Sigyn's eyes flew open - panic consuming her. No, no, no, no, NO…this is not happening.

"Sigyn! Are you here darling?"

Loki lifted his head from her breast, the air suddenly cold on her wet skin. His fingers went still but remained buried in her body. "Who is that?" he asked, his voice suddenly too loud to Sigyn's ears in their close quarters. She was certain her mother would hear him.

"It's my mother," she said, her words soft but insistent. "Let me up!"

Her hands flew to Loki's shoulders, pushing him up and away from her. She had been right on the precipice of release, and she could feel her body rebelling at the sudden loss of sensation. Why did I ever agree to let her have a key to this apartment?

Loki sat back on his heels, his hands on his knees. "Were you expecting her?" To Sigyn's relief, he had at least tempered his voice to a whisper.

Sigyn wriggled off the bed, smoothing her skirt down and pulling the shoulder of her dress back up to cover herself. "No - but she has a key. I'm not sure why she's here." She grabbed the edge of the door, closing it as quietly as she could. She knew slamming it would only attract her mother's attention.

"I'll be right out, mother - I'm just changing clothes!" Sigyn yelled through the door, hoping Dagmar wouldn't try to test the handle.

She turned back to face Loki, leaning her body against the door. He remained crouched on the bed, looking at her expectantly. "Will you see what she needs...quickly?"

"Yes, yes," said Sigyn, her voice barely audible. "But you need to stay in here."

"You want me to hide?" he asked, incredulous. The volume of his voice was rising once again. "Do you not wish for me to meet her?"

"Shhhhh," said Sigyn, one finger raised to her mouth. "Please...she'll leave faster if we can forgo the introductions for now. Just give me a moment, and I'll have her on her way. Alright?"

He stayed silent, a curt nod his only answer. His irritation made Sigyn feel helpless, knowing that at this moment she couldn't please both Loki and her mother. She decided that if someone was going to be angry with her, it was not going to be the man waiting in her bed.

She mouthed a silent thank you to Loki, before taking a deep breath, trying to compose herself. She opened the door to her room and stepped out, making sure to swing the door softly closed behind her.

Dagmar was waiting for her in the sitting room, sitting on the sofa. Sigyn felt a blush creep up her face at the thought of what she and Loki had been doing there just moments prior.

"You look flushed, dear," said Dagmar, rising from the couch to place the back of her hand on Sigyn's brow. "Are you feeling well?"

"I'm fine, mother," said Sigyn. "Really. You've just, um, surprised me that's all. I wasn't expecting a visit from you today." She could feel the words coming out too fast. She hoped her mother didn't become suspicious.

"I've barely seen you in weeks," said Dagmar, patting Sigyn's cheek. "If I didn't know better, I would think you've been avoiding me."

Sigyn hadn't been intentionally avoiding her mother. Every spare moment she'd had recently was spent in Loki's company; evading Dagmar and her endless questions was merely an added benefit. Until this afternoon, Sigyn truly hadn't been sure if Loki's feelings for her were strong enough to warrant a revelation to her mother.

She had also steered clear of the topic of her mother with Loki. If she was to be completely honest, she would need to tell him about her mother's insatiable need to see Sigyn married off to a man of wealth and privilege. There was hardly a man more wealthy or privileged than a prince, and the last thing Sigyn wanted was for Loki to think that she was simply using him for his social status.

Even so, Sigyn knew that if their relationship continued to progress, she could not endlessly delay Loki meeting her mother; however, this was not the time or place for that to happen.

"I'm going to put some water on for tea, darling," said Dagmar, not waiting for Sigyn to answer before busying herself in the kitchen. "Come, sit with me. I have something I wish to discuss with you."

"Mother, must we do this right now?" said Sigyn, trying to keep the desperation out of her voice. "I have plans for this evening, and I would like to get ready."

"Well, what I wish to discuss cannot wait, dear."

Sigyn followed her mother to the kitchen, her mind racing through ways she could get her mother to leave. She hoped Loki could be patient.

Having just made tea before her bath, Sigyn was grateful her mother didn't have to start the fire for the kettle from scratch. Even so, the wait for the water to resume boiling was endless, and every moment that passed was another moment that Sigyn feared Loki could be changing his mind, or worse yet, preparing to leave.

"I thought I heard you talking to someone when I came in, Sigyn," said Dagmar, stoking the fire.

"Talking?" said Sigyn. "Who would I be talking to?" She barely repressed the nervous laughter threatening to creep up in her voice. "It was probably the neighbors."

"Perhaps so."

After what seemed like ages, the water was once again bubbling, and Dagmar prepared two cups of tea before handing one of them to Sigyn. "Here darling, let's sit for a moment."

Sigyn turned to walk to the table, and froze in shock. Leaning in the doorway of the kitchen was Loki, still naked from the waist up. She hissed through her teeth as a bit of hot tea sloshed out at her sudden stop, burning her fingers.

"What happened?" asked Dagmar, turning toward Sigyn - and the doorway - before Sigyn could stop her.

Sigyn opened her mouth to say something, only managing a small squeak before Dagmar's eyes followed Sigyn's gaze toward Loki. He remained where he was, making no attempt to conceal himself.

"What are you looking at?" asked Dagmar. "You don't have pests here do you?" she continued, her eyes sweeping the room - and passing directly over the doorway, as though there wasn't a partially clothed prince of the realm standing there.

"Don't worry," said Loki, his calm voice a complete contrast to the fear rising in Sigyn's throat. "I've made sure she can't see me. One of my many talents."

Sigyn barely felt her mother's hands as she took her tea from her and placed it on the table. "What has you so worked up, Sigyn?" she asked. "You've been on edge since I arrived."

"It's nothing mother," said Sigyn, her eyes never leaving Loki's. "Like I said, I just wasn't expecting a visit from you today."

As soon as Dagmar turned away from her, Sigyn mouthed I'm sorry to Loki. It was obvious he was unhappy, but she gave him a pleading look, hoping he would be understanding.

"Well, I hate to just drop in like this, but as I said, this couldn't wait a moment longer." Dagmar settled herself at the table and raised her cup to her lips, blowing across the surface before taking a small sip. "I know you're hiding something from me, Sigyn. Or more specifically, someone. A suitor."

Sigyn snapped her head around to her mother. "What?"

"I have an acquaintance that told me her daughter saw you out riding with a young man," said Dagmar. "She said he was quite handsome, but she couldn't be sure who he was." She took another drink of her tea, watching Sigyn expectantly.

"Quite handsome?" said Loki with a snort. "I'm flattered."

Sigyn gave him a sharp look before joining her mother at the table. "Is that so?" she said, playing with the edge of her cup. The question could have been aimed at her mother and Loki both, but of course her mother was the one who chose to answer.

"Yes, dear. Now tell me all about him."

Sigyn took a deep breath and raised her cup to her lips, trying to buy a little time. In her heart, she wanted to be able to tell her mother the truth, to let Dagmar share in her joy. But Sigyn knew the moment she revealed Loki's identity her mother would never leave. The questions would be endless, ruining what little was left of the time she had planned to share with Loki alone.

Sigyn set her cup down, the first words she could think of on her lips. "He's nobody important, mother."

She caught movement from the corner of her eye, and when she looked back at the doorway, it was empty.

She rose from her chair at once, knocking over her cup in the process. She regretted the words immediately, but there was no easy way to correct herself with her mother still there.

"What is wrong with you, child?" Dagmar said, standing quickly to grab a towel for Sigyn's spilled tea.

"I'm sorry mother, I'm really not feeling well after all," said Sigyn, her heart in her throat. "Can we please continue this another time?"

"But you've made a mess-"

"Just leave it." She grabbed her mother's elbow, pulling her away from the table. "Please? I just need to lie down for a while. I'm sorry you came all this way."

"Well, why don't you lie down, and I'll fix you something to eat."

"No!" said Sigyn, a bit too forcefully. "Uh...no, Mother. I couldn't possibly eat anything right now. I'm suddenly feeling rather nauseous."

"Well, why didn't you say so? I can't leave you like this - let me take care of you!"

Sigyn leaned against the table for a moment, clutching her abdomen. "It's really for the best if you leave, Mother - I would feel terrible if you get sick because of me." She took a deep breath and walked to the sitting room, her mother at her heels. "I can manage by myself, really."

She grabbed her mother's coat from the back of the sofa, using the opportunity to slip her hand in the pocket and find the key to her apartment. She pushed it down the front of her dress quickly, before turning to hand the coat to her mother. She was determined that there would be no more surprise visits in the future.

"Well, I suppose we can do this another time," said Dagmar, the displeasure clear in her voice. "But let me know the moment you're feeling better. I must know more about this suitor, 'important' or not."

"Yes Mother," said Sigyn, opening the front door and trying not to shove her mother out too rudely. "I promise, we will talk soon." She shut the door before her mother could reply.

Sigyn leaned against the door for a moment before pushing herself down the hallway. She had to find Loki and try to salvage what was left of the afternoon.

She found him standing beside her bed, completely dressed, not a hair out of place. He turned to her, and the look on his face told Sigyn everything she needed to know. There would be no salvaging of the afternoon, or the near future.

"Loki, please, let me expl-"

"Stop."

Sigyn crumpled at the word, and the obvious anger behind it, an emotion she'd never seen him express. To see that anger directed at her was devastating, and before she could stop herself, she began to cry.

Loki approached her slowly. His eyes, so darkened with desire just moments before, were utterly cold. The change was so stark he hardly seemed like the same man.

"Oh, don't cry," he said. He reached up to caress her cheek, wiping a tear away with his thumb. He leaned in closely, and for one hopeful moment Sigyn thought he was going to kiss her. His face was a hairsbreadth away from hers when he stopped.

"Save your tears...for someone important."

He pushed around her, storming down the hallway before she could say a word. She managed to call out to him once - "Loki, wait!" - before she heard the front door slam shut.

She ran down the hall and wrenched the front door open, hoping to catch a glimpse of him, but it was too late. There was no sign of him anywhere.

She turned back into her apartment, one hand on her hip and the other running through her hair. What have I done? She shut the door, leaning up against it before sliding down to the floor in a sobbing heap.

She felt a pinch in her dress, and she reached in to pull out the key she took from her mother's coat. She closed her fingers around it and squeezed, feeling the sharp edges dig into her palm until the pain in her hand was as great as the pain in her heart.


You should have ended this long ago, you idiot. How could you ever think she was different?

Loki hoped the walk back to the palace would be enough to calm him. But with every step, his thoughts and doubts began to creep in, inflaming his anger.

He heard voices in his head from the past, snippets of conversations he was never meant to hear.

He is only the second son, weak and insignificant...He will never be as strong as Thor...What use is a sorcerer when we have the strength of warriors?

He's nobody important, mother.

Sigyn had lured him to her bed, and for what? To use him and humiliate him? She had been so warm and willing as she lay beneath him. He thought he had seen the truth in her eyes, that she had wanted him as much as he wanted her.

You allowed your feelings for her to cloud your judgment. You opened up to her and look where you've ended up. An aching cock and a bruised ego...the only prizes worthy of someone so unimportant.

He arrived back at the palace, momentarily at a loss as to where to go. It would be too easy to wallow in self-pity if he went to his chambers.

Attempting to talk to his father would be a waste of effort. His mother was too attached to Sigyn - she would know everything soon enough.

That left just one option - someone who would rather fight than talk. As soon as the thought crossed his mind, Loki realized that's exactly what he needed.

He headed straight for the training room, hoping he wasn't too late. As soon as he opened the door, he could hear the familiar sound of Mjolnir singing through the air.

"Loki! I didn't expect to see you again so soon," said Thor. He held his hand out to the side, retrieving his hammer without so much as a glance. He took in the sight of his brother, narrowing his eyes. "You look distressed. What troubles you?"

"Nothing I wish to discuss. May I join you?"

"Has something happened with Sigyn?"

"I said I don't wish to discuss it Thor," said Loki, gritting his teeth. "One more question, and I will conjure a knife in your throat."

Thor held his hands up in surrender. "Then come, brother. Let us put your anger - whatever the cause - to better use than threatening my life."