"Stevie! Steve! You better get over here!"
Tony practically choked on his coffee and dropped his phone. If it weren't for the fact that it was Stark tech, the screen would have cracked.
Nadia ran past him, sliding over the kitchen island and chasing a grey and white spotted blur that sped by him earlier when he picked up his phone.
"I got him! I got him!" It was Peter this time, who swung from the kitchen to the living area and out the glass doors to the outside. Nadia followed before a splash was heard.
Tony decided to see what exactly was happening and walked to the doors.
"Bad! Bad, Stevie! Give it…"
The billionaire dropped his phone again, his jaw dropping too.
The Spiderling was soaked, arms around a sopping wet dog. Nadia was kneeling in front of the two, trying to coax the mutt to let go of a red bundle in his mouth.
"Come on, boy."
When the dog finally dropped the thing, which Tony recognized as Spiderman's mask, Nadia flicked the canine's nose. "Don't do that again, Stevie. The suit's not a toy."
"He was pretty fast. Can being around superheroes rub off on dogs? Both of us were chasing him for practically half an hour!"
Tony couldn't help himself anymore, "Well if you seriously named him after Captain America." He laughed, though part of him still stung when he thought of the blond super-soldier.
"Well, a toddler with a Captain America shirt walked by when I had to think of a name." Nadia huffed, holding the said dog by the collar when he suddenly tried to shake himself dry, "No, Stevie. No!" She let go, but he already released a hail of water droplets as he whipped his fur about. It was ten seconds before he sat down and gave his owner a doggy grin.
Pfffft.
Tony coughed. "Get yourself some dry clothes, both of you. Then Peter can help me in the lab." He turned and walked back inside, paused and looked over his shoulder, "Sabs, please make sure you and ahem Stevie don't track water inside if you're coming too." The statement still made him grin stupidly for a moment, turning back around to hide his expression.
"Ah! Sure, Mister Stark!" Peter jumped up, eager to get back to work in the labs.
Nadia huffed, looking down at her grey retriever who stared back at her, "If uncle Steve ever finds out…"
Asgard
The candle in the lamp flickered, making the figure sitting at the table look up.
When did it get so dark? She'd entered the library early in the afternoon. Now, through one of the library windows, the sky was inky and peppered with stars.
The candle flickered again, grabbing her attention. She stared at the yellow flame for a few seconds before it flickered unnaturally a third time. Blue eyes narrowed and her heart beat a little bit faster. There was no wind.
Then the light went out completely and the hairs on the back of her neck stood on end. Arcane energy immediately ringed her wrists and-
"So serious..." a voice said in her ear, making her jump in her seat.
The flame flickered back to life, revealing a chuckling Loki. Anya frowned at him, giving him a stare. Loki simply grinned at her. The woman's seriousness was broken by the grumble that cut through the silence.
Loki chuckled again, "Hungry, darling?" He pulled an apple from thin air and tossed it to her.
Anya stared at the fruit in her hand and she realized that yes, she was hungry. But she wouldn't tell the god that. She just took a bite from the crunchy apple and nodded briefly in thanks.
"You know an apple won't be enough. You missed dinner."
She sighed deeply, massaging her temple. She was hungry enough not to argue. After swallowing another bite of her apple, she asked, "Where do you want to go?" Loki liked to go on excursions every once in a while during the night, especially when she was overstayed in the library or the sitting rooms of her chambers.
The trickster's grin turned into more of a smile. "Not tonight, you're tired. You let the council bully you too much."
She groaned softly, getting up off her seat, "Only because you shirk some of your duties."
"Funny, it's been long enough to know they won't question the Allfather's new behavior. I think you simply do the mundane things for fun." Loki shrugged, waiting for her to take a few more bites before cloaking them both with a spell as they left the library. Heimdall could be watching, but the god of mischief had plans to be rid of that problem soon.
Anya simply hummed, closing her eyes, trailing after him with her other senses. She always quite liked the feel of the trickster's magic. It was cool and comforting and soothed her skin like a gentle breeze.
Loki felt another smile pull at his lips. When did someone last trust him so implicitly that they relied on the feel of his magic to guide them as they walked?
A part of him wanted to walk her into a wall just to see that scowl on her face again. A little bit of fun. Anya was getting too trusting.
They made it to the royal suites without incident and Loki opened the doors a crack for them to slip through. Anya opened her eyes again as his cloaking spell dropped.
What greeted the pair was a dim room only lit only by the crackling hearth. One side table held a platter of fruits, some bread, slices of various meats, and a pitcher of water.
Anya's heart warmed.
Loki took a seat on one of the long, plush couches while Anya went for the table, filling her plate with some food.
This was nice.
Loki read a tome while she was content to sit on the floor while she ate. The god didn't protest, he knew now that she preferred to sit with one leg stretched and the other folded. When she at her fill, she vanished the plate and leaned her head just slightly on his legs. Still looking at the flames in the hearth, she said simply, "Thank you."
The trickster only nodded in return. "The servants brought it in."
A lie. One they both knew. The meats had been heated and the fruits were a selection of her favorites. He'd snuck into the kitchen when she hadn't been present for dinner at the hall.
They didn't acknowledge it out loud though. It was just easier this way. Simple.
They were both sometimes awkward with their emotions, though Loki tended to lie or steer the conversation in a different route while Anya simply stayed quiet, a twitch in her eye or lips belaying her feelings.
Simple times where the two would stay that way, in comfortable silence in the sitting room.
Times when one of them started dozing, usually Anya, and the other would touch their shoulder.
"You'll be more comfortable in a bed."
Either way, Loki would walk her to the door, where he'd watch her walk down the hallway to her own chambers (of course it would draw suspicion if Loki allowed her a room in the royal suites), she'd pause at her doorway and they'd exchange nods, sometimes imperceptible smiles, before she shut her door.
Then they'd retire for what remained of the night.
Loki's thoughts were usually of how he could rile the council again and how Anya would react making him snicker to himself as he fell asleep.
Anya's thoughts were of how Loki would probably find a way to rile the council and tease her again for being too serious making her sigh, though not resentfully, before she succumbed to slumber.
Applause came from the people watching the play and the Allfather smiled as well, clapping his hands genially.
He was relaxed, reclined on the long couch, while his glance flickered over to meet blue.
"That frost giant child was your idea wasn't it?" More a statement than a question really. Anya could hear the roll of Loki's eyes in his voice in her head, though she could still detect the unmistakable amusement.
"My idea? Thank the playwright. " She thought back, though she was sure her own amusement could be heard. "That was much too flowery and dramatic for my tastes." Outwardly though, there was a tug at the corner of her lips.
Odin's eyes glinted with mischief that was inherently Loki and for one moment, Anya was slightly nervous about what he would do to get her back.
A/N: Just a little bit of fluff here. Aaaaanyway... no reviews for the last chapter, makes me kinda sad. Welp, so close to the end tho. Any thoughts for the previous chapter or this current one? I'd love to know what you think.
'Til next time