Compromise

"Where are you from?"

"A place very far from here."

"Can you be more specific?"

"Not if you want to be safe."

"Who are you running from? Is it family or otherwise?"

"Both."

"What did you do?"

Loki chuckled and eyed her. "I made a bad deal."

It was Sophia's turn to hum, sipping her wine before continuing.

"How did it go wrong?"

"Might we save this question for another time?"

"Alright, then." The air shifted, and Sophia's blue eyes sharpened. "Did you kill anyone?"

Loki thought for a moment. "No."

"Were you asked to?"

"In a manner of speaking."

"Who was it that harmed you?"

"The one I made the bad deal with."

"Do they think you're dead now?"

"Yes."

"What about your family, do they?"

"Indeed."

"How easily could they find you?"

"They would have to think to look for me first, and I am not inclined to give them reason to."

"That doesn't answer my question," Sophia sang.

Loki smirked. "Easily enough."

"How old are you?"

"Twenty-six."

"What's your profession?"

Loki thought for the best way to put it. "Management."

"Are you good at it?"

"I would think so."

"Ever married?"

"Does that matter?"

Sophia grinned. "Just curious."

Loki chuckled again. She was enjoying this rapid-fire interrogation.

"No."

"Any children?"

"Next question."

"Have you traveled before?"

"Perhaps more than I would like."

"Are your parents still around?"

Loki sipped her glass, growing uncomfortable.

"Next question."

"Do you have any siblings?"

"Next question."

"Any friends?"

"None I could call upon."

Those blue eyes pierced her.

"What is your real name?"

Loki drained her glass.

"For all you are concerned, my name is Lani. Could we continue this tomorrow, please? I am feeling rather unwell."

"Of course."

She could feel Sophia watching intently as Loki set the glass on the table and excused herself to her room. After a moment, she locked the door and swiped the work journal from the bookshelf.

'It is only fair, with her prying into my life like that.'

Loki made herself comfortable on the bed and settled in for a good read.

***

'Perhaps worse than I thought… Damn this protective nature of mine. What the hell have I gotten myself into?'

Sophia put away the wine and glasses and settled in to unpack her bag from the cabin.

'I can't go back now, though, I've already made the agreement. I'll have to be careful with Tim and the girls.'

She tucked the toiletries away neatly and started laundry, making sure there was a clean outfit for Lani for tomorrow. By the time she finished, it was nearing evening, so she started on dinner. Nothing special, just the basic spaghetti with meat sauce from a jar she'd avoided earlier, but it would have to do until she went grocery shopping again. When it was ready, she gently knocked on Lani's door.

"Lani? If you're hungry, there's dinner, and there are clothes for you on the dryer."

"Thank you!"

Just as Sophia finished setting the table, Lani joined her, looking quite pleased with herself.

"You're feeling better, I take it?"

"I am. Forgive me. The past few days seem to have taken quite the toll."

"I understand. I have to go back to work tomorrow for a bit, but afterward, I'll take you to find some new clothes and get your burner phone. If you want to come for groceries as well, I can make sure to pick up stuff you'll like."

"A little banality would be nice."

The rest of dinner was a quiet affair. The minute changes in Lani's expression told Sophia she was being polite about the food, and Sophia appreciated it. She wondered what sorts of dishes the woman was used to, and if she would be able to accommodate. Sophia made enough money to buy whatever groceries were needed, but she wasn't exactly a chef, and rarely had the energy to make anything more complicated than what they were currently having.

After dinner, Sophia plucked her work laptop from Lani's room, deciding to get a head start on the week's worth of backlogged emails. Lani toyed with the television, hopping between programs before settling on an African wildlife documentary. The voice of the presenter was little more than white noise for Sophia, though Lani appeared to be sufficiently entertained. It was a good way to end the day.

***

There were few things Loki cared for at the shops Sophia brought her to the following day, and even fewer she found acceptable at the food market. 'Instant' this, frozen that, was any of this edible? She even cringed at the fruits and vegetables Sophia selected.

"How long have these been here?"

Sophia shrugged. "A few days, at least, I'd expect."

"And you take it on the merchant's word that they are safe to eat?"

"Pick off the bad parts and wash the rest. Simple really. I expect the cooks you grew up with did the same."

Loki turned her nose up at the bag of apples Sophia set in her cart. She was beginning to question the food from the restaurant.

"Surely, there is an alternative."

"Well, the farmer's market closed down, so unless you want to go out to the fields to pick it yourself, no." She patted Lani's shoulder and smiled. "You're just going to have to trust I know what I'm doing."

Loki could not find a worthwhile point to argue on the matter, so she relented with a sigh.

"Very well, Sophia."

Home again, she watched Sophia set up the burner phone and sat down to tinker with it while Sophia put away the groceries and started preparing dinner. The device was light and frail, and Loki was careful not to damage the cheap display as she tapped away. It was not so different from the terminals on Asgard or the space ships Loki had piloted, and she was once again pleased she spoke the Alltongue rather than be confined to a single language or script. Just as with Sophia's journal and diagrams, Loki instinctively understood the words scrolling across the screen.

The arrangement of menu options, however, confused her enough to seek assistance from Sophia.

Loki felt no guilt in pestering the woman, even as she chopped away.

"It should say something like 'alerts' or 'ringtone.' There's a preloaded set of sounds you can choose from."

Loki scrolled and tapped, but the sound she chose did not remain.

"I do not think this device works properly."

"Let me see."

Loki watched again as Sophia went through the same precise motions she had, and somehow, the sound remained changed.

"How did you..?"

"You have to tap 'save' for the change to take, just like on a regular phone."

Sophia hurriedly returned to the cooktop, shifting the pot a moment before it boiled over.

"Phew. That could have been bad."

Loki turned her nose up.

"I believe your skillet is burning, as well."

"Shit."

The goddess watched with great amusement as Sophia scrambled between the various ingredients. Why had she purchased foods she could not prepare? The entertainment lasted until the meat began to burn. There were many things Loki would let pass, but this was not one. She set the troublesome device aside for now and deftly relieved Sophia of the cooking implements.

"Allow me."

Sophia guffawed and stepped out of the way.

"By all means."

Loki needed only instruction on controlling the heat of the cooktop, and where the spices were kept. Sophia's smug grin faded as Loki quickly salvaged what had almost been a ruined meal. She was quite pleased with herself. No matter which corner of the universe one stumbled into, the basics of cooking remained the same. Loki revelled in Sophia's pleasant surprise as they sat down to eat.

"I think I might have to change the conditions of our deal."

Loki eyed her warily.

"Indeed?"

"Tell you what. Since you seem to be able to cook without burning down the house," she jabbed at herself, "I'll bring home whatever ingredients you want, and you can take care of evening meals."

Loki canted her head.

"Anything I ask for, you will acquire?"

Sophia shrugged.

"So long as you can cook it."

'Oh, sweet Sophia, you are making this far too easy for me.'

"Very well." Loki grinned broadly. "I agree."