Worth It

Eighteen

After working out all the details, we all make our way back to our respective rooms. I notice that Loki looks uncomfortable with this whole situation.

"Hey," I say to him. "You're not a bad person. You know that right?" He looks at me with an unreadable expression.

"Your father certainly disagrees."

"Well, I'm not Tony. I'm probably a lot better." He lets out a dry laugh.

"Still, I believe I am still a 'villain' in the public eye."

"That doesn't mean you always will be, Bucky was a villain but we cleared his name. Who says we can't do the same for you?" I smile at him and for the first time, there's a light in his eyes, it was only for a moment but it was there.

"I appreciate the sentiment but I don't know if it's that easy."

"Well," I sit on the kitchen counter and grab an apple. "Nothing is ever easy. I'm not going back to sleep, but you should."

"Why aren't you going back to sleep?"

"Nightmares, can't sleep without them."

"What are they about?"

"We don't know each other like that, but nice try." I smile at him and he nodded his head.

"I see. Seeing as we now live together, maybe we should get to know each other."

"Maybe, I don't think Tony would like that."

"All the more reason to do it." I see a flicker of mischief in his eye, one that I share.

Loki and I sit at the small dining table and talk.
The more we talk, the more I understand him. He's not as bad as the public paints him, but he doesn't want people to see that. He's funny and genuine. Seeing him smile makes me happy, he deserves to be happy. At about seven am, I made myself some breakfast while Loki got settled into his room. I heard the elevator ding and Ophelia stepped out.

"What are you doing here?" I asked her.

"You invited me. Remember?" Ohhhhhh, I remember now.

"What are you here so early?" I asked her.

"Well, you never answered your phone to tell me what time so I just figured the earlier the better." She shrugged and I laughed. She sat down next to me at the table and stole a piece of my toast. "What did you want to talk to me about?" She asked.

"Well, the secret of my parentage is no longer a secret." Her eyes widened.

"Really? How did that happen?"

"Natasha figured it out." I explained. "She was suspicious and badgered us until we admitted it."

"So everyone knows?"

"Yeah, except Sam. He wasn't there for the conversation but he'll figure it out soon or later."

"Is there a reason why you didn't want them to know yet?" She asked me.

"I'm not sure, maybe I thought they would treat me differently. They haven't, not yet."

"(Y/N), how do I use the-" Loki stopped dead in his tracks when he saw Ophelia and I talking at the table. "Oh, I didn't realize you had company."

"It's fine. Ophelia, meet the newest occupant of the avengers tower, Loki."

"Loki?" Ophelia questioned. "Like battle of New York Loki?" I could tell that Loki's heart sank a little bit at that comment.

"That was years ago, he's since reformed and is here to pay reparations." I said.

"Cool, try not to kill anyone." Ophelia told Loki.