"Are you you alright?" Loki asked, looking back at the girl trudging slowly along in the snow behind him.
"I'm good," she replied, nearly out of breath. "I think taking tea to go helped. The heated cable car didn't hurt either."
"Do you not own a warmer jacket? Or pants for that matter," Loki replied irritably. She looked winded and he wasn't sure he was capable of carrying both her and her bags the rest of the way.
"What, you don't like my leggings?" she asked, sticking her leg out to admire them. "They have snowflakes on them!"
"They're… well… I don't know what they are."
"They're comfortable, that's what they are," she snapped back.
For the first time all day, Loki felt she was genuinely annoyed with him and it made him smile. It was, in fact, refreshing. "I have no qualms with your snowflakes. You simply look cold."
"I'm fine," she said quietly, waving her hand dismissively as she yawned. "Just tired."
"Are we close?" he asked, slowing his pace to let her catch up.
"I believe it's just past these trees. The driveway should be here," she said, walking around a large shrub to find a mailbox, brushing snow off of it to find the number. "Yes! This IS it."
Loki put the bags down and rubbed his shoulders. Neither his strength nor his magic were at their full potential, but they weren't entirely sapped either. He suspected Odin had something to do with that. He suspected his mother had something to do with the latter.
"Are you okay?" Anna asked, looking at Loki. He was starting to look as tired as she was. "I can take them the rest of the way."
"I'm fine. Let's just get there."
"Agreed. The driveway looks long, but it's not."
"And how would you know that?"
"Eh, I might've trespassed a few times," she said casually. "But I never broke in! Much as I wanted to."
"I'll have you arrested later," Loki said, smiling slightly to himself at the chuckles emanating from her. "For now, I think we both require rest."
"Cheers to that. I haven't slept in days. What about you?"
"Days for me as well," he replied. Truth be told, he couldn't remember the last time he slept, not properly anyway. It had probably been weeks. His new, less able body was certainly beginning to feel the effects of that.
"Luke, look! Just there."
Loki glanced up to find a large, modern, dark wood house laden with many floor to ceiling windows peeking through the trees ahead of them. He appreciated the privacy, the minimalism of it, the way the wood blended in well with the surroundings, camouflaging itself within the trees. Still, it was no Asgardian palace.
"What do you think?" Anna asked, surprised by his lack of a response.
"It will have to do."
"Have to do? It's the most beautiful, most interesting house I've ever seen!" she said, shaking her head in disbelief at him. "I can't believe I'm staying here. You can still say no."
"Don't be absurd," he said, placing the bags down as they reached the front door, conjuring the key in his pocket so she wouldn't suspect anything. In no realm would he ever have invited a stranger of any kind to share his dwelling. But even if he had his reservations now he would certainly not go back on his word.
"Wow," she gasped as she walked in the front door behind him, getting a look at the sterile, all-black stone foyer, lit only by the soft orange glow of a danish pendant lamp hanging overhead. "This is… like… "
"Prison?" Loki said, setting her belongings on a nearby bench.
"I was going to say more like a hotel or a spa, but okay Mr. Negative," she said playfully.
Before he had a chance to respond, Anna cut eagerly by him and headed down the narrow hallway in front of them in the direction of what looked like natural light.
The two walked into a long, massive kitchen lined entirely on one side with floor-to-ceiling windows that looked out onto the sea and town below. The cabinets were a sleek, modern walnut, the counters and large island a stark, shiny white. Several pots of herbs grew on the counters, reaching up towards the lights underneath the cabinets above. There wasn't a pan or dirty plate to be found. Not a speck on the counters. The place was truly a minimalist's dream.
"You can see the cathedral!" Anna exclaimed as she looked out the window, immediately removing her finger from the glass and buffing the smudge out with her sleeve. "Sorry."
"Don't be," Loki said dismissively, walking over to survey the land below them. He stared out at the peculiar building with a spiraled belfry that fascinated her so much. "I'm glad you like it."
"You don't?"
"I'm simply used to grander dwellings."
"Oh," she nodded, trying to fathom what could possibly be grander than this.
She followed him beyond the kitchen through the sunken living room, another large yet dark, cozy space, with plenty of stocked bookshelves and a quaint fireplace with a white fur rug before it. Next to the fireplace were more large windows looking out onto the dense forest, thick with pines. Windows on the opposite end of the room looked out to the sea. Anna quickly spotted a chair with an overarching chrome lamp hanging above that she'd likely love to fall asleep in.
They eventually found their bedrooms on opposite sides of the house, much to Loki's relief. Each had a large balcony that looked onto the water and bathrooms with massive rain-head showers and soaking tubs. Anna squealed with delight at every turn. Every inch of the place was unbelievable.
"I have a proposal," she said excitedly, clasping her hands together as they walked back into the kitchen. "I'd love to cook for us."
"Now?" Loki asked, yawning loudly as he rubbed his eyes.
"Not unless you're hungry," she said with a laugh. "I mean, I can be responsible for meals. I don't exactly have money, but I have legs. The cable car is a short walk. I'd be happy to go into town each day."
"I'm certain I can hire help. I wouldn't ask you to-"
"Don't be ridiculous," she insisted. "I haven't been able to work for months. I need a sense of purpose. It's the absolute least I can do."
"Why? Haven't you been able to work, I mean," Loki asked, opening drawers and refrigerator doors to inspect their contents. The basics were there, tea, milk, bread, butter. They would need more provisions soon.
"I've had health problems," she said casually, scratching the back of her head as she looked out the windows. "Just haven't physically been able to."
"Care to expand on that?"
"Do I have to?"
"No," he said, shaking his head, feeling slightly embarrassed for asking. "Of course not. My apologies."
"It's nothing contagious," she promised. "It's just complicated. You won't have to "
"If you cannot make it to town -"
"I can. I really can. Please? Say yes."
"You are not a prisoner here," he said quietly, looking outside, his voice and his mind both distant. "You may do as you wish, come and go as you wish. I will leave you the funds you desire."
Anna clapped her hands, wanting to run to Loki and hug him. She didn't.
"I require ample amounts of solitude," Loki said, suddenly serious. He didn't wish to make her uncomfortable, but he needed to lay out some ground rules if they were going to live together. "When I am studying, reading, I do not wish to be disturbed. When I am in my chambers, I do not wish to be disturbed. I may be on holiday, but I still have… many things to contemplate. And I need ample privacy to do so."
"Of course, I won't get in your way," she nodded, suddenly straightening herself at his solemn demeanor. She wasn't offended at all by his words, for she knew, as grateful as she was for him, that they were strangers and she was in his territory. "But if you need anything on a dime, coffee, tea, a sandwich, some fresh laundry, I'm your girl. Just let me know."
"I do not wish for you to be my servant."
"I know, but it would make me feel better. This house, this lifestyle, this is something extraordinary and I feel like I need to earn my keep. Anything you need, please, let me help."
"As you wish," Loki said, resigned to her insistence. If she wanted to cook him meals and clean, who was he to stop her? Truth be told, those were mundane tasks he'd rather not perform himself.
"Oh, shit!" Anna suddenly yelled at the sight of something behind Loki. She jumped back and covered her chest with her hand, looking as though she were about to have a heart attack.
Loki turned, ready to conjure his daggers but didn't. His heart sank, however, at the sight of the familiar blonde buffoon smiling on the other side of the balcony glass, waving enthusiastically.
"Who the hell IS that?" Anna said, her eyes still wide.
Loki's jaw tensed and his eyes narrowed.
"My brother."