whose_son_am_i | Meme-shenanigans and Continuations.

"And probably break you in the process." Which he didn't want, and had no reason, to do. "Much of this is the foundation to learning magic, period. It's about learning your own energy, and how to manipulate and shape energy to your will."

Another drink, and a thought occurred to him. Mostly he wondered why--and why did he care about it? It would be interesting though--she was interesting. "We don't have time now... That, and as fast as I heal I have no desire to be stabbed again so soon. But...I could teach you to use a knife as well. A dagger."

"I do appreciate you not breaking my brain." She does need it.

"I want to learn to fight." She perks up in a way that shows just how exciting that sounds. "No rush though, you're still healing."

"Think you could stand my returning for that purpose?" A lazy grin curled around his mouth. "I'll be getting lots of practice in hiding from the upstart sorcerer."

"I could stand to see you again." It's true, she finds him interesting and he's willing to teach her.

"Probably best to stay out of his way." She's not looking forward to when he realizes that she knows that Sorcerer Supreme.

"Oh I owe him for last time, certainly." A hint of peevishness in his voice. Upstart--even if Loki had also, in hindsight, been able to recognize the other's skill.

"Do you know anything of self-defense or fighting already?"

"A little bit. I've taken a few lessons for self-defense."

And she knows the locations to hit to maximize pain if needed.

"I thought it felt like dancing, practicing a fight."

"Then we'll start by assessing what you know. But another time." That lazy grin coiled into a smirk. "I'm certain I'd be fine, but I suspect my doctor will try to kill me if I get injured while teaching her to defend herself."

Move some furniture and they'd have enough room to do basics in her living room.

"I could try to kill you at any time, really spice things up around here." He's fun, she almost hates how fun he is.

"So you know where the wizard building is then?"

"I know it's interior. I could probably find it." Loki replied calmly. "Or simply ask Thor. No doubt once the other becomes aware that I *am* on Earth, there will be words. He'll have to be reassured that no, I am not actively a threat to Midgard. For now." A pause, and his voice turned dry. "I doubt it would do much to change his monitoring of me however."

She narrows her eyes, "for now?"

He lives here now, he might want to keep the planet intact.

"You're being monitored?" That could end with Stephen banging on her door if he realizes the company she is keeping.

Ah, there was that rise that he'd been looking for. "I have no plans to do anything untoward towards this planet or any of its cities. But I can't see the future, so who knows if that will ever change." Entirely blase about this, as it was simply how he operated. "Maybe the charm of this planet will convince me otherwise."

As for his being monitored. "Not yet. Else I doubt you'd have found me bleeding in an alley." There's a satisfied smirk on his face. "I've hidden myself from Heimdall's eyes, and he sees far more than Earth's Wizards have. Once it has become known I AM on Midgard though, and I doubt Thor will keep it much of a secret, I suspect then I'll have an eye kept on me."

It was inevitable that he would eventually get a rise out of her. She actually tosses a throw pillow at his face.

Ugh, she has to tell him, doesn't she?

"I know him, Stephen Strange. He was a doctor before a sorcerer."

The throw pillow is caught and he laughs.

Of course, that laughter fades a moment later. Blue-green eyes are narrowed once more, studying her. Assessing her, before Loki got to his feet again. Stalking over, and reaching out to hold her face steady, hand at her chin. Searching her eyes, quiet and intense.

No hint of the swirl of emotions he was feeling showed in his expression or eyes. Some thoughts were dark, others not so much. But she had become just that much more interesting to him.

When he did speak, it was low and focused. "If he's using you, then you've far more guile than I thought." He doubted it though--she'd been too open, too unguarded. And while he'd been fooled before by the Widow, that one was a professional spy. Christine was a doctor...

The touch catches her off guard but she makes no effort to fight it, nor does she try to looks elsewhere.

"If he's using me? Wouldn't I have better mental shields if I was here on his behalf?"

Loki has prodded at her mind, and she lets down her bubble.

"Go have a look around if you must."

If he were using her, Strange would likely keep his presence subtle. And while Loki found her interesting, he was still ruthless enough that he took her invitation. Keeping her gaze, and probing deeper--looking for potential hidden memories. Things she might not be aware of.

But not hurting her. Taking his time, and rummaging 'neatly'. With care to not disturb what he found more than necessary, and to put it all back as it had been. Even with that 'look'--he couldn't necessarily be wholly sure.

He wasn't a mind-reader proper, after all.

But the paranoia was lessened. Blinking slowly, and finally releasing her.

She can feel him in her mind, she the memories playing as he travels through them. It's disorienting but she's not scared.

It's a huge show of trust to not put up any resistance, to just allow him into her mind like this.

When he pulls his hand back she catches it and holds it for a moment.

"He's not here, it's just me."

His gaze flicks down to where she'd caught his hand, then back up to her. Gaze inscrutable, emotions playing in his eyes. Wariness, surprise, cautious hope, and more--all moving too quickly and too jumbled to be made sense of easily.

"...why do you care?" Loki asks softly. Why did it matter to her, that she needed to reassure him. Why did it matter to him that she was doing so.

"I trust you and I want you to trust me as well." He doesn't pull away from her like she half expected him to.

She feels conflicted by how much she cares, he's done horrible things but she wants to protect him.

"You don't know me." It's hissed out, almost accusatory. She TRUSTED him? Why? How? Perhaps she really was just a fool.

She quickly lets go of his hand with how angry he sounds.

"I know. And it's reckless for me to trust you, but you've given me no reason not to."

Maybe he deserves someone who is finally on his side.

He's quick to put more distance between them, watching her warily. Still a jumble of conflicting emotions, but at least he's not hostile. Doesn't want to be hostile, as he pulls his hand back almost like he'd been burned.

"...you've given me no reason to hurt you. If anything, you're far too nice and I am happily taking advantage of that without any guilt whatsoever." It's stated matter-of-factly. A few more seconds of quiet and watching her, before Loki relaxes some once more. "But I do enjoy our banter. It's been a while since I've been able to do so without fearing a knife in the back at any moment."

She could still knife him in the back...this could all still be a long con. He was used to those. But if the knife were coming, it wouldn't be now. It would be too obvious and expected.

"You're not really taking advantage if it's something I'm offering." She doesn't feel taken advantage of. She brought him to her home, she let him stay.

"I enjoy our banter as well. And I'd like to think I'd stab you in the front. More personal that way, you're worth it." There's a hint of a smile at that.

It takes a moment, before there's a hint of smirk. "Good. If you are going to kill me. Make it worth it and personal. Something story-worthy." He'd better be worth the effort, damnit. He was the God of Mischief, Loki of Asgard.

"I wouldn't want to dissapoint." She's glad to see that little bit of a smile.

"You're welcome to take advantage of my kindness for as long as you need to."

He'd lied again too--considering he had plans to repay her, it wasn't really taking advantage now was it? That thought finally occurred to him, and Loki shoved it away to deal with later.

Speaking of repayment...

That hint growing into a proper smirk was her only warning. "Walk to your bedroom." A stronger nudge and suggestion. How far down was her guard and how quickly could she get it back up?

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