The Duplicity of Desire

Chapter Nine

The sun has just peeked its head out from behind the horizon when you slip out into the chilly halls of Odin's castle. Considering how early it is, no guards are posted by your door to assist you to the dining hall, so you decide to take yourself.

Your slippers slap and drag across the marble floors and you struggle to walk in the oversized shoes that were left abandoned by Thor's bed. However, tripping about hasn't distracted your brain enough to forget about last night's events.

Was there something in the Asgard air that possessed these Lokis and made them wild? You figure this timeline's Loki is already naturally on the wild side, but your partner in crime... was he not supposed to be different? You ponder this.

What timeline did he come from again? Right, he was originally the one who attacked New York City and assembled the Avengers together for the first time. You had heard rumors about how terrifying and intimidating that Loki had been, but Mobius was able to reign him in and give him a pretty hefty character development in just a short amount of time. Maybe it truly is the Asgard air, pulling him into his past and reminding him of who he was...or is.

The thought makes you shudder.

Finally, you look up and realize you have absolutely no idea where you are. Shouldn't the dining hall be right here? You hesitate before turning back around to choose another direction. No dining hall is in sight. You thought you mapped the way in your brain last night, but perhaps you were too flustered by your dinner conversation that nothing stuck.

So, you walk around aimlessly for what you think is 10 minutes (the TVA doesn't keep time like that so you wouldn't know) before someone's gaze prickles your neck. You pause in the middle of a golden corridor and scan the few shadows the rising sun has created.

Nothing.

You lower your center of gravity and creep forward, your hand instinctively hovering over your side, ready to grab an invisible weapon that you left in Loki's room.

A cool breeze lifts your baby hairs and you whip around swatting at nothing but air.

You hate being toyed with.

"I'm in no mood for your games." You hiss to the air.

You turn back around and almost run smack into a broad chest.

"I thought you liked my games."

There Loki stands wearing a long-sleeved leather top, the length of it a dark cyan with a golden pendant stitched below the collar shaped like a thick, stubby 'v'. Black padding covers his shoulders and forearms and wrist guards wrap around his hands. A long, dark green cape attaches to the back of his shoulders that falls to his heels. His shoulder-length hair is tucked neatly behind his ears with a clean shine to it.

You glower up at him.

"Which one are you? King Fraud or Prince Asshole?"

Loki's eyes dance with amusement.

"King Fraud, I take it. Good morning, you royal pain. We can talk after I've had some food. Where's the dining hall?" You ask, crossing your arms and looking down the hall behind him.

The insufferable god leans into your field of view.

"Did you like the clothes I got you?" Loki says instead.

Ugh!

"I told you, I'll gladly converse with you after I eat."

He ignores you.

"I certainly like them. Especially this one," He gestures to your nightgown and rakes his eyes slowly down the length of your body.

Your face flushes and you wrap your arms around yourself. You don't need another hungry gaze from yet another Loki.