Being a guard for the royal family in Asgard was nice, obviously not easy at all times, but there were calm times, which was always the best to have short conversations with other guards, who quickly became friends once you all started working together, although usually you were put on guarding the princes, so you weren't always near other guards.

It wasn't always consistent where one day you might be with Thor, then the rest of the week would be with Loki, or the opposite, but no matter who you were with, you were consistent in your work, keeping it at the forefront of your mind to remind yourself you were there for protection if needed, so you never really conversed with them unless you had to.

Although, because of the way you left him alone whenever you were assigned as his guard, Loki had taken a liking to you, you never bugged him unless you had to, and you took your job seriously. Recently, Loki overheard you talking with other guards about your birthday, and usually he wouldn't care in the slightest, but for you... for you, he cared, and he actually went out to get a gift. It was a small gift because he didn't want to be seen like he actually cared, but it was a gift nonetheless.

Eventually, your birthday came and you were excited. When it was a guard's birthday, the others usually threw together a small cake and gave birthday wishes, and it was always fun, but walking into the guards' quarters, there was nothing... nothing was different, and everyone was going on like it was a normal day.

After a while, you came to terms with the fact that everyone forgot your birthday, no one even tried to say happy birthday, which was what hurt the most, realizing they all just didn't care to remember. That was until you were assigned to guard the palace doors, meaning you were gonna be all alone all day.

But you weren't, Loki sat outside for once, just being near, giving quiet company until he had to go in for food with his family, where he handed you a small box.

"Happy birthday."

It was a simple sentence, but it meant the most to you, someone remembered! You didn't even care for the gift, just happy at least someone remembered.