Standing alone with Kaisa and the two strange men was the most awkward thing that Takumi had to ever go through. Her face felt like it was burning, and her hands felt sweaty. She wanted to turn and run out, but Loki was pressed closely to her back. She could feel his body heat pulse against her, and his stare penetrating at the back of her head. Cursing the entire situation inwardly, she tried to let Kaisa know of her awkwardness by staring at her, but it didn't work. Kaisa wasn't even looking at her anymore. She was staring at her to be husband instead, looking love-stricken.

Thor gave them both a gentle smile, waving his hand in a gesture of formal greeting. "Tis good to finally meet you two." he said softly. "I know this realm may seem strange to you, but it will seem like home soon. Do not fear the All-Father, he is not as intimidating as he seems."

"I am sure he has a lot on his mind, nowadays. Tis not easy, being the leader of Asgard." Kaisa said, giving him a small smile in return. "Tis lovely to meet you two as well. Much better than reading from the scrolls."

"They are inadequate." Thor said, his eyes twinkling slightly. "The both of you are perfect examples of Vanaheimian royalty. I hope you will like it here, Lady Kaisa."

"I am sure I will." Kaisa's face blushed ever so slightly.

Gross. Takumi cringed a little.

"I will lead you to your chambers now, if you wish. I am sure you are both exhausted from your journey from Vanaheim." Thor gently took Kaisa's arm in his, and Takumi could see her sister melting ever so slightly in his embrace. Thor looked at her, finally, with the same gentle smile he had given Kaisa. "Lady Takumi, Loki will show you his chambers. Do not fret, the palace is heavily guarded and you may rely on Loki to protect you."

"That would be great," Kaisa said kindly. She looked over at the silently brooding man standing behind Takumi. "The pleasure to meet you, Loki. I have heard many things about you."

Loki gave her the smallest hint of a smile. "Charmed."

Thor and Kaisa started to turn, about to leave for the chambers. Takumi felt her fists clench again; Kaisa was seriously leaving her alone!? She wanted to scream after her sister and cling to her like she did when she was younger, but she fought off that urge and stayed stiffly where she stood, as if her feet were glued to the marble floor. The two of them left, the doors closing shut and ringing in the empty, silent room.

Slowly, she turned around to face Loki. He was staring at her with wide emerald eyes, looking as though he was debating whether to run away himself. He sighed to himself and turned a little, away from her, and then glanced at her again.

"Let us go to the chambers." he said after a moment, his voice husky and quiet.

Takumi just nodded, feeling wary. He walked briskly as they left the throne room, not even paying her another glance.

Is this how it's always going to be with him? She wondered briefly, as she walked behind him. It wasn't like she minded, she liked the space that he was giving her. But she felt a sting of loneliness as they entered a twisting, dark hallway. It was barely lit with torches, and the ceiling towered above them in a gaping yawn. Was she always going to be alone? In this strange new realm without any friends?

Takumi shook her head as she walked, unamused with her thoughts. It wasn't going to be much different than living in Vanaheim, was it?

Loki turned down a hall and nearly disappeared, blending into the darkness of the hall. With a quick twist of his hand, the door he had stopped in front of opened ever so slightly. Takumi raised an eyebrow as she saw it, she could've sworn she saw a tiny flicker of yellow coming from his hand.

Was that magic?

Loki gave her a glance and then stepped inside, leaving the door open for her. With a deep breath and a bit of hesitation, Takumi walked into the dark room. She closed the door behind her, and she heard the heavy crack of the lock magically sealing itself. As her eyes adjusted, she could see that the chamber was neatly organized, with large books piled up in stacks on the floor in front of a large blazing fireplace. There was a bed near the large window, exploiting the now blackened sky of nightfall and the moonlight just barely filtering through the clouds.

She looked at Loki, who was taking off his helmet and throwing it onto the floor in a fit of disgust. He then looked at her, as though he just realized she was in the same room. His emerald eyes darkened a few shades, and he scowled at her.

Takumi scowled back, feeling a twinge of irritation.

"This shall be your chambers." he said gruffly, looking back down at the floor. He waited a moment and studied her expression. "Does this not suit you, Lady Takumi?"

"This will be fine." Takumi said, her voice just as stiff as the rest of her. She didn't quite know what to do, so she simply stood there in that one spot.

Loki snorted and turned away from her, staring out the window. He was quiet for a couple of moments, and then he looked back towards her. He had a strange look of malice on his face, and before Takumi could stop herself, her hand went straight for her belt.

Just as she thought, Loki lunged towards her with a staff that seemed to materialize out of nowhere. The dagger that she had hidden in her belt for the whole journey flipped easily into her hand, and she held up in self-defense. The shaft of the staff hit the blade, sending sparks flying. Takumi fell onto the floor from the sudden hit, but she kept her dagger up and holding the staff just about to stab her. She let out a choked cry as her arms started to burn from holding up the dagger.

Loki was on top of her, gripping the staff tightly and scowling furiously. His other hand was gripped at one of her wrists, holding it down onto the floor with fierce strength. Takumi struggled to hold the dagger up, it was slipping from her hand.

"I do not want some harlot in my life, I do not want to be married and have that BURDEN with me." Loki snarled, pressing his staff harder into her. Takumi grunted and pushed the dagger harder, sending him tumbling onto his back. His hand let go of her wrist, and she jumped to her feet and swung her dagger. The blade caught through the front of Loki's tunic, slicing the fabric in two.

"I do not want this either, you idiot." Takumi hissed, clutching her weapon tightly. The look on Loki's face was one of disbelief, that she had actually managed to push him off. She backed up a little, feeling her hands shake.

Loki suddenly swung his staff at her, and she tried to deflect it with her dagger. The hard metal hit her hand and knocked the dagger out of her hand, and she felt Loki powerfully pushing her backwards into the wall. Her back slammed against the marble, and she felt his heavy body against hers. Gasping, she looked up at him, their faces inches away. Loki looked dangerous, his eyes a dark green and a mischevious smile stretched on his face.

The God of Mischief. Takumi suddenly thought through her panic. He is the God of Mischief. I remember now- he's the one that attacked Earth all those centuries ago! The stories of the two brothers! Oh no, oh gods no! Why didn't I read more!? Fuck!

"I am surprised," Loki mused softly, sounding pleased with himself. "You are not as weak as I had hoped."

Takumi tried to push him away, tried to push away the hands that were holding her down. She hated him; hated him more than she had hated anything in the Nine Realms. There was a sharp pain in her wrist from him holding it tightly against the wall. Her dagger was all the way on the floor away from her, far out of her reach.

Use your magic! Use your magic! Her mind screamed. Takumi struggled further, panic welling over her as Loki's staff crept closer to her neck, just about to nick the soft skin. He was chuckling softly, almost manically.

"You will long for something as sweet as pain." he purred in her ear. Takumi tried to let out a yell, but Loki's hand quickly snuck up her body and covered her mouth, muffling her cries. "You will regret ever trying to defy me."

Takumi looked at him in the eyes and saw a flicker of a strange blue in them, the most strangest blue she had ever seen. If she wasn't so panicked, she would've been entranced by it. Instead, she concentrated as hard as she could.

The fire in the fireplace behind them suddenly came to life, the fire bursting out of it's hole and exploding at them like a hand. It unfurled at Loki's back, causing him to let go of Takumi and whirl around in shock, staring at the huge flames in disbelief. Takumi quickly took that opportunity and swung her fist towards his face, slamming him into the ground. The fire slowly retreated back into the fireplace like it belonged, and Loki laid on the floor, still.

She grabbed her dagger from the floor and held it in her hand, still wary. With one foot, she kicked at Loki's shoulder. "Get the fuck up."

There was a groan coming from the god, but he rolled onto his stomach and lifted up his head, the corner of his mouth trickling a small stream of blood. The weird blue in his eyes were gone, replaced by a burning hate for her. "You insolent..."

"You attacked me," Takumi said lamely, still holding the dagger in her hand.

Loki shakily got to his feet and glared at her, wiping the blood from his mouth. He looked at the fireplace, half expecting it to erupt again, and then back at her. Then a sly smirk curled on his face, something close to the mischevious grin he had earlier. "You are fiery."

"So I've been told." she muttered. She put the dagger in her belt again, and then cautiously went towards him, reaching for the bruise that was starting to show on his face. "Sorry about punching you. Let me see it."

"Do not touch me, you mewling creature." Loki snapped, pushing away her hands. "I do not need your help."

"I am trying to make peace." Takumi growled, putting her rejected hands to her sides. "You think I want to be here with you? We're forced to be wed, so just deal with it."

"I am not forced to do anything." Loki said tightly, pushing past her roughly. He opened the door and then slammed the door behind him, almost rattling the books on the shelves.

Takumi shivered, even though the room was warm. She didn't know what else to do, so she just sat on the floor in front of the fireplace, looking at the fire. As she tried to warm her hands, she realized that she was trembling like a child. Her bones felt rattled, and she felt her heart thumping like a wild animal in a cage. She felt the biggest urge just to curl up on the floor and fall asleep- the entire journey to Asgard and the attack had left her body exhausted. But for the first time in her life, she was afraid to fall asleep.

Loki obviously hated her; enough to kill her. He just proved that. And what was wrong with his eyes? The way they turned blue, instead of a darker shade of green? Takumi pulled out her dagger and laid it beside her, just in case she needed it. What kind of magic was in Asgard anyways? She wasn't sure she wanted to know.

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