I watched her go, wondering if I had done the right thing. Wondering if I should have stopped her from doing this. I’d never encouraged her. I told myself it was on her, the consequences, the choices.

“You can’t protect mortals from themselves.”

“Hi, dad,” I said without even turning around. I could sense him, but not quite see him.

He moved into my field of view, carrying a very nice silver topped cane. It probably had a sword in it. “But don’t worry. I have my eye on that one. She has talent.”

I laughed. “Trickster.”

“And what does that make you?”

“Provider of cayenne brownies?” I suggested, moving to walk down the street. “She’s scared.”

“She’s got considerable talent. They might not be experts, but she’s getting enough training to wake it up.”

“Hopefully Bruce can find somebody to teach her properly.”

“Seb might be more appropriate. Or no. He’s too straightforward.” Loki shrugged elegantly. “Depends on her choices.”

“As long as…I’ll feel bad if she gets really hurt.”

“Feel bad for her opponents.” He stopped outside a deli, and pointed at it with his cane. “Join me?”

I grinned. “Alright.” I wasn’t about to turn him down, especially as he seemed to have actual time to hang instead of being off doing vitally important god stuff. Or playing pranks on Thor. “Anyone toss you in the reflecting pool lately?” I asked.

“No. They tossed me in a snowbank.”

I laughed at that, not asking who it was. “Snowball fight. You know…when did…”

“Are you suggesting something so undignified?” His eye had a twinkle in it.

“You’re the trickster.” I headed into the deli – trusting he’d made a good choice. Not that I’d let him order for me, and I knew anything in here labeled spicy would actually be potent enough to make my eyes water.

But I also trusted it would be good food. And maybe spicy wouldn’t be so bad a thing. “Oh, I have…”

“Somebody else after a one night stand?”

I grinned. “Efreet.”

“Oh, he’ll be after a very secret one. I’ll laugh if he comes to me for advice.”

“Don’t you dare,” I informed him firmly. “I don’t want to end up with him shapeshifted into Kanesha.”

“You realize it’s dangerous to give me ideas, right? Even for you.”

“Oh…” I shut up and just ordered my food.