#protective loki

Loki was already uneasy with your lack of attendance at afternoon tea. You rarely missed it, even said it was your favorite part of your day. And even when you had to cancel for whatever reason, you always alerted him beforehand. He sat there and let his cup run cold as he waited half an hour for your appearance. But once he concluded that you were not going to make it, he downed the now chilled cup and went back to his room, unfulfilled.

Then when there was a vacancy at dinner as well, he really was concerned for your well-being. He asked around if anyone had seen you, and all responses came back negative. His anxiety grew with each dissatisfying interaction. Loki was not one to worry about much, but for the much he did care about, it all concerned you.

He went to your room at a speed that would definitely be shocking to any onlooker. However now he did not care. You had not made any acknowledgement of your existence to anyone the entire day, and it was not like you. Even on days when you did not want to be disturbed, you told him in advance. But never complete silence.

He approached your door, his chest slightly heaving from the trek he had just completed. He could have just used magic, but he decided to use his time in travel to think of what he was going to tell you. Knock. No response. Knock knock. Still nothing. He sucked in a chest of air and said, loud enough to be heard on the other end of the door, "(Y/n)? Are you alright?" And once more, no response. His brows knitted as he concentrated on hearing anything on the other side of the door. But what he received only followed his current theme of the day, disappointment.

"(Y/N)?" He asked in a louder tone now. And like before he extended his focus to hear any sign of life on the other side of the door. But there was still nothing. Loki sighed and used some simple magic to unlock your door and entered slowly. His eyes scanned all around, but they did not find there desired target. He felt relief wash over him as he saw a lit candle in your bedroom. He knew you would never leave a lit candle unattended, so you must be near.

How long has this been burning?, Loki asked himself. The wax had well spilled over the holder and was now seeping in a puddle below itself. The relief he had recently acquired was now tested by oncoming suspicion. She would not have left it in this condition, He thought. His eyes looked around further, this time under the guise of skepticism. And he noticed a, now cold, glass of tea. And at your desk, there was something you were writing. The paper would not have usually paid much interest to him, however the way you left off mid word, did.

Loki blew out your candle before it could mess up any more of your table and instead used his green flame to light the room. And that was when he saw it. On your night stand there was a note.

Hello "God of Mischief"

Looking for someone?

Your beloved (Y/N) will be spending some time with my friends and I for some time

I hope you don't mind

But since I know you do

Bring us The Eternal Flame and you can get her back

And remember

Try anything foolish and you can say goodbye to her

The note had a loc of your hair attracted to it. The flame Loki already had flowing, grew into an inferno. The note went up into smoke, but not before he saw the address of the place he was supposed to go. It wasn't to far from the castle at all. The thought that someone in Asgard can have such strong disdain for him that they would do this, sat in the back of his mind. He would think of it later, once you were back in his arms.

He teleported to the doors of Odin's treasure room and got the eternal flame, though he had no actual intent of giving it away. However he needed you back, and Loki would do anything for that to happen. Once out of the room, he made sure he was not seen with the flame, and flew to the place you were being held. He was running on emotions at large, and due to that, did not think of a plan other than gutting everyone involved purely for putting you through this.

He flung the two doors open in one big wave of green. The first person he saw was a man dressed plainly. With a glare that held so much chill it made Jotunheim seem underperforming, he raised one hand to the man. His voice was heavy and daunting like an eldritch horror and he uttered the words, "Where is my bride."

When the man didn't answer fast enough for Loki's liking, in a green flicker, the man was being held by his throat. He was lifted and brought to Loki's face. His voice became low and haunting and he spoke, "where is she." The man looked into Loki's eyes with a fear that would live with for the rest of his days. However with Loki's current mood, he would live with that fear for the rest of this hour.

The man was too focused on getting air in his lungs that he did not respond to the God. And for that, Loki just placed his hand on the man's forehead and saw where you were being held in his memory. Once he got the information he needed, he sprung a blade from the palm that currently rested on the man's forehead, and ended his fear.

His body slumped to the floor and Loki continued on his hunt for you. He took a right and continued down a hallway. The man's blood on his hand was the least on his concern. Another man springs from a corner, armed with a spear. He doesn't pounce on Loki yet, but gets into position to. "Where's the flame, Laufyson." He spat the name like a slur. However what Loki was more focused on was how this man knew of his true lineage. The thought caught him off guard, and it was enough for the man to approach and strike him across the cheek. His blood coated the edge of the spear, and it broke him from his thoughts. "Or will we have to spend more time with that pretty girl you keep locked away." That line was what got Loki's emotions to front his actions again. But the problem with that was, his moves were more sloppy this way.

The man he was fighting was clearly a trained warrior. And with the help of his accomplice, that had suddenly joined in the fight as well, Loki was soon pinned to the ground. In a cocky tone the first man said, "you know, 'prince'. For you to call yourself a benevolent God, and then not want to share your prize... isn't very fair is it? She should not even be with you. And now you will not let her even be around those of better company? Makes me want to keep the flame and her, just to show her a good time." The disgusting captor and his accomplice broke out into a fit of laughter. Many had thought you and Loki's relationship was as controlling as the pigs said. But no one ever understood how free you really were with him.

The obnoxious joy the two pigs were enjoying were soon silenced when Loki rose from the ground. His hands enveloped in a blinding green glow. He said nothing at first, except lifted the men by the neck with one hand, like before. Except for a moment Loki closed his eyes, and sensed every presence in the building. Everyone except you were hunted down by his shadows and brought to where he was standing now.

TW AND VIOLENCE

It was a collection of ten men, all foul in their own ways. They met the same fate as the two men currently hanging. He gagged every man so that you not hear their torture. And with his other hand he summoned twenty daggers. One for each foot of the men. When they punctured, he began to speak and he summoned more knives. "I know that I am not one who was bound for a fruitful love." Ten knives, one for each man. They began at the feet, tracing slowly up the leg. the knives had enough pressure at the hilt to break through clothes and their skin. "And that is my burden to bear," the knives slowed to a stop at the waistline. And returned to the foot on the other leg, then mimicked their work on the other leg.

Loki was glad he gagged them. He didn't want the screams of your captors to haunt you. When the knives reached the waistline, they met both lines in the middle and began scaling up their stomachs. "However," there was a slight growl in his tone. The blade stopped at their necks. "If you, or anyone dare to harm my wife," he brought them close to his face and looked into all of their eyes. "I will always find you, and not even Valhalla could stop me from decimating you over, and over again." The blades sliced through all their throats, and their blood splattered all over Loki.

TW AND VIOLENCE END

He dropped their dripping carcasses and went to where they were holding you. Before walking in, in another wave of green, he cleaned their blood off of himself to make sure he didn't alarm you. When he opened the door, what he saw enraged him but most importantly, broke his heart.

You were tied to a chair and had a large sac over your head. You were trembling, and as his footsteps got closer, he heard your breath quicken with fear. "(Y/n)! (Y/n) it's me, it's alright." He slowly took the sac off so your eyes could adjust. What he saw broke him even more. You were gagged and your eyes were full of tears. He noticed a bit of your hair was shorter than the rest and he wish he could revive those bastards just to do even worse to them.

When you registered it was Loki you made a sound of relief and leaned as close as the ropes allowed, to him. In a second the gag and ropes dropped to the floor and you fell into Loki's arms. You just sobbed incoherently and let him hold you together as you did. Loki wrapped your legs around his waist and lifted you both up. You don't know when he did it, due to your eyes being shut, but he transported you both back to your room.

He held you in a crushing embrace, like you could be taken from him again at any moment. When you caught a bit of your bearings you said in a broken voice, "I don't want to be in here." The scene was still the exact same as when they took you. Then immediately, the pair of you were in Loki's room, still embraced. "Thanks," you replied as some left over tears still stained your face.

"Anything for you, darling." His hand rubbed your back as he softly spoke. There was darkness underlying his words, but you didn't acknowledge it, "And I mean anything." He was there as you showered, but not in the shower, he respected your need for privacy. Especially after today. And he stayed with you for the rest of the evening and even held you as you slept. As a reminder of his undying loyalty and love for you.

When the both of you are not stuck on missions your weekends are normally like this with a majority of the team off gallivanting in their own personal life. It just leaves you and a couple of other agents on the compound, and barely anyone on their team's floor.

Some days–and these are his favorite days, not that he would ever admit it–you let him read to you, you'll lie beside him on the couch. Your head on his lap as you solve and unsolve one of you many colorful cubic puzzles. You'll hum with interest occasionally and ask questions which sometimes delve into passionate discussions analyzing the book. 

Other times you'll be lulled to sleep, snoring lightly as he continues reading. When you eventually wake it's with gentle hands in your hair, and the smell of your favorite tea on the stove. Sometimes you read to him, your finger tracing lines mindlessly across his chest lulling him to sleep.

The elevator dings, and he looks up to glare at whoever dared interrupt your shared peace.

He stiffens, noting the strange man as he steps into the common room. Loki glances at you, but you continue working oblivious to the new presence in the room. He looks back at the stranger, who smiles back and nods in greeting. As if noting his confusion, the man motions to the SHIELD identification attached to his hip. Loki nods in understanding and recalls the tour group of the new batch of agents he saw earlier in the week. Still how the agent had a high enough clearance to access the Avengers' commons was beyond him. But he pays it no mind and goes back to his book, if the agent wished for access to Stark's secret candy stash, it wasn't his problem. Until he made a beeline for you, he glares at him over his book, but the agent's attention is only on you, with an almost feline smile.

You don't notice him until he steps carelessly into your field of disarray, and crouches down next to you. You jump, snatching your headphones off and stare at him, shooting Loki a wide-eyed glance. Before he can tell you about the new agents, the man says your name. 

You say a name back in a too quiet voice. And the agent grins.

So you already knew the agent. interesting.

"Why–what are–what are you doing here?" You stutter clearing a path around you and scooting back. 

The agent takes advantage and moves closer. You don't keeping scooting, instead you lean as far back as you can, without compromising your spot on the floor.

"I submitted a transfer of location," he smirks, and holds up his ID, "comes with the promotion."

Loki decides he's not fond of him. He's too cocky.

"What," you're voice is breathy and small.

"Looks like I'll be spending more with the Avengers," he says. And you he doesn't say it, but even Loki can hear it in the way he looks at you. Like a piece of meat.

And Loki takes a moment to look at you, really look at you. Your face is pale, your shoulders rounded as if caving into yourself. And your hands shake as you fidget with your tools. Even though the man is crouched, you still have to crane your neck to look up at him, and he seems to be enjoying. Loki doesn't like it at all.

He's seen you take down multiple enemies in less than a minute. He's seen you easily scare off degenerates at the bar won't take no as an answer and do the same for other women. He's seen you exude confidence in meetings as you verbally destroy someone for coming after him. He's never seen you look like this so... so small. And the way the agent is looking at you, smiling as he leans closer, knowing damn well what he's doing to you as you flinch when his hand lands heavy on your thigh.

No Loki doesn't like it at all.

So he stands up, tossing his book to the side, and squeezes between the both of you, ridding the man's hand from your leg, and crouches down, matching the agent's pose.

The man says your name with a deathly sweetness, glancing between you and Loki, "you aren't going to introduce us?"

You look at the man with such a gaze he has only seen on the prey animals Thor would drag home after a successful hunt. As if he has already best you, as if you have let him devour you already. And Loki has had enough.

So he turns a glare towards the agent. 

"Loki," he says, voice laced with venom, "what a pleasure to hear you'll be working with all of us." 

He slaps his hand on the agent's thigh, equally hard as he did with you. And the agent has the nerve to look uncomfortable. 

"I will warn you though," he slithers, "I happen to be quite... territorial," he pauses, sneering. "So I'd advise you to stay away from me and mine."

The agent nods once, and stumbles back as he stands up. "Excuse me, I'll–um," he swallows, lancing around, "go check out the rest of the–um building"

Loki nods, eyes not leaving until he takes the stairs and the door shuts behind him. Smart choice.

Your hands tug on his sleeve, and you whisper a quiet thank you.

He takes you in his arms, and you curl up on him, head on his chest. And his heart breaks for you.

You call his name, voice muffled by his shirt.

He hums, stroking your hair as you look up at him.

"Will you read to me?"