"This creature serves no purpose," Loki growled as Hela thrust a struggling puppy into his arms. It squirmed and barked happily, rubbing its small black body against his chest with glee. Disgust rose from the pit of his stomach. How had he come to this? In what world did a god cradle a slobbering brute like a servant? He had half a mind to allow it to wriggle from his grasp and let it fall to the floor. Holding it out to Hela, he tried to give it back, but she disappeared in a puff of smoke only to reappear behind him an instant later.
"It is a peace offering, Loki," she explained with devilish countenance. "It seems our dear Thor has neglected the mortal Jane Foster. We cannot simply expect to enter her home and receive warm greetings after so many years of absence! An apology must be delivered. Trust must be made. This is the first step to their demise."
"Do not lecture me on the art of deception," Loki snapped. "I am the god of deception. The god! And I say that this useless animal is not needed." It was ridiculous, standing at the heart of a pet store dressed in a beautifully tailored suit—holding a fiendish mass of animal. Every second he spent wrestling with this worthless beast was time wasted from the true task at hand. He was above this. What was the use of attempting to blend in when he and Hela currently looked so out of place? Even wearing Midgardian garb, the two gods stood out among the humans. Perhaps they were overdressed, perhaps they spoke too eloquently, or perhaps it was his disdain for the writhing pup in his hands that tipped the mortals off. Whatever the reason, he and Hela were drawing too much attention to themselves, and they needed to vanish quickly.
"You do not understand women half as well as you believe you do," Hela teased. She wore a suit of her own: her black cloak disguised as an exquisitely tailored Fioravanti. Though gifted with a youthful face, she held herself with the elegance of a woman twice her age. Together, they looked as if two wealthy bankers had stepped off of Wall street and into a PetCo. "Do you really think she would not slap you again? It is almost too vile to comprehend, Loki, that you would come into her home without so much as a token of sorry conscience."
"Fine, we shall take the creature," he muttered, noticing two teenage girls staring at him from across the store. Their eyes were wide with wonder, and one gestured to the other as Loki met their gaze. "We are too exposed here," he whispered to Hela under his breath. He could not stand to be beheld by such lowly eyes without so much as a glimpse of fear in their expressions. Turning to hold out his hand to the Death Goddess, so that they be transported to Jane's house, Loki was surprised to see Hela frowning at him. "What is it now?" he snarled.
"You have no paid the seller," Hela replied evenly.
"What matter is it to us?"
"We will be recognized as thieves. We must act as normally as possible so as to not upset the still waters of their minds." Loki clenched his teeth. This was pointless.
"As you wish, dear Hela," he acquiesced after a moment. They waited in line behind several mortals who looked as brainless as boulders. Loki stood rigidly beside the goddess, who seemed perfectly at ease among the filthy humans. The puppy had now settled into the crook of Loki's arm, panting joyfully up at his raven haired bearer. Although Loki wished it would disappear, his grip was gentle as to not hurt it. He would never let anyone know, but he held a warmer heart for beasts who could not harm him. This particular pup was an dangerous as a flower.
When they reached the register they paid for the animal, and headed on their way. The two argued over the mode of transportation before Hela insisted on grabbing a taxi, so the two sat in silence while the streets of Midgard filled his mind. Jane Foster, Thor's mortal love, was minutes away. Loki's lips tingled with the anticipation of exacting his revenge on his brother. Oh yes, the revenge would taste so sweet.