thundering silence...

“Okay, but what am I supposed to do with a God, Tony?! I am a regular human being! No superpowers! I can’t stop him from doing anything!” You yelled, not giving a single fuck that he was married to your boss.

“It doesn’t matter. For some reason Reindeer Games listens to you and both Thor and I are needed on this mission, so we can’t babysit him,” Tony went to turn back to his lab work, before rethinking and adding, “Oh, and I need you to watch Morgan too.”

Tony, Loki, and Morgan were already waiting for you in the Avenger’s community kitchen. Morgan always loved playing dress up with you, so you decided to show up in a beautiful sundress that ended right at your knees. Your hair was styled nicely around your face, and you had put on some light makeup. It certainly was dressier than you usually were at work, but for that little girl, you would do anything.

Upon seeing you, Morgan wiggled out of her father’s arms and ran to you, crashing at full force into your legs with a tight embrace.

“Princess Y/N! I missed you!” You grinned, lightly ruffling her hair, and scooping her up in your arms. You joined Tony and Loki who sat at the large island, and you sat Morgan between them right on the counter.

“You know the routine, Y/N. Pepper will be back tonight to pick her up.” Tony stood up and gave his little daughter a big hug and a kiss.

“I love you, 3000.” He whispered into her hair, eliciting a bubbled giggle from the young Stark. With one last peck on her head, he left to on the mission.

And as soon as he left, Morgan wasted no time.

“Princess Y/N, Princess Y/N, “She yelled, grabbing your hand, and shaking it around with all her five-year-old might, “Sing the song, sing the song, SING THE SONG!”

You couldn’t help but roll your eyes at her antics, blatantly seeing her father’s stubbornness in miniature form. You opened your mouth, ready to answer her, but you then saw Loki who still sat at the end of the island. For a moment, you forgot that he was even there, but he was intently staring at you and the intensity of his piercing blue eyes made you shift uneasily.

“No, Morgan, not today. We are going to make you some lunch.” You said sternly, but you should have realized that much like her father, she wasn’t going to let this go.

With balled up fists and wildly kicking feet that thumped on the side of the kitchen island, she, the little Stark, scolded you with the firepower of a hundred stars, “PRINCESS Y/N, SING THE SONG!! You promised the last time that you would sing me the song whenever I had asked, and I am ASKING.”

Then you heard the sniffle. Oh no. Morgan was pulling out the big guns as her eyes started to water and her pouty lower lip began quivering ever so slightly. You sighed, already to cave when you heard him. Loki.

“Yes, you better sing the song…. Princess.” Loki’s deep velvety voice was unmistakable and a secret pleasure of yours. It was weird to hear him call you ‘Princess’, yet it was strangely not unwelcome. Now, he rested his head in his hands and he looked at you. Expectantly.

You let out a long sigh before turning on your pseudo princess charm like a light switch. With a big grin on your face, you curtsied to your much larger audience, much larger by the presence of one God, and opened your mouth to sing. All you could see was blackness as you closed your eyes tightly, doing anything to avoid the prince’s stare.

“A dream is a wish your heart makes when you're fast asleep.” You slowly started, placing your hands next to your face as if you were sleeping. Singing was always a secret joy for you and Morgan had only heard you once before. It was a complete accident, honestly. You were making her lunch when you started to sing the familiar song from Cinderella. When her parents came to retrieve her from your baby-sitting services, she was about ready to spill the beans. It’s not like you were self-conscious about your voice, in fact, you had an amazing, light, and melodic voice that you were proud of. It was the stage fright that got you, performing in front of others. Performing, if you could call it that, in front of a child was easy enough, but you knew deep down Tony would insist you sing songs all the time and maybe have you sing at one of his endless and infamous parties.

And being in your position, you were less likely to say no. So, you begged. You begged a five-year-old to keep your secret. She only had one condition.

Sing her Disney songs whenever she asked.

You were quite impressed by her wit and her negotiating skills. She definitely was an amazing combination of her two powerful parents.

“In dreams you will lose your heartache. Whatever you wish for, you keep. Have faith in your dreams and someday your rainbow will come smiling through,” You sang on, now finding yourself smiling as you got lost in the tune, “No matter how your heart is grieving, if you keep on believing…The dream that you wish will come true.”

Ding.

Dong.

Ding.

Dong.

Jarvis must have been listening as the gong of an antique clock boomed through the speakers in the kitchen. Cautiously, you peeped through one eye and thankfully it landed on Morgan. You knew if you could keep your focus on her, you could keep on going. Playing along, you crossed your arms, tapped your foot in annoyance and peered up at the speakers.

“Oh, that clock! Oh, killjoy.” You grumbled, throwing your hands up, exasperated by the fake clock, “I hear you! ‘Come on, get up’, you say! Time to start another day!”

You gave a pointed look at Morgan and rolled your eyes, “Even he orders me around!” She giggled, thrilled by you and your singing and it warmed your heart. Being indebted to sing Disney songs for the rest of your life was a small price to pay if your reward was her laughs.

“Well, there is one thing…They can’t order me to stop dreaming!” Again, you closed your eyes and began to sing again, “And perhaps someday, the dreams I wish will come true.”

You opened your eyes when you heard applause. It was a combination of Morgan’s excited little hands, clapping with unbridled enthusiasm and Loki’s, slow, but deliberate claps. Instantly, your eyes snapped over to him. You had gotten so lost in your song that you totally forgot that he was there. And there at the kitchen island, not too far from Morgan, he sat, with a soft smile on his face and an unreadable emotion in his eyes. He was clapping…for you?

“You have a lovely voice, Y/N.” His deep voice sent shivers down your spine, but before you could answer, Morgan was answering for you.

“PRINCESS Y/N,” She corrected him, with a roll of her eyes. She had zero fear for the powerful man next to her and you loved it, “She sings these songs and so she is a princess.”

“Singing certainly is not how one becomes a Princess, I assure you, little Stark.” The confused crease in Loki’s brow softened his usual scowl as he debated with the little girl. The size difference between the two of them was massive. Even with Morgan sitting at the counter, Loki towered over the young girl. Still, she remained unfazed. In anything, she dug her heels in more.

“No, no, no,” She started to argue, “In all the Disney movies, all the Princesses sing and Y/N sings, so she is a princess!” The young girl said this was such certainty that you even wondered if you could be royalty.

“Well, this isn’t one of your Midgardian movies, little Stark. You only become a prince or princess by becoming royalty, either through birth, marriage, or war,” He grinned at the last addition, “I am a Prince of Asgard. I would know.”

An explosion might as well had gone off in young Morgan’s mind as her eyes widened like saucers and she scurried on the counter until she was right in front of the tall God.

“You’re a prince?!” She shouted, her tone filled with both shock and wonder. You had expected Loki to roll his eyes at the young child or say something sarcastic, but much to your surprise he didn’t. His face was soft. His smile, gentle. He looked like an ordinary man, having an ordinary conversation with a young child. Your heart started to thud wildly in your chest as you took in the heartwarming scene. You found yourself studying his features; his strong cheek bones, his long, black locks, and those piercing blue eyes that were always so intense. Looking him over, you certainly could not deny his handsomeness. Loki was likely the most beautiful person you had ever laid eyes on.

You also couldn’t deny your curiosity about why he acted so docile around you only. It plagued you at night as you tried to sleep. The fact that it drove you crazy, drove you even more crazy. Some nights, you would consider the fact that he liked you…romantically. But just as the thought went into your head, you cast it out like the Hel demon it was. You were a normal mortal woman, and he was a God, an actual Prince. And even if you were on the same playing field, there was no way you could risk you job by getting involved with Loki of Asgard.

“You should dance! The prince always dances with the princess!” Morgan’s excited words pulled you from your thoughts and immediately you were trying to get yourself out of the hole you dug yourself in.

“No, Morgan, absolutely not.” You said firmly. But, of course, Loki was never predictable.

“Well, Princess, it is a custom of the royal court for the Prince and Princess to dance.” The bastard grinned at you with his signature, Loki-grin.

“Yes! What he said! Royal custom!” Morgan added. Great, now they were teaming up. This was the last thing you needed.

“And why should I care about…royal custom,” You sneered, crossing your arms in annoyance.

The massive God and the little girl shared a look and they both smiled at the same time. It was as if they had the same exact thought. Yet, you only had one thought.

Uh oh.

“It would make the King quite unhappy, and you never want to upset the king.” Loki all but purred. The man was smooth, you give him that.

“Yes, King Daddy!”

“King Stark,” Loki corrected Morgan and she nodded enthusiastically. For a long moment, you stared at the two of them, their eyes sparkling with mischief. Then it hit you. This little girl was threatening to tell on you to her father with Loki’s help! Now, you were far from a push over. You were no super soldier, but you held your own among the Stark Tower and you briefly considered calling this child out on her bluff. Then you looked at Loki and still, like always, he stared at you. His eyes were bore into yours, calculating your next move.

“Fine. One dance!” Loki wasn’t the only one with a tendency for unpredictability. A dance wouldn’t hurt and even with Loki’s history, his tame demeanor around you left you with little worries for your safety. Without a second of hesitation, Loki was out of his chair and now standing in front of you. He all but jumped out his seat and his eagerness was a bit jarring. But you had little time to overthink about his apparent excitement to dance with you since he was now towering over you. Now, you were doing the staring as you thickly swallowed, your tongue caught in your throat and at a loss for words now that he was so close to you. So close that you could smell his scent; a scent of pine and something that could only be described as distinctly Loki. It was heavenly.

Loki looked down at you, his eyes soft as ever. They were filled with such fondness that you never saw before. The trance was broken as Loki hummed a bit, seemingly remembering something. He lifted his hands and in a green flourish, magic burst in the kitchen and Loki changed from his casual attired to his royal Asgardian garb and you were in an incredible, silky, and elegant ballgown. Of course, the dress was in his signature color - green.

You gasped in amazement, drinking in the man before you. He certainly was a prince and as you looked him over, he certainly was a God. Loki was magnificent, regal, and he oozed power that you found intoxicating.

“Where’s your helmet?” You asked, before even realizing that the words slipped from your mouth. The odd question floated in the air along with Morgan’s excited clapping and hollering as a Disney movie played out right before her eyes. Thankfully, Loki did not find your question odd and instead chuckled. You never heard him laugh before, but you knew already that you wanted to hear it again.

“It isn’t great for dancing. I find that it gets in the way.”

Music started to pour out again from the speakers in the kitchen. It was a familiar tune, the same melody when Cinderella finally met Prince Charming. Of course, Jarvis would want to be a cheeky bastard too. It tickled Morgan to no end as another burst of giggles erupted from the little girl. She knew the song by heart of course and had made you sing it several times before.

“Dance, dance!” She called out, still sitting on the kitchen counter. Loki looked back at her, then back at you, and with the look he gave you, you knew he was asking for permission. You found it sweet and endearing and the more you thought about it, you didn’t mind the thought of dancing with him. Who wouldn’t want to dance with a prince?

You nodded, giving him the okay, as he placed a careful hand on your upper back, prompting you to put yours over his shoulder. His other hand clasped your free one as he began to lead you in the most breathless, romantic waltz. Your head was dizzy as you spun around and around in the kitchen, your feet almost lifting off the floor due to his tall frame. The dance was effortless and graceful, a true royal dance.

As you glided around the room in the arms of a prince, your eyes remained locked on Loki’s. You noticed the little green flecks in his eyes, the small scar above his eyebrow, and the sweet curve of his cupids bow. The fantasy was overwhelming, but you found yourself wanting to get lost in it no matter the consequences.

“Don’t forget the song!” Morgan chirped, breaking you out of your dream. Right, you were doing this for the amusement of a child. The familiar song danced into your ears, and you wanted to cringe. You wanted to hide. Anything, but this song! The fantasy was too compelling, and you were afraid of falling. You were even more afraid of falling and having no one there to catch you. Still, you sang.

“Mmmhmm….Mhmmmhmm,” You hummed, connecting with Loki’s eyes again, “So, this is love.” For a split second, Loki’s widened as he heard the lyrics, but they were quickly replaced by the gentle gaze that you were starting to become more familiar with. His grip on you tightened ever so slightly and he continued to lead you across the smooth kitchen tile.

“I’m all a glow…mmmhmm…and now I know the key to heaven is mine,” Somehow, sometime, you both started to smile wide at each other. Your cheeks started to hurt from the sheer happiness of the moment, but you didn’t care. During this moment, it was just you and Loki and your song. The song you were singing to him.

“My heart has wings and I can fly. I’ll touch every star in the sky…” And in that moment, Loki lifted you up as if you weighed nothing and spun you around. The song kept flowing out of you, even in between giggles. He carefully placed you down on the ground and your hands found themselves snaking around his neck.

“So, this is the miracle that I have been dreaming of…” And just like magnets, you and Loki started to pull towards one another. The softness of his lips, just lightly brushing against yours. Again, asking for permission.

“So, this is love…” And right before you closed the distance to finally kiss your Prince Charming…

DING

DONG

DING

DONG

The echoing of the clock blaring from the speakers thanks to Jarvis’ needs for relentless accuracy, shattered the fantasy like a broken mirror. This was far too close, much too intimate! You tore yourself from Loki’s arms and did the only thing you could think of. You bolted. The illusion of your green ballgown exploded in shimmery light behind you as you fled in panic down the hallway. The sparkly shoes that adorned your feet, now abandoned on the floor, were the last to burst and glimmer into nothingness.

“Not all Princesses have to run away, Y/N!” Morgan called after you, clearly annoyed by your cliché princess behavior.

For a moment, Loki stood there in shock watching your form flee into the distance. Inside, his heart was cracking. Little did you know, that ever since Loki laid eyes on you, he was completely head over heels for you. Everything about you enchanted him to no end; your eyes, your hair, your wit, and most of all, your kind and wonderful heart. For weeks, Loki fought against his feelings, feigning indifference whenever he had interactions with you. The fact that you were a mortal was the most unsettling part, but you were unlike any other mortal he had met. Each time he interacted with you, heard your sweet voice, or melodic laugh his infatuation grew. He knew he cared for you, maybe even loved you.

And so, he found himself trying to impress you. Every time he saw you with one of the other Avenger’s you were nothing but kind, almost relentlessly so. Everyone loved you because of it. You were everything good and wonderful, and well, Loki wasn’t. At least according to most of the other Avengers. So, putting his pride aside, he decided he would work to be worthy of you.

Loki began ignoring the snide, sarcastic comments from the other Avenger’s, ‘turning the other cheek;’ if you will. If someone asked him for something, even as simple as passing the salt, he would spare them his quips and do so with a genuine smile. Every now and again, he would offer his intellect and insight for projects Tony or Bruce were working on. He would see you observe and give a little impressed hum and the small gesture alone made his chest swell with pride. It was all worth it.

So, imagine his surprise and happiness when he found out that you would be his babysitter! At first, he was insulted by the fact that he even needed a babysitter, but he knew he still wasn’t trusted by the team to be left alone and you were a better option than Thor. Much better and much prettier. Then, in less than an hour of your ‘babysitting’, he had you in his arms, spinning you around the kitchen as if you were a princess of Asgard. To Loki, you were, and he never wanted this moment to end.

But it did end. Temptation took over and he leaned in to kiss you, something he had been dreaming about for week, and you slipped through his fingers like grains of sand.

All these thoughts and memories whirled in Loki’s mind in the minute it took you to run away and disappear completely from his line of sight. Without thinking further, Loki took off running after you. He knew by the grace of his long legs he would catch up to you quickly.

“Hey! You forgot about me!” If it wasn’t for his Godly hearing, he would have missed Morgan’s little voice calling out behind him. Cursing under his breath, he turned on his heel and ran right back to the kitchen. In one fell swoop, he scooped the small child under his arm and again took off down the hallway.

“I am not a football, Mister!” Morgan called out from under his arm, her voice jerking and hiccupping with each jolt of Loki’s footsteps.

Loki rolled his eyes and placed her on his broad shoulders. He held onto her little legs as he took off running again and before he knew it, he had left the Tower and was now in the streets of New York City. With Loki’s tall frame and sitting high up on his shoulders, Morgan felt like a giant. Little did she know that she was sitting on a giant’s shoulders.

“I don’t know how we are going to find her in this city, Little Stark” Loki said, peeking up at the small child who was now gripping his hair like a horse’s reigns. Typically, Loki would never, under any circumstances, let anyone touch his hair, but for this little girl, he decided to make an exception.

“Can’t you do magic or something?” Loki sighed, the defeat dripping from his voice.

“I could, but a location spell takes some time. I think with everything that happened, the sooner we find her the better,” The god let out another long, sad exhale, “I never intended for any of this to happen.”

Morgan patted the top of his head as if she was consoling a miserable pet, her little hands getting lost in his dark tresses.

“Don’t worry, Prince Charming! You’re a good guy and good guys always get the princess!” Loki cleared his throat, trying valiantly to hold back tears and put on his typical cold and stoic front. The words from this little girl were so simple and were spoken with such conviction, it hit him in his very soul. This little girl, this small child spoke words to him that he never thought he would hear. Even from his own family. Maybe if Morgan, a pure soul, believed that he was good, maybe he could be worthy of you after all. He had to find you!

“Do you know where she could be, Little Stark?” Loki asked.

Morgan hummed for a minute, thoughtfully, before slapping Loki right on the head, soliciting a little yelp from the God, “I know where she is!”

“Where?!”

“The Glass Slipper.”

While the dynamic duo was on a heroic and noble quest to find you, you sat in your favorite little tea shoppe, sipping an herbal tea, pretending that you weren’t on the verge of a panic attack. Your chest was restricting, and you found it hard to breathe. The sound of your hammering heart was loud in your ears.

You seriously almost kissed Loki!

A mass murderer!

A mass murderer hated by the husband of your boss who is sort of your boss too!

And you left said mass murderer alone with your bosses five-year-old child?!

That realization hit you like a ton of bricks. Your lower lip began to tremble as you tried to suppress your tears. This shoppe has always been your safe haven. After every long day, you would come here and indulge in your favorite teas. Instantly the warm beverages would coat your tongue and your throat and in turn, warm your heart and ease your nerves. Everything about the shopped was as magical as its name: The Glass Slipper.

You had come here years ago, at first tickled by the ridiculous cliché name, but the violet wisteria hanging from the ceiling and the fairy lights twinkling in your eyes made you fall in hopelessly in love with the quaint shoppe. The amazing tea was just a bonus. Huddled up in your favorite quiet corner of the shoppe, you tried to calm your racing heart. With each sip of your tea, your hiccupped and gasped. Everything felt so closed in. So cold. So alone.

This as a job you excelled at. It gave you purpose. You loved it. Now, it was ruined. There was no way that you would be able to keep your job after leaving Morgan alone with Loki. You had convinced yourself of this after rattling your brain for any possible solutions. But, no matter how you spun it, there are camera’s everywhere in the Tower and there is no there denying what happened.

You left Tony Stark’s child with Loki of Asgard. The God who killed eighty people in two days and tossed Tony out of a ten-story window.

You let your head hit the table in front of you with a thud. All you could do was groan. Maybe the McDonald’s down the street was hiring.

The tea next to you had gone cold and still, your head rested on the table. You jolted upright when you felt a hand on your shoulder. You whirled your head around until you saw them.

Morgan and Loki.

“Hi, Princess!” Morgan waved her hands excitedly, her feet kicking against Loki’s shoulders. If you weren’t in such a state of despair and shock, you would have thought it was adorable.

“What are you guys doing here out of the Tower?! Loki, what are you doing with Morgan?!”

“We had to find you.” Loki’s eyes were wide and pleading. He stayed still as if he was terrified that you would take off like a frightened animal. Frankly, you wanted to.

“Well, you found me.” The walls of your heart continued to stack up, brick by brick. You turned yourself away from the twosome, picking up your cold tea and taking a sip.

“Come back with us,” Loki dropped to one knee beside your table, and took your hand in his, “Please, Princess.”

The endearment immediately caught your attention. First, you looked down and saw your hand enveloped by his, before looking at the kneeling prince before you who had so many unsaid emotions swimming in his eyes. Above him, Morgan was beaming a smile at you as bright as ever. Seeing her there reminded you of everything this crazy day had brought you. You slipped your hand from Loki’s.

“I can’t.” You said simply. Loki swallowed thickly, unsure of what his next question will bring.

“And why not?”

“I don’t have a job anymore.”

“What?!” Loki yelled, his mouth agape in shock, “Stark fired you?!”

“No, but after leaving her with you I won’t”

“What’s wrong with Mister Loki?!” Of course, Morgan and her inquisitive mind couldn’t help but jump in. How do you explain to a five-year old that the man, the god, who held her with such care on his broad shoulders killed people and tried to take over the planet and as a result, her father holds a bit of a grudge because of it? You saw Loki shift uneasily and cast his eyes down to the floor. The shame of his past still clearly haunting him.

“Loki is new, and your father has a hard time trusting new people.” It wasn’t exactly the truth, but it wasn’t exactly a lie either. Loki and your eyes connected as soon as you spoke those words. You knew what you said and didn’t say held weight. He had changed, you knew it, and you did not judge him for his past. Again, Loki bravely reached forward and cupped your hand with his.

“Princess, there is no way that I would let you get fired. Every day, I hope it is a day that I get the chance to see you,” He let out a dry, amused laugh, “I even sometimes suggested to Stark that he recruit you for certain projects so I could see you more.” Ah, so that is why you have been on the Avenger’s floors more often.

“At first, I confess, I did not want to admit my feelings for you,” Your eyes went wide. Feelings? Loki continued, “But each time I saw you…each time I heard your beautiful laugh, I knew I wanted to surround myself in your warmth and light as much as possible.” He squeezed your hand and you found yourself returning it with your own little squeeze.

“I know I don’t deserve to live in your light, but I want to be worthy of you. So, that is why I cast an illusion before we even started dancing. Right now, the cameras just see us enjoying a lovely lunch together.”

“You did what? You did that, for me?” Everything Loki said to you was overwhelming. Whenever you were on the Avenger’s floors in the Tower, he was just…around, like a shadow following you about. Now you knew why and the fact he made sure to protect you and the job you held so dear had butterflies fluttering in your stomach.

Loki flashed his signature grin at you, and you wanted to melt, “You sound surprised?”

“No,” You bit your lip shyly, “No, actually I am not.” And it was the truth and Loki knew that. Still, his hand cupped yours, but now you intwined your fingers and gave him another reassuring squeeze. Just like your dance earlier, you were lost in each other’s eyes. So much was being said, yet never spoken out loud in these moments. You wanted to get lost in everything that is Loki. This kneeling god that so clearly wanted to be your prince.

“Are you guys going to kiss now or what?” Morgan groaned, ready for this fairytale to have its happy ending. Both you and Loki burst into fits and laughter, and you shook your head.

“No, sorry, Morgan.” You gave Loki a sly wink and your message was clear – later, “My dear Prince…”

Loki immediately perked up. The prince decided then and there that he loved nothing more than being called ‘your prince.’ He squared his shoulders, puffing out a proud chest, and a wide and joyous smile that reminded you of a young boy in front of his crush enveloped his face, “Yes, my princess?” He purred and you couldn’t help but shiver at the sound of his voice.

“How long do your illusions last for?” Loki furrowed his brows in confusion at your question. Then, it was as if your body moved involuntarily, but you knew it was your heart that was guiding you. You kissed the little crease between his dark brows, and you felt him turn into a puddle underneath your soft lips.

“It…it de-depends,” the famed silver-tongued god stammered, and you took silent pleasure in the effect you had over him, “The illusion of us can last a few hours. Why?”

“Well, my prince, I think it would be lovely if you both joined me for some tea. Enjoy some time out of the tower together.”

Without a moment’s hesitation, Loki slipped into the seat across from you at your table and shifted Morgan from his shoulders and onto his lap. He reached forward and with a glimmer of green on your teacup, your drink was once again steaming hot.

“It would be my pleasure, Princess.”

“And they lived happily ever after!!” Morgan yelled, throwing her hands up with the unbridled enthusiasm of an unburnt romantic.

You had no idea if this truly was your happily ever after, but you knew in that moment, under the twinkling lights and the wisteria, that this was the start of a magical fairytale for the ages.

--------

Unicorns 🦄: @theaudacitytowrite @vbecker10 @usagishira @xorpsbane @iambetterthanbefore @frozentrickdfangirl @trickster-maiden @queenjosielaufeyson @theawkwardavenger @intensityofchaos@howdidigotinhere @jun0h1 @slytherinintj13 @dustychinchilla74 @daddylokisqueen @lokisprettygirl @lokis-little-love @lostgreekgod @lokisprettygirl22