True to his word, Loki spent the next day pampering himself, which consisted of a visit to his hair stylist, a manicure, and from the large amount of bags and boxes he brought home, an unholy amount of retail therapy.
"Darling, I'm home!" his voice rang exuberantly through the hold, his now slightly shorter but fully black again hair tousled and his cheeks red from the cold wind following him through the open doors despite it being summer.
"Take, these, and these, and those," he said as he piled my arms full and kissed me simultaneously.
"Did you have fun?" I couldn't help but smile at the change in his mood.
He closed the doors behind him. "Oh, yes, I did!
And I got you a surprise too! But it will not be ready until later, it is still at the tailor's."
"For me to wear, or for you to wear for me?" I asked curiously.
"The latter," he winked with a cheeky grin. "You'll love it, trust me!"
Loki took the packages out of my arms and I watched him as he jauntily sauntered toward the bedroom.
I smiled. I'd never stop admiring his ability to stay cheerful no matter what hardships life threw his way.
The thingymajig for the portals arrived a few days later, and Loki and Carter spent every waking moment trying to get the teleporting devices to work.
It dawned on me that the reason why Loki was working so hard on them was to distract himself from everything else that was going on.
Beaumont still hadn't contacted Loki, which I knew was worrying him almost as much as the thought of what he would do if Beaumont did contact him.
I decided to plan a little surprise for him of my own.
"Where are you leading me to, Sorcha? It has been a long day! Certainly, you'd rather snuggle up in a chair and watch a movie together rather than drag me off into the training room?" Loki complained as I pulled him down into the hallway that lead to the armoury and training area.
I said nothing, trying to hide a grin as I lead him into the dark room.
"What…"
With a flick of my fingers, I summoned a small flame that travelled through the room, lighting up the candles that were spread throughout the space one by one, bathing the petal-strewn floor of the training area in soft light.
Loki looked around him, his eyes soft as an astonished smile played around his lips.
"What is all this? Did you do this?"
"I know life has been crazy and you probably won't have remembered," I said shyly, "but a year ago on this day, you proposed to me."
"Is that already a year ago? My, how time flies," Loki's eyes twinkled into mine. "And this is something you find worth celebrating?"
"Stop teasing me," I laughed as I blushed at the same time. "Yes, I find that worth celebrating!"
"I wasn't aware that was an anniversary we were supposed to mark," Loki admitted, "But it is incredibly endearing that you think we should."
I looked at him, not sure if he was making fun of me. But he just smiled his sweetest smile.
"I would have worn the dress too, but it got ruined in the rain that night," I confessed.
"Isn't it a marvellous coincidence then that you are married to a god who just so happens to be insistent on making all your dreams come true?"
Loki's eyes lit green and suddenly I was dressed in the vintage emerald green taffeta and tule dress I had worn on the night Loki had proposed, and he was dressed in his black tuxedo with the dark green cummerbund.
He held out his hand as Frank Sinatra's "Call me Irresponsible" began to play.
I smiled up at Loki as he took me in his arms, and followed him as he lead me around the makeshift dancefloor. His voice was warm and sweet as he softly began to sing along.
"That night I thought there was no possible way I could ever love you more than I did during that dance," Loki confessed as he dipped me down.
"Never could I have begun to guess how wrong I was. I love you more and more with each day that I have the privilege of spending by your side."
Our eyes met, and I felt myself drown in those wonderful, impossibly blue eyes in that beautiful face I held so dear.
"And never could I have imagined that you would love me and stand by me no matter what mistakes I would make or what terrible things I were to confess to.
My sun, my moon, my stars, my universe… always and forever my guiding light in the dark."
We continued dancing even after the music ended, neither of us willing to be the first to leave the other's arms.
Finally, Loki stopped dancing and pulled me closer, his lips tenderly brushing against mine.
"You are the sweetest person I've ever met and I have no idea what I ever did to deserve you. Thank you for remembering today.
How about we continue this elsewhere?"
He took my hand and led me out of the training room and towards the living quarters. I was expecting him to continue to the bedroom, but he stopped in front of the music room instead.
He hesitated, then gave an apologetic smile.
"I hope you can forgive me," he said as he opened the door, "but no matter how much I adore you, I can't help but detest you for beating me to this!"
The room was lit by dozens of candles, fairy lights hung above us and rose petals were strewn across the grand piano.
I slapped my hand over my mouth as I tried not to laugh.
"You did not truly believe I had forgotten, did you?" Loki eyed me with a half-smile, half-scowl.
"It isn't often one manages to beat a trickster god to his own tricks, and now you've managed it twice and on the same date nontheless."
I pealed with laughter. "I am so sorry, I was convinced you'd forgotten and I wanted to do something nice for you!"
Loki laughed despite himself.
"And you did," he admitted. "But now, my darling, it is my turn."
Loki sat down in front of the grand piano, leaving a space on the bench for me beside him.
"By now you are probably used to me serenading you," Loki smiled wryly.
"Every love song I hear, every chorus and refrain, seems an echo of my love for you and I feel compelled to share it with you just so you can understand how much you truly have come to mean to me.
Tonight, I would like to sing a song for you that is different."
I sat down on the bench beside him and eyed him curiously.
For a moment Loki fidgeted nervously.
"This song reminds me not of how I love you, but of the way you love me, and the way you love those around you."
He smiled almost shyly.
"I see you.
I see all the little things you do for those around you every single day.
I see the way you love, selflessly, without ever expecting anything in return. I see your kindness, your grace, your empathy and your generosity.
I see the tears you cry when you think no one is watching, and all the sacrifices you make."
He took a deep breath, his face serious as his eyes looked into mine.
"I see you, my darling Sorcha, and I love you all the more for it."
He stretched his long slender fingers and placed them on the keys.
"Heh, it's higher in tone than what my voice is accustomed to, you'll have to forgive me if I am slightly off-key."
I smiled at him, knowing that no matter what song it was, he'd sing it perfectly.
He hesitated for a moment, then began to play. The song he serenaded me with was "Two" by Sleeping At Last, a song with words so sweet, it will forever be dear to me.
(If you wish to hear the song and read the lyrics here is a link: /PrDzd4ufypE )
Slowly the last notes drifted away.
"Oh darling, please don't cry. This was supposed to make you happy, not sad. I should have chosen a different song…"
Loki wiped my tears away with a handkerchief that materialised out of thin air.
"I am so sorry," he whispered helplessly as the tears kept falling.
"It's okay," I sniffled. "Honestly, it is the sweetest song you've ever sung for me."
His eyes worriedly looked into mine, convinced he had made a mistake.
But I couldn't find the words to say how much it meant to me to be seen, to be noticed, to not be taken for granted but to be appreciated for everything I was and everything I did without giving it a second thought.
Instead, I ran my fingers through his hair, along those perfect cheekbones, past his strong jaw.
Loki pulled me on his lap and wrapped his arms around me, gently kissing my tears away.
"You are so beautiful, inside and out," he whispered, "and I will spend the rest of my life trying to be worthy of your love. I have failed to keep so many of the promises I've made, but that is a promise I'll gladly keep."
My lips met his, gently at first, then more and more hungrily as I could feel his hard athletic body pressed close to mine. He gasped softly as his body responded in return.
"Want to continue this somewhere we are less likely to get interrupted?" I whispered hoarsely before we'd go too far. "I decorated the bedroom with candles and flower petals too."
Loki suddenly laughed and hid his face against my shoulder.
"What?" I asked in confusion, not understanding what was so funny.
"I know," he finally managed to say in between a fit of giggles. "I saw it when I went to decorate the bathroom with candles and rose petals too."
Instantly I saw the humour in the situation as well.
"You didn't!" I couldn't help but laugh myself.
"Oh, yes I did," his shoulders were shaking helplessly. "We need to be more creative next year, or at least try not to be so like-minded!"
"We'll be cleaning flowerpetals up for days," I giggled helplessly.
"That's a problem for tomorrow," Loki lifted me up in his arms.
"Bedroom or bathroom? Ladies' choice!" he offered gallantly.
"Bedroom first," I decided with a wicked smile. "I have plans that will leave us rather messy, we'll be glad for a bath afterwards."
"And what sort of plans would that be?"
"There might be strawberries, chocolate and whipped cream involved," I admitted.
"That will go nicely with the champagne that is cooling in a bucket in the bathroom," Loki smiled lasciviously as his voice deepened.
I pulled his head down for another kiss, all my tears dried and forgotten.
Afterwards, I found myself contently cradled in Loki's arms, enjoying the feeling of his wet naked skin against mine.
I was tired, but fully satisfied. The warm water lapped lazily around us, making me feel even sleepier.
Loki gently kissed my shoulder, and I slightly turned around so I could see his face. His black hair was curling damply around his face, and his eyelashes stuck together in little triangles, making his blue eyes seem even brighter.
"This night has been absolutely perfect," I whispered contently.
"Almost perfect, yes," he agreed.
"Almost?" I raised an eyebrow.
"Almost, yes. It would be even better if I knew what has been bothering you," he said softly.
"Not tonight, not when everything is so wonderful and amazing."
"And you are more likely to tell me when things aren't?" he asked with a wry smile.
"You can not help others unless you look after yourself first.
I am no longer alone, but neither are you. You have been there for me so often, let me be there for you this time."
I hesitated.
"I don't want to add more to your plate…"
"You won't. You'll be removing some of your own. I am stronger than I seem, darling, lean on me."
"It is silly…"
"No, it is not. I know you too well, it can't be for it to bother you so."
I fell quiet.
Loki cupped my face in his hand. "Allow me to be your rock for a change."
"I feel so useless…" I finally said, my voice quiet and small.
"What? Useless, you? Sorcha…" For a moment Loki was lost for words.
"You tirelessly look after this huge home of ours and all its occupants, you are always there for everyone in need, and on top of all that you save the world on a regular occasion!"
"I told you it was silly," I hated the way my voice cracked.
"No, not it is not silly, darling. I just don't understand where this is coming from," Loki admitted.
"You say that I save the world on a regular occasion. When is the last time I did anything important with the powers I have been given, when is the last time I worked a job?"
Loki frowned as he thought back. "Last week, I think. You took neither myself nor Thor, you said you were fine going alone.
If that is what this about, if that was the wrong thing to do, I am truly sorry I did not join you."
"It isn't," I said softly. "It was a simple job, a haunting, nothing I could not do alone."
"I remember our first 'Spank and Pray'," Loki smiled.
"Me too," I smiled back. "It was the first time I realised I had fallen in love with you."
"I remember that day." Loki stroked a strand of wet hair out of my eyes. "All that happened was that my knee touched your leg and my arm brushed against you for what was but a second, and yet I was unable to sleep that night, or the night after that. All I could think of was you."
"I couldn't sleep either," I confessed. "I had butterflies in my stomach just thinking about you. I still do."
We smiled at each other, we had come so far since then, further than either of us had dared to dream at the time.
"It wasn't like that time, not a poltergeist or anything remotely dangerous.
Just an old lady haunting her knitting circle's teapot because she was afraid she'd miss her friends. All I had to do was gently remind her that it wouldn't be long before her friends would follow her, and she was ready to let go."
"It sounds like you were the perfect person for the job," Loki said, still not certain what the problem was.
I suddenly wondered if it was as hard for him to confide in me as it was for me at that moment to confide in him. Once Loki started, the words would just seem to come tumbling out. For me it felt like pulling teeth, I simply couldn't find the right words to explain what I felt.
"That was the only job I've had in three weeks," I finally pointed out.
"I miss it, Loki!
I miss running into danger, I miss making a difference, I miss fighting!
I miss being in the thick of it! I want to be out there, I want to stand against whatever is out there threatening humanity!
I can do so much more than the missions they are giving me, I am more than that!
And I know that sounds arrogant and vain and conceited, but I wasn't given my powers to sit on the sidelines. I want more than that!"
Loki blinked, not expecting such a passionate reply.
"I don't think that sounds arrogant or conceited at all," he said after a moment. "I've always firmly believed you have a bigger purpose, a glorious destiny awaiting you. I can not imagine a threat to humanity appearing and you not standing against it, with me by your side, of course."
"But how is that going to happen if the Templars don't trust me? How would we even know if something was happening until it is too late?" I asked.
"This is my fault," Loki realised. "This is because of me. If you weren't married to me, if I was anyone else…"
"If you were someone else I wouldn't have married you," I said firmly. "This is not your fault."
"But it is. If I had not been so arrogant, if I had not persuaded you to attack Temple Hall and steal back the staff…"
"No," I interrupted him again, "That was a decision we made together. This is not on you."
"I'll fix this, I promise you, I'll fix this," Loki looked stricken.
It was exactly why I didn't want to tell him, exactly how I had feared he would react.
"You can't fix this, love. We both knew we would burn bridges when we did what we did. We both knew there was a price to be paid. And I'm paying it now."
"I had no idea," Loki shook his head, "I thought you were happy."
"I was! I am! I am so happy to have you in my life! I'd pay whatever I have pay to over and over again, just to be by your side."
"You shouldn't have to…"
"But that is life, my love. That's the way it is."
I sank back into his arms, the water lapping around us.
"Thank you," I finally said softly.
"For what? I didn't do anything…" Loki sounded confused.
"For noticing something was wrong. For listening. For being there."
I turned around again in his arms and wrapped my arms around his neck, my lips brushing over his cheek.
"Thank you for seeing me, even when I am trying to hide."
Loki's lips met mine as he kissed me back.
"There is one consolation, meagre as it may be," He said softly, gently stroking a hand through my hair.
"If the past has taught me anything it is that chaos follows in my footsteps, whether I wish for it or not. If it is the midst of trouble you want, darling, simply stay by my side for long enough, and it is certain to come knocking at our door."
