Chapter 6
The next day Gwen woke up to find Loki in her bed again, fully dressed. Gwen wasn't startled this time, but she did glare at him when she realized he was there.
"What are you doing here Loki," she asked, her voice thick from left over sleep. She breathed heavily as sat up, not quite ready to remove herself from her bed. The sunlight was soft and blue as it came through her window. She enjoyed leaving her curtains open to look out into the sky during the day or night.
"I like the way the sun rise looks from this room," was his reply. She saw he had a book open in his lap. She couldn't tell which book it was, but she knew that he had pilfered it from her office. He glanced at her, a twinkle in his eye as he spoke, "And I have better reading light in here."
"It's really creepy having you in here while I'm asleep," she told him, finally getting up from her bed. She stretched, ignoring the feel of eyes staring at her.
"That oaf is also downstairs and I did not want to catch his stupidity," Loki told her, his voice filled with condescension. She rolled her eyes before turning around and grabbing pillow, hitting him on the legs with it.
"Don't be mean," she chided, "You might actually like him if you got to know him."
"I sincerely doubt that," Loki replied, closing the book and standing up himself.
"Steve is one of the kindest men I had ever met," Gwen began, glancing at him as she began to search through her drawers for her underwear, "He is also very smart if you gave him a chance." Loki scoffed at her words, which Gwen ignored as she began to step towards her bathroom. Loki began to follow her in, making her stop in her tracks, "Loki, what are you doing?"
"I had just decided that a nice hot shower would be lovely," he told her, a smirk on his face. He was a full head taller than her, his dark hair falling to his shoulders, wisps flying out at the end. She wondered if he styled his hair that way, or if it was just naturally malicious looking.
"There is a bathroom with a perfectly fine shower next to your room," she replied, her words slow as she continued to hold on tightly to her bra and panties. Suddenly Loki had snatched them out of her hands, nodding in approval.
"Red is a very beautiful color," he told her, his voice low and sensual. She wrinkled as she snatched the garment back from him.
"Get out of my room Loki," she said, her voice firm and final.
Loki held a pout, his eyes still twinkling as he spoke, "But I'm having so much fun here with you. Maybe we can have even more fun," he took a step forward, his chest less than an inch away from hers, his face close to hers as he said huskily, "Maybe in the shower, maybe in your bed. Your decision."
"As fantastic as that sounds," Gwen replied, placing a hand on his chest and pushing herself back to give space between them, her voice filled with sarcasm, "I would like to take a shower by myself. Why are you flirting with me Loki? Aren't I beneath you since I'm a lowly Midgardian?"
"I figured I may as well occupy myself as much as possible while I'm stuck here on this miserable planet," Loki told her, his tone matter-of-fact, "And you're much more intelligent than the average Midgardian, and much more attractive. You'll make due for now."
Gwen was slightly offended by his last statement, taking an even bigger step back from him, "I'm flattered, but next time when you're trying to get into a girl's pants to leave out the fact that they'll 'make do'. Now if you could please leave me to take my shower alone that would be great."
"If you insist," Loki said, turning around leaving her in her room to herself. She breathed out heavily, her lips vibrating from the force. It was way too early in the morning for all of this without her required cup of coffee.
~0~0~
When Gwen finally reached the downstairs Steve and Loki were having a full blown argument. Although she felt better after her shower, she still hadn't had her coffee and she could already feel the head ache coming on.
"What's going on," she asked tiredly as she walked over to the coffee pot, giving Steve a thankful look before pouring herself a cup.
"He was pestering me about how to properly cook pancakes, then took the pan out of my hand and ended up making the batter fall across the counter," Steve explained, his body tense as he glared at Loki who only smirked back at him.
"Loki is just looking to make mischief Steve," Gwen said in a soothing voice, rubbing her hand on his back to calm him down. His body relaxed at her touch, making her grin inwardly before turning to Loki. He had seen their interaction and the twinkle was back in his eyes, if it had ever left, "And he's going to clean up the mess he made before we go to the movies."
"What movie are we going to see," Steve asked, his body perking up at the thought of going out again. Gwen grinned as she began to walk to the living room with him, but Loki stopped them before they could take two steps.
"I'm not cleaning this up," he declared, his spine lengthening, his body taking on a kingly stature. Gwen looked up at the ceiling in prayer to the powers that be fore turning around and looking at Loki.
"And why not," she asked, making sure to keep her voice firm and even.
"I am a King and a God," Loki told her proudly, "I am above such common things as cleaning."
"If you make a mess Loki you take responsibility for it and clean it up," Gwen replied before taking a sip of coffee, never tearing her eyes away from his.
"Is this a metaphor for my past discretions," he asked, an amused smile lifting his lips, "Because I have taken full responsibility for what I have done. Are I not being punished for my crimes this very moment?"
"It wasn't, but thanks for pointing out that it could be," Gwen said, a smile on her face, "Now that it is a metaphor let me expand on it," she took a couple of steps towards him so that she could have a closer look into his eyes, "It's takes courage to take responsibility for your mistakes. But to actually have the courage to clean it up is something totally different."
Loki remained silent as he watched her, and she hoped that her words got through to him, "So while you clean up the spilt batter Steve will be in the living room waiting for you." Gwen nodded then turned around and walked out of the room with Steve. They walked into the living room, still being able to peek into the kitchen to see if Loki would do it. Gwen watched with bated breath as Loki just continued to stand there, looking around the kitchen as if he was looking at something alien. In a way he was.
"Let him work through it," Steve said softly, a small smile on his face as he led her to the couch.
"You were five seconds away from taking his head off a few moments ago," Gwen said as she allowed him to sit her on the couch, "Why the sudden change."
"Believe me, there is nothing that I want to do more," Steve told her, making her chuckle, "But I can see how worried you are about him or the situation. I think it's ok for you to take a small break."
"I just met you a day ago and you're already worried about my well being," Gwen said as she scooted closer to him. He was so warm and comforting that she wanted to snuggle into his side, "Why?"
"I don't know," he replied, shrugging his shoulders, "I like helping people and looking after them."
"And that's why you're Captain America," Gwen told him, a huge smile one her face, "How are you adjusting to being in the 21st century?"
"It's tough," Steve admitted, rubbing a hand down his face, "It's as if the world is so much larger, but smaller at the same time."
"It's difficult enough for people who are living it to adjust," Gwen told him, taking a long sip of her coffee, "Let alone someone who was basically shoved into it."
"What's your story," Steve asked, making Gwen tense up. Although she did have a small crush on the man sitting on her couch currently, she wasn't ready to tell her him her life.
"It's a long one that should be saved for another day," she said, her smile never faltering. Steve's eyes became wide, a look of panic coming over his face.
"I'm sorry for overstepping my boundaries," he began, his large hands up as if in surrender, "It's none of my business."
"Steve," Gwen said loudly, making him stop talking, "It's fine. I'm not offended or anything. You didn't over step any boundaries. You're fine."
"Ok," he replied, but his face told her that he wasn't sure of her words.
"You're pretty adorable you know that," Gwen told him, smiling widely at the blush that over came his features. Steve had opened his mouth to say something, but Loki had cut him off as he stepped into the room.
"I'm finished being your maid," Loki said, his face filled with distaste. Gwen looked up at him, a proud smile on her face.
"Cheer up Loki," she cried as she stood up, "Ladies love a man that can clean up after himself."
"I'm not interested in Midgardian women," Loki told her, but the light in his eyes told her he could make an exception, just for her. She smirked at him before rolling her eyes.
"Come on," she said, stepping to the kitchen to drop her cup off in the sink, "Let's go watch a movie."
~0~0~
"You made me watch a children's movie," Loki drawled as they walked out of the theaters.
"Oh come on," Gwen cried, "I know you enjoyed it! Besides it had dragons! Dragons are cool."
"Dragons aren't real," Loki retorted, making Gwen roll her eyes at him before turning to Steve, a bright smile returning to her face.
"What did you think Steve," she asked sweetly, ignoring the scoff that she heard come from Loki.
"I enjoyed it. Very emotional for a children's film," Steve replied. Gwen turned back to Loki, and being the child she is she stuck her tongue at him.
"I can find better uses for your tongue kjæreste," Loki told her huskily, making Steve tense and glare at him.
"Show her more respect," Steve said to him, his voice firm. Gwen took a deep breath, moving her body in between them as they came to a stop in the middle of the sidewalk.
"Do not try to force your ideals on me oaf," Loki hissed at him. Steve took a step towards him, his hands balling up into fists. Gwen saw Steve clench his jaw, wanting to soothe it with her fingers.
"Enough you two," she spoke, each of her hands landing on their chests. They both looked down at the touch, but quickly returned to the glare off, "It's nothing to fight over."
"He shouldn't have said it," Steve said, his voice low and menacing.
"You're right, he shouldn't have," Gwen agreed, "Although he shouldn't have, he did, and will do it again just because he knows it bothers you. And although I appreciate you defending my honor, I can handle it myself." Loki smirked at Steve before looking down at Gwen, his face filled with triumph.
"Loki," Gwen began, her voice reminding him of his mother when she was reprimanding him, "Stop antagonizing Steve," her body became tense and her voice fierce as anger enveloped her body, "I am not a toy to amuse you until you're done."
"I will stop using use you as a means to bait him," Loki conceded, shocking both Steve and Gwen with the ease of his words. Loki smirked at Steve before looking back at Gwen, "You have been a very good caretaker and jailor and you deserve more respect than that."
"What's your play Loki," Gwen asked, her face full of suspicion as she looked back at him. He smiled brightly at her. He was going to have a lot of fun trying to get her in his bed.
"There's no play," he told her, his lie so smooth she would have believed it if it her were anyone else.
"Sure there is," she replied, turning to continue their walk to her car, "And I will find out what it is."