"Loki, you made me promise to wake you and let you take me to class," you reminded the stubbornly sleeping Asgardian. You kissed him again to wake him. "That means you have to get up when I wake you," you added with another kiss.

"Sig, go back to sleep," he murmured, wrapping an arm around you and tucking you more securely against his side.

He was adorable mostly asleep, but... "Loki, I have to go to class," you reminded him as you pushed out of his arms. "If you don't want to take me, I'll go by myself," he growled softly and reached for you. You were without your powers and he was overprotective. You wanted to let him make you tea and tuck you safely back in bed, but you had to go to class.

"Skip," he grumbled, still without opening his eyes.

"Can't. I miss enough classes on legitimate missions. Fine, I'll get Thor to take me," you teased as you managed to scramble out of the bed before he could drag you back to cuddling. If he got you back to cuddling, you were going to miss your class. His arm snaked out and grabbed your wrist as he cracked an eye open.

"You will do no such thing," he snarled softly.

You giggled and kissed his forehead. "Then get up, silly Trickster," you told him and pried his hand off of your wrist so you could get dressed. Fwumpy old jeans, a shirt that was Loki's, and a hoodie that was...also Loki's and you were presentable and as comfortable as possible. You turned to Loki, who had managed to finally climb out of the bed and laughed when you saw what he was wearing. "Darling, I adore you in formal wear, but we're going to a college campus. There's no need to wear a full suit," you teased, he had a wide mischievous grin on his face. He'd done it on purpose to make you smile. You stood on your toes to kiss him, thanking him for his effort.

With a shimmer of green magic, he was wearing jeans and a nice green sweater. "Better?" he asked with a smirk.

"Better for fitting in," you conceded. You fwumped your head against his chest and made a soft, pained, noise.

"Darling, why must you go to class today?" he asked softly as his arms wrapped around you.

"I can't skip my obligations. Plus I have a test," you grumbled as you forced yourself to stand on your own again. "I'll be fine,"

He kissed the top of your head. "I dislike seeing you in pain," he told you softly. A cup of tea appeared in your hands. You kissed his cheek.

"I love you too," you told him and sipped on your tea as you turned to leave your suite and face the day.

"That is my job," Loki growled at you when you reached for your school bag. You raised your free hand in surrender and stepped back from it.

"You're being extra overprotective and grumpy today," you told him as you left your suite.

"You are without your powers and I had nightmares about it," he told you stiffly. He hated admitting when he had nightmares, but this one must have been important for him to say something, or have him this angsty.

"Want to tell me about it?" you asked gently. Sometimes he would, sometimes he just wanted you to know that he was on edge.

He shook his head and wrapped his arm around your shoulders, pressing his lips gently against the top of your head. "Just let me keep you safe. I couldn't live with myself if anything were to happen to you, witchling," he bid you softly.

"That's why you're coming to class with me, love," you reminded him softly. "I'm here and I'm safe," you pulled a dagger from the sheath at your back. "Also armed," you told him with a grin. He smirked when he saw the blade, you resheathed it quickly.

"Very wise, darling," he told you warmly.

Nat handed you a sack of aluminum foil wrapped breakfast sandwiches when you entered the kitchen to find something to eat. "Eat one now," she ordered you firmly as you reached into the sack to pull one out for Loki. Loki took the sandwich from you and carefully unwrapped it. He thanked Natasha for making breakfast.

"How many did you make?" you asked, staring into the bag.

"Enough to keep him fed until lunch," she replied, gesturing to Loki with her pancake turner. "Now eat one," she grumbled at you. The entire team knew how you were without your powers. You rolled your eyes and pulled one of the sandwiches from the bag to eat.

"Natasha..." you started, wanting to protest that you didn't need taken care of. You weren't a little kid, or helpless, just because you were without your powers. And felt like hell.

She gave you a warm, gentle, smile. "You heal and take care of us all month long. Let your family take care of you the few days you're vulnerable," she told you kindly. You gave her a tentative smile and nodded.

"Thanks, Natasha," you finally said and took your seat at the dining room table to enjoy your breakfast and tea. Loki ate three more of the sandwiches before you had to leave for class.

"Are you driving us or teleporting?" you asked Loki as you looked at the time on your phone.

"They won't be concerned over teleporting?" he asked, a little confused. You usually didn't go advertising your powers unless you were on missions.

You laughed as you shook your head. "Nah, I end up teleporting to class half the time. They're used to it." Getting up in time for class was difficult after missions. Unfortunately, one of the classes you were required to take was an 8am.

"Very well," he replied as your teacup refilled itself. You had time to finish your tea and have a pleasant conversation with Loki while he cajoled you into eating another sandwich. You put the sack of sandwiches in your school bag for Loki to snack on through the morning.

The emergency alarm went off on your phone. You shut it off and stood, mournfully leaving your teacup behind. Loki still looked anxious. "Love, we'll be fine," you reminded him and kissed him. "It was just a bad dream," you added softly. He stood and wrapped his arms around you.

"I still worry," he told you equally softly. An instant later you were on the outskirts of campus. Loki offered you his arm, and you placed your hand on his arm and led him to your first class.

*

Your classes went fine. The professors didn't mind the visitor and welcomed Loki if they even noticed him. He was interested in American college, though whined about the incorrect information and stupid incoherent explanations and proceeded to dive into how he was taught the material. His explanations made a lot more sense.

It was nice walking around campus with Loki. It almost seemed normal, walking to class with your fiance. You'd never be normal on Midgard, you weren't even human, but it was nice to pretend.

The breakfast sandwiches barely made it to lunch. Barely.

You had lunch with Peter at one of the sandwich shops on campus. Loki still didn't like Spiderman for flirting with you once, but he was pleasant enough, especially when Peter just talked about his classes and his crime fighting. Peter also didn't question why you begged Loki for more tea and looked so pathetic today. "Sorry, Pete, little under the weather today," you told him when he did get worried. Loki placed his cold hand against your forehead after Peter had left for his next class.

"You need to rest, darling," he told you softly, concerned, as he used the little healing power he had to relieve some of your discomfort.

"I know. One more class and I'll gladly let you tuck me back into bed," you told him, nearly moaning in relief at his cold hand on your flushed skin.

Everything was going fine until you were walking to your last class of the day. It was in the furthest building off campus, to torture you because you were a freshman. Loki stiffened as you were walking. "What's wrong?" you asked, looking for the danger he sensed. Your hand reached automatically for the dagger at your back. He stepped in front of you, daggers in hand, armor shimmering into place as a group of people dressed in black surrounded you.

"Come with us healer. We'll leave Loki alone. We have a job for you," one of the group told you, stepping forward and offering a hand. "After the job is done, you can return to the Avengers perfectly unharmed." You gripped Loki's cape, your other hand around the dagger hilt at your back. "You're coming with us!"

"Trust me, darling," Loki told you softly enough that the group couldn't hear.

"Always," you whispered back.

"Let go," he told you gently. You dropped his cape. "Forgive me," he told you softly as the group in black moved forward, sensing that you weren't just giving up and going with them. You were about to ask what for when you saw a circle of green forming under your feet.

"Loki, no. I can help!" you protested.

You yelped when the circle completed and you fell through. You shrieked as you fell helplessly for a moment before you landed on a soft chair. You were about to jump to your feet to figure out where you were and how to get back to and help him when a hand clamped firmly on your shoulder, holding you in the chair.

"Apparently, your fiance wishes for me to keep an eye on you for a few minutes," Doctor Strange said dryly as his grip on you tightened. He didn't seem surprised that you were here, or in a desperate state to get back to Loki..

"Send me back!" you told him firmly, trying again to get back to your feet.

"I think not," Strange replied dryly. "You were just in here yesterday healing my hands," he reminded you. You huffed and stopped struggling. He knew that you were without your powers. You could fight him physically, but it would be dumb and you both knew it.

"If he gets hurt, I'm going to kill him," you growled. A cup of tea appeared on the desk in front of you.

"Why don't you tell me what's going on over a cup of tea while we wait for him to arrive?" Strange asked.

"Fine," you grumbled, but picked up your tea. "Did Loki give you the recipe?" you asked him as he seemed to finally accept you weren't going to just go running out of the sanctum stupidly. You recognized Loki's healing tea the instant you took your first sip.

He took his usual seat and nodded. He had a cup of tea too, but you were sure it was a different blend than yours. "Well, he left some of the tea here for you and I determined its composition, so that's almost like he gave me the recipe," he amended.

"For Loki, that is giving you the recipe," you told him with a small smile. "This was always a contingency plan wasn't it?" you asked. This was too well planned for them not to be in cahoots about it.

Strange inclined his head. "Loki asked if he could send you here if he thought you were in danger when you're without your powers. He trusted us to be able to keep you safe while he dealt with whatever the danger was, and there's always someone here, unlike the tower," he added before you could ask why he hadn't sent you there. "So, what happened?"

You explained briefly about the group in black and how they'd demanded your services as a healer. "They could have just asked," you added softly. If someone needed healing, you had a high likelihood of agreeing.

"Unless it was a villain or some other undesirable," Strange said before you could. You nodded. The team, namely Jarvis, monitored the healing requests that came in and didn't even let you see the ones from untrustworthy sources. You had issues turning down healing requests...

Loki appeared in the room a moment later. Strange was on his feet as Loki materialized, gold magic surrounding his hands as he was in position to defend you. He relaxed when he realized it was Loki and nearly got shoved off his feet as you jumped up from the comfy chair to go glomp Loki. "Are you ok?" you demanded as you hugged Loki too tightly. You let him go to look for injuries. You smacked his arm hard when you were satisfied he wasn't hurt. "Don't you do that again!" you scolded him, glaring up at him.

He wrapped his arms around you and pulled you to him, holding you tightly. "They were after you, love. I know you can fight and defend yourself, but I am not taking any chances with your safety when they are specifically after you,"

"Ahem. So what happened to the people who were after Y/N?" Strange asked. Loki let you go enough that you could turn in his arms to see Strange while you spoke with him.

"SHIELD has them in custody, worse for the wear, but alive. Fury promised they will be questioned most thoroughly as to why they wanted to take his healer, my beloved." Strange nodded, accepting that answer. Loki kissed the top of your head, reassuring himself that you were safe. "Thank you for watching out for her while I was occupied," he added politely to Strange, who inclined his head, but looked like he was beyond ready to get Loki out of his sanctum.

"Can we go home now?" you asked Loki softly. Strange shot you a grateful glance. He could only handle Loki in small doses, especially when Loki was in a dangerous mood, which he was right now, or would be if he were separated from you. It was your job to keep him calm and happy.

"Of course, witchling," he told you warmly. You waved to Strange and an instant later you were back in your suite.

"You're not hurt?" you asked him again as you kissed him. Loki could be bribed to stay in a reasonable mood with kisses.

"No, I'm not hurt. I swear, little healer," he told you warmly.

"Good," you kissed him again, and he smiled.

It wasn't long before you were tucked back in bed with him cuddled up against him where he was sure you were safe. He kept kissing your forehead, the top of your head, even your nose, reassuring himself that you were here and safe.

He threw a dagger at Thor when he came to check on you, having heard of the attack.

*

A week later an Fury had no new information. The group wouldn't spill who they were working for. They just kept insisting that you were being contracted for a healing job. There were no more attacks while you were out, so the issue was set aside, for now. Especially when you had your powers back.

You were at a charity event a couple weeks later, in a floor length green gown and heels. Loki was your escort as you mingled with the crowd. Most of the crowd were the orphans who the event was for. They were adorable in their little suits and dresses and they loved seeing all their favorite superheroes. When he thought no one was looking, Loki kept making little illusions to entertain the children. They flocked around him and you smiled at how adorable he was with the children.

There were hundreds of kids who were all trying their hardest to be on their best behavior. They did really well when they managed to get Loki to read them a story. They all sat around the chair he was sitting in, watching in amazement as he read the story and used illusions to make it come to life for them. You watched from the sideline, enjoying your fiance and how good he was with the kids.

You looked up when an arm draped over your shoulder. "Hey, Thor," you smiled up at Thor in a suit jacket. He still couldn't be convinced to wear a tie. "Enjoying the party?"

"It is a stuffy event," he whined. "But it is for a good cause, and I enjoy seeing Loki like that," he gestured to Loki, who was obviously enjoying entertaining the children.

You all looked up when little packages dropped out of the ceiling, fluttering down to waiting hands, like a party gift. The children jumped to their feet to grab one of the gifts from the sky. Most of the packages were falling toward the group of them and Loki.

It seemed familiar.

And wrong.

Why was it wrong?

Where had you seen this before?

It reminded you of that scene in the Hunger Games, you realized a moment too late.

The packages exploded. You ran forward, donning your armor as you ran for the children. The sight that awaited you was terrible beyond words. You fought your healer instincts long enough to rouse the dazed Loki. He had been caught up in the explosions.

"We'll guard, heal the children!" Thor roared. You nodded. The team circled around the destruction, spreading out to guard.

You grabbed Loki's hand and hauled him back to his feet. He looked horrified at the sight of the mangled children he had been reading to just moments before. You saw the tears and grief in his eyes. "Loki, focus, they're alive. Help me heal them!" you ordered firmly, snapping him back to what he needed to do. You didn't have the power to fix this yourself, not in the little time you had.

Loki's hand was in yours a moment later. "Take what you need," he said as he opened his magic to you. You drained both of your power ruthlessly to heal the children. They were so mangled, so bloody, so damaged. You would gladly help Loki kill whoever had done this to the innocents. You reattached limbs, brought some back from the brink of death.

A battle raged around you, but you ignored it, trusting the team to keep you safe while you healed the children.

Whoever did this was a dead man walking.

The healing was finally finished. Stark, Nat, Clint, and Bruce herded the children to safety, leaving you and Loki in the care of Thor.

You were both nearly passed out with exhaustion, drained of power. Loki was only slightly better since you used some restraint on his magic. But only some. "Get the healer!" you heard the call as you fought to keep your feet under you. You whirled toward the voice, daggers in hand. "Should have come with us when we asked," another voice. You couldn't focus. Shit. Loki was at your back, daggers in his hands too. You were in this together, just like always.

Surely, everything would be alright.

Until the spelled net came flying at you and Loki. You felt the magic in the ropes, felt the binding spells. Loki caught the glimpse of it and whirled, shoving you out of the way, so you stumbled toward Thor.

You held out your hand as Thor's arm wrapped around you. "LOKI!" you screamed as the net landed over him.

"One of them will have to do. Let's go!" one of the attackers yelled. You managed to get out of Thor's grip, both of you rushing to help your Loki, but the next instant, he and all of the attackers were gone.

It wasn't Loki's magic that made them vanish.

But they were gone.

"LOKI!" you screamed helplessly. He had sacrificed himself to save you from getting taken too.