bulletsandbracelets | New York Fun Times [closed to hashisreasons]

Loki turned back to Diana, raising an eyebrow at her. It would be so easy to let her in. One hand reached up to cover her hand on his shoulder, keeping it there. He had so many things that he would have loved to say to her, so many feelings he wanted to express. For years, he had known her and they had fun together, but it was always still so separate. There was always something missing. Loki always just chalked it up to not letting her in, not showing her the full him. The only people who knew him better than anyone would be Diana and Thor. And even then, neither of them saw all of it.

"We'll see," was all he said. "I'll go change into the gray one. We don't want to miss dinner and dancing, do we?"

He looked as if he was going to say something else, but did not. Instead, he turned away from her and went back into the dressing room. He was gone for some time, before he finally emerged in the gray suit. Behind him, the staff carried a few boxes, full of the black suit and two more like the one he was wearing. His original suit was also in one of the boxes.

"Did you want to try something on? I do like you in this, though." Loki reached out, gently trailing one of his hands slowly down her arm.

Diana sighed as Loki turned away. There was always something held back, she was guilty of this as well, but it did not stop her wanting for that to somehow go away. She knew that it was just who Loki was, that he would never fully reveal himself to anyone, regardless of who they were or how close they were, and yet... But how could she ask him to do that when she held part of herself back? Yes, a lot of it had been out of necessity - it is hard to be fully open with someone who is hardly there - but still.

"I am very fond of this as well," she said, smiling when he came back out. "I am in need of a new trouser suit for work functions, but I think it will keep." She looked thoughtful. "I may bring you along on that day, for an extra eye?"

As much as Loki hated it, he would not be going anywhere for a while. In a way, Diana had been able to get her wish. For once, he would be there a lot more than just hardly being around. Reaching out, Loki took her hand in his, gently kissing her knuckles. "If my lady asked me, I would join her anywhere. My eyes are always for you." Winking at her, Loki offered his arm to her as they headed up to the front of the store where they could pay for the suits.

If there was anyone that could get him to reveal the truth of himself, it was her. She had a power that he was pretty sure she didn't even realize. All he really wanted was her to be honest with him.

"You say that now, but I worry one day I will ask too much of you." It's possibly a little more revealing than she would usually give, but she doesn't care to take it back. There's a saddness to her smile, even if she would not be able to explain where it came from, and she takes his arm as they go to pay for this suits. This time, it is her treat. It's not like she doesn't have the money - you tend to gather a bit of it the longer you're on Earth.

They had only just stepped outside the building when her phone rang. Frowning, she answered.

"Bruce?"

It wasn't clear what was being said, but Diana's face became stormy.

Loki hears her words and one eyebrow arches in expression as he gazes at her. It is a nugget of truth he does not normally expect from the demigoddess. The surprise on his face is evident as he does not try to disguise it. "Diana..." He sighed, lowering his voice and making it softer for her. He could, when he needed to, have compassion. He just chose to hide it very well.

Anything else he was going to say was cut off by the ringing of her phone. He too frowned, watching her answer the phone. When he realized it was Banner on the other end of the line, his anger grew.

Bruce Banner. Hulk. Pain in the... Loki had finally been able to come to an understanding with the good doctor when he'd been on the ship with Thor, Bruce and Valkyrie. That did not mean he had to like the man, though. Bruce, who clearly had more than just feelings of respect for Diana. The annoying Midgardian had asked about her, at length, on the refugee ship when Thor had mentioned that Loki would be leaving with her while he had waited for her to arrive.

Loki was proud of himself for not killing Bruce in front of his brother.

A small smirk painted his face as he stepped up behind Diana, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her close, as if in a lovers embrace. "Hello, Banner. We are a bit busy right now," Loki purred over her shoulder, loud enough that Bruce could hear him. "Busy being wrong again about technology that may attempt to take over your planet? Why are you calling?"

One hand moved up and down Diana's side, invading her space like he knew nobody else would ever be able to get away with. It was only to get close to the phone. Honest...

"I'm just concerned, Diana. Loki is ... well, he's Loki."

That had been what had been said to turn Diana's face stormy. Bruce Banner was a man she respected greatly. He was a visionary in his field, and his work in developing countries providing medical aid at his own expense was something that she admired deeply. It had been wonderful to meet him and begin speaking with him on different matters and they always did have such enjoyable conversations. However, she was not unaware of the fact that Bruce seemed to have feelings other than that of friendship towards her, and that this lead to what could only be called passive aggressive attempts at 'protecting' her from Loki.

Who, considering he had wrapped himself around her so well, did everything he could to annoy Bruce in return. She rolled her eyes, but did not push him away. She'd do it, in a minute or so, when she felt like it. (She would admit, it was oddly nice to have him be so close willingly. Even if the reason for it was irritating to her.)

"See! He's just putting on a face around you, Diana. Trust me, you don't know what he's really like-"

"Bruce," Diana interjected, a sigh coming in an attempt to keep her cool, "I have known Loki for a century. I am well aware of what he is 'really like'." Another sigh. "I thank you for your... kindness," there was a brief face pull as she said it, "but I am more than capable of looking after myself."

"Diana I just-"

"I know what you just," she said, "but in doing so you are insulting a dear friend. And I cannot accept that." Even if said dear friend liked to needle back. She would have to speak to Loki about that.

Oh Diana, Loki would be much closer if he thought he wouldn't get slapped for doing so. He isn't completely heartless with people that he considers to be his friend. And maybe, just maybe, he really was enjoying how close she was. The feel of her pressed against him, the smell of her perfume wafting up to his nose. His eyes closed and he enjoyed the moment for much longer than he should have.

"Banner, how does it feel to know that twice now something smarter and greater than you has tried to take over your planet? Wouldn't you have learned after I did it the first time?" He smirked, his voice low against her ear. He's loud enough that he knows Bruce will hear him, but not loud enough to actually shout in her ear and be rude about it. "Perhaps it is you that I put the face on around, since you are the people who don't trust me. Respect is to be earned, Bruce, not given freely."

In the background, there could be heard some yelling between Banner, Steve Rogers and Thor. Not everyone was as happy as Bruce was about his phone call or warning Diana. While he couldn't make out all the words, Loki made out enough to smile. "I have to go buy some new clothes now. Diana ripped the last ones."

For that, Loki did step away, just out of her reach before moving over to the sales counter. While he knew the impropriety of his words and how they might anger her, he just couldn't resist. Loki turned to the merchant and smiled, pulling out a little plastic card that Thor gave him. He really didn't know what it did, but Thor said that Lady Jane Foster told him it was money, so he had taken it without objection. He could just magically make the staff think he'd paid, but then that would have angered Diana.

"Bloody Banner," he grumbled.

"You're not going to rile me this time, Loki!" Bruce's comment came back quite loudly - Diana winced a little at it. Yelling over a phone always manages to seem louder than yelling in person and she's never quite understood the why of that logic.

"Bruce," she said simply into the phone, shooting Loki a look of his own. She couldn't continue right away - hearing Thor and Steve Rogers insisting that Bruce stop calling and let Loki enjoy his day was oddly amusing in it's way though. "They are right, Bruce."

"But, Diana..."

"No," her voice was firm. "I am out for the day with Loki, and we have dinner and dancing to look forward to." She turned to smile at Loki, making it clear these words were not just for show. "And while it is nice to hear from you, I am busy today. Thank you for calling, and we'll speak later."

"...I guess. Just. Be careful."

Diana almost rolled her eyes, but she just smiled, looking right at Loki.

"I promise you, I am very safe." And with that, she hung up. "Have you made your purchases?"

Loki took the card back and placed into one of the pockets of his suit. He turned to her, smiling warmly. "Oh yes. These are mine now." He stepped closer to her, raising an eyebrow at her as a smirk covered his lips. One hand moved up to her shoulder, gently trailing down her arm his other hand moved around to her back. "Did Dr. Banner not like his phone call," he said with a bit of sarcasm in his voice. "He's probably jealous he didn't get invited. The tables aren't that large here," he teased.

"Are you so sure that you are safe with me, Lady Diana?" He leaned in closer, pressing a soft kiss to her cheekbone. "After all, you heard him, I am very dangerous. Who knows what might happen on the dance floor later?"

He chuckled, his eyes full of mirth as he danced away from her. "Let's go put these in the car, shall we?" He wanted so badly to admit how good it felt to have her in his arms. He wished he could tell her and have her there so much more often. A shiver had run through him as sniffed her beautiful perfume.

Loki offered his arm out to her. "Shall we go get our dinner? I'm very hungry and would love a bite." He laughed, giving her a look as he stepped closer to her. Suddenly, his face grew serious. "Diana... Thank you, for defending me. You didn't have to. It... It means a lot."

Diana responded to Loki's soft kiss by raising her own hand to his cheek, stroking her thumb along his cheekbone. He really did have bone structure that had to be admired and even envied in some cases. A soft smile, that had just small hints of a tease hidden in it, appeared.

"I think I can handle whatever you will dare." She stepped back and laughed herself, nodding to his suggestion. "Yes, we will put your suits safely in the car, we cannot allow them to be harmed, after all." He was so particular, and could mourn even the slightest stain like it was some grave injury. It was rather adorable, really, even if she couldn't tell him that because it was likely not a good idea to encourage the over-the-top behaviour in regards to clothing.

She took his arm. "We shall go get our dinner. I am quite ravenous myself." She softened at his serious look. "You are not the monster you seem to think yourself at times, Loki Friggasson," she said, "and while you do have much to repay... you are one who I will defend."

The fact that her words were sweet and kind were not lost on him. It touched his heart that someone could feel that way for him, even if she would never be anything other than a friend. Her touch on his arm was electric. He felt the shock of her touch and relished in it, any touch he could get.

"I do think Banner should call more often. That was fun," he purred, leaning down to whisper the words softly in her ear. In doing so, his lips brushed ever so slightly against her earlobe. "You're not the only one who's ravenous." The serious moment gone, Loki pulled back and escorted her back to her car. Once it was unlocked, he placed the clothes in the trunk of the car, safe and sound for now.

"Where is dinner and dancing? Is it close enough to walk?" He moved back over to Diana, taking her hand in his once more. "I would love to walk with you in the moonlight tonight," he murmured. "If I am allowed?"

"I do enjoy talking with Bruce," she said, sincere for a moment, and then her face fell a little bit. "I wish he would not assume that I am unaware of the wider world because I chose to hope for the good in people." Just because she was kind-hearted did not make her naive or blind to the truth of the world, and she was rather annoyed that many people assumed such.

Putting the suits in the car was a good move, and she was glad of the spacious trunk of her car. It had proven useful quite a few times. She considered Loki's question, lacing his fingers with her own.

"Yes. It is close enough to walk."

Loki smiled, leaning against the car as he watched her work. When she was done, he reached out for her hand, their fingers easily intertwining together. "Then, lead on and I shall spin you around like no other."

He was quiet, walking with her to the restaurant in a comfortable silence as his mind whirled. It wounded him that Bruce would not want him to have such happiness. He could not understand their strong desire to not allow Loki to have his. All he wanted was a chance to spend time with someone who did not find him so repulsive.

His brow furrowed as he walked, unable to think of little else. Diana was not so naive. She saw who Loki was and still cared for him. A small sigh slipped out as Loki felt his anger building inside of him and he was very tempted to do something drastic to Dr. Banner.

Just once, he wished Thor's little group of friends would just dismiss him like Thor did so easily.

Truthfully, his quietness concerned her. In as long as she had known him, falling quiet was never a sign of good things. He had such a tendency to get caught inside his own mind, ruminating over things that had happened and slights that had crossed him, or at least what he had perceived to be slights against him. Then again, considering how people tended to jump to conclusion based on his behaviour, she supposed that it was not all his own mind assuming the worst. Still, it was best to make sure he did not get so caught up in it, that only lead to the worst for him and she did not want that for him - who could want that for someone they cared so much about?

"I have heard from Napi, recently." It was a fairly safe topic, all things considered. Napi had stopped going by Chief a few decades ago, though he still admitted a fondness for the nickname. They didn't often meet - he preferred to stay out of the limelight as much as she had - but they kept in contact. The rise of the internet had worked wonders for doing such things. "He's in Australia currently, enjoying the good weather. He sends his best wishes."

She hoped that talking about their mutual friend would remove Loki from the topic she assumed he was ruminating over. She was very tempted to smack Bruce - a good man, but he could be so thoughtless in his actions. All of the Avengers could, when she thought on it. While relations between Loki and Thor had improved, his brother's teammates could not so easily understand Loki's nature and it angered her. Surely they were aware that the more you treated someone as the villain, the more likely they were to simply become that villain?

Diana was not going to let that happen here. No, not if she could help it.

"Australia." His voice was soft, low as he spoke. "I don't remember the last time that I had visited the coast. Perhaps we should visit him soon," he murmured. He glanced down at Diana, giving her his best forced smile before glancing back ahead of them. He wasn't sure where he was going, but he would try his best to follow her lead. "I don't remember the last time we visited with him at all."

Maybe it would be good to spend time with someone who didn't outwardly hate him?

His grip on her arm tightened as they walked, without him even realizing he was doing it. He sighed and walked slowly, his mind lost in his thoughts. Perhaps Bruce was right? Maybe he shouldn't bring down Diana. She could do so much better than him. Someone who could have friends who didn't think she was better than him.

"I think I want a glass of wine. It's been a long time since I've had any," he said absentmindedly.

"It would be a nice trip to take," Diana said, nodding in agreement to the idea. It helped that she thought seeing someone else who actually liked Loki for who he was would be beneficial to the man, especially considering he was being forced to stay within the grounds of the Avengers' who did not seem to be particularly welcoming. She had considered speaking to them about it, but that had all the potential of making things far worse. It was hard to do the right thing, and sadly the right thing in this situation was not interfering, no matter how much she may have wished too.

Visiting Napi was probably one of the best ideas she had heard in a while, come to think on it.

"I could use a glass myself," she said, glancing down to where his grip had tightened. "Shall we split a bottle, or get two different types and compare?"

"It would. And I don't care if the others forbid it. I am a free man with my own choices," he murmured softly. "I want to take a trip, then I shall take a trip. I am allowed to have friends." Or acquaintances? Did he really get to have friends in his circumstance.

If he could just stay with Diana, things would be so much easier.

"Let's get three," he said softly, staring down at her. "The more, the merrier."

"Would you be willing to wait until I'm able to take the time off to join you on the trip?" She had to ask, just to make sure. Diana was fairly confident she would be able to get the time off quite easily. She never really took sick time, and rarely took holidays and she did have a bit of time saved up. It should be quite easy.

She smiled. "Red, white, and rosé, then?"

As they approached what he assumed was where they were headed, he paused. He wanted to say something to her in the quiet of the night air, before they were enveloped by people and noise.

"Diana..." He turned, reaching out to gently cup her cheek. "I don't want to go without you." He smiled, something honest and almost foreign to him. It was a smile reserved for so few people. "Without you, there is no trip."

He didn't really care what wine they drank at that moment.

Diana couldn't remember if she'd ever seen the smile. She suspected she had, at least once, but it had been so long that it felt foreign to her. It softened his features, though, brought out the person that she knew was trying to find their way out. She placed her hand over his, squeezing the fingers gently.

"Then we will go together."

"Diana... You defended me. You... You care for me so much, more than so many others ever could," he murmured. One hand reached up and he cupped her cheek. "I do not deserve your friendship."

He stared into her eyes, sure that his heart was beating faster now. "You. Napi. I don't know what I'd be without you."

Her hand went up, covering the his that cupped her cheek. "Do not say such things," she admonished just slightly. "Deserve is all a matter of individual perspective, and I would not wish away your company for anything." She meant it sincerely. Her connection with Loki had been one that had endured a long time - in relative terms - and she rather thought she would be lost without knowing that he would be there should she need him. And likewise, of course.

"You would be you," she said, staring back. "You are always you. No matter who or what influences that."

Loki nodded his head and stepped away from her, moving to open the door for Diana. He would follow her inside, curious where they would be sitting. Had she gotten a private booth or a room? Would they sit among the others so he could watch the people? It was all very interesting to him.

Mostly because he was out and not stuck on a ship with Thor.

And, part of it was because he was with her. While dinner was nice, and necessary, he could not wait until they were done. He wanted so badly to take her in his arms and spin her around a dance floor. He wanted to feel her against his body and know she actually wanted to be there.

They did have a private booth, but it was in the main room of the restaurant, as Diana quite liked people watching herself. She had opted for the private booth mainly out of her own comfort - while she liked people watching, she had had more than a few uncomfortable experiences of being intensely studied while trying to enjoy a meal, and had no desire to repeat the experience. Besides which, it allowed them time to enjoy each other's company without the worry of someone interrupting them.

Though she was very much looking forward to going dancing.

The day had been going, in Loki's opinion, went very well. Shopping had been fun. Dinner had been delicious. For Loki, spending the day with Diana had been heaven. He could be doing something extremely droll and he would be happy, just to be with someone who respected and cared for him, instead of thinking him a terrible person. She knew he was a bad person, he had is faults, but she would never think him as dreadful as the others did.

Loki smiled as he made his way into the small club. It was a beautiful place, one filled with gorgeous people in vintage clothing. Dresses and bespoke suits, jazz music surrounding them, it made Loki very happy. His grip on Diana's arm tightened slightly as they were led to a table close to the dance floor.

"Just wait till I start twirling you around the floor."

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