Y'all this is gonna be cliché AF.

The next morning Zaylee woke up, feeling much better, and looked behind her. Loki was fast asleep. The twelve year old poked Loki's ribs. Then his side. Then his hip. Then his stomach. Then his chest. And finally-

"I'm awake little one."

Zaylee laughed a little and got out of her bed.

"Someone's in a much better mood today," Loki smiled. Zaylee's laugh was so happy and contagious. "You had quite the scare last night."

"I know. I just don't remember most of it. I remember screaming louder than I thought possible and being scared out of my mind. I remember you calming me down and talking to Medusa. Then that's it. Everything else is blank," Zaylee said.

"Well, you aren't wrong."

"Good. I hate being wrong!" She laughed. Then she glanced at the clock. "6:40??? I'm gonna be late!!"
She rushed Loki out of the room and started to get dressed. Loki shrugged it off, deciding to go and see about the team.

When he arrived downstairs, he saw Steve standing in the kitchen, dressed and ready. Loki ran a finger through his messy hair and greeted him. "Hello Captain."

"Hey Loki," he said. "Claudia told us about Zaylee's night terror. Is she okay? I've had them, they're horrible."

"She's great, actually," Loki promised. "She was just fine this morning."

"That's good. She doesn't remember it."

"Yes, that's what she said," Loki said. He walked over to the cabinet and grabbed an apple, biting into it. He had just finished his apple when Zaylee came down the stairs. She was wearing a cute white button down under a gray hoodie with a pair of black jeans. She had a gray beanie on her head and it was absolutely adorable.

"Hey punk. You okay?" Steve asked. Zaylee smiled and nodded. "Ready for school?"

"Yeah. Oh, crap, lemme grab my book," she ran into the living room of the tower before coming back, waving a book called One Of Us Is Lying around. "Okay, I'm ready."

"Good. Go on and get in the car. I'll be out there in a second, I'm going to get my jacket," Steve ordered. She nodded and went to go to the car. When Steve walked out of the room she came back in.

"Hey Frozone."

"You're going to be late for school," he warned. She shrugged.

"Won't be the first. It'll be okay. I was just wondering if you're coming to my basketball game tonight? It's the first one of the season. Will you come?" She had the most hopeful look in her eyes that Loki couldn't say no to.

"Of course."

~

Loki went into the library, which he was surprised Stark invested in, and went to the fantasy section. Fantasy was always his favorite, and it always will be. The fantasy world reminded him of his mind. In his mind he had a happy ending, and in the fantasy world so does everyone else. Loki knew he would never have a happy ending, after everything he had done, but he would like to think he would.

Well, when he walked in he saw Claudia sitting on one of the couches, reading Alice in Wonderland. When he came in, she didn't seem to notice as she flipped the page without breaking her concentration.

This is a perfect time to prank her!!
Loki didn't do anything bad. No, nothing that could hurt her. Loki wouldn't dream of hurting Claudia. He simply snuck up behind her and scared her, causing her to screech and drop her book. It fell to the ground and Loki was pinned underneath a small body, which was red in the face with embarrassment.

"Loki!!"

Claudia's POV

I was deep into the book Alice in Wonderland, and wasn't paying attention to my surroundings. It was always quiet in the library and the doors were silent, so I didn't know that someone entered until...

"Boo!"

I screamed and dropped my book before instinctively pouncing on the intruder. We tumbled to the ground and I pinned him down. That was before I realized who it was and went completely red. "Loki!!"

"Yes pet?"

I should be mad at him for calling me that but I really couldn't. Wow, I've never really taken time to notice how perfect his hair is. It's silky and long and super dark but hot and cute in both ways. I didn't know I was staring until Loki sat up, sending me tumbling to the ground. He chuckled. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," I said. "That wasn't funny!! You nearly scared me to death!!"

"That's exactly why I did it," he smirked his amazing smirk and it made my heart flutter. You probably already know this, but I love Loki. Can't hide it. At least in my head I can't.

"Still not funny."

"I'm sorry," he apologized. Wait... He APOLOGIZED? To me? That's so... Un-Loki-like of him! He picked up my book and handed it to me. "This is a wonderful book."

"Yeah," I chuckled. "I love it. I've read it 10 times at least."

"I can't say the same," he said, starting over to the fantasy section. I followed him so that we could talk. "This library is nothing like the one on Asgard."

"This library is huge!!" I cried.

"Not compared to the one on Asgard, pet, I promise," he chuckled. "The one on Asgard has books from all over the nine realms... myths and reality. I've been alive a thousand years and I still haven't read all the books."

"Sounds amazing."

"It is," he sighed.

"You must really miss the place," I said, trailing my finger down the spine of Harry Potter: The Prisoner of Azkaban.

"I don't," he lied. He may be the god of lies but I see right through him. When he lies he bites the tip of his tongue. No one else seems to notice.

"Yeah," I said sarcastically. He turned to me.

"I really don't!"

"I understand. I promise," I replied. I'd have to let him pretend he's soulless for right now.

Loki sighed. "I'm sorry, again. I'm just used to hiding the fact that I really want to go home..."

He's opening up. Don't fuck this up, Claudia.

"It's okay to be homesick. I get homesick even though the people at my home hate me. I just miss the feeling of my bedroom, of backyard, of everything. I understand," I said, leading him back to the couch. I sat down and he sat next to me.

"I feel weak."

"You're not weak, Loki. You're the bravest guy I know. Sure, you messed up, but doesn't everyone? I have, I promise," I said, wrapping an arm around him. He leaned into me and I sighed. "Are you okay?"

"I am fine."

"Don't lie to me....." I held out the 'e' and poked him. He chuckled a little and looked up to me.

"I am truly okay," he whispered. I looked directly into his eyes. Such pretty eyes. He stared directly back into mine and started to get closer. "Are you okay?"

"Why do you ask?" I question, also leaning a little closer.

"You seem to have troubles... but you hide them for Zaylee's sake..." our lips were millimeters apart.

It was too much. I pressed my lips on his and he put his hands on my hips. I wrapped my arms around his neck as he pulled me closer. The kiss wasn't hungry or lustful. It was slow and soft, like he wanted to cherish this moment forever. I sure did.

Too bad we were broken apart by this: "What the hell??"

Bet ya can't guess who that was.