You still hadn't figured out what was going on with Loki. Something was definitely going on with him. That much you knew. He wasn't the type to just volunteer to help you move into your new apartment for no reason. But he seemed to just want to get to know you. You just didn't know why. The questions he was asking didn't help either.

Still, it was nice to have help and it was a pleasurable afternoon, so you didn't complain. You realized that while you were answering questions, you weren't really getting to know much about him. So you decided to have a little fun with him.

"So is it true that you gave birth to a horse?" You asked with a smirk, though you kept your voice as innocent as you could manage.

The question clearly caught Loki off guard as it made him splutter and nearly choke on the tea he was drinking. "Did I what now?" He demanded incredulously, giving you a look like he wanted to throttle you for even suggesting it. It wasn't the look like he wanted to stab you. That look was reserved for Thor. No, this look was more exasperated and that you knew true harm wasn't going to come from it. Good.

"According to the myths, you gave birth to Slepnir, the eight-legged horse that Odin rides," you explained, continuing to keep the innocent tone in your voice. You knew damn well that that particular myth was fake. You were just trying to get Loki talking. "I was curious if it was true?" You asked, though by then you couldn't help the slight laugh at the end of your question, giving your ruse away.

Loki's eyes narrowed, before he too laughed, the tension easing. "You little imp," he scolded. "No, it is not true, as you are well aware, it seems,"

You couldn't help laughing, which made Loki's expression soften, the light returning to his eyes in a way that you hadn't seen until that day from him. "Can I also assume that you also didn't father Fenris wolf, Jormungandr, or Hel?" You asked

Loki groaned and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Where on Midgard did you get that idea?"

"I told you, my mom teaches Norse mythology,"

Loki groaned again and summoned a dagger. "Pardon me a moment while I murder my idiot brother," he actually started for the door.

You grabbed his arm, though you knew you couldn't stop him if he actually wanted to commit fratricide. You were therefore surprised when he didn't fight you, but stopped and turned, looking down at you. You were so close, in each other's space, but it felt natural, like you belonged there. "What did the oaf do?" You asked without letting go of him, trying not to let it show that being that close to him affected you. It shouldn't have affected you. He was just a man.

A very attractive man.

God.

Whatever.

"He and his idiot friends came to Midgard centuries ago and told the stories that got turned into your mythology," Loki explained. "Except they were drunk when they did it, so they added some things apparently," he said with a growl

"It's too late to change it now," you told him reasonably. "Besides, there are embarrassing stories of Thor in those myths too, like when his hammer was stolen by the giants and he had to dress up as a bride to get it back,"

Loki laughed and his whole body relaxed, the dagger vanishing again as easily as he had summoned it. "Ah, now that one is true," Loki said with a Cheshire Cat grin and shifted to sit cross-legged in midair to tell the story. You watched him more than pay attention to the story itself. You knew the story already. It was one of your favorite myths, but Loki was more interesting.

The god of stories in his element storytelling was a sight to behold. He practically glowed with power as he spoke, bringing the story to life with his words, painting a picture with skill and magic.

You found yourself drawn to him, connected to him. You didn't know why, didn't understand it, but you felt it. You tried to tell yourself that it was just because he was the first person to be kind to you after all the torture you had faced with Hydra, but you knew that wasn't it. It was something deeper, something more.

You just had no idea what it was or why.

Why you found yourself wanting to be around him when you had just met him. Why you kept finding yourself gravitating toward him. Why you couldn't seem to be able to take your eyes off of him.

Why this god seemed to call to your very soul.