Notes: So... There's a lot of discoveries here. :D
After resting all morning and part of the afternoon, they travelled through the evening until they arrived at the proper villa. It was a magnificent mansion, decorative stone on the outside, resting on a gentle cliff that ended on an artificial lake that gave way to a labyrinth of bushes. The terrain had been cleared all around it, and only on the far away distance one could see where the private woods started.
Jane had been given a horse, while Thor had decided to go by foot again at her side. Loki, on his part, was sitting sideways on Svad's lap while the prince rode his stallion, both arms around the other's neck. From time to time, the black haired man whispered something in the prince's ear, making him chuckle.
Before leaving, Thor had seen how Loki discarded his cravat, leaving his shirt open down to his stomach. It was impossible not to notice the numerous teeth marks marring the white skin from neck to navel. Thor had looked away as soon as Loki caught him staring, fisting his hands, cheeks reddening. After Jane had taken him out of his reverie, in the hallway, he had felt numb, hot and cold all at the same time. Jane had suggested him to take care of his little problem. At first, he hadn't understant what she meant.
She had taken him to a different room them where, after a painfully awkward silence and then a highly embarrassing set of questions, Thor had discovered that his ovipositor was not, in fact, an ovipositor.
"What? So... It only sprays?" he had asked Jane, bewildered. She had responded with a gaping mouth and a red face.
"Uh... Sprays?"
"Ah... Eh... Well... Males, in my species," he had started.
It had become a talk about the reproductive system on both species for both of them. When they had finished, Jane had left Thor, and Thor had realized that he still sported what she had called a hard-on. Not knowing very well what to do with it, he had tried to do what felt good and was surprised when the orgasm hit him, coursing through his body like an electric current and then he had sprayed out. It had felt awkward but after all the tension that had accumulated, it felt also freeing.
And now, while he walked beside Jane's mare, he watched as Svad and Loki touched each other, whispered things to each other and wondered if he should be doing the same with Jane. He looked up at her and she looked back at him, smile on her face. He couldn't help but mirror it. Would she welcome it if he were to kiss her neck as delicately as Svad was doing with Loki? Would she part her lips, invintingly, were he to caress her back?
He wanted to know how to court a human, and the only one who seemed to know how to do it properly was otherwise engaged with his own courting. Focusing on Jane again he noticed she was also looking at Loki and Svad.
"What's wrong?" he asked, when she frowned.
"Mm? Ah, nothing. It's just... I've told you that I knew Svad before, right?" Thor nodded. "Well... I had a meeting with him before knowing you and he talked about this man he wanted to, to... I don't know, own? Possess? He seemed half crazed talking about him. I was just wondering what kind of person could make someone so lost and then I discovered it was your un- uh- Loki. You see? It was a bit of a shock. But then again, it makes sense.." she said, looking pensive. Thor looked back at where Svad and Loki kept chuckling about their own internal jokes.
"What do you mean?"
"Loki's voice. The siren call?" she pointed out. Thor looked at her and then at Svad. Summoning the eye, his pupils became vertical slits. He scanned Svad from head to toe.
"No. He isn't under the influence," he said, letting his pupils become round again to look back at Jane. She was frowning again. "What is it?"
"I fear that if something were to happen to Loki, Svad might do something... drastic," she said, bending over slightly so she could whisper to Thor. "He seemed... Bewitched. I don't know. I mean, I have seen men lusting after their lovers time and again, I've seen a lot of the world and its people, but the way Svad reacted when he saw Loki..."
Thor smiled at her.
"You needn't worry about that. Loki can fend for himself," he said. And to try and take away her worries, pecked her on the lips. She gasped, sitting straight on her mout, covering her mouth with a hand, blushing. "You are most becoming when you blush," he said after a beat too long, feeling pround that he could remember some of the lines Loki had taught him. "The hue painting your cheeks is most-"
"Svad!" Loki's voice interrupted him. His head snapped in his direction. Loki had squealed. Thor focused on the black haired man and saw him completely red, frowning. He looked embarrassed. His hand was gripping one of the prince's wrists while the red-head laughed.
"It's not as if I have never done it before, Loki," Svad purred, which made Loki's blush darken.
"I know. But never before so many people and out in the open," Loki hissed back. Upon closer inspection, Thor realized that where Svad had had his hand before was inside Loki's breeches –the laces were undone–. Thor looked away, feeling his own cheeks growing hot.
"Thor?"
"It's nothing, Jane. I just saw something... I don't know if I wanted to know..."
Jane giggled.
"Here we are," one of the guards said. Their attention went to him. "I you may, Your Grace, I will take care of accomodating your guests."
"Very well, Gerroyd. Though you don't need to concern yourself with Loki. He is sleeping in my chambers."
"If we get any sleep done at all," Loki added without missing a beat, wriggling his eyebrows. There was an eruption of laughter. Gone was his shyness of before.
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"What concerns you, pup?" Loki asked from behind. He had one hand on the back of the armchair and was leaning over, hair loose playing with his neck. He had stopped wearing cravats and waistcoats altogether as soon as they had installed at Svad's villa –everyone here were close confidants of the prince, so he was called as such. Only when people who were strangers of sorts called him Sigurd, to maintain the charade– and went around with his shirts opened down to his stomach, the only thing closing them a sash at his hips.
"It's nothing," he said, looking back at his book. Lately, it had become more and more difficult to be near Loki and he didn't understand why. He had seen Loki naked before so why was it so... exciting seeing him half naked?
"Oh? Trouble in paradise?" When Thor doesn't speak, Loki nodded to himself. "I see," he said, perching himself on one of the armrests, thigh almost touching Thor. "So it's everything. What have you done, pup? Or better yet, what have you not done?" Loki winks at him, knowingly.
"Stop calling me pup! I am not a pup. I haven't been a pup for-"
"Yes, of course, you are not. It's only that you, being Odin's son, and Odin being younger than myself, I cannot see you any other way," he stopped him, dramatically. "Alright, if you really don't like it, I will stop," he said, smiling. Thor was still frowning. Loki saw him as nothing more than a child. "Now, really, what is it?"
"I... I thought I would be happier being with Jane," he confessed, looking at his lap. At his side, Loki gasped, shifting.
"You are not?"
Thor shook his head, bitting his lips.
"I suppose... I idealised it," he let out a bitter laugh. "It is as you told me... Tru Wuv..." He rubbed forcefully away the tears that were welling in his eyes.
"Oh, pup," Loki whispered. Fantastic! Thor thought, now I have his pity. "You don't have to feel bad about it." Loki put his arm around his shoulders, squeezing him. "Cheer up, will you? It's never easy to be in a relationship with someone whose culture is so different to yours."
"But you make it look so easy!" Thor whined, lower lip wobbling. "I don't understand. I'm doing everything you told me and I am still unable to... to..."
"Wait!" Loki said, gabbing him by his chin and forcing him to look at him. "Are you telling me, that after I landed you this marvellous vacation you have yet to bed your woman!?"
Thor shook his head again. Loki jumped to his feet, startling Thor.
"I will talk with her. Do not worry, pu- Thor. I'm sure I can convince her of-"
Thor stopped Loki, getting up too, and putting a hand on his arm.
"That is not necessary, Loki, truly. It's just... Being here... I mean, it's not that I don't appreciate the beauty and how much you are doing for me, but this place... I cannot relax."
Loki seemed pensive.
"Is it because she is married to Svad?" Wait, what? "You shouldn't worry about that. It's only in paper. They have never coupled," Loki said, then he snorted. "I doubt she could satisfy him in bed. Look, pu- Thor, truly. Believe me. You don't need to worry about Svad wisking your woman away," he promissed, putting both hands on Thor's shoulders and giving a little squeeze. Then, deemed the problem solved, he left Thor in the small library and exiting to the grounds through one of the floor-to-ceiling windows' door.
Thor stared after him.
"WHAT!?"
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"I thought I told you already that I was married!" Jane repeated, exhasperated, for the umpteenth time, crossing her arms over her chest. She was glaring at Thor, who was, in her opinio, acting like a complete idiot.
"Yes, but you never told me you were married to Crown Prince Sigurd!" Thor countered, irritated. She huffed. How could he be so dimwitted.
"I thought it safer for me to not reveal the name of my spouse, forgive me if I want to try and keep my head over my shoulders."
"What does that suppose to mean?"
"It means what it means. Someone in my current possition is in mortal danger. If I'm not careful enough any assassination attempt could be passed off as something else: a shipwreck, a riding accident, a robbery gone worng. Get it?"
She didn't wait for Thor to answer and stormed out. She went directly towards the pond and sat down at a stone bench, looking at the colourful koi. She didn't aknowledged it when someone sat beside her and hugged her. It was so infuriating that it was Loki the one who came to comfort her.
"I'm sorry, pup."
"Your nephew is an idiot."
Loki chuckled.
"That I know. He takes more and more after his father, I fear. Maybe I should have never agreed to send him here. His mother's influence was a blessing."
She dried her tears with her hands, but they kept flooding.
"Why is he acting like this? It seems so sudden. Things weren't like this before coming here."
"Oh! I think he is just worried you will leave him for someone else, pup." Loki's hand was rubbing circles on her back. She hid her face on his neck.
"You smell good."
"Thank you."
"No. I mean... Not good. Well, yes. I mean... You smell like... Home. Safe?"
Loki chuckled again and she could almost feel it reverberating in his throat.
"It's my own special mix."
She pulled back a bit to look at him in the face.
"You make your own perfume?" she asked, awed.
"Why, yes, pup. I do most of my cosmetics myself," he said, grinning. No, preening. He looked like a peacock showing off his feathers. She couldn't help the grin, nor the surprised laugh.
"You are the worst kind of narcissitic creature I have ever met. I'm sure there are no thing that can compare to your standar of quality," she admonished, playfully. He squeezed her before releasing her.
"Oh, you would know, wouldn't you? But I can assure you that my beauty products are all the best. If not, for next week's ball I'll demonstrate."
"What, you will be painting yourself?" she asked, amused.
"No, pup. I'll giving you a make over," he winked. "Thor's jaw is going to break the marble floor when he sees you."
"That's a most gracious offer, witch, but I don't have a dress for the occasion. You can think me simple, but I never thought that Svad would be hosting social events here."
"Oh, pup! He is a prince. His people adore him. And he needs to flaunt me around. How could he not, having such an armcandy like myself?" he smiled brightly and Jane shoved him, making him laugh.
"Thank you, Loki. You cheered me up."
"You are welcome," he said, and waited for her to start going back into the mansion to say: "After all, you are going to be the mother of my nephew's pups."
She stopped abruptly and turned around, cheeks bright, mouth agape. Loki was showing his mock-bright smile. He was serious.
"Y-you don't know that!" she shot, embarrassed and ran back inside before Loki could say something else.
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Thor was worried he had sunk any possibility to be with Jane. He had gotten a bit... He didn't know. He just knew that knowing that Jane had a husbad somewhere was one thing and that seeing him in the fles was another thing. Jane didn't act particulary interested in Svad and Svad seemed more inclined to pass his time with Loki than with the rest of them.
In fact, in the last days, he had discovered that neither Svad nor Loki had any kind of regard of the others. They could be found in all manner of intimate acts in any place at any given moment. It took a smile, or a look or a touhc and they would be on each other. Thor had become acquired with Loki's voice while in the throes of passion. And by know he was sure he could tell what kind of depraved thing was being done to him just by the tone, intensity and velocity of his demands.
He went to his chambers and closed the doors, sliding down until he was sitting on the floor. How messed up of him!
"He could be your father," he admonished himself.
Yes, Loki could be his father. He had said so himself, after all. He was older than Odin. But there was something to him, an allure that called for all the gazes around him to be locked on his form. Was this the real reason why his father had cast out Loki? The rumours said that Odin had been fed up with Loki's antics and that he had sent him to live far away. Thor had found that it was difficult not to laugh when Loki was doing one of his tricks, so long one wasn't the target.
Then, a weird though passed through his mind. What if Odin had asked Loki to be his consort and Loki had refused? Then, hurted by the slight to his honour, Odin cast Loki away in the shape of an octopus, so no one would desire him. The thought was so ridiculous that even Thor had to laugh at it.
Still... What if?
No! He should stop thinking like this. It wasn't like every single person Loki met would fall for his more than obvious charms. It was truly bizarre to think that way. That he had started falling for the ma-
Wait...
Wait a second.
Thor's eyes widened. He covered his mouth with both hands to prevent the yell that wanted to escape his throat.
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Jane wasn't sure about it. The dress was daring, though it showed nothing, just accented certain shapes in her body. The soft blue of it combined strikingly well with the red crystal resting on her chest hanging from a silver chain at her neck. The shape was that of a rose. Her hair had been done up in an intrincate style that had pearls and other flowers interwined with the strands.
Loki certainly had a good hand on these matters. He was now appying some make-up to her face.
"Not much," he had said. "Just enough to highlight your best features."
He worked in silence but up this close she could see that he was having so much fun. Maybe if he had a child, a girl, of his own he would be doing the same for her as she grew up. Or maybe he had already had children and they were long dead? He kept calling everyone pup. Could be that it?
"Close your eyes, pup," he instructed. She did. His brush was soft over her eyelids. "Perfect. You are done! Now, try to stay like this until the feast starts. When the ball starts you can throw away your shoes and loosen your hair, but it would be in good manners for you to kept as a doll until then."
"Wait... That's hours from now!" she exclaimed, looking at the clock. "Why did you have to come and dress me so soon?"
"Because, pup, I have to doll up too," he winked. Then he left her there. She huffed.
"Hit a window," she cursed him. He made a mocking face, aided by his hands. She could just stick out her tongue. They shared a giggle.
Once the door was closed she tried to relax, breathing slowly, looking at herself in the mirror. Well. This was going to be so awkward. All the people attending the ball were nobles of the country, most of them were the responsibles of the laws that got around –or at least their families were– and here she was, the daughter of a trader, going to be mixed among them. What would she talk with them about? Would they find her dull or interesting? What if someone tried to take too many liberties with her? What if people thought she was Svad's misstress and tried to... to...? She didn't know. She was so nervous.
The soft knock on her door made her jump in her seat. With a squeaky voice she called in. Thor opened the door and came in, closing it after. He looked stunning, with a blue and gold coat, waistcoat of a plainer design, white leggins and golden shoes. She noticed his cufflinks were the same shape and colour as her pendant and earrings. The looked at each other.
"You look..." he started. Then, after not finding words, he cleared his throat and tried again. "You look breathtaking," he said.
"Thank you. You look quite handsome," she returned the compliment. And it wasn't a lie. His hair had been combed and tied at his nape, stiled so it would go down over his shoulder to stop at his chest.
Things had been awkward ever since Thor had confronted her about her marriage. None of them knew how to talk normally to each other.
"I wanted to apologize," he said, catching Jane offward. "I was rash, the other day. I am just so unsure... I'm not... I mean. You are so beautiful, and kind and intelligent and... And I am just a brainless brute who thought that True Love existed because a bunch of stories said so. I truly like you, but I find myself more and more selfconscious of my lack of-"
"Thor," she stopped him, standing up and walking towards him, taking one of his hands in hers. "Don't worry. Anyone can make assumptions and have mistakes," she looked at him and he looked back. They smiled at each other. "I think we are better suited as... Maybe not as lovers," she said, cocking her head slightly, noticing how Thor's gaze fell to her neck. "Or maybe more than friends?"
Thor's swallow was so hard that she heard it.
"I wouldn't like to insult your intelligence by asking of you anything that-"
"Shh. Do not think about that now." She put two fingers over his lips to silence him. "Let's not think about that tonight, yes? Let's... Let's enjoy ourselves today, without anything to hold us back, and tomorrow... Tomorrow we can talk about us. About what we want and how much and... Alright?"
Thor took her hand, kissing her fingers without looking away from her.
"Alright," he murmured.
They were so lost in each other's pressence that the knock startled them. A servant had come here to tell Jane that she should ready herself to go to the dinnin hall.
"I'll be right there, thank you," she called from the inside without opening the door. Then, she looked at Thor. "Shall we?"
He smiled at her and offered her his arm.
"Whenever you are ready, my lady."
More Notes: I'm so excited about the ball! Are you?
