Chapter 27.
I moved slowly through the dim hallway, my hand trailing along the wall for balance as I chose my steps carefully. The stiletto heels did not help much, and I found myself actually wondering how strippers actually danced in shoes like this. I could could run in heels if I had to, but in these I would definitely break my neck.
I heard another howl and gunshots, they must have been going through hell out there. The lights flickered and I stepped over a pile of documents, bracing myself against the wall as the building shook again with an explosion. I said a silent prayer to whichever fate was listening to keep them and me safe, and peeked around the corner. The hall was clear, I ducked around it and stayed close to the wall while moving forward. I wanted to turn the next corner and find Loki standing there, waiting to take me far away from this nightmare and keep me safe. Reality told me he was still outside though, facing whatever was between him and me. I hoped he was winning, the thought of loosing him was too much.
Another howl ripped through the building, followed by running and shouts from behind me. I opened a door and ducked into the room behind it, hiding and waiting for them to pass. They rushed on down the hall, not noticing my hiding place. To play it safe, I waited a few moments more. Listening at the door for any sound before opening it again, I heard nothing more and I slipped back onto the hallway.
At the end of the hall, I came to a T-junction. The sounds outside stopped, and I smiled to myself, knowing that they were all coming. I peeked around the corner and saw nothing on both sides, my mind racing as I struggled to pick a direction. I started right, but gunfire from that direction drove me back the other way. Generally, it always is a good idea to avoid a shootout when you are unarmed.
I continued moving, playing caution as my strongest ally and jumped in shock at another explosion somewhere in the building. I made another left around a corner, checking random doors as I moved. I was feeling lost and began deliberating if I should just go back to my cell, but gunshots rattled off closer to me. I hurried on, not caring how much noise my shoes made on the tile and turned right at another t-junction. I put more hustle in my step as screams echoed over the gunshots, instinct driving me to find safety and shelter until it was over.
I stopped briefly, leaning back against the wall to still my breath. I was waiting for fear to stop making my heart pound, realizing how ridiculous I must have looked. A dress that cost more than most New York apartments, stiletto heels, and thousands of dollars of jewelry on me. I was dressed for the prom, not to be a hostage or a combat situation.
I walked around the corner, laughing to myself about the situation and came face to face with Stephen, his anger evident at seeing me out of my cell and wandering. I panicked, looking for a lie to tell him and found nothing. His hand closed around my wrist and I yelped in pain, he was crushing the joint with his grip. I twisted my arm to get free, but he held it fast.
"Stephen, I was looking for you. I was so scared by everything and I knew you would keep me safe." I said, hoping he would buy my ruse. Otherwise, I was probably up a certain creek without a paddle.
"You lying little bitch!" Stephen snapped at me, striking me with the back of his hand. My head jerked to the side, causing me to yelp in surprise. His chest heaved, and I had to come up with anything I could to save my skin. I did the only thing a woman in my position could do, I stepped forward and kissed him fully, playing up the scared. He returned the kiss, and I screamed internally out of hatred for myself at what I was doing.
"Please believe me, I heard horrible howls. The lights went out, and my door opened. I am powerless and I had to find someone, I was just so scared." I said and bit my lip, looking down at his clenched fist. I put my hand around it and felt it relax, it drifted up to my burning cheek and cradled my face. His thumb touching my lower lip, and tracing it. Inside, I wanted to bite down on his hand and make him bleed.
"My poor dear." He said, looking into my eyes. "You are the worst liar I have ever seen. You will learn not to cross me soon enough, after I take your legs and that thing inside you."
He pushed me toward Marcel as the killer walked toward us, his suit still neat and his demeanor completely calm. He wrapped his hand around my arm and forced me to move, I screamed and struggled against the man. Being forced down a hall and toward a bank of elevators, both men shoving me onto it and holding me back. I screamed, straining and shaking against the far wall and struggling to get free from the steel lined coffin.
"Let me go!" I shouted at Marcel. He laughed at me, shoving me toward Stephen who pinned me against the wall and ran his hand over my waist. I shook and put my hands against his chest to shove him back but he was unmovable, he wrapped on hand around my throat and pinned my head back. His eyes filled with lust and I shivered involuntarily, afraid of what was going to happen next. He kissed me hard, his hand pinning my wrist against the wall as my other one fought to get him off of me. I turned my head and he kissed down my neck, me screaming in the closed space when the doors opened and I saw Loki standing outside them. His face filled with rage, and I screamed again and fought harder. Stephen shoved me around in front of him and I could feel his withering hard on in my back, feeling some joy that the asshole was turned off by fear. In a fluid movement, he twisted my arm up around my back and made me yelp in pain. Marcel flipped open a knife from his pocket and held it on me, Loki glared at both men and I yelped again to play up the pain.
"You both just royally fucked up assholes." I said, Marcel continuing to hold the knife on me and pressing it against the skin of my neck.
"Back away, we may let her live." Stephen said and the doors began to close, Loki put his hand out and stopped them. His demeanor completely calm as he took a step forward and glared at the Greek man holding the knife to my throat. Stephen wrapped an arm around my waist and let his fingers slide over my hip, provoking a response from Loki. Apparently, he did not get the memo that what he was doing was a very bad idea.
"Did he harm you?" Loki asked me and I shook, too afraid to move.
"Slapped me around a bit, Stephen threatened me some. You saw the rest, please do what they are saying, I really don't want to die right now." I replied, he nodded seeing what I was telling him and he stepped forward. Marcel pressed the blade against my neck and I gasped, I was not really enjoying being a part of this standoff. Marcel pulled me toward him by my free arm, and put the knife tip over my heart. I was glad to be away from Stephen, but I was in bigger danger from the man behind me.
"Step back you idiot, or he will kill her." Stephen demanded. I shivered and Loki backed out of the elevator and to the side. Marcel edged out and into the lobby, tightening his grip on my waist, a sudden jerk from the man holding me made me yelp in shock.
"Stephen, the game is over. He will kill you either way now, just let me go." I said and he shook his head, glaring at Loki. The two men stood off and he pulled me away from Marcel, I pushed away from him doing my best to get away. I tried to use a pulse, but I barely moved his tie, his fingers knotted into my hair and he laughed. He pulled my back to his chest, his hand releasing my hair and wrapping around my throat.
"I can see why you like her so much Loki, I did promise her one thing. She gets to watch Marcel kill you." Stephen said, the Greek removed his coat and flipped another knife open from his back pocket. I cried out as Stephen pulled me backwards, his arm lowering to my shoulders as he kissed the back of my neck.
"No." I choked out and he laughed into my ear.
"Don't worry my dear, he will suffer greatly. Marcel has quite the gift there, and he views it as an art of sorts." Stephen said, Loki glaring at him for even thinking of touching me.
"I did plan on making you pay for striking her, now I will just kill you for thinking that you could have her intimately." Loki said, circling with the other man and keeping his eyes locked on Marcel. Loki pulled two knives I had never seen before, their spiraled blades gleaming as he flipped them in his hands. He relaxed his grip slightly, and waited they stood off for a second and Marcel moved first. He feinted right, Loki spinning on the ball of his foot to dodge the attack from his left. The two men moving around one another in a twisted dance, neither one of them was willing to loose. Marcel moved to stab into Loki's leg, but Loki was faster. He used a bracer to block the attack and one of his knives to stab down into the Greek's shoulder. Marcel saw it coming and shifted to a crouch, ducking under the stab and standing behind Loki. He stood up and looked at the cut in his shirt, my hands flying to my mouth to suppress a scream as Marcel lunged forward. Loki stepped to the side and drug the knife up the mans leg, cutting the cloth of his pants.
"I am impressed with you skill, I do look forward to cutting the woman though. She will be another piece of art, her intestines strangling the child inside her." Marcel said, backing away from another swing. They circled again, turning to dodge mutual swings. Loki looked unphased by what his opponent said, instead he focused and planned his next moves.
Marcel swung forward again, but Loki crashed one of his bracers down on the man's wrist. Knocking the knife from his foe's hand, and dragging the tip of his along his arm. The cut was not deep, but it made his point very clear. Loki turned again, driving one of the knives along the Greek's back. Cutting through his shirt and into his back, the red soaking through the white shirt.
"You have skill as well, but you lack one thing." Loki replied, stepping back from his opponent and grinning at him. Marcel began to sweat, be it fear or whatever that made the man falter and loose faith in his skills. Marcel stabbed forward again, leaving his ribs exposed and Loki took the opportunity. He grabbed Marcel's knife arm, pulling him forward and driving his twisted knife into the man's side.
"You lack conviction." Loki said, twisting the knife deeper and pulling it free. Marcel sank to his knees, Loki walking past him and sheathing one of the frightening looking knives. The Greek fell forward, dead and I smiled at Loki. Stephen snaked a hand around my neck and we backed away, retreating and using me as a human shield.
"Let. Her. Go." Loki said, pointing the knife at the both of us.
"You wouldn't risk her, you coward." Stephen hissed, backing toward a door with me. I stumbled, loosing a shoe and balancing on my toes as Loki continued to stalk forward.
"He isn't the one using a pregnant woman as protection." I said, nearly falling again. He jerked me back, his arm around my chest and I struggled against him.
"I told you to let her go." Loki hissed, his face filled with anger. He bent down and picked up my shoe, holding it in one hand and Stephen panicked behind me.
"I let her go, then I walk away. Understood?" He said, Loki paused his advance and nodded at Stephen. Loki relaxed his knife arm, agreeing to the truce silently. I wanted Loki to tear him apart for what he did to me, and I nearly screamed in frustration. Stephen looked away to punch a code on a keypad behind us, not seeing the real Loki slip away from his illusion.
"Beautiful dress Little Mouse." He said and I smiled at him. "Blue always did suit you."
The door clicked open and Stephen shoved me toward the illusion, I started to turn around but he shook his head for me not to. I kept my eyes on him, staring at Loki and trying to ignore the screams behind me. Every one a special hell that was planned for the man who tried to hurt me, and soon they became all I could hear.
"Don't look Little Mouse. I am not proud of what I am doing right now." He said and the screams grew in intensity. I covered my ears and shook as they went silent, the last sound a body hitting the floor. I lowered my hands, and looked at the face of the illusion.
"He never should have touched you." He said and vanished. A hand lifted my foot carefully so I would not fall and slipped my shoe back on it. The real Loki stood back up in front of me, his hand caressed my cheek and I let out a sob. His other hand wrapped around my back and he lifted me off my feet, still keeping the remains of Stephen Johanasson out of my view.
"Look at my face and nothing else." He said and I locked my eyes on him, letting myself be taken through the doors and into an open field. He set me down on my feet and I hugged him, his hands circling me and smiling at me.
"I missed you." I said and took one of his hands and brought it around to my stomach. He smiled down at me and kissed me softly.
"I am sorry that I took so long finding you." He said and I smiled up at him. My hand covered his and I blushed, out lips meeting again and his arms wrapping around me. I pressed my forehead against his and swallowed hard, my heart pounding at seeing him again and alive.
"Forgiven." I said and he lifted me back up again, carrying me to a waiting jet. His eyes shining with a light I had never seen in them before.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
We stood in the huge church, St. Patrick's Cathedral really, and Fury walked toward us. In his hand he held the an envelope filled with documents for Loki, handing them to him. His good eye was actually smiling at me as he spoke, he offered him his hand and shook it.
"We pulled some strings, Loki now has dual citizenship. He is an American, and has a social security number to make all of this legal. Try to obey the laws, and don't create headaches for me. I hope you both are ready." Fury said, looking at me. I nodded at him and he pulled a sheet of paper out of his coat pocket and a pen.
"We need two witnesses to sign it, or it will not be legal." I said, holding the marriage license in my hand. Fury turned the paper over and I laughed at the multitude of signatures, every person we knew here signed the document, all of them our friends. I took the pen from him and signed my name in the space, knowing that my life would change forever. Not really caring about it at all, this was my destiny and I embraced it fully. Loki signed his name and Fury folded the paper, putting it back inside his coat for filing with the proper authorities. He held his hand out to me and I shook it, repeating the same action with Loki.
"Take care of her Loki, I like her. She is a good Agent." Fury said and walked away. I was still in the dress and feeling nervous about what were were about to do. Odin was going to loose his mind when we told him about this, and probably send us both to the dungeon. The old man could take a piss up a rope for all I cared.
"Soon to be my wife." Loki said and I smiled, turning to face him. Natasha had run to a random store and found a veil for me, pinning it behind the diamond crown so it traveled down my back. He smiled at me and pinched the gauze fabric in his fingers, looking at the tiny crystal beads and shaking his head.
"Usually the Bride wears white, not blue." I said and he laughed, his hands cradling my face as he looked into me.
"I doubt your traditions have the Groom dressed as I am." He said and I laughed, shaking my head. His formal armor gleaming as he stood there with me, I heard the doors slam open and my smile faded. Odin walked in, followed by Thor, Sif, Fandral, Volstagg, and Hogun.
"Oh shit." I groaned, not liking the look on Odin's face at all. They stalked toward us, and I stood in front of Loki. I was going to play human shield, and my odds were really bad.
"This ceremony may not proceed without my consent." Odin said, Thor crossing his arms and looking annoyed with his father. I walked forward and stood between them and Loki, ready to argue and rolled my eyes.
"Why not?" Loki snapped, I could tell a fight was brewing and I let out a long breath, forming a plan to give Loki a head start should he need to run.
"I have not given my consent, this disregard for my authority risks your freedom now Loki. Drop this game you play with her, both of you are to return to Asgard at once to face my judgment." Odin boomed out, I put up my hand to stop him and Odin looked at me. His eye pinning me with a glare and I sighed, I shrugged and smiled at him.
"Can I talk to you a second? Alone?" I asked Odin, his face changed completely as I looped my hand into his elbow. I pulled him away and I pointed at Thor and the rest, telling them all to behave with a look.
"Odin, this is going to happen. There is really nothing you can say or do to stop it." I said and he looked at me, completely shocked at what I was saying to him. I may or may not have been embracing my inner Bridezilla.
"That is a bold statement, you are being foolish. Have you lost your reason?" He replied and I rolled my eyes. I was getting married, even if I had to hog tie him and lock him in a closet somewhere.
"Why are you so afraid of this union? There has to be some reason for you to be against it, and don't say Thor because there is no way that is happening." I said and he regarded me.
"You are the most powerful being in the Nine Realms, wedding you to Loki would be madness. He is a criminal, and for all purposes to be treated as such." He said to me and I shook my head at him.
"Every man deserves redemption, and he has asked for it in spades. He helped to save lives on this planet, he saved mine. For that, I think he deserves some faith from you most of all. I was a criminal myself, an angry, hard shelled girl who as lost, he found me." I said and looked into his face.
"Family is not the people you are born into, it is the people who choose you. I chose him, and will keep fighting for him. Anytime there is something good to be had, it is worth fighting for." I said and he looked back at me, his warm hand on my face and he smiled at me.
"He does not deserve you." Odin said and I laughed.
"Yes, he does. He is perfect to me, and I say he deserves to be with me." I said and he nodded, laughing as he pulled his hand back.
""You are always so level headed, it will make you a wonderful mother one day." He said and I laughed, nodding and looking uncomfortable. He stopped, looking at me and I smiled.
"Sooner than you think." I said and he jerked back.
"Are you?" Odin asked me and I grinned, blushing at him and looked down.
"Yes." I said and he laughed, his eye sparkling in response to my confession.
"I have new respect for Loki, he chose the honorable path in this matter." Odin said and he lead me back over to the group. Thor smiled at me and opened his arms, wrapping me up in a hug. I laughed as he lifted me off my feet, may arms around his neck.
"You are late big guy, we ran out of bad guys for you to beat up." I said and he gave a throaty laugh in response, he set me back down and smiled at me.
"No, but I an here to hopefully prevent Father from stopping this. It seems you returned him to reason Lady." Thor replied and I had an idea, I stood Thor and Loki together and grinned.
"Good, because you get to stand with Loki near the Altar, Natasha will show you where. When it comes time to present the ring, you hand it to him." I said and grinned wider. "Off you go, I have to talk to Odin some more. Everyone else can just find a place to sit I guess."
"Not even bound, and she issues the orders to Loki. Lady, you are a vision of beauty incarnate." Fandral said, bowing. Sif slapped him in the back of the head, making me laugh in response. I waved everyone away, Sif walking back and hugging me.
"If you are with child, I will kill him." She said into my ear and I stiffened. She looked at me and I shook my head, she pushed me back and looked at me shocked. I shrugged and she hugged me again, laughing as she patted my back.
"Please don't kill him. I kind of want him around when I have this baby." I said and laughed.
"If he runs, I will kill him." She said and I laughed, her eyes rimmed in tears. She kissed my cheek and walked away, waving to me as she joined the rest. I turned back around and faced Odin, taking his hands and smiling.
"I want you to give me away." I said to him and he smiled in response.
"A strange tradition, I need to ask why Lady Lilliana." Odin replied and I took his hand, leading him to the end of the cathedral. Looking at him in the face and being serious with him, Odin looked down at me and smiled.
"Because it would mean everything to Loki, and save me a lot of hassle keeping everyone from killing him when my little secret gets out." I said and he nodded at me, seeing everything I was not saying perfectly. Tony rushed in with a small bag and handed it to me, his tie undone and I turned around to fix it for him. He hurried on to find a seat and I pulled a box out of the bag, opening it and seeing a gold band etched with and eight pointed star.
"You mean to mend bridges, always the wisest of us." Odin said and took the ring from me. He held it in his closed hand and lifted my chin, smiling down at me.
"Maybe." I said, and blushed.
"I never thought he would care for another as he cares for you, it will be my honor to give Loki his Bride." Odin said, leaning forward to kiss me on my cheek. His beard tickled my neck and shoulder, making me smile at him. He offered me his elbow and Natasha walked to us, a bouquet of white roses in her hands and smiling with excitement.
"The Priest is ready when you are, I am so happy for you." She said and straightened my veil over my shoulders, I took the flowers and smiled at her. She hugged me quickly, hurrying back and finding a seat.
"Thank you for this, Father." I said to Odin and he beamed at me. We began walking, my feet carrying me toward a future unknown. Loki stood, his face calm but happy, Thor next to him with his hands folded. Twitch took pictures with an expensive looking camera, clicking away as we walked. Everyone stood, Hogun and Fandral smiling at me, but I only cared about one face in the crowd.
Loki saw Odin walking with me and he stepped down to offer me his hand, helping me up the stairs. We stood patiently as everyone sat, and I smiled brightly. The old Priest with thick glasses looked at me and he opened his book, reading from it.
"I ask that all here remain silent unless they find any reason these two should not be wed, for this is a scared ceremony and should be treated as such. The man and woman here have invited you here to witness their union, and you are witness to this bond that will hold two people as one for all time. There is a thread that links two hearts such as this, and no matter how far one may be from the other, it will not break. This thread is stronger than gold, and more sacred than time itself. Once tied to another, it will always be there, and their souls will be linked for all time." The priest said, and I swallowed hard. Trying not to choke up at his words. The silence from the audience remained, and I smiled at Loki.
"May I ask who gives this lovely woman away to her betrothed?" The priest asked and I nudged Odin. He started and cleared his throat, his voice proud.
"I Odin, King of Asgard, son of Bor, give this woman to my son Loki. They have my blessing to be bound." Odin said and he placed my hands in Loki's, I smiled up at him and handed my flowers to Odin. Loki ran his thumbs over the backs of my hands, his smile wide.
"Friends and gathered guests, we are here to witness the joining of two hearts in matrimony. Two beings who have once walked a road alone and found each other in their journey. Drawn to the light of the other and ready to continue this path they have chosen together. It will not always be a journey that is of ease, but together this man and this woman will weather any storm. Should the both of them stay true to each other, and should they stand as one against the forces that my tempt them to stray from one another."
"May your love remain at the rings you both shall soon bear, an unbroken circle. Infinite in creation, and eternal." The priest said and I heard a sob, I looked over and saw Volstagg wipe his nose on the back of his hand.
"Sorry...continue." He said and I giggled, rolling my eyes.
"We shall begin with the vows, altered for present company."
"Lilliana Rose Hawthorne, do you take this man before you as your wedded Husband? Do you promise to honor him and hold no man above him, to be his guiding light through the darkness, to be the mother of his children, and to be his nurse in illness, for all your long days?" He asked and I smiled.
"I do, with all my heart." I said and our eyes met, I could see them sparkle with joy.
"Do you Loki, take this woman before you as your wedded Wife? Do you promise to honor her, protect her, to be her guide throughout any storm, and to hold no woman in the same esteem you hold her, to be and remain her most trusted companion for all your long days?" The priest finished and Loki smiled down at me, pausing to caress my cheek.
"I swear it, now and forever." He said and I heard another sniff behind Loki, we both looked over at Thor and he wiped a tear away. He nodded and motioned for us to continue, Loki let out a breath and rolled his eyes. Odin let out a long breath, and I smiled.
"Will the Bride present her ring and vows to her intended?" The priest said and Odin stepped forward, placing the gold ring into my hand.
"I Lilliana Rose Hawthorne, promise with this ring to be your wife, your companion, and the mother of your children. I promise to be there through the awful, and to be the joy you find at the end of the storm. You are my greatest friend, and I never want to loose you to any being. I promise to love only you for all the days of my endless life, and to never accept anyone else the way I accept you." I said and slipped the ring onto his finger.
"Would the Groom present his ring and vows to his intended?" The Priest said and Thor put my ring into his hand. My mouth fell open and I smiled, I thought the gold and amethyst band had been lost. But it was there, cupped in his hand. He cradled my hand and held the ring, his eyes shining.
"I Loki, promise with this ring to be your Husband, your protector, and your continued tutor. I shall take no mistress, nor shall I ever break your beautiful heart. You have humbled me, and made me your equal and the same time, and I promise too keep you as mine. I promise to protect our children, as they are a part of you and I would have not part that exists injured. I shall honor your kindness, holding you through the darkest of nights for all time." He said and slipped the ring onto my finger. I wove my fingers between his and he smiled at me.
"May your days be long and filled with joy, may your path never stray from one another. By the powers vested in me, I bless you both and pronounce you Husband and Wife. You may kiss your Bride." The old Priest said. I shot forward, wrapping my arms around Loki's neck, and kissing him. His lips warm on mine as his arms wrapped around me, everyone gathered applauded and we never heard a single clap. We the only two people in the universe and eternity was ours. We were two stars that collided and became one, never to be parted. We broke our kiss and I saw a tear trace down his cheek, he rested his forehead against mine and my and cradled his cheek. We kissed again and Tony cleared his throat, making us stop and laugh. Thor walked forward and clapped Loki on the shoulder, his smile broad as he embraced Loki. Odin stepped toward me and held me, his beard tickling my neck again.
"Thank you for giving me back my son my beloved daughter." He said and I smiled at him. "I bless you unborn child, but please let it know only love."
"I promise." I said to him and laughed.
