Tony and Cap both started giving out orders at the same time to everyone and anyone important enough to get orders. A press conference was set up for the next day before your shift at Stark Industries. Tony had somehow contacted the school and let them know you were moving out of the dorm tonight. You were amazed at the efficiency your life was being rearranged.

"Y/N, Thor, Nat, you're with me. We're going to the dorm to get your things," Cap ordered. Thor and Nat got to their feet instantly at the order. It took you a moment longer to follow them. Cap actually handed you your school bag. It had gotten left behind at work earlier. Pepper must have brought it with her, though you hadn't noticed at the time. At least you had your phone, IDs, and keys now.

"I can go get my things myself," you hedged. They didn't need to go out of their way just for you. You'd gotten used to being alone these last four years of school, and still weren't sure how to deal with humans most of the time. Cap just gave you the overprotective mom look.

"You're part of the team. It doesn't matter that you just joined us today. We protect and help our own. It's not safe out there for you alone, especially until the press conference tomorrow," Cap told you firmly. "Besides, you still have at least three bullet holes in you. No need for you to injure yourself more when Thor and I are perfectly capable of carrying the heavy boxes." You wanted to argue more, but you knew a hopeless fight when you saw it. Might as well let the manly men feel good about themselves for lifting the heavy things. You could have managed, even injured, but it made them feel better.

Loki had stepped forward too, in order to join you. "Brother, you do not need to come," Thor told him, not unkindly, more like he was saving his brother from an unpleasant experience.

"I wish to accompany you, besides, Y/N is under my protection, remember?" Loki replied, his arm was around you, not quite a hug, but his hand was resting on your waist. You were surprised by that. He didn't seem the type to like casual touches. Thor looked equally shocked by Loki's reaction.

You smiled up at Loki. "We're just going to my dorm to make them lift heavy object and carry boxes. Surely you don't want to help them," you teased gently. "However, I would appreciate if you could summon me some shoes?" He hadn't included shoes earlier and you kinda needed them to go outside, unless you were going out on four feet, which you weren't.

"Of course," he replied kindly. An instant, and one adorable sneeze from you, later, he was handing you a pair of comfortable gym shoes. "Shall we?" he asked, offering you his arm after you had slipped the shoes on. You sighed at the over-protective male, but placed your hand on his arm and followed the others to the elevator.

It wasn't long before the giant SUV was pulling up in front of your dorm. You led the way up to your room and were grateful yet again that your roommate was never around. She was an airhead who was never at the dorm and was always drinking, so she'd never noticed you sneaking out to go play in the woods. She wasn't here now either. You knew because she'd left the door unlocked. Again. You sighed heavily and pushed the unlocked door open. "My roommate never locks it," you grumbled as the door swung open.

Before you knew what was happening, Loki had wrapped his arms around your waist, picking you off of your feet and hauling you away from the room while Thor rushed in to the dorm to make sure it was safe. Cap and Natasha just stared at the Asgardians confused. "Loki, put me down!" you told him firmly, surprised that even with your enhanced strength, it was a struggle to fight against him.

"The room is clear," Thor announced, stepping back out. His tone sounded off, though. There was something wrong.

"You make protecting you difficult when you go rushing in to potential danger, little wolf," Loki told you grumpily as he finally set you back on your feet. You rolled your eyes. You were going to have to have a chat with all of these...shit... why had it taken you so long to realize they were alpha males? Just because they weren't werewolves didn't mean they weren't alpha males. Of course super heroes were. Alpha males could be, and often were, incorrigible around the submissive wolves, they were just as bad around Omegas.

"I'm capable of protecting myself, and others," you reminded them grumpily. You pushed past Thor into your tiny dorm room so you could gather up your things. You weren't expecting the disaster your half of the room was. All of your belongings had been shredded and destroyed. Someone had spray painted a nasty message on the wall above your bed. You just stared in shock at the destruction, tears in your eyes. You had saved the lives of at least a room full of people. Why? Why had they done this?

"Loki, Y/N seems to like you best. Get her out of here, try to keep her calm, we don't need an angry werewolf right now. We'll see if anything can be salvaged," Cap ordered quickly while you just stared horrified at the damage.

Loki wrapped an arm around your shoulders and steered you away from the room. "Come on, little wolf," he told you gently and walked you down the hall. Luckily for them all, your wolf had turned to hurt and sorrow instead of rage and anger.

"Why did they do that?" you asked him, unable to hide the sorrow from your voice.

"People are stupid, no matter the realm," he replied calmly as he led you back out of the dorm into the fresh air. It wasn't as fresh as the woods, but it was better than the dorm. "Ignore them, love. You don't need the support of strangers to be your strength. I saw your bravery and strength today, in your willingness to potentially trade your happiness to save others. I think you can be happy with the Avengers. It's a weird little family they've collected, but they are...admittedly... not awful...for mortals," his tone was so grudging that you couldn't help laughing at how absurd he was being.

"You and Thor aren't mortal," you reminded him.

"And neither are you, apparently," he agreed. You flushed and stepped out of his arms, realizing you'd let him hold you too long. He raised an eyebrow at your reaction. "I thought- I saw how you were with Pepper, how touch-starved living among the humans has made you, how so very very careful you are," he said softly. An observant male. How rare and definitely interesting.

"Wolves are overly familiar. Sorry. I did tell you today has been an off day..." you told him quickly, fighting the urge to wrap your arms around yourself.

He huffed in exasperation. "I would not offer physical comfort were I uncomfortable with the familiarity, little wolf," he said gently as he wrapped his arms around you again. "It is not something anyone ever seeks from my company. Maybe I enjoy it too," he admitted softly. You realized that you were seeing a different side of the formal distant prince than anyone else did. "Don't tell Thor," he added with a chuckle.

"Your secret is safe with me," you replied, laying your head on his chest and just enjoying the comfort of a hug. It had been so very long.

You both jumped when the rest of the team came out of the dorm. Cap just shook his head sadly. "I'm sorry, Y/N, but everything was destroyed. Tony's sending a team over to deal with the cleanup here,"

"We'll stop by the store and get you a few things to tide you over and go shopping properly tomorrow," Nat added kindly. You nodded dumbly. At least there hadn't been anything in that room you truly treasured.

It was hilarious trying to wrangle Thor in the store. He was like a giant kid who just wanted to see everything. Cap dealt with him while you and Nat grabbed the things you needed to survive until tomorrow. Loki was having fun trying to pick out the most ludicrous things that you didn't possibly need. Like fancy lingerie.

"You don't buy that stuff here, silly Trickster, there are specialty stores for that," you teased him back. He hadn't expected that reaction. He had expected to embarrass you.

"You will have to enlighten me," he replied with a wicked grin.

"Stop flirting. We need to hurry before Thor destroys everything out of sheer enthusiasm," Nat scolded you lightly.

"We're not flirting!" You and Loki protested at the same time.

*

Late that evening you found Loki in the library on a couch in front of a fireplace with a roaring fire in it. You were in your new pajamas, wandering around the tower getting a feel for the place. "Do you mind company?" you asked him softly, announcing your presence. You were nearly silent on bare feet. He looked up from the book he was reading.

"Not at all," he replied with a smile, gesturing you into the room.

You hesitated. "Um...do you mind furry company?" you asked softly, warily, terrified of rejection.

He raised a brow, curious. "No, but I must admit curiosity as to why you would wish to change forms." He wasn't outright rejecting, or scared of you, so you stepped into the room and toward his couch.

"I want to make sure I heal the rest of the way before tomorrow morning and the press conference. Shifting forms speeds healing during the shifting process," you explained. "I'd just hide in my room, but... if someone came looking for me they'd be scared to see my wolf. You've already seen her at...not her best. I thought if anyone could handle seeing her, or letting the others know I'm not dangerous as a wolf..." you added softly, still scared of fear or rejection, even of such a simple request for company.

He inclined his head and gestured to one side of the room. "There is a small side room over there. The only entrance to it is through this main room. You would be safe changing forms there. I will not let anyone disturb you," he told you kindly. You nodded and automatically kissed his cheek in thanks before darting in to the other room to change forms. You weren't sure you imagined the flush on his cheeks at your automatic gesture of familiarity.

A few minutes later you were making your way back over to his couch on four feet. The wounds were closed, nearly completely healed. They'd be completely healed when you shifted back to human, but you needed some time before you'd be able to do that. "Better?" Loki asked you when you were close enough to his couch. You nodded and moved to curl yourself in front of the fire. He huffed and patted the couch next to him. "I know you aren't silly enough to consider laying on the floor when there is a perfectly nice couch here," he told you firmly. You snorted in laughter, but hopped up on the couch next to him.

He held two books out in front of you. Both were popular werewolf fiction and naturally you'd read them both before. "Which one?" he asked. You huffed and shook your head at his silliness, but picked the more accurate of the two, tapping it with a paw.

Somehow your head ended up in his lap and he was absently petting you while he read the first chapters of the werewolf story aloud in his very pleasing accent.