I wanted to write MCU characters × reader little stories, because I know how much it helped/helps me get through the days.
But I saw a post against × reader. The post in itself was neutral. Just saying they didn't like it. And I get it. It's not for everyone.
The problem is...there were tons of people in the comments/reblogs saying it's trash, that people writing and reading those are stupid narcissistic freaks...
It makes me feels so bad that what keeps me from harming myself is seen that way...
You people have a superiority complex and find anything to be bullies... Some of you are even considering yourselves outcasts, and then you spread these hateful words...
Now, my heart feels all sorts of wrong and the dozen of ideas I had feel useless...
Description: When you fall ill after a chaotic experiment goes wrong, insisting it’s 'just cold', Loki refuses to believe in such mortal trivialities and takes care of you.
Pairing: Loki × Fem!reader
Warnings: Fluff all around folks <3
Word Count: 755
A/N: The first in the list of many fics of my Vices & Virtues (yes the p!atd album) masterlist!! This song is deeply close to my heart and what a way to start this saga off with one of my first tumblr heartthrobs. Missing Loki as always, aaaaa cannot wait to write more and chronicle my affections down 💢
Thank you for reading 💋
At first, he’s insufferable about it. He mocks human medicine, scoffs at the process of making soup and declares that “midgardian remedies are as useless as Thor’s humility.”
But when the sniffles you keep trying to conceal get louder and the coughing becomes too intense to reply, the teasing dissolves into quiet panic.
You stated how ridiculous he looked fussing over you like a mother hen, Loki only smiled.
“A hen? Hardly. I am more like…an immune system, a white blood cell. A rather dashing one. Fighting like hell for you.”
“Hey! I study the energy associated with time itself!”, you tease back, raising an eyebrow at him.
“I’ve researched and co-written multiple papers about the Pavličić Theory of Temporal Energy, a random sickness will not get the best of me.”
That was before your joints started to hurt badly, your hearing was blocked and you found yourself bedridden with a fever approaching hard and fast. You succumbed soon enough, struggling to find a proper sleeping position and letting the tiredness get to you after the frustration of thrashing under the sheets.
You felt something grazing your wrist but pretended it was nothing, just a trick of the light. Loki, in the meantime, was secretly but not so secretly, tracing little runes of healing along your wrist. He liked to admire your hand in his during rare moments like these.
You woke to the sound of clinking glass and something faintly herbal in the air, hinting that maybe the nap did help after all, your sense of smell hadn’t completely diminished. The light in your room was dim, flickering like candle flame and when you turned your head, Loki was standing at the foot, sleeves rolled up, an expression of utter disdain aimed at your favourite ceramic bowl of what looked like soup.
“You are awake,” he said, too quickly to hide the relief.
“Good. Because this….concoction….refuses to behave as food should.”
You blinked at him, throat dry. “Did you….did you cook?”
He straightened.
“I improvised. Midgardian recipes are.…limited. But I assure you, my version will not kill you.”
A pause.
“At least, not quickly.”
You laughed weakly, then coughed and his face softened immediately. The sarcasm dissolved into genuine concern as he crossed the room and pressed a cool hand to your forehead.
His magic hummed faintly beneath his skin, a rhythm that steadied your breathing.
“You’ve burned yourself out again”, he murmured. “Your body may be mortal, but it is stubborn to a fault.”
You tried to smile. “I learned from the best.”
He huffed, eyes glinting like fractured emeralds. “Flattery will not shorten your recovery, darling.”
For the next few hours, he refused to leave your side, conjuring cooling cloths, brewing Asgardian tea that glowed faintly green and reading to you in that low, lilting voice from whatever book he could find, sometimes be Norse poetry, sometimes your own research notes (which he pretended to critique but secretly memorized).
His presence filled the quiet, like warmth soaking into your cold bones. Every time you would stir awake, he’d still be there, eyes soft, voice low, magic humming faintly in the air to keep you warm.
When the fever finally broke, you found him half-asleep in a chair beside the bed. His head tilted back, dark hair messy, lips parted in the gentlest snore. For once, he looked almost human. Almost safe.
You whispered, “Your kaleidoscope eyes sparkle at the world, but right now they seem….tired.”
He stirred, one corner of his mouth lifting. “You speak as though you’ve memorized them.”
“Maybe I have.”
He exhaled, a laugh and a sigh in one. “I’m a disappearing act done poorly,” he said softly thinking of his past at Asgard, the complexities of coming to terms with who he is, “but if I ever get it right, you’ll miss me sorely.”
Your heart tightened, knowing exactly what he was referring to. You reached for his hand, cold fingers, careful magic. “Then don’t get it right.”
For a long moment, neither of you spoke. The world narrowed to the sound of your breathing and the faint glow of his magic circling your wrist.
Finally, he muttered, almost to himself, “I’ll still be here, wishing and waiting for you to come on.”
You smiled through the haze of exhaustion. “And you’re doing a great job during all of it, Doctor.”
He leaned down, pressing a kiss to your temple and whispered, “Don’t make me prove it by curing you twice.”
And for the first time in days, breathing came easily.
PS: Just for your information! 🤟🏼
The Pavličić Theory of Temporal Energy is a revolutionary framework that reconceptualizes time from a passive dimension to an active energetic force. The theory proposes that time possesses quantifiable energy described by the formula Et = mc² × T^n, and suggests that all physical phenomena emerge from temporal energy manipulation, offering testable predictions and technological applications including time travel and matter creation.
It also provides novel explanations for quantum indeterminacy, cosmological acceleration, black hole behavior, and the fundamental nature of universal creation (Pavlicic, 2025).
Description: A collection of fics inspired by my favourite Panic! At The Disco album of all time <3
Featuring: Most of my dearly beloveds like Clark Kent, Spencer Reid, Steve Harrington, Nathan Caine, Bucky Barnes, Barry Allen, Sam Winchester, Loki and so many more :,)
A/N: I'm so very excited for this series !!!! :DDD it has been in the works for a while, the memories I hold with the songs are priceless to me and yeah man, cannot wait to dedicate all my favourite blorbos to the album which runs through me like magic ✨️
(Credits to boofinator, slipng and pnglove for the pngs!! <3)
Kaleidoscope Eyes: Loki Laufeyson
'in the sickness of you, I'm just a white blood cell fighting like hell for you.'
When you fall ill after a chaotic experiment goes wrong, insisting it’s 'just cold', Loki refuses to believe in such mortal trivialities and takes care of you.
The Ballad Of Mona Lisa: Aaron Stampler/ Roy
'there's nothing wrong with just a taste of what you've paid for.'
At a masquerade, you come face-to-face with the duality of the man you’ve defended for weeks. And you’re caught between it, fear and fascination at the same time. The closer you get, the more you realize: one touch might summon the wrong man.
Let’s Kill Tonight: Anakin Skywalker
'fate will play us out with a song of pure romance so stomp your feet and clap your hands.'
As the Jedi Temple falls, one last kiss marks the moment you decode to step back when Anakin chooses destiny over love. The song of what you could have been haunts him long after the fire fades.
Hurricane: Dean Winchester
'fix me or conflict me, I'll take anything.'
Dean comes back to the motel after a hunt in the storm, only to find someone waiting inside, a person who carries the same restless weight that he does. One night. One room. Two drifters made of hurricanes with nowhere to call home.
Always: Clark Kent
'when the world gets too heavy put it on my back, I will be your levy.'
You wake up in the hospital, injured and startled, to find Clark Kent (whom you haven't seen in YEARS) at your bedside—with flowers and a get well card, holding your hand like he’s never letting go. Years apart melt away as he helps you recover. Through whispered fears, cooking and multiple moments of golden hours, you discover that the boy from Smallville has always been your home afterall.
Memories: Bucky Barnes
'and they were young and independent, and they thought they had it planned. should've known right from the start you can't predict the end.'
Ready to Go: Stiles Stinlinski
'what does it really mean to get nothing from anyone? there's a million ways it could go.'
Sarah Smiles: To Be Determined !!
'she lives in her world so unaware, does she know that my destiny lies with her?'
The Calendar: Spencer Reid
'and I meant everything I said that night, I will come back to life. but only for you.'
Shaken by a case, you find yourself at Spencer’s door in the dead of night, seeking comfort. In the quiet of rain and night light, long-suppressed feelings surface, leading to a tender, intimate confession that changes everything.
Trade Mistakes: Sam Winchester
'if I ever leave, I could learn to miss you. but sentimental boy is my nom de plume.'
I Wanna Be Free: Barry Allen
'it's safe to say that timing is everything.'
Bittersweet: Nathan Caine
'my voice of reasoning, I don't think I can take the way you make me out to be.'
Nathan Caine knows you as a voice online, you know him as a steady hand guiding your late-night gaming missions. But when real life happens and both of you become co-workers, seeing each other everyday yet not recognizing it AND he shows up at your doorstep, wounded with a sense of familiarity in his eyes, will the feelings you share online survive the realisations of now?
Nearly Witches: To Be Determined !!
'you have set your heart on haunting me forever from the start, it's never silent.'
Oh Glory: To Be Determined !!
'and only my heart knows my head is lying, lying.'
Stall Me: Steve Harrington
'baptized in the river of you, hold on death the moon's just a sliver of you.'
Turn Off The Lights: Peter Parker
'a heavy heart on the boulevard tonight, shooting starts watch me fall apart tonight.'
Summary: Loki meets a beautiful stranger at one of Asgard’s celebratory balls, helping his evening go right.
Notes: Hello everyone! This is a pairing I’ve been obsessed with for the longest time. Helia is a product of so much lore and passion and I just recently realised how good these two would be together! This is a part of a bigger universe that I’ve been brainstorming for a while but Loki season 2 gave me an incentive to finally start writing about it. This oneshot is based on the Taylor Swift song ‘Blank Space’ which fit perfectly with how I envisioned them to meet. Hope you enjoy the both of them as much as I loved writing them!
Part of when we’re all alone, I will reach for you series of non chronological oneshots.
Today was another one of the celebratory banquets that everyone on Asgard seemed to love so much and Loki was tired of mingling with the same people over and over again.
He liked a good celebration, don’t get him wrong but these formal ceremonies were much more stifling than the ones he preferred, the more….indecorous ones. There hadn’t been one in a while and it was such a shame, for only at those times did the uptight nobility let loose, forgetting their inhibitions, indulging in all kinds of vices. And Loki was definitely the one who savoured those gatherings the most.
A few people had come up to greet him, two ladies and three lords, engaging him in conversation about the trivialities they get up to and asking about his.
Alas, the heavy burden of social responsibility fell on his mother and himself since the other two members of his family could hardly communicate in a manner fit to converse with the gathered people, though due to different habits. His brother could not stop himself when he started talking, boasting rather, while his father rarely spoke outside of what was necessary.
Loki on the other hand had been blessed by the natural charisma like that of his mother and people certainly took note of it. He was pretty sure that he knew much more about these nobles than Thor did, no matter if he was still more admired than him. Loki never did understand how that worked.
He could not wait to end the night with a warm cup of tea and an excellent read, hidden somewhere amongst the vast columns of books housed in Asgard’s library.
“Hello there.”
Loki turned away from the group of nobles he was conversing with, to look at who had spoken. Even though it was a little boring to chat with the same people for the umpteenth time, Loki didn’t like being interrupted.
His furrowed brows smoothed when he saw the person who had spoken. The silver haired woman was holding a glass of bubbling drink in one hand, a circlet of gold around her head showing that she was probably of high status, in a gown of white that Loki had to admit looked really attractive on her. Her smile, while genuine as far as Loki could tell, also contained a bit of a sly upturn.
“Where have you been?” Her words brought the furrow back to his face. He was pretty sure he didn’t know this woman, which was admittedly a shame, but true nonetheless. However, he wasn’t about to blurt out his confusion unlike one other member of his family that had no such filter.
“It is nice to make your acquaintance, madam but you must excuse me for my poor memory. I fear I cannot quite remember where we have met before.” His words were smooth, a polite smile on his face and he was sure the woman would blush and tell him she admired him or something of the same manner and he would thank her politely and that would be the end of that. Her reply, voice dripping with honey and suggestion, however had him and the nobles around him speechless.
“Ah, the incredible things I could show you.”
He swore he even heard a gasp from one of the ladies standing near him but the now mischievous upturn of the woman’s lips had him intrigued. Here she was, a lady of unknown - although , he had deduced it must be high - standing, of unknown origins, talking to him like they were more than acquaintances and he didn’t have a clue as to who she was. Maybe he should start paying more attention to who his father invited to these things.
He cocked his head, letting a smirk grace his own face, intent on playing along with her little game. This was the most fun he had seen since the evening started.
“Magic, madness, heaven, or sin? I assure you I have seen it all.” He practically purred, taking a few steps towards the woman. The group he had been standing with, followed along like baby ducklings, intent on seeing this play out. It wasn’t common for people to speak so casually with him, knowing his standing and he knew with confidence that this woman was definitely not of Asgard. He would have remembered such a beautiful and bold lady had she been of its court.
He noticed her eyes brightening, smile turning positively devilish at his response and he felt his heart stutter a little at the way she looked at him.
“Oh, anything that you want. I just saw you standing there, and thought to myself, ‘he looks like he could be my next mistake’.”
This time there could be no mistaking the scandalized whispers of the people around them. But the lady didn’t seem like she cared. In fact, she took a sip of her drink, eyes goading as if wanting to know if he would play along or brush her off in the face of proprietary. Well, she was in for a surprise if she thought he was going to back off.
“A mistake I certainly shall not be, my lady, I assure you. But will the high be worth all that pain?” He let his eyes trace her figure, drinking in her delicious body, made all the more enticing by delicate pieces of gold jewellery that she wore in just the right places.
“Oh, I’ve got a long list of ex-suitors that can attest to that high.” she moved a little closer, voice down to barely a whisper he was sure was meant only for his ears. “And the pain as well.”
He felt a shiver go down his spine at the words, getting a little light headed at the smell of her perfume invading all his senses, her face now a lot closer to his own. Belatedly, he noticed that the people had left them some space, probably not wanting to annoy the prince in case the conversation turned more private, but hadn’t moved their eyes off of them.
“What do you say, my lord? Love is but a game, and I think you want to play it.” She grinned smugly, all too aware of the effect she had on him and it disgruntled him a little that he couldn’t appear as stoic as he wanted to in front of her. Would she think him weak, for showing his appreciation of her words and form on his face and actions? Or would she embrace it, reward him for it with another seductive quip? Although it appeared she did not know that he was a prince, if he put any thought to the way she addressed him. What would she think when she knew?
“So you think this,” he gestured between them, “is going to be a forever thing? A happily ever after?” He didn’t want there to be any illusion between them. Yes he was attracted to her, as was she since she was the one who started this all, but he didn’t want to bind himself , in a manner of speaking, to anyone yet. He had plenty of time to dedicate to debauchery before that happened. And it wasn’t going to be anytime soon.
“Oh, it could easily go down in flames, I assure you.” She smiled sweetly at him and this time, it was he who stepped a little closer, barely appropriate judging by the etiquette. But he was a prince and who was going to admonish him? His mother maybe but he was pretty sure she was not aware of what was happening just yet.
“In that case, will the lady—“
“Your Majesty!”
A shout from behind the woman interrupted his sentence and he raised his eyes to look at a knight, looking as if she had just arrived, with a few more guards in tow, all looking at them with awkward expressions.
The woman in front of her stepped back a little, her body still angled towards him to listen to what the knight had to say. He was surprised to see the woman responding to the title of a monarch. She looked young, around his age, and he had just assumed that she was a lady with a foreign delegation.
“Your Majesty, the king of Asgard is requesting your company. And please, do not slip away from us again.” The knight, who appeared to be the head of the guards, spoke in a low voice but Loki was close enough to hear her.
His brows raised in surprise but he made no move to step away. This woman, no Queen, was turning out to be a complex puzzle the more he heard about her and Loki of Asgard, was never one to shy away from a good academic pursuit.
The woman sighed, and spoke a few words to her guards before turning to him, the same smile on her face, although a little subdued.
“I will be looking forward to that game.” She winked, stepping back but Loki was faster.
He took her hand in his, lifting it to his lips, all the while maintaining eye contact with her, and pressed a gentle kiss to her knuckles. He was delighted at the way her eyes widened at the gesture and he lingered like that for a few moments, caressing her hand before letting her go.
“I will be waiting patiently, my lady.”
The smile she gave him crinkled the corners of her eyes and Loki found himself wanting to kiss the creases. The head of the guards gave an exasperated look to her Queen, as if she was used to it and the rest of them strategically averted their eyes.
“Let’s not delay anymore, my Queen.”
The woman turned then, her guards forming a semi circle around her as she walked towards the other side of the room, presumably to where his father was, the guests clearing out of her way as she walked ahead with poise.
“Your highness the king asks for your presence.” A guard spoke in his ear and he smiled, giving a nod in acknowledgment and walking the same way.
Yes, this was the most fun he’d had since the evening started.
Summary: You start wishing on dandelions for Loki to be yours one day.
Pairing: Loki Laufeyson × f!reader
Word Count: 1,785
Warnings: None
A/N: I listened to Dandelions by Ruth B and I knew I had to write a fic with it! I love this one and I hope y'all enjoy it too!
Main Masterlist | AO3
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You weren’t sure why you felt this way about him. There were many reasons why you shouldn’t care about him as much as you did, but there were just as many reasons as to why it made complete sense. You were just whisked into all of these feelings every time that he was near.
Maybe it was the way he spoke your name when you were together. He never said it with hatred nor with a hidden bitterness, like how he sometimes spoke his brother’s friends when he was upset. He only ever spoke your name softly, like if he said it too harshly it would shatter you into thousands of pieces. Even when he said it teasingly, it sounded like a sweet song leaving his lips.
Maybe it was the way he acted around you. He always acted like he was carefree when you spent time together, like he didn’t care if anyone saw him be his true self. You loved when he had that mischievous glint in his eyes when he told you about his plans to trick his brother and his friends, or the joyful look he had when he told you stories about the many adventures he had when he was away.
There was always something in his eyes whenever he spoke to you. Sometimes when he looked at you, it made it hard to breathe properly. It was like that look was only reserved for you to see. You could swear that you could see eternity in his blue-green orbs.
And his smile, oh how you loved his smile. Every time he smiled, it lightened every feature on his perfect face. It made you feel better, and told you that everything was going to be okay. Maybe it was just because you loved seeing him be genuinely happy.
You never met anyone that made you feel the way that you do like he did. You especially didn’t dream about anyone like you did him. Maybe it was getting a little out of hand, but at this point, you didn’t really care. You just knew that you would do anything for him if he asked you to.
You’ve heard of a love that only comes once in a lifetime, you’ve even read it in countless books filled with romance stories. You always dreamed about having that love you read about, hoping that one day you could find that for yourself. Maybe he was that love of yours. He did make you feel so alive and free, like he was the one for you.
There was just one problem, however. You were just friends.
Loki could never feel the same way about you. He was a prince that just found solace in someone like you to be his friend. He just needed a friend and you were just that to him, nothing more.
There was that optimistic side of you that always read too much into things. That maybe he looked at you like that because he felt the same way you did. He never looked at the other girls in the palace like that. But then your pessimistic side would kick in, reminding you that you two were just friends. That he just needed an actual friend in his life.
It was okay though, you figured. Just having him in your life was enough, and hopefully one day you would get over these feelings you had for him. It would just take some time, that’s all.
Hearing someone calling your name pulls you away from your thoughts, making you turn your head towards the familiar voice, seeing that it belonged to the man that was occupying your thoughts recently. You smiled at him, ignoring your thoughts that were nagging at you that you were making it too obvious about how you felt, and that he would surely turn away when he realized it. It was only in your head, there was no way that he knew.
“Do you need something, Loki?” You questioned him once he stood in front of you. You could see the almost childlike look written in his features as he smiled at you, reaching for your hand.
“Just your presence, darling. Follow me,” he told you as he started pulling you behind him. You almost wanted to laugh at how much he was actually acting like a child now, but you couldn’t help but love it.
Loki continued to pull you through the palace and out into his mother’s beautiful garden that was filled with gorgeous and unusual plants from all over the nine realms. He didn’t let go of your hand until he stopped the both of you in front of a patch of what you guessed were some new flowers.
The flowers were green with little yellow buds sprouting from the top of the stems. Honestly, to you they kind of looked like weeds. It was beyond you why the queen would want these in her extravagant gardens. They were pitiful looking compared to the other flowers that she grew here.
You turned to look at Loki then, seeing that he was already looking at you expectantly. You couldn’t stop the heat that travelled to your cheeks. “They kind of… look like weeds,” you voiced your observation to him, gesturing to the flowers for emphasis purposes.
Loki nodded his head as he reached down to pick one, checking around him to make sure no one saw him do so. “Well, I suppose they are, in a way. Mother said that they come from Midgard,” he explained as he twirled the flower in his hand. “Technically, they’re actually herbs. Some Midgardians use them for food and healing… At least, that’s what my mother told me,” he finished, looking back up at you.
Looking back to the flowers, you hummed in acknowledgement, gently gracing your fingers over their petals. “I guess they are pretty in their own way,” you said as you placed your hand back at your side.
You stilled when you felt Loki’s hand brush back a piece of your hair, just so he could place the flower that he had been holding behind your ear. You knew he could definitely see your cheeks turn bright red at the intimacy with how closely he was looking at you now and it made you turn away from him, but you could still feel him looking at you.
“So, uh, did your mother tell you what they’re called?” You tried to drift his attention on you back to the Midgardian flowers, just so it would give you time to compose yourself.
Loki cleared his throat then, turning back to the flowers. “She said they were dandelions,” he answered, looking over them. You secretly watched him, seeing when something caught his eye. “There’s another thing I want to show you,” he said before he grabbed your hand again to drag you to the back of the patch.
In the back of the patch, the yellow buds had turned into puffy balls of what you guessed were their seeds. You watched as Loki picked one of them, making sure not to touch the ball of seeds. “Watch.” He glanced at you before gently blowing the flower, making the seeds all fly away in different directions.
Your mouth fell open slightly as you watched in awe, reaching out to try to catch some of the flying seeds in front of you. Loki chuckled as he picked another one, this time handing it over to you. You thanked him before taking it into your hands, studying it for a moment. You then blew at it just like he did, the seeds flying off as well, making you laugh with joy.
Loki smiled at you warmly as he picked two more dandelions. “They say you’re supposed to make a wish before you blow them and it’ll come true,” he told you as he handed you one of them. You raised your eyebrow at him skeptically which caused him to laugh in return. “That’s what they say! Not me,” he defended himself, raising his hands up as he continued to laugh slightly.
You shook your head at him, a small smile on your lips as you looked down at the dandelion in your hand. Glancing at Loki, you knew what you wanted to wish for, even if it did seem childish. “There’s only one way to find out.”
Together, you both blew your dandelions, watching as the seeds floated away from the both of you. You watched as the breeze carried them throughout the garden and into the other plants. Hopefully the queen wouldn’t mind them too much.
“So… What did you wish for?” Loki asked as he turned to face you, holding his hands behind his back.
You shrugged as you turned towards him as well. “Can’t tell you or it won’t come true,” you smirked at him, which made him roll his eyes. Loki then stepped closer to you, his eyes scanning your face. You started to feel small under his gaze, wringing your hands together nervously. You couldn’t remember if reading minds was one of his abilities or not.
Reaching out to take your fidgety hands into his, Loki looked down at you with that same soft expression he always wore around you. You looked away from him then, trying desperately not to let your anxiety get the best of you.
“What- what about you? Did you wish for anything, your highness?” You asked him jokingly, trying to cover up your nerves with a bit of humor. Only if he knew what he did to you. Maybe he did and he was just trying to let you down gently.
Loki just hummed in response, tilting his head to try to look into your eyes. When you still avoided him, he reached up and gently grabbed your chin with his finger and thumb, turning your head to look up at him. You swallowed hard as you looked into his eyes, seeing that forever look that you always seem to see in them. “What did you wish for then?” Your voice was quiet as you spoke. Loki smiled then, as if he finally found what he was looking for.
“This.”
Before you could question what he meant, his lips crashed into yours as he kissed you passionately, his hand lifting to cup your cheek. You stood there in shock for a brief moment before letting yourself melt into the kiss. You even felt him smile against your lips before he pulled away to rest his forehead against yours. You both smiled at each other as you tried to catch your breaths.
You couldn’t believe that your wish on the dandelion came true.
Summary: You and Loki get a chance to dance together again.
Pairing: Loki Laufeyson × f!reader
Word Count: 1,045
Warnings: Angst, no use of y/n
A/N: So, this idea was inspired by a rewatch of Crimson Peak and Ghost of You by 5SOS. This is also my first time writing for Loki, so I apologize for any characterization mistakes. I hope you all enjoy!
Main Masterlist | AO3
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She had only been asleep for a few hours when her eyes snapped open, a small gasp escaping her lips. It was another nightmare that woke her from her slumber, something that became less common in the past months.
With a sigh, she pushed herself out of her bed, making her way towards the kitchen. She saw the dirty dishes sitting in the sink, begging to be cleaned, and she thought ah, what the hell, why not? She was awake, might as well do something productive for once.
So, she started scrubbing them until there wasn’t a spec of dirt left on them, the water piping hot to her skin. The only sound that was heard throughout the entire house was the water running from the faucet, the sound of dishes clanking together. It was better than the silence that usually ran throughout it.
She stacked the now cleaned dishes in their rightful places in the cabinets, her skin still stinging from the hot water. Her eyes scanned the kitchen, searching for anything else to occupy her ecstatic mind, landing on some ale that had been gifted to her by Thor not too long ago. She couldn’t let a gift like that go to waste, could she?
After pouring herself a glass, she made her way through the house, tidying up where it needed it. She had forgotten how many rooms there were as she walked in and out of each and every one of them, taking generous sips of her drink as she did so.
She found herself in the empty living room, having yet to move any furniture in it. The space was fairly big, since it was meant for a family to live here after all. There were a couple of boxes collecting dust in the corner, having not been touched since she moved in.
Setting her near empty glass on the table, she pulled out one of the boxes, cleaning off the dust with her sleeve. Opening the box, she found an old record player, one that she was able to bring from Asgard to here on Midgard. If anything, it was a miracle that she still had it after everything that had occurred on her way here.
Beneath it, she found the only vinyl record that had survived the move. A small smile graced her lips as she brought the record player to the table, setting it up. She gently placed the record on the turntable, moving the tonearm to the outer edge of the record, and flipped the on switch.
As the music started echoing throughout the house, she closed her eyes, soaking in the melody. It had been a long time since she had listened to this tune, she realized, as she reminisced the many times she had danced to it. She hadn’t danced in a long time, not since…
“May I have this dance, darling?”
For the first time in a long time, a genuine smile graced her features as she turned around, seeing Loki offering his hand out to her, a smile of his own etched on his face. She happily accepted it, the both of them walking out to the middle of the empty room.
“I haven’t danced in so long, I think I’ve forgotten how,” she confessed as Loki slowly started leading her as they started to waltz in circles to the rhythm of the music that echoed from the record player.
“Nonsense. You had the most brilliant teacher,” Loki told her with a sly smile as he spun her around the room. She rolled her eyes as a small laugh left her lips. He wasn’t wrong about that.
Loki watched her with a soft expression written on his face, his eyes never leaving hers. He stopped and dipped her, causing the both of them to laugh with glee before he pulled her back into his arms, holding her close.
She let out a sigh of content as she laid her head on his chest, the both of them still slowly spinning to the music. “Promise me you won’t leave again,” she whispered, turning her head to look up at him.
Loki’s expression saddened as he looked down at her. “I’m afraid I can’t promise you that, my love,” he replied quietly, cupping his hand on her cheek, stroking his thumb up and down. She closed her eyes at the feeling, relishing in the warmth that he provided her.
Her eyes opened to meet his again, the both of them still subconsciously swaying to the music, even though they were somewhat a little offbeat now. “You don’t have to go. You can stay with me and we can be happy together, like we always talked about,” she tried, reaching up to take hold of his hand.
Shaking his head, Loki looked away from her for a brief moment. “You know we can’t. You have to do it on your own now, for me,” he explained, intertwining his other hand with hers, bringing it to his lips as he placed a soft kiss on it.
She let out a shaky breath as she nodded. “I know, it’s just… hard,” she admitted, causing Loki to squeeze her hand comfortingly. “I don’t know what to do,” she added quietly.
“I’m sure you’ll figure it all out eventually. You always were the clever one,” Loki assured her with a small smile, placing a strand of her hair behind her ear affectionately.
Taking a deep breath, she looked back at him, her eyes memorizing every feature on his face. “I miss you, Loki,” she said softly, her eyes filling with tears.
Loki smiled down at her, placing a kiss on her forehead. “I know, darling. I know.”
The record scratching loudly caused her to look back behind her, laughing slightly. “I guess it’s time to get,” she turned back to face Loki, only for him to be gone. She swallowed down the lump that suddenly formed in her throat. “A new one,” she finished quietly as silent tears spilled from her eyes.
She knew that she would never see Loki again, that he wouldn’t come back this time. But it did feel good, at least, to get to dance with the ghost of him, one last time.
