AN: Here's another chapter! Now, I know I'm probably going too fast, but I can't resist! The climax of the story is coming up and it will be interesting. Review and enjoy!

Random thought of the day: I love Rubiks cubes.

Chapter 10

Thinking of the long day, I slowly walked inside my room and shut the door behind me, as in a trance. I walked to my closet and pulled out something that looked like a light blue nightgown and put it on. Stepping over to my bed, I plopped down on it, exhausted mentally and physically. As much as I tried falling asleep, I couldn't. I decided the best way to calm down was to think about all that had happened that day.

I left my only true home in the intense, messy forest to come to a palace that consisted of maids, fancy gowns, and polite manners. Then I'd met Lady Sif and the Warriors Three. They were a peculiar bunch. I'd met the king and queen of Asgard, not knowing what to expect. I had also been disrespectful to them and had gotten a lashing for it. I'd fought with Loki which ended up with me getting to meet his brother, who was not as Loki had described. I had a maid, a very nice maid who would help me when I need it. I'd made up with Loki and we'd gone to the gardens. We played in the water and headed off to the arena, where I beat him badly. We'd come back for him to heal and to go to dinner. I'd showed up in a beautiful gown and ate the best meal of my life. And lastly, Loki had led me to my quarters, where he kissed me on the cheek. So, I'd say I had a full day.

Loki. Just Loki. I never thought I would be rendered speechless by someone but I have been proven wrong. As I think back, I see how I was ready to kill him yesterday for trespassing and now we were practically best friends. Best friends. I've never had a best friend. Everyone I had ever met seemed driven away by me. I told Loki I would be a friend to him, but at the time, I didn't know if I could keep that promise. Now, I still wondered if I could but in a different way. I'd made sure he knew that it was only a friendship and nothing more. But that conversation outside the door jerked me. I saw him in a new light. A different point of view. He wasn't the powerful, playful Loki. He was the determined, I-get-what-I-want type of guy.

And it scared me. What was he willing to do? I'd given him all I could. Or at least I'd given him all I had been willing to give. A friendship. But looking back, I could see he wanted more. I'd never had this kind of attention before, but now…I kind of liked it. I was slowly allowing him to change me because I knew it would be for the better. No one could drive me more away from humanity than I had been. Loki just had a way of digging into my heart and playing with it. But then he was the god of mischief. Perhaps he wasn't a boy who had just lost his puppy. Perhaps he was a man who had his dignity and pride thrown out the window and just needed to be loved. I'd seen the way people act around him. On the outside, they look like they are trying to include him, but on the inside, they are trying to push him away. No one should have to deal with being an outcast, no matter how horrible you are. I know because I was one. But love. That was something I could give him. That was something I should give him. But would I give it to him? Maybe. I don't know if I'm ready to give him everything yet. I thought deeper.

I knew he was playing a game. It may be a vicious, dangerous, and flirty game, but it was a game. And games are what I do best. I would play his game. I would humor him. He was a prince. He could have anything he wanted. Money, property, and women. I was probably only another worthless pawn to him. I will not allow him to turn me into something I'm not. If we are to play this game, he had better be prepared that I am willing to do anything to win. He has won too many times for my liking. It's my turn.

Everything would be determined tomorrow when I would step it up a notch. A small notch, maybe, but a notch no less. Gradually, I began to fall asleep.

In the morning, I woke up fully rested and ready to start the day. I was ready to see how far I could take this game. Jumping out of my warm bed, I shivered and quickly got dressed into a white, long sleeved dress that fell to my knees, enabling me to run if necessary. I put on a pair of white flats as well to match the dress. Looking at my hair, I took it out of last night's bun and let it flow freely, running a brush through it while taking off my makeup. Today was my day. Today, I would get to pick our activities. Smiling mischievously, I ran out the door to Loki's room.

Running in without knocking, I found him sleeping soundly in his bed.

"Loki! Rise and shining! Time to get up! We have a big day ahead of us!" I yelled at him, jumping on him in his bed. He woke up suddenly, thrashing and struggling to get me off. Finally, he succeeded and I was thrown onto the floor, laughing so hard I didn't bother to get up.

"What was that for? You could have just asked me to wake up," Loki complained, getting out of bed and coming over to me. Looking at him, I realized he was only wearing a pair of black sleep pants. It was highly distracting.

"And you would have answered? In your sleep? Uh huh, right," I said, him helping me up.

"You never know," he smirked. I smirked back at him. "So there must be a reason you've decided to jump on me while I'm sleeping."

"No, not particularly," I said.

"Ah, I see, you don't want to tell me. Well okay, but do remember that I do know your weakness, darling," Loki said, playfully. I remembered what he had done to me yesterday and I feigned horror.

"Oh no! You wouldn't dare!" I mocked.

"Oh, wouldn't I?" he responded, grabbing me and throwing me on the bed. Immediately, he started tickling me again. I resisted against him, but soon, I was laughing so hard I couldn't breathe and I didn't have enough strength to stop him. Eventually, he stopped, only to lean over me, smirking. My mind didn't seem to comprehend that he was straddling me. Looking up at him, I blew in his face, making him look away for a second before he turned back.

"I win," Loki whispered, smirking.

"Not yet," I whispered back. He looked slightly confused. "I know your greatest weakness, too."

"You do, do you? May I ask what it is?" he asked.

Smirking at him, I replied, "Me." There was only a second worth of time for shock on his face before I threw him off of me and expertly pinned him to the ground, straddling him as he did to me. He smiled, watching me as I watched him.

"Enjoying the view?" Loki said. I hadn't realized that my eyes had been roaming over his bare chest.

Making eye contact, I decided to play along, to amuse him. After all, the ball was in my court. I got down to his ear. "Extremely." I whispered seductively. He tensed slightly and I could tell he was struggling not to break out of the pin and hold me down instead. I wouldn't let him. I was having too much fun. Seeing his reaction made me believe that he did have feelings for me. Strangely, I felt more attracted to him. I toyed with him some more. "Struggling, love?"

"Oh, you know me too well," Loki responded. In one swift movement, he had stood us both up and pressed me tight against him. Instinctively, I wrapped my arms around his waist, hugging him tightly. He hugged me back. We had just been playing with each other, but this was serious. I was showing him I cared for him and he understood. Even if we were still playing his game. I memorized the way he felt, as I'm sure he was doing to me. His soft, pale skin was cold, but not in a bad way. Like the feeling of mint on your tongue. He was muscular, though not as muscular as Thor. With my cheek pressed against his chest, I could hear his heartbeat. It held a steady rhythm, like a pair of drums. At that moment, I knew I could never leave him, no matter the direction things went. He was a person. He had a heart. He lived. It was a feeling I would never forget.

It seemed like forever went by before we broke out of the hug.

Smiling, I said, "Let's go to the forest. You've showed me your way of living. Now I want to show you mine." Somehow I knew this journey would change something, though I wasn't sure what.