When the old Rolls Royce drove in front of an amazing, old-fashion, three-storey high manor house made of grey stone, Emma couldn't speak. It lied in a middle of green flourishing gardens with statues, flowers, trimmed shrubs and a pond, and it looked like they would have arrived in some Jane Austen's book's movie set. What she had had in mind had been a nice, little, picturesque bed-and-breakfast inn with small attic rooms, but this was something a quite different.
Being relieved for getting finally out from the inconvenient backseat, Loki behaved like a gentleman and opened the door for Emma, helping her out from the car in her tiny dress. With one valuating glance he made his opinion about the place where they had been brought to. It was not bad. It could do for a small asylum, a place to take a breath, rest and polish his plans. He knew Thor was out there somewhere looking for him, so were the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents and the metal man. But as long as they hadn't caught him, he was going to enjoy his stay on this planet, and scheming to take over the whole realm.
Loki's eyes met with Emma's as she got out from the car holding on his hand. "I know, it does not match the splendor of the Asgardian palace, but I guess this would have to do for now," Loki said carelessly with a low tone.
"Oh, you are so humble that it makes me want to cry," Emma put it out sarcastically as they followed the older couple through the main entrance, she admiring everything around her. "Maybe this is below your standards, but I have been living four months in a freaking shack in the middle of nowhere seeing nothing but snow. Not that I'd be complaining, but to me this is the closest thing to heaven I've ever been."
Loki grabbed her gently from her waist and pulled closer to him. "Hm, you have not seen anything yet. Once we get some privacy I will take you to Valhalla," he whispered into her ear with a smooth voice, and Emma felt her knees getting weaker and it wasn't just because of her high heel shoes.
"Um… was that a threat or a promise?" she asked timidly.
"That would be the desired result."
Loki felt a yank of a small, warm hand on his as Damien was trying to get his attention.
"Come on, Loki! I want to show you my room!" the boy said, pulling from the hand of the god of mischief without an effect. It was like he would have been trying to move a mountain.
"Damien, darling, do not be rude to our guests," the old lady scolded the boy as they reached in the entrance hall. "Mr. Odinson must be tired after his troublesome journey."
Loki heaved a long sigh, staring down at Damien to whom they owed thanks for the glorious accommodation for a night. He couldn't deny it that the boy reminded him of himself as a child when he had been trying to get Odin's attention by any means. But still he couldn't understand why he did this. "I would be delighted to see your living quarters, young Mr. Grey," he said to the boy.
The old lady smiled delightedly. "Oh? That is very kind of you, Mr. Odinson. Damien dear, remember to wash your hands. The dinner is in ten minutes. If you'll excuse me, I will see that you will be checked in, in person," she said in a highly admiring tone and went to the reception. Loki's polished behavior had apparently made a great impression to their hostess. But the old Mr. Grey stalked out of the lobby in a sulking silence, probably not so eager of having non-paying customers around.
"This way, Loki!" Damien yelped, excited, leading the way.
Emma looked troubled as she stopped him, rising to her toes even more to speak with Loki privately. "Can I trust you with him? You're not going to turn him into a mouse to be eaten by his own pet snake, are you?" she asked whispering.
"You have so little faith in me?" Loki asked with an offended look, but gave her a grin then. "But that would be a wicked idea!" he continued as he was walking along with the boy out of her sight.
The lady Grey stopped Emma as she was about to ran after the two snake lovers. "So, you have been checked in now and here are your keys. I hope you and your charming husband could join us to dinner. That would be served in the dinning hall, left from here."
Emma took the key cards handed to her, still completely baffled by all what was going around her. The beauty of the manor itself made her fell speechless as they stood in the spacious lobby/lounge right next to the reception. She and Loki were supposed to be on the run not on some luxury vacation. "Thank you, Mrs. Grey. I'm sure we will," she managed to answer. She was terribly hungry and that dinner invitation sounded too good to be true.
"I am sorry to say but you look lost, dear. Do you still feel unwell?"
"Oh, I'm fine now. It has been a very trying day."
"Well, it is lovely you have so thoughtful and courteous husband. I am sure he takes good care of you. He reminds me of my dear Howard. You don't find men like them so often in these modern days."
"Well yes... I'm sure that there are no men like him, not on this planet anyway."
Lady Grey let out a tiny laugh and Emma joined her reluctantly. "I see he gets along splendidly with children. I must say I haven't seen Damien so excited in a long time. You see, his father, my darling Nathaniel, passed away two years ago. He was taken from us too early. A terrible accident it was. The poor boy hasn't really gotten over it yet."
So that's why the Greys took them in for free, Loki being like a temporary father-figure to the boy. Maybe not the best possible role-model there was! "I'm so sorry to hear that, Mrs. Grey."
"Thank you, dear. It is sad and unfortunate, but, life must go on." The old lady was silent a short moment but then turned at Emma with a kind smile. "So, when were you planning to have your own? Children?"
"Um?" Emma gasped, turning the ring in her finger nervously. Never! She had just met that trickstering alien! If it was up to her, she would take the keys and lock herself in her room, and not letting Loki anywhere near her after that question. "We are both concentrating in our work at the moment. His career is just in the beginning. He is making name for himself. I believe he wants to take over the world at first, in the magic business, that is."
"You are still young people, but do not wait too long."
Emma grimaced. "Thank you, really. But if you don't mind I would like to go powdering my nose." The words Emma never thought she would say, but she needed to end that conversation. And she assumed that was a polite way to put it out. She usually never used makeup. She didn't even own a lips stick or a powder.
"Of course, ladies room is on the right on the end of that corridor."
After finding the sanctuary of the empty ladies room, Emma kicked off her shoes and slumped against the table in front of the mirrors, pulling the ring off from her finger. She was nearly hyperventilating, thinking about the mess she had gotten herself into. No good could ever come out of it. Had it only been three, four days ago when she had been happily unaware listening voices from space in Greenland? It felt like it would have been at least three weeks ago. And Loki, it felt like she would have known him for ages and still she knew so little of him. They were now around other people. What if he would freak out again? What if his brother would show up? They would destroy the whole place if they'd end up in a fight!
And Loki was there with that kid now. What if he would…? No! He wouldn't ever hurt a child, she reasoned and was certain of it.
Emma tried to concentrate into her breathing and opened the cold tap, washing her hands. Before she splashed the water to her face, she glanced herself through the mirror. Her own reflection took her by surprise, leaving her staring at her image. After Loki conjuring her new outlooks, she had been afraid she would be looking like a cheap tart, but instead, her reflection showed a side of her she didn't know existed. Her long golden hair was in soft curls, she had golden and dark eye shadows that against her believe made her blue eyes look bigger and bright and some subtle red shade on her lips. The clothes she was wearing fitted her perfectly, not making her look cheap, but sophisticated and the combination of the dark-green and black on her was decorous and stylish.
It was hard to believe that the reflection in the mirror was hers. A tear rolled down on her cheek. She looked beautiful just as he had told her. A small part of her melted again. Maybe Loki was more thoughtful that she would have guessed. Just maybe, he would take a good care of her, who knows. She had no plans with him nor with anything else at the moment, only a strong will for staying alive. Could she ran away and stay alive, hiding from the S.H.I.E.L.D. without him? She had always run away from her problems. And now she was dealing with a big, big problem named Loki. He was the reason she was being on the run.
Not mentioned they had given an impression to their kind hosts that they were a newlywed couple and it was a bit too late to correct that. And ominously it seemed that Loki had a pretty good idea what the honeymoon was all about.
She picked up the golden ring from the table and took a seat on a cushioned bench to admire the ring in a better light. It was amazing with beautiful carvings and a frosted absinth green emerald. If that was real, it would have been worth of a fortune. She could have sold it to a pawnshop and get enough money to start anew. Emma had no idea what to do even she cared for him a lot. It felt like her sanity had taken a day off leaving her lost in a foreign country with an alien guy who was on the most wanted list of several people. He was probably going to get her killed. Yeap, she was definitely out of her mind if she would stay with him any longer!
... ...
When he crossed a threshold of the territory of an eight years old, Loki thought that he entered into a whole new realm. Damien showed eagerly his own chambers to his guest, explaining things to Loki who had no idea what they were. Loki let his gaze wander around inside the spacious and comfortable room.
Everything was in perfect order. The books and toys were on their own places, a lap top computer on the table, pencils organized by color. There were pictures of odd imaginary creatures on the walls, things that Loki had not seen even in his wildest dreams, among some artistic paintings. There were also photos of the boy's family on the bookshelf.
"Are these your parents?" Loki asked, studying the images of smiling people.
"That's my mom and dad," Damien told pointing at the photograph of a couple with him in the picture, pulling out a few books of his trading card collections from the shelf.
"Where are they now?"
Damien was quiet for a moment. "There was some charity event they had to go. I'm staying here with my grandmother and –father when they're not home. I stay here a quite lot actually."
Loki made a small circle in the room glancing around him, then staring at a big picture of a red car with blue eyes and big grinning mouth, shaking his head amused by it. "Do you have any brothers?"
"No, only one older sister." Damien noticed Loki looking at the poster of the Cars. "That's the Lightning McQueen, the fastest car in the world."
Of course it had to be Lightning! Loki let out a snort with a dry smile, not meanly. "How is your sister like?"
The boy sat on the bed, flipping thought the pages of his book. "She's alright. A bit bossy but nice most of the time."
"What if she would be arrogant and underestimating you in every turn, stealing all the glory of your achievements?" Loki asked in a serious tone as he walked closer to the boy.
Damien frowned. "I would put Phantom in her bed again," he said with a firm determination and they exchanged mischievous grins.
Loki sat on the side of the bed, next to the young one. He felt strangely comfortable to talk with Damien. The boy seemed to have a loving family around him, just as he had once thought he did. What a joke that have turned out to be! "What would you do, if one day your parents would tell you that you are adopted?"
"Huh? Am I?" Damien asked puzzled, gazing at him, his eyes suddenly growing big. "Are you my real dad?" he asked nearly excited.
"No! Heavens no!" Loki alarmed. "It was only a theoretical question."
Damien looked a bit disappointed. "Oh, well, that's depends... What would my real parents be like?"
Loki got serious. To him this wasn't just a theoretical matter. "Hideous monsters."
Damien grimaced. "Then I would be glad that I'm adopted," he answered quickly but then gave a lot of thought about that. "Unless I would be a monster too, which makes it difficult, if I would be adopted to a normal human family. Maybe I would be better to stay with my real parents in that case."
"But what if you wouldn't want to be a monster like your real parents?"
Damien shrugged, pondering hard. "If I wouldn't be able to change what I am, I guess I just have to try to live with it, becoming the nicest monster there is, except for those who would bully me. I would kick their butts with my awesome monster powers!" he announced, giving a mighty smile at Loki, hoping to possess those monster powers to show his own bullies a lesson.
Loki nodded with a small smile, wishing that he too would be able to accept his own monster parentage. He wasn't ever going to become the nicest Frost Giant there is, though. They sat there a moment, Damien showing Loki his treasures of action figures and trading cards, Loki not really impressed by any of it. But he tried his best to act interested.
"This was lovely, truly a mind-expanding experience. Thank you. But I believe it is your time to go on that dinner now," Loki told to the boy, wanting to return to Emma.
"I guess so," Damien sighed, getting up and placing his books back to the bookshelf. "I would have liked to show you my snake but he's at home. Nana won't let me bring Phantom here after that time when he got lost and ended up in one of the guest's room."
Loki gave the boy a curious glance. "So, what happened then?"
The boy tried not to smirk. "I've never seen a grown-up man running so fast and screaming like a girl."
They both laughed, Loki remembering those snake trick he used to do to the Asgardians ending up with the pretty much same results.
As he was getting up, his eyes caught up with a small blue creature on the lower shelf. It was a stuffed doll, with a big nose and funny white hat and Jotun-blue skin. Loki frowned staring at it. "What is that?" he asked pointing at it.
Damien picked it up and handed it to Loki. "That's a smurf. I got it when I was two years old. I'm not playing with it anymore."
"This is a smurf?" Slightly mouth opened Loki beheld the blue creature, recalling Emma calling him that. Was this what she thought of him? She had the oddest sense of humor. "What does it do? Is it a beast?"
"No," the boy smirked with a laugh. "It lives in a little mushroom house in a smurf village with its friends and they smurfs all day long. Don't you have smurfs in Norway?"
"No, we don't. Can I borrow this?" Loki asked turning the stuffed doll in his hands.
"You can have it, if you want. Do you like it?"
"No, but Emma is overly fond of these… things," he murmured, conjuring the blue doll to disappear between his palms and showing a couple other tricks to the young one.
… …
When they went back at the downstairs Loki didn't find Emma anywhere. He had left her in the lobby where she wasn't anymore. He followed the boy into the dinning hall where the old couple was sitting at a table already. The half of the tables in the room was taken, wealthy looking people sitting and fine dinning there. The dinning hall was beautiful with great paintings on the walls, sparkling chandeliers and wide windows looking to the alighted garden.
Loki was getting a bit worried as he escorted Damien to his grandparents. "Have you seen Emma?" he asked from the Grey couple. "My wife?"
"Oh, yes. She said she needed to visit the ladies room. That was a while ago," the old lady said, offering a seat to him. "Please, have a seat, Mr. Odinson."
"Yes, you can sit with me!" Damien yelped.
"I'm sure she would come soon. She said you two would join us on dinner."
"Did she now?" Loki glanced around him in the fancy dinning hall, heaving an annoyed sigh. He didn't want to be around these people, pretending to be one of them. It occurred to him that he had been putting up with them only for Emma's sake. He would have rather ruled them, all, showing them their true place in this new world he was about to build.
"Please, if you would excuse me," the god of mischief said as he left looking for Emma.
He had placed his trust in her, but feared she have used her opportunity to ran, as she had ran away from her tormentors years ago. The treason of the Warrior Three and lady Sif still burning him, he was presuming his newfound companion had also turned her back at him, no matter how ardent the beginning of their little liaison had been. He wondered had it all become too much for her to bear; the threat of the S.H.I.E.L.D., Ironman and Thor that she had seen it wiser to leave him. Or had she simply grown tired to him and his only slightly mischievous tricks?
Loki strode back to the lobby, casting a stern glance around him, walking back and forth a few rounds, falling into a foul mood. After playing out too many tricks of his own, and after been lied his whole life by his family, he had developed some major trust issues in a very short time. And without Emma, he would have no reason to hold back what he was, letting the humanity to meet their new unmerciful leader. A rueful smile swept over his lips. This certainly wasn't the first time he had been abandoned and rejected by someone he'd believe he could have trusted.
When he heard the familiar, uncertain, clicking steps of high heel shoes carrying through the empty hallway behind him, Loki turned around to face her. His heart skipped a beat as he beheld Emma, his stern expression turning slowly to a tiny, fondly smile. She hadn't gone anywhere, and she looked more beautiful than ever. He just stayed where he stood and watched her without a word, an odd, warm sensation filling his heart.
"Loki?" Emma stopped a few feet away from him, looking at him questioningly and a bit alarmed. Actually, fearing that something bad had happened with the boy. That much significant his troubled expression had been. "Loki, what's wrong? Is Damien alright?" she asked in a concerned voice.
The god of mischief stood there in his perfectly fitting black suit, tall and handsome as hell, swallowing his short-live and ill-founded doubts. He took a breath at first, not to sound too emotional. "He is fine. I was looking for you. You got me thinking that you ran away, Emma," Loki admitted his doubts quietly, stepping closer to her, his dark thoughts leaving him as he watched at her.
Emma met him on the half way, a glint of guilt visiting her eyes. "To be honest, I almost did."
He squinted lightly, but appreciated her honesty. "What stopped you?"
Life was too short so why not make the most of it, she reasoned. "Call me a fool, but I decided to trust you, Loki. Even after that sheep trick. We are in this together. Plus, I didn't have any money for a cab." Care to borrow some? she thought smiling, but didn't dare to continue the joke. He had looked so lost and troubled enough, searching for her, that it stung her heart.
He was the one feeling himself as a fool at that moment. They surely were in this together. "Hm, you would have not gotten very far in those shoes," Loki smiled back at her and offered his arm to her like in some elegant ball, behaving like a perfect gentleman. "Shall we? Apparently they are expecting us for dinner," he said, assuming that she should eat since she hadn't had a decent meal in a few days. And he didn't mind of putting something delectable into his mouth too if the mortals were able to prepare some.
"Sounds great. I'm starving." Emma hooked her arm with his like a princess and lifted her eyes at him. "Thank you," she said in a silent voice, touching his hand with the other hand.
Loki noticed that she still wore the ring in her finger he had conjured for her and it gave him a strange satisfaction since it apparently was a sign of a marriage to the mortals. "For what?"
"For this," she said shrugging, meaning her outfit. "And, thank you for being who you are."
Loki looked puzzled, but her words were like balm he had been craving for. "I do not understand."
"What I'm trying to say is that," Emma looked nervous, hoping she wouldn't have to regret this, "I kind of like you, a lot."
He couldn't tell how good it felt to hear someone saying that to him and really meaning it. He swallowed his puzzlement and gave her a smile. "I," he begun sounding sincere at first, "I knew you would come to your senses, my dear."
Emma tried not to roll her eyes. "Don't get too cocky now, big guy!"
"Never, my manners are always courtly." With a grin he made a subtle move with his other hand, giving into a small concession, since she had remained by his side.
And Emma noticed that her black skirt grew in length, the hem of it reaching under her knees, securing her modesty. "Oh, nice. Thanks."
"Anything for my queen," the god of mischief declared softly.
Emma gave him a curious smile. "In that case, how about a bit lower heels?"
"That is non-negotiable."
… …
They joined the Grey couple and Damien on a late dinner, ate a plentiful meal and enjoyed themselves in that glorious place. They had have a nice time at the dinner, and Loki had behaved humanly like a normal person, making Emma feeling herself like a royal, talking with Mr. Grey about horses that they seemed to share a passion about, joking with Damien and flattering the old lady Grey. Emma hadn't had no idea that he could ride a horse, or that he was such a silver tongue. Loki could have made a fortune by selling used cars, or he could have probably managed to sell some ice to the Frost Giants.
He had been pleasant, intelligence and charming, like he would have belonged into that elegant company and that was the way Emma would have wanted him to remain. Maybe he truly was a royal as he had told her. She felt being the only outsider there. Acting as a married couple with him had been fun and weird but Emma had enjoyed it more than she would have wanted to admit. Suddenly it had felt like she had known him for years, no matter how crazy the feeling was.
And Loki was fully enjoying himself, being in the center of attention. To his surprise the dinner had been very good, and he had only wondered how could have Emma eaten so much for someone being so small as though she would had have an appetite of Volstagg. He had liked their little role-play. She had been so endearing the whole time and he had been calling her with a whole variety of sweet names only wanting to see those lovely blue eyes giving him bewildered smiles.
"Mr. Odinson, could you possibly consider to show us some of your performance?" the old lady Grey asked a bit shyly at the time of the desert.
Emma lifted her gaze from her mouth-watering dessert, very rich chocolate mousse, regretted she had told them that he was a magician. "Um, she is talking about your magical illusions, my dear."
Loki furrowed his forehead, emptying his glass of scotch with a one big gulp. "You want me to show you my tricks?" he asked a bit surprised.
"If it is not too much to ask."
Damien got excited. "Oh, do the snake trick. That was brilliant!"
"No snakes!" Emma gasped, knowing that this was a bad idea.
She scooped another spoonful of the sweet, fluffy mousse and shoved it in Loki's face. "Here, try this, sweetheart! It is very delicious," she said, trying to change the subject, playing along with him in the pet name contest. Loki couldn't help but to taste the dessert as she was nearly thrusting the spoon down into his throat. "He's performances needs a lot of preparations, and..." Emma explained, shutting his mouth with the dessert which didn't work.
"Um…" Loki murmured swallowing his mouth empty, gently disarming her from her spoon. "It is alright, my dearest darling," he said, wiping his mouth to a napkin. He looked like he was ready for some real challenge, getting up from his seat and winking an eye at Emma. Perhaps it truly was time for him to make a name for himself, letting this handful of people to know who he was. Emma shook her head at him, not to do anything unthinkable.
"How very exciting?" the old lady sighed glancing at Emma, who tried to force her face into a smile.
Poised as a true king (making even Odin next to him looking like a humble man) Loki walked in front of the tables, starting his show on his way, changing his appearance back to his Asgardian style in a flow of golden magic, chancing back to his own royal clothing with his long green cape and his horned helmet and some extra golden details. The dinning hall fell in silence as the people stared at him, a puzzled expectancy filling the air.
Emma wanted to cover her eyes behind her palms, but was afraid not to. Oh shit! Just when everything was going on so perfectly. Not this again!
Loki gazed at the small room of people, pleased of gotten their undivided attention.
"I am Loki of Asgard. I would ask you to kneel before me, but since you already sitting, some might consider it... rude," he spoke in an aloud voice that everyone heard clearly. Four identical illusions of him appeared around the hall as if guarding the exits, glaring around the people who gave a bewildered utterance.
He gave them a sated smile, lifting his arms. "Do not be afraid, I bring to you glad tidings," he continued and conjured a huge illusion all around them, turning the dinning hall into a unbelievable scenery from a vision of outer space, as if they have been sitting at a side of a foreign galaxy, the wide black, starry space around them and a sparkling bridge below them. "When your world is slipping into a chaos, humanity falling in a desperate need of a leader, you will become to know me as your ruler…"
The people beheld the breathtaking vision utterly taken aback, not believing their eyes, his words greatly confusing them. It was amazingly beautiful and odd at the same time, something that none of them had ever seen. The illusions was alive, changing as if they would have been diving into the galaxy with a speed of light, the stars and colorful star dust passing by in front of their eyes. It all finally was fading away as if they would have returned back on Earth through the space.
Mouth opened Emma stared at the self-claimed new ruler of Earth, face palming herself. "What are you doing?" she mouthed at him, but Loki only gave her a confident smile.
As Loki kept talking to the people, his great speech of humanity crying out for a savior, she grabbed a bottle of mister Grey's scotch, pouring herself a large glass of it, shaking her head in disbelief. This was insane! Had she encouraged him to do that? She should have run and fast without looking back while she had the chance. She liked him but not that crazy side of him. That was it! She couldn't watch this sober, Loki doing something terrible again. She dipped her finger in the drink and tasted it, only to found out that she hated scotch. She kicked off her shoes under the table. It had been hard enough to walking with them sober, not mention if she would get drunk.
Mr. Grey watched at Emma perplexed like that would have been a waste of good scotch. "My dear girl that is not the way you enjoy your scotch!"
"It's okay. I'm not going to enjoy it."
Loki frowned as he noticed Emma picking up her glass full of alcohol. He shook his head in disapproval at her. She couldn't do that! She would become utterly impossible if she would drink that, he thought abashed. Or then she would pass out under the table at once. Either way embarrassing them both.
"I have come from too far to stop now," he stated, his words meant for her even it seemed he was talking to the people.
Emma noticed her glass draining empty as Loki conjured the alcohol away from it, and created a huge circle of absinth green fire with it and his magic on the back wall of the dinning hall as if he would have opened a flaming portal. The audience gasped once again in bewilderment, some of them already a bit worried.
Emma got up from her seat, her daring gaze at him, the drop of scotch beginning to take effect on her as an encouragement she had been hoping for. She was not going to let him do something unthinkable, like opening a portal straight to hell, what it ominously looked like he was doing.
"Ladies and gentleman! Please put your hands together for the greatest magician on the face of Earth! Loki of Asgard! The true king... of sorcery," she spoke in an aloud voice sounding like a real show-woman. "Loki Odinson, your god of illusions, ladies and gentleman! To see more of his magnificent performance, please visit our website and get your tickets to the upcoming shows. The great European tour will start in next month."
Staring at her grimly Loki tilted his head. That actually looked a bit funny with his horned helmet on. She had ruined his big debut, addressing him as a mere magician. What the hell was she doing? He didn't like this. He didn't like the stunt she had pulled. She had crossed the line. How dared she do that? He was going to have to give the mortals a true example of his powers now.
The people, dumbfound, rose up on their feet, applauding at him, showing him their great enthusiasm after his strange, unique and compelling show like it had been the most marvelous spectacle they had ever seen, wanting to see more. Taken aback by the surprise of the people's reactions, Loki gazed around him. Against all odds he had gain the favor of his audience however small, but still. Someone started it but soon everyone was cheering his name, shouts of "Loki!" filling the dinning hall.
Loki let out a small snort by bewilderment. It sounded like these people actually liked him. Not what he had been expecting to achieve, but it wasn't bad. He lifted his hand up, enjoying the admirations given to him and slowly conjured the remainings of his illusions away, his duplicates and the burning circle from the wall, changing back into the black suit he wore before his show, saying a few thanks. Then he made his way back at the table of the Greys, some people bowing at him (in a playful way) like he would have been a king.
"That was awesome! But where were the snakes!" Damien sighed, putting down his mobile phone he had used to take a video, but Loki showed him a hush-hush move to be quiet about the snakes.
"Jolly good show, Mr. Odinson! Eccentric really, but marvelous! Can't wait to see more," Mr. Grey said finally excited of what he had seen, giving the god of mischief a refilled glass of scotch as a token of great approval.
"That was indeed a quite performance," the lady Grey admitted, easing her fluttering heart with a sip of sherry. She was a fan of more traditional magic with card trick and such. What he had done had been a bit too much for her taste. "Maybe not suitable for small children."
"Thank you. I hope you enjoyed," Loki said in a dark tone and took the glass and gulped it empty to settle his anger. His gaze focused at Emma who still stood with him as everyone else sat down, the applauses fading around them.
She bit her lips nervously as Loki stepped in front of her, his intimidating pose telling her that she had done something she shouldn't have. Man, that was the dark side of him she would have not cared to meet again. She had forgotten his bad temper so completely. "Well done, darling," she said cautiously with an attempt of a smile.
His gaze swept her from head to toes and returned to her eyes. "I believe it is our time to retire, my dear," Loki said and grabbed from her arm.
"I haven't even finished my dessert yet."
"Come along now, Emma," he growled in a frighteningly calm, low voice and pulled her with him.
"But the night is still young. Isn't it?" Emma managed to snatch her shoes under the table and bid goodnights to their hosts before he subtly dragged her out from the dinning hall.
Loki walked her on a quieter corridor leading to the staircase before he said anything else, pushing her softly up against the wall, stepping so close that he almost stepped on her toes, casting a mean glare down at her. "What were you trying to do there?" he asked, his deep, dark voice expressing his chagrin because of her little interference.
Emma was unsure how mad he was to her. "I'm sorry but I wasn't on a mood for bloodshed this time."
They were both whispering but it ominously felt like they were cruising towards a small domestic dispute.
"You think I would have started killing people for fun? In front of that child? What kind of monster do you think I am?"
"Then what were you trying to do?"
With parted lips, seemingly severely upset, Loki gave her an annoyed smile as though asking hadn't she really figured it out yet. "I meant to rule this world, not entertain it!" he huffed, scolding her, but keeping his voice surprisingly quiet.
"Welcome to Earth! It's almost the same thing now days. We are not living in the Dark Ages anymore," she snapped back at him. "Didn't you see how they worshiped you there? Believe me, you'd do a lot better showing them a few neat tricks than trying to subject them to you rule like some mad person!"
Oh, here we go again! Loki rolled his eyes. "This is not madness, woman! I am entitled to a throne, if not in Asgard then here," Loki said and leaned his left forearm against the wall, sideways over her head, and put his other hand on her shoulder, trapping her there where she stood. "You do not want to challenge me again!" he said in a bit heated voice that sounded like a challenge in itself.
"You're right, I don't. So don't give me a reason for it!"
He pouted his lower lip like an annoyed kid, leaning closer to her. "Everything was going on so perfectly. You spoiled my play!"
"I'm sorry. Look, we might have a minor difference of opinion about this matter. It was a very good show, though," Emma said apologetically, but then a small defiance lifted its head. "But you pull one more crazy-ass stunt like that and I'm going to walk away!"
Loki frowned. "Crazy-ass?"
"It's a figure of speech. But I mean it! If you'll continue this brainless obsession of yours of taking over the damn world then you're not leaving me with any other choice but to leave you," she challenged in a hushed voice.
He stared down at her a moment without blinking as though she had said something very rude to him, which she pretty much did. And he thought that they already had this conversation just a while ago before the dinner. "You cannot leave me, Emma!" he said like he would have stated a simple fact.
"Well, you just watch me if you'll keep goofing around!"
"I do not even know what is that damn word suppose to mean. Speak in the way I can understand you!" Loki snorted, but relenting a bit. His left hand dropped from the wall onto her other shoulder and his palm moved on the back of her neck. "You said it yourself that we must stand together. Do not think for a moment that I would let you go now. You belong to me," he whispered in an unsettled tone.
"W-what? No… It doesn't work like that. I chose to stay with you, because (some crazy reason) I like you. There's a big difference in that. You don't own me, Loki!" Emma stated firmly.
He leaned closer. "No?"
"No!"
Oh yes he did, she just didn't know it yet, Loki thought, wanting to demonstrate just as much he owned her. His hand squeezed gently her shoulder, other hand's thumb stroking her jaw line. She looked so breathtakingly beautiful in that small dress and the outlooks he had conjured for her that he would have not wanted to spent their time in a petty quarrel. And yet her defiance was only arousing him, tempting him to lure that darker side of her to coming out to play.
"An European tour you said?" he asked, sounding still upset but as if taking it under consideration.
"Why the hell not? It could set us up nicely and you could make a name for yourself." Emma swallowed, looking up into his emerald eyes like she would have given up, leaning the back of her head against the wall, his hands keeping her there. He looked so damn hot in that black suit and she really had no wish to argue. They had had so much fun earlier that it would have been a shame to spoil it all. "Ohh, you look so damn hot when you're angry. Wait! Did I say that aloud? I must be a bit tipsy."
He narrowed his eyes, exhaling slowly, a smile only waiting to come out. "Do not waste your breath by trying to placate me with your weak excuse of a compliment." There was a keen gleam in his eyes even he still appeared to be grumpy. "It is your fortune I am being in a benevolent mood and shall allow you a chance to make amends."
Emma couldn't tell the difference was he angry or joking. She felt her heart pounding fast, trying to figure him out. "Are you being serious?"
He clenched his jaw but his eyes smiled. "Oh yes. And you can start by giving me a kiss."
Not questioning that, Emma dropped off her shoes she was carrying, taking a hold of his long, silky scarf and pulling him lower. "We need to seriously work on our communication," she said as she rose on her tiptoes to meet with his lips. And he hunched down to claim that kiss for a starters of a reconciliation, his hands wrapping around her waist.
"Why you keep scaring me like that, you big meanie?" she asked whispering while their lips were touching, making her heart galloping wild.
A smile conquered his face. "Because I have seen how much fear and danger excites you, my Valkyrie," he answered with a voice she couldn't resist, pressing his mouth on hers and leaning his body against her. The taste of scotch in his mouth mixing up with the chocolate of hers was a delicate combination they both enjoyed, only rousing hunger for some more.
"You do know you actually have a room here, don't you?" Damien's witty remark broke the tension between them as they had just gotten to the kissing part.
The boy stood in the corridor, looking at them embarrassed unsure which way to turn his eyes. And they both stared at the young one, taking a breath, confused and as if gotten caught of doing something forbidden.
Loki frowned at the tiny interferer, uncomfortable that the boy had seen them kissing, taking a step back from Emma, but kept leaning to his hand on the wall next to her. "What do you want, little varmint?"
"Loki, play nice!" Emma whispered and he glanced at her with a small scowl.
"I forgot to ask you… Can I have your signature, Loki? If you're going to be famous, I would like to have your name in my book," the boy said and offered him a pencil and a small book where he had collected names of some local notables.
"If I shall do this, will you leave us alone?" Loki asked in an undertone, taking the book and the pen.
"Alright!"
"Who is David Beckham?" the god of mischief asked flipping through the pages.
"You've got Beckham's name in there? Are you kidding me?" Emma yelped taking a peek.
"I also have a signature of Prince Harry," Damien told proudly.
"Loki, you have to put your name in there. Damien needs a name of the king of Asgard too," Emma told him excited.
Loki gave his signature to the boy, puzzled about it, and handed the book back to him. In Damien's request Emma also took a picture of Loki and Damien with the boy's cell phone for him.
Damien looked more than happy. "Thanks! Hey, I can show you to your room, if you like!"
Loki looked down at the boy in a fatherly disapproval manner. "No, thank you! What did I just say to you?"
"You're very kind, young sir, but maybe it is time for you too to go to bed," Emma suggested to the young one, finding Loki's behavior with the kid actually kind of sweet.
"Alright. I'll see you at the breakfast then. Good night!"
As the boy disappeared running from their sight, Loki turned back at Emma with a curious expression, wrapping his arm around her shoulders. "We are not done yet, you and I. Now, tell me, my precious darling, where are our chambers? Like you said, it is our honeymoon after all, isn't it? We must keep up the appearances."
Oh shit!
