Giftless

Chapter 16

Whispers followed you throughout the rest of the school day. You tried to convince yourself that you didn't mind. It only worked so well. Mostly, the whispers were people commenting about how awesome that kiss was. You couldn't say you disagreed with them on that point; it had been an amazing kiss. Only jock-boy and his friends had anything negative to say, and they quickly gave up when they realized no one was listening to them.

After school, Loki walked you home, carrying your bag the entire way. He threatened to carry you along with it when you stopped too long to look in one of the shop windows. "Just a quick look!" You pleaded, staring longingly in the new release window of the bookstore. You couldn't help your love of books. They'd been your only friends for so long.

Loki shook his head. "My apologies, darling, but you are still grounded, remember?" he asked you gently. Of course you remembered. You sighed and grumbled, but kept walking. "I would normally not care and risk a little mischief and fun, but Fury has made it quite clear that he will lock you up if you do anything else to anger him. And there would be nothing I could do about it." Loki reminded you. He was taking your freedom seriously, especially when you had put it in danger by rescuing him.

"At least it's just one more day," you grumbled. You didn't want to end up in chains or whatever other punishment Fury thought appropriate if you pissed him off again before your grounding ended.

"And I have plans for your first Saturday of freedom," Loki told me. You looked over at him with a mix of shock and excitement.

"You do?" you asked, curious. He chuckled.

"Of course, I do. So you must behave until then, so my plans do not get spoiled." You grinned and took his hand. He was going to surprise you. That was definitely something to look forward to, knowing Loki, the surprise would be a lot of fun.

You had combat practice when you got back to the compound. You were still focusing on the mini daggers, as Loki felt they were practical for a surprise first attack. Plus, they were immensely easy to conceal.

Loki helped you with your homework and you curled up on the common room couch, chatting occasionally with the supers who came and went while you did. You were glad that they seemed to finally be accepting Loki.

Fury came by at one point to tell Loki that he was off of twenty-four hour guard duty and didn't have to go to school with you in the morning. He accepted it, but you could see the disappointment in his eyes. The next day would be lonely without him and you both knew it.

He walked you up to your room when it was time for bed and kissed you goodnight outside of your sitting room. You were surprised that he wasn't coming in. He had been so much your shadow for the last few days that you had forgotten that wasn't how things usually were. You knew it was one thing for him to spend the night in your suite when he was on guard duty. It was another thing when he was not. You knew the difference, but it still felt weird. It wouldn't be appropriate for him to spend the night when he wasn't guarding. You both knew that. It was still hard, when you also both knew that nothing inappropriate would happen. "Sleep well, darling," he bid you warmly before he left you.

"Goodnight," you replied and slipped into your room. You left your sitting room door unlocked. He was welcome to come get more books. You knew, however, that this night he wouldn't, but he would also appreciate that you hadn't locked him out.

There was an ice rose on your nightstand when you entered your bedroom. You smiled at it and sent Loki a thank you text. You would have to find something cute like that you could do for him at some point.

You had your chance the next morning. Once you were dressed, you knocked on Loki's door and weren't surprised when there was no answer. Or that the door was unlocked. No one in the tower ever locked their doors. You slipped inside and left your gift for him on his bed where he wouldn't miss it later. You ducked back out quickly and headed downstairs to breakfast.