Chapter Text
“It’s stupid, that’s what it is.” You sighed as you pressed the button for the elevator. The hotel lobby behind you was filled with idle chatter. You gripped your suitcase handle as you waited, casting a glance to Loki beside you.
He leaned in, mouth close to your ear. “You don’t think you can control me?” His voice was a pur.
You suppressed the shiver that threatened to run up your spine and shot him an annoyed look. He was facing forward again, a half smile on his lips. “No, I don’t. And neither do you. Or SHIELD. Why they pick me is honestly beyond me.”
Loki glanced to you, inclined his head slightly to the side and opened his mouth to speak. The ding of the elevator cut him off and you moved through the doors. He sighed softly and followed.
“Can you do the thing where it ignores the other calls?” You asked quietly as the doors shut.
“And leave poor innocents unheard?” He said, feigning shock.
You frowned. It was selfish. “Yeah, fine, okay.”
“Oh, pet, I was only joking. I was doing that whether or not you wanted me to.” He laughed. The literal pet name caught your attention. He’d been doing that more lately. As if your name or a nickname wasn’t enough. You rolled your eyes at him and fell silent as you watched the numbers slowly climb.
You’d be lying if you said the pet names didn’t make your heart jump. You’d harbored a crush on Loki for quite a while before you were put together to do missions. Well, that is to say that he did missions and you kept tabs. It seemed that anymore you and he were the go to. They rarely paired him with anyone else. You couldn’t understand why, but you weren’t truly complaining. He was funny, attractive, capable. You’d developed a relationship with him, a friendship, that was interesting to say the least. Hearing you got to go on a mission with Loki was like hearing you had paid vacation.
You didn’t delude yourself into thinking that he’d be interested in you, though. He was a God, an Avenger. You were...a human, a nobody agent. That didn’t stop you from pining however secretly.
As you reached your floor, free from stopping for anyone else thanks to Loki’s magic, you trudged down to the room that you would share. This mission was actually something you could help with. It was only recognizance. Stay in the hotel, attend the gala and ball together. Listen for information. Simple enough. You were strong enough to ignore the idea of you and Loki seemingly on a date. The idea of potentially dancing with a literal prince in the beautiful gown your work had paid for. You could do this. You could. And you’d savor every second of it.
You waved the keycard before the door and entered your room, a glance back to Loki making you miss important details. He was focused on the room, which you now directed your own attention to. It was nice, large. There was a sitting area with a TV, a bathroom that you were interested to inspect, a large window and a surprisingly welcoming bed.
It took a few seconds of hamster on wheel for your mind to realize. Bed. Singular. You looked around again, then eyed the sofa. Was it a pull out? You could tell that it wasn’t instantly, but you refused to believe it. This place was far too fancy for pull outs. You cursed under your breath and checked the sofa anyway.
“Those fuckers.” You turned to look at Loki.
“At least you’ve found your accommodations for the night. I will be taking the bed.” His brows arched as he goaded you.
“You will not. This couch feels awful, this place is so expensive so of course they don’t buy comfortable furniture. They want you to pay for the discomfort as if it’s a treat.” You scoffed, frowning.
He chuckled, incredulous. “So you think you should get the only bed? Over the Prince of-“
“You don’t even sleep, Loki.” You interrupted.
“I do sleep.” He said as he sat on the bed, turning to face you, already looking smug. That bastard.
“Rarely!”
“That’s more than never, pet.” Did he drawl the word pet purposely? Did he know it had an effect on you? You were ignoring it.
“You’re really going to try to make me sleep on this couch aren't you?” Your voice was tinged with disbelief and defeat.
“Don’t you think I deserve it? As I am the Avenger of this mission?” He was outright grinning at you now, reclining back on his hands.
“So much for being a gentleman.” You grouched, looking back at the couch. Determination swelled within you. “I’m taking a shower and when I get out I’m sleeping in that bed, so you better settle on the couch or scoot over. You can have the bed tomorrow, Prince Avenger. If I let you.” You growled, marching into the bathroom with your suitcase.
You were going to bitch Stark out tomorrow. Did he think the room needed only one bed because of the mission? He couldn’t have warned you? Any of them? You’ve shared a room with Loki before, that wasn’t new, but you’d been told when that would be happening.
As you stepped into the shower your anger slowly began to fade into trepidation. You’d be sleeping next to Loki. He slept shirtless, you knew this, and he’d made snide remarks about not being able to sleep how he wanted with you in the same room. Had he meant nude? Or just underwear? You’d slept in a bra for that mission and told him so, declaring that any discomfort he had did not compare.
If you left the shower and he was already stubbornly asleep, or feigning to be, you’d take the couch. You could not imagine yourself climbing into bed beside the pale god. You knew that would be a huge concession though. He would take it as a win, as you backing down. You stewed over it while you dried yourself and dressed. Then while you brushed and dried your hair. You hated backing down from Loki. Thankfully you didn’t have to feel self conscious about your pajamas. You’d packed knowing you would be sharing a room.
You grit your teeth as you opened the bathroom door, but your jaw loosened when you caught sight of him. You just barely kept it from dropping open to gape like a fish. He was laying against the pillows, one leg propped up and relaxed slightly to the side. His other leg remained on the floor. He had an arm across his eyes, bicep deliciously on display. He was barefoot, shirtless, and you did not fail to notice his pants were undone and loose on his hips. The open button allowing you to note the V cut of his muscles and a light trailing of dark hair just under his belly button. He looked every bit a lazy prince lounging on his throne. And you were every bit the scullery maid ready to fall to your knees and-
You looked away, but not soon enough because your mouth was dry as you tried to swallow. At hearing the door open he gave a groan.
“Finally. You are not the only one covered in filth, you slow creature.” He grumbled, rising from the bed and marching past you with the undone pants low on his hips. If he noticed your expression he was too irritated to comment.
You recovered quickly when you realized that he was showering now and he’d left the bed open and unguarded. The grin that covered your face was likely disturbingly grinch-like. You leapt onto the bed and snuggled under the covers gleefully. You sprawled your body out, taking as much room as possible. The bed was heavenly, the sheets felt like silk against your skin.
You were starting to drift, still triumphant, when the door to the bathroom opened. You gave Loki a smug glance, snuggling down further. Loki was wearing a pair of black pajama pants and nothing else and he didn’t even respond to you as he marched over to the bed and jerked back the covers.
You scrambled to grab them back, instantly awake and protesting. “You can have the bed tomorrow! I’m here first!” He held the blankets out of your reach and you crossed your arms, refusing to sit up. You wouldn’t make this easy on him.
He only smiled at you. “I’m only playing by your rules.” He said, voice low and amused as he slipped into the bed and lowered the blankets back. He lay on his back and tucked his arms under his head, a pleased smile on his face as you stared in shocked silence. “Bliss,” he said, “blessed silence.”
“You cannot be serious Loki!” You squeaked.
“You are welcome to the couch.” He said as he rolled over and stared challengingly at you, still smiling.
You stared at him, painfully aware of the warmth of him slowly spreading through the sheets. You should go to the couch. You should stand up right now and go. But you couldn’t. You wanted to be here, in bed with him. You wanted to do other things in bed with him.
“Fine!” You finally choked out, rolling over away from him violently, jerking the blankets. You could feel his chuckle through the bed.
It took ages for you to fall asleep. Your heart was pounding in your chest, your stomach was full of butterflies. When you next opened your eyes it was not morning and it was a confused second as you tried to remember where you were and who was touching you.
It came back to you with crushing clarity as you realized just who was holding you to their chest. Loki. Only one bed. Fucking hell. His forearm was in the center of your chest, between your breasts, and his hand rest with his thumb in the hollow of your throat. You could feel it with the steadily increasing beat of your heart. The offending arm was across your lower rib cage, holding you tight against his front. His breath fanned against the back of your neck. You couldn’t deny being held like this was incredibly comforting. His chest rose and fell against your back and you felt as if you fit perfectly in his embrace.
You felt safe and warm, as if this is where you belonged. That was the scariest part. You’d harbored this attraction to Loki for ages and being held by him like this, so tightly and tenderly...it made you melt. Perhaps your feelings were stronger than you realized. It was a terrifying prospect. You should probably pull yourself away, find some way to extract yourself and maybe even go to the couch. You should do that, but it was not what you were going to do.
You would lay here and enjoy the beating of his heart, the way his thumb brushes your skin as you breathe. For these few hours you would be held by Loki, embraced as if you were someone more special than you truly were. You exhaled a peaceful sigh, settling back into him. He stirred lightly and you felt him press his face into your hair, nuzzling there for a moment. You smiled to yourself as he gave a small hum in his chest, still asleep.