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There was no handbook for dating a god. No one warned you of the adjustments you would need to make or the things you would learn about sharing a life with someone from another world. No one told you he would shatter every jar you asked him to open, or the amount of times you would be scared shitless when he appeared from nowhere. You had to learn not to let him answer the door after he brandished his dagger at a pair of girl scouts, making them cry. And then there was the incident with the dishwasher.
For every incident, every misunderstanding, every dagger found between the couch cushions, there were a million moments that made it worth making it work. When you kissed your head filled with hundreds of fireworks, their falling embers igniting your veins. When he looked to you to explain something he didn't understand and you got to watch his face perform a series of expressions: confusion, distaste, anger, amusement, understanding, then a loving pride as he thank you for teaching him something new. Then there was the sex. The desperate need to be with each other, the stamina, the ability to lose the rest of the universe and just focus on each other. He was everything you had ever wanted and more.
The one thing you really wished someone could have warned you about was the way he slept. It took a week for you to catch him asleep, apparently not needing to rest daily like humans did. Eyes closed and breath steady he looked normal, but when you extended your hand to brush some hair out of his face you realized how wrong you were.
“Loki, it's me. Please.” you cried in a panic, feeling the blade against your neck. It was the most scared you had ever been in your life. Those few moments when you looked into Loki's eyes to find him not staring back haunted you in the twilight between awake and asleep. There were tears and apologies and the promise that Loki would not sleep with anything that could kill you when he stayed over. For most couples a knife to the throat would be the end of the relationship but for you and Loki, it was a major turning point of trust and compromise. You came out the other side stronger than ever.
You woke up to Loki by your side. He wasn't there when you fell asleep. You hadn't been on the same planet in over a week, his duties to Asgard and it's people taking him to the far reaches of space and time in ways that made your head hurt. You wondered when he got in, if he stopped by his own home first or if he came straight here to be with you, even if it was only to sleep. You smiled to yourself and took the quiet peace of morning to take him in.
He looked perfect, save for the small cut high on his left cheekbone, appearing just as he did before he left. His mouth was open and his breaths were deep, a little wheeze escaping his mouth with each exhale. He chest was bare, beautiful, and all you wanted to do was lay against him and wait for sunlight to filter through your blinds and warm you both. You tentatively placed and open palm against his sternum and held your breath. It had been months since he had woken up violently but you were still cautious. He could have experienced anything while away and you didn't want to trigger another episode, the cool metal of his blade still branded to the skin of your neck. Your hand came to rest against his chilled, soft skin. He didn't move, barely reacting to your touch. You slid your hand across his torso until it rested just under his armpit. Bringing your cheek to his heart you closed your eyes and listened to the steady beat letting it lull you back to sleep.
Strong arms encircled your head and shoulders and pulled you close. The weight was comforting, tight enough to make you feel wanted but loose enough that you could escape if you needed. You let out a noise of content.
“Hijumbu” Loki breathed out, his chest rumbling with what you assumed were words. You giggled at the mess of sounds and snorts.
“Was that english?”
You pulled yourself up, feeling Loki's arms fall further down your body. His eyes opened, bleary and out of focus. He smacked his lips together, wetting his dry mouth.
“I said ‘I love you’ did I not?”
You froze. He had never said that before. Sure, you could see it in his eyes when you made love, you heard it in his voice when he said goodbye, you felt it in each kiss, each hug, each grab of your hand. You knew he loved you, but he had never said it, neither of you had uttered those words out loud.
You pushed yourself up Loki's body until your lips met his. Despite just waking up the kiss was far from lazy and slow. Your heart sped up as heat imbued you from fingers to toes You closed your eyes tight, head echoing with the words you didn't know you needed to hear until now.
“I love you.” he whispered again as your lips parted. His eyes fluttered closed and he relaxed his head back onto the pillow.
“Now let me sleep.”
You nodded and pulled the blanket up to cover both of you. You lay your head back down on Loki's chest, giving his nipple a quick peck. He chuckled at the sensation and drew you in close.
“I love you too.”