If he had to spend another minute in that drinking hall, Loki would go out of his skull. He carefully slipped round the corner, pausing, resting his back against the wall. The cool night air gently pushed back his hair, taking the warmth from his skin. Behind him, he could hear the revelry, smashing glasses and laughter. And there were nights when this would have had an appeal. The seeming closeness of his cohorts, the jokes, the stories. And nights that seemed to never end, just rolled up in the fire warmth and blur of mead. But not tonight. Tonight the room stifled him. The press of bodies all clamoring. The voices raised were shrill in his ears. And he hated them. Tonight, he wanted nothing more than to disappear into his rooms.

Taking a breath, he moved on. He climbed the steps in a hurried jog, coat tails catching in the wind. He kept pace, letting his thoughts wander as he made his way back to his quaters. At this time of night the streets of Asgard were reasonably quite, the odd drunk staggering home in the arms of his prize and guard patrols to keep peace or try their luck mooching drinks from taverns. Behind him a blacksmith and his son were carefully setting up shop in the barely breaking light. And the prince slipped by unnoticed.

Keeping out of sight was simple. He spent his childhood watching the people, walking these streets. The days he'd needed to escape, to lose himself among the buildings shadows. These streets were his. He'd stalked them enough. The secret byways were second nature and his feet carried him swiftly through without prompt.

It took him less than an hour to finally reach the halls of the palace. The huge stone pillars and carved bas-reliefs were silent in his approach. He moved with tip-toed grace, shifting between shadows unseen by the guards. He didn't need to move in such a manner, the guards would never dare to stop him. But boredom was growing tight in his chest. He needed to entertain himself.

He slipped down a hall -

"Loki?" Frigga's voice was soft, gentle, yet pulled Loki out of the shadows without thought. He stood in the hall, cast in the light from a hanging lamp. Frigga walked to him, her light embroidered silks shifting around her calm frame. She held her hands behind her back. Loki shifted to meet her halfway. He playfully clicked his heels together, and with a grin bowed his head slightly to his mother.

"I didn't expect you to be up so early mother."

"And I didn't expect you back so early my son," Frigga half smiled. Loki rested his weight on one leg, as he swung the other, tilting his head.

"I was not needed, nor missed."

"And what of Thor?"

"Oh I really wasn't needed there, mother. He has enough doe eyes cast admiringly, mine would simply detract," The sarcasm dripped from his words. Frigga's eyes grew a little sad, and Loki looked away, sighing. "I simply wished for space. I needed to breathe."

"Do you have your space now?"

Loki gave a small smile that didn't reach his eyes, a small nod of acknowledgment. Frigga sighed, bringing her arms from behind her back. She held a small, leather bound book with delicate gold embroidery in the spine. With both hands she passed it to Loki, who took it without a word.

Heavy footsteps alerted them to an approaching guard. The guard stopped and bowed to the pair.

"Forgive, my Queen, but the Allfather has asked after you."

"Thank you, I shall be there momentarily." Frigga dismissed the guard with a gentle nod. She turned back to her son, who eyed the book in his hand intently. Loki stood stock still.

The queen reached up and carefully tucked a piece of loose hair from her son's face. "Go to bed Loki, you look tired."

"Thank you mother," Loki held the book up, "I will."

Frigga placed a hand on his shoulder as she went to move past. He reached up and gently squeezed her hand.

They parted in companionable silence, leaving the prince standing alone. The light from morning slowly rose along the walls. Pulling his shadow down the hall as he turned the book over in his hands. It was small, delicate and inside the writing was printed in tiny, fluid script. He tucked the gift away. Loki squared his shoulders, and left the hall, walking a little too briskly and without his desire for shadows. He was no longer bored. A great tiredness had grown, and he longed for sleep.

He crossed the threshold to his room. Loki quietly closed the door behind him, his hand lingering on the handle. He walked over to the bed, placing the book down upon the blankets. Slowly, his hands becoming dull from the growing tiredness, he pulled his coat off, drapping it over a chair. He tugged off his undershirt, feeling the cool air from the open balcony door wash over his skin. Loki ran his hands through his hair, taking a deep breath, his ribs expanding. Hands dropping to his sides, he sat down on the edge of the bed, carefully taking his boots off.

Loki grabbed the book, swung his legs onto the bed and reclined. One hand held the small tome, the other resting lightly on his stomach. He read a few lines, and felt himself gently drifting, his mind wandering. He gave up, the book could wait. Turning to his side, he let sleep roll over him. One hand still clasped to the little book.

His door was flung open. The heavy banging woke him with a start. Loki sat up as a grinning, and still slightly drunk Thor ambled in, grinning from ear to ear. Thor turned and shouted down the hall, "I found him! I have won." with a chuckle he sat himself down on a couch with little to no grace. Loki rubbed the sleep from his eyes, crossing his legs beneath him.

"What do you want brother?" Loki asked. He rested his head on his hands as Fandral and Sif entered.

"My how strange to find your brother in his bedroom." Fandral chuckled taking his place beside Thor.

"Indeed, Thor - your detective abilities are astounding. I am in awe." Sif grinned, sitting on the arm of the couch, swinging her feet over to rest on the seat. Loki eyed the group expectantly, watching them.

"Shall I ask again? What is it that you want?" Loki's tone was playful, but barely, an undercurrent of anger seeped, "not that I don't value your company. But I was sleeping."

"Brother we simply wondered where you'd got too," Thor grinned, "one moment you were by my side, the next you were gone -"

"Not that I was surprised." added Sif.

"I theorized that perhaps you'd found yourself a companion but," Fandral made a show of looking around the room, "that seems to not be the case."

"Surprising, that my disappearance caused such a fuss," Loki titled his head, a half smile playing across his lips, "Foolish of me to leave without telling you."

"I simply wanted to check on you Loki, relax." Thor sighed, "we're going out again tonight, would you care to join us?"

"Or would you prefer your books?" Sif asked.

"If my books contained even a glimmer of your beauty, then I'd never leave them."

Sif laughed, and rolled her eyes, before shooting Loki a quick, playful smile. He returned the glance, then turned back to his brother. Thor looked upon him expectantly. Loki sighed.

"What did you have in mind?"