"friends"

Loki walked through the corridors shell shocked. Her sister had died... this poor mortal... she didn't have anyone. She was alone. She didn't deserve this.... she.. deserved happiness.

'Professor! " a voice stopped his train of thought. He turned to find Alexis running toward him. She smiled up at him.

"Ready for lunch?" She asked. He blinked. She was smiling. She was so strong.

"Yes." He said and she lead him out of the college. They walked to the restaurant. She ordered a sandwich for them both. He was lost in thoughts.

"Penny for your thoughts?" She asked looking at him.

"I uh....I'm fine" he says. She looks confused.

"Ok.. " she says. He looks up at her. She was a simple girl. It didn't take much to make her smile. So that's what he would do... make her smile.

"I have a brother you know..." Loki starts rather cheerfully. She looks at him.

"Oh?" She asks immediately curious.

"Yes. He is extremely dumb." Loki says. She chuckles.

'What's his name?" She asks.

"Thor" Loki says. She narrows her eyes.

" Loki... and Thor. Wow. Your parents were creative"she chuckles. He smiles and continues to tell her about his funny experiences with Thor. In a span of few minutes she was holding her stomach and laughing

"Oh gosh.. I have not laughed like that in years" she says wiping a tear away. He chuckles. Atleast she was happier.

"Time for college" he reminds. She nods with a broad smile.

"Thank you professor. I.. I had fun." She admits. He nods while his cheeks turn a light shade of pink. She walks away and he forces himself to not look at her as she did so. Nope. She was a friend. That's it. Friend.

Loki walked out of the restaurant with the remainder of a smile still on his face.

"Was that the mortal bother?" A voice asks. Loki sighs and turns to find Thor standing there. He dramatically rolls his eyes.

"Why are you here?" Loki snaps.

"Father told me to check on you. And I saw you conversing with that maiden. You were telling her something hilarious I presume?" He asks with a smile. Loki's lip twitches as he recalls his stories being about Thors intelligence... or lack thereof.

"ust some childhood stories." Loki says. Thor smiles.

"You have always hated talking about our childhood" Thor says as they start to walk.

"She has had a hard life... I'm just trying to make her smile' Loki admits not knowing why he was telling all this to Thor!

"That is very thoughtful of you brother. Truly your love is great" Thor says solemnly. Loki chokes on air.

"Lo.. no.. not love. She is merely a friend." Loki says firmly. Thor looks confused.

"Have you met her more than once on such.. dates?" He asks.

"It's isn't a date.. and yes" Loki says turning a dark shade of red.

"Do you know much about her past?' Thor asks.

"Some is still a mystery but... yes" Loki says warily.

"I saw you staring at her as she walked away. You find her attractive." Thor states. Loki's blush intensifies.

"no.. I.. well.. she is pretty. That isn't debatable" he says looking at the ground as he walked.

" then it is more than friendship." Thor says equally firmly.

" No its not! " Loki exclaims.

"Then why do your cheeks match the color of my cape?" Thor asks slyly. Loki's eyes widen and he bites the inside of his cheek.

"Shut up. She is a friend and considers me as one." Loki retorts.

"Oh brother. If you think she doesn't consider you as more than a friend then you are sorely mistaken. " Thor laughs. Loki stops in his track.

"What do you mean?" He asks.

"You weren't the only one to look at her after she left. She looked back at you when you weren't looking as well" Thor said with a smile that that reached ear to ear. Loki stood blinking. His cheeks were red.

"Shut up. I have class" he says and walks furiously toward the college. He heard Thor's laughter as he did so. He shook his head. Dumb Thor. She was a friend. That's all.... wait.. did she really look at him? No!..... what was he thinking, idiot! He thought as he passed a window and saw his reflection. BY THE GODS! CAN THIS INFERNAL BLUSHING STOP?!