The Element - Loki / Avengers x Reader

*Tony's POV*

I couldn't sleep at all that night. How could I? How could I lay in my comfy bed with my loving partner and rest with such ease when Y/N was laying in a hospital bed surrounded by doctors and in pain.
I kept tossing and turning throughout the night.
"Sweetie go to sleep" Pepper patted her hand down my back.
"Can't" I replied.
"The night won't go any quicker by not sleeping. You need to rest. You need to be strong. For your team and for Y/N. And for me"
Pepper was right. I nodded, sighed and turned over to hug her whilst we both drifted back off to sleep.

*Loki's POV*

How am I going to explain this to her? She's never going to believe me or forgive me. I just wanted her to show them so we could go home. Zemo will pay for this. Hydra will pay for this.

*The next morning / Normal POV*

It was a long night. No one had a good night sleep. Nat was the first to rise, she had headed to the training room around 4am and was met by Steve and Thor who were also already awake.

"Can't sleep either?" Steve turned to Nat whilst punching at a punching bag. Nat shook her head and headed to the side to put on a pair of boxing gloves to join Steve. Thor was in the corner lifting weights.
"It's funny how nearly 4 weeks can seem like a lifetime and one night sleep is an eternity" Steve tried to lighten the mood. It wasn't working.
The trio spent the next two hours burning off some steam.

"Hey Tony honey wake up" pepper poked Tony's shoulder who was still fast asleep and snoring.
"Mmm? What?" He replied. He suddenly jolted awake, remembering that he needed to go check on Y/N. "Shit... did I fall asleep? Oh god. Where's Y/N? What time is it?" He flapped.
"Tony it's okay. You needed to sleep. It's still early. It's only 6am. Come get dressed and I'll go make some coffee okay? It's still too early to go see her" pepper replied. Tony nodded and she left to go make coffee.

"Morning Clint , Loki" she nodded to the two who were sat in silence glaring at each other whilst eating their morning bowl of cereal.
"Coffee?" She asked, breaking the tension.
"Yes please" they both replied simultaneously.

Steve, Thor and Nat returned

"Morning pepper , are you making coffee?" Steve asked.
"Yes I'll make you guys some too. Did you sleep okay? You can be honest" she smiled sweetly.
They all shook their heads no then smiled sympathetically towards each other.
"Who wants breakfast?" She asked.
"Do we have pop tarts?" Thor asked excitedly. Clint looked over and glared at him.
"We have plenty. I'll make some" pepper laughed.

Tony entered the room dressed and ready for the day. "Morning team. How are we all?" He asked. "Where's banner?" He soon realised Bruce was not in the living area with everyone else.
" He stayed late last night with the medical team assessing Y/N's injuries. He'll be up in a moment" Jarvis replied over the comms.

With that the elevator dinged and Bruce returned looking exhausted.
"Is it morning already?" He yawned.
"How is she Bruce?" Nat asked.
"She's far from being okay but she's breathing. She went into cardiac arrest twice last night. She's a fighter" he sighed looking down at his feet.
Pepper looked towards Tony who had his head in his hands. Loki was stood in the doorway and overheard Bruce. He cleared his throat, making the team turn their heads to face him.

"Can we go see her?" He asked sheepishly.
Tony looked at him with daggers and was about to say something before pepper pinched his arm to stop him.

"Yes , but don't all go crowding in. Maybe just one or two at first. Tony ? Do you want to come first?" Bruce looked to Tony who then looked at everyone else. They all nodded in approval and so he and pepper followed Bruce to the elevator.