The silence drug on as the pair sat on the steps just outside the theater door, Loki leaning against the wall on the left, Sylvie leaning against the wall on the right, both looking anywhere except at each other. Of all things, Loki hadn't expected this from play rehearsal. To be ordered to go hang out with Sylvie, get to know each other. It was a golden opportunity to work on his plan, start getting her to fall for him. But here they were, alone, and it seemed his silver tongue had turned to lead.
He told himself it was simply because he hadn't figured out how best to achieve his goal with her.
The Sun was tilting towards the edge of the sky, though it was still bright as it streamed through the hall windows, causing the blonde highlights in her hair to stand out brighter than in the dull fluorescents of a classroom. Loki usually thought blonde dye jobs looked tacky, but the way the sunlight played on her hair made him understand the appeal. He supposed she was rather cute, though her personality had a feistiness that her sweet features didn't quite convey on first glance. Perhaps that's why she had the dainty gold nose ring, to show a bit of that bite on the outside.
Sylvie's eyes flicked over to him, and she scrunched her eyebrows. "What is it?"
"What?" Loki asked, feeling like he was coming out of some sort of daze.
"You're staring," she answered.
Loki shook his head slightly, scrunching his own eyebrows, "No, I'm not."
"Yes, you are," Sylvie insisted. "What is it? Do I have a booger or something?"
"Ew, no. I wasn't staring."
Sylvie just rolled her eyes, looking back out the window again. "Fine. Whatever. Aren't we supposed to be talking or something?"
Loki leaned his head back on the wall, trying to get more comfortable here. "Apparently so. What would you like to talk about?"
"I don't want to talk about anything with you," she snapped.
It was Loki's turn to roll his eyes. "What is your problem? So I accidentally splashed you with some water, get over it! You punched me and yet I'm the one trying to play nice! You're ridiculous."
"If I'm so ridiculous, why are you trying to talk to me?" she shot back.
Loki threw up his hands in frustration. "Because that's what Mr. Mobius told us to do!"
"So you just do everything he tells you to?" She demanded, glaring at him from across the stairs.
"Yes! He's the director, it's kind of his job to direct," Loki pointed out, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. To him, it kinda was.
"Yeah, well….fine," Sylvie huffed, crossing her arms and slumping further into her sitting position. "I guess I'm just moody today."
"Is-," Loki began, but Sylvie interrupted.
"If you're about to ask if it's my time of the month, you're getting punched again, I don't care if I get suspended.
Loki rolled his eyes. "I'm not a complete asshole. I was going to ask if there's something on your mind. You seem sorta...distracted, I guess."
Sylvie groaned and leaned her head against the wall, shutting her eyes. "Is it that obvious?"
"I mean, you somehow managed not to have chemistry with me, and have you seen me?" he teased.
Sylvie opened her eyes slightly to get a read on him, see his expression. When she realized it was a joke after all and he wasn't that much of an egotist, she actually laughed. "Oh please, you're clearly the problem. I could have chemistry with a brick wall," she teased back.
Loki really liked her laugh. "Of course, of course. What was I thinking?" he smiled, glancing down at the floor before looking back up at her. "Really though, what's up?"
Sylvie paused, debating, before sighing and sitting up straight to answer him. "I've been the new girl a lot, moved around a bunch, and usually it's fine. I can handle that. I know I'm not staying, so it doesn't matter. I just keep to myself until the next school. But now...well, I'm not moving anymore. I'm actually staying, and I'm making friends and stuff and I don't know how to handle that."
"If you've moved so much, how were you in so many plays before?" Loki asked.
Sylvie rolled her eyes. "Of all the things, that's what you catch? I lied. I've never been in a play before. Never even taken a drama class before. Happy?"
It was Loki's turn to pause before answering this time. "Then you're a real natural at it."
Her eyes narrowed. "Are you being sarcastic?"
"No, of course not. You're really good. I suspected you were lying about it, but then when I saw your audition it was...amazing. You're an amazing actress," he said sincerely.
"Well," Sylvie paused awkwardly, looking unsure, "thank you."
The pair sank into another awkward silence, each waiting for the other to break it. Each not sure what to say.
Until finally, looking down at the floor, Loki said, "I know what it's like to be alone." He waited for Sylvie to say something, but when she didn't he continued on. "Everyone's always seen me as Thor's little brother, and then if they even bothered to get to know more I'm just some asshole. It wasn't until I decided to audition for a play that I met Wanda and Vis."
"How do you handle it?" Sylvie asked.
"I don't know, really. I was an asshole to them and they were assholes right back, and eventually we all started laughing about it," he shrugged.
"Nat's been kinda the opposite of that. She was just nice to me for no reason, and now we're friends. It's weird," Sylvie sighed.
Loki raised an eyebrow at her. "How is that weird? That's how friendships are supposed to work."
"How am I supposed to know? I've never had one before!" Sylvie laughed. Which made Loki laugh, and they didn't stop laughing for a while. When they eventually did, Sylvie added, "I'm even thinking of asking someone out."
"You are?" Loki raised an eyebrow. He knew damn well it wasn't him. "Who?"
"One of Nat's friends. A cheerleader. Can you believe it? Me? Thinking of asking out a cheerleader," Sylvie shook her head like it was the most ridiculous idea.
Well that was disappointing. "Ah, so you're into women."
"A bit of both," Sylvie shrugged. "You?"
"I'm bi as well, actually," Loki said. "People don't really know it though." He hadn't come out to a new person in a long time, not since his father's reaction. The only people at school that knew were Thor, Wanda, Vis, and Mr. Mobius. And now Sylvie too. It had felt so natural coming out to her. With all the other people it had felt momentous in a way, even the ones he knew would be accepting. Hell, Wanda was bi too and he'd known that, but this had still felt different.
"Are you seeing anyone?" she asked casually.
Loki could tell it was friendly interest and not prodding for information. Honestly, the question made him laugh. "Do you really think anyone at this school would want to be seen with me?"
"Oh come on," Sylvie shook her head, "I heard Val made out with you. Even said you were a good kisser."
"Which you'll be finding out for yourself," he smirked, teasing her again. But then he switched back to a normal tone. "I've made out with a few people, sure. Taken a girl to a party or something, but it's never been serious."
"That's different than no one wanting to be seen with you," Sylvie pointed out.
"They don't want to be seen with me, just with Thor's brother. I guess I'm...cool crowd adjacent," he explained.
"If I didn't have Nat, I guess I could have used you to get close to Val," Sylvie joked, forgetting she hadn't told him who she was thinking of asking out.
He caught the detail. "You're into Val? She is a good kisser as well."
Sylvie blushed hard. "I didn't say that."
Loki couldn't help but grin. "Oh yes you did."
"Just...don't tell anyone," Sylvie groaned, putting her face in her hands.
Loki laughed, standing up. "Your secret is safe with me." He held out a hand to her, "Come on, we should head back in."
Sylvie took his hand, and he was not prepared for the fluttering feeling in his stomach at the touch.
"You know," Loki added, "there's a home game this Friday. Wanda, Vis, and I were thinking of going. Val will be there cheering, if you want to come?"
"I was thinking of going to see Nat cheer anyway, so yeah, that'd be great," Sylvie agreed, taking her hand out of his and heading back into the auditorium. Loki knew he was doomed.