Truth be Told

You and Loki walk into the main room for food, "Where is everyone?" You look around at the empty room.

Loki sits and pulls you down onto his lap, "With no one here, we are free to..."

His lips attach to your neck, "Loki. Didn't we just do this?" Your hands betray your words by holding Loki's head in place.

"And? This is now a different location," his kisses move to your jaw.

"Correct. One that has food," you poke Loki in the ribs. "Now, release."

Loki's hands flop to his sides on the couch, "Raincheck."

When you look back at Loki, he winks, "I regret ever teaching you that word."

Nat walks in as you're at the fridge, "Hey! You're finally out! Feeling better?"

You open your mouth to speak, but Loki calls over, "Oh I made sure Y/N was." You look over Nat's shoulder at a grinning Loki, "Multiple times."

You reach next to you and chuck an apple at Loki, but he catches it and takes a bite.

"Based on that, you're definitely back to normal," Nat sits on another couch.

You join them and question Nat, "Where is everyone? It's never this...quiet."

She twists the bottle cap of her water closed, "Tony and Bruce have been in the lab all morning and most of the afternoon."

Something about her tone is off, but then Tony, Bruce, Vision, Wanda, and Steve enter the room.

"It's the only way. They can safely remove it, then Wanda will destroy it," Tony explains tapping a pen in his palm.

"What's going on?" you look between everyone, and then Loki, but his expression is full of knowing worry, not confusion like you. Without turning to you, Loki takes your hand and squeezes it.

"That would be two stones that he can't have," Tony continues.

Loki's hand tightens even more, "Who?"

Tony finally meets your gaze, as if it took him this long to even realize you were in the room, "Doesn't matter. Once we do this, he can't do anything."

And then the only sound in the room is the light laughter coming from Loki next to you.

"Something funny, Reindeer Games?" Tony folds his arms.

"He will ALWAYS do something. You do not even have the slightest idea who you are dealing with," Loki shakes his head.

Tony and Bruce exchange a look, "And you do?" Bruce frowns with concern.

The laughter and grin are wiped from Loki's face, as he stiffens and sits straighter, but never letting go of your hand, "...Yes."

"What? Are you and him personal friends?" Tony seethes.

The first images of Loki being tortured by Thanos go through your mind, that you saw that first time you met Loki, "Tony, stop."

"Mischief sounds like they do lunch regularly," Tony shrugs. "Can you call him and ask him to stop by for some coffee?"

You look down at Loki's hand which has started feeling colder in yours, and you see that it's started turning blue, "Tony." You warn.

The blue lines begin to travel up Loki's arm, "Y/N..."

The pleading in Loki's voice is all it takes, "Hey." You slide off of the couch and kneel between Loki's legs, taking his head in your hands.

While your thumbs slowly run under Loki's eyes, he nuzzles into your touch.

"I'm right here. It's alright. You're safe," you say as Loki closes his eyes. "He can't hurt us."

"Us?" Tony steps closer to you and Loki, but both of you ignore him. "You BOTH need to explain!"

You feel a growl in Loki's throat, "You would not believe me even if I were to."

Nat steps just in front of Tony, "Try. Some of us may actually listen."

Loki looks back to you after looking at Nat, "You don't owe them anything, Loki."

Loki sighs, melting further into your touch, "It is time they know."

You keep Loki's hand in yours as you sit back onto the couch.

"Go on then," Tony presses, earning a glare from you, Thor, and Nat.

Loki takes a deep breath, while his grip starts to loosen on your hand, but never breaking contact, "I take the blame for...most of what happened in New York." He pauses, and this time everyone remains silent. "My wish was to rule, and..." His jaw clenches. "Thanos provided me with the Chitauri, in exchange for the tesseract."

"The space stone," Bruce already starts to put the pieces together.

Loki nods, "Thanos will stop at nothing to get what he wants."

"What does he want?" you can hear the worry in Nat's voice, even though most wouldn't be able to.

"Control," Loki simply answers.

"Of?" Tony's pen has been hanging in the air for the last few minutes.

"Everything," Loki's head tilts down, as he presses his tongue to the roof of his mouth.

The room remains quiet as everyone processes what Loki said, until Bruce speaks, "So Thanos just gave you the Chitauri and the scepter so you could invade the Earth?"

Loki winces, "I only wished for the rule of Midgard. Thanos wanted the stone brought to him..." He roles his jaw, "No matter the cost."

"And in your strive to rule, so many lives were lost," there's bitterness in Nat's voice.

"I DID NOT WANT ANY OF THAT!" Loki's voice raises.

"Yet you did not seem to hold much remorse as it was happening," Steve leans against the kitchen island.

Loki's quiet for a moment, "The scepter was used to manipulate the minds of others."

"We know that already," Clint gives Loki a look before looking at the ground.

"Yes, well," Loki's hand tightens in yours once again. "Meanwhile, Thanos was using it to do the same...to me."

"...Loki?" a mix of shock and hurt runs through Thor's expression and voice.

"I still felt everything. But..." Loki continues. "It was as if there was a shade in front of my eyes that I could not lift or break through."

"How did you break through it?" Bruce frowns.

"I did not," Loki's thumb traces yours. "Y/N did."

You and Loki exchange a smile before you turn back to the group, "Loki is right. Thanos is unpredictable and dangerous."

Tony immediately looks at you, "You...you've met him?"

You nod, "He's quick, Tony. If Thanos has a plan, and I would bet the tower that he does, he will...remove anything that gets in his way."

Tony pauses a second to think, "We leave for Wakanda in 30. Let's not waste any more time."

You stand to leave and pack with everyone else, but Loki holds your arm.

"Not you. You stay," Tony directs.

You exhale a laugh, "Like hell!" You try to walk, but Loki's grip stays firm.

"Y/N," Loki's voice is stern.

"No! I'm not going to just sit around and wai..." 

"They have a plan. Thanos will see us and it will only cause more trouble than good," Loki's eyes are almost puppy like.

"I can't believe I'm saying this, but Loki's right," Tony steps to the side and looks-up as if lightning will hit him.

Now your eyes widen, "This must be serious if both of you are agreeing on something."

"Great. So you're staying. Choice is made," Tony walks out of the room before you can protest.

Loki comes and stands behind you, holding you against him, "I will gladly occupy you myself the entire time if need be."

Author's Note: I'm guessing this story will be around 80(ish) parts long, which is literally double of what my other two completed stories were. As I've said, I really appreciate all of those sticking around to read this one through! The outline, along with sections of my 5th story are coming together. I may have an ending for it already in place (subject to change of course). Hope you'll give that one a chance as well x