Chapter Eight

Private and Public

It was a relatively nondescript manila folder: sturdy, grey, a large red "CONFIDENTIAL" stamped across the front. The thick wodge of papers had been stuffed into the depths of her clothing bag, planted amongst her collection of underwear. Apprehensively, she picked it up, detaching a rogue pair of red lace knickers than hung off one corner of the folder. It was peculiar to say the least. It was obviously placed there by a S.H.I.E.L.D agent, though she could not remember a time frame in which they would have been able to do so. She and Thor had been present throughout the journey to the transfer site.

Furthermore, why had they opted for the good old fashioned paper option?

No doubt they did not want a high-tech Stark folder loose in Asgard. Paper could, at least, be burnt.

What disturbed her the most, however, was not the fact that a S.H.I.E.L.D agent had been poking around her undies, but rather that the folder had been opened. The bindings keeping all the material within the cardboard containment had been cut. Whoever it was had not even bothered to hide their tracks.

Loki.

Alex sat upon the edge of her tangled bed, attempting to ignore the aching pain in her thighs and groin. In the past, her trysts with Loki had been short and sharp, but the night before he had been leisurely with his time. She was surprised she could actually walk.

Resting the manila folder on her shaking knees, Alex started to read. Most of the paper was blank, but for three sheets imbedded within the mass. Orders from S.H.I.E.L.D. Of course, she suspected there would additional reasoning behind her prolonged stay in Asgard. They were hardly going to pay her a premium wage to babysit a prisoner for a year. But spying? Spying on Odin and Thor, no less? Even the thought of it made her feel sick with guilt. It was the All-Father himself that allowed her to live within the citadel, in pretty swanky chambers too. Lucas had mentioned vaguely that Fury did not entirely trust Thor, that the Asgardians were considered a minor threat, but to send an agent to infiltrate them seemed a touch extreme. Surely Thor's actions as part of the Avengers was evidence enough of his loyalties?

Alex read the three pages several more times before tipping the folder into the smouldering embers of the hearth. The papers exploded in flame, consumed in seconds. Not that it really mattered. The papers had been read. Loki knew everything. The question was: what would he do about it?

oOoOoOo

For the remaining daylight hours, Alex found herself coming to terms with the fact that she would spend the next three-hundred and sixty-five days in Asgard. During her first visit, she had not strayed far. She believed her time to be limited, and as such refused to get too attached to the place. But now... now all of Asgard was at her fingertips. Museums, halls of science, libraries, healing houses, villages, mountain ranges, gardens. She could see it all from the height of her balcony, but now she would be able to touch it, to feel it, to live it. If it had not been for the Loki-shaped storm cloud that hung over her head, Alex felt as though she could have been akin to a kid in a candy store. Even if he did go to Odin, who was to say the All-Father would care? Would the All-Father actually take note of his youngest son, or would he ignore him like every other Asgardian?

But while faces could be unseen, words could not be unheard.

Slipping into her uniform, Alex finally left her room, satisfied that her belongings were assigned to the right places, her bed thoroughly made. Her destination was the palace library, one of the few locations she had visited on her previous trip. Most of the books were ancient, scribed in the most indecipherable dialects of Asgard, but Alex simply enjoyed their company. In some, she could make out a few familiar words. Others were even enchanted to translate themselves into the language of the reader. At first his had been alarming, but magic was part of life in Asgard. The citadel hummed with it.

"Lady Alex!"

Alex turned, to find Thor stomping up behind her. He was devoid of his usual armour, his muscular physique covered by loose fitting slacks and an open shirt. A thin sheen of sweat covered the exposed skin, and by the way he clutched Mjolnir it was clear he had been sparring.

Thor smiled. "I trust you have settled in?"

Alex's returning smile faltered a little at the thought of the manila folder. She nodded.

"Excellent." Thor wrapped his arm around her shoulders, leading her down the hall. "I have a favour to ask of you."

Under usual circumstances, Alex may have retorted with a lewd quip, but Thor would never understand. As such, she settled for: "Sure."

"In three of your Midgardian weeks, my Jane will be joining us in Asgard." Not even the mighty Thor could hide the nerves in his voice. "I am afraid she will be daunted."

Alex smirked, holding back a bark of laughter. "I suspect you might be right," she replied diplomatically. Daunted, indeed. She had never met the astrophysicist, but it sounded as though the most rebellious Jane Foster ever got was the occasional tipple of wine. Drunken Asgardians, public debauchery and Thor's very own brother tied and mutilated in the courtyard was bound to be more than simply daunting.

Thor's discomfort became even more apparent. "I feel her integration into my world might be made easier if she had someone to – how do you Midgardians put it? – show her the ropes?"

Well that made sense. "You want me to be her guide?"

"Her friend."

"She is bringing no one with her?"

"She will be accompanied by Lady Darcy and Eric Selvig."

"I see." Alex stopped outside the library. "I'll be happy to show Jane round."

Thor's smile returned with gusto. "Thank you Lady Alex. This means a great deal to me."

"Its fine," Alex shrugged. "But Thor-!" The God of Thunder turned around, having already stormed half way down the corridor. "You may just want to tell Fandral to tone it down a little. Jane might not appreciate watching him impregnate the servants."

oOoOoOo

Alex spent most of the afternoon exploring the cavernous depths of the library; climbing the spindly ladders that lead to the highest shelves, attempting to find the most obscure titles. At one stage she even encountered the library's stash of printed pornography, each lewd text beautifully presented in the finest wrought leather. Despite the fact she was hoisted on a ladder at least six metres off the ground, Alex could not help examining some of the texts. It seemed as though no stone was left unturned in the sexual lives of Asgardians. There were tomes full of prints, depicting ways in which a woman or man could pleasure themselves. Her personal favourite showed sexual acts done under the duress of magic. She wondered if Loki partook in some of these acts before his power was snatched away.

Of course he did.

Taking as many of the books as she could in the crook of one arm, Alex lowered herself down the ladder. It was imperative that she did not drop a single book. To do so would alert the ire of the librarian. While she got on relatively well with the age-worn Tanith, the prospect of him catching her with an armful of obscenity was anything but appealing.

Reaching the ground in safety, she located a bay window lodged between the shelves on Midgardian herbs and those with dusty tomes about Jotunn history. The window was several stories high, looking out onto the courtyard in which Loki was imprisoned. He was naught but a fleck from this height, but she could still see the contrast of pale skin to pitch hair.

It was in this position that he found her, hours later.

Alex did not know when sleep had consumed her. The sun had still been bright when her eyelids had flittered down, and the prisoner perched at the end of the bay certainly had not been there. The expression on Loki's face epitomised bemused, long fingers caressing the pages of one of her books.

"You have a unique taste in literature, little Midgardian." He gestured to the book. "I remember being very fond of this one when I was an adolescent."

Alex frowned. "Why does that not surprise me?"

Loki flicked through a few pages. She could not help but watch the flick of his eyes as they took in everything on the page. Every so often, his tongue would gently run across his lips. It took every iota of self control she had not to replace it with her own. Loki finally stopped at a page, showing it to her. It depicted a stunning Asgardian couple engaging in a position she imagined could only be achieved by Olympic gymnasts.

"I believe you would enjoy this." Loki smirked, placing the open book on the windowsill before briefly capturing her lips with his own.

Alex licked her lips, savouring his taste before looking back at the drawing. "I would not be able to walk for... well, ever."

Loki's long fingers were now slipping up her thighs, one hand pressing against her groin. "We shall have to make you more limber then." Green eyes glinted, before he kissed her once more. This kiss lacked the unprecedented softness of its predecessor, his tongue forcing through her lips, running along closed teeth until she allowed him entrance. His body drew up against hers; hips nestled between her open thighs. She could not help but to grind herself against him, loathing instantly the barrier of her uniform and his cotton pants.

"You are a little slut, this evening," he hummed against her lips, before moving away to lay a line of kisses across her jaw. She shivered as his tongue brushed the shell of her ear, teeth momentarily grasping her lobe.

"Not in the library," she mewled when finally her voice returned. Loki responded with a bark of laughter.

"Tanith will not see us. You forget; he is forbidden to acknowledge my existence."

Alex whined. "Still..."

"Silence, little one." Loki's slowly unzipped the fly of her tight pants, dragging the thin material over her hips, scowling at the blood red lace knickers she had chosen to wear. Unlike the pants, which were merely removed from one leg to hang from the other, this scrap of lace was torn away.

"They were my favourite-!"

"What did I say about being silent, Alexandra?" Long, cold fingers dipped within her waiting sex, circling her clit with feather light touches, as the other hand undid the ties of his pants. Flailing around with her own fingers, Alex pushed the material down over his arse, trying to draw him closer to her.

"Patience."

"Shut up and fuck me," she hissed, wrapping one hand around his cock. Loki obeyed, slamming into her in one thrust. Books slipped from the seat, landing on the floor with a crash but Alex did not care, wrapping her legs tightly around his thighs. With every thrust he drew deeper, finally wrangling from her a climax muffled into the velvet cushions of the bay seat. Several jagged thrusts later; he followed, burying his face in the crook of her neck.

How long they lay there, Alex did not know. What she did know, however, was that the crashing books and Loki's less than quiet moans would have drawn the attention of Tanith.

"The bedroom," she whispered. Loki nodded, slowly drawing his limp self out of her. Alex grabbed the remains of her knickers, wiping his essence from her thighs before donning her pants.

oOoOoOo

"I notice you do not complain."

Alex glanced down at the head buried between her thighs, unable to move her shaking legs from around his shoulders. Gently, Loki slipped from her leg-lock, licking his lips while wiping his chin on the sheets.

"I can't be arsed."

Loki laughed. "You lie, little one. You are attempting to appease me."

"You are an idiot. Why would I need to appease you?"

"Oh, I don't know." Loki drew his body up beside hers, cock hard against her hip. He hissed slightly as she brushed against his weeping head with her thumb. "Perhaps it has something to do with a certain folder?"

Alex's fingers tightened around him. "I don't know what you are talking about?"

Loki pried her fingers from his length. "Of course not. I wonder how my father and brother would feel about having a spy in their midst?"

"If you tell them-!" Alex's storm eyes met his briefly.

"You will what? Squeeze my cock?" Loki smirked, continuing her previous ministrations with his own hand. "My foolish Alex, what would I gain from telling them? Besides, you forget, they are sworn not to see me."

"But-"

"No buts, Alexandra." He snatched her wrist, leading her fingers back toward his groin. "I wish for you to use your hands, but if you utter a word, I will fuck your mouth. Do you understand?"

"But-"

"I said: no buts."