Loki tugged at his too tight tie for what felt like the hundredth time of the night. Clutching the champagne flute tighter in his grip, he wondered anew why on earth he'd agreed to attend this miserable excuse of an art auction. Oh, that's right, Thor had pestered him into it.
"Come, Loki, it's for such a good cause, the children. You know, those little people who don't pay taxes yet."
Loki shook his head at the recollection of Thor's words and took a sip of the sparkling champagne. At least no one tried to approach him, where he stood on the edge of the activity. Not that anyone would have attempted such a feat, with that foreboding scowl plastered on his face.
"At least one of us is enjoying themselves." He muttered to himself, deciding to venture further into the museum to check out the exhibits. Regardless of the circumstances, He had to admit that this was an expansive museum with rather well-maintained exhibits. Spying a stairwell, he took the stairs two at a time, and froze on the top step, taking in a sharp breath. Incandescent. That was the only word that came to mind. Standing in the center of the central wing was a compelling statue of two lovers embracing. Approaching the work of art, He circled it slowly, taking in the artistry with awe in his eyes.
"Orpheus and Eurydice." Loki tensed.
"Pardon me?" He whirled around, searching for the stranger accompanying the voice.
"Orpheus and Eurydice." Stepping out of the shadows, you folded your arms and jutted your chin towards the statue. "It's depicting the parting of Orpheus and Eurydice." Coming back from his momentary shock, Loki turned his attention back to the statue and folded his arms.
"She hardly serves as a descent representation for Eurydice; however, it's a fairly decent work." He said thoughtfully, stepping closer to examine the workmanship. "I don't recognize the artist." He glanced at you briefly.
"It's actually an in housework." Crossing the floor you stood at his side, looking up admiringly at the work. "Actually, several of the pieces on this level are inhouse works."
" You seem to have a pretty good understanding of the innerworkings of this museum." Loki turned his attention to you now. "You work here?"
"Oh, good heavens no!" You covered a snort with a warm smile and covered your mouth. Chancing a glance at him, you flushed and looked at the floor. He wasn't certain why such an innocuous action should cause his heart to flutter, but it did. Something about that little snort, and the shy smile that accompanied it struck him. Reminded him of a sunny spring day, the kind that when the wind hits you just right, even if you were walking through the heart of the palace, you just might swear you could smell honeysuckle on the breeze. And that self-depreciating flush rising up your neck wasn't helping matters any.
"Maybe I'm an apparition sent to haunt the poor mortals foolish enough to linger in the wings." You whispered, a mischievous glint in your eyes. Loki found himself fighting back a smirk of his own.
"Ala Phantom of the Opera or perhaps a siren beckoning wayward soldiers to their demises?" He couldn't help but tease back, shifting a bit closer. He knew he shouldn't have, but he took personal delight in the deep scarlet hue that rushed to your cheeks, and the slight dilation of your pupils. Okay, maybe he was doing more than teasing. You wet your bottom lip and cleared your throat.
"I always fancied myself more of a Melpomene." Something inside of you recoiled at your momentary boldness.
"Muse of tragedy?" He raised a brow at that. "Morbid choice."
"You know your Greek mythos, Mister..."
"Loki." He said simply with a shrug. "I'm fairly well versed in the ins and outs of the expansive Greeks mythos."
"No last name?" You raised a brow and smirked. His lips twitched.
"None." Folding his arms he raised a brow. "You're not going to ask for my rank and serial number next, are you?"
"Hardly, Mr. No surname."
"I assure you, Loki will suffice." He sighed.
"You hiding from the masses below too, Loki?" You eyed him knowingly and took a sip from your own champagne flute.
"What gave it away?" He chuckled, folding his arms.
"Oh, a recluse can always sense when a member of the tribe is in the general vicinity."
He cracked a smile at that. Albeit a small one, but a genuine one, nonetheless. You liked it when he smiled, you decided. It looked nice on him.
He caught your eye, and your mouth went dry. Loki had the most intense eyes you'd ever seen. It was more than the rich cerulean hue of them, there was a depth to his eyes. Soul. Heat. A tangible electricity that was impossible to look away from.
Sir Isaac Newton had been wrong. Surely, in that moment it wasn't gravity keeping you rooted to that spot. In front of the depiction of Orpheus grasping Eurydice for all he was worth, vainly striving to keep her from being dragged back into the Underworld, it was the magnetic pull of this man's eyes rather than some flimsy theory of gravity keeping you from being dragged under.
Certainly, staring like this wasn't normal. Right? People didn't just... stare at each other, did they? They certainly didn't imagine how lovely those intelligent eyes be looking up at them from between their...
Right then, you honestly didn't care what the normal societal conventions were. You weren't certain what was drawing you to this man who was practically a stranger, maybe it was his posture, the surety with which he stood, the sheer breadth of him, the fact that he owned the room despite saying nothing, okay, so you had a pretty good idea of why you were drawn to him. Regardless of whether you were being drawn in by a healthy sense of hero worship or... something more, in that moment you knew that if there was a black hole with his name on it, you'd gladly jump through that event horizon.
He was just about to ask for your name, and maybe even your number when,
"LOKI!" Closing his eyes, Loki groaned internally. Trust Thor to ruin a moment. "I've been looking everywhere for you, who you talking to?" Thor jogged up the last few steps, pausing to admire the statue. Loki turned to reluctantly introduce you, but you were gone. "Talking to yourself again?" He teased, clapping him soundly on the back.
"Of course not, you imbecile." Loki grumbled, pulling away. "I was talking to a," Pausing, he looked around, straining to see where you could've possibly disappeared to. "Lady."
"A lady?" Thor glanced around.
"She's not here now." He muttered. Thor didn't miss the subtle note of disappointment in his voice. Hoping to distract him, he clapped him on the shoulder again.
"They're about to put Steven's piece up for auction."
"Well, I'd hate to miss witnessing no one bid on that monstrosity." Loki said soberly.
"That's the spirit!"Thor rolled his eyes playfully and wrapped an arm around his shoulders, guiding him towards the stairs. He noted Loki glancing back at the statue. "Maybe you'll see your mystery woman again."
"I doubt it." He grumbled.