Loki x Reader: Into the MCU

Chapter 27: The Library

"Where are you?" you whispered to yourself.

If I'm Loki, where would I spend my free time in Asgard on a day where I have nothing to do, but I want to hide from the world?

A thought popped into your head, and you rushed out to find Ceyla.

"Any luck?" she asked as you exited the garden.

"No, but I have another idea. If this doesn't work, I promise we'll give up. Does the palace have a library? If multiple, then one where the likes of Loki would spend his time?"

"We have a very grand royal library! Even if the Prince is not there, it is something I'm sure you'd enjoy seeing."

Ceyla's prediction was an understatement. The library wasn't simply a place you wanted to see, it was a place you'd want to live in. The spectacle before you was wondrous enough to turn even the hardest anti-reader into a devout bookworm. The highest, most ornate ceiling, grand book cases carved beautifully out of dark brown wood, and vast, stain-glassed windows were but a few of the marvelous sights to behold. The rows were too many to count, and each seemed the length of football field. Staircases led to overpasses or balconies containing more books lined nearly to the ceiling. The true size of the room was impossible to tell from where you were standing. It could have branched off and expanded in different directions farther on, or could simply go on forever in the the same direction you were now looking. 

"Um, Ceyla," you said, staring in awe at the millions of books before you.

"Yes?"

"I might be a while."

Ceyla smiled and said she'd spend time at the front of the library while you looked for Loki. 

"Sounds like a plan," you responded absent-mindedly, walking forward with your head craned upwards, taking in the volume of the massive room. You suddenly felt smaller than you ever had before.

The search for Loki, which had honestly become a second thought for a while, was a difficult task, as you discovered the library did indeed branch off into more sections, alcoves, sitting areas, etc. There were not many people, only one or two in the first few sitting sections you passed. After thirty minutes or so, you paused in an open area, trying to decide whether it was worth continuing onward. You wanted to see the whole library, but who knows how long that could take. At this point you doubted you'd find Loki in a place like this, even if he was here. You sighed, and were surprised to hear how much it reverberated back to you. You looked around, and, seeing as the last person you'd passed was ten minutes back, you whistled. Like a child who enjoys echoes you did it again, smiling like a dope. 

"So," you said out loud, "Do I continue exploring this frickin amazing wonderland I've discovered, regardless of the chances of finding Loki in it, or do I take the time to look at some of these ancient books?" 

Your voice echoed back and you nodded to yourself as if it'd given you an answer.

"Yup, ancient books it is," you said, walking over to the nearest shelf. "They have literal scrolls?! To hell with Loki," you said happily, pulling a scroll gently off the shelf.

"I've been tossed aside many times in my life," a voice echoed, causing you to drop the scroll, whip around, and look for the man you knew had spoken. "But never for a piece of parchment," Loki finished.

You looked up to your right, finding Loki leaning on a balcony, grinning down at you.

"You certainly have a way of giving people heart-attacks," you chuckled, "Something I didn't know Loki was good at."

"Well, perhaps if you stopped presuming to know me, you'd learn more?"

"But where's the fun in that?"