his neck and kissing your hair. You inhaled deeply, completely content and sated as you pressed your body closer to his.

“You smell nice,” you muttered, pressing your nose against his throat.

“Thanks, I guess,” he replied, raising his eyebrow.

“You know how romance novels always describe a character as someone who smelled like ice? I used to think that it didn’t make sense, because ice is just frozen water, and water smells like nothing, but then I met you, and I finally got it. You smell like ice, and it’s so good,” you babbled, peppering his neck with kisses.

“Thank you, my love. You smell nice too,” he laughed softly, making you pull away abruptly.

“I thought you said I was sweaty and stinky?” you asked, arching your brow at him.

“Well, that was before you sucked my –”

“SHUT UP!”

After cleaning up and a fresh shower, the both of you trotted down to the common kitchens, joining the rest of the team for breakfast. The room was filled with others, yet it seemed like you only saw each other, exchanging soft kisses and staying close to each other. Unfortunately, the Public Displays of Affection™ were apparently a heinous crime in Tony’s eyes, so he immediately wedged himself between you and Loki, insisting that he likes sitting in that particular seat, only to have you and Loki hold hands behind his back.

You love being in love with Loki.

Chapter Text

A few weeks after Loki’s return and your newly defined relationship, you dragged Loki out of the compound, despite his hesitance. You wanted to go out on an actual date with him, but you figured that dinner at a fancy restaurant was too cliche for someone like Loki, so you decided to bring him to the local fair, complete with games and rides and a ferris wheel and such.

You had both dressed casually, you in jeans and a comfortable sweater that smelled like Loki. You had also managed to convince Loki that normal people don’t wear suits everywhere, so you dressed him in dark jeans and a black, cashmere sweater that complimented his lithe figure.

You got the tickets and walked into the fair together with Loki, but you could tell that he was uncomfortable with being in public. You squeezed his hand to comfort him and pulled him into line for the ferris wheel, making him scowl.

“Why do we have to queue? Can’t we just go up there? I can always enchant the person in charge,” he muttered, pressing himself closer to you to avoid brushing against other people.

“It’ll take the fun out of being at a fair, Loki. It’s not too long of a line anyway. Besides, we wanted a normal date, remember?” you replied, patting his cheek affectionately.

“You wanted to go on a normal date. I wanted to take you to breathtaking sights in Europe where we can be far away from other people and spend time with just the two of us,” he replied, scowling.

“Next time, hm?” you reply gently.

He grumbled under his breath, conceding for now. You smiled and stood on your tiptoes to kiss his cheek apologetically. He wrapped his arm around your waist and kissed your forehead in return. To others, you supposed, you looked like a perfectly, normal, human couple, instead of a god and a half-celestial, who happened to have saved the Earth once or twice.

After ten whole minutes of waiting, you were finally at the front of the line. Loki climbed into the carriage first before helping you into it, ever the gentleman, and the fair worker shut the door to the carriage. You sat across from Loki as the wheel moved, stopping at the top, affording you an eagle’s eye view of the city.

“Beautiful,” you heard Loki say, and you nodded in agreement.

“It is. I love seeing New York at night,” you replied, your eyes fixed on the city lights.

“I meant you, my love,” he said.

You turned to him and saw that he was looking at you adoringly, making your cheeks flushed. You moved forward to sit next to him, making the carriage tilt slightly. You hugged his arm and rested your head on his shoulder, feeling his gaze on you.

“This isn’t too bad, right?” you asked quietly. He kissed your hair softly.

“No, it isn’t,” he replied.

You both sat in comfortable silence until the ride was over. Afterwards, you dragged him to one of the booths you knew he’d enjoy. It was a knife-throwing game, and just as you expected, he excelled in it, hitting all the targets and winning you the largest teddy bear that was available. He seemed to have loosened up, so you brought him to the house of mirrors next. The both of you giggled and laughed at the distorted images of yourselves, but eventually the workers kicked you out because you ended up making out inside the tent.

You were both still giggling when suddenly a young boy and his parents approached the both of you. You were used to some people approaching you for an autograph or a picture, so you greeted them warmly while Loki slipped into his cold facade.

You signed the little boy’s notepad and posed for a picture with him, when suddenly he turned to Loki timidly.

“Um… Mr. Loki sir, would you mind signing this for me as well?” the little boy asked politely.

Both you and Loki looked at each other in surprise, but Loki quickly obliged to the little boy’s request, signing his notepad and taking a picture with him, albeit a little awkwardly. You stifled a giggle as you watched the little boy ask Loki to make a peace sign, and Loki kindly indulged in his request.

Soon another group of fans approached you, this time a group of teenagers. They asked you for a selfie and you agreed, smiling up to the camera when suddenly one of the girls turned to Loki.

“Loki, join in!” she exclaimed, surprising Loki.

You stifled another giggle as Loki posed for the picture, his signature scowl ever-present on his handsome face. After taking the picture, the girl turned to Loki, beaming with happiness.

“You’re my favorite Avenger,” she said, grinning at Loki. Loki raised his eyebrow at her.

“Please get therapy,” he replied, making the teenagers laugh.

When the crowds dispersed, you finally took his hands in yours, giggling at him.

“It seems like you have fans, Mr. Loki,” you teased.

“Well, that’s a given, with my good looks and charm. People tend to look past the destruction and mayhem you’ve caused if you’re attractive,” he replied sarcastically, rolling his eyes.

You laughed and took his hand in yours, happily stalking off to the next ride, enjoying the rest of your date without any other interruptions.

A few days later, Loki led you to the yard again, reminiscent of that fateful day where you first told him you loved him (and then left you heartbroken, but that wasn’t the point). He immediately teleported you back to Lokabrenna, where a picnic blanket and an assortment of cheese and wine was already set up there. When you saw them, you immediately turned around and glared at him, tendrils panic creeping around you.

“Are you planning on leaving me again?” you asked accusingly, eyes wide and heart beating faster.

Loki immediately put his hands up, defensive and surprised.

“No, darling. I love you. I’m not going to leave you,” he said softly, as if talking to a wounded animal.

You eyed him suspiciously, but when he approached you and pulled you into his arms, all those suspicions went away as you relaxed. He gently said your name, making you look up at him.

“I just brought you here for a proper date. The last time I brought you here, my feelings were all muddled, and all I could think about was fucking you. I mean, of course, I still would love to fuck you, if you want, but it’s not why I brought you here,” he said, brushing your hair out of your face.

You nodded, cheeks flushed at his bluntness, and gestured towards the little picnic set-up two feet away from where you were standing.

“So what did you prepare?” you asked.

His cautious expression immediately turned into a grin as he pulled you closer towards the picnic blanket. Other than the food, you also noticed that he had prepared a wide, velvet blanket, folded neatly next to a brown wicker basket that held a glass bottle.

“I was thinking that we could snack a little, then we can watch the stars,” he smiled, gesturing for you to sit down.

He spread his long legs and you made yourself comfortable in between them, leaning back against his chest as he buried his nose in the crown of your hair before placing an affectionate kiss against your temple. Using his magic, he poured some alcohol into two glasses and handed one to you. The cheese and crackers and fruits also started floating, making it easy to access even without unwrapping his arms around you.

“Your magic is so convenient,” you muttered.

“It truly is, darling. If it were up to me, I’d use it for everything if it means I get to hold you in my arms like this forever,” he replied smoothly, making you giggle.

You took a sip of the drink and was pleasantly surprised, the sweet, bubbly taste blooming across your tastebuds.

“What is this?” you asked, turning your head to look at him.

“This, my love, is Asgardian mead. It’s the sweetest, most potent drink in the entire Nine Realms,” he replied, smiling proudly.

The temperature in the air started to drop as the sky slowly turned from shades of oranges and pinks into a deep purple as the day settled into night. Loki wrapped the both of you in the velvet blanket, keeping you warm as stars started to appear one by one in the dark sky, bright and unpolluted by city lights.

“Wow,” you gasped, watching the sky with awe. “I haven’t seen stars like this since I was taken from my parents’ house,” you said.

“I’m glad you’re enjoying this,” he replied, smiling softly at you.

“You know, my mother used to live on a star. She enjoyed the heat of its constant burn - it made her feel powerful. But one day, she got lonely, so she decided to descend to Earth and then she met my father. They immediately fell in love, and then they had me,” you smiled softly, reminiscing about a time when your parents used to tell you the story of how they met before you went to bed.

“You were very loved. Anyone could see that you were raised with so much love, a love that didn’t break even after you were taken away, even after the horrors you witnessed and experienced. It’s their love that made you who you are today, unjaded and kind,” he murmured.

“Despite you thinking otherwise, I think you were loved too, Loki,” you replied quietly. He gave you a sad smile.

“I’d like to believe that my mother truly loved me. If Thor had Odin to train him into fierce battles and despicable politics, I had my gentle mother, who always paid attention to me, who listened to me, who taught me everything I knew about magic. All of my positive traits, if any, are groomed into me by her. All the nasty ones are my own,” he chuckled.

“She sounds wonderful,” you replied.

“She was. You would’ve loved her, and she would’ve loved you in return. She would have probably killed me for hurting you though,” he said, laughing softly. You chuckled along with him, rolling your eyes.

“I think she would’ve been proud of the person you have become today,” you said, lacing your fingers with his, squeezing his hand tightly.

Loki only nodded, kissing your temple again and then looking up at the sky. You both sat in comfortable silence before Loki pointed at one particularly bright star.

“See that one?” he asked, his voice quiet, almost swallowed by the soft hum of the meadow and chirps of the crickets.

“The brightest one? Isn’t that called Sirius?” you asked.

“Yes, a lot of cultures call it Sirius. In fact, Sirius is its most common name. It’s the brightest star in our galaxy. But do you know its other name?” he asked you back. You turned your head to look at him, shaking your head.

“No, it has another name?” you asked. He nodded.

“Lokabrenna,” he replied, pausing as he took a deep breath.

“It was why my acolytes chose this land to build my temple on. Lokabrenna shines brightest over this piece of land,”

“What does it mean?” you asked quietly, matching his melancholic mood.

“It means ‘Loki’s torch’. Because once upon a time, there were people who believed that I shone the brightest amongst the Aesir and Vanir,” he said.

You kept quiet, staring at him as he got lost in his nostalgia. Sighing, you climbed onto his lap, straddling him before cupping his face, rubbing your thumbs over his sharp cheekbones.

“You still shine the brightest to me, Loki. Your light fills me every day. Pulled me out of a darkness that I didn’t know I could escape out of,” you said, gazing into his eyes. “I love you,” you whispered, leaning your forehead on his. He smiled, wrapping his arms around your waist.

“I love you too, my little fairy. Thank you for choosing me,” he replied, pulling you into a gentle, but passionate kiss.

When you pulled away, you kept your face close to his, leaning your forehead against his and feeling each other’s breaths mingling. He buried his fingers in your hair, taking a deep breath, his eyes closed.

“One of these days, I’ll bring you back to Asgard,” he whispered.

“You’re going to show me where you grew up?” you asked, caressing his cheeks lightly. He nodded.

“I’m going to show you where I grew up, and then I’ll fuck you in the chambers I grew up in,”

You gasped and pulled away, hitting him across his shoulder. He laughed, trying to pull you closer while you pushed him away.

“Way to ruin a moment, Loki. I hate you,” you muttered, trying to get away from him.

“No you don’t, you love me. You actually love me,” he replied, still laughing, a hint of surprise and disbelief in his voice.

He pulled you back into his arms with ease, kissing you again, this time with more hunger in it. Your earlier annoyance melted away as he deepened the kiss, and once again, you lost yourself in him.

Chapter Text

You walked into the conference room a few days later, a mixture of confusion and surprise greeting you when you found the Avengers’ Head of Public Relations sitting with Tony, along with a bunch of her underlings, typing furiously on their company-issued laptops. The woman - Margaret Dunes, if you remembered correctly from all the times she had reprimanded Tony for saying something uncouth in front of an audience - was a slim, stern-looking woman who always looked put together, her scarlet lipstick perfectly matte, almost matching the hair on her head, slicked back and gelled flawlessly. You’ve seen her a couple of times at events, and every time you saw her, it made you smooth down your hair and clothes in self-consciousness. Despite her hard exterior, she was actually pretty friendly and downright gorgeous, so it was easy to like her.

Loki walked in shortly, his eyes lighting up briefly when they met yours, before schooling his expression back into indifference in front of the others. He took a seat to the right of you, right across Margaret and they locked eyes for about two seconds before he turned back to you and kissed your knuckles.

“Right. Now that Brangelina are here, you can start, Miss Dunes,” said Tony, sitting down on your left.

“Tony, what’s this about?” you asked, frowning in confusion. Margaret cleared her throat.

“If I may direct your attention to the screen,” she started, clicking on some buttons on her little remote as the screen came to life.

Numerous tabloid articles popped out, all variations of headlines speculating the nature of your relationship with Loki.

Loki & The Fae: Mischief & Magic Spark Romance at Amusement Park!

God of Mischief Caught in a Love Spell? Loki and The Fae Cozy Up on Ferris Wheel!

From Asgard to Amour! Trickster God Spotted Holding Hands with Fae Beauty!

Rollercoasters & Romance: Loki and The Fae Send Fans into a Frenzy!

Are Wedding Bells Next? Loki and The Fae's Whirlwind Amusement Park Date Sparks Speculation!

You raised your eyebrows in amusement, as Loki leaned in towards you.

“What is this?” he asked, his voice annoyed.

“Apparently we’ve been the topic of some gossip columns,” you replied, rubbing gentle circles on his lower back to calm him down. He relaxed underneath your touch, but he didn’t cease his ever-present frown.

“Is this why you called us Brangelina?” you asked Tony, scoffing amusedly.

“We need to do some damage control. People are already speculating that you have a secret baby on the way,” he replied.

You cringed, looking over at Loki, who kept quiet. You sighed and turned back to Margaret.

“Okay, what’s your plan?” you asked.

The red-haired bombshell clicked a button and the screen switched to her contingency plan.

“We make a statement. You and Loki can address the public via an interview with Vogue - an exclusive sneak peek into your relationship. People will go nuts over it. They’ll be all over you, and this is good PR for Loki’s image too,” she said, using her laser pointer to point out the next steps.

Both Loki and you listened intently to her, but neither of you said a word. You were pretty sure Loki wasn’t even paying attention, his mind elsewhere, but you had an uneasy feeling about Margaret’s plans.

You cleared your throat, interrupting her presentation.

“Listen, I really appreciate what you’re trying to do for us, I really do. But with all due respect, I’m afraid that I don’t want the world to know what goes on between Loki and I,” you said firmly. Margaret swallowed and called your name out politely.

“It’s better to let them know than to let the public speculate,” she said.

“So let them speculate. This relationship isn’t theirs to determine if it’s right and wrong. I do not want my relationship with Loki to be anybody’s business except ours,” you replied, crossing your arms.

Margaret looked at Tony exasperatedly, but the latter simply shrugged, putting his hands up in defeat.

“I know better than to argue with her. She went to Pepper’s masterclass on how to win arguments,” said Tony, half-jokingly. Margaret sighed.

“Fine. Would you mind if I at least put a statement that we have no comment on your personal lives and ask for privacy?” she asked.

“That’s fine with me,” you replied, before turning to Loki.

His expression was sour, even more so than his usual scowl. You could tell that something had upset him, but you weren't sure what. The PR team left the conference room one by one, leaving you, Loki and Tony in the room.

You turned to Loki and held his hands.

“Is everything alright?” you asked, trying to catch his eyes.

“Are you ashamed of me?” he asked, his brows furrowed.

“What? No! Why would you even think that?” you replied, matching his expression.

“It makes sense. You’re a hero, beloved by everyone, and I tried and spectacularly failed to conquer your realm. Of course you’d be ashamed if the public knew we were together,” he muttered, pulling his hands out of yours.

“Loki!” you yelled, trying to grab his hands again. This time, he gave in, but he refused to meet your eyes.

“Loki, listen to me, you impossible imbecile! I didn’t want her to make a statement about our relationship because our relationship is ours! If we were to go public as a couple, imagine the things they’ll say about us! They’ll talk about how this person doesn’t deserve the other, or that person can do better. I don’t want to hear it. I don’t want to keep our relationship a secret, but I don’t want random strangers knowing what goes on in it either. So let them speculate. What matters is that you and I know the truth, and if other people don’t, it shouldn’t matter,” you said, finally letting out a breath you didn’t even know you were holding.

Loki’s demeanor softened and he finally looked at you, sighing softly.

“It’s very impressive that you said all that in one breath, Tinkerbell,” Tony suddenly interrupted.

You rolled your eyes at him, intertwining your fingers with Loki’s.

“Look, that meeting must’ve been shit to both of you, and as much as I do not approve of this relationship,” he paused, glaring at Loki, before continuing. “Anyone could see how disgustingly in love the both of you are with each other. Thus, as the good-hearted, philanthropist, billionaire, former-playboy-turned-devoted-partner-to-an-amazing-woman, that I am, I’m letting you both spend time on my private island, just the two of you, so you could spend more time together,” said Tony.

“Are you serious?” you beamed.

“Yes. Also, Pepper keeps nagging at me about how I’m too hard on you two, so now I get to redeem myself to her. Now go pack before I change my mind,” he said.

“Thank you, Tony!” you jumped out of your seat and hugged him tightly.

Loki simply stood up and gave a courteous nod towards Tony, before you dragged him towards his quarters so you both could pack.

Just a few hours later, you were piloting the quinjet towards the coordinates Tony had provided you with, Loki sitting next to you as he watched you intently.

“How did you learn how to fly this thing?” he asked amusedly.

“Tony taught me. He said that I should learn in case of emergencies,” you replied, gripping the steering wheel tightly.

“He cares a lot about you,” he commented off-handedly.

“He does. He saved me from a really, really bad place. In case you haven’t noticed, he and Pepper are sort of my parental figures, so they fuss over me a lot,” you smiled softly, thinking about Tony and Pepper.

You didn’t even want to think about where you’d be right now if it weren’t for them. Loki reached out and squeezed your hand comfortingly before turning his attention back to the quinjet’s windshield, watching the clouds pass by.

A few hours later, you landed the quinjet on a small, remote island somewhere off the coast of Rio de Janeiro. You both descended the quinjet and were greeted by the staff, who took your luggage and led you to a gorgeous villa via a small buggy.

The villa, like all of Tony’s properties, was extravagant. It’s nestled right at the edge of the island, surrounded by azure waters and lush greenery. Its facade was adorned with natural stone and teak wood, while the large floor-to-ceiling windows offered a panoramic view of the ocean.

You walked into the villa hand-in-hand with Loki, marveling at the grand foyer that opened to the living area that housed high-vaulted ceilings and luxurious furnishings. To the left, you spot a large kitchen that featured a central island made of marble.

“Wow,” you said, looking around the ground floor.

“It’s not bad,” Loki said cockily.

"It's not Asgard, but even you have to admit this is pretty amazing," you replied, smiling gently at him.

He shrugged, making you roll your eyes playfully.

“Come on, let’s check out the upstairs floor,” you said, pulling him up the dark, hardwood staircase.

You and Loki walked into the master suite, which boasted a private plunge pool, a spacious closet and a bathroom with a freestanding tub and outdoor shower.

“We’ll definitely have fun here,” Loki smirked, and you pinched him in response.

You walked towards the balcony, overlooking the deck on the ground floor that surrounded an infinity pool that seemed to merge with the ocean horizon. The deck led to a private beach with powdery white sand just steps away. After further exploring the villa more, you discovered that it had a home theater, a fully-equipped gym, a mini spa and even a private dock for yachts.

“Tony sure knows how to do luxury,” you mumbled, trying to figure out if you’d even have the time to explore all the amenities in the villa. You felt Loki snake his arms around your waist, placing a soft kiss against the side of your neck.

“At least we’re alone now. The purpose of this trip is to get away from everything and relax, is it not?” he whispered in your ear, and you leaned back against him.

“I suppose. Would you like to go to the beach with me?” you asked, turning around to face him. He scrunched his nose.

“Depends, will you wear that skimpy little swimsuit you brought?” he asked, wiggling his eyebrows.

“Only if you promise to behave,” you replied, brushing your lips against his teasingly.

“I may be the God of Lies, darling, but even I can't lie to you about that,” he replied, pressing his lips against yours briefly. You giggled into the kiss before pulling away.

“Come on, let’s change,” you said, pulling him into the closet.

You managed to force Loki into a pair of swim shorts and a loose, white linen shirt that you left unbuttoned. He looked ridiculous, sitting on the beach chair with a giant hat he conjured and a pair of dark sunglasses, looking like the diva he truly was. His pale skin looked even paler against the white sands of the beach, but you couldn’t help but find the entire view endearing.

“You doing okay there, baby?” you asked, putting on sunscreen on your arms and legs. He grunted in reply, looking into the horizon.

“Have Midgardian beaches always been this hot? I’m sweltering,” he complained. You laughed, using your powers to blow a steady, cool gust of wind towards him.

“It’s probably global warming. Do you want to swim to cool off?” you asked, taking off your sarong and placing it on the beach chair. His eyes immediately went to your body, gazing at you hungrily.

“I do adore how you look in this swimsuit, love,” he replied, scooting over to your beach chair and pulling you against him. You giggled, placing your hands on his shoulders.

“Focus, Loki. Do you want to go swimming or not?” you asked, placing an affectionate kiss on his forehead.

“Fine, but once we’re done, I’m ripping this off you,” he said, pulling on the waistband of your bikini bottoms and letting it go, making it smack against your skin. You yelped and hit him playfully.

“Let’s go,” you laughed, wriggling out of his arms and pushing his shirt off before pulling him into the cool, sparkling ocean.

You both ended up swimming for hours, and you were pleasantly surprised to see Loki genuinely enjoying himself. Afterwards, he did end up tearing the bikini off you and fucking you on the beach, which made you grateful that this island was truly a private island. You made him promise to never to do again though, because sand and sex were truly a horrific mix.

You spent the next few days doing what one does on vacation – eat, rest, play, fuck, repeat. On the third day, after spending the entire day at the beach, you both retreated to the villa and got ready for dinner. The staff delivered a full-course meal cooked by a private chef somewhere not too far from the villa, and you both gorged on it, having worked up an appetite from your earlier beach activities.

That night, you snuggled up against Loki on the bed, fumbling with the remote to flick through the selection of movies on the TV screen.

“Ooh, they have Titanic,” you said absentmindedly.

“What’s Titanic?” Loki asked, nuzzling his nose in your hair.

“Wait, you’ve never seen Titanic?” you asked, sitting up slightly to look at him with wide eyes.

“I don’t usually familiarize myself with Midgardian pop culture, my darling,” he deadpanned, pulling you back against him.

“I guess we’re watching Titanic,” you grinned, pressing play.

Loki ended up being surprisingly engrossed in the movie, not even caring that you were weeping when Rose let Jack’s hand go in the water. As the end credits rolled by, you used tissues to wipe the tears and snot from your face.

“What a ridiculous movie,” Loki scoffed, making you gasp.

“DO YOU NOT HAVE A HEART?” you asked, pulling away from his embrace dramatically, offended that he insinuated that one of the greatest romance films of all times was ridiculous.

“Don’t be dramatic,” Loki rolled his eyes. “All I’m saying is that if Jack truly loved Rose, he would’ve fought to stay alive,” he said, trying to pull you back into his arms, but you pushed him away.

“The water was freezing cold! He wanted Rose to have a better chance! They couldn’t both fit on the door!” you cried dramatically, making him chuckle.

“Think about it, love. He could’ve made sure Rose was safe and found another way to save himself. He could’ve… found another piece of debris to climb onto. Or he could’ve swam to safety, seek a lifeboat. There were so many ways for him to stay alive, yet he didn’t, and we’re supposed to believe that his death was romantic? No, it was selfish. I would never have done that,” he shrugged, finally managing to pull you back into his embrace.

You stared at him incredulously, trying to find a flaw in his logic. When you failed to do so, you grumbled, snuggling back up against him, nuzzling your cheek against his chest.

“I hate you and your logic,” you grumbled. “Even last time when I asked you about Baldr and Nanna – I googled their story and thought it was so beautiful how Nanna would rather die than be without him, but you just called it stupid,” you said, pouting.

“It was quite stupid,” he chuckled, kissing the top of your head affectionately.

“Are you saying that you wouldn’t sacrifice yourself for me?” you asked teasingly.

“I wouldn’t put myself in a situation where I’d have to,” he replied simply.

“But what if we did end up like Jack and Rose? Do you think we would’ve survived if we were in their positions?” you asked.

“Given that you can fly, and control water, and I can teleport, I’m sure we’ll be fine. Even if we didn’t have those abilities, my biology allows me to withstand bone-crushing cold temperatures, so I would put you on the door and probably go for a swim or something,” he replied, making you laugh.

“Speaking of which, you’ve never really shown me what you look like as a Jotunn,” you said, sitting up and looking at him. He tensed up.

“Like a monster. There's a reason why we're called Frost Giants, love. I’m hideous in that form. You do not want to see that,” he replied, looking away. You gently cupped his cheek and turned his face towards you, locking eyes with him.

“Show me. I want to love every part of you, even the ones you think are hideous,” you whisper, pressing your mouth gently against his.

He looked down once before looking back at you and took a deep breath, closing his eyes. He gently pushed you away and you watched as his skin slowly turned blue and he grew slightly bigger, his frame broadening. Small, dark blue ridges formed on his forehead down to his cheekbones, and upon further inspection, there were some along his arms and chest as well. Finally, he opened his eyes, which were bright red, and you saw how scared he was to show you his true form.

You swallowed, taking in the changes. He was taller and bigger in this form, but it wasn’t too much of a difference than his Aesir form. Other than that, he was still Loki - still your Loki, and you were still so, so in love with him.

“Wow,” you breathed out, reaching out to cup his face, only to be stopped by him.

“Don’t touch my skin,” he said firmly, avoiding your hand. “Frost Giants tend to freeze other species’ skins just by touch,” he explained.

You sighed and let out a breathy laugh, using your powers to form a light layer of frost on your hands.

“Luckily for me, I can withstand bone-crushing temperatures too,” you whispered, cupping his face anyway.

He gasped at the touch, as if waiting for something bad to happen, but the shock only lasted for a second before he nuzzled his cheek into your hand rather adorably.

“You don’t think I look terrifying?” he asked, his voice quiet, barely a whisper.

“No, Loki,” you replied, leaning in to nuzzle your nose against his gently. “You’re beautiful,”

He swallowed thickly, clutching at your wrists as red eyes met yours.

“I love you,” he choked out, finally pressing his mouth to yours, kissing you passionately.

You kissed him back, trying to convey the depth of your feelings towards him. He deepened the kiss, and your tongue brushed against his slightly sharpened teeth, making you moan softly. You moved to straddle his hips, and he gripped your hips and pulled your body against his, sending a delicious chill across your skin. Both of you were wearing minimal clothing since you were in bed, you in a thin nightgown and him only in a pair sleeping trousers. Your nipples were already poking against the silky material of the gown, painfully sensitive. Instinctively, you rolled your hips against his, earning a deep groan from him.

You pulled back from the kiss, panting heavily.

“I want you,” you breathed out, already feeling his erection pressing against you.

“Like this?” he asked, his red eyes wide in shock.

“Just like this, baby,” you replied, rolling onto your back and pulling him on top of you.

In your current position, you could really feel how much he’d grown. He was significantly heavier, even though you could tell that he was trying his best not to crush you. Not even a little bit intimidated, you gripped his hips with your hands and pulled him closer, making him press his crotch against yours.

“Loki…” you whined desperately.

“Alright, alright, woman,” he growled, leaning down to kiss you again.

You moaned as his cold hands roamed your body, gripping your breasts through the thin material of your nightgown. He had grown blunt claws in this form, the nails the color of the sea at night, and he teased your erected nipples with them, making you whimper in delight. You moved your hands to wrap them around his neck, kissing him deeply and sensually. Suddenly you heard a loud rip, and you looked down to see that he had torn your nightgown in half with his bare hands.

“You have got to stop ripping up my clothes,” you scolded, but you were quickly distracted by his mouth descending upon your breasts, sucking softly on your right nipple while he teased the other with his fingers.

The contrast of his cold lips and warm breath made you writhe in pleasure, and you felt him smirk against your skin.

“Norns, you are perfect,” he muttered, kissing your sternum and moving down to your stomach, where he continued to kiss and lavish your body with attention.

He slipped one claw under the waistband of your panties, pulling them down and throwing them somewhere onto the floor. You spread your legs to reveal your embarrassingly wet pussy to him, making him chuckle in response.

“Shut up,” you muttered, covering your face with your hands.

“Does my little faerie have a size kink?” He asked, pulling your hands away from your face and kissing your knuckles.

“Shut up!” you repeated, feeling your cheeks flush red.

He continued to laugh, pressing his cool hands to your burning cheeks and leaning in to kiss you gently. Slowly, he reached down and traced his finger up and down your clit, before circling it, making you whimper. He continued to tease you, moving his finger at a torturous pace before he finally plunged one finger inside of you.

You gasped loudly, pulling away from the kiss and burying your face in the crook of his neck, pressing your mouth against the ridges that formed at the side of his neck. In this form, a single finger felt like three. It stretched you out deliciously, and thinking about what was to come only made you wetter.

“Loki!” you gasped as he inserted another finger inside you.

“I have to do this, darling, I’m bigger in this form,” he teased, making you whine.

He continued to stretch you using his fingers until you were positively writhing underneath him, desperate and begging to have his cock inside you.

Loki, honey, please,” you begged wantonly, throwing any sense of shame out the window. He chuckled, seemingly enjoying this.

“Look at you, all desperate like this. You know I like it when you beg,” he whispered in your ear, curling his fingers and pressing against your g-spot. You squirmed in delight, despite growing annoyed at his incessant teasing.

“I hate you so much,” you groaned, which made him laugh harder, biting the side of your neck gently.

“Alright, alright,” he laughed, pressing a kiss on your neck and pulling his fingers out of your soaked entrance.

With a wave, his pants disappeared, and you gasped when you caught a glimpse of his cock. It was blue, like the rest of him, albeit slightly darker, but that wasn’t what shocked you.

It was the size - he was huge. Loki was already well-endowed to begin with, but in this form, he was intimidatingly bigger and thicker, veins pulsing around the shaft up towards the bulbous, purple tip, throbbing in want. You whimpered at the sight of it, out of desire or nervousness, you weren’t sure.

“Fuck, how the hell is that going to fit in me?” you wondered aloud, making him laugh.

“We can always continue with my fingers if you’re hesitant about this, love,” he said, leaning down to kiss your temple.

“No, I want you,” you whined, turning his head to kiss him properly, your head dizzy with arousal. “

Alright, but I’ll go slow, I don’t want to hurt you,” he replied, caressing your cheek affectionately.

You nodded, nuzzling your face against his palm and kissing its center as you spread your legs wider.

He pulled back slightly and held your ankle gently. Balancing himself on his knees, he used his other hand to grip the base of his cock before rubbing the tip against your wetness, coating himself with your essence. You whimpered at the sensation, your pussy throbbing in need. Slowly, he pushed the tip in, and you gasped, never having been stretched that far before. He moved his hands to your sides, caressing your skin soothingly as he slowly eased himself inside you.

“Are you alright?” he asked, his voice hoarse, probably from restraining himself.

“Yes, just… go slow,” you replied, wrapping your hands around his wrists.

He nodded, groaning softly as he continued to push himself inside you. After he was about halfway in, he pulled out before pushing back into you again. He continued to do this until your whimpers turned into moans.

“Good?” he asked breathlessly.

“So fucking good, Loki,” you moaned, pulling him closer.

He quickened his pace ever so slightly as he leaned down to kiss you, his tongue tangling with yours. He cursed in a language you didn’t recognize when you wrapped your legs around his hips, encouraging him to go deeper.

“Darling, you’re going to kill me,” he moaned against your lips.

“Faster,” you replied, panting heavily.

He quickened his pace and buried his face in your shoulder, kissing and licking the skin there. You dug your nails into his back as you moaned, pleasure shooting up your spine. You have never felt so full before, the sensation making your toes curl and your back arch. Your first orgasm came unexpectedly, your pussy clenching around his thickness as you both moaned loudly. He continued to fuck you, prolonging your orgasm as he chased down his own.

“Loki, oh my god,” you cried, still cumming around his cock as he bit your shoulder gently.

“Yes, my love, say my name, keep saying it,” he growled, and you could do nothing but obey him.

You felt another orgasm approaching fast, and you moaned his name repeatedly as he started pounding into you with abandon.

“Loki, darling, I’m about to cum again,” you whimpered, your mouth pressed against his neck as you tightened your hold on him.

“Do it, my love. Cum on my cock again. I love you so much, do it for me, my darling faerie,” he whispered against your skin, making goosebumps form.

“LOKI!” you screamed as your second orgasm overtook you, making you see stars.

He continued to fuck you faster and harder, desperate for release. It didn’t take long until he exploded inside you, cumming so much that his seed leaked out of your used pussy despite still being stuffed with his humongous member. He shouted your name as he came, collapsing onto you but still taking care not to crush you underneath him. After a while, he pulled out of you and sat back to watch the cum seep out of you, only to scoop it back up with his fingers and push it back into your abused hole.

“Keep my seed inside this pretty cunt,” he ordered, kissing your inner thigh.

You could only whimper in response. He fingered you to another orgasm before he was finally satisfied, licking up the mixture of your combined juices off his fingers. Smirking, he laid next to you and pulled you into his arms, peppering your face with gentle kisses.

“You did so good, my beautiful girl,” he whispered in between kisses. “I love you so much,” he muttered against your skin, making you laugh tiredly.

“I love you too, Loki,” you replied, nuzzling your face against his cheek.

You wrapped your arms around him and threw one leg over his, pressing your body to his as close as possible. You buried your face in the crook of his neck, inhaling the faint scent of mint and ice deeply.

“Stay in this form for tonight, Loki. You are so gorgeous like this,” you mutter, pressing a gentle kiss against his throat.

“You really think so? Most people would say that I look like a monster,” he said, kissing the top of your head.

“You’ve been meeting the wrong people then. I love you in any form,” you replied.

“You’re not scared or disgusted?” he asked.

“No. Besides, you’re already a little shit in your usual form, so nothing about you disgusts me anymore,” you joked, making him laugh and pinch your ass in retort.

“Thank you. For loving me, I mean,” he said, his voice low and wistful.

“You don’t need to thank me. Loving you is the easiest thing I have ever done, you know?” you replied, letting out a yawn.

“Go to sleep, my sweetness,” he whispered, kissing your forehead.

“Goodnight, Loki,” you mumbled sleepily, slowly succumbing to sleep.

“Goodnight, my little faerie,” he replied, before falling asleep himself.

You woke up in the early hours of the morning, the atmosphere still and serene. The sky was painted with gentle hues of pink and orange as the sun prepared to rise. You could hear the ocean waves lapping rhythmically against the shore, its soft, soothing sound blending with the melodious chirping of birds welcoming the new day.

Loki was still sound asleep, still in his Jotunn form, his arms wrapped tightly around you. You smiled and lightly traced your finger down the side of his face, admiring his beauty. Your heart fluttered at the sight of the man you love, and you silently promised to yourself that you were going to make sure that he knew how much you loved him for the rest of your life.

Eventually, you managed to sneak out of his arms and trotted to the ensuite bathroom, quickly cleaning yourself up and wrapping a fluffy robe around your body. You experimentally flexed your muscles, only to find that they were free of any pain. You credited your healing abilities for that, but you mourned slightly over the lack of soreness that one would normally experience after the sort of mind-blowing sex you had with Loki the previous night.

Smiling to yourself, you made your way out of the master suite and into the kitchen, brewing a pot of coffee as you watched the sun rise. After a couple of minutes, the coffee machine made a small beeping sound, signifying that your coffee was done. You turned and poured some into a mug, but just as you were about to turn around, you heard a strange, swishing sound, and a strange, golden glow appeared behind you.

You quickly dropped your mug and turned, immediately on alert when you spotted a sparkly, golden ring form in the air which quickly turned into a portal of some sort, and out came Bruce Banner – who you haven’t seen since the Avengers fought Ultron – along with two other men you didn’t know.

Bruce called out your name and immediately pulled you into a tight hug, as you stared at his entourage with wide eyes. He looked at you with panic in his eyes before asking a question.

“Where’s Loki?”

Chapter Text

One moment you were in a tropical paradise having the best time with the love of your life, the next you were back in the common area of the Avengers compound surrounded by the rest of the team with the said love of your life along with Bruce, who had been missing for two years, and an additional two men who introduced themselves as Dr. Stephen Strange and Wong. Apparently, they were some kind of wizards - second-rate sorcerers, if you were to ask Loki.

Bruce had whispered something about a universal threat to Loki and it didn’t take much convincing for him to agree to go back to the Avengers’ compound. As Bruce explained to the rest of the team where he had been for the past two years, you glanced at your lover - Loki had promptly shifted back into his Aesir form right after he woke up, and you silently mourned the loss of his other form. You made a mental reminder to ask him to shift into his beautiful Jotunn form more often.

“So wait, wait, wait - you’re saying that you’ve been stuck as the Other Guy since the events of Ultron?” asked Steve, crossing his arms as he raised an eyebrow towards Bruce.

“Yes! I was on this trash planet called Sakaar where I was forced to fight in matches as the Hulk! It was only by chance that I stumbled upon the quinjet and turned back into me - butt naked and hella confused!” cried Bruce, flailing his arms.

“Is that why you’re wearing Tony’s clothes?” asked Natasha, eyeing him up and down.

“Yes! God, Tony, why do you wear your pants so tight?” Bruce grumbled, trying to stretch the material over his thighs.

“That’s not why we’re here, what’s concerning is that we received an alert that threatens the safety of the universe -” Dr. Strange began, only to be interrupted by Tony.

“Hold on a second Harry Houdini, who are you again?” asked Tony rather rudely.

“My name is Wong, and this is Stephen Strange. We are Masters of the Mystic Arts, and Strange here is the Sorcerer Supreme,” Wong replied, his face devoid of any emotions.

“We keep a watch list of individuals and beings from other realms that may be a threat to this world. We received an alert that a significant power was making its way into our galaxy - and that’s when I found Dr. Banner,” replied Dr. Strange.

“I was in the quinjet making my way back to Earth, but this giant ship attacked me, and I had no other choice to turn into the Hulk again. I tried fighting them - but he was too strong and I was about to die, Tony! Suddenly I was falling through a portal and landed at Bleecker Street - but they’re coming! Here! They’re coming!” Bruce exclaimed, gripping Tony’s shoulders.

“Who’s coming?” asked Clint, furrowing his brows.

“Thanos,” Loki replied solemnly.

“The Mad Titan?” asked Thor, his voice shocked.

“Yes,” Bruce paused, looking directly at Loki.

“He was looking for you, Loki. He said he knew you were living on Earth and he's going to find you,” he continued.

You turned to Loki, confused at the turn of events. Loki was pale in general, but at this moment, it looked as if all the blood had drained out of his face, it was completely devoid of color - you had never seen him so scared.

“Loki?” you asked quietly, reaching for his hand to comfort him.

In response, he flinched and quickly pulled his hand away then crossed his arms, schooling his face into a mask of indifference. You bit your inner cheek at his reaction, but you decided not to push it.

Wong cleared his throat and waved his hands in the air. An illusion formed of the universe as everyone listened intently.

“At the dawn of the universe, there was nothing, and then- boom! The Big Bang sent six elemental crystals across the virgin universe,” said Wong, his illusions showing six colored stones hurtling everywhere.

“These Infinity Stones each control an aspect of existence,”

“Space, Reality, Power, Soul, Mind…” Dr. Strange continued, before clicking on his pendant and taking out a glowing green stone. “And time,”

“Thanos. He’s a plague, Tony! He invades planets, he takes what he wants, he wipes out half the population,” cried Bruce, still gripping onto Tony’s shoulders. “He was the one who sent Loki! The Attack on New York - he was behind it!” he continued, pointing to Loki.

“My brother was under the influence of the Mind Stone -” Thor started, but Loki held up a hand.

“Don’t try to defend me. I may have been under the influence, but it was as much my own actions as it was the Mind Stone,” Loki interrupted, glaring at Thor.

“Loki, we’ve been through this…” you said weakly, but he ignored you.

“He already has two stones. That already makes him the strongest creature in the universe. If he gets his hands on all six stones…” Bruce trailed off.

“He could destroy life on a scale hitherto undreamt of,” Dr. Strange finished.

An eerie silence fell upon the room, causing goosebumps to rise on your skin.

“Did you seriously just say hitherto undreamt of?” Tony asked, making Dr. Strange roll his eyes.

“If Thanos needs all six, why can’t we just stick this one down the garbage disposal?” asked Tony, pointing to the Time Stone that hung off Dr. Strange’s neck.

“No can do,” the latter replied.

“We swore an oath to protect the Time Stone with our lives,” added Wong.

“And I swore off dairy, but then Ben & Jerry’s named a flavor after me, so…” Tony trailed off.

“Stark Raving Hazelnuts,” Dr. Strange deadpanned.

“Not bad,” replied Tony, strangely defensive.

“A bit chalky,” Dr. Strange retorted.

“A Hunk of Hulk Burning Fudge is our favorite,” supplied Wong.

“That’s a thing?” asked Bruce.

“Eh, I’m also really fond of Loki’s Minty Mischief,” replied Dr. Strange.

“No way, that one tastes like toothpaste,” Wong argued.

“Can we please get back on track?” asked Steve, clearly exasperated.

“Right. My point is, things change,” said Tony, shrugging as if an intergalactic warlord threatening our very existence was an everyday occurrence.

“Our oath to protect the Time Stone cannot change. This stone may be the best chance we have against Thanos,” said Dr. Strange, obviously growing annoyed at Tony’s indifference.

“Yeah, so conversely, it may be his chance against us,” Tony retorted.

“Well, if we don’t do our jobs,” Dr. Strange quipped back.

“What is your job anyway? Besides making balloon animals?” asked Tony sarcastically.

“Protecting your reality, douchebag,” Dr. Strange replied, looking just about ready to pounce on Tony.

“Enough. Stark, Strange and Wong have a point. It’s our job to protect the Earth too,” said Steve, ever the serious leader, making Tony roll his eyes.

“Thor, Loki, what do you know about this Thanos guy?” asked Natasha.

“He is known as the Mad Titan. After falling off the Bifrost, I fell into his clutches. He is essentially an intergalactic terrorist. His goal is to destroy half the universe so the other half could prosper on the remaining resources. The reason he sent me to Earth was to retrieve the Tesseract, which held the Space Stone. In return, I was to become Earth’s ruler,” Loki explained nonchalantly.

“Thank god that didn’t happen,” Clint quipped, earning a glare from both you and Loki.

“The Infinity Stones cannot simply be wielded by anyone. Even one is enough to kill its wielder, and in order to harness all six stones, one would have a special gauntlet made. There is one in Asgard’s weapons vault,” said Thor.

“That one’s fake. I’ve checked,” replied Loki, rolling his eyes.

“Yes, Thanos was wearing a gauntlet when he attacked my ship,” added Bruce.

“Banner, you mentioned that he already has two stones with him right?” asked Thor.

“Yeah, they were purple and red,” replied Bruce.

“He already has the Power and Reality Stones…” Thor trailed off solemnly.

“It’s unlikely that he will head to Asgard to get the Tesseract with Odin still on the throne. Which means he’ll either head to Vormir for the Soul Stone, or here to get the remaining two,” added Loki.

“There are two stones here?” you asked, your head already pounding with this avalanche of new information. Loki nodded.

“Strange has the Time Stone. The Mind Stone used to be in my scepter, but it is now right there,” Loki pointed directly at Vision’s forehead, where the yellow stone glowed ominously.

“So we use our stones against his,” said Natasha.

“It’s possible, but it won’t be easy. As my brother so generously mentioned, not everyone can wield the stones,” Loki said, swallowing thickly.

“But we can. You and I are gods, brother. We can wield the stones,” Thor turned to Loki, patting him on his back.

“I suppose so can Banner,” Loki replied dryly.

“Please count me out,” Bruce replied meekly.

“He’s right. The Hulk is too unstable to wield such a formidable weapon. It has to be either one of you,” replied Natasha.

“What are the repercussions?” you asked, dread starting to coil around your heart.

“Uhh… How about a safe universe? Tinkerbell, stop worrying about your boyfriend for a second and look at the big picture,” said Tony, glaring at you. You ignored him.

“Loki,” you turned back to Loki, taking his hands. “What will happen if you wield the stones?” you asked. He avoided your gaze, but squeezed your hands.

“Nobody has ever wielded more than two stones before,” he said gently.

“But you wielded both the scepter and the Tesseract,” you replied.

“Not at the same time. Even then, look how I turned out,” he snapped bitterly, surprising you, so you let go of his hands.

“Okay, so what do we do now?” you asked the rest of the team, feeling Loki’s guilt-filled gaze on you the whole time.

-

Loki decided to stay back in the common area with Bruce, Thor, Dr. Strange and Wong, so that night, you got ready for bed alone. You tossed and turned to find a comfortable position, but with the looming threat of a universal war, your anxiety ate up at you. You ended up staying awake far longer than you wanted to, even though you kept your eyes shut. It also didn’t help that you had become so used to sleeping in Loki’s arms that your body had unintentionally become conditioned to stay awake unless he was holding you.

You didn’t know how long you laid on your side, pretending to sleep until you heard the door open and the pitter patter of Loki’s footsteps coming into the bedroom. Slowly, the bed dipped and you felt him drape an arm around your waist, burying his face in your hair. It wasn’t until you felt his slow breaths against the nape of your neck that you finally relaxed, finally drifting off to a fitful slumber.

Sleep didn’t last very long.

You were rudely awakened by Loki’s violent thrashing next to you, mumbling nonsense in his sleep. You immediately sat up, trying to shake him awake from the terrible nightmare he seemed to be having.

“Loki! Wake up!” you shouted, and his eyes shot open, his hands going straight to your neck and slamming you down onto the mattress, causing you to let out a choking gasp.

His blue-green eyes were wide and wild, pupils dilated as he glared at you, his hands slowly squeezing your neck tighter.

“Loki, stop! It’s me!” you choked out, trying to push him off.

Just as you were about to run out of air, you saw the slow realization settle into his eyes and he pulled back, gasping. The dark purple bruises that formed on your neck slowly disappeared as your healing abilities set in, leaving your skin unblemished as if nothing ever happened. It didn’t hurt, but you could still feel phantom hands pressing down against your airway as you caressed your throat with your fingertips. You didn’t dwell on it long though, you were more concerned over Loki, so you reached out to him slowly, the way one would approach an injured animal.

“Loki…” you called out, but he wrapped his arms around his knees, burying his face in them as his body shook.

“Loki?” you repeated, touching his arm gingerly.

When he lifted his face, his eyes were brimming with tears, fear and anguish evident in his eyes. He slowly called out your name.

“Darling, I’m so sorry,” he cried.

You immediately wrapped your arms around him and let him cry into your shoulder. You rubbed your hands up and down his back, whispering comforting promises that everything is fine.

“Do you want to talk about it?” you asked once his sobs subsided. He pulled away, not meeting your gaze.

“No, it was just a nightmare. Go back to sleep, love,” he replied dismissively, laying back down with his back to you.

You kept quiet, simply putting your arm around his waist as you spooned him. You didn’t want to push him, so you dropped the subject, trying to convince yourself that he’ll come to you himself when he’s ready, and you’d meet him halfway. Still, you couldn’t stop the awful dread that started to coil around your heart.

The next few nights continued in the same pattern - Loki would come back late, have debilitating nightmares and wouldn’t talk to you about it. Loki wouldn’t tell you about his plans with Bruce, Thor, Dr. Strange and Wong on how to deal with Thanos even when you asked him, and slowly, you felt a deep chasm start to form between you and him, driving you to the brink of insanity.

For the sake of not losing your mind, you decided rant to Natasha about it during training one morning, conveying your concerns over Loki’s clandestinity.

“He has these terrifying nightmares that cause him to shake and cry in the middle of the night. The first night it happened he ended up choking me in his lack of lucidity, but it hasn’t happened since, thankfully,” you mutter as you lift some weights alongside Natasha.

“Maybe he’s just stressed. He’s been planning strategies with Bruce and Thor and the wizards a lot lately. They haven’t relayed their plans to the rest of the team either,” Natasha replied, her form perfect.

“I just wish he’d talk to me. We’re in a relationship, for heaven’s sake - you’d think that would warrant some form of trust,” you sighed, dropping your weights and turning to her. She paused and did the same before turning to you.

“Wait, where did Loki say he was when he left that one time? For six whole months?” Natasha asked suddenly, as if she just had an epiphany.

“He was back in Asgard, mending things with his father and getting some form of therapy,” you replied, looking at her confusedly.

“And you trust him? You trust that was all he did during those six months?”

“Of course I do. What are you insinuating?” you asked, getting defensive.

Natasha sighed and said your name gently.

“Loki is the God of Mischief and Lies. And he’s worked with Thanos before. It doesn't feel like a coincidence that he comes back after months of disappearing, and then all of a sudden Thanos is coming to attack us. Are you sure there’s nothing more to it?” she gently prodded. You took in a sharp breath.

“No. He wouldn’t. He wouldn’t do that to me…” you trailed off, Natasha’s words sowing seeds of doubt in your heart.

“Are you sure?” she asked. You realized you weren’t.

“I don’t know,” you breathed out.

“I’m just saying we should be careful,” she simply replied, before lifting her weights again.

You tried your best not to dwell on it, but with how Loki has been acting lately, it was hard not to give weight on what she implied.

That afternoon, you heard loud shouts coming from the conference room and you curiously walked in to see what the commotion was about. To your surprise, Tony, Steve, Clint and Natasha sat across from Loki, who was spewing venom towards them.

“Fess up, Reindeer Games. Are you just using Tinkerbell over there to resume your plans to take over the world?” asked Tony, his tone accusatory.

“What utter nonsense are you spouting, Stark?” Loki retorted, glaring at Tony.

“What’s going on?” you asked, looking back and forth at everyone in the room.

“You said he was hiding something,” Clint deadpanned, his arms crossed. You felt Loki’s gaze shoot towards you, a mixture of hurt and anger evident in his eyes.

“I never said that!” you exclaimed, not even noticing that Bruce and Thor had also walked into the room.

“You insinuated it. You said you didn’t know if you could trust him,” said Natasha, her voice level and calm, unlike yours.

“Stop putting words in my mouth!” you cried at the same time as Loki turned to you and asked, “Is that true?”

An awkward silence fell upon the room as you and Loki stared at each other, neither of you knowing what to say. Suddenly Thor cleared his throat, trying to cut the tension that was clearly lingering in the air.

“What’s going on? What did my brother do?” asked Thor.

“I didn’t do anything!” Loki growled.

“Tinkerbell over there told Romanoff that Loki’s been distant and having nightmares every night, and he wouldn’t tell her whatever the hell you guys are planning. We’re thinking that he’s hiding from her in case she sees through his real intentions and the fact that he is actually working with Thanos,” Tony replied, glaring at Loki.

The muscle in Loki’s jaw visibly tightened as he grit his teeth, but he kept quiet.

“That’s nonsense. My brother has turned over a new leaf. He’s on our side,” Thor argued.

“Thor’s right. Loki knows the ins and outs of Thanos’ army the best. He has been helping us to come up with a plan to deal with Thanos,” Bruce added.

“So why be so secretive about it? If it benefits us all, why wouldn’t you just tell us?” asked Steve, finally speaking up after having been quiet this entire time.

“Because the plans weren’t ready yet. We didn’t want to give out false hope only to be defeated. The last time we did that, Ultron ended up almost destroying the world,” replied Bruce.

Another bout of silence fell upon the room and you wanted to get on your knees and beg Loki for forgiveness for this misunderstanding that got out of hand.

“So what is the plan?” asked Steve.

“Loki, you can tell them,” said Thor. Loki scoffed, but turned to Steve.

“The playing field is currently even. Assuming that Thanos already went to Vormir for the Soul Stone, Thanos currently has three stones, and once Thor and I get the Tesseract from Asgard, we’ll also have three,” he began.

“In order to stand a chance against the Mad Titan, we’ll need a gauntlet of our own,” he continued.

“We’re thinking of using nanotechnology to build one. We’re also trying to figure out how to pry the Mind Stone out of Vision’s head without shutting him down completely,” added Bruce.

Everyone kept quiet as they considered the plan in their minds, and you desperately tried to catch Loki’s eye.

“We just finalized the plans today and wanted to announce it to the rest of the team today, but I guess you guys beat us to it,” Bruce said lamely. Tony cleared his throat.

“Right. I’ll help you with the gauntlet then,” said Tony, crossing his arms.

“Aren’t you going to apologize?” you glared at Tony. He sighed and turned to Loki.

“Fine. I’m sorry, Rock of Ages,” Tony mumbled. Steve sighed.

“We truly are, Loki. These are uncertain times, and everyone’s on guard, but we shouldn’t have ambushed you like that,” said Steve.

Similar apologies started to pour out across the room, and Loki simply nodded, indicating his acceptance.

As if nothing ever happened, the group resumed to discuss the plans, Steve mentioning that he might know someone in Wakanda that can help with extracting the Mind Stone from Vision safely, while Tony and Bruce started discussing the details of the gauntlet. Even Loki seemed to have dropped the issue, but you could tell that he was still upset, and you felt regret and shame start to creep their way into your heart.

After a while, the group started to disperse, and you chased Loki down the hallway, trying to catch up with him.

“Loki!” you called out. He turned around angrily and glared at you.

“What? What else are you going to accuse me of this time?” he growled at you.

“I didn’t accuse you of anything! I just confided in Natasha, who happens to be my best friend, that my significant other is being distant,” you explained yourself, hoping he’d understand.

“You couldn’t have just talked to me?” he asked, his voice shaking from anger.

“How could I have? You kept avoiding me!” you cried, tears of frustration already streaming down your face.

“You should’ve just trusted me! Why even be with me if you can’t even do that?” he shouted.

“How could I trust you when you never tell me anything?” you yelled back.

“Then don’t!” he bared his teeth at you, turning around to walk away. You scoffed at him.

“So what now? Are you going to leave me again because things are hard?” you asked sarcastically.

He turned around abruptly and clenched his jaw.

“Right now, I am tempted to do just that,” he spat venomously.

You glared at him furiously, but even your fiery eyes couldn’t hide the fact that he just shattered your heart into a million pieces.

Chapter Text

In the following days, everyone worked in tandem with each other to formulate a plan that may or may not work. Steve had gone to Wakanda, a small country in East Africa, to seek the help of the Wakandan Kingdom. Apparently, when Steve was found beaten and bruised on a bank of a lake a few years ago, he had been reunited with an old friend, Bucky Barnes, who also had been injected with the Super Soldier serum, but he was brainwashed by Hydra to do their nasty biddings. Steve had somehow befriended the Wakandan King, T’challa, who offered to rehabilitate the brooding Super Soldier.

Back at the compound, Tony and Bruce had worked tirelessly to build a gauntlet using nanotechnology. Thor and Loki had gone back to Asgard and promptly returned with the Tesseract and the fake gauntlet that had been sitting in their weapons vault. While it couldn’t exactly wield the Infinity Stones, Loki mentioned that it could be used as a prototype to model the one Tony and Bruce were building after, which turned out to be a great idea and made it easier on the Science Bros™ to create the very weapon that could determine the fate of the universe.

Besides that, Bruce, being the brilliant scientist and selfless man that he was, managed to figure out a way to merge his consciousness with the Hulk’s body, so while he was now perpetually huge and green, he didn’t come with the volatile temper that usually accompanied the Hulk. When asked why he did this, he told everyone that the Hulk’s form would be able to withstand the radiation that would be emitted if one were to wield the Infinity Stones, thus by doing so, he would be able to help in case Thor or Loki couldn’t get to the gauntlet in time. He wanted to increase the chances of the universe being saved.

Everything seemed to go well, but you couldn’t help the feeling of dread that only grew ever since the moment you saw Bruce step out of the portal with Dr. Strange and Wong back at Tony’s vacation house. It was a quiet, creeping presence that slowly overtook your mind. What started with a faint, uneasy sensation – an underlying discomfort that seemed unplaceable – gradually intensified, its tendrils weaving into the fabric of your life. It burrowed deeply into your thoughts and manifested as a heavy weight on your chest, a gnawing anxiety that never releases its grasp. The dread became a pervasive force, altering perceptions and draining your energy.

All made worse by the fact that you and Loki were no longer speaking to each other.

It wasn’t as if you didn’t try to reconcile with him after your argument. Shortly after the shouting match in the hallway, you had waited in the room you shared, staying up well past sunrise, but he never came back. You assumed that he opted to sleep in the lab with the rest of the planning team, but then a few nights went by and there were still no signs of him returning to the room you shared. Eventually, you gave up, going back to your own quarters to sleep so he’d at least have his bed back to sleep comfortably in. You figured that with time, he was surely going to come around.

Weeks of meticulous planning and increasing anxiety passed.

With the Wakandan government deciding to lend a hand, a group of misfits from outer space who called themselves the ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ that included a talking raccoon and a not-so-eloquent tree having arrived weeks ago – claiming that they too, have a bone to pick with Thanos – and some Asgardian warriors that Thor managed to rally, the Avengers Compound had never been more crowded. Even Tony, who was usually apprehensive of strangers entering the compound, seemed to welcome the extra help. If Bruce’s warning were anything to go by, any and all help was welcomed.

Yet you couldn’t stop the harrowing loneliness that crushed your bones. You and Loki had only exchanged curt glances and clipped words when necessary, both egos clashing and neither wanting to back down. You could tell that Tony, Thor and Natasha were getting worried, but between trying to save the universe and handling the sudden influx of people within the compound, they didn’t have time to try to salvage your relationship with Loki like they did all those times before, and it seemed like neither you nor Loki did either.

Slowly, you felt the distance between you and Loki grow – especially when you saw him interact with the female members of this newfound army. He was naturally flirty and charming, so you didn’t hold that against him. Despite your fight, you knew Loki wouldn’t cheat on you. Nevertheless, jealousy burned through your veins, but you didn’t let it show, festering the open wound on your heart silently. You missed him so much, yet you didn’t let yourself cry, silently vowing to yourself that if you made it out alive from this looming war, then you would do everything in your power to keep him by your side.

And then one day, the roof collapsed on top of everyone.

There was something extremely heavy on top of your body and you moaned in pain. Suddenly the weight was gone, and you felt your body mend itself. You slowly opened your eyes to see Thor lifting a huge slab of concrete off you, offering you a hand to help you up. You groaned as you stood up, brushing dust off your shoulders and coughing.

“Are you alright?” asked Thor. He seemed to have a few scratches, but nothing too serious.

“I’m fine. What happened?” you asked, trying to see through the wreckage around you.

“He’s here,” he replied, his voice low. Your heart dropped.

“Thanos,”

Thor only nodded solemnly.

The dread that had been prevalent in your heart increased tenfold, and you quietly clicked on the little button on the necklace Tony had given you, housing your battle suit that was modified with nanotechnology. Within seconds, you were suited up, ready for battle.

“It’s time then,” you breathed out, straightening your spine and pushing your shoulders back.

Thor helped you out of the rubble and you were relieved that only a handful of your comrades were injured by the crash. Thanos had shot a canon right onto the roof of the compound, immediately reducing it to crumbles. You scanned the rest of your army, all in various states of disarray after having an entire building collapse on top of them.

Amongst them, you spot Loki, his face glum, glaring at the army on the opposite side. Standing right at the front lines, looking smug and nasty, was Thanos.

Even from a distance, you could tell that he was a daunting presence. The Mad Titan was large, muscular and had distinctive purple skin. He had a prominent chin that made him look mean. On his right hand, a golden gauntlet shone with three gems – purple, red and orange. Based on the numerous meetings you had amongst your team, those were the Power, Reality and Soul Stones. You turned to your left to see Bruce wielding the gauntlet he had built with Tony, housing the rest of the Infinity Stones – the Time, Mind and Space Stones. They glowed ominously, causing your anxiety to spike. The odds were even. Both sides had three stones. In order to stop Thanos, the plan was to seize the gauntlet from him and get the rest of the stones to Bruce, where he would then snap his fingers and turn Thanos and his army into dust. Under no circumstances should Thanos wield all six stones at once. The consequences of that were dire – not only for Earth, but the rest of the universe too.

There was a an eerie, tense, quiet moment where both sides faced each other, tensions rising. The compound, which was once filled with greenery, now turned yellow and brown as the grass and trees burned from Thanos’ initial attack. The air was charged with hostile anticipation as everyone prepared for the impending clash.

You glanced at Loki again, looking strong and ready to fight. If you didn’t know any better, you wouldn’t even be able tell that he was scared. But you did know better, and you could tell that there was a flash of fear and that apprehensive dread in his eyes. Loki was terrified. You knew how hard and awful this was for him – facing his captor and torturer again. You longed to stand by his side and offer him your support. Alas, there were more important things at hand.

Thanos’ army charged at you, and you barely had the time to register Thor’s battle cry before you were fighting off three, alien-looking warriors at once, swiftly dodging their attacks and landing powerful blows onto them. Another two came at you and managed to slash your arm using their sceptre, drawing blood, but your body made quick work of healing the wound, and two seconds later, no one would be able to tell that you ever got injured if not for your blood-stained sleeve. You knocked them off their feet with an energy blast, and promptly used your powers to separate the ground beneath them and bury them deep down to the Earth’s core, instantly killing them.

Around you, pure chaos commenced, soldiers from both sides falling like flies. You healed whoever you managed to reach in time, but soon stopped doing so when you felt your energy level quickly depleting, lest you become a useless weight on your army instead of being able to fight alongside them. In your peripheral vision, you spotted Thor and Steve fighting against Thanos together, but they were quickly losing.

Knowing that you had to do something to help, you ran towards them, not noticing that a huge creature crawling on its hands and feet trailed behind you, roaring angrily. Using its massive claws, it slashed your back and your screamed in pain, your healing ability working slower than usual due to your depleting energy. You fell onto the ground, scrambling to get away from it as it growled, approaching you predatorily.

Suddenly you heard a sharp, slicing whoosh, followed by a wet gurgle from the creature before its head fell off its body. You gasped and looked up to see Loki holding a blood-stained sword, breathing heavily like he had ran from across the field to get to you.

You choked back a sob when his eyes met yours, and suddenly whatever you were fighting over felt like it didn’t matter anymore. All that mattered was that you loved him, and you knew that he felt the same. You both stared at each other, conveying everything spoken words could not reveal through your longing gazes. But the moment only lasted for a few milliseconds, because as soon as he realized that your wound had healed again, his gaze hardened.

“Go,” he said, and you nodded, standing up.

You made to run when he grabbed your wrist, making you whip your head around.

“Be safe,” he said quietly, and you felt your lower lip wobble, your heart mending and breaking at the same time.

“You too,” you replied, your voice cracking slightly, before making a run towards Thor and Steve to lend a hand to them.

You jumped onto Thanos’ back, balancing yourself on his shoulders as you harnessed the frost from the sky to conjure multiple ice-picks that stabbed the sides of his skull. He screamed in pain as Thor slammed Mjölnir repeatedly into his abdomen while Steve tried his hardest to pry the gauntlet off Thanos. Realizing that Thanos was still kicking and screaming, you split the ground where he stood to immobilize him by sinking him into the ground, halfway through his calves up to his knees.

You were momentarily distracted when Steve managed to take the gauntlet off, racing towards Bruce, who was stationed at the back of the lines, in order to conserve energy. In that one moment, Thanos managed to throw you off his shoulders and slam Thor across the field with just one hand, demonstrating how strong he truly was.

“Get me my gauntlet back!” he roared, sending a swarm of his acolytes after Steve.

He started to go after Steve as well, but you sent a large fire blast towards him, burning his back and knocking him onto the ground. He didn’t stay down for long though, for he immediately turned and glared at you, walking towards you menacingly. You felt your blood rush to your head and your knees start to shake, but you kept your stance, glaring back at him. He approached you slowly before coming to pause, seemingly having come to a realization.

“You’re a celestial,” he mused. You grit your teeth.

“What’s it to you?” you asked.

“Join me, child. You will flourish amongst my people,” he replied, extending his hand towards you. You scowled in disgust.

“I would rather die than join you – you sadistic psycho grape bitch,” you spat, flipping him off. Mentally, you could see Tony applauding your quick comeback.

“I applaud your fiery courage, child. You will make an excellent addition to my family,” Thanos chuckled.

"I will be complicit to your disgusting pursuits," you growled. His gaze hardened, and he grasped your neck in his giant hand.

"Join me, or embrace oblivion," he replied menacingly, tightening his grip around your neck.

You struggled to breathe, squirming and landing blow by blow against him to get away, but to no avail. He lifted you off the ground and you felt your feet grow cold as your airway gets cut off. Suddenly Thanos let go and you sucked in a huge gulp of air, lifting your head up to see that Tony had sent a giant blast against Thanos, knocking him off his feet. Tony quickly flew to you and helped you up.

“You okay, Tinkerbell?” he asked, checking your body for injuries.

“I’m fine,” you replied, the bruises on your neck already healing.

“Good, because Pepper would kill me if anything happened to you,” he quipped, before turning to Thanos, who seemed like he was disorientated by Tony’s attack.

“Hey there, Barney the Dinosaur, I already called dibs on calling the kid ‘my child’, so why don’t you go fuck yourself?” Tony shouted, standing in front of you.

Thanos growled, and began attack Tony, but the latter was nothing but quick and efficient, and with your assistance, it was easy to knock the Mad Titan down.

Across the field, Steve rushed to get the rest of the stones to Bruce, with help from the rest of your allies. After knocking Thanos down, you had joined forces with Nat and Wanda, fighting enemies left and right, getting closer and closer to where Bruce stood. Unfortunately, you were quickly outnumbered, and you heard a loud, painful roar before turning to see that one of Thanos’ lackeys had stabbed a large spear through Bruce’s abdomen, the hilt sticking out of him obscenely. The lackey was quickly killed by Clint, who shot an arrow right through its eye.

You quickly rushed towards Bruce, trying to heal his wound, but between your depleting energy levels and the severity of Bruce’s injury, you couldn’t heal him completely – just enough to prevent him from experiencing an untimely death.

You felt more than saw your allies’ rising panic. You looked around and saw that most of them had fallen – even Thor was severely injured. It was impossible to heal everyone at once. You were losing, and even Steve and Tony looked defeated. In that moment of distraction, one of Thanos’ minions snatched the gauntlet from Steve and returned it to Thanos, who used the Power Stone to pry the remaining three stones from Bruce’s gauntlet. That dread you felt since the beginning fully engulfed you, dissipating any glimmer of hope.

It's over. You lost.

You frantically turned to look for Loki, but he was nowhere to be found. No, things couldn’t end like this. Not before telling him that you loved him one last time.

“You tried, and you lost,” said Thanos, now wielding all six Infinity Stones.

His voice boomed even over the ear-ringing cheers from his army.

“I am inevitable,” he continued, before snapping his fingers.

You shut your eyes tightly, tears streaming down your face as you braced for impact. For a moment, everything was silent. But nothing happened. You opened your eyes to see everyone looking surprised and confused – even Thanos. He stared at the gauntlet on his hand before his eyes widened in realization. The gauntlet he wore quickly disappeared in a glimmer of green, and he turned around to see Loki standing behind him, wearing the actual gauntlet with the six stones.

“You’ve always been a fan of my illusions, haven’t you, Thanos?” Loki asked, smirking.

“Laufeyson,” Thanos growled.

“It’s the God of Mischief to you – and you, scum, will never be a God,” said Loki, before snapping his fingers.

There was a collective gasp before a blinding light burst from Loki, and a few moments later, one by one, you saw the members of Thanos’ army reduced into dust. You watched as a litany of expressions cross Thanos’ face – anger, disbelief, grief – before he too disappeared.

Loki managed to hold on for only a minute to watch his tormentor’s defeat before he collapsed onto the ground. You ran to him and pried the gauntlet off his hand before pulling him, so he rested on your lap. His entire right-hand side was burnt – like he had just been in a house fire. His breathing was laboured, and his eyes fell shut.

“Loki, wake up. Don’t you dare die on me!” you growled, trying your hardest to use your remaining energy to heal most of his burns.

Loki didn’t respond, and you shook him vigorously, trying to keep him awake.

“Loki! Open your eyes! We won! You saved us! WAKE UP!” you screamed, tears streaming down your face.

You desperately called out his name repeatedly, telling him how sorry you were, and how much you loved him. But no matter how many times you begged him to wake up, he never did. He remained still – almost like he was sleeping peacefully.

Your ears began to ring. The compound, despite the pure carnage left by the war, was eerily silent. You could hear a gut-wrenching, desolate wail over the sounds of crackling fire.

It wasn’t until Thor kneeled next to you and Tony pulled you into his arms that you realized that the wail was actually coming from yourself.

Chapter Text

You hadn’t known it then, but you had collapsed mere moments after healing Loki, your energy utterly depleted. When you woke, three days had passed since the war's end. The room you were in was sterile, too bright, too quiet. The infirmary. The moment you realized where you were, you ripped out the wires tethering you to the machines, ignoring the frantic protests of the nurses around you. Your legs were unsteady, but desperation drove you forward, a single name thrumming in your mind.

Loki.

You found him at last in one of the recovery rooms, his still body swallowed by pristine white sheets, the steady beep of the monitors a cruel reminder that he was alive – but barely. Wires and tubes snaked across his skin, his right side covered in bandages. You swallowed hard as you took his hand; it was cold, too cold. Trembling, you peeled back the sheets, your breath catching at the sight of the burns marring his body.

“I didn’t finish,” you whispered, voice shaking. “I didn’t heal him completely,”

You steadied yourself, taking a deep breath before channeling your powers. The golden glow of your healing energy spread over his wounds, knitting together fresh skin where charred flesh had been. But it wasn’t enough. The damage was too deep; the scars would remain, carved into his skin like cruel reminders of the pain he endured. A choked sob escaped your lips as you pressed his hand to your face, whispering apologies between shallow breaths.

A deep voice calling out your name broke the silence.

“You’ve done all you could,”

You turned, finding Thor standing in the doorway, his usually mighty presence dimmed by exhaustion. He limped slightly as he entered, his gaze fixed on Loki. You let go of Loki’s hand and reached for Thor’s instead, your powers instinctively healing his wounds.

He sighed in relief.

“Thank you, Lady Tinkerbell. I see that you’ve fully recovered then. You had us all worried for a moment there – Stark nearly lost his mind when you collapsed,” he said, smiling softly at you. You forced a small smile.

“I’m fine, Thor. Are you feeling okay?” you asked.

“I’m feeling mighty fine now that you’ve healed me,” he replied.

Smiling slightly, you patted his arm and turned your attention back to Loki.

“What’s wrong with him? Why isn’t he waking up? I’ve checked, I’ve healed everything I could, but he still won’t wake up,” your voice cracked. Thor exhaled heavily, his expression darkening.

“The power of Infinity Stones are beyond our understanding. We know not the toll they take on those who wield them,” he replied, his voice darkening.

Tears streamed down your face as you let out as shaky breath. Pressing Loki’s hand to your lips, you silently prayed to any God that would listen to see those blue-green eyes one more time.

A month after the war, Prince T’challa of Wakanda shared his resources to repair any damage that has occurred. Along with Tony’s wealth, they restored any damage in no time. Thor had taken the Infinity Stones back to Asgard where his father destroyed them successfully, ensuring it will never fall into the wrong hands ever again. Shortly after waking up, you went around to help heal everyone’s injuries, and soon, it was as if the war never even happened.

And yet, Loki still laid unconscious on the bed, unmoving. Every day, you’d wake up and channel even more healing energy to him, yet every day, he remained asleep, silent save for the rhythmic beeping of the machine monitoring his vitals.

“Wake up… Please wake up, my love. I’m so sorry,” you’d whisper every day, tears streaming down your face.

Days blurred into nights. You ignored your own needs, refusing food, sleep, anything that might pull you away from him. You couldn’t miss it—the moment he opened his eyes. Because he had to. He had to.

One day, as you were resting your head against Loki’s cold hand, staring at him tiredly, the scent of grease and salt pulled you from your trance. A large object blocked your view of Loki. You blinked up at Tony, who waved a cheeseburger in front of your face before flopping into a chair.

“You’re skin and bones, kid. Eat,”

You sighed but took the burger, unwrapping it slowly. It should have been delicious, but it tasted like nothing. You forced yourself to swallow, if only to stop Tony from nagging.

“He’s not dead,” Tony said flatly, arms crossed. “Stop acting like he is,”

You set the burger down, looking away. You grabbed some tissues from the bedside and wiped the grease and ketchup from your lips, turning to look at Loki longingly again.

“He might as well be. It’s been a month. What if he never wakes up?” Tony was silent for a long moment.

Then, he broke his silence, his voice softer than you expected it to be.

“Even if he doesn’t, he wouldn’t want this for you. He wouldn’t want you to be this miserable,” he said solemnly. Tears pricked your eyes.

“I can’t lose him, Tony. I can’t have our last proper conversation with each other be an argument. I can’t lose him, Not like this,” you said, choking back a sob.

Tony exhaled through his nose before standing and pulling you into an awkward but firm hug, consoling you to the best of his abilities.

Thor came in the next day, quieter than usual. He visited as often as he could, occasionally bringing a cup of steaming hot tea or coffee for you. He seemed different today. Apologetic, almost.

He sat across from you, staring at Loki’s still form. You knew he had something to say, but you were too exhausted to ask.

At last, he spoke your name—not Lady Tinkerbell, but your true name.

You looked up at him and noticed how weary he looked, probably mirroring your own expression.

“Yes, Thor?” you asked, your voice hushed.

“There is no easy way to say this,” he said quietly, fumbling with his hands.

It’s almost comical, really. The God of Thunder, who has lived a millennia compared to you, whose fought numerous vicious battles, whose power could not be compared to – looked like nothing more than a scared child about to tell his mother that he did something bad.

He hesitated before clearing this throat, as if to steady his voice.

“My father and I believe it best to take Loki to Asgard. Our healers understand his biology. If there is any hope, it lies there,” he said.

You stiffened.

Your fingers ran through Loki’s dark hair – still soft despite being in a coma for the past month.

“Do you truly believe that?” you asked, your voice trembling as you tried to hold back your tears.

“I do,” Thor replied, looking at you sadly.

Your heart splintered. Sending him away meant admitting you had failed. That you hadn’t been enough. But if it gave him even the slightest chance…

You swallowed hard.

“Will you keep me updated?” you asked, your vision blurring as tears started to form in your eyes.

“Every day,” Thor promised.

Nodding, you leaned down, pressing a kiss to Loki’s forehead.

“Come back to me, please,” you begged, your voice barely a whisper as you looked at his unconscious form before straightening up again.

“Alright Thor, you can take him,” you said, squeezing Loki’s hand.

A few hours later, a few Asgardian healers arrived via the Bifrost, placing Loki on a levitating stretcher and making sure his vitals were stable. Shortly afterward, you stood at the compound’s yard with Tony, Steve and Nat, watching as the healers guide Loki’s stretcher onto the runes burnt into the ground, Thor standing next to them, smiling sadly at you.

“I’ll let you know how he fares as soon as I can, Lady Tinkerbell,” he promised, before lifting his hammer up, and a bright light engulfed the group.

A few seconds later, they were gone. You felt a hand wrap around your shoulder, patting your back comfortingly.

“He’ll be back,” said Steve, looking up at the sky.

“I hope so,” you replied.

For weeks, Thor diligently contacted you through Heimdall, the guardian of the rainbow bridge. The updates came through voices in your head – which freaked you out at first, but as soon as you heard Thor’s voice, your vision blurred and you saw Loki through Heimdall’s eyes, surrounded by a golden glow the Asgardian healers call a ‘Soul Forge’.

During the first few weeks, there were no major breakthroughs. Loki’s condition remained the same, and even though Thor tried to hide the gravity of his injuries, you could tell that the situation was grim. Even so, he continued to provide you with updates on how Loki was doing.

On the 34th day since Thor took Loki back to Asgard, you waited for an update that never came.

You told yourself not to worry, that everything would be fine, that Loki was fine. When Thor finally reached out, he apologized, explaining that royal duties had kept him occupied. He provided the updates as usual, only this time, he didn’t broadcast Loki’s visual condition into your mind. He simply told you how Loki was, so you didn’t see Loki anymore.

Unfortunately from that day onwards, Thor only got busier, and the updates lessened in frequency, until they eventually just stopped coming.

Initially, you were beyond upset, understandably – the love of your life is in another realm and you had no idea if he was even alive or dead. And then, you became resigned.

Maybe… maybe this was it. Maybe Loki wasn’t coming back.

You tried to move on, throwing yourself into work, into missions. You lived with Tony and Pepper, doting on their newborn daughter, Morgan. You convinced yourself you were healing.

And yet, at night, you still cried yourself to sleep, thinking about what could’ve been.

A year passed.

You had just put baby Morgan down for her nap when Tony approached you, smiling softly at his sleeping daughter in her crib.

“Look at her. She’s got all the best features of me and Pepper,” he whispered, gently stroking Morgan’s chubby cheeks with the back of his index finger. You leaned down and rested your chin on the crib, smiling down at the baby.

“She’s perfect,” you replied, sighing wistfully. Tony turned to you and stroked your hair as well.

“How are you doing, kid?” he asked. You pushed his hand away, chuckling.

“I’m fine. Stop treating me like I’m a kid, you have your own baby now,” you replied playfully.

“You’ll always be my kid, Tinkerbell. Mine and Pepper’s firstborn,” he replied, ruffling your hair instead.

You pushed his hand away again, fixing you hair and laughing softly, glancing at Morgan again. After a moment of peaceful silence, Tony turned back to you again.

“How are you really, kid?” Tony asked.

You shake your head, refusing to meet his eyes.

“I don’t think he’s coming back this time, Tony,” you said sadly.

Tony was quiet, then: “And how do you feel about that?”

You exhaled shakily.

“As long as he’s okay, it’s fine if he doesn’t come back. Even if it breaks me,”

Tony rested a hand on your shoulder.

“Just don’t shut down, okay? You don’t have to do this alone,” he reassured you, squeezing your shoulder slightly. You smiled weakly.

“I know, Tony. Thank you,” you replied.

“Anytime, kid,” said Tony.

You figured that that was the only thing he could say, because what else could he even say to someone who lost everything?

Ever since the war, there wasn’t any intergalactic dangers that threatened the universe, but the Avengers still had to go around and work with the government to monitor any potential threats that may put the world in peril. Because of this, the newly renovated and improved Avengers’ Compound was still up and running, usually with Steve, Nat, Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes manning the front.

You often went to visit to see where you could help, deeming it a good enough distraction from the turmoil in your heart. Usually, it’s just meetings with the Security Council or holographic meet-ups with the Guardians of the Galaxy, who took it upon themselves to keep space safe. You typically sat in the meetings and doodled on a piece of paper, not really paying attention until you’re called upon.

Just like today, where Peter Quill and Rocket were talking about how they were recently attacked by the species of golden aliens called the Sovereigns. Steve, ever the hero, offered to help, but Peter declined, telling everyone that they’re able to handle it on their own.

You were deep in your doodles – just random, badly drawn pictures of cats, and the occasional, crossed out ‘Loki’, when all of a sudden the room shone with a familiar, bright light. Everyone turned their heads to look outside the window as your stomach churned.

Time seemed to move slowly as you walked towards the window, your hands trembling.

There they were.

Thor, grinning, waving animatedly at you. And behind him

Loki Laufeyson.

Alive.

Chapter Text

Thor and Loki arrived on Earth in their battle armors – reminiscent of all those years ago when the Avengers was first formed. Seeing Loki in his green and gold get up truly reminded you of the first time you met him, which made your heart clench achingly.

You weren’t sure how to react. Ever since the last time you saw him nearly two years ago – when Thor took him back to Asgard, you had managed to convince yourself that it was over, that he was gone, that he was no longer yours. You even tried to convince yourself that he died after the updates stopped coming, but somehow deep in your heart, you knew he was alive, he just wasn’t here by your side.

Everyone greeted them warmly – you supposed that after going through something as traumatic as an intergalactic war together, everyone had formed a sense of kinship and camaraderie with each other.

Thor gleefully announced that he had abdicated the throne, so when Odin stepped down a year ago, he made Loki the King of Asgard. Loki punched Thor’s bicep out of embarrassment, which honestly seemed out of character for him, but who were you to assume anything? You barely knew him now.

Even so, your heart ached again with how proud you were of him.

Seeing him again made your heart break and mend itself at the same time, so as the rest of the team greeted the pair in friendly-reunion fashion, you silently retreated to your quarters, which you kept despite living at Tony and Pepper’s cottage, because sometimes during missions, you still preferred to sleep at the Compound.

You let the biometric scanner scan your retina before entering your quarters. You walked across the living room – once filled with plants, now empty because you moved everything into your room at the cottage – into your bedroom. Just as you kicked the door shut, you felt a familiar presence behind you.

“Wouldn’t everyone miss you if you’re here?” you sighed, sitting at the corner of your bed.

“I cast a duplicate of myself at the common area. They wouldn’t notice I’m gone,” Loki replied silently, looking at you hesitantly.

You nodded, taking in his appearance. You couldn’t help but smirk.

“So… King Loki?” you said teasingly, trying to ease a palpable tension in the room. He snorted, placing his hands behind him.

“Rightfully. If I had left Asgard in the hands of my oaf of a brother, it would’ve been in shambles,” he replied dryly, though there was a clear hint of affection in his tone.

You let out a small chuckle, shaking your head fondly.

“You finally got everything you wanted, huh?” you asked, smiling softly at him. He looked back at you with a strange look on his face.

“Not everything,” he replied, the implication behind is tone heavy.

You actively ignored the blaring sirens in your head questioning whether it was a good idea to be in this close of a proximity with him before patting the spot next to you.

“Come sit, Loki,” you said, looking at him with a slight fear of rejection.

Thankfully, he obliged you without any hesitation. His warm presence made your heart flutter pathetically, and you longed to just climb into his lap and kiss the life out of him to show him how much you missed him. Alas, it’s been two years, so you were pretty sure your relationship was not what it was before, so you held back and cleared your throat.

“Are you fully healed?” you asked, trying to keep your voice steady.

“Yes. There’s scarring, but I hide them with illusions,” he replied.

You frowned. Sure, the burns were bad after he wielded the Infinity Stones two years ago, but surely, Asgard was advanced enough to get rid of any potential scarring, right? Especially since you managed to heal most of his physical injuries after the war.

“May I… may I see them?” you asked timidly.

Loki nodded, and shortly thereafter, a green glow washed over him, revealing marred skin that told a story he tried to make the world forget, making you gasp. Where smoothness once lived, now laid a patchwork of raised ridges and melted skin the color of roses wilted in the sun.

When Loki wielded the Infinity Stones two years ago, it wasn’t power he felt – it was fire. Not the kind that blazed and burned out, but the kind that clung to the soul, searing every nerve, every memory into permanence. A bright light shone when he snapped his fingers, and when the light died down, Thanos was gone, but so was the smooth, elegant skin that once adorned the trickster god – the love of your life. In its place was a cruel tapestry of charred lines – an unrelenting brand of sacrifice. You must’ve not been able to control your expression, because Loki immediately looked away in shame.

“It’s horrible, isn’t it? Everyone calls me a hero, but every time I catch my reflection, all I see is what it cost to be one,” he said softly, looking down at his hands.

You wanted to tell him that to you, he was still the most beautiful being in the entire universe, but your voice got caught in your throat. Misreading the look on your face, he immediately cast an illusion that made him look flawless again, then looked away.

“Loki, I should’ve… I should’ve healed you better, I…” you started, but he was quick to interrupt you.

“Stop. Don’t. It’s not your fault – none of it was your fault,” he said, looking at you almost pleadingly.

You kept silent then, not knowing what else to say other than how sorry you were. Your heart clenched painfully again, so you turned to him, your brows furrowed.

“I thought you died. After the war, you didn’t wake up no matter what I did, and then Thor stopped giving me updates, and… I thought you died, Loki,” you said, unable to help the tears that started to form in your eyes.

“I didn’t, darling. I’m alive,” he replied, motioning to himself.

“Well I didn’t know that, didn’t I?” you snapped, fresh, hot tears finally falling down your flushed cheeks.

You wiped them away angrily, frustrated that you couldn’t hold it together in front of him. Loki kept quiet for a moment before opening his mouth.

"Do not be cross at Thor. I was the one who told him to stop giving you updates on me when I woke up from the coma,” he said softly. You couldn’t help but scoff.

“You obviously didn’t want to come back, so why are you here now?” you asked, cringing internally when you sounded harsher than you intended.

“Because I missed you,” he replied, sending shockwaves to your heart that almost knocked you back.

You clenched your teeth, slightly annoyed at how the situation is unravelling. On one hand, you couldn’t stand the fact that he kept coming and leaving your life as he pleased, on the other hand, you deeply, truly, devastatingly missed him too.

“You can’t keep doing this to me, Loki,” you said, burying your face in your hands.

“I know,” he replied solemnly. “But I can’t help myself,” he added.

You lift your head up, glaring at him.

“How many times have you left me when things get a little hard? How many times have I forgiven you for it only to have you do it again?” you snapped.

“I didn’t leave you this time, didn’t I? It’s not like had much of a choice considering I was in a fucking coma,” he snapped back.

“But you didn’t come back!” you yelled, tears of frustration rolling down your cheeks. “You woke up, but you didn’t come back for me... It’s been two years, Loki…” you trailed off.

That shut him up.

He had nothing to say to that, so he simply pulled you into his arms, despite your protests, hitting his chest and trying to get away. Eventually you gave up on fighting him, sobbing into his chest. He buried his nose in your hair, inhaling your scent deeply – as if it was the first breath of fresh air he’s had in a while.

“I’m so, so sorry. I don’t know what else to say other than the fact that I’m sorry, and that I am still so in love with you,” he murmured, making you cry harder.

“You’re being mean,” you said in between sobs.

“I know. I am a selfish god, I keep hurting you over and over again, but I can’t let you go,” he whispered, holding you tighter.

You pushed him away. You didn’t know what to say to that. How many times has he told you he loved you, only to leave at the first sign of trouble?

“Please leave,” you said quietly, needing to be alone.

Loki called out your name, but when you turned away, he resigned, disappearing from your room, leaving you alone with your brewing thoughts.

Tony, as always, decided to throw a welcome back party for the Asgardian brothers that night.

Thor gleefully brought Asgardian mead straight from the vaults of his homeland, offering them to anyone who would try them. You held on to your cup – of punch, not alcohol – and watched the others as they danced and mingled with each other. Tony had decided to keep things small this time – only the Avengers were in attendance. You smiled softly, relishing in the peace that all of you fought so hard for. You wished this peace would last forever, but you knew that as long as the Earth stood, it was highly unlikely.

You excused yourself to the lawn, wanting to escape the hustle and bustle of the party. You sat on a bench by the lawn, staring up at the stars, glad that the Compound was far enough from the city to not engulf the stars in its lights.

The night air was cold, so you shivered slightly, but suddenly you felt a warm blanket form around you, and you didn’t have to turn around to see you was responsible for it. You felt him before you actually saw him. Loki’s presence was subtle, but familiar.

Loki sat next you, keeping a good distance between you. You turned to him, taking him in. He had changed into a more casual version of his Asgardian robes, but it still carried a sense of regality to it – especially now that he was King. He looked the same as he always did – beautiful as he always was, but now he carried an air of humility around him – looking older in his eyes.

For a moment, neither you nor Loki spoke, only the faint sound of the party going on in the Compound and the crickets singing filled the air. After a while, Loki spoke.

“It’s so quiet out here,” he said, looking up at the night sky.

“The stars are constant. They’re always here,” you replied. “Unlike you,” you added, turning to him.

Loki flinched – that probably hurt him – but he nodded, acknowledging it.

“I deserved that,” he replied.

The tension between you grew thicker. The culmination of grief, betrayal, love and something unfinished hung in the air.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to be mean,” you quickly said, clearing your throat.

“It’s alright,” he replied, looking at you with his big, blue-green eyes. You turned away, feeling your cheeks heat up despite the cool night air.

“I thought about why I didn’t come back when I could have,” he said. You sighed.

“Alright, let’s hear it,” you replied, turning back to him.

“We were fighting – before the war. You thought I was still working with Thanos,” he began.

“Loki…” you felt guilt choke you, but he quickly interrupted you, holding up his hand. “Listen to me. I don’t blame you for thinking that way. You were right, I was secretive and distrustful. You were right to doubt me – back then, I was still on the edge. I didn’t know if I’d betray the Avengers or not,” he explained.

Your brows furrowed, but he continued.

“I didn’t know how to come back from being the villain in your eyes. That’s why I ignored you in the days leading to the war. And then Thanos came, and suddenly it was so clear what I was supposed to do. When it mattered, I chose…” he trailed off.

“You chose,” you repeated, staring at him.

“I chose not to betray the Avengers, because it meant betraying you. I chose to wield the Infinity Stones that day because it meant saving you. I chose you, because nothing else matters if I have you,” he said, almost quietly, looking at his hands. You inhaled sharply, taking his words in.

“But you still didn’t come back,” you said, your voice cracking.

“I didn’t want you to see what I became. What the Stones did to me. I wasn’t sure I was even me anymore,” he explained, looking at you pleadingly.

“I don’t care about what you became or what you were. I just wanted you. After everything we’ve been through, was that still not clear? I love you, Loki. I love you more than anything in the entire universe. Was that not clear? Was that not enough for you to love me back?” you cried.

Loki scooted closer to you, cupping your face and wiping your tears that you didn't even know were descending your cheeks with his thumbs.

“I’m sorry, my love. You are my everything. I love you, I love only you, I love you no matter what. I’m sorry I ever made you doubt that,” he confessed, pulling you into a tight hug.

You were trembling now, torn between hurt and hope. After a few moments, you placed a hand on his chest, just over his heart – feeling it beat, real and alive.

“I would’ve waited for you my whole life if you didn’t come back, Loki. I waited for you to hold me like this for two years,” you whispered.

“And I dreamed of it every day,” he replied softly, eyes locked on yours.

Slowly, you leaned into each other, sitting there, forehead to forehead, letting silence mend what time could not. He leaned in, brushing his lips against yours, silently asking for your permission to kiss you. Tired of all the hurt and waiting, you leaned forward, pressing your lips against his in a kiss that made everything else feel like it didn’t matter.

Finally, finally, you were together again.

You laid in bed in your quarters together that night, just holding each other, relishing in the intimacy that you both craved for so long.

You blinked slowly at him while he played with your hair, looking at you full of longing and affection.

“So… you’re King of Asgard now,” you began.

“I am,” he replied, smiling softly.

“How did that come about, anyway?” you asked.

Loki shrugged, turning on his back and staring at the ceiling.

“After I woke up and recovered, Thor left, as you know. Said the throne never fit him. Gave it up without a second thought, then off he went gallivanting with a raccoon and a tree,” he chuckled under his breath, though it lacked real amusement.

“Rocket and Groot. They’re part of the Guardians of the Galaxy,” you added, and he nodded.

“Yes, them. Suddenly, I was the King. The crown fell to me – not stolen, not seized – given. Imagine that. After all the posturing, all the chaos… it was handed to me like some afterthought,” he trailed off, before continuing.

“I thought Father would protest. Tell me I wasn’t ready, that I wasn’t worthy, remind me of all the times I nearly razed Asgard to the ground. But he didn’t,”

There was a momentary pause. His voice quieted, caught between disbelief and reverence.

“He told me he was proud. That I had grown into something more than he ever imagined,” he swallowed hard, eyes lowering. “And I believed him – for a moment,”

You watched his expressions and realized something. The glint in his eyes isn’t all mischief anymore. It’s tempered now – by duty, by silence, by something heavier.

“Loki?” you whispered, lifting yourself up and leaning on your elbow, using your other hand to card your fingers through his hair.

“Pride is not clarity. I wear the crown, issue decrees, hold court like a proper monarch, and yet… every night I wonder when they’ll see through me. When I’ll see through myself,” he turned to you, and you saw the vulnerability in his eyes.

“I am not the man I was. But I’m not sure I’m the king Asgard needs either,” he confessed quietly.

“But I kept Asgard standing. I at least did that much. And I would’ve come back to you sooner, but… the gods help me, I was afraid that if I saw you again, I’d stop pretending that any of this matters,” he said, gazing at you softly.

Unable to help yourself, you leaned down, kissing him gently.

“My poor Loki,” Kiss. “You’ve spent your entire life trying to prove you’re more that what others thought of you, and now that you’re finally here, you doubt yourself,” you kissed him again, before pulling away, cupping his face.

“You think being king means being certain. But true kings – the good ones – they question themselves. They care. They doubt,” you smiled, soft and steady.

“You don’t need to be perfect, Loki. You never did. You just needed to stop measuring yourself against everyone else’s idea of who you should be,” you said, your thumbs brushing his cheekbones gently.

“You’ve managed to hold a kingdom together so far. You’ve kept peace, made hard choices and still kept the spark that makes you, you. That’s not failure, that’s strength,” you continued.

Your voice grew softer, more intimate.

“And if you’re still afraid? Good. Stay afraid. It means you’re still fighting to be better,” you smiled.

“Just… let someone fight with you this time. You don’t have to carry it alone,” you finished.

He looked at you like you were the only thing that existed. He pulled you into a deep kiss – one that made you feel the depth of his feelings for you.

“Come to Asgard,” he murmured against your lips.

“What?” you asked.

“Come to Asgard with me. Not as a guest. Not as a secret. Come as the one I trust beyond all others,” he whispered, pulling you on top of him.

There’s no demand in his voice – only the fragile hope of a man who’s spent a lifetime building walls, now quietly asking someone to break through them. Seeing the hope and affection in his eyes, your heart melted.

“Of course,” you replied.

Tony had given you the side-eye when you exited your room holding hands with Loki the next day, but he didn’t say anything. Nat smirked knowingly, while Thor apologized profusely to you for ghosting you when Loki woke up, but he was quickly shooed away by his brother.

After telling Tony and Pepper where you were going (you could see Tony about to protest if not for Pepper holding him back), Loki brought you to the lawn, to the Bifrost site where he and Thor arrived the day before.

He wrapped his arm around your waist and looked up to the sky.

“Hold on tight, darling,” he said. You immediately clutched his robes, looking at him in a panic.

“What? Why?” you asked.

He only smirked at you and then a bright light blinded you. You felt like you were being flung into the cosmos on a thread of rainbow fire. One moment you were grounded, the next you’re hurtling through a celestial wormhole of blinding color and roaring energy, your body stretched and compressed by forces beyond mortal comprehension. In the Bifrost, the wind didn’t howl – it screamed, and time distorted into something meaningless.

Loki, of course, seemed maddeningly unfazed. He only smirked as you gripped his waist like a lifeline. His broad frame was steady, barely swaying, while you fought to keep your feet and sanity intact. There was a faint scent of ozone and old magic around you, and you heard the faintest chuckle from him as you gasped loudly.

Just as the vertigo reached its peak and the universe began to feel like it might shatter around you – boom.

You were standing on the rainbow bridge of Asgard, knees shaking, lungs heaving and stars still dancing behind your eyes. Loki steadied you, laughing softly as he made sure you were able to stand on your own two feet.

“Are you alright, love?” he asked, a teasing tilt evident in his voice.

“I’m fine,” you breathed out, holding onto him tightly before letting go.

You were greeted by a presence of something ancient and immovable – less a man, more a sentinel carved from golden stone and starlight. He stood at the edge of the Bifrost, tall and regal, eyes like burning suns that saw everything – and you knew instantly that he saw you. His amber eyes locked onto yours the moment you arrived, and it wasn’t just a look. It was knowing. There was no suspicion nor judgment – just quiet recognition.

Heimdall – the all seeing, all-hearing guardian of the rainbow bridge.

“Welcome,” he said, voice like distant thunder, warm but unshakably firm. “You are the one who anchors our King when the storm rises,”

You barely managed a nod, still faintly trembling from the Bifrost.

“You have walked a difficult path to stand beside him,” he said, raising his chin towards Loki.

“His burden is great,” he continued, with the faintest smile. “It is good that he does not carry it alone,”

Behind you, Loki cleared his throat, a possessive hand at the small of your back – subtle enough not to announce it, but firm enough that Heimdall didn’t miss it. Heimdall dipped his head – not to you, not exactly – but to what you meant to Loki, to Asgard.

“You are welcome in Asgard,” he simply said. “And under my watch, you are safe,”

It was hard to say thank you to a being who has likely watched every breath you’ve ever taken, but something about his steady presence reassured you. Not just because of his words, but because of the way he said them – as if this, too, he had seen long before it ever came to pass.

The golden light of Asgard bathed everything in a surreal glow as Heimdall stepped aside to allow you and Loki to pass. The doors to the palace loomed ahead – massive, ornate and carved with stories you’ve never heard but feel like you should know. You walked down the rainbow bridge with Loki, arm-in-arm. Every step across it echoed with quiet significance. As you neared the palace entrance, Loki leaned toward you, his voice velvet-smooth and laced with amusement.

“You looked absolutely terrified, by the way. Clutching me like I was the last raft on a sinking Midgardian cruise ship,” he teased. You shot him a sideways glare.

“You were the last raft. And you didn’t exactly prepare me for getting hurled across the universe,” you grumbled.

“Where would the fun in that be?” he smirked, kissing your temple.

The palace doors opened with a low, resonant hum, and you stepped into a grand hall shimmering with light and ancient magic. Golden walls stretched impossibly high. Every corner gleamed. Yet, despite the grandeur, your heart was beating for one reason only – the steady presence at your side, who held your arm with just enough pressure to ground you. He turned to you and smiled.

“Welcome to Asgard, my love,” he said.

And for once, Asgard’s impossible beauty paled beside the curve of his smile meant only for you. You smiled back, letting go of his arm and looked around, spotting the throne at the end of the grand hall.

“So… this is where you issue your decrees, Your Majesty?” you asked teasingly, gesturing toward the throne.

“That and more. I plan to do many, many more things on the throne. Things that involve you,” he replied, wiggling his eyebrows.

You rolled your eyes, your cheeks burning at the innuendo. It had been two years since you had been intimate with him, or anyone, and the thought of being able to make love to him again made your heart flutter.

After touring the grand hall, Loki led you down a quieter corridor – quartz and starlight underfoot, shadows dancing across gilded walls. The royal guards you passed nodded respectfully, but said nothing. Even silence here felt ceremonial. Loki did not speak until the last corner was turned and you were ushered into a private chamber – his chamber.

You looked around in awe as you crossed the threshold. It was quieter than what you expected a king’s quarters would be. Opulent, yes, with green velvet drapes and dark wood carved with runes, but there was something intimate here. It felt… lived-in. There were books half-opened on the table, a fire dancing lazily in the hearth and a half-empty wineglass on the windowsill.

The door closed behind you with a soft click. Then he was behind you, fingers ghosting over your nape, grounding you with that same unsettling grace – like a storm that had momentarily decided to be gentle.

“You’re pale,” he murmured against your ear, his tone soft but teasing. “Was it the Bifrost or Heimdall’s all-seeing judgment that rattled you more?”

You breathed out a laugh, turning your head just enough to meet his eyes.

“Neither. It’s all of this. Everything is so real now,” you replied, turning around in his arms.

He studied you – quiet, serious, a flicker of something ancient behind his gaze. And then he kissed you – not urgently, not for show, but slow and steady and claiming, like he’s anchoring you to this realm, to him, to the life that might become yours if you stayed.

His hands settled at your waist, yours at the nape of his neck, and for a while, there was no kingdom, no weight of crowns, no watchful eyes. Just you, and the God of Mischief, King of Asgard, who also happened to be the love of your life. Slowly, he deepened the kiss, making your knees weak and heart flutter.

Then he pulled away with a pained expression, confusing you.

"What is it?" you asked, concern marring your features.

"I don't want to rush this," he murmured, brushing his fingers through your hair.

You rolled your eyes playfully.

"It's been two years, Loki, I think we've done enough waiting," you said, pulling him in for another kiss.

He chuckled against your lips, pushing you back slightly until your knees hit the back of his bed.

Gently, he laid you down and climbed on top of you, never once breaking the kiss. You enjoyed the feeling of his full weight on top of you - something you missed desperately. You couldn't help but arch into him - your desire building - earning a delicious groan from him. He pulled away and looked down at you, his pupils blown with arousal.

"Are you sure?" he asked, caressing your cheek with the back of his hand.

"100%," you replied with a grin, running your fingers through his hair. He seemed to hesitate, so you raised a brow at him.

"Loki?" you asked.

"I'm about to ask you something that might make you angry," he said hesitantly, making you furrow your brows.

"What?" you asked again.

"Did you... during those two years, did you... have anybody else?" he asked, insecurity seeping into his usually arrogant tone. You stared at him in surprise for a moment, and then burst into laughter.

"Why? Would you be jealous if I did?" you smirked, knowing that it would most definitely torture him.

"Well... I know I absolutely have no right to be, and you are your own person outside of our relationship and you can do whatever you wish to do, but... yes, I would be extremely, abhorrently jealous," he confessed with a painful groan. You laughed again, cupping his face and pulling him into a gentle kiss.

"No, Loki. I did not have anyone the last two years. Did you?" you asked, rubbing your thumbs over his cheekbones affectionately.

"No. I didn't... have anyone either," he replied, shaking his head. You chuckled, kissing him again.

"Well good, now let's get on with it, because I haven't had any action for two freaking years," you joked, making him laugh.

He leaned down to kiss you deeply, before slowly trailing his mouth down your jawline, and then mouthing at a particularly sensitive spot on your neck, making you moan softly. His fingers trailed down your body, before starting to unbutton your blouse at an excruciatingly slow pace.

"No magic?" you asked breathlessly, running your fingers up and down his covered back.

"No, let me savor you," he murmured against your skin, making you keen.

Slowly, he moved down, kissing every bit of exposed skin before finally taking your blouse off. He looked at you reverently, his fingers moving to your back to unhook your bra and toss it aside. You felt unusually shy, resisting the urge to cover your chest. He seemed to have noticed, so he leaned down to kiss your clavicle, making your breaths grow heavier.

"Loki..." you whispered, burying one of your hands in his hair, while the other gripped his shoulder.

He hummed, trailing his tongue down your sternum and between your breasts, looking up at you with a look that made you want to combust with arousal.

"What is it, darling?" he asked, his voice low and husky. You swallowed.

"I'd like to take your clothes off, but I don't know how," you confessed, your cheeks flushing red.

He chuckled, and with a wave of his hand, his torso was bare, revealing toned muscles that you couldn't help but run your hands over. Realizing something, you paused, making him look at you curiously.

"Loki," you whispered, pulling him close. You kissed him gently, cupping his face again.

"No illusions. I want you, just as you are," you whispered against his lips. He pulled back, swallowing nervously.

"Are you sure? I'm hideous," he laughed self-deprecatingly. You furrowed your brows.

"No, Loki, you're beautiful. Let me see you, please?" you pleaded.

He stared at you for a moment, before sighing, closing his eyes as his illusions dropped, revealing his burns. You smiled, caressing his face gently before kissing him again.

"My Loki," you whispered. "My beautiful, perfect Loki - I love you so much,"

He seemed to relax in your arms, letting out a sound almost sounded like a whine.

"You are everything," he murmured against your lips, before kissing you a bit harder.

You kissed him back just as passionately, your tongues dancing with each other in a desperate waltz. He broke the kiss to trail kisses down your neck again before cupping your breasts tenderly, rubbing his thumbs over your nipples, making them peak. You whimpered, and he leaned down to kiss your breasts lovingly before taking one of your peaks into his hot mouth. You let out a moan and arched your back, feeling his tongue swirl and flick against your nipple before he began sucking gently. He quickly moved to the other side to give it the same attention, making you writhe with pleasure.

Once he was finished, leaving your nipples glistening with saliva and pleasantly swollen, he started to kiss down your stomach, nipping at your skin and soothing it with his tongue. His eyes trail up your torso to your face, silently asking for permission to strip you further. You nodded, lifting your hips to allow him to pull down your pants, feeling slightly nervous but excited at the same time. He smiled up at you, tracing the edges of your underwear teasingly before pulling it down as well, leaving you bare before him.

His hands roamed your curves reverently, as if you were the most precious treasure. His leaned down to kiss your stomach and hips, making you squirm with anticipation. He smiled against your skin and looked up at you with a hungry gaze, his eyes dark with desire.

"Shall I stop?" he asked, an infuriating smirk gracing his face.

"Don't," you warned, your breaths heavy. He chuckled and continued licking and kissing a path to your mound, where he paused to look up at you again.

"Mine," he whispered.

"Yours, all yours," you echoed, spreading your legs slightly.

He hummed, grabbing your thighs and spreading them open to reveal your wetness, making him groan at the sight. He pressed kisses against your inner thighs, deliberately skipping your center before moving on to the other side, making you whine and squirm impatiently. He held your hips down with just enough pressure to keep you from moving, then lifted your thighs onto his shoulders, coming face to face with your dripping cunt.

"Loki..." you whined desperately, feeling his hot breath against your wetness.

"I'm here, darling," he whispered before licking up a stripe up your pussy, causing you to let out a loud moan.

You felt him smirk against you as he swirls his tongue around your sensitive bud, making your eyes roll back in pleasure. Your hands automatically flew to his hair, gripping the dark locks and guiding his face to where it gave you the most pleasure. He groaned appreciatively, flicking his tongue against your clit and sucking it gently, making your back arch off the bed. You panted and moaned freely, rolling your hips against his handsome face as he ate you out like a man starved. You felt one finger tease your dripping entrance, making you whine.

"You want this?" he asked against your pussy, his finger circling and pressing against your entrance, but never quite entering.

"Yes, Loki, please," you begged desperately, bucking your hips slightly.

He chuckled and slowly pressed his finger in, and your eyes rolled to the back of your head in pleasure again. Of course, for the past two years, you've tried pleasuring yourself, imagining this exact moment, but nothing - absolutely nothing - compared to this. His finger started to move in and out of your cunt, his tongue and lips still licking and sucking at your clit. After a while, he inserted another finger, curling and pressing them against the spongy part at the roof of your pussy, making you moan his name loudly. Seemingly pleased by your reactions, he continued to do so, feasting on your pussy and fingering you they way he knew you'd enjoy, because if you were being honest, nobody knew your body better than the way Loki Laufeyson did.

Eventually your legs started to shake on his broad shoulders, and you started tugging harder on his hair, your moans higher in pitch and increasing in frequency. He knew exactly what he was doing, so he increased the pace of his fingers and flicked his tongue faster, sucking harder, kissing messier.

"Oh... Loki! I'm... oh my god, I'm so close!" you cried out.

"Cum," he growled against your cunt.

"Cum for me, my beloved. Cum on my face," he continued, his voice carrying a command that only served to arouse you even more.

You clearly didn't need anymore prodding, because a mere seconds later, you came against his face, your pussy gushing against his tongue and fingers, screaming his name so loud you were afraid the guards outside his quarters would think he's murdering you.

Loki drank your essence up greedily, as if quenching a deep-seated thirst and you were ambrosia itself. He continued to lap your juices up until you clamped your thighs around his head, trembling and overstimulated by pleasure. Gently, he pried your thighs away, pressing soft kisses against them before sitting up, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. You whimpered as you saw the way he looked at you - his pupils swallowing the blue-green irises to the point where his eyes appeared black.

"Loki..." you whined, pulling him closer. "Pants off,"

He chuckled, untying the strings on his pants and shoving them off, revealing his throbbing erection, springing up eagerly against his stomach. You whimpered at the sight, pulling him even closer.

"Loki... I missed you so much," you whispered, kissing him gently.

"I missed you so desperately that there were times I felt like destroying the universe just to get to you," he replied, brushing his lips against yours.

"I'd rather you not," you joked, brushing your fingers through his hair, making him chuckle.

"I didn't," he replied, pressing his lips against yours again, kissing you passionately.

He rubbed his member against your slick fold, making you mewl. He pulled away slightly, looking into your eyes pleadingly.

"May I?" he asked, his desperation mirroring your own.

"Please," you whimpered, holding onto him tightly.

He kissed you one more time before pressing the tip of his cock against your entrance, finally breaching the tight ring of muscles. The feeling was phenomenal - like sliding back home, like a fullness you never knew was possible. You both moaned into each other's mouth as he pressed further, making sure to go slowly to get you accustomed to his size. Eventually he bottomed out, his pubic hair pressing against your clit, making you unconsciously tighten around him. He pulled away from the kiss, looking down at you adoringly.

"Okay?" he asked, brushing your hair out of your face.

"Perfect," you replied breathlessly.

He smiled and kissed you again, moving his hips experimentally, not wanting to overwhelm you. He swallowed your moans, thrusting in and out of you at a steady pace, before pulling away and burying his face into the side of your neck, muffling his moans against your skin.

"You feel so fucking good, my love," he groaned, nipping at your skin, making you mewl.

You kissed his shoulder, whimpering as his pace quickened slightly.

"Loki... yes," you moaned.

He continued this pace for a while before stopping, lifting himself up to look at you.

"What's wrong?" you asked, confused and concerned.

"My darling," he said, his voice strained. "I love you very, very much, and I promise to make love to you gently and sensually one of these days, but I am desperate to fuck your brains out right now," he finished, making you raise your brows in surprise.

"Seriously?" you asked, giggling.

"Please, love," he begged, leaning down to kiss you, rolling his hips against you.

You moaned softly before nodding.

"Okay, Loki, you can fuck me," you smiled, caressing his face lovingly.

He grinned and kissed you again before sitting up so he was on his knees, gripping your hips with his large hands.

"I love you," he said, before giving you a hard thrust that made you gasp loudly.

He started pounding into you recklessly, your body shoving up the mattress if it weren't for his tight grip on your hips. Your breasts bounced with every hard thrust and your back arched off the bed as he fucked you roughly, making your eyes roll back and your tongue lolling out of your mouth obscenely.

"Oh my god, Loki!" you screamed, earning a delicious growl of your name from him.

"You. Are. So. Beautiful," he groaned, punctuating each word with a hard thrust.

You sobbed in pleasure, unable to form any word except his name and a string of praises for him, which only encouraged him to fuck you harder. Eventually it all became too much, and your pussy started to clench around his member.

"That's it, my love. Cum on my cock like a good girl," he growled, his dick still pistoning in and out of your pussy.

"Loki!" you gasped, getting closer and closer to the edge.

He leaned down to give you a deep, messy kiss, and it didn't take long for you to shatter around him, your walls clinging onto him so tightly that it made his hips stutter. He followed you over to the edge shortly after, filling you with his hot, sticky cum until it leaked out of your used cunt. You whimpered against his mouth when he collapsed onto you, pushing him slightly.

"You're crushing me," you murmured against his mouth, making him groan.

"Sorry," he mumbled, before slowly pulling out of you and rolling off you, immediately pulling you into his arms and pressing his lips against your forehead.

You could feel the mixture of your juices drip out of your sensitive cunt, and cheeks reddened. He seemed to have noticed, so he smiled at you, cupping your cheek affectionately.

"Are you uncomfortable?" he asked softly, caressing your cheekbone with his thumb. You shook your head, nuzzling your face against his palm.

"No," you replied, smiling softly as you looked up at him. He leaned down to kiss you gently, pulling you closer against him.

"You did so well, my love. I missed you so much," he whispered against your lips.

"I missed you too, my Loki," you replied, pressing your lips against his again briefly before pulling away. "I love you,"

"I love you too," he replied, kissing you again deeply. Suddenly, he said something that made your heart skip a beat.

"Marry me,"

Now cleaned and dressed in an elegant Asgardian gown - stitched from starlight and woven with magic, courtesy of Loki, of course - you paced the chamber in restless circles, your bare feet silent against the polished floor. His eyes followed your every step from where he lounged on the bed, a soft curve of a smile playing on his lips as if he already knew your answer. You stopped abruptly, staring at him like he’d just upended the world beneath your feet.

“Ask me again?” you demanded, planting your hands on your hips, though your voice betrayed a tremor of disbelief.

“Marry me,” he said again, unfazed. “Right here. Right now. On Asgard. Marry me,”

His grin was boyish, maddening, and filled with too much love. Like it was the simplest truth in all the realms.

“Marry you?” you threw your hands in the air, torn between laughter and shock.

“Loki, we just found our way back to each other - after everything. After nearly losing each other,” you exclaimed.

“Which is why we shouldn’t waste another second,” he said without hesitation, his voice calm and certain. “I’ve lived lifetimes chasing power, chasing approval… and none of it mattered until I had you. I want forever with you.”

You exhaled shakily and crossed the room to him, the weight of his words still settling in your chest. Standing between his legs, you draped your arms over his shoulders, and his hands found your waist instantly, grounding you.

“You’re King now,” you murmured, almost in awe.

“I am,” he replied, his voice quieter now, as if even he was still getting used to the idea.

“You rule Asgard,” you said again, looking into his eyes.

“And oversee the other eight realms,” he added with a lopsided smile.

“Marrying you means…” you trailed off.

“That you would be my queen,” he finished gently, cutting through your fears. “Not just by title, but in purpose. With you, the throne isn’t a burden. It’s future I want. You give it meaning. You give me meaning.”

You sank into his lap, your walls beginning to fall away as you buried your face into the crook of his neck. He smelled like storm-charged air and something familiar - like home.

“What about Earth? My family? The Avengers?” you asked, your voice muffled, vulnerable.

Your thoughts drifted to Tony, Pepper and Morgan. He pressed a kiss to the top of your head, his fingers rubbing slow circles against your back.

“The Bifrost is yours to command. Your world doesn’t vanish, my love. You’ll always have both,” he assured, his voice soft. You pulled back, searching his face.

“And Asgard? Will they accept me? I don’t know how to be a Queen, Loki. I don’t even know where to begin,” you sighed. Loki chuckled softly, brushing a strand of hair behind your ear.

“You begin with your heart. The rest will follow. They will love you - as I do - fiercely. Unconditionally,” he replied.

You looked into his eyes, luminous with sincerity, and for a moment, all the noise in your mind faded. He said your name like it was sacred. Touched your cheek with reverence.

“Marry me,” he whispered again.

In that moment, you felt the fear and doubt lift, replaced by something far stronger. You smiled, leaning in to kiss him slowly, sweetly. When you pulled away, your forehead rested against his, your eyes still closed.

“You’re impossible, Loki Laufeyson,” you breathed.

Then softly, with your soul pressed against his, you took a deep breath.

“Yes. I will marry you,”

There was no time for invitations. No grand feast, no silks flown in from other realms, no throngs of noble guests dressed in ceremonial gold.

The decision had been made just hours ago - his voice steady, yours trembling with something between disbelief and joy. But neither of you wanted to wait. So under the hues of gold and lavender of Asgard’s eternal sky, you stood with Loki before an elder seidr priest.

The priest was wrapped in silvery robes, carrying a staff etched with runes older than the stars. This was no public celebration. This was a union woven in quiet reverence. You stood in a temple belonging to Loki, the Bifrost and cosmos spilling into view. Behind you, the golden palace rose like celestial blades piercing the heavens.

Loki wore black and emerald ceremonial robes, accented with subtle golden embroidery - elegant, but not ostentatious. He looked nothing like the trickster of old. His gaze was solemn, open, but it still carried that mischievous flicker that only you could read. His crown - a golden helmet with long elaborate horns - lay at his feet. He wanted no titles between you.

You stood opposite him in a gown conjured by Asgardian magic - woven from moonlight and river mist, the fabric shifting softly with your every breath. A circlet of star-laced silver adorned your brow, delicate as frost on glass.

The priest began the ancient rites in calm, resonant tones that seemed to harmonise with the wind. He spoke of balance, of fire and frost, of light and shadow. Of how love, when true, could anchor a should across realms and time.

Loki reached for your hands, holding them as though the universe might shatter if he let go. A rune-stone was placed between your palms, carved with both your names in Old Norse. The priest then wrapped your intertwined hands with a golden thread - a symbol of fate now entwined.

“I bind my soul to yours,” Loki began, his voice low but unwavering. “Not as King, not as a god, but as a man who chooses you, over and over, in every life, in every world,” he finished.

Tears shimmered in your eyes, catching the last light of day.

“And I bind mine to yours,” you replied. “Not because I must, but because my heart has known no home but you,” you continued, squeezing his hands.

The priest raised his staff.

“By seidr and stars, by the All and the Void, so you are bound. Let nothing undo what has been spoken beneath the eternal sky. Two hearts made whole. Two souls, one flame.” said the priest.

The golden thread burned gently between your palms, the rune-stone dissolving into sparks that danced into the air and vanished among the stars. Loki leaned forward, resting his forehead against yours.

“I vow to love you, not only through the peace, but through the most vicious of storms,” he whispered. “And we’re both made of storms, aren’t we?” he smirked.

“Then let it rain,” you smiled.

Under the twilight of Asgard’s eternal sky, with no witnesses but the priest, the stars and the wind, you and Loki sealed your union with a kiss.

Two weeks later, the blinding rainbow lights of the Bifrost brought you back to the lawn of the Avengers Compound. You held onto Loki’s arm, still unsteady from your travels, but quickly gathered yourself.

“Are we ready for this?” you whispered, fingers tightening around Loki’s.

“Darling, I have faced Titan warlords and survived the wrath of Odin himself,” Loki murmured. “Facing Stark shouldn’t unnerve me,” he continued, even though you could sense a hint of nervousness in his voice.

You smiled at him, and then you both walked into the building. Inside, the Avengers gathered around for a debrief.

Tony spotted you first.

“You two are finally back,” he started, stepping forward, then froze.

“Wait… what the hell is that on your finger?” he asked, his voice shaking with fury.

You smiled nervously and held up your hand, showing off the gold ring Loki had conjured the night of your wedding, a matching one on his own finger.

“We got married. In Asgard. Just… the two of us,” you trailed off.

There was a full five seconds of silence before the room burst into an array of reactions.

“What the actual hell?” Tony exploded, glaring at Loki like he was ready to put on his suit and relive the entire Battle of New York again. “You married her? Without telling me? Without me?!”

“Secret marriages now? That’s very sneaky of you,” Natasha smirked, leaning against the wall, arms crossed.

Thor, however, was already sobbing. Big, loud, heartfelt tears.

“I knew it! I knew it! True love!” he stumbled over and crushed both you and Loki into a big hug. “I always said you’d be good for each other!”

“Congratulations, you two,” Steve chuckled.

Clint smiled. “Took you two long enough,”

“So… does that make you Queen of Asgard now?” Bruce wondered aloud.

Tony was still pacing like a lunatic.

“No. Nope. I refuse. I didn’t even get to threaten him with a plasma cannon first. This is unacceptable. We’re doing this properly - Earth style. With tuxedos and speeches and me walking her down the aisle. And you, Reindeer Games, are going to stand there and smile while I give away my kid.” Tony exclaimed, pointing at Loki threateningly.

“Must we endure a second wedding?” Loki sighed theatrically.

“You know he’s not asking,” you smiled apologetically, squeezing his hand.

Tony arranged everything with surprising efficiency.

Two days later, everyone was gathered at the Stark Estate at sunset. A gentle breeze rustled through the tall trees lining the estate’s grounds. Golden lanterns swayed above, and soft, orchestral music gently lulled in the background. The aisle was draped in ivy and twilight, leading to a white stone altar under an open sky.

Steve stood beneath the altar, dressed in a dark suit with a crisp white shirt. The Captain’s demeanor is softened by a smile that had seen both battle and peace. Today, he wasn’t a soldier. He was a friend, ready to officiate a wedding between a god and a girl whom Tony Stark called his own.

Loki stood waiting, regal in a custom-tailored black suit with a high-collared green cape brushing the grass, his fingers twitching slightly with nervous energy. Beside him, Thor beamed with pride, dressed in formal Asgardian armour adapted for Midgard flair. Bruce and Clint stood just behind them, both in tuxes, both exchanging the occasional teasing glance at the groom.

A hush fell over the gathering, then came the music.

Morgan Stark, a vision in a tiny white dress peppered with wildflowers, marched down the aisle, scattering petals like confetti. She took her job very seriously, though she paused halfway to glare at Loki.

“Don’t hurt my sister!” she threatened, making the crowd laugh, and even Loki chuckled.

Then the guests rose.

Tony, looking both sharp and on the verge of emotional combustion, walked you down the aisle.

“Are you sure about this, Tinkerbell?” Tony whispered as you walked down the aisle. “If you’re getting cold feet, you can bail now. I’ll take care of everything,” he continued.

“I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life, Tony,” you chuckled, squeezing Tony’s arm.

You were radiant in an iridescent gown threaded with gold and stardust, a fusion of Asgardian elegance and Earth’s romance. You hair danced in the wind like a silver flame, eyes locked only on Loki.

Pepper sat on the front row, dabbing her eyes with a handkerchief, her smile bittersweet and proud.

As you reached the altar, Tony held on for a moment longer.

“Let me be clear. If you hurt her, I’ll find a way to turn your bones into pudding,” he whispered to Loki.

“I believe you,” Loki murmured respectfully.

Tony kissed your forehead, placed your hand into Loki’s and stepped aside.

Natasha, poised and graceful in a deep crimson dress, stood beside you as maid of honour, eyes sharp and protective - but with a rare softness only reserved for moments like this.

Steve cleared his throat, stepping forward with that calm authority only he possessed.

“We’ve all fought wars,” he began, his voice strong and even.

“We’ve lost people. We’ve carried burdens bigger than ourselves. But what brought us here today isn’t war - it’s love. It’s finding someone who sees you completely, and stays. Who chooses you every day, even when you’re not easy to love,” Steve glanced at Loki, who for once, didn’t smirk. He simply watched you as though you were a miracle.

“Loki Laufeyson,” Steve continued, “Do you vow to stand beside her, not as a god or king, but as her partner, equal and true? To protect her heart, trust her power, and never use illusions to get out of arguments?”

“I do,” Loki said, his voice low but steady. “Even the illusion clause,” he added, earning soft chuckles from you and the crowd.

Steve said your name.

“Do you vow to walk with Loki, to match him mischief for mischief, to love all his chaos and calm, and never weaponise the elements during disagreements?” he asked, smiling at you.

“I do,” you replied, smiling through sudden tears. “But no promises on the elements,” you joked.

Thor sniffed loudly. Steve smiled, nodding.

“Then by the authority vested in me… through a website that Bruce showed me to get ordained, I now pronounce you… husband and wife. You may kiss -“

Loki didn’t wait. He pulled you into a kiss that lit the lanterns above in a ripple of golden magic, petals spiralling upward as the wind caught your veil like wings. The crowd erupted into cheers.

“Okay. Fine. I like him. Today,” Tony murmured to Pepper.

“They’re perfect,” Pepper laughed, still wiping her eyes.

As you turned to face the crowd - family, heroes, spies and mortals alike, you squeezed Loki’s hand.

“Ready to go home?” you asked, smiling at him.

“With you?” Loki said, lips brushing your ear.

“Always.”

The end.