Chapter 4 - Connection
It was a murky, dreamless sleep from which Maria awoke. Her senses staggered to service. First her skin acknowledged the cloaking warmth and softness of the blanket. She shifted, realizing that she no longer lay upon the hard floor. Her cheek nestled into a musty pillow and fingers escaped the quilt to skim the smoothness and test the give of a semi-firm mattress.
Next her eyes opened, straining to find focus in the surrounding gloom. Weak moonlight shown around the edges of an insulated curtain on the tiny window. The only other source of light was a flickering, orangey glow beneath the door.
Maria left the bed, clutching the covers to her form as the air held a slight chill. Her hearing kicked in as she turned the knob, picking up the pops and crackles of the fire beyond before she pulled open the door to reveal a naked Loki seated on a quilt near the hearth.
He had a deep bowl at his side into which he dipped a dark scrap. The cloth came out dripping, and he wrung it out before wiping at the back of his neck and along both shoulders. She noted that his armor was folded and stacked with the helmet in the corner nearest the fire.
Mindful of her intrusion into his privacy, Maria announced her presence by making the mild accusation, "Wanted the fire to yourself?"
The hand paused at its task. His head bent forward.
"Check your blanket."
She looked down, twisting the quilt around until a patch of burned, blackened material came into view and concluded that she'd fallen asleep too close to the fire.
Loki dropped the washcloth into the bowl, gathering up the edges of his blanket to cover himself below the waist.
"I found the screen for the fireplace and a few cooking things in the cellar. You can only access it from behind the cabin."
Limping forward, Maria inspected both the protective screen and the pot hanging on a brace secured to the side of the fireplace. The pot held a golden brown liquid with a welcoming smell.
"Broth?"
He nodded. "It's cooling."
Maria sat, inspecting the bowl of water placed between them. Since he hadn't mentioned finding water in the cellar, she assumed he'd been melting snow.
With precarious stretches, Loki attempted the difficult task of washing his back, which drew Maria's attention to the bedsores. They looked worse close up. She then stole a glance at his feet to see the sores on his heels and ankles had already been healed.
"Going to heal these next?" she asked, tracing around the red and purple-black bruising on his shoulder blades with a fingertip.
He froze at her touch. Again his head lowered, his face turning away.
"I can't reach them very well."
She noted his thin features and the miserably-dark patches beneath his eyes. Had he even tried to sleep?
A pang of sympathy urged her to action.
"I can't heal, but I can wash these harder-to-reach spots for you," Maria said and took the cloth from him to wipe down his back, being extra careful around the sores.
"Actually," Loki said, pausing until her gaze met his, "if you'd permit me to use you as a conduit…"
"Yeah, okay," she voiced without thinking. "What should I do?"
He moved the bowl then scooted slightly ahead of her. With the movement, Loki's blanket didn't keep up with its concealment duties that well. Maria's eyes drifted down. The wounds on his lower back and buttocks were gone.
"Use your left hand. Flatten it over the area," he instructed.
Maria complied with his request, though she didn't understand the reasoning of using her left hand until he stretched his right arm across his chest to hook long fingers around her left forearm. The grip created a steadying counterbalance, and he couldn't have reached her as easily if she'd used the right hand.
A yellow glow emanated from him, penetrating her skin and shooting forward to exit through her palm and digits. The sensation was soothing, especially to her frostbitten fingers. The few bruises she'd gained on that arm from the collective skirmishes of their escape melted away before her eyes. Though, healing his wounds took a bit longer.
Maria reflected on the trust and intimacy required for what they were doing. Surely, this polite cooperation couldn't last long.
"Hold on," Maria ordered when it was time to switch.
She got up, shuffling around to his right before reseating herself, which her hurt ankle didn't appreciate. By her moving instead of him, the blanket had not been adjusted to obscure her view of his backside. She took a moment to admire since he had a nice ass.
Don't do that! her inner S.H.I.E.L.D. agent rebuked, causing Maria to snap back to attention and force her gaze elsewhere.
This time, she used her right arm, and him his left, to conduct the healing energy.
Loki released her arm about a minute later, securing the blanket around his waist as he climbed carefully to his feet to peer into the pot.
"This ought to be drinkable now," he decided and crossed to the small table in the corner near the bedroom door to retrieve two lone mugs. He placed both upon the mantle while he used a ladle to fill them.
It was offsetting to watch the God of Mischief pad to and fro in only a quilt decorated with red and blue arrowhead shapes. Once back at S.H.I.E.L.D., she'd be required to write up a report detailing their every interaction. What would she write about this, and would anyone believe Loki capable of such helpful behavior?
He brought her a mug then eagerly gulped his broth. He appeared to down most of it before noticing her stare.
"What?" he asked, looking between his cup and her. "It's not that bad, is it?"
"Oh, it's fine," Maria insisted, though she had yet to try it.
She lifted the cup for a sip. The heat of the broth irritated her split lip and turned out to be mostly flavorless with a faint aftertaste of chicken. He'd added too much water to the mix, but she wouldn't say so. She swallowed the criticism along with the liquid.
He served himself a second helping then returned to the table to sit, nursing the drink with a frown while watching the fire.
Maria considered him and her rising disappointment. She should have enjoyed the silence and lack of mean-spirited banter. Yet now that they were free, alone and probably lost, she longed for him to speak, to offer some insight into his state of mind and feed the tiny need for companionship since soon he might leave.
Her wandering gaze found the forgotten washcloth. She gathered it up along with the bowl of water. She assumed Loki had finished with both and wouldn't mind her using them. While keeping as much under her quilt as possible, Maria washed her feet first then worked upward over her legs.
Her blanket slipped a little as she wiped the insides of her thighs, offering a view of her breasts. Instead of making an embarrassed grab for it, Maria glimpsed toward Loki who had been quiet and contemplative. Maybe he hadn't noticed.
He did look. The glance was so subtle, Maria almost missed it. She returned to her washing, deciding to leave him wondering if he'd been caught or not.
What was she trying to do? Seduce him?
Well, that's stupid with a capital S, she decided. Loki was trouble. Surely he'd stayed with her out of necessity. If at all interested, he'd had ample opportunity to check out her juicy bits while she slept.
Keeping the blanket in place while washing her front continued to prove difficult. She had to be giving him quite the show, no matter how unintentional.
The next time she checked on him, Loki had sneaked away, leaving the chair empty. Maria craned her head back, startling when she found him directly behind her.
"Your back," he stated, settling on the floor with his long legs spread to either side of her.
He held out his hand to accept the square. He swept aside her dark hair to run the cloth over her neck and shoulders. Though the water had cooled, the heat off the fire more than made up for it.
"Bruises," Loki mentioned, skimming fingertips over the tender areas.
"From Byrzon."
Maria bit at the inside of her lip as his fingers curled around the edge of the blanket, pulling just hard enough to ease it out of her grasp. When the material fell around her hips, she drew up her legs, leaning on them for both support and concealment.
Loki dropped the washcloth into the bowl then laid his hands along her mid back on either side of her spine where the discomfort was most noticeable. Gradually, the pain dissolved away.
"That's better," he said, sounding pleased with his handiwork.
He massaged the muscles a bit, which made Maria groan. Again Loki reached for the cloth to continue his task. He went slow, washing, healing and sometimes massaging.
Maria relaxed, her limbs feeling heavier, and she failed to resist when he drew her back against him, exposing her front and the discolored spots scattered about her flesh.
"It appears that I have more work to do. Starting here," he said and touched her face, coaxing her chin up to press a glowing finger against her lips.
They openly stared at each other for those few seconds it took him to heal the split and wind-burned flesh. Maria could see the lust in his pale blues and made a quick and somewhat illogical decision. As his hand dropped, she leaned in. When he didn't retreat, she closed her eyes and kissed him.
A moment of stillness passed before their lips began to move. They tested each other with light, uncertain pressure. Maria hadn't expected hesitation from him, assuming he'd take more liberties. This cautious dance intrigued her and warranted a bold show of action.
Maria gathered her blanket around her as she stood, the quick movement paining her ankle.
"Hill," Loki began in an apologetic panic. "Wait a moment."
He tried to get a hand on her while scrambling to his feet. In his rush, he managed to lose his blanket.
She stopped his approach with a fierce look.
"My name is Maria."
He blinked, swallowing hard before admitting, "I know that."
"Good." She limped toward the bedroom, calling over her shoulder, "Coming?"
"Um, uh—what?" he stammered.
Maria stopped in the doorway to note that he hadn't moved. She only stared, allowing him to figure out her meaning on his own.
"Right," he said in time, looking foolish. Then he explained with a hint of apprehension, "It's just... that room is awfully dark."
"I'm not afraid of the dark."
"I mean, it will make things harder."
Her gaze flitted to his genital region.
"Hard is more fun."
This comment made him chuckle, and he was a bit too obvious grabbing for his quilt to cover up before continuing his argument.
"The bed is small. We'll have more space out here."
"A hard floor is only going to cause more bruises."
Maria slipped into the room, laying out her quilt on the bed before stretching out atop of it.
Loki stepped over the threshold, though his longing gaze drifted back toward the fire.
She couldn't believe the fuss he was making. Was she really going to have to drag him in? Had she misread his signals?
Maria considered him, coming to the final realization that his reluctance to leave the doorway might arise from being trapped in a dark, cramped machine for months on end.
She tried to sound understanding as she asked, "Feeling claustrophobic?"
He fidgeted, looking ashamed at the suggestion.
"We can drag the mattress out there," she offered and started to rise.
"No," he said, lifting his hand to stop her, but saying nothing more.
Maybe he really doesn't want to, Maria thought with a pang of upset that her instincts could be so far off. She sat up, reaching out for the edge of the blanket to cover up.
"I shouldn't have pushed."
Loki abandoned the limited column of firelight to approach the bed. He removed his blanket, spreading it over her before attempting to climb underneath. Maria rolled onto her side, shifting to give him as much room as possible, which wasn't much in a twin bed. In the next moment they were flesh to flesh with arms curled around the other to avoid falling out and their feet dangling off the edge— not exactly the best conditions for exploration.
Maria chuckled, ready to concede the difficulties, when Loki's hands caressed then clutched her bottom. His mouth pressed into her neck with warm, wet kisses that migrated up to her ear.
"Tell me what you like, Maria," he asked, sucking and nibbling softly on her lobe.
As a S.H.I.E.L.D. officer, Maria gave orders and opinions all the time. Her sex life was a different story. She hadn't had a serious boyfriend in years. Most of her encounters were spontaneous one-night stands, and once the festivities began, she tended to let her body do the talking. Of course, in the dark, a little strategizing might be necessary.
She made an encouraging hum, rolling back just a bit to expose her breasts, which he eagerly went after. Scooting down, Loki licked and sucked one nipple while working the other with his fingers. Apparently, he used every part of his mouth to its full advantage to cause varying sensations. He pinned one delicate nipple between his teeth, applying enough pressure to almost be painful.
"For whatever you do to me," Maria warned playfully, "I'm going to get you back."
"Duly noted," he released the nipple to say, then switched to the other, working over the bumpy flesh with his tongue first before wrapping his lips around it. Even then, his tongue flicked and swirled the nub until it ached.
Maria rested her hand on the back of his head, splaying her fingers through his long hair. She generally preferred clean cut guys, but gentle hair pulling was fun too.
"Wander back up here," she directed, giving his hair a tug. He laid a trail of kisses up her chest to her neck again.
Finally his mouth met hers again. Maria wasted no time letting his tongue into her mouth, holding it in place with her lips while her tongue slithered over it. She released him only to charge into his territory next, engaging his tongue in heated one-on-one combat. He showed skill, meeting her every daring move and countermove with a tenacity that thrilled her. Finally, she pulled back, both of them gasping for air.
Maria snaked her arms around him, grabbing his ass as she rocked her hips forward. With a low, appreciative growl, Loki hooked her leg and pulled it over his hip. He returned the motion, rubbing against her in a smooth, controlled rhythm, teasing, but not pushing her too far too fast while he kept his mouth working at her neck. They went on like that for a while, both tensing with rising pleasure.
"Let me on top," she requested with a gasp.
"Time for payback?"
"Fair play," she said with a hint of seduction then slipped from the bed so he could flatten out. Maria tossed aside the covers before straddling him, then lowered into a position that made it possible for her to rock back and forth on her knees.
Loki offered a pleased hum. His hands slid up the back of her thighs to first caress then add his strength and support to her efforts to reach climax.
"God, you feel good," she said, gasping and moaning through the following moments that kept her teetering on the edge. Then Loki's hands moved, one to cup her right breast and the other to tease at her sweet spot, which sent debilitating shock waves of pleasure into her core. She nearly collapsed on him, her head falling to rest upon his upper chest as she gasped and shook.
Loki took advantage of her loss of control to shift their positions. He pulled her to him, placing her on her back and took the top for himself. He again found a slow, comfortable rhythm as if purposely extending their pleasure.
"Oh God," Maria cried when another powerful orgasm hit.
He took her vocalization as a cue to pick up the pace. His words were soft and breathy as he panted with the effort.
"Are you praying? Am I not enough god for you?"
Maria laughed and forced her eyes open to observe his form moving over and against her with the building friction. With his features obscured, she realized he could be just about anyone her mind wanted to imagine, but no one else came to mind. He was a handsome man and protective to a point. Right then, she accepted him as her god, because Loki was exactly what she wanted and needed.
His more urgent attentions shook her frame and the bed, causing Maria to fear that he might cause real damage to both. She gripped his arm in gentle protest.
"Softer, please?" she begged, a cry escaping her lips as a final string of jolts caused her to buck uncontrollably.
With a loud moan, Loki tensed then slumped forward, resting on her front and setting his head upon her shoulder to catch his breath. Maria held him, enjoying the intimacy of their mixed smells and body heat.
His words puffed against her cheek with the confession, "I forgot what it was like— the softness and warmth of another person— and not to have every nerve on fire with pain."
Maria's mouth seemed to go dry, tasting sour. Her hand made it back up into his hair applying soothing strokes to the silky locks.
"I can't imagine."
"I just meant, that I wanted the connection to last. I apologize for any discomfort."
"I'm fine." She kissed his ear before mentioning, "You know, this is nice, but you can't sleep on me. Too many bruises."
With an accepting chuckle, Loki vacated the bed to retrieve their discarded quilt. Maria felt too tired to care about cleaning up. She rolled onto her side, appreciative of the warmth as he spread the blanket and cuddled against her back to share the only pillow.