Loki's legs made noises as he walked around in his skin tight green leather pants and form fitting tunic. His pert little ass was cupped and caressed by the supple cowhide. He looked good, and he knew it. He was in the garden pretending to admire the roses as he actually admired Captain Rogers' fine warrior form.

"These daisies have very large petals on them. My friend Bucky would love them. Daisies are his favorite flower."

"What's your favorite flower?" Loki asked as his eyes raked up and down Steve.

"Oh, gosh, I don't know. Daisies I guess." Steve blushed beneath Loki's scrutiny.

"You are absolutely adorable." Loki slinked over and pressed his body against Steve.

"Um. Thank you my prince." Steve said.

"You're my suitor. Please, call me Loki. I long to hear my name upon your lips." Loki purred, getting very deep inside Steve's personal bubble.

"Loki. Your brother Thor is amazing. He's a great warrior. I aspire to fight as well as he one day." Steve said, unable to stop talking.

"You will. I can tell." Loki's fingertips brushed over those cheekbones and the touch made Steve shudder. His eyes fluttered back and forth as he looked at Loki's face. They shared breath and Loki's excitement reached its zenith as he leaned forward for a kiss.

"My friend Bucky has a metal arm. His fingers on his left hand aren't soft like yours." Steve said.

"That's nice." Loki said, ignoring the comment. He pressed his lips to Steve's and tasted that buttery softness. Steve was wearing cologne. Odd. Most alphas didn't like masking their own natural musk. Loki's tongue invaded his mouth, and he noted the sweet sandy texture of Steve's own tongue, like a sugared pear. He also noted that Steve was not reciprocating at the level he expected. He was a shy one.

"Did you like that?" Loki asked, looking downright predatory as he stared at Steve's lips.

"Yes." Steve breathed. They continued their stroll through the garden, and Loki entwined his fingers with his, pulling him along to look at all the little sights. The garden was full of all manner of insects. Butterflies and bumblebees ignored one another as they hopped flower to flower to feed on the nectar. Loki stopped to look at one butterfly in particular.

Its wings were a kaleidoscope of colors perfectly symmetrically mirrored on each side. They were so thin and delicate that the slightest touch from Loki's fingers could disintegrate them.

"So beautiful and fragile." Loki said.

"Beautiful things often are fragile." Steve said. Loki looked at the butterfly and considered the turn his life had taken. He'd been horrified at first, finding out about his omega status. However, he found he was more himself now than he'd ever been, and happier. He was still learning though, what it meant to be an omega in a world full of alphas. He'd pretended to be something else for so long.

"Yes we are. I need a mate that can give me what I need. But I'm not entirely sure what that is yet. I'm slowly discovering what I like and don't like. Tell me captain, what do you want in a mate?"

"I like your dark hair. Your eyes are a pretty shade of green and you seem dominant and sure of yourself." Steve said.

"Dominant? Yes, I suppose I do act dominant. Old habits die hard. But I've never met an alpha that actually liked a dominant partner." Loki said.

"I don't mind it. I want a mate that is confident and sure of himself. Like my friend Bucky." A look came over Steve's face when he said the name and finally Loki took note of it.

"You don't say." He said flatly. "Your friend, tell me about him. You said he has a metal arm?"

"Yeah, his left arm was chopped off by an axe during a battle on Muspelheim. The royal blacksmith and the army's healers worked together to create and attach the new arm to his body. It's been an asset to him, and it looks fantastic. You should see him in battle. He can stop a swinging blade by grabbing it and then bend it until it breaks. The look on the enemy's face when he does that…"

"Ah yes. I think I've met him before. He's an alpha like you isn't he?"

"Yes." Steve said, and Loki noted the light in his eyes as he spoke.

"Interesting. Tell me, why did you enter the tournament?"

"Ambition, to be honest."

"By marrying into the royal family or by gaining notoriety for being a tournament finalist?"

"Both, but mostly for my fighting skills. Rising through the ranks has been a hard fight for me since I don't come from a wealthy family."

"My mother said you were known for your honesty and I thank you for your candor. So, does this Bucky know that you are in love with him?" Loki asked. All color drained from Steve's face and he looked around nervously, afraid someone else might have overheard him.

"I don't…"

"Don't. Don't start lying now. Not to me. My dear Captain, it is plain to anyone who spends more than five minutes in your presence that you are madly in love with your best friend. Does he return the sentiment?"

"I don't know."

XxXxXxXxXx

The bedframe shook and thudded hard against the wall in a well-kept rhythm. Soft moans and keens fell out of soft thin lips. Her fingertips dug into the sheets of Thor's mattress as the golden prince took his pleasure on her. Her black hair, which had fanned out over the pillow at the beginning was now damp with sweat. She'd come twice already and was hanging on to Thor as he finished taking his pleasure on her. At the last moment, he withdrew before his knot got stuck in her. He basted her belly with his seed, scrunching up his face as the sensation broke over him in waves. He fell back onto his bed, exhausted. With his cock swollen and balls empty, he rested as he waited for his knot to die down.

"Thank you Milly. You may go." He said. The servant girl ran to the lavatory to clean up and redress and was gone in minutes.

Thor stared up at the ceiling, feeling troubled. Odin had chastised him again.

"You are not making an effort to find a mate! Either choose or I'll chose for you." He'd threatened. Of course Thor did what was only natural in response. He went and fucked a palace servant to take out his frustrations, like always. An activity Odin frowned upon.

Thor knew it was wrong too. He was their prince and employer and asking them to lie with him was morally questionable. He had no way of knowing if the girls really wanted to say no but feared to do so. This was all Loki's fault.

Why did Loki have to make his quest for a mate so damned public? And why was he in such a damned hurry to find one? Frustrated and agitated, Thor dressed for the training field.

Volstagg could see the scowl on his prince's face from dozens of yards away. And even if he hadn't, the clouds alone made it plain Thor's current emotional state.

"Thor. You are looking rather cheerful." Volstagg said. Thor's scowl deepened and Volstagg flashed a cocky half-smile at him.

"I'm in a mood my friend."

"Are you now? And here I thought the threatening storm was a display of your winning sexual prowess. It is said that every time the thunder claps, you've succeeded in seeding another womb!" Volstagg said. For a moment Thor's scowl disappeared and his face twisted up into one of incredulity.

"People don't really believe that do they?"

"No, no. But they do say that every time the thunder claps it means Loki has gained another suitor." Volstagg said, hoping to make Thor laugh.

"You're not funny. And you'll pay for that one old man." Thor said.

"Old man? I'm only 200 years older than you, you snot nosed little boy."

"Aaaaahhh!" Thor charged at his friend. Volstagg laughed at Thor's obvious temper tantrum and the two went through their paces as they enjoyed beating the hell out of one another. After an hour of enthusiastic training the two men finally took a rest on a bench and drank some water.

"Feel better?" Volstagg asked.

"Only slightly." Thor said, feeling a cut to his lip sting as he took a sip of water.

"Well what is on your mind lad?"

"Loki."

"What's he done now?" Volstagg asked. Thor huffed but he couldn't respond, not really.

"He hasn't done anything. I mean, he's doing exactly what mother and father want him to do and they fully encourage him…"

"Ah, this is about you then. Your father yelled at you again didn't he?"

"Aye."

"So what is the problem exactly? Are you waiting for love? Are you afraid of commitment?"

"Yes. No. I don't know. I not ready to marry Volstagg. I…I don't know who I should marry."

"Thor, you do realize that Sif would be open to a courtship if offered?"

"I am."

"You don't want her."

"I…I think I do. I…why can't I have the freedom to choose like Loki? Loki has changed so much this past year."

"What are you talking about? You have the freedom to choose, the same as Loki. You just have more pressure than he does because you are the eldest. That's all."

"I need my brother to stall. If he makes a selection, my father will make my selection for me. Time is not my friend." Thor said.

"Have you told Loki this?"

"No. You know my brother. He'd make a selection in haste just to spite me." Thor said.

"I understand your fear, but I disagree. He's your brother. Go talk to him."

"I suppose you are right." Thor said. Thor looked up at the palace then, and Loki just happened to be out on the balcony with their mother. He was wearing one of his feminine robes today. He usually liked to wear them when his heat drew near. The gentle wind blew his hair around and the slit up the side flashed a big expanse of leg. Thor frowned. Ever since Loki went into his first heat, Thor had been afraid to be alone with him, and he couldn't express the reason why.