Were things totally fine, no. However, they were not "not fine" either. The provided room was larger than the apartment they shared, with ample furniture and storage space. There were no unwanted quadrupedal creatures scurrying along the corners, gnawing into their unsealed food, nor were there cracks and holes in the structure which let air leak in the hot or cold. Overall, the living space was an upgrade that was a dream come true.
It was the sleeping situation that was the greatest concern. Why? Because it did not add up. Almost every night she would get comfortable alone on the large sofa, which was as wide as a twin mattress, and every morning she would wake up in the king bed with Loki right beside her. The first morning she woke up beside him, she nearly died from fright from seeing such a handsome face so close to her. The second morning, she fell out of the bed because they were so close to one edge. The third time she was back to square one because it had not occurred for some time. This on-off pattern had been going on for weeks now and she needed to know the reason.
There hasto be a reason. It just makes no sense! Eva let out a sigh of frustration as she fell back into the cushions of the sofa. Loki was off in some meeting with the others, but that hardly mattered. "Not like he's been any help," she muttered to herself. "He just laughs at me and tells me that I should just give up and sleep in the bed with him. How the hell am I supposed to just up and sleep in the same bed as him?! This isn't some novel where we're stuck in a room with one bed-well, yes, there's only one but not the point! We have a perfectly large and comfy couch!" She grabbed a pillow and pressed it onto her face and let out a muffle cry of frustration. Stupid Asgardian pretty boy prince, probably has more than enough experience getting comfy with all sorts of beautiful women…females…whatever they're called up there! Plus, the point isn't where I sleep! The point is how and why do I end up somewhere else! I've never sleepwalked a day in my life!
Seconds ticked by as she lay slumped on the couch. Suddenly, she sat straight up and nearly fell over as she used the moment to grab her phone off the coffee table. "I nearly forgot! I set up my phone to record myself and bought the silly looking nightlight!" She pressed her thumb to the screen once, twice, and thrice it failed to accept her fingerprint. With her frustration growing, she swiped up and drew the pattern. "Ah, ha!" She let out a cry of triumph before tapping and swiping until she reached the gallery and found the video. "Aaaaand play," she tapped the icon and watched, skipping ahead here and there when it looked like nothing was happening. When she noticed she was gone from the frame, she backtracked slowly until she was back in the screen, but so was something else…someone else. Loki, why you little luxurious mountain goat! Her eye twitched as she watched him lift her with ease from the comfort of her spot and not only did he carry her away, he even paused and winked at the camera. "You truly are as false as hell!" She shouted out in frustration. "Here I'm thinking I'm having a breakdown, and he is the reason behind all of it! Oh, it is on!"
Loki came back into his room after a rather dull day of meetings, meetings, and more meetings. With new intel pointing them in the right direction, things were set into motion and the time to deploy was nearing. On days with no meetings, he was actively working to better his chemistry with the team that he would be joining on this mission through training exercises and practicing formations to better. Attending meetings and training were not foreign to him as a former prince of Asgard. In fact, he was pleasantly surprised how easily he fell back into such routine. What irked him was the shrinking time spent with Eva. Back on Asgard, there was no one waiting for him to return. There were no friends of his own to relax with, it was just him and himself. There were times he would be with Thor and his group of comrades, but they were never truly his friends. He was simply the younger brother that had to be allowed to join them. With Eva, he finally had someone for himself.
My very own dear friend and personal toy to play and tease to my heart's content. The corners of his lips curled up at the mere thought of her puffed red cheeks of frustration. What is the name of that rodent she showed me? Chip-monks or something like that? She looks exactly like those with their faces stuffed with food when she gets upset with me. She complains a lot, but seldom does she try to stop me. He chuckled to himself. "Now, where would she be at this hour?" He glanced at the clock and was surprised. "Midnight already? She must be asleep." He frowned, walking around the sofa to see her laying on her back with a book on her chest.
"Of course she's reading," he rolled his eyes and smiled at the heartwarming sight. Carefully, he moved the table aside to give himself more room and first plucked the book off of her stomach. "Magnetism," he raised a brow at the title and quickly located the summary. "Indispensable text on the science of magnetism…invaluable source of data…?" He skimmed through the paragraph before glancing down towards her. "Why are you reading a book on science? She can't have gone through all her books, right? Don't tell me you're growing an interest with that annoying Stark, that simply won't do, love." He dogeared the page she was one and placed the book on the table before carefully lifting her up into his arms. "Are you spending time with Stark?" He whispered, not expecting an answer from the sleeping woman, but nearly laughed aloud when her face scrunched into a show of great distaste at the name. "You are so spoiled, you know that? But whose fault is that?"
Loki carefully laid her on the bed and sat beside her, gently combing his fingers through her hair, watching as the silky threads slipped away with each stroke of his hand. Though he wanted to spend some time with her awake, he had not the heart to wake her. She looked so innocent and peaceful that it melted away the stress of his day in an instant. When she stirred a little in her sleep, he froze and waited, hoping he had not disturbed her. Seeing her scoot closer to him and settle back into the depths of her dream, he smiled and continued carding his fingers through her hair.
"You told me once that most women dream of being a princess from the faerie tales you've shared with me. What was that one with the cleaning? Cinderella, I believe you called it." He softly whispered, not expecting an answer from her but hoped that perhaps his voice would help keep her asleep. "I know I mocked them and told you they were ridiculous and meaningless tales, but in truth I felt similar to her in some ways. My mother was not a bad person, she sincerely loved and cared for me but she was guilty of hiding the truth from me. My father was different, he was a ruthless and calculating ruler that only wanted and cared for things that were of use to him and on his terms." His voice slowly withered away as he thought back to his childhood, the lies he was raised in, and how he was never truly accepted as a son because he was a tool. A relic meant for the treasury. His once bright world had been torn and dipped in darkness, hatred, and confusion until he was released from the poisoning effects of the Mind Stone.
"Unknowingly along the way," he pulled himself from those spiraling memories. "I met prince charming. I didn't even realize it at first. Someone who was as strong and beautiful as the prince had come into my life. Always smiling and facing everything even when they are afraid. So vibrant and full of life, seeing kindness in everything…to the point it is a fault. That person, that prince charming, is you. I've always wanted to tell you that…I've been bewitched from the beginning, and I was too foolish to realize it. However, I don't believe in faerie godmother's wit magic that runs out at the stroke of midnight. I will make this spell last forever. I want to protect you and save your smile. That's why I agreed to join my brother and the Avengers. "Not for Midgard and the people that inhabit it, but for you who's cursed me with such happiness. I know I will be gone for unknown lengths of times and you will worry, but know that I'll always return to you." He leaned over her, his face inches from hers as he eyed her lips. He wanted to kiss her. He wanted to know what they felt like against his and how they tasted, but not now. No, when he finally did kiss her, she needed to be awake so he could enjoy the heat that would blossom on her cheeks as she struggled to contain her emotions. Pressing his lips to her forehead, he wished her goodnight and made his way to the bathroom to wash away the day before joining her on the bed.