When We Lie

Chapter 9

You're on your way back home when you stop mid-step and accidentally slap Loki in the stomach.

"Ah, I'm sorry! I meant to grab you, not punch you."

He gently pushes you away and grips his stomach. "And what warranted such a reaction? Certainly not my current disguise. Or do you prefer Tom Hiddleston over Loki?"

You arch a brow. "Are you asking me to compare yourself with yourself?"

"No, Hiddleston or Loki?"

"I like your black hair more, though there's no denying Tom looks good either."

"You're shallower than I thought. You like my hair?" He drags his fingers through the short brown curls.

"Excuse you, Tom Hiddleston is literally you but nicer."

He winces. "So, why did you decide to hit my stomach?"

You bite your tongue, regretting your words. "Loki..."

"Tom," he corrects you. "For now, I'm Tom. Why the sudden violence?"

"That's the Pantheon." You point at the old Roman temple. "It's closed now, but the inside's really beautiful."

"It's... oblique."

You smile and shake your head. "It's old, of course it's crooked. Nothing lasts forever, not even the ground we walk on."

"Surprisingly deep, coming from you."

You look offended. "Excuse you."

"Thank you."

You glare at him but he shakes it off and laughs.

"Let's go."

He stops you. "Don't you want to see the inside?"

"Uh, yes, but it's closed." You give him a wary look. "Loki, you're supposed to be incognito, remember? Reintegration in society, all that schabang. Breaking the law is opposite of that."

He scoffs. "My reward isn't that amazing, you know." He looks around and drags you to a small alleyway. He whispers something you don't understand and a sizzling feeling zaps through your body. "Don't panic," Loki says. "I've cast an invisibility spell on you. As long as you don't look anyone in the eye, no one will see you."

"Amazing, but we're not breaking into the Pantheon."

He smirks at you. "And why not? Scared you'll get caught?"

You blow him a raspberry. "I'm actually worried about you."

"Why?" he asks, genuinely surprised.

"Because you'll have to go back to prison otherwise, right?"

He averts his gaze and chuckles. The smile doesn't reach his eyes. "I'll have to go back either way."

You stop him from leaving the alley. "What does that mean? Loki, look at me. Won't you be rewarded if you behave for half a year?"

He laughs without humour. "My reward is more freedom. I get to go out to the gardens for an hour every day if I behave."

That's such a lousy reward! He's stuck here for half a year only to gain one measly hour of freedom a day?

"What did you do to deserve such a horrible reward?"

He glares at you. "You think I did something?"

"Loki, honestly, you're the god of mischief. You lie and deceive and cause chaos for shits and giggles. Yes, I'm thinking you did something to anger Odin."

"Why are we here? Huh? You're no better than them," he hisses and storms off. He conceals himself from your sight and you groan.

***

He's reading a book when you get back to the hotel. He doesn't say a word to you when you plop down onto your bed and take off your shoes.

"Do you want to eat out?" you ask.

"Here's fine."

You nod. "Loki? I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you."

He sighs in irritation and glances at you. "If you didn't mean it, then why did you say it?"

"Because I spoke before thinking. I... We all have biases against someone, all right? I have an opinion of you from previous encounters, the myths surrounding you and what little Thor has said. So for me, it's not impossible to think you did something to anger Odin. Am I wrong?"

"You're not, but I still take offence. I'm trying to change for the better, but it's not exactly easy when no one gives me a chance."

"Then I'll try my best to give you one."

"Then start apologising."

You arch a brow. "Isn't that what I've done?"

"Yes, about being biased. I'm still upset about the 'shits and giggles' comment." He gives you a sneer. "I've always lived in Thor's shadow. Didn't he tell you that? I grew up thinking I was fit to be king, but all Odin ever saw was him. Though, ruling isn't nearly as fun as it sounds. And Thor's a good fit, I just don't want to live being compared to him."

"You're acting out," you murmur. It makes sense. If Odin is like every other Asgardian and only likes raw strength, he wouldn't see Loki as capable. Not to mention Loki isn't even his son, nor is he of Asgard. It doesn't come as a surprise he favours his biological son. And Loki is left in Thor's shadow, never given a proper chance to prove himself. "Wow, he's such a douche."

The corner of Loki's lips rise into half a smile. "Now you see me."

You cringe. "No, I don't. But I'm starting to."

"Better that than being invisible."

You walk over to him. He raises an eyebrow in a silent question. "I definitely like Loki more than Tom. I'll go order something in the restaurant." You leave him to contemplate in peace.