The Orchestra of Mice
"You are being so thick-headed right now!" Natasha fumed.
Loki gritted his teeth, obviously trying not to smash every object in sight. " At least I am not shouting like a bilgesnipe in heat!" he yelled.
Her jaw dropped open. "Oh, no you didn't," she said in a deadly tone. "And besides, you're louder than I was."
"No, I was not."
"Yes, you were. I don't know why I put up with you to be honest." She punctuated her statement with a strangled howl of fury and marched off to their dungeon rooms, hoping to hide in private for a few minutes. What an idiot! She wanted to smash his skull in. What had he ever done for her?
Natasha crashed into the bedroom and locked the door. She knew it wouldn't keep Loki out if he really wanted to come in, but it was satisfying to turn the key in the lock. There she found a bottle of mead, poured a hefty measure, and downed the wine in two gulps, making a face as she drank. The stuff was far too sweet for her.
The little orchestra of mice started to play a soft, sweet tune. She huffed, knowing they were probably controlled by Loki as an attempt to influence her into a better mood. She remembered the morning he gave them to her – while she slept he created a slew of presents to greet her when she woke. It had been Natasha's first real insight into Loki's artistic side – and what a vision it had been.
On tiptoe, she examined the little mouse orchestra. They were fat, furry little rodents, wearing 18th century style suits and tuning a variety of tiny instruments. Who came up with stuff like that?
With a long sigh, Natasha realized she was going to forgive her husband for his latest bout of pigheadedness. She found a scrap of parchment, wrote three words followed by her initial, and tied it up with a ribbon filched from one of her dresses.
She found him sulking in the dungeon library, slumped down in a chair so he was only visible by the long, leather-clad legs sticking out over the carpet. Natasha crept up, deposited the little packet in his lap, and ran back to the bedroom.
Her present must have affected Loki more deeply than she thought; after a moment he strode into the room and captured her in one corner.
A long time later, Loki murmured against her skin, "What caused such a sudden change of heart, darling?"
Natasha pointed to the mice. "Those. I realized anyone who could create such a wonderful thing can't be all bad."