Thor smirked, listening to Kagome growling under her breath, practically vibrating in anger at his side. His brother was going to get it and he couldn't wait.

But first, he just needed to stoke her temper a little... bit... higher...

"You don't think you're being a bit unfair to him?"

That did it.

She lept up, pacing back and forth while her skin began to glow pink with her angered reiki.

"Oh how very like you to take his side. Brother's to the end even when one of you is being a total and complete ass!"

He sat back, crossing arms behind his head and leaning against a garden wall, enjoying the breeze and finding nothing but amusement in her anger.

"I'm not taking his side, I just understand where he-"

She whirled on him, pink fire in her eyes making him hesitate a little.

"There's nothing to understand! He has no right to tell me what I can and can't do! Your father had every intention on sending me with you guys until he opened his big stupid mouth!"

He noticed then the sheen of tears over her eyes threatening to spill over. She held them back valiantly, but he could tell her hurt ran deeper than just irritation at his brother. He held his arm out and she sank back down, drawing her knees up and leaning against him.

"Listen Kagome, we all know you can handle yourself. You're strong, you're smart, you're powerful. But you're also special."

She scoffed and made to pushed away but he wrapped his arm around her shoulders and held her fast.

"I'm not talking about the jewel Kagome. You know we don't even think of it anymore. I mean you are special. To me, to our friends, to mother, and especially to Loki. He just wants to protect you."

"I don't need to be protected. I don't need to be hidden here. I'm not some priceless relic."

"But you are priceless. To all of us, to him. He loves you Kagome, you know that. And he's never been this way with someone before, not like he is with you. He's not trying to hurt you, he's trying to keep you."

Her anger reduced to a simmer, still lingering but cooling just a little as her heart perked back up to receive love instead of hurt. She sighed and leaned her head against Thor's shoulder.

"I guess."

"Luckily this won't take long. We'll be back tonight. Talk to him, and wait until tomorrow to tear his head off so I can watch."

She giggled, feeling the weight of her troubles lift a little, and made her way back to her rooms to wait for her insufferable lover's return.

Loki walked in and knew at once that he was still in trouble.

His little priestess was sat in the middle of their bed, propped against the wall, arms crossed and brow furrowed.

He sighed, ready for another fight.

She was stubborn. He had known she wouldn't just back down from this, hadn't cared at the time.

If he was being honest he still didn't care.

He did hate when there was such discord between them though.

"Welcome back."

Her voice was cold and icy and it chilled him just a bit.

"Thank you. I missed you."

She turned her face away from him with a huff.

"You didn't even miss me."

With her eyes closed and her attention turned away, he allowed himself a fond smile. She could be so adorably childish in her anger.

"Wipe that smile off your face."

She cut angry eyes back at him and he lifted his hands in surrender.

"Sorry, I'm not trying to make light of your feelings."

"Like you care about my feelings."

He rolled his eyes and heaved an exasperated sigh, walking further into their room and sitting next to her on the bed.

"Of course I care about your feelings. I don't find pleasure in angering you."

She whipped her head around and the tears shimmering in her eyes shocked him.

"You had no right to keep me from going today Loki. You don't get to make those decisions for me."

"Of course I have the right to protect you Kagome, don't be-"

"I don't need your protection. I've gone out on plenty of assignments with and without you since I've been here, this would have been no different!"

"Of course it would have been different. This wasn't Alfheim Kagome, your sparkly little fairy land full dreams and wonder. This was a dangerous venture somewhere very dark, and I'll not see you in a place like that."

They were yelling again, and Kagome's tears had broken free, running down her face. Loki longed to reach out and wipe them away, but she backed away from him if he tried to press closer.

"I am not a child! I've battled darkness before and I can and will do it again! I don't want to be trapped here, I want to be useful!"

He sat down again and finally reached out, brushing the wetness from her cheeks, pleased when she didn't jerk away.

"You are useful, never think otherwise. I didn't get father to change his mind in sending you with us because I felt you wouldn't be useful. I did it because I am a selfish being, and I do what I want. And what I wanted, my darling, was to keep you safe and unharmed. The longer we are together, the stronger that desire grows. It is not in my nature to lay my own desires down for the benefit of another, Kagome. But for you... I will try."

She stared unblinking into his eyes, scrutinizing his every word, every flicker of his aura, every color of his soul. She relaxed just a little, the rigidity in her frame softening.

"You won't sabotage my chances to go on anymore missions?"

"I don't usually have a reason to do so. Today was especially dangerous but... no, I will try not to 'sabotage' you again. Not if it will hurt you this badly. Do you understand why I did it tonight?"

She slouched forward, resting her forehead against his chest and his hand immediately came up to brush through her hair.

"Because I'm so amazing and you just love me too much?"

He chuckled, staring down at the top of her head affectionately.

"At least part of that is true."

She peeked up at him, glaring and poking his chest.

"Which part?"

"You truly are amazing."

Her mouth turned down in an exaggerated frown and she clutched at her heart.

"Not the love part?"

He leaned his forehead against hers and stroked her cheek, treasuring her sweet little sigh and the way she clinged to his wrist.

"No. I don't love you too much, that makes it sound wrong. You could never be wrong."

Her heart melted and her soul warmed until she felt like the sun. She tucked herself up under his chin and squeezed him tight, a new wave of tears, happy ones, burning past her eyes.

"I love you too, Loki."