Loki woke to the sound of Grace rustling through her luggage to find her clothes after her shower, her towel wrapped around her hair, not a stitch of clothing on her. He watched her for a moment, his head propped up on is arm, noticing new tattoos since he had last seen her naked in Asgard.
"I know you have mentioned having tattoos before, but I have not yet seen the one you had when we met...nor do I remember the one on your back."
She smiled, "Well the one on my leg isn't exactly someplace I show very often...especially not to people I'm not sleeping with." He nearly started begging forgiveness for having asked, but she sat down on his bed, her legs alongside his chest, and turned out her thigh revealing a phrase written up it in delicate script, 'This body is beautiful'. "I need the reminder, especially when I'm standing in the bathroom staring at myself in a mirror, wondering just what somebody sees in me."
She turned her back to him and his fingers gently traced the name just below her waist, "A tribute to Izzy- I take it these are her dates of birth and death?"
"Yeah. There's a shop I want to stop in this morning to get one on the other side in the same spot for Tony."
Loki's fingers lingered on her skin as he envisioned the dark ink against her pale flesh, lightly stroking the shape of the letters on her skin, "A memorial to those you love so dearly."
"To those I've lost so dearly. I don't need a permanent mark on my skin to those I still have right here beside me." She turned to face him and laid down on top of his blankets, curling up beside him, "I am so glad you're here. I was afraid I'd have to cope with this without you."
Loki kissed her forehead and rested his free hand on her shoulder, "I was ready to flee Asgard and receive Odin's wrath to be by your side." Grace smiled and closed her eyes, enjoying the cool of his touch and the tenderness in his voice. She reached up and took his hand, gave it a squeeze, and slipped from the bed, dressing in light, flowing trousers and a snug black t-shirt as he went to take a quick shower. As soon as he was dressed, Grace slid on her sandals and grabbed her bag, ready for the day.
"Come on, darling, let's go adventuring."
"Might I ask what adventures you have your eye on for this day?"
"Tattoo, lunch, shopping in Boytown, Wrigley, Chicago pizza, and blues. It'll be amazing. And then we'll come back here and crash before we set out tomorrow morning for New York and for Tony's memorial and after-party."
"Are you planning to attend both events?"
"I should at least make an appearance. I figure we'll stay at the after-party for only a little while. No reason to be there long. Oh, and Pepper texted- we'll get a day of rest and then the reading of the will the day after that. What we find out from that will determine what I do next."
Grace and Loki took the L to close to the tattoo shop she wanted to visit. When she walked into the shop, she was greeted warmly, the scent of leather on the air from the other part of the store. She asked for a specific artist and was ushered back to a private room with very little wait. She asked Loki to come with her and he was told precisely where to sit in the small room. She talked to the artist for a little while, stripping off her shirt and showing what the companion tattoo on her back looked like. Before very long, Grace was laying on her stomach on the table while the tattooist layed out her materials and Loki watched in fascination, not daring to speak and interrupt the ritual of the entire process. He watched in rapt fascination as the ink was placed under her skin, the letters slowly forming to spell out Tony's name and the dates of his birth and death.
"Does it hurt much?"
"Eh, there are worse things. I mean, it's not a walk in the park, but it's not horrible or unbearable either. The one on my thigh hurt more."
"Very few people where I am from have tattoos. It is considered an undesirable trait and it is assumed someone is damaged in one way or another if they have them. I take it that is not the case here?"
"Depends on who you ask. It's becoming more acceptable, but there are still folks who think you're pretty derranged if you have ink. Nobody I've dated has ever had a problem with it, but then again, if they did, they probably wouldn't say. I mean, I'm Grace Stark...very few people are going to pass up dating a Stark over a little ink."
"Fame and fortune override one's sensitivities even here, I see."
"In other words, girls throw themselves at Thor like locusts decending on Egypt even if they wouldn't even bat a lash at him if he weren't a prince. Did I nail that figure of speech or what?"
Loki chuckled, "That you did, Miss Grace. And yes, exactly."
It was not long before the artist was done on her back and ran her through the aftercare procedures; Grace was happy with the work and tipped her generously. They left the shop and Loki asked what was next.
"Lunch at the Chicago Diner. Vegetarian food. Do you have people who don't eat meat in Asgard?"
"Not really. There are a few sects of monks who refuse to do so, but it is very uncommon. Why, is this common here?"
"Sort of. We have a lot of people who think that certain kinds of farming are just cruel, so they avoid eating meat all together. Other people believe that it's crazy to grow a creature just to kill and eat it. Some of them go so far as to not eat milk or eggs or wear any leather or anything. It's not my thing, but I can also pay a higher price for really high quality meat from small farmers. Not everybody can do that, or thinks they can do it. And not everybody believes even that is OK."
"How can one raise a creature so cruelly that no one would purchase its meat? Do these farmers beat and starve the creatures? Would not the meat be scant and inferior?"
"If you really want to see, I'll show you a video when we get back to the hotel. They keep them in tiny cages so they can't move and feed them crappy food so they get heavy faster. And yeah, the meat is terrible."
"But why? Will people not pay for better meat?" Loki was genuintely confused.
"When they can, yeah. But so many people eat so much more meat than they should and they can't afford the good stuff, so there's a demand for crappy, heavily salted meat. And big companies can make more money by making sure it's always there for them to buy instead of focussing on the good stuff. I know it sounds crazy, but it's the way corporate America seems to work."
Loki shook his head, "I suppose this is one of the parts of Midgardian life I will never understand. Food is so central to our lives- the making of it, the ritual of eating together. It does not seem to be so here."
Grace nodded, "It does feel that way, doesn't it? It didn't used to be this way, but people seem to think they have to always live so fast and do so much. I might not cook as much as I should, but Tony and I always made a point of eating together at least three times a week when we were together." She went silent and Loki took her hand and squeezed it gently. She was quiet as they entered the Diner and contemplated their menues. He waited for her.
After they ordered, Grace got up and hugged Loki from behind as he traced his fingers in swirls over the condensation on his water glass, "I'm going to miss you when you go back. I mean, I always do, but this time...well, I'll be on my own. I'll have Pepper, but..." He kissed her cheek, "Sorry, I'm just feeling really...well, shit, I'm just feeling a lot. And trying not to randomly cry."
"Miss Grace, you have every right to cry if you need."
"But I don't want to right now. If I do, I probably won't be able to stop. Right now, I just need to stay busy."
Loki saw their server coming, "Well your wish appears to be granted, as you will be quite busy with that very large burger in a few moments." She slipped back to her chair and settled in, ready for a large lunch. They spoke little as they ate, Grace simply focussing on enjoying her food while Loki decided that until she wanted to speak again, it was better to remain quiet. They both ordered desert and after, she paid the bill and returned to their table with a book in her hands.
"They have a new cookbook out! This is so exciting. Best Chicago souvenier ever."
"Shall we venture forth for more shopping?"
Grace took the last drink of her water and nodded, "Yeah, definitely. I need retail therapy." Their first stop was just across the street, a funky clothing shop so colourful that Loki had a difficult time figuring out just what he was supposed to be looking at any given moment. Grace dragged him staight downstairs to the vintage clothing and he breathed a sigh of relief. The basement, while stuffed full of amazing clothing, seemed far less overwhelming than the upstairs. He wandered the racks touching different fabrics, examining the cut of different garments, and ultimately trying to decide if any of it was something he could consider wearing in Asgard.
He found a green poet's shirt embroidered with yellow vines and leaves and held it up to show Grace, "What do you think of this? Might it fit?"
"Oh, that's nice- we'll take it up so you can try it on. Is there anything else here you like?"
"A few items here and there, but I need to consider whether or not I can wear them while in Asgard. I do not need to be seen as any more of an eccentric than I already am."
Grace held up a pair of purple leather pants, "Meanwhile, I found these!" Loki smiled and watched her happily return to flipping through the rack, sorting through pants, skirts, and dresses, tossing the ones she liked over her arm after eyeing them for size. He returned to his rack and found a blue velvet jacket trimmed in black satin at the collar and cuffs that he thought might fit and added to his poet's shirt. While not practical for Asgard, he did think that it might be fun to wear for an evening out with Grace, even if that evening happened to be at her brother's memorial after-party. He found himself once again wishing that he had more time with Grace, preferably in Midgard rather than in Asgard. She delighted him- she embraced the randomness of life and flew to new adventures when she felt she needed them. She danced, she sang, and she travelled without permission or apology. He realised a little more each time he was with her that he wished, on some level, that he could be more like her. He also realised that she was, despite her short life, quite possibly more free than he had ever been and it was not just because he was restricted by his position as an adopted prince. It was her attitude. She simply did not care if, as a Stark, she was often under the eye of the media, a spotlight on her love life, her travels, and her words. She was willing to speak her mind even when all eyes were on her and the results of doing so would inevitably be unfavourable. Loki envied her and adored her at the same time.
He realised he was staring at the same shirt he had landed on a few moments before and he still had not really noticed what it looked like. Sliding it aside, he came across a pair of plaid trousers and smiled. They were strange, for certain, and not something that would ever pass muster in Asgard, but they were fun and would likely annoy both Thor and Odin, which added to his liking of them. He plucked them from the rack and flipped through to find a few other pair in different colours and plaid patterns. He also discovered a tails coat with matching trousers. Once again, he wished for more opportunities to wear the fun and fancy clothing he was discovering in Midgard.
Grace held up a long peasant dress, "You think I could get away with wearing this in Asgard? I want to bring some fun clothes next time I visit."
"It is quite lovely. I think it would be received well. I also find it interesting that while you do not care about what people think of your garments while here, you are always asking for approval in Asgard. Why is it you care more to please Odin's people than your own?"
"Because I'm fucking terrified that if I dress too weird he'll kick me out and won't let me visit again."
Loki worked his way back to her and placed a hand on her shoulder, "My dear, I will not let Odin stop you from visiting simply because you dress in a way comfortable to you. If you do not like what you have been wearing to Asgard, please do not do so any longer. I will defend your decision."
"You're a sweetheart, Loki, but how much say do you really get in this?"
"Enough that you can be as comfortable in my realm as I am in yours, and if he does not listen to me, he will to his golden son and Thor will stand up for you."
She smiled and kissed his cheek, "Bless you, honey, you are a darling. Hey, did you find anything you want to wear tonight when we go out for blues? I figure we can head back to the hotel after the game and then go out."
He held up the clothing draped over his arm, "Perhaps. I was considering wearing the very nice suit to the memorial and plaid with the velvet jacket to the after-party. Would that be suitable?"
"Perfect. We'll be damn sharp at both and sexy beasts on the dance floor. But what do you want to wear tonight? You certainly don't need a suit to go to the club I want to hit up tonight, but if you've got something you want to wear out, take the chance and run with it."
"What will you be wearing tonight?"
"One of the dresses I picked up yesterday. Classy- not because I have to be, but because blues always makes me feel like I should be back in another time or something and I love rocking vintage dresses at the blues club."
Loki held up the poet's shirt, "What about this one? It looks quite comfortable."
"Sure! And don't think I say that lightly, but I really do think you'd be hansom in a burlap sack. You're just damn pretty no matter what you wear." She grinned and turned to go upstairs, "You're blushing."
"Ah, what was it you've been calling me? A flirt and a flatterer?"
"Takes one to know one, hon." She turned and winked at him as she stepped off the staircase.
After trying on clothes and sorting through just what fit and what did not, Grace wandered off to look at shoes and accessories while Loki sat, slightly stunned, and watched her try on heels covered in glitter, platform boots, and patent leather Mary Janes.
A young man sat down next to him, "So, this your first time here?"
"Yes. Both to this shop and to this city."
"Figured. You looked a little dazed. Is she your girlfriend?"
"No, simply my friend. She wishes to show me the places she holds dear in the short time I have to visit her."
"That's sweet of her. Is there anything I can help you find while you're here? You're cute and I'd be happy to help dress you...or undress you, for that matter."
Loki blushed again, "No, but thank you...on both offers."
"Cool, cool." He stood up, "Just so you know, you're cute when you blush, too." He went back to sorting through the racks. Loki guessed the young man worked at the shop.
Grace brought a few boxes of shoes over to him, "I couldn't decide between purple glitter, ass kicking boots, and really sexy burlesque heels, so I'm getting all of them. Anything else you want to look for?" He shook his head, "Then let's check out before I blow the entire family fortune in one place."
After wandering in and out of a few other stores, Grace hailed a cab and they returned to the hotel to drop off their bags before heading up to Wrigley Stadium on the L.
Grace explained the game as it was played, their vantage point between first base and home perfect, allowing her to describe plays easily and to teach Loki how to interpret the hand signals the umpires were using. By the seventh inning stretch, he was very nearly understanding the basics of baseball, though he saw the little games and entertainments that happened during breaks to be completely irrellevant and irritating.
At one point, during the final inning when it was fairly obvious that the Cubs were not going to win, Grace sat back and just looked around the field, "Just for a minute, take it all in, Loki. The green grass. The smell of cheap beer and hot dogs. The sun blazing overhead. The way the crowd moves, even when it's the other team they're cheering for. The fact that we're in one of the two century old stadiums left. The green of the outfield...it's really incredible, isn't it? And isn't it amazing that we get to be a part of it, even if only for a little bit?"
Loki took a slow breath in, his eyes closed, and then let it out, opening his eyes as he did, seeking the sensations she had mentioned. The sharp smell of beer and salt and grease, the heat of the summer sun. The movements of the people as they cheered and screamed as the player from the other team ran for home plate. The ivy on the wall and green of the grass, the sight of the steel and concrete that held the stadium together. He smiled and took her hand, nodding. Grace squeezed his hand and leaned over on his shoulder. It wasn't long before the game ended and they waited as the stadium emptied, watching the ground crews begin their work as they finally stood to leave.
"So...how did you like your first baseball game?"
"I liked it quite well- I am used to more gladatorial sports with significantly more bludgeoning and brutality. It seems that baseball requires more than just sheer strength and endurance."
"It does- you've got to know when to not swing, when to run for it, how to track the ball in the sky and figure out if its yours or the other guy in the outfield is going to catch it. And then you've got to figure out how to pitch to each batter, or how to bat for a particular pitcher. There's a lot of strategy in it. It's one of the reasons I love this sport."
"I would certainly like the opportunity to see more of it. Perhaps I can some day convince Odin to let me return to attend another game with you."
As they rode the L, Grace cuddled close to Loki, tired but happy, "This has been a great day. I'll probably feel like crying at least one at the blues club, but it'll be that cleansing kind of cry. I wish you didn't have to go back to Asgard. I keep thinking that if we just had more than a week together, we'd rock this world."
He simply smiled in response and kissed her cheek.
Late that night as they climbed in to their separate beds, far too tired to even think about packing for their mid-day flight back to New York, Grace asked Loki what he had thought of the blues. While at the club, she had taken the time to really pay attention to his reactions to the music. It seemed that, for a few moments here and there, he had finally completely relaxed, his eyes closed as he drank in the sound of the crying guitar and the gruff voice of the old blues man on stage. Even so many years after Chicago's ban on smoking in bars, the place still seemed dingy and it was just how Grace liked it, even if Loki and she both seemed out of place there. The music was good, the beer was cheap, and the food served steaming hot, the menu short and all of it incredible.
Tucked in bed, Loki tried to figure out just how to describe what the music felt like in order to answer Grace's question and found he really couldn't quite put it into words, "To merely say I liked it seems a great understatement, yet I cannot describe just what it is the music did to me. It reached down deep and settled in like the roots of a tree growing through me. It was both profoundly disturbing and incredible in its power. I have not felt that way because of music or anything else in many years."
"So...is that a good thing?"
"I think so, though I am not entire sure."
"Cool. I love that place. I love the blues, though it's not the same recorded as it is live. There's just something about these clubs and the singers you find there that you can't capture in a recording studio."
They said goodnight and both dropped quickly off to sleep, neither thinking of the long and emotional day that was to follow.