Working Title : Loki & Annie

65 One Step Forward Five Back

Everyone was finished eating with Sherise reminding Mike that he still had the option to exchange bathtime with dish duty. He politely declined while reminding her of no takebacks.

Micah and Loki had been set up in the game room where they were playing with more toys that had been scattered over the area rug. Or at least Micah was playing, Loki was sitting with Hulk and Thor loosely held in one hand while he observed with blatant interest in what Micah was doing.

Sitting in two of the large gaming chairs Thor and Mike watched, Mike with an indulgent smile. Thor watched with his own curiosity, he had as much experience playing cars as Loki did. Even less since Loki had nearly an hour with them.

Micah scooted across the floor to kneel next to Thor so he could hold up one of the small toys. "Look, Mister Thor! This is a tow truck." He held up his other hand, "And this one is a Police car. It's like the one my daddy drives." He cocked his head sideways to contemplate Thor, "Did you know my daddy is a Police Officer?"

Thor nodded with a soft-hearted smile, "I did know that, little one."

Micah giggled, "I'm not little." He pointed at Loki, "I'm bigger than Loki is. You know why?"

THor had glanced at Loki who was watching his interaction with Micah attentively. Putting his gaze back on the boy he allowed his smile to grow, "Why are you bigger than Loki?"

"Because I'm older!" With a burst of laughter, he scooted back to Loki, putting the cars on Loki's lap where a dozen other ones were piled up. "Here, you can play with these too."

Thor couldn't help but chuckle at the child's pure spirit, a feeling of deep appreciation filling him even more than it had previously. He could hardly believe the Norns had blessed him with the privilege to meet a Blessed child. He had received few such true honors.

Loki looked down at the toys, he remembered they were cars, then looked back at Micah. The desire to thank Micah rose in him, he knew he should because Mother had taught him that a Prince must always be polite, and saying thank you was being polite. Micah was being polite sharing with him so he needed to be polite back even though he didn't have anything to share back with Micah. Loki frowned just enough to create a faint line between his eyes. Wondering if saying thank you was enough he decided to try. He took a shuddering breath at the same time he fixed his eyes on Micah and was opening his mouth when Not-His-Thor spoke.

Thor had glanced at Loki then his eyes bounced back when he saw the frown on Loki's face. He didn't like that Loki appeared to not be pleased with Micah handing him the toys. He thought of all the times Loki had thoughtlessly dismissed kindness done for him by being aloof and knew he could not allow Loki to repeat those insults. His tone admonished quietly. "Loki, you must offer your thanks when a kindness has been done for you."

Loki snapped his head up to find Not-His-Thor looking right at him and felt a painful bang in his chest. His eyes jumped down to where his hand curled around the cars but not before he saw a frown appear on the face of Micah's father. He knew that he was being bad, he should listen to Not-His-Thor even if he wasn't His-Thor but now he felt like he couldn't, just couldn't be polite. And that was being very bad because he was a Prince and a Prince was always polite, even when others weren't polite. He knew this because Father had told him he couldn't yell at His-Thor's friends when they were mean to him.

"Loki." There was an edge in Thor's voice, he would not be disobeyed and made a fool of by Loki's desire to be haughty by not doing as he was told. "Do not be rude to our hosts."

A shiver went through Loki's small frame, he didn't want to be rude. He didn't. But he felt like he couldn't open his mouth, though he tried he just couldn't. He knew Father would be angry and Mother would be disappointed but he was silent.