Accord

Sophia and Lani freshened up and changed clothes before leaving. Knowing nothing else that wasn't too far, Sophia chose the nicest, and possibly most cliché, place she knew that was still open: Red Lobster.

Despite it being Sunday afternoon, the restaurant wasn't terribly busy, and they were able to find a booth in a quiet corner. They ordered, and as they waited, Sophia checked a few notifications on her phone. She responded to her cousin Tim, letting him know she, too, had returned home safely and replied to an email from work saying she would see to the inane issue tomorrow. As she typed, she realized Lani was watching her and the rest of the restaurant intently. She suddenly felt very rude.

"Sorry. Work, mostly," she excused pathetically and set her phone aside. "That reminds me, though, will you be able to get a replacement for your phone?"

Lani blinked at her.

"Your phone. I presume you lost yours during whatever happened before we found you."

"Ah, yes. Though I do not think I will seek a replacement. I fear they are too easily tracked."

"How do you expect to contact anyone, then?"

"I suppose I will have to borrow someone else's."

Sophia considered the woman with the keen, glittering eyes sitting across from her.

"You were spoiled growing up, weren't you?"

Lani leaned forward with a smirk.

"Absolutely rotten."

"Hmm. Then it seems you'll have a few things to learn, princess."

Lani chuckled. "And might you be the one to teach me?"

"Perhaps. Depends on the lesson. For starters, there are burner phones you could use if you're concerned about being tracked."

Lani laced her fingers and perched her arms on the table.

"Go on."

Sophia almost stumbled under the intensity of her gaze. There was something dangerous in those green eyes, waiting to pounce.

"Well, it's easy enough to buy one at Wal-Mart, and you don't need a credit card, usually," Sophia began.

Lani hung on her every word like a ravenous viper. Sophia felt she was enabling some terrible power, but reasoned it was Lani's survival instinct. Strong women usually came across as threatening. She knew that better than most. Whatever Lani asked, Sophia answered if she could, and as Lani gathered information from her, so, too, did Sophia gather information from Lani.

It was pure conjecture, but most people didn't ask the questions Lani did. The woman was on the run, from her family, most like, or some nefarious organization that had managed to stay in power. If the former, what had she done? If the latter, what had she seen? Whichever way, they wished her harm. Sophia wondered how much Lani would tell her if she asked, and how much of what she said could be trusted.

"Lani isn't your real name, is it?" Sophia asked on the drive home.

Lani sighed a laugh.

"Would you use yours?"

"…No."

"Well, then."

"What will they do if they find you, these people you're trying to avoid?"

Lani was quiet, and Sophia could feel her scrutinizing gaze.

"…Kill me, I expect. If not something worse."

"Mm."

Sophia was torn. On the one hand, if what she suspected was right, it was too risky to keep Lani in her home for long. On the other, Sophia had seen first-hand the ineffectual workings of state-run systems, and she expected they had only grown worse. Leaving Lani to their mercy didn't sit well with Sophia's conscience. She knew she had already decided, but feigned the internal struggle anyway for the rest of the drive.

***

Loki recognized the contemplative expression on Sophia's face, and it concerned her. Had Loki said too much or in the wrong way? Asked the wrong things? Had she her powers, it would make no difference; Loki could simply find somewhere else to go and fend for herself well enough. She recalled her dealings with S.H.I.E.L.D., however, and knew everything here was a matter of record. So far, Sophia was willing to accept Loki's lack of one, and Loki was disinclined to have to find another like her.

Sophia was still thinking when they returned to her house, and Loki watched carefully as she fetched a bottle of wine and two glasses. She set them on the table in the living area, filled both, and offered Loki a seat, which she took. It felt as though Sophia could see right through her as Loki took a glass, and she didn't like it.

"I get the feeling you're accustomed to making deals," Sophia began.

"Something like that."

They both sipped their wine.

"Then, here's my offer to you. I will house and provide for you until you can afford to find somewhere else that's safe. I will help you find a job where you can be paid under the table. I won't tell anyone about you, and as far as my family is concerned, you've gone off to a women's shelter. Good so far?"

Loki smirked over her globe. "And what would my end of the bargain be?"

"You will work. You will get a burner phone, so we can stay in contact in case something goes awry. You will be honest with me when things happen, and you will tell me as much as you can about your situation so I can best protect myself and shield you from those seeking to harm you."

Loki's smile faded somewhat.

"Are those details really necessary?"

"They are for our deal," Sophia replied simply, giving no room for argument.

Loki licked her lips. "And if I decline?"

"Then, tomorrow, I will take you to the women's shelter, and you can navigate their shoddy accommodations and unreliable resources." Sophia watched her swirling wine. "They may or may not be able to find you somewhere safe, somewhere you'll probably have to share with many other people. And they may or may not be able to find you a job like I can."

Loki scrutinized her.

"This sounds more like a threat than an offer."

"I've no reason to threaten you, Lani. These are simply facts. You're the only one that can decide which choice is in your better interest."

After a moment, Loki hummed. She couldn't help herself, she found she liked this shrewd woman. Sophia wasn't the ragdoll Loki initially thought she would be. Perhaps Loki's existence on Midgard wouldn't be as mundane as she feared.

"Very well, Sophia." Loki raised her glass. "I accept your most generous offer."

Sophia smiled kindly as they toasted their accord.