Helena looked at him and frowned on her forehead << Why are you telling me this? You don't even know me! >> She said in her usual flat tone, but something in her shuddered: Loki was an orphan just like her.
He whispered as if burned at that question, and let her go of his hand << I don't know! >> admitted << I feel that somehow I can trust you, even if we don't know each other. >>
After a moment of hesitation she sat down again and stretched out her hand with her nails enameled in black towards Loki << I am Helena Frost >> she said << but you can call me Hel. >>.
The cafeteria was almost completely deserted at that time, most of the students were busy with afternoon classes or extra activities, so Helena and Loki were able to stay a little quiet in front of their cups of steaming coffee.
<< So, Hel, was it so tragic to just let yourself be offered a coffee? >> asked Loki with her usual arrogant smile on her face, earning her a nasty look worth a thousand words. << Come on, I know you're not as grumpy as you want to sound, and I also know that at least a little I have to like you, or you wouldn't be here. >> for that bit that knew her, for that little that they had spoken, Loki had understood that if Hel had not had a minimum of sympathy for him he would have sent him to the devil immediately, indeed, he would not have stopped to talk with him on that bench.
Helena sighed, maliciously placing the cup on the wooden table. Since that fateful morning when they had spoken in the courtyard, the boy had tormented her for a week to accept her invitation to go to the pub not far from the campus, or the cafeteria, or who knows where, and yet she had not broken his face. << Damn Odinson, you can be more pressing than a suitor. >> He replied not wanting to admit that he had caught on.
<< And why do you assume that I am not? >>
Loki stretched quietly on the chair, smiling amused by Hel's total lack of touch, but had to say that he liked that direct way of saying things.
<< Damn it, I bet if we were brothers we wouldn't be so equal. >> Helena replied with a half-solver, taking a fork from her raspberry cheesecake.
<< Already! >> whispered to him thoughtfully, the concentrated gaze of those who are elaborating a complex thought. << Helena, tell me something, your parents... >>
<< Don't ask, Odinson >> answered she flat by torturing the slice of cake with the cake fork. She earned an inquiring look from the boy, a look laden with apprehension and even something else, concern would say. << I never knew my parents, I spent my life between orphanages and foster families, so do not ask me questions about them, it's time lost. >>
Loki swallowed << I'm sorry, I did not know that... that you were like me. >> whispered.
She bent a corner of her lips into a bitter grimace << No, I'm not like you at all! >> She replied before hiding her face again behind her cold cup of coffee.
The boy looked at her confusedly, but he didn't have time to ask any questions because at that very moment in the cafeteria they entered, crashing as they usually do, the Avengers, or at least part of the group: Thor, Bruce, Tony, and Steve walked with surefootedness, laughing like morons for who knows what. Tony glanced at their table and put on a cruelly amused expression. << Look, guys, our usual table in front of the window is busy, it will be the case to teach the losers good manners! >> It wasn't true, that wasn't their usual table, you could barely stay in two, but Stark just couldn't resist bullying Loki or anyone he didn't think worthy... of what you didn't know then.
to be continued https://zen.yandex.ru/media/id/5d95c339aad43600afc75fd8/the-time-to-grow-up-part-7-5d95ea475d6c4b00ae54b74e