#fluffy loki

The girl whispered. “I’m frightened, Mr. Loki.”

“I know, little one. I know.” He stood in front of her, effectively shielding her with his body. He looked back at the tiny duplicate human. “He won’t hurt you.”

The figure chuckled. “Well that hasn’t exactly been decided now, has it.”

Loki looked at the man in front of him. His duplicate. The one he hadn’t seen since the day he teleported you and him to Asgard.

Loki’s Double pointed. “She is the reason I’m here. Their news media launched a campaign calling for my head. A search swept this entire wretched planet.” He swept his arm open theatrically. “And you, nowhere to be seen. I mean to rule this world, not burrow in it. I tire of scuttling in shadows, grow weary of hiding in dark places.”

Loki cocked his head at his mirror image. He’s so incredibly angry. Bitter. Cold. He continued to observe as his double continued his tirade.

“And you have the audacity to return with the very reason I am in hiding. I am here, skulking in tunnels as those ghastly Midgardians assume I am the one who took the girl. All the while, it was you who kidnapped her and I am paying for your mistakes. You are no different than father who you insist you despite so much.”

Loki spoke earnestly, his hand on his chest, long fingers spread. “I’m sorry. For leaving you here to contend with the consequences of my decisions. I should not have. It was wrong. Please forgive me.”

Loki’s Double scoffed and tilted up his chin arrogantly. “You were a warrior. Skilled in battle. A wise sorcerer, trained by the very best and feared by beings throughout the Nine Realms and beyond. Now look at you. Pathetic. I wonder what happened on Asgard to turn you so soft. Was it that woman.” He cocked his head. “Oh it was.”

Loki used his right arm to secure her behind him. She cowered, holding onto one of his legs. “No. This isn’t her. This is her duplicate.”

Loki’s Double cackled. “This is a jest, is it not? First you completely exhaust yourself creating me, then you repeat the process with your precious mortal. You are so enamored with her you created a duplicate?” He clicked his tongue, walking towards Loki. “Loki of Asgard, look how far you’ve fallen.”

“I have not fallen anywhere. Fallen in love perhaps, but…”

“Love? That’s what you call it? Leaving me here, paying for your errors, while you are in the realm eternal, feasting on all the delicacies Asgard has to offer, playing the hero no doubt, and gallivanting with the girl and being – ”

“Loved.” Loki spoke flatly. “I was in Asgard being loved.” He looked at his double. His former self. Void of affection and touch and compassion. Angry at the world. Entitled. Craving a crown to fill the void inside of him that threatened to eat him alive. Loki let go of the girl and stepped forward, reaching out to his double. He received a strong push backwards, his boots scuffing on grimy concrete. Loki put up his hands in surrender. “It is not my wish to fight you. Rather, I wish to….” He sighed. The man in front of him wore heavy armour. Loki decided a hug was perhaps not the best decision. “Okay, look. You’re angry. You have every right to be. But I need your help.”

Another scoff from his double. Loki continued.

“I realise you will want to know what’s in it for you. The benefit is a way out of this burrow. So. Let us place our differences aside. And let me tell you about this plan.”

***

“You remember your lines, yes?”

She glanced around the tube station, bustling with commuters. “I don’t like it here. It freaks me out.”

At least she’s starting to sound a little more like… like her original. 

I wonder how she is. Back on Asgard. I trust Sif and Thor are treating her well.

He pulled her close as a stern woman in red-rimmed glasses and a tight up-do pushed past, her travel card beeping against the barriers. “Yes, it’s – it’s very busy. But I understand she lives – you live – outside of the city limits. It will be much quieter in your family’s home.”

With a strong arm around her waist, he led her through the tube station and out into the bustling streets of London. The sounds of traffic and talking and music assaulted them the moment they stepped into the capital. The musty smell of rain on the concrete. Damp. Filthy. Loki reached out to a stout woman wearing a head covering handing out free newspapers. He held the grey paper over the duplicate’s head as they walked through the streets.

Isn’t it supposed to be summer? Odd weather for July.

“Are you alright, little one?”

She smiled. “Yeah. But it’s weird seeing you like that.”

Loki wore a navy blue flat cap and sported a short white beard. His usually elegant fingers now covered by knitted fingerless gloves. A tattered brown trench coat almost drowned him, and underneath lay a tight waistcoat with a button missing.

“Yes. I know. And I’m afraid I must make another change shortly. I will be forced to alter my voice when we arrive at the police station.” He gave a sympathetic smile. “You do remember what to say, yes? And how it’s different to what we practiced on Asgard?”

“Yeah. And those, umm… the false memories you implanted, when will I get those?”

“Soon. And your personality will filter through within the next day or so. For now, we’ll put it down to shock.”

He walked her up the steps of the police constabulary. At the top, she squeezed his hand. “I don’t want to go in.”

He felt a clenching in his stomach that he could not name. He raised curled fingers to his lips. “I understand this is frightening for you. But I will stay as long as they permit me to. And I… I promise I won’t leave until your family and friends arrive.”

“Okay. But… I’m going to miss you.”

Loki noticed a fizzing sensation in his nose, right before his eyes began to water. Despite being in public, he risked it and hugged her. “Right. We have to assume our roles now.”

They walked into the station and reached the counter, greeted by a sullen ashen-faced man with heavy bags under his eyes. Greeted was a generous description. The man’s eyes remained fixed on his phone. He spoke in a thick Cockney accent. “Take a numba, sit darn, coffee machine in the back next to the loos.”

Loki spoke in an equally thick east-end tone. “Ere, int this that gal you were lookin’ fowah?”

The girl bit her lip on hearing his tone, stifling a laugh.

The counter man – Colin, according to his badge – looked up. “Bleedin’ ‘ell. Where you find ‘er then?”

“She were wunderin’ rarnd the station. Couldda got picked up by any dodgy ol’ geeza.”

“Yeah awight, awight.” Colin moved aside a stained, cracked mug, full of tea that resembled treacle in both colour and consistency. “Nigel! Ay, Nige! They found ‘er! The girl!!”

Within sixty seconds ten police officers surrounded her and pushed away the old man they believed brought her to safety.

“Ere! Be careful! Been through a lot, she ‘as. Can tell by lookin’ at ‘er.” Loki called out as a burly officer blocked him. He saw the girl’s eyes pleading with him. “Look I’m stickin’ ararnd. Don’t trust you lot.”

“Please! Please, I trust him,” your duplicate called out.

After much grumbling, the City of London police officers permitted Loki to accompany the young woman to a private room for questioning. The line of questioning started. Where had Loki taken her? How had she been missing all this time? Precisely what did the big-bad-intergalactic-war-criminal want from her? Why?

The girl knew her lines. She explained she remained with Loki during the time she was missing. He scooped her up off the streets of New York, before they were banged into a SHIELD cell, and she escaped with him. They hid in his bunker and remained undetected underneath the thick concrete of Manhattan. And that’s where she stayed.

When the campaign launched to find her, she explained how Loki became restless. “I think he was… afraid. Of harming me. And keeping me away from my family. He.... felt sad about it, I think. We… we get on really well you see.” She looked over at the real Loki, still disguised as an old man from London’s East End. “Then recently, he teleported us to London. Using a blue thing. It’s gone now. I don’t remember where. But I think he was trying to bring me back home. As I said, he liked me. He was kind to me. We sort of… got along.” 

Excellent work, little one. Loki thought, knowing nobody could hear him. Now they will believe the Tesseract is on Midgard.

“You trust him?” An officer asked.

“Yeah. Yeah, I do.”

“Classic case of Stockholm Syndrome,” a woman with glasses in the corner piped up from her notes, pen hovering to jot down her psychoanalytic theory.

“Who brought in the shrink?” The officer frowned, irritated. A detective shrugged.

After an hour of this, during which Loki had to school his expression and prevent his eyes rolling into the back of his head at the tedium of it all, he observed the girl. Her shoulders were no longer hunched up tight. Her breathing relaxed. She smiled more. More time passed, and soon old-man-Loki was escorted to a private room to talk about the reward. “Well I ain’t got no bank accarnt, don’t trust ‘em. Cash or nuffink fellas.” 

As he expected, this request bought him time. Eventually, the officers returned with cash for him in an unmarked bag. Loki left the station, hiding the money in his Seidr pocket, and transforming himself into a DPD driver, busying himself with boxes. He remained outside the station, transforming into various different forms to remain undetected, stopping only when a large group rushing into the station, wailing and yelling. He looked through the glass entrance of the station. The girl was surrounded by family and friends, hugging her. She smiled.

With a flash of green, Loki transformed into himself. Black hair, Asgardian armour and all. She looked at him through the glass. She waved and smiled. In a flash, a new disguise appeared.

She would never know that Loki followed her to their home, stopping only when the family sat down in the front room with cups of tea, biscuits, hugs and smiles.

***

“You came.”

“I said I would.”

Loki faced his double, still lurking in the tunnels under the City of London.

“What’s that?” his double asked.

“Oh! It’s a bag, they insist on handing out these ghastly pieces of plastic with every purchase. Do you know it takes four centuries for it to biodegrade?”

“Yes. Mortals are ridiculous and pathetic. And weak.”

“That’s a little unfair.” He reached into the carrier bag and fished out a sandwich, a bag of crisps, a bottle of water, a sausage roll still warm from the well-known UK bakery, as well as a chocolate chip muffin. “The food is ghastly here. I apologise in advance.” Loki handed the items to his double, who now cradled an armful of food. “Oh! But you must try this. It’s referred to as ‘coffee.’ I assure you, it’s absolutely wonderful.”

The double frowned. “You brought me sustenance. Why?”

“You must be ravenous.” He watched his double’s body language, cautious and untrusting. With a flick of his wrist, Loki conjured a side table, followed by a Midgardian sofa and two armchairs. He shrugged. “I saw the furniture in displayed in a large outlet on my way here, I thought it may be more comfortable for you. Here, why don’t we place the food on the – ”

Loki’s double grabbed the sausage roll and bit into it aggressively, pastry crumbling at his mouth as his eyes watered at the sensation of food entering his system. Loki simply gave him a nod as he ate, sitting on the sofa in soft silence. Without too much persuading, his double sat down on the armchair next to the table of food. Within ten minutes, all that remained were empty wrappers. Loki handed him the coffee. Reluctantly, the double accepted it. Loki smiled as his double tasted his favourite drink for the first time.

***

“Tell me again about this embrace you speak of.”

Loki’s double sat next to him on the sofa, leaning back, his foot raised up to rest against his knee. Three hours had passed. Loki explained everything to him. The truth. Of you. Of Asgard. Of your duplicate. Of the simple plan to hand her over to authorities. And how it had changed.

“Well, perhaps she could show you. The embrace you desire.”

Loki Two shook his head. “I wish to at least know what I am doing prior to that eventuality.”

“Very well, my magnificent double. Stand.”

Loki’s double rose to the worn soles of his leather boots. He clasped his hands behind his back. “Very well. Do your worst.”

Loki rolled his eyes playfully. “It’s straight-forward. It simply involves placing your arms around another, as they do the same.” He placed his arms around the stiff and unyielding body in front of him, hugging him tightly. His squeeze was not returned by his duplicate, stubborn arms pinned down beside him. “No no, you have to return the embrace, that’s the whole point of it. Come, place your arms around me.”

“This is… odd.” The duplicate didn’t move an inch.

Loki leaned back. “Very well. The theory is, it’s about trust. It comes from a time where exposing one’s torso,” he gestured to his own, “placed one in a vulnerable position.”

“They would stab you.”

“Yes – quite. However, it’s present day. Nobody’s stabbing anyone.”

“You no longer use your daggers?”

“Well yes I do – I just, I suppose… it’s complex. Suffice to say, the embrace is symbolic.”

The double scowled. “To risk maiming by a stranger. In what realm does that hold logic? Why on earth would I do that?”

“To be loved.” Loki looked around the dank tunnel. He shrugged. “And at least to make your way out of here. Now. Come.” He placed his arms around his duplicate once more. He rested his chin on his double’s shoulder. His inhaled and exhaled, slowly, several times.

Come on, Loki.

I know you can do this.

By the Norns, you can.

You’re me, for Odin’s sake.

And if I can overcome my own arrogance, by all accounts so can you.

Come on, Loki. For the love of Thor and all things sacred.

For mercy’s sake, just do it.

Loki took a deep breath in. And let go.

Fine. Fine. You don’t want to. Or you’re not able to. It’s alright. If I were you, I wouldn’t want to, either. I abandoned you. I left you. And I am sorry. I love you, Loki. I always will. No matter what you choose.

As Loki relaxed into the body of his duplicate, he felt an unexpected sensation.

The feeling of strong leather-clad arms embracing him.

***

“And you are absolutely certain their authorities will not capture me and lock me in a cell for all eternity?”

“For the final time, no they will not. I sowed the seed when I handed her to the charming man at the constabulary. And. It’s been three days. News moves quickly in their realm. The dust has proverbially settled.”

The two Gods walked down the pavement casually, the duplicate casting a disgusting look at two youths frolicking past them, dancing in front of their phones and speaking to each other crudely.

To the outside world the two men appeared as generic City of London bankers, thanks to Loki’s Seidr. A gift his duplicate did not possess, along with his longevity.

“Wait.” His double stopped, placing an outstretched arm over his protector’s stomach. He turned to him. “What if she despises me? What if the very sight of me causes her insides to contort? I’m hardly what one would call – ”

“Do not speak that way of yourself.” He smoothed down the lapels of his duplicate’s Saville Row suit. “You are wonderful, Loki Laufeyson.” He ignored the suspicious glance of a passing teen, chewing gum and pushing a buggy.

“Very well. But there is no guarantee she will warm to me in the same way your lady love has done with you on Asgard.”

Three days. Three days with me and he’s already softened.

“My love’s duplicate, she spent some time with us in the forests of Asgard. We were the only ones she’s known. When I brought her to Midgard, understandably she did not wish for me to leave. She knows you are not me, per say… but the physical reminder of me may conjure enough comfort until genuine affection builds between you. And besides. You are both duplicates of two souls who are very much in love in what some may call a realm-changing love story.”

The double pursed his lips together, his mouth fighting against the urge to break into a shit-eating grin. “And, pray tell me, precisely how soon after I fall in love shall I expect to lose the use of my cognitive abilities and rational thinking?”

“At least you have your sense of humour. That’s something. Now. You’re ready, I assume?”

The duplicate’s arms spread into an over-confident gesture. “Positively brimming with enthusiasm.”

After passing through a bus stop, Loki’s hands tingled with Seidr. In a flash of green, his Saville-Row-suited duplicate was dressed in fine Asgardian leather.

Loki sat at the bus stop, newspaper in hand, as he watched his duplicate walk up the steps to her home and hesitate on the threshold, his hand lifting several times before he mustered the courage to knock on the door.

He watched the scene unfold, your duplicate and his duplicate, reunited in the front room of your family’s home. He remained on watch until the sun went down.

[ NEXT PART ]

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Loki’s disguise:

Loud pop music was booming from nearby speakers. People were going crazy on the dance floor. Colourful lights above your heads were flickering and changing hues. All this loud chaos was happening around you while you were calmly sitting at the bar drinking something sweet and nonalcoholic. Probably virgin mojito. You don't remember. Only thing you keep on your mind is how to get yourself and your godly husband home as fast as possible.

You being the introvert of the group never really enjoyed these nights out. You did have fun, yes, but only for a short time and it drained your energy quickly.

Tonight you really felt like not going, but Tony insisted on invitimg everybody, even Loki, so you had to oblige. 'Only until Anthony gets wasted and then we'll slip out, I promise darling,' Loki told you while you were getting ready.

As far as you know Tony has gotten completely sloshed after first hour of being here, and yet you still sat on your chair 1 and a half hour later, with Loki nowhere to be seen. After taking another gulp of your sweet liquid you started to twist your wedding ring on your finger to calm down. This was a big place, surely he is looking for you and can't find you among all these people.

As if on cue you felt a familiar arm wrap around your torso pulling you towards an equally familiar body. Loki was grinning from ear to ear proudly while he turned around to show you off to bunch of strangers.

"I found her! My darling! My sweet, sweet love. Look at 'er," he cupped your face with his free hand, "isn't she just the cutest? The adorablebest? The bestest human to walk the Midgardian, well, Midgard?" you knew what the heavy tongue and poor grammar meant. He was drunk. And not just tipsy, a full on drunk.

Loki however didn't care as he squeezed you to his side even more and said loudly. "This person right here! You can all see her right? Good. This! This is my wife. My lovely wifie," he buried his face in the crook of your neck and mumbled how he loved you and how you are the best wife of all the wives who ever existed.

You stroked his back. "Yes Loki, I'm your wife. You're my husband. And we need to get you home," you pulled his face from your neck and gently pulled him towards the exist.

"But da'ling, I haven't shown you to the dj yet! His sad little single heart needs to know how gorgeous my wife is!" he pouted and rambled how he needs to show the whole world the person who chose to mary him, out of their own will.

"Next time Lo," you kiss his nose, "I promise."

He lights up like a christmas tree and lets you guide him out of the bar.

You get home by taxi and try to keep Loki from falling asleep on you on your way to the Tower. When you finally get to your shared floor the only thing on your mind is getting him and yourself out of these tight, uncomfortable, formal clothes and cuddling up in your giant soft bed.

First you unzip your dress and change into your favourite sweatpants and one of Loki's t-shirts all while Loki just sits on your bed admires you.

"What?" you giggle when you notice him staring at you.

"Nothin'. Just...you. I think you're beautiful," he smiled almost dreamily at you and propped up his chin on his hands.

"Well," you walk between his spread legs and caress his hair, "you're not so bad yourself. But do you know what would make you even more beautiful? Changing out of this fancy suit to something soft and more cuddle-worthy."

He hugged you and nuzzled his face into your t-shirt. "But that would mean not having physical contact with you," he whined.

"Not if I help you," you pulled away from his embrace and kneeled down to his eye level, hands already working on his dress shirt buttons. Loki's hands are wondering around your back when you feel him pull one of your locks, stretching it for a second, then releasing it. He chuckled.

"What's so funny?" you smiled up at your adorable husband and pulled his black dress shirt down revealimg his chest.

"Nothing, nothing," he giggled. "I love your hair."

You chuckled. "Thank you, I grew it myself," you took him by his bare arms and made him stand up. When you reached for his belt he wrapped his hand around your wrists. "I can do this myself," he said and layed his head on your shoulder for support.

You nodded and let him fight with the belt buckle while you ran your hands through his wavy hair. After unfastening his belt and kicking down his pants he just stood there in his black boxers and pants around his ankles hugging you. It felt nice, being this domesticated. You never thought a god from space would ever be this casual with someone.

You raked your hand up and down his back and he purred. "This feels nice," you mumbled into his neck.

"Mhm, it would feel better if we were layed tho," he whispered back.

You wanted to ask what he meant when you felt him tighten his grip on you and falling backwards bouncing off of your shared bed.

"You are an idiot sometimes," you laughed when you sat up to take a better look at him.

"Well yes, but I am your idiot," he boobed your nose, "never forget that," he tapped his wedding band on his finger.

You smiled and touched your own ring. "Let's cuddle your idiotic highness," you pulled him up towards the pillows.

"Excelent idea my dear."

Once both of you were under the covers, your head on his chest and his arms around on your back, you sighed contently. Finally you can recharged the battery you drained on that party.

You closed your eyes and relaxed. But then, after few minutes, you felt Loki pull your hair again. He pulled, stretched as far as he could without hurting you, and released and chuckled when it bounced back. "Hehe, boink," he whispered.

You bit your lip to stop the laughter that was fighting its way out of your throat. As you expected, he took another curl between his fingers and bounced it again while saying 'boink'. He did this few more times until you couldn't anymore and bursted out laughing.

Loki smoothed out your hair and kissed the top of your head. "Sorry," he whispered into your hair.

"No, no, it's okay," you laughed and wiped the tear that leaked from your eye.

Loki twirled few curles around his finger. "You have boinky hair my dear," he chuckled and again made the curl stretch and bounce back, "boink."

Another laugh errupted from you. "But you have curly hair as well," you pointed out inbetween your chuckles.

"True, but yours is better. D'you know why?"

You shook your head.

"Because," he cupped your cheeks, "it's attached to this head, and" he kissed your forhead, "I," kiss between your eyebrows, "love," kiss on the tip of your nose, "the owner," kiss on the chin, "of this head."

You hummed. "You missed."

"Oh, apologies," he pecked your cheek lightly.

"Missed again."

Kiss on the other cheek.

"And again," you chuckled.

"Hmm, maybe third time I won't miss," he muttered and finally placed his lips on your own. Even drunk Loki was a damn good kisser.

After you separated you stared lovingly into his eyes. Loki's thumbs were caressing your cheeks. After a while exhaustion took over both of you and you nuzzled his chest again and wished him good night.

The first time it happened was before a mission, it was the rare occasion when the god would come along. You had just finished suiting up and met with Natasha, Tony, Steve and your boyfriend in the kitchen. Loki stood mindlessly listening to the tin man and super soldiers debate on what to do.

His demeanor shifts as you walk in, his mood noticeably brightens at your presence. You always looked ’ravishing’ as he would tell you once in the privacy of his room after the mission was completed.

You always found his reaction to your hero suit quite amusing. Your suit wasn’t all that tight however it happened to be Loki’s colors. Tony helped you make it before you joined and before you even knew of Loki. Therefore it was nowhere intentional, the colors just worked well together.

“So everybody ready for the mission?” Tony questions the group. He is met with yeahs and nods. Expect Loki who simply looked like he was off daydreaming, in fact he was staring at you. “Reindeer games” Tony snaps his fingers in front of the dazed god.

“Yeah whatever stark” Loki snaps back. Tony and Steve continue a small bickering conversation as to who’s gonna drive the quinjet. You sigh and lean back against the counter.

Loki kneels down, having it look as if he was trying to re-tie the laces to boots. You paid it no mind until you squealed, as you suddenly felt Loki's hand rubbing your ankle and traveling up your calf. “What's wrong? you okay?`` Natasha questions as brief worry filled her eyes. “Yeah, why’d you squeal?” Loki also questioned with a smart ass grin plastered on his face.

You somehow didn’t register the fact he quickly stood up after pulling his little stunt where he was pretending to tie his boots. “Yeah just a pesky little spider” you scoff and Loki winced as he pulled a fake pout at you like a hurt puppy.

You proceed to scold him after the mission. Primary since he startled you, but secretly you slowly found it endearing.

It escalated from there. He would always softly and sneakily touch you. In anyway he could or would be able to get away with.

He would slide behind you in the kitchen, while you were attempting to make yourself food.

“Excuse me darling” he whispered in your ear as he slid behind you. His hands rested on your hips rubbing them softly, his actions were hidden by the tall counters. Not that it matters, Sam and Bucky sat bickering in the living room completely distracted.

“Loki!!” You scold the man softly. Your scolding seemed to fail as your face was quite flushed by the action. “I just needed to get to the fridge” he stiffed a chuckle as he grabbed a water.

There was plenty of room between you and the fridge. You and him both knew this, he just couldn’t contain himself. In the beginning of the relationship he took note of, how flustered you would become with a simple soft lingering touch from him.

It was a simple action that had a large effect on you. He knew this and loved it, he was a tease after all.

Whenever he saw the opportunity, he would take it.

Weather that was sitting directly across from you in mission meetings. So he could play footsies with you, or if the table wasn’t as wide his hand would slide up your thigh.

Or during that same meeting, trying his hardest to hold you behind. He would wait on everyone to leave.

“Loki what is it?” You question with worry filled eyes. You were met with a small peck and a head rub. No longer protesting you melt into his touch just as his brother called out for him.

That was the down side, Thor didn’t let Loki out of his sight often.

When he was let out of his brothers babysitting, he would find you in the long compound hallway.

He would trap you at the most opportune moment alone. It would happen when he felt the urge to just hold you. If he was overwhelmed or upset he just needed the comfort of your scent to fill his nose.

You let out a small squeak as the gods' large warm arms wrap around you from behind. You calmed down fairly fast once it clicked that it was Loki. “Bunny..” he groaned softly as he buried his face in your neck. You melt softly and lift your arm behind your head to gently stroke up the back of his neck.

He whines softly at the action, it had been a long day for the god. He just wanted to carry you away to his room and fall asleep against your chest.

He needed his girl and little stolen moments like this were all he could have some days. “Are you alright darling?” You question softly, he often went non verbal when upset.

“Yes, I just missed my girl” he groans. He knew he had to let go sooner or later but he wasn’t quite ready.

He lifted his hand towards you in an offering. "My love. Unburden yourself to me." He took another step forward and you watched him warily but didn't step back. "I am here for you."

Your tears poured over at his words, and you swiped them away again. "You know I can't."

"I know, darling. But the offer is there, always." He took another step towards you, quickly enclosing on your space.

You shook your head, turning away from him. "Let me finish this first." You said quietly, "I'll meet you inside in a minute." You turned you head to glance at him as you spoke and saw his lips pressed tight together. He left silently.

You'd always found it hard to talk about your feelings, especially when they ran deep. You felt as if you were a burden if you spoke about your troubles. And these troubles, well they had been there for years. No one wanted to listen to them, you were sure.

Loki was incredible, the way he held you, played with your hair, even when you were a snivelling mess. But some things you just couldn't talk about, not to anyone.

You finished your cigarette in silence, your eyes slowly drying and your resolve settling in. Everything would be alright, if only you could be held for a bit, and you knew Loki would oblige.

You pulled back the sliding door, stepping inside and kicking off your flip-flops. Loki didn't say a word, his back to you in the kitchen as he shook a can of whipped cream. A small smile played on your lips. He was making cocoa, just how you liked it. Domestic Loki was always a blessing, the hard lines of his shoulders softened by an old tshirt, his meticulous cunning traded for quiet concentration as he adjusted to doing things the 'midgardian' way. Few things warmed your heart more than the man you loved in your home together.

You came up behind him, wrapping your arms around his waist and peeking around his arm to watch him spray the cream atop the cocoa. “Thank you,” you whispered.

Loki bumped his arse against you playfully, nodding towards the living room. You pulled away obligingly, padding over to sit on the couch. He brought the two mugs over and placed them on the coffee table. Before he sat down, he stopped, leaning over you. You craned your neck to look up at him in question.

He crouched down, taking your hands in his. When he spoke his voice was quiet, steady and somehow both heart-meltingly kind and determinedly authoritative all at once. “One day, my love, you will be ready to tell me your troubles…” He lifted a hand to place it on your cheek. “...and I will be here to listen. I will not judge you, I will not think of you differently. I will listen and I will help to take the world off of your shoulders, if only a little.” He searched your eyes for a moment. “I promise.” And with those last two words, he leant up to kiss you on the forehead, in the sweet spot between your eyes that made your heart flutter and your toes tingle.

You wrapped your arms around his neck, burying your face in the crook to hide your tears that once again flowed freely. You held on tightly as Loki lifted you, turning you both so that you were sat on his lap, clinging onto him just as tightly as he was holding you. “I love you.” You choked the words out, muffled against his skin.

Sundays were Loki's favorite day. He closed the market every Sunday to allow himself a day off, and those days were usually spent relaxing in the garden, tending to his fruits and veggies.

"Son of a bitch!"

Well, maybe gardening was not so relaxing.

Loki threw down his gloves and got to his feet, cursing whatever retched animal had the nerve to not only eat his strawberries, but completely trample the plants. He'd worked so hard to grow them, too.

With a dramatic sigh, he lifted a hand to run through his hair. A soft cluck came from beside him, and he shook his head at his smallest hen.

"I know, Henrietta. It's such a shame. At least the tomatoes seem unscathed, don't you think?"

Another soft cluck, but this time further away. Loki wiped his palms on his black jeans and turned to head inside, but what he saw stopped him in his tracks.

Just down the road, at the little stone house that had been on the market for months, a woman was struggling with the "for sale" sign. She looked to be about his age, with brown hair just past her shoulders and she was putting up a good fight, but it looked like the sign was winning.

He chuckled to himself and started off down the street, checking behind him to make sure that none of his hens were following.

"Norns!" She hissed, delivering a strong kick to the wooden post. "What the hell do they expect me to do with this?"

Loki waved as he stepped into the property, and the woman took an immediate step back. "Need some help?"

The silence hung in the air, each second more uncomfortable than the last as she just stared at him.

"I live just down there," He paused to point, "and I was working in my garden when I saw you fighting with the sign. If it counts for anything, I think you were winning." He flashed a smile, but she didn't budge.

"I'm Loki." He extended a hand and she jumped, as if just snapping back into reality. "And it looks like we're neighbors."

She shook his hand as if she was afraid of him, and he cleared his throat in an attempt to mask his own discomfort. He hoped he didn't look as put off by her presence as she did his.

"My name's Cas." She offered a fleeting, polite smile, tucking a tuft of hair behind her ear. "Thank you for the offer, but I think I'll just head inside."

"Are you sure? It should only take a moment."

Cas looked from Loki, to the sign, and back again. She visibly released a heavy sigh and nodded in defeat. "All right, I suppose I could use some help."

Loki grinned, taking the few steps over to the yard sign. He crouched down, and in one swift movement pulled the wooden post out of the ground.

"Where should I put it?" He asked, holding the sign tightly to his chest. It was a lot heavier than it looked from over there.

Cas spun on he heels, surveying the area. "I'm actually not sure, I haven't had a chance to see the property yet."

"You bought a house that you haven't—"

"I suppose you could lean it against the house, over here." She led him to the right side of the cottage, and Loki spared a glance into the backyard.

It was rather overgrown, with tens of bees buzzing happily from one cluster of bright flowers to the next. Her shed looked like it could fall apart at any moment, but it did have potential. . . He thought it would make a good henhouse. A little stone path shot off left of the shed, and it led to a greenhouse. He couldn't see inside past the vines clinging to the windows. Flower pots were scattered all over the property, and a yellow bike was lying abandoned in the bushes. The place looked good from the front, but it was actually a disaster.

"Nice place you've got here," Loki offered, "it's. . . Charming."

Cas eyed him and started up the porch stairs. "Thank you for your help."