After joining the Avengers, you had gone with them to collect all your belongings from a cabin you had built centuries ago. You had it built in the middle of a forest that later became a national park. Since your occasional home was on protected land, you did not have to worry about interacting with people who may have tried to create a community there. Instead it became a sanctuary where you were able to know peace, minus the occasional park ranger who would check to make sure the smoke was from your chimney and not from the surrounding forest. In the cabin were mountains of souvenirs from your various travels, all kept in excellent condition, one being the Collectable Captain American card you kept in a small glass case.
"You have so many first edition books," Bruce had found his way to your bookshelves when you first arrived.
"I met most of the authors," you replied walking to him. "Got signatures from as many as I could."
"Edgar Allen Poe, Jane Austin, Mark Twain," Bruce read off multiple names, his fingers tracing the wood underneath the books. "This isn't real. You even have H.P. Lovecraft?"
"Now he was a strange fellow," you started taking books from the shelves and placing them in boxes. "You'll have plenty of time to fawn over them once we get back."
Bruce gave a audible gulp and started packing up the books, gently touching them as if he was handling an injured sparrow. You packed up your room while Thor began moving your furniture and packed boxes into the U-haul just outside. Since your cabin was in a national park, Tony had to pull strings in order to get the large moving truck allowed into the forest.
Though being Tony Stark, did have it's perks.
"Swayze," Tony called and you looked out of your room to see him flipping through pages yellowed with age. "Are these Tesla's blueprints and works?"
"Yep," you looked over his shoulder. "Had to pay a whole ten dollars for that one. He was quite full of himself, but it was well deserved. I also have Marie Brown's early designs of a home security system. It was truly impressive watching you humans evolve in the ways of technology."
"Do you have any of my fathers," Tony asked, placing the papers into a box.
"I think so, but I didn't really meet him until he became famous."
Tony started looking though the papers from other inventors and you were glad Natasha hadn't found your weaponry yet.
"Y/N!" Natasha nearly screamed with excitement a clatter of metal sounding from one of the rooms.
It was going to be a long day.
"You know you have your own room," Natasha stood with you outside Loki's room. "Didn't we finish moving everything a week ago?"
"He requested-"
"He ordered you to guard him," Natasha interrupted you. "He's just scared of Banner anyway."
"Why?"
"Hulk smashed. Repeatedly."
"When?"
"New York."
"Oh," you and Natasha laughed until you heard a bang from inside the room.
"Is he-"
"He's fine. Just tired, I guess." You shrugged, fiddling with one of your daggers. "He always rather stay up at night than sleep. Especially when it came to works of literature."
"How long did you know them?"
"All my life. We grew up together," you shrugged. "My parents were lesser nobles, but nobles still and they wanted their child to befriend the princes of Asgard. . . Well, more than just befriend."
"Where does being their guard fit in?"
"I was five, my mentor saw potential and my parents couldn't refuse. I started training the next day to be a palace guard and because of my closeness with the princes, I was told I would become one of their personal guards."
"If you two grew up together, why does he act like he doesn't know you?"
"He doesn't remember," you began tossing the dagger in the air while you told Natasha the story of your banishment. You watch her smile during the happy times and even laugh when you relayed the times you wanted to kill one of the princes. That atmosphere grew heavy as you started retelling of night Loki nearly died.
"-He was badly injured," you stopped tossing the dagger long enough to choke back tears. "I mended what I could, but my magic was limited. I was forced to spend more time training with weapons than with magic. I did learn some so I could heal the occasional injury, but that night. . ."
"He obviously got better," Natasha gestured to the closed door behind you.
You nodded and began to explain, "My screams could be heard throughout the nine realms and luckily the palace guards came and took him home. I was sent to the dungeon and once he recovered. . . I was exiled."
"Why didn't they kill you?"
"My best guess? Frigga may have persuaded Odin to take pity on me. I wouldn't be surprised if Thor threw a fit too, but I spend months expecting everyday to be my last. So when I was escorted out of the dungeons and onto the rainbow bridge, I didn't fight it. . . Well, more like I couldn't." You held your dagger once again to push past the emotions welling in your eyes. "After a month, I stopped eating. I thought Loki had died and I-"
"You gave up," Natasha finished the thought for you. "What happened then?"
"I was stripped of my title and ordered never to return to Asgard or else I would be executed. I begged to know of Loki's condition and the only comfort I had was that he survived and was recovering." The dagger remained in your hand and you kept fighting the tears. "Even if I had the strength to fight, it was better to leave. I betrayed the throne and failed in my duties. Honestly, being exiled is worse than death and that was what I deserved."
Natasha stayed silent for several seconds, minutes, hours, you didn't care. Even if she didn't completely understand you, she was willing to comfort you.
"So that's why you guard him, even though he's a dick," Natasha finally spoke, breaking the heavy air around you two.
"And Bingo was his name-o," you began laughing and Natasha joined in.
You jumped as Loki threw his door opened and glared at the two of you. "I am trying to sleep."
"Apologi-," you began.
"Misunderstanding and ass-kissing, Y/N," Loki interrupted you. Loki began to go on a rant regarding his sleep schedule, or how important sleep was, or the quality of his bed, you stopped paying attention after Loki had spoke your name.
"Come on LoLo! It's such a nice day," you called from outside Loki's door, Spring had arrived in Asgard and hunting season had begun. You were excited to go hunting and had gone to fetch the young prince. "We gotta go before Thor and the others take down most of the game!"
Loki's chamber door slammed open revealing a young boy of 16 with a rat's nest on his head and his clothes wrinkled. "Y/N, I am in dire need of sleep."
"Sleep is for mortals," you smiled, holding out a sweet bun you had snagged from the kitchen.
"And for Asgardians who haven't slept in over 24 hours," Loki took the sweet bun from your hand and started nibbling it.
"What were you doing," you kissed Loki on the cheek and entered his room, it looked as though a dragon had claimed it for it's new lair.
"Studying a new spell," Loki mumbled as he ate the bun. "I had just fallen asleep when you came banging at my door."
"Sorry, LoLo," you set the bows and quivers aside and started picking up his room. "It's just a beautiful day outside and I didn't want you to miss it."
"I don't hunt anyway," Loki sat on his bed and started licking the sugary glaze off his fingers. "I'd rather find a spot in the gardens and read a book."
"As long as I can spend the day with you."
You snapped out of your memories still staring at a fully grown Loki. He looked as though he had been getting restless sleep and an idea entered your mind.
"Shall I make you a cup of tea, sire," you suggested, returning your dagger to its sheath. "Perhaps Chamomile will help you slumber."
"What will help," Loki growled, "is silence!"
The door whipped at your face, and you turned to see Natasha clenching her fists ready to tear it down and kill a god. You turned Natasha away from the door and started your way to the kitchen.
"What are you doing?" Natasha asked as you filled the electric kettle full of water, placing it on the heating source and turning it on.
"Making Chamomile and Lavender tea," your answer was simple as you pull down a cookie tin Thor thought he had hidden and placed a few cookies on a small plate.
"Didn't Loki say he didn't want any?" Natasha took a cookie from the tin and started to nibble on it.
"He talks before he thinks," you pulled out a jar of loose tea and filled a mesh infuser before placing it in a tea pot you had to conjure along with a tea cup. Americans did not like tea for some reason.
"But you still let him treat you like you're second class."
You removed the water kettle before it started to boil and poured the water into the teapot, watching the water turn a light tan and slowly become more saturated with flavor. "To any Asgardian, I am second class. Being exiled doesn't really improve one's social status."
"That doesn't mean you can let him walk all over you," Natasha took a second cookie from the tin before you replaced the lid and put back in it's hiding spot.
You stayed silent as you fished the mesh infuser out and placed the teapot, cup and saucer, and cookies on a tray and walked back to Loki's room. You gently tapped your fingers against the wood and when you didn't hear a response, allowed your magic to open the door. Loki sat in the lounge chair, curled with a book you let him borrow from your private collection.
"Chamomile and Lavender tea, sire," you placed the tray on the coffee table, pretending that Loki wasn't trying to sear holes into your head. "I also brought you some cookies. I'll be outside if you need anything-"
"Sugar and milk," Loki interrupted and began pouring himself a cup. You waved your hand and conjured a sugar bowl and tiny pitcher of milk on the coffee table in front of him. Loki simply nodded in acknowledgement and you excused yourself from the room.
You closed the door gently and took you usual post once more.
"Well you might not need sleep, but I am just a human," Natasha bid you goodnight and made her way to her own quarters.
You leaned against the wall and started fine-tuning your blade.
"I do not understand why I have to be drag to this Midgardian store," Loki grumbled exiting the SUV in a black two-piece suit.
"We have to get you the proper furnishing for you room, your majesty." You closed the door behind him and fell a step behind. "Mr. Stark was generous enough to give us a budget."
You walked behind Loki towards the furniture store and Loki stopped just before the entrance. "Sire, the doors open automatically."
"Of course," you noticed the tips of Loki's eyes blush. You coughed to try and hide the smile forming as you followed Loki through the automatic doors.
It had been several months since the Battle of New York and thankfully, Loki's popularity was dying down. Though you couldn't tell if the stares were because people recognized the Prince, or were looking at his suit. You started to fidget with the navy button down you wore, your nerves and paranoia escalate.
"Guard," Loki snapped you away from your overthinking and you realized he was several feet away.
"Yes, sire," you walked quickly to where the Asgardian prince was looking at various lounge chairs and loveseats. "Have you an idea of what you would want?"
"None of these are up to par with my standards," Loki fiddled with the watch on his wrist, pretending to check the time.
Scanning the various furniture your eyes landed on a dark grey love seat. "What about that one, sire?"
Loki looked at the loveseat for a moment. "It doesn't look like much."
"Midgardian furniture has changed over that last millennium," you walked over to the loveseat and started inspecting the design and fabric.
"You act as if I've never been on Midgard before now," Loki walked over and sat of the loveseat.
"Oh," you kept your eyes on the loveseat. "And when was the last time you graced Midgard with your presence?"
"1971," Loki leaned against the back of the two seat couch. "I went on the Northwest Orient Flight 305."
You paused your inspection letting the gears in your head turn. "You were D. B. Cooper?"
"You heard of me," Loki gave a cheeky smile.
"I had to avoid the West Coast for fifty years because of you!" A smile crept on your face. "Why did you pull a stunt like that?"
"It was a dare," Loki chuckled. "Thor got it in his mind that I couldn't get the Midgardians to-" Loki froze and you looked around to see people watching the two of you. Loki coughed and got up from the seat. "This will have to do, guard."
"Yes, sire," you stood from you inspection and waved one of the employees over to begin what you knew was going to be a tall order.
"Did you have to get so much stuff, Swayze," Tony groaned setting down a box of books he carried into the room. You decided to take Loki to a book store so he could pick out some books he would want to read. He would have gotten the entire store if you hadn't warned he regarding curfew.
"I appreciate the help," you lowered a box for the bed frame. "You didn't have to."
"And let you bring in all this by yourself," Steve walked backwards into the room with the loveseat followed by Thor. "I don't think so."
"Though I don't see why Loki would need all this stuff," Natasha started to unpack the desk parts. "Clint, did you get the screwdriver?"
"Yeah," Clint handed Natasha a Philip's screwdriver while he went over the manual for the desk. "How long is this going to take?"
"Shouldn't take too long," you walked out of the room to gather the bookshelves.
It took most of the afternoon putting together all of Loki's new furniture, Tony was the first to retreat to continue whatever he was working on in his lab. Clint had to go back to his family. Bruce had check on the progress, bringing refreshments with him and left with Natasha to start dinner.
"And done!" Steve finished tightening the last screw of the bed frame and Thor tossed on the box spring, followed by the mattress.
"Hopefully brother will stop complaining," Thor clapped Steve on the back as thanks. "Shall we get some much needed ale? Y/N?"
"I'll join you two later," you answered, placing the books on the bookshelves you had built earlier. "I just got to finish setting everything up?"
"Couldn't Loki do this himself?" Steve walked over and pulled a copy of Call of Cthulhu from the box before handing it to you. "Speaking of. . . Where is he?"
"Hiding, I suppose," Thor answered. "If he doesn't want to be found, you won't be able to find him."
"He'll turn up, I guess. He can't use magic with that magic dampener."
"Magic dampener?" You turned to look at Steve and Thor with confusion.
"You never noticed," Steve asked and you raked you mind trying to remember when you saw Loki with a collar around his neck.
"Stark used Asgardian technology to make a discreet one for Loki," Thor offered the information and it helped the gears click.
"The watch," understanding registered on your face. "But couldn't he take it off?"
"If he could, he would," Thor started walking out the room. "You'll have to ask Stark about that."
"You were never one for learning," you laughed turning back to the books.
"Sure you're okay," Steve handed you a copy of Frankenstein he was looking over. "You can take a break."
"It's not going to take too long," you place the book on the shelf. "It's not like I'm gonna be attacked by a book monster."
"I'm sure you would just make a trophy out of that," Steve tapped your shoulder and headed for the door. "I'll try to save you some alcohol if Thor doesn't drink everything in the bar again."
"Appreciate it."
The door closed behind Steve to reveal Loki standing against the wall. Loki adjusted his watch again, which you realized he had been trying to remove.
"Organize those books-" he began, pushing himself off the wall.
"By genre, author, then title. Alphabetically preferably," you finished with a sly smile.
"Yes," Loki flipped his black hair away from his face. "When you done with that, I would like some tea."
"Any preference," you asked, taking the last books out of the box.
"Chamomile and Lavender," Loki took a book from you hand and went to lounge on the loveseat he had chosen earlier. "I need to decompress after today's. . . adventure."
"Of course your majesty. I will return to make your bed," you placed the final book on the shelf and turn to walk out the door.
"You are not an Asgardian guard anymore," Loki called after you and you turned to see his eyes glued to the book. "It's uncomfortable to be referred to as "your majesty" or "sire"," sarcasm coated the two words.
"Yes si-," Loki glanced in your direction. "Of course, Loki."
Loki returned to his book and you left the room to make your way to the kitchen to make the tea. You passed Thor and Steve drinking some expensive whiskey and turned them down when they invited you to join.
"Loki wanted tea," you explained.
"Why do you cater to my brother so Y/N," Thor exasperation sigh reminded you the times you tried to keep him from doing something dangerous. "You've always had a soft spot for him."
"Well maybe I wouldn't have a soft spot if you didn't pick on him when we were younger," you retort and headed into the kitchen.
"I wouldn't have picked on him if he wasn't such a weakling growing up," Thor followed you into the kitchen and dove into the fridge to collect a case of beers.
"Dinner's almost ready," Bruce nodded to you as you took the electric kettle and filled it with water. "Don't fill up on beer, Thor."
"That is impossible," Thor laughed, closing the door with a case under his arm.
"You're just upset that I never gave you the same amount of attention," you continued and started prepping the tea.
"No thank you," Thor shuttered. "As much as I care for you, Y/N, you were always like a sibling to me."
"You say that because of all the times I covered your ass to your parents," you gave Thor a light shove and the two of you shared a grin.
"Will you be joining us after serving the royal pain," Thor took a beer bottle out of the case and took a swig.
"Perhaps," you poured water into the teapot. "But I will probably just go sleep in my room."
"You're not going to stand guard," Natasha came in and retrieved plates to set at the table.
"Loki reminded me that I'm not an Asgardian guard anymore, so," you shrugged as you took the cookie tin from Thor's hiding place, Thor not blinking an eye. "I figured I would try it out."
"Can you resist not guarding your dear Prince," Thor tapped the bottom of the bottle against your shoulder and started towards the living room.
After placing the cookie tin back in it's place, you watch the water infuse with flavor. Could you resist those old habits? Why were you guarding him so much? It's not like Loki couldn't take care of himself. Even without magic, he was still a formidable force. He wasn't a child anymore, and he didn't even remember you even if you kiss him.
Would he ever remember you?
You carried the tray back into Loki's room and began to make the bed with the linen you had gotten during the shopping trip and had made sure to wash. Loki continued to read his book, drinking the tea and biting into the occasional cookie. It took you longer than you thought due to the bed being a foot off the ground thanks to the black four poster bed frame. The linen were a various colors of green, with the occasional black or dark grey. You placed the final pillow and turned to catch Loki quickly turning his head back to his book.
You gave a quick cough, Loki looking up from his book to you. "If there anything else you need, si-. . . Loki?"
Loki paused for a moment in thought. "No you can leave."
"I will see you tomorrow then," you turned to leave the room.
"You will not be standing guard tonight?" You thought you hear a tone of disappointment in his voice.
"I need sleep of my own, but you can message me if you need anything," you turned and bowed your head.
"Very well," Loki straighten is tone to apathy as his flipped the page of his book and a second later turned it back.
"Good night, Loki," you gave a quick smile as you closed the door and could have sworn you heard a "good night" in response.
