Breathe

Author's Note: This story will most likely be my longest one yet, so I truly hope you stick with it! Keep commenting on your favorite parts :) x 

**Warning: Panic/Anxiety Attack & Mention of Blood, Violence, and Death

Right when you finish the last word, a static sound fills your ear, and the images and memories of being in a car 'crash' on a dark street, play through your mind and into Loki's. 

You look down at your hands and stomach, and you see blood. There's a lot of blood. You can move your head, but not much else. It's quiet minus the sound of a low motor hum. 

Movement in your peripheral vision gets your attention, so you turn your head slightly. A man approaches your car, pulling your dad from it. After the man delivers the first blow to his head, you close your eyes and try to drown out the sound.  You hear your mother in the passenger seat, and then there's complete silence. You don't want to open your eyes. You're just waiting for your turn. 

When nothing happens, you slowly open your eyes again. The man is looking at you. You can't scream. Internally, you are, but nothing is escaping your mouth. 

After what feels like 20 minutes, the man's eyes widen. They're the only thing you can see, due to a mask covering his nose and mouth. Without a word from the man either, he turns and leaves. 

Once you have the strength, you push Loki away from you on the floor of the cabin, "WHAT THE HELL DID YOU DO?!"

Loki is looking at you wide-eyed, "I...I did not do..." His mouth hangs open, breathing fast. "That was not on purpose...."

The tears have begun falling from your eyes, "I TOLD you! I don't talk about that....I d-don't..." You try to talk, but your breathing is getting shorter and shorter, as you begin to stutter through your words.

Loki runs a hand through his hair, looking now at the ground, "I promise you. I did NOT go into yo...Y/N?" He looks-up mid-sentence and sees your current state.

You can't catch your breath, and now you're holding onto the back of the couch. 

Loki gets quickly to you, "Y/N. Look at me." Loki slowly turns your head to his, "You need to sit down." 

You shake your head, but Loki's already guiding you onto the floor. 

Without even realizing, your hand has switched from grabbing the couch, to doing so on Loki's armor for stability. 

"Hang-on," a green light surrounds Loki and now you're gripping a green sweater that Loki's wearing.

"L-Loki...I-I can't...breathe," your knuckles turn white, as you fist the sweater.

Loki puts his hand on your cheek, but then drops it with a huff, "I cannot..." His other hand hits the ground in anger, "This blasted bracelet is blocking my powers that would help!" The frustration is clear in his tone.

"It's o-ok. I'll j-just...." you release Loki and try to use the couch to stand-up.

Loki lightly pulls you back down by your wrist, "Just this once, listen to me!"

You're about to speak when Loki takes your hand and puts it just above his heart.

"Match your breathing to mine," Loki shifts a little closer to you and puts his other hand atop yours. "Y/N. You have to try. I have no magic to help here."

You nod twice, your breath still coming in short gasps.

"Alright. In," Loki breathes with you. "Out."

Your breathing begins to slow, but you're still doing double the number of breaths as Loki.

Loki leans his forehead lightly onto yours, interlocking his fingers with yours, still on his chest, "Come on, Y/N. Focus on me."

Your eyes finally meet Loki's and they lock, as your breathing very slowly gets back to normal. 

"Thank you..." you say nearly 2 minutes later, throat now dry.

Loki keeps his gaze on you as well, "You need to know that I did not enter your mind."

Your nose is nearly about to touch Loki's, which causes you to lean away a few inches, "Loki..."

He shakes his head and pulls you back, so your forehead is against his once more, "No. Look at me and see. I did not lo..."

"I know," you cut him off, but stay in place this time. "Just as I did not look into yours when we first met."

Both of you are quiet again, until Loki's eyes narrow in confusion. He slumps back against the couch, "You Impossible Mortal."

Now you stand-up, "Maybe." You take a few test steps, "But, as a mortal, I still need to try and sleep." You make it to your door, but stop, "Loki?" 

He looks-up from the same spot against the couch where you left him.

"Thank you. Again," you say genuinely and lightly smile.

Loki nods once, "Goodnight."

You close your door halfway.

"My Impossible Mortal," Loki mumbles before standing up and going to his assigned room.