"Still can't move, Asgardian?" Mocking.
"I have already said, my name is Loki." Frustration.
"Weaklings, all of you." Dislike.
"And you are not a very caring healer." Anger
"When to an Asgardian." Hatred.
"I am not an Asgardian. And my name is Loki." Bitterness followed by exasperation.
Exchanges like this often sparked between Allaysia and her Asgardian patient during the few weeks in which he stayed obediently confined to bed and slowly healed. She couldn't help but taunt him, refusing to acknowledge him by name. It wasn't like her, really, to be this acerbic but his identity evoked so many painful memories that she couldn't help but lash out in defense.
After the first week, Loki was able to sit up on the bed. Second week, he could get off the bed and walk around the room once a day. Third week, he was finally able to leave the house for brief periods.
"Get your hands off of me." Allaysia resisted the urge to throw the Asgardian over her shoulder. His bones are still fragile around the healing fractures and a move like that would undo all the work of the past few weeks.
For some reason, once he was able to move around, the Asgardian developed an unnerving habit of touching her. No, touching is too light of a term. Whenever she was standing, whether it be preparing medicine bags or cooking, he would hug from behind like the way his illusion did the first day he regained consciousness.
She could not physically shove him away because it would regress his injuries and cause him to stay longer in her care. Even worse. Thus she had to wait in his arms, because after a few moments of staring at whatever she was doing at the time, he would eventually let go and wander slowly elsewhere.
Allaysia was beginning to think him to be mentally unstable when she suddenly noticed a few medicine bags missing. And some herbs. And a few other little things.
Huh. So he was distracting her attention with the body contact while stealing some things. For what? To bribe others?
She laughed at the idea. In Heilenheim, healing was free. Healers were expected to give out their service and goods to the needy. Thus the things he stole had little value because the people could get it themselves anyways at no cost.
Eventually, he got the message and things stopped disappearing.
But he didn't stop touching her.
Allaysia thought about mentioning this strange habit to the king, but something instinctive stopped her. There really was no harm except for few moments of discomfort on her part. When his bones are strong enough, however, she is not going to hold back on the over-the-shoulder throw.
The Asgardian had also taken to hover around her all the time. Being the resourceful healer that she was, Allaysia decided to put him into good use. Want not, waste not.
"Go collect and sort the dried herbs." She demanded.
"Grind these, but clean the mortar in between as to not mix them." She commanded.
"Keep watch over the fire. Make sure the medicine doesn't boil over." She ordered.
At first he seemed to be surprised and resistant at first but soon grew use to being ordered around. Habits were scary things.
"Allaysia, I -" The king walked into the healer's herb room and stopped in mid-sentence and mid-stride.
Allaysia and Loki turned to look at him, Loki's arms around her waist and his body pressed against hers.
Well, this is awkward. She sighed inwardly and pushed the Asgardian to free herself. She tried hard to not look at the storm brewing in the young king's eyes and the tight lines around his mouth.
Allaysia glanced up in surprise when Loki didn't budge. In fact, he tightened the grip and pulled her closer, all the while staring straight at the king without a slight mischievous smirk.
Her eyes narrowed. A corner of her mouth lifted rather mockingly. Before anyone could react, she had grabbed the Asgardian's shoulder and arm, and with an expert twist of her body, thrown the man over her shoulder to the ground. He landed with a hard, audible thump.
Loki groaned in pain, glaring at her with anger. Something identifiable flashed in his eyes before he lowered his lids and stood up awkwardly.
"Ahem." The king tried his best to hide a smile, all traces of the former tension running through his body gone. "I do believe we haven't met yet. I am Tauristrander, King of Heilenheim."
"Loki," The Asgardian hesitated before continuing, "Odinson. Son of Odin Allfather, the King of Asgard."
A prince of Asgard. Both Allaysia and the Tauristrander looked at each other before turning their eyes back on Loki, re-evaluating him under this new identity.
"It is an honor to have you here, Loki Odinson, prince of Asgard. We rarely get visitors from the other realms." The king held out his hand with what appeared to be genuine welcome.
Loki shook his hands very briefly then turned his simmering gaze back to Allaysia. "May we talk? In private." He looked pointedly at Tauristrander.
"Actually, I would like to take a few moments of Allaysia's time to discuss some matters with her. In private, if you would be so kind." The young king gracefully intercepted before Allaysia could respond.
"Of course." Allaysia gave a slight bow and stood attention near the king, completely ignoring Loki's stare that was boring into her.
After a few rather tense heartbeats, Loki stalked - there was no other word for it - from the room.
Silence briefly ensued upon his exit, but Tauristrander broke it with a calm "Would you care to explain what I saw earlier, Allaysia?"
Allaysia tensed her body, knowing that Tauristrander was very serious or very angry whenever he called her by her full name in private. In her distracted state, she did not notice the frisson of awareness that warned her of magic in the air.
"Your Majesty, it is a strange habit of the Asgardian to do this whenever I am standing. At first, he seemed to be doing so to distract me from noticing him filching my medicine bags and herbs, but the stealing has stopped while this habit has not. I had not want to injure him, therefore prolonging his stay in my care, at first. However, it seemed like he has mostly healed by now."
The young king stared at her with deep frown for a long while before finally opening his mouth. "If he is healed, then perhaps it is better if he moves out of your house and into the palace. It is still improper for two unwed man and woman to live under the same roof by themselves, even if one is a healer."
The air seemed to shimmer and crack to her left, but Allaysia still didn't notice because of her joy at the king's words. She was finally rid of this Asgardian burden.
"I am grateful of your considerations, Your Majesty. It has been my honor to serve the crown." She bowed once more before taking leave.
"Wait," Tauristrander held up a hand. "Mother is holding a feast tonight to celebrate little Seninya's maturation. Would you come?" He asked almost hesitantly, as if worried that too strong of an approach would incur a rejection.
Allaysia considered it over and responded with a smile, "Of course, I would not miss Seninya's big night for anything."
"Good," The king breathed out a sigh of relieve then quickly turned towards the door. "I will get going then. See you tonight, Al." He strode out in a rather quick pace, leaving Allaysia wondering why his ears were pink at the end.
Turning back to the table where she was assembling a pack of medicine for a traveler, Allaysia didn't see Loki standing outside the room, partially hidden by the door frame.
Moving out, huh. We shall see about that. Tonight indeed will be a big night.