Loki X Reader One Shots || 𝐹𝐿𝑈𝐹𝐹 + 𝑆𝑀𝑈𝑇

Secret (Almost) Lovers (Part Two)

Besides the prospect of having to later dine with a group of people that he didn't get along with, to say the least, Loki had a nice day. Although he would argue that every day spent in Y/N's company is nice, he liked this day in particular. Y/N had picked up a few extra things when she'd gone shopping; the ingredients for pizza, and some books she thought he'd like.

They made the pizza at lunchtime, and Loki, despite never having prepared his own meal during almost a thousand years on Asgard, turned out to be a worthy chef. When Y/N and Loki had first met, one of the first activities they did together was make Loki a fried breakfast. It hadn't been Tony Stark's intention for Y/N to cook for Loki when he'd hired her, but it had quickly become apparent that she would probably have to because Loki had been---to say the least---useless. Y/N didn't mind the added workload, though; she'd be cooking for herself back home anyway. And it was nicer eating with Loki than alone.

Their little cooking sessions were fun. At first, Loki hadn't paid any attention to Y/N working away in the little kitchenette. She'd asked what he wanted to eat, and he'd said 'whatever you recommend', boredly from an armchair, not even bothering to look up from his book. But then the sound of crackling bacon had filled the air, new and exciting smells pulling Loki from his novel, leading him to the kitchen where he began watching Y/N's movements curiously. He found the fact that she could crack an egg with one hand fascinating, and wanted to try, so Y/N showed him, directing his clumsy first attempt with patience and understanding. He liked this even more than the fact that he was learning new skills, so asked if there was anything else he could have a go at. Before Y/N knew what had happened, she was running a one-to-one cookery class for the youngest prince of an alien planet.

Because Loki lacked basically all knowledge on what it means to 'dice' something, or how to 'knead' dough, Y/N bestowed the role of understanding the recipes upon herself and focused Loki on carrying out her instructions. His gentle, nimble hands made light work of slicing vegetables, and his endless strength meant aching arms weren't an issue when prolonged mixing was required. His fascination with new tastes and lack of experience with earthly foods meant everything was interesting. They made popcorn one day, just by sticking a bag of it in the microwave, and he thought it was the most delightful thing he'd ever seen.

After lunch Y/N set to work stuffing Loki's laundry in the washing machine, unloading the dishwasher, hoovering, etcetera. Loki kept trying to help, the idea of him just sitting there reading a book while she did all the work clearly making him uncomfortable, and Y/N had to keep reminding that it was---literally---her work. "I'm paid to do this, Loki," she'd explained, snatching his bedsheets back from him as he made his seventh attempt to lend a hand. He'd answered by wrapping her in the bedsheet and jokingly threatening to stuff her into the washing machine with it if she didn't take a break and let him do at least one thing for himself.

"I need to learn how to take care of myself, Y/N," Loki said pleadingly as he placed her down on the sofa, still cocooned in his duvet cover. "It's not like I can just go back to Asgard one day and everything will go back to normal---not that I'd want it to. My days of being waited on are over, and I'm glad of it."

Y/N tried to wriggle free but her arms were pressed tight against her sides. "I know, but I get paid to do this. They'd fire me if it was discovered that I just come here to hang out, making the person I'm supposed to be doing all this for do it himself. How the Hell did you do this up so tight?"

"It won't be discovered. Just... please let me help. Not just for your sake but for mine too; I don't like feeling helpless."

Y/N stared at him for a long time, feeling herself wavering. "Fine. You can watch, but nothing more."

Loki perked up at this, snapping his fingers and the bedsheet suddenly fell away from Y/N's shoulders limply.

She pretended to scowl. "Hey! No magic, remember!" That had been one of their agreements. 'House Rules' Tony called them, handing Loki a pamphlet filled with all the things he could not do upon his arrival. Y/N had put them on the fridge---as instructed---with a magnet, but found it incredibly insulting to her new friend so she stuck another piece of paper over the top, which simply said in clear, bold letters:

THINGS LOKI CAN NOT DO:

ANYTHING STUPID

MAGIC (BECAUSE IT MAKES ME JEALOUS)

Most of the time he complied; he doesn't have much need for magic on Earth, he's found. In fact, he's broken the first rule considerably more times than the second. Like nearly using a fork to retrieve his toast from the toaster (which had resulted in a two-hour lesson from Y/N about electricity), or when he'd broken his first television by hurling a Nintendo Switch controller at it so hard it went through the screen and the following wall.

"That wasn't magic, it was..." He searched for the right word, a smirk tugging the corner of his lip at the expression on Y/N' face. "A coincidence."

Y/N struggled out of her prison and shoved it in the washing machine. "Of course it was." Hand outstretched to set the machine on 'cottons', Y/N suddenly caught sight of her watch. "Wow, it's half five already? That stupid meal thing is in, like, twenty-five minutes. You were supposed to be keeping an eye on the time!"

Loki shrugged. "I hoped that you wouldn't notice, and by the time you did it would be too late to go. Hey! What are you doing?" He stumbled along as Y/N had come up behind him, nudging him towards the bathroom.

"We need to be leaving soon. Go shower, or whatever it is you do in there that takes three hundred years." Once he was inside, Y/N shut the door on him before he could escape; although she knew he could. She heard him huff from the other side.

"It's called making yourself look presentable, Y/N---"

"It's called unnecessary, Loki." Teasing him, now, "Why do you like to get all dressed up for these things anyway? You want to look all nice for Tony and Steve and---"

Y/N had been leaning against the bathroom door and nearly fell backwards as it opened suddenly. She managed to right herself, and turned around to glare at the man responsible, but was soon distracted by the fact that he was standing there, shirtless, staring down at her like he was going to eat her. Y/N kept her eyes fixed on his, not daring to let her gaze drop down to his perfectly sculpted torso because she knew that if she did they wouldn't get to the dinner at all. Or anywhere for the next three days.

"I don't give a single hair from Odin's beard what Rusty, Popsicle---and whatever the other ones are---think of me." He cupped her chin with one long, slender finger, tipping her head up higher to emphasise his appealing height, the power he holds. He knows what he's doing. "It's you I get all dressed up for."

With great difficulty, yet a surprising amount of conviction, Y/N raised an eyebrow. "This---by any chance---isn't another attempt to get out of the meal, is it? Because you know what we'd do if we stayed her; your plans for our first time being meaningful and romantic would be out the window. Do you want that? The first time we sleep together to be because you want to get out of a less appealing arrangement?"

Sighing, Loki dropped his wolfish smoulder and swapped it for bored defeat. "Fine! Please get me something else to wear from my room. We'll go. But let the records show that I don't want to."

"I'm not keeping a record."

He disappeared back into the bathroom. "Well if you were I would want my contempt noted."

"God knows, Loki, that your contempt is noted." Muttering as she walked to his room to fetch the clothes he'd requested, "Drama queen."