"Where have you two been?" Thor asked when you finally got back to the tower after the ice cream and after Loki had calmed back down. You weren't surprised that Thor was concerned. He always worried when he couldn't find Loki. You also weren't surprised that Loki was on edge today. He had just spent the afternoon with a whole bunch of stupid werewolves, many of whom were mean to you. All of whom besides your brothers had either helped or not hindered your abuse over the years. It was actually impressive only one of them had died.

"There was business with the werewolves we had to take care of," you answered quickly, trying to sound reassuring.

"Nothing to fret over," Loki added. Thor didn't look like he was up to not-fretting, but he let it go. You were both back in one piece and didn't seem too emotionally compromised. You'd probably be sobbing over old memories of that godforsaken compound later, but for now you were ok.

"What business?" Nat asked, honestly interested. She gestured at the pizzas on the table, offering them to you and Loki. Even after all the ice cream you'd eaten you still devoured your fair share of pizza. There was a reason there was always plenty of food in the table.

"Since I killed the last Alpha, I was responsible for picking the new one," you explained while you ate. "So I had to go to the compound, interview the men, and pick one to be Alpha," you added. "I took Loki as backup, since werewolves can be temperamental and thickheaded, especially the stupid dominate males." The team nodded their agreement that that had been a wise decision.

"How many did he kill?" Tony laughed. He really didn't understand wolves if he was joking over that.

"Only one. I think that's a new record," you teased right back, curling yourself comfortably in Loki's arms. As you heard frequently, you were an incorrigible cuddler.

"He deserved it for insulting you," Loki told you simply and kissed the top of your head. He still didn't really admit it, but he liked having you in his arms, especially after a day like today when he wanted to make sure you were ok after dealing with painful old memories and that hellhole. You could see his mind was working and planning and you wondered how much doting and pampering he was planning based on how much he hated what your childhood had been.

"We insult her all the time and we don't deserve to die," Tony protested. He didn't like people dying. He also didn't get werewolves. He also didn't want to die due to insulting you.

"You tease, they insulted. It's different, and they tried to claim that my relationship with Loki wasn't real because we're not married and that I was the bitch for running away from my abusers," you shrugged. You weren't pressing for a wedding and you weren't complaining about your past. If the wedding was going to happen it would when you were both ready and not a moment sooner. The abuse was in the past. If Tony didn't know the difference already between insulting and teasing there wasn't much you could do to help him...

*

"What's bothering you, little wolf?" Loki asked softly one evening almost two weeks later while you were curled on the couch with him for movie night with the team. You shook your head. You weren't going to talk about it, and definitely weren't going to talk about it in front of the others. He gave you a look, raised an eyebrow. "Something is bothering you," he insisted. You looked pointedly at the others. He inclined his head, accepting that you didn't want to talk in front of the entire team. "Very well, later then."

Tonight's movie was Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Tony, Bruce, and Clint kept trying to pick movies to catch the Asgardians, Cap, sometimes Nat, and sometimes you to popular culture. You'd lived a pretty sheltered life, but at least you'd seen this one. Nobody was surprised that Tony could recite the entire movie, it was his choice and right up his alley. They were surprised when you recited the entire holy hand grenade sequence with him and could sing the entirety of the knights of the round table song.

"About time someone appreciates good movies!" Tony said and raised his beer in salute to you. You raised yours in reply with a laugh.

Everyone headed to bed after the movie, and subsequent discussion of the movie. "So, darling, would you like to tell me what's bothering you?" Loki asked as you were walking to bed.

"No, I would not," you grumbled, uncomfortable, but knowing you'd have to have this conversation, no matter how uncomfortable it made both of you.

"Y/N... I can't help if you won't talk to me," he told you softly. You sighed.

"I know, but... it's not an easy conversation. Hell's fire, mother night, and may the darkness be merciful," you growled a curse from one of your favorite books. Loki chuckled.

"Surely it can't be that dire," he teased.

"It's not a conversation I wish to be having with my boyfriend," you grumbled, wrapping your arms around yourself, a nervous habit you'd picked up over the years when you were uncomfortable. Loki opened his bedroom door, actively concerned now and wrapped his arms around you when you were both safely inside.

"Y/N, please talk to me. After all we've been through together, surely you must trust by now that I won't hurt you," he told you softly as he held you, stroked your hair.

"You'll make fun... or worse," you told him.

He scoffed. "I'll do no such thing. Now please, darling, please talk to me. Something has obviously been bothering you since we got back from the compound,"

You sighed heavily and wouldn't look at him. You didn't want to see him confirm your fears. "Ok," you finally said and stepped out of his arms to sit on his bed. You wanted to be comfortable while you weren't looking at him and having this godsawful conversation. He seemed to understand. He sat on the other side of the bed and you turned so you were facing him, though looking at his crossed legs, not his face. You really didn't want to see him confirm your fears. You pulled one of his pillows into your lap, hugged it like a plushie. He waited patiently for you to start. He didn't press, but also wasn't going to let you escape from telling him what was bothering you.

"I know things have been crazy lately, but..." No that wasn't the right place to start. "There was winter's moon where I was human and we couldn't..., then the duel, and your recovery, and the trip to the compound. But it's been a couple weeks of relative peace and..." Shit. How the fuck were you supposed to bring up your fear that you weren't good enough for him? That he didn't want you?

"And?" he prompted gently when you hesitated too long.

"We haven't... since the night of winter's moon..." Why was this so hard? Fuck it, there was only one way, you just had to rip off the bandaid. You screwed up your courage and blurted the words. You looked up in his face then, with tears in your eyes. "We haven't been intimate since that night,"....ok your courage only went so far... "You don't seem to want to... I know you're more...experienced... was it not..." you couldn't talk or find the right words to express your fears that he didn't want you in that way. That you hadn't been good enough for him to want do to that with again...

His arms were around you and he held you too tightly, pulling you into his lap and cradling you there. "No, darling, no. Please don't believe that for an instant. I simply did not wish to push you, faster than you were comfortable with, especially considering your past. Winter's moon was one thing, it was different." It was and you understood what he meant. Winter's moon the wolf had been mostly in control. It had been her need that had you allowing Loki into your bed that night. "I meant what I said that morning. It was a wonderful evening and I would love to share that experience with you again. But only when and if you're ready," he said softly, gently. "I won't leave you, my love, even if that day never comes. You don't have to fear,"

You tilted your head to look up at him. "And if that day is today?" you asked him softly, scared of rejection.

He smiled warmly and shifted to kiss you, holding you securely in his arms while he did. "If you're sure?" you nodded, nervous, but sure. His smiled broadened, brightened. "Then this shall be a very enjoyable evening indeed, my darling little wolf." When his lips met yours, forcefully, hungrily, you realized how he'd been holding back for fear of hurting you, of pushing you too fast.

Yes, it was going to be a very enjoyable evening.

*

The rest of the month flew by between work, school, and a Loki who was very much interested in having enough sex with you that even the Catholic rabbits would be impressed. What free time you had you spent preparing for the full moon. It took a lot of careful work to keep Loki from finding out what you were up to. You didn't want to worry him. He didn't need that on top of the stress of wondering if he was going to turn into a monster like you.

Tony had given you an entire empty floor of the tower for your preparations. It was completely bare when you started. Tony hadn't decided what to do with the floor yet, so it started as one giant room. He'd also given you a basically unlimited budget, within reason he'd said. It was too decent of him, especially when he was helping you build things you needed. "Why are you helping and doing all of this?" you asked Tony at am one morning. Loki had finally fallen asleep and you slipped down to your project where Tony, Thor, Cap, and the Iron Legion were working. You didn't want to owe Tony a huge favor for his help. This was a huge undertaking for just one night.

"Reindeer Games is infected, right? And might turn into a werewolf at the full moon. You're setting up this saferoom to keep everyone safe if he does turn. Don't give me that look, Thor. She's said already that werewolves are unpredictably violent their first full moon and your brother is unpredictably violent to begin with. We don't want any of the rest of the team infected," Tony reminded you both. "So as long as you're not asking for the moon, I'm willing to aid this little project to keep us all safe,"

"Are you going to be safe?" Thor asked doubtfully. You were building quite a lot of safeguards into this room to make sure Loki stayed in this room on the night of the full moon. And you were going to be locked in all night with him.

"I'll be fine," you told Thor, hoping it was true. Thor looked sad though. He knew that you were offering yourself as bait and as the only companion to an angry, probably out of control werewolf. It was a task usually left to the new wolf's Alpha, so the Alpha could control the new wolf. It was never left to a little Omega.

And yet.

"Why wouldn't she be ok?" Tony asked. For all his jokes and teasing, he had a soft spot for you. You were also one of the few people who could touch him without him freaking out.

"He's just being overly concerned," you replied before Thor could say anything. You didn't need them all worrying. You dove into helping them then. There was still quite a lot of work to do before the full moon.

You slipped back into Loki's room a couple of hours, a lot of sweat, and a grease fire later. You'd at least been smart enough to shower before you joined him again. It hadn't helped, though. Loki was sitting up in bed, waiting for you and not looking particularly pleased. "What mischief are you up to, sneaking around the tower at this hour, little wolf?" he asked a cold edge to his tone. "And playing with the tin man and my idiot brother?"

You rolled your eyes. "It's a surprise, Lo," you told him. "Also your nose has gotten better if you can smell Stark and your brother on me even after I showered," you added. He inclined his head, but didn't look completely satisfied with your answer.

"What surprise?" he asked warily.

You rolled your eyes even harder if that were possible. "A surprise for you, doofus," you teased. "And one that I want to remain a surprise, as you should be able to tell by the fact that I'm working on it at butt's-o'clock in the morning with shellhead and your oaf of a brother. Now can I come back to bed to try to get a couple more hours of sleep before class, or are you going to keep grumbling at me?" Your temper wasn't the best at butt's-o'clock in the morning.

He relaxed then and chuckled as he pulled back the blankets. "Come back to bed, darling," he bid you warmly.

*

"Hey Fenrir," you answered your phone on the second ring two days before the full moon. He had called on a break between classes, so you didn't have to worry about Loki eavesdropping. Loki didn't usually come to class with you.

"This is your break between classes, right?" Fenrir asked. He had made you give him a copy of your class and work schedule when he adopted you into his pack.

"It is, but I don't have a long break. What'd you need?"

"I need to ask you about Loki. Have you gotten any indication that he's going to turn?" Fenrir's voice was concerned, but calm. He would deal with whatever answer you gave.

You sighed. "Were he human I would say that there's no doubt, and that he'd be a really strong dominate if not an Alpha," you finally replied. You saw all the signs that he would turn.

"I should be there then. You need a strong Alpha-"

"I don't think that's a good idea," you interrupted quickly. You'd been preparing for this conversation and was glad it had come when Loki wasn't around. You didn't need him worrying or upset. "I don't mean for this to sound rude, but he's already at least as dominate as you are, before he's turned. If he turns, he may very well overpower you. He's a god after all. Hell, Fenrir, you saw him at the compound..."

He sighed heavily. "You're right. And that would be an unmitigated disaster if he does end up overpowering me," he finally agreed. If Loki overpowered him then there would be two out of control dominates, which would be awful. "How will you control him if he turns?" Fenrir demanded. It was his responsibility to make sure his wolves were safe and the secret of the werewolves was safe.

"I'm not going to control him, Fenrir. He's a god. No one has to the right to control him,"

"Then what are you going to do?"

"Love him. That will have to be enough,"

*

Thor lifted you off your feet the day before the full moon throwing you over his shoulder effortlessly. It wasn't hard when you were fevered and running purely on the fact that Loki needed you. "Thor!" you protested. You'd been busy making sure his brother ate something and tucked him in on the couch when he needed a nap that afternoon, he insisted he'd been up late reading, but you weren't convinced it wasn't moon fever.

"Enough, Lady Wolf," Thor told you. He sat on one of the couches and held you in his lap. "You have been running yourself ragged making all of the preparations and doing everything in your power to make sure my brother is taken care of. I appreciate it more than I can say, but you need to rest before the full moon tonight. We all know what the moon fever does to you," he reminded you. They did all know that you were usually an exhausted fevered mess who hid in Loki's cold suite.

"But, Loki-"

"Is sleeping. I'll wake you if he needs you. Rest," he told you firmly, but kindly. He was so warm and cuddly that you were already dozing off, despite the fact that you had already been fevered. You were exhausted from being awake all night helping Tony and the others with the preparations downstairs. So you fell asleep, curled safely in Thor's arms. He was right that you needed to rest. He was going to make sure you did.

Annoying older brother.

*

"Wake up the puppy, dinner's done!" Tony called into the living room later that afternoon. You jolted awake and scrambled off of Thor's lap while he chuckled. He hadn't minded you being there, especially since it was his fault for putting you there in the first place. He knew that your culture thought that platonic cuddling was just that, platonic. He could also accept and embrace that culture for your benefit if nothing else.

You got Loki up and awake and he seemed to be in better shape than you were expecting. You weren't surprised at all that it was steak night. Cap made great steaks and you told him as much as you devoured yours.

"Shouldn't we have gotten to Sarai's hours ago?" Loki asked you, concerned. "You should have woken me." There wasn't nearly enough time to make it to their house before the full moon.

"We're not going to Sarai's tonight," you told him. "Nor are we going to the open woods. Stop fretting," you added quickly when he started to worry. He didn't want you playing in the open woods, though you'd be perfectly safe. "I'll show you after you've finished eating." He nodded, accepting that you had a plan and returned to his dinner. The air was tense in the room that afternoon. No one knew what was going to happen.

"Sun's getting kinda low, kid. We'll take care of the dishes," Tony told you. You nodded and stood, taking Loki's hand.

"Come on, love. Time to show you the surprise I've been working on all month," you led him to the elevator and nodded to the others. No matter what happened, you were both going to be ok and they were going to be safe from the werewolves.

You took the elevator and when you hit the button for just one floor below the main floor. "We're staying in the tower?" Loki demanded. "But you need to play in the woods," he protested.

"It's better to play in the woods. It's not necessary. I couldn't do it most months when I lived in the dorms. It's safer for us to stay here tonight," you added. He nodded, though didn't look convinced. You stepped out of the elevator into the room you'd prepared. Steel doors closed behind you as you stepped in, blocking off the elevator until dawn. They wouldn't open again until then for any reason. Well, except for the panic button hidden in the room, but you weren't telling Loki about that. The main room was pretty plain, a big open area to run in, cushions to play and hide in and destroy, games for bored werewolves. At the back of the giant room were a full bathroom and kitchen that Tony and the other workers on the room insisted they needed while they worked. There was also a comfortable bed chamber, screened off with curtains instead of a door. There were a few other surprises in the room, but you weren't going to draw attention to them unless they were needed.

You led Loki straight back to the bed chamber. It was big and comfortable, airy, comforting, exactly what you'd requested. "What is this?" he asked, looking around the room confused.

"Somewhere safe," you told him. "The doors won't reopen until dawn. There are no cameras down here. Trust me, there is no werewolf alive who can get though those doors. Even Thor and I together couldn't. Our friends will be safe no matter what happens. We're safe," you reminded him and you saw him relax. He didn't want to hurt anyone. "There's books on the shelf over there to entertain us until the sun goes down," you added, offering him a distraction. "Or..." you stood up on your toes to kiss him.

"Mmm, that seems like a much more enjoyable way to spend our time until dusk," he purred, pulling you closer.

You looked up from your position with your head on Loki's chest when the sun got too low. "It's time, love. If the moon calls you, don't fight her, it will just hurt if you do. Please, do me the favor tonight, if the moon doesn't call, doesn't make you change forms, don't shift to wolf tonight. Let me have the answer one way or the other," you bid him. He kissed you lightly.

"Of course, darling," you could hear that he didn't believe that he was going to get out of this evening without turning. You didn't blame him. Had he been human there would be no doubt.

The sun set and you tried to fight the call of the moon yourself, tried to stay human longer to be there for him if he needed you. The first shift could be rough. But you were a little Omega, you weren't an Alpha and were too young. You couldn't fight the moon.

So you shifted to wolf and whined helplessly while you waited to see if Loki would turn, would shift as well, to see if the moon would call him. He ran his fingers through your fur while you waited and whined and worried. You waited long minutes, long, long minutes until the moon was well up, until you knew for sure.

"Well, it looks like I'm immune after all, at least to the moon's call," Loki finally told you, sounding relieved. You licked his cheek and wagged your tail, relieved as well. He had been infected, so he couldn't be completely immune, and he had obviously gotten traits of the werewolves you'd seen them over the past month, but at least he was safe from being forced into being a monster like you. He kissed the top of your head. "You're not a monster, little wolf, not at all. I love every inch of you, my darling, fur, tail, and all,"