Broken

Dreams

My heart was thumping loudly.

I was sweating and fearful.

I was tangled in my bedsheets, feeling more frightened then I'd ever been in my life.

It took me a moment to work out that the emotion was not my own. It was coming from someone else. 

Loki.

Shit.

I got up, pulled on a jacket and headed straight to his room, opening the door without knocking and rushing to his side.

He was lying in nothing but his track pants, his chest rising and falling quickly. I could tell he was experiencing a horrible dream. His hands twitched and his eyes flickered under the eyelids.

"Loki!"

I shook him, but he didn't wake up. My hands on his chest only seemed to make it worse. He yelped, and then screamed a scream of pain, as if someone was torturing him. I shook him harder.

"Loki! Wake up!"

I slapped him across the face, but my efforts were futile. Everything I did only made it worse. His agonizing screams hurt me and his fear and anger was like a sword being run through my heart.

I knew what I had to do but I didn't want to.

I grabbed the remote for the obedience disk and, hating myself, pressed the button.

Electricity shot through his neck and he awoke with a final scream. His body twitched and then became still, his eyes were finally open. They were also wet.

"Loki," I whispered, resting my hand on his heart, feeling it leaping frantically in his chest. "It's okay. You're safe."

Loki sat up slowly, his panicked eyes resting on my face. My hand was still on his chest and I slowly removed it.

"Why is... how did you know... did you use the obedience disk?" he asked, his voice husky from the shouting. I nodded and stroked his hair back from his sweaty forehead.

"I'm sorry, but you wouldn't wake up. You were having a nightmare."

Our eyes locked and I asked mentally 'what was it about?'

'Thanos.'

"Who is Thanos?" I asked him out loud. Loki moved away from my hand and shook his head. I could tell he was calming down, and his breathing had evened out. 

"Okay, none of my business."

"I am grateful that you woke me up. But I do not wish to discuss Thanos," he said, brushing away the tears that had pooled in his eyes. "I am sorry you saw me this way."

"It's not something to be ashamed of."

"yes, it is."

"No, it's not. look, I'm going to leave now, let you get some sleep..."

"Please, can you stay?" 

I stared at him. This was very surprising, yet I could feel his fear still there. I nodded and moved back, on the other side of the bed. I got in under the covers and he lay back down on the other side.

In a matter of moments, he was asleep once more.

I studied him as he slept. His face was softer, less angry, less harsh. His hands rested on his toned stomach. I sighed and closed my eyes.

"Goodnight, Loki," I whispered before falling asleep.