Disclaimer: I don't own Thor, or any of the characters used in this fic. They all belong to Marvel and their respective creators. I only own any original characters that I choose to include, as well as any original plot ideas.
Chapter 24: When The Dust Settles
"I suppose that, in light of present circumstances, I can forgive your poor manners," she said, and took the tattered tome from his hands and shoved it to the floor.
He sighed as she threw her arms about his neck and she sat, with a sharp smile, squarely in his lap. There was no point in expressing to her just how deeply he disliked being interrupted, or having things taken from him like that. But Loki said nothing, stiffened slightly as she leaned against his shoulder, fingers moving through the fabric of his tunic as her lips found his throat. It was still a bother, as Sigyn must have surely known, the mark that the Fire Giants had left upon his skin. Still, the gesture was strangely soothing, and Loki shut his eyes and leaned back in the chair as she followed, kissed him again as the hanging sleeve of her silk gown grazed the side of his face.
"You forgive me?" he said with a frown, and Sigyn's lips fell upon his. The prince sighed and turned his head. "Who ever asked you to forgive me?"
The woman sat up straight, wore a placid expression and let her hands play through his hair, leaning forward after a time to settle her cheek atop his head. Sigyn said nothing, but he could tell that she was stalling, refusing to answer the question he had posed.
Having already had his patience tested enough for a day, Loki scowled, reached back and grabbed her wrists, squeezing until he thought she might break. That, it seemed, was just enough to get her full attention.
"Answer me."
She made a face, shaped her lips as though she were pouting, and stared at him with those doe eyes of hers. Loki groaned and let her go.
"Well," said Sigyn, contenting herself with pressing her forehead to his, "I know how you detest asking for forgiveness, or apologizing, for that matter, as it carries the heavy implication that you were wrong." Loki gave her a warning glance. Her fingertips traced the line of his collarbone through the tunic. "And, given how you ran away like that, nearly burned to cinders, I thought it best to just let those nasty words of yours go."
Loki scoffed, raised his brows in mock acceptance and sat quietly as she kissed him again. Women were so strange, always finding the most subtle ways to tell men that they weren't right, slipping little hints into their lengthy monologues that served only to confuse. Just one of the many reasons as to why he had a penchant for exploring, trying to figure just which of these increasingly strange creatures was right. Preferably one that wasn't quite so mouthy as Sigyn, but, thus far, she was the closest he'd come to finding the right fit.
She jumped, his hands moving against her sides, sliding down her hips to gently cup her backside. Sigyn smiled against his lips, reached back to push his touch away. Loki snickered. It was all a part of the game they played. She would pretend that she held no interest in him, even as she teased like this, and Loki would keep going at it until it came time for her to cave, take him by the hand and lead him down the halls, demand that he hurry up.
Three times more they repeated the process, all the while Sigyn struggling to hide her laughter, her utter glee as her kisses grew harder and more passionate. Loki would be damned to shove her aside, be it now or ever. This woman was too damn perfect.
"It would seem that the blaze of Muspelheim left you parched for more than just water."
He sighed and broke the kiss, licking his lips as Sigyn huffed, decided to rest her head on his shoulder and shut her eyes so as not to stare angrily at their most unwelcome visitor. Of course, if either of them voiced that fact, Sif would be quick to tell them that the library was not the place for their ridiculous foreplay.
The trickster's lip curled, dark brows furrowed as the warrior woman stood some ways away, arms folded and watching him expectantly. He knew what she was waiting for.
"Perhaps," he replied, and Sigyn seemed to hold to him even tighter. "But I cannot fathom as to how you came to find my affairs any business of yours."
Sif shrugged her shoulders. "And I can't fathom how you came to claim the library as your personal chambers. There are, as you well know, far more appropriate places for you and your lasciviousness."
"This isn't about me," Loki told her curtly. "Or, more accurately, my pastimes." Sigyn snickered. "You're bothered that Thor took the blame as he should." He put on a thoughtful face. "Tell me, Sif. Did it not thrill you to see the Allfather strike me so? Are you not so overcome with joy, that you've come to rub it in?"
The warrior woman stiffened, opened her mouth as though she'd like to deliver just as much bite with her own words, but hesitated. She sighed.
"I came to thank you."
Now, that was a shock. "Thank me?" Loki jeered, shaking his head. "I can't imagine what for. Unless, after all that fuss, you've realized just how much that new color does for your complexion. Stunning, really."
Sigyn made a sound of discontent and shoved him.
"Thor is rather foolish at times." The prince couldn't believe what he was hearing. "And, I regret to say, if you weren't always following at his heels, playing caretaker and the irritating voice of reason... he'd be dead."
How surprising that something so genuine would escape the mouth of the Lady Sif. Particularly considering just how much she and the Warriors Three hated him now.
Loki smirked, refusing to give her any more pleasure than that, and nudged the woman on his lap. Sigyn sat up quickly, lifted her gown a bit and repositioned herself so that she straddled his waist, leaning back in to nip at his throat. The trickster moaned softly and swallowed. Sif looked positively disgusted with the display.
"Such a kind sentiment," he said, though with a bit of difficulty as Sigyn shifted her hips against him. "If you have nothing else to say, perhaps you'd be so generous as to leave me to my–"
His eyes crossed then, rolled back behind his eyelids as Sigyn's hands teased, their breaths growing hot and labored the more they plastered themselves together. Loki shuddered, felt that fluttering feeling well up in his gut, and ignored the disgusted sound made by the lady warrior as she turned curtly on a heel and strode out of the room.