His Dove (Loki Laufeyson)

Part 10 (Natural Family)

"Natural family?" Loki asked, his fingers lightly fumbling with the comforter on my bed.

"I was adopted, by the Stark's. I was 5, so I have some.. Vague memories, some of which I think I've just imagined, but the Stark's wouldn't tell me anything."

"Oh." Loki looked from me to the floor for a moment, so I continued.

"Tony always said it didn't matter when I asked. Which I didn't really disagree with... until now, I guess."

"Did they ever tell you what happened?" Loki asked after a second, seemingly interested.

I stared at Loki a moment, but when he went to speak again I answered. "They left, I guess. Tony never told me where exactly, but." I shrugged my shoulders. "They decided they didn't want me."

A rather uncomfortable silence filled the air and I cleared my throat. "That was a lot on the spot, I'm s-"

Loki lifted his hand, rolling his eyes.

"Right. No apologizing to Loki." I said with a bit of a laugh, making him smirk.

"Not just me." He replied quietly, his smile dropping. "Stop apologizing to anyone, for anything, but especially for existing as yourself." I felt my eyebrows raise, so Loki continued, his tongue gliding across his lip before he spoke, "Every one of those memories ended in you apologizing to Tony, for farcical things like having feelings or being better than him. You apologized for finding a solution for his prototype. That's completely unacceptable."

I scoffed out a bit of a laugh, looking down. "I guess I do apologize a bit too much."

"A single apology from your lips is too many." Loki said, his hand lightly resting on my leg. "Queens should apologize for nothing."

I felt a blush creep onto my lips as I looked at him, seeing the ghostly faint smile on his lips. "Thank you, Mischief."

He nodded once in response, leaning back in the bed, "You should get some sleep. We can work on your abilities tomorrow, if you would like." His voice was a hush whisper as he looked at me, and it was only then I realized how close we had moved to one another, our arms brushing against one another with every breath.

"I'd like that." I said as I followed suit of Loki, laying back. He nodded and began to sit up, but my hand instinctively reached out to his, grabbing it lightly. "Stay with me?" I asked quietly. "Only if you want, obviously. I just..." I licked my bottom lip. "I slept really nicely last night."

Loki's eyes narrowed a bit, a gleam running across them as he looked at me. Nonetheless, he wordlessly laid down further beside me, and that night I fell asleep being laced within his cool touch.

That next morning I woke up to an otherwise empty bed, making me huff as I stood. I'm not sure what I expected, if I had truly wanted Loki to stay all night knowing the chaos it could cause from the others. I quickly changed clothes and went out to the kitchen area to grab a cup of coffee. Loki and Thor sat down at the table, clearly in a somewhat heated conversation though I couldn't hear anything. I was more focused on the dark haired asshole sitting at the island, the one who's stare I could feel the entire time I made my cup.

Finally, I turned around as I brought my mug to my lips, making eye contact with him. Tony cleared his throat as his unease filled the room. "You're still here."

"I do currently still own part of the compound. So, yes."

"Currently?" Tony asked, his fingers dancing on the counter.

I only hummed in response as I set my mug down directly across from Tony.

Tony huffed, grinding his teeth a bit. "Dani, you know I love having you here. We are a team, you and I. I just can't let you work for shield."