Eclipse showed up a few days later, as to which he got a very stern talking to. But all was forgiven. You knew he was just doing what he thought was best for you, and Loki seamed to have taken pride in the trust your dragon gave him, and because Eclipse trusted Loki so did the team, which was why he no longer needed to wear Stark's tech that limited his powers. Loki also seamed a lot more comfortable, relaxed, and confident around you as well. Which was good, the two of you had been friends for a few months now, and you were glad to see him happy, but, at times he almost seemed to relaxed around you. Like he somehow knew you had developed a small crush on the god.

      You hopped not.

     That would be really embarrassing.

Life went back to normal fairly quickly. Your body healed itself by the end of the week, making you beyond happy when Bruce finally took your arm out of its cast. School was back to normal after homecoming. The only thing different with school was you were actively avoiding Nate. The two of you hadn't talked once after the unwanted kiss he gave you when you were running out the door. But that was ok with you. Maybe if you just ignored that it happened you would forget about it?

Nate hadn't even tried texting you.

Which, again, you were perfectly ok with.

      Maybe Nate realized he had overstepped and was also trying to forget about that night? Maybe he felt bad and knew you didn't want to talk to him so he was giving you your space? Whatever the reason, you were glad you didn't have to deal with any kind of drama.

       "(Y/n)!" Tony called you when you got back from one of your long weekend flights. "You have dragon mail."

     You walked into the tower from the balcony, Eclipse fallowing close behind like he always did, to see what Tony was taking about. Sure enough there on the counter was a Terrible Terror with a letter strapped to one of his claws.

Terrible Terrors were one of the species of dragons that were small. Growing no larger than a medium sized dog. They were usually a light green dragon with yellow eyes, though they could also come in yellow, purple, orange, and sometimes even pink. They hunted in packs in the wild, teaming up on unsuspecting dragons and Dakarians to steal their food. The domesticated ones however, were trained to deliver mail. Terrible Terrors had an amazing sense of direction, and even though they are part of the Stocker Class these little dragons could track down almost anyone. Which made them perfect for delivering mail across worlds.

      The Terrible Terror was looking up at Tony as he tried to eat his sandwich. Then it pounced. "No this is mine." Tony exclaimed as the little dragon tried to take his sandwich from him, locking its jaw around the food as it beat its little wings as fast as it could. "(Y/n)! Get this dragon under control." Tony growled, not giving up his precious sandwich to the little terror.

      You chucked, walking over to the two of them. "You just gotta know how to ask." You told Tony as you reached up, scratching the Terrible Terror under its chin. The dragon began to purr then it released the sandwich from its grasp. "See?" You asked Tony as you cuddled the little dragon close to your chest. "Every dragon has a pressure point that makes them drop whatever item it is you want them to drop. In this case it was a sandwich."

"Just..." Tony groaned, "control the dragons. Yeah?" And with that he walked off, probably to one of his many labs.

"Don't let him get you down." You told the little dragon as you scratched it behind its head, making it purr. "He's not an animal person." You walked over to the fridge and pulled out a small raw fish. "Here's a treat." You told the Terrible Terror, handing him the fish. The Terrible Terror didn't wast any time in gobbling down the fish. It purred when the fish was eaten, nuzzling you in thanks.

Eclipse made a sad small roar, giving you his best puppy dog eyes. You rolled your eyes at him but pulled out another raw fish from the fridge. "One for you too." You told him as you tossed it to your dragon. Eclipse caught it out of the air, swallowing it whole with a happy purr.

You laughed at your dragon as you placed the Terrible Terror on the counter top, untying the letter from its claw. Once the letter was off the little dragon flew up and landed itself on your shoulder, content on perching there while you read the letter.

"It's that the Terrible Terror?" Loki asked as he came into the living room, crossing the room to get a better look at the new dragon.

       "Yep." You told him as you scanned the letter in your hands.

     Loki came over, standing right in front of you. He looked at the Terrible Terror with curious eyes, fascinated by the new species of dragon. The little dragon looked back at Loki, purring ever so softly. "May I?" Loki asked, gesturing to the dragon on your shoulder.

       "Yeah, you can take it." You told Loki, still scanning the letter. When the dragon wasn't immediately taken off your shoulder you added, "it won't bite you. Domesticated Terrible Terrors are quite docile. Just treat it with kindness and you'll have nothing to worry about." A few seconds later the dragon was gently lifted off your shoulder.

"What was the letter about?" Loki asked you when you joined him the the Terrible Terror on the couch. The little dragon was curled up on Loki's lap, falling asleep while the god scratched it behind its head. Purring.

"Just Commander Harrison informing me about dragon riding practice." You told Loki. Eclipse came over to the two of you, setting himself right in front of your couch, intent on taking a nap. "It's starting back up again."

      "So dose that mean you will be going off world again?"

"For the weekends." You agreed.

"And what dose dragon riding practice intel?" Loki asked.

      "You know, advanced arial maneuvers, combat training, different battle tactics, arial combat, both solo combat and group, and weapon training. We also have study classes where we learn not only about dragons but different civilizations throughout the universe."

"Why must you study different civilizations?" Loki asked. "I thought you exclusively worked with dragons?"

"Most of the time yeah." You agreed. "But sometimes dragons end up on different planets. Planets that are hostile. We have to be able to keep the civilians clam and under control so we can capture and relocate the dragon."

"I see." Loki said as he thought over your words. "Why can't you just let the dragons wander?"

     "Dragons are amazing creatures that can bring people together. Or tear them apart. It's my job, as a dragon rider, to keep the balance between dragons and the rest of the universe. And unfortunately people, no matter what planet they come from, will almost always chose to tear each other apart. Or hurt the dragons."

Loki thought about that, imagining what it would be like if a dragon showed up on Asgard. Odin would be worried over the well being of his subjects, and even if the dragon wasn't attacking the people the farmers, ranchers, and even fishermen would complain about it going after their live stock. Resulting in the All-father's decision to hunt down the beast. Once the dragon was hunted down it would be slain, it's body parts used for advanced magics and potions.

Loki looked down at the small dragon who was currently taking a nap in his lap. Just a few months ago, if he would have come across this dragon he too would have slain it in order to use it for magic. It was a well known fact that dragon blood could enhance any written spell ten fold. Some potions, the really powerful ones, could only be made with dragon parts. Loki had once even found a recipe for a potion that brought people back to life which required a dragon's still beating heart.

     But now, looking over the small creature, Loki couldn't help but feel a sense of peace and joy he had never felt before he had met you and Eclipse. "Dragons are extraordinary creatures." Loki told you gently, with a soft smile playing on his lips. "They are lucky to have you looking out for them."

       You looked over at the god who was looking over at you with, what you could only describe as admiration. Your heart began to beat fast as your cheeks heated up from embarrassment. "Thank you"

*

You were woken up early one Friday morning by your phone going off. You groaned, rolling over to see what it wanted. When you picked it up it was exploding with 'happy birthday' messages.

You groaned again, dropping your phone back on the night stand. Today was one of your least favorite days of the year. Today was your birthday.

Once you actually woke up you headed down for breakfast with Eclipse. "Good morning love." Loki greeted you when you walked in through the balcony doors. Loki was where he always was on the couch reading one of his many books. "Couldn't be bothered to go to your learning hall today?"

"You know me so well." You told Loki with a slight laugh. "Do you have any plans today?"

      "I've already trained with my bone headed brother." Loki told you as he flipped a page in the book he was currently reading. "I've made myself breakfast, and I am currently rereading one of my spell books. Other than that the we will see where the day takes me."

      "It's always nice to have a lazy day." You agreed with Loki. Loki chucked at that.

      "And what about you love? Do you know what your day will intel?"

"I'll probably go take a all day flight with Eclipse. See where we end up."

"Sounds like an adventure."

You and Eclipse ate your breakfast then said good byes to Loki before taking off to go exploring. Loki watched from the window as you and Eclipse ascended into the sky. When the two of you were high enough Eclipse shot off a plasma bast, opening up a portal to a different world. You and Eclipse flew into it, the portal snapping shut behind you.

*

"Hey Loki." Nat greeted him a few hours later. "Have you seen (y/n)?"

"She left with Eclipse a few hours ago." Loki told Nat, not even looking up from his book. "Why?"

"I was going to take her to Petco." Nat answered with a small sigh. "To take her to go hold some ferrets for her birthday."

"Her birthday?" Loki asked, looking up from his book. "Today is the day of (y/n)'s birth? Why didn't anyone tell me!?"

"Lady (y/n) likes to keep the date of her name day a secret." Thor told his brother from where he was standing beside Nat. Thor must have come in with her looking for you. "I believe she doesn't want to be a nuisance to anyone."

      "But she's not a nuisance." Loki countered. "Where in the nine realms did she get that idea?"

      "She's never liked her birthday." Nat told him. "Ever since we've met her she's tried to hide when it was, so we've just let it be. But she turns 18 today which it a pretty big day, I was at least going to go take her somewhere before she sneaks off. Or at least I was going to take her somewhere."

On that note Loki snapped his book shut and stood up.

"Where are you going brother?" Thor asked Loki.

"To make (y/n)'s 18th name day a day she will not soon forget." Loki answered, and with a flash of green light he was gone.