Water ran down Azzie's shoulders, the warm feel of it chilling Azzie to no end. She smiled to herself and tilted back her head, water running through the roots of her hair.
It felt good to shower like this, Azzie didn't get much time to just turn up the heat, tilt back her head and enjoy the way the water felt running through her hair. She was busy anymore. She was always so busy volunteering at charity events, promoting for her company, and seeing friends she didn't often have time to see. Not including the days that Azzie helped Pepper Potts run things at the construction center of Stark's tower.
Azzie was busy, constantly busy, constantly doing something. Today she finally got some time to herself. Today Azzie could just take a moment to breathe.
Azzie smiled and grabbed some shampoo, massaging it into her hair. She ran out faster than she meant to and squirted more into her hand, rubbing it into her roots.
"Feel the rain on your skin, no one else can feel it for you, only you can let it in. No one else, no else, can read the words on your lips," Azzie sang softly, listening as rain pattered on the window of her small bathroom. She felt like such a song was appropriate for the current situation she was in. Feeling warm water on her skin as she showered and hearing the rain pour. Water always reminded her of that song.
She sighed and reached forward, grabbing her phone and switching out the video playing on it for another Markiplier video, thoughtlessly turning the volume down so that when he screamed and ran from Slender Man, it wouldn't wake the entire apartment building.
"Hello, everyone and welcome, to Let's Play Slender Woods. Now…"
Azzie listened as Mark's voice rose and fell while he spoke about the game he was about to play, lost in the sensation of tranquility she was feeling.
She hoped nothing about this would change, she wanted to stay in the shower for hours.
"Is it customary for Midgardians to shower with a man talking to them through their phone?"
Azzie's eyes (which she hadn't even realized were closed) shot open, glancing at her phone for confirmation.
Mark was still talking, the game hadn't even been started yet, which meant…
"Who are you and why are you in my bathroom?" Azzie asked, her voice a lot smoother then she felt.
"Are you not going to answer my question?" The voice asked in reply. Azzie sighed softly and began to wash the shampoo out of her hair more thoroughly.
"It isn't customary no. I just happen to enjoy watching Markiplier while in the shower."
"Markiplier?" The man outside of her curtain questioned, the genuine confusion shining through the shaded tone. At that point, Markiplier began to scream, startling Azzie.
"OH, GOD NO OH GOD!"
His voice rang out through the bathroom, and Azzie darted forward, fumbling with her phone to shut him up. The man chuckled from where Azzie could not see, making her shiver slightly.
"He records himself playing video games online," she explained softly. The man murmured something, something that sound suspiciously like: "Midgardians…" before continuing with his sentence.
"My name is Loki, Loki of Asgard."
Azzie raised an eyebrow and picked up her hair brush, using it to brush the messy strands of her wet hair into place.
"You act like that should mean something to me," Azzie replied.
"Does it not?" The man- Loki, Azzie supposed- mused.
"It does not," Azzie confirmed.
The man shuffled through Azzie's bathroom, each step closer to her shower curtain making her shiver.
"How curious," he murmured. His footsteps stopped and he seemed to consider something for a long moment. "It is of little matter… You shall come with me."
"I shall not," Azzie retorted sharply, blindly reaching out from behind her shower curtain for a towel. She grabbed it, and just as she did she felt a hand touch her arm. The fingers attached to it, danced across her wet arm for a moment, causing her to jerk her hand and the towel back into the shower.
His fingers were ice cold.
"And how do you expect to get away from me?" He asked, clearly amused but Azzie's antics.
Azzie grunted and wrapped the towel around her head to keep it out of the way as she washed her body.
"I have a sword in here, and I'm not afraid to use it," Azzie warned casually, rubbing some Christmas scented Bath & Body soap over her legs and shoulders.
"Please," Loki replied with a soft laugh. "As if a Midgardian such as yourself would keep a sword with her in the shower."
Azzie grumbled softly, he was right she did not have a sword on her.
"Alright, so it's a plastic lightsaber. With my perfected form, there is no way you could beat me," Azzie warned softly, tapping her foot against the floor of her bathtub. Another chuckle met her ears.
"Quite the little liar. Are you not?" He observed, dropping his voice to a tone that made him scary, borderline terrifying.
"Says the wannabe Norse god," Azzie retorted. She noticed the way that this alleged "Loki" spoke, it was like that of a man who believed himself to be above others. He pulled out her lies like they were painfully obvious and he kept calling her a Midgardian… Azzie would like to believe that this man in her bathroom was just neurotic.
She, however, had seen the reports from New Mexico earlier. She knew of the Avenger's protocol, and she knew all about Thor.
As a bit of a Norse freak, Azzie couldn't help snooping when she heard Tony and Pepper talking about Thor during construction one day at the Stark site. She followed the two home and found her way into Stark's computer. Luckily, for a billion-dollar computer the controls were simple, and all Azzie had to do was hit Control F, on the keyboard to find the report on Thor. She was caught but Tony a few minutes later but by then it was too little too late.
He told Azzie everything he knew, and Azzie soaked it up, took it to heart.
The man standing outside her shower curtain could be anyone, but there was a sick feeling in Azzie's stomach that told her it wasn't just anyone, but the real Loki.
"What is your name, mortal?" Loki asked, spitting out the sentence like it were poison. Azzie rolled her eyes at his ferocity, and rubbed her arm gently.
"Azzie," she replied softly. There was a pause, as if Loki was trying to see if Azzie was lying, and then he snorted.
"Not a nickname, your given name."
"Not important," Azzie retorted, letting water run down her body pointlessly. "Now if you would please see yourself out..."
"I will step out of your bathroom," Loki agreed gently. "However, I will be waiting out there for you to be presentable. Then I shall take you to Asgard."
Before Azzie could argue to try and tell him that "No, I will not be coming with you" the bathroom door closed, leaving Azzie alone.
She sighed softly and turned off the shower water. She brought the towel from her hair and dried off her body, getting dressed in a loose 70s style dress. She sighed and did not bother doing anything with her hair. She just left it down, no products or anything. She put on some lotion and opened the bathroom door, half excited to see what Loki actually looked like.
"Loki?" She called out tentatively. She peered around a corner in her apartment to see a man standing at the bookshelf in her bedroom. He glanced back at her, away from the book he was holding and raised an eyebrow at her.
"So, you are the young woman I spent my time, talking to through the curtain."
Loki turned towards Azzie more directly.
"You aren't as disgusting as I thought you would be."
Azzie put a hand on her hip before turning from Loki to grab a blue backpack she owned. She grabbed some clothes and began to pack them.
Loki wasn't bad looking either. He had slicked back black hair, and an exquisite face. High cheekbones, piercing green eyes, a lean figure, dressed in robes of green silk. A slight flaw to him would be that he was a bit pale, and a little creepy, in all honestly.
"What are you doing?" Loki asked, appearing right behind Azzie.
"Packing?"
Loki smirked from over Azzie's shoulder.
"So, you've given in, I see."
Azzie shrugged carelessly, barely paying any attention to Loki.
"I could use an adventure. Asgard or the back of a truck, either way it will be one hell of an adventure."
Loki chuckled, low and dark.
"You are foolish," he murmured, clearly amused.
"Bored," Azzie corrected, throwing her phone and a pair of tennis shoes into her backpack. "Now, how do we get to Asgard?"
Loki sighed, as if he was bored of their talk and wrapped an arm around Azzie's waist, pulling her tight against his chest. Azzie sucked in a breath and began to protest at the close proximity. Loki didn't feel as cold as he did before but he was still a bit chilly. Probably something to do with him descending from the Ettins, or the elementals. Although it was odd for the god of fire to be cold at all.
"Heimdall," Loki called out to the empty room. Before Azzie could open her mouth, excited to hear that Heimdall was real, the world around her flashed, hurling her body through something that gave her a sick feeling to her stomach.
The feeling only lasted a second but it was long enough that if Loki had not been holding Azzie she would have fallen once they got to Asgard. She clutched at the god, panting heavily, granting herself a disgusted look from Loki.
"Pathetic," he murmured.
"That was horrible," Azzie complained, still clutching at Loki. "I think I'm going to be sick…"
Loki grunted in distaste.
"Hello, Ms. Welcome to Asgard."
For a moment Azzie resisted the urge to throw up, then she remembered Norse mythology.
"Heimdall!" She said excitedly, tearing herself away from Loki to look at the other god. The god stood tall and straight by a giant sword in the middle of the dome Loki and her stood in. He had dark skin, like Azzie did, and wore a blank look. His eyes made it seem as if he was blind, but Azzie knew that he could actually see all.
"Hello Ms," Heimdall replied softly.
"I'm Azzie," Azzie introduced, giving the god a small. "You're one of my favorite of the Norse gods!"
Heimdall's lips quirked up into a something that could be called a smile before he ducked his head a little.
"It is a pleasure to meet you young Azzie," Heimdall replied, his voice booming in the small dome. Azzie smiled back.
"You too Heimdall," she said chirpily. "Where are we off to?"
"The palace," Heimdall replied. Azzie made a happy noise and bounced in place eagerly.
"Just out that way?" She asked. The small nod of Heimdall's head was all the confirmation Azzie needed before she raced out of the dome out onto a beautiful rainbow-colored bridge. It was wide, long and led to a humongous spiked golden building in the center of some sort of metropolis.
Azzie faltered in her steps as the sight quite literally took her breath away ("woah…") but she quickly regained composure. She stumbled forward and began to sprint down the bridge.
Adrenaline pumped through Azzie's veins, and a large smile spread over her face. The air was cool but not warm, and it was so clean compared to air on Earth.
"This is amazing!" Azzie cheered, jumping as she finally reached the end of the bridge and the doors of the palace. Excitedly, Azzie pushed into the palace, racing down the large swooping halls until she came across the throne room. An old man sat at the golden throne, staring at Azzie in alarm.
"Who are you?" He demanded, sounding angry. Azzie took a step back and frowned.
"Odin?" She questioned and then, with wide eyes dropped to one knee and bowed her head. "Sorry, King Odin of Asgard. I am Azzie of Midgard."
"If that is so, where is Loki?" Odin asked skeptically.
"Here father."
Azzie stood and turned back to see Loki standing there, leaning against a wall boredly.
"You have the Midgardian now; may I please take my leave?"
Odin shook his large head, a grim look on his face.
"No. I have something to tell you two before you leave."
Azzie watched Odin curiously, feeling her body lean a bit as she waited for Odin to tell them, hopefully, why she was here.
"What is it father?" Loki asked in a way that made him sound like a moody teenager.
"As a sort of union between Midgard and Asgard, in order to prevent a foreseen tragedy, one of my guards ascended to Midgard to find a human fit to wed my son."
Azzie blinked and blindly pointed to herself.
"Me?" She asked. Odin gave her a sharp glare but nodded.
"Yes, Azzie of Midgard."
"And who?" She continued. "Thor? Baldr?"
"Loki," Odin replied.
Two things were said loudly at the same time.
Loki, in outrage screamed: "My betrothed is this retched fool?"
And Azzie in confusion asked: "Loki is your son?"
Odin sighed heavily, as Loki seethed and Azzie began to ramble.
"How is Loki your son? I mean biologically he isn't right? I thought he descended from the Ettins? Never anywhere have I seen it said you two were father and son. Blood brothers? According to some but father and son-"
"Silence," Odin interrupted. "The arrangement has been made and the decision final. Guard?"
A guard stepped forward, bowing his head towards the king.
"Take Azzie to her room."
The guard nodded once and curtly regarded Azzie.
"This way."
Azzie shrugged and followed the guard, leaving Loki and Odin to themselves. Over she threw a: "Good bye" earning herself two matching glares. She sighed and fell in step beside the guard.
"So, what's your name?" She asked softly. "I'm Azzie, Loki's betrothed."
The guards' eyes lit up and he shot Azzie a glance.
"Aslog?" He asked. Azzie gave the man an odd look.
"Yes…"
"I'm Asmund!" He explained excitedly. "Your god father."
Azzie's eyes sparkled and she threw her arms around the man.
"Asmund! Mom spoke highly of you! I was starting to think you didn't exist!"
Asmund chuckled lightly and cupped Azzie's face.
"You've grown so much! The last time I saw you, you were a little girl..."
Azzie chuckled peering up into the eyes of the man above her. She could see the kindness in his golden eyes.
"It's great to finally meet you Asmund," Azzie said pleasantly, wrapping her arms around Asmund's waist. She leaned forward and buried her head in his chest.
"Your armors cold," she commented after a moment. Asmund laughed and gently pushed Azzie back by her shoulders.
"I should get you to your room," he murmured, his voice softer and kinder than anyone else Azzie had met so far.
"Alright."
Asmund smiled and headed off down the hall again. Azzie followed with a curious glance at her surroundings.
"Alright so Norse Mythology is real and Loki is my husband-to-be," Azzie said aloud. "Anything else I should know?"
Asmund hummed, glancing back at Azzie.
"Well, Thor's been banished to Midgard."
"Oh, yes, I'd heard of his incident with the hammer… Why was he banished?"
"He's irresponsible, unfit to be king. According to the Allfather."
Azzie nodded once, running her fingers through her hair.
"If that's so, how is Loki taking it?"
Asmund sighed.
"He is troublesome, worrisome." He admitted after a long minute. "No one is sure how he is taking it. Prince Loki keeps to himself."
Azzie sighed and tilted her head slightly.
"Then why am I here?"
Before Asmund could answer he came up to a large set of doors. He stopped at the doors and pushed one open.
"You don't get a room to yourself," Asmund murmured. "Since you'll be marrying Loki they thought you two ought to share a room."
Azzie stepped into the room, looking around at the emerald green and gold walls that decorated Loki's room.
"Reasonable," she commented as she took in the large bed in front of her. It looked to be King size, much bigger then what Azzie was used to. She walked over to the bed and sat down on it, her feet dangling as she sat on the edge.
"Is he nice?" She asked, her eyes catching a large painting of the god on the wall. He looked majestic in it, almost happy. As if someone outside the frame was making him laugh.
"What do you think?" Asmund asked, leaning against the door frame. Azzie chuckled softly.
"He's an asshole," she replied with a soft chuckle. "And I'm expected to marry him."
Azzie started laughing, falling back on the bed as her body shook in amusement. Asmund must have thought this behavior was odd, because in a moment he had a hand over her forehead.
"Are you alright?" He asked.
Azzie willed herself to calm down, reminding herself that the situation wasn't really that funny. Once her breathing had calmed down she peered up Asmund with a soft smile.
"Yeah, I'm fine," She replied. "I was just thinking about how much of an adventure this one is going to be. Thor is banished to Midgard and I'm on Asgard engaged to an asshole."
She smiled and sat up with a soft sigh.
"I should have brought my books."
"You can go back to retrieve them another time Azzie."
Azzie looked behind Asmund and saw Loki standing there, he looked furious, but his voice was calm and collected.
"Oh, hello Loki, did you and your father have a nice chat?" She asked politely. For some reason, the Asgardian did not look very impressed.
"Guard, leave us."
Asmund pulled away from Azzie and nodded curtly.
"Yes sir."
He was gone before Azzie could say good bye.
"So, Loki," Azzie said with a tentative smile. "Did you know that we are engaged?"
Loki frowned and walked farther into the room.
"Get off my bed."
"Our bed," Azzie reminded him.
"My bed," Loki said firmly. Azzie put her hands in the air in surrender and stood up, standing in front of Loki with unrivaled confidence. He was tall. Much taller than Azzie was herself. It was a bit intimidating. He made a face, one that looked unimpressed and annoyed. He brushed past Azzie and began to pace silently.
Azzie let out a grunt and sat down on the ground, watching Loki pace.
She felt calm, considering the day she was having. She should be mad, or in denial or something but Azzie just wasn't feeling it. Instead she was calm.
"So are you just going to pace for no reason?" She observed softly.
"I have a reason," Loki snapped bitterly. Azzie grunted laid back on the floor.
"I don't suppose you'd like to talk?" She asked.
"I'm not happy with this arranged marriage either!" Loki snapped.
Azzie didn't reply for a long moment.
"So, about your brother, I heard he got banished," she commented, trying to make small talk.
"Do you not shut up?" Loki demanded. Azzie stopped then, closing her mouth, sitting up, looking down at her feet.
"Sorry," she murmured, her voice small.
Loki seemed to stop pacing, and instead he turned his head towards Azzie.
"My father has fallen into the Odinsleep. With Thor gone I am now the King of Asgard."
Azzie looked up in alarm, eyeing the man before her. He looked somewhat weary already, a bit stressed.
"Well, I guess it is a good thing you have me with you then," Azzie piped up, standing quickly. She smiled brightly and rushed forward, wrapping her arms around his waist. He was still cool, but it seemed that he didn't mind her touch. He stayed still for a while, hesitant to let Azzie in. Azzie didn't really mind.
"I'm not letting go until you hug back," she warned. Loki growled softly, pushing Azzie away with ease.
"I must go, go see my mother, check on my father, see my brother."
Azzie stepped closer to Loki.
"Take me with you."
Loki frowned.
"No."
Azzie frowned as well.
"Then don't go."
"I must," Loki insisted, looking angry.
"Look, I don't want you going anywhere without me, you seem lonely and I am here to keep you company, to unite two kingdoms or something, I won't let you just ignore me."
Loki seethed, grabbing Azzie's wrist.
"What do you think?" He asked. "That because my parents wish us married, you are my equal?"
He was angry, furious. Azzie recognized that. She wasn't scared of him, but she could feel herself beginning to tear up.
"You and I are not the same, I shall not share a bed with you, nor shall I share a room. You will leave me for I have no use for a common Midgardian."
Azzie stood there just taking in the princes- Kings- anger. She began to quiver a bit, tears beginning to fall from her eyes. She choked back a sob and tried to hold back the body shaking remorse she felt at making Loki angry.
He faltered in his anger when he noticed her tears, and he stopped taking a step towards Azzie. He raised a hand to her face, a thumb wiping away one of her tears.
"You do not fear me," he observed. "So why do you cry?"
Azzie didn't reply. Instead she lowered her eyes, looking at the ground in remorse. Now Loki would see her as some sort of coward.
There was a long moment of silence. Loki stared at Azzie, his fingers playing with the tears on her cheeks. Then, he spoke.
"I… I will stay with you young Azzie of Midgard," he said slowly and hesitantly. Azzie looked up in alarm.
"But… Wh-?"
"I do not wish for you to meddle in my affairs," Loki explained. "And I know if I do not stay you shall. You do not fear me."
Azzie nodded her reply with a sniffle.
"Yes, Asmund trusted me here with you, which means you will not hurt me."
"Asmund?" Loki questioned.
"The guard," Azzie explained. Loki raised an eyebrow towards her. "My mom knew him. He is my godfather."
Loki frowned.
"Your mother knew an Asgardian?" Loki asked incredulously. Azzie nodded and tentatively pulled away from Loki, sitting on his bed. He didn't argue. Instead he sat down with her.
"Yes, I think he was the guard who chose me to be your betrothed. Which explains a lot, she used to tell me I was in an arranged marriage. I never believed her, I thought it was a joke."
Loki stood up again, stretching out his arms. In an instant, he was changed from his normal clothes to a pair of pajamas.
"We shall rest," Loki said. He waved a hand over Azzie's head and she was wearing different clothes too, a silky night gown.
"How-?"
"Magic," Loki interrupted. He sat down by Azzie and gently pushed her back against the bed. "Now is it not customary for humans to sleep?"
"It is," Azzie agreed, sitting back up. "But I am not tired, or convinced that you won't leave while I sleep."
"I could just make you sleep," Loki pointed out.
Azzie peered up at him, shifting closer and closer until her arms were wrapped around his waist and her head was on his chest.
"Please don't," Azzie whispered. He stared at her as if she had done something out of the ordinary. He frowned.
"Is that supposed to convince me?" He asked, his voice full of disbelief.
"I thought I'd appeal to the side of you that wants respected," Azzie explained nervously. Loki raised an eyebrow at her.
"If you really wished to respect me you would have gone to sleep," he murmured.
"I just want to spend some time with you Loki," Azzie murmured. That was a total lie. What she really wanted was to keep some major tabs on Loki. She knew she was here for a reason other than that "to unite Midgard and Asgard" bull crap Odin was trying to pull, and she figured the more time she spent with Loki the more evident the real reason for this union would become.
Loki sighed, the defeat in his eyes as he laid back in the bed.
"Go to sleep Azzie of Midgard, I will not leave your side tonight."
There was something oddly comforting about the way he spoke that sentence. Azzie had never really felt safe in the arms of another man before. She never felt unsafe, sure but with Loki Azzie felt like no one could ever hurt her. She frowned a moment at the feeling of safety.
"You promise?" She finally managed to say. Loki didn't speak for a long moment.
"I promise," he finally relented. Azzie yawned and nodded her final consent.
"Okay," she murmured and drifted soundlessly to sleep.
Author's Note:
Azzie is showering when Loki comes for her, they have a conversation through the curtain and he takes her to Asgard
