Loki liked to think himself several steps ahead of most people at any given time, whether he was plotting or just watching things unfold, but he could honestly say this wasn't really what he'd been expecting when Strange started the conversation.
Maybe because they were in a public shop?
Then again, it made almost perfect sense, in its own right. This was practically where everything between them had started even if at least one of them hadn't been aware of it yet.
Loki's fingers twitched slightly between Stephen's and he tilted his head slightly to the side, like he was practically being patient while his sorcerer worded things out. "You're more than ideal," Loki said and it was oddly the truth -- Stephen wasn't perfect, he made stupid mistakes sometimes, but they were all made with good intent and Loki wasn't looking for perfection. Or even someone who didn't make mistakes. Mistakes were fun, sometimes. Like this place, right now.