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Chapter Text

Working at Stark Tower was comfortable enough- you got your own lab to develop your own projects after proving your worth to both Pepper and Dr Banner. Maybe it had a little something to do with your ‘ability’ but they didn’t need to know that, all they needed to know was that you were competent, and that you were happy helping from the sidelines rather than in direct fire. You can save more people more efficiently this way, you were untrained and would be too much of a liability in the field. That had been evident when you were younger, when you got it stuck in your head you were some kind of superhero, just like Captain America. Resulting in too many casualties for what it was worth, and a hell of a week of sleepless nights covering up your own face.

Maybe it was a bit on the nose to be working directly under the man that would rather hire you not for your brains, but for your ‘spark’ you ‘adoringly ’ called it. But it was better this way. 

Having your lab alongside others, but secluded enough that you would not be distracted with your easily wandering mind made it easier to find like minded people and cooperate on projects. This year, you were lucky enough to be working alongside biologists who were much more knowledgeable on the current issue than you were. You were more in the chemistry- physics side, and while it was an important field, it didn’t help much to contain the rapidly spreading pandemic, which had been slowed enough so far as to not reach New York. Until today- you guess. 

Just as you were working to deliver the scans your machines had upended to the biologists working next door, an ear splitting alarm rang through the building, causing you to fall to the floor in shock. While you were trying to regain the ability to hear, you shakily swept all your scans back into the folder and slowly rose to stand. The initial fright of the alarm fell away as you began to process what was actually being announced. 

FRIDAY’s harsh voice rang through the hall. “The virus has spread and become uncontained. The government has issued the announcement that no one is to leave their building,” You were distracted from the broadcast as footsteps came towards you, in the form of security guards marching out from the elevator. “Do not worry, Stark Industries will provide housing for you until lockdown has been released. We will ensure that you have everything you require.” FRIDAY finished. 

You stood in shock as the announcement began to replay throughout the halls. Shit. It will be harder to keep everything under wraps when you are constantly swarmed with people. You continued on your delivery path to the lab next door, opting to slip the folder in the pigeon hole rather than stop by and say your usual pleasantries. 

As you turned back into your workspace, security personnel continued walking the hallways, delivering notices to each lab. FRIDAY spoke over the intercom. “We recommend you stay where you are, until your rooming has been decided. Incase of an outbreak in the tower, we wish to reduce the possibility of any spread,”

Being on one of the lower floors, you supposed your rooming notice got delivered sooner. You gripped the slip of paper, impressed at the speed of a fully printed and directly addressed letter. Skimming over the auto-response pleasantries, you spot your rooming. A surprisingly high floor, you supposed, but you guess that not every floor would be an office building. Quickly reading over the bottom of the note, you read that it will be a public kitchen only accessed by the rest of the residents on your floor, and a public living room with an entertainment system, and a gym. Strange, you thought to yourself, but you supposed that Stark was precocious enough to have prepared for this exact scenario. 

You packed up the things you have in your lab from home, preparing for a hopefully smooth ‘move’ into your new home for however long. You opened up your messenger bag, placing your laptop neatly alongside the rest of your belongings, until you heard the familiar noise of your tablet organiser. Shit, you thought, as you looked at it dejectedly. All your medication was going to run out before this was over, and you didn’t even have the tablets you would take at home. Guess you would have to deal with a harder workspace for the lockdown. Maybe you would be able to get more days of work, an early vacation. Luckily enough, it was Friday, hah, so you would be able to skip a couple for the weekend. Taking a final glance at the letter, you notice the ID card attached at the bottom. Shouldering your bag, you made your way down the hallway to the elevator. Double checking the letter for your floor, you pressed the button for the room of your new home away from home. 

The doors opened with a crisp sound, the glittering tiles of the hallway in front of you appearing ominous. The large windows at the end of the corridor reflected off the perfectly shining floor. You stepped nervously out of the hallway, your shoes clicking on the tiles. The elevator shut behind you and you wandered towards the window. While you walked, you looked at the walls around you. The corridor before the windows was lined with a couple doors, three on each side. Opting to explore before you settled down for the day, you continued to dawdle towards the tempting floor-to-ceiling windows, now noticing the dark island counter at the end of the hall. When you reached the end of the corridor, the wall on your left split open to reveal a step down, into a room lavishly furnished. Definitely an upgrade from your own living room. In front of you and on your right showed kitchen instalments along the wall, and a large dining room table with an electric fireplace. Pretty homey for a place that wasn’t hoped to be used. Curiosity sated, you started stepping backwards and spinning back to locate your room, only to run into a leather-clad chest. Looking up, you see a grimacing face, sculpted by raven hair.

“O-oh, sorry,” you eloquently say. 

The man scoffs, and shoves past you. Okay, rude. But you guess that it would be a pretty harsh situation for everyone in the building at the moment. You luckily lived alone, and didn’t have anyone to miss if you were staying away from home, and you guiltily remember that this situation might be easier for you. Others have families, the thought leaving a bitter taste in your mouth. You fully turn back into the hallway, hearing clattering behind you but opting to ignore it. The letter, ungracefully scrunched from your encounter with the man, you un-scrunch and fold into your pocket after peeling the card from the bottom and reading the number. Standing in-front of your door, you quickly scan the card along the reader and slip inside, eager to get comfortable for the supposed long stay. Gasping, you take in the room. The floor-to-ceiling windows apparently continue into the rooms, providing the view of the city. A desk sits along the wall next to the door, and a bed on the left wall, with a door beside it leading to an ensuite. The whole room was bigger than your bloody apartment, you grumbled to yourself. Rich people. You dropped your bag ungraciously onto your desk, flopping onto the enormous mattress. You could fall asleep right then and there. In fact, you did. 

---

Peeling your eyes open as sunlight streaks blindingly onto your eyelids, you grumble from the uncomfortable way you fell asleep. Work clothes and heels do not make great pajamas. You sit up lazily, leaning back on your elbows. Across from you are cupboards lining the wall. Kicking off your shoes, you wander to the cupboards and open them to find them outfitted with, well, outfits. Thank god, you were not spending your Saturday in a pencil skirt and a shirt from yesterday. Throwing on a pair of jeans and a hoodie, you make your way out of your room and down the hallway, but not without jumping at a door clicking closed behind you. You turn to look, and it’s the same guy from yesterday, who unfortunately lives across from you now. You decide to still be pleasant, waving anxiously. He doesn’t wave back, only scanning you.

Too distracted by the thought of breakfast and unfaltered by the lack of response, you move into the kitchen and hope the fridge is as stocked as your wardrobes. It is! Gracious rich people. It takes a bit of investigating on your part, but you find a pan and utensils for cooking, and begin on a simple breakfast. 

Out of the corner of your eye, guy-from-yesterday slinks out from the hall and sits silently at the island counter, just… staring at you. Focused on cooking, you try to ignore him, but the staring turns out to be too much. You turn to the man, believing the eggs will be fine if you take your eyes off them.

“Do… Do you want some?” You ask, thinking that may be the only reason he may be staring at you.

“What?” He spits, eyes snapping out of his daze.

“Uhm. Breakfast. Do you want me to make you some?” 

“No, you insolent…” He trails off, muttering something to himself about ‘Thor’. “Yes. Please,” He decides.

“Alright,” You return to the pan, grabbing a couple more slices of bacon from the pack and cracking more eggs into the pan. “You-...You have a name?” You ask, again trying to be friendly, despite how bloody weird this guy is.

“You- don’t know who- Of course I have a name!” He splutters, a mix between confused and frustrated at your question.

You serve up the two plates, and slide his across the counter to him. “Well, are you going to tell me?” 

“Loki. Odin- Just Loki,” the man finally says. The name sparks something in the back of your head, but you can’t quite identify why. 

“Right. Well nice to meet you, just Loki.” you smile. You offer him the cutlery, and your name.

“Pleasure.” He takes the cutlery. 

You take a seat at the counter beside him, still a distance between you two but a little strange with the closeness of a stranger. You exchange alternating glances, each of you looking away when you catch the other looking. You notice he’s changed out of the strange leather get-up he was wearing yesterday, opting for a sleek black t-shirt. He catches you looking, and before you can look away he asks you a question.

“So how did you… end up here,”

You blink in confusion. “You mean you didn’t hear the huge, blaring alarm ringing through the building telling everyone we’re not allowed to leave the building and that everyone was going to be living here until whenever?”

“Of course I did-” He cuts himself off, closing his eyes and tilting his head in frustration.
“I mean specifically this floor-” 

He’s cut off as someone new enters the kitchen, and he immediately tenses. You look over to greet the stranger, only to cut yourself off. Tony Stark just walked into the kitchen. You slowly stand, reverting from comfortable to business-oh-shit-hide mode. 

“Uh- Mr Stark- I’m sorry I didn’t realise I must’ve been allocated to the wrong floor-” 

Loki rolls his eyes at your pandering to the man, but Stark just glances over and stops you.

“No kid, don’t worry. I don’t make mistakes. You’re the kid working under Banner right?”

“Uh- Yes but-” 

“Then you’re meant to be here,” he says, flashing you a signature Stark smile. You sink, slowly back into your seat next to Loki. Stark continues, “He knows you enough to know you won’t freak out when you-” his back straightens in surprise when his eyes flicker over Loki. “Meet… Reindeer Games here,”

Loki glares at him at the nickname, only to look at you with something resembling apprehension. You stare back at Tony confused.

“Okay I do make… occasional mistakes and that includes not having enough floors open to house all my staff in the case of a sudden and immediate pandemic, and you were the lucky guest designated on the Avengers floor. Capiche?” 

You nod slowly as you process this new information. This was bad. Not only were you trapped in Stark Tower for what could be months on end, you were quarantined to daily life with The Avengers. You know, the people that would either try to kill you or recruit you the minute they say you weren’t special. Thoughts race through your head, thinking about how careful you’re going to have to be and how inconvenient everything was going to be while trying to act ‘normal’. As Stark continues to amble around the kitchen, making- something- you don’t register Loki watching you.

“So… who else is on this floor?” you ask, trying to act like everything is completely normal. 

“Oh, I’m not actually on this floor. I live in the penthouse. I’m just on babysitting duty for today while everyone else is on a mission, trying to outsource a cure for the virus, currently negotiating with... Germany? Right now I think?” 

Your confused look still hasn’t left your face. “Who are you babysitting?”

Stark gives you a look. 

“You don’t know,” 

You continue to stare at him.

He turned his back to you and returned to his creation, now throwing things into a blender. “I see now why Banner recommended you for this floor.”

You look to Loki who is very determinedly staring at his eggs. The knuckles around his fork were turning white. Pulling your gaze away from him, Tony asks you a question.

“So, kid where were you before you worked here?” 

Great, another way for you to probably get caught. Not only that you had been chased out of most places you worked at the risk of being related to totally-natural-and-not-super events, Stark knowing that you were in those places at the times of the unnatural events could cast suspicion on you from the man known for looking into people’s history.

“Uh- Oh, y’know. Travelled around. Working and studying at different places.” you stutter, totally naturally.

He blends his smoothie before continuing. You don’t miss his eye twitch in suspicion. Shit. “Right. So when’d you graduate?” 

“Oh, 2010. And then, went to Cambridge, if you were, wondering,” Trying to compensate for your total suspicious lack of information with oversharing, nice one, you thought. You only went to England because America seems to be the center of the entire world’s super problems. Good thing you did, since during your time at university, New York got attacked by aliens, and then became the actual center for superhero activity. The only time you got nervous while there was during whatever happened with the portals in London, but that was pretty quickly covered up by SHIELD. Dorm life accustomed you to be ready for anyone to walk into whatever you’re doing, so you got used to not using your powers during that time.

“Hotshot academic, aren’t you? Nice and far away from all the chaos.” You focus all your attention on trying not to react to his words. “What’d you study?”

“A- A double degree in computer science and advanced physics, and finished those early, so did another degree in astrophysics.” You were proud of your accomplishments, but still frustrated that you had to study all of that just to understand what the entirety of your powers were.

Tony pops the cap of his travel cup and takes a sip of his smoothie. “When’d you finish?” This was starting to feel like an interrogation, you nervously thought. You subtly glanced at Loki who was politely placing his cutlery after finishing his breakfast after being gratefully ignored for the majority of the conversation. He was watching your reactions. 

You let out a sigh. “Sometime in… 2015. Was a couple years ago.” 

Tony clicks his fingers. “You were in Seoul. You helped develop the algorithms behind the regeneration cradle.” 

Shit. You had also blown up a considerable portion of the workshop after Ultron escaped with the cradle, fending off the rest of the machines to stop them from getting to the other nurses. You had had to disappear after that for a considerable time.

“Uh- Yeah. I’m surprised you remember that, I was only one of the accredited scientists-” 

“I am very interested in accredited people. I’ll have to thank Cho and Banner for having you here then, I’m sure you’ll be an interesting person to keep around.”

“Thank you. Uh- Mr Stark.” You smile politely. 

“Well. I have important things to get going on. Later, Dr.” He pauses with a last glance at Loki. More of a glare, but you miss it in your overthinking of the conversation. “Later twinkle toes.” 

As Stark moves back into the hallway, you slump in your seat after your anxiety driven good posture. Loki looks over you.

“You’re hiding something, aren’t you.” Loki said, rather as a statement, than a question.

You pinch the bridge of your nose in frustration. Of course he would say that, guy was watching your every reaction. “What makes you say that?” You didn’t want the answer.

“You can’t lie to me. I’m-” he stops. “Someone very trained in lies.” 

“I wasn’t lying.” You say. You weren’t lying. You hadn’t said anything false, just omitted some of the causes of your actions. 

“No. You weren’t. But you aren’t very good at acting like you aren’t hiding something, mischief. I’m pretty sure someone even as dull as Stark picked up on it.”

You let out a burst of laughter at the unexpected last comment before you groan and lean your head to lean back at the ceiling. “Yeah, wasn’t expecting to get interrogated on the spot,” What are you saying? How are you so comfortable around this man you just met?

You lean back forward, finally starting on your previously forgotten breakfast. Should still be warm. After eating a few mouthfuls, you blink.

“You aren’t going to say anything are you?” You place your cutlery on your plate. 

Loki contemplates this. “Even if Stark wasn’t already suspicious of you, I don’t believe he’d listen to what I have to say either way. You have nothing to worry about from me, my Lady,”

You flush at the unexpected name. How does he know Stark? Is he a hidden Avenger? Why does he need to be babysat? You pick up your plate and Loki’s and move around the counter to the sink. 

“Who even are you?” you ask this… stranger. You know his name but everything about him is so elusive.

Loki looks into your eyes with a heartstopping grin. “You have your secrets darling, I have mine.”

You pout at that. Stupid mysterious good-looking man. You focus all your attention on the sink to distract yourself from everything that just happened, until he appears behind you holding out a hand. What?

“The dishes, darling.” He says, almost as if he could read your mind.

Oh. You thought dumbly, as you pass the washing and he loads it into the dishwasher. After the interaction you’re stumped as to what to say. He seems to feel the same. Staring into his eyes too long, you finally look down to the ground and turn to move away.

“If you don’t mind me asking-” Loki intercepts your thoughts again. You stop. “What are you planning on doing for the rest of the day?” 

---

Loki’s question stumped you again, but you decide it might be fun to have a movie marathon, what else do you have to do when you’re trapped inside? Fun part is- Loki has no idea what technology is. He has never seen a single movie. Of course, you must amend this. 

Starting with Star Wars, you set up in the living room with blankets and pillows inside the sunken couch circle, very plush, and very comfortable. You decide to show him in release order, to get the most shock value out of Loki. You imagine that shocked Loki would be something to see. After explaining to Loki what a movie even is, (how depraved is this man?) you get started on the movies. Luckily they’re pretty self explanatory. You’re about halfway through the prequels (Loki’s face during Return of the Jedi was incredibly satisfying) when someone walks past the entryway. It had gotten dark outside, you had hardly even noticed with how encaptured in the discussion with Loki and the movie marathon. The person does a double take before they completely stop. They’re about to say something but they’re interrupted by someone walking up behind them, multiple people in fact. 

“Barton, what’s going on-” four people now stand in the entryway, completely frozen. Then everything happens incredibly fast. 

You end up against the supporting wall to the kitchen, being bodyguard by someone much taller than you, cold metal brushing against your arm. 

“Loki, what the hell? Did you kidnap someone? Who even is this?” a recognisable voice calls out.

Oh shit, you should really recognise these guys with how much research you do to avoid them. Namely, Hawkeye, Black Widow, Captain America and the Winter Soldier. Understandably you didn;t recognise them though, they are covered in all kinds of soot and mess. 

You stand on your tiptoes to see over the broad shoulders blocking you, to see Loki on the ground with a knee in his back from a certain red-head, the captain standing over talking to him. What? Without thinking, you slip under the cool metal arm and call out.

“What’s going on?”

Everyone looks to you. The cool metal arm grips yours. “Don’t worry doll, we’ll get you home, whatever he did to you-”

“What? No- I live here? Did you guys-” You rub your temple and walk over to where the captain is standing. “You guys must not have heard. The building got locked down, no one allowed in or out- well apparently not you guys- but I got allocated to the spare room on this floor. I work for Dr Banner, he said I would be a good choice for this floor.”

 Everyone slowly untenses, and Romanov moves off Loki, who gives her a glare. You offer him a hand, Loki hesitantly takes it. You pull him up and he broods beside you. 

“Terrible manners, we have boys.” Romanov says, eyeing the TV.

Loki shifts imperceiveably closer as Rogers moves and offers a handshake. You only notice as his hand brushes against yours. 

In your anxiousness at coming back to the whole situation, you take his hand without realising you had charged up. Rogers flinches but holds firm in the handshake. 

“Bit of a spark there, huh? Nice to meet you, ma’am. I’m Captain Steve Rogers.” You give a tight smile, trying to not seem like you were a mix of starstruck, anxious, and annoyed. “Sorry for the- unconventional- introduction. We’re a bit jumpy at the moment,”

“It’s alright. It looks like you guys have had a rough day, we won’t keep you.” You wanted to get as far away from them as possible- more Avengers meant more questions from the most perceptive people in the world. 

“Well- after we clean up we were gonna have dinner. Would you like to join us?”

It would be too rude- and too suspicious- to decline. What ‘normal’ person would say not to dinner with the Avengers? 

“That would be great. Nice to meet you guys.” 

You stay where you are as they all file out of the room, gather supplies from the kitchen, and move back down the hall to get cleaned up. You turn towards Loki, who is glaring very determinedly at the floor.

“Man, you must’ve done something really bad to piss those guys off. What’d you do?”

Loki stops glaring and looks at you in confusion, before he catches himself and pulls together his facade again. “Again, darling, you have your secrets I have mine,” 

You roll your eyes. “C’mon Mr. Mischief. We better get cleaned up for dinner ourselves,” You start moving to the entryway, but Loki doesn’t follow you.

“I don’t think the invitation for dinner extended to me unfortunately.” Loki says, grimacing.

“Then what are you going to eat for dinner? We certainly haven’t had proper food today.”

“I can deal without food for one night, my Lady.”

That doesn’t sit right with you. No one should be grumpy and hungry. “Well, since I don’t really want to go either, how bout I make you a plate and use it as an escape?” 

Loki walks to you and you start dawdling down the hall to your rooms. 

“Now why, pray tell, would you want to miss a dinner with the incredible Avengers?” Loki says, almost smug to hear you’re just as unkeen on this dinner as he is.

“Well,” you stop outside your door and Loki watches you. “You have your secrets and I have mine, darling, ” you say in a terrible British accent. 

Loki chuckles roughly and your breath catches in your throat. “Then I guess we’re just two people with something to hide.” 

“Partners in crime, we are.” You say, trying to cover your breathlessness with a joke.

“Partners in crime. You make us sound so devious darling.” 

Chapter Text

After showering and putting on some nicer clothes than a hoodie and jeans, you nervously make your way to the kitchen, which is louder than you expected. There were definitely more people there than the four from your floor. You recognised your CEO, Pepper, stirring a pot in the kitchen and occasionally swishing a pan. Tony was leaning on the bench talking with Pepper. Dr. Banner was pulling out cutlery and plating the table. You look over to the dining table, and you see it nearly entirely full, seats left enough for everyone still standing, and another extra. For Loki, you hoped. 

“There she is, the woman of the hour!” Stark called. There were a couple glasses of wine on the table, you supposed they were doing a bit of celebrating after the mission. 

Barnes pulls out the chair beside him and you nervously sit beside him. All eyes are on you.

“So, how’d you end up working for Stark?” Rogers asks. 

Great. Interrogation round two starts before dinner is even served. “Uh- well- ever since I was little I wanted to help people- and what better way to work under an Avenger? Well- more specifically Pepper and Dr. Banner, but you know- still doing stuff that I believe is important.”

Rogers nods. “Every person is an important part of saving lives. Thank you for your work, Doctor.” Everyone seems placated, and it’s difficult to maintain only one conversation over the table, so after the initial introductions, everyone splits off back into normal conversation. A cheer erupts as Banner, Pepper and Stark give everyone their plates and Pepper sits on the other side of you. You look back and see there are plenty of leftovers for you to sneak to Loki. It was a delicious pasta dish. However, Rogers still maintains your topic. 

“I apologise again for earlier. We are a bit jumpy after we got attacked on our mission and Loki is a… unpredictable case.” 

“Right,” You try to understand why Loki might be an ‘unpredictable’ case. You would look into it when you go back to your computer, but that would be a violation of your weird secrets arrangement. You won’t look into his secrets, and you hope he won’t look into yours. 

“What were you even doing before we got there anyway?” Barnes chips in from beside you.

“Well, it’s a Saturday so I wasn’t going to go to work, and Loki had never seen a movie so I amended that with a Star Wars marathon.” 

“In this job we still gotta work Saturdays-” said the man to Steve’s left.

“Well I guess I should’ve been in there too. I still haven’t seen it either.”

“You still haven’t seen Star Wars? That shit’s been in your little book since I first met you,” The man interjected again. He nodded his head at you after addressing Steve. “Sam Wilson, nice to meet you,”

You nod, and try to eat as fast as you can without looking weird. Pepper nudges you.

“So… how was your first day living with the Avengers?”

“Well it was going alright until they attacked Loki. They didn’t get the memo that I would be living here.”

“I have no wonder who would’ve forgotten to mention it, Tony, ”  Tony looks up from his plate with a poker face. 

“They must’ve just missed the email.” 

Pepper rolls her eyes. “I’m glad that it’s you that’s here. I got the feeling that you wouldn’t be starstruck by the Avengers, and I was right. And I’m glad to have another girl by my side while dealing with these troublemakers.” 

“Hey! Nat’s just as much of a troublemaker as the rest of us.” Tony input. 

“I’m hurt Pepper, you don’t think I’m a troublemaker?” 

Pepper shook her head, exasperated. 

“And don’t think this new one won’t be a troublemaker as well. I’ll have her up to speed in no time.” You blink. “You didn’t think you’d get away without some special Avengers training did you? You’ll be working with me tomorrow morning in the gym to get you up to standards.” 

“Why do I have to be up to standards?”

“If people find out you live with us, it’s most likely you’ll be targeted. Best to get you able to protect yourself while you’re here.” 

“Oh. Thank you, Ms Romanov.”

“Oh god, don’t call me that. Call me Nat,” 

You nod. “Okay, um. Nat.” She smiles and returns to her conversation with the other end of the table. 

Pepper looks at you. “Definitely not starstruck. A little scared by your new co-workers though?”

“I mean, it definitely is interesting being invited to dinner by the people who save the world on a consistent basis. But at the end of the day they’re just people, right?”

“Most of us. It’s easy to forget sometimes that we’re in the presence of gods,” she says with a little flap of her hands. Pepper looks at Steve. “By the way, where is Thor? I thought he was joining us for dinner.”

“He was. He’s running late it seems,”

“Or I’m right on time,” A smiling Thor comes down the hallway and everyone yells in greeting. Thor looks at you in surprise.

“We have not met. A New Avenger?” Thor looks at Tony who shakes his head. “Thor Odinson. King of Asgard.” You shake his hand. And he walks over to the counter and grabs a generous helping of pasta. 

He sits at the head of the table. “So. How is my brother faring?”

You tilt your head. Thor has a brother? Beside you, faces fall and people look guiltily at their plate. 

Thor sighs. “What happened now?”  

“We may have- misinterpreted a situation… and… attacked him,” Rogers says. 

Thor slams his fist on the table. “Whatever for? I have implored to you how much he has changed-” 

“Wait, Loki’s your brother?” You realise, and slap your hand over your mouth for interrupting the God of Thunder. Your question seemed to have stumped Thor, though.

“You do not know? I thought Midgard had spread news everywhere of his-” A scuffle occurred under the table and Thor looked at Tony who was rubbing his temple. 

“So anyway, how was the mission?” Tony broke the awkward silence.

“It was great conversing with the scientists until an unknown group decided to blow up the building.” Romanov said. 

“So we got any information on these guys?” 

Everyone started discussing what they had found, and luckily someone who you didn’t recognise mentioned that they were able to escape with some of the research on the vaccine and/or a cure. Since the virus had erupted everywhere all at once, the ‘patient x’ was of unknown origin, so the cure would have to start from square one. You quickly realised that this was probably classified. You rose out of your seat, and the conversation quietened, but not too much as laughter erupted from the further end of the table.

“Oh-um. Sorry I just realised this is probably, um, y’know, classified.” 

“You might have to get used to hearing classified information if you’re living with us, doctor. Especially since you are going to be working with Stark and me to work against this virus,” Dr. Banner said.

Your brain stopped. What? 

“What?”

“We’re not going to waste your academic mind kid. We get to work on Monday kay, doc?” Stark said, sticking a thumb up. 

You reeled. You can work normally. You worked in a group lab for years. You can deal with a slower work pace, it's fine. “Right. I’ll...  just,” you sat back down. 

“Sorry that they happened to spring that on you right now. I was meaning to tell you but I got caught up in the paperwork of organising everyone in the building. Many people have a lot of complaints, rooming drama, et cetera,” Pepper said, giving you a sympathetic smile. 

“It’s alright, I just didn’t expect it.”

Dr Banner decided to explain himself more. “Oh- don’t worry about having to work with us. We just know that you have been working on research on the virus anyway, and thought since you were living with us it just meant another head for thinking. You’re able to say no, of course-” 

“No she’s not!”

“Tony!” Pepper laughed.

“What other opportunity is she gonna be able to put ‘worked with the avengers on stopping a global pandemic’ in her resume? And you know if you say no, we now legally have to brainwash you. Confidential information, y’know,” 

Pepper glared at him. “He’s joking, you know. You can say no if you want,” 

You exhale a laugh. “No, he’s right. What else was I gonna do anyway? I would be working on it, just from the confines of my room. Now at least I get to be in a lab, and be more useful.” 

“Well I don’t envy you. It’s going to be a more chaotic workplace than you’ve ever been in. At least you have Bruce to keep everything stable,”

“I’m just worried I’m going to get in the way. I certainly don’t have the brain of Dr Banner or Mr Stark,”

Dr Banner took a sip from his glass. “Just call me Bruce. We’re going to be spending a lot of time in that lab together, and might as well get familiar now. And don’t worry, any brain with any knowledge will be helpful in this situation. It’s pretty much unprecedented,”

“She worked on the regeneration cradle, big green. That’s as much of a resume as any for helping life threatening viruses.” Stark said.

Bruce whistled in awe. “The cradle is an incredible piece of work, but praise from Stark is even more impressive. If you worked on the cradle, why didn’t we meet when we worked with Cho?”

A drop of sweat rolled down the back of your neck. “I was just one of the scientists who worked on it. There were a couple hundred in Cho’s lab, I wouldn’t expect you to have heard of me.”

“What took you out of Seoul to Stark Tower then?” Bruce asked. A massive explosion, you thought. “Well, I’m originally from America, but when I was studying at Cambridge in England someone contacted me personally to work on the cradle. I moved back here after that project was finished. I wanted a bit of space, you know, my own lab, not living in a dorm, you know.”

The person on the other side of you chuckled. “Not much space anymore, huh?” You had forgotten you were next to Barnes. 

“I guess not.” You exhaled in a half-laugh. You don’t miss Bruce and Stark having a silent conversation across the table until Pepper elbows Tony.

“I didn’t get to properly introduce myself before. I’m James Barnes. But you can just call me Bucky,” You nod and the two of you do an awkward handshake. Too many handshakes with the people you’re meant to be hiding from today. “I know a couple people have already said it, but sorry for earlier, doll,” 

Your cheeks get warm at the nickname. What was with this group and nicknames? “It’s alright. You can pay me back by telling me who everyone is, I still don’t recognise everyone,”

“Fair enough, we’re kept pretty much on the down low,” 

Bucky points to various people around the table, including a girl who looks your age, Wanda, who he explains is the Scarlet Witch. That name clears it up for you. Bucky points to Sam, and calls him ‘The fucker with the wings,’ causing you to laugh naturally for the first time tonight. The rest you can pretty much recognise from any tabloid, and Bucky explains that the Avengers are exempt by the UN from quarantine due to their nature of being in constant contact with each other anyway. It was getting late, and you were getting a bit sleepy from the richness of the food. You and Bucky were laughing about his and Rogers’ shenanigans in the 40s when Pepper put a hand on your shoulder, and people started clearing the plates. 

You quickly grabbed your plate and Pepper’s, wanting to do your fair share of cleaning, but Bucky grabbed your plates and moved to the sink before you could argue. Everyone brushed you away from cleaning duties, a mix of ‘you’re a guest’ and ‘don’t even worry about it’ so while everyone was cleaning up, you remembered your promise and quickly made up a plate for Loki and said your thank you’s and goodnight’s. 

People said different goodnights, and everyone thankfully was distracted enough not to ask why you were sneaking a plate away.

---

You braced yourself in front of Loki’s door, grateful you wouldn’t have to be walking on eggshells with your history. You knocked lightly, and the door swung open almost immediately. Loki stood with his hair wet from a shower, in another black t-shirt. You focus on the pasta.

“I- I brought you your dinner,” you say and move the plate forward towards him. He takes it. 

“Would you like to come inside?” He says tilting his head down towards you. You don’t know what to say, so instead you nod. 

He moves to the side, and you walk past him as he closes the door. The air inside his room feels charged, and you look around. It’s similar to your room, except there is an ornate wooden desk where your sleek modern one sits, and a large bookcase filled to the brim with leather bound books. Loki gestures to the bed and you both take a seat. 

“How was dinner?” he says, and you let out a huff at which his lips twitch.

“Terrifying. There were more people than I expected. I met your brother though.” He pouted. 

“Was he as charming as all Midgardians imagine?” he bitterly said. 

“I mean, just as charming as any other guy. I didn’t really talk to him. He did mention that you had been on Earth before…” You said, and Loki stiffened.

“Is that a question, darling?”

You pondered, and he continued eating his pasta. “It could be, if you’re willing to answer.”

“How about a trade?” You looked up at him, and he stared back down at you. “I tell you about my first time on Midgard, and you share a secret of yours.” 

You pull at the hem of your shirt. “Alright. Who goes first?”

“I suppose you can think of the secret you want to share while I discuss mine.” Loki sets the plate on his bedside table. “I’m sure you have heard of the attack on New York in 2012, yes?”

You nod. 

“I was… directly involved in said attack.” He pauses and you look at him to encourage him. “I’m sure that you have heard that Thor is now the king of Asgard. Well, when he was appointed king, I was very…” he struggles. “Envious. Our father did not treat us equally, yet told us we had equal opportunity for the throne. I ended up… lost.” 

“Lost?” you say, eager to hear more. 

“I fell off the side of Asgard into the void, and got picked up by some very dangerous people. In particular, a Titan named Thanos. Thanos promised me a throne, if I worked with him.” He hangs his head in a semblance of shame, but quickly covers it with a poker face. “ I did not realise that a throne was not what I wanted. But it was too late. The titan possessed an object that radiates darkness. It fed off of my darkest ambitions, and led me toward them,” He clasps his hands in between his knees. “He was in search of a certain object, called a Tesseract. Said object was on Midgard. He promised me control of Midgard if I ensured his collection of the Tesseract.” 

“I created the portal over the sky in New York City, utilising the tesseract, and led the army down in a rampage across the city in my own greed.” 

He looks at you, and sees himself reflected back in your eyes. He stands and looks away. 

“I suppose you see me as a monster now.” 

You ponder your response. You had dark thoughts, sometimes. You don’t know whether or not you would make the right choice when those thoughts were brought to the surface. 

“You said that you realise now that it wasn’t a throne that you wanted. What do you want?”

That gives Loki pause. “I’m not entirely sure. Thor says... that I just wanted my father to notice my capabilities. And I thought that meant showing that I could rule.” 

You stand and put a hand on his shoulder. “Well then, it’s not entirely your fault. You were not only manipulated by a strong being, but also by your father.” Loki looks over his shoulder at you, brows pinched upwards. “Do you...regret it?” 

“What would you say if I say no?” 

“I would say have you tried to change?”

Loki looked away from you again, hiding his expression. “I don’t think you’re a monster. Everyone has done things thinking they’re doing the right thing when they’re not,”

You pulled your hand away and sat down back on the bed, leaning back on your hands, body language open. He looked at you in confusion, and you patted the spot next to you in invitation. He sat, but looked at his hands, elbows on his knees. 

“If it makes you feel any better, Thor got mad at everyone at dinner for attacking you.” 

Loki scoffs, and broods for a while. After watching him in silence for a couple minutes, he sits up straight again, and smirks at you. “Your turn for your secret, darling,” 

Immediately you shrink into yourself, folding your arms over your chest, crossing your legs. Loki watches you as you pout in thought. Were you really going to do this? You could always just say something dumb, like ‘I still hug my pillow at night.’ No, you couldn’t. You know he wouldn’t be satisfied with that, and it would be kind of a dick move after he explained something so huge in his life. But you really consider it. You’ve never shown anyone your powers, and spent half your life covering it up. You suppose showing at least one person should be cathartic, right? 

Loki does not pressure you, simply watching intrigued as he can almost see the cogs ticking in your head. You decide. Loki watches, confused, as you grumble, lie back onto the bed, and extend one hand upwards. A book, from the bookcase, shoots into your hand, and you facepalm at your decision. Good one, showing the one guy you had a proper conversation with, ever, also living with the people who you’ve been trying to hide from forever. You lower your arm and hide your face with the book. Loki places a reassuring hand on your knee, and it's enough for you to uncover an eye to look at him. He smiles a warm smile, which is almost enough to make you not regret your decision. Almost. Too late to regret it now.

“So would you like another minute or are you going to expand?” Loki says annoyingly.

“Oh shut up, would you. It’s my first time.”

You hear him snicker. “Don’t worry darling, we’ll take it slow.” 

Your cheeks furiously redden at the innuendo, and you smack him with the book, but he only continues laughing at your expression. He throws his hands up in surrender. You float the book back into its spot on the shelf and giggle into your hand at the absurdity of the situation. You’re sitting and laughing, with a god who just made an innuendo at you, like some stupid twelve year old.  

You sit up, gasping. 

“Oh my god,” you giggle. “You’re a god.”

Loki chuckles again. “So glad you finally noticed, darling,” 

You giggle again with your face in your hands, and calm down after a minute or two. Loki’s dimples pinch nicely with his soft smile.

You look at your hands, and Loki nods in encouragement. 

“I don’t know why but, they’ve just always been there. It’s not like my parents were special or anything, and I didn’t get some, super special backstory. One day I was just sitting at my desk, and lazily thought ‘ugh, I don’t want to get out of my chair to get my phone,’ and suddenly it was in my hand. Very teenage of me I know. And it wasn’t just- moving things, I could do other things, but…” You think back. “I was too scared to try,”

“And one day, there was a shooter at the mall I was in. I thought ‘yeah, I could be a superhero’.” You exhale a grim laugh. “I was an idiot. There was too much force behind-” you flap your hands, “-whatever I did, and a support beam came down on the shooter… and the hostages.” You don’t want to look at Loki. “Luckily I lived in some backend town where the cops didn’t arrive until like, 30 minutes later, and I ran home with a bullet in my shoulder. My parents weren’t home, and some part of my… thing must be subconscious because the bullet I took to the shoulder fell out on the way home, and the only evidence that it had ever been there was the blood on my shirt.” 

You pick at your bottom lip. “Luckily I was smart enough to pick up the bullet, and my shirt had soaked up all my blood, so there was no evidence of that kind,” Blood starts leaking out of where you’ve picked, and you pull your hand away and bite at your lip. “But I had to spend a week covering up all the people who took videos. Luckily no one believed it anyway, because I suppose SHIELD must have come in and cleaned it up or-or something.”

You angrily wipe your eyes with the heel of your hand angrily as your vision glazes over. “You must think I’m pretty pathetic. You’re a literal god and I’m just some girl who someone decided to give a gift to- the wrong girl, that is, because she can’t even stop some stupid fucking-” Your breathing has quickened- “Asshole who thought it was a cool thing to bargain lives for money.” 

Loki slowly and carefully places a hand on your shoulder, and tension immediately floods out of them. 

“Breathe.” 

You take a minute to calm down, and Loki starts soothingly rubbing circles up and down your back. You sit in silence with your eyes closed.

“I do not think that you are pathetic at all.” 

You open your eyes, but do not look to Loki, rather to his hands. The hand not on your back is fiddling, twisting a ring around his pointer finger. You’re glad that he’s as nervous as you are. 

“It is very honourable to want to save lives in the first place, but to even wish to pull yourself away from the fight in order to save as many as possible, is something so selfless and brave I could not even imagine,” 

You allow yourself to look at him. Is this how he felt, when discussing his past with you?

“It is not your fault that you were not brought up in an environment where you could fully hone your abilities.” Loki summons fireworks from his hand, and he doesn’t miss how your eyes sparkle with curiosity. “I am only able to control my gifts as I was trained by the strongest witches on Asgard and Vanaheim. I doubt my seidr would be as controlled if I was not put in an environment that allowed it to flourish,” 

You sniffle. You can’t believe that you just explained your whole life to a guy you met today. Although, to be fair, he did give half of his to you, as well. However your mind seems to be against sharing with this guy, you always seem to give in. You don’t even notice yourself leaning towards Loki’s hand now comfortably sitting atop your shoulder, beside your neck.

Loki lets you both sit in the comfortable silence, and he resumes the gentle movement of his hand up and down his back. Every so often, his hand hits a spot on your back and goosebumps ripple through your body. 

You finally will yourself to look up at Loki only to find him staring intently at you.

“Do you-”

“What does-” 

You both start talking at the same time. “You go first,” You say. 

“No, I would like to know what you have to say.” Loki says.

For some reason you feel warm at the comment, and you break the eye contact.

“What does Thanos want with the Tesseract?”

Loki looks as though he had rather you hadn’t gone first, but continues anyway.

“The Tesseract is a part of a… collection… of sorts. They are called infinity stones. They are the most powerful objects in the entire universe. Thanos wishes to collect all of them. I am not sure of the purpose yet.” 

“Right. And which ones does he have?”

“Well if he hasn’t collected any since 2012, none. But I doubt the Titan does not work fast. We can only be certain of the two that he does not have.” 

“Right. What are those two?”

“The Mind stone, which is in the Avengers artificial friend, The Vision. And the Tesseract which is hidden,” He reads your next thought. “The Tesseract is the Space stone,”

“Where’s the Tesseract hidden?”

Loki grins down at you. “It’s a secret,” 

You stick your tongue out at him. Very childish, but it does not deter him. 

“Do you know the extent of your powers?”

You grin smugly up at him. “It’s a secret.” 

He scowls and removes his hand from your back to lean back. “Then I suppose we’ll have to do another trade,” He smirks at you. 

You roll your eyes at this man. “All secrets and trades, you are.”  

He chuckles darkly in a way which you try to ignore. “Fine. I know that it’s something to do with energy and waves, because if I try hard enough I can produce light or heat, or sound. It’s not just from my hands, it can act in a field as well. I think the fast healing is because my body has the extra… energy? To supply the cells to grow back and multiply at a faster rate. I don’t know.”

“So there’s more that you knew but not much.”

You glare at him. “You try to explain something when you don’t know how it fully works,” 

“You don’t need to know why something happens in order to understand it,”

That gives you something to think about. All this time you had tried to explain it with science, and not really thought about what your power could do. “Doesn’t matter, never going to do anything with it anyway. I don’t feel the need to understand it anymore. Now, where’s the Tesseract?”

He smiled mischievously. “I never agreed to tell you where the Tesseract is, darling. You simply started telling me your secrets,”

Your mouth drops open at his audacity. You huffed and stood up. 

“Wait!” a hand gently clasps your wrist. “I did not say you couldn’t ask me something else.” 

You grumble and sit back down, and Loki’s hand tenderly moves down your wrist to the tips of your fingers and leaves your hand, but does not sit far away from it.  

“Fine then. What’s the ring you keep twisting?” 

Loki seems to not understand until he looks at his own hand, forgetting his own fiddling. 

“Oh.” He breathes, and looks at it in a fond way. “It was… my mothers. She passed away a couple years ago. She may not have been my real mother, but she treated me better than I ever could have asked for.” You decided not to press on the ‘real mother’, opting to keep that as a secret for another trade. “This ring was the first bit of magic she showed me. She showed me how to make something out of nothing, and it remains my favourite power.” 

You gently reach for his hand, and he lets you take it. You investigate the ring running your hand along his knuckles and veins. His hands are softer than you would expect of a god, let alone a warrior god. “It’s beautiful,” You say, and you look up to find quite the sight. Loki was flushed, trying to look over the shoulder away from you, but proving to be difficult considering you were holding the hand attached to said shoulder. His other hand was making a feeble attempt at covering the bottom half of his face. You spare him the embarrassment of letting him know you saw, and let go of his hand. 

“Why didn’t you want me to know where the Tesseract is?”

“It’s one thing that I am not supposed to know myself. But it is also a thing of safety.” 

His hand drops from his face and sits close, and his finger brushes yours.  

“If you knew where it was, you could become very valuable to someone like Thanos and become very much in danger. And it would be a shame, just as I was starting to like you.” 

You roll your eyes and punch his shoulder. You hold up your pinky finger, threatening gaze. “You have to swear you won’t tell anyone about my powers,” 

Loki looks at you with humorous confusion. “I shall swear but I don’t know what your finger has to do with it.” You ignore the chance for an innuendo. You grab his hand, position it like yours, and wrap your last finger around his. 

“It’s a very sacred midgardian ritual. If you break the promise you swear on, I legally get to kill you,” 

Loki grins and turns his body fully towards yours as much as he can on the bed. “Seems fair, my lady. I solemnly swear-” you snort at the reference he doesn’t know he’s making- “-that I will not tell anyone of your condition, unless told otherwise by my lady herself.” 

“Yeah, I don’t think that last clause is going to change. Anything you want me to swear to you?” Loki’s eye’s catch on your lips, but only for a second so that you think you imagined it.

“Only that I will see you tomorrow.” 

You smile. “Fine. I solemnly swear that I will be up to no good.” 

Loki tilts his head. 

“Anything that I will end up doing with you will be no good, Mr. Mischief.” You laugh. You shake your hands up and down, and Loki chuckles with you. 

Loki glances toward the clock on his bedside, and recognises the unnatural hour. 

“You best be getting to sleep darling. I know you need it after your exciting day.” 

You huff. “I still didn’t tell you everything that happened at dinner,” He stands, and clasps both of your hands and gently pulling you to your feet. 

“More of a reason for you to come visit me tomorrow.” 

“So I’m guessing that we aren’t going to be watching movies in the living room again?”

“I do not like to be under constant watch. This wall is the only thing keeping me from being ogled like a zoo animal who’s holding a bomb.” 

You chuckle at that. “I suppose that’s fair.” 

You had made it to the door without realising. Loki finally lets go of your hands, and the cool air hits your hands making the absence all the more noticeable. He opens the door, and you step out into the hallway, but turn back to speak. 

“Goodnight, Partner in crime.”

“Goodnight, darling.”

He shuts his door, and the exhaustion from the day hits you all at once, your door across the hallway seeming further away than usual. However, you do not miss the note on the door.

Send me your medical history :) 

- Stark

Well, that can’t be good.

Chapter Text

After a restless sleep of overthinking, you are awoken at some ungodly hour. Your door is swung open, and someone comes and leans over your bed. Facing the window, you see it’s still dark outside. God, no one should be awake at this time, you think and pull the doona closer over you. The person rips the doona all the way off the bed and off of you.

“The bad guys are awake at this time, little Kroshka. Rule number one, never turn your back to the enemy,” 

You grumble again, but Nat rudely pokes you in the side, causing you to jolt. 

“C’mon, up and at sport.” 

You throw your arm over your eyes and still refuse to move. Nat sighs. Maybe she’s given up? Nope she’s pulling your leg. Literally.

She throws you onto the floor and you look up at her. “I hate you,” you say. You don’t mean it, and she knows that. 

“Not as much as you’re gonna hate me. C’mon I put a coffee on the kitchen counter, meet me in the gym in 5 minutes.”

You don’t even know where the gym is, you grumble. 

“Door next to the elevator. I better see you there or I’ll drag you there myself. You know I can do it too. Get up!”

Damn your stupid tired brain.You lug yourself off of the plush carpet, which was more comfortable than you’d like to admit. You get to your wardrobe and you realise you don’t know what you’re meant to wear. You try to remember what Nat was wearing. Thin track pants and a t-shirt should be fine, right?

You look into the kitchen and see that Nat wasn’t lying, there’s a nice coffee already set in a travel cup. You take a sip, and it's slightly chocolatey. Guess that’s how Nat makes it. Kinda weird knowing how an Avenger takes their coffee, but that’s just something you’re going to have to get used to. You wander to the door beside the elevator, included so smoothly into the wall that it’s not a surprise you didn’t notice. There’s another sleek door on the other side of the elevator. You wonder what that room is. You push the door and it reveals a large room with a higher roof than the rest of the floor, and rubber matting all across the floor. 

The room is filled with training equipment, so much so that you don’t even recognise some of them. Nat interrupts your thoughts.

“So glad you made it. I was just thinking I might have to drag you from your room.”

“Har-har. Sorry some of us are just regular people.” 

“Hey. You’re talking to one of the most regular people here,”

You tilt in agreement. “You’re not wrong. I definitely would rather train with you than a super soldier. At least now I’ll only get my ass beat slightly less hard.”

“Oh no. I’m definitely gonna beat your ass just as hard,” 

You groan, and Nat pulls you into the centre of the room. “Second rule. Good stance. Legs shoulder length apart, slightly bent. You need to lower your center of gravity in order to keep a better balance during a fight.” You move, and awkwardly hold your fists up.

“Sloppy. Strong fists, thumb on the outside. We don’t want any broken bones. Second, fists are only useful if you’ve got the strength behind it. You don’t, so use the heel of your hand.” 

She bares the bottom of her hand toward you, fingers curled at the top, and points with her other hand to the base of her hand. “Fingers are finicky and have too small bones. Easy to break and hurt you more than you hurt them when you punch. Here, you have the strength of two large bones, and less squishy stuff getting in the way.” 

You nod nervously, and copy her hand. “Another important thing is knowing where to hit. Most likely your attackers will be taller than you, and men. Luckily this makes them weaker than you,”

“I doubt it. Not many people are weaker than me,” 

“You’re not wrong, but that also means that they won’t be expecting you to pack a punch. I was taught something called the lovely ‘entsg’ rule.” She walks over to the boxing bag, and gestures to you to follow. 

“Eyes,” She sticks her fingers out, and aims up. “Nose,” She does the heel of her hand from earlier. “Throat,” She uses the part between her thumb and pointer finger. “Shoulder,” she makes a show of grabbing and pulling down. “Groin,” she says with a devious smile, as she knees upwards towards the metaphorical groin. “And for you a secret last step.” She drops her foot, hard, into the rubber. “Foot.” 

You nod. That was easy enough to remember. “Unluckily for you though, you will most likely be targeted by more than one person. And probably with some kind of weapon. So while that stance should be taught to everyone, you need more than just the foundation,” 

You sigh. It did seem a bit too easy. “But lucky for you today, we’re just going to go through basic muscle building and movement improvement,” 

---

Two hours later, you felt like you were going to puke. You hadn’t done that much exercise, ever. You had spent it doing a gruelling routine, pushed on by Nat saying. “Bad guys won't give you a break, Kroshka. Although, I suppose you won’t be much good dead. Let’s stop today,” 

Nat tells you your homework is to stretch after every meal like the way she taught you. The sun was peeking over the tip of buildings by the time you got out of the shower, and changed into normal day clothes. You just took your morning tablet as a light knock rang out from your door. You padded over, and anxiously opened the door. The last person to open the door had quite violently forced you into exercise, and you weren’t ready for more. But instead of more exercise, you opened the door to eggs and bacon, and a fidgety Loki. 

“I was hoping to bring you breakfast in bed, but it seems you have already been busy, darling.” 

You huffed a laugh and moved to the side to let him in. “Not by choice. I was forcibly dragged at some ungodly hour by Nat, literally .” 

“Oh? What did the little assassin want from you?” he says, barely hiding his distaste. He places the plates on your desk, and magics a new chair. It was going to take a while to get used to that. 

You roll your eyes. “It was a good thing. Everyone thinks that because I live with the Avengers that I’m gonna get targeted, and she wants to make sure that I can protect myself. The only issue is that I am not a super soldier and now, very very sore.”

Loki pouts as you sit, wincing in the chair beside him. “I would’ve trained you if you asked,” 

You give him a look. “Obviously I know that. It’s not like I particularly wanted to. She dragged me into the gym. Also it wouldn’t be a good look for you to be torturing me the way that she was.” You joke. 

“I suppose not. Wouldn’t want another reason for them to attack me.” He angrily cut his toast and eggs. 

“Hey.” You put a hand on his forearm. “They’ll get better. They all apologized yesterday, it’s a bit of progress.” 

“Yes, but to you.” 

“They don’t know you. It’ll take some time. And they did all look very guilty when Thor started yelling at them,” 

Loki silently continues to eat breakfast, and you start on yours. You don’t know me either. You hear. Or you think you hear. Must’ve imagined it, but the thought shakes your hand off his arm.

“I have a proposition,” he says. 

“As you do,” you reply. 

“I will… try to be amiable… if you let me help you with your powers,”

You groan dramatically and lean back in your chair, almost tipping but catching your knee on the bottom of the desk. It was a good deal. Loki deserved the second chance, and you weren’t going to be so selfish to deny him that just because you were scared of your powers. 

“Ugh. Fine, you stupid dealmaker.” 

He smiles smugly at your acceptance. “There is a fine print clause, however.”

“What did you make me agree to?”

“You have to be there if I’m dealing with them,”

“Oh. That’s not too bad. But I’m also adding a small clause,” 

“Mmm. Depends on whether or not I’ll agree to it.”

“You have to do cheesy sleepover things with me while you help me with my powers,”

Loki’s brow pinches. “I do not know what that entails but it does not sound too devious. Deal accepted,” 

You grin widely and hold your hand out. You do a joking handshake. “On another note… the note on your door,” 

You sigh. “I know. I don’t know why he’s suddenly asking for it. You’re definitely right though, he is some kind of suspicious of me.” 

“Unfortunately. But, with my help, you will be able to control the thing you have to hide even better.”  

“I guess so. I did accidently shock Rogers when shaking his hand because I was scared. I am going to have to control it better especially if I am going to be spending so much time around everyone.”

“Exactly. I am only helping darling.” 

Your brow furrowed. “Why do you want to help me with my powers?”

Loki fiddles with his ring. “I suppose you could say it's a selfish curiosity. I have always had an interest in magic. Your ‘power’ seems particularly captivating.” He looks into your eyes. “I would like to see what you can do, darling,” 

His answer placates you, but makes your stomach flip.

“Right. Well, do you have a book you’re reading at the moment?”

“Yes. Whatever for?”

“First step to being ‘amiable’. Exist in the same space as other people.”

You grab your laptop bag from your desk, and stand. Loki grabs the plates.

---

You and Loki spend the day in the living room, again. You have your earphones in and are spread out along one of the couches, and Loki is sitting on the carpet, leaning back against the couch you’re lying on, reading his book. 

Since you didn’t have Stark’s email, you sent whatever medical documents you had to Pepper attached with, ‘Stark asked for this, don’t know what he wants’ but written more politely.

The rest of the day you spent lazily writing ideas for ‘Stupid ideas to force Loki to do with you,’ and recipes you can now cook with more time under your belt, and free reign over any ingredients, of which Pepper had contacted you to simply write on the shopping list on the fridge. That had sent you down a spiral of ‘Foods Loki has to try,’ which made you giggle. Loki tilted his head back to glance at you, and his head brushed against your knee. You waved your hand at him and told him you’d tell him later. Every so often, someone walked past the entrance to the living room, and you waved, and glared when they did a double take at Loki.  

In the middle of compiling a list of movies that Loki (and maybe others) have to watch, Loki leans back and taps your thigh. You lean over the side of your laptop to look at him. 

“It’s time for us to eat lunch, darling.” 

You close your laptop and groan as you stretch. You move into the kitchen and investigate what you could have. Yes! Stark is just as much a heathen as any college student, and there’s ramen packets in the pantry, so you get to check something of your ‘Loki taste test list.’

Loki sat at the counter and watched you while you worked, intrigued. You threw the noodles in a pot to boil, and made a quick and easy sauce of soy sauce, garlic, and brown sugar with a bit of chilli. Not too much, you didn’t know how much the god could handle. 

You chopped some shallots and sprinkled them over the top. “Ta da!” 

Loki picked up his fork (you would subject him to chopsticks another time) and looked at it, intrigued. “What is it?” 

“Uhm. It’s noodles and sauce, doesn’t really have a proper name. It’s really good though!” 

You sat beside him, and dug in. He took a couple of bites, and then properly dug in. But after a while he started to go a bit red.

You giggled and realised what was happening. You were smart to not put in much spice. 

“Why is my tongue burning? What is this midgardian torture?” You laughed as you got up and got a glass of water for him. “It’s called chilli. It's a flavour on Earth, but it does seem to have that effect. Remind me not to add it to any dishes you have.” 

“It is very good, these noodles, you say, despite the burning flavour,” 

You laughed again. “Figures you would like cheap food, prince.” 

You finished your noodles before him, and watched him struggle to finish in between sips of water. 

“Wanna watch more movies after lunch?” 

“If you would like.” 

However, when you returned to the living room, Rogers and Bucky were sitting adjacent to the couch you had set up on earlier. You would almost say they looked nervous. Loki tensed beside you, but you stayed strong and moved to go and sit where you were sitting before. 

“If you wouldn’t mind-” Rogers started to say. You looked up from where you were putting your laptop on the floor. “We were wondering if we could- uh- join you for one of your ‘movie marathons’ as you call it,” 

You snorted, but it was not with malice. “Of course. Have you guys seen Harry Potter?” 

You watched them visibly untense. “No, we haven’t,” Bucky said. 

“Good, then it shall be an all around good experience,” 

You hadn’t noticed Loki silently sleuth to beside you, where you grabbed the remote from the coffee table, and opened up the movie directory. 

--- 

“But how come Harry can speak to snakes if that’s a slytherin thing? Is that why the hat wanted to put him there?”

“You’ll just have to wait and see, won’t you,” 

“I do hope Gildroy disappears just like Quirrell, the arrogant fool,” 

“I think he’s funny, but yes he is really annoying.” 

The marathon was going considerably well, and everyone had sunken comfortably into their couches, and Loki and the two soldiers were speaking almost normally. It’s a miracle. Turns out a movie marathon distracts everyone from their previous arguments. About halfway into the second movie, Nat had come in from whatever she was doing, and decided to join as well, sitting on the couch opposite Steve and Bucky. You and Loki were sitting on the same couch, you sitting sideways with your knees up and Loki leaning on the arm of the couch. Nat was lying on her stomach, facing the screen. 

At the beginning of the third movie, Clint leaned in and looked excited, joined Nat on her couch. Not without nervously looking at Loki, who just raised an eyebrow in humor. At the end of the 4th movie, Sam called from the kitchen for dinner. Sam had been showing Wanda how to make home-made pizza, and everyone excitedly filed into the dining room, where all the pizzas were already sitting, table set. Loki hesitated in the archway of the living room looking at the dining room, but you grabbed his arm and shoved him in the chair next to you. Bucky sat on the other side of you, and Nat and Clint sat across from you. 

You grabbed yourself a slice, and handed Loki a piece of margarita. “This one isn’t spicy,” you laughed. 

He watched you take a bite of yours, questioning the lack of cutlery. “C’mon Mr.Prince. You just eat it with your hands,” 

He took a bite, and you giggled at his facial expression. 

“So Kroshka, I hope you’ve been doing your homework ready for bright and early tomorrow morning…” 

“It’s going to be every morning?! I thought it was going to be like a weekly thing!” 

Nat laughs while you groan. “It won’t be as long as today, god knows how long Bruce would survive in his lab with only Tony…”

You feel Loki look at you confused. You look at Bruce who is at the other end of the table. “Hey, Bruce, what are we going to be doing tomorrow anyway?” 

“Well since we don’t know where it originated, we’re going to be looking into the make-up of the virus and the history of people who’ve had it to see if it relates to anything we’ve seen before. We’ll work out the work division and stuff like that tomorrow though.” 

“Alright.” You opt rather to listen to the other conversations at the table, mostly consisting of Wilson talking about movies that the others have to see. Luckily he’s already seen Harry Potter, so he’s just going to join in after dinner. However, Loki leans down close to your ear.

“You didn’t tell me you were going to be busy tomorrow, darling,” 

Loki’s lips so close to your neck send a shiver down your spine, and turn to him and pout. 

“It was another thing discussed at dinner. I forgot to mention it…” 

“It will be so boring without you here though, darling.” 

“I’m sure you can survive without me for a day, Loki.” 

“Only if you promise to keep up your nightly endeavours to my room.” 

Your ears really heat up this, and you bash your knee against his. Natasha doesn’t miss your exchange with Loki, raising her eyebrows at you from above her glass. At that you flush even more, and turn to Bucky.

“Enjoying the movies so far?” 

“Definitely. Much more interesting than the movies in the 40s. How do they film all the magical stuff?” 

You spend the rest of the dinner explaining CGI and other movie-making magic to Bucky, and you miss Loki jealously watching you from behind your shoulder. 

---

After dinner, everyone is still very keen to continue the movie marathon. After taking a quick trip to your room to wash your face, you slip back into the living room, only to notice the space on your couch has shrunk. Natasha has sat against the arm of the couch you were leaning against, leaving minimal space for you to sit, and you notice Loki on the other end fidgeting with his ring. Nat is mimicking your positioning from before, knees up, making you have to sit shoulder to shoulder with Loki, who flinches, then settles as your shoulder leans against his. Someone else is in control of the remote, and starts the fifth movie. 

Throughout the movie, Natasha seems determined to squish you into Loki, stretching her legs out more and more, and you throw her a glare. She simply innocently raises an eyebrow at you, acting like she doesn’t know why. You huff, trying very hard to focus on the movie. Eventually, Loki lifts his arm and lays his arm along the back of the couch, leaving you to fall onto his chest. Your cheeks rapidly heat, but you don’t draw attention to it. Under your ear, you can hear a very intense heartbeat. You glance up at Loki, and he has his hand over his mouth, staring very determinedly at the movie. You do the same. 

---

You must’ve fallen asleep, but you’re awoken out of your doze when you feel yourself being lifted into the air. 

“Wusgoinon?” you eloquently mumble, which is muffled by a chest. 

“Don’t worry darling, you’re going to need your sleep for tomorrow.”

--- 

You’re awoken so rudely again by Natasha, but it takes less dragging to get you out of bed this time. You meet her in the gym again, and this time she hands you a coffee rather than you collecting it from the kitchen. 

“C’mon, let’s warm up the way I showed you,” 

While you’re warming up however, you are not free from questioning. 

“So, you and Loki huh?” 

You glare, from your stretch. “No. Why would you think that.” Your question comes off rather as a statement.

“I dunno, he just seems to like you,”

“Yeah, because I’m the only person he’s talked to in what seems like ever.” 

“And he’s not the first person you’ve ever talked to forever either?” 

You frown at her ability to read you. 

“Today we’re going to do a bit of sparring. No better way to learn rather than hands on,” 

You set up opposite each other, in the middle of the room. 

“I want you to work on your defense. I want you to either block, dodge or counter each attack I’m throwing, got it?” 

You nod. “So what were those nightly endeavours he was talking about then?” She asks as she aims a kick for your side. 

Sloppily, you dodge, her foot narrowly missing as you step backwards. You didn’t expect her to have heard that. “He’s just being stupid. We’re just talking.” 

She throws a punch and you block it with your arm. “Oh? What are you talking about?” 

You sigh, starting to get defensive, and throw a fist to her side in annoyance, which she elegantly blocks. “Just, stuff.” 

“What kind of stuff?” You don’t answer, and she continues to throw attack after attack. Eventually, you end up on the floor on your back. 

“I see. Important conversations.” You throw an arm over your eyes, and focus on slowing down your breathing. 

“That’s all for today, Kroshka. Maybe next time you’ll tell me what gets said in those important conversations,” 

You huff, and sit up. “Shut up, Nat.” 

---

You arrive at the lab nearly an hour later, after cleaning up and scrubbing down your aching muscles. Bruce briefs you on the work today. He says that he will be working on identifying location factors in the virus, trying to identify what country and situation it could have originated in, Tony will be working on tracking down the first possible case of the virus, and you will be looking over it’s biological makeup and comparing it to other well known viruses to determine whether it’s simply a mutation of something well known,. There are hundreds of common viruses, so it’s no surprise not every one has been compared yet, globally. 

The work is gruelling, and you barely leave the room for a break. You notice in comparison to other diseases, it has similar traits to not just one virus, but many. It’s strange, as most viruses live in a ‘family’ of bacteria, but this seems to be some splice of many different ones. You show this and discuss with Bruce, as location factors relate to how a virus might develop. You both realise that all the factors stem from different places in the world. 

“But that doesn’t make sense, how could a virus like this grow and mutate across different circumstances without alerting- anyone? ” Bruce exclaims in disbelief. 

“Because it wasn’t spread naturally.” 

You and Bruce whip your heads towards Tony, who flicks his tablet and the hologram map displays before you. He gestures to the map. 

“The first people found with the virus, trace back to one person in each major continent, and bacteria growth rate shows that they all developed the virus at the same times down to the hour.” 

You rub your eyes in thought. “But then how does every continent have all the factors of different climates if the spread wasn’t from one source?” 

“Because it wasn’t natural.” Bruce says.

“That’s right. The virus wasn’t developed. It was administered.” 

You blanche. “Why would someone do that?” 

“Why else would someone want total population control? With everyone locked inside, what plans can run amok?” 

“So you’re saying someone- created - a bioweapon to… do what?” Bruce asks. 

“A smaller population is easier to control for one. But not only that, they are actively stopping vaccine development- remember the lab that got blown up in Germany?” 

“That still doesn’t have a reason.” You say.

“HYDRA agents were shut down, and SHIELD was seized by Senator Stern and closed entirely anyway. What- organised group would be able to do something like this on such a large scale?” 

“That’s the difficult part. We don’t know who. But I have figured out the why.” 

You look at Tony. He pulls up multiple video feeds. “The virus itself is largely unharmful, except to those particularly susceptible to heart conditions, yes? Spreads almost seeming like a common fatigue condition and a migraine, nothing too damaging to the average person, but still enough to contain a population. Gotta protect the susceptible.” 

Bruce’s brows furrowed in confusion. “But why go to all the effort of developing a bioweapon if there’s no major damage? Why not just go for total carnage?” 

“Because that wasn’t their goal. Take a look at this.” Tony pulls up a photo of a young middle eastern boy, probably 18 or 19. “Good man, went and got tested when he found out he was exposed. Blood tests revealed a mutant gene.” He flicks up a video of supposedly the kid being attacked by someone, disappearing, and appearing meters away, and running. Your blood runs cold. 

Bruce shrugs. “So, what, this disease mutates genes in order to create superhumans?” 

“Not quite. It allows people with abilities to be found by their blood tests. This wasn’t the first time this kid was caught on camera.” Tony says, pulling up videos dated from years prior. All show the kid disappearing and appearing somewhere else, seconds later. 

“What happened to him?” you asked, nervous. 

“He disappeared. His parents reported him missing to the authorities 2 days ago.” 

You stand, shellshocked. Is that what’s going to happen to you? Were you going to be taken- or-or killed? If you caught this disease? 

Your thoughts are interrupted. “So this is all- some plot to find and take or kill these… mutants? What for?” 

“That’s what I don’t know yet. We know why whoever spreads this disease, but we don’t know who or what happens next.”

You, Bruce and Tony all stand in silence as you ponder what’s just been discussed. You were in the worst possible place. You were surrounded by the only people allowed outside, to other countries, to exposed countries, most likely to pick up the disease. You know you wouldn’t be negatively affected, but you know now that any blood test you get if you get it will show you as different. Will destroy all the work you put into hiding all your life. It’s not like you could do anything to stop it. No. You could. You had to find out who started it. 

Someone’s calling your name.

Pepper puts a hand on your shoulder, and you see Bruce and Tony leaving the lab. 

“It’s time for dinner, let’s go,” 

---

Dinner had been made by someone, you weren’t there in time to see who. You sat in your usual seat, (how you had managed to get a ‘usual’ seat in the span of 3 days surprised you), and you ate your dinner in silence, processing the previous conversation. Laughter and banter was being thrown around, but you didn’t process any of it. You vaguely notice Loki staring at you in concern, as well as Bucky. You don’t notice Tony staring at you, cogs ticking away at your reaction to his news.  A hand brushes your thigh, and reassuringly places on your knee. 

“Are you alright, darling?” 

You rub your eyes out of your daze, and plaster on a smile. 

“Yeah, just- I’ll tell you later.” 

Loki doesn’t seem any less concerned at your answer, but removes his hand anyway. 

Everyone finishes, and they actually allow you to wash up your plate this time, but you don’t attempt to try to help with anything else.

As you walk away, a hand on your shoulder stops you. 

“You alright, Kroshka?” 

You plaster on yet another fake smile. “Yeah, just a busy day.” Nat lets you go, but you know she doesn’t believe it.

You barely remember the walk to your room, too deep in thought. As soon as you get into your room, you sit on your bed, head in your hands. Tears start sparkling in the corners of your eyes. You look up, hoping to stop them in your tracks. 

A familiar knock comes from your door. Right, you forgot your promise to Loki. 

“Loki I’m sorry I forgot-” 

Loki gently places his hands on your shoulders. “I’m not here for that. I am just worried about you darling.” 

His hands slide down to hold your hands, and he guides you to sit on your bed. “What’s happened?”

You sigh and hang your head. You take a couple minutes, just to breathe, just to focus on the sensation of Loki running his thumbs over your knuckles. 

“You know how I was working today- It’s to do with the virus and the pandemic- we were just working and researching where it could have come from- and Tony discovered that the virus reveals a- a certain gene in- in people like me, making them identifiable-” You can’t breathe- “-and he showed us this boy- who- who had got tested, and he had-had powers like me, so he got the virus and the tests revealed he- he had powers- and he- he disappeared-” You finally feel a sob break from your chest. “He- he got kidnapped or-or killed- or something- and I-” You can’t speak anymore. 

Loki pulls your head into his neck, and hugs you around the waist. His hand delicately runs through your hair. He mutters gentle words into your hair, but you can’t understand. He lets you sob out your worries, and whispers to you all the way through. 

When your breathing finally starts to settle, he moves his hand down from your hair and cups your cheek, and gently guides you to look at him. 

“I will never let anything happen to you, my darling,” 

You release a shaky breath, and lean into his hand. His grip on your waist tightens subtly. You inhale deeply, and continue speaking. 

“And so I just- don’t know what to do. How am I meant to act like I’m not terrified? And Tony obviously had been having thoughts about this before today, and he obviously just was getting evidence today, an-and-” You let out another shaky breath, and Loki moves his hand to brush a strand of your hair behind your ear. “-Now he has my medical history, a-and this is the place where I’m most likely to get exposed, because everyone is constantly going outside and into infected zones so I just-” You look into Loki’s eyes, and chew on your lip. “I just don’t know what to do.” 

Loki gives you the softest smile you have ever seen. “Whatever happens, I will be here with you always.” 

You can’t find the right words to say, so instead you throw your hands around his neck and hold him tightly. The angle is awkward, so instead Loki pulls you into his lap, and wraps his own arms tightly around your waist. One hand snakes up and cradles your head, and the other trails up and down your back. His head rests over your shoulder, and as something soft presses against your neck, a tingle rolls down your back. You simply sit and enjoy the comfort for a while. Eventually your eyes start dropping. It had been a tiring day...

“Darling, I don’t mean to alarm you…” You hum in acknowledgement. “But did you put that bag on your desk?” 

You sluggishly move and look over your shoulder to the desk. You groan and remove your arms from around Loki’s neck. “No, I didn’t.” 

Loki’s arms release you as you go over and inspect the thing. The thing in question is a brown paper bag, and as you open it you huff a sarcastic laugh.

“What is it?” 

“Stark may be investigating me a lot, but at least he’s considerate when covering his tracks. It’s my medication.” 

Loki is behind you in a second, hand on your waist. “You are ill?” 

You shake your head. “Not in the way you’re thinking. It’s a long-term illness.” 

Taking the bag and placing it on your bedside table, Loki sits beside you again as you pull out the boxes. 

“My brain does not act normally when doing certain things. This one-” you hold up a box- “is to calm me down. My brain has a different threshold for danger, and so I go into a sort of ‘fight-or-flight’ without needing to be. This stops that, or rather, puts that threshold higher,” 

You pull out the next box while Loki nods in understanding. “My brain has a hard time focusing and struggles to prioritise tasks, so this makes me able to focus,” It was difficult explaining these sorts of things to someone who has never heard of anything like it, but Loki was nothing but eager to understand. Loki watches you intently as you take two of your anxiety meds, and sip from the glass of water you left beside your bed from yesterday. 

“You should be getting to sleep, darling,”

Your eyes widen and you look at Loki. “But I didn’t hold up my end of the promise!” 

“It has been a long day for you, my dear. We will only do it when you are ready,” 

You nod, and you can’t deny that you feel yourself becoming more and more drowsy. Loki gently pushes you to lie down, and pulls the covers over you. After lying down, you barely have enough energy to keep yourself awake. A pair of lips presses softly to your hand, and before the door clicks shut, you hear Loki.

“Goodnight, my darling.”

Chapter Text

You wake up feeling much more confident about the work ahead of you. You know that right now, there is no one going out for missions, so you are safe that way. 

Instead of her usual methods, Nat is much more soft when getting you to work. She instead pats you on the head, puts the mocha on your bedside table, and turns the lights on. She gently asks if you would like to miss training this morning, obviously still worried about you. 

You emphasize that you will be fine, and you’ll see her in the gym in ten minutes. 

During your workout, she doesn’t push you as hard, instead opting for more slow paced muscle building and stretches. 

“Are you going to tell me what’s wrong, Kroshka? Or is that something reserved for certain gods?” 

You sigh. “The work on the virus is just stressful, especially learning that it was made on purpose rather than naturally developed.”  

“Well, you’ve got everyone so stressed with your unusual quietness at dinner, I’m thinking that they’re not going to let you go after all this,” 

You huff a laugh. “It’s only been three days. Don’t know how attached everyone could get to me in that short a time.” 

“Well I know that you’ve grown on me, Kroshka. And I think that you have a god wrapped around your finger as well,” 

“He’s not ‘wrapped around my finger’, we’re just friends,” you pout. 

“Pretty good friends if you ask me. That hurts, does that make us acquaintances?” 

You roll your eyes. “Fine, I guess you could say we’re good friends. He’s just not got anyone else here who hadn’t met him before and the first time everyone met him, it wasn’t a great first impression. I’m just a second chance where he doesn’t have to prove himself,” 

“Well, I’m glad you’re having a good effect on him. Even Thor knows that by now he would’ve smited Tony for his nicknames,” 

“He has changed. 2012 was almost 10 years ago. It doesn’t help that he was manipulated by some big space god or something, and his dad was a dick.” Nat raises her eyebrow. 

“I know it doesn’t excuse his actions, but he has tried to change, and that’s worth something to me.” 

“Well you’re better than the best of us. And we’re meant to be the best.” 

“Everyone’s starting to try, at least. Now they can be in a room with him without attacking him.” 

“Definitely an improvement from your first day, hey?” 

You chuckle. “Alright Kroshka, I’ll let you off the hook today. Go have a nice breakfast before work.” 

In the kitchen, you decide you’d rather not have something too heavy. You already knew that today was going to make you queasy, better not give any more fuel to the fire. You grab a peach from the overflowing fruit bowl (These superheroes better eat some more fruit, goddamn), and a hand gently rests on the lower part of your back. 

“Try not to stress too much today, alright darling?” 

You look up, and Loki is peering down at you with a flicker of concern in his eyes. 

“I’ll be alright, Loki. I can’t let it get to me. And like you said you’ll be here when I get back to make me feel better,” You say, half joking. 

Loki moves his hand and tightens his grip on your waist. “While it does make me glad that you know I’ll make you feel better, it still hurts to see when you’re upset,” 

You take a bite from the peach, and some juice dribbles down your chin. Embarrassed you wipe it away quickly, but Loki’s eyes only darken with something you can’t quite recognise.

“It’s going to be fine. It’d look suspicious if I didn’t go in. We can’t have any more reason for Stark to look into me, can we?” 

Loki shakes out of his daze at your words, and nods. He gives one last squeeze of your waist, and you leave for the lab. 

--- 

As you walk into the lab, you see frustrated Bruce, and a rapidly scrolling Tony. 

“Oh, hey kid. You don’t need to work today, I forget you’re not used to organisations trying to take over the world.” 

You stop in the doorway. “Oh. Um. That’s okay, I’m alright to work.” 

Tony gives you a side-eye. “If you’re sure, kid.” 

The day passes in a blur of you and Bruce combing through anything and everything you could find on the middle-eastern boy, and Tony doing something else in the middle of the room. You and Bruce both continue in frustration trying to find something, anything to do with the boy's disappearance. Whoever took him was very good at covering their tracks, which only makes you more nervous. This was obviously planned for a very long time, and the people who released the virus obviously knew about people like you before, and most definitely wanted to find you. But what made you most nervous is how large a scale the ‘experiment’ was on, and the lives these people were willing to put at stake just to find you, and what they were doing after they found these people. However, you did find yourself going down a rabbithole of a ‘Study of Genetic Mutation,’ by someone called Professor Xavier.

The day yields nothing new, which is both a weight off of your shoulders, and an ominous thought in the back of your mind. However, you were willing to push that away, happy to just enjoy dinner and whatever happens after. 

Dinner seems to be a quiet affair, most people eating separately. You grab a plate, and decide to eat in your room today. This seems to be the popular option, as no one is sitting at the dinner table and gratefully leaves you without questioning. 

However, when you enter your room, you’re not alone. Loki seemed to have gotten very bored during the day, and fell asleep in your bed, book in hand. You put your plate on the table, and move closer to him. Loki was muttering in his sleep, and you wonder if he’s having a nightmare. You whisper his name, and lightly shake his shoulder. 

You barely even process the room spin from underneath you, as suddenly you are thrown onto the other side of the bed, hands pinned to either side of your head. Stars spin in your eyes as your head hits the pillow. Loki’s heavy breathing above you brings you back to Earth. Your eyes look into his, and as Loki’s tongue flicks out and licks his lips, your gaze is brought there. Loki is off you in an instant, looking away with his hand covering his mouth, leaning raggedly on the window. 

“Sorry- I-I must’ve fallen asleep, while waiting for you- and-” He finally looks back at you, fear in his eyes. His breathing is still rapid, and he wipes his forehead. He clears his throat. 

“It-it was a particularly bad nightmare, is all.” 

You stand beside him, not sure whether touching him would help or not. Instead, you say, 

“Dinner’s ready,”

You reach out, and tentatively place a hand on his arm. “So I’ll go get you some, and-and you can tell me about it when I get back, okay?” 

“No, I’m-I’m alright. I will go get it,” 

Loki swiftly moves out of the room, and a thud resounds on the wall next to your door. You hardly notice as you drop down, face hot in your hands. What was that? Why is your heart racing so much? Your heartbeat continues to race but you walk over and sit at the desk, and pick with the skin around your fingers.

It takes Loki longer than you thought to go and collect dinner. When he returns, he stands awkwardly in the doorway for a minute, and he rubs the back of his neck. 

Eventually he shuts the door behind him and sits tentatively in the chair he conjured the other day. 

You watch him as he very determinedly stares at the floor, twirling his ring around his finger again. 

“Do you want to talk about it?” 

Loki picks up his fork, but only pokes at this food. 

“You don’t have to,” 

You tilt your head more into his field of vision, and he finally looks at you, and then back at the floor. 

“When... I was taken by Thanos, he wanted to ensure my loyalty. He would… torture me. I suppose he thought it would drive me as mad as him. Usually it's just memories, but… today…” Loki looked over you. “It was-” His voice breaks. 

“It was you he was torturing. And- I couldn’t do anything. I had to just- sit and watch.” 

You slowly reach out and put a hand on his shoulder, despite how your heart races at the idea. “It was just a bad dream.” 

“But it could still happen. He will come to Earth,” 

“Then we’ll be ready, won’t we?” 

He sighs, and rubs his eyes with the heel of his palms. You reassuringly stroke your thumb over his collarbone.

“We should get to work.” He reaches to grab your hands in his.

You pull your hands away, holding them up. “Nuh uh. Not without eating dinner and with that big worried expression on your face,” You poke his cheek, and he smiles, but only small. 

“We’ll eat and then you’ll be holding up your side of the deal.” 

You sit and eat, and you talk to Loki about what you could spend your nights doing. Loki seems to cheer up from the mix of your conversation, and his constant glances over you, double checking you. 

Eventually, you finish dinner, and you stack your plates in the corner of your desk. You quickly go into your bathroom, and pull out a bag. 

“I asked Pepper specifically for some special supplies.” 

You pull out first, three bottles of nail polish, bottom layer, black, and top coat. 

“Put your hands out, like this.” He sits sideways, with one hand on the table. He curiously watches as you delicately put the first layer. 

“What is it for?” he asks, trying to stay very still. “To look pretty! Also it’s fun to put on, I dunno.” 

“It is always so lovely to have you so close, darling,” 

You roll your eyes and shove his shoulder. “I suppose they don’t call you Silvertongue for nothing.” 

“I’m sure you don’t know the half of it,” 

“Oh yeah? What else can you do?” 

“I’ll be happy to show you,” 

If him launching off of you earlier didn’t confirm it, his baseless flirting definitely did. This was just simple banter, that’s all. 

You finish putting the rest of his nailpolish, and delicately blow on it, before flushing at your habit. 

Trying to distract, you say “What can you actually do with your powers anyway?” 

“Illusions, mostly. But also things such as teleportation, conjuration, telekinesis, et cetera.” 

“Yeah yeah, continue to say those fancy words as though it isn’t impressive enough anyway”

He mocks a shocked expression. “Oh how you wound me, witch,” 

You chuckle at Loki’s words, and look back at his nails. “It should be dry enough now, you can move,” 

He inspects his nails himself. “What now?” 

You giggle. “Now you have to put on mine!” 

He sighs, exasperated. “C’mon this one first.” You place the bottle in front of him, and dramatically offer your hands. 

---

“You’re terrible at this.” 

“Shut up.” His hands shake as he tries to copy your movements from earlier. 

“Don’t worry Mr. God. Not everyone can be as naturally talented as I am.” 

He gives you a look, but chuckles. 

“Your healing. Do you feel a particular sensation when you get injured and it’s healing?” 

You think. “I mean I guess so. I don’t get injured very often, and even then it’s usually something small.” 

“I am glad about that,” He puts the cap back on the bottle and waves his hands. “Done.” 

You hold your hands out. “And now we’re matching.” 

He smiles. “Now we’re matching.” 

You sit in silence for a minute, and his hands come up to hold yours. “It's time for your end of the deal, darling,”   

He pulls you towards the bed, and you both sit on the side. “Have you ever… used your powers on someone else?” 

You wince. “Not… directly.” 

“I think what I’m about to try and teach you will be an important skill for you to nurture. Do you trust me?” 

You look into his eyes. “Yes.” Without hesitation. A dagger appears in his hand. You look at it. The handle is intricate and ornate, it’s beautiful. You gasp as Loki nicks the side of his hand, blood slowly leaking out of the tiny cut. With his other hand, he takes yours, and holds it over the spot. 

“Remember that sensation. Let it flow through you, into me.” You try to remember the sensation, but every time it’s happened without you really thinking about it. You sigh, and go to pull your hand back, but Loki stops you. 

“I know you can do this. Trust me,” 

You try again. Nothing happens. “I just. I just don’t know what I’m supposed to be feeling.” 

Loki delicately turns your wrist to the side, and looks at you in question. 

“I trust you.” you whisper.

He carefully drags the blade across the side of your thumb, away from any important arteries, and you close your eyes, and really, really focus on the sensation. It feels like tingling, and your heart beat rises to the surface underneath the cut. A second later, you open your eyes, and it’s almost as if the cut was never there. You take Loki’s hand in yours, and hold your hand over the cut in his skin. You try to imagine his skin tingling together like yours. 

Loki gasps, and you pull your hands away, worried you’ve hurt him, but he shakes his head, and instead shows you his wrist.

“I knew you could do it, darling.” 

You giggle in shock and throw your arms around Loki. The force is enough to knock you both back onto the bed, lying down. Your powers had always been some kind of destructive. Knowing that you could be something more than that was a massive relief, and you almost felt like you could use your powers properly. You would just end up hurting someone, a voice nagged. You were too happy to listen to it. You continue to smile into Loki’s shoulder before you notice the heat radiating from his face. You launch back up.

“Uh. Sorry,”

You look away, embarrassed. You have gotten a bit too comfortable-

“It’s quite alright, I-I just didn’t expect it darling,”  

You both sit in awkward silence for a while, not able to look at each other. Eventually, Loki’s finger brushes against yours. 

“You did very well, my dear,” 

You finally bring yourself to look at him. 

“Yeah. It would be nice to be able to do some good with what I got,”  

You feel stripped of all your walls as Loki’s eyes bore into yours. His hand moves to cup your jaw. 

“You are already more good than I could ever hope to be,” 

Your breath catches as you realise how close you are. Your mouth opens slightly, and Loki’s eyes follow the movement. Your eyes trail down to Loki’s lips, and your nose brushes his. 

You both jump as a bang knocks against the door. “You better be getting sleep Kroshka! I won’t go easy on you tomorrow like I did today!” 

You and Loki are both a mess. “Uh- yeah- I better be getting to sleep-”

“Right- I’ll just be-” 

You can’t even look each other in the eye. You try to joke.

“Uhm. Goodnight, partner in crime!” You internally facepalm at your own stupidity. 

Loki sighs, and looks at you one last time. “Goodnight, partner in crime,” 

As soon as the door clicks shut behind him, you shove your very warm face into the pillows. What were you thinking?! You weren’t thinking, that’s what. Loki wouldn’t like you! He wouldn’t try and kiss you- you were just- well- you! So what he pledged his undying loyalty to you yesterday- that’s just a friend thing- gods do that all the time! They’re very dramatic-

Your head keeps running in a similar pattern and your heart continues racing, resulting in a restless sleep. 

---

The rest of the week continues in a similar fashion. Nat keeps her promise, and treats you just as harshly as she promised. You definitely have bruises in spots where it shouldn’t be possible, and luckily Nat doesn’t keep track because they disappear before the day is over. 

Work in the lab is slow, and not turning up any results, but you can’t ignore Stark's continuous pacing and fiddling. He’s definitely figured something out. Instead of continuing your tracking with Bruce (which was turning up nothing anyway), you look into research on mutation and genes. Your trials all go cold around similar times, you follow the history of this guy Professor Xaiver which you researched the other day, and it only turns up with a backend website for ‘A school for gifted youngsters,’ You suppose it’s probably just some kind of advanced private school. 

Nights with Loki continue similarly ( except without the almost kissing thing) You continued to do silly sleepover things which includes but not limited to: facemasks (got kind of close to breaking the not almost kissing trend with that one), two truths and a lie, setting up a blanket fort and watching movies on your laptop, and baking brownies, which almost all got stolen by the other avengers. Of course you continued to hold up your end of the deal, and Loki was helping you with the more intricate sides of your powers. Everytime you did something new felt more and more elated. Like you were meant to release all the energy you have. One night left you particularly excited after you floated above your bed for a couple seconds, at which you and Loki laughed in excitement as you flopped back on the bed. 

Of course, your excitement couldn’t last. On Thursday as you and Banner were heading out to dinner, Tony called out from the back of the lab. 

“Hey kiddo, we got a meeting tomorrow, so dress nice and be ready to face the music, yeah?” 

His words are like a bucket of water over your head, waking you out of a dream. 

“A meeting? Who with?” 

“Not entirely sure of everyone yet. You’ll have to be ready for a surprise tomorrow, kay?” 

“O-okay,” 

The walk to the kitchen has you stressed, but you try not to let it damper your excitement for dinner and your time with Loki. Dinner continued similar to the rest of the week with everyone doing their own thing, and you opted for microwaving some leftovers for both you and Loki. You walked back to your room with plates in hand, checked no one was watching, and opened the door without your hands. Practice is the best way to learn after all. Loki, like usual, is lying on your bed. What’s unusual though, is he’s sleeping calmly on his side, rather than sitting against the headboard reading. You quietly place the plates on your desk, and squat beside your bed. 

Loki’s face is almost entirely at peace. It was quite funny to see him without a scowl or an impish grin. You rested your head on the bed, and just looked at him for a while. Each of his features were perfectly mapped, almost as if sculpted from marble. You suppose that he is a god. You’re pulled from his thoughts as he whispers your name. After a couple seconds, you realise he’s not awake, rather talking in his sleep. You shake off your staring (wow, creepy of you) and poke his cheek. 

Rather than the explosive reaction from last time, his eyes slowly open, and look deeply into yours. 

“Hey,” you whisper.

“Hey,” he smiles. His hand moves to your neck and he leans forward. About halfway, he seems to remember himself, and flinches. He pulls back and moves to sit on the edge of the bed. “Ah, So, how was work?” 

Not processing anything for a couple seconds, it takes you a while to remember you have a question to answer. “Oh. Um. Apparently I have a meeting tomorrow. Don’t know who with, but I’m already nervous,” You stand and walk over to the desk, and beckon him to come sit with you. 

“Stark sprung it on me as I was leaving. I asked for details but he was purposefully vague.” He sits and watches you while you eat. “I know he had been doing-knowing- something all week, but I didn’t realise there would be some kind of meeting.” 

“I’m sure it will be alright, darling,” 

“Enough about me,” you smirk mischievously. “What were you dreaming about?” 

“Nothing really, just- ah- Asgard.” 

You take another mouthful. “Want to tell me what it was like?” 

He stares into nothing, nostalgically. “It was very beautiful. All gardens, and intricate buildings. There was so much to look at, you could never explore it all.” He chuckles. “And I would know. I tried to.”

“But what made it truly special was the sky. When the sun set, the bifrost lit up the nearby nebula, and the sky was painted rainbow with stars.” His eyes glittered nearly as much as the stars he was describing. It was almost enough to stop you from teasing him. Almost .

“Well as beautiful as it sounds now I know that you’re lying. You said my name in your sleep,” 

Loki sputters. “I just imagined you- me- in Asgard! It was nothing- nothing like-” 

“Nothing like what? I didn’t say anything,” Your chuckle is cut off as Loki stands and towers over you, hands resting on the arms of your chair. 

“You play a dangerous game, teasing me like this darling.” 

Your heart jumps to your throat, and you very determinedly don’t let your eyes leave Loki’s.

I wish I knew what you were thinking.

Loki steps back. “I have decided what we are doing today. Do you wish to do your activity first?” 

“Uh- n-no. I haven’t planned anything for today. We can do what you want first,” 

Loki grins. “Excellent,” 

He sat on the bed, cross legged in the middle. He gestures for you to copy him. You sit across from him, heart still slowing down from the previous excitement. He holds his hands out, and you feel a shiver shoot up your arms and you place your hands in his. 

“Close your eyes,” 

Can you hear me? 

You twitch. “Yes,” 

Loki opens an eye. Try to answer me in your head, darling.

“Oh,” Yes? 

After a couple awkward minutes in silence, you open your eyes again. 

It seems you are better at reading thoughts than sending them, darling. Try again. 

You try to copy the sensation of Loki’s thoughts entering your mind. Unfortunately his voice is very comfortable in your head already. You flush in embarrassment at the thought. 

Although you are very good at sending your emotions. 

You flush more, and huff in frustration. Shut up, you think. 

I heard that. 

You gasp. “Really?” Loki only smirks in response. 

You try to focus. Want to show me what you were really dreaming about earlier? 

You almost can feel Loki frowning in your mind. I wasn’t lying. You can hear the grumble in his voice. 

You feel Loki’s hand move from your hands to your cheeks. 

Your mind is filled with images of the beautiful city. A palace of gold, frost tipped mountains, and finally, that starry sky. The images coalesce into one stream, and you look down and notice Loki’s hand in yours. And the way Loki says your name in your mind sends a shiver down your back. You didn’t know your name could be said like that. You can’t pinpoint the emotion behind it. You both wander through the gardens, and you admire the numerous flowers, and intricate gold weaving encasing the bushes. Loki himself is wearing regal armor, different to what you had seen before. You were also in a royal style armor, armor similar to Loki’s in colour, only differing in intricacies. You’re suddenly teleported onto the rainbow bridge that Loki described, water raging below you. From here the palace is recognisable in all its glory, archways and columns obviously inspiration for the human architecture for years past. It’s all so realistic, you can almost feel the sea spray dancing across your face. The bridge itself is a marvel, shifting and changing colours with every movement. You look up at Loki’s face, and his eyes are shining, cheeks wet. 

The images fade, and you open your eyes. A tear has fallen down your cheek, and Loki wipes it with his thumb. 

It was beautiful, You think.  

I know.  

---

You and Loki continue to practice sending each other thoughts while doing separate things. Loki reads his book and sits up against the headboard. You lie perpendicular to him, head resting on his thigh. Eventually, it must have gotten pretty late because you feel your eyes starting to close. You slide your laptop to the side and close it, and give up on trying to stay awake. Without thinking, you turn to the side and come face to face with Loki’s abdomen. 

“What are you doing, darling?” 

You’re too comfortable and far too drowsy to think straight. “...Sleeping,”

“Well then I best be getting back to my room, shouldn’t I?” 

He starts to slide away from underneath your head, but you reach out and wrap your arms around his waist, burrowing your face further up his chest. “No, you’re too comfy,” You peek an eye out and look at his face. Stay. He looks quite shell shocked at your demands. He sinks back into the bed, and you release your grip on him, laying your head back in his lap.

“We’ve been doing all these sleepover activities, and we haven’t actually done the sleeping over part,” You say, convincing yourself that’s the reason you want him to stay.

“Of course.” 

You eventually drift off while Loki’s hand cards through your hair. “Goodnight, darling.”  

---

It’s not too much later when you feel yourself being moved around. You feel yourself being pulled from your deep sleep, and you’re worried that Loki is leaving. You’re about to say something but a warm weight is pushed against your back, and arms pull you tighter towards it. Loki’s lips caress the back of your neck, and he mumbles something that you can’t understand. Your heart swells and you smile into the pillow. 

---

Knocking at your door wakes you hours later, and you flinch, but broad shoulders stop you from going very far. 

“C’mon Kroshka, it might be Friday doesn’t mean it’s time to slack off!” 

Loki’s arms tighten around you, but his hand flicks, and you hear the door lock.

“Uh- just- five minutes!” 

You groan, and move to pull yourself up, but Loki grumbles and squishes you more. His breath is hot on your ear. 

“Do you really have to go, darling?”

“You know very well that Nat will knock down that door and force me to join her this morning.” 

“Well like you said, I’m sure you can stay for five more minutes...” 

You huff in annoyance, but you can’t pretend that you haven't just had the most comfortable sleep in years. 

“Three more minutes,” 

Loki chuckles darkly in your ear, sending shivers down your spine. “I do believe you said five…” 

“Yeah, cause I have to be there in five minutes. I’m not magic, I can’t get ready instantly.”

Loki’s magic runs over your body, and you see you’re in your gym clothes from the other day. “Well it’s a good thing I can do it for you isn’t it, darling?” 

“Dumb god, with stupid magic-” you might be muttering insults, but you still find yourself pressing yourself back into his chest. Loki’s chuckle continues to send goosebumps over your neck, and your heart races. You thought it’d been a dream when you felt yourself moving, but obviously not. You feel the heart in the chest behind you race similarly, but you think you might be imagining it. Loki’s arms wrapped tightly around your waist ignite a warmth in your chest, and thinking about Loki’s lips that close to your neck makes you feel dizzy. Despite yourself you feel yourself drifting back off… 

“Alright it’s been 5 minutes, I’m counting to five and then I’m kicking in your door, Kroshka!” 

“Shit!” You curse. Loki laughs at your distress, but is quickly winded as you shove him off the bed. 

“Five!” 

“Sorry! Just- stay down!” 

“Four-” 

You dart to the door and swing it open. “Sorry, uh- slept in a little this morning!” 

“I hope it wasn’t because of that good friend of yours, because he needs to be up as well.” 

You blanche. “I- just- well. Why does he need to be up?” 

“Everyone is going to the meeting Kroshka. Stark is being his usual dramatic self, so he’s invited everyone to witness the chaos,” 

“R-right.” 

You try your hardest to send another apology to Loki, but you had never sent one that far. After developing a headache, he seems to receive and seems to just find humor in your distress, which he sends across gladly. 

You follow Nat down the hall, and you set up in your usual spar. 

“Do you know what the meeting is about?” You say as you narrowly block her first punch. 

“I would’ve thought you’d have a better idea than me about that,” 

“Well despite working in a lab with him he still tells me absolutely nothing,”

“That’s Stark for you. He likes to do things till the end before telling anyone else about it,” 

“I thought Ultron would’ve changed that?” You manage to land a kick knocking Nat to her knees. You guess you have improved. 

However, Nat retaliates easily enough, throwing a quick uppercut to your jaw. “An old dog never learns new tricks,” 

You falter backwards and hiss. “Don’t let him hear you say that. You know he’s sensitive about his age,” 

“Old men usually are, but then again he’s not the oldest here but he’s starting to look like it.” 

You chuckle but are cut off as Nat launches at you once again. “I did hear that he called Fury.” Nat says. 

“The director? Aren’t you on the run from him and his guys?” 

“That’s what’s got me worried. Why call everyone he’s meant to be hiding in front of the cops?” 

“Leverage?” you manage to say, but Nat manages to knock you off balance and sit on your arm. 

“Maybe not us. But that good friend of yours…” Your eyes widen and you accidentally add a bit of unnatural force to your knee in her back, and she flips over behind you. 

“Holy shit, you’ve gotten stronger. Maybe we should keep you as a secret weapon.” 

“What do you mean Loki will be leveraged?” You sit up and huff. 

Natasha for the first time is out of breath from one of your fights. “Well, we may have forgiven but not forgotten, but Fury has done neither.” She winces as she presses into the tender spot on her back. You wince in response. You really had to get a better hold on your emotions. “Loki is still considered a high level threat, and no one knows he’s here. And we already know that Tony doesn’t like him, so what reason would there be to have him in the meeting?” 

“It could be a threat. Like, we’ve got this guy on our side, listen to us,” 

“I guess that’s what we can hope for. I know you would be a lonely mess without your favourite god around, despite how much you try to convince us you like us equally,” She smirks at you. “Steve and Bucky have been keen for your next movie marathon, you know. We’ve also missed your face at dinner cause you’ve been at work so late.” 

“Hopefully since it’s the weekend I’ll be able to show my face around more then,” 

“I’ll hold you to that Kroshka. Go get ready for the meeting, you might want to wear something nicer than what you wear at the lab,” She winks. “Gotta make a good first impression with the guy we’re going to threaten,” 

--- 

You return to your room, and Loki has fallen asleep in your bed again.  You wander around to his side of the bed, and shake him awake. 

“Hey, apparently you’re coming to the meeting today,” 

Loki throws an arm over his eyes and sits up. Whatever Loki had been expecting, it wasn’t that. He seems rather disoriented, and you stand to turn around and move to your wardrobe, but large arms bearhug you from behind. 

“I hope you know you’re not out of your punishment from this morning yet, darling.” 

You flush at the position, despite how last night had been spent. “Uh-uhm. Sorry again. You know that Nat would snitch to everyone immediately,” 

He buries his head in your neck, which only makes your face burn hotter. What’s gotten into him today? “I know, but I was just so comfortable darling,” 

“You’ll have to get over it quick, we’ve got a meeting with Director Fury,” 

That finally seems to jolt him out of his teasing, his head shooting up. “Fury? What the hell’s he doing here?” 

“I’m not sure, so we have to be on our best behaviour, alright?” 

Despite his shock he still smirks. “You know that I’m terrible at that, darling,” 

You poke his side and finally escape his arms. “I have to shower and get ready. You better not be here by the time I’m done,” 

“Fine, as my lady demands. But you will pay back for this morning later,” 

You wander over to your bathroom and stand in the doorway. “Sure, later . Now go get ready, mischief,” You shut the door. 

---

True to his word, Loki isn’t there when you get out of the shower. You’re unsure of what to wear, but you suppose something nicer counts as a white collared shirt and some high waisted dress pants. However, when you leave your room, Loki is waiting outside your door for you. 

You roll your eyes at him. “Just can’t live one minute without me, can you?” 

“I like to think that I don’t want to survive one minute without you, darling,” 

You roll your eyes. Something has definitely got him all weird this morning, the usual flirting somehow dialed up to 10. 

“Yeah sure. Let’s just get this over with.” 

You had never been to the ‘meeting room’ before, but Nat had given you instructions on how to get there. The room was surrounded in glass, with a large table in the middle, with seats for at least 20 people. Loki enters behind you, and luckily you’re one of the first ones there. Nat is sitting down at the far end of the table, so you decide to join her there. Loki sits on your other side. 

“Hey Kroshka,” You don’t expect her to acknowledge Loki, but she gives him a nod. “Loki,” Well, it’s better than what you expected.

“Little assassin,” You glare at Loki and shove him for that, at which Nat chuckles. However your exchange is cut off by more people entering the room. 

Soon enough, everyone is in the room, with Tony sitting at the head. Surprising enough, Thor is among those sitting at the table. It must be something really important for him to arrive, however he doesn’t seem to feel the tension as he sees Loki sitting without issue at the table, and grins a big goofy grin. He gestures to you, and throws a big thumbs up which makes you laugh. But it’s cut off when Steve clears his throat, obviously feeling the tension in the rest of the room. Tony is currently brushing off any questions with  ‘just wait’, and you can feel the frustration growing in the room. All tension is replaced with confusion as Nick Fury walks in the door. Nat had apparently told you, but not many others. People almost immediately tense, but Nick raises hands in surrender. 

“You must have some damn good reason to call me into a room full of people I’m in the midst of hunting, Stark,” he says, eyeing Loki. You can sense him squaring up, so you put a hand on his thigh, and he looks at you with exasperation. Behave.  

“You bet your eyepatch I do, Fury,” 

He lets his words settle almost as if for dramatic effect as though what he was about to say wasn’t huge enough. Fury continues standing by the doorway. 

“So, what was your plan after releasing a global pandemic in order to reveal mutants?”

Chapter Text

It’s not only you that erupts but the whole room. You stand and slam your hands on the desk. “He did what ?!” For a total of five minutes, the room is filled with yells of anger and confusion. However, Loki brushing his hand over yours is a reminder to calm down before you explode, in more ways than one. You sit violently back in your chair and fold your arms over your chest as the other arguments are starting to dim down. Loki leaves his hand palm upwards in offer on his thigh, and breathes a sigh of relief when after a couple seconds you take it. We’ll sort it out, darling. 

“Thanks for that great beginning to this meeting, Stark. Always a flair for the dramatic,” 

“Well, there was no way to say that without that reaction, so I don’t know what else you expected.” 

Banner finally speaks up. “You didn’t say anything this whole week? I knew you had found something Tony, we’re supposed to be a team!” 

“I had to find evidence and then confront Captain Hook himself in a way he wouldn’t expect. Sorry Big Man. Also didn’t want to freak out the kid,” 

“Who is the kid anyway? Another new illegal recruit?” Fury says eyeing you and Bucky.

You simply continue to glare, not giving him the satisfaction of an answer. 

“Well due to your pandemic, my entire building has had to be locked down. Thanks for that by the way. She’s just some poor kid who got roomed on the Avenger’s floor, but luckily all the people in my building are intelligent, so she’s been helping research your virus.” It’s relieving that your name is never mentioned.

“If you let me explain, you’ll hear that it wasn’t my decision,” 

Steve cuts in at that. “What, like developing weapons of mass destruction using the tesseract wasn’t?” 

“It would do you well to remember Rogers, I’m not the one in charge. SHIELD might have fallen, but The World Security Council still exists, sanctioned by the Senate that shut you down.” 

“The same guys who ordered a nuclear missile on New York? Yeah, because those guys have better ideas on world safety than us,” Nat mutters, but the whole room hears. 

Thor bellows. “What are these mutants, you speak of, Fury?” 

“People with enhanced genetics, with special abilities. People like her,” Fury points to Wanda. Wanda looks winded at the accusation. 

“But Wanda is great! Shouldn’t we want more people, more Avengers?” Thor says.

Banner shakes his head. “But that doesn’t make sense, her abilities were given to her by the mind stone.” 

“That’s where you’re wrong. The mind stone is just that, a mind stone. It interacted with her mind, and simply unblocked her unconcious wall to her abilities. We’ve already seen how dangerous she can be when she wants to be, what happens when there are millions of people like her out there?” 

You finally speak up, angry, and terrified. “What happens to the people you’ve found?” You’re trembling, and Loki sends a soothing feeling to your mind.

“That’s unfortunately above your pay grade, little lady,” 

You and Loki both seethe at that, but Tony stands his ground. “Actually, no it’s not. She’s in this room. What happens?” 

Fury exhales. “They’ve been taken to one of our underground facilities.” 

Tony continues. “What-”

“What-” You cut in, breathing heavily. “What happens. To them,” 

There’s a palpable pause. “We’re trying to see if we can counteract the mutated gene-” 

“So you’re experimenting on these people? These kids?” Steve yells, and Fury has the gall to look guilty. 

“We have to ensure that the threat is neutralised-” 

“A threat that doesn’t exist yet! You don’t get to decide the outcome of these people’s lives-”

“-I am just following orders.” 

Tony throws his arms out. “Since when were you a soldier? You were meant to be the Director- ”  

“Do you people remember the Cuban missile crisis?” 

Confusion silences the room. Banner chuckles humourlessly. “How can you not remember the Cuban missile crisis?” Steve and Bucky silently glance at each other. Oops. Thor and Loki wear a similar expression of unknowing. 

“The story as you know it, is a lie,” 

Fury drops a folder on the table, and it’s passed around. “The true scenario was covered up by a very early development of the Council, in order to reduce global panic.” 

“As if the panic of a missile crisis wasn’t global panic enough,” Clint grouches. The images reach your end of the table, and what you see shocks you. Someone with wings, missiles floating midair, and finally definitive proof, two people with purely blue skin. Your heart drops into your stomach, and Loki squeezes your hand. 

“There’s also the case of the Paris peace accords, and the threat to the president, which was covered as foreign intervention.” 

“And you really think these people are a threat?” 

“Would you trust half the population to go through their very own Captain America procedure?” 

“From what you’re saying these people weren’t chosen, Fury. We don’t get to make that decision for them,” Steve says. 

“It’s too late now. All I ask is that you don’t get in the way.” Fury passes Tony a separate note, and he looks down at it, and looks back up in suspicion.

“Well then... you’ll know that we’re going to anyway,” Tony says with an air of confusion. 

“You were brave asking me to come here while you were actively housing global fugitives Tony, not to mention a genocidal maniac.” He subtly places a USB on the table, and slides it across the table to Banner, who passes it to you. You assume he can sense the tension, and he knows it might go green. You shove it in your pocket. “But you were to stupid to think they wouldn’t call it in.” 

“They?” Tony’s phone starts vibrating on the table. 

“You better answer that. And keep it on speaker phone.” 

Pepper’s voice rings through the room. “Tony what’s going on?! People are storming the building- they’re breaking down the doors-” The phone call is disconnected as the lights in the room go down. Everything is immediately thrown into chaos. Tony taps his watch and suits up, and Nat grabs you and throws you against the only solid wall, standing in front of you. “There are civilians in this building, Fury, you’re out of line.” She yells, a bit too loud. 

“You should have thought of that before you became a fugitive, Agent Romanov.” A voice you don’t recognise rings over the intercom. Fury quickly throws his arms up as all weapons are aimed at him, and he gives a subtle nod to the folder on the table. Clint grabs the photos and the rest of the file of the table.

The interior glass is shattered as armed soldiers arrive on the floor, but time slows as you watch Fury pull out a gun and begin to spin away from The Avengers. Time literally slows, and you watch as everyone stops moving. 

You blink, and step out curiously from behind a frozen Natasha, and wave a hand in front of her face, but she is completely unresponsive.

“It’s nice to finally meet you, Doctor.” 

You flinch at the voice, and look towards the source. A bald man, in a wheelchair, amidst all the chaos. 

“What’s going on?” 

“My name is Professor Charles Xavier. I was hoping we could have a chat.” 

You look at the soldiers, guns all trained on the Avengers. “Uhm- It’s kind of a bad time- how are you- how do you even know who I am?” 

“I’ve been watching your progress researching the virus, and I believe that our interests are aligned. However, I understand that I have unfortunately caught you at an inconvenient time.” 

You shakily nod your head as you move closer towards the man. 

“After this mess, I suppose you and The Avengers will need a place to stay. I am willing to host you at my school, and we can discuss how to move forward,” 

“Oh! You’re the- Professor guy- with the gifted school!” 

The man huffed in humor at your exclamation. “Yes. And I believe you can be the bridge between mutants and the Avengers.” 

You blanche. “What- but I can’t- they don’t know-” 

“They do not need to know, if that is what you wish. All I ask is for your help.” 

You sigh and your eyes dart around the room. “Can you help us get out of here?” 

“Unfortunately no. This truly was a case of bad timing on my part. I did not know the origin of the virus as much as you. However, I can keep them frozen while everyone escapes, but you’ll have to be quick. I cannot risk my discovery.” 

You cover your face in your hands, and think. You need a plan. 

“How long can you keep them like this?” 

“Only a couple more minutes.” 

Your eyes dart around the room, taking numbers. “Okay.” You exhale. “I hope I see you soon, Professor.” 

“For your sake and the rest of the world, me too.” 

He vanishes, and the rest of the Avengers unfreeze in confusion. Everyone is still yelling from before the freeze. 

“SHUT UP!” you yell, and people look at you in surprise, some still staring at the frozen men. 

“Sorry,” 

“How did you-” 

“What’s-” 

“TONY! Go get Pepper, and fly her to the jet on the roof.” Tony may not understand why you’re giving orders, but he doesn’t ask twice. “Wanda, Vision, I need you to make sure there’s nothing blocking the jet out of here, take out any helicopters.” You wince. “Gently?” 

“Everyone else, start up the stairwell, make sure it’s clear.” Everyone else seems too shellshocked at the situation. “We don’t have long with them like this, hurry up!” 

That gets everyone to move. Loki dashes forward, clothes transforming into his armor. “What’s happening-” 

“Loki. You can teleport, yes?” 

He jerks in confusion. “Yes?” 

“I need you to teleport to my room, and get my bag with my laptop in it, okay?” 

“I can’t leave you-”

“I’ll be fine, but only if you get my bag!” 

Loki continues to argue, but you pull away. “I’ll see you on the roof, and you better have my bag!” 

You rip a gun out of one of the soldiers hands, and follow everyone else out the door, leaving Loki to have to follow your orders. 

The stairwell is at the end of the hallway, and as you’re running, the soldiers are pulled from their trance. Bullets start to ricochet around the halls, and luckily due to their disorientation, and a shout from Fury to hold fire, only one hits in the back of your calf. You stumble and curse in anger, but you have to keep running. You reach the stairwell, and Nat is guarding the door. You swing it shut behind you, breaking the handle. 

“What the hell is going on? How did you do that?” 

You run past her and she follows closely behind you. “It wasn’t me. Apparently I have friends in high places now.” 

“Someone else was doing that? When did you talk to them?” 

“You were frozen like those guards. Long story short, I’ve got us a safe house but we have to be fast.” 

You and Nat eventually reach the roof but the jet has been seized by the now moving guards. It’s chaos as everyone is fighting to get on the jet. Between the Avengers fighting the agents and everyone not wanting casualties, an agent must sneak onto the jet, as it quickly takes off flanked by the air support Wanda and Vision were trying to dismantle. Unfortunately they had been too gentle in trying to take everything down without casualties. 

The grounded Avengers take out the remaining agents, but not before Loki flanks to your side. You place a few shots in the legs of the agents still fighting.

“Are you alright?” You nod, and take your face in your hands for the second time that day. You needed to make yet another plan. There was no way you could get the entirety of the Avengers out of New York city on foot, at least not while the whole population of New York was confined indoors, let alone while being hunted. You take a deep breath, and just think.

Your apartment! Your head whips up, and you stand directly in front of Loki and rip open the bag, who watches in surprise at your sudden movements. You hadn’t taken the key out of it’s special compartment. Yes! You remember the USB and rip it out of your pocket and into the bag.

You run to where the rest of the group are still catching their breath from the fight.

“Okay. Since we can’t stay here, I have an apartment downtown. From there we can figure out a way to the school. I would usually take the subway home… Are the trains still running?” The question is open to anyone. People look at you in confusion, the usually passive and quiet not-Avenger continuing to take control.

Despite the continuing confusion, Tony still shakes his head. “No. They stopped running to discourage movement and stop transmission.” 

“Right. I guess then we’re walking. It’ll be more covert than the streets anyway. We should split up and go into different subways to get them off our trial, meet at-” You think. “Does everyone have their phones with them?” Some people shake their heads, some nod. “Okay, people with no phones partner up with someone who has one. Uh, FRIDAY?” FRIDAY responds from in Tony’s suit. “Send my address to everyone here,” 

People are still unsure, so you give more exact instructions. “Okay, four groups. We should also organise to have all our bases covered, powers wise. Tony has his suit, so he can take Pepper, Clint. Clint can scout ahead and be the eyes, and Tony gets to stay with Pepper. Wanda and Vision can stay together because Vision is a walking phone-” Nat snorts at your clarification. “-and because I know you guys wouldn’t want to be separated anyway. You guys can take Sam along for the ride, cause right now he’s without his gear and he’s just a dude. No offense,” You take a breath as Bucky bursts out laughing and Sam glares back but says “None taken.” 

“Steve and Thor can travel the fastest, so should start the furthest away, also if Thor does have to go boom it’s safer if it’s only him and Steve, shit- but neither of you have a phone. Nat do you have your phone?” She pulls it out of her pocket, and you hand it to Steve. “You know how to use it?” Steve nods nervously. “The rest is with me, and we’ll start the closest. We should have the most people with me at the apartment first anyway. Meet at Bronx East Park Station. Team Tony heads west until you hit a station, Team Wanda East, we go north, and Steve and Thor head south, then dip into a station and head back.” 

“Hold on.” Tony’s suit produces 4 ear buds, he hands them out. Tony nods in approval of your plan. He walks over and claps an iron clad hand on your shoulder. “Nicely done, kid. Let’s go Team Tony!” 

“Of course you had to call it Team Tony- he’s never gonna stop holding that over my head.” Clint huffs. 

---

Even though your group has the shortest walk, it’s still a solid 3 hours to your apartment through the subway. At least it’s not boring. You gave Bucky the gun, thinking it would be better used in his hands, and all four of you walk in a line, you and Nat in the middle, Bucky at the front, and Loki behind you.  Even though trains aren’t running, the lights are still functioning, making it easier than if without. Despite the danger and high tensions, conversation keeps everyone pre-occupied. You figure that trying to keep quiet won’t make any difference to people possibly tracking you. However, it’s Loki that starts the conversation. 

“It was impressive of you to take the lead there, darling,” Loki murmurs, walking quite close behind you. His hand brushes your waist, sending a shiver up your spine.

You were embarrassed now, and your commandeering of the literal Avengers, but no one ended up complaining and it was a sound plan. “Thanks. I forgot I no longer had the most information after we got to the roof…” 

“Still. You should be in command more often, it’s a good look for you…” 

You blush, grateful he can’t see your face. “Too bad I’m much more comfortable sitting on the sidelines,” Your foot catches on the uneven floor, but you recover quickly. You curse at your injured leg. 

Nat’s eyes are wide as she turns, hearing you stumble. “Shit! Why haven’t you said anything! I forgot you got fucking shot!” Nat yells. 

“You got shot?!” Both Loki and Bucky say. Your party stops, and both Bucky and Loki run forward to pick you up, Bucky passing the gun to Natasha. 

“It’s fine, soldier , I can take her,” 

“Unfortunately, Mr Magician , you’re more useful at fighting in this situation. Also you’ve got her bag. I’ll take her.” 

You huff. “Guys, I can still walk-” 

“No!” Three voices yell. You roll your eyes. 

“He’s right Loki, your magic would be more useful if something were to come up,” Nat says and you open your mouth to object. “If you’re right we’ve still got about two and half hours in front of us. You’re no help to us dead, Kroshka.” 

Bucky lifts you and carries you bridal style. “That and we kind of like you alive, doll,” 

You hear Loki scoff at the nickname, and you glance over Bucky’s shoulder to glare at him. You fold your arms and give up the fight. 

Nat calls from the front anyway. 

“Are you gonna explain more about what’s going on? And how all those men froze?” 

You sigh. “While Tony was doing digging on Fury I suppose, I was researching mutants and genes, to see anything about them. Most of it was dead leads, obviously covered up now ‘cause of what Fury said, but I came across this report from the 60s by this guy Charles Xavier, who got a PhD in mutation in genetics. The only lead on him other than his report was a really shitty old website about his school for ‘gifted youngsters’” You smack yourself on your forehead and snort. “Which now I realise obviously means for mutants or something. He himself is a mutant, some sort of telepath. He talked to me and told me he wants to meet us at his school, which is where we’ll head after we rendezvous at my apartment.” 

You groan in remembrance. Your apartment is not only tiny, but also a mess. Not to mention your landlady- You hadn’t even thought about having to sneak all these people in.

Loki decides he’s had enough of staring at Bucky’s back, and instead speeds up to walk beside him, so that you’re facing him. 

Bucky huffs in annoyance, but Loki isn’t deterred. “Why were you so determined for me to get your bag?” 

“It’s got everything we’ve researched for the past couple months on it. I wasn’t about to lose all my work. Also we don’t know what kind of technology they’ll have at the school. If we’re to discuss the virus with the Professor, we need the full picture,” 

That seems to placate Loki, but he still keeps pace with Bucky, who seems annoyed by his presence. 

“Why contact you though? Why now- why didn’t they help with… other issues…” Nat says, and stares very determinedly forward, almost sensing the daggers being glared from Loki. 

You sweat, trying to come up with a good excuse. “I mean- I can’t imagine contacting the normal Avengers would’ve been a good idea. No one knew mutants existed except for us in the lab, and I guess I would have the least explosive response. An-anyway, he said something about not blowing their cover which is why he could only hold the soldiers for so long,” If Bucky feels your heart racing, he doesn’t comment. But with your head so close to his neck, his heart rate seems higher than normal. Must be a super soldier thing. 

Bucky sighs. “Well with the way that the UN reacted to the mutants when they even got a whiff of them, makes sense they would be hiding,” 

Loki huffs a humourless laugh. “This is why I don’t understand you Midgardians. You 'Avengers’ are praised for being special, and yet for the same reason these people are persecuted,” 

Bucky scoffs. “Wouldn’t expect a man whose temper tantrum resulted in millions of casualties to understand why uncontrolled power is dangerous,”

Loki’s face curls into an angry grimace. “I am merely pointing out the hypocrisy of your politics. Don’t forget you have also had casualties, Winter Soldier,” Loki spat. The conversation makes you uncomfortable.

Bucky’s jaw clenches and the hand on your waist tightens. Rather than retaliating, Bucky seems better at redirecting his emotions. “Have you guys contacted the Wakandans yet? They would be helpful right now…” 

“Wakandans?” 

“Oh right… They’re like this super advanced hidden society. Their princess is like, super smart. She should be able to fix the virus in a day,” 

“Would’ve been nice to know. Although Tony’s probably contacted them already,”

“You know how arrogant Stark is. He probably wants to fix it by himself.”

“Yeah. He did keep the fact that it was the American government that made the virus all to himself. For a week, ” 

Bucky hums. “Do you have a way of contacting them?” 

“No. All my stuff’s back at the tower,” He said gruffly. 

“I’m sure we can harass Tony enough into contacting them, he owes us one now,” 

Crap. Loki, the bullet’s about to fall out, I need you to catch it. 

Loki’s eyes make contact with yours, and then move down to your leg. You feel the bullet fall out, and you wince. No sound is heard, and Loki’s hand closes over the bullet, showing you he caught it. You sigh in relief. 

---

The next couple of hours is spent mostly in silence, with the occasional conversation. Bucky asks you small talk questions, and Loki seems smug that he isn’t getting as many answers as he knows. Nat seems to prefer walking in silence, still keeping walking about a meter ahead of the rest of the group. You speak up when you recognise your station, and try to slip back to walking, but Bucky’s grip remains firm. Nat clears the street before letting everyone else up and follow. You point and direct from your position.

Arriving at your door, you finally convince everyone to let you stand. You put the pin code in and hold your finger to your lips in a sign of quiet. You slowly creep up the stairs, but someone behind you hits the floorboard that creaks. 

“Who’s that?” A hoarse voice calls from her room on the ground floor. 

You freeze, and turn around on the staircase. “Just me, Ms Pickett!”

“Oh! Sweetheart! So good you’re home dear. Are you alone?” 

“Always alone, Ms Pickett,” 

“Better not be bringing any boys home with you!” You flushed in embarrassment. You turn and glare at the three now moving past you on the stairs, who are holding in laughter at you.

You gesture for them to keep moving, and luckily you’re with the people trained most in stealth. They manage to keep quiet up the rest of the stairs. Your block is only three stories, so while you’re at the top floor it doesn’t take long to get there. As you reach the door you open your bag from over Loki’s shoulder and pull out your keys. 

Entering your apartment, it seems someone has come through to ensure no food was left rotting, and cans and rations are left on the kitchen counter. 

You step forward away from the door. “Um, welcome to the humble abode, I guess.” You hold your arms out sarcastically. “Nat, can you tell everyone to come up the fire escape instead?” 

She nods. Everyone continues to stand awkwardly at the door. “Um. Just make yourselves at home, I need to figure out sleeping arrangements.” 

You stride into the small hallway in the left wall and then right into your bedroom, at which you shut the door and lean against it, staring out the window. What the hell. The entirety of the Avengers staying in your shitty apartment. This was definitely probably the worst way today could have gone. Well, probably not the worst…

The sun was getting closer to the horizon, and it would be dark by the time everyone was expected to arrive. To distract yourself from your thoughts, you start taking note of what you have. You have a couple roll-out mattresses in your preparation for needing to go on the run so often. You have two couches in the living room, and a couple people could sleep in your room on the bed and maybe on the floor? With some pillows? Travel for tomorrow- you only have your car in the underground carpark, but that wouldn’t be enough to get everyone to the school- 

A soft knock at the door interrupts your thoughts. You step back, and open the door slightly. Loki peers nervously back at you. 

“May I come in?” 

You open the door more in response. He slips in past you, and gently places your bag on the bed, before turning to look at you. 

“Are you alright?” 

Your mind is still thinking of the plan ahead, and you don’t hear the question. “What?” 

Loki takes a nervous step forward, and places his hands on your arms. “Are you… okay?” 

The question makes you really think about everything that just happened. Nothing now, could be undone. You were now, officially, stuck in the world of the Avengers. You were now ‘the connection’ between mutants and the Avengers, the one thing you wanted to keep away from your entire life. 

Your head feels heavy, so you lean forward, and rest your forehead on Loki’s chest. He takes a second to process your reaction, before tentatively shifting his arms to your back and pulling you closer. You bring your arms up around him as well. From this angle, you're covered in a blanket of comforting smells. Pine, sandalwood, and something you can’t place. You let your thoughts just stop, and you and Loki just embrace in silence for a couple long minutes. 

Eventually, you inhale deeply, and move backwards, but not enough to be fully out of his arms. 

“Yeah, I’m okay.” 

You look up at Loki, and he stares back down at you as you chew your lip. 

“What were you thinking about?” 

You exhale and move your hand to hold his, and pull him to sit on the bed. Your room is covered in a soft orange glow from the window across the room.

“What to do next.” You breathe a soft laugh. “And how I’ve ended up exactly in the situation I’ve been running from all these years.” 

Loki’s eyes trace your face, and his hand moves from your hand to behind your back, an offer. You lean back slightly in acceptance, and his hand comes up to rub in soothing circles. 

“How so?” 

You move your hands and stare at them in your lap as you pick at the skin around your nails. It was easier to look at than Loki’s uninterpretable stare. “When Tony Stark... already famous genius, was revealed as a superhero, it was after I had already… had the incident. I knew that no matter what, I couldn’t be like that. I wasn’t brave enough to handle my own mistakes like that… to deal with the casualties of what I could have prevented. All these years I spent running from...Tony Stark, from… the Avengers, and somehow I still ended up here. All tangled up in their mess, despite still being just...me,” Your finger starts to bleed, so you shove your hands under your thighs. 

“Maybe it’s because … you’re you.” Loki says. Your eyebrows cinch, but you still don’t look at him. He continues. “You’re here, because you’re too good to run. Everything you have done has always been so… selfless.” You feel tears welling up in your eyes. “You… traveled the world, doing good in a way that was without your powers, that was just, you!” You see him twist his ring out of the corner of your eye, you smile at the now cracking black nail polish. “Even now, you didn’t hesitate to do the right thing. You didn’t stop to think about what you’re sacrificing. You just… did it,” You angrily rub your eyes, refusing to cry again in front of the god. He pulls his hand away from your back and copies you, staring at his hands in his lap. “A-and I for one, am glad that you are here.” 

You snort sarcastically. “Yeah, because I saved you from being captured,” 

“What? No!” His face ripples with hurt. “Because I get to know you! Because- you gave me a chance!” You feel guilty now at your self deprecating comment. “Do you truly think so low of me that that would be all I think of you?” 

You chew on your bottom lip, and flop back, stretching your arms out. “No. I’m just being a dick cause I’m upset right now. I’m sorry I said that.” 

You bring your arms back to your chest and continue to pick at your skin. Loki lays on his side beside you, propped up on his elbow and looking down at your face. 

“Sorry. I’m not good at this whole ‘having friends’ thing,” You admit.

His eyes look into yours. “I’ll admit that I have never done something like this before, either,” 

You smile softly. “I guess it’s good we get to figure it out together, huh?” 

His eyes soften, and the smile he gives you makes your heart clench. “Together,” 

You sit in silence for a while, and Loki takes your hand away to stop you picking at your skin. You watch him as he traces his fingers delicately across the lines on your hand, face open, walls down. 

“Can you promise that you’ll never hide from me?”

His fingers brush over your pulse point. “What do you mean?” 

“Can you promise that even if you continue to run, you won’t run from me?” 

Your heart is in your throat. “I have no reason to run from you.” You notice how soft his hands are, despite the years of battle. “And I think I’m tired of running,” 

He gently pulls your hand up, and holds the back of it to his cheek. You interlock your fingers with his.

You both jolt as a loud knock resounds from your window. 

“Hey can you two stop having a moment? We’re kind of trying to hide from the government currently.”

“Tony!” 

---

The sun is well and truly set by the time the rest of the Avengers arrive. Nat and Bucky were kind enough to attempt an edible dish made from the rations on your bench while you assembled a sleeping area for the rest of the crew. You let the Avengers set up plans on the coffee table, laptop open for use by Tony and Banner, USB plugged in. The coffee table has been shoved into the corner opposite the kitchen, while you set up all the roll out mattresses and pull off the back cushions to create more makeshift beds on the floor. For someone with no friends until now, you sure have a good setup for sleepovers. Loki helps you, although not knowing how to help in this situation. Occasionally Tony and Banner ask you a question regarding what you learnt, or something on your laptop. 

Satisfied with your work, you draw the curtains to your main living space and walk over to the coffee table where everyone is sitting. 

“By the way, who has a car that is easily in use? I have a car downstairs, but we’re going to need more than one in order to get to the school tomorrow.” 

“I have a contact that could get one here by the morning,” Nat calls from the kitchen. 

“Pepper could probably find one somewhere. By the way, where even is this school?” 

“Massachusetts, so it’s going to be a bit of a drive. Especially with how we have to keep under radar.” 

“Well you won’t have to worry about that. On the way here I cleared out the Stark Tower database. You no longer worked there, or even existed in the eye of the American government,” he says, then mutters another sentence under his breath. You don’t want to know what he muttered. Loki moves to stand behind you, a silent support.

“Oh. That’s nice. But yeah, cars?” 

“You don’t need to count me, little Doctor. Heimdall is gaining more control over the bifrost, and will be able send me back to New Asgard in the morning. I am here now for moral support,” Thor says with a goofy grin. 

Vision nods at you. “Wanda and I are also able to get to the school our own way. We will make sure we aren’t detected.” You flip him a double thumbs up.

Thor wanders over and puts a hand on Loki’s shoulder, and leans into his ear. “Brother, you can always come back to New Asgard if that is what you wish.” 

Loki gives Thor a small smile. “Thank you. I believe my efforts are better spent here,” He mutters, just loud enough that you could hear. 

“I am so proud of you Loki. Making friends!” Thor gives you another large grin.

The comment brings a large smile to your face, and you look back at the brothers. Loki chuckles and smiles with you. Eventually curiosity gets the better of you and you squat down at the coffee table next to Stark, who is sitting cross legged. 

“So what was on the USB that Fury gave us?” 

“Well, turns out Mad Eye Moody knew we were being watched, so he couldn’t tell it to us how he wanted. The USB contains all the information that the council has on the virus, and also mutants,” 

“Bucky mentioned something earlier-” Bucky looks up from his position in the kitchen. “Have you contacted the, um, Wakandans?” 

Tony bears a dumbfounded face. “Y’know, with all this time me trying to prove that the American government did this, I forgot they probably solved it already.” 

“Can you contact them?” 

“Yeah. I’ll do that now,” 

You stand and move towards the kitchen, leaning over the countertop across from Nat. 

“How’s that leg looking, Kroshka?”

“All good! Loki was able to fix it up pretty well, though I should probably put on some pants that aren’t drenched in blood at the ankles.” 

Bucky chuckles and strains the pasta at the sink. “Part of the job. Nice clothes getting covered in blood.” 

Nat chuckles at the sentiment, and she asks you to come help her serve up the food. You grab a mix-match of different plates and bowls as you don’t have enough of one for a party. The atmosphere is still tense from the day’s events, but you can feel the tension being removed slowly with a mix of exhaustion and comfort. The group all sit around on a mix of at the counter, on the coffee table, and leaning against your walls. The domesticity of it all makes you miss something you never had until now.

Conversation over dinner is constructive, but still tame. You discuss the plan for tomorrow with Steve, who eyed Loki but sat next to you anyway. You and Steve discuss who would be best suited to re-attain their gear, which would both serve as a distraction while the rest of the crew leave the state, but also a necessary way to ensure that everyone can be in peak condition in case of an attack. The most necessary items were Cap’s shield and Sam’s wings. The hope was that the council was too busy trying to find where everyone was rather than seizing the items. Tony mentioned from across the room that where everything is kept is under lock and ‘if they’re dumb enough to release a virus they’re dumb enough to not be able to open it,’ Tony had wiped your car and apartment lease from any records, so they shouldn’t think to look here. It also meant that you would be able to leave first and get a headstart on the trip while Natasha’s contact delivered. Vision would take a trip to the Stark building before he and Wanda departed, and would pass off the gear to Nat’s group who would then travel down to Massachusetts. Clint decided that this was out of his depth of field, and was going to return to his family, via the Bifrost. You let out a breath with the plan resolved, and Steve almost laughed. 

“It was very fun to see you tell everyone what to do today. After this we should keep you around just because you know how to get everyone to shut up,” 

You cover your face, embarrassed, but let out a laugh anyway. “I didn’t really think about what I was doing until it was done. At this rate I don’t think I’ll be able to escape you guys if I wanted to,” 

Steve laughed, and Nat called from her place at the counter behind you. “Nah, you’re officially on the team now. We’re not letting you go. We need more normal people around, it gets a bit stuffy with all these gods and super soldiers,” 

You snort. “You guys are hardly normal by normal people's standards. I’ll bring the normal levels a bit further up,” 

“It would also help to bring the ego levels down,” Sam says.

“God knows we need someone who can get Tony to listen,” 

“Hey! I listen to someone when they’ve got a telepathic friend,” 

The conversation makes your chest feel warm. It was nice to be wanted, to have people who seemed to want to fight to keep you around. You look up at Loki, and he’s eyes have a twinkle in them when looking down at yours. It’s beautiful.

Chapter Text

After dinner, everyone reassures you it’s okay for you to be the first to shower. You grab a couple pairs of tracksuit pants and t-shirts for people, and take the chance to wash your hair, and do a nice deep-clean. It might be the last one you have for a while, you don’t know. You emerge from the shower and Nat passes you, taking her turn. 

“My shower bill is going to be a nightmare after today…” 

“Kid, after today you won’t ever have to worry about your bills again,” Tony says 

You pinch your eyebrows. “After this I’m sure that the Brady Bunch isn’t going to let you live more than a couple meters away,” 

You laugh and let out your breath you didn’t know you were holding in hope. When did you start hoping you would stay with them?  

Rather than the boisterous conversations from earlier, it was quieter, more reserved. The lights from the kitchen had been turned off, only leaving the moonlight and streetlights to illuminate the room from the far window. The group had also primarily moved away from the coffee table, and rather sat in their sleeping area. The group had decided it was best to give Pepper a rest in a good bed after today, so she and Tony would be sleeping in your bed. Only after you made them promise no funny business. ‘You’re not gonna be living here anymore anyway!’ ‘Still gross, Tony,’ 

You had collected all the spare clothes you had from your wardrobe and dumped it unceremoniously next to the couch for people to wear either as pajamas or for tomorrow. You had set aside a pair of dark grey cargo pants and a hoodie for tomorrow, and a pair of boots. Everyone had ruffled through the pile, lucky for your love of oversized things making it at least possible for some of the guys to change into something. 

Vision sits at the kitchen counter, not needing sleep. Steve leans against it, opting to stay on guard duty for the night, Vision continues to read on your laptop, intaking terabytes of information faster than anyone else can. Nat and Clint claimed one of the couches and have decided to go top-to-tail along it. Wanda claimed the adjacent couch and refused to let anyone else near it, and said if anyone took it while she was in the shower they would be sleeping against the wall. Everyone else was stuck on the floor, and you decided you would just go wherever you could fit. Thor and Loki sat still awake, leaning on the wall in the corner beside the TV, muttering quietly. Sam and Bucky were having a glaring match and a whisper argument in the middle of the floor-beds. Banner was lying with his back to them, staring very determinedly away from them, as though already tired of the bickering fools. You opted to grab your phone from where it was charging on the bench, lucky to have had it in your pocket before the attack. You sat next to Wanda’s couch on the floor, and idly scrolled through the news. The council must have been quick to squander any news about the attack on the tower, as the highest articles still remained towards case numbers and vaccines. 

---

Eventually everyone started moving to their sleeping positions, and you ended up with your back to Bucky and facing Loki. You whispered together before going to sleep. 

“What were you and Thor talking about?” 

“Thanos. This illness might be the main focus of Midgard at the moment but we don’t want to be left defenseless when he comes,” 

You look down and fiddle with the string of your track pants. “You’re really sure that he’s going to come?” 

“Definitely. He’s only goal is to collect all the infinity stones, of which there are two here. We’re looking like a pretty big target right now, darling,” He says it in a joking tone, but the sinister meaning behind his words seeps through in his worry.

You smiled at the nickname, forgetting the last time he used it, but your stomach continued to churn. Loki notices your discomfort, and raises his hand to tilt your chin to look at him. “Don’t fret too much. We were discussing a plan. Thor’s got friends in New Asgard, and he will be training new warriors. We will be ready,” 

You nod, but still doubt. If this titan guy was enough to put both Loki and Thor on high alert, it had to be a pretty big threat. You pull your blanket higher up your torso, and continue to pick at your thumb until you fall asleep. 

---

When you awake next, it’s still dark. A weight is thrown over your waist, and a hand in yours. You blink away your confusion, and take account of your surroundings. As your eyes become clear you know you have too much energy to go back to sleep. The arm thrown over your waist is Bucky’s, to your surprise and confusion. He must have rolled over in his sleep. However, your hand is in front of your face, with Loki’s clasped stiffly around it. It must not be too early, as the roof is lit with a dim blue rather than the orange of sunrise, or the white of the moon. You delicately extract yourself from the dead weight that is Bucky’s arm, sliding up and out, and you carefully pull your hand out of Loki’s grip. 

You decide it might be nice to watch the sunrise. It’ll be the last time you’ll see it from here. And at the rate things are going it might be the last time you see it in a while. You slide open the window in the silent way you know how, and clamber gently onto the fire escape. The metal is cool beneath your feet, and you sit cross legged as you feel the breeze on your face. For once, your thoughts are calm, rather than racing. A calm before the storm, you suppose. You can still imagine the devil and angel on your shoulder, however. ‘Would it be so bad, if they knew you, really?’ 

The cynic scoffed. ‘Yeah, they barely even keep you around now. You’re a convenience,’

Despite the confidence with which your thoughts spoke, you knew better. You weren’t there because you were a help for their escape. You were already in the room before that happened. ‘Banner needs someone to stop him from killing Tony,’ ‘Natasha likes beating you up!’ you snicker to yourself. ‘Loki…’ the thought of Loki was already feeling very fond in your head. Having friends was new, but it was already… so different. It was strange, being alone for so long, you hadn’t realised what you had been missing. You looked at your hand where he had been holding it. It was nice, even just to be around other people, without the talking. The warmth of a hug, the comforting weight of a hand in yours. You couldn’t remember the last time someone had their arms around you, before now.

Your thoughts are interrupted as the sun peeks over the tips of the buildings, illuminating the sky in brilliant pinks and oranges. It well and truly clears your thoughts, as you just enjoy the shifting colours. 

It’s almost enough to distract you from the person now sitting beside you. 

“You know, you’re gonna give the boys quite a fright if they think you’ve disappeared. They looked quite cozy around you,” 

You smiled, missing the implication. “It’s strange having people around,” 

Nat looked forward, resting her elbow on an upright knee. “You’ll get used to it. It took me a while too, you know,” 

“It would be a nice thing to get used to,” 

Nat turned and finally let into her curiosity. “You know, the reason that I didn’t have any friends is because I was an internationally wanted super spy,” She looks over the features of your face as you chuckle.  “What’s your reason?” 

You look at her, taking in her expression. Would it be so bad if she knew? Would it change anything? Would it change everything? 

“I wish I could tell you,” 

Her eyebrows pinched minutely. Concern, worry, confusion. “Why can’t you?” 

“I just... I don’t know. My entire life… it’s hard to suddenly have everything change to what you were running away from- and realise you liked it better this way all along,” 

You sighed, and Nat held her hand out. “I’ll be here when you’re ready to tell me.” 

That statement was enough to make your eyes watery. How could she read you so well? You hesitate, but put your hand in hers, and stare straight towards the sunrise, blinking away your tears. She squeezed your hand. 

“Thank you,” 

You sat in silence for a couple of minutes, and she let you sniff out the rest of your definitely not tears. But she couldn’t let you get away that easily. 

“Part of the ‘being friends' deal is I get to tease you about the boys you got wrapped around your finger. What’s the deal?” 

You snort. “I haven’t got anyone wrapped around my finger. We’re just friends,” 

“No, I mean they were literally wrapped around you. Barnes looked like he might squish you any second,” 

You fully laugh at that. “He must just be a very… affectionate sleeper!” 

“See, even you know that you’re bullshitting yourself now!” Nat laughs.

---

You and Nat keep laughing at the expense of yourself and the rest of the Avengers until the sky has fully shifted from oranges to blue. The light has yet to wake everyone from their exhaustion, and you and Nat creep to move back inside before anyone in particular gets worried. You get changed in the bathroom and as you return you bump into a solid chest. 

You look up and see a bothered Loki. “Uh, I was just looking for you- I got worried when I woke up and you weren’t there-” 

“Loki, it’s okay,” You huff a smile. “I just woke up early. I thought I could get a headstart on getting changed,”

“Oh. Well, um. Right,” Loki seems embarrassed to have been worried. You snicker at his expense. 

“Don’t worry. I’m not going to be running off without you, remember?” 

He smiles at that. “Yeah. I remember,” 

You keep looking at him as you move past him, and he follows your gaze and turns back around to keep with you in the living area. Bucky wore a light scowl as he watched Loki from behind you, and Wanda rubbed her eyes out of sleep. Thor speaks quietly with Rogers at the kitchen counter, and every so often Vision chips in with some of his knowledge. Thor calls Loki over, looks at you one last time before turning towards them. You look at the slightly smaller pile of clothes, and sit beside it and start folding some of it, as preparation for the trip. There’s a bag in your room, but you’ll have to get that once Tony and Pepper are awake. It might not be that early, but it's still early enough that you wouldn’t want to be awoken rudely. 

After a while of sifting through your clothes of what could be acceptable to take and bring for others, Bucky comes and sits beside you, grabbing a shirt to fold. 

“So, what’s the plan for today, team captain?” 

You huff sarcastically at his joke. “Well, Tony’s gonna have Pepper picked up by Happy, and they’re going to be going to one of his hidden beach houses, or something. He’s contacted the Wakandans, and they’re in communication so hopefully we should have some aid from them soon,” He passes you a couple of shirts that he folded and you put them on the correct pile. “Nat’s getting her car, and after we’ve left- you’re coming in my car- and their car arrives she’s gonna take Vision, Wanda, and Steve to get the shield and wings. Then it should hopefully be smooth sailing to Massachusetts from there,” 

“Wow. Maybe we really should make you team captain, doll. You’ve got everything sorted,” 

You give him a nervous smile. “Everything except what comes after. We’ll be there but maybe we could be followed, we have to save the people the council took… There’s so much to do,” 

He chuckles. “Such is the life of an Avenger,” 

“Lucky me,” 

Tony and Pepper walk out into the living area and you flash a smile to Bucky before retreating to your bedroom to get the final supplies. You grab your panic duffel bag that you keep when you need to make a quick run. Learnt the need for that a couple years ago. You grab an extra bag for the remaining clothes and any other things that you might need along the way. 

Looking around the room as a final goodbye, you realise that this almost doesn’t feel like home anymore. Living in the same place for months, only to have a couple weeks of chaos in the tower. And yet the chaos sat more fondly in your heart already. They do say home is not a place…

Nat raps her knuckle on the doorway behind you, alerting you to her presence. She leans against it. 

“Cmon, my ride arrives in an hour. You gotta get your head start,” 

You sigh in resignation, and grab the two bags. You and Bucky make quick work of the clothes, and he doesn’t comment on your refreshed nervousness. You move to lift the bags, but Bucky gently takes them away from you before you can. You turn and look towards where Loki and Thor are still talking, and they come together in a brotherly embrace before Thor nods towards Clint, and then to you. 

“My lady, do you have access to the roof?” 

You nod and show him to the fire escape, thinking it better to travel where they won’t be heard as easily by your nosy landlord. You feel guilty that she won’t know where you went, so you opt to quickly write a note addressed to her, and leave it on the bench for someone to collect, as well as rent for the month. 

Pepper comes up behind you, and tenderly puts her hand on your shoulder as you're leaving your note. She offers her arms in a hug, and you take it. 

“Remind me to give you the biggest pay rise there is when we get back,” 

You chuckle into her shoulder. 

“Take care of yourself, okay?” She says, parting away. You nod, and she turns away to leave. 

---

Your building has a stairwell that leads directly to the underground carpark, which means you don’t have to pass through the front way and instead sneak down there. Bucky and Sam trial behind, Banner fidgeting nervously in front of them. You lead the way, and Loki quickly speeds up to keep in pace beside you. 

“Are you feeling better this morning?”

You nod. “Still worrying though,” 

He smirks at you. “Aren’t you always?” 

The team makes haste in reaching the car, and as you grab the handle for the driver's seat, you are blocked by a firm arm. You follow it up to meet Sam’s gaze. He, however, is grinning at whatever’s transpiring on the other side. You also look up to see both Loki and Bucky, glaring at each other as they both have a hand on the door. He looks back at you when he’s over their antics.

“Nat warned me that you might try and drive. However, she did also warn me that you got shot in the leg yesterday. Thought you two might’ve remembered that especially,” He mockingly glares over at the two men. They both guiltily look away, forgetting that you’re not a trained soldier. 

You roll your eyes, but say, “Fine. But I’m in the passenger seat,” 

Everyone bar you and Sam seems extremely unhappy with the seating arrangement. Loki sits behind you, Bucky behind Sam. Banner looks extremely uncomfortable sitting between the most unpredictable, and now grumpy, team members. You turn back and give him a guilty smile, but you have to cover your mouth as you start to chuckle due to the other two staring very determinedly away from each other. 

Most of the car ride is spent in silence, as Sam is well versed in the drive, and will only need direction as you need to turn off the Interstate. You had decided earlier that you would stop halfway for a break, but also to make sure that no one was tailing you. Sam decided to put on some of his tunes, a nice combination of upbeat soul and funk from the 60s. It does well enough to lift the mood in the car for a while. Every so often, Loki will tap you on the shoulder, and bothers you in an attempt to fight his own boredom. 

A hand taps on your shoulder. “How much longer?” 

You whisper back. “We’ve only been driving for 20 minutes,”

“Well, yes, but how much?” 

“Oh my god,” 

---

As you pull into a fast food place in Connecticut, you jolt out of your daze. Sam pulls into a shaded corner, out of the way from the main view. You all step out of the car, for a breath of fresh air. It’s decided however, that you should probably be the only one to go into the restaurant, considering you aren’t an internationally known criminal and/or superhero. Sam pulls out his wallet, and hands you some cash. 

“Chicken burger with coke. Make sure to pay in cash. We don’t want to be tracked and taken down because of some god damn fries,”

You snort, and move to take the cash. “Anyone else?” 

Bucky has a look of confusion, but says anyway, “What he’s having,”

You look at Loki. “You can just have some of what I’m having, if you want?” 

He nods. Banner however, comes and stands with you. “I’ll just come with you. I’m not as recognisable anyway…” 

You look to Sam for confirmation. He just shrugs. You nod and start walking and he falls in step with you. 

As soon as you're out of earshot of the rest, Bruce starts. “Doctor, please, you gotta let me sit in the front seat, they’re both gonna kill me-” 

You burst into a laugh at Bruce’s reaction. “Aw, doc, and here I thought you wanted to come with me because you’re my friend,” You snicker a bit more at his expense. 

He continues to gape at you as you walk into the store. “Kid, I smashed Loki into the floor multiple times, a-and the other guy just keeps staring at me-” 

His volume drops as you pass the doors, but he continues on just as frantically. You stop him by placing a hand on his shoulder. 

“Banner, it’s okay. I will. You can sit in the front,” 

He sighs in relief. “Oh- thanks, sorry to throw that on you- I just didn’t-” 

You walk to the machine, and start putting in an order as he follows you. “What do you want to eat?” 

“What? Oh. Large fries and a vanilla milkshake please. But-” 

“Bruce, trust me, it’s okay. I should’ve realised how uncomfortable you would’ve been. I didn’t know how you felt. I’m sorry,” 

That stops him. “Oh. Thank you. An-and don’t feel too bad, you didn’t know what happened in 2012 and, all that mess,” 

“It’s fine. I should remember that I’m the only one that met him without fighting him first,” 

He nods, absentmindedly. You place the order, and move to the counter with your number to quickly pay, making sure to not speak. You return to Bruce at the wall with your receipt and wait.

---

You return to the car to see Sam and Bucky sitting on the curb in conversation, Loki leaning on the car. As you approach, you start to open the bag and hand off their meals. Banner moves away with his food and sits beside Sam, more comfortable around him. You sit leaning against the car but close to the curb where the others are sitting. Begrudgingly, Loki comes and sits beside you. You take a bite of your burger and offer it to him.

“What is it?” 

“Just try it,” 

He takes it with unsure hands, and nervously takes a bite. He sees you smiling hard from beside him, and he rolls his eyes. 

“Fine. It’s good,” 

You clap your hands and laugh. “Knew it!” 

“Alright, alright. Don’t get too excited,” 

---

Eventually Sam gestures for everyone to start moving, and Banner dashes to the passenger door, as though you might’ve gone back on your deal. You just chuckle and get in the back, sitting in the middle. If Loki was confused, it only showed on his face for a second. 

You could understand a bit of the extent of Bruce’s lack of comfortability when you realised being in between two very broad shouldered men, and you weren’t even scared they were going to kill you. 

Loki slid in the door behind you as you sat in the middle, and as Bucky opened the door  he paused for a second before sitting fully in the car and pulling the door shut behind him. In his momentum you were squished into Loki’s shoulder, and as the movement settled you were enveloped from your shoulders to your calves by the men on both sides. The car felt much warmer than it had seconds ago. 

Bucky clears his throat and you look to the front passengers and see Sam smirking in the rear vision mirror. You childishly stick your tongue out and he chuckles and starts the car. 

---

Eventually both the heat and your lack of sleep must have caught up to you, and you blearily come to be aware of your surroundings. The warmth gently resting on your head shoots up as someone gently shakes your left shoulder. You can tell the car is still moving underneath you, the white noise of driving present. You rub your eyes, and sit up straight, head leaving the shoulder you were leaning on.You look up to see Loki glaring at your otherside, where Bucky is very determinedly glaring back. You yawn, but speak through it. “What’s happening?” 

Bucky speaks. “Sam needs directions,” 

---

Driving down the isolated country road, you thought about how beautiful the forest and country nature looked. You had always wanted to live in the countryside, but that had proved unrealistic due to the nature of small towns and lack of scientific enterprise. Maybe one day. 

The dirt-gravel road crunched heartily as pebbles flicked onto the underside of the carriage. Sam turned and you arrived at an ornate iron gate, with a metal black adorning one of the brick supporting walls. Sam presses the buzzer on the wall, and the gate opens without any further investigation. You wonder if the Professor is in charge of that. You drive past the bushy overgrowth surrounding the walls as the view is revealed to a beautiful, sprawling garden, and a decadent mansion. There were multiple groups of brightly dressed kids, teenagers, and tweens sprawling around on the grass and the now noticeable basketball court. 

“Daaamn. Dude’s loaded!” Sam hollered from the front seat. 

He slowly pulled the car to where you assumed the front door was, but instead you all sat in the car. Everyone was unsure whether to move in yet or not.

“Should we go in?” 

Everyone shuffled, unsure. Bruce talked from the front seat. “I don’t know if these guys are expecting all the Avengers to turn up at their front step. We don’t want to scare them,” 

“That and it could be a trap,” Bucky’s voice spoke softly from beside you. 

You fiddle with the hoodie strings as you tell yourself it’s okay to have your input. “I don’t think it’s a trap. That, and we were also invited. But if you guys want to wait until the whole team gets here, I understand,” 

“It’s probably for the best,” 

---

It doesn’t take long for the rest of the team to arrive. They must’ve only left about an hour after you, and only taken stops to get the council off their tail. You hear the car pulling up behind you, and everyone moves out of the car. Sam moves over to Steve who hands off his gear, and he quickly tosses the pack over his shoulders, despite the casual clothing. Cap must’ve decided against wearing his suit as he stands rather awkwardly in his jean jacket holding the shield. 

Natasha moves next to Banner. “Nice drive,” He sighs, exasperated, when you chuckle. 

Everyone stands in a circle, unsure of what to do next. There’s a slight rising tension as some kids around you start to notice the large group. 

“What’s the plan?” Tony speaks into the circle. 

“Hopefully should just be a meeting,” Steve says, optimistically.

“If it isn’t?” Wanda says, eyeing the mansion nervously. 

“There are children around. I don’t know many evil people who have kids that look as though they’re having as much fun as these,” Tony says sarcastically.

“Could be a ruse,” 

“I trust it,” You flinch a little as everyone looks at you. “I mean, the guy was in my head miles away. I’m sure he could have done a lot worse than just frozen everyone,” 

Everyone takes in your point. 

“Right. Well. Let’s hope this guy is more benevolent than the wicked witch of the west over here,” 

Wanda tilts her head, but allows the comment to fly. Everyone is distracted as a kid snuck into the circle and grabs on to Steve’s shield. 

“Are you Captain America?” 

Steve nods, and the kid gasps in wonder and runs back presumably to his group of his friends. 

“Well. Captain Obvious should’ve put away his dinner plate around kids. Let’s go team,” 

---

Everyone files up the cobbled stairs and approaches the large already open doors. Loki hovers slightly behind you, shoulders brushing as you reach the top of the stairs. Tony suits up silently, as a precaution. Standing in the large foyer, the beautiful staircase and intricately decorated walls. Your thoughts are halted as someone stops and does a double take at you. The scruffy man turns fully. 

“Uhh, can I help you?” He looks away from you and instead to the crowd surrounding you, pointedly ignoring the blatant intimidation tactics from Loki over your shoulder. “Oh. Maybe you can help us instead,” 

A small polite smile pulls at your cheeks. “We’d like to talk to Professor Charles Xavier, please,” 

The man nods, and as he turns away you fall in step. The others follow ignoring any confusion they may have. You introduce yourself stumbling as you follow him into the right corridor. 

“Logan,” he looks down on you. “How’s someone like you end up with these guys?” 

“Unfortunate rooming circumstance,” You chuckle. 

“Yeah, they like the little quirk along with that?” 

You gape. He rolls his eyes. “They don’t know,” 

“How do you?”   Loki puts his hand on your shoulder in support. 

“Fun part of mine, I guess. You chose the angry god out of all of them to know?”

Loki grimaces, and you're grateful for the hustle and bustle of the school life surrounding you enough that they can’t hear your stage whispers. “You can’t say anything, please,” 

“I won’t kid. Don’t worry about that. We’re here,” 

You take a final turn into a grand office, and the man from your conversation turns in his chair at the same time everyone enters. 

A knowing smile dances on his face. “It’s nice to finally meet you in person, Doctor,” 

---

You’re seated in one of the plush office chairs in front of his desk, where Tony and Steve sit next to you in their own chairs. There might not have been enough chairs, but the team wasn’t looking to seem hostile, so instead they sat themselves at the couches surrounding the fireplace to your right. Loki, however, opts to lean to the side of you, on the back of your chair, appearing casual, but you know that he’s trying to appear intimidating. 

“I must apologise for the untimely way we were first introduced. I had not predicted the situation that you may have found yourself in,” 

“It’s alright. We didn’t really either,” with that comment Tony awkwardly clears his throat. 

“Do not stress Mr Stark. I am well aware that you didn’t intend to get attacked that day, despite your meeting,” The man unclasps his hands, and straightens the papers on his desk before continuing. “I am of the belief that you and your team are researching this virus. I hope that you agree that it will be in both our best interest that we should work together,” 

Steve nods hesitantly, but Tony cuts him off with a flap of his hand, mockingly raising it in question. “I appreciate the whole shebang you got going on here, Morpheus, but I just,” he leans forward on his hand. “Have a couple questions. If you guys are ‘gifted’ why haven’t you helped with the issues we’ve had all these years?” 

“For one, Mr Stark, this is a school. I thought it highly inappropriate to send toddlers into battles. I can also hope that you understand, despite your open social presence, the importance of keeping an identity safe. You may have simply had technology stolen. We, our lives. There have been incidents in the past we wished to avoid. However, just because you cannot see us, does not mean we were not helping. New York City is a big place, and a bigger place to defend,” He gives a curt smile to Loki who rolls his eyes defensively. He continues. 

“This virus is extremely dangerous to the children of my school. I like to allow them their freedoms, but if they could be hunted, the line between safety and freedoms becomes blurred. Especially with the fact that the government is kidnapping them,” 

A tense silence fills the room, hushed whispers only from the couches. Steve sits up straighter in his chair, then sits forward, leaning his elbows on his knees. “So where do you want to go from here, Professor?” 

“Recovering those who have been captured is the most important. Due to the nature of the virus, it may be impossible to stop the reveal of the mutant gene. We will have to discuss further about how to proceed in that aspect. I do understand that it has been a long couple of days for your team, and that we should all discuss after a solid rest. I will be happy to meet with you all tomorrow. Logan, would you mind showing the Avengers to their rooms? Oh, and do try to stop the students from gawking,” 

The burly man straightens from his lean on the wall. And moves to the door. Everyone takes that as their cue to leave. Just as you're about to leave, a voice interrupts you.

“I’d like a minute of your time, if you don’t mind Doctor,”