RED EYES
MEETING OLIVIA HAS TAUGHT LOKI A LOT OF THINGS ABOUT HIMSELF THAT HE DIDN’T KNOW BEFORE. For instance, he really likes the color green, and he finds it weirdly attractive to be outwitted by a beautiful woman.
The latest in this saga of new discoveries is that he worries a lot. He’s never really felt any sort of persistent concern for someone’s well-being before, but Olivia kind of makes him want to hover. It’s a weird feeling, and he’s not sure he likes it.
“And they toned down the more spicy meanings,” Olivia hums, “so in the case of the tuberose, it used to basically mean ‘nice body’, but they changed it to ‘you look lovely’. Personally, I think it’s a waste. They were really concerned with modesty in the 1800s, though, so…” she shrugs. Loki nods along.
“I think you’re right; a real shame, indeed. The French had the right idea,” he agrees. She huffs a short laugh, continuing to admire the flowers.
“I think if I had to pick a flower to give you…” she hums thoughtfully, instantly drawing Loki’s attention. “I’d go with gardenias.”
“Gardenias,” he repeats slowly, desperately trying to scrounge up any memory of what that means. She hums, giving no indication.
“A little simple, but they’re pretty, and not so generic,” she reasons. He deflates a little when he realizes he’s never going to get it on his own. He might as well give up.
He now has two choices: bite the bullet and ask, or give up and make himself content with not knowing. There’s an obvious correct answer here.
He keeps his mouth shut.
“Hey, actually; speaking of secrets, am I actually allowed to be here?” she inquires suddenly. He has no idea where that came from, but pauses anyways.
“Well, it’s not as if you’re banned,” he reasons. “Even as Odin, I have good reason to allow you here. You’re one of Thor’s new companions, and you were brought here to be healed in the soul forges.” He says ‘Thor’s new companions’ with an edge of bitterness, which Olivia does not miss.
“That’s a terrible excuse,” she points out, “I healed the day I got here. You know you can just say I’m being allowed to stay here so I can grieve my dead soulmate, right?” He looks at her in surprise.
“You would have me tell people that you’re my soulmate?” he blinks. She shoots him an amused, but bewildered expression.
“I am your soulmate,” she reminds him, with a small chuckle. “You say that like it’s a lie.” He shakes his head.
“No, that’s not— I mean, you would admit to it? Here, of all places? They don’t exactly like me much,” he points out. She shrugs, kneeling next to a cluster of candytuft.
“Well, I do like you,” she reminds him, “and frankly, I don’t really give a shit if whoever ‘they’ is likes me or not. I’m just here to see you.” She reaches out to gently shift the flowers, peering fondly. “And maybe also the garden,” she tacks on.
Loki watches her for a long minute as she pulls her hand away to make room for a bee, but doesn’t seem particularly startled by it. She completely misses the floored expression on his face, too absorbed in watching the little bee buzz around.
“You recall that I’m a frost giant,” he suddenly mentions, almost hoping she turns away from him in sudden disgust. She turns to shoot him a look.
“You recall that I think you’re fucking gorgeous, blue or otherwise,” she shoots back, almost challengingly. He’s hit with a sudden flash of irritation, and he lets an illusion of blue crawl over him as he pulls Olivia up to her feet.
Pulls, not wrenches— he’s just a little too gentle to call it violence.
“Can you say that to my face? This face?” he prods, glaring down at her in an act of intimidation. She raises her eyebrows, looking him straight in his red eyes.
“I can,” she confirms. “You’re gorgeous.” She leans up on her toes to peck his nose— an action which catches him completely off guard— and then brushes his hand off her arm to hold it with hers. “I’m sure that being a frost giant sucks a lot around here, but I can’t say that it makes me think less of you. I don’t really know much about any of this stuff. I just… think you’re pretty.”
She squeezes his hand once, and then walks off into the garden to look at the larkspur.
He watches her in silence for a while, just stewing in his thoughts.
***
“What do gardenias mean?” Loki suddenly asks, while they’re on their way back to her chambers. She glances at him, and a smile forms on her face.
“I was wondering when you’d ask,” she muses lightly. She runs a hand through her hair to rearrange her thoughts. “It means a few things, like purity and gentleness. In relationship to you specifically, though, I was more thinking about ‘secret love’ and also ‘joy’.”
For a moment, he just stares and blinks.
“You know,” she reasons, “cause we’re dating and also everyone thinks you’re dead. Can’t get more secret than that.” A wide grin forms on his face, and he suddenly swarms in front of her, taking her face in his hands.
“You are so infuriatingly charming,” he muses, leaning his forehead against hers.
She laughs softly, and he can feel the air that escapes her at the action. They stare at each other for a moment longer.
“Soooo,” Olivia mumbles, grinning widely, “are we kissing, or are you staring?” He chuckles, but shuts her up by pressing his lips to hers.
It’s a sweet kiss, but not a long one, and they both pull away soon enough.
“I hope that answers your question,” Loki muses quietly. She laughs.
“Yeah,” she agrees matter-of-factly. “Yeah, I think it might. Maybe another one to be sure, though.” He rolls his eyes, grinning.
“Maybe,” he agrees, leaning forward.
They are immediately interrupted by footsteps coming down the hall.
They move apart like they burnt each other, doing their best to look like they’re just casually milling around. Loki is in his normal guy disguise again, which is sad but safer.
“Okay,” Olivia muses with a small chuckle once the guard passes by, “let’s maybe not kiss in the middle of the hallway.”
“Well, I know a better place,” Loki offers, flashing her a mischievous smile. She rolls her eyes, but takes his offered arm.
“That’s awful, and you are so lucky that I already like you.”