Not A Monster ● Loki × Reader ●

16 - I Am So Confused Right Now

"So... your meals at Hydra were like mine at school?" Peter leaned forward, wide-eyed and curious.

With the others out on a mission that I wasn't allowed to attend to, I had been put on what Stark called 'Peter Patrol,' which is not as terrible as it sounds. His questions are relentless, yes, but they are easy to answer.

"Yes," I said.

He let out a harsh breath through his nose and crossed his arms. "Wow. I mean, I knew our lunches were pretty bad. But like- that bad? Someone needs to make better lunches for Hydra."

My brows furrowed. I feel like that should be the other way around. Hydra was known for their... choices. But withholding the nutrients a child needs to grow is ludicrous. What school does Peter attend? Perhaps they need to make some changes... I can help with that. 

"I don't suggest violence, Darling." Loki appeared out of thin air, twirling one of his daggers. He also was not allowed to go on the mission, but I hadn't seen him for hours after the others all left. 

I flinched, but then went neutral again.

"Hello mister Loki, sir." Peter waved. Since he's been at the tower, he has warmed up to me and Loki. Though he has yet to drop the formalities that I told him to. It's like they're rooted into his young brain.

Loki blinked once. "You are an odd child."

Peter looked at me, then Loki, then me, then Loki again. "Thank you?"

Awkward silence...

Peter blurts out, "Can I play with your knives, mister Loki, sir?" 

Loki stood there with a blank expression. "No."

Peter looked disappointed, but immediately shrugged it off and bounced off to wherever he was going to. 

"Odd child," Loki muttered.

I couldn't but nod along. How old was Peter? Seventeen? And yet acted like a little boy figuring out what puberty was. However, I suppose that can be a semi-good thing. He still has his innocence. Not innocence in that sense, you disgusting readers. Peter is our innocent baby. We love him.

"Indeed..." I watched him from the corner of my eye. Though Peter himself was odd, Loki was more odd.

No one ever expected his next move, he was never around unless his only goal was to annoy someone or he had a spur-of-the-moment hankering for some sort of tea. Which I could get behind. I didn't have tea at Hydra, but after the night when Loki decided to glue me to the floor, tea has become a daily thing for me.

Sadly, though, any time I want tea, it is apparently a convenient time for Loki to also have tea. ...Which has led to some odd conversations. Like last night at midnight.

I had woken up, initially needing the bathroom, but I could smell the peppermint wafting from the kitchen. Pee forgotten. I moved toward it even with my bladder still screaming.

But of course, Loki was there, the one making the tea.

"You're up late." He didn't even look up from the counter.

"Couldn't sleep," I replied.

He let out a low hum, one that made me shiver. "Why?"

"What do you mean why?"

He set his tea cup on the counter with a delicate clink. "I mean... Why are you unable to sleep?"

"Why are you unable to sleep?" I asked. This question is something repeated. At least once a night. Which is crazy to think that I run into this God every single night.

He went stiff. "I, uhm... That is none of your concern."

And again, the same response every night. I wanted answers.

"Why?"

"Because."

"Because why?"

"Enough, y/n."

"Fine." I summoned a cup of tea, turned, and strutted out of the kitchen in my Captain America pajamas.

Fast forward back to today. I'm still in my pajamas and Loki is judging me for them.

"Why do you wear something with the symbol of another if you are not wed?"

"Uh... What?" I look down at my pants with tiny shields on them. "Oh. No. Humans do that as a form of idolization."

"Odd mortals."

"You say odd a lot."

"So?"

"She's not judging you, don't worry. I was the same after getting out of Hydra," Bucky said as he walked past, holding a white cat while he, too, was in pajamas with fluffy slippers on. 

I watched him, wondering what on Earth the ex-agent was doing walking around like that. Granted, he also wasn't permitted to go on any big missions as per request of shield, but that doesn't mean he has to dress like... that. Was I judging? Perhaps. Should I be? Maybe. But I won't. I recently learned that judging each other is considered 'offensive' to mortals. 

However, I agreed with Bucky's pajamas. Giant Captain America shield across the chest of his shirt. Very nice. 

"So... You do not mean to be judgemental?" Loki asked, his head creaking back toward me. 

I watched, then shook myself out of my stupor. "Yes. I don't mean to." 

"I see... Well, I have to go to my room. Have a good rest of your day, y/n." He stood, bowed his head, and walked out. 

My eyes followed him, my brain trying to understand why he was suddenly so nice to me. He was being weird. Has been for a few days now. He was a fascinating creature. One I would have to find the time to study. I saw study like he was some specimen. He wasn't. I just wanted to understand him.

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A/N - yep... This was a weird chapter cause I added like a sentence every few days without reading what I wrote previously, so this is probably hella chaotic, but oh well. 

Until next time, Darlings! Xxx