You were starting to wonder why the Avengers pretended to reside in the Tower; they were never there. Again they were off dealing with the buyer of the formula and guns, but from what you could hear in the exchanges, there was little progress on that front. The upside to all of that was that you and Loki had time around each other undisturbed. No one but Thor knew as of yet, and knowing that the reactions would range from unsettled to cataclysmic and everything in between, pending the Avenger, you knew that was probably for the best.

"Cataclysmic is somewhat of an overreaction; do you not think?" Loki scoffed, holding you against him as you read on the sofa.

"I dare you to tell Stark, he has gone all Big Brother on me, I think I would get a better reaction if I was to tell him I was doing heroin than seeing someone, then when he realises it is you..."

"'Seeing someone' really?"

Your response was to playfully slap his chest and a laugh. "It is an expression."

"So that is what courting is called here?"

"We also have courting, and dating too, there are a lot of words for it." You got more comfortable, your head leaning against his shoulder. "Why are you playing with my hair?"

"Is there a problem with me doing it?" He asked, twiddling another piece.

"No, just curious."

"I like to."

"Why?"

"Is a specific reason required? You appear to enjoy it and I find it relaxing."

You leant further into him. "Recently I find myself wondering what I look like now."

"You only lost your sight less than a year ago."

"But I never had my hair this long, not since I was a child, and I…I am beginning to forget what I look like, I mean, you never really pay attention to your own eye colour, and…" Your voice was becoming tight in your throat; sensing such, Loki leant in and kissed you. When he pulled away again, you raised a brow. "Deflection, really?"

"You tend to over think; I was all I could think of to alter your thoughts. Appearances are not important, or so you state when referencing me, so why does it matter when it is in reference to you?"

"Because surely if there is someone I should like the appearance of, it is myself."

"Did you like your appearance? I refuse to think you thought much of yourself when you considered some lowly male important enough to dictate to you your hair length." Loki placed your hair behind your ear. "You need to cease thinking in such away, none recoil at you, so you do not need to worry about looking like some grotesque beast."

You found yourself unable to stop a smile from forming on your lips. "You have a really caring side, somewhere in there."

"It is under the, what is it they are called here, 'homicidal maniac' exterior, I am sure."

"You are not that."

Loki shook his head. "I killed more people in one afternoon than most Midgardian's could ever fathom."

"Do you regret those actions?"

"When those killed were innocent, yes."

"If you could do it again, would you?"

"Absolutely not." He looked at you in shock.

"Well then, you are not a homicidal maniac." You found yourself becoming tired. "I think I need a nap."

"Then go rest." He pushed you up slightly so you were sitting upright. "I will see you in a while."

"But…"

"But what?"

"I don't want to go alone." You played with your fingers.

Loki became somewhat stiff. "I am not sure that is a wise decision."

You felt somewhat dejected, you had not wanted anything of an intimate nature, or rather, not of a sexually intimate nature, you were nowhere near ready to attempt such a thing after all the years of your flaws being pointed out as well as not sure you were ready to even attempt such things without sight, you had not considered it. All that you wished for was physical closeness, something Loki was more willing to give now, but in sleep, you felt vulnerable, so that is where you wanted it most. "Okay."

"Midgardian customs are somewhat confusing." Loki declared.

"How so?" You were not really in the mood to listen, and your tone stated as much.

Loki eyed you, noticing your deflated tone. "What is it?" He turned to face you properly.

"Nothing. I am feeling terribly tired, I will just head down." You got up from the seat and walked to the door carefully.

"What about Beauty?" Loki looked between you and the dog, who was also looking at you intently from where she was laying on her mat, waiting for her command to join you.

"I don't care."

"But she is your aid." Loki rose from his seat. "What are you not saying?"

"Nothing, just leave me be." You snapped, angry tears beginning to well in your eyes.

"I do not get it." Loki declared in exasperation. "I am being somewhat chivalrous and I am getting this reaction, is it because you simply wanted someone in your bed. I thought you wished for something other than that."

"You think because someone wants your company, they want to sleep with you? Seriously? I am not in any way interested in that anytime soon." Loki was taken back by both what you were declaring and the manner in which you were speaking. "I just didn't want to…you know what, never mind. Beauty." The dog came to you immediately, and you walked on, your emotional state concerning the dog and God.

"I'm sorry." You slowed slightly. "I clearly…"

"Got egotistical?" You offered.

"Clearly." Loki sighed. "But I do not understand why you would ask for my presence in your bed if not for that."

"Nothing." When the elevator opened to let you in, you did not even turn around for him to see your face. "What's wrong with just wanting company?" You grumbled as the doors closed.

Loki was not sure if he was supposed to hear that last comment, but he did. He swallowed hard and his eyes darted side to side as he thought. It was still hard to understand why you even enjoyed being in the same room as him, it was almost incomprehensible you would want to kiss him, but for you to wish to be close to him in another way, he could not process that. It stung that you had stated you did not wish to intimate with him, but that was an issue to deal with at another time, there was something more to your outburst. He contemplated just letting you calm down and speaking to you at a later point, however, he feared you rescinding the access to your floor, something he would wager Stark had made far simpler than the process to permit access in the first place, so bolting to the stairwell, he began to descend the steps as fast as he could.

Leaning against the back of the elevator, you felt exhausted, partly because of your actual tiredness, but partially because of the drain of the argument that had just taken place between you and Loki. You felt undesirable in every manner and it hurt more than you had thought it would. Beauty whined beside you, noting your distress. When the elevator slowed, indicating it was arriving on your floor; you tightened your grip on the harness and rushed to the door as soon as it opened. The sound of panting breaths and Beauty's joyful tail wagging against you; meant only one person could possibly be in front of you. "Why did you run down the stairs, could you not have waited until the elevator returned to come down?" You asked slightly confused.

"I could not risk you having my access to this floor removed," Loki explained, his breath returning to normal.

"Why would I do such a thing, it is you that is not interested in me if you recall."

"I am very much interested in you." Loki barked. "I am overly interest, that is part of the issue."

"Then why not stay with me as I rest?"

"I am getting confused by all of this, are you genuinely just asking for someone to lie there as you sleep?" He asked, studying you. The manner in which your body shifted told him it was true. "Why did you not say so, I thought you wanted…"

"We have only been doing this." Your hands flicked between you both frantically, your actions mimicking your tone. "For just over a week, I am nowhere near ready for that yet."

"'Yet?'" His brow rose. "You would consider such in the future?"

"Well, I had not thought that far ahead." You rubbed your arm anxiously.

"May I be so bold as to ask, why would you request such a thing?"

"I don't get nightmares when you are close," You admitted shyly.

Guilt filled Loki immediately. He had not realised you were plagued by your own mind at the time you were supposed to be resting. "What happens?"

"Him, my parents, the lab, the day they came here, sometimes one, sometimes all at once. I just…when I spend time with you, it is like your presence sends them away."

Loki pulled you to his chest. "I would be more than honoured if you would permit me to keep you company while you rest." He kissed the top of your head.

"Won't you get bored?"

"How can anyone get bored protecting you?" He smiled, before adding jestfully. "You have a few books for me to flick through at least."

Wearily, you gave a fatigued smile back and began to walk down the hallway and to your general area before heading to the bedroom. Loki had seen it before from the general reception area, and noted it was a tad more untidy than the rest of floor, but still not messy. Not even verbally inviting him in, you headed to bed, crashing into it within moments. "Loki." Your voice was low.

Immediately, he rushed over and sat next to you, and Beauty went to her resting spot. "Sleep," He ordered. "We will deal with life and its tribulations again when you are awake and rested," He stated calmly. He placed his arm around you, and within minutes, you drifted off, with no S.H.I.E.L.D. attacks, no nasty comments, and the ability to simply rest. With Loki keeping watch, you felt protected.