A BLUE DRESS
OLIVIA WAKES, ONCE AGAIN, IN A VERY SOFT BED. This time, it’s much more familiar to her, having spent the last 24+ hours in it. She sighs, sinking deeper into the mattress without particularly caring about the time.
“Finally,” Loki scoffs from across the room. Olivia closes her eyes for a second, praying for just 10 more minutes of peace. His footsteps coming across the room are an answer to her prayers; it’s just that the answer is no.
“Morning,” she greets wearily, giving up on relaxation in favor of sitting up and opening her eyes. He leans against one of the bedposts, the book in his hand snapping shut.
“I have good news,” he informs her, his lips quirking up a little. She leans forward a little, nodding and giving him her undivided attention.
“Great; let’s hear it,” she hums, watching him. His step falters, if only just slightly. He’s still not incredibly used to people paying attention to him when they don’t have to.
“Odin is in mourning,” he announces, unable to help the sly smirk that crosses over his face like a ghost, then vanishes again. “That means he’s shut in his room and no one will be searching for him for a while. Gives me plenty of time to make sure you enjoy your week and a half in Asgard.”
“That is good news,” she agrees, a light smile on her face. “So, I’m guessing you’ve made plans for us today?” He nods, leaning in a little subconsciously with the excitement to tell her the plan he made.
“Today,” he expresses, a light smile forming on his face, “you can finally try that banana bread. We’re going to the markets.” She smiles widely, perking up a little with her own excitement.
“Sounds fun,” she agrees, climbing out of bed. “I’ll get changed—,” she stops halfway to the closet, turning to him with furrowed brows. “Actually, how are you gonna go out if you’re dead and Odin’s in mourning?”
With a flash of green light, Loki turns into one of the guards, just like he did in Svartalfheim. Then, another flash, and he’s a regular guy wearing what she can only assume are regular clothes here.
“Please, darling,” he scoffs, chuckling, “did you really think I hadn’t planned for that?” She shrugs, conceding the point to him.
“You look nice,” she tells him as she enters the humongous closet, perusing the dresses— and they’re all dresses. Some of them come with cute little armor pieces that would probably be useless in an actual fight. “Is that someone else’s face or a new one?”
“A new one,” he replies easily, leaning on the bedpost idly as he flicks his book back open. “Do let me know if you need help with your clothing.” Olivia rolls her eyes as she pulls out a satisfactory dress.
“I know how to put on a dress,” she scoffs, cracking the door before she actually starts changing. Loki smirks as he flips the page on his book.
“I have no doubt,” he assures her, though it comes out sounding a little patronizing; like he’s indulging a defensive child.
The door to the closet swings open, and Olivia comes out, crossing her arms.
“You don’t give me enough credit. Maybe I don’t have a master’s in biochemistry or something stupid like that, but I’m not an idiot,” she claims, rolling her eyes. He turns, and his heart briefly stutters.
The dress she’s chosen is a simpler one, without armor, with a metal collar. The skirt flows down just past her ankles, enough to maybe brush the floor when she bends her knees to step. The dress looks normal enough until it arrives at her shoulders, at which point the off-shoulder sleeves look less like sleeves and more like a sewn-on silk scarf.
She looks gorgeous, in his not-so-humble opinion.
“You should have been born on Asgard,” he decides at once. “If you wore our clothes all the time…” he trails off, imagining the hordes that would fall at her feet.
Actually, maybe it’s for the best that she doesn’t do that.
“Thank you…?” she replies, although she hesitates, and it comes out more like a question. “I think that was a compliment, but I’m honestly not sure.” She checks herself in the large mirror on the wall, humming. “I don’t really have the hair for these dresses, but whatever. It’s good enough.”
For some reason, that last sentence offends him. Good enough? It’s a lot more than good enough!
“It was a compliment,” he clarifies instead of voicing that particular thought. “I’m almost tempted to keep you here.” She rolls her eyes, turning to raise her eyebrows at him.
“I don’t actually allow funny business until after at least the first date,” she informs him dryly. “Sorry to disappoint.” He holds out his arm to her with a small grin.
“Well, that isn’t so bad,” he reasons. “I’m sure I can wait a few more hours.” She chuckles, looping her arm with his and letting him lead her out the door of her temporary room.
“So this is a date?” she hums. He raises his eyebrows at her.
“No,” he replies sarcastically, “I’m just risking getting caught and having to give up my new throne because I thought it’d be funny— of course it’s a date.”
“Good,” she hums, ignoring his tone. “I was looking forward to one of those.”
He, in turn, ignores the sudden urge to hug her, settling for a small smile instead.
***
“Oh,” Olivia comments, her nose scrunching up as she makes a face of slight disgust, “yeah. I definitely don’t like banana bread.”
“You have awful taste,” Loki sighs. Olivia sticks her tongue out at him. He rolls his eyes, and she takes another bite without thinking.
“Mmm,” she complains, the face returning immediately. “Wow. No. Don’t know why I thought that was a good idea.” He shakes his head, taking her slice from her.
“If you don’t like it, then stop eating it,” he reminds her, in the most obvious tone he can manage. She nods.
“Good idea,” she agrees.