Imagine that after Infinity War, Thor starts bringing you green animals and asking if it’s his brother. You’ve always been…

RATING: PG

NOTES: None.

About a month had passed since the Battle of Wakanda; since Thanos had decimated half of the universe with a snap of his fingers. Since Thor arrived wielding the axe, Stormbreaker, and revealing that his people had perished, along with his brother, Loki.

Yours and Loki’s time together had been brief, scattered here and there before and after the invasion of New York and what had happened at Greenwich. Though there was something, that even Loki himself couldn’t explain, that allowed you to see through his illusions and lies. Even knowing that, he could not bring himself to stay away.

And know Thor had told you that he was dead. That he had seen the life drain from his brother’s eyes as Thanos lifted him by the neck, that he had heard the sound of bones crunching as the Titan dropped him to the cold metal floor of the Statesman.

Thor didn’t want to believe that his brother was gone, he couldn’t accept it so easily after Loki’s previous ‘deaths,’ and in truth, you didn’t want to accept it either.

The first time Thor brought you a bright green gecko, you almost screamed. It had startled you and confused you. The God of Thunder, however, explained that as children, Loki often transfigured himself into various animals and they were always green in color. He had brought you the gecko in hopes that if the lizard was his brother, you would be able to turn him back.

The gecko wasn’t Loki, neither was the iguana, parrot, chameleon, tree frog, turtle, or butterfly. He had even brought in a handful of different snakes, some more green than others, but none of them was his brother.

Thor hid his disappointment well and remained persistent. You, however, had started to believe the worst, that maybe this time, Loki really was gone. But even with those budding doubts, you couldn’t tell Thor that. He was too joyous whenever he brought in a new creature. Over time though, Thor began bringing you animals less often, and you could see it in his passing expression, that he was beginning to abandon hope too.

One evening, Thor came again with his hands cupped together, but between his fingers, you could make out the coiled up snake. It was a rough green snake, less than a foot long with small patches of black, and a yellowish underbelly.

He placed it on the table. Immediately, the snake slithered toward you, lifting its head, curious. You laid your hand on the table and shuddered as the snake curled around your fingers, appearing to be content. It wasn’t that you could sense Loki or his magic within the reptile but for some reason, you wanted to keep the snake, just to see if anything suspicious happened.

“I think he likes you,” Thor commented, wearing a smile that did not reach his mismatched eyes. He bit down on his bottom lip and turned away, obviously saddened.

You rose from your seat and turned on heel. “Thor, we can keep looking,” you said suddenly and that seemed to surprise him. “I want to find him too.” The God of Thunder took two long strides and pulled you into his arms. You returned the gesture and noticed that the snake in your hands had reached out to him as well.

Not having a proper enclosure for the green snake, you retrieved a large plastic container and found some rogue insects to add to the pitiful habitat. It would have to do for the night. You placed the snake on top of your dresser and glanced it one last time before turning off the bedside lamp. It was coiled up, but its beady black eyes were watching you in an unnerving manner. You shivered as the room went dark.

Half-way through the night, you thought you felt the bed dip with an added weight, but it didn’t startle you enough to be woken.

The morning came too soon. Wisps of light filtered through the sheer winder curtain and pulled blinds, but blocking the usual clear sightline was a sleeping figure. On first instinct, you screamed, backing away until the bed disappeared and you landed on the floor with a loud thud. You clambered back onto the bed and found that the raucous hadn’t even fully awoken your uninvited guest.

His black hair and pale skin should have been a dead giveaway. “Loki?” You glanced between him and the now empty plastic container where you had placed the small snake. One of his green eyes popped open at the mention of his name. “Hello, love,” he greeted, voice just above a rasping whisper. A wide grin broke out across his thin lips.

“How did you hide from me?” You demanded, but he only rolled his eyes with a low chuckle. “Even you don’t know all my secrets,” he answered. Fearful that it may have all been an elaborate illusion, you poke his shoulder, then his chest. “I’m really here, love.”

“Thor said you were dead!” You countered, still in disbelief. Loki didn’t have a response to the accusation, not when he could see the tears that had gathered in your eyes.

The God of Mischief reached out, placing his hand on your cheek, and taking the silence as an opportunity to lean forward. His lips brushed against yours, trembling almost. It was slow and soft, comforting in ways that words would never be. His hand rested below your ear, his thumb caressing your cheek. “Don’t leave me again,” you pleaded, knowing that it was asking the impossible.

Loki continued to stroke your cheek, catching the tear that escaped your eye. “I won’t.” He said in return, leaning forward so that your foreheads rested against one another’s.

The two of you remained like for some time, simply holding each other, pleased to be one another’s presence once again. Though when the two of you parted, you turned and swung your feet off the bed. Loki furrowed his brows. “Where are you going?” he asked.

You turned, looking over your shoulder at him, sprawled out on your bed. “I’ve got to tell your brother!” Thor would be ecstatic to hear the news. “Not yet,” Loki said, reaching for you. His arms slid around your waist. “Let’s stay like this a little longer.”