INT. YOUR BEDROOM - MORNING
You lie in your bed and open your eyes. The sun is shining through the window.
You jump out of bed.
YOU
Oh my gosh, what time is it?
You hear a loud knock on the door. RAP RAP RAP.
The memories from last night flood back. Thor fighting Loki, the sneaking out, the almost getting caught.
HEAD MAID
Open up!
You panic and feel your hair. It's messy again. You look down. Your dress is back to being rags.
The Head Maid knocks again.
You swing open the door.
YOU
Yes, ma'am?
HEAD MAID
Why haven't you started working? Do you know what time it is?
YOU
I'm so sorry.
HEAD MAID
I don't want excuses. Get your supplies and head out!
You curtsy as the Head Maid leaves.
You leave the door open and turn to get your cleaning supplies.
On your way out, you try to fix your hair, but it's no use. You sigh. 'I almost wish my hair looked as nice as it did last night. Oh well.'
INT. LOKI'S BEDROOM - LATER
You knock on Loki's door.
Loki opens it.
LOKI
Come in.
You tiredly haul your supplies through the doorway.
YOU
Thanks.
Loki stares, and then opens his mouth to speak. But he shuts it again when you turn around to give him a disappointed look.
YOU
How many times do I have to tell you...
LOKI
I know, I'm too clean.
YOU
All I do is dust, but there's barely anything to dust. It's almost as if you dust your room. Why? Do you want me to have nothing to do?
Loki slowly steps closer to you.
LOKI
Aaryanna, you're ranting.
YOU
(sarcastically)
Oh, am I?
(yelling)
Maybe I just don't have enough work to do!
You drop your cleaning supplies on the floor. The sound echoes around the room.
Loki steps in to close the gap between you. He puts his hands on your shoulders and looks into your eyes.
LOKI
Relax. Would you like to sit down?
You start shaking in his grasp.
YOU
I don't have time to sit down.
Loki puts a hand behind your back and guides you over to the bed.
LOKI
Sit down.
You sit. Loki crosses the room and gathers your cleaning supplies. He puts them near the door, then comes back to the bed.
He sits beside you.
LOKI
Have you been to Thor's room yet?
YOU
(exasperated)
No.
Loki stares at you for a bit. You just stare across the room.
LOKI
You're clearly exhausted.
YOU
(sigh)
I'm fine.
LOKI
No, you're not.
(beat)
I'm sorry we snuck you out last night. It was a bad idea.
YOU
We didn't get caught.
LOKI
Still, it looks like you got no rest.
You look at him.
LOKI
I mean, you look fine... what I meant to say was, you-
You give him a small smile.
YOU
I know what you mean.
Loki puts a hand on your shoulder.
LOKI
You need a break.
You stand up from the bed.
YOU
I don't get days off.
Loki stands up.
LOKI
Well... you must get some time off during the day.
YOU
The evenings. Why?
Loki grabs the nearest book and hands it to you.
LOKI
Odin's library.
You look up at Loki in disbelief.
LOKI
I remember how you said you like reading.
YOU
(excited)
I do!
LOKI
This evening before dinner, maybe we could... read together?
You subconsciously hug the book Loki handed you.
YOU
I would love that.
Loki smiles.
LOKI
I'll take you after you're done cleaning Thor's room.
EXT. HALLWAY - LATER
You exit Thor's room and wipe the sweat off your face. You're still confused as to how he manages to mess up his room so easily.
You spot Loki speed walking down the hall towards you.
LOKI
Put the supplies in my room, quickly.
YOU
Why? The supply closet is just a few-
LOKI
-no time!
Loki gathers half your supplies and runs to his room.
You follow after him, putting the supplies down where Loki did.
LOKI
Let's go.
Loki darts down the hall.
YOU
Loki! Wait up!
You run to catch up to him, then speed walk beside him.
YOU
What's the rush?
LOKI
I accidentally beat Thor at axe throwing. But that wasn't the bad part.
Loki looks all around to make sure no one is nearby.
LOKI
I teased him about a love letter I found in his secret journal about Sif. And I left just before he could throw a table at me.
YOU
Wow.
LOKI
It gets worse.
(beat)
Sif found out.
You hunch over laughing.
LOKI
I need to get to the library without being seen.
YOU
Well, good luck with-
Thor rounds the corner.
THOR
Aaryanna! Have you seen Loki?
You stare at Thor, confused. Then it clicks. You look around. Loki is gone.
YOU
Um... no?
Thor walks straight past you.
THOR
If I pay back Loki in the same way... I bet he has a secret journal too!
Thor runs down the hall and out of sight.
Loki appears out of thin air next to you. He shyly looks down at the floor as you two walk together.
LOKI
(whispers)
He'll never find my journal.
You giggle.
LOKI
(defensively)
What? I bet you have one, too.
You stop laughing. Then you laugh again.
YOU
But you won't find mine either.
LOKI
Fair.
INT. LIBRARY - LATER
Loki opens the door to the library. You step inside.
You stare in amazement at the shelves. Every wall is filled with books.
There's even a cozy fireplace in the center back of the library with a comfy looking couch. It's a book lover's dream.
You wander along, touching the shelves in wonder.
YOU
This is amazing!
Loki smiles proudly.
LOKI
I knew you would like it.
You turn around to look at Loki.
YOU
What do you recommend?
He steps closer, excited.
LOKI
What's your favorite genre?
You shift a little, holding back a laugh.
YOU
(whisper)
Romance...
Loki leans in closer.
LOKI
What was that?
YOU
Romance.
Loki smiles mischievously.
LOKI
Well...
(gets quiet)
I can recommend some.
You laugh.
YOU
You seriously read romance?
Loki walks past you, not turning back.
LOKI
(quietly)
Who doesn't?
You follow him to a section in the corner of the library.
Loki waves his arm in front of a whole section of books. He looks more comfortable and confident now.
LOKI
Here we are. If you're looking for specifics, I can also recommend some.
YOU
What's your favorite?
Loki blushes and turns around, picking a book off the shelf.
He turns around with a green book with gold binding.
LOKI
This one. It's the best out there.
You take it and read the title.
YOU
Midnight Rose?
Loki takes the book out of your hands.
LOKI
I promise it's good.
(beat)
I'll pick out one for you, and you pick out one for me.
Loki places the book on the table near the comfy couch.
You turn to look at the shelves.
Loki walks back over.
LOKI
Do you have a favorite?
YOU
I do. My mother left me a book. Pride and Prejudice.
LOKI
I've never heard of that.
YOU
I haven't been able to find it anywhere here on Asgard.
LOKI
Do you think it's from another realm?
YOU
I have no idea.
LOKI
Do you have a copy?
YOU
Yes, it's in my room. It's really good. I can go get it if you want. Then we can trade books.
Loki smiles.
LOKI
That sounds great.
You run out of the library, speeding down the halls.
INT. LIBRARY - LATER
You burst into the door of the library, out of breath.
Loki is curled up on the couch in front of the fireplace, reading his favorite romance book. He turns to see you standing at the door.
LOKI
Did you get it?
You lift up the book.
Loki smiles and sits up straight.
You sit down on the opposite side of the couch.
Loki closes his book.
LOKI
Here you go.
He hands you his book, and you hand him your book. His fingers linger over yours. You look up into his eyes.
Loki leans in and whispers.
LOKI
Enjoy the book.
He relaxes back into his side of the couch, opening your book.
You sit back and open his.
... After a while of reading, you look up at Loki. His eyes are softly gazing across each page. You smile at him. He doesn't notice.
The echo of the door handle turning causes you both to look up.
Frigga walks in.
Loki sits up straight, closing the book around his finger so as to not lose his place.
You glance at Loki, terrified. You're not supposed to be here.
Loki looks at you, and then back to his mother.
FRIGGA
Loki, it's time for supper.
Loki slowly stands up.
LOKI
Yes, mother.
Frigga smiles at you as Loki walks over to her.
FRIGGA
Loki, would you like to make introductions?
Loki looks shocked.
LOKI
Um, Aaryanna, this is my mother, the Queen.
You bow your head.
LOKI
Mother, this is Aaryanna.
FRIGGA
It's lovely to meet you, Aaryanna.
YOU
Likewise.
You try to bow your head down even further.
Frigga turns and slips out the door.
LOKI
I'll try to come back later.
You smile at Loki.
Loki steps out through the doors.
INT. LIBRARY - LATER
You lie curled up in the corner of the couch, close to the fire, where Loki was sitting earlier.
Your eyes slowly close and then open again. You're almost halfway through his book, but it's been so long. When will he come back?
After a few minutes of trying to get through the same sentence, you bookmark the page with the ribbon connected to the book, and close it.
You pull a blanket from the other side of the couch over you and lie down, closing your eyes.
INT. LIBRARY - LATER
Loki creaks open the library door. He slips inside, carrying a tray covered by a cloth.
He sees you sleeping on the couch, and sets the tray down on the table.
He reaches for the book in your lap and takes it, putting it beside the tray.
He then sits down on the opposite side of the couch and opens the book you gave him earlier.
After a few minutes, he looks over at you.
He straightens his foot out to gently tap your foot. You don't budge.
He closes the book.
He stands up and kneels beside you, putting a hand over your ear.
LOKI
(whispers)
Aaryanna.
He looks at you as you continue to breathe softly, sleeping peacefully.
Loki pulls his hand away. He leans back and crosses his arms.
LOKI
I didn't come back just to watch you sleep.
(beat)
I want to spend time with you.
Loki sighs and uncovers the tray. It's dinner food. He takes a bread roll and bites into it, looking around the room.
He stands up and pulls a giant book off of a shelf, deliberately dropping it on the floor. The thud echoes around the room.
You gasp and sit upright, the blanket slipping off your shoulders and your hair a mess.
Loki smiles and walks back over to you. He sets the half eaten bread roll back on the tray, and sits beside you.
LOKI
Oh, sorry, did I wake you up?
YOU
What time is it?
LOKI
Much past dinner time, but it's not close to midnight yet.
You lean forward to grab some food.
YOU
Thanks, Loki.
LOKI
You're welcome. I assume it's better food than what they serve you every night.
You look over at him.
YOU
This is much better, thanks. I would've missed dinner anyways at this hour.
Loki smiles and puts his feet up on the couch, opening your book.
You go back to eating the food.
Loki looks up at you again.
LOKI
This book is rather enjoyable.
You giggle.
LOKI
Does it have a good ending?
YOU
Loki, I'm not going to spoil it for you.
Loki sits criss-cross and leans closer to you.
LOKI
Why not?
You lean back on the couch.
YOU
You've got to find out for yourself!
Loki smiles mischievously.
LOKI
Just tell me how it ends.
You cross your arms.
YOU
No. That would ruin the whole reading experience.
Loki closes the book.
LOKI
Fine. I'll tell you how that book ends if you don't tell me.
YOU
I don't want it spoiled!
LOKI
I know. Tell me, or else I will 'ruin your reading experience.'
You gawk at him.
YOU
You wouldn't do that.
LOKI
I might.
You look down at the food.
YOU
No. I don't believe you. And I'm not spoiling anything.
You look back at Loki. He's staring at you with a soft expression.
LOKI
Tell me more about yourself.
You look taken aback.
YOU
Well, what do you want to know?
LOKI
(breathlessly)
Everything.
You smile at him.
YOU
Well, I'll start from the beginning. I grew up with my parents, until I got a job here. My parents were always so loving, from what I can remember...
Loki leans in, listening closely, holding your book in his lap.
You both talk long into the night.