In Exile

Chapter Eleven

Loki cast a look around the small living room and scrunched up his face in distaste, evidently not caring if you witnessed his displeasure or not.

"Is this really where we'll be staying?" He asked, turning on the spot to scan over the layout behind him.

"It's the only home I own," you shrugged helplessly, wishing for a distraction.

"Of course it is."

You sighed and looked away from him, not being able to take the disappointed look on his face.

Even though he was a stranger to you, it still hurt knowing that he wasn't taking well to the home you had taken extra care of in preparation for his arrival, something you felt foolish for but pride was an uncontrollable emotion and you couldn't control being upset by his lack of approval.

"I'm going to help the others, maybe get to know them a little better while I can."

You quickly turned and rushed out of the room, needing to get out some questions in private before they disappeared and left you alone with this ice block of a man.

Had you looked over your shoulder, you would have seen Loki watching as you retreated with a small smirk playing on his lips.

Thor was stepping up to the front door as you neared it, two large boxes in his arms that were large enough to make your own muscles ache in sympathy, even though it didn't seem to be phasing him.

As he stepped in, you let out a small exclaim of surprise and stepped to one side to avoid any collision, Thor looked down at you with an apologetic look and a quirked smile.

"Sorry, I couldn't see you."

"I'm not surprised," you smiled, "you may be tall but the boxes are still in the way, do you need some help?"

"Not at all, thank you, but you could guide me to Loki's room."

You nodded and gently took hold of his wrist, you led him through the small hallway and tried not to laugh as he stumbled or tripped a few times over the shoes you'd typically left in the hall when you weren't too lazy to take them off upon entry.

With a bit of a squeeze, he managed to move through the doorway without any other casualties and set the boxes down beside the bed.

Thor dusted off his hands whilst glancing around the room, nodding slowly until he smiled warmly at you.

"I like this, it's very homely."

"You're the only one who thinks so," you huffed, unable to stop a childish pout as you leant against the doorframe.

"He'll come to like it."

You looked at him with a raised eyebrow, not bothering to keep the complete look of disbelief off your face which only succeeded in making him laugh.

"Trust me, he may be stubborn but he can also be surprisingly homely himself once he's settled down."

"Right," you nodded, crossing your arms.

You didn't want to doubt Thor, if anyone would know Loki beyond the petulant attitude he had shown so far it would be his own brother, but you were having a hard time taking his word for it considering the attitude you had witnessed so far.

There wasn't a high hope in Hell that this was going to pass as quickly as you'd hope it would and that thought worried you further, how long would he be staying?

Fury hadn't disclosed that information and you hadn't asked before effectively signing your life away.

What if it took years?

Maybe you should have asked for more money, even if the thought made you feel ridiculously greedy considering the more than substantial amount you would already be getting.

A strong hand clasping onto your shoulder pulled you from your thoughts, the fingers giving you a squeeze that you were sure was meant to be gentler than it was.

You looked up at Thor, who was giving you a calming smile.

"Don't worry, Loki is a smart man, he shall learn under the right guidance."

"He didn't with his previous set up."

"Because he still had access to luxuries that you don't have access to," he seemed to pause and consider what he'd said if his little wincing twitch was anything to go by, "no offence."

"None taken, it's the truth."

"I just think he needs to learn a bit of humility and morality, which I think he'll get in troves here."

You laughed and shook your head, averting your eyes and trying to fight down the blush that was threatening to redden your face at the words you took as some kind of strange compliment, even if they weren't intended as such.

Having a man like Thor complimenting the lessons you could give another God was oddly satisfying, hearing such words coming from a man of his status and stature gave you a strangely strong sense of empowerment.

It didn't even have to do with how the words were coming from an admittedly handsome man, it was purely the sentiment behind the words.

"If you two are done talking about me like I'm a deaf and dumb dog, I'd like to get into my room."

You started at Loki's voice being so close that he could have whispered those words and they still would have been as if he'd spoken them and half turned so your back was to the doorframe, Thor's hand leaving your shoulder as he too took a step away from you.

Thor gave his brother a quick smile then dashed out, calling back something about there being plenty more books for him to unpack, which was astounding considering the amount of boxes the two bouncer-like men had brought in as Thor and Tony talked outside.

Loki stepped past you and scanned the room, much like he had with the living room and the kitchen, you dreaded how he was going to react to the size of the bathroom and the fact that the tub didn't come with a built in jacuzzi.

For a moment, you watched him as he moved about the room and investigated, transfixed by his beauty that radiated the most when he wasn't talking in that smooth voice to distract you.

With his mouth not spewing out words of disinterested bile, he was definitely someone you could enjoy living with if only for pure eye candy reasons.

There was something hauntingly elegant about the way he moved, even if it was purely a few steps across a room.

"You're staring," he stated, not looking away from the view he had out of the window.

"Ah, yes," you cleared your throat and pushed away from the doorframe, "I am, I apologize."

"Don't," Loki chuckled, finally smirking at you over his shoulder, "I would too if I were you."

You scoffed and rolled your eyes, walking away from his room.

Had he just kept quiet that moment could have been considered somewhat relaxed.

Then he ruined his outer beauty by releasing his inner narcissist into the air in only two sentences.

For the first time in your life you had a housemate and you were also, for the first time, considering laying down some house rules.

It seemed petty, but it was one way to feel like you had some power over this mystical entity now taking over your privacy.