Sleep did not come easily to Loki.
Whether it was from late nights working on new spells or avoiding nightmares about his time with the Other, Loki did his best to avoid going to bed at all costs. It was an effective method for the most part.
Until he moved in with Thor.
After Ragnarok and Thanos, their relationship evolved into a romantic one, something they had both always wanted but were too ashamed to admit to back when they didn’t know the truth about their relation(or lack thereof). So when Thor begged to stay on Earth, the Trickster found that he didn't have the heart to refuse him.
Which meant he also couldn't refuse Thor's request that they get a house together.
Granted, it's not the first time that they've lived with one another, but Earth dwellings were different from Ásgarðs. There would be nowhere to hide when his insomnia became too great, and Loki refused to let Thor know about the weaknesses his mind succumbed to every night.
He'd burdened his lover enough.
***************
"Care to tell me why there was a clone in our bed instead of you?"
Loki looked up from his position on the couch to see Thor standing in the doorway with his arms crossed.
"You looked so peaceful that I simply did not wish to disturb you."
"I would be far less disturbed if my lover came to bed with me instead of sending an illusion."
"I can't."
Thor sighed before coming over to sit on the couch, taking the mage into his arms.
"What's wrong,elskån mín? Why can't you sleep?"
"Every time I close my eyes...I see them," Loki whispered as he buried his face into Thor's neck, "I feel the Other's icy claws digging their way into the ravages of my mind. I hear my own screaming from the tortures that Thanos and his children carried out day after day to force my compliance. I see you, nearly dying in the hands of that tyrant and unable to do anything....and that....and that...."
Loki became too hysterical to finish, but Thor didn't need him to. He, more than anyone, remembered that deafening crack that nearly robbed him of everything.
"Sshh, it's alright now, ástvinur, none of those creatures can hurt you anymore."
Loki didn’t respond, so Thor scooted until they were lying on the couch with Loki tucked into his side.
"What are you doing?"
"Laying down, I'm still tired."
"Surely the bed would be more comfortable?"
"Are you coming in there with me?" Thor asked with a raised brow, "didn't think so."
"I'm sorry."
"What for?"
"For being such a bother to you."
Thor squeezed him even tighter.
"You could never be a bother to me, Loki. I love you, beyond all comprehension, and I will do anything to make you happy, even if it means going inside that head of yours and personally slashing up those nightmares."
Loki snorted at the image of Thor being a mighty dream warrior before gently kissing the other man's cheek.
"I love you, too."
He laid his head back down against a broad chest as the Thunderer began to sing an old lullaby Frigga had taught them.
The sky is dark and the hills are white
As the storm-king speeds from the north to-night,
And this is the song the storm-king sings,
As over the world his cloak he flings:
"Sleep, sleep, little one, sleep;"
He rustles his wings and gruffly sings:
"Sleep, little one, sleep."
On yonder mountain-side a vine
Clings at the foot of a mother pine;
The tree bends over the trembling thing,
And only the vine can hear her sing:
"Sleep, sleep, little one, sleep;
What shall you fear when I am here?
Sleep, little one, sleep."
The king may sing in his bitter flight,
The tree may croon to the vine to-night,
But the little snowflake at my breast
Liketh the song I sing the best,—
Sleep, sleep, little one, sleep;
Weary thou art, anext my heart
Sleep, little one, sleep.
When he had finished, Thor looked down to see that Loki was fast asleep. He smiled at the sight of his lover before succumbing to a peaceful oblivion of his own.