Bittersweet *Currently On Temporary Hold*

Chapter 5: To Kill A Mocking Bird

It was the middle of the night when you woke up. You jolted upright from a nightmare, cold sweat covering your face and dampening your wings.

It was them again. The ones who captured you and made you what you are now. The monsters that burdened you with the powers that gave you the name Killer Strike. You had dreamt of their experiments and your grueling training that had nearly killed you. You shivered at the thought of them and got out of bed. You knew you weren't going to get any more sleep so you got dressed in a pair of shorts, a tight black shirt, and a green jacket your sister gave you years ago; the first and only time you had met.

You really didn't want to be alone right now, and you would usually go to Thor any time you had nightmares so that you did.

You put on your black, high-top converse and grabbed a couple books, including (Y/F/B) to read today. You were going to recommend them to Loki, knowing that he liked to read.

You made your way to Loki's cell after grabbing a bowl of strawberries, and putting whipped cream on top of them, something you had started doing to calm yourself down from a nightmare. That, and you needed breakfast, even though it was three-thirty in the morning.

When you got to Loki's cell, you unlocked the door. Inside the cell, Thor and Loki were sitting in silence that wasn't strained, but it wasn't exactly comfortable. Both of them perked up when they heard the click of the door unlocking, wondering who else would be here at this ungodly hour.

They were both a little concerned to see you shuffle through the doorway awake, but whither-eyed, and fully dressed, books in one hand and calming strawberries in the other.

"Lady (Y/N)? What's wrong? Your wings are drooping." Thor asked and pointed out with concern, but he already knew the answer.

"Another nightmare." You answered quietly, and a little scared, as you walked over to Thor who stood to give you a comforting hug. He knew you probably wouldn't want to talk about them, you hadn't lately, so he didn't ask. For that, you were grateful.

"Do you need anything?" Thor asked as he let go of you.

"Just to have company so I won't be alone." You whispered timidly.

All the while you had been here Loki had watched as Thor held you and comforted you. He wanted to do that. He was surprised by the want to make you feel better, but it was there, in his heart. It had hurt him when he heard you utter the word nightmare. He didn't know why, but his heart clenched when he heard your scared and small voice. He knew you as confident and sharp minded, not able to be swayed by even him, so seeing you scared like that had such an impact on him that he lost his balance for a minute.

"I won't leave you alone Lady (Y/N). Not unless you think you're good." Thor promised, letting you sit in the big, cushioned chair, while he pulled up a smaller chair.

"You don't have to sit in that chair Thor, you are the one whose actually on duty here. Let me sit in the smaller chair. It doesn't look near as comfortable as this one." You kindly insisted.

"Are you sure Lady (Y/N)? I feel you need to have as much comfort as possible right now. I've heard how bad your nightmares get, and I think the comfort would benefit you more than I." Thor said as you got off of the big chair.

"I'm sure Thor. I'll be fine. After all, I've got you and Loki here to keep me safe don't I?" You state as you take the smaller chair from his hands and sit, beginning to eat your strawberries and turn to the first page in (Y/F/B), not giving Thor a choice in which chair to sit in.

Thor chuckled at your actions as he sat, "I guess you do Lady (Y/N)."

Loki was beyond baffled at your selfless kindness.
'Is this what she's really like? When she's not guarding me?' Loki thought to himself, 'So kind and gentle? Why? Why did she talk so kindly of me? Could she... No.' He wondered as he found himself admiring that aspect about you. He didn't realize what he was thinking until he shook his head, clearing those thoughts from his mind. 'No Loki, you can't go thinking of her that way. She only sees you as a pitiful demi-god.'

You read in silence until your shift came around. You had gotten through (Y/F/B) and partly through To Kill A Mocking Bird when it was time for your shift to start.

"Thanks for staying Thor." You said as he went to take a nap before facing the rest of the world.

"Not a problem Lady (Y/N). As your best friend it's my job." Thor replied with a smile as he left the room.

When you sat in the big chair you stretched your wings a little and cracked open To Kill A Mocking Bird so you could finish it.

Unsurprisingly, before long Loki asked about the book that was in your hands.

"What are you reading?"

"It's a book called To Kill A Mocking Bird. It's an extremely interesting book if you're looking for Southern styled literature. It's one of those books that really sends a message to the reader and makes you realize how messed up we really are. At least that's what it's like to me." You say with profound interest. To Kill A Mocking Bird was your second favorite book in the world, so of course you spoke passionately about it.

"Would you mind if I read it some time?" Loki asked with curiosity. The way you described the book lead Loki to gain an interest in it.

"Well, I don't know if Fury would be alright with me getting in the cell with you, even if for a second, but I think I could be okay reading it to you. I've never really been that good at reading aloud, but if you want me to I will." You offer kindly, letting Loki know that either way, you really didn't mind. 

"That would be nice. If you don't mind of course." Loki said. The thought of an entire book being read to him in your voice was a beautiful thought to him, though he wouldn't tell anyone.

"Alright then. Here we go. "To Kill A Mocking Bird: Chapter One: When he was nearly thirteen, my brother Jem got his arm badly broken at the elbow...""

You continued to read the book to Loki. Him listening intently and taking in the story, and you happily reading the book for what must be the millionth time. Occasionally you would stop and talk about what certain things meant and why the message of this book was so important, but otherwise he listened to the book in your lovely voice, and you read, happy to make him at least a little more comfortable in his prison.