Pairing(s): Thor/Loki, Farbauti/Laufey, slight Farbauti/Frigga, one-sided Jarnsaxa/Thor, Fandral/Jarnsaxa, Tony Stark/Pepper Potts, one-sided Wade Wilson/Loki
Rating: M
Word Count: Don't know don't care
Warnings: Dead animals and more Thorki cuteness
Don't own Marvel peeps or The Village
Summary:
/ LET THE BAD COLOR NOT BE SEEN, IT ATTRACTS THEM
/ / NEVER ENTER THE WOODS, THAT IS WHERE THEY WAIT
/ / / HEED THE WARNING BELL, FOR THEY ARE COMING

Yay another favorite part! Gosh Thor, there are other porches. And yes, I am totally fangirling right now.

Chapter 9

Loki looked around, then jolted as he was led through an arch of arms again. He heard the screams again, and his dance partner seemed to hear them as well, because she began to walk a bit slower. It sounded like two young boys, and they were crying for their mother. Why they weren't in the greenhouse with the rest of the villagers was uncertain, but they must have seen something terrifying.

The villagers all formed a group and shuffled their feet as they stayed together. Loki didn't have his cane and people were constantly bumping into him. He held his arm out, trying to find some open space, and then someone grasped his hand and pulled him out of the mob of people. Thor kept his gaze forward as he led them towards the front of the greenhouse, and Loki followed him silently. He didn't need to say anything because he knew he was safe.

The boys had been found and were now standing in front of Farbauti, who had a hand on the older boy's shoulder as a gesture of reassurance.

"They're in the village. They left more warnings," the older boy said with a shaky voice.

"They want us to leave," the other said.

"It cannot be..." Farbauti murmured.

"One saw us," the older boy spoke. "It ran off into the darkness."

"You...are certain?" The boys both nodded. "You boys stay close to Loki. He'll tell you some funny stories and have you laughing soon." Loki held out his hands and the two brothers went to him. "We will go together," Farbauti said before rising from the floor.

It was nearly pitch dark out, and the only source of light was the trail of lanterns leading from the greenhouse to the village. The children were crying, and the adults would occasionally look around cautiously. When they entered the village, their speed slowed to a death march.

There were skinned animals strewn all over the ground and hanging from trees. The smell of blood hung in the air. Jarnsaxa stood frozen, and Fandral gripped her hand trying to reassure her. It didn't seem to work, so he simply led her in a different direction to prevent her from seeing anymore.

Frigga and Farbauti were at the barns, where the door had been yanked open. There were no animals when there should have been many.

"Livestock has been taken and skinned. The hides and feathers are missing," she said. "There are marks on the door where it was opened." Farbauti ran his hand across the scratch mark. "The marks are high. Coyotes...cannot reach that height." Farbauti didn't respond to her, so she merely shook her head.

Silence had fallen over the village and everyone had tucked in for the night. The guard at the watch tower was standing towards the woods, but as of yet he saw and heard nothing. The only person who was awakened from slumber was Loki, who saw movement outside his window. After putting on a shawl, he walked out onto the porch in his bare feet and quietly sat down next to his visitor.

"The Elders are going to have an inquiry tomorrow. Each member of the village is to be questioned in the meeting hall."

"To see how the border was breached," Thor confirmed. Loki nodded. "It is cold outside. You should go in."

"Why are you on this porch?"

"It is not safe," Thor replied after some hesitation.

"There are other porches," Loki said, turning his gaze towards Thor, who looked down at his shoes. Loki continued to stare at him. "Do you find it odd that I play all those games with Wade, despite my age? I quite enjoy them, although I would like to play the game with the other boys at the stump. They put their backs to the woods and see how long they can wait before getting scared. It's so exciting. I understand you hold the record. It will never be broken, they say."

"It's just children's games..."

"How is it you are brave when all the rest of us shake in our boots?"

"I do not worry about what will happen, only what needs to be done," Thor answered after finally looking up at him. "How did you know I was here?"

"I saw you at the window." Loki shook his head. "No, I won't tell you your color. Stop. Asking," he said in a whisper. Thor looked down at his shoes again. "When we are married, will you dance with me? I find dancing very agreeable. Why can you not say what is in your head?"

"Why can you not stop saying what is in yours?" Thor looked up at him again and saw that Loki's gaze had not left his face. "Why must you lead when I want to lead? If I want to dance, I will ask you to dance. If I want to...speak, I will open my mouth and speak. What good is it to tell you that you're in my every thought from the very time I wake? What good can come from my saying that I sometimes cannot think clearly or do my work properly? What gain can arise from my telling you...that the only time I feel fear as others do...is when I think of you in harm?" He breathed heavily through his nose, and the other male stayed silent. "That is why I am on this porch, Loki. I fear for your safety before all others. And yes...I will dance with you on our wedding night."

There was no sound, but Loki started to tremble and a single tear rolled down his face. Thor reached up and wiped it away with his thumb. Then, leaving his hand there, he leaned forward and proved to Loki how much he loved him.