bulletsandbracelets | New York Fun Times [closed to hashisreasons]

He could not fault the others for the anger that they had, this much was true. He had stated, repeatedly, that coming to Midgard was a bad idea. Thor had insisted that they had nowhere else to turn to and that it would be a good choice, a good fit for the Asgardian rescue ship. The ship? Yes, it was an excellent choice.

Not for Loki.

The good Captain was the only one even remotely willing to give Loki a second chance after the events of New York and even Steve Rogers seemed hesitant to do so. What was worse is that he was on house arrest on the Asgardian ship. It was deemed the best place for him not to get into trouble. Loki scoffed at that.

When he had informed his brother just who would be showing up to be his escort, nobody had believed him. Another lie, they said. Another trick. He would show them.

He had given her the exact coordinates of the ship, currently docked in upstate New York at the Avengers compound. Loki was free to leave the ship and stay on the grounds, but he could not leave the compound without an escort. Diana would have to drive up there to retrieve him.

Loki did give his brother a very smug look when her Mercedes came squealing up the path to the compound.

In a sense, Diana could understand Thor's insistence that Earth was the right place for the remaining Asgardians. There were similarities between the cultures and going to a planet that did not rely on Asgard primarily for aid allowed the people to breathe a little and not have to worry about starting a new fight so soon after such a devastating one. On the other hand, she also agreed with Loki that he really didn't think it through, and the Avengers' reactions to the God of Mischief had shown that very clearly.

She stepped out of her Mercedes, locking it out of habit even though she would be back in the car in a matter of moments, and smiled over at both Thor and Loki. It was nice to see them, even if the circumstances were a bit on the odd side. She glanced around the grounds and noted that they had chosen quite a nice spot for their new compound to be built. While the Tower did have the benefit of being more centralized, this allowed them more space to train and prepare.

"Is this where I'm told I need to sign something to take him out for the day?" She smiled to take the sting out of the words.

Loki was quite good about standing there and not saying a word, smugly looking over at his brother with a look that said everything he wanted to say. For once, he had not been lying or full of mischief. He actually had a friend in the other superhero group. Neither was better or worse, apples and oranges, but still he was glad someone actually was willing to trust him.

"No, there will be no need for a signing of a pen this day, Lady Diana. I trust Loki will be safe in your company, though others have voiced their concern. Indeed, the pleasure of meeting you is all mine. I am honored to meet such a fierce warrior." Loki watched as Thor smiled, being kind and polite with Diana. Suddenly, his smug look was replaced by something else. Perhaps a bit of the green monster flaring out as he watched the interplay between them.

While he did not see the others around, he was sure they were somewhere, watching with rapt anticipation. To be fair, he was surprised Steve or Tony had not come bounding down to crash in so suddenly. Stepping forward, Loki waved a hand over his outfit, using some of his magic as a glamour. Instead of his normal attire, he was wearing one of his favorite suits.

Loki stepped forward, almost as if he was stepping between Diana and Thor. "Yes yes, can we go now? I have promised Diana a dance..."

Edited 2018-05-18 17:20 (UTC)

"Concern with Loki being in my company?" A eyebrow was just slightly raised. "They think I would not be able to deal with his tricks?" There was only the slightest hint of tone in her voice, accompanied by the barest hint of a smirk in her smile. Oh, she knew that there was a recurring belief that her compassion for people lead to her being naive or easily tricked, but she hadn't been friends with Loki for a near century without knowing how to deal with him.

She glanced over, admiring the suit. "It has been a while since I've seen that suit," she said, "it does suit you," she added, the compliment genuine and warm. She turned to unlock the car again, palming the keys. "I made reservations for us in a restaurant I thought you might like, I hope you don't mind?" It wasn't for a few hours, but it was best to check he wouldn't be too offended.

There is nothing that she could do that could offend him. Far from it, in fact. If anything, he would be the one doing the offending. "I like the new car. When did you pick that one up," he purred, raising an eyebrow at her. "You do like the sleek models, don't you?" His head tilted to the side and he smirked at her. "How is the bat boy, by the way?"

He turned back to Thor, raising an eyebrow at his brother. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a phone, waving it at his brother. "The ancient Midgardian communication device you insist I take with me. Track us. Trust me... I came back, didn't I? I was here. I will come back." He motioned to Diana. "Let me have a little fun..."

"I won't mind, as long as you allow me to treat you to the dinner. I did promise you a night out on the town." One arm reached out, offering it to her.

Diana beamed. She really did like her new car. "I received a bonus at work, and with some savings, thought it was time to upgrade from my older model." Her fingers glide along the hood of the car, and she laughed at his question. "He is fine, thank you. Recovering from his latest bout with a deranged clown." Yes, she did deliver those words with a straight face, even though by all rights anyone hearing them would have expected a bout of laughter. She's long since dealt with the fact that a lot of Bruce's villains do sound - at least on paper - like comedic parodies.

"I promise, I'll have him back at a reasonable hour," Diana flashed that smile, the smile that assured people she could be trusted and would do her upmost to keep to her word. Which she did intend to do, after all, they were playing nice for now to let them see that the restrictions were perhaps too restrictive.

"You can treat to dinner, I will treat us to dessert."

"A clown... Well, that is rather fitting. He does like his clown car."

Loki smirked and moved over to her car, gently leaning against it. For now, all he can see is her. He doesn't care if Thor or any of the others are even watching them anymore. Diana is different, she is special to him. There's a trust level there that even he can't help but question. The others were just people. They didn't matter to Loki like Thor and Diana did.

He turned to Thor, grinning madly at him. "I don't promise to come back at a reasonable hour. Or promise to be reasonable with her at all." Giving Diana a wink, he motioned to the car and opened the door so that he could climb inside.

"Fine, but then don't forget the dancing comes later..."

"You know just what will happen if he hears you refer to it as a clown car," her eyes roll as she says it. It's not like she hasn't occasionally had the thought herself. While she can admire the thought and work that went into it, she sometimes thinks that Bruce to overdo his motive, and that the car would probably run a lot better without the attempts to make it more bat-like. It would certainly weigh less, which would help it get more speed. But then again, she wasn't going to point that out to the man - he could get very sore on certain points.

She laughed at Loki's non promise, causing Thor to stare slightly in surprise. He had heard Loki's claims that he and the Lady Diana were good friends, but to see the proof of that in front of him was something very different altogether. As strange as it was? He couldn't find himself annoyed or angered by it. He was pleased his brother had someone he could call a friend. That the someone was more than capable of handling Loki in all his moods was a good sign, he thought.

"Of course, brother," Thor said, "but just remember the rules the good Captain had stressed upon you. We don't wish our friends to decide against this as well." There was a tone in Thor's voice - despite the face he might put on to the other Avengers, he wasn't happy with the way that they were treating his brother.

"I'm looking forward to the dancing," Diana said to Loki, opening her door. "And the sooner you get in, the sooner our day out can start."

“I am not afraid of your bat boy. I am a god. No amount of toys in his arsenal can compete with me.” He chuckled and looked over the car at her. While it was true that Batman had some pretty neat things to play with, Loki was not afraid of him, rightly or wrongly.

He turned back to his brother, raising an eyebrow and smirking at him. “Your friends, Thor. Your friends. Other than your soldier boy, non of them are even willing to have me here at all. Forgive me if I am not that delighted to see their view of me.” Loki rolled his eyes and turned back to Diana. “As you wish…”

He smiled as he climbed into the car, one hand reaching out to run his fingers over the inside console. He had been looking forward to this much more than even he would ever full admit.”Well then, hurry up. The dance floor awaits. And nobody will be on the floor more beautiful than you and I. They will all weep with jealousy.”

"Never doubt the ability of the human mind," Diana warned. "Bruce may be mortal but he has the cunning of Hermes himself." That being said, she really didn't expect Loki to be scared of Bruce in anyway. She found a lot of the man's posturing to be a bit on the unbearable side, and she actually enjoyed his company. He put so much stock into being the thing that criminals fear.

Thor did not criticise what Loki said. After all, his brother was right, as much as he would like to say otherwise. He was trying to get them to shift their perspectives on Loki - Banner had, but then again, Banner had spent time in a ship with Loki and gotten to see him under better conditions. If only there was a way to get everyone else to see his brother under better conditions as well. Keeping him locked up was unlikely to do it; it would only chafe at him.

Diana got into the car herself, fastening her seat-belt and gesturing at Loki to do the same. Car safety would be followed if he wanted to go anywhere, she did not care if they both were unlikely to be hurt by any type of accident that could occur.

"Ah, you live to have people jealous of you."

As much as he felt a certain way about the Midgardian race, he wasn't about to say too much in front of Diana. She liked this planet and had vowed repeatedly to defend it. "The human mind," he muttered, shaking his head slightly as he buckled the safety belt around him. He wasn't sure why people had so much hope in a race that liked to kill each other so easily over war.

He did not hold much fault with Thor. His brother was only trying to make others see that he was not so bad. He had potential, as his brother would claim. In an odd sense, it made him feel better knowing that his brother was trying to defend him in any way. Perhaps they had both grown closer than even Loki was ready to realize.

"It is my way," he said, smirking over at her. "Perhaps I just need a beautiful Amazonian to teach me something different?"

Had Loki said anything, Diana would point out that she had live among humans for a century and had seen them both and their very best and at their very worst. Their very best was enough to give anyone hope for the future of humanity, and what they could achieve. Though, granted they were very prone to war. She had thought for a while that Ares had somehow managed to come back simply through humanity's capacity for warfare. So far there had been no sign, but there was a part of her waiting on it to happen. She's not entirely sure what that says...

"And how shall I teach you?" Diana smirked back. "A punishment every time you inspire jealousy in another person? Or shall I just ignore your attempts at doing so?"

He's quiet, watching her as she maintains her focus behind the wheel. He knows how serious she can be sometimes and doesn't want to distract her. No, sometimes he can be good, at least for her. Plus, he does like to look at her from her side profile. She really is one of the most beautiful creatures he had ever laid eyes on.

Not that he'd be honest enough to tell her that.

"You already ignore my attempts. Try something new, Diana," he scoffed. "And where are we going? I need to go shopping for a new suit. It's been years since we shopped last."

"Actually, I had considered that," Diana said with a smile. She was rather pleased with herself for anticipating this need from Loki, even if anticipating him to indulge his love of fine suits was nothing particularly special.

"I made an appointment at one of the bespoke suit stores in the city; I do remember your preferences." The latter was said with a good deal of humour - the first time they had went suit shopping together, he had been a bit of a terror when they had looked at off-the-rack items. Bespoke was clearly the way to go.

"You did..." Loki smirked and looked over at her. He shouldn't have been surprised, and yet he was. Not many could actually surprise him and tug on his heart. Diana was one of those people who could. It made him feel good when she did things like that.

It reminded him people could care, even about him.

He wouldn't spend his time remembering the first time. That had been an ordeal. Thankfully, things had gotten better than that.

He turned to her, eyeing her up and down, not even trying to hide the fact that he was doing so. "You look beautiful today, Diana. That color suits you."

"You are very particular about what you wear," she explained simply. "I thought I would save us the trouble of attempting to look at off-the-rack items and head straight for tailor specifically to suit you." Diana had thought about it, after all. The recommendation for this particular store came from a colleague through her actual work. They always had quite fine taste, and she had enquired, explaining that an old friend was coming to visit and was in desperate need of better suits. Not entirely true, but it got the answer she was looking for. Besides which, she supposed Loki would class decades out of style as being a desperate need.

Stopping at a red light, she took the time to glance over at Loki.

"You would say that whatever I was wearing, but I suspect you have a certain fondness for this colour." In a display of solidarity, she wore green. Just to send a small message to the Avengers.

He had to admit, she knew him so well. He smiled a bit wider and watched her with interest, unable to contain his admiration. Not many people tried to understand him or were even fond of him. She was. "I'm impressed."

When she looked at him, he gave her his most charming smile. His voice lowered to a soft purr when he spoke. "It is my favorite..." One hand reached out and he gave one of hers a gentle squeeze. "But you look ravishing in everything, that is true."

"Impressed I remembered your particular nature or impressed I planned ahead?" It was asked with a hint of teasing, gentle in it's nature. Diana wouldn't tease to be cruel, it wasn't really in her to do such a thing. Besides which, this way was much more likely to get him to respond.

"Your compliments are received but unnecessary," she commented, focusing once again driving. Generally speaking, she personally preferred using public transport but she was aware that was probably not the best of ideas with Loki.

Even if she would love to see his expression at being told that was exactly what they were going to be doing.

"Perhaps a bit of both?" He looked over at her, teasing back in return. "You just don't want to have to go through the horror of buying off the rack again. It wouldn't end well for anyone." In truth, the teasing was the best way to get him to answer. Anything more realistic or vulnerable would cause him to shut down.

Loki rolled his eyes and went back to looking out the window. She never liked his compliments. As hard as he tried, she would always hold a candle for her soldier boy. Nobody else could ever break through that exterior. He really should have just given up.

He really did love her choice in cars. Anything less would make him very angry.

"It is very true," she admitted, the tease still present in her tone. "There is also the fact that off the rack never seems to quite fit your frame. Bespoke is the only way to go to get something that properly flatters it." A rare compliment from her, even with that teasing smile of hers, was something to be appreciated. She knew Loki would see it for what it was, even if she would rarely accept the ones he threw her way.

It wasn't that she didn't like them, it was that he threw them so often it became second-nature to deflect and wait for a moment of sincerity instead. Those moments made any compliment more appreciated.

Sincerity. Loki couldn't do sincerity in any sort of real capacity. Sincerity meant vulnerability and letting people in. While he trusted Diana, more than most in his life, he still was that skittish child who couldn't do it. He'd tried with his father, tried with Thor and both had results that were less than par in terms of his standards. Letting someone get that close meant dropping a guard he wasn't ready to do yet.

Especially when he had no chance with the amazon for anything other than friendship.

He turned to her, giving her a soft smile. It was more honest than the smirks he normally wore around anyone. "Thank you. You are correct. My frame is somewhat oddly proportioned. Only one with the gift of tailoring will truly get it correct. And there's just something about wearing a suit that is tailored to your body, your curves," he murmured. "If doesn't just look right, it feels right. Against the skin."

Loki appreciated her more than she would ever know.

It wasn't that Diana was unaware of Loki's attempts of flirting with her. Occasionally she even reciprocated, but it never went any further than the light flirting. It wasn't entirely that she was still devoted to Steve - though she would freely admit that he had a place in her heart that would never be removed - it was that she was well aware starting anything could be filled with many issues that could ruin their friendship.

Beyond that, he had hardly been on Earth for the majority of their time knowing each other. Now that he was here, and unlikely to go anywhere for a while... Well, it was a new thing to consider.

"Like a second layer, created just for you?"

"Exactly." He smiled, running one hand down the length of his trousers, lingering at his knee. "The image that we portray starts from the outside and moves in. First impressions are everything. As much as a person says that they like you for what is on the inside, they are lying," he murmured. "To the pretty go the spoils. People make snap judgments even without saying a word to you."

He looked over at her, raising an eyebrow. "Do you not have the same things happen to you? Men who fall at your feet? Were you in a pair of disgusting, dirty trousers and a mussed up shirt, no makeup, would you receive the same attention? You cannot be your best if you do not portray your best." That is why nobody would ever see him at his worst. Even Thor had been glamoured first before showing his true self when Frigga had died.

He didn't want to let people in.

"Maybe this time I'll even look at blue and gold," he teased. "I'm not so much a fan of the red."

"I wish I could say you were wrong." There's a sense of weariness in Diana's voice. She knows fine well that Loki is right; a good appearance will make all the difference in the world, regardless of the actual character of a person. Appearances could affect so much, it was why Bruce put so much effort into giving such a dark and brooding appearance when appearing as Batman. She wished it were not so, but it was, and a century of effort on many people's part had done little to change that part of the status quo.

She drew into a parking spot, just outside the tall building that was their first stop for the day.

"Well, now you can have a look and see what suits you." She turned off the engine and unbuckled. "Though personally, I quite like the green."

"Do you, now?"

His smirk finds its way back onto his face as he gets out of the car. He does not, this time, bring his walking stick with him. At least, not to the visible eye. He could conjure it at will if he so chose to. His eyes gaze over to her as they head towards their first stop.

"I know it bothers you," he said softly. "You care much more for these Midgardians than I do. You wear your heart on your sleeve. Some people are just selfish, caring only for what they want and not wanting to be a better person. Character should be the gauge, but it is not. And... I know it upset you. For that, I'm sorry."

Loki moved up to the door and held it open for her. For her, he'd wear green every day if he thought that might help. Not that he believed it would.

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