On Thursday you came back, after school, to find everyone in the tower running around getting ready for... something. A mission most likely.

Cap was in the kitchen pouring over a STARK industry computer. Tony was typing away on one of his holographic key boards. Nat was finishing putting all her hidden weapons into her black spy suit. Clint was setting up his bow an arrows. And Bruce was looking over some paper files. The only people not in the main living room were Thor and Loki.

"Hey kid." Tony greeted you without even looking away form the holograph screen in front of him. "How was school?"

"Good." You answered him distractedly, letting your eyes wonder over the room of superheroes. It always seamed so so real when the team was getting ready for a mission. It was days like this that you had to remind yourself that you lived in a tower of the worlds mightiest heroes. That your life wasn't normal. "What are you guys preparing for?"

"Remember the Hydra agents you and Loki arrested?" Nat asked you.

"Oh yeah." You remembered. "I forgot about those guys."

"How could you forget about them?" Clint asked in a taunting voice. "They blew up the tower. Tried to kidnap Loki. And you crashed their helicopter in the middle of Central Park!"

"I've kinda been busy Clint." You grumbled at him.

"I'm just saying I wouldn't forget about the people who almost blew me up." Clint laughed.

You just rolled your eyes and shook your head at the assassin. Clint, like the whole team, liked to tease each other. It was harmless and fun, and even though you pretended you didn't like the teasing you would be sad if the team didn't tease you. But you weren't ever going to tell anyone that.

"She's been too busy with worrying over what she's going to wear to her date." Bruce mumbled under his breath, grinning at his papers. He blushed scarlet red when everyone stated laughing at his comment. He didn't intend to be overheard.

"You're all ridiculous." You informed the room of heroes with an exaggerated eye roll. "I'm a teenager. I can afford to worry over the little things in my life. Non of you can tell me you haven't done the same thing when you were my age."

"I never went to a school dance when I was your age." Nat chimed in, placing her newly polished gun in a thigh holster. "But if I did I believe I would have acted very much like our little Hiccup."

"Well, I think it's great that (y/n) can finally act her age." The firm voice of Pepper Potts announced from the elevators. The CEO of STARK industries strutted into the room full of super heroes like she owned the place, clutching a mobile phone in one of her hands and an assortment of files in the other.

You liked Pepper. She was strong, independent, and kind. She also decided to become like a sort of mother character to you while you were away from home. Trying to push you to go out and get some regular high school friends, and act like a regular high school girl. And though you appreciated her concerned for you, you weren't really a social person. You preferred time spent with your dragon above time spent with anyone else.

"Pepper!" Tony greeted his girlfriend, strutting over to her to greet her.

Pepper shoved the phone and files into his hands when he got close to her. "Phil Coulson brought this by my office earlier today." Pepper explained. "Said it was important information about the upcoming mission."

"Coulson's alive?" Cap asked, coming over and taking the paper files from Tony.

"Apparently so." Pepper agreed. "And before you all ask 'how' let me tell you that I don't know. He just came by long enough to give me those files."

"Isn't Phil the guy Loki stabbed straight through the chest when he was invading New York?" You asked, trying to keep up the the rapidly changing conversation.

"I thought his first name was Agent?" Tony butted in confused.

"Who names their child Agent?" You asked the billionaire genius.

"Someone could." Tony protested.

"What? You think the mother, who just spent the last few hours in labor, was all like, 'you know what a great name for our kid could be! Agent?'"

"When you say it like that it makes me sound like an idiot." Tony mumbled under his breath.

"Yes (y/n)." Cap cut in, scanning the files in his hands. "Phil Coulson is the guy Loki stabbed during his time on the Helicarrier. Though I'm surprised he's alive. Nick Fury told us himself that he died."

You nodded, though it didn't surprise you that Coulson was alive. Nick Fury was a super spy, he lied all the time to get people to act a curtain way. He probably just told the team of super heroes that Coulson died so they could have something to rally them together. "What's the mission about?" You asked Cap, peering around him to look at the files in his hands.

"Its just the standard 'Take down a Hydra Base Mission.' Nothing for you worry about." Cap assured you, calmly shutting the files and placing them on the counter with the others. "The agents you and Loki captured gave up a secret location of a big Hydra base. One of the biggest ones we've located. We're just going to get in and take them down before they know we know about the Hydra base. Fast and easy."

You glanced around the room of super heroes getting ready. "This doesn't look like a fast and easy mission." You grumbled, eyeing Clint as he set up his most advanced tech arrows that he only used for advanced missions. "If you guys need me I can just cancel the dance." You offered. "I'm sure Nate will understand."

"Absolutely not." Pepper scolded you in her best CEO voice. "You will not be missing this dance. You are a senior in high school and you deserve to act like it sometimes."

"But what about Hydra?" You asked, hoping you could wiggle in an argument that could convince everyone in the room that they needed you on this mission. Because that seamed less scary than going to a high school dance. At least being on a mission with the team you could kinda know what to expect.

"The rest of the team can handle them without you just this once." Pepper retorted, fixing you with a knowing glare. Now you finally understood why she was the only person that could get Tony to do what she says. Her look was intimidating.

"Yes ma'am." You mumbled, dropping the topic at hand.

*

Though the team wouldn't tell you exactly what this new mission initialed you knew that you wouldn't get any more information out of them. So you went up to your room to get ready for your day date with Nate and his group of friends. You pulled your hair into a cute Viking style hair due you found on the internet, (because why not? It was fun, cute, and different.) Found a nice shirt and jeans, and did your makeup.

Nate wouldn't tell you what the group date was about, insisting it was be a surprise, but he did tell you to wear jeans and a nice shirt. So at least you knew that.

You then went up to the launch deck to see everyone off, and wish them good luck. What you were not expecting was that Loki was also up there with the whole team looking like he was going with.

"You're heading off too?" You asked the trickster god, a little confused. You didn't think the team trusted him enough to go on missions yet. Let alone one as big as this. He still wore Tony's tech that limited his powers around the tower. He shouldn't be going with everyone and leaving you here all weekend alone.

"It seams that way." Loki replied, smiling down at you with his most dashing trickster smile that would have any girl melting for him. Fortunately for you you weren't like any other girl. Being a tough dragon rider meant you didn't... couldn't... develop crushes on a handsome god.

Yep. That's totally what it meant.

Totally...

"The team has come to an agreement. And I fear I will be dragged around this pile of rock proving to them and to my brother that I am to be worthy of their trust."

"You'll have that sometimes." You agreed absently, not knowing what else to say to that. You knew Loki didn't want to be here, in the tower. Or even on this planet. Just because the two of you had become friends didn't mean he actually liked it here. You knew that. "I wish a could come with you guys." You told him in earnest. "I don't what any of you getting hurt."

Loki sighed, glancing around emotionless as the team loaded up the jet then back down at you. "If the fair maiden wishes I will do my best to make sure no harm befalls upon your assortment of friends." Loki told you, his voice bland, bordering on bored, but you could tell that he actually meant what he said. It was in his eyes, hidden deep within. But if you knew what you were looking for you could see that he meant what he said. He would keep your friends safe.

"That would be greatly appreciated Loki." You told him, letting a hint of  relief into your voice. "But what about you?"

"I've been in hundreds, if not thousands of battles in the many years I have been alive. I can assure you that this will not be my last,"

"Brother!" Thor called form inside the jet. "It is time for our departure. Say your far wells to your lady quickly. We must get going."

You didn't miss that Thor had just called you Loki's lady, a faint blush spread over your cheeks and you prayed Loki wouldn't notice. "Just be carful." You told your friend, ignoring the butterflies that were currently flapping around in your stomach. "If you die, or get hurt I will be quite cross with you. After all, who else am I going to talk to about all the drama that this dance will unfold?"

Loki chucked softly at that. "Then I will remain unharmed, if not only to hear the drama you will relay to me when we return."

"Brother!" Thor called again, more urgently this time. "We really must get going."

"Duty calls." Loki sighed, before picking up your hand and giving tour knuckles a gentle kiss. "We will be back in a few days time love." Loki reassured you, seeing the open concern in your eyes. "Then you will be able to tell me about all the wonderful drama you have discovered."

Loki them turned and walked away, gracefully striding into the awaiting jet. The back of the jet closed shut when Loki was safely inside.

"Just... be carful." You muttered under your breath as you watched the jet take off into the open sky, leaving you alone in the tower for the weekend.