After a long moment, I led her to the little bench by the edge of the garden, darkness already settling around us. I found it hard to voice what I wanted to say… after closing myself off for so long, it was difficult being with a stranger. But, in a way, it was more comfortable. She didn't know nor have any judgment on me. Except she probably knew I was the son of Odin...

"I'm Loki," I said the words anyway, though she probably knew who I was.

"I know," she didn't look into my eyes, instead she fixed her gaze on her bare feet. They were muddled with dirt and dried blood, along with her dress. She was definitely an adventurer, someone who thrived from nature. "I didn't know you were Jotun." The word 'Jotun' was harsh and rolled off her tongue tinged with cruelty. She wasn't ashamed of her origin as I was; she was angry. I guess I hadn't quite reached that stage yet.

"I didn't know you were Jotun, either."

"You don't know me."

"That's true," I offered a small smile. "I do now."

She looked pointedly to the ground. "No one knows me," her eyes were brimming with water. "And now, I have to leave."

"No, please… I haven't spoken to anyone about this in a long time."

"I don't have to leave here... I have to leave Asgard."

I looked at her questionably. "Why?"

"Because the Allfather can't know I'm Jotun, and you're going to tell him."

I was appalled. "Are you joking? Why would I ever tell him?"

"Because you're his son," she remarked, her tone still heavy with anger.

"I'm actually not," I whispered so quietly I was sure she hadn't heard.

"What do you mean?"

Instead of explaining, I simply touched my finger to her arm, letting the blue consume me. She understood. "It's a long story."

Finally, she met my eyes. Warmth spread throughout my body. No one had looked at me like I was a person for a long time. "Mine is long as well."

We talked for a very long time, spilling every little detail we could, being so unused to sharing such dark things. Our histories were locked up, tied away, our families taking the key and burning every memory they could. Odin always warned me to never tell anyone of my birthright.

Turns out her family had Jotun blood in it from generations ago. When she was born blue her parents nearly had her killed, though were convinced differently.

"They thought they could make use of me one day," she sighed and let her hair fall over her face like a curtain, shielding her melancholy eyes. Without hesitating, I brushed it behind her ear. She didn't look up. "Maybe I'd be supernaturally strong or something. Instead I'm just an ugly blue thing that no one wants around. Well… actually I'm not supposed to go out. I snuck through my window. They're on Anaheim for a week."

"I know how you feel," I said sincerely.

Her eyes were no longer sad, but they were blooming with something I felt enveloping me as well. Something I couldn't place. I had a lot of trouble placing feelings. Probably from blocking mine away.

"Come on," I hopped to my feet, energized. Whatever this crazy feeling was, I never wanted it to go away.

"Where are we going?" Clove asked, still sitting down, hesitant. I could understand why.

"Come on," I laughed and started ambling up the courtyard walk, the gardens seeming to shrink around us. Night was settling. Thor would be searching for me soon. "Follow me," I urged, and I leapt stealthily through the vent opening. At first she appeared intimidated, but smoothed out her dress and soared through the air, her gracefulness incomparable. Her elegance drew my breath away.

I signaled for her to follow me and we crawled through the vent tunnels, stopping every once in awhile to peer through the vent slits into a room.

"Wow," she breathed. "The Allfather."

Odin was perched on his throne, as usual. He was chattering quietly about Thor to a young servant girl who couldn't look less interested.

I looked at her curiously.

"I've never seen him up close before," she explained. "I'm simply a citizen of Asgard. Not a prince like you."

Sharing the tunnels with someone else was odd. It was my typical escape place. No one else could come up and get me. No one else knew it existed, save Thor and probably Heimdall.

We crawled to Thor's vent. He was swinging Mjolnir around, practicing some new moves he'd probably learned in defense class. Again Clove was mind boggled, seeing royalty up this close. It bugged me that she hadn't reacted the same way to me. Probably because I never went to any of the press events. People hardly knew I existed. They only knew my name.

"Want to meet him?" I smiled, hoping to please her. She grinned and nodded. With careful hands, I picked up the vent slot and let my legs dangle through the opening.

"Brother, join me!" Thor shouted from below. "You missed defense class again, I'll have to fill you in!"

"Can a friend of mine come in as well?" I held my breath.

Thor was very taken aback. Friend? Loki has…. made a friend? "Of course, Loki." He probably didn't even believe me.

I jumped and landed carefully on his wardrobe, then finished the drill and hopped to the bed and then the floor. I motioned for Clove to follow suit.

"So, you have brought a friend! And you have shown her through the vents!" He didn't look very happy. "Excuse us, maiden," and with his fierce hands, he took me by the collar and dragged me to the back of his room. "Loki, what were you thinking?! Now she knows how to get into the palace. We don't want anyone climbing through the vents!"

"Calm down," I rolled my eyes. "She's different. I swear, she doesn't live nearby. She won't pull any tricks."

"Unlike you?" Thor smirked.

"Yes," and I exchanged a smile.

"What is your name, maiden?" Thor dropped to his knees and kissed her hand. She nearly jumped from the floor in surprise.

"I'm, uh, Clove," her voice fluttered with fear but immense curiosity.

"I am prince Thor, god of thunder, a-"

"Yeah, yeah, she knows who you are," I reached for Clove's hand to pull her from the room when I remembered how her skin would turn blue upon my touch. Instead I waved her to follow me. "We'll be in my room."

"Wait, let me speak with your guest! I will join you!" and before I could stop him, he was barreling ahead of me, excitedly babbling and pointing out different aspects of the castle. Clove's eyes shone with happiness. It took me a moment to realize I was still grinning.