Work Text:
“Why are you being so difficult about this?!” Loki boomed from across the room.
“Seriously?! The last time you went you came back with a broken arm and bruised ribs! You can’t actually think this is a good idea!” You countered, not backing down.
“I can heal myself easily enough.” Loki said quieter but not any less upset.
You growled, “That’s not the point!”
“You don’t have a point.” He moved towards you, his voice continuing to quiet down, but it was apparent he was beyond annoyed. “I’m going. There isn’t anything you can do to change that.” He brings a hand up to the side of your face, just about to caress the side of your cheek when you turned away. You were not willing to let him sooth and seduce you into not being mad.
You were frustrated he wasn’t listening to you, but more than that you were worried. You didn’t want to watch him come home again as battered as he did the last time. It broke your heart to see him that injured even if he did heal quickly naturally or otherwise. Couldn’t he just understand how it affected you. You supported him and even though you knew he probably couldn’t get out of going into this battle, you at least wanted him to see it took a lot out of you too.
He sighed at your refusal. “We only have an hour before sunrise. I’ll be leaving soon and all you want to do is argue?” He places one hand on your hip, drawing little circles with his thumb.
“If you insist on being so frustrating, then arguing sounds great. ” You deadpanned, glaring at him. He matches your gaze and you two stare at each other. Both of you waiting for the other to give any sign of giving in. You search his eyes, but it becomes obvious you are at an impasse.
After a couple minutes, Loki sighs again and walks away from you. He goes back to the far side of the room and started getting dressed appropriately for the mission at hand. You stand awkwardly in the middle of the room and try to contain your irritation, realizing it was useless. You take one more look at him, admiring the long lines of his back despite yourself as he pulls on his leathers. You do your best to remember ever detail of him as he os this day before turning to leave his room silently. He doesn’t stop you.
Later that morning, you stand on a balcony to watch Odin’s selected warriors head out of the palace grounds. As soon as they fade out of view you slump against the railing. The knot in your throat tightens. Your heart wracked with worry and now guilt. You shouldn’t have been so ornery this morning. You knew you were being as difficult as Loki accused, but you were just so sick of the back and forth. He would shower you with endless praise one moment, calling you ‘his everything’ and promising to put you first. Then the next he was dismissing you like you were nothing to him. You were also certain he wasn’t as confident as he acted. What if he needed you to be there for him this morning to reassure him about this mission, and you were nothing but a thorn in his side. The guilt swirled around your heart until it physically hurt.
The next couple of weeks went by in a haze. You spent time with your mother mostly. It was a pleasant enough time, not that you could really remember any of it. Your mind was so caught up in waiting for Loki to return. You visited Heimdall every day to see if the warriors had come back. He was kind to you even as he didn’t have any new information day after day.
Finally on day sixteen while you were leaving from seeing Heimdall you hear a loud commotion behind you. You turn to see Heimdall standing tall at attention, holding his large sword upright in position. Then with a whirling of wind the portal shines to life and about two dozen warriors coming running through. Thor and Hogun lead the pack with Sif a few steps behind helping hold up an injured man. However, that’s the end of familiar faces.
Your heart sinks. You watch attentively until the portal closes again behind the warriors, confirming your fears. They were missing at least five men. At least five men, including Loki.
You run up to Thor and his face softens when he sees you, as beautiful as ever. “A sight for sore eyes.” He smiles, but quickly changes his demeanor as he takes in how distraught you are. He hated to see you upset. Not that he had ever said anything to you, but Thor had been harboring feelings for you for a while now. However, he wasn’t blind to the way you looked at Loki when you didn’t think anyone else was watching. Still, Loki never acted like he noticed your longing glances, at least as far as Thor could see. “Y/n-”
“Where are the rest?!” You cut him off before he can even finish your name. You get up on your tippy toes to look through the crowd even though you already know Loki isn’t there.
“It was treacherous, we got separated. Don’t worry, Loki and Fandral are both capable of getting everyone back on their own.” Thor tried to reassure you, but you could barely hear his words. All you could think was 'they left him behind’. The thought ran over and over in your mind until the stress and exhaustion you felt over the last two weeks overcame you and your vision slipped away. You vaguely remember losing your footing and falling forward. But after that - nothing.
Thor catches you easily and lifts you gently. He tells everyone else to bring anyone wounded in for care then get rest themselves. They comply and go on their ways. Thor then brings his focus back to your sleeping form in his arms. You truly did look tired up close. You were still stunning, but the dark circles under your eyes were apparent.
Once back to your room he set you gently on your bed, doing his best to slip you out of your shoes with out waking you. Then he pulled a blanket over you and sat next to you on the bed simply watching over you for a while. He could see your body relax once it subconsciously realized it was in your bed. You rolled on to your side and snuggled into the blankets.
Thor was well aware he could have practically any girl he wanted on Asgard, and had even tried a few. Yet, you were the only girl who despite your warmth and kindness towards him, never reacted to his attempts at flirtation. Maybe this made him want you even more. Maybe it was that your warmth and kindness was actually genuine. He never felt like you pretended to enjoy his company simply because of who he was. That, and you were gorgeous. No one in all the worlds could deny that.
Thor smiled to himself, enjoying his quiet moment with you.
After another couple of minutes you rolled back over on to your back and some of your hair fell to cover your face. Thor leaned in to move the loose strands out of your way. He couldn’t help but pause his fingers as they ghosted by your ear. A strong impulse to kiss you surged through him as he realized his proximity to you. He couldn’t bring himself to act on it, he would never with out your consent. However, he also couldn’t bring himself to pull away.
Across the city, the portal opened with another large flash. Loki and the others coming through much more out of breath than the previous group. Heimdall and Hogun are both waiting with pleased grins across their faces.
“Took you long enough,” One of them greeted, but Loki paid them no mind. He slumped out of his top layer of armor, dropping it right there by the gate. He could pick it up tomorrow. It didn’t matter. It was his fault they had been separated. He wasn’t as focused as he normally was and he had to pay the price. Luckily, the price didn’t involve anyone getting hurt, even if there were a few close calls. He couldn’t focus because the way you left his room the last time he saw you played in his mind on repeat. You looked both frustrated and yet extremely sad all at once. He needed to set things right.
You were worried. He could see that now. Having his head cleaved clean off by some barbarian was exactly the concern you were trying to convey to him, yet he was too proud to see it. Then it literally almost happened to him and all he thought about was how broken hearted you would be if he didn’t come home. He actually had someone outside of his family that would care if he got hurt. That thought alone made him feel like a whole new person.
He started running to the palace, needing to see you, apologize to you, hold you, kiss you. Anything. He just needed you. He wasn’t going to let you go one more second worrying about him.
He turned to corner to the hallway to your room and instantly noticed that your door was open. He slowed his pace slightly as he approached. When he reached your doorway he froze. Anger instantly boiling over until he couldn’t control it. Thor was leaning over what Loki was pretty sure to be you very much asleep, leaned over so close that he was only centimeters away from kissing you.
“What are you doing!” Loki shrieked, his voice horse from the harsh weather of their trip, but still loud and seething with the rage he was now feeling. “Who said you are allowed to touch her?!”
Thor shot up off the bed immediately alarmed by the intrusion. You also awoke to the noise. Instantly confused to not only being in your bed but also seeing both princes standing in your room. Both princes. Both of them! Loki!
You tripped over your blankets and over Thor in your rush to get out of bed. You ran to Loki like he was your life force. Running into him with enough power to almost knock you both over. You flung your arms around him and pressed your self against him as much as possible. He was real and alive and in one piece!
“You didn’t come back! Everyone else was there! You weren’t there! I was so scared you weren’t coming back!” You cried against his chest. Your hands clenched around the clothes on his back.
Loki glared at Thor again before looking down at your, trying his best to peel you off of him at least enough to look at you. You looked up and met his eyes, still crying.
“I’ve barely slept for days, I was so worried. When Thor said you got separated all I could think was you weren’t coming back and I felt like I died inside. I…I passed away out. Oh gods! How long was out?” You asked frantically.
“It couldn’t have been very long, I believe we arrived the same day as the others.” Loki said with a soothing voice. Petting your hair with one hand.
“And you’re alright? Promise?” You ask through sniffles.
“I perfectly fine, my love, I promise.” At his words you hug Loki again, burying your face in the crook of his neck. Loki couldn’t help but smile at your for a second before turning his eyes back to Thor who was now standing awkwardly beside your bed. His glare was ice cold and full of all the rage Loki could muster. He mouthed the word 'mine’ at Thor, then raised an eyebrow in a way that Thor knew meant they would talk about this later. But for now Thor took the hint and slipped out of the room.
Soon you were alone with Loki and your door was securely closed. Loki guides you back to your bed as you wordlessly help each other out of unnecessary clothing. He lays down with you and pulls your close.
“I missed you.” He says softly.
“I missed you too.” You echoed back.
“I really mean it. I’ve never hated being away from someone like I did when I was gone this time. I was distracted thinking about you the whole time. All I wanted that whole time was you, wrapped up in my arms just like this.” Loki kissed your forehead gently and the sweetness in his action made your breath hitch.
“I am also very sorry” Loki continued. “I shouldn’t have been so cold to you that morning. It was uncalled for.”
You make sure to catch his eyes with your own, “I’m sorry too, I should have been more supportive, but I just get so w-”
“Worried, I know. I appreciate that. I really do. No one else would care that much about me.” His acknowledgment of your feelings was wonderful.
You kissed him, full on, trying to pour all your feelings for him into the kiss. He reacts immediately with boundless passion. You kiss over and over for what seems like hours. You feel everything from him. Gentle kisses that feel like a simple kind of love to strong kisses that engulf your very soul with his desire for you as his tongue explores your mouth.
When you both pull away some time later you tell Loki that you love him. He smiles knowingly before returning your feelings and pulling your lips back to his own. You share a few more kisses before your bodies can’t stay awake any longer. You both fall asleep cuddled close to each other. For the first night in weeks you both sleep wonderfully.
Thor on the other hand slept miserably. He spend much of the night thinking of all the ways Loki was going to get even with him. It wasn’t going to be good. It wasn’t going to be good at all.