Maisy put on so much weight that for a few days she was worried she was pregnant. But, when she'd snuck down to a corner store, bought a test, and it had turned out negative she realized the problem. She'd been eating way more than she usually did an exercising way less.
It wasn't her fault! Tony had cooks who lived in the building and could bring her Christmas cookies on demand. Now she was really starting to feel like a spoiled princess.
In retaliation against the holiday weight gain, she tried to start exercising every morning while Loki slept in. He really wasn't a morning person and he never noticed when she left and joined Bruce (the only Avenger she could keep up with) on his jogs. Eventually Jane arrived at the tower and the doctor joined them in their morning runs. It was a little slick with ice at times, but none of them got hurt and they all had fun.
But then, one morning, as she was jogging with Doctors Foster and Banner in Central Park, she was hit with a sudden vision of Muspelheim's fiery tunnels. She felt like she was running to escape again, trying to find any way out of the sweltering realm and get back to Asgard. This wasn't like her actual escape though. This time she could only take wrong turns and she was quickly getting lost in the tunnels. Finally, she ran straight into a huge cave and was confronted by a roaring lindworm. She froze and screamed at it, cowering in fear.
"Maisy!" Bruce's voice said, "Look out!"
She felt someone tackle her to the side, out of the way of the lindworm and she landed in something wet and cold. This shocked her back to reality and she was lying in a dirty snow mound on the edge of the street. A bus had just wooshed past her, it's horn sounding all the world like a lindworm scream. Bruce was sitting next to her, his stocking cap and glasses askew. Jane stood on the other side of the street with her gloved hands pressed to her mouth in shock.
"What happened?" Maisy asked rubbing her head and standing to get out of the snow.
"You just took off sprinting," Bruce replied, watching her carefully, "You were running like something was chasing you. And then you got in front of that bus and froze!"
"I did?!" She wrapped her arms around herself, "Bruce, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to, I swear! Oh my gosh, and I put you in danger! I'm so sorry! Thank you for saving me!"
"It's okay," he said, "I'm not ever really in danger after all. But you… we need to get you back to the Tower. What did you think was happening?"
"I was in Muspelheim, running for my life," she let him lead her back across the street to Jane and then both scientists were fussing over her, "It felt so real!"
"Back to the Tower, now," Jane said firmly, "Maybe Thor or Loki will know what happened."
"It was… just a dream," Maisy said, for some reason not wanting to tell anyone else about the incident, "It's fine. I have nightmares about Muspelheim all the time."
"Ever while you're awake?" Bruce asked skeptically.
"Well, no, but-"
"There are plenty of human explanations, I'm sure," Bruce said, "But with you I think it's a safer bet to tell the Asgardians what's happening."
"Fine," Maisy sighed and shivered, now wet from the pile of snow she'd landed in, "But let's not make it a big deal, okay? Don't say anything about the bus."
"Maisy-"
"Please? Just say I went running around willy nilly. I don't want anyone to flip out."
"I don't know," Bruce shook his head.
"It's bad enough as it is, but can you imagine how Thor and Loki - and my dad - would react if they learned I almost got hit by a bus?"
"Not well," Jane commented, "Thor nearly had a heart attack when I slipped on a wet floor once. They tend to be overdramatic in Asgard."
"Exactly. Please Bruce?"
"Maisy…" he sighed and nodded, "Alright. But we are telling them about the hallucination and we are telling them how it affected you physically."
"That's fine," Maisy tried to smile, but she knew even this was not going to go over well. She just hoped her dad was still in his room for the day. Worried Loki was bad enough, but at least he could be sweet about it. If her dad got too worried she might have to ask Heimdall to send her back to Asgard.
Maisy got a little dizzy on her way back to the Tower, so Bruce and Jane had to help her into the elevator, but she insisted on walking out into the common area on her own. She didn't want to look like she was wounded or anything. So, she stepped out of the elevator and nervously made eye contact with Thor, who was sitting at the bar eating a bowl of cereal. He smiled happily at her, chewing all the while, but when he turned his head slightly to smile at Jane, Maisy felt dizzy again and face planted on the shiny floor.
"Ow," she muttered as the screech of Thor's bar stool announced his hastening over to help. Jane and Bruce each grabbed an arm and hoisted her to an almost standing position. They took her over to the sunken down living room area and plopped her in a chair. Thor was watching worriedly all the while.
"What's the matter? Are you alright?"
"I'm totally fine!" She said, trying to laugh it off, "I just jogged a lot! And I forgot to eat breakfast so I'm feeling a little weak. That's all!"
"You said we'd tell them the truth," Bruce reminded.
"What happened?" Thor demanded, turning to look at Jane.
"Wait! Don't tell until Loki's awake," Maisy pleaded weakly, "I just want to get both of their freak out sessions out of the way at the same time."
"What cause is there for us to freak out?!" Thor exclaimed, "Maisy, are you well?! What is going on?!"
"C'mon Thor, I'm not in any immediate danger. Just sit down. I'll wait till Loki's up. Should be, what? Another hour or so. He usually doesn't wake up until after I get back anyway."
"Get back from where?" A sleepy voice asked as a pajama clad Loki sauntered out of the elevator. Pajama clad was a loose term, he was wearing green baggy pants but no shirt. Maisy took a moment to admire the sight before shaking her head and remembering he'd asked her a question.
"From jogging."
"What are you talking about?" He yawned.
"Loki," she laughed slightly, "I go running every morning. I have been for the past four days. I told you about this."
"Why are you all wet?" He asked.
"Because I fell into some snow."
"There isn't snow in the gym," he accused.
"Because I'm not running in the gym, I'm running outside. With Bruce and Jane."
"Oh," he looked puzzled by that, but shrugged, "Well, as long as you aren't going alone. It's a dangerous city."
"Speaking of danger…" Bruce said, trying to get back on topic.
"Yes! Tell me what danger you are in Maisy!" Thor snapped, "And why you fainted!"
"Wait, wait, what?!" Loki looked fully awake now. He marched right over to them and put his hands on the armrests of Maisy's chair, staring her dead in the eye. She was slightly distracted by the beautiful shade of green his eyes turned when he was mad and the way his hair slipped from behind his ears and hung near her face.
"It's no big deal-"
"You are in danger? You fainted? What's happening?"
"That's what I've been asking!" Thor agreed, "But she wouldn't say a word until you got here! But Maisy, he's here now so tell us what happened."
Maisy shifted uncomfortably in her seat and glanced at Jane and Bruce. They both gave her stern looks and she finally sighed.
"I had a nightmare, that's all! And I wasn't fainting, I was dizzy and lost my balance!"
"A nightmare?" Loki asked, "Last night? I did not feel you tossing at all."
"It wasn't, exactly, last night," she squirmed and looked to Bruce for help.
"We were running in the park," he explained, "And suddenly she just took off like a bullet."
"She looked really worried and scared," Jane added, "Especially when… uh… when she stopped. She fell into a snow mound."
"You dreamt with your eyes opened and mind awake?" Thor asked.
"Yes."
"What about?" Loki gripped the sides of the chair until Maisy heard something crack.
"Muspelheim. I thought I was trying to escape again, but this time I couldn't find a way out," she squeezed her eyes closed so she didn't have to see his reaction, but could only picture lindworms so opened them again.
"Why did the dream stop?" Loki asked.
"Bruce and Jane… yelled at me and I fell into a snow mound like she said."
"A nightmare while awake," Loki backed off a bit, pacing the floor, "And you weren't injured?"
"No!" Maisy and her two doctor friends responded all a little too hastily. They all winced when Loki glared at them suspiciously.
"You did get hurt!" He was back on her in an instant, looking her over, running his hands through her hair in case that's where the wound was hiding. But there really wasn't a scratch on her, "Where?"
"No, I'm fine," she insisted.
"Then if you weren't hurt you were almost hurt," he saw straight through that one and Maisy was reminded how good he was at seeing through lies or even spotting a lie of omission, "What else happened while you were out there?"
"It's no big deal. Nothing happened."
"Bruce, you aren't of a lying nature," Loki turned on the doctor, "Tell me."
"He can't!" Maisy yelped and regretted it.
"So you admit there is something to tell?"
"Maisy, out with it," Thor agreed, "We only want to make sure you are safe."
Maisy and Loki stared each other down for nearly a whole minute and the only movement from either was when Loki quirked a brow at her. It was almost a challenge. It seemed like he was challenging if she really loved him enough to tell him about things like this or if she was just going to keep it to herself. Maisy had heard once that one of the reasons marriage is so great is because it makes you part of a lifelong team. The other person is always there to help you through something when you need them. She finally sighed and looked at the ceiling.
"Alright, fine. I… might have run in front of a bus while I was dreaming," she gestured to Bruce, "And he had to push me out of the way."
"A bus," Loki repeated slowly.
"Well then!" Thor exclaimed worriedly, "It is settled! Maisy cannot leave the Tower! She is a danger to herself! These dreams may very well bring about her death!"
Maisy felt her gut clench at the idea of being locked up again. Even if it was in this huge Tower with people she liked and loved. Just the idea of no longer being free made her queasy. She watched Loki to see if he would agree. She'd argue either way, but she'd probably argue less if he thought it was a good idea too. He knew how she felt about being trapped, so if he really thought it was a good idea then maybe this dreaming while awake thing was worse than she thought.
His face didn't give anything away as he pondered Thor's suggestion. Finally he shook his head.
"No. That is ridiculous," he reached over and squeezed her hand, "After all, that would mean I would be trapped here as well. With all of the Avengers. No thank you."
"Then how can we guarantee her safety?!" Thor exclaimed, "Brother, I am surprised at you! Don't you care if your own wife is safe or not?!"
Jane put a hand on Thor's arm and he calmed down briefly.
"Of course I care Thor," Loki replied with unnerving quietness.
"Thank you," Maisy whispered.
"Besides. This was one incident," he nodded, "We do not know that she will having waking dreams ever again."
"Are you willing to take that risk?!"
"No," Loki snapped,"Regardless of what you may think, brother, I actually do love Maisy. I will simply be escorting her wherever she goes."
"Oh," Thor nodded and then went back to his cereal at the bar, "That is a good solution."
"Loki, I don't need you to do that!" Maisy said, though it was a much better option than the alternative, "I like to go jogging in the morning and you can barely think at this time of day!"
"Doesn't matter. I'll go anyway," he sighed and then yawned again now that the excitement was over, "Besides, I'd rather be in your company than any of these other fools. No offense Jane."
"None taken."
Bruce cleared his throat a little and Loki paled.
"Of course, I didn't mean you either, Bruce. Certainly not you!"
"I'm just messing with you."
"Ah! A wonderful joke!" Loki forced a smile until Bruce walked away laughing.
When he was gone Maisy snickered and covered her mouth with her hand. Loki glared at her and she stopped, but couldn't keep the smile off her face.
"He's not going to smash you again, you know."
"You've never been swung about like a ragdoll in a rabid dog's mouth," Loki countered, "If you had then you would respect Dr. Banner too."
"I already do," she smirked and then looked more serious, "Loki, you really don't need to follow me around if you don't want to. I'm sure I'll be fine."
"But I could not bear it if you weren't safe," he said, "We went through all this trouble to increase your lifespan, I'm not having you get hit by a bus on Midgard. Why? Don't you want me to be at your side forever and always, holding your hand perhaps?"
"Of course I want to spend time with you! I just don't want to waste your time or anything!"
"I don't mean to sound like a lovestruck teenager - though on occasion that's how I feel - but how could any moment spent with you be a waste?"
"Aww," Maisy felt her heartbeat quicken and she realized there was some truth to that lovestruck business. It would be fun to have more excuses to go on walks with Loki, but she had another reason for not wanting an escort. It would make it incredibly difficult to find him a Christmas gift.
A note from the author: Don't worry folks! November is almost over and then I will (hopefully) be back to regularly posting! Not as frequently as I did in the summer, but at least once a week. :) Thank you for being patient with me! I hope you all had a lovely Thanksgiving if you celebrated it.
Thank you to everyone who is still reading this, I really appreciate it!
And special thanks to those wonderful people who reviewed:
ferbette: lol, I'm glad you liked that line XD I imagine Loki will probably sneak around the Tower anyway and figure out all of the nooks and crannies.
CheetahLover: Somethings are definitely better left a secret... not sure if that will happen or not, but we'll see!
xlokiswolfx: I think Maisy's dad probably is like President Snow from the Hunger Games. He sees Loki and Maisy walking around and says "Look at this. They're holding hands. I want Loki dead." XD
Ninja Squirrel: Hope studying is going well! You've got this! :)
irisheyes85: I'm not saying she's going to be pissed if she does find out, but... she'll be pissed. Let's hope she never learns the truth, eh? Especially not from anyone besides Loki...
Ceres Friggadottir: It would truly be epic. XD I may have to write a one shot about a fashion show.
YOU GUYS ARE THE BESTEST PEOPLES IN THE WHOLE NINE REALMS! I LOVE YOU ALL.