If Loki was surprised by Sif (and he was) he did not show it. She was sensitive to his teasing these days and at the moment he did not want to upset what he viewed as a somewhat precarious balance of contentment in their discourse. He would rather Sif continue on, unfettered. He was unused to such candour with her, especially now, and almost selfishly Loki wanted to hoard it - though it didn't occur to him that in that selfishness he was in turn being kind.

"Oh yes?" he asked instead. "Probably because you seem to appreciate it more than others on Asgard. The more harmless I appear, the less respect I seem to receive; and the less harmless I am, the less I am loved. Not so with you, I think. To be both fierce and beloved is a privilege held by warriors such as yourself."