Finding Home

Loki POV

A year later.

I woke up in the morning and exited my room to find a few of the others up and eating breakfast. Over the past year I had grown close with them and thought of them as family. Perseus had learned to split his essence, but it still took some effort. Currently, the majority of them were on a mission.

Bianca slid a plate of pancakes over to me. "So," she said towards Perseus, "I think you need a day off."

He narrowed his eyes at her and shook his head. "There's work to be done," he said.

She rolled her eyes. "No," she said firmly. "You are taking the day off."

I stared at her in shock. Why would she speak to him in such a manner? He was her king and commander! I had noticed that the team did that a lot, but I still didn't understand it.

He huffed. "Very well. What do you propose I do during this time? Jamie is spending the day with Ananke, and I doubt you would let me train."

She smiled smugly. "Nope. You are going to spend the day with Loki. You can go into the city and find something to do there," she said.

I choked on the juice I was drinking and stared at her like she was insane. "I beg your pardon?"

She ignored me and stared him down.

Perseus sighed. "If Loki is okay with it. You will not blackmail, threaten, or otherwise coerce him into spending the day with me. If you do, I will make you do my paperwork for the next month."

Once he had said that, he left for his room.

I fixed a glare on Bianca. "You're sending me with him for the whole day?" I asked incredulously. "He's already upset! He's gonna kill me if he has to spend the whole day with me! How am I supposed to distract him from work?"

She grinned. "Loki, you underestimate the effect you have on him," she said. "Haven't you noticed how he gets all flustered when you smile at him? Or when you laugh? Or when he sees you all dressed up nice?"

I blushed. "What am I supposed to do?" I asked.

She winked at me. "Just think of it as your second date," she said.

"Second?"

"Well, yeah. He doesn't just give personal tours of the city to everyone. Standard procedure is a simple tour of the palace."

"What if you're wrong?" I asked, looking down and blushing.

Silena snorted and Michael rolled his eyes. This was the first sign that they were even listening to our conversation. "Please," Michael said, "Even Leo can tell, and he's the most oblivious out of us all, excluding Percy, of course."

"No," Silena cut in. "Percy knows how he feels. He just won't admit it, even to himself."

Before I could respond, Perseus came out of his room. I almost choked again when I saw him. He was dressed nicely in a white shirt with a red jacket, ripped black jeans, and converse high tops. He had changed his appearance. He now had black hair and red eyes.

"Have you decided, Loki?" he asked kindly.

I averted my gaze so he wouldn't catch me staring at him. "Yes, Sir," I responded, ignoring Bianca's eye roll. "I will join you. May I have a moment to get ready?"

He smiled kindly at me and nodded, sitting back down at the counter.

I quickly rushed to my room and dressed in what I hoped was an acceptable outfit for the occasion. I looked in the mirror as I pulled my hair back. I was dressed in a simple long-sleeved green shirt that Bianca had said matched my eyes and white ripped jeans. My wings were retracted into my back.