A first in a series between several pairs and various topics. Who and what do you want?

* * *

As Peter dragged his feet into the tower, his face was one of utter dejection. He tried to look happy when he walked into the living room of the tower, as he had since forever, but he just couldn't.

He needed Mr.Stark, but he got called on an emergency mission that could not be ignored.

Still, Peter needed someone to talk to. The Avengers were a nice bunch, but Peter figured only one was suitable to talk to in this situation.

Peter reached the couch and the person on it. "Mr. Loki, could I talk to you? Alone?" He asked shyly, not making eye contact.

 Loki's face softened. "Of course." He responded quietly,  bringing Peter to his room. "What is it?" Loki prompted .

Hesitantly, Peter began. "Well, these kids keep teasing me about the way I look, and it really is starting to hurt me. I try to ignore it, but it still hits me where I'm weakest."

 Shocked, Loki replied with, "they are jealous, little one."

 " Jealous of what? " Peter flopped miserably onto the bed.

 "And that's not all. There's this one subject in school that I'm struggling with, and even though I try really hard some people keep going on and on about it. They say if they were me, they would hold themselves up to a higher standard. They ask why I am in that class if I'm not going to try. But I do! It's just that class isn't my life, you know? I make a lot of time for it but it isn't my priority and they don't understand."

 For the first time, Loki was speechless. He was about to say something, but Peter wasn't done.

 "And like, It's not a huge secret that I have low self esteem, but I just have these dark thoughts that no one knows about. I even googled mental illnesses, but it didn't get me anywhere. I still don't know yet, and in the end, if I ask for help, adults will just brush it off and say I'm a dramatic teen. What If that's true? What If I'm making a huge deal out of nothing?" Peter fretted.

 It wasn't in Loki's abilities anymore to speak. Instead, he enveloped Peter in a warm hug. Eventually he got out, "It'll be okay. I'll find you help. I'll be here no matter what."

Amidst his tears, Peter whispered, " Don't make a promise you can't keep. Nobody stays with me forever. "

Loki gripped Peter tighter, astonished at what the child had gone through. He stayed with Peter until Pete had fallen asleep, then brought Peter to his own room. The cheerful environment gave no clues to the teen's inner thoughts, no hint at what was within.

Loki meant what he said. He left wondering, what was wrong with the world that Peter thought he had to burden those thoughts alone? Sure, Loki had when he was younger, but he wished better for Pete. If anyone deserved it, it was him.