I Don't Believe We've Met

Timing is Everything

That evening, after Tony left the tower with a promise from Loki that he would protect you with his life if it came to it, and with the insistence that he take Clint the overbearing babysitter with him, the two of you found yourselves almost wanting to call them back. It wasn't that you were uncomfortable with so much time alone, or that you felt disconnected from the outside world there, no; it was the threat of starvation that was leaving you second-guessing your decision.

"Perhaps we should allow FRIDAY to order dinner in?"

"Loki, we can do this," you sighed, closing the final cupboard left to check, "we told Tony and Clint that we would be fine, and if we order dinner within the first half hour of them being gone, we'll never live it down."

"Yes, I do see your point."

Biting the inside of your lip as you surveyed the scarcely stocked kitchen one more time, after Barton had practically cleaned you out of anything passable as a complete meal, you were silently debating with yourself if it actually was worth the ridicule. "Wait!" you jumped, eliciting an equal response from Loki. "We can order groceries! They know we need them, and if we just happen to accidentally order a few pre-cooked things in there for dinner, they'll be none the wiser, and we get to have a relaxing night in by ourselves. Finally."

"I do like the way you think, darling," he smiled, with a nod of agreement. "Both for the meal and your plans for the evening. I should enjoy nothing more than time spent with you." He crossed the room with a playful smile curling the edges of his lips and a sparkle in his eyes, reaching out for you to take his hand so that he could pull you in. His hands clasped together gently at your lower back as he held you, looking down as if it were the first time he was gifted with the view. The longer that he stood this way, silent and introspective, the glimmer began to fade from his expression, replaced with one of wonderment and confusion. "I still don't understand," he whispered, "tell me why."

"Why what?"

"Why you have chosen me."

"Do you seriously expect me to put that into words when you're looking at me that way?"

Just like that, the smile returned, but with a gentle roll of his eyes as he chuckled at his own audacity, "well, yes, I certainly can see my error. I have put you in an impossible situation, asking you to be of clear thought when gazing upon my grandeur, held within the arms of a god."

"Oh, wow, okaaaay," you scoffed, "here we go. Let's hear it, pretty boy."

"Pretty boy? So, you agree?"

"The fairest of them all."

Loki furrowed his brow, taken aback at your reply and a familiarity in it that he couldn't place, "where...where have I heard that before?"

"Um...don't know," you answered coyly, slowly pushing yourself from his hold, "could be anything, really." He was so lost in his own thoughts, his eyes moving as if he were searching his mind, that he didn't take notice when you were fully freed and taking steps back as your own playful smile grew.

"FRIDAY," he finally gave up, "where is that quote from?"

"Snow White," she answered readily, "which is a children's story about a beautiful princess-"

"Oh, I know the tale!" he answered, coming back to himself to realize that you had run from the room, but your laughter wasn't silent enough yet to throw him off your path. Before running after you, he paused to reflect on his good fortune, and the miracle that had been bestowed upon him when he felt so undeserving. The sound of your laugh was music to his ears, and he followed the melody, entranced by the sound. "Oh, (Y/N), my love, now who's the mischievous one? I do believe that we are about to see."