Loki held Reagan close as they were sent flying across the universe in a blaze of brilliant glimmering light. Past galaxies and star systems and milky-ways. Through the deep vacuums of space at the speed of light - faster than light.
And then suddenly the ground was below him again, firm and solid and real. And Loki raised his head to find himself once again beneath the golden dome of the Bifrost. It felt like a lifetime since the last time he stood there. The last time, in chains. The last time, Reagan had been there too, trying to use Thor as a shield to block herself from Loki's very gaze. And now, she lay unconscious in his arms, having pushed herself to her very limits to keep him from harm.
Loki's gaze fell to her face, her head was lulled against his chest. She hadn't stirred. Loki searched the bond - it was there, it was solid, but it was silent. Except for her heartbeat, Loki could feel the steady rhythm of it. That, at least, brought comfort to him.
"My Prince," came a woman's voice by way of greeting.
Loki looked up to find three women standing side by side, each garbed in the robes of the coven. They were gazing at him, or rather, at the mortal he held. His grip on her tightened reflexively.
Almost in tandem, the women moved to descend upon Reagan but Loki's magic flared dangerously, crackling through the atmosphere. A warning to stay away.
The witches slowed their approach, circling him cautiously. Their eyes were still fixed on Reagan.
Loki set his jaw, watching from the corner of his eye as they moved, ready and waiting for any one of them to strike.
"It's alright, Highness," a deep, commanding voice sounded behind him.
Loki glanced cautiously over his shoulder to find the Gatekeeper of Asgard surveying him, the hilt of the Bifrost sword still clutched in his large hands. Heimdall inclined his head slowly to Loki.
"They're here to help," he assured him. "Let them help her."
Loki fought back the urge to loose another surge of power. The instinct to keep them away from Reagan after what had almost come to pass was verging upon impossible to resist. Slowly, stiffly, and after meeting each of the witches' eyelines with a deathly warning glare, he nodded stiffly.
He realised only then that two of the faces were known to him - respected witches amongst the coven, and once friends to his mother. Ingrid and Eline. Sisters. Though he knew little more than that about either one of them.
Loki laid Reagan carefully upon the golden floor of the Bifrost, remaining close to her as the witches at last came to her aid. They each quickly extended their hands over her body and a golden glow emitted from their palms, casting Reagan's sleeping features in a warm yellow light.
Loki watched unblinkingly as beneath the glow of magic a small abrasion over Reagan's eyebrow knitted itself back together. Along the bond, he felt some tension in her easing that he hadn't realised was there as if her unconscious state had been fitful, and now a gentle calm replaced the distress, allowing her to rest peacefully.
"Is she alright?" He managed to squeeze the words out. "Will she-"
"We can help her," Ingrid assured him.
"Such power," mused Eline.
"Take her to the Prince's chambers," Heimdall told them then. "His Highness will be along shortly. He and I first have a matter to attend to."
Loki looked to the Gatekeeper questioningly as the witches each inclined their heads in acknowledgement.
Ingrid waved a hand, summoning a cot beneath Reagan. The bed raised from the ground, hoovering under the witches' administrations as she guided it towards the mouth of the Bifrost.
"If anything happens to her-" Loki began.
"She will be safe," Heimdall assured him. "You have my word."
Loki stared after Reagan as the witches carried her away from him along the Rainbow Bridge. Every fibre of his body yearned to follow her. His fingers itched to reach for her. And he had to ball his hands into fists to keep himself from doing just that.
Loki set his jaw, allowing a mask of composure to settle over his features. He glanced down at himself, realising he was still shirtless. His many wounds inflicted by the Atraxis on display. He conjured a tunic and magicked away the dried blood upon his face. The wounds would soon heal on their own.
He turned at last to address Heimdall.
"Highness," he said evenly, "I wasn't aware I still held that title."
Heimdall's golden gaze turned solemn.
"You do today."
"I should warn you, what you're about to see. The King. It may be unsettling."
They stood outside the entrance to the Throne Room, and even through the heavy doors Loki could hear the clattering of plates and goblets being tossed to the ground. The garbled, slurred cries of a voice that there was no way of denying belonged to his father. Heimdall had given him the details, informed him of the crazed turn the King had taken since the Dark Elves had attacked and invaded Asgard, since Frigga had been slain, since his sons had committed treason and escaped with the Aether and their two mortals who were being held under the watch of the Einherjar.
Even now, hearing what he could through the Throne Room doors, it seemed so hard to fathom. His Father, save for rage, had always managed to maintain his Godly composure. No matter what he came to face.
Loki's brow furrowed.
"Why does this fall to me?" he asked Heimdall. "Where is Thor?"
"Thor remains on Midgard. He appears to be in no hurry to return, not since reuniting with his mortal. I'm sure you understand that, Prince."
Loki didn't voice the next question, just eyed the Gatekeeper suspiciously. And Heimdall read it for what it was. Even if Thor couldn't be there to deal with the King, why would Heimdall ever trust Loki to aid him?
The faintest ghost of a smile passed over Heimdall's features.
"The last time I ever saw my sister," Heimdall explained, "she told me that when frost begged for chains in order to save a flame, then the traitor could trusted again."
Loki hesitated, lowering his head to contemplate the weight those words bore. The faith Heimdall had to have in Heika - not just her gift of foresight but also her judgement - to take that prophecy as the right path to follow.
"Ah," Loki breathed. "Well, that actually brings us to a rather awkward impasse. You see, your sister also offered me counsel upon my departure."
"And that was?"
Loki looked Heimdall straight in the eye as he gave his answer.
"She told me to betray you."
It was well past nightfall when Loki finally made his way along a corridor that had once been so familiar to him; it felt like a lifetime ago that this had been his home. How drastically his life had changed since he had last freely roamed these hallways. He'd been so full of unbridled anger - hatred. And so, so desperately alone.
The past few hours had taught him that anger was still ingrained in him. He was not free of it. But the loneliness, that at least he was free of. A presence had come into his life that had managed to coax him beyond the rage. It was still... of him, but it wasn't quicksand anymore. It could no longer smother out the other parts of him until it was all that remained. He still remained present.
And the proof of just that confronted him as he rounded the corner and came face to face with a once familiar set of doors. There were scorch marks there now, left near to a year ago, by a maddening little mortal. It was as if she'd planned it just to coax him from his brooding state right before he was to reunite with her again. He'd never have imagined that the sight of his exquisite golden door handles, morphed and misshapen and drooping pathetically from the heat they'd been assaulted with might bring a fond smile to his face. And yet it did.
"You certainly take a unique approach to decor, Your Majesty," Ingrid commented as Loki swept into his chambers, sealing the doors behind him with magic.
Loki spared the room only a fleeting glance and found it was still in a state of true disarray. Heavy velvet curtains in ashen piles on the ground, overturned furniture, torn-up books and shattered relics. He found that he didn't much care - might have even found it a little amusing had it been Reagan who had commented on it upon his entering the room. But it had not been, because she still lay unconscious, now tucked into his bed, an Asgardian witch on either side of her.
Unconscious. Still.
He'd known it from the bond even while he'd been parted from her but to see her like that, it set a heavy pit deep in his gut.
"How is she?" he asked, moving to observe from the end of the bed.
"She has not yet woken," Eline told him, one hand extended out over Reagan's body, glowing gold as she searched for any overlooked injuries. "But it won't be long now. She's healing well and her energy is replenishing."
Loki's gaze shifted from Reagan's sleeping form to the witch beside her.
Eline offered a gentle smile.
"She is strong," she insisted, sagely.
The very statement filled Loki with pride. He nodded as his gaze returned to his mortal once more.
"Yes, well, perhaps it's biased but I happen to believe she's made of something more than the common mortal."
"Oh Highness... She is no mortal," Ingrid said.
Loki stilled. He looked to the witch who wore a mysterious smile.
"This power in her, it's been hers for a time but... it seems newly awakened. Reborn, perhaps, is the right term for it. It burns brighter than ever now."
"It's unwieldy," Eline added.
"It's a storm."
"A wildfire."
"She should come with us," Ingrid said. "Once her strength returns. We urge you, send her to the coven. Allow her to learn to harness these powers."
"She has a better grasp on them than either of you can fathom," Loki told them, a sudden bite in his tone.
He clenched his jaw, willing himself to remain calm - steady. But something so possessive reared its head inside his chest and he had to fight against that urge once again to steal Reagan away and conceal her from all the world. The witches, sensing the change in him each inclined their heads, respectfully, indicating that the matter would not be pushed.
They don't know, he attempted to reason with himself. To remind himself that they were totally unaware that Reagan had endured a period of time where she was poked and prodded by men of so-called science on Midgard, where she'd been forced to burn against her will. It didn't do much to quell the fury he felt. Loki allowed himself a moment of composure before he spoke again.
"Any discussions regarding her powers - regarding course of action to do with her powers. They will occur when Reagan is conscious, and it will be a decision made by her. She will not be forced. And she will not be coerced. In any capacity. Am I understood?"
Loki's cool glare settled on the two women.
"Of course, Highness," Eline replied. "Forgive my sister, she only wished to help."
Loki didn't respond. Instead, he rounded the bed and seated himself beside Reagan on the mattress, his eyes never leaving her face. His back was to the witches now and when he spoke again, the malice in his tone had dissipated.
"Would you allow us some privacy?" he asked. "I will send for you if I have the need."
"As you wish," Ingrid replied.
Loki listened to their footsteps retreating towards the doorway, and he unsealed his magic to allow them to exit.
"Thank you," Loki said, at last, the words slightly strained. "Thank you for the care you've taken with her. It won't be forgotten."
And though his gaze remained on Reagan, the two women bowed low to him before silently leaving the room.
When Loki was satisfied they were alone, he reached out slowly and ran his fingertips over the back of Reagan's hand, touching her as if he were frightened she might shatter beneath him.
The instant his hand brushed against hers, her fingers twitched. Loki stilled. She shifted, her hand flexing as if reaching for him. He slipped his palm under hers, tracing his index finger over the crease of her wrist.
Loki searched the bond and felt her consciousness there, ebbing and flowing, the way it felt when he knew she was dreaming. But he could also sense her becoming brighter, wanting - perhaps fighting - to wake from this deep sleep she'd slipped into after exhausting her powers.
I'm here, my love, he promised her, his voice just a whisper upon the bond. Not enough to rouse her, just enough for her to know that she was not alone.
She reacted the moment she heard him, burning a little brighter along the bond and stirring in her sleep. Reagan's fingers soon wrapped around Loki's hand. Her eyes flew open and she gasped deeply as if waking from a nightmare.
"It's alright," he hushed her gently. "Reagan, it's alright. You're safe. I'm here."
Her eyes searched the room wildly for a few seconds before landing on him. With alarming speed, she shot up in the bed, reaching for him.
"Loki? Oh my god, are you okay?"
Reagan threw back the covers, crawling quickly to her knees to be closer to him. Trembling hands reached hastily, pulling open his tunic to inspect his chest, searching for the wounds he'd suffered at the hands of the Atraxis. She found none there. Her hands moved to his face, cupped his jaw to gently turn his head so that she could inspect his temple and the deep wound the butt of a weapon had left there. She carded her fingers gently through his hair when she found the wound already healed and breathed a shaky sigh of relief.
"I'm alright," Loki assured her, catching her wrists in a gentle grasp, coaxing her attention away from his wounds. "Everything's alright now."
Reagan met his eye again for only a moment, reading the truth there before she flung her arms around his neck and pulled herself as close to him as she could possibly manage.
Loki laughed as he wrapped his arms around her in return, one around her waist, his other hand tenderly cradling her head, fingers lacing through her hair. He turned his head towards her and buried his face in her hair, closing his eyes and breathing in her scent.
"Oh my god, that was so fucking scary," Reagan breathed when she drew back and looked at him once more. "I mean, that was really messed up, right?"
"Extraordinarily so," Loki agreed.
"Loki, they were going to try to make me eat you."
"Yes, I was paying attention."
"And did you see that big monster woman?" Reagan asked, sounding equally distressed as she shaped her hands into claws for effect.
With a barely suppressed smirk, he nodded.
"I did indeed."
"She was gross!"
And as he let out a laugh he couldn't quite manage to hold back, Loki drew Reagan forward and pressed a kiss to her forehead.
"I love you," he murmured, enjoying the warmth of her as she wrapped herself around him once more.
The relief that came crashing through him just to find her lucid again - to feel her energy whirling along the bond - it was staggering. Just those few hours for her to return to him, he hadn't fully realised how quickly he'd returned to darkness. It was like he felt whole again.
Loki blanketed the bond in calming energy, gently soothing the panic that Reagan hadn't had room to feel back on that wretched ship. And rather than fighting it Reagan, sensing his efforts to calm her, allowed him to do just that. She closed her eyes and curled into the warmth of him, letting out a long, steadying breath. Loki felt the way the tension in her muscles eased as he enveloped her consciousness with his own, hoping she felt nothing but safety as he held her.
Soon, he felt Reagan prod playfully at the bond, her consciousness moving to entangle itself around his instead. Loki smiled softly as they began to play, back and forth along the bond, each gently trying to outmanoeuvre the other. And all the while, her head lay resting against his shoulder.
After a time, Reagan pulled back once again to look him in the eye, lighter now.
"You're really okay?" she asked once more, a soft desperation in the words.
She was still touching him like she needed to reassure herself that he was really there.
"I'm alright," he promised her again. "And really, it should be me asking you that. You're the one who has spent the past few hours essentially comatose."
"Oh, right," Reagan said, glancing back at the bed as if orienting herself.
Reagan stilled.
Emblazoned on the rich forest-green sheets was a burn mark in the shape of a massive, crudely drawn penis. Surprised, she reached and ran her hand over it before swinging around to survey the rest of the room. It was a place she'd been only once before, and that time she'd been on a warpath to destroy it.
Loki's chambers.
"Are we on Asgard?" she asked, surprised.
Something shifted in Loki that Reagan couldn't quite read.
"We are," he confirmed.
"How did we get here? What happened?"
The was a moment of hesitation in him. "How much do you remember?"
Reagan's brow furrowed as she thought.
"I was... burning," she said eventually, piecing memories back together. "The power, it was... it was overwhelming. I went after them all. I was so angry, I- and then I saw you and you were alright and then... I don't remember."
She trailed off as her memory failed her, looking at Loki questioningly.
He weighed her up for just a moment before he answered.
"Thor," he lied. "Thor came for us. Heimdall had been watching us with Heika and so when the Atraxis came, he alerted my father. He'd summoned his armies but Thor got there first. You'd done away with their legions, and when my brother reached us we were both wounded and exhausted and he returned us to Asgard to seek aid from the healers."
Her grip on him tightened almost involuntarily. Loki felt her panic spike.
"Does Odin know that you're here? He's not going to try to-"
He shook his head, placating any concern that he might find himself once again confined to a cell.
"My father..." Loki began. "Something has happened, Reagan. Odin has taken ill. He hasn't handled the loss of Frigga, these past few weeks. It has been decided that he will be taking a reprieve from his rule for the time being. Thor has taken him to Midgard to allow him time to rest - to recover from the loss. He's going to watch over him."
"Loki, I'm so sorry," Reagan murmured.
"There's no need for that, I'm well aware you hold no great love for my father."
"That doesn't mean that I want him to suffer. And it must have been hard for you to see him like that."
Loki found himself unable to hold her eye as he swallowed thickly, pushing down emotions he wanted to ignore.
"He'll be alright. He's under my brother's watchful eye now."
"Thor must have been so surprised to see you," Reagan mused.
"Yes and no," Loki smirked a little. "It's hardly the first time I've deceived him."
"It's a shame I missed him," Reagan said. "I've wanted to apologise for just disappearing on him after the convergence. I've felt awful about it but I just... I had to get back to you."
"I explained that to him," Loki assured her, easing her concern. "I told him everything."
"You did?"
He nodded. "He understands. And he holds nothing against you. It brought him peace to know that we were together."
Reagan breathed a sigh, visibly relieved and Loki didn't allow himself to feel any guilt for it. Why would he when a white lie brought her such peace of mind? Except that there was guilt, try as he might to deny it, especially when she took his word as truth so readily. But he was doing this for her own good, he could rest easy in that.
Until a memory arose stubbornly to the forefront of his mind - the request she'd made of him at Asta's tavern.
Just stand beside me, rather than in front of me. That's all... Okay?
It caused his gut to twist.
He could tell her, he realised. He could admit to the lie. Take it back. Fix it. He could tell her why. She'd listen. She always listened. And she'd understand, even if the truth did upset her.
He could tell her.
Loki opened his mouth to speak, but Reagan, now having taken the time to survey his chambers beat him to it.
"God, this place is a mess. Did I really do all this?" she asked, looking mildly embarrassed.
And just like that Loki allowed the chance to slip away, burying it like he'd first intended.
"I'm afraid so," he replied smoothly. "But don't forget you were under rather immense amounts of stress."
"Because of you," Reagan said shooting him a sly grin.
And Loki wore a smile to match hers.
"Because of me," he agreed.
"You had me completely unhinged, Mischief."
"Yes, well, I do pride myself on my ability to inspire passion in you."
Reagan leaned into him, nudging him playfully with her shoulder.
"Someone could have at least cleaned it up," she commented.
"Certainly, but you never made the offer so I let it be."
"I assumed you had people who would do that for you. Isn't that supposed to be one of the perks of being a rich, royal snob?"
"Indeed it is, however, to arrange for that to happen would have meant alerting someone to your escapades. And I hardly wanted to be a snitch."
"But it wasn't- Did you just say 'snitch'?"
Reagan's face lit up with something Loki could only describe as elated surprise. He inclined his head modestly.
"I thought I'd get a head start on the Midgardian colloquialisms you seem so determined to teach me," he explained. "I hoped it might bring you a little cheer after the harrowing ordeal we just underwent."
"Okay, well, you were right on the money."
"I'm delighted to hear it," he smiled at her affectionately.
"So am I. What else did you learn?"
The pair sat there together for a time, bantering back and forth about expressions Reagan desperately hoped Loki would integrate into his already rather extensive vocabulary. It was so easy, and such a welcome relief after weeks of worry due to the strange golden-eyed woman beckoning Reagan to her in her dreams. It felt nice just to be, no mysterious threat looming in the distance.
"Okay so tell me," Reagan asked eventually. "If Thor and Odin are gone who's in charge now? Who am I going to have to do battle against to keep you out of lock-up? It's not Sif, is it? Please, say it's not Sif."
A slow grin spread across Loki's face. Reagan squinted for a moment before her eyes blew wide in realisation.
"No way."
Loki only nodded.
"No way."
"I'm going to have to don Odin's face. There will only be a select few privy to this knowledge. The realms can't know the true state my father is in - they need to believe Asgard is as strong as ever. Those creatures - the Atraxis - the Mother... She saw what you did. She threatened to come for you. I have no idea how large their forces are but they wouldn't dare attack us here. We need the might of Asgard. We need to stay here - at least until we've gathered more information about them."
Something shifted in Reagan then and Loki felt regret swell in her, he inclined his head to catch her eye. She grimaced a little.
"They killed Asta because of us," she murmured and Loki stilled.
"Yes," he said quietly. "Yes, they did."
"I know I threatened to kill her but I didn't actually want anything to happen to her."
"I know that, my love."
"Is there any way to..."
Loki looked her in the eye before giving a small, sad shake of his head. He watched as Reagan blinked back tears for the woman she'd barely known and had liked even less. It caused his heart to stir. She was capable of such compassion... Part of him almost wished he had the capacity for it too.
Reagan cleared her throat then, doing away with the emotion that had settled there.
"So... you faked your death, went into hiding, got abducted by monsters that I then burned to death but you told Thor that it was all in the name of love and so he decides that's enough to trust you with a Kingdom, huh?"
"This wouldn't be the first time you've pointed out my family's penchant for dramatics," Loki replied smoothly. "Thor understands how seriously I intend to take this duty with your safety at risk. That's enough for him. And... well, my brother hardly wants to spend his time here on Asgard if he can avoid it. Not when he has a mortal of his own that he wants to be with."
"Jane..."
"Yes. I can't fault him for that. They weren't afforded the same gift we were," Loki murmured as he raised Reagan's wrist to his lips and pressed a kiss against her pulse point.
Reagan stilled.
"Oh," she breathed, realising just what he meant. "I burned..."
"You did."
"Hotter than I ever had. I didn't hold anything back."
Loki nodded calmly.
"Do-Do you mean that I'm..."
"The witches who saw over your healing seem to think so."
Reagan looked down at herself then, studying her hands, turning them over this way and that.
"I don't feel any different," she told him.
"How did you expect it to feel?"
"I don't know, just... different. Do I look different?"
Loki smiled gently. "You look radiant."
And he watched as Reagan smiled and had to duck her head a little under his gaze, adoring the way that he was still able to make her blush.
"Immortal..." Reagan whispered as if trying the word out for the first time.
"Immortal," Loki agreed, the word easing a tension that had gripped at his soul for too long.
"But how immortal?" she asked, a playful smile spreading over her features. "Should we go put it to the test?"
"Perhaps another time," Loki replied. "I think we've had quite enough excitement for one day, don't you?"
Her hand fell gently to rest upon Loki's forearm, settled over the mark hidden beneath his tunic, she ghosted her fingers over the path she knew it took.
"I felt you," she murmured. "After I burned that drug out of my system, I could feel you again. You thought you were going to die... You thought I was going to burn you with them."
Loki nodded, studying her.
"I did," he replied softly.
"You felt like- It felt like you were proud of me."
He offered her a small smile.
"I was," he said, tucking her hair behind her ear.
Something complicated happened along the bond as she gazed up into his eyes. Loki felt the gravity of what she was trying to tell him. How much it meant to her.
"You weren't afraid of me," she whispered.
"I'm not afraid of you, darling."
"You weren't afraid... even though you thought I was going to burn you."
"Reagan," Loki cupped her face in his hands so that she couldn't look away. "Even if that was to have been my fate and the flames had consumed me until I was nothing more than ash... Even then, you could never ever do anything to hurt me. Do you understand?"
Reagan's face crumbled as she nodded and she wrapped her arms around his neck and drew herself closer to him, holding on for dear life - like there wasn't a force in the universe that could part from him.
"I love you," she whispered.
And Loki held her just as tight, held the pieces of her together just as he knew she needed as she trembled in his arms and tried not to fall apart.
I have you, darling... I have you.
They held one another for a long time, just enjoying the peace of being alone and being together until Reagan raised her head and something caught her eye. She gasped softly.
"Loki..."
Loki turned to follow her gaze and found it fixed upon a glass orb. The glass orb. A crystal ball that Loki had gazed into centuries ago and learned the existence of the girl made of fire with whom he'd share the Mark of Sjelevii.
The mattress shifted beside him as Reagan climbed to her feet and padded barefoot through the wreckage she had caused towards the orb. She gazed into it, turning her head to watch as the globe distorted the images beyond it. She reached out a hand but then hesitated, and looked back toward Loki. He only nodded his permission, watching in amusement and knowing full well there would be no deterring her from touching it - her curiosity would win out.
She smiled at him before turning her attention back to the orb and reaching for it with both hands.
The moment she touched it, Loki watched her expression shift. Slowly, as Reagan gazed down into the orb, she lifted it, drawing it closer to her face with her burrow pinched and her mouth drawing into a solemn line.
Loki stood from the bed then and moved towards her.
"What is it?" he asked, warily.
"I don't understand..." she told him, glancing up at him quickly before her attention was upon the orb once more. Even in that fleeting eye contact, Loki read her distress. "It looks like I'm- I think I'm stealing something from the Avengers. Some kind of... stone."
Loki allowed himself into her mind and watched the vision unfold. He recognised the place, he'd been there once before. Stark Tower. Together stood the Soldier and the one Reagan was fond of - Natasha. There were others there he did not recognise. And behind them, lined up upon the bar were...
Loki loosed a breath.
Infinity Stones. Three of them. Three in one place. Sitting side by side in identical containment cases.
His stomach turned to ice.
There should never be that many of them in one place. If they were being gathered it could mean-
His train of thought was interrupted as he watched through Reagan's mind's eye as she moved subtly to take up one of the stones and slip it into the pocket of her jacket.
And then, curiously, the scene shifted and Reagan was running up a grassy hill under a cloudy sky and throwing herself into his arms, clutching onto him like he might disappear.
The image faded away to nothing and Loki let out a low breath, willing his racing pulse rate to steady.
Reagan looked up at him then, the orb still clutched in her hands. And Loki was certain that she didn't understand what she had seen. But it had troubled her nonetheless.
"I'd never do that," she told him earnestly. "I wouldn't steal from them."
Loki pushed away any darkness he felt. Buried. Smothered it. Put it somewhere that he could delve into it at a later time. Because right now, Reagan needed the light - light that she so easily seemed to be able to inspire within him.
"Don't trouble yourself, my love," he told her soothingly. "I'm sure it's not what it seems. Don't forget the orb did not show me the whole picture either."
There was no point making her privy to what he knew - no reason to burden her with more, not when the concern was so evident upon her features.
"Now I wish I hadn't looked," she groaned. "I was just hoping I'd get a sneak peek at a new flavour of ice cream they'll release one day or something. But this going to haunt me."
Loki studied her for only a moment before his mind was made up.
"Then be rid of it," he told her.
"Oh yeah, how?"
"Break it," he said simply.
Reagan threw him a sceptical glance.
"What? No way, I'm not going to do that."
"You were indescribably eager to do so the first time you ever held it," Loki teased.
"Yeah, when I thought I hated you and was trying to ruin your life. I'm not going to do it now that I know what it means to you."
Loki rounded her slowly, coming to stand behind her, gazing over her shoulder at the wretched ball. He lifted his hands to settle over hers. "This object has held such power over me for centuries. I'm not going to allow it to do the same to you. Shatter it."
Reagan looked up at him over her shoulder. "Loki, I'm not going to do that. Your mom gave it to you. You told me it was your most precious possession."
He felt her surprise when he smiled. "I don't think that there would be anything I could do that would delight my mother more than to free myself of the hold that vision held over me all these years past."
Reagan made a small noise of agreement and Loki leaned in to press a slow kiss to the side of her neck, she tilted her head to permit him better access. He ran his hand down the length of her arms before reaching for her waist, drawing her closer to him.
"Don't let it trouble you, darling. We're to make our own fate, you and I. If you don't wish to steal from the Avengers, then you won't." And in that moment he meant it. He and the girl made of fire. They could be enough to defy destiny. "If you don't wish to... run up a hill to embrace me, then you won't."
Reagan giggled a little before nodding pensively, "I do dislike running."
Loki smirked against her neck.
"Smash it."
"Loki, I can't."
"Do it."
"I can't."
Her resistance only spurred him on.
"The first time I decided that I wanted to utterly devour you," he murmured against her skin as he trailed his hands teasingly up her sides, "was that morning you swept in here full to the brim with rage, ready to exact your revenge upon me. You were chaos incarnate and bursting with delight that you'd found a way to get under my skin. You were utterly infuriating and I wanted to throw you down on those sheets you so thoroughly ruined and do such unspeakable things to you. I wanted to make you want me. I wanted you to crave me. I wanted to make you beg for me."
Loki pressed himself against her, and Reagan let out a small gasp when she felt the length of him hardening.
Break the orb, darling.
A slightly stifled moan spilled from her lips as Loki curved his palm around her breast, kneading at the flesh. She leaned back against him in turn, granting him just the smallest amount of friction he so desperately craved.
"You know, you can have that now without having to destroy more of your possessions," she teased.
"Yes, but where lies the fun in that?" Loki pulled her hips flush to his own. "Shatter it."
Still unsure, Loki felt Reagan brush against the bond, searching for any sincerity in his request. It was to her surprise, that she was met with his overwhelming eagerness. Something verging on pining. And with it, a growing lust that - much to Loki's satisfaction - seemed to crumble her resolve.
"I don't want you to regret it," she whispered.
"Tell me that you're mine," Loki murmured against her skin.
Reagan gasped as Loki grazed his teeth down the slope of her shoulder.
"I'm yours," she promised.
"Tell me how long you'll allow me to keep you."
He laced his fingers through her hair, angling her head so that he could leave a mark upon her pulse point.
"Forever."
Loki hummed his approval against her skin.
"Then there's nothing to regret. Smash it, my love."
A mischievous sort of grin fought its way onto Reagan's face. Loki sensed it.
"Do it," he urged.
Reagan, I need you to do it.
At last, Reagan lifted the orb high and with all her might, launched the orb at the far wall.
And as it shattered into a million pieces and splinters of glass went scattering across dark marbled floors, the pair laughed delightedly. Loki swept her up into his arms and carried her back towards the bed. He dumped her unceremoniously onto the soft mattress, revelling in the way it made her laugh and then he was upon her like a man possessed. Their mouths crashed together like they'd been starved of one another and Loki let loose a groan as Reagan's hands tugged at him, trying to rid him of his clothes and pull him closer all at once even as he loomed over her.
There was a flash of green light and a sizzle of magic in the air that rid them each entirely of their clothes. They pressed into one another, skin upon skin. Loki trailed his hand down Reagan's body slowly, teasing all the places he knew she most liked. Reagan whimpered her approval into his mouth, her hands kneading at the muscled slopes of his shoulders. She wrapped her legs eagerly around his waist.
Loki knew beyond all else that he'd never tire of the noise she made when he entered her. He could listen to it for an eternity. He kissed her slowly then - deeply - as he rocked back inside of her, cupping her jaw, keeping her close to him. Where she belonged.
As they moved together, with every touch filled with such love and need and passion, the bond hummed to life with matching energy. And Loki couldn't quite fathom how he'd ever survived without that feeling. Not when it felt more necessary to him in that moment than oxygen - than anything.
When they reached their climaxes and Reagan gasped his name and Loki leaned down to press a kiss to her sweat-soaked chest, he felt her lace her fingers tenderly through his hair. Loki drew back and met her eye - smiled as she smiled. He leaned in to press his forehead to hers.
I love you...
I love you...
I love you...
"I suppose we can't spend the whole day in bed, seeing as you have a Kingdom to run now, right?" Reagan teased then.
Loki moved to lay beside her, propping himself up on his elbow so that he could study her face.
"Now that Asgard is ours, I'd argue we can do whatever we desire," he told her, albeit a little smugly.
Reagan rolled onto her side to face him with a playful smirk.
"Ours?" she repeated incredulously.
Loki raised his eyebrows. "You think I wouldn't want you by my side upon the Throne?"
"No, actually," she quipped. "I figured how it would go is that you'd enjoy the power a little too much until it inevitably went to your head and then I would need to intervene. I've been drafting my talking-down speech in my head for the past fifteen minutes."
"Well, that's rather insulting given what I was just doing to you."
"I can multi-task," she said simply.
Loki poked at her side in mock offense and Reagan giggled as she tried to stave off his attacks. Loki soon pulled her to him, littering her face with kisses while she laughed.
"Tell me honestly though," Loki soon murmured against her temple. "Is that something you'd be willing to do? Rule beside me."
Reagan pulled a face.
"I don't know... I'm not exactly equipped with the skill set to help rule a Kingdom. What would I even do?"
"I envisioned you acting as somewhat of a moral compass, of sorts. I'm not sure if you've noticed, but mine can be... askew, at times."
"I see."
Loki raised his eyebrows at her in question.
"And you'd listen to me?" Reagan asked.
Loki laughed. "Yes, I would listen to you."
"Do you promise?"
"Pinky promise."
Reagan's face split into a delighted smile and she drew herself up to press her lips to his. And when she pulled away slightly to look up at him, his gentle gaze was already upon her.
"Oh no..." she groaned, the smile still plastered on her face as she collapsed against her pillow.
"What is it?"
"This is all going to be a whole lot of fun, isn't it?"
Loki smiled back at her, adoringly. "Yes, I daresay it is."
Holy cow. I can't believe we're here, folks. Just the epilogue to go and then we're finished book 1!
I'll be posting the first chap of book 2 the same day I post the epilogue (both are just about ready to go) so you can dive right in if you want to keep reading! I've mapped it out and it's roughly 30 chapters :) so plenty more to come. It will start before the events of Ragnarok. I hope you enjoyed some of the hints at the set up.
Hope also you enjoyed all the fluff and sap in this chapter. I figured you'd earned it after quite a few heavy chapters :P
As always, thank you all for reading, and any feedback left is so loved and appreciated.
Final chapter coming soon, and it might just include a guest appearance from a bald loveable odd-ball I've missed way too much since our escape from Asgard.