chapter 8

Omg I love you all who have deemed my story worthy of reading thus far! I swear I didn't think I would get this many people to read it and I truly adore all of you *Hugs you all*

I do not own anything Marvel or Loki. I only own my OC Tatsumi. This story is rated M for many reasons okay.

Tatsumi found herself wandering the streets only to wind up at her shop. Standing outside she decides to go in. If there was one place on this forsaken planet that made her feel at home and could calm her innermost demons this would be it.

Walking in and promptly turning the lock then facing the inside of the store. Taking a deep breathe she allowed the tears to fall as she quietly walked along trailing her fingers along the piles of books, movies, and music. Reaching the middle of the store she closes her eyes, wraps her arms around herself as she let the feelings she kept pent up for so long finally consume her. Sobs wracking her body as she collapses to the floor.

It felt like an eternity that she let herself feel the deep rooted pain and despair, allowing herself to cry until she felt numb.

"Why can't I hate them...after all I've been through, all they've done to me, how can I not hate the human race?! But yet he could find a small amount of hate within himself that was able to be manipulated in such a way that he could do what I never could or can?"

She knew the answer was that she was this realms gaurdian, although a hidden one, she was a permanent fixture on this planet just like the air, trees, water, and fire. She was an essential part of it and she would forever be here until the end of eternity.

Many a legend or story had been formed around her such as the pheonix which to this day seemed the closest to accurately describing her. No matter what she rose from the ashes as a new being, starting over anew and carrying on with the weight of the world on her shoulders.

The part about the wings though weren't entirely accurate but they still held some truth. For her powers when used to thier full ability spread out from her body manifesting in an amazing display that resembled wings of angels.

These things she kept hidden from everyone, for when they even got the slightest hint as to what or who she was that was when they used her weakness for humanity against her. Her main downfall was the children. It would always be the children of this world that would continue to be her undoing. So innocent, so open minded, so careing and so loving without wanting or even expecting anything more than love in return. They were the only reason she held out hope for this realm and would continue to do so.

Slowing her breathing from the near hysterical state it was in moments ago she starts to think of her favorite song, willing her sound system to come on so it played over the air. The first notes to Fur Elise by Beethoven surround her in an invisible cocoon making her shiver slightly as she becomes truly calm. Standing up with eyes closed and arms still losely wraped around herself she starts to sway to the music as she begins to hum along to the melody. As the song progressed she felt lighter and more at peace much like she had that morning in the twilight dawn. Before the end of the song she found herself twirling around the shop arms spread as if she was waltzing with someone and smiling. By the conclusion she was standing arms spread wide, smiling and out of breathe where only moments before she was crying.

Feeling like she was whole once again and at peace she decides to face the world outside her shop. Before opening the door to leave she turns back to the store smiling "Thank you.." she says softly then quickly exits locking the door behind her.

Loki finished the book the mortal had given him hours ago and now had become restless. The music had stopped so all there was now was silence. He couldn't help but be plagued by questions about what the woman had told him and even more questions about his actions afterwards towards her.

"How is it I can act or feel that way towards her?" He muses out loud as he paces the room absentmindedly picking up random objects to inspect befor placing them back.

Stopping in the hall and peering down towards the Midgardians room before shaking his head and picking up his pacing once again. It was one of a dozen times that he had done so since he had nothing better to do to occupy his time. Sooner or later his curiosity was going to get the better of him and he prayed to Odin that the mortal would arrive before it did. He didn't know why but he felt like if he was to go snooping in her room then he would be betraying the only person to ever trust him.

"Why do I feel compelled to take care of her? To not harm her or betray her confidences? This is not me! Trickery, Lies, Deceit these are things that define me not compassion, caring or love. Love? Did I just think that?! Oh Odin what have you done?! What is going on with me?!" These thoughts raced through his mind at an unprecidented rate making him feel dizzy.

Finally his thoughts turned back to the kiss. Even though it was brief he could still feel her lips beneath his. Releasing a moan as he collapses into the armchair placing a hand to his face only to be drawn away from his thoughts by the low rumble of his stomache. Looking at his midsection with a look of surprise for he had never been hungry long enough for him to even fathom what his stomache would sound like let alone actually hear it. At that exact moment in came the Midgardian. Releasing a sigh of relief at the site of her before he could catch himself he looks away quickly. "I was beginning to wonder if you had run away never to return." He says dryly.

Tatsumi just smirked for at that moment the Gods stomache let out a loud rumble and the look on his face was utterly priceless. "Hmmm seems to me that someone is rather hungry so I guess it's a good thing I got something for dinner." She says swishing her way into the kitchen carrying enough bags of food to hang from practically every inch of her arms.

Setting them down she looks over to see Loki looking at her rather inquisitively like as if his mind was in a million places with even more questions. "Well are you or are you not going to ask me what I'm making?" She says turning around and placing a hand on a hip cocked to the side as she raised an eyebrow.

Loki just blinked at her with a completely blank expression on his face not sure what to say or do before answering "I am rather hungry so I suppose I will amuse you by asking you what are you making."

"Well now that you asked I am going to be making steak with herb and butter mashed potatoes and some mixed vegetables on the side. Oh and I plan on making a lovely Baklava for dessert." Tatsumi says as she whirls around the kitchen setting up all the ingredients on the counter. Nodding her head in satisfaction that everything was in order she turns to Loki with a frown. "Well are you going to help or not? I mean it's nice to cook by myself most of the time but I've decided that if you're going to be here in my home you're going to have to learn how to do some things for yourself."

Loki's mouth fell open for no-one in his entire existence had ever dare tell him that he would have to do any such thing as menial as cooking or cleaning. The thought was abhorrent and made him unreasonably mad to say the least. He was a God after all albeit a fallen one for the moment but still a God nonetheless!

"What is the meaning of this! I will NOT stoop my status so low as to even consider COOKING or CLEANING anything!" He says rising from the chair and going to the counter that seperated the two rooms.

"I suppose you'll go hungry then! Because if you want to eat in this house or have clean clothing you're going to have to help whether you like it or not! Plus if you want to adapt to this society in this realm you will HAVE to learn to do things for YOURSELF, I won't always be here to help you." Tatsumi says narrowing her eyes on him as she picked up a meat mallet. "Now as I said before if you want to eat anything for dinner I suggest you get you royal ass in here and assist me."

Loki was shaking now for he was so furious and without thinking slammed his hand down onto the counter only to find himself being pinned to a wall unable to move. "LET ME DOWN FROM HERE!" He bellows once he realizes that the woman had used her magic to restrain him.

Walking over to the God and looking up at him with malice in her eyes "Tsk Tsk Loki temper temper. I'll let you down once you become calm again but until then you will have to just suffer your punishment for acting like a child. Consider this your time out."

Loki goes to say something only to see the Midgardian do a swift hand motion "Ah Ah Loki no talking while in time out. Once you are visibly calm I will let you down. Now if you don't mind I've got a dinner to prepare." She says as she goes back to the kitchen, flicking her wrist to turn on the radio and begins to sing along with the song as if nothing had just happened.

Loki strained against his invisible bindings and screamed to only hear no sound. After a good ten minutes and the smell of spices floating through the air reaching his nose his stomache for the third time lets out a rumble. This time there was a pain that came from his core it seemed which made him sag against the wall feeling drained. Looking at the mortal who was happily making the meal and singing he couldn't help but be hypnotized by her movements once more.

She truly could have been a dancer in a past life with the most grace that any had ever contained but more. The notes that floated to his ears were so soothing that he soon found his rage subsiding.

Tatsumi noticed the change in the God and without pausing in her task spoke to him "Are you feeling calmer now? For if you are the offer still stands that you help me with the preparing of dinner." She says looking up at him from the counter.

Loki nodded his head yes and immediately felt the restraints release and the sound of his own breathing reached his ears. He was lowered to the floor rather gently all while the woman continued on with making the food.

Walking to stand awkwardly in the entrance to the kitchen "What would you have me do?" he ask softly.

Smiling from ear to ear Tatsumi takes his arm and brings him over to the counter by the stove and hands him a mallet. "I would like you to tenderize the steaks please." Loki takes the mallet and raises an eyebrow at the mortal.

Releasing a sigh she takes the mallet back from Loki "Like this." And she begins to pummel the meat, stops and hands the mallet back "Just don't do it too hard I don't want to have to replace the counter."

Loki looks to her as he begins to hammer the meat only to see the mortal getting seasonings ready. Next thing he knew she was sprinkling said seasonings onto the meat as he pounded it. Looking to her confused she tells him "It's to make sure that when I cook it the flavorings stay."

Satisfied that he was done she takes the mallet away and grabs a knife to hand to him only to stop "I suppose I should show you what to do first." She says and goes over to a pile of potatoes next to the sink and a pot. Looking to Loki "Now do as I do okay. First you peel the potato, then you wash the potato, next you cut the potato, and finally you put it into the pot. See?"

Loki frowned as he took the knife for he didn't like being treated like he was helpless or simpleminded. "Looks simple enough." he says flatly befor setting to his task.

"Aww come on now don't pout! I know how about some upbeat music!" Tatsumi says quickly changing the tune on the radio to a song she really loved called What You Want by Evanescence.

Loki couldn't help but let out a laugh at seeing the woman bouncing around the kitchen like a loon singing along to the music as she cooked.

Twirling to where she was close to Loki "Now that's better!" then twirls away singing at full volume to the chorus.

"How can you be so full of energy and happy after what...we discussed this morning?" He says with an amused expression on his face as he finished off the last potato in the pile.

"Well if its between crying or laughing I'll choose laughing everytime wouldn't you?" She says with a grin as she takes the bowl from him, puts water in it and sets it on the stove.

"Come on I've got more for you to do Darling." Tatsumi says tweaking his nose lightly and laughing at the look that crossed his face.

With the same knife Tatsumi shows Loki how she wanted the vegetables cut up for the dinner and prances away to finish cooking the steaks.

Loki couldn't help but shake his head "You truly are an unusual Midgardian. Never have I met one such as yourself, you essentially ooz life while most others of your kind are more like the walking dead."

"As I told you before Loki we are not all the same and there are far more like me than you care to notice it's just that I'm right in front of you currently dancing around and singing. I'd say that would make me kind of hard to not notice wouldn't you?" Tatsumi says smirking a little.

"I would be a fool not to agree with you on that." He says just in time for her to take the vegetables away to add to the stove. As she did that she simultaniously took the steaks off of the heat and grabbed, then drained the potatoes only to begin putting in butter, seasonings and milk. "Here I need you to mash these like this" she says showing him with the potato masher "While I begin to make the dessert okay." And just as quickly she was off getting the ingredients together for that.

It wasn't long before Loki considered his task done so he decided to see what the mortal was doing with this interesting double pot on her stove and this brown bar.

"Oh good you're done I'll need your help through out the entire process of this. Here watch this and stir it CONSTANTLY. I can not stress that enough for if you stop stirring it, it will burn to the bottom of the pan and it will be useless ok." She says handing him a silicone spatula and quickly shows him how to do it before going to stand on the opposite side of him to roll out this amazingly thin dough and place a jar of honey as well as a bag of chopped nuts next to each other befor turning to look up at him "So do you think it's melted enough?" She says casting her eyes down on the pot wanting him to make the decision for himself.

Loki looks and decides that it is then looks at the woman who was quite in close proximity to him which made him a little nervous "Um...I believe so. Now what?"

"Bring it over here quickly and pour it over the dough as I smooth it out with this other spatula okay. Do it quickly for when you take it off the stove it will start to solidify again." Tatsumi says grinning as she noticed how uncomfortable the God seemed.

"Okay on the count of three. One, two, three!" Loki did as he was told and the mortal moved fast to spread the concoction. "Now hurry and help me sprinkle the nuts onto it and then we'll have to hurry and put the honey on like we did just a moment ago." Tatsumi says as she hands him the nuts which he made quick work of and she started to pour the honey as he spread it about like she had earlier. Once that was done she grabed this other bit of dough and laid it on top only to spread more honey on it and sprinkle some nuts as well. "Ok now to put it in the oven for a moment but not too long for it will burn easily."

Shooing Loki out of the way she places the desert in the oven and in one swift move, moves to turn the heat off for the vegetables "Alright the dinner is done and soon so will be dessert." She says happily clapping her hands together. Gathering the plates and utensils Tatsumi motions for Loki to get his food so they could begin eating. Only then was it that Tatsumi noticed that some of the honey must have splashed onto Loki's face "Oh you got something right there." She says absentmindedly using her finger to wipe it off and then proceeded to suck it off said finger.

Loki couldn't form a coherent thought let alone say anything for the mere sight of this woman doing that simple act did things to him. "Th..Thank you." He stutters out just as she finishes making her plate of food "Think nothing of it. Now here make your plate I have to get the dessert out before it burns." Tatsumi says as she quickly makes her way to the oven to retreive said dessert.

Loki had to give himself a mental kick so as to get moving to get his food, only to finish just in time to almost collide with the woman.

"Oh! Sorry." She says deftly moving out of the way. "What would you like to drink. We can have tea, milk, water, juice or soda."

Loki sits down and begins to eat "I don't believe I've tried a "soda" befor." he all but mumbles around his food making him a little embarassed.

Smiling "I think you'll like it." Tatsumi says as she gathers two Dr. Peppers from her fridge.

"Here you go." She says handing him his and opening hers while Loki watched then immitated her actions.

"It seems quite bubbly..is this normal?" he says giving it a wary look.

"Yes it is. In fact if there are no bubbles then it's no good. Now take a sip." Tatsumi all but laughs at the exspression that crosses his face. It was much like the one he made when he tried her coffee. It reminded her of a child and it did things to warm her heart.

"I take it you like it then?" she says as she takes a sip herself then begins to dig into her meal.

"AMAZING! This is remarkable! What are these bubbles and what is this flavor?" Loki says feeling in awe.

"It's carbonation. That's what the bubbles are and the flavor well...with this soda there is a mixture of twenty three so..yeah sorry." She says after hastily swallowing some of her food and giving him a shrug.

"Hmmm I do believe I like it but I still prefer that coffee that you made this morning..." Just then Loki began to feel uncomforable again at mentioning the terrible morning that he had brought on upon them "...I'm sorry. I know I already said that but I really am. I never knew asking you to tell me what you did today would cause you so much suffering. I am also sorry for my behaviour afterwards. I shouldn't have kissed you." he says looking into the womans eyes as a steady blush crossed her face.

"Oh uh you don't have to be sorry. Really I think it was quite thereaputic now that I look back on it and um..the kiss wasn't too bad either. I don't think you meant anything more than to comfort me so don't be sorry." Tatsumi says while trying to get her blush under control. "Um.. are you done? Because we still have dessert and I really want to know what you think of it." She says with a grin while getting up from the counter seat.

"Yes. I am anxious to know as well. Would you tell me what that brown liquide was that we put on it?" Loki says trying to hide how smug he felt at the blush he caused the woman to have.

"It's called chocolate. Here you go. Bon Appetit!" She says setting the delishes dessert down in front of him.

Tatsumi couldn't wait to take a bite and as soon as she did she instantly went to her happy place.

Loki looked on only shortly befor taking a bite himself and he instantly realized why the woman had that look on her face. "This is pure ambrosia! I am being constantly surprised by these things you make for my to try." He says happily looking to Tatsumi.

Being brought out of her revelrie by what Loki said she couldn't help but grin "I'm glade you approve." After finishing off their desserts Tatsumi realized just how worn out she felt from all of the days events and wanted nothing more than to sleep. Unfortunately she needed to do dishes and put anything leftover away. "I suppose we need to clean up. Come on I'll show you what to do." She says to Loki as she gets up and picks up the plates.

Loki didn't argue this time and got up to help "What do you need me to do?" He says coming up beside her once again.

"Take these plates and any other thing that was used for making the meal and put it in here like this." She says showing him how to put things into the dishwasher. "After you get it loaded I'll put the soap in and turn it on."

Loki loaded the dishes into the machine as the mortal put up the leftover food only to have her swiftly come over and put the soap into the mechanism and turn it on. "I don't know about you but I'm beat." She says letting out a yawn and stretching like a cat.

Loki had to stop himself from gasping let alone just grabbing the woman and kissing her again. "I would have to agree I am quite weary from todays events as I am sure you are." he says trying to keep calm.

Going about the room she gets the bed ready for him and then went to the closet to get him some clean blankets and a towel. Turning and walking towards Loki as he was perched on one of the counter seats.

"Well I guess I will be turning in then. Oh and Loki..."

"Yes" Just in that moment of him turning to face the Midgardian she kissed him then gave him a hug.

Blushing madly for she couldn't quite believe it herself "Thank you for helping with dinner and trying to comfort me earlier. Goodnight." She says quietly and giving him a sheepish look before making her way down the hall to go to bed.

Still in shock from the kiss Loki couldn't help but whisper "Goodnight..."