"Nope!" Loki replied cheerfully, smile widening. "It's a secret all for you!"

He sobers slightly as Cricket continues, clearly processing the idea, for all his heart does a little skip in his chest at that admission, tilting his head ever so slightly into the feel of the fingers carding through his hair.

"I really did. Gotta be faster on the draw if you want to get the jump on me, Pretty Cricket." He was still reeling a bit that he actually went through with it, but there was no doubting the delight in his tone regardless.