As Loki started out the door, Nancy quickly turned and snatched a piece of paper and one of her pens off the dining table. If she was going on a tour of the alien palace, she was going to take notes. As many as she possibly could. She would never have this opportunity again, and she wanted to take advantage of it.
Nancy soon joined him in the hall and gawked at the stonework around her. The grand statues. The columns. The vaulted ceilings and archways. The rivers and bridges that ran here and there outside, framed by the intricately carved stonework of the entrances to the balconies. It was all so beautiful. Far beyond anything she'd ever seen before.
She stopped in the midst of a stream of light that came pouring in from an open terrace and gazed out at the wonder of Asgard. The shining sea down below. The mountains in the distance. The gentle dance of the colors and stars in the sky, all while it was yet day. And then there was the beautiful city. Each road an atrium to the palace, the heart and soul of Asgard. Flying vehicles with golden wings soared across the sky. In the distance, towers circled one another in an endless dance, hovering feet above the ground. It was all more than she could have ever imagined. More than she could have dreamed. She glanced down at the paper in her hand and made a few notes.
I cannot put into words the wonder I feel. How beautiful everything is. To attempt to describe this place would fall shamefully short. The sea looks as if it's made of glass. Proud mountains touch the sky. Golden, flying ships cross the skies. I wonder every day if Asgard truly is heaven. I think, perhaps, it is.
Loki glanced at her and rolled his eyes. Of course she was taking her ridiculous notes. Did she never cease? Could she not enjoy pleasure for what it was? Soon, they arrived at the kitchens and he pushed open the door, not bothering to hold it open for her. As he walked, he snatched a roll off a nearby table.
Nancy, too caught up in her descriptions, didn't bother to look up. She ran smack into the door.
"Be mindful of your surroundings, pet." He took a bite of the roll in his hand. She never ceased to amuse. If she hadn't insisted on scribbling on that paper, she would not have run into the door.
"I know. I'm just..." she opened the door and continued on, rubbing her head where she'd hit it. "A bit off my game lately." Once Nancy recovered her bearings, she folded her paper to give it more support and dropped her hand to her paper again. This time, her eyes never left the scene before her.
The kitchens were dark and warm, the intense smell of cooking meat, baking bread, and burning wood all blending together to stifle and thicken the air. Cooks and servants called to one another as workers scurried past. Pigs and fowl hung from hooks along the ceiling. Another, smaller beast turned on a spit inside a large fireplace.
Nancy's forehead began to dampen with sweat from the heat. Yet she continued, relentlessly, in her constant note-taking. She had to document everything. Every word, every glance, every item. As far as she knew, she was the only human to ever experience Asgard like this. The only tie Earth had to the alien culture. It was her duty to record everything.
Loki stopped at the far end of the room and turned. He tossed her a concerned look, then strode the distance between them. He towered over her, looking down at the paper in her hands. He couldn't help his scowl. He had meant to enjoy the afternoon, see her wonder, not read her noes in the aftermath. "What are you scribbling about?"
Nancy jolted when she heard his voice and immediately focused on him again. She'd been so intent on recording the world around her, she'd nearly forgotten about him. She held her paper out to him and showed him her short-hand notes.
"Currently, the types of food you eat." Nancy began, "I'd say this set up mirrors that of the Renaissance era of England. And yet there are hints of the Victorian era. With a splash of modernity here and there as well. I see you have some sort of meat roasting over a fireplace. Interesting. With a palace this size and with the electrical capabilities, I'd expect you'd have an oven large enough to roast it. And yet it's over a fire. The same with the kettle, there." She motioned to it with her pen. "It's hanging directly over the fire. Why not boil the water on the stove? Or simply use magic? This is all very fascinating."
"You asked for an outing, not permission to scrawl away the afternoon. And, quite frankly, it is miraculous that I have conceded to this without asking a favor." He purposely glanced to the notes in her hand. His scowl returned. If he had known paper and pens would cause such detriment, he would never have granted them to her. "Do you wish to see the palace, or do you not?"
"Yes. Sorry." Nancy frowned and set the paper down on a nearby table, tucking the pen behind her ear as she did so. "It's just that old habits die hard, ya know?"
He nodded at her, satisfied. "This way." For good measure, he snatched the paper before he headed for the door again. Then she couldn't go back to it. He wanted her attention, not her flippancy. He would destroy the paper, but she would only yell and possibly cry. He couldn't stand her tears again. So he stored it and made a mental note to return it later. Until then, he needed to cool his temper. He walked with purpose.
Nancy followed him in silence. She could tell she'd upset him. From his tone and words, she could tell he'd wanted her full attention. Yet here she was, more focused on everything except him. She hurried along and walked by his side. Perhaps he did want her companionship after all.
He turned another corridor, finding himself in very familiar territory. He wouldn't speak a word to her about where they were headed next. She didn't need to know, and he wished to see the look on her face when she found herself in one of his most treasured rooms. The thought amused him, perhaps even brought him excitement. Not that he would allow her to see.
"Everything is so beautiful." Nancy commented, trying to lighten the mood. Her hand barely brushed the back of his, testing to see if he truly wanted her companionship. She had to know how much he wanted her attention. How he truly felt. "What was it like growing up here?"
He grimaced. She should know. Although, the brief touch to his fingers had felt nice. Still, she had dredged up too many bad memories. "Interesting, to be sure."
"Oh. Right." Nancy drew her hand back and folded them in front of her. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to touch on old wounds." She'd caught little snippets of information here and there. Little pieces that helped shape the puzzle of Loki's life. The fact that he'd been adopted and that his birth father had denied him. Combined with the fact that his adoptive father had also denied him. She could sense how thick the tension ran between Loki and his family. How alone he must have felt.
She unfolded her hands again and moved a step closer. If he wanted the comfort, all he had to do was seek it.
He turned another corner and exhaled heavily. He had to cut her some slack. If he never offered a truce, she would never learn to trust him. Yet, of course she knew. She knew more than anyone, even if she didn't realize it. "I had forgotten Thor's chattiness."
"I told you," Nancy replied as gently as she could, "It wasn't Thor. I don't think he'd give away information like that. All he told us was that you're adopted. Either your own words or actions told me the rest. I just know how to read people. How to put pieces together. It's a skill it's taken me years to master." Her hand brushed his again. "I didn't mean to upset you. I'm sorry."
"I do not wish to speak of it." He easily pushed open the grand double doors and entered the royal library. His own personal library. The shelves extended all the way up to the fifty-foot ceiling. No one ever ventured inside other than him, save for some guards on occasion and his closest friends... when he had them. Its grandeur went unspoiled by those unworthy to tread within. Just the way he liked it.
Nancy stopped at the entrance, having to lean against the framework for support. Her mouth dropped open, her eyes wide. All breath left her body and her heart felt as if it would stop. "When the Norse spoke of Asgard as a heaven…" she whispered, her eyes never leaving the shelves upon shelves of books, "They weren't kidding."
He turned a circle as he entered, already lost in the trance of the books. He could almost forget she stood behind him. "We shan't be disturbed here." With that, he left her alone and headed for one of his favorite shelf sections.
Nancy slowly made her way into the library, still gawking at the massive hoard of books. She had stumbled upon the richest treasure she'd ever seen. Her legs buckled as she leaned her head back to stare up at the shelves, causing her to collapse into a nearby chair. Yet she remained undaunted, lost in her own trance from the books.
Secretly, over the spine of one of his favorite books, Loki watched her. He noted each nuance. Each twitch of an eyebrow and gape of her mouth. Each step she took. How could one person possess so many small ticks that he wanted so badly to memorize? The doors clicked closed and locked.
Nancy snapped out of her daze when she heard the doors lock. She immediately turned and raced back to them, pulling and pushing. But nothing happened. "Um... Master?" Nancy spun and looked at him, her eyes mirroring those of a frightened rabbit, "I think the doors... locked."
He barely glanced to them. She was so beautiful when she was frightened of him. Did she not know that? Never mind that he still watched her intensely. Never mind that he should ease her mind somehow. "Does this make you uncomfortable?"
"What? Me? No." She put on her best façade and strolled over to the nearest shelf. "Of course it doesn't. Not a bit."
"Your distraction says otherwise." He returned his book and took out another. "Tell me, what frightens you so?"
Nancy sighed and turned to look at him. "The fact that I don't know what you're planning." she answered honestly.
"What makes you think I plan anything?" He flipped open the book and skimmed the first page. He had memorized this one years ago. He returned it with ease.
"You locked the doors." She crossed her arms over her chest and stared at him accusingly. "You know I could scream bloody murder and your guards still wouldn't rush to help. You locked the doors for a reason."
He laughed at her uneasiness and pulled out another book. "I always lock the doors, pet. I told you we would not be disturbed."
A smile played at the corners of her lips when she heard his laugh, but she dropped it again as her fear returned. "I think you have a fear that we would be disturbed, for whatever reason. I want to know what that reason is."
"I always lock the doors, pet." He kept this book. It was the one he had been looking for anyway. He headed for the back of the library, aiming for a table. They could hole up here for hours and he wouldn't mind. Not with his book and her uncertainty.
Fine. Be that way. She'd just stay up at the front of the library, where it was safe.
Loki flopped into a chair and swung his legs onto the table. He flipped to the first page, devouring the words. She could whine all she wanted. This was how he loved to spend time in his library.
Finally, curiosity got the best of her. Nancy peaked around one of the bookshelves and watched him. "And don't you try to scare me with that doppleganger trick again." she warned, "It won't work."
He sighed and shifted positions. Then leaned his chair back on its hind legs. Yes. Much better.
Nancy continued watching him, waiting to see if he would fall. Nathan did that once. It hadn't ended well. He'd had to go down to the medical ward and get stitches. She shook her head at the thought of her time within S.H.I.E.L.D. "One of my team did that once." Nancy commented, "Snapped the leg and nearly broke his head open when he hit the desk."
"Reading." He raised an eyebrow. She really couldn't be silent, could she? He played with the edge of the book pages. What would she do next?
Nancy sighed and glanced around at the books. Books that told the story of all the realms of the universe. Yet suddenly they didn't matter. She couldn't read them anyway. She'd wanted to spend time with Loki, and thought he wanted to spend time with her. But now he was ignoring her. She looked back at him again, longing for him to put his book down and simply talk to her.
He glanced sideways at her. The irritation radiated off her in waves. At least now she understood his frustration with her. "You know, it is very disconcerting to feel eyes watching my every move."
"Really?" Nancy retorted with a huff, "I thought you'd be used to it by now."
Now that just hurt. Had she any idea how he hated the feeling of eyes on his neck? He narrowed his eyes. "Do not force me to lull you to sleep to cease your behavior."
"What would you rather me do?"
"Find some employment, sit silently, wander the shelves. Only cease this prattle." With a definitive glare, he returned to his book. He was fully engrossed in seconds.
With another sigh, Nancy turned and pulled the first book she saw from the shelf. She flipped it open and fanned the pages, glancing over the strange, alien symbols. She slammed it closed and put it back. This was hopeless. She'd never be able to get any sort of work done with him there. As soon as she'd begin her work, he'd choose that moment to wander over and read over her shoulder. He'd only do it to annoy her, too.
With one last, longing glance, Nancy started for the very back of the library. Along the walls, there were little rooms here and there. Nooks where one could read in silence. She considered going into one of these to begin her work, but as she neared one of the doors, a soft glow caught her eye. Something in the back of the library was shining. A soft blue hue lit the back walls and shimmered, as if it was alive.
Nancy studied the light for a moment, then began to wander towards it. Soon, a large tree came into view. It stretched up to the ceiling of the library, its green leaves sparkling with the light. The light itself seemed to emanate from the trunk of the tree. Grand roots overgrew the pot where the tree was planted, spilling over onto the floor. As Nancy approached, she noticed that there were different colored circles hidden among the branches. As she moved closer, she realized the circles contained images of people and creatures, like videos that were playing through circular windows. She reached up and touched the nearest one, causing the screen to ripple and shimmer as her hand passed through it.
She took a step back and counted them. There were nine. The nine realms of the Yggdrasil. Nancy gasped and stumbled backward. Surely this wasn't the Yggdrasil. The realms were said to be placed within its branches. So this must be a replica. A living scale-model of the original. It was so beautiful.
And here she was enjoying all of this beauty without anyone to share it with. Loki was too busy. He was always too busy for her. He always said he would return. And eventually he did… only to leave again. Most of the time she'd been on Asgard, she was alone. He brought her here to study her, but spent most of his time away from her. Shunned her, as if she really was no more than one of his pets. Yes, he gave her just enough food, water, and affection to survive on, but that was it. She was just surviving.
Nancy walked over to a row of bookshelves and peered between them, watching Loki again. He was still engrossed in his book. He'd spent his whole life alone. Why would her presence make any difference to him? She debated on simply going over to him and crawling in his lap to get his attention, but that would only serve to anger him and reinforce her image as a pet even more.
With another sigh, Nancy glanced back at the Yggdrasil and studied the screen of Earth. Her life hadn't been any better there. She'd simply masked it better. Hiding behind her work and her desk and her title. But she was just as alone as he was.
She looked back at him and gave a definitive nod. Something had to change. They couldn't continue on like this, always remaining only one step away from each other. Nancy scooped up a nearby pile of books and started back toward Loki.
She'd get his attention. Somehow.