Damn it, Thor!
…
⁄(⁄ ⁄•⁄-⁄•⁄ ⁄)⁄ What… um… what game?
Differences mentioned in this chapter: All of it.
"Brother!" Thor called out in excitement. "Sister!"
Loki and Ariana scrambled to cover her, with Loki using his body to block her from view. Thor turned around, blushing.
"You need to lock your doors, Loki!" Thor accused. "I'm going to have to meet Barnes's therapist after this."
"Maybe knock, you oversized oaf!" Loki yelled.
"Well, get dressed. Mother and father are expecting both of you at the feast."
"Just get out!" Ariana ordered.
"Oh… uh… yeah…" Thor began to walk out, but not before they heard him mutter. "I'm going to be an uncle soon if they keep this up."
Loki used his magic to slam the door. Both he and Ariana fell back onto the bed in exasperation. Loki was kicking mentally himself for forgetting to lock the damn door.
"So much for a nap," said Ariana.
"I was hoping to not have to go," he replied.
"Well, tough titties. Odin called for us and I don't want Frigga upset."
He chuckled. "Already thinking like a Goddess."
"It doesn't take a genius to figure out don't piss off the reigning rulers of a realm, Lo." She got out of bed and picked up the rags of her T-shirt and leggings. "I hope you have clothes for me or I'm walking down the hall naked."
He stood up and went to her, wrapping his arms around her so that she could feel him growing hard again. "I think I prefer you like this."
She moaned as he began to massage her breasts and kiss her neck. Her head unconsciously moved to give him better access. She let the fabric drop from one hand so she could begin stroking him. He growled against her skin.
"Do we have to go?" Loki asked, sending shivers through her. "I never listened to Odin before. Why should I start now?"
She chuckled and moved away, finding one of his long shirts to put on as she said, "Because now you have something to look forward to after."
Loki groaned, now full and aching, but if she wanted to play this game, so would he. He waved his hand and they were both dressed, though he kept his shirt on her, only adding soft shoes, brown leggings, and a stylish belt to cinch around her waist to bring out her natural curves. She chuckled when he put a similar outfit on himself, though more masculine in design.
"Why am I missing underwear, Loki?" Ariana accused.
"If I must suffer through this dinner like this, then so must you," he said, opening the door for her.
She exited the room. "So, we are seeing who will break first?"
"You can't deny it is exciting to think about."
"Except I can't create things like you can, or make them disappear. You have an advantage I don't."
"You'll find a way to even us out."
They walked down the hall, trying to act normal around those they saw in the halls but both thinking of ways to get the other to break and submit to the list riding them both hard.
When they entered the banquet hall, the feast had already begun. They sat with Wanda and Thor, but he refused to look at either of them all throughout dinner but still engaged in conversation. Bucky noticed and looked at Ariana, who shook her head, telling him he didn't want to know.
Loki noticed that the more time Wanda spent with Ariana, the more relaxed she became. Wanda even accepted him without a second thought and started opening up to the Avengers. He marveled at how his Ariana could do that, ease almost anyone.
Frigga came up to Loki and said, "She sees good and shows it to those she talks to."
"Mother?" Loki asked, shocked to see her away from Odin at this time or the fact that only he noticed.
"Lady Wanda is a good person, so Ariana showed her that. Just as she showed you the good in you."
"I don't understand how she can do that for some but not others."
"The depth of their darker nature reveals itself to her. She is a special girl… with a bright future ahead, should she accept it."
"What do you…?"
"Frigga!" Ariana said, jumping up and hugging her so that the whole table noticed her for the first time. "When did you join us?"
"Loki and I have been whispering for ten minutes now, dear."
"So now we have the source of Loki's sneakiness." Both women laughed. "It's good to see you again. As much as dad hates to hear that the compound isn't the most perfect place in the universe…"
"I heard that, Buttercup!" Tony called out.
Ariana rolled her eyes and continued to say, "I missed Asgard. I enjoyed myself here and found myself again." She looked down. "Though, with what's coming…"
Frigga cupped her cheek, like a mother to her child, and said, "I have faith in you that you will succeed in what you have called the Trials of Temptation. I believe everyone has also picked up that title for it as well. The whole of Asgard stands behind you, sending their best wishes and hope."
"Thank you, Frigga. It is good to know everyone…" she glanced at her family, "mostly everyone believes in me."
"They believe in you, sweet Ariana. They are afraid to lose you."
Ariana nodded. "I felt sure just moments ago, but now…"
"Enjoy tonight. I will come to you when Odin and I are ready."
Ariana nodded and sat back next to Loki as Frigga left. He took her hand, conveying his love and belief in her. For her to suddenly doubt herself, someone must be making her feel…
Ariana looked at Loki. Steve's thoughts are confused, she said. We broke up on good terms, but he is filled with jealousy and it makes me nervous.
Loki looked at Steve, who would steal glances at Ariana, moving over her with possessiveness, but then he'd look at Loki with disdain. Loki didn't need to touch Steve's mind to know Ariana was right. We can have him checked in the healing room.
She nodded. She whispered to Wanda, knowing she could help. Ariana explained what she found and what she wanted to do. Wanda agreed to help. Since she was sitting near Bucky, she told him the plan. He looked at Steve before nodding to Wanda, Ariana, and Loki.
"So, Ari, can you show us that Soul-thingy that Loki used to heal you?" Bucky asked. "I bet it made it easy to help heal you."
"Loki had to do a lot of research," Ariana said. "It took a lot of time. He checked me out using the Soul Forge, making sure I was okay."
"Why did he check so often, kiddo?" Tony asked though he looked at Loki.
"She often told my mother and I that she felt like she was losing herself," Loki answered. "So, I would check to see if there was anything that would cause that."
"I spent a lot of time in the Soul Forge," Ariana said, then looked at Loki. "We should show it to them. I'm sure dad and Bruce will find it interesting."
He nodded. All of the Avengers got up from the table and went to the healing room. Bucky and Wanda stayed near the back of the group, watching Steve in case anything happened. When they entered, Loki asked one of the healers to explain the Soul Forge to everyone. As Ariana predicted, Tony and Bruce were interested and asked a lot of questions.
"Why don't we show you how it works?" the healer suggested. "Who will allow us to examine them?"
"I pick Steve," said Bucky.
"Really, Buck?" Steve asked.
"It might help Wanda trust you more," said Ariana.
Natasha seemed to catch onto what they were doing and added, "We have been trying to find out how to help Wanda feel at home in our family, Steve. What better way than to have Captain America show her that there's nothing to hide?"
Steve sighed and asked, "What do I do?"
Ariana dragged him over to the Soul Forge and helped him lay down, saying, "You just lay down and relax. I spent so much time in this thing, I started to get comfortable here. It was like a second bedroom."
Steve watched as the healer turned the machine on and an image of Steve appeared. The healer began to look him over as she explained what she was doing. But then she went silent.
"What did you find?" asked Loki, looking at the image.
"An anomaly," the healer said.
"What kind of anomaly?" Tony asked.
"I'm not sure." The healer looked at Steve. "Have you met anyone new? It would have been about a year or so ago."
"No, sorry," said Steve.
Loki looked at Ariana across the Soul Forge from him. She looked at Bucky, Wanda, and Natasha, who now stood together. They saw Ariana's expression and came to the Soul Forge. Wanda and Natasha each took an arm, while Bucky and Loki each took a leg.
"What are you doing?" Steve asked, starting to struggle. "Let go!"
Ariana put her hands on either side of Steve's head, her face above his so that he stilled in surprise. His breath caught in his throat, a flushed look over his face. She closed her eyes and entered his mind. Steve couldn't stop thinking about Ariana and their relationship. His breathing became faster as images of her in bed played through his mind. Ariana's face scrunched up, as if she were fighting something, before she collapsed.
"Ariana!" Loki and Steve yelled.
"I'm fine," she said, she looked at Steve. "So, you didn't bump into a redhead at your favorite cafe?"
"Why would Nat…?" Steve asked.
"Not Nat!" Everyone's eyes snapped at the uncharacteristic anger Ariana was displaying. "Long red hair and dark eyes!"
"Love, you don't…" Loki started to say.
Ariana nodded, standing. "She had a spell implanted early, just for the hell of it! She targeted my family just so she could hurt me more!"
"Breath, sis," said Bucky. "She won't succeed. We can remove…"
She took a deep breath. "Not easily. I don't know what it will do to him." She looked at the healer. "Can you see how to remove it?"
She shook her head and said, "I'm sorry, Lady Ariana."
Frigga and Odin walked in at that moment and looked at the scene before them. Frigga went to Steve and began to work on him. Ariana went to help Nat hold Steve's arm down. Ariana and Wanda shared a look.
"Wanda, please," Ariana said. "He can't move."
She nodded. She let go but quickly used her powers to keep Steve still. He looked around, ordering Wanda and the others to let him go. But when his eyes landed on Ariana, he looked sad.
"Sweetheart," he said, "let me up."
"No, Steve," Ariana replied. "We have to get her out of your head."
"Who the hell are you talking about?"
"Sigyn."
The room went silent for a moment before Steve said, "Get her out of my head, Ariana."
"Frigga is doing just that, but you have to be still," she said, backing away as her hands began to spark. "And right now… I'm…"
"Okay. Just… stay where I can see you."
She nodded. When Loki went to move to be beside her, she held her hand up to stop him. No one should be around me, and not just because of Steve. I'm so angry right now, I can't stop sparking.
Love, I am immune to your powers, Loki reminded.
She chose Steve because I dated him, and with your return, she thought it would cause problems. But she doesn't know me, Steve, or our family very well if she thought that. But she could have hurt him. He'll have…
"There will be a scar on your mind, Captain," said Frigga, sagging against Odin in exhaustion. "But she is no longer directing your jealousy."
"Thank you," he said as Wanda let him up. "I wasn't jealous until Ari and Loki started to grow closer, despite her wanting space."
"Understandable. She played on the fact that you were jealous that Ariana could be with her soulmate and you couldn't be with the one you love. She then twisted it so that you wanted Ariana. But you are freed now, though you should think about what it means that it happened so easily."
He nodded and got out of the Soul Forge. Everyone checked to make sure he was really okay. Loki ran to Ariana. She glared at the floor. I can't… He was targeted because she can't be told no… because of me…
"Ariana, it's not your fault," Loki whispered.
She looked at him and said, "I know that… in my head. But Lo, she has to be stopped. I can't have her going after my family just to hurt me, to hurt us. She did this before we even suspected anything. What else has she done?"
"It will be okay."
"She's waiting, Loki. Waiting for a chance to go after everyone again." She looked at Frigga. "While I'm undergoing the Trial of Temptation, is there a way to protect everyone's mind from her spells? And is there a place we can send her so that this never happens again?"
"We will look into it, dear," said Frigga.
"For now, everyone should rest," said Odin. "Tomorrow is a big day for our young Goddess."
Everyone nodded. Loki and Ariana put their game on hold. She felt too angry and Loki just wanted to hold her until she was calm. It didn't take long for his caresses allowed her mind to clear and sleep to take hold. He watched her sleep, liking the peace in her mind. We will stop Sigyn, love. She will not harm you again. He kissed her head before letting sleep claim him.