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Chapter Text

"Mother, surely there are more pressing matters to discuss than whom I am supposed to marry.”

It had been a year since Odin’s death. The realm had been incredibly stunned by the suddenness of it but Odin’s family were in for a greater surprise. In his will, Odin explained that he had imprisoned a dangerous enemy and linked that imprisonment to his life. So upon his death, this dangerous prisoner, Hela, would be seeking war with Asgard. Because of these circumstances, Odin wanted Thor to lead the Asgardians warriors in battle as commanding general and he wanted the throne to be bestowed upon Loki. 

There was not a single one of them who wasn’t stunned to hear this news. Frigga had never heard of this Hela nor Odin’s plans for his sons after his death. Thor felt slighted, as though his father thought of him as nothing more than a brutish warrior. But Loki was the most confused. He had never felt his father saw him worthy of the throne. And perhaps he didn’t intend for Loki to occupy it for long, but that trust moved Loki in ways he couldn't articulate.

Since his coronation, Loki had tried to be a benevolent ruler to the people of Asgard. He listened to complaints from the citizens of the realm, he raised wages, and limited allowable working hours. Along with this, he attended every war council, though as King he would not be allowed to participate in any of the battles, he still wanted to know what was happening and Thor was happy to have him around. He also attended daily meetings with his mother who helped him understand the innerworkings of the palace and the expectations that were now upon him, which is why the current conversation was occuring. 

“I know it must seem trivial at a time like this.” Frigga began to explain.

“Trivial is the nicest way to put it.” Loki told her, unable to disguise his annoyance as he paced the room. “We are at an unexpected war with the Goddess of Death, our soldiers are ill equipped to deal with it, the war council wants me to raise taxes to finance it which I know the average citizen cannot afford, and you want to throw a festival to find me a spouse?”

“It is not a want, my liege, it is a necessity.” Frigga informed him, undeterred by his protestations. “We have to show the nine realms that we are strong and that Asgard is unaffected by war.”

“We are affected by war though.” Loki complained, stopping his pacing to emphasize his point. 

“But the nine realms cannot know that.” Frigga emphasized. “It is tradition that a year into a sovereign’s reign, they must be at the very least seeking a betrothal.”

“What if I just wore a sign that says ‘single and ready to subjugate a willing partner with the promise of a crown’?” Loki snarked.

Frigga stared at him angrily and Loki immediately regretted his jest. He knew his mother was just trying to follow tradition, but he was not ready for it. He was not sure he would ever be.

“Apologies, my Queen.” Loki says, nodding his head towards her.

“I know you worry about the expense, but things like this are always set aside for the next monarch.” Frigga told him 

“Would it have killed the treasury to have set up a war fund as well?” Loki remarked. 

“The festival will take place over a week. The first day will be meeting the eligible people of the realm. Midweek, you will meet one on one with each of them and have brief discussions, usually pertaining to things such as hobbies or personal passions. And on the final day, there will be a ball where if things go well, you will announce whom you’ve chosen to wed.”

Loki winced at the thought of it all and resumed his pacing. 

Polite chit chat, tedious conversations and at the end of week, the expectation of a betrothal. How barbaric.

“Your majesty, I beg of you.” Frigga said, moving next to a pacing Loki and taking his hand. “Please try. For the sake of the kingdom, give it a chance. You never know what could happen.”

Loki sighed, unable to resist the pleading look on his mother’s face.

“Of course I will.” Loki assured her, clasping his other hand over hers. “I make no promises, though.”

“Of course not.” Frigga agreed, a contented smile beautifying her face. “I am just happy you have consented. I shall begin preparations at once.”

Loki sighed as his mother left the room. As a child, when he would lie in his room and think of being King, he thought it would mean complete freedom. That nothing and no one could ever again make him do something he did not want to do. Even better, that he could do as he wished, even if the wishes were ludicrous. If the past year had taught him anything, it was that a King is perhaps the most ordered around and the least free of all of Asgard.

He should be focusing on the war, not on whom he might meet at a festival. Trying to fit his soldiers with weapons, not sizing up potential suitors. 

None of it made any sense to Loki but he knew he must. For his mother and his kingdom.

***

The amount of time it took to put the festival together astounded Loki. What he thought would take weeks or perhaps months to prepare was ready in a matter of days. Barely a week had passed when the royal seamstress was preparing the finishing touches on his outfit for that evening, the first night of the festival.

His mood about the possibility of betrothal had not changed. If anything, the more he considered the possibility, the more he wished he could run away to Midgard and hide. But he was King, representing the line of Odin, even if it wasn’t by blood. He would not shirk this responsibility, even if the idea of it filled him with terror and a desire to vomit.

The castle, which was majestic in its own merits, gleamed and was adorned with beautiful flowers and lights. It was magical how beautiful every inch of the ballroom seemed to be and this was before any guests had entered the room. 

If this is for pursuing a match, I do wonder what they will do for the actual wedding part.

Loki shuddered at the thought. He hadn't even met a single suitor yet and he was already yielding to the idea of marrying one of them. 

“It’s a bit much, isnt it?” a higher pitch but stalwart voice said from behind him.

Loki did not need to turn around to see that it was Lady Sif, one of Thor’s best friends and someone whom Loki had once yearned for. 

“I don’t know.” Loki said, staring up at the flowers which vined their way around the family histories. “I think it is quite nice.”

“You would.” Lady Sif remarked.

Loki smiled, her barely concealed disdain for him warming his heart. It felt familiar and far removed from all the pandering he received now that he was king.

“Will I be seeing you tonight along with my potential suitors?” Loki asked her in a teasing manner.

“It is required of me.” Lady Sif responded, not sounding at all thrilled by the possibility. “I am eligible, apparently.”

Loki chuckled.

“Well no need to worry.” Loki explained. “I do not need to end this week with a spouse so it won’t be necessary to entrap you in the bonds of marriage.”

“Or worse, royalty.” Lady Sif replied, though she sounded very relieved after Loki’s information. “Who would want that?” 

She walked away before Loki could respond, but he responded to himself immediately

Who indeed?

Soon after the palace opened its door, men, women, and nonbinary people from all across the nine realms filled the room, all donning incredibly beautiful garments and opulent adornments.

Loki was overwhelmed by the sheer number of them. There must be hundreds of people in this room, all vying for his hand in marriage or at the very least, the seat next to his own. The feelings of terror and sick now welcomed nervousness. 

Loki was seated on his throne as one by one, the people were introduced to him. Some were aristocracy from other realms, others hard working citizens of his own realm. Loki paused and graciously bowed his head at every one of them. It seemed as though they were all beautiful, but since none of them had actually spoken a word to him yet, Loki couldnt be sure they were much more than a series of pretty faces. 

Beauty, while a wonderful starting point, does not ensure a good sovereign.

Or a good spouse for that matter.

Loki wished he could at least say a few words to these suitors. Size them up. Figure out if a brain lies beneath the jewels.

Or if by some miracle there was a person in this room that he could love, impossible as it may seem to him.

Loki pushed away the idea.

This is not a pursuit of love. Merely the fulfilling of his kingly responsibility.

It felt as though hours had gone by before he had met everyone in the room and though he had not spoken, he felt parched. He tried to sneak away, hoping no one would approach the long abandoned buffet tables and that he could perhaps indulge on some of the wine he had heard his mother speak so fondly about. He had nearly succeeded when he noticed a blonde woman standing at the table, appearing to be filling a bag with the canapes.

A thief at a royal festival? This night just got interesting.

Loki snuck up behind the woman, a smile wide across his face.

“Are you enjoying yourself?” he tried to whisper to her. 

The blonde woman immediately reacted by unsheathing the sword on her belt and swinging to attack whomever was behind her. 

Lucky for him, Loki was quicker. He swung his scepter expertly in front of him and immediately met her blade, not even coming close to connecting with him.

“Careful.” Loki said in a maddeningly calm and smug way. “I’m not sure the courts would look too fondly on the regicidal.”

“Oh my Gods.” the woman proclaimed, the shock and embarrassment on her face obvious, as she dropped her sword and started to sink into a curtsy. “My liege, I am so sorry. You frightened me and I just reacted.”

Loki was surprised by the fact that he felt incredibly bad for upsetting the poor woman. The frazzled look in her eyes as she scrambled for her sword had an effect on him. But he wasn't sure that guilt was all it was. From the moment he looked her full on in the face, he began to feel flustered in a way he never had before.

“There is no need to worry about that.” Loki assured her, trying his best to sound composed. “If I am honest, I find your attack instincts quite impressive.”

The woman smiled, seeming to enjoy his words.

“Not everyday I get complimented by someone I almost killed.” she remarked, a slight tremor in her sweet and lilting voice.

Loki grimaced, the inherent doubts of his fighting prowess wounding him for reasons he could not explain.

“I don't know that you almost killed me.” he argued, trying to convince himself as much as her. 

“Trust me, a second later, I would be sleeping in the cells tonight.” the woman assured him, the tremor in her voice long gone.

Ah she does not doubt my prowess. It is the utmost confidence in her own. 

This relieved Loki though he wasn't sure why. 

A lot of questionable thoughts over the last few minutes.

“Well the night is young.” Loki joked, smiling at her own jest.

The woman smiled at his comment which made Loki’s stomach leap.

But a moment later, her smile faded.

“I just realized you caught me stealing as well.” the woman looked even more chastened. “Perhaps I will be spending a night in the cells.”

I suppose it should have crossed my mind to have her imprisoned. Where is my head tonight?

“Why were you stealing if I might ask?” Loki questioned, though out of curiosity more than any actual distaste for the action of theft.

“Do you know how much food gets wasted at events such as these?” the woman asked, a small degree of passion seeping through her words. “I thought if I took some home, it would at least lighten the amount that would be discarded or incinerated.”

“Hmm.” Loki contemplated her words. Having attended hundreds of feasts and festivals, it had never once occurred to him the amount of waste they produce. He would guess it was a lot.

“What should I do to remedy this glaring problem?” he asked her genuinely

The woman looked shocked by his question, as if it hadn't occurred to her that her words would have any effect on him. 

“I would suggest sending it down to the village.” she reasoned. “It would go very far to help feed the poor and starving of the realm.”

Loki nodded in response.

A clever idea. And one that should have been considered long ago.

“Thank you. You have given me a lot to consider.” Loki told her honestly.

“Of course my liege.” the woman replied, preparing to curtsy again.

Loki raised his hand, causing her to pause mid action.

“One curtsy per conversation seems suitable to me.” Loki said. “Zero would be preferable to me, but needs must.”

The woman nodded, raising back up to full height. 

“As you wish, your majesty.” she said as Loki lowered his hand.

“Why did I not meet with you before now?” he asked her, unable to stop himself from asking. 

“You met hundreds of people tonight, my liege. Perhaps you just don’t remember me.” the woman reasoned.

“I would remember you, I assure you.” Loki told her, smiling at the small blush that graced her lovely cheeks.

The woman relented. 

“I am a merchant who is just passing through. I was not aware of a festival taking place until I saw some of the villagers making their way to the palace.”

Loki nodded at this logical explanation.

“And what is it you trade in, Lady…?”

“Sylvie.” the woman told him. “Just Sylvie. And weapons, my liege.”

Loki was not one to believe in things such as fate or destiny but a beautiful woman who trades in the very assets he needs felt as though it were some kind of kismet event.

“Well it appears as though our meeting is very fortunate for the realm.” Loki informed her. “Would it be possible for you and your smith, assuming you are not the blacksmith as well as the merchant, to complete a bulk order for the Asgardian army?”

Sylvie gasped in surprise.

“My liege, are you certain?” Sylvie asked, breathly. “That is a lot of business to send my way.”

“If you are unable to complete such an order, I understand.” Loki reasoned, not wanting to overwhelm her small business. 

“It is not that, your majesty.” Sylvie told him. “It just seems a generous honor to bestow upon someone you just met.” 

I suppose it must seem that way because it is. But our armies need weapons and here is a way to make that happen.

“And yet I bestow it, without question.” Loki said, knowing the war council would not approve and finding he cared very little about that. “If your blades are anything like the one you just used to attack me, I am certain they will be fine weapons.”

Sylvie blushed once again and Loki had to avoid blushing himself.

“I shall discuss it with my blacksmith but I am sure it will not be an issue.” Sylvie said, excitement mounting in her voice. “Thank you, your majesty.”

Loki smiled, her joy just seemed so unadulterated.

“The pleasure is all mine.” he told her. “Where are you staying?”

“I had not decided yet, my liege.” she told him honestly “I thought perhaps the local pub.”

“You shall stay here, of course.” Loki offered.

“I just couldn’t, my liege. It is too much to ask.” Sylvie reasoned

“But you didn’t ask. I offered and it is done.”

Sylvie blushed once more.

“Thank you, your majesty.”

Loki was about to respond when a royal guard rushed over to him. 

“My liege, developments in the war room.” the guard informed him. “Prince Thor has requested your presence.”

“Of course.” Loki responded before turning back to Sylvie. “I hope to see you again soon.”

Sylvie’s face erupted in a huge smile, curtsying as he left, both he and guard hastening down the hall muttering in concerned tones.

As soon as Loki was out of sight, Sylvie dropped the smile she had plastered across her face for the entirety of their conversation and popped one of the canapes into her mouth. 

A slight, light haired man moved in from the shadows, a dastardly grin gracing his thin but angled face. 

“What did you think of my performance, Mr. Post?” she asked, the sweetness her voice had just held replaced with a deeper more venomous tone.

“Impressive.” he informed her, moving ever closer to her. “I almost believed you an innocent maiden with no ill intent. Perhaps if the King were not so instantly enamored with your pretty face, he would have seen you fiddling with your sword the entire time." You could almost hear the laughter behind his words.

"Just how many times had you considered killing him during that conversation?” Post asked, his interest clearly peaked as he continued to stare lustfully at Sylvie

“Five at least.” Sylvie replied casually, choosing to ignore Post's behavior. “Especially after that whole bullshit with the curtsy. But this room is not quite abandoned enough to keep me from the noose.”

"Sounds as though he will be in your sights soon." Post reasoned. "If not for the guard, you might have been able to lure him to his death tonight."

"Occupational hazard of being an assassin, I’m afraid." Sylvie replied, the fake sweet voice creeping back in as if to emphasize her point.

Chapter Text

Sylvie awoke the next morning in the palace. The room Loki had arranged for her was small but luxurious, even having its own private bathroom. She had slept remarkably well on a large, comfortable bed, an event that had not occurred often in her life. She almost didn’t want to get up, but she had a job to do. 

Sylvie had built quite a reputation for her meticulous assassinations. Starting at a very young age, Sylvie had trained to fight. As she got a bit older, she began experimenting with different types of weapons until she had gained a mastery of them all. These skills garnered the attention of some powerful men who wanted her to use them for their gain. Most were dangerous men who wanted to tie up loose ends while keeping their hands clean. Several kills later, she began to be sought after by more and more people who needed their own loose ends tied. Sylvie never cared who was asking or who the target was, so long as they paid what they owed. Hundreds of years later, the requests still came and Sylvie rarely said no to an assignment and never had the misfortune of having personal attachments involved. 

 But these circumstances were entirely different.             

Hela had found her on the outskirts of Lamentis, a beautiful planet which was about to meet a tragic end. It was there she made Sylvie an enticing offer: kill the King of Asgard and she could assume the throne for herself. 

What if I don't want the throne? What if I just want to destroy the palace brick by brick? Sylvie remembered asking, the idea of her request too tempting.

So long as Asgard remains, I do not care. Hela had replied. Her years in the field had taught Sylvie when a person was lying. It took no effort to see that Hela spoke the truth and Sylvie accepted the job straight away. 

Sylvie rose from the bed and grabbed for her bag. She always carried an assortment of weapons: her sword which she always kept on her belted scabbard, an axe in case the client wanted a brutal end to the target, a dagger for more intimate jobs, a bow and arrow for less intimate jobs, and a vile of poison in case any of the other methods failed. She had never had to use the poison.

Sylvie dressed for the day in a sleek black top over an armored breastplate with black pants that she also wore a skirt over so she would not stand out from the other women in the palace. Adjusting the sleeves of her top, she slipped the small dagger up her sleeve in case an opportunity arose to make quick work of the mark. 

She was soon joined by the man from last night.

“Mr. Post, do you have any news for me?” Sylvie asked.

Post had been in her employ the last few years. He was useful for gathering necessary information about the target as well as being the go between for her and the client. On brief occasions, he would find her work if there was a dry spell but Sylvie rarely had a dry spell.

“His majesty has just started his day.” Post reported, sounding bored. “To be honest, with the amount of yawning he was doing, he would probably be easy enough to pick off now.”

“Too easy.” Sylvie replied, a smirk on her face. “I slay lions, not sleeping cubs.”

“Considering a throne is on the line, maybe an easy kill would work this one time.” Post pointed out. 

“If this is to be my last job, Post, it will be a memorable one.” Sylvie replied with no room to argue. “His majesty will get what is coming to him and in his last moments I will show him why he has met his end at my hands.”

“You are the expert on the matter.” Post yielded. 

“That I am.” Sylvie replied, a genuine but wicked smile breaking across her face. “Since I imagine his grace’s morning will be consumed by frivolous meetings, I’m heading to the gardens to practice.”

She adjusted her sheath on her belt in case the meaning of her words had surpassed him.

“Perhaps you would like a sparring partner for a change.” Post said as he walked suggestively towards her and wrapped his arms around her waist.

Sylvie gently pushed him away, prying his hands off her. 

“You know I never spar with the same person twice.” Sylvie informed him with nearly a wink. “It creates too much sentiment.”

“And we both know you are not one for that.” Post told her, his tone admiring with a bit of resentment.

“I am certainly not.” Sylvie agreed. “See you later, Mr. Post. Perhaps with a dead king to boast of.”

Before he could reply, Sylvie walked out of the room, not bothering to look back.

***

Loki could barely keep his eyes open. He spent a great deal of the night with Thor, helping him and the other generals puzzle out potential defense strategies but that was not what had kept him awake. 

As much as he was loathe to admit it, even if it was just to himself, he couldn’t stop thinking about Sylvie all night. It was more than the fact that she was beautiful, though that was an undisputed fact. She intrigued him in a way that no other person had that entire night. He smiled to himself whenever he thought of her stuffing the canapes into her bag. It was so duplicitous, even if she had a justifiable explanation. How hard it had been for him to keep composed enough to carry on a conversation with her when all he wanted to do was encourage more mischief.

Maybe that is it. Loki thought. Perhaps it is not her that intrigues me, just the fact that I have not been able to be truly mischievous since my coronation. Oh, how I do miss it.

“Your majesty, are you listening?” one of his courtiers asked of him. 

“Of course I was.” Loki lied, stifling another yawn. 

The courtier rolled their eyes and appeared to begin again.

“You have a meeting with the planning committee to discuss day two of the festival, though your mother sends her apologies that she will not be there.”

“Oh she will not?” Loki asked, suddenly struck with an idea. “What a shame that is.”

“Indeed, my liege.” the courtier agreed. “Shall we attend to it?”

“Lead the way.” Loki told the courtier, smiling. 

As the courtier began to walk away, Loki’s form shimmered, creating a perfect duplication of himself that would follow the courtier and attend his meeting for him.  Whilst his mother might recognize a fake, he doubted anyone on the planning committee would.

Loki was free for the first time in months. What should he do? Going back to bed seemed like quite an appealing idea, but he wasn’t sure how long the duplicate of him would hold if he were to sleep. Besides, there wasn’t much mischief he could get into while sleeping.

Perhaps a stroll through the gardens might spark an idea. 

Loki stood and began to make his way to the gardens which were just outside the throne room. 

Though he had grown up here, Loki never quite got over the beauty of the gardens. He knew his mother worked so hard to keep them maintained and the love she poured into it seemed to perfume the air. There were many nights that he would just come out here to read or to practice the spells his mother had taught him. The happiness this place brought him was greater than any other in Asgard. This was certainly not the place to create mischief.

He was about to depart when he heard guttural groans not too far in the distance.

Wonder what that is all about. Loki thought, delightfully intrigued as he followed the noises.

As the groans became louder, Loki began to speculate. 

Am I about to walk upon a morning tryst? Loki wondered, mildly hoping it was so. It would sure make for an interesting story for the two of them if that were the case.

But as he approached he saw there was only one person. A woman. A beautiful woman with short blonde hair.

Sylvie. Loki joyfully thought, then quickly admonished himself for thinking. 

Sylvie hadn’t appeared to have noticed him, her focus entirely on the swings of her blade.

Loki felt like he noticed everything about her at that moment. The way she stood, the ferocity of her attack, how effectively her blows would land if she had a partner.

She’s a warrior. Loki thought to himself with joy. A passionate and vicious warrior.

His heart fluttered at the thought. 

“It appears as though making weapons is not your only area of expertise.”

Sylvie whipped around and a sword was to Loki’s neck before he could otherwise react. Sylvie snarled at him, the look of a lion about to feast. Loki’s skin flushed, the fury on her face igniting something in him that he didn’t think was fear.

It took a few seconds, but Sylvie relented, lowering her weapon. 

“Your majesty, I am so sorry. I did not realize…” Sylvie stammered nervously as she backed away from him. “I thought I was alone.”

Her voice is deeper than I remember. More venomous. 

And Loki found he liked it better. 

“I should be the one that is sorry, Lady Sylvie.” Loki told her, clearing his throat. “I should have announced my presence. But then again what fun would that have been?”

“Fun?” Sylvie angrily questioned. “I could have killed you.”

“Or perhaps I would have killed you.” Loki suggested, conjuring a dagger and waving it. 

“You think a dagger would have saved your life in that moment?” Sylvie snarked and then seemed to suddenly remember something. “Your grace.”

“Maybe not.” Loki said. “But it might have bought me enough time to come up with a different strategy.”

Sylvie looked ready to fire back but then she relented, plastering a smile on her face. 

“Strategy will only get you so far, my liege.” Sylvie replied, her voice back to the sweetness it had been the night before.

“Why did you do that?” Loki asked. 

“Do what?” Sylvie asked, innocently.

“Change your voice.” Loki remarked. 

Sylvie looked surprised. 

“I’m not sure what you mean, my liege.” she replied as sweetly as ever. 

“Come on, the higher octave. The saccharine tone.” Loki remarked. 

Sylvie shifted. 

“Perhaps what you heard was the voice of someone who is startled.” Sylvie justified. 

“Or maybe you were your truest self in the moment you were holding a sword to my throat.”

Sylvie looked surprised by this conclusion. She cleared her throat before speaking again. 

“Perhaps I thought a different voice would be more appealing.” Sylvie admitted, her voice returning to its deeper register. “Put your best foot forward in the presence of a king afterall.”

“I beg you not do that.” Loki told her, the seriousness in his tone causing even him to feel startled. 

“I merely mean that I am a king that has no need of facades. I would much rather know the real person to whom I am speaking.”

There is only room for one charlatan in a conversation and the God of Mischief happily takes that role. 

Sylvie merely nodded in response. 

“Perhaps you would make it up to me?” Loki suggested.

Sylvie jerked back, almost looking shocked.

“I beg your majesty’s pardon?” she questioned.

Loki smiled, his insuitation hitting just the right note.

“I merely meant a duel with the lady if she would have me as an opponent?”

Sylvie looked at him questioningly, as though she were thinking it over. 

“I am not so sure about that, my liege.” she started in her sweet innocent voice.

Loki sighed but then she unsheathed her sword.

“What happens when I defeat you?” Sylvie asked, her voice returning to its normal register.

Loki laughed. 

“I shall have you beheaded, of course.” he replied in jest. 

Sylvie smiled and moved forward as though to begin the fight. 

“Just a moment, if you please.” Loki requested as he lifted his horned helmet off his head and placed it gently on the ground.

Sylvie gasped. 

“Is something the matter?” Loki questioned, looking around to see if it could have been something else to startle her. 

“It’s just that I had no idea that you…” she began “That your hair.”

Loki half smiled. 

“Oh yes, I suppose you wouldn’t.” he replied, running his fingers through the long black tendrils. “The house of Odin boasts its blond locks, many legends have been created that scream of luck and majesty but as I was adopted I do not have them.”

Sylvie swallowed.

“So you hide your hair hoping the people forget you are not a natural born son of Odin?” Sylvie asked. 

“They will never forget, Lady Sylvie.” he assured her as he unsheathed the sword on his belt. “But perhaps for a moment, they can be distracted.”

Loki lunged forward and she expertly dodged.

Their swords clang together, the sound of it ringing through the garden as the duel commenced. Loki matched Sylvie blow for blow, move for move. He felt as though this were a familiar dueling style though her method was far more brutalistic than his own that he learned from the swordsmen at the palace. Loki observed the ferocious but calculated way she attacked. Every move she made, she did so with determination and her full strength behind it. 

She’s not holding back. Loki thought with glee as he continued to match her moves. 

Loki had dueled with many during his time as King and they always held back. Always let him win, but Sylvie wouldn’t. Loki believed she couldn’t even if she wanted to. The light in Sylvie’s eyes told Loki how much she loved this and he loved seeing this passion emanating from her. It all made Loki desperately wish they could continue fighting forever.

But soon he was disarmed, his royal sword flying he did not know where as Sylvie backed him against a vined wall, placing her sword against his throat.

A moment of silence passed as the two rapidly breathed.  

“Yield.” she said, her voice serious but breathy.

Loki considered this for a moment.

Yielding is probably the wisest action. But not the most interesting. 

Loki conjured a small dagger as he wrapped his arm around Sylvie to point the knife at her back, inadvertently pulling her closer in the process.

“I don’t think I will.” he told her, his heart beating so loudly he wouldn’t be surprised if it exploded out of his chest.

Sylvie stared at him with a bewildered expression, still trying to catch her breath. Not moving her sword, but not responding to his threat either.

Loki looked into her eyes and tried to read what was in them. Before he could get a clear read, he heard footsteps approaching them.

The two broke apart as though they were caught doing something other than a duel. 

When Loki’s mother rounded the corner, anger in her eyes, Loki began to wish the sword was still at his throat. 

“Your majesty.” Frigga said, the annoyance in her voice obvious. “If it wouldn’t be too much of an inconvenience for you, perhaps you could get back to your royal responsibilities.”

“Mother, I…” Loki began but the look on her face stopped him in his tracks. “Of course.”

Loki picked up his helmet and began the annoying process of shoving his hair back into it. 

“Thank you for the duel.” Loki told Sylvie as he stooped to pick up his sword. “Perhaps we can try it again sometime.”

Sylvie nodded in agreement.

“We will have to, my liege.” she told him “That dagger move was cheating by the way.”

“Ah but cheating is the best kind of mischief.” he explained with a smug grin as he quickly moved to follow his mother, leaving Sylvie to stand alone in the garden.

Chapter Text

Sylvie was completely taken aback by what had just happened. 

Her target literally challenged her to a duel in an empty garden. It was as though the King was openly courting death, begging her to deliver the killing blow.

But as the fight commenced, she quickly became distracted. The way he fought was so proper, almost dancelike, but he could fight. There was no doubt in her mind that he would do real damage in an actual battle, his beautiful long black hair billowing behind him as he decimated opponents. 

She could see how much he loved it. A real fight against someone who wasn't holding back and he did not hold back either. Clever enough to realize that despite being a woman, she was a formidable opponent and responded as needed.

She defeated him, of course. There was never a doubt in her mind that she would and this was the moment that should have ended King Loki’s life. 

But she hesitated and she had no idea why. No one was around. It would have been all too easy to open his throat and leave before a guard even thought to come looking for him. But for a whole second she did not kill him, which is when he managed to get the upper hand with the dagger to her back.

She hated herself for how quickly her skin warmed when he pulled them closer together. How even though enough time had passed, she was still unable to catch her breath. What about this moment had her so confused and physically aware?

It doesn’t matter. A momentary lapse that won’t happen again. Sylvie assured herself as she made her way into the palace.

Perhaps it is time I do a bit of research on the target. Sylvie determined. Suss out his weaknesses and exploit them.

Sylvie snuck her way into the throne room. Though it was mostly empty besides the throne, Sylvie was small enough to fit behind a pillar that was within listening distance of the throne.

Not long after she had concealed herself, Loki entered the room escorted by a flock of yes-men. Sylvie had to restrain herself from retching.

Loki nodded as though he were paying attention to everything the courtiers were saying, but Sylvie doubted it. Resentment boiled up in her as she stared down this man who shouldn’t be king. 

Sylvie looked at him smugly. 

Bet you love every minute of sitting in that chair. Sylvie thought, her resentment ever-growing. Big brother cast aside and you as King. What you’ve always wanted, so I’ve heard. 

“Your majesty.” a courtier began as they escorted the king to his throne. “The citizens of Asgard will be here in a few moments.”

“Thank you.” Loki said. Rather than sitting down immediately, Sylvie noticed him hesitate. He stared at the throne for a moment, as though he expected it to bite him but managed to sit down before the courtiers opened the doors.

A group of twenty or so villagers entered the room, all looking around the room as if it were divine.

Ah, is a group of citizens come to praise the king? Pathetic. But naturally something Loki would love to have. 

A man stepped out in front of the crowd tentatively and quickly dropped to his knees in the lowest bow Sylvie had ever seen.

“Your majesty, this is Hans, a sheep herder from the valley.” one of the more stiff looking courtiers explained. 

“Please rise, Hans, and explain your situation to me.” Loki bid the man with his nose to the floor. 

Ah no. Citizens lodging complaints against the crown. Surprised there aren’t more. Though I suppose his majesty would not want to deal with too many grievances. Might dim a light on his day.

“My liege, I am a humble sheep herder who has provided this land and the palace many goods over the years. The wool my sheep provide is used in many of the palace blankets and perhaps even the cape his majesty adorns.”

Hans seemed to blush at this admission. 

“Tis a rather fine cape.” Loki remarked, looking down at it, seeming almost admiring. “Thank you for your hard work.”

“Of course, your majesty, I am at your service.” Hans moved to bow again but Loki raised his hand in protest which stopped Hans in his tracks.

He really doesn't like the repeated bowing. He wasn’t just flirting with me. Sylvie thought then quickly felt embarrassed of it. 

“The problem, my liege, is that my wool production has been lower this season than in previous years.” Hans explained, the quiver in his voice that had started small getting stronger as he got to the heart of his issue. “I have some sheep kids who will be ready to be parted with their coats soon but I am afraid I do not currently have enough wool for the palace and the Asgardian citizens.”

“What is it you are asking of me, Hans?” Loki asked, leaning forward.

“I hoped his liege would find it possible that I could delay my order with the palace for at most two months.” Hans rushed into saying. 

The room gasped and Sylvie rolled her eyes. 

Yeah that’s not going to happen. Sylvie thought. The regal of Asgard cannot let appearances slip. 

“Sir,” one of the courtiers began. “Surely you understand that with the war going on that the soldiers are part of the palace and will need that wool during battle.”

Loki turned to this courtier, a scowl adorned his usually lovely features. Sylvie was surprised by the open loathing he showed.  

But when he turned back to the villager, the scowl had vanished, the gentleness returned. 

“Apologies for my attendant.” Loki said, the bitterness in his voice impossible to miss. “I see no problem with your request, Hans.”

“My liege, the soldiers.” the courtier began to complain.

“We are months away from cold weather.” Loki reasoned, not even bothering to look in that courtier’s direction. “And should a battle commence in a colder environment, I am certain that the palace with its many wool blankets and capes can manage to clothe our soldiers.”

Wow. That was so considerate and brilliant and...kingly? Sylvie found herself stunned that he could come up with something so quickly that wasn’t shit. 

“You shall have your three months, Hans and I wish you luck with your flock.” Loki smiled. 

“I only requested two, my liege.” Hans tried to explain but Loki merely sat back on the thorne in response. 

The rest of the requests were much smaller ones, but Loki appeared to listen to every single one and carefully consider the best option. In no time, the room was empty.

“Where are the others?” Loki asked of the courtier. 

“This was all there was for the day.” the courtier informed him. 

“Excellent.” Loki said, though his face did not break from the concentrated look he had been wearing since entering the throne room. “What is next on today’s agenda?” 

“The christening of the new battle ship. Odin’s Might. ” a different courtier read from a scroll. 

“Great.” Loki responded, Sylvie noticing him holding back a sigh. “Hey, why is it called christening if we are Norse gods? Shouldn’t it be norseing?”

Sylvie smiled in spite of herself but the courtier stoically stood by Loki, waiting.

“Very well. To the marina.” Loki proclaimed, rising from his throne, scepter in hand and began to leave the throne room, though Sylvie could swear there was a subtle drag in his step. 

Sylvie could not blame him. This seemed like the more tedious part of ruling a kingdom and Sylvie was not looking forward to observing it herself.

She followed him for the rest of the day. After the boat christening there was a meeting with the war council where a very impassioned general with a clear hatred of the King refused to even let Loki say a word, dismissing the meeting before he could even talk. Sylvie admired this woman; her dominance of the room was something she strived for.

After the war council, there were meetings with the treasury, the festival planning committee, a brief discussion with a Jotunheim ambassador who did not seem to like Loki any more than the general did. And finally it seemed like Loki might be done for the day. 

It was down to Loki and a single courtier. The two of them walked towards a room so small that Loki had to remove his helmet and enter on his knees. It took Sylvie far longer than it should have for her to realize that this was a chapel for prayer. 

I never took Loki as a religious type. He is a God, who could he possibly be praying to?

The courtier shut the door and walked away, leaving Loki alone for the first time all morning. Or at least he thought he was alone. 

After a few moments, Loki emerged from the small room, now wearing a modest tunic with brown slacks and a long ragged cloak to cover his face, his helmet left in the room. 

Oh, is this where the day gets interesting? Sylvie thought, giving Loki a few minutes to scan the area to make sure he was alone. Safely hidden in the shadows, Loki did not see her and began to make his way out of the palace.

Sylvie followed him at a distance, noticing him constantly looking around to make sure he wasn’t noticed or followed. His nerves began to make her nervous in turn and she joined him in the paranoia of searching around. This continued until the two had walked into the village, a place Sylvie had never been despite her cover story of being a merchant. In fact, she saw the stall that Post had rented for her displaying beautiful weapons she had collected during her travels. It was quite convincing if she said so herself. 

They walked around the corner from the markets and stalls to a small building, set apart from all the others, a look of unkemptness to it. 

Is his majesty visiting a brothel? Sylvie wondered, a grin spread across her face. A bit early in the day for it, but I suppose you have to scratch your carnal itches when you can.

And perhaps this is the perfect moment for the King’s life to end. 

Sylvie reached for her crossbow, thinking this would be the perfect weapon. He wouldn’t even see it coming. 

Though I do pity the poor sex worker who rather than being paid for services rendered will have to report the assassination of their sovereign. 

She shook these thoughts from her head as she loaded the arrow into the bow and aimed. Admittedly, her skill with the crossbow was not as prodigious as she would like. But she just loved being upclose for a kill, it felt more exciting for her. However if she tried to go in with a dagger, he could scream, alerting the market and she would be trapped. 

Needs must. She thought and planted her feet firmly on the ground and focused her aim right at his heart.

But don’t I want this to be personal? She thought. This isn’t just another kill for me. And Loki should suffer and know why he is dying and that it is by my hand.  

Sylvie was still debating with herself when Loki knocked on the door. An elderly woman with a kind face answered. As Loki removed his hood to show his face, the woman’s face widened in a smile.

“Bout time you showed.” she told him. “Was beginning to think you wouldn’t” 

Maybe the festival of eligible suitors skews a bit young for his majesty... Sylvie speculated before a clammer of noise interrupted her thoughts. 

What could only be described in Sylvie’s mind as a gaggle of kids ran out the door and practically tackled Loki to the ground, Loki laughing as the children wrapped their arms around whatever part of him they could grab. 

Sylvie lowered the crossbow and ventured a bit closer to the fray. 

“Hello.” Loki greeted, still laughing at the sight of all these children. “How are we all today?”

At least ten different children started talking quickly and loudly at once. Loki smiled as they all scrambled to tell him just how they were doing.  

“Glad to hear it.” Loki responded, but Sylvie was sure he had not heard a word any of them had said. 

“What did you bring us this time, King Loki sir?” a small little girl with fiery braids asked. 

“Well, my darling Astrid” Loki began, bending his knees so he was face to face with the hopeful little girl. “It is not wise to assume that every time I visit, I will be bringing gifts.”

“But you always bring gifts, Mr. King.” a little boy not much bigger than Astrid informed Loki

“So has been true thus far, but might not always be the case dear Peder.” Loki pointed out, leaning towards the boy as he did so.

“It’s ok, my liege.” A young boy, clearly the eldest of these small children replied. “You don’t need to bring us gifts. You've already done so much for the orphanage."

The sad look on the older boy's face nearly broke Sylvie’s heart and she could tell by the look on Loki’s face that he felt the same.

"Now, now, Alesandr." Loki said, untangling himself from the other children to wrap an arm around the boy. "I said you shouldn't expect gifts, not that I didn't have them."

Loki reached in the air and appeared to conjure a small electronic device out of thin air and immediately handed it to the boy.

"Now I have absolutely no idea how to work it, but Prince Thor brought it back from Midgard saying it was a 'gaming device' and he was sure you could figure it out."

The boy's eyes lit up as he held the small item in his hand.

"Thank you, your grace." The boy wrapped his arms around Loki and Loki grinned into the boy's shoulder.

They soon parted and Loki began to conjure many other toys that he gleefully handed over to the other children, each of them seeming thrilled by their gift.

"You spoil them, my liege." The elder woman whom Sylvie assumed was the orphanage matron said. "Alesandr is right. You got us set up in a permanent location, assure that there are plenty of clothes and food for them, not to mention the visits...you must have better things to do with your time."

"And as I told you, dear Marte, I can think of no better use of my time or resources." Loki told her in a way no one could think was disingenuous.

Sylvie suddenly felt an overwhelming urge to run over and hug him, but immediately felt disgusted.

This is a man you are supposed to murder, not develop warm and fuzzy feelings towards.

"Now, who wants to hear a story about a weary traveler, wandering through a desolate wasteland." Loki asked of the children.

The kids gathered around him, it appeared story time was a common occurrence at these visits. Loki sat down in front of the children and began his story.

He had everyone captivated with the tale, Sylvie and Marte included. He did voices, mimicked fights and struggles, he would even act out certain scenes, much to the children's joy. When his story was finished, everyone but Sylvie clapped. Though she had not done her best to hide, she knew Loki was far too distracted by the children to notice her.

"Now, your majesty." Marte interjected as Loki stood up from the ground "isn't there a lovely song that goes with that story?"

Loki looked at the woman with a mildly bemused glare.

"I do believe so." Loki answered, though it was clear he knew perfectly well there was. "But I'm afraid there is no instrumental accompaniment"

Marte smirked as she pulled out a small ukulele from behind her.

"I couldn't." Loki tried but the children immediately started begging for the song and Sylvie saw he would relent.

"Very well." Loki agreed. "But you all must stand and sing along at the appropriate times."

The children all stood, gleefully nodding as Loki took a deep breath and prepared to sing. 

“Men trærne de danser

Og fossene stanser

Når hun synger, hun synger

Kom hjem

Men trærne de danser

Og fossene stanser

When she sings she sings come home

When she sings she sings come home”

Sylvie remembered this song. She hadn’t heard it in a very long time, but it filled her with a sense of happy memories from a long forgotten childhood. As Loki clapped and danced around with the children, singing this song of misery but in the most joyous of tones, Sylvie couldn’t help but smile for both her memories and the joy on Loki’s face.

Soon, he shushed the children and Marte stopped her playing.

I don’t remember this being the end of the song. Sylvie thought, disappointed that it was over so soon but then Loki started to sing again without instrumental accompaniment. 

“I stormsvarte fjell jeg vandrer alene

Over isbreen tar jeg meg frem

I eplehagen står møyen den vene”

It was then that Loki looked away from his enraptured audience of children and saw Sylvie. She knew he saw her because she had abandoned all attempts at hiding as soon as he started singing. When his eyes met hers, a wide smile broke out across his face and he missed the beat to start the next verse. He seemed to notice this and began to sing again, this time with his eyes locked on her.

“Og synger: når kommer du hjem?”

Against her wishes, Sylvie’s heart fluttered at this. It felt as though he was singing for her and only her, the children long forgotten. 

A clearing of Marte’s throat seemed to bring them both back to reality as Loki finished the final verse of the song, clapping along, but his focus stayed on Sylvie.

At the end of the song, the children cheered and whooped, begging Loki to sing another song.

“It is getting late, little ones.” Marte said, standing from her chair and preparing to usher the children back inside. “Say your goodbyes to his majesty and change into your bedclothes.”

The children lined up and each emphatically hugged Loki and thanked him for their new toys. Loki returned their hugs and acknowledged each of them individually.

Once the last of the children had gone inside and Loki had bid the matron farewell, he approached Sylvie. 

“What brings you here?” Loki asked her, still smiling.

“I should ask you the same question, your majesty.” Sylvie replied snarkily. 

Loki chuckled.

“I would have thought it was obvious by now.” Loki retorted. “How did I not see you on my way down here?”

While she might have done a terrible job at hiding, she was excellent at coming up with clever lies. 

“Perhaps his majesty was too distracted by his disguise to notice me at my stall just down the street.” she pointed for emphasis at the weapons stall. 

“Right, of course.” Loki said as he pulled the hood of his cloak over his face and  began to walk back up the street towards the palace. Sylvie walked with him. “How went the merchanting today?”

“Fair.” Sylvie lied smoothly. “Did not sell as much as I expected, but it is sufficient enough for my needs.”

“Perhaps I can make up the difference?” Loki suggested, pulling out a small bag of coins. 

“I could not accept your majesty.” Sylvie said, though she knew she should have been more than willing to part this man with his money. 

“Alright.” Loki replied, making the coin bag disappear. 

They walked for a few moments in silence, passing by Sylvie’s supposed stall in the process. 

“Why don’t you just glamor yourself?” Sylvie heard herself asking. “You wouldn’t have to wear terrible clothes. You could just walk through the streets unnoticed.”

Loki winced. 

“I had considered it. But I decided I would rather come as myself.” Loki explained. 

“Why come at all?” Sylvie asked. “If you don’t mind such a question, my liege.”

Loki chuckled.

“Should a king not provide for the struggling of his realm?” Loki asked her as though this were the most obvious of answers.

“Most of the sovereigns I know would just send some money in their direction and move on with their lives.”

“But alas, I am not most of the sovereigns you know.” Loki replied.

Sylvie glanced at him for a moment, the smug grin on his face making her want to punch him but also it amused her.

“No, you’re certainly not.” she agreed instead. 

Loki took a deep breath, as though he hesitated to say what he was about to next, but looked as though he was gonna continue anyway.

“It’s important to me that the orphans of the city are well cared for.” Loki admitted. “I know I was adopted very early on in my life, but I always felt like there was something missing. I never really felt like I fit in the world I lived in and until I learned I was adopted, I didn’t know why.”

As he explained, Sylvie looked at him, the genuine pain across his face surprised her. 

“Though my parents loved me, I never felt like they loved me as much as my brother.” Loki continued. “Perhaps they just couldn’t or perhaps the pain I felt wouldn’t allow me to see it. That pain radiates through me and it leaves a mark on my every action, no matter how much I wish it wasn’t so.”

Loki sat with this thought for a moment before Sylvie saw him shake it away.

“But I want these children to know that they are loved, even if it is by a king whose name they will hardly remember in a few hundred years. Maybe it won’t fill that void like the one I have, but I know I tried.”

Sylvie swallowed hard. 

“My apologies.” Loki began, seeming to sense her discomfort. “I shouldn’t have laid that all on you. Not the most pleasant of walking conversations.”

“It is alright.” Sylvie told him, glad her voice sounded composed. “I know exactly what you mean about that void.”

Loki looked to her, the curiosity bubbling up in his eyes. 

“Do you?” he asked her. 

“Yes.” Sylvie told him. “I was kidnapped as a young child, taken away from my home and my family. By the time I managed to escape and make my way back home, they had already forgotten me.”

The look of pain was back on Loki’s face.

“I am truly sorry.” Loki replied, which caused Sylvie to snap back. 

“I do not need your pity, your majesty.” Sylvie bit at him. “I am not even sure why I told you.” 

She began to walk a bit faster, admonishing herself for even sharing that part of her life. She had never talked about her past, least of all with someone she was supposed to be trying to kill. 

Loki jogged to catch up with her. 

“It is not pity, I assure you.” Loki explained. “Only a fool would pity you. And only a group of monsters would dare forget you.”

Sylvie felt her skin warm at this comment. 

“I apologize because I…” Loki seemed to struggle with the words here. “While our aches are not the same, the void they create scars the same way.”

“Perhaps it does.” Sylvie replied, trying to sound cavalier.

The castle was in their sights, Loki removed his hood and turned to her. 

“I suppose this must be where we part ways.” Loki told her. “Thank you for sharing your story with me, even though you regretted it.”

Loki took a deep breath. 

“It is a relief to know someone else out there can possibly understand how I feel.”

Loki reached for her hand, bending to leave a brief kiss on the surface of it. 

As he was distracted, Sylvie surveyed the area, counting the guards and trying to decide if this should be the moment she strikes. 

At least 5 guards, which could be taken out easily enough. Sylvie ruminated. But I think I could find better circumstances if I just bide my time. 

As his lips touched her skin, Sylvie felt her shoulders tingle. It was as though he had electrocuted her hand rather than kissed it. Her impulse was to jerk it away, but she knew that wasn’t appropriate. 

“I am glad my liege feels less alone.” Sylvie found herself saying and even worse realizing it was true.

Loki smiled half heartedly, Sylvie was sure he wanted to ask if she felt the same but she desperately hoped he wouldn’t. She was afraid of what the answer might be. 

“I understand the need for titles, but I would prefer it if you called me Loki.” Loki told her.

“Aren’t you afraid I will become to familiar, Loki?” Sylvie asked. 

“Not at all.” he responded. “In fact, I hope it encourages it.”

The shocked look on Loki’s face told Sylvie he hadn’t meant to admit that, but she decided not to remark on it. 

“Well then Lady Sylvie, I bid thee goodnight.” Loki bowed.

“If you are Loki, can I be Sylvie?” she asked, though she wasn’t sure why it mattered.

Loki smiled. 

“As the lady commands.” he said as he walked away.

Sylvie sighed as she watched him go. 

A day of observing her target and all that she had learned was that he was a great king with a good heart who loves children.

This is going to be tougher than I thought.

Chapter Text

When Loki awoke the next morning, he didn’t feel like he had slept at all. His dreams were far too consumed with the conversation he had with Sylvie. The entire night, his subconscious replayed it over and over again. Even though it had only been a few minutes in time, Loki must have memorized every second of it. He could see every small change in Sylvie’s face as she told him about her traumatic childhood kidnapping. The pain that she still felt written on her face even though much like himself she tried to hide it. And Loki suspected a bit of relief to share this with someone and know that understand.

Logically he knew that there must be others out there who could understand how he felt but meeting someone, especially someone like Sylvie who was so strong and resilient, who could at least on some level know how it feels seemed magical. Beyond any magic that either he or his mother were capable of.   

Loki was so distracted by his thoughts, he did not see his brother entering the war room where he sat waiting for the meeting. 

“What have you done?” Thor exclaimed, a look of terror in his eyes.

Loki looked around for a moment, assuming he must be talking to someone else. But after seeing no one, he realized Thor must be referring to him. 

“I haven’t done anything.” Loki answered honestly, that truth surprised even him.

“You have fooled me one too many times brother for me to believe that. So out with it.” Thor said, a bit of rage in his words. “Did you sabotage the weaponry?”

Thor ran over to the nearest broadsword to pick it up. After seeming to determine it was fine, he whipped around the room.

“Is it me? Have you put itching powder in my clothing again?” Thor asked, but began stripping down before Loki could answer. 

“Brother, there is no need to disrobe.” Loki said, walking over to his brother as though to stop him, Thor’s shirt was already removed. “I haven’t sabotaged the weapons or your wardrobe or even General B-15’s chair.”

Though admittedly that is not a bad idea. 

Thor ran over to the General’s chair, clearly to see if Loki’s words were true. After it seemed to determine they must be, he sighed. 

“Then what has you in a such a good mood?” Thor asked, accusingly. 

“Am I?” Loki questioned, completely unsure why Thor would come to this conclusion. 

“You have been smiling since I walked in the room.” Thor explained. “When I greeted you, you did not look up from the spot you were staring.”

Have I been smiling? Loki wondered. Has it been this way the entire morning?

Loki wasn't sure how to feel about this, but he acted on his first instinct which was denial.

“You merely caught me in a moment of reflection.” Loki explained, realizing it was a partial truth. “Reflections are something people with a lot on their minds are prone to do.”

Usually insulting Thor’s intelligence caused him to back off a bit, but today he seemed undeterred.

“You jest brother, but I have every right to be concerned, especially with an attack bound to happen at any moment.” Thor explained.

“No one is more aware of that than I, Thor.” Loki told him, affronted that Thor would think him so thoughtless. “The lives of the citizens of Asgard are in my hands as well as yours.”

“Then what is it you were thinking of?” Thor questioned. “It couldn’t be the realm, if they worry you so.”

Loki contemplated sharing his thoughts and feelings with Thor, but before could decide, they were joined by General B-15.

“Sorry I am late.” B-15 said, removing her helmet as she crossed to her seat on the other side of the room.

“General, I do apologize for my state of undress.” Thor said, moving to put his shirt back on. 

“To be honest, General, I am more surprised when your shirt is on than off.” B-15 snarked bemusedly.

Loki giggled at this comment. 

“How are you today, General?” Loki asked cordially.

“As good as can be expected with a war going on, your majesty.” B-15 responded back coldly. “I am terribly sorry to have missed the opening night of your marriage festival. I am afraid there were too many actual important issues to be dealing with for me to attend.”

Loki smiled at her, her absolute hatred of him almost endearing. He didn't even care enough to feel the need to correct her.

But he did love to annoy.

“I am sure your presence was sorely missed, Bathildaheidrun.” Loki said, knowing hearing her full name would annoy her and being rewarded with the scowl on her face.

“Let’s cut to the chase.” B-15 began, sitting down in her chair on the other end of the table from Thor and Loki. “Thor said you might have a solution to our weapons shortage?”

“I do.” Loki agreed, taking a seat and gesturing for Thor to sit next to him.

“Well I am all ears.” B-15 said, folding her arms on the table and leaning towards him. 

“I met a merchant at the opening of the festival the other night.” Loki began to explain

A beautiful, clever, strong merchant.

“She deals in weaponry and said she has the ability to make a bulk order for our armies.”

B-15 cackled. 

“A merchant? Your solution to provide weapons to hundreds of soldiers is to ask favors from one of your suitors?’ B-15 questioned, her eyebrows furrowed.

“She is not a suitor.” Loki defended, though he wasn’t sure why that was important to him.

“Doesn’t matter.” B-15 told him. “Did you at least bring a weapon for me to inspect?”

Loki cringed. 

Really should have thought of that. 

“I did not.” Loki admitted. “I did inspect it myself though. It was an incredible quality of work. The balance was just right, the weight seemed to be…”

“Forgive me, my liege.” B-15 said patronizingly. “But your word on the quality of these weapons is not enough for me. I do not approve of this merchant supplying weapons to my soldiers, especially since it is all in an attempt for you to bed her.”

Loki stood, fury igniting in him, his eyes narrowing. 

“Excuse me, General.” Thor responded, holding his hand out to Loki as if he expected Loki to pounce on B-15. “I believe I am the commanding general. I have been dueling with my brother since childhood. We have fought many battles together with a variety of weaponry. And if he says they are good quality, I do not doubt him.”

Loki’s fury dulled a bit with this comment, his brother’s support meaning a great deal to him. 

“You might be the commanding general, but I am the longest running and I have the only access to the war funds which I will not allow to be used in this hollow attempt at wooing from a…”

B-15 seemed to think better of saying her next words and moved to return to her seat. When she sat down however, the chair moved and she crashed down to the floor. 

“Dammit!” she exclaimed as she moved to get herself off the floor. 

Thor looked over to Loki, whose grin and still outwardly gestured hand said it all.

“This discussion is over.” B-15 told them as she stormed out of the room.

As soon as the door shut behind her, the brothers laughed in unison.

“Brother, was that the wisest move?” Thor asked, clutching his stomach from all of the laughing. 

“Perhaps not.” Loki responded, beginning to clutch at his stomach as well. “But it felt good in the moment.”

“Was she right though?” Thor asked. “Not about the weapon wooing thing, it is too obvious of a tactic for you to employ. Is there a prospective spouse on the horizon?”

Loki’s smile faded away.

“Not a spouse, no.” Loki told him firmly. 

“But perhaps someone whom you have taken an interest in?”

Loki wanted to deny it. He could come up with a million lies and not bat an eye at telling them. But Loki didn’t want to deny it, which scared him even more than the prospect of having an actual interest in someone.

He merely looked at Thor and the message came across.

“Brother!” Thor cheered, wrapping his arms around Loki. “I always hoped this day would come for you.”

“I assure you, it is not that important.” Loki told him, grimacing by the intensity of the hug and wishing Thor would soon let go. “Probably a fleeting feeling at best.”

“Judging by the way you almost attacked B-15, it seemed to be motivated by more than just a fleeting interest.”

“Oh you know she and I have never gotten along.” Loki justified. “She hated me from the moment we met and I joined her in that feeling a few clever insults later.”

“Loki.” Thor interrupted. “It is ok to care about someone.”

Loki looked at Thor for a moment and he realized he needed to hear those words. 

“Thank you, brother.” Loki said.

Thor nodded.

“So, tell me about her.” Thor said, sitting down.

“I am not sure I have the time to…”

“You had an hour for this meeting that B-15 ended in five minutes.” Thor reasoned. “If it takes you more than 50 minutes to describe this woman, perhaps you are more interested than you want to admit.”

Loki sighed, but took a chair and began to talk to Thor about Sylvie. 

Thor seemed to be right however, as the fifty minutes came and went and Loki felt as though he could have kept on talking. But the two parted ways and Loki prepared to go to the throne room. 

Is this what obsession feels like? I’ve never thought about anyone, not even past lovers for more than a few moments. But everything in the universe seems to remind me of this woman I just met. Even the mere action of walking reminds me of the steps we took together last night. 

Loki’s ruminations were interrupted as he walked towards the weapons vault. There stood Sylvie, determined look on her face, her hand wrapped around the wrist of the guard which appeared to be glowing green. 

“Now tell me, what is the combination to the vault?” Sylvie asked, her gaze fixated on the guard who looked as though he couldn’t comprehend his surroundings.

Sylvie is trying to break into the vault?

“I am afraid he wouldn’t know the answer to that.” Loki replied calmly.

Sylvie jerked back and turned her head to Loki. 

Before Sylvie could form a reply, the guard dropped down to the ground, unconscious. 

“Well that is unfortunate for him.” Loki remarked, a bit amused. “Will he be alright?”

“Should be.” Sylvie replied, dropping the guard’s arm. “It typically knocks them out for a few minutes although usually peoples’ minds are a bit harder to get into than this man’s.”

Loki nodded, making a mental note to seek out more mentally competent guards. 

“Might I ask why you were trying to break into the weapons vault?” Loki asked calmly.

“I wanted to see what your soldiers typically use in battle so I know what to make them.” Sylvie cooly replied. 

 A little too cooly. Loki decided. 

“But that could have been a question you asked any soldier, or even that guard you just...enchanted?” Loki suggested, questioning if enchantment was truly what she was trying to do.

Sylvie looked frustrated. 

“Fine.” Sylvie admitted sounding annoyed. “I wanted to see the legendary weapons Asgard is rumored to possess.”

Loki laughed. 

A motivation that I can understand. 

“My apologies, but I’m afraid we can’t just show them to anyone.” Loki teased. “But perhaps if you figured out how to get into the vault…” 

Loki gestured towards the door. 

“I will give you a hint, it is not a combination lock.” Loki told her and leaned back against a wall, waiting for her to try. 

Sylvie gave him a withering stare and she moved in to more closely inspect the door. Loki could see her puzzling about how the door must open. She tried knocking, kicking, and even whispering what Loki was sure she thought were passwords. She even tried ramming her sword between the crack of the door and the wall whilst Loki ate an apple he conjured. 

“This isn’t the vault, is it?” she frustratedly concluded. “You stationed a guard to protect a broom closet.”

Loki laughed, the look of indignation on her face not stopping his amusement. 

“No, but that does sound like a brilliant idea.” Loki teased. 

“If you don’t want me in there, all you had to do was say so, my liege.” Sylvie said, walking away in frustration. 

“Sylvie wait!” Loki yelled, seeing her pause down the hall. “Just a bit of mischief.”

He walked over to the vault door and placed his hand on the handle. The door glowed red and opened. 

“Only a member of the royal family can open it from either side.”

Sylvie walked back and gazed at the open door. 

“And yet you let me whisper to a wall for ten minutes.” Sylvie chided, but she smiled so Loki knew she was no longer mad. 

He gestured for her to walk into the room, and Sylvie’s eyes immediately became wide. From floor to ceiling, various weapons adorned the walls or stood in the middle of the floor in glass cases. 

“Why don’t your soldiers use these weapons?” Sylvie asked, lifting a warhammer. 

“They do.” Loki told her as the door closed behind him. “But unfortunately some of these weapons are too old to be considered reliable in the field and the ones that are will not equip all the soldiers.”

Then Loki remembered his conversation with B-15 and felt his good mood disappear.

Oh how I hate to disappoint her.

“Sylvie, I have some awful news.” he told her. 

Sylvie paused in her admiration of a mace to look at him. 

“What is it?” Sylvie asked him, her eyes narrowing as she looked at him. 

“My commanding general, not Thor the other one, she will not allow me the funds to obtain your services.” Loki explained, his eyes barely able to meet hers as he did so.

“Oh.” Sylvie responded simply.

“I am so sorry.” Loki told her, as he bowed his head fearing that he had gravely upset her. “I did not intend to mislead you.”

Sylvie looked at him for a moment, as though she were thinking something over. 

“You truly are sorry?” Sylvie asked, skeptically. 

“Yes. I truly am.” Loki told her honestly. 

Sylvie nodded. 

“I understand.” Sylvie told him, returning her attention to a spiked lance. “These sorts of things happen all the time in my line of work.”

Loki was surprised by her lack of emotion on the matter. Perhaps she was worried about upsetting him if she showed she cared. 

“I would understand if you were angry.”

“I am not.” Sylvie assured him and Loki could see she was telling the truth. 

Loki didn’t want to breathe the sigh of relief in lungs but he had no choice and did it anyway. 

Though she had said it didn't bother her, Loki felt compelled to make it up to her...somehow. As he glanced around the room at all the beautiful weapons, inspiration struck.

“I would like to procure your service though.” Loki told her. 

“That is not necessary.” Sylvie said, making her way towards the back of the room. 

“It is for me.” Loki explained. “My sword, whilst very nice, is not one suitable to my new station. I was hoping you could craft me something more...regal.”

Sylvie turned back to him. 

“So should I adorn it with emeralds and serpents wearing diadems?” she teased.

Loki laughed. 

“Perhaps not something that ostentatious.” Loki reasoned. “Just different. More me.”

Sylvie smirked. 

“I think that could be arranged.” Sylvie replied.

“Excellent.” Loki said, relieved to see that she truly seemed happy. 

Sylvie made it to the back of the room where Odin’s spear sat in its case.

“Is this the Gungnir?” Sylvie asked. 

“Ah yes.” Loki said, walking towards her. “My royal father’s spear.

Sylvie stared into the case, eyes as fixated on it as they had been on the guard earlier. 

“Is it true that it has the power to instantly kill a god?” Sylvie asked, though her tone implied curiosity rather than concern.

Loki chuckled, a rumor that was a personal favorite of his. 

“Not quite so powerful as that, but it could certainly do some damage to us.” 

“I assume it is in this case because only Odin could lift it?” Sylvie inquired. 

At this, Loki’s smile faded. 

“No. It is not like Mjolnir where only the worthy have the ability to lift it.” Loki explained. “It is just a powerful weapon made for a godly king.”

“Then why do you not wield it?” Sylvie asked. 

Loki swallowed. He had been asked this question multiple times since the Allfather’s death but it never got easier to answer. 

“Didn’t seem appropriate.” Loki answered, giving her the basic answer he had given the others but he could tell by the way she looked at him that she didn’t believe it. Or at least wholly believe it. 

"How could it be inappropriate if you are the king?" she asked him, her voice almost a whisper even though they were completely alone. "And the God of Mischief is still a God."

Why do I want to tell her? Loki asked of himself. 

Maybe it is because I think she would understand, even though that’s absurd.  

"Because I am not truly an Odinson." Loki admitted to her, managing to keep his voice steady as he did. "And after this war, who knows how long I will remain king."

Sylvie looked at him doubtfully. 

"Do you think you will lose?" Sylvie asked.

"No." Loki answered honestly. "I have every faith in my generals and the people of this realm that we will endure and defeat Hela."

"But you don't intend to be king at war's end?"

"It is less about my intentions." Loki admitted. "I do not know for certain, but once the war is over and Thor has ensured the realm's safety, I believe that the throne will be his."

Sylvie moved to sit on the top of a long table often used for weapon shining. 

"You think he will take it from you?" she asked, and Loki thought he heard a bit of concern. 

Loki moved to lean with his back against the table next to her.

"I believe the Allfather will have made plans concerning it, another stipulation in his will. Or that the people will wish to have their champion representing them rather than…"

There was no mistaking the concern coming from Sylvie now as her eyes focused on him so intently. 

"Rather than…?" she asked, not unkindly.

An arrogant orphan who was never worthy of the Allfather’s love let alone his throne.

"Me." Loki simply replied, his eyes meeting hers. 

"And you will just let Thor take it?" Sylvie asked, seeming confused.

"I might not have before. Even as recently as a few months ago." Loki told her, never breaking his gaze. "But being King has made me want the best for my people.”

He paused for a moment to close his eyes and sigh. When he opened his eyes again, she was still looking at him.

"And the best will always be Thor." Loki finished, tearing his eyes away from hers as a blush formed. 

He had never admitted these things to someone else before. Sure the entire palace speculated of his inferiority complex with his brother but none of them really knew how it felt to grow up as the kid brother to a hero. No one seeing you because your brother shines so brightly. Your accomplishments never meaning as much as his. Your place being two steps behind and never alongside. 

"I'm not sure I can agree." Sylvie admitted.

Loki smiled weakly, sure she was just trying to flatter him. 

It's easy for her to say that now. She doesn't know Thor. Once she did, she would quickly yield to my point. 

Oh no, Thor! Loki quickly remembered. 

“Perhaps we should make our way out of here before my brother comes in for his daily inspection he thinks I don’t know about.”

Loki extended his hand to help her off the table.

Sylvie seemed reluctant to follow him, but then she hopped off the table and moved herself  in front of a case that held a long dagger of bluish tint, the pommel curved and decorated with ornate red stones. 

“What is this?’ she asked.

“That…” Loki walked over to the case. “Is an ice dagger. Forged on Jotunheim, it is the only weapon that can kill a Jotun no matter where on their body they are stabbed with it.”

Sylvie seemed to take a small step away from the case at these words and Loki understood. Of all the weapons in this room, it was probably the most dangerous, at least to him. 

Before Loki could speak again, he heard the door to the vault open. 

“Brother, is that you?” Thor asked as he entered. “What brings you to the vault?”

Loki jumped at his brother’s words, concealing Sylvie from his brother’s view as if they were teenagers caught somewhere they shouldn’t be. 

"I was just showing my friend around.” Loki told Thor honestly. 

“A friend?” Thor questioned, Loki hoping that Sylvie would miss the teasing note in his brother’s tone.

“Ah yes.” Loki said, stepping aside so Sylvie could now be seen. “Thor, this is Sylvie.”

Sylvie adjusted her cloak over herself and walked towards Thor to shake his hand.

“And Sylvie…” Loki began, though he felt his throat closing up a bit at seeing how quickly Sylvie approached Thor. “This is my brother, Prince Thor.”

“Your highness.” Sylvie said, curtsying for him which made Loki feel even more annoyed. “It is an honor to meet you.”

“The pleasure is all mine, Lady Sylvie.” Thor said, bending down as he reached for her hand placing a kiss on it. 

Loki stared at the two for a moment. He found himself looking for the usual signs that someone was enamored with his brother. But Sylvie did not blush nor did she seem flustered by the attention Thor gave her. Loki wanted to feel relieved by this, but knowing Sylvie as he did now, he couldn’t be sure that she was uninterested, or that she was putting on a great performance.

“Well then, we shall leave you to your counting and weighing.” Loki said, moving to usher Sylvie out the door. “Brother.”

Loki nodded curtly as he walked out the door with Sylvie. 

“It was great to meet you!” Thor shouted as the door shut behind them.

After walking down the hall for a few moments, Sylvie turned to him.

“Could you have gotten us out of there fast enough?” Sylvie asked, snarkily.

“You don’t know my brother.” Loki tried to reason. “When it comes to weapons, he is a magnificent bore.”

“But I like weapons.” Sylvie retorted.  

“You wouldn’t have within ten minutes of hearing about sword dexterity.” Loki told her, though he wasn’t sure it was true. 

Sylvie looked at him for a moment and Loki was sure she was about to call him a liar and ask him why he really wanted to get away from Thor so quickly. But if she had planned to say something, the words were lost.

“So your enchanting…” Loki started, hoping Sylvie would take to the change of subject. “Where did you learn of it?’

“I taught myself.” she explained. 

“Really?” Loki questioned, astonished. “That is incredible.”

“Not really.” she justified. 

“But it is.” Loki told her excitedly. “I spent months trying to master it in my youth but I just couldn’t get a handle on it.”

“Perhaps you were not a dedicated enough student.” Sylvie snarked to him jokingly.

Loki chuckled. 

“Perhaps not. Though Mother really did try.” Loki admitted. “So how does it work?”

Sylvie looked at him skeptically. 

“Not exactly wise to give away one of my best offensive tactics.” she explained to him. 

“Well the last I checked, you and I were not at war?” Loki reasoned. 

Sylvie sighed.

“Perhaps it would be easier if I just showed you.”

She cut him off in his walk and placed her hands around his neck, the same green glow from earlier shining against Loki’s skin. 

Loki’s skin warmed at her touch. His shoulders tensed and his stomach suddenly felt full of angry creatures. At first he thought it must be working, but then he realized he was alone in his mind. 

“I don’t understand.” Sylvie said, looking at him as though he had slapped her. “It always works.”

She dropped her hands and began to walk off in a huff, Loki jogged to keep up with her. 

“Is it because you have powers too?” she asked, but sounded unsure. 

“Afraid not.” Loki told her. “Despite the suddenness of it, my mind is just too strong to fall for something like that.”

Sylvie looked at him with a doubtful glare. 

“I’m going with the magician thing.” Sylvie said, slowing her pace to walk with him once again. “What all I can you do?”

“Magically, I assume?” Loki asked with a grin. 

Sylvie hit him firmly but playfully on the shoulder.

“Conjure, duplicate, create illusions, teleport short distances, and of course shapeshifting.” Loki listed off his powers casually. 

“Oh, is that all?” Sylvie remarked, her sarcastic tone not unnoticed by Loki. 

“No, but I wouldn’t want to give away my offensive tactics either.” Loki reasoned which caused her to smile, causing him to smile.

“So you were just trying to butter me up by calling enchanting incredible?” Sylvie asked, trying to sound indifferent.

“Never.” Loki told her, absolutely meaning it. “What I can do, while great, isn’t nearly as powerful as being able to control others. And learning it on your own, you’re amazing.”

Loki, realizing what he had just said, was about to correct himself when her hand touched his and he forgot how to speak. He just stared at the small hand on top of his and felt marveled. Had anyone ever reached out for him before? Had he ever wanted them to?

Before he could find his words again, a guard approached and Sylvie dropped her hand back to her side, leaving Loki feeling cold. 

“I should be going, especially if I have a regal weapon to make.” Sylvie said, walking away. “Your majesty.”

She briefly curtsied as she walked away and Loki stood in the hall, completely flummoxed by the surge of feelings he had.

If I am unable to be enchanted, what are these feelings I have for her?

Chapter Text

When Sylvie awoke the next morning, her head throbbed as the morning light streamed through the open archways in her bedroom. Though she hadn’t had a single drop of liquor that day, she could swear she was suffering from the effects of a hangover. As she moved to get out of bed, the man next to her grumbled. 

Oh right, that. Sylvie thought as she moved to the small bathroom to run herself a bath. I definitely shouldn’t have done that. 

She made the water as hot as possible as she stripped off her clothes and sunk into the tub. The steam already doing wonders for her headache, Sylvie began to scrub at her skin, as though desperate to wash the previous night away.

The day before had started as usual. 

Sylvie had awoken and dressed, trying to decide the best strategy for the mission. The talk with Loki on the way back from the orphanage was having an effect on her. Their shared pain, of never feeling loved enough, made her feel less alone which she did not think was possible until now. Loki was more than the bratty prince who desired a throne so much he nearly killed his brother and perhaps played a role in his father’s death in order to obtain it. Loki was a good king. And it wasn’t Loki who had done her wrong.

But that didn’t matter. She was an assassin and she never left a mission unfinished.

When she had finished dressing, she noticed she wasn’t alone in the room. Post laid on her bed, twirling one of her favorite daggers in his hands. 

“So is the King dead yet?” Post asked her sarcastically. 

“No.” Sylvie admitted bitterly. “This isn’t an ordinary mission, Post. He is constantly surrounded by guards.”

“Easy enough to take out.” Post pointed out. 

“I won’t.” Sylvie said.

“Ah right, you don’t kill civilians unless you have to.” Post responded, mockingly. “A bit annoying if you ask me.”

“No one asked you.” she retorted, quite ready for Post to get to the point and leave. 

“Indeed.” Post replied, smirking at her annoyance. 

“What is it that you want?”

“I want the King dead so I can get the hell out of here.” Post told her vehemently. “All these cheery people and beautiful weather. Makes me want to start slitting throats for the hell of it.”

Sylvie swallowed hard at this remark.  

“Nothing is keeping you here, Post.” she told him.

“Well…” Post stalked towards her and leaned his tall and lean form over her. “I wouldn’t say nothing.”

When he went to reach for her face, Sylvie slapped his hand away, which made him laugh. 

“What’s the matter?” Post asked, his words oozing with sarcasm. “Do I need to regale you with tales of my heartbreaking childhood before you will open your legs up for me?”

At this, Sylvie pulled the dagger she kept up her sleeve out and pressed it to Post’s neck. 

“I will not ask you again.” Sylvie snapped, her glare boring into him. “What do you want?”

Post laughed. 

“I have received intel that the weapons vault contains a powerful spear that can kill any God.” Post explained, seeming unphased by the vitriol from Sylvie. “Hela thought it might be useful in killing the king, if that is what you still want of course.”

Sylvie did not move but she did wonder if that was indeed what she still wanted.

“And how am I supposed to get into this vault for this God killing spear?” Sylvie asked him through gritted teeth, pushing the knife a bit closer. 

"My information stops at god killing spear. Though I can point you in the direction of said vault."

"Fine." Sylvie replied, reluctantly pulling the knife away from his throat. 

Her conversation with Post, which by some miracle Post left still alive, led her down to the vault where she hoped that the guards protecting it would know how to get it.

Fortunately for her, there was only one guard and he seemed completely unphased by the amount of attention Sylvie was giving him. Before he became any the wiser, Sylvie lunged forward and grabbed his wrist. Before the guard could protest, Sylvie forced her magic through her and into the guard’s mind. Normally once she was inside their minds, Sylvie was able to project them into a comforting scenario where they would eventually spill the information the Sylvie wanted. However this guard’s mind seemed surprisingly empty. His comforting scenario left them right where they were. 

What a strange character. Sylvie thought.

“Is this the weapons vault?” She asked.

“Yes.” the guard responded. 

“Good good.” Sylvie replied, a placid smile forming on the guard’s face.  

“Now tell me, what is the combination to the vault?” Sylvie asked him.

It was during this enchanting of the guards that Loki found her. She was sure he would catch on to her scheme, but instead he let her in the vault and quickly dismissed the rumors that it possessed any such god killing weapon.

“I am afraid he wouldn’t know the answer to that.” Sylvie heard a calm, but confident voice say behind her. 

Loki! Sylvie exclaimed internally. What are the odds that the king of asgard would be using this particular hallway right now?

As the guard fell unconscious and Sylvie dropped his hand, she desperately attempted to come up with some excuse for why she needed to enter the vault. 

“I wanted to see what your soldiers typically use in battle so I know what to make them.” 

“But that could have been a question you asked any soldier, or even that guard you just...enchanted?" Loki had questioned, curiosity sparking in his voice. 

"Fine, I wanted to see the legendary weapons Asgard is rumored to possess." 

Loki laughed and after letting her make a fool of herself trying to get into the vault, he let her in without question. 

After explaining that he wouldn't be needing a massive weapons order (a bit of relief since she had no means of producing weapons), he showed her around, answering any questions she had about the weapons it held. 

He quickly dismissed the idea that they possessed a god killing spear. 

Of course there is no God killing spear. Post is an idiot. 

When they got to the Gungnir, Odin's legendary weapon, she sensed Loki's discomfort. When she questioned why he didn't wield it, Loki tried dismissing her but for some reason, Sylvie wanted to know the real reason he didn't. When he confessed to her his insecurities about not being a real son of Odin, his belief that he would lose his throne when the war was over her heart seemed to break for him. 

"And the best will always be Thor." he had told her, looking away from her for the first time in minutes. 

She didn't know Thor, not really. But she didn't believe that could be true. Loki couldn't see that he was a good king and Asgard was better for having him on the throne. And this really began to tear at Sylvie. Part of the motivation for wanting Loki dead was that he was a bad guy, a bad king, and didn't deserve it. Sylvie didn't know about deserve, but the other points were easily refuted.

So how am I supposed to kill him? She wondered as Loki quickly began to try to shove her out of the vault. 

But not before her eyes fell on the ice dagger, which Loki had explained could kill a frost giant no matter where they were stabbed with it.

Deadly knowledge that he just openly shared with her. She could hardly believe it. It was as though a mark was practically lying down and pressing the knife to his own throat. Loki had shown no reservations in showing her this, his bright eyes gleaming from sharing this knowledge with her.  

Because he trusted her. 

Perhaps he is not as clever as I or he thinks.

When Thor had entered, Sylvie felt the instant shift in Loki. Suddenly Loki seemed on edge, perhaps a bit worried, though Sylvie couldn't imagine why that would be. She used his distraction to steal the ice dagger, not one to waste an opportunity like that and just managed to hide it before Loki made the introductions to his brother. She used Thor's customary introduction of a kiss of the hand to enchant him to see the ice dagger still in its case. It wasn't a long term solution, but it would be long enough for her to escape and with all luck use it. 

Loki had practically pushed them out the door before Sylvie could so much as say more than a few words to Thor. When she had questioned Loki about it, he said something about sword dexterity, but she could see in his eyes that there was more to it than that. She pondered several alternatives; either he just wanted to rush them out of the vault that Sylvie was not supposed to be in…

Or perhaps Loki was worried that Sylvie might like Thor more than him.

She decided to believe the first one because it made the most sense and it was the easiest to wrap her head around. 

The subject turned to her magic. Sylvie couldn't believe how impressed Loki had been with her magic. He had acted as though she were the most powerful sorceress on the planet rather than one who could just perform one incredibly powerful trick. 

Then he called her magic incredible. And he called her amazing. No one had ever given her a second thought, let alone called her things such as incredible and amazing. Despite herself, this had moved her and when she reached out for his hand she felt something; a feeling she had never felt before. Her hand felt as it did when she surged with her magic, but she knew that wasn’t what was happening. Her heart raced from the contact and judging by the way he looked at her hand on top of his, he must be feeling something similar. 

She was relieved when the guard showed up. It gave her a reason to let go because at that moment she couldn’t think of one. 

She decided to go down to the village and mind the stall which was her cover. She sold a lot of weapons, the perks of operating a weapons stall during wartime, but it allowed her a lot of time to think. 

Sylvie didn’t want to care about him. She didn’t feel things for people. She hadn’t since she was a child and had made her way through the world just fine without those types of entanglements, especially for someone she was supposed to be focused on killing. 

Sylvie began to wonder if she could do it. If she managed to get Loki alone and vulnerable, would she be able to make the kill. The hesitation in her thoughts drove her to madness. 

I do not care for him. Sylvie insisted to herself as she dug through the weapons for one she could present to him as he requested. He means nothing to me nor I to him. This is just another job. 

When the sun had gone down, Sylvie packed up the stall and headed back to the palace.

Maybe I will kill him tonight. Sylvie thought, becoming enraged with every step. Yes. I will find him wherever he is in the palace and just stab him. Who cares who is there to witness?

Sylvie was determined as she made her way into the palace. 

“Good evening, Lady Sylvie.” A pleasant guard had greeted her. 

Sylvie took this opportunity to place a hand to his temple, her fingers glowing upon contact. 

“Where are the king’s sleeping quarters?” she asked inside the guard’s brain.

Inside his mind, he drew her a map, leading her to a set of golden double doors that must be where Loki slept. 

“Thank you.” she said, releasing him from her hold and he dropped to the ground unconscious. 

She made her way through the palace, no actual plan of how the assassination would occur in her mind. Very unlike her. 

Sooner I get it done, the better. 

Once she made it to the golden double doors, she began to have second thoughts. 

Bursting in seems so unnecessary. She reasoned, feeling a bit like her old self. Perhaps I can go through one of these other doors and approach from the balcony. He probably isn’t even back to his chambers yet, so I will wait him out. 

Sylvie picked the lock of the room next to his, a thankfully empty one, and scaled from their balcony onto the King’s.

The second her feet touched the ground, she heard laughter. Multiple voices laughing. The King was in his room and he was not alone. 

Sylvie crept closer, curious who he might be spending his time with. 

On a cozy looking couch sat Loki with his back to her and one of the most beautiful women Sylvie had ever laid eyes on. The woman had incredibly long black hair and even longer legs. Every muscle on her body seemed taut and she seemed to only have eyes for Loki. 

Sylvie’s stomach dropped and she felt as though her legs could give out at any moment. 

But I thought he was unattached. Sylvie reasoned. He’s never mentioned a lover. 

But why would he? I am just the weapons merchant he has the occasional chat with.

"I never thought after all our years of fighting and fucking that the time would come that I would willingly seek you out." The woman admitted as she leaned back against the couch.

Gods, she even sounds seductive.

"Nor I, if I am honest." Loki admittedly to her, a sheepish smile on his face that might Sylvie ache at the purity of.

"And stranger still, I am glad of it." The woman continued to confess. "The thought of someone finding out that I sought you out used to fill me with such dread and embarrassment."

"A fact which you told me many times." Loki replied in a way that Sylvie could tell it bothered him though he tried to state it as a joke.

The way the woman smiled told Sylvie that she heard it the way Loki intended. 

"As though you didn't deserve it." 

"I did. I freely admit it." Loki raised his hands in admission. 

The two laughed and Sylvie felt as though something in her cracked at the joy they were sharing.

"You deserve more, Sif." Loki told the woman, a hand gently placed on top of hers. "You deserve more than tawdry affairs with someone you hate or longing exchanges with someone you love."

The woman who must be Sif laughed half heartedly. 

"It's impossible for me to fathom, but I actually believe you mean it." 

"I do mean it. Truly"

The way Loki looked at Sif, so honest and genuine.

It is almost like the way he looks at me.

This realization was more than she could stand.

I can’t be here. Sylvie quickly determined, her hands shaking so badly that she could hardly grasp the balcony railing she needed to use to leave. 

She didn’t know how she managed it, but Sylvie snuck out of the quarters unnoticed and made her way back to her room without running into a single soul. 

The door to her chambers slammed shut and Sylvie just wanted to start crying the moment it did. 

Unfortunately, she was not alone. 

“So, was my information good?” Post asked, perched on the edge of her, still twirling one of her knives in his hand. 

Sylvie carefully removed her cloak, sneaking the ice dagger into it and placed it on the small table in the room.

“Your information was shit.” she replied, relieved to hear that her voice was unaffected by her emotional turmoil. “No god killing spear, not even a god killing toothpick.”

“Damn.” Post replied, sounding truly annoyed. “So I suppose the king still breathes?”

He still breathes alright. Sylvie thought. By now, he is probably breathing very heavily with the most beautiful woman in all the nine realms.

“I don’t want to talk about the king right now.” Sylvie said, removing her gloves as she did so. 

“Well, we’ve never really been a pair for talking.” Post remarked, his eyes combing her over. 

She grabbed him by the collar and slammed him against the wall nearest her bed. 

“Trust me, I know.” she said as she pressed a hot and furious kiss to his lips. 

Post aggressively grabbed her body in response, ripping off her clothes before she could have second thoughts. 

Sylvie scrubbed harder at the memory of his body against hers. Not that they hadn’t scratched this particular itch many times in the past, but it felt different now. In the past, it was a matter of convenience, a warm attractive body to help pass the time, but this time had been to distract, to make her forget.

But it hadn't worked. Not for a single moment. 

Once her skin was red from scrubbing, she emerged from the tub, wrapping a towel around herself and went back to her room. 

Post sat up on her bed as though waiting for her to return to it. 

“Go.” she said simply, as she sought out clothes for the day. 

“No round two?” Post questioned, but the look in Sylvie’s eyes made him begin to gather his own clothing. 

Once he had vacated and Sylvie had dressed, she collapsed onto the bed, physically and emotionally exhausted. And still all she could think about was Loki.

How could he say these words and make her feel these things if he had a woman like the one from last night to greet him in his bedchamber?

And why in the fuck did she care?

Chapter Text

The second day of the festival began for Loki in a very familiar way; sound asleep in his bed when he was suddenly awoken by his bedroom door pounding open and a furious Thor storming in, Mjolnir in hand. 

“Loki!” Thor bellowed, furiously looking around the room. “What have you done?”

Loki yawned and sat up and tried to figure out what Thor could be referring to. 

“As I have just woken up, I really couldn’t have done much.” Loki replied calmly, which seemed to only ignite Thor’s fury. 

“You know damn well what I am talking about.” Thor charged over to Loki’s bed and dragged the king out of it. “I need to hear you own up to it.”

He threw Loki to the ground and began to more firmly grasp Mjolnir, as if prepared to use it. 

This woke Loki up, all the instincts from childhood bubbling up to protect himself. 

“Brother I swear to you, if I knew what you were referring to, I would have owned up to it by now.”

“Sif, Loki.” Thor shouted, not loosening his grip on his hammer. “Yesterday morning, you were focused on a woman named Sylvie yet you ended the night with Sif?”

“Ah, Sif.” Loki realized, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. “Should have known.”

Thor did not reply, he just continued to scowl, waiting for Loki’s reply.

“Not that I nor she should have to defend ourselves, but nothing happened last night between us.”

Thor’s face began to soften but he continued to keep the hammer in hand. 

“Why should I believe that?” Thor asked, the fury in his voice diminished.

“Why shouldn’t you?” Loki replied simply, standing up off the ground. “Why would I lie about it? And for that matter, why do you care?”

Thor finally released the hammer so that it dangled from his wrist from the strap.

Without another word, Thor turned and left Loki’s chambers, leaving a furious Loki behind.

Honestly. You would think Sif was his wife the way he is reacting. She’s not even his girlfriend, just a friend. A friend whose honor is more important to him than the word of his brother. 

Loki had been speaking the truth about the previous night, as hard as it was to believe. He had been alone with Sif, that was true. But she had only wanted to talk and talking was all that happened. She left his quarters after their conversation had concluded and at least he finished the night alone.  

 The rest of Loki’s day seemed to be consumed by the rumors of him and Sif. Normally Loki wouldn’t mind such things, the masses have to keep themselves entertained somehow, but this time he was concerned. 

What if Sylvie heard the rumors and believed them to be true? Would she be upset? Would she even care? Loki tormented himself with wondering about it. 

Loki wanted to believe she would care, but he couldn’t be sure. Between his official tasks for the day, he found himself looking for Sylvie. She wasn’t in the gardens. He passed by her room and didn’t hear any noise. He even chanced asking a maid if he had seen her that day. The maid shook their head and Loki felt his fall. 

This is ridiculous. Loki thought, making his way to the war room for the day’s briefing. The chances she has heard are small and even if she has, it shouldn’t matter. It is not as though we’re together and I owe her an explanation. 

Then why do I feel like I do?

Upon entering the war room, Loki completely ignored his brother and directed his focus on the General B-15.

“Are there any new developments?” Loki asked her and only her.

“Loki, I…” Thor began but Loki shushed him without even sparing him a glance. 

General B-15 sighed, but continued.

“With the war, no. Our last update about Hela’s location seems to be current.” she informed them. “However, there is a matter of palace security you should be warned about, your majesty.”

Loki looked at her in surprise.

“Palace security?” he questioned. 

“A valuable weapon went missing from the weapons vault sometime during the night.”

“That is not possible.” Thor jumped in. “Only a member of the royal family can access it.”

“We are aware of that, your highness.” General B-15 replied, her annoyance unhidden. “This paired with the rumors that Hela has positioned an assassin as one of your potential suitors, I am afraid we have to start taking your security a bit more seriously, your majesty.”

Loki was confused. Were they not taking his security seriously before this?

“What will that entail?” Loki asked, afraid of the answer. 

“We will have to pull some soldiers off guard duty in other realms and bring them here to keep you safe.”

“No.” Loki replied simply. 

“Excuse me, your majesty.” General B-15 asked, though Loki knew she heard him. 

“You will not reassign anyone.” Loki told her firmly.

“I’m afraid that is not your call.” she told him. “It is the utmost duty of the soldiers of Asgard to protect their leader. 

“It is our duty to protect the other realms who have entrusted us with their safety.” Loki replied to her furiously. “We will not be leaving other realms vulnerable because of rumors and a misplaced dagger.”

General B-15 smiled in a way that Loki knew meant she intended to defy his words. 

But Loki was not about to let that happen. 

“You might be the general, but I’m in charge.” Loki told her. “I will not accept any additional guard and that is final.”

He slammed his hand on the table and turned to walk out of the room. 

Loki briskly walked through the hall, hoping that B-15 would not defy his orders. The last thing he wanted was to create a weak spot that Hela could exploit and advance on them. 

He also didn’t want to be completely surrounded by guards unable to breathe or think or sneak off to the gardens for a bit of sparring.

Where is Sylvie? Loki wondered. I feel like she has been everywhere I have been the past few days and now suddenly, nowhere to be seen. 

Did she hear the rumors and leave? Or as with the life of the traveling merchant did her business conclude and she just left the realm?

Without saying goodbye? Loki hated how upset this made him. It shouldn’t matter that she didn’t say goodbye if she is truly gone.

But Loki knew that it did. 

The rest of the afternoon had flown by and before he knew it, Loki was being dressed for the night’s event. He was to sit at a table and each of the guests would one by one take the seat in front of him and they would have a brief conversation, most likely about their hobbies or interests. 

Loki rolled his eyes at the prospect.

Idle chit chat for what will probably be hours. 

One good thing about the rumors involving him and Sif, it had certainly thinned the number of people who were expected to attend. The first night of the festival, Loki was introduced to hundreds of individuals. Tonight, there were barely over eighty people. 

Unfortunately that did not make the evening any easier. Almost all of the suitors had been exactly what he had been expecting. Beautiful people talking endlessly about their cross stitching or their impeccable hunting aptitude or the wide assortment of animals in their collection. Not a single question for Loki, just words about themselves. 

Worse yet, every conversation seemed to bring Sylvie to mind. He wondered what kind of hobbies she had, if any. Did she enjoy reading or swimming or dancing? Did she enjoy discussing politics? Did she actually like traveling as much as she did or was it just a product of the way she grew up?

And every time Sylvie entered his mind, any fleeting interest he might have had in the person in front of him immediately ceased. 

Four hours in and Loki felt like he had a headache from which he would never recover. Trying to be charming and interesting with dozens of people was proving to be exhausting and really testing his patience. 

Towards the end of the line, there had been one very interesting gentleman. An olive skinned man with a smile that could make anyone go weak in knees was further intriguing because he was too distracted by the book he was reading to realize it was his turn to talk to the king. 

After a courtier ushered the man forward, he sat in front of Loki, his beautiful brown eyes focusing on the king. 

“Hello, I am Loki.” Loki said, not sure why he was introducing himself. The man should know who he is if he is in this line. 

“Rayyan.” the man introduced, extending his hand forward to shake Loki’s.

As Loki shook his hand, he noticed a firm but not overpowering grip.

“So what are you reading?” Loki asked. 

“Coriolanus.” Rayyan responded simply.

“”Ah yes, one of the Bard’s later pieces.” Loki remarked. “How are you enjoying it?”

“Vastly.” Rayyan replied. “I mean it cannot compare to Macbeth, but I am enjoying it.”

“Macbeth? Really?” Loki questioned, his disdain obvious. 

“Does his majesty take issue with the Scottish play?” Rayyan questioned

“Not, not issue.” Loki explained, though if he were honest, he loathed it. “I just feel like there are more interesting works of his.”

“Such as?” Rayyan asked, his grin becoming mischievous in nature which caused Loki to grin in response. 

“Personally, I enjoy his historical retellings the most. Henry VI for instance is a true masterpiece.”

“But it is just so overcrowded.” Rayyan argued. “Yorks, Lancasters, not to mention the whole thing with the Lord Protector. It is just so chaotic.”

“I know.” Loki replied, his grin getting wider.

Rayyan smiled back and Loki began to wonder if perhaps this guy could make a good king. A well read, handsome, charming pair of kings might do wonders for the realm.

Just as he began to ruminate on the thought, he saw a flash of chin length blonde hair go around the corner.

Sylvie? Loki questioned, his heart jumping at the hope of it.

He stood, trying to get a closer look at the woman, but quickly realized it was not Sylvie and his heart fell once again.

“Everything alright, your majesty?” Rayyan asked.

“What?” Loki asked, completely forgetting the handsome gentleman in front of him existed. “Oh yes, of course. Forgive me, I thought I saw someone.”

“Quite alright.” Rayyan replied, though he seemed a bit disappointed by Loki’s distractedness. 

The courtier cleared their throat, signaling that Loki’s time with Rayyan was at an end. 

“Well, it was a pleasure to meet you, your majesty.” Rayyan said as he stood up, bowing to Loki. 

Loki nodded in response, his attention now focused on scanning the room for Sylvie. 

It hadn’t occurred to him that she could be here, but now that it had, he had to make sure he didn’t miss her. After a few minutes of fruitless scanning, completely ignoring the lovely person in front of him, he concluded that Sylvie was nowhere to be found. 

When the final guest’s allotted time had ended, Loki walked over to his mother and whispered his intention to go on a walk to clear his head and to think about his options. Frigga looked delighted at the idea that he might be making a decision and encouraged him to do so. 

Once out of his mother and the other guests' sight, Loki let out a huge groan of annoyance. 

These were to be my options? I’m expected to want to marry one of these people based on a three minute conversation?  

Loki shook his head. 

I can’t do it. Loki thought. I just can’t. Even Rayyan, the one intriguing person, wasn't intriguing enough to warrant an immediate proposal. And I am not sure what it says about someone who is capable of this kind of rashness.

Loki walked through the gardens and down a steep hill, far away from the noise of the festival. 

A bunch of beautiful people with fairly normal hobbies. But I don’t know anything about any of them. Nor they about me. Is it too much to ask that my potential spouse know me?

He didn’t realize that he was heading to the lake until he saw it. The evening sky had turned the entire area an incredibly vivid shade of purple and Loki couldn’t stop admiring its beauty. 

Even more beautiful still when he realized that a woman sat by the lake, staring off in the distance. 

Loki felt like he took his first unencumbered breath of the day

Sylvie! He screamed inside his mind and it took everything inside of him not to immediately run to her.

He approached casually, carefully, as though this interaction were nothing more than a convenient one rather than one he had been craving all day. 

“Hello.” he said, approaching tenuously. “Care for some company?”

Sylvie looked over to him, her face conveying nothing as she gestured to the rock next to her.

“What brings his majesty out here?’ Sylvie asked, sounding more closed off than usual, staring out at the lake.

Loki nearly jerked back at her tone. 

So cordial. So unlike her. 

“I needed a break.” he admitted, taking a seat on the previously gestured to rock. “You have no idea how exhausting it is to talk to so many people for such a long time.”

“I figured his majesty would be used to it by now.” Sylvie replied, Loki definitely feeling the coldness in her words now. “You do seem to enjoy the sound of your own voice.”

Loki chuckled out of habit, but he was now concerned. 

“Is everything alright?” he asked her cautiously

“Why wouldn’t it be, my liege?” she asked, avoiding looking at him. 

“I do not know.” he admitted, his concern growing. “But I haven’t seen you all day and something might have happened to upset you.”

“No, your grace, nothing.” she replied curtly. 

Loki nodded and decided to drop the subject. If he had learned anything about Sylvie in the last few days, it was that if there was a topic that she didn’t want to talk about, there was no pressing the matter.

After a few moments of silence, Loki dropped his head into his hands and groaned. 

“Come on, your majesty. Speed dating cannot possibly be that painful.” Sylvie remarked, the coldness in her voice perhaps a bit thawed.

Loki looked up at her. 

“Speed dating?” Loki asked, unfamiliar with the term.

“It is what the Midgardians call what you were doing tonight.” Sylvie explained. “Typically there is more than just a single choice for the entire group, but that is basically how it works. And usually the participants are plyed with more alcohol.”

“Great.” Loki remarked. “I am expected to pick my spouse based on a Midgardian drinking game.”

Sylvie chuckled briefly, then straightened up before letting it turn into a full laugh. 

“It does seem a bit unusual.” she agreed, her tone still frosty. 

“Tell that to my mother.” Loki replied with a near giggle. 

“What would you rather have happened?” Sylvie asked. “If you could have chosen your own method, what would it have been?”

Loki shook his head. He hadn’t really ever considered that before. 

“I don’t know.” he answered her honestly. “I don’t think there would be any method that made the prospect of marriage less daunting.”

Sylvie nodded and Loki knew she understood.

“It just never crossed my mind that I would have to.” Loki admitted. “And if for some reason, I did decide to marry, I would want…”

Loki trailed off, embarrassed of his next words. 

“You would want it to be for love?” Sylvie finished for him.

Loki nodded in response. 

“Have you ever been in love?” Sylvie asked, a shyness to her words that Loki couldn’t understand.

“No.” Loki replied quickly. “I’ve pursued and lusted after many, but it’s never felt…”

“Real.” Sylvie finished his sentence for him again and Loki nodded. 

“I don’t even know if I am capable of it.” Loki told her.

“I know what you mean.” Sylvie responded, her gaze fixed on the lake in front of them. “I am not sure I am built that way.”

Exactly! Loki thought. It is like that part, the one that is capable of falling hopelessly in love never fully formed.

Maybe frost giants aren’t born with it at all.  

“Sif once told me that I was alone and I always would be.” Loki admitted, recalling words that haunted him nearly everyday of his life. “She might hate me a lot less than she used to, but I have always wondered if she was right.” 

Loki saw Sylvie wince at Sif’s name and he didn’t even have to ask to know she had heard the rumors about his night and whether they had an effect on her. 

But what effect he could not tell. 

“I’m not sure if you heard the ridiculous rumors around the palace.” Loki began to explain, his eyes now staring at a frog hopping around his feet. “But I did not go to bed with Lady Sif last night.”

Loki chanced a look at Sylvie who displayed no reaction to his words. He then joined her staring out at the lake as he continued. 

 “Sif has the unfortunate affliction of being in love with my elder brother. She wondered if I thought he still cared for her, perhaps would choose her over his Midgardian woman. I dissuaded her of this notion, though after waking up to Thor’s threats, perhaps I should amend my statement.”

Loki couldn’t be sure, but he thought he saw her shoulders relax a bit at his words

“Why are you telling me this?” Sylvie asked, her voice quivering. 

“Because I wanted you to know.” Loki answered somewhat honestly. 

Because I needed you to know. Because I couldn’t stop thinking about you the entire time she was in my chambers. Because I need you to look at me the way you always have, like someone worthy. 

“And I wanted someone to know my side of the story.” Loki continued, trying to silence the part of him that wanted to proclaim things he wasn’t ready for. “Everyone was so enraptured with the scandal of it, no one wanted the truth. And I need you to hear it.”

Sylvie laughed. Not in a mocking way, but her laugh seemed weighted. 

“You are nothing like I thought you would be.” Sylvie told him, shaking her head as she smiled.

“You had thoughts about what I would be like?” Loki asked her curiously. 

“I guess not thoughts.” she explained. “More, I never really expected to be talking of love and matters of truth with the nicknamed God of Mischief.”

“It’s not a nickname.” Loki defended. “It is who I am.”

Sylvie shrugged, clearly not believing him. 

“Perhaps you left such things behind upon your coronation.” Sylvie chided. “I have yet to see a side of you that is more than irksome, let alone anything roguish in nature. 

Loki couldn’t believe what he was hearing. She didn’t think he was mischievous enough?

“What about the whole ‘I put a knife to your back the day after we met’ incident?” Loki pointed out. “Quite mischievous.”

Sylvie shrugged. “I suppose so.”

Loki could see that she was enjoying this. This hit to his ego was amusing her. 

“What about letting you talk to a wall trying to figure out how to open a wall?”

“More annoying than mischievous.” she told him, her grin getting wider. 

Loki loved seeing her this happy, but at the expense of getting under his skin was getting to be too much for him. 

Loki twisted his hand in the air and conjured a snake which slithered over to her.

Sylvie rolled her eyes in reply.

“Did you really think a snake would scare me?” She looked over at him mockingly.

“Who said anything about scaring?” Loki teased as the snake began to wrap itself around Sylvie’s legs and continued its way until it had Sylvie in a full body bind. 

As Sylvie frustratedly struggled against the snake, Loki laughed, feeling his reputation for mischief was restored. 

“You made a huge mistake, my king.” Sylvie informed him, menace plastered across her face.

Loki, jerked away from his internal celebration, looked at her questioning. 

“You cannot possibly think you can get out of this?” he considered. 

“You shouldn’t have conjured a living object.” Sylvie told him as he saw a glow come from beneath the snake. 

It soon released her, completely unwrapping itself from her and focusing its attention on Loki. 

“I do hope you are not afraid of snakes, my liege.” Sylvie snarked as the snake darted towards Loki. 

While Loki wasn’t what he considered afraid of snakes and he knew the snake wasn’t venomous, he did not fight the impulse to jump up from the rock he had been sitting on and dart away.

Sylvie laughed maniacally as the snake chased Loki towards the lake. The sound of her laughter made Loki’s heart jump. And knowing that he was the cause of it, even if it was in an embarrassing way, filled him with a sense of pride. 

However, he could not let this injustice stand. Loki, the trickster, standing in the ankle deep point of the lake, another besting him. 

Loki smiled deviously as he used his magic to pull Sylvie off the rock she sat on and into the lake. His aim was a bit off and he ended up sending her in the much deeper part of the lake, fully submerged. 

Deciding to pretend this was his plan, he stood there waiting for her to emerge from the water and declare him the God of Mischief. But seconds went by and she had still not reappeared. Loki began to feel concerned. Had she perhaps hit a rock? Had another creature of the lake dragged her down. 

Trying to keep himself calm, Loki ventured further into the lake, hoping to see some sign of her. When he couldn’t see her, he began to call her name, luckily in a tone that still sounded somewhat calm. A few minutes had gone by and he was officially worried now.

What have I done? Did my magic go so rogue that I killed the woman I…

Before he could finish the thought, Loki felt himself being pulled underwater by a pair of hands. Water filled his nose and throat and Sylvie’s face appeared before him under the water, looking incredibly smug. He forced himself up and began to cough and spew up water. 

Sylvie emerged from the water, the smugness of her expression even more prominent in the glowing purple light of the horizon. 

“That was a dangerous game.” Loki told her frustratedly, wringing out his hair. “You could have gotten hurt. You could have killed me.”

“Trust me, if I wanted to kill you, I would have done it.” Sylvie replied so quickly that Loki thought she hadn’t meant to say it at all.

Loki laughed, knowing that she meant it. But Sylvie didn’t laugh. She just stood there looking confused. 

“Is everything alright?” Loki asked, the distant look on her face concerning him.

“Of course.” she replied, though her eyes didn’t meet his as she spoke.

“Good.” Loki replied, as he swept her legs out from under her, submerging her in the water once again.

Sylvie yelled in shock and stared defiantly at Loki. 

“You will pay for that.” and she sent a splash to his face.

Loki returned the action by splashing her. At first they just used their hands to splash, but then started using bursts of magical energy to send more water hurtling at each other. Splashing soon wasn’t enough and the two kept trying to fully submerge the other into the depths of the lake. Loki even wrapped his arms around her waist in one attempt and tried to throw her in, but she grasped at him tightly around the neck and they both fell into the depth of the lake. 

When they appeared back on the surface, they were clutching at each other for stability, but both were laughing so hard, it wasn’t doing either of them much good. 

Once they had laughed themselves breathless, Loki soon realized how close they stood. Sylvie’s chest flush to his and her hands clinging to his arms that encircled her. Their feet seemed to be tangled together too and Loki wondered how they were gonna disentangle, but found he did not care in the moment when that would happen.  

As he looked down at the beautiful woman in his arms, he felt like they were the only people in the world. If he could spend the rest of his days holding her, he would consider it a life well spent. 

Loki swallowed hard. 

“Sylvie?’ Loki questioned, hearing how low and breathless he sounded. 

“Yes, Loki?’ Sylvie asked, sounding just as breathless as he felt.

He didn’t know what he wanted to say to her. A million compliments on matters of her beauty, her warrior spirit, the way she made him feel bubbled to the surface of his mind. But he couldn’t say any of them. 

“What is it?” she asked, her dark blue eyes searching his for answers.

But before he could formulate words, two of his guards appeared on the edge of the lake.

“Your majesty, are you alright?” They shouted, not daring adventure further into the untested waters.

“Quite.” Loki responded tentatively, loosening his grip on Sylvie, though leaving an arm available for her to cling to if she needed it, which much to Loki’s relief she did. 

“I suppose we should be going.” Loki told her ruefully. 

“Yes.” Sylvie said, sounding almost as disappointed as he felt.

“Perhaps,” Loki began, his tongue feeling twice the size of his mouth as he spoke. “Sylvie would you care to join me for lunch tomorrow afternoon?”

Sylvie waited a moment, clearly thinking it over. 

“Alright.” she answered, staring into the water as she did.

“If you would rather not…” Loki began, beginning to feel as though she felt pressured to say yes to a king.

“No, it is just…” Sylvie began. “I don’t know how to do this.”

“I don’t even know what we’re doing.” Loki replied as he started to walk towards his guards. “Maybe we will figure it out at lunch. Say 12?”

“It’s a plan.” Sylvie said, still gripping his arm hard as they walked through the toughest part of the water. 

Once they had reached a somewhat level surface, Sylvie instantly let go of him and Loki already missed the firm grip on him. 

They finally made it out of the lake, Loki used magic to instantly dry himself. He looked over to Sylvie, nonverbally inquiring if she wanted the same. She nodded and Loki magicked her dry as well. 

“Your scabbard is missing?” Loki said, noticing the missing object from her waist.

Sylvie looked down.

“Damn.” Sylvie replied, looking around on the ground. “It probably broke when you threw me into a lake.”

“I’m so sorry.” Loki apologized, looking at the ground as well hoping to see it.

 “At least my sword wasn’t in it.” Sylvie replied as she picked her sword up off the ground and grasped it in her hand. 

“If it has sentimental value, we can go look for it.” Loki suggested, though his guards looked annoyed at the idea of it. 

“Not sentimental.” She replied coolly. “Just a convenience.”

She walked over to him and leaned in, her lips nearly grazing his ear. 

“Besides, I don’t think your lackeys will enjoy a late night romp in the lake as much as we did.”

Loki swallowed hard at her close proximity as her whispered voice sent chills down his spine. 

He quickly recovered before she could back away to look at him.

“Well then, Lady Sylvie.” Loki began, snapping into the regal version of himself. “Until tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow.” Sylvie replied, though Loki could not tell if she was looking forward to it.

As she walked away from him, Loki joined his guards to walk back into the ballroom where hopefully he could quickly wrap up this evening. 

Loki trembled with excitement. He had asked her to lunch, which he knew was not as important as other meals, but it was the first time he had asked her to be alone with him and she agreed. He knew he would be unable to sleep tonight just thinking about all the possibilities tomorrow will hold.

Perhaps I will make a good use of my time. Loki thought, a smile breaking out across his face.

Chapter Text

I almost managed it. Sylvie thought to herself. I had the means, there was no one else around. And yet I couldn’t do it.

Sylvie hadn’t made a plan for last night’s encounter with Loki, in fact she had spent most of the day actively avoiding him, but as soon as they were in the lake, a plan quickly formed. 

When Sylvie was under the water, pretending to have drowned to scare Loki, she noticed the lake was occupied by a rather intelligent alligator. As she made contact with the alligator, she could see all of its desires. It wanted to eat her arm in the short run but in the long run, it wanted to be the king of Asgard. 

A bit lofty of a goal for an alligator, but who am I to judge?

Sylvie was able to calm his thoughts down with her mind and direct him at Loki. 

On my signal, attack viciously. Sylvie had communed with the alligator. Don’t hold back.

The alligator seemed all too eager to follow her instructions. When Loki was in position, she readied the alligator with her mind. She pulled Loki under and almost sent the alligator in for the kill when she saw the look on Loki’s face. It was there for only a second before the panic of being underwater without preparation kicked in, but Sylvie saw relief in his eyes upon the sight of her. He had been scared for her well-being and before Sylvie was completely aware of what she was doing, she had released her hold on the alligator and it soon drifted to unconsciousness.

When she and Loki emerged on the surface, the words she used to mollify his fears frightened her. 

Trust me, if I wanted to kill you, I would have done it.

Did she not want to kill Loki? How is that possible? He is arrogant and smug and a brat and…

He is none of those things. Ok maybe arrogant. But he is kind and beautiful and a good king, and he has a good heart. And when we were in each other's arms, I felt…

Sylvie shook her head. 

No. This can’t be true. I’ve been killing people for hundreds of years, and I’ve never let a good heart or the attractiveness of the mark sway me from the mission. 

But here I am, swayed. I am joining him for lunch for fuck’s sake. He probably thinks this is a date.

And it might be. 

Sylvie grew frustrated. She wasn’t sure if her frustration was at Loki for making her feel this way or herself for having these types of feelings.  

She reached for her bag of possessions. She only owned three versions of the same outfit, but she found herself contemplating between them. 

I like the green skirt the best, but maybe I should go with the yellow? I would go with the blue, but that is the one I wore last night.

Sylvie walked over to the mirror in her room and started comparing the two against her body. 

The blue one does go better with my eyes.

She found herself then thinking about the blue of Loki’s eyes. They were not the same as hers. While her eyes were deep dark blue, Loki’s almost had an ice-like quality to them. 

And apparently he can use those eyes to freeze my actions. Sylive shivered at the thought. 

The deep green one is my favorite of the three. It seems to go very well with Loki’s preferred color scheme.  

Sylvie screamed aloud for even thinking about it. She yanked up the yellow skirt at random and slid it over her skin tight pants.

It doesn’t matter. This is stupid. Sylvie chided herself as she smoothed the skirt and began trying to do something with her hair.

With enough pins, I could wear it up. Sylvie pulled her hair up, trying to imagine how an updo would look. But does it make my face look too angular?

She twisted her head from side to side, trying to decide.

Better to leave it down. More casual that way. 

More casual for my lunch date with a king. 

Sylvie’s hands began to tremble as she sat down on the bed. She reached for her bag once again to pull out the small bag of makeup she kept. Though she rarely used it, Sylvie liked to be prepared in case pursuit of a mark required it. 

Oh gods, I haven’t been on a date in…

Sylvie paused in the application of her eyeshadow to realize she had never been on a date before. Sure there had been lovers along the way as she built her reputation, but it wasn’t as though any of those encounters started with a glass of wine, a sandwich, and some small talk. 

My first date is with a king. Sylvie allowed herself to think as she applied mascara. 

My first date is with Loki. 

The way her heart leapt at the idea made Sylvie stop what she was doing and lay a hand on her chest. Her heart was racing at the thought of seeing Loki today.

No doubt he will look handsome. Decked out in his royal garb, the lush green complimenting his pale skin. I hope he will omit the helmet though, I would love to see his beautiful black hair as it touches his shoulders rather than him trying to hide it out of shame. 

Sylvie groaned at these thoughts. 

These are the feelings of a child. Sylvie thought, grabbing her only lipstick and rubbing it across her lips perhaps a bit too aggressively. Feelings of a girl who doesn’t have a job to do.      

She stood and observed herself in the mirror, a grin crossing her face.

Well, perhaps if I can’t manage to kill him with my prowess, I can look hot enough to knock him dead.

Sylvie shook her head furious. 

No, today is the day. I am going to make sure he dies today.  

Ignoring the pang she felt at that thought, Sylvie went to put her scabbard on top of her skirt then remembered she lost it in the lake. 

Stupid lake.  She grumbled, taking a smaller golden sword and tucking it into her skirt. Stupid lake that makes me feel stupid things. 

Perhaps the lake has some kind of hallucinogen and it just hasn’t worn off yet. 

But she knew that wasn’t true. The moment he told her that nothing happened between him and Sif, she began feeling things. Things she didn’t want to admit to no how much her heart yearned for her to just acknowledge it. 

No. Sylvie argued with herself as she walked to the door, it was almost time for her to meet Loki for their date. 

Who knows. Maybe inspiration will strike and I will kill him before dessert. 

Sylvie groaned one more time before leaving her room, unsure just what she was walking to and trying to resist the bubbling excitement she felt. 

***

Loki hadn’t slept a wink the night before. He was so nervous about his lunch with Sylvie that every time he closed his eyes, he couldn’t stop thinking about all the details like the food and the place settings and he would get up and make notes for the palace staff.

He wanted the lunch to be perfect. He wanted it to say all the things he couldn’t verbalize. 

Small, nonsensical things such as the fact that you haven’t left my mind for more than a minute since we first met. Or that even when you are yelling at me, I crave to hear more of your voice. How I would do literally anything to see you smile. 

Loki shook his head. He wasn’t ready to feel all of these things for someone, least of all someone he had just met a few days ago, but he couldn’t deny it anymore. Holding her last night in that lake had sealed his fate.

But could she feel the same? Loki asked himself at least a million times the night before. Did I really see jealousy from her last night or just a passing interest? Does she see more than a king? More than a trickster? Could she, let alone anyone, love me?

If Loki wasn’t prepared for feelings, he certainly wasn’t ready to think of those feelings as loving ones. 

Attraction sure, a strong attachment, but it is far too soon for love.

Isn’t it? 

When he arrived at the king’s private dining quarters, he gently placed a gift box at the end of the table where Sylvie would sit, hoping that she would like it. He had never put such effort into a gift before for anyone. 

Come to think of it, I am not sure I have given anyone a gift I made since childhood. Hopefully she doesn’t find it too silly. 

Loki then found himself straightening the place settings and once they were both perfectly straight, he began to contemplate if the tablecloths were the correct color. He swished his hand to try to see if a deep red would look better than the gold, but the cloth remained unchanged. 

Oh right. Loki remembered. After that dinner I turned Thor into a frog, Mother cast runes on the room so only she could do magic in it. 

Loki looked down, suddenly regretting what he had worn. He had assumed he could decide on a better outfit later, but without magic, he was stuck as he was. The black pants and green tunic seemed very basic. 

Maybe unsuitable for a king. Or perhaps Sylvie will like that I am not trying to look too regal for our date. 

Our date. Loki’s head spun at the thought of it. I can’t believe I asked her on a date and she agreed.    

But what if she doesn’t show? It just now occurred to Loki. She hadn’t seemed sure when she accepted last night. Maybe uncertainty turned to rejection. Or perhaps she would just have forgotten and gone to her stall to work that day. 

This thought caused him to start pacing. 

Pragmatically, I understand. She has a business to run and we just made the plans last night and she might not even see this as a date. 

Loki felt his throat get thick. 

It will be alright. We will reschedule. Loki assured himself as he moved to straighten the already perfectly straight centerpiece that now looked gaudy to him. 

Or better yet, we can just forget the whole thing. No harm done. Except to me, that is.

When he started pacing again, he took a good hard look at the room. 

It’s a bit much for a dining room. At most there will only ever be five people in this room and yet there is enough room for at least five other tables. 

He looked around, the empty space never bothering him before seemed over indulgent now. He worried that Sylvie might think the same.

Will she think I am showing off? If she even shows up.

Maybe we can take lunch in the gardens. That might seem less imposing.

Or like I am unwilling to share a private space with her.

When Loki heard the door crack open, his heart stopped. It was not even noon yet and Sylvie didn’t strike him as the early type. 

But it wasn’t Sylvie. 

A slight man with lighter hair and a smug grin entered, quickly shutting the door behind him. 

“I believe you have the wrong room.” Loki tried to explain to the intruder, but they did not look abashed or even remotely confused. 

“Oh I think I have the right room, your majesty.” the man explained as he padlocked the door behind him, walking slowly towards Loki

“Who are you?” Loki asked, noticing the man’s hand placed firmly on his sword. 

The man shrugged. 

“Let’s just say I’m a friend of a friend.”

Loki laughed humorlessly. 

“I don’t have friends.” he replied simply, starting to look around the room for a weapon he could use if need be. “I do however have an ever growing list of people who want me dead. Impressive that you have made it as far as you have without the guards’ notice.”

The man laughed. 

“Your guards are useless. It was easy enough to get past them.” the man bragged. 

I really should consider replacing the lot of them. Loki passively thought, still scanning the room for possible weapons.

“So what?” Loki asked, his eyes locking on a suit of armor behind the man. “You think you will just kill the king and walk out of here without notice?”

The man shrugged. 

“Maybe.” the man told him. “Or perhaps I want a scene. For the world to know that it was I who carried out the deed.”

Loki clicked his tongue in disappointment. 

“You know, I was really hoping not to have to get blood on the tapestry.” Loki told him as he slid against the floor, landing just behind the man and in front of the suit of armor. “But sometimes these things can’t be avoided.”

The man growled as Loki lunged at him, the sword from the suit of armor in hand. Unprepared, the man struggled to gain momentum for a moment but quickly was able to push Loki away and engage in combat. 

The man, Loki noticed, was not the most skilled swordsman.

Surely Hela would not have sent this to attack me. Loki thought as he knocked the sword out of the assailant’s hand deftly. So pitiful. I almost feel sorry for him. 

Almost.

“No scene, I’m afraid.” Loki teased, his sword hovering over the assailant’s throat. “Just a trip to the cells.”

The man laughed. 

“Or maybe I have you right where I want you.” the man replied as Loki felt a sharp painful sensation in his left calf. 

Carrying a knife. I should have known. 

The man scrambled away from Loki and recovered his sword whilst Loki winced at the pain. 

The man lunged forward and Loki blocked the attack, forcing the two men to be face to face, their swords crossed. 

“So eager for round two.” Loki chided. “As if I can’t defeat you again in less than a minute.”

Loki grinned maliciously at the struggling man. 

“It took me less than that amount of time to dispose of your lunch date.”

Loki’s smile dropped at this. 

“What?” Loki questioned. 

“The blonde.” the man pointed at the door. “The one you’ve been spending so much time with. It was easy enough to get the jump on her.”

Loki pushed against the man, causing an anguished cry. 

“You’re lying.” Loki growled. 

The man pulled the knife out from his boot, the one he had just used to stab Loki.

Loki froze staring at the knife, he recognized it immediately as hers. How frequently she twirls it in her hands for something to do.

No, he can’t have. He couldn’t have. But the knife. How else would he have gotten it away from her?

His mind flashed through all their moments together. Sword fighting, talking in the village, sharing their magicks, and now she was gone because she dared to spend time with him. 

No. Loki thought vengefully. It is all because of him. 

Loki pushed the swords apart and forced them into combat once again. 

The intruder’s skill was nowhere near Loki’s, but Loki was too distracted by his crushed heart to gain the upper hand. 

“Why did you do it?” Loki yelled, his sword clanging against the intruder. 

“I don’t know. Perhaps I like killing.” the man responded, the bravado in his voice dampened by his breathlessness. “Perhaps I wanted to see you suffer when I told you I murdered your little bitch.”

Loki twisted the wrist that still held Sylvie’s knife and wrestled it from the man.

Without thinking, Loki slashed at the man’s face, opening a huge gash.

As blood dripped down the man’s face, he smiled wickedly. In a flash, the man knocked Loki’s sword out of his hand and slashed at his arm.

The sting of it shocked Loki so much that he didn’t see as the man pointed the sword at his throat. 

“Or let’s just say I’m doing someone a favor.” the man retorted, quickly moving his sword from Loki’s throat and shoved it through his abdomen, the point of the sword emerging from Loki’s back.  

The searing pain was nothing like Loki had ever felt before. His organs felt as though they were melting around the sword and Loki felt himself drop to his knees and cradle his bleeding abdomen. 

The man then ripped out the sword from Loki’s body, causing even more pain, though Loki wasn’t sure how that could be true. 

He laid down on the ground as he felt himself growing weaker by the second and yet only one thought kept going through his muddled mind.

Not Sylvie.

***

Sylvie approached the king’s private dining room, with each step becoming more and more nervous. 

It’s just lunch. It is nothing to be scared of.

Smoothing down her skirt and taking a deep breath, she ventured closer, only to hear swords clashing and two familiar voices. 

Without thinking, she ran towards the door and when she got there, found it to be locked. Anxiety at what laid behind those doors aided her magic in blasting the door open, just in time for her to see Post shoving his sword through Loki’s abdomen. 

Oh Gods, no.

Sylvie saw as Loki dropped to his knees, his eyes already beginning to glaze over. 

“Loki!” Sylvie shouted, her hand reaching out in vain as Post pulled the sword mercilessly out of Loki’s body. 

As Loki collapsed, Sylvie’s face hardened. 

“Post!” she yelled, pulling the small golden sword out of her skirt. 

“Ah Sylvie.” Post replied brightly. “Just in time to see how one actually assassinates someone.”

She launched herself at Post, her sword to his neck before he could even think to use his. 

“What did you do?” Sylvie asked, her voice deeper than usual.

“Wow, you really have forgotten how to do your job.” Post joked. “He is the mark. You were supposed to take down the mark.”

She slammed him against the wall, pressing her sword so hard to his throat, blood began to trickle down. 

“Might actually cause some damage.” Post choked out, though he still seemed in good humor as Sylvie tried in vain to use her magic. 

“Tell me, are you upset because I killed your mark or are you upset because you love him?” Post mocked.

Sylvie’s slight jerk at this accusation gave him the chance to kick her in the stomach, pushing her away long enough to get his sword.

Sylvie worked best while enraged and his actions had truly enraged her. The force of his blows were no match for her and the fury he had ignited in her. She disarmed him within seconds, her sword pointed at his throat once more. 

Before she could strike, she heard the kitchen staff entering the room, preparing to bring in the lunch that at this point was long forgotten. Dishes clattered to the floor as the staff began to panic. 

“The king! He is wounded!” one of them shouted. 

“Guards!” another added. 

The staff’s reactions were enough of a distraction that Post was able to sweep Sylvie’s legs out from under her and make a run for it out the arches to the outdoors.

Sylvie cursed, but then immediately scrambled over to Loki, who still clutched at his abdomen, but his eyes were closed and breathing erratic. 

“Loki!” she yelled, picking up his head to lie on her lap. “Please say something.”

“Sylvie.” he managed to mumble.

“I’m here.” she told him, her voice becoming thick. “Where the hell are those guards?” 

She looked around, hoping to see someone running around the corner to save their king. 

“Sylvie, no.” Loki said again, his skin warming up more and more by the second.

“Please just hold on.” she begged, looking frantically around, hoping someone could do something.

Please Loki, please just hold on. Sylvie begged in her mind. 

“Sylvie, I…” Loki began, but did not finish. His hands dropped to his side and his breathing slowed.

“Loki?” Sylvie questioned and shook him slightly. “Loki!” 

But he didn’t move. Not even to take a breath. 

He can’t. He isn’t. 

As Sylvie began to drown in sorrow, Thor entered the room. He was carrying a small tray of sandwiches as though he had prepared a little joke, but upon seeing the situation at hand, immediately dropped the tray and ran over to his brother.

“Loki?” Thor shouted, grabbing for his brother. Sylvie let him go, knowing in her heart that he could no longer hear them.

“Brother, speak to me!” Thor shouted, tears already forming in his eyes. 

Sylvie felt the tears falling, not bothering to hide them. 

He can’t be dead. He just can’t be.

Thor held his brother close, holding firmly to him, as though he worried that if he let go, Loki would truly be gone. 

Thor yelled in anguish, causing more tears to fall from Sylvie’s eyes.

Thor quickly gathered up his brother and ran from the room. Sylvie could not see where and she was not sure it mattered. 

He’s gone. Sylvie thought, the tears no longer falling. Hela got what she wanted. It’s done. 

Sylvie felt as though all the air had been sucked out of the room and she could barely breathe. 

Then why can’t I move? Why can’t I think or feel anything else but his lack of existence?

The guards finally showed, taking a quick look around the room before approaching Sylvie. 

“Ma’am, you are gonna have to come with us for questioning.”

“What?” Sylvie asked. “What about the man who…”

She couldn’t make herself finish the sentence. 

The guards ignored her words as they pulled her up to her feet and escorted her out of the room. 

Where they were going she did not know.

It doesn’t matter. She concluded, though she struggled against the hands that held her they moved her through the halls.

What’s the point of any of it without Loki?

Chapter Text

“Let’s go over this one more time.” a royal guard patronized.

The guards had taken Sylvie to a small room she assumed would be used for interrogations and forcefully shoved her into a chair in front of a small table. The table had a place for her hands to be cuffed, but the guards did not bother with this as they took her sword and all of them left but one, the most stoic looking one. Now he loomed over his side of the table, staring Sylvie down as though he were trying to read her mind for the real answers to his questions.

“What’s the point?” Sylvie said, her voice completely devoid of any emotion. “I’ve told you what I know.”

“Humor me.” the guard suggested, his eyes not leaving her for a moment.

Sylvie slammed her first on the table and gave the guard a withering, loathing stare as he jumped in surprise.

“I don’t humor people.” she told him as she removed her fist from the table. 

The guard nervously cleared his throat and picked up his notes.

“You said you entered the King’s private dining quarters and he was being attacked by a thinner man, about 6’2 to 6’3 with light blonde hair. You charged at this man rather than helping the King, you ‘had him pinned down’ but the housing staff distracted you and he got away before the royal guards arrived.”

Sylvie could hear from the guard’s tone that he seriously doubted any of this was true. 

Give me my sword back and perhaps I will demonstrate. Sylvie thought, though admittedly with not as much gusto as her usual angry thoughts had. 

She wasn’t sure if she had been in the room for minutes or hours. Her thoughts were consumed with Loki’s last moments. The look of pain in his eyes as the sword entered through his abdomen and out his back. The way he shivered as he began to lose blood. How scared he sounded as he called out to her with his last words.

Sylvie blinked back tears. She could not, would not cry anymore. The fact that she had cried in the first place was a weakness she wasn’t sure how to deal with. Up until her return to Asgard, she wasn't sure how long it had been since the last time she had cried. She always managed to turn her sorrow into something else; passion, exhaustion, or her go to rage. 

But she wasn't ready for rage. Not yet.

“You understand how ridiculous your story sounds.”

Sylvie shrugged. 

“Perhaps ask the kitchen staff who were there as well.” Sylvie remarked casually, refusing to let this guard know how emotionally compromised she was.

“A kitchen staff who might fear you because they watched you assassinate the King.”

She had to blink again. 

Why do these tears keep coming? She frustratedly thought. 

“If you think I killed the King, why am I in this room? Why aren’t I in a cell or in the gallows?” she snipped.

“Because I want the full story.” the guard replied angrily

“I told you what happened.” Sylvie bite back with gritted teeth. 

“And I don’t believe you!” the guard barked back, gripping the table as though prepared to pounce.

“Enough!” a voice from the entrance shouted before Sylvie could retort.

Sylvie whipped around out of curiosity to see Loki’s brother, Thor walk in, still wearing the blood stained clothes he had on from earlier. 

When he carried Loki's lifeless body away. Sylvie thought mournfully.

“Prince Thor!” the royal guard jumped up and stood at attention. 

“Why are you questioning her?” Thor asked of the guard, staring the now shivering man down. 

“Why...about the King’s…” the guard began, his voice much smaller than it had been mere seconds ago. 

“A room full of people saw this woman defending my brother and you dare insult her in this way?” Thor yelled, indignantly.

Sylvie looked seethingly at the guard who looked as though he was about to pass out.

“Oh...o-of course. My apologies, your highness.” the guard replied with a great tremble as he bowed.

“It is not I to whom you owe an apology to.” Thor towered over the guard menacingly. “I demand you release Lady Sylvie at once and give her a sincere apology.”

The guard seemed nearly on the verge of fainting as he shook before Thor and bowed his head. 

“I’m sorry, Lady Sylvie.” the guard whispered, his eyes focused on the floor of the cell. 

“I don’t think she heard you.” Thor mocked. 

“It’s fine, Thor.” Sylvie said, not wanting or needing this oaf to defend her. “Thank you. My sword?”

“It is not customary for us to give back…” the guard began but the hateful stares he received from both Sylvie and Thor caused him to run out of the room to swiftly return moments later carrying her sword.

Sylvie nodded curtly and promptly exited the interrogation room, Thor following quickly behind. 

“Thank you for that.” Sylvie managed through gritted teeth. “Though I didn’t need your help.”

Thor laughed. 

“What?” Sylvie snapped at him. She didn’t understand what could possibly be funny about this situation. 

“It just sounds like something Loki would say.” 

Sylvie breathed deeply, Thor’s words stinging in her heart.

“I’m sorry I didn’t get there sooner.” Sylvie told him honestly. “If I had been on time, perhaps I could have…”

Could have stopped my former protege from assassinating my lunch date? Stop him from killing the man I was supposed to kill. 

Sylvie wanted to gasp from the pain of it. 

Thor stepped in front of her.

“You did what you could Sylvie.” Thor told her gently, reaching out for her and then pausing, correctly judging that Sylvie did not want him touching her. “Everyone knows and understands that.”

Sylvie wasn’t sure what to say. Her thoughts were to swear she would avenge Loki’s death. That she would hunt down Post and make sure he felt every ounce of pain he inflicted and more. But she wasn’t sure these promises would mean much to Thor who just lost his brother.

As they reached the hallway, light streaming in from the many archways, Sylvie gained the strength to become enraged.

Post will pay. She decided . Though his life isn't worth a quarter of the one that he has taken, my sword will know his blood.

“I cannot imagine what you are going through.” Sylvie tried to empathize, though admittedly she wasn't particularly good at it.

“Yeah, that was a bit of a scary one.” Thor replied a bit too casually for Sylvie’s liking. “But it is par for the course for kings. Especially god-kings”

Sylvie could not believe the cavalier way he spoke of his brother’s death. 

Par for the course for god-kings? Sylvie seethed

Without giving it a second thought, Sylvie grabbed Thor by his cape and slammed him into the wall. Thor was clearly so perplexed by this reaction, he did not bother to attempt to defend himself.

“Par for the course?” Sylvie raged. 

“Sylvie, what are you doing?” Thor asked, perplexed. 

“Did you even love him at all? Do you even mourn him?” Sylvie asked, her heart aching at these words. 

Thor had a look of realization cross his face. 

“I suppose I never said…” Thor began but Sylvie slammed his head against the wall as he spoke, causing Thor a massive groan of pain. 

“Never said what? That he was just another god? That there will be others?” Sylvie asked bitterly. 

“No, I…” Thor began but Sylvie did not listen, beginning to remove one of her hands from Thor to grab at her sword. 

 “That his death doesn’t matter because it will be you going to your rightful place. ” Sylvie practically spit these last words. “You will never be the King that Loki was. You’re not half the man he was, let alone half the god.”

“Loki lives, Sylvie.” Thor quickly shouted.

Shocked, Sylvie let go of Thor and backed away a few steps. 

Alive? He can't be. He isn't.

“What? How?” Sylvie asked, her voice so quiet and small, very unlike the raging fury of moments before, her eyes fixated on the floor in front of her. “The sword went through him.”

Thor almost seemed to chuckle at this, causing Sylvie to stare at him angrily. 

“I’m not sure if Loki ever told you, but he is adopted.” Thor explained. “His people have a much stronger resistance than most of us.”

“He’s alive?” Sylvie questioned, a crack in her voice a lot harder to hide than the tears that threatened to fall. 

Thor nodded as Sylvie cast her eyes to the ground once more. 

“He wants to see you.” Thor told her simply as he peeled himself off the wall. 

Sylvie’s eyes darted up to Thor. “What?”

“He’s been asking for you.” Thor explained. “That is why I came to find you. I didn’t realize you would be questioned as a potential assassin.”

Sylvie almost smiled at that. 

“Would you like to see him?” Thor asked politely. 

She knew she should say no. She should go back to her room, knowing Loki was alright and just leave before any more damage could be caused.

But that’s not what I want. I need to see him, be sure that Thor is not just delusional.  

“Yes.” she replied plainly, her voice becoming hoarse.

“Then,” Thor extended his elbow out for her to loop her arm through. “Shall we?”

Sylvie only had to stare at him for a few seconds before he cleared his throat and lowered his arm. 

They silently made their way through the halls and into the room Sylvie knew to be Loki’s private quarters. 

Thor looked at her very quickly as they approached the doors and then sighed. 

“I should have warned you, it is sure to be pretty cold in there.” Thor shivered.

“I will manage.” she assured him. 

“We could run back to your room.” Thor suggested. “Or you could have my cape.”

As he reached to undo his cape, Sylvie growled in annoyance. 

“I said I will manage.” she snapped.

Thor secured his cape and stood up a bit straighter. 

“As you wish.” he told her as he reached forward and opened the door.

As soon as the doors swung open, an overwhelming chill filled the hall. Sylvie felt instantly frozen as they tentatively walked into the room. All the furniture had been replaced with buckets of ice and people in woolen cloaks waving massive fans. Sylvie could also sense a magical coolness to the air.

“Mother, are you here?” Thor asked, as he looked towards a curtained off area. 

“She left a few minutes ago.” a man with gray hair and a mustache said, emerging from behind the curtain, his face the only part of him visible underneath all his warm clothing.

Thor smiled at this man’s appearance. 

“Ah yes, Healer Mobius.” Thor remarked. “It gladdens me to see you. How is my brother?”

“Doing as well as can be expected for a man that was stabbed with a sword and is using the power of cold to heal himself.” the healer named Mobius replied to Thor positively. 

Sylvie winced at the casualness of his tone but resisted the urge to attack this man.

“And who is this?” Mobius asked. 

“This is Sylvie.” Thor gestured as though her name would evoke some reaction from the healer.

“ The Sylvie.” Mobius asked. “I swear Loki has said little else but your name for the past few hours.”

He reached forward to shake her hand. She cautiously reached forward to grab and shake back as she pondered his words.

My name? Of all the words he could say.  

“It is an honor to put a face to the name.” he told her brightly.

Sylvie almost smiled. This man seemed to be a very caring and curious individual and she admired that. 

“Would it be alright if she saw him?” Thor asked. 

“Of course.” Mobius said, gesturing towards the curtained off area. “Though you might want to consider grabbing a scarf or gloves.”

“I will be fine.” Sylvie snarked, determined not to admit that she was already cold beyond her belief. 

“Suit yourself.” Mobius agreed. “Prince Thor, let’s you and I go for a walk. I can tell you about your brother’s condition more thoroughly.”

“Why would I need to know that?” Thor asked.

Mobius stared at him for a moment before Thor seemed to get it.

“Ah yes.” Thor agreed. “Perhaps I do need to know more. Like how does it all work exactly?”

As the two of them walked out into the hall, Sylvie approached the curtains slowly. 

She knew she should turn back, blaze past Mobius and Thor and just go. First back to her rooms and then make her way to the birds before it was too late.

But she had to see him. 

Her hand reached forward and she pulled the curtain back. 

Behind it, the air was somehow even colder. Sylvie gasped at the pain of what felt like breathing ice. She could see her breath in front of her and her hands immediately began to stiffen. An ice bath sat in the corner of the area, the ice not even close to melting. A single bed sat in the middle of the space, stripped of all but a single sheet and underneath it was 

Loki.

Sylvie gasped once again but it wasn't from the cold. The sheer relief coursing through her was nearly enough to bring her to her knees. 

He laid there seemingly unconscious, bare chested, and Sylvie could swear he appeared to be a faint shade of blue, but it was hard to tell. Watching the rise and fall of his chest as he took in air the most beautiful sight Sylvie could think of at the moment. The large wound desecrating his abdomen looked days old rather than hours, an ugly scar beginning to form. 

It took all the restraint Sylvie to approach the bed slowly.

When she stood next to him, she saw he looked very weak. Small and impossibly pale. And still impossibly beautiful. Her hand reached out without her permission to move a strand of his hair from his face. Despite the cold, Loki was warm to the touch. 

“Sylvie?” Loki stirred, his eyes still closed. 

She jumped back. 

How could he have possibly known it was me?

“Sylvie, you can’t be…” he started, seeming panicked.

“Loki, I’m here.” she said softly, her fingers smoothing his hair back as she did so. 

His eyes flew open, and when he saw her, the relief that filled them nearly broke Sylvie’s heart. 

“Sylvie.” he said once again, pulling a blanket quickly over his chest. “You’re alive!”

I’m alive? Sylvie thought as she looked at him skeptically. 

“I believe that’s my line.” she told him. 

“The man.” Loki moved to sit up, but winced and Sylvie placed her hand on his chest to lower him back down. “He said he killed you.”

“Probably an attempt to rattle you.” Sylvie replied nonchalantly, her hand still on his chest, feeling the rapid beating of Loki’s heart. 

When she went to move her hand, Loki placed his own over it, encircling his fingers around hers. The surprising warmth in his hands made her wish he would never let go.

“The trickster was tricked,” Loki remarked, sounding almost amused by the idea. “Perhaps you were right. I am not the mischief maker I once was.”

"Is that really what's on your mind right now?" Sylvie snarked in surprise

"Absolutely not." Loki told her with such earnestness she wasn't sure she could stand it.

“I can’t believe you’re alive.” Sylvie told him, pulling up a chair with her free hand, the other still entrapped by Loki’s.

“Frost giants have this superhuman durability.” Loki explained as though he were reciting from a book. “So long as they get their temperature low enough, their bodies can heal from many unimaginable wounds.”

“So Thor said.” Sylvie explained. “Kind of.”

Loki smiled, his gaze never leaving her. 

“He acted quickly.” Loki told her. “I suppose I must forgive him now. If he hadn’t gotten me to our mother and had her stall the injuries until that temperature could be met, I might have needed to die first to reach the optimal temperature.”

Sylvie gasped. 

“Die?”

“Not ideal, but sometimes Jotuns have died for minutes in order to lower their temperatures enough to heal.”

At these words, Sylvie began to shake. The thought of Loki dying so soon after thinking him dead practically broke her inside. 

Loki rolled himself over to look at her.

“Are you ok?” he asked, his thumb rubbing the inside of her index finger. 

Sylvie shook her head. 

“Just cold.” she told him, though her weepy voice said otherwise.

Loki twisted his hand and a blanket appeared around her. 

She looked at it and then at him.

“You shouldn’t be using your magic right now.” Sylvie lectured, amazed at how upset she sounded at him.

“But you are cold.” Loki replied, sounding sad at the idea of her discomfort. 

“It is a silly thing to waste your energy on.” Sylvie told him, trying to sound neutral. 

Loki shook his head. “Least silly thing I’ve done today, making sure you can be warm whilst checking on my well-being.”

Loki reached out for the blanket, pulling it tightly around her before lying back down.

“Thank you.” she told him, snuggling with the blanket that she couldn’t help noticing smelled like him somehow. 

“My pleasure.” Loki told her, a small grin on his face. 

A few moments of silence passed between them, neither could take their eyes off the other. 

He’s really alive. Breathing, smiling, conjuring. This feels like a dream. 

When Loki shivered, Sylvie felt her heart flutter with concern.

“Is it safe for you to be at such low temperatures?” she asked, wondering if she should find him a blanket. 

“It is in my nature ” Loki explained, though the malice in his tone told her he didn’t want to admit it.

“Is that why your skin is a faint shade of blue?” she asked, her eyes darting to the wound that was visible again.

Loki pulled up the covers, covering his wound and chest while looking embarrassed. 

“Um, yes it is.” he said, suddenly unable to look at her.

Sylvie thought for a moment. 

“Would you heal faster in your Jotun form?” she asked. 

A look of pain flashed across Loki’s face. 

“I can’t.” he said, closing his eyes as tears seemed to be forming. “I just can’t do it.”

“Why not?” Sylvie asked.

Loki breathed a choky, teary breath. 

“What you see, this pale skin, these blue eyes, this long black hair, this is who I am Sylvie.” Loki explained.

She quickly realized the issue. 

He doesn’t want to be Jotun. He hates this part of himself, even though it is literally saving his life right now. 

Sylvie barely remembered the tales of Jotunheim she was told as a child. But the fear they brought to mind, these dark evil creatures who have no good in their hearts as they viciously hurt others stayed with her throughout her life. No doubt that Loki heard those same tales, felt those same fears and grew to turn that fear into hate only to find that he was one of those monsters.   

He doesn’t want to be a monster. Doesn’t he know we all are? We all do horrible things and hope that Valhalla will still let us in when the time comes. We're all villains here.

Perhaps Loki less so than most.

“Yes.” Sylvie agreed, her eyes scanning his features, his skin seeming to grow paler and his cheeks more hollow by the second. “But you are also who you need to be to survive.”

Sylvie’s breath shook but she continued. 

“The legends of a clever, quick witted, cunning, resourceful trickster speak of someone who would do anything to survive. Including something he despised.”

Loki sighed, defeated by his own exploits. This almost made Sylvie grin. 

“I’m not sure I could if you’re looking.” he admitted to her, his eyes still cast away from her

“I’ll go then.” Sylvie said, preparing to walk away. 

“Please don’t.” he begged and it stopped her in her tracks. “Could you just close your eyes?’

Sylvie nodded as she closed her eyes. A sudden wave of cold filled the room even though it seemed impossible that it could get any colder in here. 

She heard a deep sigh from Loki which cause her to open her eyes. Loki’s entire body was a deep shade of blue, lines and markings went across his face and arms and chest, his eyes still squinted shut.

Sylvie sighed upon seeing this. 

How has his beauty transcended itself? Somehow his sharp cheekbones, a slender but prominent nose, his thin, gentle looking lips all seemed to shine against his blue complexion. 

“Loki, open your eyes.” she said, her voice almost breathy as she spoke. 

Loki shook his head, his lips quivering from either the cold or distress she did not know. 

Her hand reached for his and she entwined their fingers.

“Open your eyes.”

His eyes slowly opened, the crimson irises scanning her for a reaction.

  How can eyes that are supposed to be scary be filled with such love, interest, and at this moment in time fear?

Because it is Loki.

Sylvie smiled at him, unable to take her eyes off of him. 

“You don’t look at me differently?” Loki observed, sounding skeptical. 

Sylvie shook her head. “Why would I?”

“Why wouldn’t you?” he asked, dejectedly.

Sylvie stared at him, all of the beautiful features before still belonging to Loki. 

“You’re still Loki.” she told him honestly. “You are not the monster you think you are.”

Loki let a tear drop down his cheek. 

“Thank you.”

She could hear in his voice that he still doubted. He was still looking at her as though he expected her to look at him in fright or disgust.

Sylvie felt herself longing to prove him wrong. She could feel her hand wanting to caress his beautiful blue cheek and plant a kiss on his darkened lips.

As she gave these thoughts more consideration than she wanted to, Sylvie heard the laughter of people behind the curtain and she quickly jerked her hand away from Loki, as if shocked back into reality.

“I have to go.” she told Loki, walking briskly away from the bed. 

“Will you be back?” he asked, concern flooding his voice.

Sylvie closed her eyes, the tears were becoming harder to hold back. 

“I don't know.” she told him, glad her voice sounded normal. “I am not sure it is appropriate for us to be alone together.”

Loki laughed then immediately winced. 

“I really couldn’t care less about propriety at this moment.”

Sylvie kept her back turned away from Loki prepared to start walking away, but she couldn’t make herself move. 

“Sylvie, what’s wrong?” Loki asked, the rustling of sheets telling her he was attempting to get out of bed. 

“What’s wrong? Are you fucking kidding me?” Sylvie lashed out as she whipped around and began pushing Loki’s shoulders against the bed. “Someone tried to kill you.”

Loki complied with the pushing, lying himself back down as Sylvie furiously placed the thin sheet back over him. 

“You bled profusely into my arms, calling my name until you fell unconscious. I thought you dead, Loki.” Sylvie’s voice breaking at those last words. 

Loki grabbed her hand before she could pull it away.

“I’m sorry.” Loki told her, his thumb rubbing the top of her hand.

“Why are you apologizing for someone trying to assassinate you?” Sylvie snapped.

“Because it hurt you.” Loki explained. "I never thought that…"

He didn't need to finish the sentence because Sylvie knew what he meant. Loki didn't think his pain, his death would affect anyone. 

A sentiment I understand more than I would like to admit.

“I think it hurt you more.” Sylvie pointed out, trying to bring some levity to the moment. 

"I'm afraid you'll find I'm well acquainted with pain." Loki told her, the sincerity of his words painful to hear. 

"Me too."

Sylvie took a deep breath, knowing she was about to say words she would immediately regret but allowing them to fall anyway.

“Loki, if you…” 

But before she could finish her sentence, Thor’s thunderous voice filled the room, causing Sylvie to jerk away from Loki and Loki to drop back to his asgardian form. 

“Ah, so that is how ice is made.” Thor concluded. “Healer Mobius, you are truly a brilliant individual”

“I am sure it must seem that way.” Mobius replied to him, clearly trying to stifle laughter. 

The two approached the curtained area and walked in. 

“How is the patient doing?” Mobius asked, then noticing Sylvie backed away. “I did not realize you would still have company.”

“I should be going anyway.” Sylvie said quietly as she moved past them.

“Sylvie, wait!” Loki yelled, raising up from bed. 

Sylvie stopped in her tracks and turned to look at him. 

She could see a million words whirring around in his mind but as he looked furtively from his brother to the healer, she knew he had no intention of saying any of them. 

“Thank you for stopping by.” Loki replied.

Sylvie forced herself to nod before bolting out of the curtained area and out of the room. 

How am I gonna get out of this? How can I make myself leave him now?

Chapter Text

Sylvie was walking around the gardens, her mind racing. In the 24 hours since the assassination attempt, Sylvie had wracked her brain and she could not decide what to do.  

I need to leave. She was saying to herself for what must have been the millionth time. If I can’t kill him then I need to go before  Hela catches on and can kill me. 

But what about Loki? She puzzled. If I go, he will be unprotected.

Maybe I can tell Thor to be on the lookout. Or perhaps the assassination attempt will make the guards more cautious anyway. 

Sylvie took a quick look around the garden to see not a single guard in sight. 

Apparently not. 

Sylvie groaned in frustration. 

Keeping someone safe is not my area of expertise.

Which is why I should just go, leave this place behind me. 

But what about Loki?

The thought of never seeing Loki again caused her throat to close up. She couldn’t deny that she had feelings for him any longer. Thinking he had died and how quickly she had fallen apart over it had made it pretty impossible to pretend. But they couldn’t be together and she knew that. As soon as Loki knew the truth, he would cast aside and she didn’t think her heart could take that kind of rejection, especially from Loki.  

It’s idiotic to stay but torturous to leave. 

Consumed by these thoughts, she failed to notice that Mobius stood in front of her trying to get her attention before she crashed right into him.

“Damn, I am so sorry.” Sylvie said, completely surprised that someone had managed to sneak up on her. 

“Is everything alright?” Mobius asked, scanning her with a look of concern. “You seem...distracted.”

“Just have a lot on my mind.” Sylvie explained away. 

“Well I hate to add to that, but I was hoping to run into you. Not literally of course, but if it works…”

“You were?” Sylvie questioned, skeptically. 

“Yes. It is about Loki.”

Her heart sank instantly. 

“What happened? Is he alright? Did his condition get worse?” 

She was rambling. She hated rambling, but she also couldn’t manage to stop it. 

Loki’s even affecting the way I speak now. Damn him. 

“Loki is fine for now.” Mobius assured her. “It is keeping him that way that might be a problem. 

Sylvie quirked her eyebrows

“What do you mean?” Sylvie asked. 

“He is refusing to stay in his chambers and rest.” Mobius told her, the frustration in his voice masked but still audible. “Insists he has too much work to do and wants to get back to it.”

“Of course he does.” Sylvie nearly groaned as she imagined Loki eager to get back to his responsibilities. “What exactly do you want me to do? Physically restrain him?”

Sylvie gave the idea some mischievous thought, thinking it had its merits, but then decided to put those thoughts aside for later. 

“Hoping it won’t come to that.” Mobius admitted. “Though I have a surprising amount of volunteers for that task.”

Loki does have that effect on people.  Sylvie grinned, finding it endearing rather than annoying. 

“I was hoping you could talk to him, convince him to take it easy for a day or two.”

Sylvie’s eyebrows raised in question. 

“What makes you think I have any power over him?” Sylvie asked, trying to make her tone casual.

Mobius hesitated for a moment.

“I think it is pretty obvious at this point that you do.”

Sylvie blushed and wanted to instantly deny it, but she couldn’t. She could see it when Loki looked at her; she had that power whether she wanted it or not.

“I will see what I can do.” Sylvie told Mobius.

“Thank you.” Mobius clasped his hands in thanks. “He should still be in his chambers. I might or might not have resorted to hiding his belongings in order to have time to reach out to you.”

Sylvie giggled. 

“Guess I better hurry then.”

Sylvie walked away from Mobius and into the palace. 

Ok, just a quick discussion convincing him to take it easy and then perhaps work in the fact that I am leaving then run back to my room and get my things. 

If I tell him I’m going then I actually have to go. 

Sylvie approached the doors of his chambers to find a small chamber maid guarding it. 

“Hi, I’m Sylvie, here to see his majesty.” Sylvie introduced, assuming that the maid would wander into the room to tell Loki of her arrival. 

But instead, the maid simply opened the door and stepped swiftly aside to allow her entrance. 

“Oh, thank you.” Sylvie told the maid as she entered. 

The door shut behind her as quickly as it opened and suddenly Sylvie was nervous. 

Alone with Loki, again. How does this keep happening?

Sylvie knocked on the wall next to the door loudly, hoping wherever Loki happened to be he would hear it.

“Hello?” Sylvie yelled. “Loki?”

***

I swear I am going to kill Mobius the next time I see him.

Loki had spent the last hour trying to find various clothing items that he knew for a fact Mobius had hidden. Sure he knew there were other items he could wear but he would not be bested by the mortal healer. 

I don’t understand what his obsession with keeping me in bed is. I feel fine.

As soon as he thought it, there was a painful twinge in his ribs that he couldn’t stop himself from clutching at.

Alright, maybe not fine, but serviceable. Enough to get back to work. I can’t just stay up here all day. I have responsibilities.

And it would be just so boring. 

And how would I see Sylvie if I am stuck here? I doubt after last time she will be making a return visit. 

Loki sighed as he dropped to the ground to rest. 

I scared her, in my weakened state. Was too vulnerable and open with my emotions and now I wouldn’t be surprised if she was halfway to Svartalfheim. .

He had finally managed to locate his favorite pants when he heard the door to his chambers open.

I wonder what Mobius’s next scheme to keep me in here is. Perhaps he has convinced Thor to tie me to the bed. Or B-15. Or Sif. Or Fandral. Or Mother. 

This is an incredibly long list. 

“Hello? Loki?”

Loki’s heart stopped at the sound of that voice. 

Sylvie. She’s back?

Loki grabbed the nearest shirt, throwing it on before making himself seen by her. He moved to button it, but saw that Mobius had removed the buttons but it was too late to find another shirt now.

“Sylvie, is that you?” Loki asked, knowing perfectly well that it was as he stepped out of his dressing room and saw her looking around his chambers. 

“Yes.” she replied, blushing as soon as he made his appearance. “Hi.” 

“Hello.” Loki replied, hoping his elation at seeing her wasn’t too obvious as he moved to close the open shirt he was wearing. “What brings you here?” 

“Mobius sent me.” Sylvie responded. 

“Ah of course.” Loki acknowledged, disappointed that she didn’t come because she wanted to. 

“He thinks you should take the day off to recover from your injuries.” Sylvie informed him. 

“And so I did. Yesterday.” Loki retorted. “But it has been a very long twenty four hours and I would very much like to get back to being King.”

“Considering you spent most of the day unconscious, it hardly counts as a day off.” Sylvie fired back, beginning to sound annoyed. “Just listen to the healer.”

“I don’t need to, I am fine.” Loki told her, once again feeling his body rebel against the idea but refusing to even react to the pain. 

Then suddenly Sylvie charged at him, knife in hand. As Loki raised his arms in defense, he made a very pained wince and audible cry.

“You are not fine.” Sylvie told him, putting the knife back up her sleeve and giving Loki a withering stare, now standing inches away from him. “You body needs a break, Loki. Give it one.”

Loki’s heart raced at their close proximity as he sighed, loathed to admit she was right.

“Well, what am I supposed to do all day?” Loki asked her, not daring to move away from her. 

Sylvie shrugged, not moving away from him either which made Loki want to smile. 

“What does royalty do when there aren’t boats to christen and commoners to assuage?”

Loki let out a small laugh. 

“I am not sure there is ever a lack of either of those.”

Before Sylvie could reply, there was a knock at the door, causing them two of them to quickly jump apart. 

“Enter.” Loki replied and a young maid came in pushing a cart with a tiered tray and a beautiful silver tea set. 

“Your afternoon tea, your majesty.” the maid explained as she wheeled it to the small table on the balcony. 

“Yes. Thank you.” Loki nodded in appreciation as the maid curtseyed and rushed out of the room. 

“There you go.” Sylvie said, gesturing to the tea. “A long luxurious afternoon tea sounds like a great way to start a day off.”

Loki saw Sylvie start to back away and felt compelled to stop her. 

“Would you care to join me?” Loki asked.

He could see her hesitation and felt the need to rush into explanation. 

“They always bring an excess of food and tea. You would really be doing me a favor by helping me consume it.”

Sylvie looked as though she were thinking it over for a moment. Each second felt agonizing to Loki as he waited. 

“Sure. Why not?” she said, walking over to the table.

“Splendid.” Loki replied, joining her. 

The two sat down at the table, Sylvie moving the tea set and the tiered tray onto it. Loki began to pour the tea. 

“I do hope Earl Grey is alright.” Loki said, looking at her for approval.

Sylvie nodded as she lifted the lid off the first tier to reveal some rather delicious looking small sandwiches. 

“How do you take it?” Loki asked. “We have pretty much everything.”

“Just a splash of milk will be fine.”

Loki paused mid movement.

“What?” Sylvie asked. “Is that an offensive way to take your tea in Asgard?”

“No, it is just that is how I take it as well.” Loki replied, smiling as he added milk to both of their cups. 

Sylvie picked up her cup to take a sip. The smile he received from her warmed him more than the tea ever could.

Loki took a sip as well and could see why she was smiling. It tasted perfect. 

Sylvie grabbed a few little sandwiches from the tray and began to eat, Loki was too distracted by the joy on her face to even look at the food options. 

“Why aren’t you eating?” Sylvie asked, grabbing another sandwich to add to her tray. “It is all delicious.”

“I have no doubt.” Loki replied. “Just not hungry.”

“Is it because you aren’t feeling well?” Sylvie asked, sounding concerned. “Suppose it would be hard on your ribs to eat. Should I send for Mobius?” 

Loki wanted to laugh. No one other than his mother had ever fretted like this over him before. And the way Sylvie winced after saying it, he was sure she had never been one for fretting. 

“No. I am alright.” Loki assured her.

She looked at him skeptically, her embarrassment not enough to distract her from concern for him.

How does someone like you even give me a second glance let alone care about me?

Worried she might actually leave to find Mobius, Loki quickly grabbed the nearest sandwich and began to nibble on it. 

Sylvie leaned back in her chair, the skepticism still on her face as she finished her sandwiches. 

She removed the lid from the second tier to find a note.

“Ah, it is from Mother.” Loki explained, leaning to read the note. “The final tier is a gift from the Midgardian ambassador. Enjoy.”

Sylvie removed the final tier lid and gasped in delight. 

“What are they?” Loki asked, staring at the little squares in front of him with mild curiosity.

“They are petit fours.” Sylvie explained, clearly incredibly excited by this. 

“Beg your pardon?” Loki asked, never having heard of such a thing. 

“Little cakes.” Sylvie explained. “They are delicious, you must try them!” 

Sylvie grabbed one to hand to him as Loki raised his hands in protest. 

“No, I’m afraid I am not one for sweets.” Loki explained. 

“Really?” Sylvie questioned, seeming flabbergasted by the concept. “Do they not have them here?”

“Of course we do.” Loki replied. “I just don’t find them appealing.”

Sylvie looked at him with such derision that Loki found his resolve melting.

“Oh, very well. I will try one.” Loki said. 

Sylvie smiled as she grabbed a darker brown one and popped it into his mouth. 

As Loki chewed, he smiled. 

“It is surprisingly enjoyable.” Loki told Sylvie. “Do you know what flavor that was?”

“Dark chocolate.” Sylvie told him. “Thought you might enjoy it. Less sweet.”

“Perhaps I need a bit of bitter to make the sweet more tolerable.” Loki teased, allowing himself to give her a long gaze.

Sylvie smiled at him but before she could reply to his comment, the door opened behind them.

Sylvie immediately jumped up, her sword at once in her hand, stepping in front of Loki and pointing her sword at the person who had just walked in. 

The young person gasped as they dropped the cloth they were holding onto the tray. 

“Sylvie, relax.” Loki said, stepping between her and the younger person. “Just a servant coming to clean up after tea.”

Sylvie took a deep breath and walked away from the balcony, Loki following her.

“Sorry.” she shouted, looking away embarrassed. 

Loki placed a hand gently on her shoulder. 

“I am sure they have received much worse from any number of people in this palace, especially in the early mornings when hungover warriors aren’t expecting their rooms to be cleaned.”

Sylvie gave him a small smile. 

“I do thank you, though.” Loki told her. “Not everyday does someone threaten a servant for me.”

Sylvie smiled weakly at him, stepping away from the hand on her shoulder. 

“Least I can do for the King.”

Once the servant had cleared the tea and left, Loki and Sylvie returned to the tea table. 

“So what am I to do now?” Loki asked of her.

“I am not sure.” Sylvie said. “Dedicate some time to one of your hobbies. You do have hobbies, don’t you?”

Loki laughed.

“Of course. The princely hobbies. I ride, I fence, I hunt.”

Sylvie rolled her eyes, causing Loki to laugh again. 

“What about you? Any hobbies?” Loki asked.

“I’ve never really had time for hobbies.” Sylvie told him quickly. “A bit too busy running for my life and then moving for my occupation to actually pick something up.”

Loki’s face fell. It was not that he forgot what she had been through but he didn’t think about just how many aspects of her life it could affect. 

She thinks me thoughtless now. Or perhaps cruel. 

“Of course. I’m so sorry.” Loki relented quickly.

Sylvie looked at him as though she were having an internal debate and sighed.

“Ok, I do have one hobby.” 

Loki brightened.

“What is it?” he asked, curiosity peaked. 

“I make these carved dolls.” Sylvie explained, staring at the ground as she did so, seeming uneasy. “They are not very good or pretty. But it is something I like to do. And it is pretty easy to find materials as I go.”

“Why did you lie and say you didn’t have a hobby?” Loki asked her, hoping she wouldn’t take this as too much of an intrusion. 

“I am just used to dodging personal questions.” Sylvie admitted. “It doesn’t make sense in my line of work to get too chummy.” 

Loki nodded, wondering how sharing your hobbies could be detrimental to a weapons tradesperson. 

“Can I see one?” Loki asked.

“I don’t have one with me.” Sylvie told him. “They are all back in my room.”

“Do you remember where in your room?” Loki asked, flexing his fingers. “I could summon it here.”

“No!” Sylvie reacted quickly, reaching her hands out to stop him. “I mean yes I do know where it is, but you shouldn’t be using your magic to summon things right now.”

Loki thought of arguing with her but quickly saw there would be no point to it. Instead he sat and thought for a moment. 

“Could I teach you how to summon it?” he asked her tentatively. 

Sylvie looked at him, annoyance emitting painfully from her eyes. 

“I have no interest in your parlor tricks.” Sylvie snarked which caused Loki to laugh.

“Clearly.” Loki remarked. “But it could be a bit of fun. And it would require very little effort from me.”

Sylvie sighed, but Loki could tell that she was curious. 

“Alright.” she agreed. 

Loki smiled as he sat up straighter, strangely excited to share this with her. 

“First thing, you are going to need to close your eyes.”

Sylvie’s eyes fluttered closed and then immediately shot back open. 

“Is this a trick?” Sylvie asked, eyes narrowing. “You tell me I summoned it when you did it and just wanted to get away with it?”

“No, but come to think of it, that is a rather good idea.” Loki smirked at her.

Sylvie glared at him and he relented. 

“I swear my intentions are honorable. Now close your eyes.”

Sylvie closed her eyes once again.

“Ok. Now I want you to think about where the item is.” Loki explained calmly. “Can you see it?”

“Yes.”

“Good.” Loki replied. “Now I want you to imagine retrieving the item from its location.”

“Sure.” Sylvie replied, but Loki could tell by the way her fingers were twitching that she was quickly losing faith. 

“Can you imagine what the item looks like?”

“Yes.” she replied through gritted teeth. 

“Picture it fully in your mind. Remember every aspect of it that you can. Every scratch, the color, the texture, the weight of it as you hold it in your hand.”

Sylvie nodded. 

“Extend your right hand out for me and hold it as if the item were in your hand.”

Sylvie flipped her hand out, her fingers curling around something that Loki could not see.

“Now, find the part of you that you use when enchanting, the source of your power. Do you feel it?”

“Yes.” Sylvie almost whispered, seeming to gain greater faith in this. 

“Good.” Loki replied. “Allow that power to reach inside your mind for that image of the carved doll.” 

Loki then reached out to her hand that currently lay on the table, hovering his own above it. Loki sent magic from his fingers, reaching out for the magic that flowed through Sylvie’s veins. 

Sylvie gasped and her eyes shot open as a small carved figurine appeared in her hand that she dropped almost immediately. She jerked the hand that Loki had been hovering over away and backed away from the table.

“What were you doing to me?” Sylvie asked accusingly.

Loki leaned back surprised. 

“What? Sylvie, I...” Loki tried to explain but the look of terror in her eyes caused him to pause.

“I felt it, you, something.” Sylvie said, holding her wrist firmly. 

“I was trying to help your magic along.” Loki explained. “A small nudge from someone who knows what direction you need to go in.”

“You said your intentions were honorable, but then you used magic on me and it felt…”

“You felt something?” Loki asked, confused.

“Of course I felt something. You used magic on me.”

The look of betrayal on her face made Loki want to throw himself mercilessly into the lake, let that pesky alligator get him. 

“I didn’t use magic on you, you have my word.” Loki told her honestly, hoping to alleviate her worry. “As a child, my mother used it as a way to help guide me with lessons I struggled with. I have never felt anything when she has done it to me in the past.”

Sylvie seemed to relax a bit, but still kept her distance from him. 

“Show me again.” she extended her arm out, but keeping her body far from him. 

Loki hovered over her, the magic in his fingers flowing to meet hers

She jerked back once again. 

“It feels like you are sending sparks under my skin, into my veins.”

Loki jerked back at her words.

It hurt her?  

“It is not supposed to be that way.”

“Let me show you.” Sylvie said.

Loki flipped his wrist over without question as she hovered over him.

As Sylvie’s magic connected with his own, Loki immediately understood what she was saying. It felt like his veins were buzzing with electricity, the magic inside them possibly overcharging. It was very difficult to keep his arm where it was but he felt strangely drawn to the sensation. 

He did remove his arm though and looked at her. 

“I promise you that has never happened before.”

Loki lowered his head in shame.

I hurt her. How could I have been so careless?  

“If I had known, I wouldn’t have….”

Sylvie looked at him, surveying him.

She tilted his chin up with the tips of her fingers. 

“Loki, it is ok. I believe you.”

Loki looked at her, surprised. 

“You do?” Loki asked, his voice sounding childlike even to his own ears.

“Of course.”

Loki breathed a huge sigh of relief, though he might have hurt her, it was unintentional and she knew that. 

She understands and accepts that it was a mistake. Has anyone ever just believed me before?

Sylvie shrugged as she sat back down, retrieving her carved doll from the floor.

“Besides, it is not as though you really could do anything to me.” Sylvie teased. “My mind is much stronger than yours.”

“Doubtful.” Loki teased back. “So this is the doll?”

He extended his hand out to Sylvie so he could hold it. She hesitated before she handed it over. 

Loki stared at the doll in wonder. 

About 4 inches in length, it was a carving of a beautiful woman in a lovely green dress, long hair cascading down her shoulders. He couldn’t help but notice the similarities between this doll and its creator.  

“I believe you have vastly undersold this creation.” Loki said, paying attention to all the delicate details, his thumb caressing a carved curl. “It is beautiful, a true work of art.”

Sylvie blushed which caused Loki to blush in turn. 

“How many of these have you made?” Loki asked, trying to keep the conversation casual.  

“Never counted.” Sylvie admitted. “I often end up giving them away to children I encounter, or just simply abandoning them.”

“It’s a real gift.” Loki remarked.

Sylvie once again shrugged. 

“I prefer enchanting to carving if I’m honest.”

“I’d daresay.” Loki smiled, still looking at the doll. “I would to, if I could.”

“I am sure you can with a little guidance.” Sylvie said suggestively, mimicking his hand gesture from earlier. 

Loki didn’t need to ask to know what she meant. 

“Even after our last magical sharing experience?” Loki asked. 

Sylvie shrugged. 

“Not so worried, now that I know what it is.”

“Very well. Teach me.” Loki said, taking a seat at the table and extending out his hands. 

“First, you will want to decide on what information you want to know.” Sylvie told him. “Nothing too personal. My mind will block you out.”

“Of course.” Loki replied, trying to think of a safe question.

“Then you need to make physical contact, the closer to the mind, the better.”

Loki tentatively reached out and placed the tips of his fingers against Sylvie’s temple, the tips of his fingers already starting to feel a charge though nothing magical was happening yet. 

“Yes, umm…” Sylvie seemed to be struggling with her words. “Then you grab hold of my mind. Since I will only be letting you have basic access, it should be easy enough. And of course, the magical nudge, assuming I am doing it correctly.”

Loki nodded as he closed his eyes, focusing intensely on his question as he tried to grab hold of her mind. He felt Sylvie’s magic pushing him towards her mind and encouraging him to reach out mentally. When it did, his question seemed to echo in a dark space that was suddenly consumed with color. But just one color. He saw grass and ponds, luscious trees, frogs hopping around, and deep green dresses.

“Did you really penetrate my mind to ask me what my favorite color was?” Sylvie asked as the connection between them broke.

“Felt like a safe avenue to explore.” Loki admitted to her as his hand dropped back to his lap. 

“Enchantment is wasted on you.” Sylvie replied, her smile lighting up her face. 

“Well then, why don’t you ask a non invasive invasive question?” Loki said.

Rather than reply, Sylvie pressed her fingers to his temples and Loki could immediately feel her rummaging in his head. His brain filled with images of him and Sif. The two of them walking together on the training ground as children, brief shots of their adolescent clandestine meetings, him cutting her hair after she called out Thor’s name, and then at last their conversation from a couple nights previous and his feelings of friendship towards her. 

Sylvie gasped, breaking their connection. 

“I’m sorry. That was not what I intended to ask.” Sylvie told him as she backed away. 

Loki looked at her curiously. 

So she was jealous. Loki almost wanted to smile at that but the distress on Sylvie’s face kept him from doing so. 

“Sylvie I assure you, there is nothing going on between myself and Sif.” Loki explained. “We are friends...I believe we are friends at least. Don’t have a lot of experience with friends if I am honest.”

Sylvie nodded, blushing. 

“There is nothing with her or with anyone.”

Anyone else at least. 

Sylvie nodded once again but did not reply. 

They sat in silence for a few moments, Loki’s mind consumed with only one question. 

“What about you?” Loki asked, unable to keep himself from asking. “Do you have someone?”

Someone else. Someone you care about. Someone who could take you away from me?

“You aren’t going to enchant my answer?” Sylvie asked. “It would only be fair.”

Loki shook his head. 

“I would rather hear it from your lips than force it out of your head.”

She smiled weakly in response. 

“No, there is no one.”

Loki wanted to sigh in relief but resisted.

Another couple moments of silence passed before Loki broke it.  

“What had you intended to ask?” Loki asked, now curious.

“What your hobbies were.” Sylvie replied, still unable to meet his eye. “You dodged the question earlier. Thought it might be something you were ashamed of.”

“Ah no. Not ashamed.” Loki told her. “Just not the most interesting. I read.”

Sylvie giggled. 

“Truly? Reading is your hobby?” Sylvie questioned, voice filled with judgement

“Yes.” Loki replied in an almost offended manner. “With a library as vast as ours in the palace, someone should make use of it.”

“The palace has a library?” Sylvie asked, her eyes alight with interest.

Loki smiled at the way she perked up with this revelation.

“Of course. What self respecting palace wouldn’t have a library?”

“Where is it?” Sylvie asked, her enthusiasm seeming only to progress with time. “I might have to stop by there later.”

“Or better yet, why don’t we go now?” Loki suggested, standing up. 

Sylvie looked at him warily. 

Loki sighed. The worrying was endearing at first, but it was starting to make him feel like she saw him as a child.

“I can make it down the hall.” Loki assured her mockingly.

“Is it just down the hall?” Sylvie asked. “Well then let’s go!”

She grabbed his hand out of excitement and began dragging him out the room. 

He was so floored by her excitement that he followed without protestation. 

Once they reached the end of the hall, there was a set of double doors. It wasn’t until they reached the doors that Sylvie looked down at the hand holding Loki’s and released it. She reached out for the door handles, but Loki stepped between them, suddenly struck with an idea. 

“Can you close your eyes?” Loki asked. “You just seem so excited, it might be nice if it were a surprise.”

“I’m not excited.” Sylvie told him, clearly lying. “Curious more than anything.”

But she closed her eyes anyway. 

Loki opened the double doors to the room and gently grabbed her hands to bring her forward into the room. 

Loki then took in the view for himself, never tiring of seeing it, before letting go of Sylvie’s hands.

“You can look now.”

Sylvie opened her eyes and the sheer wonder on her face was enough to tell him that she was impressed. They were on the top floor of a huge library, at least four stories of books lining the walls, the ground floor lined with what seemed like endless shelves. 

“This is all for you?” she asked, but her tone did not seem annoyed. 

“No, of course not. This library belongs to all of Asgard.” Loki explained, gesturing towards the stairs. “Any citizen can enter through those doors over there.” Loki then gestured to a set of doors leading to the outside. “And they may borrow any book they choose.”

He and Sylvie started to descend the stairs as he continued to explain. 

“Over in that corner on the left, that is the children’s section. The orphans love coming here and borrowing books. Sometimes, Mother will sit with them and have tea.”

“But not you?” Sylvie asked. 

“Oh no, a King is too busy for things like that.” He told her with a wink as they continued downward. 

Sylvie smiled. 

“How are they categorized?” Sylvie asked, stopping to look at a shelf of books on the 2nd floor landing. 

“Genre.” Loki told her. “Then alphabetically by author.”

Sylvie grabbed a book and stared at it for a moment. 

“May I?” she asked. 

“Of course.” Loki said, trying to catch a glimpse of the title but Sylvie kept it hidden. 

They quickly made their way through the library, Sylvie eventually making Loki sit down so she could gather more books for herself. By the end, she had a stack of at least 5 books that she seemed really excited about.

“Umm, Sylvie?” Loki asked, before they could begin their trek back up the stairs. “Would you join me for dinner?”

She looked at him for a moment, clearly mulling the decision over. 

“Alright.” She agreed.

“Wonderful!” Loki practically yelled before regaining composure. “I shall let the staff know.”

“Please, let me.” Sylvie said, practically running out the library and towards the kitchen. She quickly returned and they made their way back up to Loki’s chambers where the small tea table was now replaced with a slightly bigger dining table.

“Do they move your furniture everyday?” Sylvie asked.

“No.” Loki replied. “I normally have quite an assortment of furniture, but because the healers needed room and they didn’t want furniture adding unnecessary heat it was all removed.”

“Oh.” Sylvie replied, suddenly looking sad.

Before Loki could ask why, the servants arrived with dinner. Loki quickly made his way to the table to pull a chair out for Sylvie. She looked at him questioningly before sitting down and grabbing a napkin. Loki darted to his side of the table and sat down. 

“So what is on the menu tonight, Gerte?” Loki asked of the servant nearest him.

“Madam asked us not to tell you, your majesty.” the servant Gerte responded as they and the other servants walked out of the room.

Loki smiled. 

“It’s an entire plate of petit fours, isn’t it?” Loki asked. 

Sylvie scrunched her nose at his teasing.

“I asked the kitchen if they could prepare our favorite meals.”

“Really?” Loki asked, suddenly incredibly excited. He hadn’t had his favorite meal in quite a while. 

He began to lift the lid when he saw Sylvie reach out her hands in a stopping movement, causing him to stop mid movement. 

“I was hoping we could trade.” Sylvie told him, her voice smaller than he had ever heard it.

Loki nodded, twisting his wrist to switch the two plates. 

“Alright, what is his majesty’s favorite meal?” Sylvie asked. “Will I be floored by your decadence?”

Loki smiled mischievously as she lifted a lid to reveal a plate of fries and a cheeseburger.

“A cheeseburger?” Sylvie questioned. 

Loki blushed. 

“Ah yes.” Loki admitted. “I don’t get the chance to have it often, but after Father took Thor and I on a diplomatic mission to Midgard as children where we partook in cheeseburgers, it has always been my favorite.”

“Surprising.” she said, grabbing a fry to snack on. “Here I was imagining some gauche meal that I couldn’t even begin to pronounce let alone imagine affording.”

“Sorry to disappoint.” Loki teased, seeing her smile as she took a bite letting him know she wasn’t too disappointed.

Sylvie swallowed and then gestured to his plate.

“Your turn.”

Loki lifted the lid to reveal roast beef surrounded by a yorkshire pudding. 

“Always find it comforting.” Sylvie explained. “I don’t get to enjoy it often, I'm too busy. But when I can, I always do.”

Loki smiled, grabbing his knife and fork and preparing to eat. The meat practically melted in his mouth and the yorkshire pudding felt just as Sylvie said, comforting.

After a few bites however, Loki began to feel his ribs protesting. 

Perhaps Mobius was right. If I hadn’t taken it easy today things could be worse.

“What’s wrong?” Sylvie asked, putting down the cheeseburger and immediately rushing to Loki’s side. 

“It’s nothing.” Loki tried to dismiss, but his gritted teeth and gripped fists told her otherwise. 

“Loki?” Sylvie questioned. 

“It is just a little pain. It will pass.” Loki assured her, his pained voice not helping his case.

Sylvie looked away, anger flooding her face. 

“I will get him for this.” Sylvie replied, eyes fixed on the floor. 

“Sylvie…”

“I know how he thinks...how men like him think.” Sylvie told him, her hands balling up into fists as she continued to stare at Loki’s shoes. “I can track him and make him pay for what he did to you.”

“No.” Loki protested. “Sylvie, please no. It is too dangerous.”

Her eyes snapped to him, the fury in her eyes practically pining him to his chair. 

“I am more than capable of doing so.”

“I have no doubt.” Loki assured her, trying to meet her eyes, but she looked away again. “But I’m not...it’s not worth it.”

She then looked at him sadly. 

“It is.” she told him. “You are.”

Does she really think that? Could she really think that?

Loki shook the thought away, unwilling to let himself truly believe it

“Still, I don’t want you putting yourself in that kind of danger for a man that isn’t worth the energy of hunting. Please say you won’t go after him.”

Sylvie looked as though she wanted to scream in protest and Loki wouldn’t blame her.

Loki reached for her hand, holding it gently. 

“Sylvie, please.”

Sylvie swallowed hard as she nodded. 

“Ok.” Sylvie agreed, pulling her hand away from his. “I won’t hunt him down.”

Sylvie went back to her seat as they finished their meals in silence. 

“Perhaps I should be going.” Sylvie said as the servants who came to clear the plates exited. “It is getting late.”

Loki felt himself grow incredibly disappointed but knew she needed to go. 

“Well I appreciate you spending your entire day here.” Loki told her, trying to mask his reluctance at her departure. 

“It is hard to believe.” Sylvie admitted. “It feels like I just got here a few moments ago.”

“I agree.” Loki told her. “But maybe a nightcap before you go.”

Loki gestured to the cabinet against the wall that contained his alcohol stores. 

“You’re still injured.” Sylvie retorted. “And I don’t drink.”

Loki looked at her skeptically, not quite understanding how one could not drink at least occasionally. 

“A coffee, perhaps.” Loki suggested, gesturing towards the same cabinet but in the direction of the coffee maker. 

“I suppose I could use a cup.” Sylvie said, as she stifled a yawn.

She went over to the cabinet and made herself a cup and sat down on the couch. After a few sips, she grabbed at one of the books she had gotten from the library, settling down. 

“What’s your favorite?” Sylvie asked, still looking at the book in her hand. 

“My favorite…?”

“Book.”

“Oh.” Loki replied. “I wouldn’t say I have a favorite. There are several I have a great fondness for, keep returning to again and again. But not a favorite.”

Sylvie looked at him skeptically.

“Read me one.” she asked of him. “One of the ones you have a great fondness for.”

Loki smiled, grabbing a book off his personal bookshelf and sitting on the couch with her. 

“The Time Machine by H.G. Wells.” Loki began.

Sylvie moved the books that sat between them out of the way so she could sit in the seat next to him. Loki assumed to hear him better, not that he was complaining. 

“ The Time Traveller (for so it will be convenient to speak of him) was expounding a recondite matter to us. His grey eyes shone and twinkled and his usually pale face was flushed and animated. The fire burned brightly and the soft radiance of the incandescent lights in the lilies of silver caught the bubbles that flashed and passed in our glasses… ”

***

It is hard to say which one of them fell asleep first, neither noticed the other one do so, but it was Loki who awoke first to Sylvie’s head lying against his shoulder.

He stared at her for a moment. She looked so at peace. Her beauty was somehow even greater when she didn’t have to defend herself against the world. The scowl he had grown to admire was all but gone, the curves of her face softening, her adorable scrunched nose smoothed.

A radiant beauty no matter what state she is in. 

“Sylvie?” Loki whispered, reluctant to wake her but knowing he had to. When she did not respond, Loki decided to be brave and push a fallen blonde strand behind her ear, letting his fingers linger a bit longer than necessary. 

Can someone become intoxicated by a single touch? Loki wondered as Sylvie began to stir

“Hmm?” Sylvie responded, not opening her gorgeous blue eyes. 

“I’m afraid we fell asleep.” Loki explained, still whispering, staring at her adoringly. “It is quite dark outside now.”

Sylvie’s eyes fluttered open and her gaze fixed on Loki. Her enthralling gaze. One that made Loki feel he would literally walk through fire if she asked it. 

“Loki?” she whispered, her face seeming to tilt towards his own. Loki couldn’t breathe as he moved to meet her.

But before their lips could meet there was a knock at the door. Sylvie jumped away at the noise and Loki stifled the curse that nearly fell from his lips. 

“Hey Loki, just coming to check on you buddy.” Mobius’s voice said from outside the door. “I hope you took my advice and had a relaxing day.”

“Uh, yes I did.” Loki shouted as Sylvie raced up off the couch. “I can tell you all about it tomorrow. It is rather late.”

“Alright.” Mobius replied. “Have a good night.”

They waited for a few moments for Mobius’s footsteps to quiet before speaking.

“I’m sorry for um…” Loki started but he wasn’t sure what he was apologizing for. 

“Loki, I’m leaving.” Sylvie blurted out, seeming far more frazzled than Loki thought the situation called for.

“Of course.” Loki replied, standing up to walk her to the door. “I hope you have a nice evening and…”

“No, Loki, I’m leaving Asgard.” Sylvie told him, not looking in his direction. “My business is done here and it is time for me to move on.”

“Oh.” was all Loki could manage to say.

He felt confused and frozen in place. 

  Leaving? How can she be leaving?

“I didn’t mean to just say it; I’ve been trying to all day but I…” she turned around to look at him, Loki sure she could see how upset he looked. “Couldn’t.”

Loki nodded, unable to form words at the moment. 

Sylvie quickly looked away and darted towards the door.

“I promise I will say goodbye before I leave.” Sylvie told him as her hand reached for the door handle.

“Please do.” Loki managed, barely able to speak above a whisper. 

Sylvie nodded at the door.

“Goodnight Loki.” she said as she scrambled out of the room.

“Goodnight Sylvie.” Loki replied, though she was long gone by the time he managed to get the words out. 

How can she leave after everything? After today?

How am I about to lose her?

Chapter Text

I have to go. I have to go. I have to go.

Sylvie hoped in repeating the thought to herself, it would encourage her to pack and get going. Unfortunately, it seemed to be having the opposite effect. All of her possessions were scattered around the room and she simply sat on the bed making a carved doll to distract herself from thinking about last night. 

I shouldn't have stayed when he asked me for tea. Sylvie thought to herself . I should have told him I was leaving Asgard and left that very moment. 

But I couldn't be sure he wouldn't just pretend to be relaxing until I left the room. I had to stay to make sure he stayed. 

Then I should have left as soon as the tea was over. Not gotten involved in discussions about things like hobbies and magic.

Sylvie's hand still buzzed when she thought about Loki's magic flowing with her own. She had absolutely believed him when he said that he had never experienced that kind of thing before. But what was it? Some kind of magical warning system trying to protect Loki from her?

And what was I thinking showing him how to enchant people? That is my greatest weapon against enemies and I just showed him how to do it like I was teaching him to drive a car. 

Thinking about teaching him enchantment also brought up all the embarrassing feelings of asking him about his relationship with the warrior woman. 

It was that stupid couch. Looking at it, remembering the way she looked at him when they were sitting there together, it distracted me.

More than distracted. The intense hate she felt for that woman still vibrated through her. Though she believed there was nothing going on between them, all logical reasoning seemed to go out the window as far as Loki was concerned. 

Maybe Loki doesn't feel anything for her, but the way she was looking at him...ugh why do I care? It shouldn't matter if she does or if he does because Loki isn't mine. 

A fact which shouldn't bother her as much as it did. 

Then he asked if she had someone in her life. In this situation, she would normally lie and say something about a relationship with a postman. Considering Post was the closest thing she ever had to an actual relationship (as fucked up as it was), she thought it was a suitable enough thing to say. 

But she couldn't say that to Loki. She couldn’t claim that the man that tried to kill him was a romantic partner, especially now when the warmest feeling she had towards him were homicidal in nature. Loki was giving her all the space in the world to lie and she didn't want to.  

And ugh, that whole library thing? When was the last time I picked up a book that I didn't intend to use as a weapon?

But as soon as Loki had mentioned the library, she was barely able to contain her excitement. Perhaps it was because she remembered its existence from childhood. But she was not prepared for how incredible she would find it. Seeing all of these stories and all of this knowledge in one shiny beautiful place, it made her understand why Loki enjoyed reading so much. 

As they had dinner together, he had made her promise not to hunt down Post. 

Why the hell shouldn't I? He betrayed me, tried to kill my mark. 

He tried to hurt Loki.

But the way Loki begged her not to, not because he thought she couldn't do it, but out of genuine fear for her safety, her resolve crumbled. 

It is not as though I have to keep my word. Sylvie thought mischievously. As soon as I leave Asgard, I can hunt Post untilI find him and make him pay.

But I won’t. Sylvie realized. Even knowing I will never see him again, I can’t break a promise to Loki. 

And their last moments together. She had fallen asleep against him as he read to her. Sylvie could almost never sleep around other people, but it came so naturally when she was with Loki. When she opened her eyes, seeing the adoration in his piercing blue eyes entranced her. 

She wanted to kiss him. She wanted to feel the exquisite pleasure of Loki's lips pressed against hers. She wanted his hands to hold her and for her to finally have an excuse to reach out and touch the bare chest she had spent the entire day trying not to stare at. 

Thankfully, Mobius interrupted. If Loki had kissed her, she was not sure she would have ever been able to leave him.

And I have to go. Sylvie repeated to herself once again. Staying will only bring Hela here and she will kill me and worse she will kill Loki. 

Sylvie's heart ached at the thought. She would not let Hela or anyone else hurt Loki.

Sylvie was resolved. She was leaving. There was nothing anyone could do or say to change her mind. 

She left her room, deciding she would get around to packing after saying goodbye, hoping the goodbye would be the motivation she needed. 

As she walked the hallways in search of Loki, she heard a couple of women giggling in the corner. 

“Do you think the king has his eye on anyone in particular?”

“He did say my cross stitched duck was lovely.” the other woman replied. 

Sylvie resisted the urge to roll her eyes at these two. How ridiculous. If Loki even gave her cross stitiching a second thought after she left, Sylvie would have been incredibly surprised.  

“What do you think?” one of the women asked Sylvie.

Sylvie froze. Why were they talking to her?

“Think of what?” Sylvie asked, not wanting them to know she had caught some of their conversation. 

“The king’s preferences.” the other woman replied. “You must have considered it.”

Had I considered it? Sylvie wondered. 

“I’m not one of his suitors.” she simply replied. 

“Are you not?” one of the women looked at her curiously. “Why not? Are you married?”

“No, not married.” Sylvie replied, though unsure why she was bothering to explain herself. “Just not...suitable.”

Sylvie rushed away before the other women could reply, unsure of why this conversation had made her feel so self conscious. 

Loki can’t end up with either of those women. They are…

Sylvie groaned in frustration, though whether it was at herself or those women, she couldn’t be sure. 

They are what? Not someone who knows how much he loves children? Or how he take his tea? Or the way his laugh sounds, his real laugh, not the one he puts on for the crowd?

Not me. Sylvie thought, mournfully. They are not me. 

But that’s probably a good thing. 

***  

“I’m not sure this is what Mother had in mind when she asked me to make sure you were ready for the ball.”

Loki and Thor stood opposite one another, swords in hand, prepared for a duel at Loki’s request. It had been a few days since the assasination attempt and Frigga had inquired about whether the ball should commence that evening. Loki, who was more eager than ever to get these festivities over with, was desperate to prove he had the endurance to get through the evening. 

 Thor, having placed Mjolnir aside, eyed Loki questioningly as the younger brother took off his shirt, revealing the bandages that covered the still healing wound in his gut. 

“Mother has always applauded preparedness.” Loki explained, twirling the sword in his hand as he got into battle stance. “After that would be assassin caught me unawares, I think a proper duel is in order.”

Loki lunged towards his brother in attack mode, which Thor easily deflected.

Thor rushed forward with his sword, Loki managing to get his sword up just in time to avoid a blow. 

“I don’t think anyone is going to challenge you to a duel on the dance floor.” Thor argued, using his superior physical strength to push Loki away. 

“I didn’t think anyone was going to run me through whilst I was awaiting lunch.” Loki retorted, ducking under Thor’s sword and running around him to attack from behind. 

Thor whipped around quickly and managed to get a sword between them before Loki could strike. 

“Do you imagine partaking in a duel with your betrothed?” Thor asked amusedly as their swords clang together.

Loki grimaced at the word betrothed. 

“There will be no betrothal tonight, brother.” Loki said, avoiding a swing from Thor and spun out of the way. 

“What?’ Thor asked confused as he dodged Loki’s jabs. “But what of Sylvie?”

Loki tried his best not to, but he jerked at the mention of her name.

“What of her?” Loki asked as he lunged forward once again, his abdomen beginning to ache from the physical stress. 

Thor sighed, almost sounding bored. 

“Brother, I know you do not think me smart, but even I know that when a man calls for someone for hours on end, he cares about that person.”

Loki scowled, feeling ashamed of the words (or more specifically word) he endlessly said during his helpless state. Never in his life had he been so open about his emotions but a lifetime of reticence was ruined by a failed unskilled assassin. 

“The charlatan said he had killed her.” Loki tried to defend as he went lower in his physical attack.

“What, and you thought by repeating her name you could resurrect her?” Thor teased as his sword stopped Loki’s.

Loki winced, but he was unsure if it was because his insides were still healing or Thor’s teasing. 

“Come on, Loki.” Thor began, their swords clanging together once more. “It wouldn’t make me think less of you.”

“What wouldn’t?” Loki questioned, before managing to disarm Thor and hold a sword to his heart. 

Thor winced. 

“I yield!” Thor said, raising his hands in defeat. 

Loki smiled as he sheathed his sword and sought a place in the garden where he could sit. He eventually found a nice moss covered bench to sit on, clutching at his ribs as he did so. Thor sat next to him, his voice lowered. 

“I would not think less of you if you cared for someone.” 

Loki looked at his brother, wondering if that could possibly be true. 

“I thought it of you.” Loki admitted. “When I first saw you on Midgard with your mortal, I thought you a complete fool.”

Thor chuckled. “Which you hid quite well when you shouted at us ‘Thor, you complete fool. A mortal? No wonder Mother sent me down to get you.’”

The brothers laughed together.

“I’m sorry.” Loki told Thor with the utmost sincerity. “I was too harsh and I didn’t understand what you could possibly feel for her.”

“But you do now?” Thor asked, but he seemed to already know the answer to the question. 

Before Loki could reply, they heard a rustling in the fauna nearby. Both brothers drew their swords, prepared for whomever appeared from behind it. 

Sylvie hardly flinched when she saw the two of them standing there in battle stance. 

“Not quite the welcome I was expecting, but I can’t say it’s the first time I’ve been held at sword point by two brothers.”

Thor chuckled as he sheathed his sword. Loki lowered his sword, but did not sheath it. 

“What was the other time?” Loki asked curiously.

Sylvie paused for a moment, a look of surprise spreading across her face. 

“Long story. Perhaps I will tell you another time.”

Another time? Loki thought. Does this mean she will return? Or does she plan to stay?

Loki’s heart warmed at the thought of it. 

“Well, I suppose I should be getting back to Mother.” Thor said, bowing to Sylvie as he began to walk away. 

Thor got no more than a couple steps when he turned around. 

“What shall I tell her your opinion is on the ball happening tonight?”

“Tell her that I am well enough to sit through these last few hours before we can put this thing to rest.” Loki sighed. “Maybe put a more positive spin on it.”

“Of course, my liege.” Thor joked as his bowed solemnly to his brother, backing away. 

Loki and Sylvie both laughed as Thor disappeared from view. 

“You know, even though we haven’t spent much time together, I am actually going to miss him.” Sylvie remarked, looking in the direction Thor just went.

Loki’s smile faded instantly. 

She’s still leaving. She’s still leaving and she is gonna miss Thor?!

When Sylvie looked over to him, she sighed inwhat Loki recognized as annoyance. 

“There’s no reason to look so sad.”

Loki wiped his face of emotion and tried to look perplexed. 

“I’m not sure what you mean.” Loki replied casually. 

“A person can care for your brother and it not affect how much they care about you.”

Loki’s heart leapt.

Did she just admit she cared for me?

“That has not been my experience in the matter.” he tried to joke, but the truth behind the words made him ache. 

“Well, Thor isn’t getting a goodbye gift.” Sylvie teased. “Should count for something.”

“So you’re still leaving?” Loki decided to ask aloud this time, hoping she didn’t hear how dejected he sounded. 

Sylvie nodded and Loki thought she seemed just as dejected as he felt. 

“I was hoping to be gone before the crowds arrive for the ball.”

Loki nodded, his fluttering heart feeling like it stopped cold.

“Do you think you will ever make your way back to Asgard?” Loki asked her, hopefully.

Sylvie shook her head. 

“My business doesn’t really get a lot of repeat clientele. It wouldn’t make sense to come back.”

Loki nodded again, swallowing the pain that threatened to choke him.  

“Did you say there was a gift?’ he remembered, hoping to change the subject. 

Sylvie nodded. She reached into her bag and pulled out a shorter golden sword. 

“I know you were hoping I could make you a regal one that I could personalize but there just wasn’t enough time.” Sylvie explained. "This sword however, is incredibly special. Laevateinn is not just a sword, it can also be used to wield magic in battle.”      

Loki stared at the sword in wonder. It was legendary of course. Some of the legends even had him involved in them though he had never encountered it before. It was almost destiny that he should come to possess it. He took the sword from her gently and was amazed at how light it felt. It also felt as though it could be filled with something, maybe his magic?

“I cannot imagine a better gift.” Loki told her honestly. The returning smile she gave him seemed almost better than the sword. 

“I actually have something for you too.” Loki remembered, summoning the wrapped black box from his dining room to his hands. He extended it out to her. 

“Loki, you shouldn’t have.” Sylvie said, accepting the box, but staring at it. 

“I meant to give it to you the other day before…” he clutched at his abdomen. “Go on, open it.”

Sylvie carefully pulled at the beautiful green bow off the box and lifted the lid. Inside was a beautiful new belted scabbard. Much nicer than the one she had lost in the lake. This one was made of a thick leather that looked black under most lights, but when shifted, flashed to green. 

The stitching was so intricate. Even the letter S embroidered on it looked delicately etched.

“Loki.” she breathed as she put the box down and carefully touched the stitches. “This is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. Your seamstress should be given a raise.”

“Hmm?” Loki questioned, too focused on her to have paid much attention to her words. 

“It looks recently made.” Sylvie said. “I figured you would have commissioned it.”

“Oh yes.” Loki lied quickly. “I did. Of course I did. I am glad you enjoy it.”

Sylvie immediately put the scabbard on and removed the sword she had tucked into her skirt and placed it into the scabbard. It fit perfectly. 

Loki placed Laevatienn on the bench and the two just looked at each other for a moment. 

Sylvie cleared her throat. 

“I should go. I still have all my packing to do.” she explained. “But I told you I would say goodbye.”

“You did.” Loki agreed, his eyes falling to the ground. “I appreciate it.”

He tried to smile, but it pained him to do so. Every muscle in his face rebelled against it. 

Sylvie took a step forward, placing a hand on his bare arm. Loki’s skin felt like it burned at the touch. 

“Sylvie, I…” Loki began, but when his eyes met hers he forgot all his practiced words of polite goodbye and good luck.

Don’t go. He screamed in his head. Stay with me, please.

“Loki, I…” Sylvie began, her voice sounding thick.

Finally realizing that words were not working, the two embraced in a hug. Sylvie’s arms wrapped around Loki’s neck and his arms went around her waist, bending to meet her. 

Holding her felt like the only thing that made sense in the world. He practically trembled, biting back the tears that threatened to spill at the thought that this was the last time he would ever get the chance to hold her. Loki felt her grip onto his shoulders and he let himself believe even if it was only for a moment that she might be feeling the same way as he. He moved to hold her tighter, but then his abdomen shot pain throughout his body and he gasped. 

Sylvie pulled away slightly, placing her hand gently on his bandages. 

“Are you sure you should be dancing like this?” she asked him teasingly as she looked him up and down. 

Loki chuckled as he clutched at his side. 

“I'd rather just be done with the whole farce.” Loki told her. "Besides, isn't playing crutch to your sovereign the most romantic thing you can think of?"

The two laughed before realizing that he was leaning against her, depending upon her to stand as if she were another one of his limbs. He hadn't realized. Much like his feelings for her, it came without thought. And much like his feelings for her, they had to stop.

Sylvie disentangled herself from Loki and cleared her throat.

"Goodbye, Loki." She said abruptly and Loki thought a bit softer than usual. 

She turned to walk away but Loki quickly grabbed her hand.

He wanted to beg her not to leave. To move to Asgard or to kidnap him and take him along on her travels. Anything but never seeing one another again.

But instead he simply bowed and kissed her hand gently, lips tingling at the brief contact with her skin.

"Goodbye Sylvie."

She briskly turned around and walked away hastily and with every step, Loki felt his heart ache more.

Thor was right, I do care for her. But I am too much of a coward to do something about it.

Chapter Text

 A few hours after he and Sylvie exchanged goodbyes in the garden, Loki sat in the war room, his eyes fixated on the sword she had given him, his mind a million miles away. 

Where will she go? Loki wondered as the sunlight streaming into the room caught on the sword. What kind of people will she meet? How soon will it be before she meets someone else?

Loki hated himself for not stopping her from leaving. After she had left, he thought of so many things he wished he had said. It all amounted to the same thing however...

Stay. Stay with me. 

   Loki had never wanted something so badly in his life. Not a stranger to coveting what he couldn’t have, Loki thought he should be used to it by now, but this was different.

Maybe I could have had this. Would she have stayed had I asked her? Do I really think she cared for me?

Loki couldn’t be sure, so he sat there wondering, wishing, lamenting. 

At least all these betrothal festivities will all be over soon. Loki thought in relief. I can have the palace back and maybe find a way to distract myself, take up a more interesting hobby. And before I know it, I will have forgotten Sylvie’s name.

The unspoken lie still leaves a bitter taste in his mouth. 

“What a beautiful sword.” Loki’s mother Frigga remarked as she entered the room, Loki jumping at the quietness of her entrance. “May I?”

She held her hands out for the sword. 

Loki hesitated, tightening his grip on it.

“I used to have a recurring nightmare as a child. What was it?” he asked her, staring bitterly at this woman who might not be his mother.

Considering the last time I was alone in a room with someone, I don’t want to take any chances.  

Frigga sighed woefully. 

“You used to run into my chambers in tears screaming at the top of your lungs. It would take me ages to convince you it was all a dream.” Frigga sighed.

A clever way to avoid answering the question. Loki determined, his grip on the sword not loosening. 

Frigga clearly noticed this and continued.

“You used to dream of your brother pinning you down and sewing your mouth shut.” Frigga explained. “I remember you would refuse to enter a room if both Thor and a sewing kit were present.”

Loki relaxed his stiffened muscles. He had only shared that story with his mother out of fear that his brother and his brother’s friends would make fun of him for it. This had to be her.  

“To be honest, it still makes me a bit nervous.” Loki admitted to his mother. “Good thing Thor never desired to be a great seamstress.”

Frigga smiled as Loki began to relax. 

“I think he knew his talent for the craft could never rival yours.”

Loki smiled back at her until he remembered that he had just used that very talent to sew Sylvie’s scabbard and the melancholy set back in. 

He handed his mother the sword and she eyed it admirably. 

“Lightweight. Previously imbued with magic.” Frigga observed. “Surely this could not be laevateinn?”

Loki never ceased to be impressed with his mother’s knowledge.

“According to Sylvie it is.” Loki beamed at her. 

“Oh!” Frigga replied with glee. “She should have waited to present it to you until after the betrothal. I am not sure what other betrothal gift could best this one.”

Loki sighed. Having already explained this to Thor was hard enough, but to his mother would be even worse.

“There will be no betrothal, Mother.” Loki told her, trying to tamper the annoyance (and admittedly sadness) out of his voice but failing. 

“No betrothal?” Frigga remarked, clearly confused. “I don’t understand. After Thor explained your insistence that the ball happen tonight, I figured it must be to announce you have chosen a spouse.”

Loki wanted to scream. 

“No Mother. I merely wished to keep things close to schedule.” Loki told her.

“Well then, it is a good thing I ignored his pleadings and cancelled the ball for the evening.” Frigga stated matter of factly. 

“What?” Loki quickly stood and felt immediate pain in his abdomen as he did so. “Why would you do that? Thor assured you I am alright and you can see for yourself that I am perfectly fine.”

“And I know when my sons are lying.” Frigga told him, calm but determined. “Even now, you can barely manage to stand and your little duel in the gardens did not help matters.”

Loki sat down, feeling ashamed.

“What will three days hurt?” Frigga asked as she moved to sit next to him.

“Three days. Three months. The result will always be the same.” Loki reasoned with her. “I will be standing at the ball without a betrothed.” Loki fumed. 

“But what of Sylvie?” his mother asked. 

“She has gone.” Loki told his mother, unable to maintain eye contact. “Left the realm earlier today.”

Frigga looked disappointed as she looked at her son.

“Are you sure?” Frigga asked, the disbelief etched in her features

“We exchanged goodbyes a few hours past now. I would assume she would be long gone by now.”

“But perhaps not.” Friggs speculated and turned to the guard stationed in the room. “Would you please go to Heimdall and ask him if Sylvie has left the realm yet?”

“Of course, your majesty.” the guard told her and left at once. 

Loki sighed. 

“I am not sure what good that will do, Mother. Not that I lament the guard’s departure, but I am sure he will return with news that she has left.” Loki told her, his voice growing hoarse as he explained it. 

“Do you think she will return?” Frigga asked. 

“She has no plans to do so.” Loki told her, the taste of the words leaving him bitter. 

Frigga reached out to hold her son’s hand.

“I am truly sorry, my dear if that is true.” she squeezed his hand tightly as he avoided looking at her. “I know how much you loved her.”

Loki jerked his hand away and nearly hopped out of his chair before thinking better of it.

“I do not love her, Mother.” Loki explained, a bit annoyed with how petulant his voice sounded to his own ears. “We’ve only known each other less than a week and it is not as though we spent more than a few fleeting moments together.”

The best fleeting moments of my life. Loki couldn’t help but think. 

Frigga grinned mischievously.

“So perceptive about everyone but yourself.”

Loki rolled his eyes. 

“I explained to Thor earlier that I thought she was dead which is why I was unconsciously calling for her.” Loki explained for what must have been the hundredth time. 

Loki was waiting for a similar argument to the one Thor made earlier. 

“It wasn’t the calling for her that made me think you love her.” Frigga explained. “You’ve changed these past few days, my son. Perhaps the change was so subtle, you don’t even notice it yourself.”

Loki finally managed to make eye contact with her and her eyes were full of so much understanding that it made him wish he could be little again and be held by her. 

“You stand a bit taller. You smile at the most random of moments. You’ve been prone to moments of staring off in the distance and blushing. My Loki blushing can only mean one thing.”

Loki smiled at her. Though he didn’t agree with her conclusion, it was hard to deny that he had been doing those things. He had asked for more repeats of instructions the past days than the entirety of his reign combined. Sylvie had driven him beyond distraction to say the least. 

“I’m afraid this is all unimportant.” Loki told her, desperate to change the subject. “Now can we get back to the matter at hand which is the ball that should take place tonight.”

“I have already cancelled it for the evening.” Frigga explained firmly. “I have informed all the necessary people and it has been arranged.”

“Well then, rearrange it for tomorrow night.” Loki suggested in a way he hoped his mother took as an order.

“You will not be in much better shape by then.” Frigga concluded, unyielding from her decision. 

“I could be if I took another ice bath. Or even spent the entire evening in my frozen bedchambers.” Loki tried to convince.

Frigga stared at him skeptically. 

“And you won’t lie about your progress or make your brother do it?” she asked. 

“You have my word.” Loki told her, giving her a little bow to stress the seriousness of this gesture. 

“Very well. I will arrange for the ball to take place tomorrow night instead.” Frigga relented. “But if I see one hint of pain from you come tomorrow, I will make you wait six weeks.”

Loki’s eyes widened. 

“I swear I will not lie about my condition.” 

“Good.” Frigga replied, the smile on her face returning. 

Before either could speak again, the guard had returned. 

“Heimdall said that no one has left the realm today.”

“Intriguing.” Frigga said as she stood. “Thank you for your prompt response.”

The guard nodded and then went back to his corner to stand.

She’s still here? Loki thought, his heart fluttering at the thought of it. I know I had considered telling her of my hidden exits but there was never any time to do so. The bifrost is the only way she could have gone. 

“My son, you have been given a second chance.” Frigga explained as she walked towards the door. “I cannot tell you whether or not to act on it, but whether or not it is love, you care for this woman. You should at least try.”

Before Loki could respond, Frigga exited the room, closing the door behind her and leaving Loki to ponder her words. 

A second chance to what? Loki wondered. Do I confess the feelings that I have for her? Do I ask her to go to the ball? Do I suggest she give up her career and move to Asgard at my behest?

It all seemed so silly to him and yet not as ridiculous as he once might have thought it. 

I do care for her, more than I ever thought I could care for someone. 

Loki stood up slowly, grabbing his specter for support and sheathing his sword. 

He exited the room and began the long walk down the hall. 

Loki was going to talk to Sylvie. What he intended to say when he got to her, he did not know.   

The one thing I do know is I will regret it if I don’t do something again.

***  

Sylvie had spent the last few hours sitting in her palace room staring at the room she had occupied for the last few days. Every time she would get up to leave, her thoughts would distract her and she would end up sitting down and continuing to carve on her newest figure. 

She had thought saying goodbye to Loki would be the hardest part of leaving. And it was hard, impossibly harder, a lot harder than she even thought as she approached him in the garden that morning, but packing and actually leaving were proving to be harder. 

Moving on from a job had never been a problem Sylvie had faced in the past. As soon as the mission was completed, she would just grab her bag and go, never looking back. But this time she had settled in. She had a room, a space to think of as her own for a temporary amount of time and had spread out throughout it. She had never been comfortable before in her life until these past few days. 

And she never left a job unfinished. 

But she couldn’t kill him. The moment she saw Loki lying on that bed in that frozen bedroom, his mesmerizing blue eyes gazing up at her with such affection, she knew her feelings for him were undeniable and that she would rather suffer Hela’s wrath a million times over than ever hurt him.

She knew she couldn’t stay. It wasn’t as though they could live happily ever after when she was sent here to kill him. Once he knew, he would never forgive her. And Hela would never stop hunting both of them if she stayed. But if she fled, maybe Hela would chase her and leave Loki’s fate to the whims of war. 

At least this is what she tried to convince herself.

Sylvie grabbed her bag and took one last look around the room, desperately wishing she didn't have to go. But she forced herself to walk towards the door, open it and make her way to the bifrost bridge. 

Though she was moving, one foot in front of the other, she was practically walking at a snail's pace. She watched the colors flash below her feet with every step she took, willing herself to focus on the moving of the colors and not what she was trying to do. 

She had the bridge to herself. The ball’s guests did not seem to be arriving yet, which was good news. Walking away from something most in her position would be running towards, Sylvie would rather not have an audience. 

But then she became quickly aware that she was no longer alone. Though the bridge did not move, she could sense there was something large and powerful on it with her. Then came the sounds of metal pounding against the bridge in a rhythmic tune, four continuous thuds. 

A horse? Sylvie concluded, still not bothering to look up.

It’s probably a small carriage picking some dignitary up. 

She continued her slow ascent up the bridge, when she heard the hoof noises begin to slow rather than quicken.  

"Sylvie, wait!" she heard a voice shout behind her. 

Sylvie raised her head and turned to see Loki, riding one of the most beautiful chestnut colored horses Sylvie had ever seen. She was almost embarrassed at how much her heart soared seeing him. He sat up so straight, looking ever the dashing prince as he rode up to her, completely in control of the creature. Her breathing nearly stalled seeing him dismount from the horse in front of her, somehow making such a mundane task seem graceful and romantic. 

"I apologize for this..." Loki gestured around him, clearly self conscious about arriving on horseback. "But with my recent injuries, I cannot run as quickly as I wish and I just had to reach you before it was too late."

"Too late?" Sylvie managed, trying to keep her breathing and voice steady and failing miserably at both.

Loki nodded as he stared down at the Bifrost as he clasped his hands together.

“I know we had already exchanged goodbyes earlier in the day” Loki began, his grip on his own hands getting tighter. “But I was hoping we could remedy that.”

“Remedy it?” Sylvie questioned as she looked up to his face which began to flush.

“Yes.” Loki answered but then cleared his throat and chuckled. “I’m sorry, this is new for me.”

“What is new?” Sylvie asked.

Loki cleared his throat again and looked her full in the face causing Sylvie to blush against her will. 

“I came here to ask you to attend the ball tomorrow night.” Loki stated clearly. 

“Tomorrow night?” Sylvie questioned. “I thought it was supposed to be tonight.”

Because that was the important part of what he just said. Gods. Sylvie internally berated.  

“So it was, but my mother did not think me recovered enough for it.”

“But you will be by tomorrow?” Sylvie inquired, remembering how much he had needed to lean on her in the garden earlier. 

“I will be making a greater effort.” Loki assured her. “I shall be spending most of my day in a deep freeze in preparation.

Sylvie smiled, remembering how lovely the shade of blue his skin was.  

“Are you demanding I attend the ball as the sovereign?” Sylvie teased, hoping to put off actually thinking about what Loki had asked her.

Loki sighed deeply.  

“I am asking you to attend as someone who would very much like to see you there.” Loki told her, daring to step closer, unclasping his hands so he could remove his helmet.

“Loki, I…” Sylvie could hardly think of the words to say, mesmerized by the tumbling of his long curls onto his shoulders. “I’m leaving.”

Loki’s eyes started to go downcast and she felt she needed to explain further.

“And I don’t have a dress.” Sylvie brought up, the thought never once occurring to her before. “And why would you even want me there?”

Loki placed his helmet on the horse’s saddle and he moved even closer to her now, the two no more than a few feet part. 

“I was hoping the invitation would prevent the leaving.” he admitted sheepishly. “I have already discussed it with the palace seamstress whom I have offered thrice salary if they could make you a suitable outfit by tomorrow night. And…”

Loki began to reach out, but paused, seeming to think over his actions. But then he placed his hands gently on her arms and all the nervousness Sylvie was feeling seemed to evaporate, replaced with another more intoxicating feeling. 

“Sylvie.” Loki began, his voice much lower than before, his eyes fixed on the ground in front of him. “I think we both know there is something between us. I won’t say what it is, because I don’t know but…”

Loki sighed and he seemed to force himself to look at her.

“I would like to find out.”

Sylvie took a deep breath and was incredibly grateful for Loki’s hands at the moment or else she might fall off the rainbow bridge. 

They stood in silence for a moment. Loki’s hands eventually dropped to his sides and Sylvie could see the anxiety creeping up on him.

“Unless of course, I am mistaken.” Loki suggested, trying to sound casual but Sylvie could hear the questioning note in his words. 

I should tell him he is mistaken. That the most I feel for him is friendship and respect and continue with my plans to leave.

“It’s a lot to take in.” Sylvie said instead.

“It is.” Loki agreed, backing away from her. “And you don’t have to decide whether or not to attend the ball right now. But I truly hope you will attend and that you will stay...until you decide.”

Sylvie knew she should reject him here and now, but the words refused to form. The flattered heart overtaking the practical mind. 

“I shall leave you to your thoughts.” Loki said as he began to mount the horse. 

“What makes you think we could figure out anything at a ball?” Sylvie asked. 

Loki stopped his ascent of the horse and turned to face her. 

“Your attendance would be the answer to one question.” Loki told her. “And an evening together in public might tell us if we can even tolerate each other for more than a few stolen conversations.”

Sylvie chuckled. 

“You might be better in small doses, my liege.”

“So I’ve been told.” Loki teased back as he reached for the horse’s straps and then paused, turning around to face her once again. “I will bear you no ill will if you choose to carry on with your plans. If I never see you again, I hope you know so long as I am around you will have a place here in Asgard.”

Sylvie nodded at him, unable to form words as Loki mounted the horse and left, his helmet tumbling off the horse and rolling over to Sylvie’s feet.

Sylvie picked up the helmet and looked at her own reflection in it, the face of the most confused woman in the world.

A king asked me to a ball. Loki asked me to a ball. Of all the things I could have expected to happen in my lifetime, this was not one of them. 

Damn him. She thought. I was practically out of the realm and then he gallantly shows up with party invitations and feeling explorations and I...I am just undecided.

And I have a little over 24 hours to make a decision. 

What am I going to do?

Chapter Text

Sylvie was restless. Outside of the amount of time it had taken her to get measured by the palace seamstress for a dress she wasn't sure she needed, Sylvie had confined herself to her room, pacing endlessly, trying to figure out what she was going to do. She couldn’t begin to decide what to do about the ball or about Loki or Hela, or anything.

Why didn’t I just keep going? Sylvie asked her. I was on the bridge, practically out of the realm. 

Then she remembered Loki riding up to her, so elegant and regal, her heart began to race just thinking about it. 

Ugh, when did I become one of those women who go weak in the knees for any man horseback.

She remembered the way Loki had smiled as he dismounted the horse, hope radiating from that smile and his eyes. 

Ok, not any man. One man. One beautiful raven haired man. 

Sylvie screamed and the entirety of the room scattered in all directions, breaking some pieces of furniture but Sylvie couldn’t find it in her to care. Leaving was the right choice, she knew, but she wanted to stay. Damn her if she didn’t want to wear a pretty dress and stare longingly at a man she was besotted with; perhaps even do more than stare. 

You’re being an idiot. Just go.

But instead she just stared at her things, fidgeting with all the pent up energy she hadn’t been able to rid herself of. 

I need to leave this room. Sylvie concluded. Get out of my own head, do something else besides think of dancing and murdering.  

She stormed out of the room and rampaged through the halls. 

It was so maddening. She had never in her life been so conflicted. Her heart had never been a problem or even a factor before, but now it didn’t seem to want to shut up about Loki. 

As Sylvie made her way down a new hallway, she heard grunting coming from a nearby room. Always curious, Sylvie peaked her head in and saw the female general she had spied on the other day sparring with a dummy. 

Her fighting technique is impressive. Sylvie thought, watching the general frustratedly punch and stab. Could use a bit more improvisation, but impressive. 

The General soon stopped her sparring. 

“In or out.” she demanded, not bothering to look at the door. 

And she heard me. I can see how she became a general. 

“I was just passing by and I heard.” Sylvie began to explain as she made her way into the room.

“Don’t care.” the General replied, grabbing a rag to wipe the sweat off her face. “Do you want to use the room?”

Once Sylvie took a look at the room, she realized it must be some kind of training facility, a thought which sent a thrill up her spine. She nodded, rarely able to resist an excuse to hone her skills. 

“Unless you would rather be alone…” Sylvie suggested, giving the General an out. 

“Nah, it is alright. I should be going anyway.” the General replied, grabbing what was clearly her armor and preparing to leave. 

Sylvie smiled mischievously at the general who was clearly still in the mood for a fight. 

“Or we could spar?” Sylvie suggested, thinking that a good fight might be just the thing to release all this frustration. 

The General looked at her skeptically. 

“I am not sure that is such a good idea.” the General said, but put her armor down as she said it.

“Afraid of getting your ass kicked by a commoner?” Sylvie nudged, hoping it would aggravate the woman enough to motivate her. 

“More like afraid of being executed for hurting the King’s betrothed.” the General replied coolly.

“I am not his…” Sylvie began defensively, but the General’s sword came flying at her and she was forced to duck whilst retrieving her own sword from the scabbard Loki gave her. 

The womens’ swords clanged and the fight commenced. 

“I’m Sylvie by the way.” Sylvie grunted as the General’s advances had begun to back her into a corner. 

“General B-15” B-15 introduced, but did not relent in her attack. 

“Nice...uh…” Sylvie pushed with all her might against the sword, forcing B-15 back and giving Sylvie a temporary advantage. “Nice name. Bit unusual for an Asgardian.”

“I’m not Asgardian.” B-15 replied, now having to use her strength to keep Sylvie from backing her into a corner. 

“Yet you fight for the realm?” Sylvie asked, dodging a blow from underneath whilst attempting to knock B-15’s feet out from under her. 

B-15 jumped, avoiding being tripped and got Sylvie with a good jab to the face.

Sylvie only winced for a moment before advancing once again. 

“It is my home now.” she defended, as Sylvie’s sword met hers once again. “I worked my way up the ranks and I will defend it at all costs.”

Sylvie felt her respect grow for the woman as their fight continued. They were surprisingly evenly matched despite incredibly different fighting styles. This went on for several minutes, their fight only ending because B-15’s sword broke in half with a devastating blow. 

The two women laughed as B-15 clutched the hilt of her now ruined sword.

“Your weapons are a bit shit.” Sylvie said, as she walked to the other side of the room for a glass of water. “You should have let me weaponize you.”

B-15 scowled as she walked over to join her. 

“I do not make major decisions about who can uniform my soldiers because of the whims of his majesty and his need to impress a conquest.”

“I am not a conquest.” Sylvie sternly stated. “And you don’t seem to like him very much.”

B-15 laughed sarcastically, as though Sylvie had stated the most obvious thing in the world. 

“Why would I?” B-15 asked. “He is arrogant, selfish, power-hungry, thinks he is all knowing, tries to tell me how to command my soldiers.”

“He is not selfish.” Sylvie defended, interrupting B-15’s tirade. “Or power-hungry. He might be insanely full of himself but he is also a good king who follows his heart and thinks things through who just wants to protect his people.”

B-15 gave Sylvie a look that was so scathing, it nearly caused Sylvie to take a step back.

“Protect his people so long as they are his to command.” B-15 replied, seeming almost relieved to be able to voice these feelings aloud. “If the Allfather hadn’t died, I just know he would have found some way to claim his brother’s rightful place.”

“So it is about loyalty to Thor?” Sylvie asked, surprised at how angry this conversation was making her.

“It is about a bratty man-child who thinks himself a god who tried to start a war with Jotunheim because he has an inferiority complex.”

Sylvie stood there in silence as B-15 continued.  

“Guess he never got around to mentioning that part of his past.” B-15 sarcastically remarked. “The day of his brother’s coronation, he invited Jotun soldiers into the palace to cause disruption. And then he encouraged Thor to provoke the Jotuns, causing Thor’s banishment to Midgard and almost destroying the long fought for peace with Jotunheim.”

B-15 took a deep breath, clearly trying to remain composed before she continued. 

“If it weren’t for the Allfather’s accident in the vault, conveniently with just Loki as witness, who knows what kind of destruction Loki would have reeked.” 

Sylvie had heard the story before. She wasn’t sure anyone in the nine realms could have missed it if they wanted to. But the person from those stories, the malevolent God whose jealousy almost started a war, seemed so different from the one she had grown to know.

“He’s not that person anymore.” Sylvie defended, though her voice was much softer than it had been before. “His father’s death changed him. Finding out he was adopted changed him. Being king has changed him.”

B-15 paused, staring at Sylvie questioningly.

“Perhaps I just see him for who he really is.” B-15 speculated.

“Or perhaps your biases from knowing him before keep you from seeing who he really is now.” 

B-15 simply looked at her for a moment before smiling and shaking her head. 

“Let’s hope for the sake of the realm your Loki is the one we are actually dealing with.”

Sylvie nodded, secretly hoping she was right too as B-15 made her way to the door. 

“Nice sparring with you.” B-15 told her. “If you stick around, perhaps we can do it again sometime.” 

“Maybe.” Sylvie agreed amiably enough as B-15 left the room leaving Sylvie once again alone with her thoughts. 

***

 Sylvie hardly slept at all that night. She had packed and repacked her belongings what must have been a dozen times, only to collapse down on the bed, still confused about what to do. 

Her conversation with B-15 preyed on her as did all the other doubts she had.

A knock at the door interrupted her inner turmoil. 

As she reached the door, she saw the palace seamstress, a small but stern woman waiting at the door, dragging a dress dummy covered in a sheet behind her. 

“Good, you are here. Come try on your dress now.” the palace seamstress said, beginning to nudge her way into Sylvie’s room. 

“I am still not sure I am going.” Sylvie explained to the woman as she continued to push into the room.

“And as I told you yesterday, I do not care.” the seamstress told her honestly. “Once the dress is finished, I get my triple pay.”

The seamstress removed the sheet covering the dress and Sylvie could not stop herself from gasping. On the mannequin was the most beautiful dress she had ever seen. It was a very dark green (almost black) satin dress with a square neckline, low back and impressively high slit.  

This is for me? Sylvie stared longingly. How can something so beautiful and delicate and perfect be meant for me?

“You said you did not like lace, feathers, frills, bows, or beading, so I worked with what I had.” the palace seamstress explained, seeming to assume Sylvie’s silence was disapproval. 

“No, umm..” Sylvie was practically speechless. “I think it is brilliant.”

“That’s good.” the seamstress replied, though she did not seem to care. “Let’s have you try it on now to be sure that it fits.”

Sylvie stripped off her own garments as the seamstress carefully removed the dress from the mannequin.

“Now, you will not be able to wear your scabbard with this dress.” the seamstress told her as she moved to pull the dress over Sylvie’s head. “But I have created a garter for you to wear on your leg so you can least have a dagger on you.”

A woman after my own heart. Sylvie thought as she reveled in the feel of the satin as it slid across her skin. 

“I suppose I should thank you.” Sylvie began, looking down to see how the dress hugged her body. 

“Triple pay.” the seamstress replied as she began pinning the dress to fit Sylvie a bit more closely. 

“No, not for the dress, but thank you for that too.” Sylvie speedly replied. “I meant for the scabbard.”

“The scabbard?” the seamstress questioned, her eyes not lifting once from the dress.

“The one I was just wearing. Lo...the King had you or one of your staff make it?” Sylvie questioned as she pointed to the scabbard on the bed. 

The seamstress dragged her gaze away from the dress for a brief moment to glance at the scabbard. 

“I did not make that.”

Sylvie was confused. 

“But you must have.” Sylvie replied. “The stitching was so new.”

The seamstress sighed in annoyance then gestured for Sylvie to hand her the scabbard. Sylvie managed to bend just enough to grab it and hand it over to her.

Her fingers ran across the stitches and examined it with care. 

“This is a beautifully made piece. But it is not I nor my staff’s doing.” the seamstress said, handing it back to Sylvie and continuing on with her work. 

Sylvie held the scabbard in confusion. She just knew it had to be recently made. 

“I recognize the stitch work however.” the seamstress remarked. “As nicely made as it is, I often told Loki that his stitches were a bit too large for intricate embroidery work.”

Loki?

“Are you suggesting the king made this?” Sylvie questioned. 

“I am saying nothing else because I need to finish this dress by tonight.” the seamstress retorted. “But having known his majesty for his entire life, I can tell you that he has never cared for someone so much before as to make something so personal for them.”

Sylvie felt her heart leap as she thought about this. 

Loki made this for me? He meant to give it to me right after I lost mine in the lake so he must have stayed up all night working on it. And then he didn’t even take credit for it. 

 For me.

And in that moment, Sylvie knew what she was going to do.

Chapter Text

“Don’t you both look handsome?” Frigga smiled at her two sons as the three of them waited to enter the ballroom.

“Thank you, Mother.” Loki responded, fidgeting with the sleeve on his emerald waistcoat as he accepted the compliment. “And you are of course a vision as always.”

Frigga blushed. 

“You flatter me.”

“Loki is right.” Thor agreed, adjusting his cape as he did so. “You are bound to catch the eye of everyone in this room.”

Loki looked around the corridor which only occupied the three of them for a moment before giving his brother a knowing stare.

Thor looked chagrined. 

“You know what I mean.” he said.

“I do and I thank you.” Frigga bowed, her smile never faltering as she moved to stand beside Thor who would be her escort into the room, subtly attempting to look around the empty corridor. “Loki, dear, where is your escort?”

Loki looked at her confused. 

“I do not have an escort, Mother.” Loki explained. “The two of you will enter and then I will follow by myself.”

Frigga’s disappointment was evident as she frowned at Loki. 

“But what about Sylvie? Will she not accompany you?” she asked curiously.

Loki opened his mouth to respond, but Thor beat him to the punch.

“He asked her to attend but did not wait for an answer.” Thor explained casually. 

You could have explained it a bit more tactfully than that, Brother.

“You didn’t wait for a response?” Frigga asked skeptically.

“No.” Loki responded through his teeth, embarrassed. “I thought it best to give her time to decide if she wanted to attend.”

Not to mention I was absolutely terrified if I had expected her to answer then and there, she would outright reject me and I would have somehow had to remain composed afterward. 

“A horrible decision if you ask me.” Thor explained to his mother, almost winking as he did so. 

“Luckily, I did not ask you.” Loki told his brother, a trace of bitterness laced in his voice. 

Frigga’s mood quickly seemed to change to one of a sympathetic nature, one which Loki felt was too close to pity which he could not stand for. 

“Maybe I should escort you into the room?” Frigga suggested, gliding away from Thor and towards Loki. “Or perhaps Lady Sif might be willing to…”

“I will enter alone.” Loki said hastily, the bitterness gone from his voice, but he wanted it clear that this was not up for discussion.

Frigga bowed her head as she walked back over to Thor and looped her arm through his.

“It is very untraditional for the King to walk into the final event of the betrothal festival unaccompanied.” Frigga remarked as she smoothed down the silk of her golden dress. 

“I’m pretty sure it is untraditional for the King to remain unbetrothed by the end of the betrothal festival.” Thor teased, looking back at his brother with a playful grin.

Loki grimaced. Though he had not wanted to end this week engaged, Thor made him feel like it was a slight on him that he hadn’t.

And just how many others are going to be making these same kinds of remarks tonight?

Loki shook these thoughts away. 

“Also, I am not a traditional King.” Loki added, hoping it sounded matter of fact rather than sad. “I would rather enter on my own.”

Thor leaned in close to his mother in a mock whisper. 

“He doesn’t want to show up on Sif’s arm because of the stir in the palace this past week.”

Loki shot his brother an evil glare.

Is Thor trying to provoke me into a fight? The temptation might be too much to resist, even with Mother present and a room full of people expecting us.  

“A stir? What does he mean by this, Loki?” Frigga asked, clearly not having heard about Loki and Sif’s supposed night together. 

Before Loki was forced to respond, a chorus of trumpets played, their cue to prepare to enter the ballroom. Loki almost sighed in relief.

A pair of royal guards opened the door, Thor and Frigga stood up straighter and smiled to the room. 

“Presenting his highness, Prince Thor, General of the Asgardian army and her majesty, the Queen Regent, Frigga.”

A thunderous sound of cheers and applause nearly threw Loki backwards as his mother and brother descended the stairs into the ballroom. It seemed as though every eye in the realm were on them. The applause seemed only to get louder with time as the two finally made it to the bottom of the stairs and waited.

The perfect mother and son pair. Loki thought to himself bitterly before forcing himself to stand up straighter. 

“Now, if I might have everyone’s attention.”

Another chorus of trumpets played. 

“Presenting his royal majesty, the God of Mischief and the protector of the Nine Realms, King Loki.”

Loki stepped into the light, a stoic expression that he hoped conveyed someone of power and dignity plastered on his face as he descended the stairs. 

The ballroom in the palace was always beautiful, his mother had made sure of that. But now, it outshined itself from any other moment Loki could remember. The flora on the pillars still remained from earlier in the week, but Loki could swear there were more flowers of many vibrant shades of pinks and reds and even purples. Gentle light seemed to descend from the ceiling, somehow making the beautiful setting even more beautiful. The air even seemed to smell sweeter. There just seemed to be a general sense of magic in the air.

The crowds cheered and applauded and Loki tried not to wonder if his applause was better or worse than his brother’s as he continued down the last few steps.

Loki half-smiled at his mother and brother as he walked past them to make his way to the center of the room. He tried his best not to look, but he found himself scanning the crowd. There were many faces he recognized, most of them he had met earlier this week but he didn’t see the one face he hoped he would. 

The smile dropped as he took the final few steps to his designated place. 

I cannot blame Sylvie for not wanting to attend. Loki reasoned. It wasn’t in her plans and Sylvie was not one to alter course for just any reason. 

Loki stifled a sigh, knowing it wouldn’t appear very regal to do so. 

How is it that I know her so well already?

Loki turned to face the crowd. They all looked so incredibly happy and exquisitely attired. Loki cleared his throat before adorning his face with a winning smile, one that did not quite reach his eyes. 

“My people.” Loki began, opening his arms as if to welcome them, his voice magically amplified. “It is my honor as your sovereign to host so many from across all the nine realms. It has been my privilege over the past few days to get to know many of you. It is my hope that you take this time so fraught with strife to celebrate this moment as an example of a strived for future.”

Loki paused for a moment, letting his words sink in before continuing.

“Now, I will not delay further. Let this, the final night of the festival commence!”

Loki raising his hands in the air and showering the room in glorious fireworks. 

The room burst into applause as the orchestra began to play. 

“What a beautiful speech, my love.” Frigga said as she walked over to join her son.

“Thank you, Mother.” Loki replied as his mother placed a gentle kiss on his cheek. 

“Short and sweet, the way the people like it.” Thor added, clapping his brother on the shoulder. 

As Loki nodded, Thor leaned in closer to Loki’s ear.

“I looked around the room whilst you were making your grand entrance, I didn’t see her.” Thor informed his brother, sounding disappointed. 

Loki’s face fell. Even though he had already looked, a confirmation made it all the more clear to him that Sylvie wasn’t going to be there. 

He didn’t let his features be downcast for long. He returned his winning smile back to his face with little delay. 

“No matter.” Loki responded, grateful to sound unphased. “I have much to be getting on with anyway.”

“Brother, it is ok if you are…” a gentler version of Thor’s voice began. 

“Incredibly busy.” Loki interrupted as he began to walk away to make small talk with some of the guests. 

After a few moments of scanning the crowd, he approached a lovely woman with dark curls and light brown skin who stood alone drinking from a flagon.

“Hello, are you one of the dignitaries from Midgard?” he questioned as he made a small bow to her. 

“Afraid not.” the woman responded brightly, not bothering with the normal formalities of meeting a sovereign. “Though I have come a long way to meet you, King Loki.”

“Well then I appreciate your journey, Lady…?” Loki inquired

“Ravonna.” the woman responded curtly. “Asgard is quite the kingdom. I can see why you would want to rule it.”

Loki thought he heard ice in her words and jerked back. 

“It is my duty to do so since the Allfather’s death.” Loki answered diplomatically.

“How lucky for you.” Ravonna remarked, this time Loki was sure he heard barely concealed anger. 

I don’t recall ever meeting this woman before but she certainly seems to have a distaste for me. 

“Have I done something to offend you, Lady Ravonna?” Loki questioned, scanning her face for any signs of deception.

“Of course not, your majesty.” Ravonna replied, her face blank but confirming Loki’s suspicions anyway. “Though you must excuse me, I do believe I see someone I know over there.”

She pointed behind Loki as she side stepped around him, not bothering to say goodbye.

Rude. Loki thought to himself before he searched for another person to talk to. 

As Loki made his way through the room, making small talk with many guests, he began to grow exhausted by the social interaction. 

I wonder if it would be possible to bow out early. Loki wondered, beginning to eye the door longingly. After all, there is no reason for me to be here now.

“Thinking of bailing?” Lady Sif asked as she approached him, two flagons of mead in hand.

Loki smiled as he accepted one of the flagons from her. 

“You know me too well.” Loki took a deep drink. 

“I do.” she responded, taking a drink herself. “I also share those feelings”

“Why don’t you leave then?” Loki asked her, curious as to why she would stay.

“Fandral insisted I be his wingwoman tonight.” Lady Sif explained, taking another long deep drink from her flagon. “So far he has struck out three times. Well four if you count that he hit on the same guy twice.”

Loki laughed, not having any difficulty imagining that. 

“What are we going to do with him?” Loki asked her conspiratorially.

“You can put an entire kingdom of single people out of their misery and just marry him.”

Loki laughed once again, knowing she must be joking.

“I am not sure how good of a King he would make.” Loki told her. “Besides, much like yourself, I wouldn’t want a marriage to interfere with his ability to be a warrior.”

“So that’s why you wouldn’t marry me?” Sif teased, seeming to resist the urge to elbow him playfully. 

Loki remembered a time when he would have felt hope in that sentence, but hearing it now he knew it was just a friend asking another friend a question.

“Well that, and the fact that you are in love with my brother.” Loki told her, as if she needed reminding.

“Thank you for not saying anything to him.” Sif said whispered, the relief flooding through her words. “Even as the rumor flew about us, you kept quiet.”

“It was the gentlemanly thing to do.” Loki remarked casually.

“But not necessarily the Loki thing to do.” Sif remarked. 

Loki half smiled.

“Perhaps not.” 

But it was the right thing. And that matters to me for perhaps the first time in my life. 

“Did the rumors drive Sylvie away?” Sif asked, seeming concerned. 

Loki jerked back. He had never mentioned Sylvie to her. 

“I may have visited whilst you were recovering from your injuries and heard you.” Sif explained. 

Ah. Loki thought, once again embarrassed of his semi conscious utterings. 

“Ah, no. It was a non-starter, I’m afraid.” he told her, trying to sound casual but feeling anything but.

“My apologies.” Sif told him, finishing off her flagon and taking Loki’s barely touched flagon from him. “Would she have made a good queen?”

Loki’s eyes widened. 

“I hadn’t even considered it.” he told her honestly. 

Sif looked behind Loki, whose back was to the door and smiled. 

“Perhaps it is time to make those considerations.” Sif’s eyes darting behind him. 

Loki, following her gaze, turned around, and once his eyes reached the person entering the room, all other things happening in the room ceased to matter or even exist. 

Sylvie made her way down the stairs into the ballroom. Her beautiful blonde hair elegantly quaffed on top of her head. The dark green dress she wore fit her perfectly and seemed to sway with her every movement. She looked around the room carefully, as though she were seeking someone out. 

Seeking him out. 

Loki’s heart thundered in his chest. 

She’s here. She came. Am I dreaming or could this possibly be real?

Loki felt himself walking towards Sylvie, all thoughts of his conversation with Sif forgotten. He hadn’t consciously decided to approach her, but he couldn’t resist the pull of her even if he wanted to.

Perhaps she has enchanted me. He thought, closing the distance between them. 

“Hi.” Loki said, the one word coming out breathlessly and it was the only word that seemed to be able to enter his mind. 

“Hi.” Sylvie responded back, a smile breaking out on her face the instantly caused Loki to blush.

“You came.” Loki stated, his shock incredibly clear.

“I did.” she responded.

“You look…” Loki began but he couldn’t think of the word that would truly explain how she looked. 

Beautiful. Gorgeous. Exquisite. Stunning. Radiant. All great descriptors, but none held a candle to the way she is making me feel. Like I have lost all sense of agency but it is alright because there she is and she looks so... 

“Bewitching.” he eventually concluded. 

Her smile somehow widening at this compliment nearly bringing Loki to his knees with happiness.

“Quite the compliment.” Sylvie said, curtseying slightly. “And might I say his majesty’s own appearance is captivating.”

Loki blushed once again. 

“Thank you.” he managed. “Might I escort you the rest of the way down the steps?” 

He extended his arm out to her.

“Please.” she said, looping her arm through his.

As they walked down the rest of the stairs together, Loki couldn’t take his eyes off her. 

I can’t believe she’s here. Here for me. And thinks I am captivating? She must not have taken a good look in the mirror before arriving. 

On the last step, Loki felt Sylvie begin to stumble and he immediately reached out for her with his free arm.

“Are you alright?” he asked her, concerned. 

“Yes.” she replied through gritted teeth. “It is these shoes I conjured. I am not as skilled as your majesty and I’m afraid they are a bit off.”

Loki smiled at her. 

“Would you like me to conjure you a different pair?” he asked. 

“It might be advisable if you wish me to continue standing.”

With a slight gesture of his hand, Loki managed to conjure a pair of strappy heels that complimented her dress well.

“How are they?” he asked, hoping he managed to give her something she would enjoy. 

“Perfect.” she replied, staring at the shoes. “Thank you.”

“My pleasure.” Loki replied. “You must be famished.”

Sylvie smiled at him once again. “You read my mind.”

He escorted her over to the table where a wide assortment of food was laid out, origins from all across the nine realms. 

“There seems to be less than there was at the last party I attended.” Sylvie noted.

“Ah, yes.” Loki said. “I did take your suggestion of sending the leftovers to the village, but I also thought it might be prudent to just have less. There is still plenty of course, just less waste.”

“I can’t believe you even listened to me that day.” Sylvie smiled as she grabbed a plate and handed one to Loki. 

“Nor can I.” Loki answered honestly as he accepted the plate from her. “But I am glad I did.”

It took Sylvie no more than a few moments to fill up her plate.  

“Are you not hungry, Loki?” Sylvie asked, noting that he had not added anything to the plate she had given him. “Or have you already eaten?”

“No, it is just that…” Loki looked down at his plate, having forgotten he had one. “I am not sure I have ever been less hungry in my life.”

“Well please eat something.” Sylvie beckoned. “Can’t have the King fainting before the first dance. Assuming I haven’t missed it.”

“I assure you, you missed nothing.” Loki told her. “I probably should eat something though.”

Loki grabbed a small bit of whatever was closest and the two of them retreated to a corner that was thankfully secluded from the rest of the chattering ball.

“So what made you decide to come?” Loki asked her, unable to avoid the question from spilling out of him. 

Sylvie seemed to think about this for a moment before responding. 

“I had a lovely conversation with your general.” Sylvie told him as she took a great bite of a scone.

“Who, Thor?” Loki questioned, already beginning to feel embarrassed by whatever Thor might have told her.

“No, the other one.” Sylvie responded. “B-15 I think it was.”

B-15? She would sooner surrender to Hela personally than ever spare a kind thought for me.

“Are you quite sure it wasn’t Thor?” Loki asked, beginning to see him as the lesser likely of the two to do damage.

Sylvie giggled. 

“Yes. We sparred together in the training room.” 

Loki was absolutely stunned by this news.

So unlike her. 

“I didn’t think B-15 had a nice word to say about me.” Loki explained to Sylvie.

“Oh she doesn’t.” Sylvie replied simply, moving on to a meat pie. 

“Well that certainly makes more sense.” Loki replied with a bit of laughter and relief. “I am not sure I understand how a conversation with her brought you here though.”

“This is a woman who clearly hates you.” Sylvie explained. “Launches into horrible stories about you without much prompting.”

Loki nodded, this all making perfect sense to him. 

“But as she is telling me these things, it occurs to me that none of it matters.” 

“None of it matters?” Loki questioned. 

“There was nothing she could say about you that made me want to be here with you any less.” 

Loki’s face broke into such a smile, his face began to instantly feel the pain of it.

“Not to mention,” Sylvie began. “I apparently have you to thank for my new scabbard.”

Loki was shocked. 

“Your seamstress gave you up.”

“Oh.” Loki responded simply. 

“Why didn’t you just say you made it?” Sylvie asked, the question clearly having been on her mind for awhile.

If Loki was honest with himself, he wasn’t sure why he had lied. If it had been any other person in the world, he probably would have immediately said it was him and allowed himself to bathe in the praise of his handiwork. But it hadn’t felt right with Sylvie.

“I suppose I just wanted to replace your scabbard, but not have to associate the gift with me if you didn’t desire it.”

“I understand.” Sylvie told him. “But knowing you took the time and made it yourself, makes it mean more to me.”  

The two smiled fondly at each other for a moment before Sylvie returned to her plate. 

“B-15 must not have told you the good bad stories.” Loki told her jokingly, trying to change the subject. “They would have sent you running.”

“Doubtful.” Sylvie replied, eating a pinwheel. 

“She certainly enjoys telling the story of how I killed my father, but I doubt that was one.”

Sylvie noticeably winced.

“She alluded to it.” Sylvie replied honestly. 

“Of course.”

“A silly rumor.” Sylvie replied, dismissing it.

“Not so silly.” Loki responded.

Sylvie looked inquiringly at him 

“I did not kill him.” Loki clarified. “But our last conversation probably did not help.”

Sylvie nodded. 

“What was your last conversation?” Sylvie asked. 

Loki sighed, but decided to share the tale.

After all, I am the one who brought it up. 

“After mine and my brother’s failed attempt at an attack on Jotunheim, I went down to the relics vault and placed my hands upon the Casket of Ancient Winters, the one that was supposed to hurt any Asgardian. But it didn’t hurt, it only revealed that I was not who I thought I was.”

Sylvie stared at him attentively.

“I confronted my father, demanding to know why he took me and accused him of using me.” Loki continued, the memories of that day weighing heavy on his heart. “Using me and not loving me as much as my brother.  AS we quarrelled, he fell into the Odinsleep and never awoke.”

“Loki.” Sylvie said sympathetically, reaching a hand out to hold his. “It wasn’t your fault. It was an unfortunate coincidence.”

“An unfortunate coincidence that makes me even more of a monster in the eyes of some.” Loki replied, thinking back to his interaction with Ravonna earlier. 

Maybe that was it. That Ravonna woman believes me a monster and came to gawk at the murderous king. 

But Sylvie isn’t gawking. She doesn’t seem scared or even mildly phased. 

“But not in my eyes.” Sylvie said so quietly Loki almost didn’t hear it. The only reason he was sure she had said anything was the way she wove their fingers together. 

Loki looked down at their intertwined fingers and his smile began to return. 

“And your eyes are the only ones that matter to me.” he said to their joined hands.

And this is the moment I can never recover from.

Chapter Text

Since the moment Sylvie stepped into the ballroom, she had felt unbalanced.

This partially had been to do with her poorly conjured shoes, but for the most part her balance was completely thrown the moment she laid eyes on Loki.

When his eyes locked onto to her, she felt herself blush at the purely astonished look on his face. 

Well he clearly likes the dress. She had thought as she continued her descent of the stairs, feeling as though she couldn’t stop her feet from moving towards him if she had wanted to.