𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝕄𝕠𝕣𝕒𝕝𝕚𝕥𝕪 𝕠𝕗 𝕄𝕠𝕣𝕥𝕒𝕝𝕚𝕥𝕪

27: Unknown Heritage

Do we make sense? I think we do

In spite of everything that we've been through

Oh, and you say black, and I say white

It's not about who's wrong as long as it feels right

Under Your Scars - Godsmack

Liz sat at her piano, foot on the pedal and left hand casually tapping at different keys to make sure the sounds fit together. In her right hand, she held a pencil firmly between her fingers and the palm of her hands rested on a sheet of paper. She was recording the notes of her song on solid material so she didn't have to completely rely on her memory to play the melody. Between her lips rested her usual toothpick, a habit she realized was slowly diminishing. At first, she hadn't known why, but then realized that it started after she and Loki reunited at Stark Tower. Why? Liz wasn't sure. But she had a hunch that maybe, possibly, her anxious walls of precaution were beginning to crumble because she had begun forming a connection with someone again. That someone being none other than the Asgardian prince himself. Whether she was relieved or appalled by it, she wasn't quite sure yet, but she'd finger out her answer eventually.

A duffle bag filled with items Liz considered essential sat next to the piano bench. She was traveling to Asgard today and staying there for a week, courtesy of Thor inviting her since he considered her part of the team that protected his home from HYDRA. Liz was excited to finally get a small vacation. She couldn't remember the last time she'd actually taken time to relax and enjoy herself. She smiled to herself. Loki would be there.

Liz was interrupted by the opening of her front door. The piano sat perched in the middle of the large, open concept of the main entrance area. She glanced over the top of the piano at him. Speak of the devil.

"Hey," She greeted shortly as she set down her pencil and began collecting her papers splayed over the piano top. "Sorry, just give me a few minutes-"

"Don't rush yourself," He interrupted, a soft, charming smile spreading upon his lips. "We have all the time in the world." Liz relaxed her body and sat back down on her stool, setting down the papers and reaching for her pencil again. Loki rounded the piano and moved to stand behind her, his body heat radiating onto her from their closeness. "Is this the song you're supposed to perform in nearing weeks." Liz sighed, the stress of her work finally catching up to her as she peered at the notes scribbled on her copy of sheet music.

"You would be correct." Loki glanced over the papers spread on the piano.

"I presume you've written music previous to this one then?" Liz nodded, her focus on her scribbles barely strong enough to keep her motivated to continue. She'd been working on this for almost two hours ahead of time. Loki wandered to the side of the piano, the sight of a stuffed folder catching his eyes. He ran his fingers over it, almost as if it were a precious artifact. Then he looked to Liz, eyes asking for permission to enter. "May I?" She looked up at him, then the folder, and then back at him. Her thick lashes fluttered as she peered at him, then nodded her head once.

"Sure." She continued with her business as he looked through the folder. Inside lay many sheets of paper, some of them stapled together, others floating around as simple ideas or unheard melodies that Loki figured she wrote down in case she ever wanted to use it later. He soon realized that the stapled papers were the complete beginning and end of a song. Curiosity coursed through him as he took out each individual bunch of papers and looked over them one by one. They were all beautifully written and carefully crafted. As he continued sifting through them he noticed that one of the songs had a second part written in along with the main chorus. It was a duet. Loki closed the folder and set it back on the piano, but held the stapled music in his hands. He handed it to Liz, who looked confused at first.