Bittersweet *Currently On Temporary Hold*

Chapter 4: Small Talk

When you arrived back at Loki's cell you took your seat back from Thor who was scowling at Loki rather pensively.

"Hey Thor. I've come to take my rightful throne back." You joked, smiling a bit as Thor chuckled. Loki looked to you and raised an eyebrow.

"Alright Lady (Y/N). Be careful. I'll be back in a few hours so you can get to sleep. I'll take the night shift."

"Okay. Thanks Thor. See ya." You said as you sat and watched him out. You then turned your attention to your drawing as you sat cross-legged in the huge chair, your wings to you sides, falling over the armrests and onto the floor.

"So, you and Thor then." Loki stated coldly.

"What about us?" You asked, never taking your eyes off of your horse drawing that was nearly finished.

"You're, as you mortals would put it, a couple." He replied, almost as a question. If you were correct there was just a microscopic sliver of worry in his bitter voice.

You couldn't help but laugh a little at that. As much as you always wanted to appear cold and confident to Loki, you couldn't stop yourself. You were full blown laughing before you knew it, and Loki was staring, surprising himself with how much he liked your laugh.

When you calmed you sighed and spoke.

"Oh Loki! That was a good one. You thing we're together? How adorably wrong you are!" You started to laugh once more, unable to contain yourself, "Thor's just my best friend. I don't like him like that!"

"Really? That's not what it looks like." He said as he scowled at you.

"Well, that's how it is." You stated matter-of-factly.

You turned back to your drawing, only barely having time to finish it before Loki asked you about it.

"What are you doing?" He asked, a little less cold than you would have expected. Almost as if he were curious, which he was.

"Drawing." You answered simply, still adding a finishing touch.

"What are you drawing, dare I ask?"

"A horse I used to ride when I was little." You said, blending some shading better with your finger.

"May I see it?" Loki asked almost kindly. It was so near kind that you had to ask yourself if you had heard him correctly. You looked up at him with a questioning look.

"Sure, I guess." You said as you stood, folding your wings behind you. You approached the glass wall so he could see the drawing a bit better. You held up the drawing and almost flinched at the thought of him judging you for it. 'Where the hell is my confidence?' You asked yourself in your mind.

"It's not bad... for a mortal. You seen to have a talent compared to the rest of your kind." Loki said, then looked from the drawing to your eyes.

"Thanks." You said before realizing something, your eyes going wide and a smile appearing on your face. 'Well, there goes the cold facade', "Wait, did you just compliment me? A mere mortal that's completely and totally underneath you?" You mocked as incredulousness and sarcasm flooded your voice.

"Don't look into it. I was just stating a fact." Loki denied, looking away from you.

"Sure frosty." You said, still smiling.

"Why does she have to be so frustrating, but still so intriguing?" Loki thought as he glared at you for the nickname, watching  you sit back in your seat. Your beautiful wings falling over the armrests and onto the floor once more. He had to admit, to himself only, that you were rather pretty. As far as mortals go. As were your wings, no matter what he had said earlier. He actually found himself wanting to get to know you. It was weird.

"Do you like horses?" Loki's asked you as you started a new drawing.

"Are you trying to make small talk, and since when have you been so, you know, not annoying and enraging?" You asked genuinely curious at his sudden change of behavior as well as yours.

"Yes, I figured that if I'm going to be stuck in this god forsaken cell forever I might as well get to know someone." Loki reasoned. It actually made sense.

"Alright then. Yes, I do like horses. I love them actually. I used to ride them all the time back in
(Y/H/T). I basically grew up in the saddle." You told Loki as he listened with intent.

"I was much the same. I spent a great deal of time on horseback when I was younger. It felt freeing." Loki said as he reminisced a past when everything was easier.

"They have horses on Asgard? That's cool! Maybe one of these days, if you ever get out of here, I could take you riding on my farm. I've got a horse I think you would like." You suggested the impossible idea. They would never let him out and he knew it. It was nice to hope though.

"As nice as that would be, I'm never going to get out of here with the approval of all the others. It was a nice offer though." Loki said rather solemnly.

"I bet if you're good and earn their trust you could get free of here. Maybe even join the team." You offered.

"They would never want me on their team (Y/N). You know it." That was the first time you recalled hearing him use your voice. You weren't going to lie to yourself, it sounded nice, but that didn't mean a thing.

"Doesn't mean you can't convince them." You said, your stubbornness showing again. You didn't know why, but you wanted to help him feel better about his situation and you wanted to get to know him. It was, in short, weird.

The two of you talked for the rest of the day. The conversation ranged anywhere from what the other person likes to how stupid some people are. You had a good few laughs and shared funny stories. You were right in the middle of a story when Thor walked in.

"-And then I said, You're so ugly you scared the shit out of a toilet!" Loki and you both laughed loudly and you had to say, his laugh was pretty nice, "So then the guy just stares at me while I'm waiting for his comeback, and he manages to stutter out something I couldn't understand, so I left. I just left him there. Him and his drink, lonely at a bar." Loki laughed as you furnished your story.

"You two are getting along then?" Thor said as he walked over to you and protectively placed a hand on your shoulder, being careful to avoid stepping g on your wings.

"Yeah. Kinda surprising actually, but he's a an interesting person." You say as you get up and Thor takes your seat for the night.

"Thanks again for taking the night shift! See ya in the morning Loki, Thor!" You shout from the door as you walk out of the cell and head to your room for a good nights sleep.