"Must we do this?"

Tasha asked with a sigh as she finished straightening her hair, thanking the Gods that her magic worked enough to copy some things from earth into her current reality. She had kept her distance from Loki for a few days, but they were forced together with every public occasion so she was once again becoming use to his company.

"If we want to blend in, then yes." Loki replied as he stepped out of the washroom with nothing but a towel around his waist. He glanced over at her, eyebrows raised slightly at the device in her hands. "What the hell is that?"

"It's called a hair straightener." Tasha replied simply as she set it down, running her fingers along the jewelry she had with her. She let out a sad sigh as she grabbed her favorite necklace and wrapped it around her neck. Tasha let out a groan when she couldn't get it latched properly.

"Here." Loki walked over to her, his cold fingers replacing hers as he swiftly latched the necklace before his turned his attention to her reflection in the mirror ahead of them.

"Mothers?" He asked, knowing the answer but he tried to be soft as he rested his hands on her shoulders.

"Mhmm." Tasha replied, looking back at him through the mirror.

"You look stunning, you know."

Tasha averted her gaze from his as she pulled away from his soft grasp, though she was unable to hide the slight shade of pink that rose to her cheeks. "You should get ready. We'll be late if you don't hurry up."

Loki didn't say anything as he used his magic to put clothes on himself. "It seems we're waiting on you, darling."

"Shut up." Tasha replied as she rolled her eyes. "Lets just get this over with."

•••

"I feel stupid in this dress." Tasha mumbled as she took a sip of wine from the fancy glass Loki handed to her. "And this stuff is disgusting."

"Do you enjoy complaining about every single thing?" Loki retorted as he wrapped his arm around her waist. "Besides, you look ravishing."

"If it bothers you, then hell to the yeah." Tasha replied with a cheeky smile, trying to ignore his hand which was caressing her waist. "All the girls here are hardly wearing anything! It's like a damn strip club."

"Strip club?"

"Brothel." Tasha sighed, shaking her head. "It's kind of like a brothel. Seriously, you'd think someone as old as you would know at least something about earth."

"I've never had a need to learn about Midgard." Loki replied with a small shrug. "And to answer your previous question, no, it does not bother me in the slightest." Loki replied honestly as he took her glass and set it down beside his own. "In fact, I find it quite adorable."

Tasha scoffed, "Whatever you say, darling."

"Why do you care what other women wear anyways?"

Tasha shrugged, not looking at him. "I just don't."

"You're jealous, aren't you?" Loki asked after a few moments of staring at her, a sly smirk on his face.

"No!" Tasha replied with a scoff, though she couldn't hide the slight blush that rose on her pale cheeks.

"You have no reason to be jealous, darling." Loki's hand moved from her mid waist down to her hip, holding her firmly to him. "You are the only one I have eyes for."

Tasha let out a sigh. "Well, lucky for you all the men here aren't my type so you have my undivided attention for the evening."

"Lucky me." Loki replied as he ducked down to kiss her cheek. "I hear the Grandmaster will be showing off his champion tonight."

"I have no interest in watching the fight. It's barbaric. I've had enough war for my tastes."

"Perhaps, but we both need to be there. We-"

"Need to keep up the act, I am well aware." Tasha sighed, listening to the banquet orchestra as it began to play a slow song. "Do you remember the last banquet we attended together?"

"Thor's coronation." Loki replied with a nod. "How could I forget?"

"It seems you forgotten many things," Tasha replied sadly but stood straight as she saw the Grandmaster enter the room. "Are you going to ask me to dance?"

"Will you accept?" Loki asked.

"You know I have no choice regardless."

"Still—"

"Just take my hand." Tasha replied as she pulled out of his arms enough to hold her hand out to him.

Loki slowly laced his fingers with hers before pulling her close, resting one hand on her waist. "Who would've thought Lady Tasha would ask me for a dance."

"Sadly, you're a pretty good dancer, if memory serves." Tasha rolled her eyes, but smiled slightly. "And maybe your company hasn't been the worst I've had in the last year."

"I believe that may be the closest thing to a compliment you've given me. I'm flattered." Loki smiled at her, holding onto her waist tighter. "I meant it, you know. You do look ravishing in that dress."

"I suppose you'd prefer me without it?" Tasha teased lightly as she let his hand go, instead resting both of her hands on his shoulders as they swayed.

"Possibly." Loki chuckled, spinning her around before pulling her back into his body.  "Careful, darling, people might think you actually enjoy my company."

"Must you be so melodramatic?" Tasha sighed as she glanced to the side. "Of course I enjoy your company, Loki — If it isn't blatantly obvious I've been trying not to."

"Why must you harm yourself in this way?" Loki asked as he held her close. "It's alright for you to be happy, Tasha."

"Is it?" She asked as she pulled away from him, indicating for him to walk with her away from the crowd of people. "Because whenever I let myself be happy everything goes to shit. I'm scared that if I let myself be happy for even one moment that the whole universe just going to come crashing down on me..."

"Your life will not always be in darkness, my love—"

"Please, don't call me that..." Tasha frowned as she turned away from him.

"Alright." Loki obliged, standing next to her. "Just— talk to me, Tasha. Let me know what's going on in that gorgeous head of yours."

This made Tasha smile slightly. "Honestly? I was just thinking about Earth and how much I miss it."

Loki smiled, interlocking his fingers with hers. "Tell me about it."

"About what?"

"Your time on Earth. I want to know everything I've missed."

Tasha hummed for a moment. "Well, for starters, I fell in love with certain movies on earth."

"Movies?"

"Think of them like plays, right? Only they are on a screen — like a hologram! There are all sorts of genres, horror, sci-fi, romance —"

"I assume you like romance?"

"Yes, but I do enjoy the others as well. But if we're talking romance there is a film on earth called the Princess Bride. It was one I watched a lot when I was with the Avengers and I even got Bucky to watch it. Oh, and Disney movies? They're wonderful."

Loki couldn't help but smile as he saw the joy on her face. "Perhaps we can watch some when we get back to our room."

Tasha turned to look at him, a surprised smile on her face. "You'd do that?"

"Of course I would." Loki smiled. "We do need to get to the tournament, though, darling."

•••

A/N: Hiii another chapter. Please please please comment your ideas for future chapters!!! I need the writing aid 😭😭