Loki returned to the bedchamber Thor had prepared for him. The moment he entered, he threw himself onto the soft bed, covered his eyes with both hands, and lay there in silence.
Helen came running over with a thump-thump-thump, sprang onto the bed, grabbed Loki's arm, and began shaking it. "You weren't crying, were you? Don't cry! Don't get mad because of her. Let's go play in the backyard!"
Helen pulled Loki's arm away. He had not actually been crying, but his expression was extremely complicated. He suddenly sat upright on the edge of the bed. Helen stared at him blankly for a while before Loki turned to her and said, "Don't tell anyone what I'm about to say."
Helen immediately patted her chest. "Don't worry, my lips are sealed—just as tightly as Doctor Schiller's!"
"I know you're like him. That's why I'm telling you not to say anything." Loki rolled his eyes. "I know the reactor in your chest can record sound. Turn it off."
Helen lowered her hands in disappointment, coughed twice, and the light on her chest reactor went out. She muttered under her breath, "Damn it, that trick Pikachu taught me actually didn't work."
Loki reached out and put an arm around her. It had originally been nothing more than an intimate, conciliatory gesture, but the moment he felt Helen's body heat, he seemed to be startled and quickly withdrew his hand.
Helen sat on the edge of the bed as well, her legs dangling and swinging back and forth. Bracing herself with both hands, she looked up at Loki and said, "What did you want to say? Don't worry. You can tell me anything you can't tell other people. I won't tell anyone. We can pinky swear!"
"It's nothing." Loki shook his head lightly. He