Soul Healer (Loki x Reader)

22

It was well after dawn when you and Loki had to end the magic of that night and reluctantly had to come back into the tower.

Clint was making breakfast again, while Natasha and Steve were discussing in low voice over what looked like some SHIELD's dossiers spread open on the dining table. "About a time you two", Clint teased "Tony and Thor was threatening to divide your pancakes if you didn't show up soon" he added with a grin at the two boys sitting at the table. "Hey, it's not my fault if Reindeer Games forgets that his girlfriend has human needs, like eating for example." Tony scoffed.

Loki whipped and snarled at Tony and you jumped slightly, quickly ducking out the arm he was wrapping around you shoulders while walking you into the room. You turned to face his angry expression. "Just ignore him" you whispered, laying one hand in the middle his chest and turning to scowl at Tony. He was particularly susceptible because Pepper came home and then had to go back again on travel, so he was just overshowing his dumba**s attitude.

You and Loki went to sit at the dining table, at the far end from Tony, and you caught out of the corner of your eyes a complicity exchange of glances between Loki and Thor, who smiled wide and gave an accent of thumb up at his brother. He knew about the plan for the night, maybe he had even helped over it. You didn't care, he was Loki's brother after all, and your best friend. So you turned a blind eye on that and gleefully take the plate Clint offered you a moment later.

Also Natasha must had caught something in your super-smart-and-happy face, and looked over you with a question mark stamped on her face, but you gave her the slightest sign of dismissal: gossips were for private sessions between the two of you.

"Y/N, Natasha, Clint and I are going on mission in Washington. Are you up to come?" Steve called to get your attention, apparently having noticed anything in the background. You simply nodded and looked interested at him, eager to know more about what was coming. Thus, you quickly side glanced at Loki: you had never been on a mission without him at your side before.

Loki of course caught you look, tilted his head and glowered immediately at Steve. "Sure, you can come too, Loki" he replied, small laughing and shaking his head in resignation.

Steve spent almost the entire morning going over the plan. The SHIELD had been tipped off about the fact a guy called Brock Rumlow had plans to steal a biological chemical weapon from the Institute for Infectious Diseases. Provided the place would have been packed with civilians, Steve confirmed your role was to pair with Loki keeping a lookout and stand guard for shelter people or supply medical assistance, if needed.

"I'll go to pack up some med supplies for tomorrow then" you told when the meeting was over. You were just halfway the living room when you heard Tony say one of his typically bad jokes. You didn't quite got it, but it was something along the line the fact real Avengers should not be in need to have their security blanket everywhere, especially on missions. A moment later, you heard a low rush and Tony's voice chocking out "Put me down!"

"Loki, there is no need to stab anyone for an innocent joke. Now put down the tin man." you heard Natasha patient voice try to diffuse the brawl. You couldn't help to sneer, jabbing at the elevator button.

*

"Rumlow's on the third floor." you heard Natasha say in your earplug, breathing hard for the run.

"Y/N, just like we practiced." Steve shouted in your direction, while taking down a soldier in black gear with his shield.

You landed lightly into the courtyard, your body shimmering in light, a bolt of magic in one hand, eyes flashing in light-purple. You took control of one soldier, lifted him upward and thrown his unconscious body sideways before directing your powers to lift Steve up and through one of the windows of the building.

You were really supposed to stay out of that mess, but when the mercenaries had emerged from a couple of trucks, firing their rifles around the courtyard of the Institute and throwing grenades at the main door, you all had to jump into the fray.

"I make 7 hostiles" you heard Clint's voice on radio. "Now 6" he added quickly, while one of his arrow skidded through the air and pinned a man onto the wall. "I make 4" Loki growled, taking out two soldiers at one time, stabbing them from the back. "3!" Natasha had just taken out another soldier through hand-to-hand combat.

The battle ended few moments later, when the remaining mercenaries where defeated by the conjunction magical attack from you and Loki. Steve dragged out of the building's main door a well-built man in black armour, hushing him on his knees in the middle of the courtyard.

The rest happened in a blink of an eye.

The kneeling man activated his bomb vest and his armor ignited, a blast of fire blowing in the air few inches from Steve, who stood there completely taken aback. You acted in instinct, and conjured a round shield which contained the blast around Rumlow, who grimaced in agony. The ball grew dangerously big and you desperately tried to control it.

But you felt you were failing.

So, you did the only reasonable thing to do: you shifted your hands, lifting the ball of magic and fire it in the air a moment before it was too late.

The explosion bursted wildly, devastating entire floors of a nearby office building.

"Oh my..." Steve stared up, appalled, scared,  anguished "Nat, we need... Fire and Rescue... On the south side of the building! We gotta get up there!"

*

You watched with glazed eyes the policemen shove the handcuffed remaining mercenaries into a black van from the tent the firefighter had pulled up as coordination point, following the cars procession with your head when they drove off. A couple of ambulances were still parked across the main entrance of the office building, and you were not quickly enough to turn your glance away when the paramedics exit the doors carrying the first body-bag on a stretcher.

A nasty sensation filled the pit of your stomach, a bitter taste raised quickly in your mouth, as you felt the dizziness overcoming your sense and fogging your mind. Your legs trembled as your heartbeat raced in your chest, and your breath was caught short. Fighting in the attempt to suck air in, you felt a thigh grip wring around your lungs and the blood flushing away from your face.

"Cap" Loki's voice was cold and dry when he called Steve to get his attention. Steve stopped his argument with the couple of policemen who were interviewing him and turned in your direction, in time to see your frame lean against the nearest wall, knees failing and forcing you to a half-sitting position.

"Wha-... She can't stay here like that. Take her away, Loki. I'll meet you all back at the jet. Go!" Steve ordered firmly, clenching is jaw and looking at your pale and sick face with apprehension.

Loki didn't loose time to reply. Steading you upright on your feet with his hands firmly gripped on your upper arms, teleported the both of you directly on board of the Quinjet. He forced you on one of the seats and keeping his fingers gripping your frame, he squatted before you, so that your faces were at the same level, your eyes meeting midair.

Unable to catch back your breath, you hyperventilated, eyes twitching in pain, blurred by tears.

"Darling, you have to breath" he told you softly, but firmly. "C'mon, with me. Breath in... and now out. Good. Another time" It was impressive how good he dealt with the panic attack you were having, counting with you while you started to breath again, slowly, painstakingly.

When you finally pulled yourself back together sufficiently again, Loki didn't let you go. He rose and came to sat in the seats near yours, wrapped his arm around your shoulders and squeezed you in a proper hug.

How had it possible to pass from the most beautiful night of your life, to have to see your worst fear became real before your eyes the very next day? Living with the Avengers really sucked, sometime.