You somehow managed to keep your vow to yourself that you wouldn't go seeking Loki's comfort. At least you did until a disturbance woke you from the light doze you had finally managed. Your bangle was on your bedside table, so your powers were wide open. You were supposed to practice being without it, especially in the quiet in the middle of the night.

You sat up, trying to figure out what you were sensing, what had woken you. You felt the distressed thoughts coming from the direction of Loki's suite and jumped out of bed in an instant, running to go help him. Loki never lost control. Whatever it was, it had to be bad for you to feel his thoughts and emotions.

You were grateful in the moment you burst through his door that he left it unlocked, and more grateful that his shields recognized you and let you through with no hesitation.

You found him tossing and turning in his bed, trapped in a nightmare. You knew then how he had felt all the nights he had seen you in the same state. You hated the feeling of helplessness and ran over and jumped up onto his bed, desperate to do something to help him. You grabbed him your the shoulders, holding him to the bed to keep him from thrashing. "Loki! Wake up!" you bid him, shaking him, but he was lost to the nightmare and couldn't hear you. You took a breath and moved your hands, grabbing his bare arms instead. You knew from your own studies on super powers that physical contact increased abilities.

You hoped that it would work now.

Loki needed you.

A second later you were sucked into his nightmare and saw what he was seeing.

You were lying on the floor in front of him. It was strange to see yourself, but you did as if you were no more than a ghost observing the scene. You were on your back on the floor, struggling to breathe. There was a wound in your chest, near your heart, if not through your heart. The blood was gushing through Loki's hand that was placed there, as he was trying to stop the flow of your blood. Your blood just kept pouring through all of his efforts as he knelt beside you, his entire body glowing as he threw every drop of healing magic he had in to you, but it wasn't enough. It wouldn't be enough. You were fading too quickly and his power couldn't keep up.

The nightmare let you go and Loki bolted up, clutching you to him before he even truly realized you were there. He gripped you tight enough to bruise, as if, if he loosened his grip, he would lose you. "I'm here, Loki. I'm safe. It was just a dream," you told him softly, letting him clutch on to you, despite the pain of his crushing grip. You stroked his hair, soothingly, knowing that it was one of Loki's weaknesses.

"You were dying in my arms. I was there and couldn't stop it, couldn't save you," he sounded so lost and scared. You could hear the tears in his voice.

"It was a dream, Loki," you reminded him gently. "It was just a dream. I'm safe and right here. Not bleeding, not dying, not hurt at all." He finally relaxed once it clicked that you really were there and really were safe. He loosened his grip on you, but seemed reluctant to let you go. "Love, I don't mind cuddling, but can you let me move a little?" you asked him, blushing. You had straddled him to hold him down and keep him from thrashing and hurting one or both of you. He had sat up and now you was stuck straddling his lap, which you was not comfortable with given recent events. He hesitated, but did loosen his grip enough for you to move and curl up against his side. You sat like that in silence, with him petting your hair for his reassurance. "Would you like to get a cup of tea?" you asked him with a tentative smile. It's what you did after you had nightmares, it might help him too. He looked down at your smile and gave you a tentative one of his own.

"That sounds like an excellent idea," he replied softly. You got out of the bed first, and helped him to his feet, wrapping your arms around him. He held you to him as you walked downstairs to go find his tea. He wouldn't leave the kitchen while you were making it, instead perching on one of the stools so he could watch you, like if he let you out of his sight for a moment, you would be lost to him forever.

You curled up on the couch with your tea and watched news while he ran his fingers through your hair. You knew he was still upset when he started braiding your hair. You didn't stop him though. If it made him feel better...

You ended up dozing off in his arms while he braided your hair. It wasn't a bad way to fall asleep at all.

You both woke when you heard voices coming down the stairs. The other supers were waking. You both got up and went to get breakfast, pretending you hadn't been sleeping together on the couch. "Thank you for last night, darling," Loki told you as you were eating your breakfast. "You did not have to come to my rescue." He sounded sheepish and you realized that his culture would have seen that as a vulnerability and a weakness.

"Of course I did. I love you and you were suffering," you reminded him gently. You wouldn't have let him suffer alone. He gave you a real smile at that and it was a relief to see that he was finally getting back to normal. His smile then changed to his Cheshire cat grin.

That did not seem like a good sign.

"Eat up quickly, my love. You promised that you would play with me all day and you would not complain," he jangled your car keys in front of you, before your mind had the opportunity to come to the wrong conclusion at his words. "We must be leaving soon to make the appointment,"

"What appointment?" you asked him, concerned by whatever he was planning.

He just grinned wider. "You shall see." Breakfast was over quickly and Loki summoned your bangle from your bedside table and handed it to you. You sighed, but dutifully put it on. Loki jumped to his feet like an over excited puppy and pulled you to your feet and started leading you to the door.

"Loki, we can't go anywhere in our pajamas," you reminded him, planting your feet. You were not letting him drag you outside in your pajamas. The green glow of his magic flew over you and he was in his black suit while you were in jeans and a t-shirt. You looked up at him confused; you were way under dressed, but he didn't care to explain. You sighed heavily, this was going to be a long day of not being able to complain at him.

He drove you across the city to a giant fancy-looking building. It was mostly glass and looked way too fancy for you to go in there. Especially dressed like a high school student, which you were. You then saw the sign over the door: Venus Spa and Salon. "No way, Loki, no no no," you told him. You were not a spa person.

"You promised," he reminded you too jovially. He was enjoying this. Smug bastard. You sighed. He was right, and since it wouldn't actually hurt you, you couldn't very well deny him.

"Fine..." you replied grumpily. That wasn't a complaint. He just grinned at you in reply. He came over and opened your car door for you. He offered you his arm after he helped you out of the car and led you into the giant scary building. "How is this fun for you?" you asked him. He was going to be bored while they did who knows what to you. You just hoped that part wouldn't take too long.

"Knowing that you are finally properly relaxing is very fun," he replied warmly. He then held up his game system. "Besides, Mario will keep me company until they are finished with you." You walked up to the reception desk and you was feeling more and more under dressed and out of place as you saw everyone around you.

"Mr. Odinson, Miss Stark, welcome!" the receptionist greeted you when she saw you. You weren't surprised that you were known even though you'd never been here before. You had been on the news a couple of times recently, and you was already known as Ironman's niece. Fame had consequences after all. "You're one lucky lady, Miss Stark. Your boyfriend booked you our most deluxe package," she beamed. You tried to give her a smile, but you were dreading this. Their deluxe package sounded awful.

"We will take excellent care of her, Mr. Odinson," another receptionist told him. "We have a lounge right this way where you can relax." Loki lifted your hand and kissed your knuckles.

"Enjoy, darling," he told you with a grin. He went with the receptionist to the lounge.

You were led to hours of 'pampering'. Some of it was actually enjoyable, though, you had to admit it. You did have to convince them at one point that the bangle could not come off under any circumstances. They shrugged at your eccentricity, but didn't fight you on it. There was a full body massage, a manicure, pedicure, your hair was cut and styled, and your makeup was professionally done. They also fitted you for a blue sundress and summer sandals to go with it. No wonder Loki had let you come here looking so grungy. He knew you were going to be given pretty clothes to go with your day of pampering.

They finally led you to the lounge where Loki was waiting hours after you'd arrive. He stood the moment you entered the room and the expression on his face made the whole experience worth it. He came over and bowed over your hand to kiss it. "You are ravishing, my darling," he told you with such sincerity that you couldn't dream if disbelieving him, god of lies or no.

"Thank you, love," you replied while the receptionists who were watching all melted from second-hand romance. The other waiting guys in the room were looking uncomfortable, like they were being shown up. Unfortunately for them, they were being drastically shown up. Whatever they had planned, it couldn't top Loki in his black suit of sexiness acting like the prince he was.

After the spa, Loki took you out to a picnic lunch in the fancy park in the middle of town. It was a popular spot, and lots of pictures of the pair of you were taken, but you didn't mind. You then went walking around downtown, doing all the touristy things that the people who live there didn't do. It was fun to see all of the sights with Loki. He took you to dinner at a super fancy restaurant, and you ended up back in the park that evening gazing up at the stars. You didn't know if he had planned the fireworks show, but it was the perfect end, to an admittedly perfect day.