Title: Memory lane; A situation no one could predict 

Pairing: Loki Laufeyson x Avenger!Female!Reader 

Word count: 2k

Published: 11 July 2021

Author: Heloise Daphne Brightmore

Notes: In this fic Loki didn't die in Infinity War

Warnings: Insomnia

Notes: If you enjoy my stories, please consider donating and supporting me on Ko-fi. Of course, it's completely your choice, I will continue updating for free anyway :) Thank you <3 [ ko-fi.com/heloisedaphnebrightmore ]

You were cuddled up to Loki's side in your bed, trying hard to keep your eyes shut, but sleep seemed harder to get hold of. Insomnia was no stranger to you, especially when Loki was away for a longer time, leaving you behind, filled with worry. But now that he laid beside you, his breathing even and rhythmic, you couldn't pinpoint what made your night sleepless.

Removing Loki's arm from your shoulder, you tried to get out of bed as silently as you could manage, knowing his senses were heightened compared to yours. You lifted your bathrobe from the sofa chair beside your bed and picked up a glass of water from your nightstand, chugging down its content. Looking back over your shoulder, you watched Loki's relaxed form with adoration. As he laid on the bed he didn't seem like a God or someone with unearthly powers, he looked like a vulnerable man who finally had time to rest and enjoyed every moment of it. His limbs were all over the bed, thrown in four different directions, his hair was a mess as it laid on the silky pillow. He scrunched his nose and scratched it before his body relaxed into the same position once again.

The dim lights of the city fell on his face as they found their way through the blinds, enhancing his sharp jawline and long lashes spread across his cheeks. He was just perfect for you and whilst you knew if he realised you were staring at him, he would never let it go, you couldn't take your eyes off him, his beauty mesmerised you even after all this time. Seeing him in such a calm state made you feel content, as though a part of you was responsible for his peacefulness and you just wanted to bathe in that serene moment.

"Stop staring at me," his hoarse voice made you jump, expecting him to be in a deep slumber.

"When did you wake up?" You asked with a hand on your chest, trying to reorganise your breathing.

"Now? It's rather difficult to sleep when you are staring at me," he replied as he stretched his back, his eyes fluttering open. "If you find me so irresistible, why did you get out of bed?" He asked with a mischievous smile hidden in the corner of his lips.

"I just couldn't sleep," you explained. "And don't get cocky with me, I only looked at you for a mere second," you corrected him, feeling your cheeks flush.

"I think you meant to say minutes," he looked at you expectantly, his tone humours.

"If you only woke up now, then how would you know?" You retorted, wishing to just win one of your many battles, but Loki was always a step ahead of you.

"Well, 'now' is quite relative. Now could be a minute, but it could also be 10," he shrugged as he sat up, the duvet falling off his naked chest, giving your eyes just the perfect opportunity to wander across his toned muscles shamelessly. "At least you could do it less obviously," he let out a throaty chuckle.

"It's mine, I can stare at it if I want," you replied in a cocky tone as you crawled back on the bed and straddled him.

"Well, I certainly have no intention of arguing with that logic," he replied with a smug grin as he laid back on the mattress and pulled you down to kiss him. His arms swallowed you in a safe embrace, his lips hungry for your kisses, his body needy for your touches, his whole being greedy to have you all to himself.

"I love it when you hold me," you breathed against his lips, earning a wholehearted laughter from him.

"And I love to hold you," he hinted a small kiss on your forehead. "Though, correct me if I'm wrong, I remember a certain situation where you weren't so happy finding me beside you in bed," he chuckled at the memory.

"It's not that I wasn't happy, it was simply unexpected. I was too out of it to think, before I even realised what happened," you tried to explain.

"Nothing happened," he frowned at your words.

"Well, waking up beside you wasn't nothing," you chuckled.

"It wasn't my plan either," he grinned playfully as he headed down memory lane with you.

There were missions after missions, your body and mind had been on the verge of giving up. You were exhausted, but your mind couldn't rest, sleep always avoided you, making you even more tired. It was a vicious circle you wished to overcome, but you felt you were just stuck.

For days you hadn't even left your room, you barely ate, but regardless of the time you spent in your bed, couped up in your room, you still couldn't shift into a relaxing slumber. Loki wasn't one to worry about such trivial things such as a Midgardian's health. He had nothing to do with it. But rather he was just trying to convince himself. A part of him wanted to know if you were okay if you were still alive. Noone has seen you for days and as much as he tried to deny it, he was worried.

Heading towards your room, he picked up a glass of water and a tray, placing a slice of bread, a silver knife, and a cube of butter on it. He wanted you to eat finally. A Midgardian's body, a mortal's health was even more fragile, and he couldn't let you fall any sicker. He knocked on your door with the tray in his other hand, but no reply came. He knocked again, hoping there would be an answer this time, but there was only silence. He prepared himself to get a good old scolding from you, but he needed to know if you were okay. Heaving a heavy sigh, he opened the door and peeked through the tiny gap.

You were laying on top of your duvet, your eyes covered by your arm, heavy breaths leaving your lungs. Loki walked in, placing the tray on top of your nightstand. A loud groan left your lungs, but you didn't have any energy left to move or to open your eyes. A shiver of worry ran though Loki's spine as he moved your arm and placed his palm on your forehead, earning a relieved sigh from you at his cold touch. Your body was burning up, your forehead sweaty under his hand. He was no healer, nor did he know much about Midgardian medicine and illnesses, but he couldn't ask for help, everyone else was already asleep. He didn't know what to do, he didn't know why he was even there. His head was a mess of thoughts, but he knew he wanted to help you.

"Is there a way I can help you?" He asked, his tone filled with concern. But you were too weak to reply, instead you put your hand on top of his on your forehead, enjoying the coolness of his skin, even though your body heat slowly started warming it up. He took his hand from yours and placed the other on top of your forehead, earning another relieved sigh from you. "I'm assuming you need something cold," he spoke to himself, searching for something that could lower your temperature. He pulled his hand away and went to the bathroom, grabbing a towel and placing it in the sink, running the cold water on it, letting it soak the cool liquid in. Before he headed back to your room, he squeezed the towel to remove the excess water and then placed it on your forehead. It seemed to do the trick, but within a minute or so, the towel was already warm again.

Loki felt helpless not knowing how to ease your pain as the high temperature burned your body from the inside. Your face turned into a pained grimace, every part of your body aching at the raging fire within you. This time Loki placed both his hands on your cheeks, hoping it would be more efficient, earning another sigh of relief from you. He knew it was only a temporary solution, but he couldn't think of anything better.

"I— need you—," you stumbled through your words, your breath as hot as fire.

"I'm trying to help, but I'm not sure what to do," Loki replied, his mind racing for a viable solution. But the gesture he got from you caught him off guard. You patted the soft mattress next to you, gesturing to him to join you on the bed. His eyes widened at the realisation; he couldn't just lay down beside you in your most vulnerable state. He has done some questionable things, but this wasn't one of them. He couldn't ever see himself using someone's vulnerability in such a manner.

"I— I— want you to hold me," you struggled with your voice, eyes still closed, finding it hard to even breathe. "Your skin— it's cold," you added, hoping he would understand. But he still felt the situation was concerning. He didn't want you to wake up and attempt murdering him for finding him beside you.

"I don't think it's a good idea," he replied as he placed his hands on your neck this time, though he could feel his skin wasn't as cold anymore, your temperature warmed his palms up.

"Please," you begged him, backing Loki into a situation where he couldn't find the right solution. He could have left, but he couldn't handle the thought of you suffering. He could have placed another and another towel on you, but it felt somewhat useless, since they warmed up quicker than his own hands. He could have kept doing what he had so far, placing his hand on your forehead, cheeks, neck, but that was only a temporary solution. A concerned sigh left his lungs as he debated his options. "Please," you pleaded with him, this time finding his worried gaze, begging him to help you. Loki gritted his teeth, feeling hopelessly useless as he started taking off his jacket and shirt, but kept his trousers on. He already felt it was too much, but he knew with clothes on, it would be just as useless. He climbed into your bed and pulled you on top of his chest, earning a shaky sigh of relief as his cool skin touched your burning body, relaxing you in his arms. You wrapped your arm around his exposed chest and placed a leg over his thigh, enjoying the cool sensation.

"Now try to sleep and please don't murder me in the morning," he added humorously, though he was worried about your reaction.

"Honestly, that was one of the best sleeps I've ever had," you replied as Loki finished reminiscing.

"Not your best morning though," he chuckled playfully.

"You can't blame me. I had a fever, I couldn't even remember the last two days, so finding you in my bed was the last situation I expected to wake up in," you explained. "I was surprised that you hadn't done anything inappropriate to me though," you spoke in a whisper, hoping he wouldn't hear you, but his hearing was better than a simple mortal's.

"Wasn't it inappropriate enough for me to agree to such a reckless request?" He sighed, massaging his temple.

"Maybe, but I was certainly touched by the fact that you didn't try anything funny," you smiled softly.

"Love, your standards are very low," he scoffed, his eyes growing wider, astonished by your reply.

"That's why I'm stuck with you," you snickered, earning an annoyed groan from him.

"You little—," you didn't let him end his sentence, you closed the gap between you and kissed him, pouring all your love into the connection, making him forget any words he wanted to say. Though letting him sleep beside you was a situation you could have never predicted, it was certainly one that brought you closer together, so in a way, you were glad to fall sick and manage to be brave enough to mutter those words. 

Notes : If you enjoyed reading this little piece, please don't forget to leave a like and/or comment. Thank you ^^

If you enjoy my stories, please consider donating and supporting me on Ko-fi. Of course, it's completely your choice, I will continue updating for free anyway :) Thank you <3 [ ko-fi.com/heloisedaphnebrightmore ]