Angelic Kisses

Nevaeh was woken up by her mother gently kissing her on the cheek. 'Morning,' she yawned.

'Look who I brought!' Ariel barely finished the sentence when Nevaeh was attacked by a white fur ball which began licking her all over the face.

'Angel!'Nevaeh cried happily, 'I have missed you so much!' she said, quickly sitting up and stroking the little dog.

'So what were you two up-to last night? We saw that your light was still on when we returned home, and even when we went to sleep'Ariel asked.

'We were watching Star Wars,' said Nevaeh.

'Then I have to pay Sam 50 bucks because I bet you would be finishing building your Lego death star,' sighed her mother. Nevaeh made a mental note of finishing it later, she had completely forgotten about it, which she could've never thought of happening if she hadn't landed on another planet.

'When is your flight?' asked Nevaeh.

'We will leave at 8,' said Ariel, 'speaking of which, talk to me about Loki.'

Nevaeh eyed her mother with suspicion. 'What does Loki have to do with your flight?' she asked.

'Sweetie, if we are going to leave you home alone with an alien, then there are going to be a few questions. Isn't that implied?' Ariel asked politely.

'He is not an alien, mother!' Nevaeh said defensively.

'Does he not come from another planet? It's not even a parallel universe like in DC comics, but a whole another planet we have never heard of! Is that correct?' she asked.

'Uh-huh,' replied Nevaeh, stroking Angel lightly on the head.

'Well, then that makes him an alien,' Ariel said curtly.

'But that is pure over-simplification! He is not that – common!' Nevaeh said.

'Sweetie, aliens aren't common anywhere! In what universe is an alien common? And don't– you – dare – say Tatooine, or whatever!'Ariel warned.

'I just mean to say that aliens are too – generic. Loki is much more than that' she said, but quickly added, 'or less, I don't know!' after watching her mother's mockingly appreciative expression.

'Listen, he is just a friend. There is nothing to worry about. I trust him and so would you at some point. Now, please don't embarrass me by asking Loki weird questions over dinner before you leave! And ask dad to behave! He is already pre occupied with his work and we don't need him to go all "protective of my daughter" on Loki! He thinks I am normal!'Nevaeh finished, gasping for breath.

'You are normal, kitten. What you are not is – ordinary' Ariel said with a knowing look. Nevaeh said nothing. Her mother continued, 'you know, Loki is not from around here, and by the looks of it, you kind of like him, so why not tell him about you? About us?' her mother suggested.

Nevaeh stood up dramatically and gasped, her mouth forming a prominent O. 'Like him? Like him? Tell him about us? Are you kidding me?' she asked with disbelieving eyes.

Ariel stood up as well and was about to say something when Nevaeh raised a hand to stop her. 'This discussion is over.' She stormed into the bathroom. Ariel sighed. 'You need to meet Raphael today! And try to reach home in time for an early dinner before we leave!' There was no response. Ariel left the room knowing she wouldn't cross her parents on her first day back.

Loki heard it all. His room was big, although right next to Nevaeh's, and he was quietly listening to their discussion. It was a wild ride; Loki was pissed off when Ariel had called him an alien, proud when Nevaeh had defended him, intrigued when her mother predicted that Nevaeh liked him, mildly annoyed when Nevaeh had denied it, and utterly curious for what he needed to know about them, or at least what was in their basement.

After a while, Nevaeh went in Loki's room to find him sitting on the couch over-looking the ocean. Loki quickly got up as he saw Nevaeh carrying a white fur ball in her hands and bring it towards him.

'Look who is here!' she sang in a sweet voice.

'What fresh hell is this?' Loki mumbled under his breath

'This is Angel' she said, introducing them, and was about to place the dog in Loki's crossed arms when Loki quickly stepped aside, making an apologetic face.

'I'd rather not,' he said, glancing at the delicate canine which looked like a mini cloud.

'Why not? She won't bite! Don't be scared!' said Nevaeh.

'What? I am not scared!' Loki said honestly. For Valhalla's sake, he was a god who had fought mighty creatures on various planets! 'What if I – I break her?' he asked genuinely. Having never held such a delicate animal in his hands before, Loki was understandably anxious. In fact, he had never held many animals properly apart from a snake. He had transfigured into plenty, but not quite held many, especially a puppy.

'What? Don't be silly! She isn't a toy!'Nevaeh laughed. She gave Angel in Loki's hands, who held her a little far from himself.

'See? Aw! You are getting Angelic kisses! That means she likes you!' Nevaeh cooed as Angel tried to lick Loki's hand.

'Well, so do you,' Loki said, now cautiously placing her on the floor, after which she started pecking on Loki's feet. Nevaeh was looking at Loki with stunned silence, but Loki was busy frowning at the minuscule dog.

'In Asgard, you – you told me she looked exactly like a dragon!' said a bewildered Loki. Nevaeh laughed a little, but didn't say anything. Loki smiled at her. She smiled back. There was a short pause in their conversation wherein they just stared at Angel and everywhere but at each other.

'I have to run an errand today,' Loki informed her, simultaneously breaking the sudden silence.

'Oh? On Earth?' she asked, mildly surprised.

'Yes, I have been on Earth before, you know. It has just been a while,' he said.

'Right. But, where are you going? I ask because I don't want you to be late for the early dinner. My parents are leaving tonight,' she said.

'Yes, the dinner. I need more "suitable-for-earth" clothes, so—'

'Oh! I love shopping! We can go Chanel or – Oh! Prada would look good on you!' she said, cutting Loki off mid-sentence.

'Maybe next time, but today, I must go alone. In fact, didn't you have someone to meet? We can meet outside, after I am done, and then we can head back home together,' Loki said that before thinking it through, and wondered if he was providing her with a compromise for ditching shopping.

'Sure, we could do that!' Soon, she left the room to get ready for her own errands.

After Nevaeh's departure, Loki stretched out his senses once again, but this time he was looking for someone peculiar whom he needed to pay a visit. He quickly realised that his brother was states away from here. It was a good thing that Loki had the necessary means of travel with him all the time.

Loki brushed his palms on his clothes; they began changing in a rippling manner. Suddenly, he was wearing a crisp, white shirt, sporting a green tie, pants, along with a long, dark green travelling coat. He tucked a thin grey and black scarf around his neck and inside his coat. He had his hair the usual way, sleek and stretched back and he added a watch on his wrist for an unnecessary, yet good measure. Loki looked at himself in the long mirror in front of him and was quite pleased. He definitely looked like a normal, "human" boy, now, rather than an evil, mischievous king who seeks chaos.

Nevaeh was getting prepared for her own meetings. She went downstairs with the intention to head outside when she saw a gentleman sitting on the couch, sipping tea and having a discussion with her parents. The man was tall, had blue eyes and was sitting with his legs crossed.

'Hello, master,' she said, smiling at him. 'I was about to pay you a visit.'

'Sure you were, kiddo,' he replied sarcastically. Nevaeh rolled her eyes, taking a seat next to him. 'Asgard, huh? Your parents told me all about your little adventure—'he was saying when Nevaeh cut him off mid-sentence.

'Saving a boy and a dragon from danger doesn't count as "little" on any planet. Especially, since I flew on his back, and taught him Star Wars!' Nevaeh said indignantly, 'and – and by him – I meant Crystal, not Loki. Loki doesn't fly,' she finished.

'Wait, his name is Loki?' Raphael laughed. 'His parents must have a weird sense of worship. There is a trickster god named Loki in Norse mythology, but he is, what you kids might call, "the bad guy" of the myths,' Raphael said.

Nevaeh snorted in derision. 'I don't know why they named him Loki. I think it's a cute name. Also, why don't we leave petty superstitions out of this? We are all atheists in this household.'

'Big talk for an Atheist who just came home from an adventure on an eternal plane—'Raphael paused under her parents' firm look, 'I mean – where dragons reside and everything. Speaking of which, Mark is furious with you for taking that portal device, and he will be even more when he finds out that you met dragons and didn't even take pictures,' he added smilingly, completely changing the topic. The fact was that Samuel wasn't fond of myths. He believed in facts. Being a considerate friend of his, Raphael figured it was best not to say anything about mythology in order to avoid contradicting his solid beliefs. They talked about her ventures for a few more minutes, but Ariel had to pack up for their DC trip, and Samuel had to prepare dinner.

Nevaeh was sitting alone with Raphael, when he seized the opportunity to ask her a question that he couldn't have during her parents' presence; they believed on giving Nevaeh the freedom of with whom she discloses her personal family matters. He believed it was utterly unwise to do so. 'Does Loki know anything about your abilities? Or anything about us, for that matter?'

'I haven't told him yet. He doesn't know anything,' Nevaeh said.

Raphael was pleased. 'Good, keep it that way,' he said.

Nevaeh frowned. 'Why keep it that way? And why did you ask about Loki's name?' she asked, raising her eyebrows.

'Well, you just met this guy! It is wise not to trust him, and everybody doesn't need to know about us! You have already told a fair share of people! That comment about his name was because the only Loki I have heard about is the – the one mentioned in the myths,' he said, glancing once at Samuel who was fumbling in the kitchen over some steak knives and a rack of lamb.

'What myths? I have never heard the name "Loki" before meeting him!'

'Well, they were written centuries ago. I am not an expert on myths, but I do enjoy the occasional read. I know about this because Renee's parent's live in Norway and they are quite into this stuff.' Raphael admitted.

'Master, with all due respect, we don't believe in myths. Superheroes, sure, we do, but, not myths. Maybe you were right and Loki is named after the one mentioned in the myths. But, he is just a boy. Don't worry about those stories written centuries ago. If you want good reads, I can suggest a few which could actually be productive, you know.' she finished.

'Sure. Whatever you say, kiddo. You really are you father's daughter, through and through,' Raphael laughed, patting her on the back.

Soon, Raphael left, and Nevaeh was finally alone. Samuel came trotting near the couch wearing a flowery apron and handing out his mobile to her.

'What?' she asked, getting irritated, 'who is it?' Samuel gave her a knowing look as she took the phone.

'Hello?' Nevaeh said, although barely finishing the word when a shrill voice screamed at her through the phone.

'What the hell, Nev? Where the hell have you been? I have been trying to reach you since days! Your mother told me you went away – and then you came back – and now you are chilling on the couch and didn't even – bother to call me!' the voice finished in a high pitch.

'How do you know I am sitting on the couch?' Nevaeh asked laughingly, but continued. 'Joe, I am sorry. I have been preoccupied. The King and Queen are leaving for DC tonight. I was going to come over, you know!' she said.

'Sure, you were' said a grumpy voice. Nevaeh shooed Samuel away from the living room.

'Where are you right now?' she asked Joe.

'Upper East Side. I was –'Joe was interrupted by Nevaeh. 'Great. I need to shop. Meet me at Prada, be there in ten.' Nevaeh hung up the call to head outside. 'I am meeting Joe and we are going shopping. I hope I find something good for tonight,' she called out to her father, who waved her bye.

After thirty minutes minutes, Nevaeh found an annoyed Joe waiting outside Prada. Joe was a head shorter than Nevaeh, but she made up for it by wearing high heeled boots. Her brownish hair were elbow length with straight bangs covering most of her forehead. Nevaeh wondered why Joe didn't wait for her inside. She approached her with a questioning look, and as soon as she was close enough, her question was answered as she received a mighty punch from Joe.

'Ouch! What the duck?' Nevaeh complained, rubbing her shoulder.

'You didn't call me once, Nev, I had so much to tell you!' she complained. Nevaeh scoffed at the irony.

They were looking at shoes as Joe told her about yet another recent promising date she had with David, a potential boyfriend. 'That sounds so good! Hey, why don't you two join us for dinner tonight before my parents leave? It would be fun!' suggested Nevaeh, but Joe said that David wouldn't be able to make it.

When Nevaeh told Joe about her adventure, Joe was astonished and pleased at the same time. 'So you didn't even use your powers that much, and yet managed to do all that?' Joe gawped, looking at her through wide eyes, 'And you made two friends? Voluntarily?' she asked disbelievingly.

'I did! And I brought him home with me,' Nevaeh said.

Joe shrieked, making people stare at them. 'You – you brought home a dragon?' she asked faintly.

'No! Not Crystal! Loki!' Nevaeh laughed. Joe shrieked again, only this time, with happiness. 'Joe, we have a certain reputation—'Nevaeh was saying as she glanced about awkwardly, averting the gaze of frowning customers.

'Shut up! You brought that dreamy, alien guy home? Nev, that's huge!' she said excitedly, holding her by the hands and sitting a frowning Nevaeh down on a couch.

'Dude, he – he was dying! Something was going to attack us, the ground was rumbling – and I had to save him! That's the only reason he is here! And I never once said that he is dreamy,' Nevaeh said, although Joe was not buying it at all.

'Oh please! The last time you even spoke about a guy was when you were with Daniel, in which case it was mostly complaining and vengeance, and now you brought a guy home from another planet! This is – so – exciting' she cooed happily.

'Joe, I just saved him! That's it!' Nevaeh declared.

'Bullshit! Then why didn't he just go back to his home instead of coming with you?' Joe asked, 'It is plausible that he likes you and wants to spend more time with you, and that is why he is here. Nobody leaves their family away, just like that,' she clicked a finger dramatically.

'You are going to feel bad in a second. He – he doesn't have a family. He is an orphan,' Nevaeh said.

Joe gasped. 'That's terrible. But, Nev, what are the odds of an orphan-alien meeting you and is now staying with your family?' hushed Joe. Nevaeh looked at her in annoyance. 'Is that a rhetorical question or would you like me to do the math for you?'

'Do your parents' know?' asked Joe.

'No. I haven't told them yet.'

'Huh. You know, David can't make it tonight, but I am already starving! Let's go to your place after we are done!' she said winking at Nevaeh, who knew she had ulterior motives that had nothing to do with her father's succulent lamb racks.