~ Chapter 9 ~

As the night carried on Loki felt himself growing tired as he talked to new people once again. It was strange not to be sitting in a corner and be forgotten while the party went on around him. Maria had left him to speak to another couple and the charity ball had done it's part. What no one really knew, was that thanks to Loki, they had made more money than was to be expected.

It was all good fun to him. Play with their sense of reason and tease them into making a bigger donation than they had planned, but Loki thought that they could afford it. Thor had been close and seen to it that he had food to munch on and that no one was rude to him.

Not that would happen. Who in their right mind would be rude to Gods who came from myths.

Still, Loki kept a watchful eye out for the bitch who had tried to humiliate him earlier tonight. He hadn't seen her, but his instinct of being watch told him otherwise.

But it didn't stop him from having a great time. When what the Midgardians called a dance floor opened, and an orchestra started to play, he found himself in Thor's arms. Because Thor pulled him out there among the first, they had an audience as they slowly swayed to the music. It wasn't the music they were used to, but Loki guess it wasn't all that bad considering Asgard music was mainly ballads and many vulgar drunken songs.

It was a surprise that Thor would actually do this for him. Before, he had no interest in dancing, even with girls. He liked instead to drink himself mindless and flirt wildly with anything in a skirt.

But being pregnant did take some of his energy and while he could allow Thor carrying some of his weight, his self-pride didn't allow him to let himself be carried around like a doll.

Soon he was sitting down again and mingled as Thor went to get them some more of that sparkling soft drink. Which left him where he started. He was getting tired and constantly talking was getting tiresome too. Thor was nowhere to be seen and he had been gone longer than a simple drink should take.

"If you will excuse me, I need to find my husband." saying that word felt strange on his tongue but he had to keep up appearance. The crowd watched his female persona walk away and he could start his search.

"Hey Nic," Natalia said as she walked closer, careful to use his female name. "Are you having a good time?" the red-head asked with a smile. "You've been doing success from what I've seen."

"Yes," Loki looked around but saw not his brother. "Have you seen Thor? He's been gone for a while."

"No, I haven't. Maybe he's outside for some fresh air?" Natalia suggested.

When Loki turned to look across the open, large glass doors, he saw Thor walking in. He looked angry which worried Loki. The last thing he wanted was for his brother to show his famous temper among humans.

It was then Loki saw that bitch from earlier walk after him. She said something and caught his arm but he pulled his arm away. He said something heatedly back to her that Loki couldn't hear over the noise of the crowd. But the least to say was that they were getting a small audience.

Natalia was also looking in the direction Loki was and wrinkled her nose at what she was seeing. "Who does that woman think she is?"

Then suddenly the woman locked her lips with Thor's and Loki's eyes narrowed. A collective gasp went through the crows and those who hadn't been watching was certainly now. The part of the crowd who couldn't see what was going on asked the one standing next to them.

Thor pushed her of and said something heatedly at her which probably stung the woman from the looks of it. Thor turned to walk away only to catch Loki watching him. His face turned pained and he looked like a kicked puppy.

Before Natalia could stop her, Loki was making his way over to the duo. The crowd was parting for the beautiful Goddess as she walked across the room. Her face betraying little.

When she came close enough she stepped between Thor and the bitch and slapped her face.

"I don't know much about Midgards traditions, but when you went after my husband you made a grave mistake if you think you will ever be able to make Thor unfaithful." she leaned forward and whispered so only the slut would hear her words, and Thor because of his superior hearing. "You just pissed of the wrong God." his green eyes shimmering only for the woman to see.

Loki turned around, took Thor's arm and lead them away toward the stairs leading to the main entrance. Thor just followed his lead, looking like he wanted to say something. The mayor and his wife hurried over to them.

"We're deeply sorry for ms. Foster. I can assure you it will not happen again." the Mayor said to the couple.

"Do you have to leave?" Maria asked Loki with distraught eyes.

Loki smiled at the Midgardian woman. "Don't worry, we don't blame you for the actions of one harlot." Loki let go of Thor's arm and hugged the blond woman. "I had a great time. Thank you."

Maria smiled lovingly at the beautiful Goddess when suddenly the sound of ripping fabric was heard through the whole hall and a shrill scream.

"What was that?" asked Maria.

"Maybe retribution? Who knows?" Loki said before leaving with Thor on his trail. Much to their surprise they saw Bruce Banner standing in the parking lot by one of the car's they had come in. He saw them and gave them a smile.

"Do you want a ride back to the Mansion?" he asked hopefully.

"Have you been out here the whole time?" Thor asked.

The scientist shrugged. "Most of it. I didn't have the will to go back alone so I was waiting for the first to head back." He opened the back door for them. "Shall we go?"

The whole ride back was surprisingly quiet. Loki had guessed that Thor would start talking once they were inside the car. But he was quiet the whole ride back, constantly wearing the kicked puppy expression like he had done something unforgiving.

It wasn't until they were inside their shared room that the dame finally broke.

"I'm so sorry, Loki, I didn't mean for that to happen, she suddenly asked me to meet her outside for some air and then she started to touch me and get too close, I couldn't stand it and tried to get away without bringing dishonor to you, but she came after me and no matter how much I said I was in love with you she wouldn't go away, even when I said I wanted no one but you she wouldn't listen and then she kissed me and it was the most disgusting thing I have ever done and I wanted to hit her but I know how much you hated my temper and I've tried so hard changing myself that I had to keep myself under control but when I saw you seeing what had just happened I was sure you would be angry with me and the last thing I want is to lose you but I couldn't change what had happened and I was sure you would hit me when you walked to me but then you hit her and I wasn't sure what you felt for me for cheating on you and I wasn't sure what to say so I tried to come up with a way to apologize to you and-"

"Thor. Thor." Loki said calmly, holding up his hands to cease the endless ramble. When he finally had his brother's attention he gave him a tender smile. "You didn't cheat on me. I only couldn't stand that that woman thought she could put her hands on you and get away with it. I never once blamed you for her actions."

Loki put his hands on Thor's cheeks and tenderly kissed his lips.

"Never doubt yourself...or me, Thor"

TBC