Chapter 16: A Common Ground

"You have proven yourself well, my friend," Loki complimented, hearing a quiet 'thank you' from Kelsey. He pressed his back against the library doors, watching his friend wrap the wet towel around the back of her neck. He couldn't see her face, yet the tone in her words spoke volumes. "You don't believe me?"

"Not really," Kelsey grumbled, wiping the sweat from her forehead. "My technique was sloppy, especially that flip." She waved her hand dismissively, "I know it is a learning process, and it's just me being a perfectionist, but still..."

"Don't be so hard on yourself," Loki commanded. "You forget that you are mortal, not a god. Besides, all beginners must learn how to fall in order to rise." He stepped closer to her, who watched him from the corner of her eye. She debated whether to step away or allow him to close the distance. She originally wanted to return to her room to clean up and cool off before dinner, but Loki insisted the library was the coldest room in the kingdom. Hardly anybody reads here, which means less crowded body heat and odor to worry about other than their own. Kelsey reluctantly agreed and proceeded cautiously, still not forgetting what happened outside.

"Loki, I can't even do a cartwheel," she sat on the arm of the chaise. "The way you move is like you're dancing. It's art, and I'm not."

Loki smirked, "Perhaps."

Kelsey scoffed and rolled her eyes. Now it's my turn for him to roast.

"Kelsey, look at me."

The girl sighed and faced him, not much further apart.

"You will find your way," he assured her, "and it shall be a Kelsey."

The girl tilted her head and squinted at his choice of words. She didn't expect him to say that.

"It shall be a Kelsey?" she poorly imitated his accent.

"Do you know the meaning behind your name?"

Kelsey shrugged, "Yeah, it means island."

"That may be, but in English origin - it means ship's victory."

Kelsey blinked and averted her gaze in disbelief. She had never thought of being victorious in anything. She was more athletically inclined than intelligent. She had to see a speech specialist for early language delay. She had always thought her name to be un-unique, but now her perception has shifted drastically, all thanks to the god of mischief - the one everyone warned her to stray from. She could feel the walls taking a hit, only this time, she allowed them to crack for the time being.

"Huh..." she uttered, dousing the burn in her eyes by dabbing them with her washcloth, "that's interesting. I - um... I appreciate you saying that. That does make me feel... a little bit better."

"I may be called the god of mischief, though not everything I say is all lies."

"Only half-truths?" she challenged. Cool air swept across her arm, nearly startling her. Loki was now a foot away from her frame - face to face. They should keep a distance, not only because of their stink from staying outside too long.

"More than half-truths," he promised softly. "As of this moment, I speak the full truth."

How could he say that? He doesn't even know me. Kelsey breathed out through her nose and hummed, the corner of her lips curled.

Loki raised a brow as he challenged her, "Am I wrong?"

"No," she shook her head, but her sad smile remained. "I agree. All of us - we're all extraordinary in our own special way," she could almost hear her mother saying these things to her, suppressing the strong urge to roll her eyes. It was time to change the subject. Kelsey hopped off the chaise and approached a bookshelf full of thick and thin literature, not a patch of dust. Whoever was in charge of cleaning the shelves had done an excellent job.

"Do you have a preference?" she wondered.

"Not really. I read whatever I can get my hands on whenever I get bored, which is all the time."

"Have you ever read the books from my world?"

"Of course. I admit your realm has been blessed with talented writers like Willaim Churchill, Jane Austen, Edward St. Aubyn..." The list went on. Kelsey tried to keep up, but she struggled not to zone out. She didn't recognize any of those authors.

"...Nicholas Nickelby." Except one. Kelsey perked at the familiar title, recalling the movie and its actors starring in it.

"Charles Dickens," Kelsey matched his dazzling grin, whiter than hers.

"You read the novel?" he asked. The hope of having an intellectual conversation about Loki's interests had died. Even if Kelsey had seen the movie, it didn't mean it incorporated all the story's elements like The Shining. It was a great movie, but the author hated it. Who was Kelsey kidding? She was a lazy reader back at home. Most of the stories in her curriculum didn't pique her interest.

"Um... no," she reluctantly answered, clearly embarrassed. "But... it's on my list."

"I see..." Loki drawled, didn't sound convinced. Worse, he was trying to look her in the eye. He was the god of mischief, capable of telling lies and deciphering liars by their tells. He didn't believe her. Although, he was nice enough not to call her out on it; he merely observed.

"Okay," Kelsey quickly averted his gaze and faced the bookshelf - a welcome distraction. She pulled out a random book and went through the pages to see no pictures, only blurry cursive writing.

Loki noticed Kelsey was reading Hamlet, recalling a line he had memorized full-heartedly:

"Doubt the stars are fire. Doubt the sun doth move. Doubt truth to be a liar. But never doubt I love."

Shakespeare's words may seem beautiful to those who understand the meaning. Kelsey couldn't grasp most of his work by how it was worded. She was amazed that actors could recite Romeo and Juliet without stumbling through the tongue twisters or cringing at how ridiculous they sounded when reading it. The thought was nearly laughable. Nobody says the t-hs anymore: thy, thee, hath, doth.

"I honestly don't see the humor behind Hamlet's tragedy," he received her undivided attention again. Had she been laughing? She wasn't sure. Her mind couldn't help but wonder elsewhere. What Loki said about Hamlet stood out to her - a revelation.

"Hamlet is a person?"

What did she ask me? Loki was now taken aback, covering his parted mouth. Seeing his reaction to something so basic, Kelsey wanted to bash her head against the shelf for sounding ludicrous just now. She didn't recall the play in English class.

"You haven't read it?" Loki pressed, despite knowing the answer already. He struggled to refrain from judging her too harshly. Like him, she didn't take kindly to being called out or made fun of. She's still young and hadn't finished her education, which was another reason to cut her some slack.

"Um... N-No. Not yet, but thank you for the spoiler," Kelsey seethed through false pleasantries as she turned to put the book back on the shelf. Loki opened his mouth to apologize, only for Kelsey to interrupt. "Then again, don't all Willaim Shakesphere's stories end in a tragedy?"

"Not all of them. The playwright had written a few comedic scripts."

"Like what?" she pressed, not out of curiosity but to keep the conversation flowing. Loki did list a few in that category: A Midsummer Night's Dream, Comedy of Errors, and The Winter's Tale. He could've given her the complete list if not for the lost look on her face. She occasionally acknowledged him with a few hums and nods to ensure she listened, but she couldn't fool the god of mischief.

"Forgive me for asking, and please," he raised a cautious hand to assure her, "don't be offended. This is merely to satiate my curiosity."

"Shoot," Kelsey permitted with unease.

The god pressed his lips together, reluctant to ask a question he knew the answer to, "You are not a bibliophile, are you?"

Kelsey blinked, drawing her brows together. "Um... I am a Christian," she insisted, but her discomfort remained. "I do read my Bible some-"

"No. No. No," Loki shook his head and waved his hands, "what I meant was, do you love to read literature in your spare time?"

"Oh..." she finally grasped the meaning, reluctant to tell the truth. It could get awkward when two people realize they have little in common. "Um... Not much. I mean, I did love Harry Potter and Percy Jackson... when I watched the film adaptation. I don't mind reading adventure stories and mysteries - I really do love a good mystery and not those crappy love stories. Most of them are pretty toxic. Why people are on Team Twilight is beyond me. The only reason why I pretended to be interested is because my friends were hooked on it."

"Movie?" Loki wondered. What in Valhalla is this girl saying? He supposed that's how Kelsey felt about his love for reading; he, too, struggled to keep up with her preference.

"Yeah, most book novels, especially the most popular ones, earn their own movie adaption based on... Wait. You've never seen...?" Kelsey was about to ask, only to realize the stupidity of her question. "Right. You guys don't have a TV. My bad. Well..." How could she explain this? "A movie is - well, it's like watching a play... Asgard does offer stage performances here, right?

"Of course."

"Oh good! So it's like that, only we watch it on a screen," she waved her arms to show him the size and shape of it, but unsuccessfully.

"The actors perform behind a barrier?" he pinched his brows, not understanding the concept. "How is that better?"

"I'm sorry. No, it doesn't take place on stage. Many people film the actors' performances in many different scenes on video and then bind them together in one story. They have to retake a lot of scenes, of course, in case they make a mistake, unlike stage acting. After that, they edit it, add some music and stuff, and then project the movie onto a screen for us to see. Whether you want to watch it in your living room, throne room, outside, or even your bedroom - that's up to you. Now, if we were in a movie theater, that's different. We can't pause it if you need to go to the bathroom or refill your popcorn..." Kelsey thought she explained it well. However, one look at Loki's lost expression said it all.

"I-I'll have to show you one day." Or let someone else explain it better than me. Loki accepted her word that a movie could be better than a theater performance, but he doubted it. If he had to be honest, he would much rather read a novel. It's a shame that she wasn't a bookworm like him. No matter. There was still time to find their common ground.

Kelsey's sudden gasp captured Loki's attention.

"Kelsey, are you alright?" Loki demanded, instinctively placing a hand on her shoulder. He didn't see fear or pain in her face; instead, it lit up with happiness. Her teeth were like a string of white pearls inside a clam's mouth, not a touch of dirt or shift in sight.

Kelsey pulled a smaller book from the shelf, "I can't believe you guys have it!"

"Have what?" Loki asked.

Kelsey turned the book over, showing Loki the cover of a flying boy in tights and a pixie following him. The title was printed in faded shimmering gold: Peter Pan.

"My mom used to read this story to me every night when I was a kid."

"What is it about?" Loki asked.

Kelsey looked at him in shock, "You've never read the story?"

Loki laughed, "If I did, I wouldn't have asked you."

"Oh," Kelsey lowered her gaze back to the book with embarrassment.

"Perhaps we have time to read a chapter or two before dinner," Loki suggested, taking the book from her, "together, if you like."

"Really?" Kelsey smiled excitedly. Loki motioned them to sit on the chaise. He laughed as he watched Kelsey get herself comfortable. She pulled her knees against her chest and pressed her lips together to hold back her giddiness while waiting for the narration. For a split second, she almost looked like a child, not a teenager about to become a woman. He gazed at her legs, then her face, before sitting beside her - respecting the girl's space for only three inches apart.

Loki cleared his throat as he opened the book to read the first chapter.

"All children, except one, grow up..."

~000~000~000~

Izzy kicked Thor, Darcy, and Garrett out of the diner for causing a scene at the restaurant. No matter how entertaining they were, according to the customers. Garrett didn't miss Izzy's promise to inform his mother about his behavior later. Garrett expected it, dreading the hour to go home to prepare for the evening service.

"I never got to finish lunch, thanks to you!" Garrett pointed at Thor and Darcy accusingly.

"You only ate half a hamburger. You can't possibly be that hungry," Darcy argued.

"No, but I never got to finish my soda!"

Their conversation came to a brief halt when Garrett's phone started ringing. He pulled it out from his pocket, and his heart nearly stopped when he read the caller ID.

"It's Jane! She's calling me!" Garrett stated ecstatically. He thanked the Lord for softening Agent Coulson's heart and returning Jane's cell phone to her. Darcy wondered why Jane gained back phone privileges while Darcy couldn't listen to her playlist. If anything, the feds should worry about Garrett posting classified information online.

"Well? Stop gawking like an idiot and answer it already," Darcy snapped.

"What do I say?"

Darcy pushed the button on the phone and imitated Garrett's voice, "Hello?" Garrett shoved Darcy away, covering one ear to listen carefully to his sweet angel calling his name.

"Garrett?" Despite the static pitch from the poor phone tower, Jane's voice remained a siren song.

"Jane, hi. How you been?" Garrett greeted. "You doing okay?"

"Are you busy?" Jane asked directly. "Is Darcy around?"

"Uh..." He looked at Darcy, almost hesitant to answer. "No, ma'am, I'm not busy. Lewis and I just got done with lunch."

"Wait, you two had lunch together?" Jane questioned.

"Hard to believe, I know. Can't say she was pleasant company." Izzy's cooking put aside the frenemies' differences temporarily.

"Are you two talking about me?!" Darcy demanded.

"So what do you need?" Garrett addressed Jane, pushing Darcy away when she invaded his personal space to eavesdrop.

"Well, I'm supposed to pick up AJ from school, but I'm tied up right now." Garrett refrained from asking what the lady was doing that kept her occupied. "Could you two go get him for me?"

"Yes, ma'am. We'll get him right away. No problem."

Jane sighed with relief, "Thank you, Garrett. You're a lifesaver. Oh, one more thing. After you pick up AJ, could you find Thor?"

The mention of the crazy Viking's name made Garrett's blood boil. He had been hearing Thor-this and Thor-that. He's about sick of it. Correction, he's already sick of it.

"He is taking forever buying lunch. He should be at the diner, but I'm afraid he got sidetracked. Can you find him and tell him to come back here?"

"Sure," Garrett forced out, fighting to keep the smile on his face. "I'll tell him."

"Great. I'll see you guys soon. Bye."

Garrett didn't get to say goodbye because Jane had already hung up.

"What did Jane say?" Thor asked curiously.

"She wants us to pick up AJ and..." Garrett paused, considering his future words carefully.

"Yes?" the former god pressed. "What troubles you, Sir Garrett? Is she not well?"

"Nah, man. She's fine. Don't worry about it," Garrett reassured him, only for an idea to come to mind, "In fact, she wanted me to find you and tell you... not to hurry back."

Thor furrowed his brows in confusion, "But I didn't get her lunch."

"She said it's cool," Garrett insisted, dismissing the man's concern with a wave and patting the man's toned back. "Relax - take a load off. Explore the town far-far away from the lab." Far away from Jane. "Lewis and I are gonna get AJ. Why don't you come with us? I bet the kid would be glad to see you."

Thinking about his miniature self, Thor chuckled, "Yes, I am certain he would." He extended an arm, "Lead the way, Sir Garrett."

Garrett nodded and began the journey to school. His muscles tensed when he felt a presence invading his personal space again - her heated breath against his cheek. He turned and nearly jolted at Darcy's menacing stare inches from his. Thor was distracted by the passing cars and scenery to pay attention to his colleagues.

"Damn, girl, don't do that!" Garrett hissed. "You tryin' to put me in the hospital or something?"

"Garrett, your dad is a minister, right?" Darcy asked in an innocent tone.

"Yeah..." he shrugged, "so?"

"So, didn't he tell you that lying is against God's commandments?"

"Have you read a Bible?" he retorted. "Could've sworn stealing was mentioned in one of the commandments, too."

"You're deflecting, Brad," she teased in a sing-song tone in his ear. He jerked his head back to avoid smelling her onion breath. "When someone deflects, they get defensive, and when they get defensive..." her grin widened, almost matching the Joker's, "that means they're hiding something."

"I don't know what-"

"Spare me the line, Brad. Jane wanted Thor back at the lab, didn't she?"

Garrett shrugged, "I figured that Jane needed a break from the guy's insanity."

Darcy laughed in disbelief, "Please! We both know that's bullshit! You wanted to keep Thor away from Jane so they won't connect more. We both know that something's going on between the two of them."

Garrett frowned, thinking about Jane and Thor's relationship. The way she looked at him. How he kissed her hand like a storybook prince.

"How he explains magic stuff with his sexy voice." Garrett attempted to close his ears at Darcy's taunting words. He asked her to stop, but the girl couldn't care less. "How they bumped into one another and met each other's gaze... intimately."

"Zip it."

"How they made love in the RV last night."

"Do what?!" Garrett cried as his eyes stretched open enough to pop out of his sockets. Darcy giggled at Garrett's reaction.

"Just kidding, that didn't happen.. well," her eyes briefly averted at a possibility, her smug face remained in place, "not yet, that is."

"Stop it, Darcy. That's disgusting! They're not gonna date!"

"Who shall not date?" Thor questioned the two. Garrett's powerful words captured his curiosity.

"No one!" Garrett interjected hastily. "You don't know them, just school drama." Even though he had already graduated high school, Garrett silently warned Darcy to keep quiet with a menacing glare, "Right, Lewis?"

Darcy smirked with amusement, "Yeah, sure."

Thor seemed to have bought Darcy's reply as he resumed the pace.

Garrett leaned to Darcy's ear and hissed, "Not a word to Jane. You hear me? Not a word or el-"

"Or else, what?" she challenged. He didn't answer, which was enough for Darcy to smirk victoriously. "Don't worry, Brad. It's not me you should worry about; it's Jane. When she finds out that you're keeping Thor away from her, she'll kick your ass. And I'll prep a bag of popcorn and soda in time for the show."

Garrett huffed as all three followed the trail to Puente Antiguo Elementary School.

~000~000~000~

Some things never go as planned.

Two chapters enticed Loki to three more, speaking the villain's dialogue with fluidity and elegance as if he were that character.

"'To return to the ship,' Hook replied slowly through his teeth, 'and cook a large, rich cake of a jolly thickness with green sugar on it. There can be but one room below, for there is but one chimney. The silly moles had not the sense to see that they did not need a door apiece. That shows they have no mother. We will leave the cake on the shore of the Mermaids' Lagoon. These boys are always swimming about there, playing with the mermaids. They will find the cake, and they will gobble it up because, having no mother, they don't know how dangerous 'tis to eat rich damp cake.' He burst into laughter, not hollow laughter now, but honest laughter. 'Aha, they will die.'"

Snuggling underneath his cape, Kelsey hummed in satisfaction. It's official. Loki would make a great Captain Hook. She could almost picture him in red with curls and facial hair, not to mention the hook in his left hand.

My Captain Hook.

"Kelsey?" Loki checked, nudging her head that rested on his shoulder. "Are you asleep?

Kelsey moved her head side-to-side, indicating a no, "Mm-mm." It was hard to say whether it would be possible due to the temperature. His cape for a blanket or his body temperature didn't warm Kelsey as it should, shivering from Loki's freezing-point aura. Maybe it was her being dramatic and cold-natured, almost wishing she was standing outside again to feel the sun on her face. It almost didn't seem normal, which nearly frightened Kelsey into thinking for a second that he was Edward Cullen. The fireplace or the blanket might have been the miracle, or Kelsey had grown accustomed to the temperature, becoming numb and perhaps blue. She didn't bother to check on the latter as she strained her neck and blinked her curious eyes to meet his, "You're taking a break?"

"No," Loki assured her. "I could read for hours. I was concerned that my voice has lullabied you to sleep."

"Far from it," Kelsey disagreed, gazing at the pages again. "I love it when you're speaking Hook's dialogue. You know you could..." she paused, almost reluctant to speak her mind. Loki's encouragement was all she needed. "I was going to say; you could pull off the character well."

Loki raised a brow, "I could?"

"Yeah, now that I think about it..." Kelsey sat up to face her friend properly, keeping the cape wrapped around her shoulders. The man was curious and didn't protest as she raked her fingers down his silky, black-ink hair. Her touch was soothing. It could've put him to sleep if it wasn't for the alarming temperature. "If you grew your hair out a bit and slicked it back..." She lifted Loki's ends, picturing what it would be like with hair gel. "Yeah... maybe." Kelsey blinked in realization. What was she doing? She was out of line. Loki didn't need to grow his hair out. He was perfect.

"I'm sorry," Kelsey dropped the ends and scooted against the armrest. "I was out of line. That was stupid." She laughed nervously, but only Loki's tense facade silenced her. Did she offend him?

"What made you start comparing me to the story's villain?" Loki's eyes squinted in curiosity. If he was appalled by the comparison, his tone didn't show it.

"Okay, first of all. Hook is not a villain," Kelsey argued without thought. "Just because the boy's name is on the title doesn't automatically qualify him as the hero. Okay? That feud started when Peter Pan cut Hook's hand off and then fed it to a freakin' crocodile. Even my five-year-old self knew that was messed up. To be honest, I was rooting for Hook the whole time."

Loki frowned and gazed back at the page in consideration. How peculiar. Her words were flattering, yes, however... "It certainly doesn't change the fact that the author portrayed Hook as the villain," Loki pointed out. "He is a grown man and a pirate plotting to kill a child. Now I am not saying the boy is innocent, far from it, yet Hook is no better than he. Do you believe an eye for an eye, my dear?"

Kelsey bared her teeth and cringed at a gruesome thought, "Who is Hook supposed to go to? The police? Peter's mother? There is nobody on that island except a cult of lost boys, an Indian tribe, and a bunch of evil mermaids who drown people for fun! All of them love Peter, especially Tiger Lily. She loved him all because he rescued her from the pi... We didn't get to that part, did we?"

"No, although I appreciate the spoiler," Loki's mouth was smug as he threw the words back at her.

"Dang it," she facepalmed. "I'm sorry."

"That's quite all right," her friend dismissed. They're even now. If he had to be honest, Loki didn't care. He was more interested in their debate, "Still, you failed to answer my question."

Kelsey huffed in frustration, tucking the front pieces of her hair behind her ears. Why did Loki allow Kelsey to voice her worthless opinion only to interrogate her for details?

"I don't agree with it," she answered quietly. "I learned the hard way that violence is not the solution to every problem. Now, if we're looking at Hook's perceptive, it's kinda like he has no choice. The boy wasn't going to stop. He doesn't want to stop until the bad guy dies at the end - that's how it usually works."

Unfortunately, Loki allowed the girl to continue her rant in fascinating silence.

"When that happens... When time passes... It doesn't say, but I believe Peter will get bored. Then he must find someone else to torment, most likely another pirate or possibly one of his own. The cycle won't stop. Hook knew that, so he had to do what he had to do to survive Neverland."

"He could've just left, leave Neverland for good."

"Oh, sure. He could just ask Tinkerbell to sprinkle some pixie dust on his ship. Sounds simple, right? If only she weren't best friends with Peter Pan, the boy she had pledged her undying loyalty to."

"Right..." the trickster drawled. "I see your point."

"People failed to realize... villains were never born evil; they're made," Kelsey missed Loki's contorted face as he listened intently. Loki felt better, knowing Kelsey didn't compare him to Hook because of the superficial roles bestowed on them. The fact that she had gone out to defend a fictional villain with careful logic and compassion, without stumbling her words, was a breath of fresh air.

"If there comes a time when somebody draws a line," To think Kelsey couldn't get any deeper, she was diving in and dragging Loki down with her, "When it becomes you or them - life or death... you have to make a choice. A very painful choice."

"Would you do it?" he challenged.

"No," she rejected instantly, leaning against the armrest and taking the cape as her own. "I don't want to discuss that. I don't like it. I pray to God that I wouldn't have to - a part of me would prefer the alternative if I were trapped in that predict - predic-a-ment."

"Don't say that," he commanded like a king commanding his servant.

"I know. It's horrible. I don't want to think about it, either. The last thing I want is to hurt anybody." Of course, she doesn't. That was the last thing on Loki's mind when he woke up for his brother's coronation. "I admit," she raised her hands in surrender. "I do fight my brother a lot, only because he's a pain in the neck - you understand that. Right? Thor's your brother. I'm sure he has done stuff to make you tick."

"Yes." Unfortunately.

"But at the end of the day, I know that hitting him back wouldn't do any good. 'Cause I'll get screwed either way. After all, I'm bigger than he is. My daddy made sure I learned that whenever he's around... in crappy timing." Her muscles clenched at the last memory of Dad yelling and whipping her backside with the belt. "While AJ walks away scot-free because he's younger than me."

"That doesn't sound fair."

"No," she shook her head. However, the boredom in her tone explained that she was over it. She had grown accustomed to the injustice. "It really doesn't."

Finally, a common ground.

"Trust me. My brother has a natural born talent to dig under your skin and dig for gold," her finger tapped her nose, indicating the true meaning behind the latter.

Loki scrunched his face in disgust, "Ew."

"He sometimes wipes it on my shirt to piss me off. It's almost as if he made it his life mission to make me miserable. I can make a list of all the crappy stuff he's done to me, but I must warn you, it's extensive."

"I could say the same about my brother - Thor," Loki pressed his lips into a line. The mention of his name made his blood boil. "He is not a gold digger in the nose per se. He doesn't require a shovel or his mighty hammer to earn the people's respect, the birthright, the glory, the throne. They all talked about how mighty the great god of thunder is, but in reality, that was all a facade - an illusion," He growled harsher at every word that escaped his lips, and Kelsey couldn't help but notice his clenching fists. "They're all too blind to see it, even now. He does have a bad habit of casting out the weak to ensure his place on top. He reached too high into mistaking Father for another mewling quim."

Kelsey blinked and jerked her head back at Loki's questionable vocabulary. Before she could ask the meaning behind that term, he let out his own laugh. It was subtle, nearly sadistic. He didn't realize he was doing it, especially in front of someone who wasn't his mother.

The girl allowed a smile to cross her face while an idea played inside her mind. "You wanna trade?" she offered, earning a look from her friend.

"Trade for what?"

"I'm sure AJ could get along better with you than me. He thinks I'm Jaws, the scary killer shark. Roar," she posed like a monster by snarling and clawing her fingers, earning a half-hearted laugh from her friend.

"Why a shark?" he drew his brows together and folded his arms across his knees.

"Because I love to swim, unlike my family, and AJ watched Jaws on TV," she rolled her eyes at an afterthought, "even though he wasn't supposed to see a PG-13 movie yet. But does anybody care? No. It's fine because Mom has seen Halloween around AJ's age, while Dad has seen worse! My brother will not admit it, but he was too scared to sleep alone. Everyone knew it. I didn't have to say, 'I told you so' when Mom and Dad had to make room in their bed for a few months." Kelsey caught herself digressing, shifting her story back on course, "Anyway, eventually, AJ made it a game between us whenever we swam at the pool. AJ was the heroic sailor beating me with a pool noodle, while I was the deadly shark who could simply flip his float over."

"And you never gave the boy a fighting chance?"

Kelsey scoffed, "Absolutely not. The kid cheats too much." Loki stifled a laugh at that. "He does! He already got Dad wrapped around his finger to increase the odds, so why should I let him win?"

"I see... Hm..." Loki pursed his lips, weighing his options, "Have an elder brother who is selfish and conceited or a little one who likes to dig and cheat?"

"Did I forget to mention that he loves to prank people? One time, he squirted water on me while I was sleeping and made me think it was pee?" Another dreadful memory automatically came to mind. The pieces were coming together nicely. It was only a matter of time before Kelsey could retrieve the entire story.

"Ooh," her friend pursed his lips. "Since you put it that way... It does seem like a difficult choice, does it not?" However, his tone contradicted his words.

"Ah yes," Kelsey snickered, though played along, "Very difficult."

"If only it were possible."

"Nothing's impossible," Kelsey recited her brother's line, mocking his childish voice. "I'm sure your parents don't mind raising another boy, and you - AJ always wanted a brother. You two can get along just fine."

Loki narrowed his eyes at the girl for profound confirmation, "Really? You would honestly consider trading your brother for mine?" Her face was deadpanned. It almost made him believe she would commit to this arrangement in a heartbeat.

Almost.

Kelsey snorted, "No!" Her answer was rewarded with a breathy laugh; hers sounded like a witch's cackle. That laugh. How rare was it for someone else to witness that other than family? Did her family know she had a laugh that was so... wicked? No - too prejudiced. He believed it was the sound of freedom. The thought of being the only one to see that other side of her thrilled him. She was Gemini, alright. Sweet and poise on the outside, yet on the inside, Kelsey could potentially become the wild creature the boy claimed her to be, only it was trapped in a cage. Fortunately, Loki learned how to pick locks...

"AJ may be a pain in the ass," Kelsey finally calmed down from that high to speak clearly, "but having Thor for a brother could cast some pretty large shadows. It's bad enough that I'm socially awkward. I don't need him to make it harder for me to fit in... Would you?"

Loki shook his head, "I assume one look at your brother's adorable face, my parents and the entire kingdom would spoil him rotten, worse than Thor. I wouldn't be surprised if Odin picked the boy to be his successor over me."

"Why?" she asked quietly. "Doesn't your dad follow the seniority system?"

"To be honest-"

"You don't have to," she teased.

Loki grinned as she giggled playfully at the irony, "Right..." His face fell at the sight of his hands, flashing back to the night in Jotunheim when one turned blue like them. "The truth is... I'm not sure what my father would do. I hate to admit this out loud. I do hope you understand if you were caught in the same predicament with your brother-"

"No, no, I get it," Kelsey motioned him to continue. "I truly get it. Go on."

"Oh, how satisfying it was to watch my brother pay for his error of judgment. Meanwhile, everyone else was mourning for him - mourning - as if the god had died! And I have to pretend to feel sorry for him?! While I would never wish ill will on Thor, I could never-"

"I know. I know," she waved it off.

"He was recreating a war for us - a war that should have ended centuries ago. Accountability was never part of my brother's vocabulary. Instead, he became a liability. I will not apologize for saying this, but I am relieved he is gone. If only it had happened sooner. What matters is that he is learning his lesson now."

Kelsey opened her mouth to say something, but she hesitated. She didn't want a repeat of what happened. Loki noticed her indecisiveness, permitting Kelsey to speak her mind.

"I just have a question," his friend began.

"Which is?" Loki pressed.

"If your brother comes back..." she paused to structure her sentence carefully, "if your dad allows him to come back..."

"Yes?"

"If Thor comes back and is really sorry for all the stuff he has done - like really-really sorry. It takes more than words to make amends; I know that. But if he comes back, and he's really sorry and stops acting like a bully and becomes a decent brother, would you - would you forgive him?" Once again, she asked another stupid question. Loki didn't need time to consider this answer, regardless of whether it would be truthful or a lie.

"Absolutely-"

The doors opened, revealing Sif, Volstagg, and Fandral.

Loki clenched his jaw, holding back an annoyed groan as his friend politely greeted the group with a cheerful smile on her face.

"I figure we would find you two here," Sif stated. Everyone took note of her tone and attitude. It wasn't pleasant, especially after seeing the pair's hands on top of the chaise, their fingertips lightly brushing each other. Nobody else considered the significance because Loki reclined on one side while Kelsey was upright and distant on the other.

"I hope we're not interrupting anything," Fandral asked.

"Oh, no," Kelsey assured him, trying to shake off the snark in Sif's voice. She was mad; Kelsey could hear it. "Loki and I were just finishing a chapter. Nothing more," she said the last part more to Sif than the men, but it didn't change the woman's tune. Sif looked to be a jealous woman when she was anything but that.

Loki smirked at Sif, amused by her upset state. Seeing his face of mischief intensified Sif's demeanor. She had to protect Kelsey from him, but how?

"Where's Hogun?" Kelsey wondered, noticing one man unaccounted for.

"He's in the washroom," Volstagg replied. "We were hoping, Lady Kelsey, if you don't mind..."

"Mind what?" she pressed.

"If you would like to attend a feast in the village?" he asked excitedly.

"A feast?" Kelsey looked around for the grandfather clock, "is it that time to eat already?"

"Oh," Fandral snickered, patting his friend's belly, "it is never too early nor too late to satisfy Volstagg's appetite."

"That is true!" Volstagg wagged a finger with a grin.

Kelsey had grown amused at how much Volstagg looked forward to eating. He reminded her of Darcy a little bit. The intern loved food, and so did Kelsey. Who didn't like eating, especially sushi?

"Is the king going to be there?" she hesitantly asked.

"No," Fandral shook his head and pursed his lips. "Why?"

"Just curious," Kelsey pushed herself off the chaise, much to Loki's disappointment. "I guess I should clean up for supper then." The Warriors Two, mostly Volstagg, cheered happily as if they had just won a war. Was it the alcohol or the reindeer that made everyone giddy? Kelsey glanced through the extensive library doors, still having the same lost look regarding directions.

"Um... Could one of you show me the way back to my room?" she asked.

"I will walk you there," Loki offered, getting up on his feet.

"Actually," Sif cut in between Kelsey and Loki, "I would like to speak with Loki..." She looked at the two men over her shoulder, "alone."

Everyone knew where this conversation was headed from that hostile tone, but nobody dared object, not even Loki. His forced friendly smile faltered, knowing that speaking with Sif alone wouldn't be pleasant.

"Do you, men, mind escorting Kelsey back to her chambers?" Sif asked.

"Not at all, Sif," Fandral linked his arm with Kelsey, as did Volstagg. "This way, my lady."

Loki watched Kelsey leave the library with those sweaty pigs. He breathed out with relief to see Kelsey looking back at him. Her pouty lips and glistened eyes expressed concern for him. Maybe there was hope after all.

"I'll see y'all outside," Kelsey called to the opposing pair.

"You will," Loki promised.

Both gods allowed their true colors to shine as soon as Kelsey and the two warriors left. Loki smirked wickedly, while Sif narrowed her eyes at him intently and folded her arms over her chest.

"This is certainly a surprise," Loki circled Sif like a predatory toying with his prey. "So what do I owe this pleasure?"

Sif spun to follow him on sight, trusting Loki to attempt another possible haircut behind her back.

"Listen, Loki, I do not know your intentions with the girl, but I suggest you back off!"

Loki stopped before Sif, his smile intended to show innocence, "I do not know what you mean."

"You and I both know that is a lie," Sif stepped closer to Loki, gesturing at the couch behind them. "What were you doing with her?"

Loki shrugged, reclining on the chaise, "I was merely reading a book to her. Is that a crime?"

"It should be, for I saw more than just reading!" Sif retorted. "Do not tell me it was innocent."

"If I don't know better, Sif," His lips curled into a cocky smirk. "I say you don't appreciate how Kelsey treats me. So kind and gentle," Loki let out a wicked laugh at the familiar redundancy in that last sentence. "My dear, is this finally happening?"

Sif furrowed her brows at him, "What is finally happening?"

"My dear Lady Sif, are you envious?"

Sif scoffed and rolled her eyes, "Please."

"Please, what, love? Please, Loki," he pitched his voice, imitating her, "I am sorry for how I treated you. Oh, how foolish I was to judge you so harshly. Please, Loki, claim me as yours. Or how about 'Please, Loki, I beg you to make love to me right here and now on this chaise'?" He gestured at the seating cushion nearby.

Sif pressed her lips and closed her eyes, fighting the urge to vomit on the rug.

Loki half-heartedly smiled, casting the jokes aside. "Do not fret, dear Sif. What I feel for you was a lifetime ago, long before you made your feelings for my brother quite clear," Loki growled at the indicated word.

"I care about Thor... and Kelsey," Sif stepped closer. Her face was inches from his, baring her teeth in a snarl. "I advise you to stay away from the girl, or you will be sorry."

Loki made a face as if he was considering her threat. Sif felt her lips twitch, satisfied that she had put him in his place. The thought died when Loki burst into fits of laughter, making the woman groan and roll her eyes in annoyance.

"My dear, Lady Sif, be careful who you throw precious threats. I am a prince, soon to be king-"

"You will never be King of Asgard! Thor shall take the crown and have you kneel before him!"

Loki swallowed, clenching his jaw in anger. Sif was really on thin ice right now. Didn't Sif realize who she was talking to? Loki always liked an aggressive nature, but if someone were to push him over the edge, the results could be catastrophic.

Villains were never born; they're made.

"And where is he now? Pray tell. My father banished him, Sif - your dear friend cannot return home."

"Thor will find a way! He will come home and claim the throne as his."

"And I suppose you imagine him claiming you as his queen?"

Sif's mouth opened to speak, but no words came out. A burning lump clogged her throat, making it impossible to talk.

Loki's anger melted away into amusement.

"Ah, so that is what you desire, not just love for my brother but his power. Who knew you have such an appetite, my lady?" Loki bowed before her mockingly.

"That is not true!" Sif fought.

"Oh really? Has Thor ever held you - kissed you? Or perhaps, declared to you in a whisper that you mean more to me than anyone?" Loki challenged while replicating Thor's voice. Sif opened her mouth to argue again, defending a man who wasn't here to defend himself.

"Uh-uh," Loki wagged his finger in a scolding manner, yet his smug tone mocking, "before you utter another empty threat and insult, let me ease your mind back to reality. Your dreams are sweet, for that is what they are and nothing more. Thor is not a considerate lover. He would relieve his lust by many concubines, yes, except you. He would only look to you as his friend - unworthy of a second glance."

His painful words stabbed her spirit like a knife. Her eyes had betrayed her, feeling the burning battle to let them out.

"Thor is no one's knight in shining armor; that is a painted lie. I would keep that in mind if I were you, Sif. Heroes don't truly exist," he finished by baring his teeth and hissing the last sentence like a snake.

After all the years of battling monsters, Sif learned when to fight or retreat; the latter was a better option. She would rather die than spare the snake that satisfaction. The goddess quickly turned to the door, gripping the handle. She didn't leave, not without sparing a few parting words.

"Stay away from Kelsey," she advised quietly. "She is too good of a person to get hurt by a monster like you."

With that, she left the library, leaving Loki alone in deep thought

Loki thought he would feel better after that speech. He wanted to show this deluded woman that Thor could never love anyone except himself, but Loki realized by witnessing her tearful battle that he may have gone too far. She had never cried in his presence before. Seeing her in this state was...

Sentiment.

No.

Pathetic.

Why should he feel guilty for making Sif feel this way? She had done this to herself. She had wasted years chasing after a dream that could never come true.

Loki had been watching Thor for the past few days, taking notice of his latest conquest - a mortal woman. Worse, it was Kelsey's aunt. Loki had seen the way the two interacted. It may seem innocent, but he and her circle knew better. A piece of him pitied Jane Foster. Sooner or later, Thor would leave the woman heartbroken, just like many lovers before her and Sif.

How unfortunate.