Aemilia struggled to slowly open her eyes towards the ceiling, the resulting light accosting her nearly the equivalent of a thousand suns. Her head throbbed so hard she saw spots, and her stomach flipped threateningly.
She had never fallen quite so ill from alcohol in all her life. Granted, she had never drank in all her life like she had last night.
Aemilia groaned in agony and slapped a hand over her eyes. Valhalla, why – why – did she try to keep up with that giant beast of a Vanir, Calder? She struggled to recall anything that happened after she put that slimy harasser in his place, her brain and body were aching so. At least it would most likely pass within an hour, thank the gods. She may not be much of a drinker, but at least Asgardians could recover quickly.
And…from what she could currently remember, last night had been fun. More fun than she could recall having in years. So, she supposed it was worth the dreaded hangover she was now suffering through. Now, if only she could bring about these liquor-hazed memories.
Calder asked her to dance…he twirled her around so much she nearly vomited…her cast mates assured her safe return to her chambers…she put on her nightclothes…and then—
Aemilia shot up with a gasp, clapping her hands over her mouth. She visited Loki.
Everything that happened between them last night in his cell came back to her in waves. Her face burst into flames as she suddenly recalled what she said to him. In an unbridled drunken decision, she confessed to him about what she thought about every single night to help quench her undying need for him. All while straddling his visage and teasing herself.
Her blush only deepened for an entirely different reason when she remembered how he replied. Since their actions were evidently mutual, and after all they'd been through and shared, it seemed utterly trivial to feel embarrassed. Considering their situation, though, last night had been entirely uncharted territory for them. Aemilia couldn't help her involuntary worry and bashfulness…how would they interact the next time they saw each other? Will…anything have changed?
If they did, she hoped it would be for the better. And the more and more her memory cleared, she was sure it would be. It was just another layer that they had now pulled back, and while it may make them both feel exposed, it would ultimately only bring them closer. Hopefully.
Aemilia collapsed back onto her pillow, staring blindly up at the ceiling. As her headache waned and she gained more clarity, she felt a wide smile slowly bloom across her face as she recalled a highlight in their conversation.
His words felt like the loveliest song in her head, one she feared she'd never hear again, and it sang even more sweetly yet stronger than it had before. "You're it for me, too, Little One."
Little One. That was the first time Loki had genuinely used the pet name she so loved since their reunion. And to pair it with such a statement, so definitively proclaiming her as the only other being in the universe he could feel this way for…she felt like she was floating. She clutched her pillow to her chest and let out a small giggle. It was nearly silly, feeling such pure-hearted elation, like a young, naive girl first in love. Loki was always so closed off and slow to verbalize his feelings, so to say something such as that… Aemilia knew. "You're it for me, too, Little One," was a declaration of love. And that was more than enough for her.
Just as she had suspected, their next meeting the following evening proved that her initial embarrassment had been unnecessary. Loki didn't specifically bring up the last previous night's events except to ask with a wide amused grin if she felt well, and Aemilia didn't feel the need to discuss it, either. She could already sense a new, unspoken evolution in their relationship yet again. Aemilia's boldness had helped them regain a sense of their old relationship back, as well. It wasn't anything drastic, but she noticed their more frequent physical closeness (well, as close as their inability to touch could manage). They seemed a bit…lighter, as well. Like their mutual reaffirmations of their feelings had taken a weight off their shoulders. At least, Aemilia certainly felt that way. She found herself not second guessing everything she did or said around him any longer, and she sensed a bit of that in Loki, as well.
Not to mention…their wandering eyes were damn near uncontrollable now. What once were subtle, sneaky glances while the other wasn't looking were now long, drawn out gazes that would set their hearts to frantic beating and lungs to shallow breaths. At one point a few days later, Loki visited her just as she had put on her nightclothes, and the immediate primal look he had so blatantly given her as his darkened green eyes slowly slid up her bare legs to the satin of her slip to the rose colored flush on her cheeks…
Needless to say, it gave her plenty to think about when she was in bed alone. And she was willing to bet it was the same for Loki, as well.
Still, despite this further evolution in their relationship, they seemed to steer clear of another overtly sexual exchange like after Aemilia's night out on the town. It was probably for the best, they didn't want to make a habit of it when they couldn't...actually do anything.
But gods. As the weeks went on, Aemilia was fairly certain she was dying of deprivation. Loki's newfound attitude of overtly staring and openly expressing his desire for her wasn't helping things, either.
Thankfully, Aemilia did have something else for them to discuss to help take their minds off of their more primal desires and severe touch starvation.
As her stay at Vanaheim continued and she got to know her new friend Calder, she was now considering enlisting his help in locating her Vanir relatives. Surely the family of her birth father were somewhere to be found nearby, and considering Calder's surprisingly sociable and seemingly trustworthy self (for a bounty hunter), he seemed like the right person for the job. They met a couple of times since their first meeting for lunch or a casual drink after she was done with a show. She had still yet to coordinate seeing his evidently musical Aunt perform at the tavern, but she was greatly enjoying Calder's company. As a proud Vanir native, he introduced her to his people and customs and society better than any tour guide ever could.
Aemilia was absolutely fascinated and delighted by the Vanir people and their way of living. She found it utterly freeing, not so restricted and uptight like back home. And so far, with a few glaring exceptions, all the people she had met had been absolutely nothing but completely friendly.
Being amongst them made her proud to be half Vanir.
Nevertheless, Aemilia was still hesitating to take that first step in finding her relatives. Her mother hadn't told her anything significant about her birth father except for a name – Eileifr – so she had no idea what to expect, and the unknown scared her. What if her father had actually been a terrible person? What if her relatives had no wish to meet her at all? What if they did meet her and didn't like her?
"You can labor over every option of 'what if' all day long, but ultimately you will never actually learn anything until you make a move," Loki said one late afternoon, nearly a month after her raucous drunken visit. His image leaned against the wall of her chambers at the inn, staring out the window. Anytime he visited her, Aemilia observed, he always liked to stand there to take in the bustle of life happening below in the town.
Aemilia brushed through her tangled hair, eyebrows intently furrowed in thought. "But…what if it's better for me to remain in the dark? What if I do find something and…I wish I'd never known?" She worked through a particularly stubborn knot before putting the brush down to look over at Loki, who was still gazing down at the scene below. "Ignorance is bliss, and all that."
She saw his eyes narrow before he turned his head towards her, nearly nonplussed. "You can't actually mean that."
She blinked. "Why ever not?"
"Aemilia," Loki scoffed, walking towards her with a smirk toying at the corner of his mouth. "You are damn near the most stubborn, inherently inquisitive, gracefully audacious woman I have ever met." He stopped just before her, their eyes meeting. His voice dropped lower, comforting but still firm. "You may be worrying yourself into a fret right now, but…Little One, if you are currently contemplating leaving this be and intentionally missing an opportunity to potentially connect with your long lost family, you are simply deluding yourself." He raised a hand as if to tenderly cup her chin. She couldn't feel it, of course, but lifted her head towards him anyway. Loki's eyes shined straight into her being, reading her better than she could herself. "The 'what if' will eat away at you forever. I know, because we are the same in that way." His small smile turned into a tight grimace. "I couldn't stay away from the truth, either, no matter how the result pained me."
His gaze looked far, far away in the past for a split second before he shook himself out of it, retracting his hand and throwing her an amused smile. "Besides, I can almost guarantee what you may find will be infinitely more pleasant than what I did." He chuckled slightly, though she could tell it was a cover up from the pain. Nevertheless, he continued, leaning in closer to give his final encouragement with a twinkle in his eye, "Never choose the path of ignorance, my dear. It does not suit you."
Loki's words immediately resonated with her. He was right, of course. It was unlike her to cower from uncovering the truth. And while his speech made the unknown no less frightening, it was the push she needed to press forward despite it.
Aemilia smiled up at him and decidedly nodded her head. "I…will bring up the matter to Calder this evening, then." Loki returned her smile, clearly pleased with her decision. "Thank you, Loki."
His eyes fractionally dropped to her lips before he sent her a flirtatious wink. "Anytime. Do let me know how it goes."
"Of course I will."
He nodded and stepped away, eyes still sparkling. "I will leave you be for now then. After you finish meeting with your new friend, do get some rest…and perhaps dream of me."
Aemilia's eyebrows raised toward her hairline. "Dream of you? What about?" she asked, fully knowing her questions would receive an answer that would only intensify her deprivation.
"Oh, anything really," he nonchalantly shrugged, "I am merely encouraging your subconscious interpretation of me to properly worship and satisfy you as you deserve while I currently cannot. Your dreams will have to suffice…" His gaze flashed. "For now." Aemilia's eyes widened as large as saucers and her heart skipped a beat as Loki's voice dropped and purred, "Sweet, pleasurable dreams, Little One," before swiftly vanishing.
Aemilia didn't need Loki's prompting to have almost nightly dreams with him at the forefront, but consider her imagination now on complete and utter overdrive as she began to get ready to meet with Calder.
Her only consolation was her confidence that Loki was feeling the same level of torment as she.
A couple of hours later, Aemilia and Calder sat at a small round table outside of the tavern, soaking in the warm air and the hustle and bustle of the nearby market. They'd already been talking about anything and everything for nearly an hour now. Aemilia couldn't help but be utterly delighted at having found such a wonderful friend while on Vanaheim – and such an easy friend, too. Perhaps it was her Vanir roots, but she couldn't help but feel an innate connection with Calder. They seemed to understand each other. "I've been meaning to invite you both for a while," she said, leaning across the table with a hopeful grin, "but would you and your aunt be interested in attending the opera? I could get some complimentary tickets for you both. The final show is only a few weeks out, and then I'll be on my way back to Asgard." Had it truly already been nearly three months? With Calder and Loki's company, the time had utterly flown away from her.
Calder shifted in his seat, immediately uncomfortable at the thought of attending an opera. "…Er, Aemilia, I certainly appreciate the offer but…I don't quite think I would fit in so well. I'll certainly mention it to my Aunt, thought, as I'm sure she would love it."
Aemilia couldn't help but pout. "Come now, Calder, please come? It would mean a lot to me if you attended. I know you will enjoy it, and you needn't worry about the crowd. We may be a lot of Asgardians putting it on, but we're still in Vanaheim! It is not as stuffy as you might think. Besides, you still need to introduce me to your Aunt Asta. She seems absolutely lovely from what you've told me."
Calder's previously anxious face turned into a slight grin. "Yes, I think you two would very much get on…you have very much in common, it seems."
She figured she wouldn't press the matter any longer, "Well, you needn't make a decision about the opera yet. I will go ahead and put your name on the guest list. You both feel free to come anytime, if you like." Aemilia took a quick sip of the piping hot tea in front of her before a slight clang of nerves lurched at her chest. She supposed now was as good a time as ever to take Loki's advice and bring up her heritage to him. "So I've been meaning to speak with you about something, but I don't want you to feel pressure or pity on me, but I would like your help with something that only a pure born and bred Vanir could do."
Calder raised a scarred brow and grinned, "Color me intrigued. What does the Lady of Asgard need my help with?"
She cleared her throat a bit before deciding to give him a bit of backstory. "A few years ago, my mother and I got into a vicious fight with each other. Long story short, I had rebelled against my family's wishes to get married to a stranger by…," she trailed off, suddenly wondering how detailed she should be in this retelling.
Calder leaned in. "By…?"
A little flush decorated her cheeks before deciding to Hel with it and telling him honestly. "Well, by bedding Asgard's younger, darker Prince in secret for months."
Calder's grin turned into almost a proud cackle. "Ha! You are truly not of normal Asgardian stock, my Lady. You practically defy every Asgardian stereotype I know."
She shifted in her seat. "Well…That's just it. When my mother found out of my relationship with Loki, she was so angered and emotionally distraught that her filter must have cracked under the pressure. She told me that I had essentially followed in her footsteps and was making all the mistakes she had made."
"Meaning?"
"Meaning that she met a man from Vanaheim just before she was betrothed, and then continued to see him after she was married to the man I thought was my biological father."
Calder froze for a moment with wide eyes, putting the pieces together. "…You're half Vanir."
Aemilia gave a little shrug. "Evidently. And I can't help but think that I will regret it if I don't seek out that side of me while I am here."
A light of realization flickered in Calder's eyes as he wagged a large finger at her, "So much about you makes sense now. I knew there was something about you that made you inherently more likeable than the rest of your Asgardian friends!"
Aemilia giggled. "I admit, I was surprised by how at home I feel here. Growing up, I always felt so stifled at home, trapped, always sensing there was something more out there. That was why meeting Loki was so thrilling for me. He was so unapologetically himself, Asgardian customs be damned. He did what he pleased as he pleased and refused to bother with what others thought of him. It was refreshing, almost in a similar way as to how I view Vanaheim refreshing."
"Yes, us Vanirs don't do too well in captivity. Our spirits demand freedom. I cannot imagine almost being forced to be with another I had no interest in. I'm glad you stood your ground," he stated, a hint of pride in his voice. "So, how can I help? Need me to track down your father? Tracking down people is indeed my profession."
"Unfortunately, it's a bit more complicated than that." She sighed. "You see, he died a few years ago. And I have no knowledge of who he or his family was."
His face fell at the somber change in tone. "Well, you do seem to be in a bit of a bind, but if you have a name, we could always start there."
"That is one of the few things I do have. His name was Eileifr. He was evidently a rather adept sorcerer. My mother said I shared his eyes and hair color."
When no immediate response came, she looked over at her friend. Calder sat still for a moment, his hazel eyes widened. "Wait, uh, what was the name again?"
She squinted at him, surprised at his subtle shift in demeanor. "…Eileifr is the name. Calder, are you well? Is there something wrong? Did you know of him?"
He stared at her for a split second before visibly shaking off whatever that was on his mind. His features cleared before he smiled as if nothing happened. "What? Oh, no, I'm fine. My apologies, my mind just wandered for a moment. Uh, listen, Aemilia, I – I will check in with my Aunt about your father– she may be able to help you. Unfortunately, I must go for now." He stood from the chair and gather the leather coat he left on the back of it.
"Oh, um, of course." She stood and couldn't but asking a further time, "Calder, are you sure everything is okay?"
He smiled and said, "Yes! Everything is fine, promise. Now, I'm sorry, but I really must go. It has been lovely chatting with you, Aemilia."
Then, the large man was off. Aemilia quickly waved as she watched him leave. Something about that exchange suddenly didn't feel quite right, but perhaps she was reading into things. Either way, she would see if she couldn't potentially get some more details from him when she saw him again in a couple of days.
The palace gardens glittered with thousands of lights bouncing off the vibrant and rich foliage as twilight fully settled upon the scenery. All of the Asgardian nobles mingled about, sipping on the best wine and sampling the most flavorful food the land had to offer as a small ensemble played calm, gentle music off in the corner.
Aemilia and Elida walked about the grounds, arm in arm and quietly laughing amongst each other, half empty goblets of wine in their free hands. They were casually speaking of the varieties of incidents that had happened at their latest rehearsal, including how Elida's rather entitled rival within the ballet had entirely eaten the dance floor after a pirouette gone wrong.
"I daresay Sigrunn entirely had it coming. Her so blatantly badmouthing you to the new recruits was bound to come back to haunt her. It's almost poetic."
The two girls giggled, and the sound travelled to the sharp ears of a particular person from across the way.
Loki turned his head towards the lilting sound, and his eyes immediately landed on Aemilia. She wore a long, emerald green, silk dress – delicately thin and clinging to her every possible curve. One long leg periodically peeked from the thigh high slit as she leisurely walked with her friend. Her low neckline and free flowing hair seemed specifically tantalizing as if to torture him while he had to begrudgingly speak with all the appropriate nobles. To make it worse, the winding, golden armband, ornate head chain, and glittering sapphire ring loudly and proudly declared to all in attendance who she belonged to.
She couldn't look more like a queen if she tried.
Then, Aemilia's eyes lifted, immediately locking on Loki's, and of course, her predictable heart just had to pang deep in her chest. He was breathtaking. Dressed in his full armor – cape billowing from his broad shoulders, horns lifted to the sky and nearly glowing in the lights. His hair was long, wavy, and lush coming from the helmet. His pale skin bore a healthy radiance, and his stark green eyes shone with life and that ever-present mischief Aemilia loved so. As if he wasn't striking enough, Loki towered above nearly all the guests, his helm only exaggerating his already staggering natural height.
He couldn't look more like a king if he tried.
"By the gods, how he looks at you is unnervingly attractive," Elida observed with wide eyes, watching their whole silent exchange once Aemilia suddenly stopped taking part in their conversation.
Aemilia couldn't bring herself to look away. "I don't think I'll ever be accustomed to it, 'Lida," she softly replied.
Loki's blazing stare slowly trailed down and back up her form before he smirked devilishly and turned away, his cape moving with a slight flourish. Aemilia blinked, almost startled by the sudden cut to their connection. Elida looked over to her, nearly slack-jawed, "I don't think anyone could blame you. He constantly looks like he wants to slam you up against a wall and do unspeakable things to you."
Aemilia's face lit up in a hot flush. Both she and Loki had been extremely busy lately with their own matters, and Aemilia felt his recent absence to her very core. She had anticipated this event (or really what would occur afterwards) for what felt like an excruciatingly long time. Needless to say, she was now more than ready for this event to start wrapping up as soon as possible.
Aemilia had to shake it off for now, though, so the two women continued socializing, being sure to speak with all of the most generous donors to the theatre.
Nearly an hour of monotonous conversation with nobles dragged by and she unfortunately had not been able to interact with Loki again. She just hoped she didn't look as antsy to others as she felt. "I do hope to see you in another production soon," an older woman and significant patron of the arts said to her. "It has been far too long since the realm has had the pleasure of hearing your beautiful voice, your Grace."
Aemilia smiled, genuinely appreciative but also unable to help feeling slightly impatient. "Thank you, Lady Iona. You and your husband have always been so wonderfully supportive of me and the theatre. I'm sure I can speak for all my associates when I say your contributions are incredibly appreciated and go to great use."
"My apologies, my Lady, but may I steal my wife from you for a moment?"
Aemilia froze, that tell-tale deep growl of a voice closely behind her. Iona's eyes widened immediately before taking a small step back and bowing her head. "Of course, your Grace." She smiled at them both before taking her leave. Aemilia then turned and raised her head to see Loki standing there in all his regal valor.
"My hero," she breathed with a small laugh. Loki's lips quirked up. "Hero" was never a role he expected to fill for anyone.
"I thought you might've needed saving," he mused. "That outdated bird seems incapable of knowing when to reign in the conversation."
Aemilia playfully elbowed him, though she wagered she felt the brunt of the impact from all the leather and metal he wore. "Be nice, Loki. That 'outdated bird' has donated a frightening amount of money to all of the arts programs and theatres we've started."
"Yes, well, she was still selfishly taking up all of my wife's attention, so it was time I stepped in. Especially with you looking so unequivocally stunning this evening."
Aemilia didn't even try to fight the smile that bloomed across her lips. "I must say you look ravishing as well, towering above everyone in all of your royal might. Your presence is wholly distracting for me."
He smirked. "I know."
She rolled her eyes. "I know you know."
His chuckle was quickly interrupted by one of his assistants saddling up to his side and whispering in his ear. The two stopped as Loki listened, his face quickly turning down in an annoyed scowl. "I'll be over in just a moment," he quipped. The assistant quickly flitted back over to an elderly noble, who was clearly hoping for an audience with Loki.
"Must I give you over to the people again so soon?" Aemilia asked, gently grasping his hand.
Loki's annoyance washed away when he turned back to her. "Not to worry, my dear, I'm sure I can weasel my way out of this rather quickly." His eyes flashed. "In fact…why don't you go wait for me at our spot in the maze, and I'll be with you shortly, hmm?"
Aemilia narrowed her eyes with a smirk, knowing he had something mischievous rattling around in that head of his. "…I'll see you there."
He wolfishly grinned before leaning in for a small kiss on her cheek. However, his lips lingered longer than she anticipated, fueling the flush on her cheeks. With a delicate whisper, he hummed, "Oh, the things I will do to you in that sinful dress once I finally have you alone. It makes me ache simply thinking of it."
Then, with a devious chuckle, he left her in her heated misery.
Needless to say, she had never found her way to the center of the maze faster in her life. Hour-long minutes dragged along as she anxiously paced by the fountain. Her mind ran wild with the possibilities…no matter how well she came to know Loki, she would never be able to truly predict his plans. It was one of the things she loved most about him. He challenged her. And attested to ensure a damn good time whilst doing so.
"You seem tense, Little One," Loki's low, silken voice suddenly sounded over her shoulder, and as if to prove his point, Aemilia nearly jumped out of her skin at his sudden appearance. She whipped around, clutching at her chest as she gasped up at him.
"Loki! Why must you always sneak up on me?"
He shrugged, a deviant grin splayed across his face. "Because I simply never tire of your exaggerated reaction." He tilted his head and gazed down at her with a twinkle in his eye. "It's adorable, really."
Aemilia playfully scoffed and turned away, "Well, I'm happy that I can entertain you on occasion at my own expense."
She felt the coolness of his fingers tightly grasp hers as he suddenly pulled her flush to his armored body, "Don't walk away from me, Aemilia," he murmured low in her ear.
…Now he had her full, undivided attention.
Her heart picking up, she somewhat breathlessly said, "Never."
Loki chuckled darkly. "Never? Is that not what you just did?"
Aemilia grasped his hand tighter. "Never in the way that counts."
He was silent for a moment, taking in her words. She felt the heat of his gaze casting down upon her as he quietly and seriously replied, "I know." Loki's grip on her hand softened as he interlaced their fingers and his free hand went to rest on the small of her waist. They stood there for a moment, simply feeling each other, and Aemilia leaned back into his chest, finding such relief in his arms.
"I've missed you," she hummed, her eyes closing as she basked in his presence.
Aemilia didn't see Loki's soft little smile appear at her sentiment. He slowly leaned down into the crook of her neck, his nose and lips just barely brushing across her smooth skin. "And I, you, my love." He placed a tender kiss just under her ear before whispering again, "And I, you."
Little goosebumps were left in the wake of Loki's lips, and Aemilia felt a shiver flutter down her back.
He kissed her again just underneath her jaw, tilting her head back towards him. Then again on her cheek, across her forehead, the tip of her nose. They lingered there, no words, no breath, until the distance between them finally closed in a slow, burning kiss.
She turned around in his embrace, their mouths moving together in a perfectly synchronized dance, and Aemilia slid her hands up his torso and around his neck, his long waves threading between her fingers. That ever-burning ember of passion that Aemilia solely felt for her husband immediately flared into a blaze, and her body reacted in kind. She slightly pulled on his hair – earning a small groan from low in his throat – and pushed her body as close to his as she could physically manage. Loki's hands around her waist tightened, the silky fabric of her dress sliding coolly against his fingertips.
Their kiss quickly deepened – as they always did – and before long, Aemilia's skin felt positively on fire with need for him. She let out a shaky exhale when their lips finally parted just long enough for Loki to set that talented mouth of his to her neck, kissing and licking on the sensitive skin there in that simultaneously loving and thrillingly rough way that Loki had mastered.
Then he was walking her backwards until her back bumped up against a nearby tree. He pushed up against her with a low hum. Aemilia desperately wished she could feel more of what lay underneath his armor, but all that leather and metal was so exhilaratingly powerful and intimidating to be in the presence of, she couldn't really find it in herself to complain.
"You've been torturing me all evening, woman," Loki muttered lowly against her neck, punctuating his sentence with a sharp little bite to her shoulder. "Wearing this tantalizing little dress…" one lone finger caressed across her collarbone and down in between her breasts while his other hand slid up her exposed leg, "undressing me with your eyes all night."
"Well," Aemilia started breathlessly, "You can hardly blame me. I've wanted you all night since the moment you stepped foot in the gardens."
His hand crept higher. "And now you have me." His fingers inched ever closer, but when they met no form of resistance at all, he paused, earning a desperate little whine from Aemilia. He pulled away from her neck to look her in the eye, his dark gaze gleaming with arousal. "You naughty, naughty girl. Were you in such a rush to get here on time that you forgot your undergarments?"
"…There was no way to wear them without making this fabric crease." She smirked and shrugged. "I figured you wouldn't mind."
Loki grinned. "Not at bit." And then, his fingers finally, finally, brushed against her, and she immediately gasped at the sudden contact. Loki intently watched her eyes close and lips fall open at his touch as he said darkly, "So wet already, my dear? Or have you just been dripping for me all evening?"
When she couldn't form an answer beyond incoherent moans in response to his slowly caressing fingers, he said, "I'll consider your lack of a verbal answer as confirmation of the latter." She gripped tightly at his arms with a barely contained groan as his long fingers painstakingly slowly dipped inside her and back out again.
When Loki's fingers didn't immediately return, she opened her eyes to see him looking at her with an all-encompassing hunger before placing his glistening fingers in his mouth to taste her. His eyes fluttered shut as he moaned low in his throat, and Aemilia whimpered as he pulled his fingers out with a slight pop.
"You are divine, Little One," he praised, opening his heated eyes again and shooting her an absolutely filthy grin. "I think I might need another taste straight from the source." Then, before Aemilia's brain could even catch up, Loki began to lower towards the ground. With a slight gasp, she stopped him with a quick hand to his shoulder.
"Loki, someone might come through the maze!" Aemilia tightly whispered, a wave of fear at being caught overcoming her for a moment. Just fooling around would be easy enough to cover up before potential intruders saw anything…but having Loki's entire head up her skirts would be inexcusable.
Loki didn't falter a moment as he authoritatively proclaimed, "Let them watch." Aemilia's eyes widened. "Let them all know that you are mine," he growled as he slowly pulled his helm off, releasing all of his long, black hair, "and I am yours." Then, he slowly fell to one knee, then another, with his gaze so hot it was difficult to even think straight with them so intently trained on her. He gently set the helm down on the ground, to which his hands quickly went back to her legs, inch by inch lifting her skirts. His eyes never moved from hers, however, as he declared, "Let them see their King kneel before his Queen, and worship her as she truly deserves."
And then, Loki ducked underneath the green silk, roughly hiked her right leg over his broad shoulder, and set his mouth to her with a desperation and reverence that took Aemilia's breath away.
Right when she let out a long, shaky exhale, she could hear nearby laughter, clearly a couple of people walking through the maze close by. She clamped her mouth shut, humiliated at the thought of someone hearing her. Loki quickly sensed the sudden tension in her body and her leg unknowingly tightening over his shoulder.
He soothingly ran the fingers of his free hand up and down her leg as his tongue continued to drive her crazy. When she relaxed only fractionally, he pulled away out from under her skirts just long enough to say, "Go on, Aemilia, let the whole land hear you. It makes me ache just thinking about someone discovering how I pleasure you down on my knees." His eyes flashed and jaw clenched. "Watching us. Finding their own pleasure in the sight of us." Her entire body erupted in chills at his words. She gasped when he bit down on her inner thigh with a groan. "So relax," he lowly demanded, "and let me see you come for me."
Loki disappeared once more as his mouth returned to her with a vengeance, and Aemilia felt herself hurling towards a blinding and unabashedly expressed ending. The unexpected naughty thrill of potentially getting caught, knowing how Loki felt the same, combined with that unbelievably talented tongue of his…Aemilia could hardly take it.
One hand desperately attempted to steady herself against the tree while the other grappled at the fabric of her skirt. Her lungs set to quick, hyper breaths as she felt herself suddenly teetering off the edge. She held nothing back as she trapped Loki's mouth against her with her heel pressing into his back and moaned, "Don't stop, don't stop, don't stop. I'm coming, Loki, I'm—"
Her eyes flew open as her orgasm rippled through her entire body and sent her body shaking. She roughly gripped at the sheets as her back arched up off the bed, and a mix between a bewildered gasp and a moan filled her silent Vanir chambers.
Wave after wave wracked through her until she finally collapsed into a heap on her bed, a sheen of sweat slick on her oversensitive skin.
Aemilia stared up at the ceiling in near shock as her heart finally slowed and gave way to the cold realization that all of what she just experienced…was nothing but a dream. It felt so real. But oh, how far it was from her reality.
She didn't know whether to be impressed or angry with her vivid imagination.
She quickly deduced that she was both, and the potent satisfaction she had found quickly fizzled into further frustration at her situation. She wanted it – for real – so much it hurt. She and Loki, happy, free to be themselves and do whatever they wished…no paranoia, no lies, no jealousy, no political or familial strife. Just them together, how they should be.
Being his Queen was not at all necessary, of course, but it was certainly a fun concept that her mind had cooked up. Loki certainly could wear the title well, given the proper opportunity.
Aemilia groaned and threw an arm over her eyes. Her body and mind were so beyond frustrated.
She knew it wouldn't help her situation any, but her self-control was pretty much nonexistent at this point, and with such vivid, heated images still looping over and over behind her eyes…she really didn't care to question herself. There was only one thing she wanted to do right now.
She got out of bed, body still aching and legs slightly wobbly, and quickly threw on her lace dressing robe over her naked form. Chancing a glance at her reflection in the mirror, she deemed it not tousled enough as to be unattractive, so she left herself as is. Then, after closing her eyes, she grasped the stone around her neck.
When she opened her eyes, she stood before Loki in his dreary, dimmed cell. The very sight of him in that dismal place darkened her mood.
He was lying on his bed, seemingly asleep, but the moment he sensed her presence, he opened his eyes. "Aemilia?" he rasped. "What are you doing here at this time of night?"
Her eyes shifted around the cell once more before somewhat bashfully landing on him. "Could you visit me? I'm…I don't want to sound like I'm whining, but I'm sick of this cell and really don't want to see you in it right now."
Loki furrowed his brow in slight concern, but nodded. "Of course." As if he needed a reason to escape his cold cell to visit her inviting Vanir chambers.
The transition happened in the blink of an eye. Aemilia severed her connection and returned to her room, and shortly thereafter, Loki reappeared before her, still dressed in his night clothes – soft black pants, loose green shirt, and barefoot. Seeing him surrounded by her room's cozy decorations and familiar belongings helped set her at ease.
Of course, she knew it was all an illusion, but at least it was more real than her dreams.
"Is something wrong?" Loki asked, still a bit confused by her unexpected visit and out of the ordinary request.
She looked at him for far longer than she intended before sighing, plopping down on the edge of her bed, and saying, "Nothing dire."
He cocked his head slightly to the side. "Then what non-dire thing is wrong?"
Aemilia tiredly rubbed her eyes and said, "To be honest, Loki, I'm reaching the end of my rope." He narrowed his eyes, a slight tinge of worry appearing in his gaze. "Not in the slightest with you," she was quick to affirm, "but our situation. I…I'm not giving up or anything slightly of the sort, I'm just…very, very, very frustrated and I have to express this somehow and get it off my chest or I'm going to go insane."
Loki immediately relaxed from his initial, knee-jerk reaction of concern, but Aemilia had already descended into a ramble that would've made Elida proud. "Quite frankly, I already feel insane. And I know I have no room to complain, because you are in such a worse situation than I am, so just bringing this up with you makes me feel terrible. But...I just can't hold this in any longer. Constantly trying to hold back the voracity of my feelings in a weak attempt to stay in control is really only making them stronger, and—"
"Aemilia, darling, breathe." He took a step forward and knelt down in front of her.
She did, indeed, stop in her tracks to take a breath and look at him. He looked slightly amused at her outburst, but ultimately she saw nothing but understanding. "Never feel guilt for being frustrated over…this," he said, gesturing between them and having his visage refract upon attempting to touch her. "Don't feel like you are unworthy to experience frustration or dissatisfaction just because you're not the one stuck in a cell. You are entirely justified in feeling discontent."
She sighed. Whenever one of them seemed to go off the deep end, the other was always ready to pick the other up. "I suppose you're right."
"I am most definitely right." He smirked and stood, and she followed him. "Now, what brought on this outburst? Talk to me."
An immediate flush of embarrassment engulfed her cheeks as toe-curling images flashed through her brain once more. Despite that, Aemilia was far past holding back her desire for him, as vulnerable as it made her feel. So she took a calming breath, looked up at him, and said, "Do you remember how, earlier, you 'encouraged' my subconscious to dream of you?"
"I recall," he smirked.
"Yes, well, my subconscious clearly listened."
One eyebrow arched in intrigue. "Oh?"
She flashed him a look, but continued on, standing back to her feet. "And tonight, I experienced by far the most vivid and real dream of my life, and I just– I wanted it to be true so badly. So when I woke up shaking in pleasure, yet entirely alone in my bed, I just snapped and…now here we are."
Loki's countenance remained generally neutral, but something dark and carnal ignited in his piercing gaze that caused a great shiver to rise up Aemilia's back. A split second passed, and he murmured, "Tell me about the dream."
She blushed ever so slightly. "…You'll laugh."
His expression hardened, but the burning desire did not fade in the slightest. "You know that to be false. Tell me, Aemilia," he firmly requested.
Aemilia's heart was beating so hard she could hardly hear anything else, but her face refused to betray how nervous she was. Loki had provided her with an opportunity, and she wasn't about to waste it. Her eyes darkened and she took a step forward. "We were at an evening garden party, and we saw each other from across the way. You were dressed in your royal armor, golden helm shining towards the moonlit sky. You looked…free…from burden, from stress. You were so happy, I could see it radiate from you. You looked at me, and I, you. We eventually met at the center of the maze. I knew you had something planned – you always do." They both smirked, but Loki's faltered for a moment when Aemilia stepped as close to him as she could without inhibiting his image.
Her voice was low and silken, "We kissed until we were both breathless. And before I knew it, you slowly sank down to your knees, you're eyes never leaving mine as you did, until your head disappeared under my skirts and in between my legs." Loki's jaw clenched as he intensely stared at her. This was not at all the explicit retelling he expected, and his body was quickly reacting just as she had hoped it would. "A—At first I was nervous, afraid someone may catch us, but…then you growled at me to 'let the whole land hear'." She let out a shaky breath, feeling her body reignite with need tenfold. "You told me how it makes you ache simply thinking of others finding their own pleasure at the sight of us together. And…you know I've never been one to easily deny you, so the very moment you commanded me to, I came." Aemilia's eyes fluttered shut, the images so vivid and seared in her brain, it was as if she was reliving it. Loki watched, utterly enraptured. "I can still feel the vibrations of your voice against me," she whispered, her hand grasping at her lace robe, "the grip of your fingers around my leg, the unadulterated pleasure rippling through me. So to wake up, so pleasured, yet…suddenly so empty inside, I just…I need you, Loki. In any real way I can. I can't hide or dampen my desire for you any longer for the sake of some faked, delusional sense of false control. So please, Loki, I-I want—"
"What do you want of me, Little One?" Loki asked, voice rough and strained. Her eyes flew up to his, and she saw everything she felt mirrored in his gaze. "I will do anything for you, if it is within my power. No more restraint, no more holding back. What do you want?"
Chills ran up and down her body. The way he was staring at her…there was no doubt in her mind that Loki spoke the truth. She swallowed hard. "I want to see you."
Loki's eyes burned as he gave a quick nod and grit his jaw. His fingers gripped at the bottom of his shirt. Then, he pulled the fabric up and off his body, slowly revealing inch upon inch of the flawless, ivory skin of his abdomen. The shirt immediately disappeared the moment he let go of it, probably lying on his cell floor somewhere. Aemilia watched in awe, hardly believing this was happening. It had been two excruciatingly long years since she had seen him this bare. He looked – somehow – even better than she remembered. Perhaps a bit broader, more mature since she'd seen him underneath all that leather, metal, and cloth. Oh, how she longed to touch him, trace the smooth, defined lines of his muscles and watch the goosebumps erupt in the wake of her fingertips.
However, she would take what she could get…and Loki standing there half-naked with his black pants hung low on his hips was far more than she had had in so long.
Loki patiently stood there, totally unmoving, as she stared at him. Her eyes were so intent on him it was unnerving, but in a thrilling way. He could still hardly believe anyone would ever look at him as she was doing now. The lust was no stranger; he had been receiving lustful looks from commoners and nobles alike long before he met Aemilia, but the adoration was entirely foreign to Loki. The pure, genuine wonder and love in her gaze was both bewildering and a deep comfort that he had never experienced until Aemilia entered his life. At this point, Loki didn't think he would ever become accustomed to the intensity and ferocity of her feelings towards him. But, he was oh, so grateful for it, as he felt the exact same for her.
"You are…so beautiful," she gently said, her voice no more than a shaky whisper.
A sad, vulnerable smile perked at Loki's lips, his self-hatred never too far from the surface of his thoughts. His reply came soft and low. "What you see is no more than an illusion, cast over a garish, scarred monster, I'm afraid." Her eyes suddenly flew up to meet his, shocked at his answer. As she grappled for words, he added with a small sigh, "I'm not quite the person you met at the gala three years ago…the Other and the Maw made sure of that."
Tears nearly sprung to her eyes, but she quickly held them back. She searched his gaze and saw a rare moment of total vulnerability before her. There were no walls to conceal his soul. He was simply too tired to hide anymore. At least, not from her. His spirit was bare and out in the open, and she knew if she asked anything, he would comply.
"Show me."
Loki took one long charged look at her before looking down towards the floor. His shoulders rose and fell in a burdened sigh before his visage slowly changed. It started first at his eyes, his bright emerald green slowly giving way to a vibrant blood red. His normal pale skin morphed into a deepening blue that creeped along his face and down his neck. The telltale raised lines of the Jotun race appeared across his face as the blue color continued to creep down his face and onto his neck. His sad, glowing red gaze held her for a moment, but as his body continued to change, she tore her eyes away from his to watch. A little gasp hitched in her throat when she saw his lips.
Her eyes narrowed and she took another little step closer to look more clearly. "Are those…?" she trailed off, not sure what to say. Her hand hovered over his lips and the small, yet definitive scars dotting around those precious lips she knew so well. It took her a moment to realize what on earth could've caused those scars, but then a memory that was not her own flash behind her eyes. She had lived that dreadful, horrible memory through him a few months ago. A piercing needle with jagged black thread clamping his mouth shut to silence him.
She never would've thought he would still have the scars in his natural form. She had simply assumed they had healed as nearly all Asgardian wounds do. But…Loki wasn't Asgardian.
She looked further down to his now fully Jotun form. Her heart surged into her throat as she saw the extensive, gruesome burn scars across his torso and shoulders. She couldn't contain her shudder at the thought of him being tortured like that. She could still remember him showing her those memories, the flames licking at his back, those microscopic needles piercing his body as he hung suspended in the air, helpless, alone, and afraid.
Those tears she had so skillfully held back earlier could hide no longer. She swallowed hard, took one last look at a particularly horrific scar on his right hip, and then looked back into his ruby red eyes. "No," she forced out, "you're not the same person I met then." His eyes widened ever so slightly, "But neither am I," she continued. "We've both been through so much…more than anyone ever should. And we've both emerged from the other side with our soul and our minds still intact. Scarred, yes. Damaged, certainly. But still alive, thriving, burning with more desire than ever to live how we want. How we deserve," she strongly proclaimed. Looking up at him and straight into his eyes, she said, "And I don't care if you have the skin of an Asgardian or a Jotun. I don't care if you're a man, or a woman, or anything. I will still love and desire you beyond my own comprehension. Because it is not simply your body that calls to mine, it is your spirit that I long for. And if I had a choice, I would never wish to be parted from you from this day to my last."
She watched, heart pounding from her chest, as Loki searched her eyes, letting her words wash over him. He was difficult to read in that very moment, but the fire in his molten gaze was burning into her. It was in those moments that his skin slowly began to turn back to his Asgardian visage. He swallowed hard and grit his jaw as his still-red eyes held hers before dropping down her body. "My need for you has never once wavered since the moment my eyes first beheld you," he rasped. His eyes flashed back up, now fully back to the striking emerald Aemilia loved so, "but I have never desired you more than I do in this very moment. My heart yearns for you with such an intensity that I don't believe mere words can adequately express."
His long fingers rose to trail by her cheek and neck. "I am often plagued with the image of you, both in memories and fantasies. I imagine your smooth skin under my touch, auburn curls interwoven through my fingers. Your chest rising and falling under the moonlight, beads of sweat sliding off your skin…" He closed his eyes, relishing in the thought.
He could feel her heated gaze on him as his vivid imagination got the better of him. He heard her lowly rasp his name. "Loki."
Loki's eyes fluttered open. Aemilia was clutching at the neckline of her lace robe, breath coming faster than before. She looked up at him from under those full lashes. They stared at each other a moment, and then Aemilia gripped her robe a bit tighter and pulled.
The lace garment fell to the ground.
Loki felt his breath hitch in his throat. There she was. His darling Aemilia, totally bare before him, ivory skin illuminated under the moonlight peeking through the open window of her room. A light breeze filled the room and gently rustled her curls, so picturesque it was as if it were a dream. His eyes fell from her expressive eyes to her slightly open lips, down the line of her neck, the curvature of her collarbone, the perfect fullness of her breasts. His hands ached to touch them, tease under the masterful caress of his fingers until she was breathless and whining for him to fill her.
She was even more heart-achingly beautiful than he remembered.
He could see the change in her, as well. Before the fall, she had been smaller, a bit softer, every bit a representation of her noble status – she wanted for nothing. But now, her soft skin sat atop lean, elegant muscles, the physical proof of her hard work at training in combat. When they first met, he had found a sheltered young lady with a desire to have more, experience more, be more in life than what she was born into. Now…he could see in her gaze, her determination, her passion, and now in her body that she stood before him a fully realized woman. She knew what she wanted, and she wouldn't stop until she had it.
In that moment, it was her strength that gave him enough of his own to speak up.
He looked back up to her, a newly ignited fire of determination behind his eyes. "Aemilia…no matter what happens, we will be together again." He grit his jaw, "I will not die in this cell. One day, I will walk free, and when I do, I will never – never – leave you again."
Her eyes widened, having not expected his words in the slightest. Her lips parted, trying to formulate a response, but just before she could, a knock sounded at the door.
Both Loki and Aemilia's heads swiveled to the startling noise, who could be at her door at this late an hour? The knock came again with a harried whisper of, "Aemilia!"
Her brow furrowed. Calder?
"Aemilia, I'm sorry, but I must speak with you. It's important."
Aemilia and Loki shared a look – Aemilia's one of concern and Loki's one of utter irritation – before she spelled a dress on and quietly walked to the door. She took one last glance back at Loki to find him no longer there, though she wagered he was listening on from his cell.
She walked over and quietly unlocked the door, not wanting to disturb the peace of her neighbors any further. She opened it just enough to peak her head out.
Calder stood there, dressed just as he was earlier. He looked uncomfortable, nervous, almost. "Calder?" she whispered, "It's past midnight, what's wrong?"
"I'm sorry to intrude, especially at such a late hour, but I've…become privy to some information that couldn't wait; I had to speak with you. May I come in?"
Her eyebrows furrowed, a surge of concern wafting over her. What a lovely way to douse the residual heat from her encounter with Loki. "Of course. Quietly, though. I don't want to alert the others."
"Of course. Thank you." She then stepped aside to fully open the door, and he walked in as quietly as a man his stature could. Between his clear nervousness and generally giant state of being, he looked almost…comical in her tiny little room.
Aemilia shut the door and locked it again behind him. "So, what's wrong? You're worrying me, Calder."
He sighed and rubbed a hand over his eyes, "My apologies, Aemilia. There's nothing to be worried about. I just…well, I spoke with my Aunt about our conversation earlier."
Her heart started pounding in her chest. "And?"
"Well, when you told me his name, I had my sudden suspicions, but…well I spoke with Asta and she…provided some clarity, needless to say."
Her nerves getting the better of her, she snapped, "Calder, what on Asgard is this all about? Spit it out."
Calder stopped and looked down at her. Hazel met hazel in a moment of poignant tension before he said, "My father was named Eileifr, too. He died four years ago while traveling to Knowhere."
Her pounding heart suddenly came to a screeching halt as her brain tried to keep up with what she had just heard. "Wait, you mean to say –"
"You're my sister, Aemilia."
A/N: I'm back, bitches, and so so so glad to be here. Hope there are still some of you out there! Please let me know your thoughts :) ~Midnightwings96