Hi everyone! This was supposed to be up earlier, but my laptop has been misbehaving lately so that delayed the posting of this chapter. Perhaps my laptop does not like the weather that has been going on around here lately; Thor should really clam down with the thunder and lightning. It's supposed to continue into next week here too so he must be pretty angry about something...
Anyway, I want to thank my new story followers as well as my silent readers! I haven't forgotten about the rest of you! And of course, A Wild Clover and Cougar rolypoly bug! I have to agree with both of you about both Loki and Aurora. Aurora will have to get used to Loki's antics because they will continue to happen! Loki will never stop being awesome! Thank you both for your reviews :)
Here is chapter 19!
"I hope you got the mischief out of your system now, Loki." You said as the two of you left the corridor you had been in when Loki pranked Laga.
"Mischief never leaves me, Aurora. I would get used to it if I were you." Loki suggested with a laugh.
"When did you decide to become so mischievous anyway? You weren't always like this." You noted.
Loki shrugged his narrow shoulders and said, "People change, you know that. I suppose I just happened to find an activity I was good at and enjoyed so I continued it. You would do the same, would you not?"
You thought for a moment before you replied, "You're right, Loki. I just didn't detect the change as it was occurring so that's why it seemed sudden."
Loki put his hand on your shoulder and smiled down at you, "Ah, but I had to keep the changes so slight, so imperceptible, that no one would notice. It all adds to the mystery you see? How can I use the element of surprise to trick people if everyone is expecting it?"
You shook your head in laughter and said, "I think you are overthinking this, Loki. You're so deep into the inner workings of trickery."
"Mischief is a fine art, Aurora," Loki said earnestly, "I have to devote all of my thoughts to it otherwise many things could go wrong."
"I can understand there being a lot at stake. You could hurt someone or yourself, and you could get caught. You're lucky we didn't." You said pointing a finger at Loki.
"I'm trembling at the threat of your finger pointing at me, just so you know." Loki said as he held his hands up in defense.
"You should be!" You exclaimed as you stepped closer to Loki.
"What are you doing?" Loki asked you, furrowing his eyebrows in confusion.
"If I told you it wouldn't be a surprise." You teased.
"Yes, but I-" Loki began before you cut him off by quickly poking him in the side with your finger.
"Aurora! Stop that!" Loki exclaimed as you continued to jab him with your finger and proceeded tickling him.
You giggled aloud as you quickly moved both of your hands to avoid Loki grabbing your hands and ending your fun.
"Never! Muahaha!" You laughed trying to sound evil, but ultimately failed because your giggles overpowered your attempt at evil laughter.
"You know," Loki began as he tried to grab your hands, "the evil laugh does not suit you." You quickly moved to the side tripping over your feet while avoiding Loki's reach as you poked him in the side again saying, "I'm still causing you minor mayhem even without the proper execution of the laugh."
"I am sorry to inform you, Lady Aurora, that you are not very menacing." Loki said smootly as his long fingers latched onto one of your wrists, shortly followed by the other.
"No, no, no!" you bellowed as you writhed trying to wiggle out of Loki's grasp.
Loki held you firmly in place and laughed as he looked down at you as you made a show of trying to break free.
"Your mischief failed, you have been caught which you should always avoid." Loki smirked.
You finally stopped trying to break free from Loki's grasp because it was like trying to escape from a vice grip; your attempts were futile.
You sighed and stared up at Loki's sparkling emerald eyes, "I guess I'm not very good at it."
"It takes practice." Loki said tilting his head to the side.
"Uh, why are you looking at me like that? You can let me go now that you've caught me." You said as you wiggled your hands within Loki's grip for emphasis.
Loki's lip curled upwards in his trademark smirk as he said, "I am afraid that I cannot oblige. When you are caught, you are punished."
Your eyes widened as you immediately began to struggle against Loki again as you yelled, "No,no,no! Don't you dare even think about-"
"Loki!" You screamed as Loki held you tightly against him with one arm as he used his other arm to tickle you.
"It's only fair that your punishment is befitting of your crime. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you, isn't that what Christians on Midgard believe?" Loki spoke as his slender and quick fingers rapidly tickled you.
"I don't know, but please stop! I can't breathe!" You exclaimed in between breaths.
Loki chuckled as he ignored your pleas, "If you can talk you can breathe."
"Loki! Now is not the time to get technical with me! I swear, you're going to kill me!" You huffed as you twitched each time Loki tickled you.
"I do not believe anyone has ever died in a manner such as this before." Loki laughed as he tickled you in a particularly sensitive spot on your side.
"Well I'm about to be the first! Please, I'm begging you!" You pleaded.
"Very well, but remember if you try and tickle me again I'll do it to you tenfold." Loki whispered into your ear as he tickled you once more before finally releasing you.
You quickly ran away from him and stood a safe distance away glaring at him while you caught your breath.
"Why do you glare at me so? It was only fair." Loki chuckled.
"You are no fun. Tenfold? I'm too intimidated to mess with you anymore." You huffed.
Loki did not look convinced. Loki moved towards you and said, "You and I both know that you do not like to give up. I highly doubt that I have scared you into submission as it were."
Loki had stopped only a few inches away from you and you hated to admit it, but Loki was intimidating. He towered over you and had a piercing gaze that could freeze anyone in their tracks. It was also evident that Loki was now physically capable of holding his own, not just mentally anymore. Even though Loki looked intimidating, you knew that underneath that exterior was someone who was actually very good natured and sweet. Loki would do anything for the people he cared about and even when Loki exerted his assets over you like he just had, you knew it was only for fun to mess with you. You knew that Loki would never hurt you. You decided that the one time Loki accidentally hurt you with dark magic didn't count because it wasn't intentional and he was still trying to learn to control his abilities. You didn't consider what had happened to be Loki's fault. Loki also expressed how sorry he was and you believed that anytime someone was truly sorry that they deserved forgiveness and as far as you were concerned, you would always forgive Loki.
You looked up at Loki and instead of responding to him, you went to hug him.
"What is this for?" Loki asked you while placing a hand on your back.
"I just wanted to hug you because I love you." You said into his armor.
"As in a friend right?" Loki asked you.
"Of course." You replied as if it was the obvious answer.
Loki smiled as he rested his head on top of yours, "I love you too and I apologize for tickling you to near death."
You laughed and said, "I forgive you, but only because I can't envision my life without you."
"I am lucky that I am indispensable then." Loki replied.
"That you are." You giggled.
"It so happens that I too, cannot imagine what my life would be like without you in it." Loki replied as he hugged you tighter.
"I don't know what the two of you were doing or were planning to do, but you're in my secret spot and I order you to leave." A female's voice said.
You and Loki broke apart from the hug and turned to see Ingrid standing a few feet away with her arms crossed. Fandral was standing next to her looking back and forth between you and Loki.
"What are you talking about Ingrid? People are free to roam the palace. This isn't your private room." You said sternly.
"It might as well be because I come here when I-" Ingrid began but was cut off by Fandral.
"Ingrid, they don't need to know why we are here."
Loki raised an eyebrow at Fandral's words which earned a smirk from Fandral. Ingrid just looked annoyed and you fought back the urge to gag.
"I did not need that mental picture. Gods, just take your stupid spot. I'm vacating the premises before I see anything." you scoffed as you began walking past Ingrid.
Loki followed you as Ingrid turned around and said, "I didn't even finish my sentence. You don't know what I was going to say."
"I didn't need to hear it. I know how you are and how he is," you said pointing at a still smirking Fandral, "so I'm quite confident I know what you're going to engage in and I do not wish to be scarred for life."
"Oh come on, it's not like you and Loki weren't up to anything." Ingrid said in frustration.
"We weren't! Gods, Ingrid, why can't you get it through your thick head that two people can just be friends?" you said through your teeth.
"Well, if you weren't going to do anything he can stay. I don't care." Ingrid winked.
Fandral's eyes widened and Loki's pale face turned red.
"Ughhh!" you groaned as you threw your hands up in annoyance and stomped off.
Loki turned to watch you go and then looked back at Ingrid and Fandral bowing his head slightly and finally breaking his silence by saying, "I apologize, but I must decline your offer. Er, have fun and farewell." Loki finished awkwardly as he turned to follow you leaving Ingrid and Fandral behind.
"Aurora, wait!" Loki's voice called out from behind you.
You stopped walking as Loki quickly caught up with you.
"I can't stand her." you said as you started walking again.
"At least you weren't invited to join them. I actually felt very uncomfortable back there." Loki said blushing slightly.
"What annoys me is that she never used to even speak to you and now all of the sudden she does because she feels like you're worth her time now when she never used to give you the time of day." You said angrily as you and Loki walked through the palace which was strangely very empty.
"I know and do not worry; I'm too smart to fall for her stunts. She isn't fooling me." Loki stated.
"Good because she doesn't deserve you, especially since she's running around with Fandral." You scoffed in disgust.
"Well, they both deserve each other then. Do not concern yourself too much with what they do." Loki offered as you both entered the center of the palace where a large group of people were gathered.
"What is going on?" You asked aloud.
"No idea." Loki responded as he searched the crowd and found his brother.
"Thor! Thor!" Loki called out to his brother who finally heard him and came striding over.
"Greetings brother and Lady Aurora." Thor spoke.
"Hello, Thor." You smiled.
"Do you know what the meaning of this gathering is?" Loki asked his brother.
"There has been a disturbance in Niflheim, brother. Father has left to handle the matter, but word spreads fast around here so everyone has gathered to discuss whether or not we should prepare to fight." Thor explained.
"Does it appear that we might need to assist King Odin?" You asked nervously.
Thor shook his head and replied, "It does not look like forces are needed, but I would very much like to go to battle." Thor grinned.
"That's selfish, Thor." Loki spoke, "You can't wish for war just to fulfill your desires at the risk of everyone else's lives."
"I would not risk their lives, I'd protect them." Thor replied.
Loki opened his mouth to speak, but then closed it and shook his head as if it was not worth discussing any further.
"I really hope we don't have to fight. I may have passed the exam, but I don't think I'm actually ever going to be ready to fight." You admitted as you shifted your weight from one foot to the other.
"We won't know anything until father returns, so try not to stress too much." Loki advised.
You nodded your head just as a voice called out from the crowd, "King Odin has returned!"
You felt your stomach drop as you looked at the two brothers and said, "I guess we're about to find out if we should worry or not."