A/N: Hey there- in these chapters, Vera and Loki are approx. 17. So sorry if I didn't make that clear! Please review and tell me how this story is going :)

"What book are you reading?"

Vera's head popped over Loki's right shoulder, a tendril of red hair tickling his neck, trying to get a glance at the pages he was scrutinizing. The tiny, cursive words scrawled across the yellowed pages made her head hurt from just looking at them.

Meeting in the garden, at least twice a week, became a habit. They never saw each other anywhere else- Loki had his 'prince-ly duties', as Vera liked to call it, and she had to take her lessons from Madame Freeda, who taught her academics.

"Is it another magic book? What're you trying to do this time?" Vera poked Loki's cheek playfully after he snapped his book closed. He swatted her finger away.

"The Theory of Teleportation," Vera muttered the cover title engraved in gold and raised an eyebrow. Loki watched the spontaneous girl carefully. "I've been thinking… since you enjoy magic so much, perhaps you could continue your lessons with me."

"And what makes you think I want to go through another dislocated shoulder?" Loki asked, earning a scoff from his friend.

"It only took you two days to heal. And the only reason I hurt you was because that spell was dysfunctional."

"It was anything but dysfunctional, Vera. You didn't focus enough on it."

"Then teach me a spell that doesn't require that much focus." Vera said, as if it were the obvious thing to do. She moved around him and sat.

"Vera, you were only trying to change the color of my shoulder plate. I can't think of anything less elementary than that." Loki rolled his green eyes.

"Surely there's something easier. Like making water move."

"I can't just have you sit here rippling water. You'd pass out from the sheer boredom."

"Then teach me how to spar!" Vera exclaimed, her eyes lighting up at the thought. She jumped up. "Oh, please,Loki! Teach me how to spar!"

"Why do want to learn how to spar?" Loki asked, warily watching her jump around in excitement.

"I've heard far too many tales of you and brother sparring." Vera brushed the magic book off his lap and pulled Loki up, albeit with some struggle. "It's also good for when I finally get to see the rest of the nine realms."

Loki knew full well of Verdandi's dreams of traveling around the universe when she grew older- she wasn't like all the other Asgardian women, who dreams of marrying a man and becoming a housewife. No, Vera could hardly sit in one spot for more than five minutes. And Loki wasn't one who could tell Vera that visiting all the realms would be near-impossible.

"You want to learn now?"

"There's no better time!" Vera nodded enthusiastically. Loki smirked to himself- it wasn't as easy as she clearly thought it was.

"Odin," Vera breathed, panting hard with her back on the ground. She flung her arms out. "I think I'm done for the day. Or for this year, as a matter of fact."

"You said it yourself, Vera," Loki held out his hand to help the girl up, "Never give up."

"Easy for you to say." Vera rolled her eyes and rubbed her aching shoulder. "You're the one who just dodged every single blow I delivered for the past week we've had these sparring lessons."

"It takes practice," Loki said and resumed his fighting stance, "Now stop whinging and have a go at me again."

Loki wasn't the best teacher, nor did he have the best patience.

Vera sighed and crouched, her arms in front, ready for anything. After a moment of unsteady silence, she lunged towards his right. Loki side stepped away easily. She lunged again, aiming for his chest- but Loki danced away out of reach. She threw more punched, more kicks, but Loki always seemed to be a step ahead of her and slide out the way. She threw her body at his shoulder, but he dodged it easily. However, Vera jerked her leg around to hit the back of his knees, causing him to become unstable and wobble. She swiveled around and rammed into his side with her shoulder.

The impact Loki and Vera made with the floor was rough and managed to take the breath out of them both. Vera had landed, luckily, on his chest. It cushioned her fall immensely, though it did nothing for Loki.

"OH MY LORD-" Vera squealed, rolling off her friend quickly. She laid besides Loki, panting and smiling at the glaring, afternoon sun. "I did it! Loki, I did it!"

"You did," Loki panted, swiped the back of his right hand across his sweaty brow and squinted his eyes to observe the girl that lay to his left. Vera laughed quietly and rubbed her hands over her freckled face.

"I'd better get back for a shower, Madame Freeda would kill me if she saw me like this during her 'Lady Lessons.'" Vera sighed, nudging Loki's arm playfully.

"I'll see you on Sunday, then," Loki said, nudging her back.

"For sure," Vera nodded and sat up. "Perhaps you'll be able to take me to the sparring grounds where your brother, Lady Sif, and the Warriors Three train."

"I don't think you're ready for that yet," Loki said while raising an eyebrow. Vera crossed her arms.

"I haven't the faintest clue of why you seem so against the idea of meeting everyone else in the castle. I've been living here for a month, Loki."

Loki didn't like it when Vera pouted, or when she complained. Though, she hardly whined about anything if she didn't have a good reason as to why.

"Perhaps."

With a victorious smile, Vera pecked Loki on the check and raced off- leaving her friend frozen.