After Mary's room was packed, Emily walked back into the living room to check on Loki's progress packing up all of the books. "How're you doing?"
"I've been done for some time." Loki told Emily. He looked up at her from where he sat on the couch.
"Why didn't you say anything? We would have let you help us out." Emily walked over and sat beside him before she placed a hand on his knee.
"I figured you two wanted some time together, especially with how you were discussing my performance." Loki chuckled, amused by the gossip.
Emily quickly averted her eyes as her face and neck became bright red. "I'm sorry. I forgot about how well you can hear."
"You left the door open." Loki chuckled. "I don't mind though. I found it amusing and you did say my performance was adequate." He grinned.
"More than adequate, if I recall," Emily chuckled. "I'm still sorry."
"You don't need to be sorry. It was nice to hear something good said about me when you thought I couldn't hear." Loki said truthfully.
"I can always give you compliments when you want me to," Emily replied. "I would like for you to know how I feel."
"I love knowing how you feel. It's just been my experience that people only say nice things in front of me, never when I'm not around. It's just nice to know that what you say in front of me is also what you say away from me." Loki explained.
Emily smiled and leaned against him. "Well, I don't say anything bad unless it's well deserved."
"I hope to never do anything so deserving." Loki said softly, wrapping his arm around her. He looked up when Mary came in from the kitchen.
"The moving company won't be here for a few hours, but they don't need us here. We will need to be at the tower when they arrive though. Should we grab something to eat before we head back?" Mary asked Emily.
"We can. What're you in the mood for?" Emily asked.
"Noodles." Loki said before Mary could answer.
"I think there's a Chinese place not far from here." Mary chuckled.
Emily laughed and bumped her shoulder against Loki. "You always want noodles. We could see if he would like a buffet though?" She suggested.
"Noodles are very good." Loki chuckled.
"I think that's a great idea." Mary said, then took her phone from her pocket. "There is a buffet." She said after a few minutes.
"Close by? We could walk or get a cab if we need to," Emily said.
"It looks like it's only four blocks from here, but it's not in the direction of the tower." Mary answered.
"We could get a cab from the restaurant? Would that make it easier?" Emily asked.
"I think I can make the walk." Loki told them. "My leg isn't hurting as badly."
"As long as you feel up for it," Emily replied. "I don't want you to hurt yourself."
"Did we have to go four blocks to get here?" Loki asked curiously.
"I think it was two and a half," Emily answered.
"I think I can make it there at least." Loki assured Emily.
Emily nodded and rubbed Loki's leg. "Sounds like a plan then. Are we all in agreement?"
"Sounds good to me," Mary agreed. "We can take a cab back to the tower from the buffet place."
The small group arrived in front of the restaurant almost a half an hour later. Emily felt her mouth water at all of the smells when they walked inside. "Everything smells good."
"So much smells so sweet." Loki said, inhaling deeply. "Can I try a little bit of everything?"
"You can try whatever you like, we just have to get a table first and get our drinks ordered," Emily explained as she walked up to the front counter. The waiter led them to a nearby booth and took their drink orders before they walked away.
Loki looked around with eager curiosity. "We have nothing like this on Asgard."
"This is a very earth type thing," Emily agreed. "You pick up a clean plate and go down the counters and pick what food you'd like to have and put it on your plate."
"When do we get to do that part?" Loki asked, eager to try everything. "It all smells so good."
Emily chuckled and took Loki's hand before she led him to the nearest counter. "Right now."
Loki's eyes went wide when he saw all of the choices. His first pick was a large helping of noodles, then he added sweet and sour pork and orange chicken. "Can I come back for more after this?"
"Yes, you can. You can come back as many times as you want. Just always get a new plate." Emily grabbed her own plate and grabbed chicken fried rice, a couple pieces of chicken on a stick, and some noodles of her own.
"I will start with just this then." Loki said, having a very full plate already.
"My plate's full too. Let's head back to our seats," Emily said, then led the way back.
Loki followed Emily and had just sat down when Mary returned with her plate. "Did he leave any noodles for anyone else?" Mary chuckled when she saw his plate.
"There's plenty left," Emily assured as she began eating her food.
Loki nodded in agreement to there being plenty left, but he already had a mouthful of noodles. "These are the best noodles I've had."
Emily chuckled as she reached for her sweet tea she'd ordered and took a drink. "I'm glad you like it."
"What is that you have to drink?" Loki asked, having chocolate milk in his cup.
"It's sweet tea," Emily answered. "Want to try it?"
Loki nodded then took Emily's cup and took a sip. "That is very good. Is this something we can have at the apartment?"
"Yes," she answered with a grin. "Some people like it extremely sweet, but this is the northern version of it."
"I like it, it's very sweet to me. Can we get some of this for the apartment soon?" Loki asked, very happy with the drink.
Emily nodded as she finished off her rice. "I can make a batch of it from scratch."
"Is it hard to make?" Loki asked curiously, then tried the first bite of sweet and sour pork.
"Nope, tea is pretty simple. I can show you how sometime," Emily told him, then grabbed for her other piece of chicken.
"I would like that." Loki agreed. He moved on to try the orange chicken, very happy with his selections.
Emily grinned as she watched Loki eat. I'm glad that he's so content here with us. It was only months ago that he was believed to be one of the worst things to happen on Earth, but here he is, the most loving and caring person of the opposite sex that I have ever met. She quickly averted her gaze to her food when she noticed that Mary was watching her with a raised eyebrow, not wanting to get the third degree about falling for him so soon from her.
Loki looked up at Emily when he noticed the table was quiet. "What's on your mind darling?" He asked, genuinely curious.
"Nothing, I promise, just had some thoughts rambling through my head," Emily quickly replied as she placed her now empty plate to the side of their table and took a drink of her tea. "I'm going to get a second plate; I'll be right back." Emily quietly stood and walked towards the food counters once more, leaving Loki and Mary alone for the moment.
Loki watched Emily walk away, then returned his attention to his food. It didn't take long for him to finish his plate, which he set on top of Emily's. Mary added hers to the pile soon after but stayed at the table when Loki went to get a second plate.
When Emily returned, she had brand new things on her plate that included green beans and potato skins amongst crab and more rice. "I love going to places like this, you can find anything you're in the mood to eat."
"I like it as well. It's also easy to find something everyone likes." Mary agreed. "So, what was on your mind?" She asked, dying to know.
Emily narrowed her eyes at her friend as she stabbed green beans with her fork. "Just some random thoughts. Nothing to be concerned over."
Mary shook her head. "I saw how you were looking at him. Come on, you know you can tell me." She encouraged, then took a bite of her broccoli and beef.
She sighed softly and glanced towards the counters to see Loki still putting things on his plate. "Fine. I was thinking how only a few months ago, everyone would be scared of the big bad Loki. Only he's the nicest, most genuine guy I've ever met."
Mary looked a little lost on how to reply, so she took another bite of broccoli to give herself a moment to think. "It is said that appearances can be deceiving." She replied, thinking that was the best answer to give.
Emily shrugged as she took another bite of her food. "All I know is that he's treated me better than anyone I've ever dated. Including Tony."
"I meant it as a good thing." Mary clarified. "I'm glad he treats you well, you truly deserve it." She glanced over and saw that Loki was walking back over, so she decided to change the subject. "I'm still undecided about the job offer."
"That's understandable," Emily replied as she stood so Loki could slide into the booth. Once he was seated again, she sat back down. "As a boss, Tony really is great. He treats all of his employees with respect."
Loki listened for a moment to get caught up on the conversation, then he began eating the second helping of noodles he had on his plate. "I've heard that, but the pay concerns me. I'm going to talk with him about it though." Mary replied.
"Why does the pay concern you? He'd pay you just as much as the rest of us," Emily assured.
"It's pay during the times I'm not working. I can't imagine I will have a full-time schedule working for him." Mary explained, then sipped her soda.
Emily shrugged. "You would have to ask him about that. I just know that he likes your talent and wants to have you on his team."
Mary nodded. "I plan on talking to him about it. I was just voicing the concern, that's all." She said truthfully. "Does he really want me on his team that much?"
"He does. He's told me before how much he likes your tenacity and courageousness." Emily took another sip of her tea and looked over at Loki and grinned. "Easy on those noodles or you'll end up feeling sick."
Mary sighed softly. "I have honestly thought he was only offering the job because you convinced him to." She admitted.
Loki looked up and Emily and swallowed the bite of noodles in his mouth. "I don't feel sick at all darling."
"You may not feel good later though if you eat too much," she clarified, then turned back to Mary and shook her head. "Nope. He's known of you since I've worked for him and has tried to get me to ask you before now, but I always declined him. With everything that's going on, this time I told him I'd ask because I think you'd like the work better."
Loki nodded and focused on the other selections on his plate. "Why did you decline him before?" Mary asked curiously. She finished the rest of her soda then pushed her cup aside.
"I knew you were happy working at the hospital, and you were also doing classes at the time," Emily explained. "I didn't want to put more on your plate with the option of working for him when I know you're not terribly fond of him."
"I just don't like how he treats women like they are disposable playthings." Mary muttered. "I need to make that very clear to him as well. If I accept the offer, he needs to understand that I am absolutely not hooking up with him."
Emily nodded in understanding and sat back in her seat. "Feel free to tell him what you wish. Right now, I think he's still hoping I'll take him back."
"Do you think he will agree to that?" Mary asked, figuring Emily might have more insight into it than she did.
"He will respect your wishes if he doesn't want to lose me as an employee," she assured.
Mary nodded. "Thank you Em, it means a lot." She said sincerely. "I'm going to go check out the desserts." She grinned, then got up and walked away.
Emily chuckled as she finished off her green beans and started on her crab. "Are you doing okay Loki?"
Loki nodded as his mouth was again full. "Yes, I am just enjoying my meal and listening to the conversation." He replied after swallowing.
"I'm happy you're enjoying our company. This is the longest you've been out of the tower," she replied.
"It is and it is a lot to take in. I have always been more of an observer. I learn so much more that way." Loki said, explaining his silence.
"Well, that's fine." She reached over and caressed his knee gently. "We'll head back after we all are done eating and we pay."
"That does sound good. It has been nice getting out, but I still feel a little uneasy since I'm not at full strength yet." Loki explained.
She smiled at him, then leaned over and pecked his cheek. "You're getting there."
"I know, but it's hard feeling so vulnerable right now." Loki admitted. He took another bite of his noodles, not realising a tiny bit of noodle stuck to his lip.
Emily chuckled softly and reached out and wiped his bottom lip with her thumb. "I'm here though."
"I know you are and that means a lot to me." Loki said truthfully. He looked up when Mary returned with a little plate containing a slice of cheesecake.
"You should try this Em. It has cool whip on it." Mary teased as she sat down.
"What kind is it?" Emily asked as her eyes lit up.
"I picked original, but there is also cherry, strawberry, and chocolate. I was going to make some at the apartment, but the can of cool whip disappeared from the fridge." Mary said, curious to see how Emily would react.
Emily bit her lip and averted her eyes to the table as she heard Loki quietly chuckle. "I kinda took it in our bedroom."
Mary grinned but nodded. "That's what I figured. Did you find something good to put it on?"
"Wouldn't you like to know?" Emily retorted with a smirk.
"No, not really." Mary giggled. "I knew more than enough when I saw it missing." She added.
"Well, we didn't use it all, but I forgot to put it up, so it'll have to be tossed," Emily said. She sat back in her seat and pushed her plate away, feeling full.
"We can get more on the way back if you want." Mary told Emily.
"Can I go get dessert now?" Loki asked Emily, having finished his plate.
Emily stood and let Loki get up from the booth. "Don't get too much Loki," she said softly, then sat back down once he'd left towards the dessert counter.
"We should do this more often." Mary suggested. "It's nice to get out on occasion." She said, then took another bite of cheesecake.
"I like it too. It's nice to go out and spend time together," Emily agreed.
"Do you want to make this a semi regular thing?" Mary asked, liking the idea.
"I like the sound of that. We could go out once a week. Or every other week?"
"Let's plan for every other week right now. If I take the job with Stark, we can see what my schedule will be. If it would allow, I would love to do this at least once a week." Mary said happily. She glanced up when Loki returned with his little bowl of sprinkle covered ice cream.
Emily smiled up at him and stood to let him back in the booth. "That looks good. If I wasn't so full, I'd go get my own."
"Do you want a bite of mine?" Loki offered as he scooted into the booth. "I added these little rainbow bits because they look tasty."
"Those are called sprinkles," Emily told him as she sat back down. "I will eat a bite though."
Loki pushed the cold glass bowl over to Emily. "Have as much as you want darling."
Emily grabbed her spoon and scooped a bite to eat. "Ohh, you picked chocolate," she said as she licked her lips.
Loki nodded, watching Emily closely. "I am rather fond of chocolate." He said, then took a bite. "I do like the added rainbow as well." He said, referring to the sprinkles.
"Sprinkles always make it better," Emily agreed.
"Can the rainbows be put into other foods?" Loki asked, then took another bite.
"Only sweet stuff and some drinks, but that's it," She answered.
"We should make him a rainbow cake." Mary told Emily. She pushed the now empty dessert plate away.
Emily grinned. "That would be cute! We could make each layer a different color."
"We can stop by the store on the way back then. We might have to wait until tomorrow to make it though." Mary said, "Since the moving company will be dropping everything off soon."
"We ought to get going if we're going to meet them," Emily replied just as the waiter dropped off their check.
Loki picked up the check and looked at it. "What does this mean?" He asked Emily.
"It tells us how much we owe for the food and drinks," Emily explained and held out her hand to take it. "I'll buy."
"No, It's alright. I can get it." Mary said and quickly took out her debit card.
"Are you sure?" Emily asked. "I don't mind."
"I'm sure. Loki is technically still my patient, so this is my responsibility." Mary said.
Before Emily could reply, Loki placed three small coins on the table. "There, it's paid for."
Emily furrowed her brow as she looked at the coins. "What are those?"
"They are coins from Asgard. There is more than enough to pay for our meal." Loki explained.
"Honey, I don't think they'll take this kind of money."
"Why not? I don't want you two arguing over money so much." Loki sighed softly.
"It's not a currency that will work here on Earth. We don't mean to argue, we just need to take turns."
"I will have to find a way to make this money work here." Loki said, though not sure how. "Is there a better way to take turns?" He asked.
"We just go back and forth. Heads or tails?" Emily suggested.
"Maybe next time. The waiter already took my card." Mary said with a little shrug.
Emily shrugged and handed the coins back to Loki. "Next time it is."