XVII

It was the beep of Sherlock's phone that managed to wake the pair from a very content slumber. Loki attempted to silence the irritating device by hurling a green fireball of magic at it but Sherlock managed to rescue the poor gadget before it could incinerate its mark. "Loki, what have I told you about trying to incinerate my phone?"

"And what have I told you about that damned thing waking me up?" the god growled back, burying his head under a pillow. "Can't you make it quieter?"

"Not without putting it on silent. If I do that I won't be able to hear when it goes off. Rather defeats the purpose of having it, don't you think?"

"Maybe but it would not wake me up either," came a muffled grumble. "It is quite rude of whoever is calling-"

"Texting."

"Whatever! Whoever is texting you to interrupt such a lovely dream." Sherlock smirked as Elsa, the couple's dragonling, proceeded to curl up on Loki's pillow, seemingly unaware that Loki was still under it. "My head is not your pillow, Elsa." The little ice drake just snorted at him, grinning at Sherlock proudly. Sherlock could only chuckle at the pair. He had to admit, while he did not originally want the dragon (or any pet for that matter), Elsa's antics were certainly growing on the detective.

"While I would love to stay and watch you two annoy the living hell out of each other, I'm afraid duty calls." He pressed a kiss to Loki's back, managing to hit a diamond shaped patch of unscarred flesh. This plus the delicious shiver that ran down the god's spine encouraged him to press another gentle kiss to each of the scars forming the diamond.

"Mmm… Can't you stay just a little longer…?" Loki lifted his head to give Sherlock his sexiest pout, effectively knocking poor little Elsa onto the floor with the pillow. "We could finish what we started last night…"

"We did finish what we started last night, Loki. And I have to work."

"But Sheeeeerloooooooock…..?" The only thing that made Sherlock turn as he began to dress was the distinct morphing of Loki's voice from male to female. Sure enough, in Loki's place stretched out a raven haired beauty, emerald eyes sparkling with mischief. Somehow, the blanket managed to magically become strategically placed to show just enough skin to be very immodest for a royal but also cover enough to be a tease. The only indication that this new woman was indeed the God (or rather Goddess, now) of Mischief were the matching scars from Loki's time with the mysterious Thanos. "I need attention…" she purred. Oh, she did love making things difficult for him, didn't she?

"Loki, you do not have an income, unless you use this form in a profession I don't know about. Someone has to keep a roof over our heads." Sherlock had to turn his back to the Mistress of Mischief as the idea of Loki working in such jobs caused two equal and opposite reactions. While apparently his body his body rather enjoyed the image of a pole dancing Loki (whatever gender he/she chose to do so in), his mind did not trust people to not get too handsy. Granted, she could definitely take care of herself should the need arise.

"Why, Sherlock… does the idea really intrigue you that much?" Of course she still noticed. "If you really desire a private dance, all you need to do is ask…"

"I will have to take a rain check on that offer. I'm needed on a case."

"Liar." The detective turned to his mischievous lover, more worried than stunned. He had suspected she would not believe he was off to a case; business had been surprisingly light with the holiday season. However, he still didn't want Loki to know exactly what he was up to. "You're hiding something from me. I'm not entirely sure what…" Well, that was a relief.

"You do not need to know what yet," he answered, leaning down to brush to kiss to Loki's lips. The detective was careful to catch the mischievous goddess' hands in his, measuring the difference in ring size for later use. "It's a surprise…"

"A surprise…? Why, that is not typically your style, Mr. Holmes…"

"Well… it is Christmas, my queen. Perhaps I've had a change of heart." Another beep of Sherlock's phone reminded him he had plans. "I've got to go. Are you staying like this all day?" Loki pouted as she curled herself around her beloved mortal, attempting to keep him from putting on his shoes.

"Would you rather I take my male form again? Do you prefer it?" Sherlock rolled his eyes at how offended she seemed to be. As many times as she switched genders on him, he would think she knew his opinion by now. Then again, Loki was much more emotionally insecure than she cared to admit.

"I prefer to not look like a complete ass again in front of everyone. Mycroft is still laughing at me for last time." And of course, the brat had the gall to giggle at the memory. "Oh. I am so glad you are so amused by my embarrassments."

"But of course. You're so adorable when you're flustered." With that, Loki swiped Sherlock's phone from his pocket, hiding it underneath her back.

"Loki, now you're just being childish," Sherlock complained, annoyed. "Mary and Molly are waiting for me at the jewelry store!" He let slip as he fought to get his phone back. Loki smirked as she wriggled this way and that to keep the phone from him.

"The jewelry store? Why are you taking two other-Aah!" The goddess released a strangled moan as the detective bit down on her neck, not hard enough to hurt but certainly enough to get her attention. Or rather to scatter her wits. While the Trickster cursed her hyper sensitive neck, the sleuth fished his phone away from her.

"Try to behave while I'm gone!" The smirking detective called as he left.

***Burdened with Glorious Deductions***

Loki spun around in Sherlock's computer chair, attempting to entertain herself somehow. Sherlock had only been gone an hour and the mischief maker was already bored out of her mind. Of course, she could actually wander about London on her own but that would require hanging out of Sherlock's very comfortable purple shirt. She was more than willing to trade entertainment for comfort. That and it was simply too dreary to go out.

Loki did not mind London's cold Decembers as her Jotun heritage protected her from the bitter cold. The only good thing that could possibly come out of being a Frost Giant. No, she rather enjoyed wandering the calm, silent nights taking in the various Christmas displays the Midgardians had up. From 221B's window, she could see the displays their neighbors had designed for the holidays. They were more modest designs to fit into the small apartment spaces each resident had. Still, the multicolored blinking lights were always a beautiful sight to watch through the drizzling rain.

"Lovely day, isn't it?" Loki twisted so fast in her seat that the dagger she conjured nearly took off the head of the voice's owner. The strange male's eyes widened in shock at the dagger now pressed to his throat. However, there was no real fear in his eyes as he held up his hands in a sign of peace. "Didn't mean to scare you. Sorry," he explained in a sickeningly sweet and – to Loki at least – obviously faux friendly voice. Something about the stranger (besides his unannounced and unwelcomed presence in her home) set alarm bells off in the back of her mind.

"Who are you? What are you doing here?" she asked as she stood up from her chair, the blade never straying from its mark. This caused the suited stranger to back up as she stood, leveling the playing field. "Choose your answer wisely, mortal. I would not consider twice about slicing an intruder's throat open."

"Well… I came looking for a king from another realm," he explained, his eyes making a slow sweep down her body that would have made most other women very nervous. Luckily, Loki was A) not actually embarrassed about a stranger seeing her in only a men's shirt and B) well aware from personal experience that women could handle more than most men would expect. As it was, she had the distinct feeling his leering was just a poor attempt at intimidating her. Stupid mortal. "But if my sources are correct it would appear that I've stumbled onto a most fair princess. That or Sherlock has better taste than I thought." She rolled her eyes at that.

"Apparently, your sources are wrong." When the stranger's eyebrows rose in surprised confusion, she continued, "I would be queen in this form. Address me correctly. And you…" She pressed the dagger harder against his throat. "Still have not answered my question…"

"Well, Your Highness…" The man gently guided the dagger away from his throat, seemingly more annoyed than actually afraid of the weapon. "I have a plan that would require the aid of a god – or rather, goddess, however you're feeling at the time – should I decide to move forward with it."

"Oh really? And why pray tell would you need a goddess?"

"Honest answer? Mmmmostly for cool factor, I mean how many people can say they're personally worked with THE god/goddess of mischief, right?" Loki, clearly unimpressed by this ambitious mortal, rolled her eyes. "Also, what I'm going after? I understand that no mere mortal like can handle with their bare hands."

"And you believe I would help you because…?"

"Two reasons. One: what I'm going after is believed a sister to that Tesseract thing you wanted to use against New York." While Loki kept her outward cool, that set off loud alarm bells in her mind. It shouldn't be too much concern though; no mortal could wield the power of an Infinity Stone. "And two: because your talents are wasted here, aren't they?" That left the goddess extra silent. "Look." The stranger took a seat in what was once John's chair. "You are basically still a prisoner here. Even with S.H.I.E.L.D. being disbanded. Really what can you do dating a mortal who works for the good guys? You are the goddess of chaos. You should be inflicting chaos not shackled to this flat." As he spoke, Loki finally realized she recognized the man from one of Sherlock's old case files. Though she wasn't entirely sure. She chose her next question carefully due to this suspicion.

"And what of Sherlock?" The man didn't even pretend to take time to consider his answer. He did shrug however.

"He doesn't understand. He can't possibly give you everything a royal deity needs and deserves. You can do sooo much better than him anyway."

"And you think you're better?"

"For you? Oh hell no!" Well if this was the infamous Moriarty, he certainly wasn't as arrogant as Loki expected. "I mean I'm just another dumb mortal, what do I know about being with a god or goddess?" He shook his head with a frown. "No, I am humbly asking for your aid acquiring something. In return, I can assure you that you will receive the empire you deserve."

"Empire?"

"You're a god/goddess. You deserve something far bigger than a measly kingdom." He smirked, giving her a "friendly" wink. "And I would be more than honored to provide that. So what do you think, milady?" There was a long silence between the two before Loki finally answered.

"Tell me more."

***Burdened With Glorious Deductions***

If Sherlock was actually trying to hide how fidgety he was, Loki felt the mortal was failing miserably. The residents of 221B were (somewhat reluctantly) hosting the annual Christmas party so the little flat was quite full. But Mrs. Hudson invited everyone to the party every year, so that could not possibly be the reason. The only clue the Trickster had to the detective's anxiety was how he constantly had his hand burrowed into his pocket, fiddling with something inside it.

Another hint Loki had was Molly and Mary's determination to make the Trickster look amazing. The pair had arrived early are all but dragged the Mischief God to his bedroom with two carefully curated outfits, a black suit carefully trimmed with green and gold and a gorgeous emerald green party dress with a single gold tinted shoulder strap. Now Loki was not typically swayed by a pretty garment but he really did like the dress and it certainly seemed to be the girls' favorite despite their affirmation it was his decision not theirs. He still preferred the dress.

And while the gown did cause a very satisfying screech from Sherlock's violin, surely it could not possibly make him anxious and nervous. Well, at least not nervous. While the now Goddess of Mischief enjoyed mingling and sipping the wine Thor was kind enough to deliver, she kept flitting her gaze to her preciously jittery mortal. Sherlock kept distant through most of the party, muttering under his breath to himself. Something was definitely on the detective's mind. But what?

"John?"

"Yes, sir – er, ma'am?"

"Do you and Sherlock have a case you're working on?"

"Mmm… Not unless he's working one on his own?"

"Why don't you go ask him?" Mary suggested, grinning like a Cheshire cat. Loki narrowed her eyes at her, knowing full well a smiling Mary could be more dangerous than herself.

"What do you know, Mary?"

"Nothing!"

"You're lying."

"Yeah, I am. But I promise it's worth it. Now go on! Go!" With that, the excited Doctor's Wife began to push and shove the deity towards Sherlock's hideaway in the kitchen, effectively pushing her right onto Sherlock's lap. Sherlock shoved something back into his pocket quickly as he caught her. "I'll just leave you two lovebirds to it!" Mary shut the kitchen door, leaving the two alone. Loki certainly didn't mind, happily wrapping her arms around her anxious detective's neck.

"You're missing the party, Handsome."

"I know," was Sherlock's surprisingly curt reply. Loki frowned, but continued to nuzzle into him.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

"Don't lie, Sherlock Holmes." He sighed, wrapping his arms around her.

"I'm going to regret letting Mary in on this plan. It's surprisingly difficult to plan these things."

"What things? Christmas parties?"

"Well… no…" Sherlock stood, setting his currently confused goddess on her feet. His hand went back into his pocket, playing with something inside. "I had wanted the flat to ourselves for this…" Loki's brows knit together, her confusion only getting worse.

"Sherlock? What's going on?" He didn't answer, but his eyes flitted from her face to the glass panel where apparently the entire party had pressed themselves against. The detective scowled and took her hand, all but dragging her to their bedroom. "Oh! Sherlock!"

"Damn them and their nosiness! This is hard enough without those bloody busybodies!" he griped as he slammed the door shut, locking it.

"What's hard?" Loki had never seen the detective so frazzled. She didn't think anything could elicit such a reaction from him at all. "Sherlock, love, what in the nine realms is the matter?"

While Sherlock did sigh, he did not say anything. Instead, the great consulting detective dropped down to one knee, pulling a gorgeous gold, diamond, and emerald ring out of his pocket. While it was indeed beautiful enough to take the Trickster's breath away, she did not understand how it could possibly cause such alarm and excitement. "I… I had a big speech planned out… But none of the words felt right…"

"Why would you need a speech to give me a ring for Christmas?" It was Sherlock's turn to look confused.

"Don't you know what I am asking?" She shook her head. The detective took a nervous swallow. "Loki…" He took her hand in his. "I'm asking you to marry me." The confession melted the confusion off the trickster's face, replaced with shock. Sherlock's proposal was so surprising that Loki accidentally shifted back into a man, somehow managing to remember to also change his clothes as well. Sherlock must have taken this as a good sign as a nervous smile crossed his face. He slowly rose, still holding the ring to the struck god. "Marry me? It's not exactly the most extravag-OOMF!"

Sherlock was unable to finish his speech (which he didn't have planned out anyway) as Loki planted a hard, slightly tearful kiss on his lips. "Please tell me that's a yes," Sherlock asked breathlessly.

"Of course it is, you stupid mortal," Loki answered through the tears, laughing a bit. "You're the only mortal worth marrying…"

"Nice to know." Sherlock found Loki's left hand, slipping the ring onto his finger. "I also have an adjuster and chain for it so you won't necessarily have to take it off when you change genders… I couldn't find anyone who could make it shift when you change genders."

"Thank you, Sherlove. It's perfect." Loki hugged his fiancé tightly to him, frowning a little once that detective could not see his face. With this plot twist, he would have to advance his plan faster if it were to succeed…