Prompt from @KeiraRobertson7 : Waking up with Loki next to us just cause I hardly ever see these and I love them.

A/N: don't bother squinting there's no plot. this is just 600 words of shameless fluff inspired by sleepy loki in episode two because those five seconds absolutely knocked me out he's SO PRECIOUS- i am not fine. i've put this the morning after loki was away on a mission with SHIELD for like a month in MTB, sooo enjoy<3

...

He's still sleeping when you wake up.

It's so unusual for you to be awake before Loki; he hardly ever sleeps in the first place. Only when he's exhausted, which he clearly was when he got back to the Tower yesterday. He'd been gone for almost a month on this latest SHIELD mission, the longest he'd ever been gone for, and you'd hated every second of it.

You'd been so sure that something had gone wrong, or that Fury had changed his mind about having Loki work for SHIELD and had him sent back to Asgard, so when he'd arrived back yesterday the sheer relief you'd felt had been almost painful to experience.

"He's back, Y/N. He's back." Thor had come bursting into your room, relief exuding from him. You were already half way to the door, having felt Loki's presence already. You weren't going to believe he was okay until you saw him.

He had been stood in the hallway outside, looking absolutely shattered, but safe and in one piece. You'd gone practically light headed with relief and moved towards him wordlessly as he opened his arms to you.

I'm okay.

There had been no time to talk; his fatigue had started affecting you as well after a few minutes, and so you collapsed into bed along with him and fell asleep almost immediately, still holding on to him.

You must have turned over at one point in the night, because you're facing awake from him when you wake. You know he's still sleeping before you even turn on to your other side, his slow, deep breaths giving him away.

He's lying on his back, his face turned slightly towards you, dark hair splayed out across the pillow. One arm is bent, his hand is behind his head, while his other arm is spread across the gap between you, his fingers brushing your arm as you turn.

The light in the room is dim; the sun is yet to properly rise. A strip of orange-y yellow light which has ventured its way through the blinds sits across the left side of Loki's face.

Relief resurfaces in your chest as you look at him, fighting for dominance with the overwhelming amount of love you have for the man lying next to you. In the end the two emotions merge and physically materialise as tears in your eyes, which you quickly blink away.

Instead of getting upset you scoot closer to him, being careful not to squash his arm as you do. Loki shifts as you move closer to him, pressing yourself against his side. His arm, the one which had been reaching for you, moves to hold you against him. You can't help but smile.

Hey.

Good morning.

His hand moves from your back, up to your shoulder and then to the nape of your neck. You close your eyes in contentment as he runs his fingers through your hair, humming happily.

I missed this. Waking up next to you.

You trace one of his scars on his chest gently with your index finger, listening to him sigh.

I was so worried.

I know. I'm sorry.

It's not your fault.

Fury could call again at any moment and say that they need him back. You hate it.

How was it?

"Exhausting."

His voice, low and croaky with sleep, sends a thrill through you. He's still tired, you can feel it.

"Go back to sleep." you whisper.

"No, I should get up. The paperwork-"

He tries to move and sit up but you hold him down, hooking a leg and an arm across him. He gives up easily, a huff of air escaping him as he laughs at you.

Do it later.

Yes ma'am.

His eyes are still closed, but he's smiling.

"Sleep." you whisper again, finding his hand and slipping your fingers in between his.

"Thank you." he murmurs back, squeezing your hand gently.

He's asleep again in minutes, but this time his fingers are laced through yours. It doesn't take you long to fall back asleep with him lying next to you.