Sigyn woke up to the strange feeling of a hand tangled in her hair. Apparently Loki's arm had come off the couch sometime during the night causing his hand to become entwined with her hair. Not wishing to wake Loki, Sigyn took extreme care in freeing his hand from its entrapment. It took her a little longer than she would have liked, but she did manage to do it without disturbing him. Not able to sit idly still, Sigyn snuck off to her bathroom to take care of her hygiene. On her return to the living room she found Loki awake. She couldn't be sure, but she thought he looked slightly relieved when he saw her.
"Good morning Loki." She greeted in a hushed voice so as not to wake Thor.
"How do you feel?" He replied without any greeting.
"I still feel a bit tired." She admitted.
Loki rose from the couch before responding. "I thought you might."
He then headed towards Sigyn's bedroom without another word. Though she found the exchange to be odd, Sigyn decided to dismiss it. Instead, she grabbed the book she had been reading and sat down in one of the chairs to finish it.
"Looks like we still have a 'Sleeping Beauty.'" Stark commented on entering the living room.
"He doesn't seem to be showing any signs of waking anytime soon." Sigyn replied without looking up from her book.
"Well he needs to get up, we have to be at S.H.I.E.L.D in an hour." Stark informed her before getting a pot of coffee started.
Sigyn returned to her book. Thor would wake up when he was good and ready.
"How's the book?" Stark queried.
"It is very good. Pepper has nice taste. I am going to need a new one fairly soon though."
"Well I'm sure there are plenty to choose from in the tower."
"Don't you ever read Mr. Stark?"
"Not unless Pepper makes me, and can't you stop calling me 'Mr. Stark'? You're making me feel like my father." He remarked while pouring himself some coffee.
Tony didn't wait for an answer before walking over to Thor and nudging him with his foot.
"Hey, its time to get up big guy."
Thor moaned and put his arm over his face.
"I am up." He complained.
"Really, because I've never met anyone who snores when they are awake." Stark pointed out before heading back to his room.
Thor sat up and Sigyn sent him a smile.
"Good morning sleepy head."
"Good morning Sigyn. Where is Loki?"
"I assume he went to borrow my restroom to get ready, but he should be getting done soon."
"Well I'm going to go kick him out." Thor decided.
Sigyn was left once again in peace to read. As she finished the last page she couldn't help but think that Pepper had chosen this particular work on purpose. She gently closed the tome, and for the first time realized that Loki was sitting on the chair opposite her.
"Did you enjoy your book?" He asked absentmindedly.
"Yes, I did. Perhaps you should read it." She suggested while throwing the book over to him.
Loki gave her an amused smile before looking down at the title.
"Crime and Punishment…" He murmured to himself. "No thanks." he replied before setting it on the coffee table. "I've already lived it."
"If only you knew." Sigyn thought to herself.
Sigyn grabbed the book off the table and went to return it to the shelf Pepper had retrevied it from. Once it was settled on the shelf, Sigyn began to look through the other volumes.
"You have read Midgardian literature have you not Loki?"
Loki sighed. "Yes, it is one of the few redeeming aspects of Midgardian culture." He admitted.
"Which of these would you recommend?"
Loki approached the shelves and stood next to Sigyn. He was about eight inches taller than her so he was better able to see the volumes on the higher shelves. Sigyn watched as his emerald eyes scanned the bindings. Finally his eyes landed on one that seemed to catch his interest. He reached up and pulled the rather thick volume from the shelf.
"Here is one that should interest you." He stated before placing the book in her hands.
"Which one did you choose for her?" Pepper's voice asked curiously.
Neither Loki nor Sigyn had seen her enter, but they were both able to stay composed at her sudden arrival.
"Jane Eyre." Loki answered simply.
"Good choice. Sigyn will like Jane's strong personality." Pepper affirmed. "Have either of you eaten? I was just about to make some toast."
Sigyn replied that they had not, and both she and Loki followed Pepper to the kitchen. The three found themselves sitting in front of plates of warm toast in no time. Sigyn passed the time by asking Pepper questions about her life and Midgard. While her curious personality dominated the conversation, Pepper couldn't help but notice Loki's reactions out of the corner of her eye. He rarely took his eyes off Sigyn. She wouldn't call his expression pleased or even happy, but he seemed content enough to listen to Sigyn's questions. Pepper also noted that he was becoming slightly less cynical about Earth, and humans in general. Pepper dismissed herself after finishing breakfast to do some work. She wasn't sure if Loki realized that he was gravitating to Sigyn like a lost puppy, but she was sure that Sigyn was just the person he needed. She would be the Sonia to his Rodion.