Chapter Text
"Have you seen my coat?" Nat asked, rummaging through the closet.
"The blue one?" You asked, also shuffling through the closet to find your winter clothes.
"No, the black one," she answered, her voice muffled from being inside the closet.
"I thought that you had it yesterday," You stated confused.
Tasha grumbled, "I did." Before stepping out of the closet and running a hand through her hair, trying to remember where she had last left her coat.
"Have you seen my gloves?" You asked, shimming closer into the closet.
Loki spoke from the couch, making you pop out to look at him and Bruce who were comfortably on the couch. "Natasha your coat is lying on the floor of the closet because you can't hang it up properly and [Name] your gloves are in the left pocket of your coat."
"Sweet," You said, after pulling out your gloves, them being exactly where he said they were. "Thank you." Loki nodded in acknowledgement while Natasha picked up her coat from the ground and put it on, muttering a thank you as well.
"Where are you two going?" Bruce asked.
Putting your coat and your gloves on, you answered. "We're going window shopping."
Loki raised an eyebrow so Tasha explained. "During Christmas time, stores have things in the windows and people go around looking in them and seeing if they want to buy something from the window. It's a tradition of [Name] and I's. Plus it's an easy way to go Christmas shopping or just shopping in general."
The God nodded thoughtfully then turned to look at Bruce when he spoke. "Which part are you going in New York?"
"We're just going to wander around Manhattan," You answered, slipping your purse on your shoulder.
"Could I come?" He asked. "There's a part that I need down there."
You looked at Nat, silently asking if that was okay, she shrugged and you smiled at Bruce. "The more the merrier."
"Great!"
"In that case, may I come to?" Loki asked, standing. "I still need to do my 'Secret Santa' shopping."
About a week ago, everyone was asking each other what they wanted and it got slightly out of control. Pepper was so frustrated by all the noise that she yelled for everyone to shut up and to do a Secret Santa, that way everyone only had to worry about one person and it wouldn't be as expensive. Even though Tony was her boyfriend, Pepper liked to find ways to save money, which bothered Tony to no end.
Everyone had drawn a name from a hat and whoever you picked; you bought them a present and presented it to them on Christmas Eve.
"We have to hurry," Nat advised, looking at her phone. "I want to look around for a while."
"Nat and I will wait downstairs for you guys," You suggested. "Meet us down there when you're ready."
You and Nat chatted on the elevator ride down and continued the conversation when you were waiting for the two boys. You had made sure to have JARVIS tell everyone where you would be so you didn't get a panicked phone call from Tony.
"Ready to go?" A voice suddenly asked, making you scream and jump behind Nat. After peaking from behind her, you saw Loki, who had used his magic to appear next to you, laughing hysterically at your reaction.
"Loki!" You scolded lightly. "You need to stop doing that!"
"Sorry," He apologized once his laughter died down, trying to hide the smirk tugging on his lips. Amusement sparked in his eyes seeing that you always were so startled by him. The God loved to use his magic to suddenly zap next to you and scare you. He did it every second he could and it freaked you out every time. You'd think you'd be used to it, but still no.
"Is Bruce coming?" Tasha asked, glancing at her watch.
Loki sighed. "I did offer to use my magic to teleport us both here but he made the decision to take the long way."
Nat tapped her foot impatiently. When Bruce came out of the elevator Tasha muttered, "Finally," before walking towards the door.
White fluffy snow was on the ground while more snow fell lightly from the sky. You smiled as you looked up and stuck out your tongue giggling when you caught a snowflake. "Come on [Name], I want to go," Natasha said restlessly.
"Alright, alright, I'm coming," You answered, rolling your eyes at her readiness to leave.
Everyone started walking, your footprints in the snow showing where you had walked. Soon you found yourselves in Times Square. You smiled in awe while you looked at the lights that glittered throughout the streets. "New York is so beautiful during the winter," You sighed.
Bruce glanced at his watch. "I've got to head to the shop now to get my package," He announced. "Is it okay if I leave you guys and meet up with you in about two hours?"
Nat looked over at you to see you nod in agreement. "Let's meet up at Central Park," You suggested.
"Then we shall rendezvous there," Loki agreed while Bruce waved before he walked in the other direction leaving you, Loki and Nat alone.
"Alright let's go window shopping now," Nat said before walking off down the sidewalk. Both you and Loki looked at each other, an eyebrow raised, before you both shrugged and followed her.
~~~~
The three of you had been walking for a while, a few bags in Natasha's arm, but nothing in yours. You were saving your money for something special, something that you really wanted.
Loki and Nat were talking while the three of you walked with the light snow falling. Casually you glanced to your left where a few jewelry shops windows where and kept walking before your brain registered what you had seen. You stopped before slowly walking backwards to the window to see what had caught your eye.
Awestruck, you put your hands up on the glass, peering into the window. In the middle of the display, there was the most beautiful necklace you had ever seen. The small, gold chain of the necklace created a gentle aura around it, while the bright diamonds glittered and gave a commanding look. The two contrastive attributes somehow complimented each other, a lot like snow against a bright sky.
"Don't you think so, [Name]?" Loki asked smiling until he noticed you weren't beside him any longer. “[Name]?" He asked, turning around until he saw you a ways back. Both he and Nat gave each other a curious look on what had taken your interest so much before walking towards you.
While they walked, you took out your wallet excitedly, seeing if you had enough money for the necklace. As you counted what you had saved, your smile fell and you slowly clasped your wallet back together before putting it into your purse and walking away.
"No wait! [Name]!" Nat called after you before grasping your shoulder, stopping you so that you were still in front of the mirror. "What were you looking at?"
"That necklace," You responded dully.
"Do you like it?"
"I love it," You responded sadly then glanced at the beautiful necklace longingly.
Natasha still didn't seem to understand as she said, "Then why don't you buy it?"
You sighed before answering, "I don't have enough money. It's too expensive. And I've been saving for so long."
Tasha took your wallet from your open purse and started counting your money. "It looks like you have enough to me?" She stated, glancing at the price then back at your wallet, then to you.
"Not if I'm going to buy a Christmas present for my secret Santa."
Loki looked confused. "But you still have enough money to buy what you want. Why don't you just spend a little less on them so you can get the necklace?"
"Christmas is the holiday of giving, it doesn't feel right. Sometimes I need to put others needs before my own," You sighed wistfully at the necklace before starting to walk away, Nat following you.
It took you both a while of walking to realize that Loki hadn't been walking behind you like you had thought. When you both called his name he appeared next to you, scaring you. With a hand on your heart you playfully hit his arm. "Stop doing that!"
He laughed. "It's just too much fun."
"Where were you?" Nat asked, suspiciously.
Loki put his hands in his pockets as if hiding something. "I wanted to startle [Name]," He admitted but Nat didn't look to sure about it.
"If you guys want to keep looking we need to hurry," You reminded. Loki nodded quickly while Nat slowly nodded before the three of you started to walk again.
After walking and laughing and talking together, Nat saw a store that she wanted to go into and told both of you that she would meet you both at Central Park. Now it was just you and Loki walking together.
You and Loki had been talking for a while, but soon a peaceful silence enveloped both of you. You walked next to each other, your hand in your pockets while Loki's were swaying by his sides.
Watching the windows made you remember about your Secret Santa. When you had drawn a name from the hat, you had gotten Pepper and couldn't have been happier. You didn't know who got you and you didn't know who everyone else got. The curiosity was overwhelming you and soon you had to talk about it. "So..." You asked, trying to be discreet about your asking, but Loki could tell you were up to something because of the playful look he gave you, knowing that you wanted to know something. You playfully nudged him as you walked. "Who did you get for your Secret Santa?"
A smile formed on Loki’s face as he chuckled. "So that's what you want?" He laughed while you sheepishly nodded. "I thought you weren't supposed to tell."
"I mean- you don't have to always follow the rules," You told him smiling, hoping to use your pleading [eye color] eyes to persuade him in his decision.
Loki laughed. "I'm not telling you, [Name]. You'll have to wait and see."
"Dang it," You cursed softly while Loki chuckled, but frowned when he noticed that you shivered. It had gotten farther into the night and gotten colder as it got darker so the chill was getting worse. "It's freezing," You chattered, hugging yourself and bringing the coat closer to your body.
You were so busy being cold that you didn't notice that Loki kept hesitating on putting his arm around your shoulders to keep you warm. You were so wrapped up in your own thoughts you accidentally tripped and yelped, but thankfully Loki caught your forearms.
Breathing heavily you thanked him. "Thank you." Heat trickled up your neck, your inner thoughts cursing yourself for being so awkward and tripping on nothing more than your feet.
"Are you alright?" Loki asked worriedly.
Laughing uneasily you nodded and straightened yourself as Loki hesitantly removed his hands from your arms. "I'm kinda clumsy, I guess," You said trying to just get the embarrassing moment over with. Stupidly, when you took another step, you tripped again from feeling so self-conscious.
Once again, Loki saved you. His arms wrapped around you with inhuman speed while he held you close to him, your hands pressed on his chest. Your eyes were wide as you were looking at his chest and how close the two of you were.
When your eyes slowly trailed up to meet his, your eyes locked on his emerald green orbs. Time was slowing down and all you could think of was how handsome Loki looked with the snow falling around him. You loved how close you were to him and the worried look he had in his eyes for you.
You wished that this moment would never stop, but unfortunately everything has to end at one point.
"Sorry," You apologized shyly, tilting your head down so he wouldn't see the shameful flush on your face.
"Are you sure you’re alright?" He asked gently, still not releasing his grasp on you.
"Yes," You answered, still looking down at the ground, getting out of his warm embrace. "Thank you."
"Here," Loki said wrapping his arm around your waist, making you stiffen in surprise. "Let me help support you so you don't fall again." He pulled you closer to him as a deep flush came on your cheeks. The two of you walked a few more steps and with Loki's assistance, you managed not to trip again though your legs felt like Jell-O as you walked.
"Better?" he asked.
Stuttering, you answered by nodding and said in a small voice, "Yes. T-thank you."
You continued to walk in silence, as you didn’t trust yourself to talk. All you could think about was Loki's arm around you, but you knew he was just trying to be kind, unlike what you wished and that he was trying to get closer to you.
Suddenly your phone started to ring. You stopped walking and sheepishly looked at him while he understood what you were silently asking. He released you so that you could dig your phone out of your pocket. "Hello?"
"Hey," Natasha answered. "I'm at Central Park. I met Bruce on the way here, where are you guys?"
"Um..." You looked at Loki and covered the phone to your chest to muffle sound. "Where are we?" You whispered. Loki gave you directions to relay to Natasha until you were able to hang up and the two of you waited for them.
With the silence, you couldn't help, but have your thoughts cloud over you. You wished that Loki would put his arm around you again, but since the two of you weren't walking, it would be pointless.
Soon two figures, which you recognized as Bruce and Nat, came walking towards you. After you had all gotten together, you took a cab back to Avengers Tower and you made your famous hot chocolate for everyone.
Everyone was watching a movie in the theater room but you had decided to go outside and enjoy the lights. The Avengers Tower was perfect for looking out at the beautiful city.
You were standing on the balcony, leaning your torso on the railing while you sipped your hot chocolate in your favorite mug that you had made in ceramics your senior year.
When the door opened and closed, you didn't pay it any mind as you couldn't tear your eyes away from the wonder in front of you. But you turned when, out of the corner of your eye, a figure joined up with you. When you saw it was Loki, you returned your eyes back to the sight of lights in front of you.
"I always thought that Asgard was alluring when it snowed," Loki spoke, his hands flat on the railing as he broke the silence. "But New York, with the Midgardian holiday lights," he sighed in content, "It is very magnificent as well."
A small smile came on your face as you took another sip, the heat warming you. "It is," You agreed. "Yes, it is."