bulletsandbracelets | New York Fun Times [closed to hashisreasons]

"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."

Despite the phone call, Diana would consider the day quite a success. Shopping went well, with Loki managing to pick up some wonderful new suits that flattered him in all the right ways, dinner had been delicious and the wines they had sampled with it were ones she was considering picking up at another point to have in for another time. The highlight, of course, had been spending time in company she enjoyed and appreciated. Understanding that a person was more than one thing helped to appreciate them more, and Loki had always been one of her favourite people to study for the layers to his personality and what he would show to those around him.

The club she had chosen for dancing was a throw back type place, remembering an older decade in style. Vintage clothing - or at least vintage style - was the norm, and the jazz music was played by an expert band. Their table was close to the dance floor, and she smiled over at Loki.

"What are we waiting for?"

His eyebrow raised and he glanced over at her. "I smell a challenge, demigoddess," he murmured.

Taking her hand in his, he pulled her out to the dance floor. The song was mid tempo, a little slow but not a ballad. Strong arms wound around her, pulling her close with one arm while his hand easily found hers in the other. Dark eyes locked with hers as he began to sway her to the music.

As graceful as he could be, it was hard to focus when he finally had her pressed up against him. "I've missed this, dancing," he whispered.

"Only if you take it as such," she replied smoothly, her own eyebrow raising in perfect mimicry of his expression. It did not stop the smile that split her face as she was pulled on to the dance floor, skirts of her dress flowing about her legs. Swaying to the music in a way that even now she did not really consider dancing but still found to be pleasant, and enjoyable with the right company.

This was the right company.

"It's been far too long."

"It really has."

Loki smirked, twirling her and dipping her, before slowly pulling her back up to her feet. His hand stayed firm against her smaller back, though he was so tempted to let it roam. His eyes stared into hers, almost wishing her could pull her into a much more seductive dance.

"You know what they say about finding the right partner..."

Diana couldn't stop the delighted laugh that came when she was dipped, nor would she want to. Why should she hide her own happiness for the sake of others? Besides which, she dared anyone not to be happy with such a move, especially when they were in the arms of someone who she knew would never drop her.

It was a reassurance that so few had.

"Do not let them go?" It came as a tease, a glint in her eye and a tugged smirk at the corner of her mouth. Perhaps there was a bit more sincerity to the words than she would let him know, but for now, she would keep to the friendly tease.

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