#loki fluff

at first, hugo didn't really understand it. he would glance down whenever he felt the familiar little tug on his sleeve, only to find you absentmindedly standing beside him with your attention completely somewhere else.

you weren't asking him for anything. you weren't trying to interrupt him. you just liked being there.

after a while, he stopped questioning it entirely. whenever he noticed you quietly reaching for him, he'd lift his arm just enough for you to comfortably wrap yourself around it before continuing whatever conversation he had been having.

if the team was waiting between training sessions, he'd automatically leave the empty spot beside him open because he already knew where you'd end up sitting. he never teased you for it or called you needy. to him, it was simply another part of you, just like the way you smiled or laughed.

the others, however, found it impossible not to notice.

"is that…normal?" one of them quietly asked after watching you spend nearly ten minutes standing beside hugo with your hand loosely hooked around his wrist while scrolling through your phone.

"they've literally been like that all day," another answered.

"i don't even think she realizes she's doing it."

"hugo doesn't either."

except he absolutely did.

he noticed every tiny habit you had, even if he never pointed them out. he noticed how you'd sleepily reach for his hand whenever you got tired.

how you'd gently bump your shoulder against his whenever you wanted attention but were too shy to ask for it. how you'd instinctively search for him in crowded rooms before relaxing the second your eyes landed on him. they were tiny things that everyone else overlooked, but hugo remembered every single one.

after practice one evening, everyone was exhausted from training, slowly packing up their things before heading back.

hugo was sitting on one of the benches, quietly drying his hair with a towel when you wandered over without saying a word. still sleepy from waiting through the last part of practice, you simply stood between his knees before resting your forehead against the top of his head with a quiet sigh.

"…tired?" he asked.

you only hummed.

he gave a small nod like that answered everything.

without another word, he wrapped one arm around your waist to keep you steady while finishing drying his hair with the other hand. it looked so natural that nobody would've guessed he had only started doing things like this because of you.

when he finally stood up, you instinctively reached for the back of his shirt again.

he looked over his shoulder.

"…ready?"

another tiny nod.

he waited until you had a better grip before starting to walk.

the hallway was busy with players passing by, but hugo never once tried to shake your hand off his shirt or tell you to let go. instead, he slowed his pace just enough so you wouldn't have to rush after him.

"you know," one of the players muttered as they walked past, "she follows you everywhere."

hugo looked down at your fingers still curled into the fabric of his shirt before looking back up with the same calm expression he always wore.

"…i know."

"…doesn't it bother you?"

he was quiet for a second.

"…if she stopped."

his answer surprised even himself.

because somewhere along the way, the tiny weight on his sleeve, the quiet hand finding his, and the soft warmth constantly beside him had become something he looked for without realizing it.

later that night, while the two of you sat together watching a movie, you had somehow managed to end up almost completely leaning against him, one arm lazily wrapped around his while your head rested against his shoulder.

you were half asleep, barely paying attention anymore, mumbling little comments every now and then before your words slowly became quieter.

hugo looked down. "…comfortable?"

your eyes stayed closed as you smiled. "mhm…"

"…good."

he adjusted himself just enough so your neck wouldn't hurt, gently pulling a blanket over both of you without waking you. after that, he simply stayed still, even when his arm slowly started falling asleep underneath your weight. he could've moved. he probably should've.

instead, he glanced at your peaceful face resting against him and decided the numb arm was worth it.

"…sleep well," he quietly murmured, almost too soft to hear.

and although he'd never admit it out loud, the apartment always felt a little emptier whenever you weren't absentmindedly reaching for him anymore. after all, somewhere between all those little habits of yours, hugo had unknowingly grown just as attached to your quiet clinginess as you were to him.

᭝ ᨳଓ ՟ michael kaiser

michael kaiser absolutely loved the fact that you were clingy, though he'd never admit just how much it fed his ego. in his mind, it simply proved what he already believed—you liked him the most, you wanted to be around him the most, and out of everyone in the room, you always found your way back to him.

no matter how many people were talking to you, how busy either of you were, or where the two of you happened to be, your body seemed to naturally gravitate toward his. if he was lounging across the couch, you'd end up curled against his side without even thinking about it.

if he leaned against a wall while waiting for something, within minutes you'd be standing beside him, your shoulder pressed against his arm or your fingers absentmindedly playing with the sleeve of his shirt.

you never seemed to realize you were doing it, but michael noticed every single time, and secretly, he looked forward to it.

unlike most people, he never found your clinginess distracting. if anything, it became something he expected. there were moments where he'd be scrolling through his phone or watching old match footage, only to feel your weight gently lean against him a few moments later.

instead of reacting, he'd instinctively shift just enough to give you more room, allowing you to settle comfortably against his chest or shoulder while continuing whatever he had been doing.

it became second nature. he no longer questioned why you always reached for him first because, somewhere along the way, he had grown used to your constant need for closeness.

whenever you weren't nearby, he'd catch himself glancing around the room before realizing you were somewhere else, and while he'd never openly admit it, the absence of your familiar warmth always made the space around him feel strangely empty.

there were times when your clinginess became almost impossible to ignore. if the two of you were relaxing together, you'd somehow manage to steal nearly all of his personal space without realizing it.

your legs would end up resting across his lap, your head tucked beneath his chin, or your arms loosely wrapped around one of his while you quietly occupied yourself with something else.

michael always acted like you were inconveniencing him, letting out dramatic sighs or rolling his eyes as though your affection was the biggest burden imaginable, yet he never once made any effort to move away.

in fact, if you shifted even slightly as if you were about to get up, he'd unconsciously adjust his position to keep you close before he even realized what he was doing.

by the time he noticed, it was already too late, leaving him to pretend it had been completely intentional all along.

he especially enjoyed how naturally you sought him out after a long day. the moment you saw him, your shoulders seemed to relax without you even noticing, and before long, you'd quietly settle beside him, leaning your weight against him as though all the exhaustion you'd been carrying could disappear simply by being close.

michael liked to tease you for it, often calling you attached or claiming you couldn't survive more than a few minutes without him, but beneath every smug remark was a quiet satisfaction he couldn't hide.

knowing that your first instinct was always to look for him, to stand beside him, or to rest against him filled him with a sense of pride that only inflated his already enormous ego.

to everyone else, it looked like harmless teasing.

only michael knew how much he genuinely enjoyed being the person you searched for without even thinking.

the people around you noticed it almost immediately. they found it amusing how someone as prideful and self-centered as michael somehow became incredibly patient whenever it involved you.

the same man who complained about people invading his personal space somehow never minded when you leaned against him for hours or absentmindedly held onto his arm while the two of you sat together. if anyone else tried that, they'd receive an irritated glare within seconds. you, however, were different.

michael rarely acknowledged it aloud, but he unconsciously adjusted everything around your habits. he'd sit in ways that gave you more room to lean against him, slow his pace whenever you naturally reached for his hand, and remain still whenever you looked comfortable enough to fall asleep beside him.

he never thought twice about making those adjustments anymore because somewhere along the line, your quiet affection had become part of his daily routine.

despite all of his confidence and endless teasing, there were moments where michael revealed just how attached he'd become in return. on the rare days when you were busy or simply spent more time with someone else, he'd notice almost immediately.

he'd tell himself it didn't matter, insisting that you were free to do whatever you wanted, yet somehow he'd always find an excuse to wander into the same room as you or insert himself into whatever you happened to be doing.

he'd never admit that he missed the familiar feeling of you leaning against his shoulder or reaching for his hand without thinking, but the second you naturally drifted back to his side again, the faint smirk that settled across his face said everything he refused to.

in the end, everyone assumed you were the clingy one in the relationship, but if anyone paid close enough attention, they'd realize michael had quietly grown just as dependent on your presence as you were on his—he was simply far too prideful to ever admit it first.

᭝ ᨳଓ ՟ sae itoshi

ever since the two of you started dating, sae quickly realized that you were the kind of person who loved showing your affection through quiet closeness rather than words.

you never demanded attention or interrupted whatever he was doing, but your body always seemed to drift toward him without you even noticing. if he was sitting down watching game footage, you'd eventually wander into the room with a blanket wrapped around your shoulders before quietly settling beside him, leaning your head against his arm as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

if he stood in the kitchen making himself something to eat, you'd appear only moments later, wrapping your arms around his waist from behind and simply standing there without saying a single thing.

there were days where neither of you exchanged more than a few words for hours, yet somehow you were always touching him in some small way, whether it was your fingers hooked around the sleeve of his shirt, your shoulder pressed against his, or your legs resting over his whenever the two of you relaxed together.

being close to him made you feel safe, and after a while, sae became so used to your quiet attachment that your absence felt stranger than your clinginess ever did.

sae himself wasn't naturally affectionate, nor was he someone who constantly sought physical contact, but he learned your habits faster than he expected. at first, he'd glance down whenever he suddenly felt your hand slip into his or your forehead rest against his shoulder, wondering if there was a reason behind it.

eventually, he realized there wasn't one. you simply liked being near him. that realization made him stop questioning it altogether. whenever you absentmindedly reached for him, his hand would already be waiting before yours could fully find it.

if you leaned against him while he was reading or watching something, he'd shift just enough to make sure you were comfortable without ever looking away from what he was doing.

even when he was focused on something important, he'd subconsciously adjust his posture so you had somewhere to rest, almost as if his body had memorized yours before his mind even registered your presence.

your clinginess also showed itself in the smallest moments throughout the day. whenever sae came home after training or traveling, you were always the first thing waiting for him.

you'd quietly make your way over the second you heard the door open, wrapping yourself around him with sleepy eyes before he even had the chance to take his shoes off. you never cared if he was tired or sweaty from practice; all you wanted was those few minutes where you could reassure yourself that he was finally home.

sae never returned your hugs with the same enthusiasm, but he also never pushed you away. instead, one hand would naturally come to rest on your back while the other gently stroked your hair a few times before he continued walking, practically carrying you through the apartment because you refused to let go.

after enough time together, he accepted that this was simply how you greeted him, and if one day you didn't come over to cling to him, he'd quietly find himself looking around the apartment, wondering where you were.

the people around sae noticed it long before either of you did.

they often found it amusing how someone so emotionally reserved ended up dating someone who practically treated him like a personal pillow.

during gatherings or visits, you'd always end up tucked against his side without thinking, your head resting on his shoulder while conversations happened around you. sometimes you'd doze off against him entirely, completely trusting that he wouldn't move until you woke up.

everyone expected sae to complain or gently move you away, but he never did.

he'd simply continue whatever he was doing with one hand resting absentmindedly on your arm, making sure you wouldn't slip off or wake yourself. the sight was so unlike the cold, distant image people had of him that it caught everyone off guard.

sae never acknowledged the stares or comments because, to him, this had quietly become normal. your constant need to be close wasn't something he tolerated anymore—it was something he unconsciously made room for, adjusting his own habits around yours until your presence became woven into every quiet part of his daily life.

there were even moments when you apologized, worried that you might be bothering him because of how often you found yourself reaching for him without thinking.

sae never understood why you worried so much. if your hand searched for his while the two of you walked together, he'd simply lace his fingers through yours. if you rested your head on him after a long day, he'd continue sitting there as though nothing had changed.

if you fell asleep leaning against his shoulder, he'd stay exactly where he was until you naturally woke up, even if his arm had gone numb long ago. he wasn't the type to shower someone with affectionate words or dramatic gestures, but his patience spoke louder than anything he could have said.

he accepted every quiet habit you had without making you feel embarrassed for them, and over time, you realized something that made your heart ache in the sweetest way possible.

you had become sae's routine just as much as he had become yours.

he would probably never admit it out loud, but on the rare occasions when you weren't there to absentmindedly cling to him, the silence around him felt just a little emptier than it used to.

᭝ ᨳଓ ՟ bunny iglesias

bunny never had a problem with how clingy you were.

if anything, he found it strangely comforting. there was something about the way you always ended up beside him that made even the busiest days feel quieter.

you never asked for much—you simply liked being close. whether you were sitting shoulder-to-shoulder while doing your own things, lightly holding onto the sleeve of his jacket whenever the two of you walked together, or absentmindedly resting your head against him whenever there was a moment to slow down, your affection always came so naturally that it never felt forced.

it was simply how you loved him, and before long, it became something he couldn't imagine going without.

at first, bunny didn't really understand just how often you searched for him. he'd look up from whatever he was doing only to find you already standing nearby, quietly existing in his space without expecting a conversation.

there were moments where neither of you spoke for several minutes, yet you'd still be leaning against his shoulder or sitting close enough that your knees brushed together. eventually, he realized you weren't looking for constant attention—you were looking for comfort. being near him settled your mind, and once he understood that, he stopped questioning your little habits altogether.

instead, he'd naturally make room for you before you even asked, shifting over on the couch, slowing his pace, or leaving one side of him open because he already knew you'd end up there.

your clinginess showed itself in countless little ways throughout the day.

if bunny stood still for more than a few moments, you'd wander over almost without thinking, gently looping your arm through his or leaning against his side while your mind drifted elsewhere. whenever the two of you were relaxing together, you'd somehow find yourself pressed against him, your head resting comfortably on his shoulder while you read, watched something, or simply enjoyed the peaceful silence between you.

you weren't trying to demand his attention; your body had simply grown so used to seeking him out that it happened without thought. after enough time together, bunny stopped noticing when you leaned on him because it had become such a normal part of his everyday life.

the people around you found the relationship amusing because they quickly realized how differently bunny treated you compared to everyone else.

he valued his personal space with most people, yet somehow you were the one exception. no matter how often you leaned against him or quietly followed him from room to room, he never looked bothered. instead, he unconsciously adjusted around you, making sure you were comfortable before thinking about himself. if you looked tired, he'd stay where he was a little longer so you wouldn't have to move.

if you accidentally fell asleep against him, he wouldn't dare disturb you, even if it meant sitting in the same position until his shoulders became stiff. to everyone else, those gestures were small, but to you, they meant everything because bunny wasn't someone who expressed his feelings with dramatic words. he showed them through patience.

there were even times when you worried you might be too much. you noticed how often you reached for him without thinking and wondered if it ever became overwhelming. every now and then, you'd hesitate before leaning against him, trying to give him more space than usual, only for bunny to notice almost immediately.

he had grown so accustomed to your familiar warmth that the sudden distance felt wrong. without saying much, he'd naturally close the space between you himself, settling beside you until your shoulders touched again or quietly resting an arm around you as if reminding you that you never had to second-guess yourself.

he never made a big speech about it because that simply wasn't who he was, but his actions always answered your worries before you could voice them.

over time, your clinginess stopped being something either of you thought about. it became part of the rhythm of your relationship, woven into every ordinary moment the two of you shared.

bunny grew used to feeling your hand find his without warning, to your head resting against him after a long day, and to your quiet habit of searching for him whenever you entered a room. it wasn't something he merely tolerated—it became something he looked for without realizing it.

on the rare days when you were too busy or simply forgot to drift toward him, he'd notice the empty space almost immediately. he'd never admit that he missed your constant closeness, but the way his eyes instinctively searched for you, and the quiet ease that returned the moment you settled beside him again, made it obvious enough.

to everyone else, you were the clingy one, but the truth was that bunny had slowly grown just as attached to your presence as you were to his.

᭝ ᨳଓ ՟ julian loki

loki was not someone people expected to be the type to indulge someone’s clinginess. with his calm personality, his focus on football, and the way he carried himself with quiet confidence, most people assumed he would prefer having his own space. but when it came to you, things were different.

your affection never felt like a distraction to him. if anything, it became one of the few things that allowed him to relax completely after spending so much time pushing himself. you had a way of making the world around him feel slower, and your constant need to be close became something he quietly appreciated more than he would ever openly admit.

you were naturally affectionate, the kind of person who always found small ways to stay connected to him.

you weren't always talking or asking for attention, but you were almost always near him. whether it was sitting beside him while he reviewed something, resting your head against his shoulder when the two of you had a quiet moment, or simply reaching for his hand while walking together, your presence always seemed to find its way into his routine. sometimes you didn't even realize you were doing it.

it was almost instinctive, like your body already knew where it wanted to be. beside him, close enough to feel comfortable, but never enough to interrupt his own space.

loki noticed those little habits almost immediately.

he was observant by nature, so he picked up on every small thing you did. he noticed how your mood changed when you were able to spend time with him, how you naturally relaxed whenever you were close, and how you always seemed to search for him first whenever you entered a room. instead of finding it overwhelming, he found it endearing.

there was something incredibly genuine about the way you loved him. you weren't attached because you wanted something from him—you simply enjoyed being around him. and for someone who spent so much of his life surrounded by expectations and pressure, having someone who just wanted his company meant more than he could explain.

because loki was so patient, he never made your clinginess feel like a problem. he never pushed you away or made you feel like you were taking up too much space. if you leaned against him while he was relaxing, he'd simply let you stay there.

if you held onto his arm while the two of you walked somewhere, he'd adjust his pace so you could stay comfortable. if you quietly followed him around during his free time because you wanted to spend more time together, he would just accept it as another normal part of his day.

he didn't need constant affection himself, but he understood that it was important to you, and that alone was enough reason for him to give it back.

the funniest part was that loki slowly became just as used to your closeness as you were.

your presence became something familiar, something he subconsciously expected. after a long day of training, he found himself looking forward to the peaceful moments where he could simply sit with you and forget about everything else. you were one of the few people who didn't see him as just a talented player or someone who always had to be perfect.

with you, he could just exist without having to prove anything, and your clinginess reminded him that he was loved outside of football.

others around him noticed the difference too. they were used to seeing loki composed and collected, always focused and professional, so seeing him quietly allow you to cling to him was something they found surprising. he would be in the middle of something important, yet the moment you came over and rested against him, his attention would soften.

he wouldn't stop what he was doing completely, but he would make room for you without hesitation. it was subtle, but anyone who knew him well could tell that you were an exception to the usual distance he kept with people.

there were even times where you worried you were becoming too attached. you wondered if you were bothering him or if he wanted more space, especially because loki wasn't someone who always expressed his feelings through obvious reactions.

but he always made sure you knew you were welcome. he wasn't the type to shower you with dramatic affection or constantly reassure you with words, but his actions always gave you the answer. the way he stayed close, the way he remembered your little habits, and the way he never once made you feel like your love was too much spoke louder than anything else.

eventually, your clinginess became something that belonged to both of you. it wasn't just a habit you had—it was a quiet part of your relationship that loki had grown attached to as well.

he became used to your hand finding his, your warmth beside him, and the comfortable silence that came from simply being together. and although he would probably never make a big confession about it, the truth was that your affection became one of the few things he never wanted to lose.

because even someone as disciplined and focused as julian loki needed a place where he could stop being a player and just be himself, and somehow, that place had always been right beside you.

᭝ ᨳଓ ՟ don lorenzo

lorenzo was probably one of the last people anyone expected to be comfortable with someone being clingy toward him.

with his strange personality, playful attitude, and the way he always seemed to keep people guessing, most people assumed he wouldn't care much about someone constantly wanting to be around him. but when it came to you, it was different. your clinginess wasn't something he saw as annoying or overwhelming.

instead, he found it oddly reassuring. after spending so much of his life feeling like he had to rely on himself, having someone who naturally reached for him, chose him, and wanted to stay by his side was something he never truly got tired of.

you weren't clingy in a way that took away his freedom. you simply loved being close to him.

it showed in the small things you did without even realizing it. whenever the two of you were together, you always found some way to stay connected, whether it was sitting close beside him, leaning against him during quiet moments, or reaching for him whenever you walked together. sometimes you didn't even need to talk.

you were perfectly content just being near him, existing in the same space while doing your own things. for you, his presence alone was comforting, and over time, don lorenzo became used to the way you always seemed to find your way back to him.

at first, he found it amusing.

he was used to people reacting to him because of his reputation, his personality, or the strange way he carried himself, but you were different. you didn't treat him like someone intimidating or impossible to understand.

you simply treated him like someone you cared about. your affection was natural and honest, and that was something that caught his attention more than anything else. you weren't trying to change him or expect him to act differently. you just accepted him exactly as he was, and for someone who had grown up without always receiving that kind of care, it meant more than he would ever openly say.

lorenzo slowly became accustomed to your habits.

he learned that when you were tired, you would naturally move closer to him without thinking. he learned that when something bothered you, you found comfort in staying near him rather than being alone. he learned that your way of showing love was through small touches and quiet moments together.

instead of moving away or teasing you too much, he simply allowed it. sometimes he'd act like he was bothered just to get a reaction out of you, but the truth was that he never actually wanted you to stop.

because beneath all of his strange jokes and unpredictable behavior, lorenzo was someone who valued loyalty deeply. your clinginess reminded him that someone genuinely wanted to stay. you weren't around because of his talent, his status, or what he could offer—you were there because you cared about him.

and that kind of affection was something he didn't take lightly. even if he didn't always know how to respond in the most normal way, he understood the importance of having someone who made him feel wanted.

the people around him would notice how different he became around you. lorenzo was still don lorenzo—still playful, still weird, still someone who could make everyone question what was going through his mind—but there was a noticeable softness whenever you were involved. he was more patient with you, more willing to listen, and strangely protective over the comfort you found in him.

if you leaned against him for too long, he wouldn't complain. if you stayed close during stressful moments, he wouldn't tell you to move. instead, he'd simply let you remain there, accepting your affection in his own quiet way.

there were even moments where he surprised himself by noticing when you weren't around. he was so used to your presence that the absence of it felt strange.

he'd find himself looking for you without realizing it, expecting you to appear beside him like you always did. he would never openly admit that he missed your constant closeness, especially because admitting something like that meant showing a softer side of himself, but the way he naturally relaxed whenever you returned gave him away.

your relationship with lorenzo was never about one person being clingy and the other simply putting up with it. over time, your affection became something shared between the two of you. you gave him the comfort of knowing he had someone who would always choose him, and he gave you the reassurance that your love was never too much.

behind the strange humor and carefree attitude was someone who appreciated being cared for more than he let anyone see, and your clinginess became a quiet reminder that he was no longer someone who had to face everything alone. you were simply the person who stayed beside him, and somehow, that became the thing he valued most.

᭝ ᨳଓ ՟ teddy knight

teddy was the type of person who made it difficult to tell what he was actually thinking.

he carried himself with a calm, almost unreadable expression, often keeping his emotions tucked away behind a quiet attitude and a composed presence. because of that, most people would assume that someone being constantly attached to him would eventually get on his nerves. but when it came to you, it was completely different.

your clinginess never felt like a burden to him.

instead, it became something familiar, something that slowly settled into his life before he even realized how much he had started to depend on it.

you were the kind of person who showed love through presence. you didn't need some grand reason to be near him—you just liked being around him. whether the two of you were sitting together in silence, walking somewhere side by side, or simply spending time doing separate things in the same room, you always found yourself drifting closer to him.

sometimes your shoulder would brush against his, sometimes you'd quietly sit beside him without saying anything, and sometimes you'd simply stay nearby because being around him made you feel comfortable. it wasn't about needing constant attention; it was about knowing he was there.

at first, teddy didn't really know what to do with it.

he wasn't someone who was used to having another person so openly seek him out. he was more familiar with keeping a certain distance, observing others rather than being the person someone naturally reached for.

so when you started appearing beside him more often, resting near him without hesitation, or instinctively looking for him whenever you entered a room, he didn't quite know how to react. he wouldn't push you away, but he also wouldn't immediately show how much he noticed.

teddy was the kind of person who would quietly take note of everything before deciding how he felt about it.

and eventually, he realized he liked it.

there was something strangely comforting about knowing that you always chose to be near him. your affection wasn't complicated, and you never expected him to become someone completely different. you didn't need him to constantly express himself or act a certain way—you were happy with the little things he already gave.

for someone like teddy, who seemed more comfortable keeping his thoughts to himself, having someone who understood his quiet nature was something he appreciated more than he could explain.

your clinginess became part of his routine in the smallest ways. teddy became used to feeling you sit beside him whenever there was an empty space. he became used to your habit of leaning closer when you were tired or reaching for him without thinking whenever something made you nervous.

he became used to the way you searched for him first, like his presence was something that automatically made things feel easier.

and while he might not always react dramatically, he always noticed. every single time.

he was also surprisingly patient with you.

if you stayed close while he was focused on something, he wouldn't make you feel like you were distracting him. if you wanted to spend time with him after a long day, he wouldn't turn you away. teddy wasn't the type to constantly shower someone with affection, but he showed care through small, deliberate actions.

he would make sure you were comfortable, remember little details about what you liked, and quietly adjust his own habits to include you. his affection wasn't loud—it was in the way he made space for you without needing to be asked.

other people would probably find the difference amusing. teddy, who could seem so distant and difficult to read, somehow became someone who allowed you closer than most people ever got.

they would notice how he didn't react the same way when it was you. someone else invading his space might earn a cold look, but you could sit beside him for hours and he wouldn't complain.

your presence became an exception, a quiet place where he didn't have to keep up any walls.

there would also be moments where you worried you were being too attached. you'd wonder if you were overwhelming him or if he secretly wanted more space, especially because teddy wasn't always obvious with his feelings. but the answer was always shown through his actions. he never pulled away.

he never made you feel like your affection was unwanted. instead, he would simply stay there beside you, allowing the silence between you to speak for itself.

over time, teddy became just as accustomed to your closeness as you were to his. he might not be the type to openly admit that he enjoyed having someone always near him, but he would notice when things felt different without you.

the room felt quieter, his routine felt slightly off, and there was a strange emptiness where your familiar presence usually was.

he wouldn't call it missing you right away, but deep down, he knew exactly what it was. because your clinginess gave teddy something he wasn't used to—a constant reminder that someone wanted to stay.

and for someone as reserved as him, that meant more than any big gesture ever could. you weren't just someone who followed him around or held onto him a little more than others.

Ever sharp and poised, the man—or in your case, god—who gave you a fright caught it effortlessly with one hand. You might've been impressed by his fast reflexes if it wasn't for your poor heart still thumping in your ears.

"Apologies, darling. Didn't mean to scare."

But the familiar tease in his sultry voice immediately put you at ease.

Darling.

You still managed to get butterflies with how casually Loki used the term, the way it rolled off his tongue like butter on warm toast.

"Hey," you replied, a little breathy.

You noticed Loki's expression then—the smooth, defined contours of his face turning into rigid lines as he momentarily took in your appearance. The crease between his eyebrows deepened, and he placed the prized box of doughnuts on the counter without breaking your gaze, taking one step forward.

"Are you… alright?"

You hadn't been able to properly catch a glimpse of yourself throughout the mission, but you were well-aware of the feeling of debris and sweat clinging to your skin. Barrelling into rough concrete walls, scuffling around explosives in the background, running and dodging bullets that fired from every direction—you had suffered a few blows as well, sustaining some minor cuts, the stinging effects subdued by adrenaline.

"Yeah, I'm fine." You shrugged, not wanting him to worry. "Just scratches, that's all."

Loki eyed you knowingly, his voice warm with concern. "Allow me."

He reached to cup your cheek, so gently it always surprised you knowing the strength that gods possessed. His fingertips were cool against your skin, and a tingling sensation rose beneath his touch, pleasant and harmless, vanishing your light wounds. You felt a slight shiver then, and a glimmer of green washed over your body, your battle-worn tactical suit suddenly changing into a clean, comfortable set of clothes.

The spark of magic reflecting in Loki's irises faded, and his mouth curled into a small smile. His hands moved to lightly squeeze the sides of your arms, before situating on your hips.

"There. Beautiful as ever."

Feeling afresh, you melted into Loki's embrace, resting your palms against his chest, fingers toying with the loose threads of his forest green tunic. "You don't like me when I'm dirty?" you said, a playful glint in your eye.

Loki returned an amused look. "On the contrary, I don't mind that in the slightest," he quipped back, not missing a beat, gaze flickering dangerously to your lips. "But, I dislike knowing somebody had laid their hands on what's mine."

Your heart fluttered at his words.

It was difficult to pinpoint exactly when your relationship began, but you only knew you never wanted it to end. Your mind spun into a sweet daze in his presence, like how the edges seemed to blur in the dreamy sequences of old Hollywood rom-coms. 

You felt Loki leaning in for a kiss then, eyelids heavy, nose brushing against yours, lips parting as if this was routine—

But no. 

In that moment, you couldn't resist being a tease. Besides, you were still hungry.

You slid out of his grasp, not missing the way he paused, blinking twice in confusion before shooting you a pout. A cheeky grin twitched at the corners of your mouth, and you reached for the box of doughnuts he had set aside, seating yourself on the granite countertops.

"Want one?" You gestured to the box as you opened the cover, catching a promising whiff sugary goodness.

A dozen doughnuts, of frosted varieties and a few simpler-flavoured ones, laid out in a way that would make anyone spoilt for choice. After much serious thought, you eagerly snagged a strawberry frosted doughnut, generously topped with coloured sprinkles.

Loki, however, was a little hesitant. "I'm not exactly tempted," he said kindly, peering into the box.

You smiled softly. "We can share," you offered, knowing his palate was still slowly adjusting to Earth's food spread—accustomed to the more royal and sophisticated delicacies on Asgard.

Loki seemed pleased with your idea, and he inched closer as you allowed him the first bite. His fingers came to lightly wrap around your wrist, guiding your hand nearer as he bit into the doughnut. You watched as he slowly processed the flavour, letting it settle on his tongue.

"Hm." Loki hummed in contentment. "Not bad, but I've tasted sweeter," he added, throwing you an imperceptible wink.

As if scandalised, you shot him a cautionary look, then playfully swatted his chest. Mischief twinkled in his eyes, and he leaned further into your space, hands falling once more to your sides, mindlessly tracing slow, lazy circles at your hips.

A moment passed as you both finished up the doughnut in silence.

"I've missed you, you know?" Loki eventually started, voice rich and low. "You weren't in bed when I woke up." His gaze lingered lovingly, if not a slight worry beneath.

"Oh, right." You gave him an apologetic look. "Sorry. Mission only came up last night," you said, dusting off some of the sugar on your fingertips. "Forgot to tell you I had to get up early."

"A real shame," Loki mused. "I was so looking forward to our morning proclivities."

You caught a smirk threatening to curl at his lips, a pretense of decency behind the words he had put so delicately.

When your mornings weren't disrupted by sudden missions or scheduled for dreadful meetings, they were filled with quiet, tender intimacy—which would then, of course, quickly transition to unrestrained arousal and hot, steamy sex. It made up for the rest of the day, where you both had to go about your separate assignments, pretending to be nothing more than colleagues and who didn't harbour frequent thoughts of exploring each other's bodies.

Safe to say, you were missing him terribly as well.

You silently obliged when Loki wedged himself between your legs.

His grin surfaced, chest now brushing against yours. "Shall we… make up for lost time?" His hands continued their circular motions down the sides of your thighs, each touch growing more sensual.

Your skin buzzed with anticipation as heat pooled in your abdomen, want and excitement flashing in your eyes. You let it hang—waiting with bated breath for that brief flicker of green to send you stumbling into the bedsheets, all your troubles forgotten in the next hour or so.

Only nothing happened.

You caught on then, raising a brow. "What, here?"

"Where else, darling?" Loki answered almost immediately, all smug.

You stared at him, shaking your head. "You know we can't—"

"Oh, a little frivolity couldn't hurt," he cut in, voice deliberately seductive and smooth. "Besides, we've already denied each other long enough."

Loki could so easily have you both transported to the bedroom with a flick of his wrist. But what did you expect? He loved the chaos, even if you had agreed to keep your relationship a secret, uncertain of how the others would react—and fooling around risked actually getting caught.

Sensing your growing doubt, Loki murmured in the shell of your ear, as soothingly as he could, "We'll make it quick."

And then, before you could respond, his lips crashed into yours.

All hesitation died when you remembered the feel of his mouth, reciprocating his movement in a heartbeat. Warmth spread through your body, and your head only grew more dizzy with need when his hands moved to cradle your jaw affectionately, deepening the kiss. Your fingers curled at the nape of his neck, catching onto a few obsidian curls. Loki let out a small groan, and he nipped at your bottom lip, tongue prodding for entrance.

You indulged him, the pleasure familiarly addictive, too far gone to stop. He began licking into your mouth, faintly tasting of strawberry sweetness from the doughnut you shared earlier—all the more irresistible. He practically drank you in, lips continuing to move against yours in sync, intensifying at a furious rate with every expert caress of his tongue.

Refusing to break the kiss, Loki's hands began to frantically roam your back. His palms repeatedly slid along the material of your shirt, as if smoothening the creases, and a soft sigh escaped your lips when his hands shamelessly slipped beneath to explore your naked skin, making you shudder.

You were ready—ready to fully surrender yourself to him, giving in just this once to the desperate tent in his trousers that pressed against your core.

That was, until you heard the distant hiss of a metallic door, and for a brief moment, faint rock music thrummed in the hallways.

You stirred, breath uneven. "Loki—"

He only kissed the corners of your mouth, answering lazily, "Mhm…"

"No, Loki—" You tried to pull back, but he secured his hold around your waist. He closed the distance once more, lips coming to suck a trail along your jawline. Weakly, you added, "Did you hear that?"

"Hear what?" Loki murmured against your skin, eyes still shut as if trapped in a daze.

"I think someone's coming."

You drew a sharp breath when his hot mouth freely descended down your neck. "So soon?" Loki teased, smiling as he nudged you with his nose to tilt your head, teeth gently scraping along your throat.

"I…" His kisses were quickly lulling you back into a trance. "I really think we shouldn't—"

"There's nothing to worry about," he coaxed, voice slightly hoarse.

He was such a liar—you should've known he was going to take his own sweet time with you in the kitchen, his feverish but controlled progressions nowhere suggesting anything quick.

You stifled a whimper when his lips skimmed upwards, catching onto your earlobe and licking at the soft flesh. His breath tickled your cheeks, and your hands buried deeper into his curls. You were trying—and failing immensely to deny his pleasure, for the sake of your own.

The final resistance crumbled when Loki began sucking on a particularly sensitive spot just below your ear. "Oh, fuck—"

"This is a public space, you guys."

You froze.

"Not that I don't understand the appeal of doing it in the kitchen, but seriously—have some consideration for the rest of us before you make a mess on the counters."

The words rang loud in your ears, the distinct air of nonchalance and laid-back authority alarming you tenfold. Loki released his hold, quickly allowing you space, and you unceremoniously slid off the counters, feet unsteady on the floor.

You both exchanged glances, equally flustered and dishevelled in appearance—the pink flush that crept up his neck and the burn in your cheeks only cementing that you had landed yourselves in hot water.

After a beat of painful silence, Loki addressed the other man standing in the room, his voice teetering beneath skilled caution.

"Stark—"

"Say, are those doughnuts?"

Tony circled around the counter, all the while unfazed as Loki threw a look of confusion. He must've been tinkering in the lab for hours, an empty mug held in one hand, the bags under his eyes telling of all the heavy brainwork and mechanical labour he often lost himself in. Yet, Tony was evidently still in high spirits—even if he had also just caught the two of you red-handed.

He skimmed over the selection, then picked up a glazed doughnut, popping a bite into his mouth.

"Huh. That's actually pretty good," Tony noted, though more so to himself, "Would go better with some more coffee." 

As if you and Loki weren't still standing there, dumbfounded, he sauntered over to the coffee machine. He set his mug down, grabbing the pot to refill as he took another swift mouthful of the doughnut.

When he was done, he turned back to you both, expression inscrutable. "So, how long has this been going on?" He said as he chewed, posing the question like it was a casual "get-to-know-you" session.

"Um." You swallowed nervously. "A while."

"Wow," Tony replied, voice flat. He took a loud sip of coffee, staring blankly over the rim of his mug, seeming to gather his thoughts. Then, with much skepticism—

"Is he really that good?"

Loki's face immediately dropped to a scowl. "I'll have you know that I'm—"

You caught your lover's arm before he took another impulsive step forward, then shot a pointed look at Tony. "Dude!"

Tony suddenly cracked into a wide smirk, as if he had been holding it back all along. "Sorry—I'm just messing with you."

You paused, blinking. "You're not… mad?"

"Mad?" He quirked a brow. "If anything, I'm disappointed—I expected more subtlety on your part, Agent."

Loki's scowl deepened. "So you have known about us?"

"Oh, please. You two couldn't have been more obvious, really," Tony answered dryly. "Making bedroom eyes during conferences, playing footsie under the dinner table, sneaking off early during movie nights—I'm surprised no one else has caught on."

"And you wouldn't think to share your findings, would you?" Loki continued, his words measured and laced with vague threat.

Tony only rolled his eyes. "Relax, Space Romeo. I haven't told anyone, and I won't, alright? Your secret's safe with me."

You sighed softly then. A weight lifted off your chest, even if you weren't exactly confident about Tony's abilities when it came to keeping secrets.

"Right, well, for the sake of preserving what little is left of our dignity, let's just all pretend I was never here," he concluded plainly. Doughnut and coffee in hand, Tony began trailing out of the kitchen.

"Also, if you even think of tampering my mind with your green magic thingy—" He called out, directing a final glance at Loki, "FRIDAY will revoke your Avenger privileges."

Once Tony was out of sight, Loki turned to you with a wry smile. "I'd say that went well."

You gave him a sharp look, then frowned. "This is your fault, by the way," you said, folding your arms.

"My fault?" Loki replied in an incredulous tone, growing amused. You could already see the playful spark in his eyes returning. "I recall you thoroughly enjoying the moment as well."

"Yeah, until I heard someone was coming."

Loki let out a small chuckle then, stepping closer, gently nudging your arms to unfurl from its tight hold. You let him—and when he reached to cup your cheek, you yielded entirely, features softening against the crevices of his palm. His gaze swept low as a thumb brushed over your lips.

And in a low, almost tentative voice, he had the nerve to ask—

"…Still in the mood?"

“Aw, it still has a sense of humor.” Loki said. 

“Bite me, asshole.”

Loki smiled, “Only if you ask nicely.”

“Enough you two,” Thor cut in, his voice deep and demanding. “Loki, have you seen mother?”

“A meeting, I believe.”

Two sets of heavy gold doors suddenly opened. “I’m here.”

As Thor launched into a long winded explanation of what had happened, Frigga turned her full attention onto you. 

Between the heat of your body, despite the fact you felt like you’d been shoved under a constant freezing shower, and the pain beginning to grow in your bones, you could barely register the feeling of her hand on your forehead. 

“It’s okay,” she said, her voice gentle. “You’re going to be alright here. Our Doctors are some of the best.”

The smile on her face reminded you of Loki, though it was more warming to your soul than twisting to your stomach. 

“It’s a good job you brought her when you did.”

“Are you sure?” Loki asked, loud enough for you to hear. 

With a groan, you looked at Frigga. “Your son’s an asshole.”

Frigga, in the same way you’d seen Thor do, tried her best to hide her smile. “Ignore him, dear. He’s just being a pest because he’s not the centre of attention.”

“Hey!”

Through the pain, you managed to crack a smile. “Ha, I knew I’d like you.” Then, you managed to look at Loki as he stood on the other side of the bed. “I like your mom.”

Loki hummed, though it was all in good humor. “Well, she has her favourites.”

You managed to smile, but it quickly turned as a large pain shot throughout your body. 

“Mother, there must be something you can do.” Thor was standing somewhere by your feet, not that you could make him out through the tears in your eyes. 

Frigga nodded, determined. “There is. But I’ll need the room. And time.”

“How much time?”

Frigga looked at her sons. “I’ll come and get you when I’m finished. Oh, and boys? Ready the blue room. It’ll be calming for her once she’s in recovery.”

Loki and Thor nodded before taking their leave and Frigga began giving her orders to the staff, as they brought herbs and liquids. 

“Now, dear, I can’t promise this will be pleasant but I can promise you, it will work.”

Still shaking, you nodded. “What…whatever you need to do.”

“Brave girl.”

You passed out from the pain after fifteen minutes of her beginning her cure. 

“Will she be alright?” Loki asked his brother as they watched staff prepare the Blue Room. 

Thor didn’t know what to say. “Mother will take care of her. Since when do you care for her wellbeing?”

Loki shrugged. “It’s not that I don’t, but I don’t like the idea of her dying, either.”

“I need to go.”

“What?”

Loki tracked his brother’s movements as he travelled down the hall, past the next bedroom which Loki just happened to be staying in, and towards the exit. 

“Thor-”

“I need to find out where she’s been in the last week. I need to know where she contracted this infection.”

“You can’t just leave her here.”

Thor smiled as he turned and looked at his brother. “Sure I can. She’s got you.”

“Wha- no. Thor, no.”

“Yes.” Thor said. “You said it yourself, you care for her wellbeing.”

“No,” Loki corrected. “I said I don’t like the idea of her dying.”

Thor shrugged. “Same thing. Take care of her, brother.”

Loki shouted after him, but he was already flying towards the rainbow bridge. 

“Shit.”

“My Prince?”

Loki turned quickly on his heels to see a familiar member of staff. 

“Your mother is asking for you.”

Five minutes later, passing the golden hallways and the newly finished bedroom, Loki was entering through the heavy golden doors. 

“How is she?”

“Sleeping,” Frigga told her son. 

The final cohort of the nurses had passed him in the hallway just as he entered. Now, it was just himself, his mother and you. 

Loki let his fingers trail beside you on your bed before, without thinking, he reached out as gently brushed the hair away from your forehead. 

“She’ll be okay,” Frigga said, a warm smile on her face, as she approached the table. “She’s a strong woman.”

“Strong willed, strong-headed.”

Frigga nodded. “All the best of us are.”

Loki smiled, looking towards his mother, before looking back at you. 

Laying on the golden top table, you still looked as drained as when he first saw you. But, you were no longer in pain. Your breathing was steady and even, as was your heart rate. 

You’d be okay. 

But it would be a process for your body to recover from. 

“She’s going to need a friend,” Frigga mentioned, seeing the way Loki looked at you. “When she wakes.”

A wall came up inside of him as he stepped away and let you go. 

“I-I’m not really a friend.”

“Perhaps not before,” Frigga hummed. “But she’ll still be in need of a familiar face.”

There was a pained expression on his face as he looked to his mother, before his gaze landed back on your sleeping one. 

“Hopefully…hopefully Thor will find his answers soon. Then he can be her familiar face.”

You remained asleep for five days. 

And in those five days, as different maids and nurses came to check on you, and change you, it became a rare occurrence to not see Loki by your bedside. 

“What are you doing here?”

Loki looked up from his book to see you, finally, awake. Upon closing his book, he smiled. 

“I live here.”

You scowled, trying to move. “Were you watching me sleep?”

He held up his book. “It’s pretty interesting. The female lead pretends to hate the male lead, but she’s actually in love with him.”

You barked a laugh.

“How are you feeling?”

Settling against the pillows, you sighed. “Aching. Sore. A little dizzy.”

Loki nodded. “That’s all normal.”

“How long have I been out?”

“Five days.”

“Did you find out what it was?”

Loki nodded. “Thor’s currently trying to find its origin in case anyone else contracted it. To us, it’s like a common cold. But, to mortals…”

“It sends us to our death bed.”

“Pretty much.”

You let out a puff of air. “Bet you were praying for it to work on me.”

Loki nodded. “Oh, certainly. I’d at least get a floor to myself in your so-called Tower.”

You let out a small laugh. “Oh, please. You could just share with Thor.”

“I already have done that for the last thousand years. I don’t need another thousand of it.”

Again, you chuckled. And so did Loki. But you couldn’t lie and think about what it meant since it wasn’t long before his mother, Frigga, and some of her ladies-maids waltzed in and kicked Loki out. 

With a small bow, he closed both doors as he made his exit. 

Going through similar questions with Frigga, she helped you bathe and get dressed into Asgardian robes which had you questioning the quality of your own clothes at home. 

“I don’t think I’ve thanked you yet,” you said, turning to face Frigga properly. 

“No need, dear.”

You nodded. “But I do. You saved my life, so…without knowing how I can repay you…thank you. For everything.”

Frigga smiled a warm and gentle smile as she took your hands in hers. “You are welcome, my dear. But you needn’t worry. And, although I have to admit, it’s not the way I thought we would have met, I am glad to finally be meeting you.”

“You are?”

“Loki has mentioned your name a few times. Still does, especially when he talks of his time on your Earth.”

“He has?”

Frigga nodded. “Oh, yes.”

You chuckled a little, watching as she let your hands go and crossed the room towards the shelves. 

What followed turned out to be the three weirdest weeks of your life. 

You began to learn about Asgard and their people, about Frigga and how she became Queen of Asgard. You began to hear stories of when Thor and Loki were just kids. 

And, perhaps the oddest thing of all, you saw Loki. 

And not just physically. 

You began to see him. 

Was he still an asshole? Yes. You figured he always would be. He wouldn’t be a Trickster without being a little bit of an asshole. 

But you saw how he treated the people around him. And how he treated his mother. You saw how he acted when he was alone, thinking no-one was watching him. 

There was something calming about him. 

For a while, you stood in the doorway of his room which was right next door to yours. He was no longer in his full royal attire but rather trousers and a shirt. 

Having discarded his black tie over the back of one of the chairs, he was walking back and forth between his desk and the floor to ceiling bookcase. 

Most of the time, his nose was buried in at least one book. Though, you had seen him read two at the same time, flipping between the chapters as he made notes in a completely different book. 

“I didn’t think you’d be like this.”

Loki almost tripped over himself as he turned and looked towards his door to see you. “Y/n.”

Slowly, you walked inside. “I thought you might have been sleeping in a cave, upside down like a bat. And only ever coming out to, I don’t know, pull dark pranks on people you wanted revenge on.”

“I still do, but I tend to leave that for the winter.”

You cracked a smile, rounding his desk, feeling his eyes trace every single movement you made. But at no point did he try to stop you from snooping. 

“Instead, you’re…a librarian, an entertainer, and a mediator. When you want to be.”

“I find it more entertaining harbouring peace in my home, these days, than I used to.”

“It’s a good look on you.”

Loki cocked his head a little, a teasing smile playing on his lips. “Was that a compliment?”

“I’ll deny it if anyone asks me.”

He chuckled, his laugh a little more breathy. “Of course. Anything I can help with?”

“It’s more what could I help you with,” you pointed out. “I’ve been watching you for the last ten minutes-”

“Now who’s the stalker?”

“And you seem to have your hands full.”

Loki studied you for a moment. “Recovery is getting to you, isn’t it?”

“I’ve never been more bored.”

Loki laughed, walking forward and dropping the book he’d been holding onto his desk. “Well, in that case, welcome. I’m sure you’ll be running back to the bi-frost in no time.”

Surprisingly, you didn’t. Instead, it became a highly entertaining evening as you helped Loki sort through his books as he hunted through each of them for information that might help Thor in his search for the origin of your infection. 

However, as the moon began to creep into the sky, a long needed tiredness began to take over. And, just as the moon passed its highest point in the sky, you fell asleep on Loki’s bedroom desk. 

The moment he noticed, Loki quietly shut his book and tidied up a little before laying a gentle hand on your shoulder. When you didn’t wake, he chuckled and leaned down. 

In two delicate movements, Loki lifted you in his arms and began to carry you back towards your bedroom. According to his mother, your recovery was still on-going, so falling asleep at a desk wouldn’t exactly help speed up that time. 

“Shush,” Loki whispered quietly to you as he laid you down in your bed and you woke for a brief moment. “It’s okay, go back to sleep.”

You hummed in your sleep before turning onto your side. 

For a moment, he took a mental image of you. Often, when he visited your planet, you seemed…worn. Tired. Exhausted from the fights you had to carry out in order to save the people around you, as well as make it home safe. And, often, there was also a scowl on your face when it came to looking at him. 

But, over the last three weeks, that scowl had slowly transitioned into a light smile that you couldn’t hide, even if you tried. There were still times you scowled at him, but it wasn’t as deep-seated as the others had been. 

Reaching out, Loki pushed the fallen hair away from your face and back against your pillow. Finally, covering your sleeping frame with the blankets, he leaned down and pressed a light kiss to your temple. 

“Sweet dreams, Y/n.”

And you did. Except, what you woke up to wasn’t as sweet. 

“Well, how long has she been here?! She’s no more use than that last mortal idiot who-”

“She’s not an idiot, and her name is Y/n!”

Loki’s voice had echoed throughout the hallways so much that everything that made a noise in the silence following his exclamation was almost deafening. 

“Dear, she was sick and she is still in need of recovery,” Frigga’s voice carried towards your room, followed by footsteps. 

“Really? How quickly did she pass out when you started to heal her? Ten, twenty seconds?”

“Fifteen minutes.”

The footsteps came to a halt. And the hallways became deadly silent. Even the soft ruffling of your bed covers felt loud in your ear drums. 

The trio began talking again, however quieter. And barely thirty seconds later, with Loki’s voice carrying a plea of, “Father-”, the doors to your room opened without a single knock. 

Yet, all three stared at the empty but made bed before their eyes turned around the room and landed on you. 

“Odin, I presume?" 

“Ms Y/n?”

You nodded, watching as Frigga reached out and held onto her son’s wrist whilst Odin began walking towards you. 

“My wife tells me you lasted fifteen minutes before you passed out from the pain of her cure. I have to say, even I haven’t lasted that long under the duress of pain.”

You shrugged. “Women have been known to have a higher pain tolerance.”

Odin laughed, turning to look at his wife. “She’s smart.”

Frigga smiled. “Told you I liked her.”

Odin turned back to you once more. “My son also tells me you work with my other son, back on your home planet.”

You nodded. “I do. Well- I try. Both of your sons seem to have a mind of their own, most of the time.”

You were glad to catch a glimpse of Loki’s smile. It warmed something inside of you. 

“I see,” Odin said as he studied you. “Well, stay for as long as you need. My son has spoken highly of you, but he has also told me you're rather…bored. Perhaps I can find some use for you here. At least until you return home.”

You smiled, “Happy to help where I can.”

Odin nodded before finally bidding you good-day and going about his business for the day. 

“So that’s Odin.”

Loki nodded. “That’s Odin.”

A little over a week later, when you thought all the weird was gone, a shock came to your system. 

For the last month, whilst you’d been recovering on Asgard, yourself and Loki had come to an…unspoken deal. That, for the sake of those around, you would both keep the verbal jousting to a minimum. 

What you hadn’t calculated, however, was that it left an open space for you to begin to see Loki. And it gave him space to see you. 

And, somewhere within four weeks and that space that just kept seemingly growing, you and Loki had become friends. Of sorts. 

Late nights, you worked together. He at his desk, you at yours. But, somewhere between supper and midnight, you’d migrate together. 

As you sat criss-crossed on the sofa, Loki sat on the floor beside you. When you needed a script, he’d hand it over to you, and you’d find the information he was in need of, from the book that laid open on your lap. 

Some mornings you’d wake in your bed, despite knowing you’d definitely fallen asleep on the sofa. Other mornings, you’d still be asleep, but Loki would be on the floor beside you, your hands barely an inch from each other. 

Most days, you talked to each other. He explained a few things about Asgard before telling you stories he’d never told anyone. Not because they were a secret, but simply because he’d never felt the need or the want to before. 

Teasing you over your Mid-gardian style, Loki would lay in wait for you to eventually tell him stories of your own childhood, or of working with the Avengers. 

And when you did, he saw you light up in a way that had been rare before Thor had brought you home. 

To his home. 

But, now, you are leaving. 

“He loves you dearly, my child.” 

You jumped a little at the voice that came from behind you. For the last two minutes, you’d been watching Loki in – surprisingly – a little pain. The thought of leaving him was…you didn’t fully know what. 

What you did know was that part of you wanted to stay. 

And a small part of that was down to him. 

Turning, you smiled at Frigga. Her warming and loving smile was something you’d definitely miss. 

“Frigga.”

“He does,” she told you as she took your hands in her own. “More than you may ever know. More than he may ever know.”

Looking down the grand hallway, you watched as one of the servant's children ran towards Loki, showing him a picture he’d drawn of the palace. 

Loki often pretended to have no feeling towards his people. But you saw the look in his eyes when he spoke of them and you could guarantee, one hundred percent, that when you opened up the draw inside his desk, you’d find that exact picture along with two dozen others they’d drawn for him. 

“We’re just…”

“Friends?” Frigga asked. “Well, it was more than you were before you arrived here. I am going to miss you, terribly, my dear. It was nice to have another woman around this place.”

“You know, I don’t know how often you can visit other places but…if you’re ever in New York…”

“That sounds wonderful, my dear.” Frigga pulled you into a motherly hug. “I might just do that.”

You smiled at her, hugging her back. 

However, what you failed to notice as you did so, was Loki turning around in the hallway and stopping just short of his office. The image of you and his mother talking and smiling and enjoying each other’s company would be a memory he’d cherish forever. 

He disappeared into his office before you could spot him, but the moment he left, you felt his absence. 

“Ready?” Hemindal asked you as you stood beside him. 

You’d said your goodbyes at the palace. Frigga had hugged you tight, Odin had bowed his head and Loki had stood there. 

Neither of you had been able to move, but you simply smiled and said goodbye. 

However, standing beside Hemindal, something small started to grow in the pit of your stomach and your arms ached for…

For Loki. 

“Wait! Y/n!”

Turning around, you spotted the Trickster running towards you. 

“Just- just give me a minute?”

Hemindal stepped back, a smile on his face. “Take your time, my lady.”

Your voice was quiet as you stepped away with a, “Thank you”, before rushing towards Loki. 

“What are you-”

Almost as if he’d read your mind, you were suddenly pulled tight against Loki before you managed to wrap your arms over his broad shoulders. 

“I don’t want this to be goodbye.”

You smiled into him. “If you make it back to Earth, this is just ‘see you later’.”

He nodded, setting you back down on your feet but continuing to hold you in his arms. “I mean it. This isn’t goodbye.”

You glared, a little playfully. “Is that a threat or a promise?”

He chuckled. “Both.”

“Good.” 

As Loki’s gaze bore into yours, he smiled a little more. “I’m glad we’re friends now.”

“So am I.”

But I wish we could be more, said a quiet voice in the back of your head. You hadn’t been expecting it, but it wasn’t a thought you wanted to disappear too quickly. 

“Don’t be a stranger,” you told him once you made it back to Hemindal. 

“I promise,” Loki smiled as he waved you off. 

Then you were back home. Back to work. Back to reality and Earth. Constantly thinking about the last person you thought would ever be on your mind. 

“Hello? Earth to Y/n,” Bruce said, shaking his hand in front of your face to grab your attention. 

“Yeah? Sorry.”

“Are you alright?” Bruce asked, a breathy chuckle leaving him. “You’ve been kinda distracted lately.”

You nodded. “Yeah, sorry. Just…in my own head, I guess. I’ll focus more, I’m sorry.”

He shrugged it off. “Don’t worry about it. What’s going on? Is this, like, a side effect of the Asgardian Flu?”

You shook your head, a tired smile on your face. “No, just me. I’ll try and focus more.”

Bruce just shook his head as if to say Don’t worry about it, but he kept his eye on you. 

You continued to work at the same pace you always did, but it was almost like your body was on auto-pilot. You were doing calculations to the fabric of the universe whilst physically building something from the opposite side of science. 

“She’s not ill, is she?” Kate asked. 

Joaquin shook his head. “No. Asgardian’s fixed that problem.”

“Could she be constipated?”

The pair turned and looked at Scott who had just appeared. 

“What? She looks pensive.”

“Who are we stalking?” Thor asked, scaring the trio practically shitless. “Sorry.”

Kate hitched a thumb over her shoulder towards you in your lab. “Y/n. She’s quiet. And we’re trying to figure out why.”

Thor, as he crouched with the three of them, looked towards you. “Oh, she’s in love.”

Then he walked away. 

“What?!” Kate and Joaquin shouted as they looked at each other before racing after Thor. 

“What do you mean?” Scott asked, catching up to them. 

“She’s in love,” he repeated, as if it didn’t just shatter their view of you. 

“With who?”

“My brother. Ah, there’s the kitchen.”

The trio looked between each other before racing after Thor once again. Finally pushing their way into the kitchen, they found Thor opening a box of pop-tarts. 

“As in…Loki?”

Thor laughed. “Who else?”

“But they hate each other.”

“And,” Thor began. “I left them alone for a month. Together. I believe it’s called Forced Proximity. At least, that’s what Darcy told me it’s called. Apparently it’s in her new favourite book.”

“You…you used a romance book as…as a manual?”

Thor thought on it for a moment as he chewed on his poptart. “Yeah, I guess so.”

“And we’re sure it’s Loki?” Joaquin asked. 

Thor nodded. “Of course. But, he’s been in love with her for a lot longer so I guess he’s had time to deal with it.”

“WHAT?!”

Thor nodded. “Yeah, like, what? Three years?”

“Three- Oh, my god.” 

“Whoa,” Kate said, catching Scott with Joaquin’s help. 

“I think I need to sit down.”

“Yeah,” Joaquin agreed. “You and us both.”

“What do you mean he’s been in love with her for three years? They’ve done nothing but fight for three years.” Kate pointed out. 

Thor shrugged. “Loki is a trickster. He knows how to keep people from seeing the truth. You’ll spot the signs eventually, it just takes a couple hundred years. Give or take.”

“Give or ta-” Scott ran a hand down his face. “Do you have orange slices? I feel like I’ve just shrunk from being big, again.”

Kate nodded and ran towards the fridge to grab them. 

“Thor, how much do you know about your brother’s feelings towards Y/n?”

What followed was a three hour story of how Thor came to realise Loki was in love with you, and how he’d hidden it all this time. 

The biggest give away was the fact you were the one repeated name in his stories when he spoke to his mother. 

And, despite the annoyed tone, both Thor and his mother could hear the admiration behind his voice. 

Then came the day Loki himself realised he was in love with you. It came six months after meeting you. He’d been helping Thor and the rest of the team with a Hydra…thing when Sam had pulled, in your words, “The most reckless and stupidest move ever known to the history of man.”. 

Wilson had nearly gotten himself killed and you chewed him out on it. And when the others tried to step in to calm you, you chewed them out too. 

However, when Loki held out his hands and stepped forward, you’d turned before he could even fully plant his foot on the ground. 

“Hey!” 

Your finger pointing at him, your eyes remained on his. Your breathing was heavy and your eye contact felt deeper than ever. But…you didn’t chew him out. You didn’t shout or yell at him. 

You just stared. Like a silent conversation was taking place. 

You never said a word until you turned back to the others, yelling at them to “Never do that again!”. 

As you took your leave from the hallway, Loki remained in shock as his eyes trailed after you. Part of Loki wanted you to have yelled at him. He got a kick out of your verbal spars with him. But there was something deeper about him wanting to talk to you at the moment. There was something deeper about why he wanted to follow you down the hall and make sure you were okay. 

But, he didn’t. 

Instead, when he returned home, he paced around the palace for three days before returning back to earth where he was told he’d be sharing a floor with you since he wasn’t there often and it was the only other floor that held a spare, but separate, room. 

Then he paced for another three days until he’d finally accepted his conclusion. 

After that, he became more simple than he thought. 

“Holy shit.”

“I know.”

“I can’t believe we’re Avengers.” Scott announced. 

They all turned to look at him. 

“We’re meant to know, like, everything. And we can’t even see when one of us has feelings for someone?”

“We’re…” Joaquin was lacking in excuses. “Avengers. Not Detectives.”

“Good one,” Kate whispered quietly. 

Joaquin held out his fist and Kate bumped her own against it. “Thanks.”

“Seriously, how did we miss this?” Scott asked. 

As the days began to turn into weeks, more and more Avengers joined the trio in watching your movements. 

You were still on auto-pilot when you worked, but when you were just sitting still, all you could do was think. They tried talking to you, but no reply would come. Not that they blamed you. 

Finding out you're in love with the last person you ever thought you’d even catch feelings for, took a lot of time to sink in. 

They could practically hear the cogs turning in your head. 

“Should we help her?”

Scott shook his head, eating from the bowl of popcorn. “No. Hope says she’s got to figure it out for herself. That way she knows it’s real.”

“But she’s been like this for almost a month. I don’t like it,” Joaquin said before pouring some of his m&ms into Kate’s hand. 

“I don’t like it either,” Kate whispered. “But Scott’s right- well, Hope. We can’t interfere.”

An idea struck him. “What if we don’t?”

Scott stared at him for a while. “Nope, you’ve lost me.”

“We don’t have to interfere,” Joaquin said. “But we know someone who could.”

Kate clicked her tongue. “Sam and Bucky both agreed with Hope-”

“Not them. Though, that does surprise me that they don’t want to meddle. No. I was thinking of someone a little more…God-like.”

It took four days of planning but the trio finally had an idea sorted out. 

And the minute Kate saw the flash of light outside her room, she ran directly down the hall, banged on Joaquin’s door before throwing herself inside. 

“Look outside.”

Shoving him closer to the window, she pointed. “See him?”

Joaquin smiled. “I see him.”

The moment Loki stared up at the Avengers building, he wiped his hand nervously on his legs. He hadn’t seen you in just over two months, and yet you hadn’t left his thoughts once. 

He’d been dealing with the same thing for close to four years, but not once in those four years had either of you been friends. Not once in those four years could he have held out hope that you might be happy to see him. 

But after your stay on Asgard…he wasn’t so certain that stuffing the hope away was the right thing to do. 

You told him not to be a stranger, hadn’t you? And that you were glad he was your friend? 

Or had that all been a dream? 

“Brother!” 

The greeting was the same as always. Care, if a little caution. But, all in all, the evening was fun. Games were played, stories were told. 

But Loki couldn’t help but notice someone was missing. 

You. 

“Looking for someone in particular, Loki?”

Loki turned, forcing a laugh into his drink. “I have no idea what you mean, brother.”

Thor nodded with a knowing smile before leaning a little closer. “She has a new lab on the third floor. We’ve all tried to get her to leave it. Perhaps you might have a little more luck?”

As Thor picked up a bottle of tequila and walked away, Loki took all of thirty seconds to decide to go in search of you. 

And it wasn’t long until he found you. 

Just like Thor had told him, you had a new lab on the third floor. In fact, it made up the entirety of the third floor. 

“The way I hear it, you’re missing one hell of a party.”

You yelped a little, dropping the spanner from your hand into the tray table in front of you. 

Turning, you found Loki leaning against one of the storage units, fiddling with one of the broken web shooters Peter had asked you to take a look at. 

“Loki,” your voice came out with a smile on your face. “You’re here.”

Smiling at you, Loki placed the web shooter back before strolling closer to you. For a moment, you tried to keep yourself busy. 

Holding onto your spanner once more, you started to work on your current project. You needed to do something that kept your hands from shaking in his presence. 

“I missed you upstairs.”

You nodded, slowly. “Yeah, I, uh, I guess I just lost track of time.”

“Anything I can help you with?”

A smile appeared on your face again as you looked towards his own. “Uh, no. No, I don’t think so. But thank you.”

Loki simply nodded and took a small step back from your working table. 

“Are you alright?” He asked as he took a turn around your lab. 

“I’m fine. Why do you ask?”

Loki turned slowly on his heel and looked at you with an intrigued expression. You had answered his question way too quickly. Even by your standards. 

“Well, I know that’s a lie.”

“It’s not a lie.” 

You lied again. He knew you had. You knew he knew you had. 

Shit. 

You sighed, “It’s not something you can help with.”

“Are you sure?”

You nodded. “I wish you could. Believe me, it’s taken me months and I still haven’t…”

Your eyes locked with his from across your lab as your sentence died away. 

Maybe you were right. Maybe he is the last person, but he’s also the first…

“Figured it out,” you eventually managed to finish, although slightly breathless. 

There was an edge to Loki’s smirk as he looked at you with a small courteous nod. “Well,” he said. “Here’s to hoping you figure it out soon.”

“Yeah.” 

“So…” Loki continued, “How have you been?”

You back to him, a little relieved he’d fallen back into ‘Asgard’ territory. At least, that’s what you’d been calling it in your head. 

Most normal people would probably just call it being civil and talking. 

“Well, whatever your mom’s magic did, it seemed to cure pretty much everything inside of me.”

“Including your ‘cold, dead heart’?”

You chuckled. “Ooh, no. Sorry. I’m afraid nothing can cure that.”

Loki laughed, and so did you. But in the silence of it all you started to realise that maybe, just maybe, that ‘cold, dead heart’ you’d once spoken of, was thawed and beginning to warm. 

Especially towards Loki. 

“How is your mother?”

“She’s well. She asks about you often. I believe she wishes to visit you soon.”

The normal side of talking continued for…you didn’t know how long. But it was long enough for Kate to get drunk on Asgardian liquor and come running to find you. 

“How long do you think she’s gonna be hungover for?” 

When Kate had come down to your lab, blabbing about…something (most of her words were slurred. The most you could make out was “I love you guys, so much,”) yourself and Loki had carried her to bed. 

“Asgardian liquor can have different effects depending on the mortal. How is she with normal liquor?”

You shrugged. “Depends on the type and the quantity. I banned her from tequila when she cried for three hours and then proceeded to send pinterest pictures of cute animals to her ex.”

Loki couldn’t help but chuckle. Both at the information, and the way you reported it. Almost like it was an announcement on the evening news. 

“I’ll stick around for a few days. Thor’s been given an assignment and I’ve suffered through enough of those hangovers to know the better cures.”

You smiled, “Thank you.”

But it was only as he was bidding you goodnight after walking you to your room – despite it being in the same hallway as his own – that you realised what that meant. 

Loki was staying. 

With you. 

In the tower. 

For more time than usual. 

On a normal day, before Asgard, you would have ignored him to the best of your ability. But now he was your friend. And…and the person you wanted more with. 

You managed to survive three days, which is more than you could say for Kate who had been dealing with the world’s worst hangover, quite literally. 

“Here, drink up.”

Loki placed a tall glass of something blue in front of her. 

“What is it?” Kate couldn’t even open her eyes as she looked up. 

The minute she sniffed it, she gagged. 

“Oh, my god,” she drew out. “What the hell is that?”

“Probably best you don’t ask questions.”

With a grimace, she looked at Loki before looking at you. You could only nod and look at Loki. He looked like he was going through it with Kate. 

“Here goes nothing.”

It took Kate all of an hour to finish the drink without throwing up. 

“I’ll make you another one in three hours.”

As Kate made a wretching noise, you led her back to her room which smelled a little less of alcohol stained clothes. 

“That was totally disgusting.”

“Just lay down and try to get some sleep. I’ll wake you when dinner’s ready.”

Kate shook her head. “I can’t eat. Not after that drink. Just…wake me up when the next century hits.”

Chuckling lightly, you covered her up and closed the blinds until her room was encased in darkness. 

It took you ten minutes to get out of her room without bruising yourself…again. 

“Sleeping?” Loki asked as he met you in the hallway. 

You nodded. “For now. She says to wake her up next century.”

“Noted.” Loki nodded along. “I’ve made some tea, if you’d care for a cup?”

With a tired sigh, you followed him back to the kitchen. “Love one.”

“Solve your problem yet?” 

Laying the steaming cup down, you shook your head. “Not yet. But I’m close. I think.”

The edge that had taken over his smirk three days ago suddenly reappeared. “Let me know when you do. I figure whatever it is, will have an interesting conclusion.”

“Maybe,” you agreed. But you weren’t fully convinced. 

After all, how could the last person on any planet be the first person you’d thought of in a romantic futuristic sense. Sure, there had been past relationships and dreams but, when it came to Loki, it all felt more real somehow. 

Like, if you said them outloud, they would come true. 

And you didn’t know if that scared you shitless, or intrigued you to the point of excitement.

But it all came to a head one night just a little after two in the morning. 

You’d fallen asleep just a few hours before, comfortable in bed, only to wake in a cold sweat and someone calling your name softly. 

“Loki?”

“Yeah,” his voice was softer than usual. “It’s me.” 

He whispered in the darkness of your room, his hands reaching out to hold you.

It was the first time you’d felt comforted. Though, with a mother like Frigga, you shouldn’t have been surprised. 

“I-I couldn’t-”

Loki nodded. “I know. It’s okay. You’re safe. They can’t hurt you anymore.”

“It felt so real.”

Smoothing down your hair, Loki mumbled light words into your temple before pressing a kiss in the same spot. 

“It’s okay, you’re safe.”

A small gasp left you. “Did I wake you- Loki, I’m so sorry.”

He shook his head. “No. No, Jarvis alerted me. And I’m glad he did. Can I get you anything?”

You shook your head, still a little out of it. “Can you stay?”

“Of course.”

In the comfort of darkness, you let Loki wrap himself around you like a protection barrier from the nightmares you’d just suffered through. 

Laying in between his legs and on his chest, his palm settled over your head. “Rest now, my love. You can rest now. You’re safe.”

Only when he was certain you’d drifted off did he add, “I love you.”

Waking in the morning, you found your position barely changed. Loki’s arms were still around you, only you lay facing each other. Beneath the new addition of a green blanket, no doubt conjured up by the Trickster God himself, your legs tangled and wrapped around his own as if he was your own personal anchor to the real world. 

When he finally woke, you both just laid there. Neither one of you moved, nor did you say a word. 

The longer the heavy silence carried out, however, you came to a conclusion. 

“I think I’m falling in love with you,” you admitted, a little confused by yourself. 

“Is that your conclusion to your problem?” A small smile toyed on Loki’s lips as he spoke. 

“I think so. I just…I don’t know for certain.”

“What’s holding you back?”

“Our beginning. I mean, we hated each other, didn’t we?”

A breathy, quiet laugh left Loki. “I never hated you. I never could. And, for whatever you may be thinking, I don’t think you hated me either.”

“How could you know that?”

“Because you’re not capable of it.” Loki’s gaze softened as he looked at you. “You used to laugh over having a ‘cold, dead heart’, but you never saw how bright it shined. You care deeply, especially about the people you love. You also have an understanding of people. I’ve seen that with my own eyes. But it’s not in you to carry hatred in your heart.”

Taking in your expression, Loki continued. 

“I see you, Y/n. Even when you think no-one’s looking.”

He didn’t know it (or maybe he did), but he just hit you like a freight train. And the hits just kept on coming. 

His smile was soft. Genuine. “I’ve waited a thousand years to even have the chance to meet someone like you, Y/n. You can take your time to figure us out. I’ll wait forever for you, if you’ll let me.”

I love you enough to leave, if that’s what you want me to do. But please don’t. 

Unsure of what to say, you did the only thing you could think of. You reached out for him. Though you didn’t have to reach far. 

Still tangled with him, you softly laid your palm on his cheek and watched as his eyes fluttered closed for a moment and he leaned into your touch. 

Almost as if it was second nature to him, Loki laid his own hand over yours as he turned his head. He pressed a long kiss to your palm before opening his eyes once again. 

He was slow to hold you and remove it from his face, though at no point did he drop it. Instead, he held it in both of his hands before his fingers traced each line of your hand as if imagining the parts of your life he hadn’t seen. 

All the parts of your life that led you to him. To your (fateful) first meeting. To your stay on Asgard. To this very moment, lay in his arms, finally knowing some of what he’d been carrying for you for almost four years. 

Flushing his own palm against yours, you allowed your fingers to interconnect with his own.

Neither of you spoke. You didn’t have to. Enough was being said in the shared silence. 

It took two more weeks and a visit from Frigga for you to understand just how deeply the feelings you’d discovered you had for Loki ran. 

And, although you may never be able to fully comprehend how your life was destined to meet a God and have him be your First Person; especially when he was the last person you would have ever suspected it to be.

You knew one thing for absolutely certain, and that was that you loved him. And he loved you. Most likely, as Frigga said, more deeply than either of you knew. 

For Loki, you had been written in the stars for him. As for you?

For you, Loki had roots buried deep within your Life Line.