V I G I L A N C E ~ (Marvel) ~

C H A P T E R 9_

(song: Skeleton by Gabrielle Aplin)

I wake up to the sun shining in my face. I frown. Why am I outside? I take a deep breath and stretch while letting out a yawn. However I freeze when I feel the thing I am laying on is not a soft mattress, but a body. I intake a quick breath of air as I push myself up on my hands to see who I am laying on. I relax when I see pale skin, black hair, and green shirt.

Loki is asleep, his head turned slightly to the left, letting the morning sun highlight his perfectly carved cheekbones and flawless complexion. I had never seen him so helpless, lying deep in sleep. People like him would normally have nightmares in his sleep like when in the cell before... but he looks peaceful, his face usually with so much expression relaxed.

Somehow this sight makes me feel tired again. I lay my head on his chest for a moment, too lazy to get up. I had been exhausted from yesterday and it had finally sunk in.

Against my ear I can feel his chest move gently up and down, hearing his faint heartbeat as I feel the fabric of his leather vest on my fingertips. I fell asleep first even though I don't remember it. I must have done so while he told his story. I try not to smirk. I can't believe he stayed here. Did I keep him captive? Why didn't he wake me up?

I shut my eyes and rest there for a long moment.

After a while I feel a more hesitant breath escape his lungs that makes me wonder if he is waking up. I stay there... until I feel him move just slightly. I think it's sleep moving. He isn't awake, right? For some reason I am too hesitant to check and make this awkward situation even more awkward. Maybe if I pretend to be asleep he won't realize that I'm awake...

I don't move and I can feel his head try to lift in order to see me and then fall back on the ground... I just lie there with my eyes shut.

I still don't really know if he's awake but if he is then I can't move. If he knows I'm awake and deliberately staying here then... oh wow no.

Eventually I allow myself to make a peek and tell if he's awake. His eyes are shut.

Good he's not awake. Then he doesn't know I haven't left. Or... he's not doing the same thing I am, is he? No that would mean he would want to be here and I know that's not true. If he was awake he'd shoo me.

Right?

He's not pretending to be asleep...

I guess I can wait until he wakes up—

A loud whooshing makes me flinch and stand up immediately and the body beneath me does the same thing even though I know the sound wasn't loud enough to wake him up if he was sleeping...

I look over at him as he stares at me with wide eyes and I do the same. We don't know what to say and he just keeps his eyes shocked.