Texting #6: The Alert

Tower Universe - Short

It's the middle of the night, and Gwen’s phone buzzes on the nightstand with an alert. She reaches over and gropes blindly for her phone.

After the missing plant incident, Gwen set up motion sensors in her greenhouse, and they just went off. She blinks, trying to get her sight focused on the video on the screen.

Someone is in the greenhouse, wandering the rows of plants. No, not someone. Loki.

She switches apps and finds her messages with Loki and starts typing.

Text from Gwen: "You are in my greenhouse."

Loki's attention is firmly on a particularly intriguing flower he's never seen before when his phone buzzes in his pocket. He fishes it out, rolling his eyes that his phone would go off at this hour.

Then he sees the message and his smirk widens into something almost like a genuine smile.

Of course she set up motion sensors. What didn't that woman think of?

He doesn't bother hiding anymore, strolling around the greenhouse as he types out a quick response.

Text from Loki: "How astute of you to notice."

Text from Gwen: "It's kind of difficult not to notice when the alerts wake me up in the middle of the night."

She props herself up in bed.

Text from Gwen: "Does this visit have a purpose or did you just want to see pretty flowers?"

Loki smirks. She’s always so sharp.

He moves down the row of flowers, taking in the colorful blossoms with a sense of curiosity and appreciation.

Text from Loki: "Can't I simply desire to immerse myself in your lovely flora?" 

He replies, feigning innocence as he reaches a delicate blue bloom. He gently trails his fingers over the petals, a hint of genuine fondness creeping into his tone.

He refuses to admit he missed her.

Text from Gwen: "You can visit the greenhouse but maybe next time do it when I'm awake...and there."

She watches him on the security feed and smiles. The way he casually walks the rows and gently skims his hand over her plants is almost sweet. 

Loki chuckles at her words, his fingers dancing over the petals of another flower. He was actually enjoying this, sneaking through her greenhouse in the dead of night. And knowing that she was awake and watching him... he can't deny the thrill it sends through him.

But he's not about to let her know that

.

Text from Loki: "Oh, the fun would be ruined if you were awake. Besides, you're awake now. Be grateful I graced you with my presence."

 He picks a flower, twirling it between his fingers. 

She looks closely at her screen and then types quickly as she watches the feed.

Text from Gwen: "Stop. That next plant is stinging nettle. Don't touch."

Text from Gwen: "You should be glad I'm awake and keeping an eye on you."

Loki scoffs, but stops his fingers just before the stinging leaves of the plant.

Text from Loki: "Ah, and I suppose without your watchful eye, I'd be wandering blindly into dangerous foliage?"

He rolls his eyes, but there's a hint of unease on his face as he continues.

Text from Loki: "And thank you for saving me from stinging nettle. It's almost as if you care about my wellbeing."

Text from Gwen: "You should really be careful. At least half the plants in there can hurt you in some way."

She pauses before the next message, still keeping an eye on him. She likes that she can see his reactions to her texts...

Text from Gwen: "I do care, you know."

...like that one.

Loki's fingers freeze mid-message, a strange feeling fluttering in his chest. He wasn't expecting such a straightforward admission from her.

He's not used to people caring about his wellbeing—genuinely caring about it—and it almost makes him uncomfortable. Almost.

He hesitates before carefully replying.

Text from Loki: "I don't require your concern, little mortal."

He knows it sounds defensive, and maybe it is, but he can't help it. Vulnerability is not his forte.

Text from Gwen: "I know you don't but you have it anyway."

She knows him well enough by now to be patient with him and read between the lines. She studies poisonous plants, so she knows how to handle things that can hurt her — how to hold them gently, how to give them room, how to respect their power without fearing it.

Loki's expression softens, her words penetrating through his carefully constructed armor. He's not used to people being so understanding of him. Most mortals, and even the other Avengers, seem to either fear or underestimate him. But not Gwen; from the beginning, she's treated him differently.

He hates how her words make him feel vulnerable and exposed. But he can't bring himself to shut her out completely.

His fingers hover over the keypad, almost unsure of what to type.

Text from Loki: "And what do I do with your concern, hm?"

His mood shifts and changes like the tide. Their conversations can go from joking to flirting to prickly depending on the day or sometimes change in just a matter of minutes.

Text from Gwen: "You don't have to do anything at all with it."

He reads her words, something strange stirring in his chest. She's not demanding anything from him. She's just giving her concern without any conditions. It's both confusing and refreshing.

He's so used to people wanting something from him—power, obedience, respect. But she just cares. He doesn't know how to respond.

Text from Loki: "...You really are infuriating, you know that?"

She smiles at the message but doesn't answer his question.

Text from Gwen: "Come back during the day, Loki. I'll give you a proper tour so you know what to avoid on your next midnight stroll."

Loki groans, running a hand through his hair in frustration. He should keep arguing with her, keep pushing her buttons. He should remind her that he's a grown man who can go where he pleases.

But the truth is, he doesn't quite want to argue. And the idea of a day spent surrounded by plants and her is strangely appealing.

He rolls his eyes again, but can't quite suppress the grin pulling at the corner of his mouth.

Text from Loki: "Very well. But I'm not guaranteeing I won't find new ways to irritate you."

Text from Gwen: "That's fine. I doubt you'll irritate me at all. Good night, Loki."

His late night texts and security alarm alerts that wake her up in the middle of the night don't irritate her so she thinks that they'll be fine.

Loki smirks at her response. She really is far too trusting of him. It's both endearing and slightly concerning. He can already imagine the ways he could irritate her, but he decides to save those ideas for another time.

Text from Loki: "Good night, little mortal." 

He types reluctantly before slipping his phone back into his pocket.

He gives the greenhouse one last look, his gaze lingering on a particularly interesting vine.

"Until next time," he murmurs to himself before slipping away into the darkness.