Treachery

"Welcome to our humble abode, Prince Loki," Noir smiled and held out a hand to help the prince up.

He took it gratefully and pushed himself to his feet, self-consciously brushing dust from his clothes.

"I didn't really think of that part where I would have to tell you to somersault when you hit the bottom," the girl said thoughtfully, tapping a finger to her chin. "Nekos just do it automatically, I suppose… increased agility and all that, just makes it instinct. Didn't occur to me that you wouldn't do the same. Sorry."

Loki threw her a mutinous look. "Noir, you're not sorry yet. When I fall down some rabbit hole after you, and I break my neck, then you'll be sorry."

Noir actually laughed at that. "I like that. I might use that sometime… 'You're not sorry yet.' Very good answer."

Loki rolled his eyes, still a little on edge from the experience of falling through darkness for longer than expected, and then crashing to the ground once his knees buckled. He crossed his arms and looked around. "So… this is where you live?"

"Bloody right it's where we live," Blanc snapped suddenly, far more hostile than he should have been.

"Gods, Blanc, no need to bite his head off," Noir scolded.

"Didn't you hear the way he just scornfully asked if this was where we live?" Blanc asked harshly.

Noir, Loki, and Marron exchanged looks.

"Um… no, Blanc, we didn't… we just heard him asking politely, like he was making small talk, like any civilized person," Noir said slowly.

Blanc just grumbled, and the two girl nekos exchanged bitter looks, clearly both growing exasperated with him.

"So, Noir?" Marron asked. "Now that we're all safe and sound… Um, what exactly happened? Last I saw you, we split up at the market. But then you just disappeared." She gave her friend a questioning look.

"Ah," Noir mumbled, toying with the green kerchief around her neck absentmindedly. "Well, I was spotted by the baker and had to make a run for it. And then Prince Loki and I took a little stroll."

Marron tilted her head to one side and quirked her eyebrows. "How in the nine realms did you go from running from the baker to strolling with the prince?"

"Simple. I may have more or less distracted the baker when she made her getaway, and then I found her afterwards to scold her… and then we simply talked," Loki said smoothly.

Marron and Blanc glanced at each other, raising their eyebrows. "So I'd suppose that's why I couldn't find you," Marron said slowly. "So then when you discovered I had been captured, you and the prince and Blanc banded together to rescue me?"

"Not by choice," Blanc muttered. "He effectively forced himself upon us after he found us observing the stockades."

"Found you?" Marron repeated.

"Yes, we were observing the stockades, and we heard footsteps coming, so we started to make a run for it, but then Prince Loki appeared. And after we explained our predicament, he offered help."

Loki felt a bit awkward. He could see the curious frown on Marron's face and knew what her next question would be.

"How did you find them, Prince Loki?" she asked. "I mean, you were looking for them, correct?"

He nodded slowly. "Yes, I was looking for them, and I used a spell to help me find them."

Blanc and Noir both looked up sharply. "You can trace us using magic?"

Loki nodded slowly. "Well," he paused and considered. "I wasn't tracing you exactly… Recall those two handkerchiefs you ended up with, Noir?"

She blushed slightly. "Erm… yes. I recall." Evidently the prince hadn't noticed the fact that she was wearing said handkerchiefs around her neck.

"Well, I used a spell to lead me to them, since I had a feeling you still had them. So…" He reached into his pocket and pulled out a green handkerchief. "I used this, since it is a twin to the objects, and it led me to its identicals. Which were with you."

All three nekos blinked in surprise.

Noir suddenly grinned. "So… what you're saying, Prince Loki, is that you were stalking me… using the gifts you had given me earlier. That's positively disturbing." She laughed a little at the affronted expression on his face. "Prince Loki, I'm only jesting, but in all honesty, it's really quite funny that you would go to such lengths."

"I didn't go to any great lengths," Loki said defensively. "It's a simple spell, and I mastered it by the time I could buckle my own boots!" He decided not to mention the fact that while he had mastered the spell long ago, he had forgotten it from lack of use, and had been frantically searching his spell casting books before imploring his mother.

"She was only joking, Prince Loki," Marron said soothingly, though she was hiding her own soft smile.

Blanc, however, just looked suspicious. "Eerie, is what it is… using spells to track down objects. Devious and untrustworthy. Noir, you should get rid of those handkerchiefs."

Now it was Noir's turn to look affronted. "What?! I'm not getting rid of these handkerchiefs, Blanc. I like them."

Blanc scoffed. "Yes, of course you do."

It was only now that Loki noticed that the thing around Noir's neck that she kept playing with was a green bandana. But he smiled to himself. It wasn't truly a bandana; it was made of the two green squares of cloth he had given her, tied together. The knowledge that she was keeping his gifts so close to her made his lips tilt up at the corners. He glanced at the green cloth in his hands and then tossed it to the girl. "You can have this one, too, if you like them so much."

Noir caught it easily and looked between it and the prince. She smiled sheepishly and slipped it into a pouch on her belt.

"Well, then, shall we be off to bed?" Blanc asked with a sigh.

The three nekos slipped their cloaks off and dropped them into a large wooden box. They each sat on their respective beds and slipped their boots off, sliding them under their cots. And then they all paused and glanced at the prince, who merely stood, looking unsure.

"Ah. Uh…" Noir stammered, looking around at her friends. "Well, I could… Or maybe…" she frowned, realizing her mistake in bringing the prince back to their hideout. There were only three small cots, and with the prince, there were four people. Three beds and four people did not match up well. Everyone exchanged awkward looks.

"I say the prince sleeps on the floor," Blanc said loftily.

Loki shot him a look. "I say you sleep on the floor, and I take your bed."

"Or how about you turn your lie into a reality and go stay in an inn for the night?" Blanc suggested.

"Or we could simply go refill that cell in the prison; there was a bed in there. How would you like to stay there the night?" Loki asked bitingly.

"Why don't you just run back to your swan feather bed back up in your ivory tower?" Blanc snapped.

"Here's an idea," Noir cut in. "Prince Loki, you take my bed, and I'll sleep on the floor."

"I refuse to deprive a lady of a bed," Loki rebuked immediately.

Noir scoffed. "I refuse to make the prince sleep on the floor. So unless you'd like to share a bed with Blanc tonight—not very likely—then you can take my bed."

Loki and Blanc glared daggers at each other at the mere suggestion of sharing a bed.

Noir couldn't help but smile. She was having visions of them whisper-arguing all night long, claiming that the other was taking up too much room, or that the other was hogging the blanket. But then, if Blanc and Loki shared a bed, odds were that one of them would wake with a dagger in their sternum… if at all.

"Why don't you and the prince share your cot, Noir?" Blanc sneered. "If you're so fond of him. Then both of you have a bed tonight."

Loki went very pale, and Noir went very red. They barely met each other's eyes before glancing away awkwardly.

"Noir, you and I can share my cot," Marron murmured softly, scratching the back of her head. "Prince Loki can take your bed, and we'll all have a place to sleep. It's been a long day. Let's please all stop arguing and get to bed."

Noir and Loki both threw the brown neko grateful looks, appreciative of her getting them out of answering Blanc's embarrassing suggestion. Marron smiled reassuringly at them and shrugged. She patted the spot on the bed next to her, and Noir moved to sit next to her friend.

Loki took the spot on Noir's bed, and slipped off his cloak and boots. Then he glanced around at the three nekos. "Well, then… good night?"

Blanc rolled his eyes, lay down, and turned his back to the others. Noir and Marron rolled their eyes at the white neko and threw the prince apologetic looks. Noir stood and went to the oil lamp sitting on the bench and turned it off. In an instant, the room was plunged into darkness. Noir rejoined Marron on the cot, and they lay down, trying to get comfortable in the small bed.

"Good night, Blanc. Good night, Loki. Good night, Marron," Noir murmured into the darkness.

Two voices murmured in return, but Blanc didn't.

Silence as everyone was left to their thoughts, trying to find sleep. Only two of them found it.

Loki laid awake in his—Noir's—bed, still wide awake. He wasn't used to such uncomfortable sleeping conditions, or sharing a room with other people. Listening to the sound of people besides himself shifting around and breathing was… a little strange. He wasn't sure if he liked the silence of having a room to himself, or if he liked the idea of having someone only a few feet away should he need something.

But he found he did like the idea of his little neko—Noir, he reminded himself—being near. He felt a kind of… protectiveness for her, along with a curiosity and affection. He liked her.

He was pulled from his thoughts by the sound of someone moving around. The sound was coming from across the room… Blanc's bed. Loki couldn't quite see through the gloom, but he could hear that the white neko was putting on his boots and cloak, and standing from his bed.

"Where are you going?" Loki whispered out, suspicious.

The noises abruptly stopped. "Aren't you supposed to be asleep?"

"Aren't you?" Loki returned easily.

Blanc scoffed. "Go to sleep, little princess."

"It can't be later than three in the morning. Where are you going?" Loki asked suspiciously.

"None of your concern," Blanc said evasively. "Now go to sleep and leave me be, your Highness."

Loki stayed silent, though still mistrustful. Where could the white neko be going at this time of night/morning?

The sound of light footsteps could be heard retreating, and then he could hear the neko scrambling up the tunnel, and the step was removed, and then the sound of it being carefully put back into place. Loki frowned. He was gone now… but to where? And why had he been so defensive? Loki hunkered down into the uncomfortable cot and closed his eyes, deciding he would ask Noir about it in the morning, if Blanc was still gone.

Marron was the first to wake the next morning. The light in the room was still dim, but that was normal; the room was underground, after all. The only light came from a few sparse shafts of light that filtered down through the cracks between the steps above their little tunnel. But those sparse shafts were exceedingly bright. It must have been later than she was used to waking, Marron realized, and she looked around.

Noir was still asleep, just next to her. Marron sat up carefully to avoid waking her friend. The other two beds were occupied, too. Loki was still asleep, snoring softly. Blanc's position was similar; though he was sprawled over his bed and snoring somewhat louder. Marron smiled slightly and scooted to the end of the cot before gently shaking Noir's shoulder.

Noir's eyes snapped open, and she blinked a few times, her pupils expanding and then contracting suddenly as her eyes tried to adjust to the light of the room. She sighed once and glanced around. ""Morning, Marron," she murmured, careful to keep her voice down to avoid waking the boys. She sat up next to her friend, and they exchanged small smiles. Noir put an arm around the younger girl's shoulder. Marron smiled and returned the gesture.

"When do you suppose the prince will go back to the palace?" Marron asked quietly.

Noir considered and shrugged. "Dunno. Probably shortly after waking."

"What about breakfast? We don't have any food except for a few rolls," Marron said worriedly.

Noir smiled. "Then shall we go get some breakfast?"

Marron smiled in return. "Yes, let's."

"And let's agree to not get caught this time," Noir added wryly.

"Agreed."

The girls slipped their boots and cloaks on, flipped the hoods over their cat ears, and slunk out. They were back in a half hour, with no troubles. The two boys were still sleeping soundly.

Loki started out of his sleep at the sound of movement. He sat up abruptly to see Noir and Marron roll to their feet after dropping neatly down their little tunnel. He realized he had finally fallen asleep after a few long hours of tossing and turning and wondering about Blanc. A quick glance around the room told him that Blanc had returned, and was only just now opening his eyes lazily and lifting his head from the pillow, his white hair in a frazzle. Loki smirked at the sight before looking back at the girls. "Good morning," he greeted them, swinging his legs off the cot and wincing at his sore back.

"Certainly took you two long enough to wake up," Noir commented. "Think fast." She tossed an apple at both boys simultaneously. She laughed as both missed catching their fruit, making grabs for them too late. Loki's apple landed on the blanket of the cot while Blanc's landed in his lap. "Well, your morning reflexes aren't anything special," she smirked. "We've also got cheese and bread," she added.

Marron held up a small sack to demonstrate. "We got enough for everyone," Marron added. She pulled out an apple, bread loaf, and hunk of cheese for herself before handing the sack to Noir, who distributed the rest of the food.

Loki eyed the meager food, wondering that the nekos could live off of this. He bit into the bread and grimaced. It was plain, with no flavoring or filling. He was used to cinnamon bread, or banana bread, or bread with nuts, or bread with glaze on top. This was… boring.

Noir had now lit the oil lamp so they didn't have to eat in the dark, and sat on Marron's cot again, eating her own breakfast. She watched the prince's expression with amusement as he made unimpressed faces every time he took a bite. "Problem, Prince Loki?" she asked smoothly.

Loki immediately wiped the expression of displeasure from his face and swallowed the bite of plain cheddar cheese. "No, there's no problem," he said hastily. "But… I was just thinking, you three should have my food. You don't have the chance to eat like I do, and I can always merely get food from the kitchens when I get back to the palace."

The nekos exchanged smirks. "He doesn't like cheap food," Marron murmured, feigning shock.

"I can't imagine why; it's not like he's always had better food at his disposal at all hours," Blanc said in mock thoughtfulness.

Noir suppressed a laugh. "Prince Loki, we'd be happy to have your breakfast. But you can just say you don't like it and prefer the finer things available back home."

Loki pressed his lips together. Being around the thieves made him feel guilty for having privilege. Not that he would dream of giving it up…. He just didn't like the knowledge that these three laughed at him for being so picky. He wrinkled his nose at the white neko as he gave him a haughty look, and then the prince tossed his half-eaten apple at his head.

Blanc, surprised, reached up to catch the flying fruit, but missed, and the apple hit him squarely in the chest.

The girls and Loki laughed, and Blanc threw the prince a dirty look as he picked up the half-eaten apple and tossed it at Noir, who caught it easily.

"We really need to work on your morning dexterity, Blanc," Noir observed cheekily, tossing the apple in one hand.

"No, we don't," Blanc muttered. "I'm just more tired than usual."

Loki's eyes brightened at that. "And why, pray tell, are you so tired? Why did you leave in the middle of the night?"

Blanc shot the prince a mutinous look as the girls gave their friend questioning looks. "No reason."

"You left in the middle of the night?" Marron asked in confusion.

"I just went out for a stroll to clear my head," Blanc said evasively. "After a certain someone irritated me all day yesterday..." He took this opportunity to throw a pointed look at Loki.

Loki narrowed his eyes at the white neko. He was lying, obviously. The girls seemed to be able to tell as well, but merely shrugged it off.

"Well…" Noir said slowly, brushing her hands off and putting the apple cores into a small bag. "What shall we do?"

"I say we send Lord of I-Need-Better-Food home," Blanc retorted.

Everyone threw him glares, but Blanc just shrugged and muttered something about needing more sleep.

"I think Blanc is right," Loki said slowly. "I should be getting back to the palace. My mother is bound to be getting worried as it is."

"Oh, yes, wouldn't want his mother to get too mad at him for not making it to bed on time," Blanc said snidely. He was promptly hit with the small bag with the apple cores as Noir tossed it at him as her way of scolding him. "Hey!"

"Right. Suppose we should go, then," the black neko said in a business-like tone, as if she hadn't just tossed a bag of rubbish at her friend. "Prince Loki, we can walk you at least part of the way." She glanced at her two fellow scoundrels. "Right?"

"Sure we can," Marron replied.

"You're bloody joking," Blanc groaned. "I'm staying to get some more sleep." Without another word, he flopped onto his cot and pulled his thin cotton blanket over his head.

"Well, that was unnecessarily rude," Noir commented. She beckoned to Loki and Marron, and they left the hideout, shielding their eyes from the bright sunlight and heading towards the center of the city.

Awkward civilities were exchanged as they walked, but nothing much more. The girls apologized for Blanc's behavior, and Loki merely brushed it off. They inquired after each other's sleep the previous night, and they each replied with a customary 'oh, I slept well enough.' It was a rather boring walk.

They stopped as they drew near to the Trade District.

"I've a feeling we shouldn't go into the Trade District," Noir said carefully. "Some certain merchants might recognize us. We really don't need to find ourselves in the stockades again."

Marron nodded in vigorous agreement.

Loki smiled slightly. "Then I suppose this is where we part?"

Nods.

"Well, then… perhaps I'll see you again sometime soon," Loki shrugged. "I enjoyed your company… though a certain friend of yours I could do without…"

Noir and Marron smiled apologetically.

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for helping spring me from prison last night," Marron said shyly.

"Yes, thank you, Prince Loki," Noir nodded in agreement.

"You're both welcome," Loki murmured, giving both girls a smile. He held out his hand for Marron's and she hesitantly gave it to him. He slipped her brown fingerless glove off and kissed her hand, and then turned to Noir. He smirked at her hopeful expression. She was evidently waiting for her turn to offer her hand to him. "Yes, Noir?" he asked mockingly.

Noir didn't say anything, but blushed and continued looking at him hopefully.

Loki grinned and held his hand out for hers. She readily gave it to him. But instead of lifting her hand to his lips, he pulled her closer and brushed his lips against her cheek ever-so-gently.

Noir froze, and she felt every drop of blood rush to her face in surprise and… not quite embarrassment, but something along those lines. Shock, perhaps… an excited, happy shock.

Loki drew away and let her hand go, and reveled in Noir's shocked face and scarlet cheeks. He smirked and took a step away, glancing between Marron and Noir. "Goodbye, then," he said nonchalantly, and turned, striding with a broad grin towards the palace once again.

Noir stared after him, lips parted slightly in an 'o' of surprise. It was a long moment before she could look away and meet Marron's eyes. She was surprised to see that Marron's face mirrored her own, though she wasn't blushing quite so badly.

"Noir…" Marron breathed. "Did he just…?"

Noir nodded numbly.

"…Is that… normal? Has he ever done that before?" Marron pressed.

Noir shook her head slowly. "He's only ever kissed my hand."

Marron stared at Noir, wide-eyed. "Noir… I don't like it. He's playing with you. Did you see the way he almost laughed at your expression when he kissed your cheek? He's just leading you on," Marron said urgently, a frown creasing her brow.

Noir frowned. "No… I didn't see."

"No, of course not, you were too busy seeing stars," Marron muttered. "Please… don't get too distracted by the prince. I don't think his attentions mean anything."

Noir frowned and glanced down, wondering if that was true. She knew the odds of Prince Loki having a genuine interest in her as a person were slim. She was a neko thief, and Prince Loki was… well, as the title suggested, a prince. But still, he had tracked her down when he thought she might have been arrested. And he had helped her when she was in need… more than once. Besides, if he wasn't interested in her, then why would he have done those things? It wasn't like he could be after anything else. He was a prince. She was a neko. If he had no interest in her, then he would have no problem with avoiding her. But he had sought her out. She could hope. It was all a girl could do, right?

Loki felt considerably happier than usual as he strode purposefully through the Trade District and towards the palace. His mind was on the neko—Noir. He kept thinking of Noir, and wondering what the bloody blazes was wrong with himself. But even as he berated himself for being foolish, he grinned at the memory of her shocked expression when he kissed her cheek. He decided he wouldn't mind doing it again. If he ever saw her again, anyways. And he found he was hoping he would.

His purposeful step faltered as he came into sight of the palace. The front gates that led from the city to the palace were in ruins… Servants, soldiers, and what appeared to be volunteers were cleaning up rubble and scrubbing away ashes from the cobblestones surrounding the gates. Shards of wood and twisted pieces of metal were strewn about. All the pedestrians gave the area a wide berth, looking nervous.

"Hey!" he called as he strode closer. A group of soldiers immediately stopped what they were doing and approached, saluting. "What's happened here?" he demanded.

"Your Highness, Prince Loki, there was a skirmish last night. The king and queen requested that, if we saw you, to tell you to report to the throne room immediately," a guard said with a curt nod.

Loki, confused, slowly nodded and began picking his way through the rubble that used to be the front gates. A few minutes later, he entered the throne room, where he saw his father, mother, and brother gathered and having a discussion.

"Loki!" his mother broke off immediately from the discussion and briskly walked to her younger son, wrapping him in an embrace. "Oh, we were worried that you may have gotten caught in the cross fire at some point…"

Loki extricated himself from his mother's arms. "Mother, I'm fine… what's happened?"

The Allfather and Thor looked at him from by the throne seriously.

"There was a revolt last night, in the very early hours of the morning," Thor said, his voice dark.

Loki blinked. "A revolt?"

Odin nodded. "Yes. It appears that a group of nekos have banded together and are demanding fair treatment through mob protests. Their first protest was last night. They refused to disband, and so guards were sent out to disperse them. It led to a great skirmish just outside the gates. There were no fatalities, thankfully, but there must be measures taken."

Loki frowned, taking in the information. A group of nekos, revolting and demanding equal treatment? "What measures must be taken? Will we be allowing nekos fair treatment? Talking to their leader?"

Thor sneered. "We can't be so diplomatic with such savage, barbaric creatures as nekos, brother. I suggested that we hunt down every last neko and imprison them if they come quietly, and if they don't, then we execute them. It will teach them a lesson, and get rid of half the thieves that plague our streets."

Loki stared at his brother, disgusted. There was no way that the king would agree to such an idea. "Father, that's not what will be done, is it? They are people. We have to be diplomatic about this. I'm sure they can be reasoned with. Have we found their leader? When shall we hear their demands?"

Odin frowned, looking between his two sons. "Neither of your ideas are correct. What I have decided to do is to send an ultimatum. Any neko within the city's boundaries can leave peacefully."

Loki's mouth dropped open. "You're simply demanding they leave the city?!"

"Peacefully. There will be nobody taking violent measures against them, and no restrictions. But they have a week to leave," Odin said simply.

"And if they don't leave?" Loki demanded. "Then what?"

"Then we shall quell the rebellion… if violence is the way to have that done? Then so be it."

Note from LoquaciousQuibbler: Okay, now, this chapter. I found I really like it. It's a bit longer than some of the others, but I hope that's okay, because a lot of stuff happened. First of all, the 'You're not sorry yet' line. That is something I use on a daily basis. For example: my sister says, "I ate the last granola bar… Sorry." Me: "You're not sorry yet. You'll be sorry when I pass out from lack of nutrients and die. Then you'll be sorry." Just thought I should share some of my daily humor with you. So… also…. Blanc. Serious mysterious, hmm? And a kissy-kiss on the cheek from Loki to Noir! XD *squee* And then a smegging revolt… and Odin's solution? "Let's kick all the nekos out, yeah?" Loki: "Nooooo!"

To Isa: This is where your suggestion of nekos being removed from the city comes in. I have been listening! ;) Also, your review on the last chapter made me laugh. "Get him!" Lol.

And the question came up from Verity Kindle: How old is Noir? My answer: …Well, since this is pre-Thor, and they are Asgardian, it's hard to really say. Oh, probably only about 1500. ;) Just kidding. Um… if they were human, Noir would be nineteen, I think, and Loki would be around twenty to twenty-one. Same as Blanc. Marron I picture around seventeen or eighteen. And Thor is probably twenty-two or twenty-three. So everyone is still a little immature and working on growing up. ;) Hope that answers that question… Figured everyone would probably want the answer to that question, so I decided to put it in the author's note. Tee hee.

I don't got nothing planned for after this… more suggestions, you guys, please? What will Loki do about the idea that nekos are rebelling? What will Noir, Marron, and Blanc do? What will be everyone's reaction to the ultimatum? ;P

Now, one more thing. You guys have been absolutely awesome with giving feedback. We got 8 reviews in the first 24 hours of the last chapter being posted! Absolutely amazing! And we have now also reached 1000 views on this story! It's really great… so I want your opinion on something. You know how earlier in this chapter, Noir suggested Blanc and Loki share a bed? Well, like Noir, I suddenly had all these fantastic images flashing through my head of what that would be like. Now… would anyone be interested in a one-shot spin-off of Loki and Blanc sharing a bed? I just have these great mental pictures of them shoving each other off the bed and smothering each other with a pillow, and Noir chucking her boots across the room at them and snapping that she's trying to sleep… Ha ha it sounds like so much fun. Would anyone like me to post that? If yes, give me an idea for a title. So far, my ideas are "Sleepless in Asgard" (a play on Sleepless in Seattle, the Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan movie) or "Catnap" or "Night of a Thousand Hissing Snakes" (referring to the sound of the boys hissing and whispering all night long) or "Asgardian Nights" (a play on Arabian Nights… I'm nerdy like that). Leave a review and tell me if I should write and post it. I mean, I'll be writing it anyway for my own entertainment, but if you wanna read it, tell me, and I'll post it.

Please favorite, follow, and review or PM me! :D