Summary: Y/n gets into a terrifying situation when Loki sets his mischievous ways on her, and for what?
Requested by: @marvelfanfn2187a113 Enjoy!
Y/n was in the mood for a classic today. The past week she had dived into a wonderful fantasy novel filled with dragons, swords, and a brutal fight between kingdoms. She walked down the shelf of books, her hand absentmindedly brushing the spines of the hardbacks. The library may not be a beach but it was her paradise. Her heart ached to read something fulfilling; to give her hope of maybe finding love one day and sharing her life with someone.
You see that was the problem of being a borrower. Love was a hard thing to nurture, or even find. Most borrowers secluded themselves from each other and when they did happen to come across a fellow they had to first trust each other.
From the books she had read already, it seemed with love came trust. You couldn’t have one without the other.
In other words she was completely screwed.
You probably thing she is talking about being in a romantic realtionship. Which yes, that would be nice to have, but in reality all she wants is a friend.
Her eye caught on a title sticking out a ways further than the others. Her feet barely made a whisper on the hardwood as she came to stand in front of it. Upon closer inspection, the name read, Pride and Prejudice. Jane Austen. What an odd title, she thought. Suddenly the shelf beneath her begins to shake. Her eyes went wide and she hid in the empty space beside Pride and Prejudice, provided by the absence of a novel.
Now that she was secure, she watched from a distance as a man, tall to even her tiny frame trudged in. In a pale hand, he held a light blue book. She noticed how large his hand had to be as it spanned almost the entirety of the novel. A chill went down her spine as she glanced to the novel right beside her, seeing how it towered over her. She could hear him muttering to himself as he walked closer to the shelf she stood upon. She glanced at the book in his hand again. With him closer to her she could clearly read the title:
Sense and Sensibility. Jane Austen.
Her eyes widened in shock as she registered that he was coming to put the book back in the very place she stood. A look behind her shoulder told her the books were pressed all the way to the end of the shelf; so there was no hope in slipping behind those. Her only choice was to let him put the book back where he found it and hope he didn’t crush her in the process.
His steps rattled her to the very bone as he came to stop right where she figured he would. The shelf she stood upon was thankfully not at eye level for him, more at chest level. She watched in slow motion as his hand descended to replace the book. Her hiding space was quickly filled, forcing her further towards the back until the scapula of her shoulders touched the hardwood. She guessed that the book might stick out a little with her in the way, but surely he wouldn’t mind? He was simply putting it back, once it was out of his grasp it would be out of his mind. Humans didn’t bother themselves with things that no longer benefitted them, right?
Apparently, she was wrong.
This man was adamant that he would make this book fit. He pushed it, making the pages smush into her face and chest. She had to turn her face sideways to avoid her nose being squished. After many failed attempts he started to retract the book. Her breath emptied from her very lungs.
No, no, no he couldn't find her!
“Loki?” A voice rang out from nowhere. Jarvis, Y/n thought.
The computer knew of Y/n living in the walls of the Tower and thankfully kept it under lock and key.
“What is it, you dimwit?” The man, presumed to be Loki, growled out in a scary, deep voice but halted his efforts at replacing the book. Her muscles relaxed with the lack of tension.
“Steve would like to know if you want to eat dinner with the team?” Jarvis replied politely as if Loki hadn’t just insulted them.
“No, I do not want to join those fools,” Loki growled again.
“Very well, enjoy your day sir.”
Loki sighed heavily and Y/n felt the vibrations of his steps as he retreated. She stayed still for several minutes as he ambled around the library to chose a book. After silence greeted her ears she gathered all her strength to push the clustered pages of the book just to gain enough room to slip out. When light greeted her face she breathed a sigh of relief and returned to her home in the walls.
Reading could wait until another day.
Loki returned that night to replace the book he picked that day with another one. There was nothing better to do in this Tower than reading. Watching that dread television made his eyes hurt from the artificial light of the bright screen. And he would rather watch TV than spend time with the others living in this tower. His steps echoed in the large room. He replaced the book and wandered around to find another one that sparked his interest. He then passed the shelf he’d been at earlier with the stubborn book. He looked back at it and saw that it stuck out, even more, a little gap between both books now. He pulled it from the shelf and held it in a palm. There was nothing wrong with the book so he looked at the shelf.
The space where it should have fit perfectly had nothing wrong with it at all. He leaned closer, practically pressing his nose into the space, and saw...footprints? Not just any footprints though, tiny footprints. What on earth could have left those, he pondered. He replaced the book which fit with no problem now and went in search of a new find.
Perhaps something on mythical creatures.
Y/n didn’t press her luck in the following days. She stayed sequestered in her home for as long as she could. She was a resourceful borrower and only needed to venture out for supplies every month. Though she was safe inside these walls, she became absolutely bored out of her mind. She had no books her size, hence why she went to the library all the time. And there was no way the novels would fit in her home. She had already mended as many clothes of hers as she could, taken a count of all her stocks, and cleaned the house from top to bottom. It was the next day when she decided to take a chance. If not from the want of pleasure but the fear of going insane.
She took a left when she closed the curtain of her home which would take her to the library. Going right would lead her to the kitchen and straight ahead was a passageway outside. She rarely used that one. Emerging from behind a bookshelf she breathed in the smell of the pages. It was familiar by now and sent joy running through her blood. She walked around for a moment trying to decide where she should start first. Her eyes roamed over a table set in the middle of the shelves. On top of it lay a book that read a familiar title.
Her mind was made and she started climbing the table of the leg. She was thankful she’d remembered her little pickaxe that she kept on her belt.
It just made life easier.
She made that final pull onto the table and collapsed on her back to draw in a much-needed breath. Approaching the book, she realized that there was going to be a problem. The pages stacked together had to equal at least four inches. Which was twice her height. Most of the other books were manageable enough for her to open and read herself. She drew in another deep breath, grasping the edge of the cover, and lifted it over her head. Seeing that she had gotten this far, she planted her foot on the side to stabilize her self but she ended up losing her balance. Not giving up hope yet, this process was repeated several times. She was so engrossed in fact, that she didn’t notice Loki standing behind her until it was too late.
Loki had come back to return his book and noticed the little being perched on the table. He was surprised they didn’t notice his arrival until he saw what they were doing.
In one fluid movement, he swept the book off the table and held it to his face. He relished the fear that the little one radiated as she stared up at him in absolute fear.
“Oh pardon me, were you trying to read that?” He teased. “It didn’t seem you were getting very far...you know you do have to open it before you can enjoy it.”
Her face became red and she looked away. He discarded the book on the table with a loud thump, startling the little person. She jumped out of her skin and backed away as he came closer to loom over her. He noticed how her eyes flicked over towards an area of the table as if searching for something. He followed her gaze and found two little tools that were too tiny to make out. As if seeing his plan in his eyes, she took off in a sprint to reach them before he did.
He casually reached over and plucked them right up.
“I don’t believe you’ll be needing those anymore.” He tucked them away in a snap of fingers to his own pocket realm. Reaching forward, he seized her by the waist and held her up to his eyes. “So you’re the little thing that got in in my way… hmmm?” He hummed.
She shook her head, her eyes wide and alert with terror.
“I don’t like liars Little One.” He warned, purposely making his voice deep.
She stayed silent though and refused to speak.
“It’s no matter really...take your time. I have the perfect place for you in the meantime.” He conjured a glass jar and set it on the table. When he started lowering the little thing in she went absolutely feral. she kicked, punched, clawed, and even bit at his fingers. He dropped her into the jar and held it up, right at his eyes to properly see her. Little palms were pressed against the glass and their eyes were teary. He noticed how ragged her clothes were, how they hung off her small frame. He glanced at her feet and saw they were bare. Pity gathered in his heart and he started to let her out, maybe give her some nice, warm clothes and a hot meal. But he needed to show her he was powerful and that he wasn’t a nobody. Such an easy task too for him to accomplish, for she was the tiniest being he’d ever laid eyes upon. So he screwed the top of the lid on and left her on the highest shelf. Surely a fall like that would kill her if she managed to get out of the jar.
He left the library making sure to grab a book on his way out.
Y/n huddled into herself her cries echoed in the glass jar making her even sadder each time they rang in her ear. She’d been absolutely powerless against this cruel man. He had manhandled her and treated her like a prisoner throwing her into the jar. Looking at the darkness of the room reminded how she viewed this room as her getaway. It brought her happiness and reminded her that there was good in this world.
But now all it did was remind her of how utterly alone and desperate she was. A tiny, insignificant being.
She hadn’t fought back against him from the advice of her long-dead parents. Her mother had advised her to stay calm and not fight back if a human ever did capture her. She had been terrified out of her wits when he’d picked the book up effortlessly when he’d thrown her only means of a safe escape away to where he only knew. And when he grabbed her suddenly like a toddler with a toy. She had been scared but hopeful. Then he pulled that jar out and she knew she was done for. So why not fight back?
Even worse was that she had hoped he may have been there to help her. For a brief moment, she had imagined them being friends and reading pals. Her cheeks burned in embarrassment from the thought now.
Her head started feeling fuzzy, and a weird tingling started in her toes and fingers. She noticed her breaths were shallow and she happened to look up and notice that the top of the jar had no air holes. Which meant she was slowly suffocating. She regretted all that crying she’d done earlier as she realized she used up all her air. Minute by minute her head felt even woozier. At some point, she had leaned against the glass wall eventually laying her entire body onto the cold floor. Darkness greeted her after that.
Laid out upon his bed, Loki snapped his book shut after an hour finding it dull and boring. He hadn’t taken much thought in his selection when he exited the library. Exiting his room and entering the library, he walked over to a shelf and inspected the titles there finding one a grabbing it to add to a pile. Eventually, he reached the shelf that housed the jar encasing the girl. He rose slightly on his tiptoes to see into the glass to see she was asleep. Viewing this as an opportunity to get a closer look, he wrapped a hand around the circumference and lowered her to his eye level. He took notice that there was a strange stillness to her body. No rise or fall to her chest or the simple shifting most did while sleeping. In a flash of horrendous realization, he registered that he’d forgotten to give her air holes.
The books he held in the opposite hand were dropped from his grasp as he immediately went to unscrew the lid. He tipped the jar to let her limp body fall into his palm. His heart ached when he saw how utterly small she was in his hand.
He would never forgive himself he killed this tiny being. He waits several agonizing minutes for her to wake up dropping himself into a chair.
In a moment of clarity, he realizes how wrong he had been with his actions. She had only wanted to read the book and the determination in her body as she tried and tried again even though each try was as futile as the last. Maybe when she had looked upon him a sudden relief had filled her veins seeing that maybe he was there to help her. She could have waited patiently as he opened the cover for her and gave her something to smile about. Perhaps he could have found a book of his own and immersed himself in the words. Only reaching over to flip a stubborn page for the girl every now and then when she shyly asked for his help.
At last, she starts to stir awake with blinking eyes and sluggish movements. After a few moments, she seems to grasp where she’s located. A whimper escapes her lips and she scrambles away from him only to hit his curled fingers bouncing back from them to land on her rear. Loki’s heart fills with pity and grief and he reaches forward to offer a finger and help her up.
“Please no! Please no! I-I’m sorry!” She cries out covering her head with her arms and burying herself into a tiny ball upon his palm. He can feel how her body trembles violently.
How disappointed Frigga would be with him right now?
“No, shush it’s okay. Don’t apologize.” Loki comforts. The girl only shakes her head and tries to get further away from his face.
“What’s your name?” He asks in an attempt for conversation.
“How old are you my dear?” She looks no older than a teenager to him.
She doesn’t answer that either.
Loki holds back a grumble in fear he’d make the situation worse by expressing his irritation. He looks up from his palm to the discarded jar on the table. He winces at the sight. But he sees Pride and Prejudice. He glances back down to his palm and sees that she still cries. On a whim, he opens the book and starts reading.
“It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.” Loki reads.
Her cries quiet and are reduced to sniffles. So he continues.
“However little known the feelings or views of such a man be on his first entering a neighborhood, this truth is so well fixed in the minds of the surrounding families, that he is considered as the rightful property of some or other of their daughters.”
He looks down at the small girl and sees that her eyes are no longer leaking deep tears, but focused on the book he holds. He cradles her to his chest to hold the book with one hand.
He continues through one chapter and sets the book down to ask her name again.
“I-It’s Y/n. A-and I’m 13.” She squeaks. Loki resists the urge to hold her closer to his chest. All he wants to do now is comfort the child.
“Please let me apologize for my actions earlier my dear.” He says softly letting her walk off his palm onto the table. He stands and kneels to make her feel more comfortable.
“Why were you so mean?” She asks, daring to meet his eyes then ducking her head down quickly again.
Loki runs a hand through his hair, a nervous tick he had begun to realize.
“You’re small, it was easy to think I h-had some sort of control over you. I didn’t realize the severity of my actions until it was too late.” Voicing his actions, thoughts, and feelings out loud made him feel even more like a dick. He now purposely avoided her gaze.
She cleared her throat. He looked up to see why. Standing straight, her back defying the laws of gravity she looked him directly in the eye.
Which was total bullshit as her voice shook when she spoke next.
“As you have seen Loki, I can’t open the book by myself. If you would continue to read to me and help me out I would forgive you.”
Loki was uncertain. Make-ups were never that easy.
“That is all?” He asked with a questionable tone.
Her posture relaxed slightly and she stepped forward, completely engulfed in his enormous shadow.
“Look, we all make mistakes. I’m not here to judge. You did almost kill me but I see kindness in you. And possibly a friend. Perhaps we can be there for each other…” Y/n finished with a suggestive tone.
Loki thought for a moment and took a chance. He nodded and watched as Y/n extended her pointer finger. He raised his eyebrows in surprise but took it between his fingers and shook.
“Now if you could please continue reading, I haven’t got all day.” She continued to walk up to his arm and reclined her back upon it, looking up at him expectantly. He opened the book and began to read feeling pressured.
“Mr. Bennet was among the earliest of those who waited on Mr. Bingley.”
He glanced down at Y/n who stared at the book with bright eyes.
Oh, this was going to be fun, Loki thought.
