Stress Reduction ( Loki x reader)

Chapter twenty-three: Surprises

Author's note: Hi, sorry for the wait. Honestly, the Loki season two finale really took all my will to write this story or to think about Loki at all, also, life is not always kind. I will be trying to update regularly again, but I can't promise anything. Also, I have finals coming up. Anyways, thank you for being here!

YOUR POV

Last night's episode was the worst it had ever been. Your vision felt too lifelike, exactly like it had happened in real life. Somehow you knew it was getting more serious than it should and silent worry rented room in your chest indefinitely.

You spent half of that night crying in Loki's lap and the other half sitting by the border of the forest, too still, looking out into the trees in complete silence.

Loki didn't seem to mind it and didn't come to bother you.

He seemed to understand what you went through mentally but it must have taken its toll on him because he became just a fragment more distant. You didn't think anything of it. His fewer words must have meant that he too was processing what had happened. Or he was giving you space.

Yet his blood smelled a little colder through his skin than usual.

"Do you want to drive?" You asked him.

"No. You can take the wheel." His quiet voice cut through the clearing and in the next second he was right beside the passenger side door. Teleportation...

"Anything else before we take off?"

"No. We can go."

Maybe him seeing your episode had scared him off. The air in the car felt too strange and you found yourself gripping the wheel a little too tight as though that was the only thing keeping you down on the ground. The silent god on your right kept a tad too still and you couldn't help but wonder if something wrong was coming.

The destination was the big city of New York where no one really cared for anyone.

The risk of the team finding you there was significantly bigger than in the forest but what was the fun in getting by without the danger, the thrill?

Since you noticed his developing likeness for caffein, you wanted to show him your favorite cafe. A place that had welcomed you at your highest and lowest, fed you memories, gave you good stories to tell and had an atmosphere all together that you craved yet failed to create in your homes.

Right now you weren't sure whether your lowest or highest was coming.

The drive, well, it went by...

The smell was the first and best feeling as you stepped in. The old pine door croaked politely as Loki entered behind you. You inhaled as though it was your first ever breath, like a cougar tastes the air when looking for prey, every morsel of wood, books, coffee like a drug reentering the addict's system after rehab.

The barista, who you've watched fall in love, out of love, cry, laugh greeted you with the biggest and warmest smile.

"Look who's back." Her voice sounded as lovely as ever. You smiled back. "The usual?"

"Yes, please."

Home. Home was a right word to describe how you felt in this place. And sharing it with Loki felt like you were showing him, not your naked body but a piece of your soul.

"And for the gentleman?" Her gaze directed to Loki who shyly fled from her, his cold eyes landing on you with a distant plea.

For just a second he looked like a stranger.