Fine

Author's Note: Thank you for commenting so much on the last part! Continue to do so! I absolutely LOVE reading them! Also, 2,000 reads already?! Thank you!!!!! x

You grab your bag from the trunk and start walking down a path. You're so zoned out, that you don't even wait for Loki. 

"Are we wandering aimlessly?" Loki catches up to you.

You listen to the sound of your steps on the gravel. For some reason, that was always soothing, "There's a villa up ahead. It's a bit secluded. My parents bought it when Tony and I were younger."

"Of course they did," he now walks in unison with you.

"What do you mean? Your parents could have had a house in...each of the 9 realms!" you snap back.

Loki turns to you, "You seem to know quite a bit about our lives."

You shrug, "Thor rambles and tells a lot of stories."

"Ah, that he does," Loki clears his throat. "May I ask you of something?"

You raise your eyebrows, "Even if I say no, I'm pretty sure you would ask me anyway."

A small smile escapes Loki before he turns more serious, "Why did you tense up when you saw the motor vehicle behind our car on the journey here?"

At this point, you've walked enough to where you're at the door to the house, "I...don't know what you're talking about." You try your best to pretend.

"Y/N...." Loki reaches for your elbow, but decides against it last second.

"It's nothing, ok? Just drop it!" you say way more frustrated than anticipated. You take the key from your pocket and put it into the door. After 3 or 4 tries, it still won't open. All you want is to be away from this conversation. Away from Loki playing investigator. He doesn't care. He's nosy. Looking for a weakness. But this damn door won't open! You shake the door knob in anger. Fuck. You give it one last hard shake, before your hand stills, gripping the doorknob. 

This time, Loki's hand has a mind of its own, and it places itself on top of yours. When you look down, a green light appears, encircling both of your hands.

When it fades, Loki quietly speaks, "Now try."

You slowly turn the key, and it now moves, opening the lock. 

Both of you have been standing there, staring forward, not even realizing that Loki's thumb has started rubbing the top of your hand in small circles.

When the door finally clicks, you're brought back into reality and that's when you feel Loki's hand, "Wh-what are you doing?" you bring your gaze down.

Loki frowns and drops his hand instantly, taking a step away from you, "My...mother, Frigga, used to do that as a way of calming me down."

You lightly push open the door and step inside. Distance is what you need right now, "I don't need to be 'calmed down', Loki. I'm fine."

Loki follows you in, "You keep saying that. Are you trying to convince me or yourself?" He closes and locks the door.

You lick your top lip and drop your bag forcefully onto the ground, "Why do you do that?!" 

After adding a bit of magic to lock the door as a layer of protection, Loki turns back to you, "Do what may I ask?"

Your jaw clenches, "You show a sign of being..." you pause. "Almost tolerable, and then you're back to...."

Loki takes a few more steps in, "At least I am not stubborn like you! You cannot even admit that you are NOT...."

"I do not have to tell or admit anything to you!" you cut him off.

The raise in your voice causes Loki's eyes to widen.

"The only people who need to know are Tony and Pepper," you take a breath, but then correct yourself. "The only people I WISH to know."

"So you are not as fine as you claim to be," Loki says just above a mumble.

"No," you match his volume, but include the same seethe. "I've mastered the front of being 'fine' though," you pick up your bag again. "Guest room is over there. See you in the morning."

Loki is left standing in the middle of the living room, before retiring to his given room as well.

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The next morning, you're making pancakes when your phone rings, the song 'Free Fallin' playing, which you already know is Tony.

"How was the trip to the villa?" you can hear the pen between Tony's teeth when he asks.

You keep cooking, "Fine." 

"Y/N...you know I hate when you use that word," Tony presses.

You choose not to respond, just press 'Brew' on the coffee machine.

"Right," now he sighs. "And Loki?"

Now it's your turn to sigh, "I may have yelled at him last night when we arrived."

"What did he do?" you already hear his aggravation building.

"What? No, nothing. It's...it was me, actually," you shake your head and place a fresh mug for Loki to use before taking a plate and walking to the island.

"You can fly back. I'll send out...."

"No!" you notice Loki enter out of the corner of your eye. "Just...no. It's fine. I'll call you later," you don't let Tony answer; you just hang-up. It's a terrible habit that you've both taken on over the years. "Morning."

Loki says nothing, and gets his coffee.

"Ok. Silent treatment," you take in a breath but continue eating. 

Loki makes zero eye contact, but does take 2 pancakes you left.

"You know, somehow this is worse than your constant talking," you have a sip of your coffee.

"And as for apologies, this is not the best I have heard," no smirk passes Loki's expression.

You exhale a laugh, "You're right."

It almost looks like Loki was going to fall off of his seat.

"I'm...sorry, Loki," you say with sincerity, and you do mean it. 

"Better. Now do it again," Loki says from behind his mug.

"You want me to apologize again?" you lift another mouthful of pancakes.

"No. But, do feel free to continue pointing out whenever I am right," now a small grin appears on Loki's face.

You roll your eyes. "You're an arrogant ass," you grab a muffin and head out onto the porch.

"Do not act as though you do not love every moment of it," Loki's grin only grows as he follows you outside.

"Ha! Change that to a DELUSIONAL, arrogant ass," you take a jump onto the railing.

"Obnoxious, insistent mortal," Loki leans against one of the wood beams.

You raise your cup and take another sip, which is followed by a few more seconds of silence between you, "Loki?"

"Hm?" He responds without taking his eyes off of the horizon.

"What I saw that day...what you went through...."

"I told you, I do not wish to discuss..." there's still anger in his voice, but Loki doesn't look at you.

"I know," you lift your leg up to cross it and lean so you can face Loki. "I'm not asking you to."

Loki squints in confusion as he turns to you as well.

"What I am choosing to not discuss...holds the same weight for me, as what I saw does for you," you look down at your now empty mug when you finish the sentence.

You do not see Loki's expression, but you notice his hands clench and unclench around his mug, "....alright."

The conversation ends there, and you both go your separate ways. You spend a lot of the day outside reading on a hammock, until your phone rings closer to dinner, with Tony's name flashing on the screen.