Chapter Text
Chapter 4 – Supermassive Black Hole
“Still figuring it out, huh? Well, you should probably figure that out soon. I’ve got to stay somewhere in the palace since you guys are holding me hostage and if I’m dangerous or terrifying, I probably shouldn’t be close to you or anyone for that matter,” she said coyly as she batted her eyelashes up at him.
“Where is this coming from?” he thought to himself. “I never took her for a philanderer. Hmm, I can play this game.”
He smiled. “I suppose staying with me much longer wouldn’t be in your best interest. I do need my bed back and I won’t sleep much if you’re in it with me.”
Playing her most innocent, coquettish face, she covered her mouth as if surprised and gasped. “Well, I never. You shouldn’t toy with the emotions of vulnerable young ladies, sir.”
Loki thought for a second. “Don’t overstep your bounds, dolt.”
“My apologies, milady. There has actually been a suite prepared for you,” as he handed her an old fashioned skeleton key.
“May I see you to your room?” offering his arm to her. “You may,” she replied.
She was enjoying playing the southern belle act, even though she had been more of a country girl growing up.
Her room was two doors down the hall, between Sif and Thor.
Loki glanced around as Saoirse looked down at the key as if it were the most interesting thing.
Loki warred with himself inside his head. “Why do I fancy this girl so much? Sure, she’s pretty and intelligent, but she will turn me soft. Maybe she won’t.
Maybe the fact that she’s tough will keep me soft. Do I really want to be like Thor with his Midgardian? What is the worst that could happen?
She is far too amazing to give up,” he finally resolved. This conversation happened within his mind in an instant, but before he could say anything,
she reached up, grabbed each side of his face and pulled him down to place a soft kiss on his lips.
“Um, well thanks…for earlier. And for everything so far. You’ve been so good to me, Loki. See you tomorrow,” as she turned the key in the lock.
“Good night, Saoirse,” his voice trailed off. She winked and closed the door. Loki turned, grinning from ear to ear, to head back to his room,
but stopped as Thor was grinning back at him. Thor winked, and turned to go back into his room.
“I saw everything,” he said over his shoulder before closing the door. Even Thor couldn’t rain on his parade now. He closed the door to his room and sprawled out on his bed.
Back in her room, Saoirse was still coming down from the adrenaline rush that it took to muster the courage to kiss her demi-god.
She put her hand over her racing heart and giggled to herself. “Definitely better than any kid back home.” She sat down on her bed, and scanned her room.
“Blue, lots of it. Someone is observant and has good taste.” Her suite was all blue and silver. Her bed was large and very plush. Deep blue trimmed in emerald.
“I wonder who picked this,” she mused. She sank into her bed, hoping for dreams of her tall, dark and handsome friend.
She awoke with a start. She sat up, hair in a mess of reddish brown curls that were springing out every direction.
“OH!” she shouted as she heard a loud banging on the exterior doors of her suite. “Wake up, Midgardian princess. It’s time for your traaaaining,” Thor bellowed.
Other voices were present too. Volstagg and Fandral were also throwing taunts in attempt to wake her up.
“Let her be, you barbarians,” you could hear Sif scolding accompanied by a loud smacking noise she assumed was Sif swatting at them.
“Breakfast in the Hall when you’re ready, Saoirse.” Sif shouted. “Now you men, be gone,” her voice trailed.
“Are you ready, little one?” Thor laughed loudly. Saoirse glared at Thor.
“Is this dude serious?” she turned and asked Loki. “Shouldn’t have said that, brother. You’re going to regret that.”
“What can she do to me?” “Bad move,” Sif snickered softly.
Volstagg whispered to Fandral, “double or nothing, Saoirse trounces Thor.” “Surely you’re joking. I know better than to take that. Not after yesterday.”
“Rules are, use your powers. Do not kill.” Loki shouted. “Ready…begin!”
“Why the strong one first? Why couldn’t I learn some other battle style first?” Saoirse thought.
Thor swung the hammer in her direction, but she quickly feigned right. She shot a blast of fire at him, but he parried with the hammer.
She blasted the earth beneath him, but he quickly scrambled back up the face of the fault.
As he reached the edge of the cracked earth, she shot him with a blast of wind, sending him rolling across the ledge.
She closed the fault on his toes. “Owww! Ow ow ow!” Thor yelled as he yanked his toes out of the rocky earth. “Low blow, girl!” Thor bellowed. “Literally, dude.”
Thor threw his hammer at her. Saoirse sidestepped and caught it midair. Suddenly everyone stopped. Loki’s jaw dropped as gasps escaped the lips of the warriors watching.
“That’s not possible,” Thor gasped. “How…did you do that?”
“I’ve no idea. I expected to drop it.” “Only those worthy can wield Mjolnir.”
“Maybe I’m…worthy. I don’t know,” dropping Mjolnir to the ground.
Thor thought about it a moment, walked towards the woman and held out his arm, “shall we walk and talk? All this battle training can wait.”
She took his arm and they began to walk, leaving the group behind.
“Your childhood, tell me about it.” “It was normal, I was the firstborn. I was a smart kid. I was picked on a lot. I had fluffy curly hair, big glasses. I was an odd one.”
“How did you treat others?” “I was nice to people. I never treated anyone less than they deserved, and sometimes I treated people better than they deserved.
I hated seeing others get picked on. I stood up for them.” “Do you still stand by those principles?” “Of course. Justice is fair, but mercy is better.” “And why do you show mercy?” “Because I want to be better than my enemies.” “You have wisdom, far better than I did when I was your age.” “I wish I could believe that. I’m only still learning.”
Thor chuckled, “and you’re humble. You would be a great ruler of your world and your day is coming.”
Saoirse shook her head. “Earth has seen far too many rulers that almost ended our world. I don’t want to rule. I want to stand back and let the world lead, only step in when needed.” “Well, I see why Mjolnir would let you handle it so far. What about love?”
Saoirse’s eyes widened. “What about it?” “Have you ever loved before?” “I…I’ve had feelings for men before, if that’s what you’re asking. I’ve had boyfriends, erm...suitors before, but never anything very serious. I’ve just never been in real true love before. I never felt attractive to anyone either, I suppose.”
To this, Thor laughed loud. “Surely you are joking. Many of the men around the palace are quite taken with you.” Saoirse flushed. “Right. That’s a mean joke.” “
So what about sex? Surely, you’ve had sex.”
Saoirse punched him in the arm. “Shut up. That’s impolite to ask a lady. And no, I’ve not.”
“Pure of heart, mind and body. Of course Mjolnir would allow you to pick it up. Well, we best get back. You must train with Sif and Hogun before the end of the day.”
They headed back to the field and she began her training once again. Her training with Sif went well, as she learned with the battle staff and sai.
Hogun began her on martial arts and the more rare weapons.
They left the field for dinner. Most of the group walked ahead, but she and Loki fell behind as they talked.
“So tomorrow you will train with Fandral and me.”
“Actually, you mind training some after supper? I have too much adrenaline to go to sleep.”
They entered the palace. “I wouldn’t mind, I suppose. You trust me enough to train alone then?” “Why? Do you plan on hurting me?”
He looked around. The rest of the group was already in the banquet hall while they were still in the hall.
“I would never hurt you.” He took her hand and snaked his arm around her waist. “But after you kissed me last night, I’ve been thinking about getting you alone all day.”
He put his finger beneath her chin, raising her eyes level with his, rubbing his thumb across her bottom lip.
She could feel her heart speeding up and her skin getting tingly.
“You really should have let me make the first move. I could have been more prepared.
Instead, I stayed up all night, forcing myself to stay in my room and not come to your side. You’re weakening my willpower,” he said tracing her jawline with his fingertips.
He pressed her against the wall, placing his hand above her, holding her face in his hand as if it were glass.
He was close enough that she could easily kiss him if she stood on her tiptoes, but she refrained.
"There's no fun without a chase," she thought, "but that doesn't mean I can't tease him a bit."
She pressed her hand on his chest, taking in the shape and how his garments were assembled, memorizing every buckle and fastener.
He pulled in a sharp breath when she ran her hand down his chest and stared at it for a moment as if studying it.
She looked up into his eyes and smiled a sly smile.
“Well…after dinner then?” she breathed, before she slipped under his arm, turned to him smiling and then sauntered to the dining hall.
She was going to enjoy this and draw it out. She was going to make him intentionally ache for her.
Loki’s eyes yearningly followed her body and then he followed soon after.