A Whole Bunch of Loki's

Preceded by Your Reputation

I stare through the darkness of the room towards the ceiling, regaining the little bit of the breath I had lost.

Loki led beside me with his eyes closed, his breathing more even than my own.

"That was definitely...something," I finally say after gaining control of my lungs.

"In a good way I hope," he chuckled in reply.

"Certainly, your reputation does not exceed you in the slightest."

I felt him shift a little and turn my head towards him.

"What reputation would that be?"

With a soft sigh I roll onto my side to face him, shifting further down the bed to lie more comfortably.

"Your reputation as what I can only describe as a 'playboy'."

Even through the darkness I could see Loki quirk one of his eyebrows.

"I wasn't aware of that."

"That surprises me, there are many stories from many women floating around the palace."

"Such as?"

I stare at him, my eyes adjusting to a point where I could actually see more than just a vague outline of naked features.

"Mostly sex stories to be honest, from taking kitchen servants on the counters to handmaidens in the library, one tale even recalls you and a visitor from Muspelheim in the palace garden pond."

He scoffed loudly and rolled his eyes.

"Please, don't tell me you believe such stories."

"I'm not sure what I believe."

"I am deeply wounded that you would believe I'd sully the books in a sanctuary like the library."

We both share a laugh, the light awkwardness of the conversation topic lifted and silence descends upon us once again.

"Is that why you avoided me for so long?"

The question startles me a little, momentarily catching me off guard and taking a moment longer than usual to register.

"I suppose you could say that, you could say that I'm not particularly fond of people who sleep around and whilst I understand that our life spans are long there is a large difference between experience and merely getting some at any chance to the point of it becoming unappealing."

Loki said nothing, but I could see him nodding with a soft smile.

"Well it would be a lie to say that I didn't have a share of experience, but I most certainly cannot live up to the apparent amount of stories there are about me circulating out there."

"I suppose people will make up such things for their own image, using a well known name to gain traction."

"I'm not sure what they'd expect to gain from me, Thor I could understand, but not me."

"I don't think as many people are against you as you seem to think, Loki," I smile.

"Perhaps not, but I still don't like the thought of those who would usually not dare to interact beyond basic social standards using me as some elaborate character for their fantasies."

"I'm afraid that happens with people such as yourself."

"Meaning?"

"Meaning people are naturally drawn to those who are of higher standard, richer and definitely attractive, especially if it makes themselves more interesting."

"Or it's just easier to make up lies about someone you barely interact with, with no real emotional connection you can't feel bad for making up lies about them whilst staring them in the face."

"There is that too," I hum in agreement, "though that would be quite a length to go to with one of the Princes of the kingdom."

"Some people will resort to anything."

I let out another small hum and nod, letting my eyes fall closed as I begin to feel drowsy.

"I'm glad you finally came to your senses about me though."

"I am too, Loki," I smile.