"Wake up, love," Loki shook you awake. You opened your eyes blearily. It seemed way too early; your alarm hadn't even gone off. When you glanced at said alarm, you saw that it was 2am. You groaned and rolled over to go back to sleep and hopefully ignore the annoying trickster who thought 2am was an acceptable time to be awake. "Darling, come on, wake up," he shook you again and ripped your blanket off of you.

Rude.

"Loki, what on Earth could possibly be important enough to wake up for at 2am?" you demanded grumpily.  You weren't a morning person, especially at 2am.

"Nothing, so get up," he replied too jovially. 

"Loki!" you threw one of you stuffed animals at him in aggravation.  It was bad enough that he camped out in your bedroom to protect you. 

He laughed and dodged the stuffed animal.  "If you do not get up on your own, I will throw you over my shoulder and carry you there. I am not letting you miss this," he threatened. You rolled back over to face him.

"Would not," you grumbled, quite grumpy at being woken at 2am, and more grumpy at being kept awake at 2am. "I need sleep, Loki," you whined.  He reached down for you like he really was going to throw you over his shoulder. "Fine, fine, I'm up!" You sat up and let him haul you to your feet. He wrapped a robe around you and summoned slippers with fluffy insides for you. "This better be worth it," you told him as you let him steer you from your suite.

"It will be, I promise," he told you softly. He led you to the stairway, and steered you upstairs. You went with him on autopilot, half asleep due to the hour.  You hesitated when you got to the door outside, there was nothing up on the roof. He tugged you along after him anyway.

In the middle of the roof, a picnic style blanket with pillows and blankets on it had been set up. He grinned at your sleepy confused expression. "Come along, darling," he bid you and led you to the blanket. He laid down on his back and pulled you down to join him, also on your back laying against him, using his arm as a pillow. He pulled the blankets up around you, for your benefit as you were the one who would get cold.

"What's going on?" you asked him, cuddling up with him.

"Just wait," he purred in your ear.

A minute later a beautiful meteor shower erupted in the sky. It was beyond words how gorgeous it was. You watched the meteors stream across the sky.  You gasped and stared in awe up at the sky as you watched together.  

Loki chuckled. "I told you it would be worth it," he whispered in your ear.

"You were right," you told him, enjoying the sight.

"And nothing on Earth," he added with a chuckle.  He was proud of himself for his sneaky words. 

You looked over at him then, too curious for your own good. "So why did you come to Earth?" you asked. You knew he wasn't from this world, but he hadn't told you exactly why he had come back yet. You were pleased he had, but you were still curious.

He hesitated a moment, before he finally answered.  "My brother and I were...banished for lack of a better word, after Thor's banishment, after he returned to be the heir to the throne.  I didn't really fall from the bifrost, that was made up for the movie.  It is a tradition among the royal family. Only the heir stays at the palace, any other sons must go make their own way in the world, a quest of sorts. Once Thor was married and had an heir of his own, Balder and I were sent to find our own way. The eldest is not always chosen to be heir, it is supposed to be the child most worthy, and Odin chose Thor for that honor. 

Anyway, Balder had said that he found a world where we could be kings, where we could have the birthright and the rule he so desperately craved. I agreed to go with him, thinking it a primitive world, that we were to set up a colony there.  It would've been a valid quest, one worthy of honor had we succeeded. Instead, we came across Thanos and his army.  Thanos tortured us, though Balder less than I, as he agreed to work for the mad titan willingly.  We were eventually sent to Earth, and you know how that went. Once I broke free of Thanos' mind control, of course I switched sides, but damage had already been done to your people," you heard the sincerity and regret in his voice and knew that he really hadn't meant to be on the wrong side. He had been tricked, which was pretty impressive. "Balder escaped and has also gotten quite skilled at hiding from my ability to see the future. My skills there are not great, and I only get glimpses of what is to come, but I have seen nothing of what he will do, not for many months now. I returned to Earth to make amends,"

"I'm sorry you were banished," you told him softly, "I'm sorrier that you were tortured and made to attack Earth against your will. I know mere words aren't enough for the pain you went through, though I'm glad that we were able to meet because of it."

Loki smiled over at you and pressed a kiss to your hair. "How did I find someone so very perfect?" he asked as he leaned over to kiss you, just as the meteor shower was ending. You didn't know how to answer that, so you just kissed him back.

"Why aren't you cold?" You asked him when the kiss broke. There was snow flurrying around you both and you'd be shivering if you weren't so well bundled.

He was laughing when he replied: "I'm quite surprised my idiot brother hasn't been telling tales, especially with the movie being what it is," Loki paused and considered the right words. "The movie was correct, my biological parents, at least my father for sure, were frost giants... so the cold does not bother me. Plus, I can do this," he summoned a rose made of ice in his palm. You saw that he was using the trick with ice to hide his fear of rejection.

You hadn't seen his Jotun form, not yet, but you wouldn't press him for it.  "It's beautiful," you breathed about the rose instead.  "And my feelings for you won't change whether you're Asgardian, Jotun, human, or none of the above. I care for you Loki, not your heritage," you told him firmly, though you were starting to shiver against him in the cold.

He stood and pulled you to your feet.  "It is time to get you inside before you freeze," he told you as he wrapped an arm around you and you walked back inside together. There was a kettle of tea waiting for you on your coffee table when you made it back to your room.

You smiled up at him, gratefully.  "You're so thoughtful," you told him warmly as you poured you both tea. You gladly held yours as you sipped on it to warm back up from being outside in the cold too long. It had definitely been worth it, though, to see the meteor shower and spend time with Loki.

You did finally make it back to bed after the tea for a couple more hours of sleep before you had to get up for school.  Stupid meteor shower being on a school night.  Was it bad that you half-hoped that Loki would do all your school work so you didn't have to pay attention?

Your alarm blared too soon and you shoved Loki from the room so you could get dressed. "I cannot guard you out here!" He protested again, laughing and teasing.

"I'm sure you'll find a way," you replied again, laughing at the comfortable familiarity. Suddenly there was an illusion of him in your room. You put your hands on your hips. "No," you told him firmly. You pointed at the door. "Out." He roared in laughter, but did as you bid and the illusion vanished. It had just been a joke, so you were laughing too. You knew he wouldn't have actually betrayed your trust like that. It was too precious of a commodity to him for that. You did get dressed quickly, though, so he wouldn't feel like he was shirking for too long.

Loki was holding your school bag again when you left your bedroom. You didn't bother trying to take it from him. That wouldn't happen until you were much closer to the school. "You look lovely, darling," he told you when you joined him in the sitting room.

You rolled your eyes. "I'm wearing a stupid school uniform. It is inherently ugly and unflattering." Really, the uniforms weren't that bad, but you still wouldn't feel 'lovely' in it.

"Not the clothes, love, you." You felt heat rise to your cheeks when he said that. He chuckled and took your hand so you could get some breakfast before school. Tony was already at your table when you arrived.

"Morning," you told him as you took your usual spot.

"Morning," he replied. Loki took a seat nearby. "You're off 24 hour guard after today, unless something happens," Tony told Loki, who nodded and somehow pulled off a look that it didn't matter to him one way or the other. "I need my car today. Sorry Kat. You're off being grounded on Friday. We'll go get your car on Friday after school, ok?" he asked, by way of apology.

"That's fine, Uncle Tony. No rush. The only place I go is school and I can walk there," you reminded him. You talked with him about the hunt for The Harlequin during breakfast, but there wasn't much news. She and her people had all been quiet since the Avengers upped their security. You enjoyed your peaceful breakfast and both had to leave at the same time, him to work and you to school. Loki, of course, came with you.

"So, your uncle is getting you a car for your birthday?" Loki asked as you walked to the school.

You nodded.  "It's an expensive gift, but he can afford it. I also think he's finally getting the hint that I need some freedom, so I think it's also an apology that he's been so...smothering about protecting me,"

"Is there anything you would like for your birthday?" he asked.

You shook your head firmly.  You didn't do the asking for presents thing.  You didn't expect anything and anything you wanted, Tony would buy for you.  "No, nothing that I need," you were purposely not answering the question he was asking. You weren't going to ask him for anything, or expect him to even get you anything. You weren't even sure he was being paid yet.  You didn't exactly pay attention to how payroll worked for the supers who lived in the tower. 

"Darling, that is not what I asked," he replied dryly.

You had known you couldn't be able to get that answer past him, but you'd had to try anyway. "I'm aware of that. I don't expect you to get me anything, and I'm not going to ask you for anything or hint for anything. I wouldn't have even mentioned my birthday if Uncle Tony wasn't making such a big deal. I think he's even having a party for it... He really feels bad he hasn't been around much lately," you babbled, hoping to get him off of the subject of what to get you. He gave you a look, but didn't argue anymore. He was going to get you something; you knew that, but it was out of your hands now.  You hadn't asked for anything, so your conscious was appeased. 

Loki handed you your bag when you got too close to the school and gave you a kiss before he went into guard mode. You wrapped your arms around his neck, kissing him more deeply than his chaste kiss had been. You wanted to stall having to go to school, and only having him as a guard and not as a boyfriend.

"I will be with you all day, love," he reminded you gently when he stepped back, breaking the kiss. "You do not need to act like we are being separated forever,"

You nodded.  "I know, it's just hard to have you there, but not really there. It's almost like an illusion," you tried to explain the feeling, but you were sure you weren't making sense.

"I will be there with you all day, now stand tall and enjoy your last day of making all of your classmates jealous with my presence." That got a laugh out of you. He gestured for you to lead.

You took a breath, straightened your spine and used the patented murder strut to stride into the  school as though you owned the place. It was amazing to see the reactions of the rest of the students, who finally noticed you, as though you might be important because you had a bodyguard. "You've gotten them all jealous," he whispered in you ear with magic.

"So you can really read minds?" you asked him in reply.

"Of course," he replied as if it were obvious.  You filed that piece of information away for future use. "Do not fear, I only read surface thoughts, especially when it is an entire crowd like this. It is beyond rude to pry without invitation. I would not even be reading their surface thoughts were I not on guard duty. A surface thought could tell me in advance if someone is going to attempt to attack you,"

Loki had to sign in again at the office. At least the office lady was used to his presence and didn't bother him about his name again.

He also continued to send you notes throughout your classes that day, which kept you in good spirits.

"Kat?" the stupid jock quarterback stopped you when you entered the cafeteria. You heard a whispered growl in your ear from Loki. You couldn't tell if he was just jealous, or really wanting to kill the jock. You were wary regardless.

"Yes?" you asked the jock in reply. You still didn't even know his name. You really ought to learn it at some point. You turned to face him politely, unsure how to get out of the situation quickly. Loki was standing just behind you, closer than he'd been since you had kissed before school.

"Does he have to be so close?" Jock boy asked. You gave Loki a look. He took a few steps back to give the illusion of privacy, but you knew it was just an illusion. You also felt the weight change as one of the mini daggers you and Loki had been practicing with appeared in your school blazer pocket.

"If he does anything, you're welcome to stab him," Loki whispered magically in your ear. You knew his mouth didn't move while he was doing that particular trick, since you could see him this time. You also knew you weren't going to stab the boy.

"We're playing a game Friday night," Jock boy told you without preamble. You nodded' all of the football jocks were talking about nothing but the stupid game. You couldn't care any less about it. "You should come. You can be my date. I'll get you a seat right on the sideline and everything," he said brightly as if that were some massively generous offer.

"That's a...generous... offer, but I can't. I already have plans," you told him, grateful you did already have plans and you weren't lying to him. You knew better than to outright tell him 'no'. He had the slimy feel about him that felt like he wouldn't take that word well.  You also had the feeling he'd be able to tell if you were lying.

"What plans?" he demanded.

"My uncle is taking me out for my birthday," you replied evenly. "He knows he has Friday night off, but he's not sure he can get off next Saturday." Ok, that part was a lie, but a plausible one. Tony was going to have your birthday off no matter what it took. Jock boy didn't look convinced. "Besides, I have a boyfriend," you threw in the last barb. Jock boys tended not to be able to accept the word 'no', but they could accept that another male had a claim. You were using that to my advantage here. Plus it was true. Plus your boyfriend was standing right behind you.

"You have a boyfriend?" he sneered. You felt the danger in his tone and knew you needed to get away from him before this escalated.

"Yes. I do," you told him coldly. "Thank you for your offer, though."

"Bitch, you'll regret turning me down," he snarled.

Before he could say or do anything else, Loki swept in, coming between you and the jock boy. Jock boy turned on his heel and stormed from the cafeteria. You turned once you were safely out of the jerk's reach, and headed to the food line, with Loki falling into step behind you. "He's not following, is he?" you whispered, knowing Loki would catch the words, and catch the hint of fear in your tone even though your whisper was barely audible. He stepped closer and put a hand on the small of your back.

"He is not following. You are safe," he reassured you. Heads turned at hearing him speak. He rarely had while on guard duty. "Shall I kill him for scaring you?" Those words were back to his magical whisper.

You shook your head. "Thank you for the offer,"

"It is my duty to keep you safe," he reminded you, loudly enough to be heard by the other students. You saw the swoon-y expressions on the cheerleaders' faces at both his words and his accent. You made it through the line and you got your lunch, and your extra sandwich for Loki.  You made your way to your usual table, glad that you had a bodyguard for once. "You are still scared," came the magical whisper in you ear. Loki was still concerned and homicidal.

"I'll be ok," you promised him. "No reason to kill the jerk."  You kept an eye on the jock-boy. He had returned to the cafeteria and was sitting with his cronies on the other side of the cafeteria.

"He scared you," Loki protested. "And he is trying to claim what is mine," you heard the snarl in those words. You gave him a firm look. You hadn't realized he had this possessive overprotective side. You would have to be careful of it and  hoped it was just because some asshole had been mean to you. If he was this possessive all the time you were going to have a problem. You didn't think it would be an issue, though.

"Loki..." You said the word in a warning tone.

He huffed. "Fine, I will not kill him just for words," he promised. You could relax then.

You heard the whispers around the cafeteria. Jock boy was already spreading that you had turned him down and had made up a story about having a boyfriend. You sighed. This wasn't what you needed.

Once you had finished eating, Loki came over to you and held a hand out to you, palm up. "Come, lady," he said gently with a familiar glint of mischief in his eyes. You placed your hand in his and let him pull you to your feet, wondering what he was up to this time. You saw a slight green glow around the room and realized that all of the teachers and faculty had left the room at the same time. "This story will not get to the school officials who could refuse to let me do guard duty, but your classmates...I am tired of them looking at you like a piece of meat," Loki explained, though that wasn't really an explanation.  You let him lead you to the middle of the cafeteria, wondering what he was up to. Sneaky Trickster. You were standing almost next to jock boy's table where he was sitting with alpha cheerleader and her friends. You prayed he wasn't going to do something stupid.

He did something stupid.

He wrapped his arm around your waist and pulled you close. All eyes were on you immediately. He leaned down and kissed you deeply, demonstrating to all of the students in the cafeteria that you were not lying about having a boyfriend. Or about Loki being taken.

The crowd erupted in cheers. Somehow, you knew that no one disbelieved the act, or thought it was a stunt to quiet the whispers and rumors about you. This story was better than jock boy's lies. Loki broke the kiss. "I told you I have a boyfriend," you told jock boy when the crowd had quieted. "And that he's taken," you added to alpha cheerleader, who both glared at you.

I laughed at their expressions and left the cafeteria with Loki following behind you, back to looking the part of the perfect stoic guard. The students knew differently, but you knew that Loki's word was good and no word of what had happened would get to anyone who could stop him from being here to do guard duty.