Chapter Text
Uneasily, you shifted on your provisory bed, cursing silently into the silence of another sleepless night in this bloody tent. Ever since you had met the Avengers, you hardly ever slept for more than four hours a night and the fact you were currently on an entirely different planet called Alfheim didn’t contribute well to making you feel better.
Everything around you was different and strange and although most of the Avengers were human too, it seemed like you were the only one completely out of place.
An annoyed growl escaped your lips as you threw black your blankets and got up to get some fresh air. It was a cool night, with trillions of stars shining brightly in the black sky.
Freezing a little, for the cool air immediately wrapped itself tightly around your bare arms, you shivered before heading towards Loki’s tent, hoping he’d still be awake.
A bit of distraction wouldn’t harm either of you, after all and apparently, so it seemed, you were the only one who happened to like the cheeky God of Mischief. It was hard to blame the others actually. Tony had been suffering from anxiety attacks ever since New York, Natasha had gotten threatened, Thor almost killed, Bruce manipulated and Clint mind-controlled but still, the infamous God of Thunder had decided to bring Loki along to help with this mission, just like you had been brought along by Wanda.
A sigh escaped your lips. You really shouldn’t enjoy Loki’s company after all he had done but you couldn’t quite help yourself. He was charming, fascinating, mysterious and reckless, you loved his sarcasm, his superior and mischievous smirks and the way he fought on the battlefield. Maybe you had a crush. Fine, not maybe. Definitely.
Relieved to see the lights still switched on inside the Trickster’s tent, you entered, momentarily blinded by the sudden brightness in the provisory room. Loki was casually lying on his bed, a book in his hands which he had buried his nose in. From the distance, you couldn’t make out the title but it surely looked interesting.
The God of Mischief frowned as he noticed you coming in, the look on his face questioning.
“I can’t sleep” You simply stated, shrugging slightly and waiting for his response. There were three options. He would either be annoyed and kick you out, yell at you and ask what was wrong with you or let you stay for a bit.
Just as you dared to hope for the latter, he cocked his head to the side, gesturing you to sit down on the bed next to him.
“Very well”
You bit back a smile as you did what he suggested, frantically ignoring the butterflies in your stomach.
“What are you reading?”
“A story about ancient Midgardian myths and fairytales.” He replied, not even looking up from his book and making you raise an eyebrow as you leaned over to catch a glimpse at the pages.
“Are those… runes?” You asked confused, eyeing a bunch of weirdly drawn letters.
“They are”
“And you can read that?”
“Obviously.” The corners of his mouth were twitching, almost as if he was fighting back a smirk, causing you to roll your eyes.
“Right. Midgardian myths and fairytales you say. Like ‘The Snow Queen’ and stuff?”
“The Snow Queen?” Loki frowned once more, finally pulling his gaze away from the book to look you in the eye. Stupid butterflies.
“Yes. A powerful woman with the ability to manipulate snow and ice who lives in a castle made entirely of ice, trying to take over the world and become its queen.”
“It sounds intriguing.”
You smiled. “Oh, it is. It was my favourite fairytale when I was younger. What are you reading there?”
“Greek mythology, mostly. Hades and his Persephone.”
“I know that one. Their story is why we have summer and winter here on Earth. Or at least that’s what the Greek thought back then. Can you read it to me?” You asked rather shyly, cuddling up next to him without really realising what you were doing. Three options again. Fortunately, however, Loki seemed to rather enjoy your company. Your heart skipped a bit when you thought about it, for the God of Mischief and you had often spent time together already. Always within the reach of the Avengers, you had sat around the campfires and talked for hours, with Thor wondering again and again how it was a mortal could be that much of an equal to his foster brother.
As long as this never ended, you didn’t even care whether he thought of you as his equal. On the contrary—you would actually kneel before him in case he tried to take over your planet again.
“You should go to sleep, little one. Mortals are in a more urgent need of it than Gods.”
“I told you I can’t sleep, please.”
“Fine” Much to your surprise, Loki smirked before he allowed you to wrap yourself in his blanket and then rest your head on his shoulder.
“The first living visitor to the Underworld, though an unwilling one, was the goddess Persephone.” He began, soothing you with his charming and soft voice in an instant.
“The only daughter of Zeus and Demeter, the goddess of grain, agriculture, and fertility, Persephone was an innocent maiden, a virgin who loved to play in the fields where eternal springtime reigned.
“But Hades had other plans for Persephone: He would steal her innocence and virginity and turn her into the dreaded goddess of the Underworld…”
Soon, you noticed your eyelids growing heavier, forcing you to give in to a calming darkness that was to lull you to sleep and, before you knew it, you had fallen into a deep slumber, cuddled up against Loki and an arm wrapped tightly around his chest.