A/N: Here's my first attempt at a marvel fic and first attempt at a reader insert! Written originally for tumblr, but I thought I'd post here. R&R, enjoy!
Tumblr: Eriynesx


scroung·er
a cleverly resourceful person who finds and procures items for a specific purpose.

Loki's brow furrowed in annoyance as a large and bustling crowd began to form beneath the balcony he was situated on. With a heavy sigh he snapped shut the book he was reading and peered down below to see what was causing such a commotion.

"It's not stopping!" A woman shouted as the murmurs of curiosity turned to loud shrieks of terror.

Loki craned his head in the direction of their fear, a large spacecraft of some sort had entered Asgard's atmosphere and was moving erratically. The sounds of its whirring engines grew louder as the jittery ship seemed to be on a direct crash course for the heart of the palace.

"What in Odin's name…" he breathed under his breath as the book he had been holding feel to the floor, his mouth parting in disbelief, "Get out! Evacuate the grounds!" Loki hollered as he leaned over the balcony to the servants below. He whipped his head back around as adrenaline began to pump through his veins and despite the danger and panic surrounding him he couldn't help but crack a small grin. It had been far too quiet the last few years and the God of Mischief had grown bored.

The handles of the spaceship dug into your sides painfully as the reptilian alien gripped your throat, pining you down against the control console. Your fingers dug into the creature's wrist, your nails drawing blood. Your face was heating up as you gasped for breath. It opened its large mouth, letting out a foul stench as it's forked tongue darted out to lick the side of your face, nearly causing you to shudder in disgust. You muster up the strength to stomp on the lizard's foot, causing him to loosen up just enough for you to pull his hands free from your neck. You lean back on the console, causing the ship to lurch forward even faster as you brought your knees up to your chest to land a powerful kick against the creature's chest, sending him stumbling backwards, past the driver and passenger seat and crashing into the various oddities and antiques you were carrying.

As you gasped for breath you whipped your head around to see yourself rapidly approaching the palace, "Fuck!" you breathed as you grabbed the handles of the ship, flipped a switch nearby and pulled the wheels up hard. The thrusters in the back shut off, giving you just enough time to tilt the ship upwards, barely scrapping the side of the castle. In the background you could hear the creature stumbling back up as your eyes scanned the field around you. You were already deep in the heart of Asgard, surrounding by buildings and crowds of people. It was nearly impossible to find a safe place to land, but it had to happen now.

"On my word!" Thor bellowed, Loki at his side and a few scattered guards behind them. With a loud grunt they got into their battle stance, shields up and spears pointed forward, towards the door of the ship. A few moments of silence passed as the dust began to settle. It was clear, even from the outside that something was going on inside the ship. Loud banging and a terrible growl had erupted through the air just as the ships door hissed to life and fell open.

"Steady!" Thor called out, his hammer at the ready as Loki conjured a dagger into his hand.

The large bipedal reptilian creature staggered forward, it's mouth open in a silent howl before falling flat on its face with a soft thud. An ornate Asgardian style sword was wedged deep in its spine as you stagger forward, hands on your hips as you let out a loud "Whew!".

"Oh…" you say as you look up at the small military force gathered, "My, I never get such a warm welcome!"

Thor scoffed in disbelief as he waved the guards away. Loki sighed, letting the dagger fall from his hand as it disappeared in a gold shimmer. This certainly was not what he was expecting neither the less it was still intriguing.

It had only been a day since you had caused a little scene with your arrival. Odin, had paid you a personal visit in the healing chambers. Giving you a long scolding on endangering the safety of citizens and for the partial damage of the items he had asked you to procure. You had bit down on your tongue during the whole ordeal, not wishing to piss off the all mighty ruler of the planet. After all, he could've shot you down from the sky, a point he made sure to make. After his lengthy lecture you were greeted by another member of the royal family.

"So, you're an errand girl then?" Loki mused as he rested his elbows on your cot. You stared at him in bewilderment and at how cozy he had made himself in the few minutes he had been in your presence.

"No," you retorted, "I'm more of a…a scrounger."

"A scrounger? "

"Yes! I acquire things from every corner of the galaxy upon the request of your father."

"Intriguing," Loki said as he leaned back in his chair, "and you're Asgardian?"

"Of course! Can't you tell?" You raised a brow curiously as you sat up from the cot. You gestured to the hand mirror at his side which he handed to you. You lift the looking glass up as you begin to unwind the bandages around your neck, a scowl finding a place on your lips as you stare at the claw marks.

Loki's lips pressed together in a thin line. The marks were grotesque and angry and he couldn't imagine the pain they brought you. But it also made him shudder, it reminded him that as long lived and as hardy and fast healing as Asgardians they were not invulnerable. He cleared his through as the scowl slowly turned into a frown as your shoulders slumped.

"They say when it heals it may leave a rather deep scar," you mumble as she drops the mirror on to your lap, "evidently that creature secrets some type of chemical from its claws that affects Asgardians."

Loki lifted his hand, a faint green glow emitting from his fingertips as stands up, "May I?". You lean back, peering at his hand hesitantly. I mean, after all, the Prince was known as the God of Mischief. He nearly rolled his eyes at you, almost as if he could see the train of thought playing in your mind. "It's not a trick. I'd like to try something."

"I suppose so..." you mumble as you sit back up right. His fingers gently pressed around your neck as a pleasant warmth emitted from their tips soothing the wound. Loki stepped closer, his chest mere centimeters from your face as he gently let the rest of his fingers wrap around the tender flesh. A slightly blush crawled up your cheeks as you felt his fingers gently massaging the skin as you let your eyes fixate on the Stoney tile below.

"Not perfect, but it may help." He says stepping back and admiring his work. He wasn't much of healer himself but he had remembered reading a spell that could aid with the process of healing. He handed you the mirror back and you couldn't help but smile softly. It wasn't perfect, there was a very faint outline but the pain was gone and the jaggedness of the wound had disappeared.

"Thank you, your highness- "

"You may call me Loki," he said crossing his arms and plopping back down on his seat.

"Thank you, Loki." You grinned as she you dropped the mirror back down, "You may call me Y/N".

Loki smiled faintly as he leaned back into his seat and folded his hands on his head, "So, Y/N, tell me about the galaxy."

It didn't come as a surprise to you that the dark-haired Prince did not see much beyond the stars of the nine realms. It was rare for Asgardians to explore past their systems and even rarer for the members of the royal family to leave. So, when Loki came to share his company with you during your recovery you were more than happy to share tells of your adventures, the wonders of the worlds you visit and the dangers that lurked in the corners of the cosmos. And Loki listened with open ears and at times you saw hints of awe and envy in his eyes.

Once the healers deemed you healthy enough to be release, Odin had given you a list of items and or person(s) to procure. Which meant you were on off on your way.

"Come with me, Loki" You mused flashing the blue-eyed Asgardian a smile as you two approached your ship, a hefty sack on your back, "The two of us against the stars? We could cause an awful lot of trouble" you mused as you turned on your heels to face him. His nose scrunched up as he let out a soft sigh. He wouldn't deny it, he would've leapt at the chance to. But duties had to be upheld.

"Y/N, you know I can't," A frown tugged at his lips, "a Prince has his duties. Asgard will need me."

"I know," you reply softly with a little shrug, "Couldn't hurt to try." You press your hand on the biometric scanner that caused the spacecraft to hum to life. A soft hiss came from it as the door of the craft fell downward like a draw bridge.

"You know, I'm going to miss this, "You laugh pointing to him and then yourself, "Thank you for the company."

Loki normally would've scoffed and retorted that he wouldn't but he didn't, "As will I "he replies extending a hand for you to shake. You nearly rolled your eyes too his hand, pulling him forward and towards you a bit as you tiptoed to kiss his cheek. A devilish grin plastered on your face as you saw him, the regal prince, flush a bit.

"See you around, Loki!" You called out as you boarded your ship and took off the stars.

A few weeks later Loki was surprised when a courier delivered a small wooden crate. Stamps and stickers were littered all over the box indicating its various travels through galaxy and its numerous stops on planets. He cracked open the box to find a rough and jaggedly black stone. He raised a brow as he fumbled with the dark rock before reaching in for a folded piece of paper.

Hello Loki,

I hope this package finds its way to you. If you cannot travel the galaxy, I'll send bits of it to you. This a rock from the planet Archernon, it's civilization is still in its early ages and is covered in more than half of Volcanic stone.

Best wishes,

Y/N.

And as the weeks went by so to do more packages arrive for the Prince. A bottle of water that shimmered in the dark from a planet almost entire covered by ocean, a bushel of dried flowers from planet that reminded you of Asgard, a piece of green fabric from a planet that operated like a factory, purple soil from a planet with vibrant fauna and flora. Each one was accompanied by a small note by you and an update of your travels. Each parcel brought a smile to his face and warmed his heart. It had been far too long since someone had done something so, special, for him.

It took Loki some time but he managed to find a way to return the little letters. When they started appearing on the planets you landed on you couldn't help but chuckle.

"You clever boy, "you had mumbled when the first one found its way to you on an icy planet in a futuristic looking town. The letters soon came as frequently as the packages you sent out and for once, you didn't feel so lonely on your journey through space. Overtime you and Loki had grown to know each other well through the letters and the messages became flirtier.

Darling,

I hear you're scheduled to dock in a few days. Why don't you let me take you out to dinner?

You couldn't help but grin as you scribbled yes on to a letter that was being sent with a new package for the Prince. When the day came that you arrived back on Asgard to unload your supplies for Odin, Loki was gone.

"Prince Loki sends his deepest apologies," a guard had said, "a scuffle has broken out in Nornheim that needed his attention."

Dinner would have to wait a few more months, because one of your next items to procure was in one of the furthest corner of the galaxy through rather dangerous space. The two of you passed letters to each other and the packages continued until one day, Loki had finally had enough.

Y/N,

Always sending me little gems of the galaxy but never what I truly need. Has it ever occurred that perhaps what I want most to see is you?

And the packages stopped coming. The first few weeks, Loki had wondered if he had stepped over a line and he was wrought with regret. Then anger took it places when nothing had arrived after a month and the Prince had notably become more sour and prone to small outbursts with those who served him at the Palace.

A few months later, Loki slammed open the door to his chambers after a rather heated argument with Thor and Frigga over something as silly as the planning of an autumn feasts. To his surprise a small box laid on his bed. His shoulders relaxed and his face softened as he approached the dainty little box, covered in stamps and stickers again. The box had traveled far to get to Asgard and he could only hope it was from Y/N.

When Loki lifted the small lid off the box a single folded up note was inside:

I'm here.

"Hello Loki" You muse as you emerge from behind a curtain by the window a warm smile on your face, "I've been thinking of settling down on Asga-"

A large grin appeared on his face as he crosses the distance separating the two of you, pulling you into warm and tight hug. You squeak in surprise before wrapping your arms around him as well, letting your head rest against his chest as you felt him bury his face into the top for your head, inhaling your scent and feeling the warmth of your body against his own. It had been far too long for the two you and letters only did so much.

"Hey now, I'm not going anywhere soon, "you chuckle softly as you crane your head up to look at him.

"I certainly hope not darling, "he paused as eyes search your face as if memorizing every detail, "I wouldn't know what to do with myself."

"Apparently, you get testy with your subjects" she teased, "I heard Prince Loki had been quite an arse the last few months because packages stopped arriving for him."

He rolled his eyes, "Now, you can't just listen to everything you hear, Y/N."

"Right, of course not." You chuckle as your eyes meet. Silence fills the air briefly before you stand on your tiptoes and press your lips gently to his. A hand slides down to your waist as he tilts you back deepening the kiss before the both of you break away, cheeky grins on both of your lips.

"You still owe me dinner, "you whisper as he chuckles.

"That I do, Y/N. Shall we?"