The heavy box-lid snapped soundly in the gloved hands of the uncanny man holding it. The light inside had just been snuffed out of the surrounding environment, as well as any remaining illumination on said man's teeth. Still, his grin remained wide and disturbing to his little assistant at his left.
"I believe the time has come for one of my most prized collections to be completed and I know the next desparate piece to the completion is heading here as I speak." He paused, enjoying the atmosphere of the room, his little assistants shaking body across from him. "And not a moment too soon. I have some...doors that need knocking."
000
"I'll be back soon."
"Promise?"
"Those droll scholars you play with in the sand work you to exhaustion. I think you should go back to your Alaska."
"One: that would mean I'd be stuck with all those 'grabby mortals' you dislike. Two: the work is all my doing and three: you're saying you don't drain me? You cannot just appear and push me onto a table with delicate artifacts abou" She'd yipped loudly as he bit the junction between her shoulder and neck.
"Woman, it is you who is doing the draining I assure you."
"You're incorrigible."
"I'm in need of you."
"This much? NotAh! Oh god...not that I'm complaining."
"I'll never be done with you, Sigrün. Now do both us a favor...shut up and let me give us both pleasure."
The silky words of her lover echoed in her mind. His voice dark and lusty, as he'd whispered them into her ear just as he thrust into her waiting body from behind, his hand possessively grasping her throat
"Oi!"
Siggy instantly jerked and subdued the flames that had begun to trickle up her neck and over her ears. She felt her face turn red as she realized she'd been recalling her last encounter with Loki.
"Watch the fireworks over there, Siggy." Sam cooed and tossed a pebble toward their dig lead with her head in the clouds. "We only have Jonnie here right now but the other team could show up any time. Don't need to explain to them you can roast marshmallows on command."
"I'm sorry!" Siggy barked and noticed she'd at least done well with her portion of the dig. No damage done to the fragile bone of the thousand-year old horse's hooves and she'd made progress.
"Well if I had a hot-ass lover waiting for when I made it stateside I'd be antsy for the days to be over soon too." Sam said with a sly smirk as Jonnie whistled at their backs.
"Looks like we're nearly done hear, ladies. Then is the fun part: lab time! Homeward bound!"
As the burly archaeologist had hoped, the two females groaned and looked down at the few remaining bits they had to uncover, document, and then take back to their labs, thus beginning the grueling process of more intricate documentation, filing, and microscopes to search for hidden hypotheses and theories on the horses and their master's burial.
"Joy." Siggy murmured but felt a twinge of relief. While it was fun to be in the field, reports about the area were becoming more dangerous for the team's safety. Their dig in Bulgaria happened to be all too near to the problems developing in Sokovia with the HYDRA facility that the Captain had dealt with. That wouldn't have been so bad, except there was continued, troubling activity in that region. It just plain had Siggy on edge.
Her dig's proximity to that crap was unsettling and, knowing what she knew from SHEILD reports that came her way, she wanted her team out a.s.a.p. However, as the senior archaeologist of the dig sight, she could only give the project director (a full continent away) her opinion and hope for the best. She didn't like having to stay put, but the headway the team had made thus far was impressive and they were nearly done.
"Alright, lets wrap this up and get the other team in here." Siggy said and pushed up to her feet to survey the progress. "Honestly, I think this is just about all our crew needed for the rest of the dig. Team two can handle final photography, removal of the last three hooves, and replacement of the earth. As far as we are concerned, I do believe this team is finished here."
"Whoop!" Jonnie barked and whipped his hands into the air. Sam glanced with an edge to her eye.
"Are you sure you want Sullivan's crew to overlook the replacement?"
Siggy shrugged. "He was reprimanded last time for trampling surrounding flora and not creating a level terrain. Don't you worry...unless he's an idiot," Siggy heard a Humph in response, though chose to ignore it. "But we know he likes getting any praise he can on a close, so he'll focus and say he did this all single-handedly. Win-win for us honestly since he forgoes a lot of lab work and he'll farm it out."
"Well, whatever." Sam snipped and gathered her tools and papers. "Let's get out of here then. Since you gave us a fire-show earlier, now I'm craving s'mores and white wine."
"I second that." Jonnie said from above.
Siggy had no choice but to sigh and allow the banter to continue. Truthfully she actually really enjoyed s'mores so she was pleased she'd at least get some kind of treat for her dumb slip up earlier. "Alright then, lets pack this beast up. I want a final pack-job though. Get all your shit and I'll talk to Sullivan about the plan. Remember the Anthro code, lady and gent."
"Do no harm." They muttered but all knew how much they actually respected the words.
000
Sigrün was waiting for Loki to appear when the air began to stir in an unpleasant way. She glanced back to her human companions breaking down the dinner they'd shared, but neither of them seemed to notice.
It was more than a wind kicking up; it felt deeper. Before she could comprehend the feeling, Siggy was suddenly overwhelmed by emotion, altogether fearful and furious at once.
What she experienced only moments after sitting was obviously deeply ingrained within her spirit. Her chest felt as if it caved in slightly and she was short of breath. Something had twined into Siggy's body. She remembered she'd felt this once before, though it was not nearly as terrifying as this moment. It was such a helpless taste in her mouth that she nearly gagged.
She sat still for a time, trying to analyze herself. After quick reflection, Siggy knew immediately what was going on. The growing bangs on her head were tingling at the roots themselves. She wish she could play stupid, but she already had an idea...
I thought we had time...Her mind whimpered at the idea.
Despite her revulsion, Siggy knew that the lock of hair she'd given up was getting cashed in a lot sooner than her boon every would. Said boon was the promise of an infinity stone to be offered to the Avengers in their time of need. Though now, Siggy knew what a stupid bargain that had been.
What if said Collector was deprived of his stone for some reason? It would have been for nothing and her pure-born Valkyrie sisters would be forced to take one for the team...for an unknowable amount of time.
Siggy grit her teeth and felt hot tears on her cheeks before she realized she'd been cradling her head this whole time. With stiff muscles she sat back and looked up at the summer stars above her head.
Forcing herself to calm, she reclined back into the Bulgarian wild grass surrounding her. She felt a lingering feeling of disgust and tried to push it away as she looked upon the cosmos above. Somewhere up there, she'd be called to pay for her own mistake, along with her sisters', however petty or selfless.
With nothing she could do on Midgard, Siggy simply indulged in her surroundings. Nowhere in any city of the US would it be barely evening, sun kissing you goodbye, and you were greeted with every star in the sky who dared shine through it. Such places were winding down in size every year, but Siggy appreciated the vastness and the solitude with likeminded companions. Even now Jonnie and Sam had gone to their tents for their last sleep with s'mores filling their bellies.
Coolness, which she immediately recognized, appeared suddenly at her side though the feeling was altogether welcome. Siggy leaned into the solid hand that appeared on her nape and her lips quirked. "Loki..."
"Sigrün," he said and crouched at her shoulder to drag her into his kiss and dominate. He devoured her, pulling more and more of her before they were both sated...for the moment. He'd learned she liked to have a bit of banter before he 'railed her' as she'd once said.
"It has been a long week for us both, has it not?"
"It has." She said and nearly purred as his arms came around her. "Even more fearsome than I expected."
"How so." He said distractedly as she stretched against his hold. She was wearing her worn-button down shirt and what she called a sports bra, made by a woman with a secret. He honestly didn't care because her breasts were practically spilling over the garment, though still tantalizingly contained for modern, human modesty's sake.
"The dig is unofficially over for my crew and I. We're moving back into the lab so our favorite late night romps won't be surrounded by evergreens and nosy interns anymore."
Loki smirked and recalled a good memory of one said archaeology degree-seeker in Siggy's recent summer field school. She'd been lucky the kid knew of Loki and thought she was cool because she was "banging a total badass god." Loki didn't get angry whatsoever but the poor kid had been transferred to an Ethiopian dig site for study.
Before Loki could begin mauling her, she decided to drop her bomb. "So..."
He knew that tone. "Yes my dearest, most insufferable woman?"
Siggy snarled. "Don't you dare be snarky with me...I had a premonition. Well...fuck." She scratched a hand through her hair and frowned. "It wasn't just that...I felt it, Loki. I felt like one of my other sisters, cousins, what-have-you...they gave up a strand of their hair!"
Loki would have brushed her antics off but she looked nearly manic with worry. "What is your point?"
"I am worried my time, and theirs, is nearly up."
Loki tried stalling, but knew what she was getting at. If the Collector had gathered enough Valkyrie locks of hair, Sigrün and any kin who've donated would be trapped under a compulsion to do as the man willed. Though Loki had a feeling whatever their compulsion drove toward would have nothing if not fatal repercussions.
"You'll be fine." He said simply, though she shook her head immediately and shot to her feet.
"Loki, do you feel like...like this," she passed her hand back and forth between them, around them. "This is merely temporary?"
"Why are you so concerned about everything all of a sudden?" He snapped. "Why not simply enjoy the time I offer you?"
"Um,"She snapped and held a hand up. "Excuse me...Offer me your time? Why the hell should I?" Siggy barked and stepped into his chest just as he stood up to row with her. "I cannot simply just enjoy your valuable time, because I have a life and a family and a career, all of which revolve around this mortal Midgardian world!"
Loki snorted at her. Snorted.
It simply. Lit. Her. Fuse.
She let her hair burst into an impressive flame, hotter than she ever remembered, and broke away from him as far as she could. She was trying to dampen her rage, stop her mouth from running away, but she snapped some truth at him.
"A piece of you may be growing here too, you know? You can't be so careless to toss it away! Or is that wasting your precious time?"
"What?" He growled icily as he turned to look at her fully.
Siggy avoided his eyes skillfully and folded her arms over her chest. "Do not dare step toward me. I am at the tip of a goddamn volcano here, Loki!" she yelled and her hair glowed blue and depressed, yet hotter than ever. "You don't get it! I could be commanded to do anything by the Collector! I could be commanded to burn down a city!"
Loki took a step toward her and she narrowed her molten eyes at him. "What did you say earlier?" He merely pushed on and ignored her simmering rage.
Siggy, however, grew stiff in the shoulders at his words and her anger turned down a degree. "What are you talking about?" she sneered.
"Sigrün!" he snapped and caught her shoulders. "What were you insinuating only minutes ago about a piece of me 'growing here'?"
"Maybe some peonies?"
His eyes looked positively lethal and she felt she may have just stepped over the line in which he may just kill her. When his short nails dug into her arms, she grit her teeth at him and had to restrain her tongue from saying something she'd regret.
"Okay. You're pissed. But you let my ass go now or you will get nothing at all." His green irises tried to battle her amber, molten ones and he quickly lost. One cannot stare into the sun too long, she thought. Yet then she knew she needed to listen to her own metaphors. She was lying to him and it was huge.
"Fine." Loki snapped and released her.
Siggy rubbed her arm and turned from him to look at their surroundings. She was so far from home. Her soul demanded snow, demanded cold, demanded an icy shore she could chuck rocks during her anxiety. She wanted to be in comfort when she told him...and comfort when she was no longer under her own control.
"I want to be home before I tell you what's actually going on." When her tone brokered no argument, Loki and his icy glare simply vanished. Siggy tried to hold onto her tears, tried to contain the emotion, but she was already in a losing battle.
"Damnit..." She hissed and held a possessive hand against her abdomen. "We're so fucked."
000
As Siggy made the last few hops closer and closer home, she felt like her time getting shorter and shorter. Her mind was getting less lucid and she was losing track of time. Before she even knew it, Akima had pulled into Siggy's drive and was waving at her mother through the old Ford's window.
"Akima," she began and gripped her friend's arm tightly before let go and jumped out of the cab. "Be careful...ignore the news about me."
"What the hell are you talking about, Sig?" Her friend had looked rightfully spooked. "Are you feeling okay? You look like "
Sigrün merely swung the door shut in answer and sluggishly made it into her house, ignoring her mother's shouting from across the small, icy woodland separating their homes. The door slammed behind her, the cold of the house welcoming but not as welcome as her lover would have been. He would not come, she knew, unless she broke first and called him. She'd pissed him off, royally.
Her mirthless giggle echoed in the silent house and she only half realized she'd been lying on the floor. Since her mother had not broken in yet, she only imagined she'd been there for a few minutes.
Siggy's sight was unfocused and she was listening to her surroundings as if submerged in water. Footsteps muffled toward her and feminine voices flowed slowly to her ears.
"Geebis...you poor thing. Fire seems like a pretty lame power right about now."
"Shut up. She's pregnant and new into her power. Give her a break."
"Pff. Pregnancy has been most women's plight for thousands of years. And she's not the first pure-born Valkyrie ever you know...ahem, look in the mirror?"
"One: you've never been pregnant. Two? She hasn't either and three: have you ever even heard of a pregnant Valk?" At the silence, the more motherly voice had clearly taken the win.
Siggy forced her eyes open, despite the oddly comforting females around her. This was her home, she could tell by the wood floors and old rugs. "Who...fuck all, what's going on?"
"Ha!" The owner of the younger female voice barked and crouched beside Siggy. "At least you have a mouth on you. We have some elder prigs here in this little group so be ready."
"Danny!"
"Eh, well we don't have to obey the old biddies but we do have to obey the hair so to speak...up you get, mommy! I know the indoctrination is not helping your brand new baby sickness."
She felt two strong pairs of arms helping her up, and she got to whiffs of lemon on one end and pure, rich dirt on the other, like she'd been digging in a rich garden. "I do hope your price was worth it in the end, hon. We'll all be paying soon enough." Said mrs. mother-earth, which Siggy had coined sluggishly.
"W-wait...th-the hair? Now?" Siggy murmured when her sight, finally, went blissfully black and she knew no more.
Thank you for all your support with this fic so far. Inspiration comes and goes but I am really enjoying writing this. I am in a bit of a pickle really. The story has branched off into another direction is seems, so I was wondering if I should post from this chapter on as a New Book, in a new story or if I should just make a ridiculously long fic by the end :/
And thank you, thank you again Vampyre86 you really helped me not look like a dumbie - '.
Let me know how you think the story is going! I appreciate all feedback.
Bitte!