A week passed, but Sigyn was no closer to coming to terms with her new abilities. In fact, she was quite sure that she'd gone in the opposite direction to becoming comfortable with them. Every time that she thought she'd overcome the feeling of discomfort that she associated with magic, something else seemed to happen to put her off again.
And Sigyn had discovered that those things seemed to happen more whenever she got angry or annoyed; and those things usually meant that something nearby was set on fire. It was unbelievable how many times Sigyn had lost control of her temper and, as a result, something had burst into flames.
So far she had set fire to the curtains in the hall, a bunch of flowers in a vase, a cake (she wasn't quite sure how that had happened) and her own dress. Sigyn had almost had a shouting match with Loki over never discussing that last incident again. It had been humiliating for her, and she was just glad that they had been alone in their rooms when it happened.
This expenditure of excess magic really did give 'sparks fly' a new meaning.
Though Sigyn didn't realise until then that she got so angry all the time... Even trying to control her temper wasn't doing her much good; occasionally things just set her off, and the rest was singed and smoky history.
"You have to channel your magic," Loki explained eventually. "Put it towards something."
Sigyn stared at him, her mouth falling open slightly.
"Why didn't you tell me this before?"
He smirked and shrugged his shoulders, walking over to take a seat at his piano. Sigyn frowned and followed him across the room, manoeuvring herself between Loki and the piano. She looked at him questioningly until he offered her an explanation.
"It was quite entertaining to watch you set things on fire. I was wondering what would go up in flames next. Just blame my curiosity," he added somewhat innocently.
As if Loki could be innocent, Sigyn thought as she rolled her eyes.
"I could just blame you."
"Well you wouldn't want to do something like that now would you, love? Then you might well get annoyed and set your dress on fire and I might get another show," he grinned.
Her gaze hardened as she stared at him completely unimpressed.
"I thought we'd discussed you never mentioning that again?"
"Ah but surely you remember how you had to throw the dress off of you- and surely you remember what happened afterwards," he said silkily, his hands coming up to rest on either side of her hips. "I'd say that that was a productive use of your excess magic."
"And I'd say that that was you talking about it," she frowned at him.
His grip tightened on her hips slightly as he replied, "But I have such fond memories of that incident, love."
Sigyn opened her mouth, about to reply to him as irritation rose in her, but found herself quickly pulled into his lap, her legs either side of his. She made a small noise of surprise as his lips collided with hers, but she didn't object. And she didn't have the time or the inclination to think about what they were arguing about while he kissed her. She sighed as she pulled back from him and looked into his amused eyes.
"What do I have to do to channel the magic?" she said, giving up their previous discussion.
"Whatever you wish," Loki smirked.
He was amused, albeit glad, that he had distracted her from her anger and set her on target again. She could be so easy to persuade sometimes; and not so easily persuaded at others- he was just thankful that this time was one of the former.
"I don't understand," she admitted after a while.
Loki smiled and answered, "You have to put your excess magic to use or it will build up."
She blinked. That actually makes sense, she thought as she considered his words. Why didn't I think of that? But a voice in the back of her mind told her that it was because she knew absolutely nothing about magic and that she couldn't be expected to figure all of this out.
Damn Loki's amusement at watching me try, she thought, frowning to herself. Her husband looked at her curiously, questioning her expression. Instead of revealing the truth of her thoughts to him, Sigyn chose to distract him from the look on her face by asking a question.
"Do you do that? Put your excess magic to use, I mean?"
He inclined his head, answering her with a yes. She paused for a moment and looked at him.
"Wait, hang on a second- is that why you're always playing tricks on people?"
"It's also why I play the piano," he smirked.
She blinked, surprised by the sudden revelation of knowledge. So that was why Loki so frequently used his magic to play tricks on people; not necessarily because he found it amusing- although he most certainly did- but because he had to. That was an interesting piece of information to learn.
But Loki didn't just put his magic to use by tricking people, he also used it to play the piano. The way he said it, there was so much that could be done with magic. It sounded as if Sigyn would be able to do whatever she wanted with the excess of it.
"So, anything?" she queried.
He raised a brow. He could see an idea brewing in her mind already and he would kill to know what it was. Loki wondered if she would tell him. It was so tempting to see the way her brain worked and to know that he could uncover her secrets if he set his mind to it.
"So I could channel it into helping me learn things?" Sigyn asked.
Her eyes were hopeful and it only made him want to discover her thoughts even more.
"In theory, yes," he answered. "But what is it you want to learn, my little Sigyn?"
Loki's hand came up to rest on the side of her neck, his thumb stroking over her cheek. She leant into his touch and closed her eyes for a moment. His other hand shifted to tuck one of her long curls behind her ear.
"Oh, just things," Sigyn smiled, opening her eyes again.
He looked at her, his question in his glance.
"I'm not telling."
Loki stared at his wife. Wasn't this an intriguing stance that she was taking... He smirked at the prospect of convincing Sigyn to reveal her thoughts to him, rather than her just giving him what he wanted. This could be a very interesting turn of events, he thought.
"Maybe I can persuade you," Loki said suggestively.
Using the leverage his hand on her neck had given him, he pulled her into a kiss that she willingly returned. Her eyes fell shut as their tongues danced against each others in a sudden bout of passion. Eventually he allowed her to pull back from him, her breathing heavy. She didn't open her eyes until her breaths had levelled once more. Loki smirked at the power he had over his wife's emotions and waited for her to say something.
"Hm," she sighed. "Still not telling; although I must admit that you've given me some other ideas now."
She just grinned at him and, placing her hands on his shoulders, she pushed herself off of him. Sigyn started walking toward the door of their rooms, pleased with herself for finally having something over Loki. Her plan had been to leave him standing behind her, perhaps stunned by the insinuation of what she would not tell him.
But this was Loki. Her husband didn't not stand behind shocked so easily. He appeared in front of her and she stopped abruptly, jumping and clutching her chest. He gave her a small smirk as he stood before her.
"That still amuses you, doesn't it?" Sigyn asked once she had regained her composure.
His smirk broadened before falling away as he said, "You know, I have ways of making you tell me, love."
She pouted.
"Loki."
He grinned at her expression and his hands came up to rest on her shoulders, his thumbs playing with the dipping collar of her dress. She could feel the temptation in his fingers as they teased the material.
"Can't you let me have some fun for once? Can't you just let it be a surprise?"
His lips twitched at the corners.
"Surprises are my business-" Loki started.
"And you are my business, therefore surprises must be my business too. I knew that when I married you."
He couldn't help but grin at her logic.
"Indeed... I will find out what you're planning though."
"It would be nice of you not to," she commented, tilting her head to the side.
"Nice is not my business," he answered, somewhat honestly.
Sigyn's expression remained unchanging and, for that, he could not resist giving in to her.
"But for you, love," he continued. "I will try to curb my intrigue."
Her eyes lit up at his reply. She hadn't thought that he would give up so easily, but she was happy that he had.
"Now, although I cannot persuade you to reveal your secrets," Loki started, his thumbs curling under the material that they had been teasing. "Perhaps we could return to that kiss?"
Sigyn beamed and let him pull her back into a kiss.
Author's Note: Sooooo, new chapter, new information. I'd love to know what you guys think. :)
Plus, to the guest reviewer that said 'I don't care if it's bad of me, I still wish Sigyn set her sisters on fire.' - It's not bad of you, I wanted that too. But unfortunately that's just not how the story goes. :/ I still curse myself for inventing them to be so annoying... ¬¬ :/
Kit xx
