For months there had been something strange happening, strange occurrences of some very specific things appearing. First it was those videos on tiktok. “Your fantasy life.” “Your marvel life” “your princess life” “your fantasy aesthetic”. It didn’t matter what the topic of the video was it would all end the same, a green dress, books, a library and him... Loki. The Jotun prince from Marvel. At first, it was easy to pass off as the fyp sending in waves of the same thing to appease a viewer but the only video you had liked was one where you had ended up with Bruce banner. The rest had followed after that, an endless parade of emerald-green, gold and black.
While you had been overjoyed to get Loki the first bunch of times it soon got annoying. Not because of the character, getting Loki always made a strange tingle run down your spine, it just happened to get repetitive. It was always the same end result, no point in watching the whole video after the fiftieth one. People never choose a different aesthetic either, you had seen the exact same dress and library at least four times now, and you just knew there would be more to follow.
After the videos came the random appearances of Loki’s colours, or their symbology. You were doing some fancy eyeliner because why the hell not, three colours down, admiring yourself in the mirror when you realized. Gold, black, green. You hadn’t even grabbed them on purpose. Weird silhouettes looking strangely like that horned helmet, an odd chill in the middle of the day that passed quickly. Your mind turning to the character and staying stuck on them for days, weeks even.
You had wondered if perhaps there was something witchy happening, and you tried to look into it. There was nothing helpful available, all searches simply lead to mythology or marvel. Nothing for “I wonder if Loki is trying to tell me something”, after months of the weird occurrences you remembered something that had become popular recently, shifting, phasing between realities and putting yourself into a new one while you slept. Perhaps it would be possible to shift to a universe where you could get your answers directly it couldn’t hurt to try right?
So you set about your research, finding everything you could on shifting and how to make it work. Apparently you’d need a “script” but you didn’t want people to act out what you wrote, you wanted answers. So when you settled down for your first attempt you ditched the script. You hopped this would give you the closure you wanted. Perhaps after this good finally get some Loki free time. As you settled down and felt yourself leaving your own reality and entering a new one an unbearably loud alarm started going off. When you went to shut off your clock you suddenly stumbled, falling to the ground as several pairs of feet entered your field of vision. You grumbled to yourself and heard hesitant whispers in response.
Looking up drew a collective gasp from both you and the surrounding people. Looks like shifting had worked after all, the avengers were standing in a half circle around you looking like they had seen a ghost. You weren’t sure how to react to this, you had fully intended to shift but actually pulling it off was a surprise and a half. As your brain processed the fact you had done it the elevator doors down the hall opened and a booming voice sounded out.
“What is the disturbance? Why the alarms?” Thor, his voice was easily recognized by any marvel fan. The voice that spoke after was just as easily identified.
‘Brother, please. The alarms are bad rough, I can’t handle your loud mouth as well.” The avengers quickly cleared a path for the two gods. As they approached to see what the fuss was Thor locked eyes with you and his jaw dropped.
“Loki......”
“What? Can't I just go back to my room? I don’t know why you demanded I come with y....-“ Loki had finally turned to see what the others had all been so shocked about, and much like Thor their jaw dropped, tears filled their eyes quickly, and they rasped out
“It can’t be....darling....you’re....you just be fake...my magic acting out in an attempt to sooth me perhaps?” As they spoke Loki moved towards you and reached out a hand to cup your cheek. The moment their fingers came in contact with your skin they sobbed.
“You’re real!” This was enough to finally kick your brain into motion again, you stepped back just a little, hurt flashed in Loki’s eyes and they made a noise close to a whimper.
‘Okay....so.... I want some things explained please.... I am so, so, so confused.” Loki blinked a bit and nodded slowly, glancing at the other avengers as they started to move away.
“Where....where do I start?”
“How about the beginning? Because I wanted to come here but I have no clue what’s happening now.”
“I see....well...in the beginning there was nothing but space, then this phenomenon you mortals call “the big bag” happened an-“ you slapped a hand to your face and growled softly, of course you’d get the smarmy, sarcastic version of Loki. A smirk played on their lips at your frustration before they cleared their throat and their tone turned serious.
“Right..... I suppose I can’t hold out the information for long.... you and I were courting...dating you told me to call it. I rather like courting. Your powers were of value to the avengers of course, which is how we met....you went on a mission without me, despite my protests.... apparently there was some sensitive technology I shouldn’t be near. I don’t know if that was for my safety or others..... I waited for hours...then days, weeks until you were declared missing, presumed dead. I didn’t want to believe it. I refused to....for years I looked for you, searched every possible spot you could have been hidden from me. It’s been four years almost to the day since you vanished....and now you’re back.” You blinked slowly at the information digesting it slowly. Perhaps Loki really had been trying to reach you and the continuous appearance of things related to them was how it manifested.
After another moment’s pause Loki sighed a little.
“Now I believe it’s your turn darling...where have you been? What brought you back?” You took a deep breath and started to fill Loki and the avengers in on everything you had previously thought was reality. The group listened intently to your story as you rambled on, giving them more information than they needed, or had asked for. After your explanation Loki smiled a little and moved back into your bubble, this time you didn’t retreat from them. Which pleased the god immensely.
Eyes and words soft they tilted their head down a little, resting their forehead against yours as they murmured.
‘I don’t know exactly how you came back to me...but you did...and I won’t be letting you disappear again...”