Author's Note: Hello again my lovelies! Here's another fluffy little chapter for you all. We're jumping back in time a little bit from the last chapter; this takes place about one year before the movie. I've already got the next chapter in the works too - I haven't had a chance to see The Avengers yet and it's killing me, but apparently not seeing it is inspiring me almost as much as seeing it undoubtedly will. Anyway. I'd like to thank everyone who put this story on their alerts and faves, and a big special shout-out to my awesome reviewers HistoryGeek1993, Lyra Whitewind, BooksFan101, and RogueMetamorph. Thanks guys, you rock my socks off!
Disclaimer: Everything you recognize belongs to Marvel. I'd be a heck of a lot richer if it were mine.
"You look troubled, brother."
Thor's voice startles me out of my thoughts as he comes up beside me. It always astonishes me how he manages to track me down when I am lost in contemplation in the palace library, when he rarely enters the cavernous room.
"Not troubled, exactly," I tell him after a moment. "Simply...considering a matter of some importance."
"Anything I can help with?"
I gaze into the open, honest face of my older brother and decide I might as well tell him.
"I am thinking of asking Rika to marry me."
Thor's face breaks into an enormous grin and he claps me firmly on the back. "Congratulations, brother! She is a good woman."
"There is nothing to congratulate yet, I haven't even asked her," I say, but I can't help the smile that spreads onto my face.
"There is no doubt in my mind that she will say yes when you do ask," Thor says confidently. "Have you decided how you are going to do it?"
I shake my head slowly. "No, I have no idea. I have a ring, but no plan, no words."
Thor grins. "Loki Silvertongue, at a loss for words?"
"She does that to me," I reply fondly.
"I do believe that is an entirely unique talent of hers," Thor says with a good-natured laugh; it turns out to be infectious and I chuckle.
"Well, little brother, I wish I had some insight for you but I am quite inexperienced in this particular matter. If it were a problem of wooing her I could help..." he trails off with a wink and I roll my eyes, but my lip quirks up in amusement. Thor continues seriously. "I am sure you will come up with something. I will leave you to it. Good luck, Loki."
And with that he turns and walks away, leaving me alone to my thoughts.
...
"Alright, your head doesn't seem to be in this," Sif says as she offers her hand to help me to my feet after knocking me on my rear for the third time this afternoon. "Usually you're dodging my blows and making it look easy. What's distracting you?"
I let Sif pull me to my feet and I dust myself off before answering. "It's Loki," I say.
"What about him?"
I shrug. "He's been acting sort of strangely the past few days. Distant. He's kind of keeping to himself and keeps getting lost in his own thoughts, and when I ask him what's on his mind he brushes me off." I pause. "He's never done that to me before."
"And you're worried about him?" Sif asks.
I nod. "Yes, a bit. I just wish I knew what was going on in that head of his."
"Well, I'm sure he'll let you know soon, my friend," Sif says reassuringly, slinging her arm around my shoulders and leading me off the practice field. "It'll all work out."
...
"Loki?"
I twitch in surprise at the sound of Rika's voice behind me, and I hastily tuck the delicate platinum band back into my pocket before she catches a glimpse of it. "Yes, love?" I say, turning to face her.
She is gazing at me curiously, one eyebrow arching up towards her hairline. "By the gods you've been distracted lately," she says. "The others are waiting. I was sent to retrieve you."
It takes a second for me to figure out what she's talking about. Then it hits me; I was supposed to meet Rika and our friends for dinner almost half an hour ago.
"Sorry," I say, getting to my feet. "I was just - "
"Thinking, I know," Rika finishes my sentence for me with a slight roll of her eyes. "That seems to be all you've been doing these past few days."
Hearing the faint irritation in her voice I take her hand and lift it to my lips, pressing a kiss to her palm. She squeezes her eyes shut and sighs, before opening them and gazing at me with a mixture of amusement and frustration.
"Why is it nearly impossible for me to stay cross with you?"
I smile as I place her hand in the crook of my arm and lead her from the room. "Because I'm ridiculously handsome and charming?"
She shakes her head and rolls her eyes, but the corners of her mouth twitch upwards, betraying her amusement. I lean over and place a quick kiss on the top of her head, and her smile widens as she settles her head on my shoulder.
"You've got the ridiculous part right," she jokes. "Loki?" she adds in a puzzled tone a moment later, as I have come to a halt in the middle of the deserted corridor.
I've come to a sudden realization. It doesn't matter how or where I ask her; I don't need some elaborate plan. This moment is as good as any.
I turn to face Rika and take both her hands in mine. She looks at me with questioning eyes.
"Rika," I begin softly. "I've been agonizing over this for days. I thought it mattered what I said, or where I said it, but I've realized that the only thing that truly matters is how I feel about you." I swiftly drop to one knee in front of her and her eyes widen in realization; keeping her left hand clasped in my right, I pull the ring from my pocket with my other hand.
"I love you more than I can ever say, and I don't ever want to be without you." I pause, looking deep into Rika's now tear-filled eyes. "Rika, will you marry me?"
Her face breaks into a radiant grin. "Yes," she says shakily.
I hardly dare to believe my ears. "Yes?"
"Of course yes, you idiot!" she laughs as she drops to her knees and throws her arms around my neck. I hold her tight to my chest for a long moment before I pull back a bit and take her left hand once more. Tears slide down her smiling face as I slip the ring onto her finger; we both gaze at the silvery band on her finger for a moment, the diamond and emeralds sparkling brightly.
"I love you so much," I tell her, looking up to meet her eyes.
"Oh Loki, I love you too," she replies, placing her hands on my cheeks and kissing me deeply. After a few long moments we break the kiss and smile at each other; I feel happier than I ever have in my entire life.
...
I can't stop grinning.
Loki's fingers are intertwined with mine as we make our way through the palace corridors; every now and then we glance at each other and I see my happiness mirrored in his expression.
We finally reach the dining room where the others are waiting for us. Five heads swivel in our direction as we enter the room.
"There you are! About time!" Volstagg says loudly.
"We've been waiting for - what's going on?" Fandral asks, noticing the grins on both our faces.
Loki nods at me. "We're engaged!" I announce brightly.
There is an instant uproar at my words. The others all leap to their feet and crowd around us, giving hugs and congratulations. Sif, in a rare girly moment, excitedly examines my ring, while Thor gives Loki what looks like a near bone-crushing hug.
I feel a hand on my shoulder and turn away from Sif to find Thor beaming down at me; a second later he picks me right up and hugs me so tightly it almost squeezes the breath out of my lungs.
"Congratulations," Thor says to me, adding after a quick pause, "sister."
It warms my heart to hear him say that, but I can't tell him so because Thor's muscular arms are still squashing my ability to speak, or breathe properly. Loki seems to notice my predicament, because at that moment he speaks up.
"I know you're happy for us, brother," he says amusedly, "but I would appreciate it if you didn't hug the life out of my bride-to-be."
Thor instantly loosens his hold on me and puts me back on my feet, grinning somewhat sheepishly. I grin back, then glance at Loki, whose words are still ringing in my head.
Bride-to-be. My heart flutters wildly in my chest as I look at my new fiancé. As if sensing me staring at him, Loki shifts his gaze from Fandral to meet my eyes. We share a smile as the others usher us to the table to begin what promises to be a long night of celebration.
A/N: I hope you liked it! Reviews make me feel unspeakably happy, so click that button pretty please :) Also, I'm still totally open to suggestions for anything you'd like to see in future chapters.