A Whole Bunch of Loki's

In Your Own Time

It had been a while since he'd taken on this guise and it almost felt unnatural now, but if it gave Loki the chance to get close to the visiting prince then he was going to take it.

Stopping outside the library, she took a deep breath and closed her eyes to steady her nerves before opening the door and stepping inside.

"Oh, good afternoon, Loki," the eldest of the librarians smiled, "you're looking particularly beautiful today."

"Thank you," she smiled, the black lipstick accentuating her white teeth, "is the visiting prince here?"

"Oh yes," she replied with a nod and a slightly flustered sigh, "he is sat in the study room."

"Excellent, thank you."

Loki dipped her head politely and then made her way towards the back of the hall, where a separate room had been made for anyone who needed further solitude while studying or for tutoring sessions.

Stepping up to the dark wood door, she gave a gentle knock and called out who it was then waited for an invitation to enter before slowly opening the door and going inside, closing the door behind himself.

"Afternoon, prince."

The visiting prince looked up from the book he was taking notes from and smiled.

"Afternoon prince...ss?" He drawled out questioningly, his eyes roaming over Loki's figure with a hint of confusion.

"Prince is fine," Loki waved her hand dismissively, "those kinds of technicalities don't matter."

"Of course not," he nodded slowly, "um, please, sit down."

Loki smiled and pulled out the chair which allowed her to sit closest to the prince.

"Studying?"

"Yes," he sighed, "I may be away from home, but father says that I need to keep up my studies."

"Is it anything interesting?"

"Not particularly, todays lessons are military and war tactics."

"Oh, I don't miss those days," Loki laughed, "though perhaps you are due for a break soon?"

"I've only been here for ten minutes," he laughed in returning, smiling at her in a way that made Loki's heart skip a beat.

"Fine, then I'll reword it, how would you like to skive and spend time with me?"

The visiting prince's smile faded a little and he shook his head.

"I'm sorry, I really must get this studying in."

Loki raised an eyebrow, noticing how the visiting prince's eyes would flicker back and forth to the door as he shifted in his seat.

A dread filled realization came over her and she leaned back, crossing her arms under her bust.

"Are you waiting for someone?"

"What? No, not at all."

"Really?" She scoffed, rolling her eyes as anger surged in her chest, "because I feel as if I'm imposing, perhaps you're waiting for one of the librarians."

The prince shook his head, his confused frown returning.

"I'm not sure I follow."

"Don't play dumb with me, everyone knows of your reputation."

Loki's hackles were raised as she glared at him, a strange mixture of hurt and rejection filling her up and making her mouth run faster than her brain.