Chapter 2
The woman looked at him like she'd been slapped.
"Oh-- Oh my God... I'm so sorry... I thought you were a dream, but you're not, are you?"
Her beautiful face was stricken with such grief, Loki felt he had to comfort her. After all, he had enjoyed being kissed and touched by her. He just hadn't wanted to take advantage of her. She clearly thought they knew each other.
"I'm not a dream, darling...I actually knocked on your door because I'm lost."
Loki felt ashamed of himself for a moment. It wasn't exactly manly to be unable to find one's way around, even on an unfamiliar planet. He should be able to navigate any terrain with ease and find shelter and food for his family should the need arise. He lowered his head and looked at his shoes.
"I'm so sorry, really. I- I've never been so embarrassed in my life. It's just, I've been having these dreams... and I thought--" she paused for a second, "God, now I sound even more ridiculous! Well, if you're not already afraid of me, I would be happy to help you find where you're going. You can come in. I won't attack you again," she sighed.
Loki took her hands and squeezed them. "Darling, I'm absolutely not afraid of you. And believe me, I actually didn't mind being greeted in that way. I just wanted to ask your name before it went any further," he winked.
She looked surprised but happy, and Loki smiled at her.
"Did you say you had been having dreams?"
She blushed, and Loki's knees felt weak. He certainly hadn't felt this way about the woman on the street who'd been trying to show her breasts to him. This woman was affecting him in ways he hadn't known were possible. She stared at the ground for a moment before answering, and he wondered if he'd overstepped his bounds. He started to apologize, but she suddenly looked back up at him.
"Yes...and I think...I think you've been visiting me. Does that sound too strange?"
Actually, it didn't sound strange at all. It sounded very possible. When he'd seen her garden, he'd known hers was the right house, but he had never expected he'd find such a lovely woman behind the front door. He reached up to touch her cheek.
"No, darling. It doesn't sound strange at all. To be honest, everything about me is a bit strange, so this is quite normal. What is your name, love?"
"Lara."
"How lovely. Lara, I'm Loki. It's such a pleasure to meet you."
Lara invited Loki inside, and as he'd stepped in her house he immediately felt at home. Her kitchen smelled of the most delicious bread, and her table was set with a bouquet of vibrant flowers. The small kitchen island had a smattering of pans and bowls filled with flour and something he suspected might be pizza dough, and his stomach rumbled once again.
"Are you hungry? I was just about to put some pizza in the oven. I'll never eat it all myself," she said with a hopeful expression on her face.
"Norns, yes. I'm starved."
Lara smiled excitedly, but tried to cover it as best she could. It seemed she was always alone when she wasn't at work, and when she was at work, she was surrounded by children. She spent her days as a nanny for a wealthy family in the city, and she loved her job, but coming home to an empty house was quite depressing sometimes. She wanted children of her own, but she'd almost given up on that dream.
"So Loki, where were you trying to go? I mean, if you don't mind my asking..."
Loki cocked his eyebrow up at her and smiled, and she blushed, realizing that she would have to know where he was trying to go if she was going to help.
"Well, I was at a friend's house- not a friend, really. More acquaintance. She was sick, so I went over to keep her company. When she started to feel better, I thought it best for me to go home. Unfortunately, I can't remember where home is. I told you... I'm a bit... abnormal myself."
Lara was intrigued to say the least, but something about his story sounded familiar.
"Wait, are you living with April?"
Loki's eyes widened, and he nodded his head vehemently.
"How did you know? Has she been looking for me?!"
Lara's heart dropped to her feet as soon as she saw Loki's face. There was something there. He had feelings for April; she knew. She wasn't sure how she knew, but it didn't feel good watching his face light up that way at the mention of April's name. She sighed.
"Um, yeah. I guess. She knows my employer, and she mentioned that her husband's brother was sorta...missing."
Loki started to laugh. "She said I was his brother?"
Lara wasn't sure why Loki was laughing so hard, but it was contagious. She started giggling as well, and soon they were both laughing uncontrollably. It felt good. After a few minutes, they both came to their senses and just sat staring at each other.
"I'm...not his brother. I'm-- well, Lara, I'm his clone."
Loki knew that telling Lara the truth was a huge risk, and he also knew that he was doing it for purely selfish reasons, but he absolutely could not let this woman go without finding out if there was a chance- some tiny hope that she might feel the same pull that he did. He certainly didn't want to start out by perpetuating a lie. He watched as her expressions changed from utter confusion to odd fascination. He found that he liked that look on her face.
"His clone? As in... his exact duplicate?"
Loki smirked. "Physically, yes. I'm not certain about the other stuff. You would have to ask him. He's the one who made me."
I'll have to send him a thank you card.
Lara's pizza was so delicious, Loki found himself silently begging her to offer him the last piece- which she did- and he took it with a smile. He wondered what else she could make, and whether she would be willing to allow him to cook for her once in a while. He loved cooking, especially when he was cooking for someone he cared for. As much as he tried to keep those types of thoughts at bay, they kept creeping up on him. He found himself watching her push her hair behind her ear or fuss with the sleeves on her shirt. She was just so lovely, he couldn't take his eyes off of her.
"-- does that sound alright?"
Loki realized with chagrin that he'd completely missed what she had asked because he'd been staring at her.
"I... um... yes..." he answered, having no idea what she'd just said.
"If you don't want to stay, you don't have to... I just thought maybe--? Since we were having such a nice time. I could make you some dessert."
Loki's eyes flew open wide. "No, of course I want to stay! And I think I should be the one to make dessert... After all, you made dinner!"
He grasped her hands without even thinking, and she smiled. "You can cook? I- I mean... you want to stay and... and make me some dessert?"
Loki didn't know if it was the expression on her face or the way she'd asked if he could cook, but he suddenly pulled her flush with his body and kissed her exactly as she'd done to him on the front steps. As her lips parted for him and she dug her nails into his back, he couldn't help the smile that spread across his face.
"Lara."