Clara awoke fairly early the next morning with a jolt. She quickly sat up and looked around. Loki had moved her the previous night into her new room, her own personal room.
It was a classic, elegant little girl's room. How Loki managed this in one night was unknown, but he was king after all. It was a room befitting a princess, a large bed completely with drapes that could be drawn for more privacy around the upper part of the person sleeping in the bed. There was a small tea party area that was made for actual tea parties, and a dresser next to it. There were many toys neatly organized around the room, so boredom clearly wasn't an option in this room.
Clara should have been thrilled about this, but she was from thrilled, she was terrified. Everyone had been harsh and cruel to her, and now suddenly someone was kind and caring? It didn't seem right. Kindness was gone in this new world, kindness was her father and he was no where to be found.
Clara threw the covers off her, still dressed and grungy from her time running from everyone, and jumped to the ground. Her little feet hit the cold wooden floor making a small thumb. She bolted towards the door just when Loki opened it.
He noticed the fear in her eyes, the jumping of her skin from her pounding heart. He frowned, what had startled her? Was it a bad dream? Why was she running from a glorious room like this one? Clara ran up, trying to pass him but he leaned down and stopped her.
"Whoa there little one. Where do you think you are going?" He asked voice unusually kind and soft. She looked up at him, eyes wide with fear, eyes giving a silent story of 'let me go'. Loki saw this and sighed, he didn't want her to fear him. In truth she was now an ally, she was his source of unwavering power, and he her source of protection. He dropped to his knees so he was at her eye level.
"Please… Let... me... go…," She stammered.
"Little one I mean you no harm," Loki assured her. She stared at him. She didn't believe him, she couldn't, and not after all she had been through in less than two months. She wanted to believe him, wanted to believe he was good and didn't want anything from her for once. She couldn't help but think of her father when she looked at him.
Loki watched the emotion flash across her young face. Uncertainty, wishing, wanting… betrayal…
"I see you do not trust me, in time you will see my words true."
"Who are you?"
He smiled softly, "I am Loki of Asgard, king of Midgard or as your little mind knows it Earth. What is your name little one?"
"… I'm Clara Rogers…"
"Rogers? As in the Captain, Steve Rogers? Tell me child are you related to Steve Rogers?"
"Yes... He is my father…," Clara answered. Loki went silent with this. He had ripped her father from her, for the first time he actually felt guilty. He felt regret for his actions for a brief moment before he shook his head, sending the thoughts away. He looked at the child in front of him, watching the familiar blue of the Tesseract flash across her young eyes. There was no way she knew how to control it, it was powerful even for him and he was a god, a master of magic. He swore in that moment that he would help teach her how to control it; he would teach her like she was his own daughter…
He looked at her, her skin covered in gashes, dried blood, brushes, and dirt. Her hair was madly tangled, and her clothes were filthy rages. He chuckled softly.
"Well Clara you are filthy, you should go bathe," He gestured towards the door of the bathroom. She turned and looked at the bathroom door. She looked back at him and nodded. He smiled softly and stood up, putting his hand out towards her for her to take.
"Come little one, I will draw a bath for you," He said. She hesitated but reached up and took his hand as he lead her towards the bathroom.