Chapter 16, totally!

I posted chapter 15, and thirty minutes later I got a review (thank you Lokiismylife!) that made me so happy that I immediately sat down and finished chapter 16! And here it is!

Also, I ADORE ALL OF YOU! You have no idea how much you light up my life with your reviews and feedback. Thank you! Not to mention that currently, my muse is on holiday, or so it feels like! So reading the reviews helps a lot! You are my inspiration, people!

Disclaimer: ain't mine, sadly!

-o-

Chapter 16 - I Just Wanted You To Know

Three days before Christmas Eve, and Amber was going slightly nuts. The reason was the God of Mischief. He was suddenly overprotective, and even if she understood his reasons, this could not continue. Because he was changing. And she did not want him to change – not like that.

And so, she was sitting alone in the kitchen, lost in thought.

Loki had gone from badass prince of Asgard, and then world-conqueror – almost, and now he was domestic-man extraordinaire – feeding the poor and the homeless.

And that was not him. Not that he could really quit volunteering, nor being domestic, but that did not mean that had to be the only thing he did.

He was the bloody God of Mischief. His brain was able to go hundred miles a minute, he was brilliant, passionate, strong, and fierce. But now… his brilliant, fierce mind did not get a challenge. Other than her that was, and that was just not enough. He needed something to ignite a spark in him.

She hadn't seen him use magic in ages. And he loved his magic.

She sighed, and looked at the ceiling. "Heimdall? If you can hear me - could you mention to Frigga that Loki has not used magic in a very long time? And that he is currently soup-kitchen-domestic-man-extraordinaire? He needs something more to occupy his mind, but I'm somewhat at a loss."

-o-

She heard him come home, and went to greet him. He looked tired, she realised when she saw him. He looked...weary.

Something had to change, indeed.

"Hello, love," she said, and he gave her a small smile as he shrugged off his jacket. Next came the shoes, and then he walked toward her, putting his arms around her.

"Hello," he said softly, and sighed into her hair.

She looked at him. "Pick me up."

He looked puzzled, but did as asked. She wrapped her legs around his waist, and he gave her a slightly amused look before walking into the living room with her in his arms.

She folded her hands behind his neck, and leaned back, looking at him.

"I love that you can carry me around like this."

"I am rather fond of carrying you around like this as well," he said, bemused.

She cocked her head, gazing at him. "I love that you have magic. I love that you are blue. I love that you have red eyes. I love that you have green eyes. I love that you can pull off a helmet with huge golden horns like nobody's business. I love that you are Asgardian. I love that you are a Frost Giant. I love that you are the God of Mischief. I love that you are brilliant, passionate, and fierce."

He had stopped, and was now looking at her with an expression mixed between confusion and surprise. "I - what brought this on? Is there a 'but'?"

She shook her head. "No 'but'."

"Then...why?"

She gazed at him for a moment. "I love you."

His eyes widened in an almost ridiculous way, and she wondered for a moment of he would drop her. He didn't. He didn't speak either, however. He just stared at her.

After a long moment, his expression shifted somewhat, and a chaos of emotions flickered across his face.

She had no need for him to tell her he loved her as well. This was not about that. This was just…she just needed him to know.

She watched him in silence, wondering what was going in inside that head of his.

"I just wanted you to know," she eventually said. "That's all."

The chaos of emotions stilled somewhat, leaving him with eyes filled with pain.

"No," she said, shaking her head. "Let go of the pain, Loki. It is easy this time. I'm not expecting anything in return. I have no demands, no agenda. I just wanted you to know. I love you."

Something beeped in the kitchen, and she smiled. "That was dinner. Hopefully. I need to go check on it."

He was still just looking at her, but eventually he lowered her to the floor, and she just smiled at him before walking into the kitchen.

She decided to stay there for a bit, to allow him a moment to process.

After a few minutes, he came into the kitchen as well, and she was about to turn around when his arms came around her waist, and he buried his face in her hair.

"I am on a culinary adventure of epic proportions today," she said, amused. "It is all terribly exciting."

"Are you, really?" he murmured into her hair.

"I am. I am making chicken. But – plot twist – I put it inside the oven. Lord knows what is currently going on in there, though. Who knows – perhaps chicken-dust is even better than bacon-dust. Or perhaps we end up with a new pet because suddenly something unpredictable has happened in there and there is an actual live chicken when I open. Like I said – it is all terribly exciting. Also, I am making this exotic gravy - it is exotic because it was supposed to be in a shade of beige somewhere, but what do you know - it's a rather flashy orange. I have no idea how that happened. Did I mention I ordered pizza to be delivered in half an hour?"

There was a long moment of silence, but then Loki burst out laughing. Properly. He actually had to prop his elbows on the kitchen counter, put his head in his hands - and laughed.

Eventually, he managed to stop laughing, and then he wrapped his arms around her, kissed her temple, and nuzzled her hair.

"I love you too."

Her only response was to put her hand over his, entwining their fingers.