Get To Know Me

It only took a few more days until the healers granted me permission to be off bed rest. My face was bright and eager, and I was on my feet before they finished their sentence. My body protested and so did Loki, ‘slow down,’ he pushed on my shoulder lightly as I grabbed a nearby cloak.

‘You’re not in charge of me anymore. Let’s go for a walk’ I tugged on the cloak and pushed open the door with Loki following me closely. He was treating me like glass, as if I would shatter if I took one wrong step. He forcefully linked his arm through mine to pull me in and slow me down.

‘It is great to see that you’re back to your old endearing self,’ he said sarcastically.

I rolled my eyes and let my pace match his, ‘Okay, grand tour. I want to see everything. I’ve never been to space before!’

He smiled at my enthusiasm and pulled me towards the front doors.

I was absolutely blown away. I marveled at everything we passed, from the smallest flowers to the intricate designs of the buildings. I’m sure I looked ridiculous to him. After all, he grew up here and was accustomed to this place. I was a tourist in a foreign country.

The market was one of my favourite places we stopped at. Everyone we passed was very kind, greeting us warmly. I had forgotten that Loki was a prince here until I saw the way he interacted with others. The people would give a slight bow before addressing him, and he charmed them all in a friendly manner. The shop I took the most interest in was lined with potions and other apothecary. I brought my hand up to touch an intricately woven pendant made of bone and some type of dried plant. Loki gently took my hand in his before he touched it, ‘I wouldn’t, love. Some of these items are far too powerful for a Midgardian.’ I furrowed my brow at him and dropped my hand. He went on to decline any item I picked up to take with me. I think at this point he just took joy in the face I made when he told me no. Before we stepped out of the shop, the lady gifted me with a delicate bracelet, ‘please dear, take this. It’s a protective charm. I hope you fell better soon.’ I thanked her profusely and sincerely before Loki took my arm to continue our walk.

We eventually found ourselves at the castle’s garden. Complete with a greenhouse and a walking path. I stopped to look at almost every plant and tree in our path to marvel at them individually. I stood at a shrub of brilliant blue flowers the longest, my fingers lightly traced the petals as I took in its beauty.

I could feel him staring; it was a habit of his that he engaged in too often. I looked back at him, and he met my gaze with a warm smile. The look in his eyes was intoxicating; staring into me like I was the only thing in the world. It made my chest flutter.

I was suddenly aware of how long we stood there without talking so I fumbled to look back at the flowers and fill the silence, ‘this is definitely not what I thought space would be like’ I smiled.

He gave a short laugh and stepped forward. Revealing a dagger, he cut a flower free. Gently pushing my hair back as I turned to look at him again, he tucked it behind my ear, ‘we are only one realm of many, there is much more to see.’

I tried to will my face to hide my blush as he fixed my hair slightly around the flower. I thought of the to-do list that I had made for myself when I faced the bomb and my stomach twinged with anxiety. My heart longed to tell him, but the fear of what might happen after I did was all consuming.

He broke the silence hesitantly as if he was reading my mind, ‘before you were called into the mission…’

‘My lady! The healers have been taking care of you I see!’

A voice called from the perimeter of the garden. I took a breath and tried not to think about what would have happened if Loki finished his sentence.

I turned and pulled away from him to see Thor, making his way towards us. I smiled at him, ‘you can’t get rid of me that easily.’ He laughed and pulled me into a quick hug. I was a little hesitant, I wasn’t used to casual friendly touch. I told myself to relax; if there is a time for such affection it would be after a near death experience.

After pulling away he grabbed my shoulders softly, ‘good to see you back on your feet. Has my brother showed you the castles wine cellar yet? It is without a doubt the kingdoms most precious gem’ he half-joked as he took my arm to start walking me back to the castle.

‘After the week I’ve had, I could definitely use a drink. Or ten.’ I smiled back at him.

‘Come, brother. Let us go celebrate the little warrior’s victory’ Thor called back to Loki. I turned to look at him just in time to see him cover up his disappointment from Thor’s interruption with a smile.

***

The city was even more beautiful at night. I leaned on a railing, looking down at the lights below. The cool evening air cut against my cheek, and I took in a deep, even breath. I could hear the loud chatter and music coming from inside the castle. As much as I liked drinking, I was never much for parties.

‘People are starting to wonder where you went’ I heard the balcony door close behind him as he stepped forward to lean against the railing beside me.

I gave a small smile, still looking down at the city lights, ‘I like to let people wonder.’

He let out small laugh and let the silence hang for a minute before saying tentatively, ‘the healers said you can continue your rest on your own planet whenever you’re ready to leave.’

I looked at him with a raised eyebrow before huffing out, ‘I don’t think I want to leave. Its so peaceful here,' I gestured to the city below us. I sighed, 'What I think It am ready for, though, is to go to bed.’ I pushed away from the railing.

‘Ill walk with you, I’m not one for parties either’ he stepped forward to take my arm.

It was a quiet walk through the castle; when we got to my room, Loki closed the door behind us. I raised my eyebrow at him, ‘you still don’t trust me enough to leave me alone?’

He smirked and put his hands in his pockets, ‘you’re rather self-destructive, I can’t have you dying in my realm just because you’re stubborn.’

I rolled my eyes, but some part of me appreciated the opportunity to be cared for. I was too accustomed to being self-reliant, it was a nice change of pace. I took off the extra layers of robes I was wearing and leaned against the wall, drawing in a deep breath. It had been a long day and the exhaustion was creeping up.

He stepped towards me cautiously. When I looked in his eyes, I could see that he was thinking. I tilted my head slightly to the side, ‘something on your mind?’ I was painfully aware of how he was slowly closing the distance between us, it made the nerves in my chest flutter lightly.

He took another minute, hesitating, ‘before you were called to the mission, you were about to say something to me,’ not a question.

I held my breath. I wasn’t ready for this conversation. Any hope that I had built up when thinking of this moment was diminishing into panic. I felt that old instinctual need to run, change the subject, avoid what was about to happen.

He finished closing the gap between us. He seemed… nervous. I had never seen him like that before. He was being vulnerable. He had completely dropped his emotional walls for me. I felt a pang of guilt, why was it so hard for me to do the same?

I didn’t know I was avoiding his eyes until he brought his hand up to my chin, tilting it upward. ‘I want to know what you were going to say.’

My head was spinning, I couldn’t think. His other hand grazed my hip as if to steady me. I couldn’t hold my breath anymore. I had to say/do/be something.

‘I… I was going to say’ I fought to find the words, my stomach was turning feverishly. I couldn’t hear my own voice when the words tumbled out of my mouth, ‘I was going to say... get to know me. Really, truly, get to know me.’

He took a breath, I felt like I was going to implode from the nerves. I couldn’t move, so he did.

He kissed me.

It was so gentle it took me a minute to register it was happening. Our lips gently parted against each other as I breathed into him, closing my eyes. I kissed him back, full of want and longing. I brought my hand up to tangle my fingers in his hair, pulling him closer. I felt him breathe out in response.

His lips were cool against mine. All the fear and nerves that were building up inside me for the past few months had finally escaped me and I felt my body relax into his. His hand moved up my body, setting my skin on fire where he touched me. I couldn’t help but let a sigh escape my mouth.

This was the moment that I’ve been craving for.

The feeling of giving into all my fears and instincts was exhilarating. Letting his hips press against mine, I moved my hand to gently graze down from his face to his chest. I never wanted to leave this moment. My body craved more.

As luck would have it though, that small moment was all that was allotted to us before someone aggressively banged on the door to my room.

I broke away from Loki in a gasp, startled. Pushing past Loki gently, I opened the door to find Thor on the other side.

‘My lady, I’m sorry to intrude, but I believe we are needed back on Earth quite immediately.’ His voice sounded grave and there was sincerity in his eyes; it worried me. 

I blinked up at him, unscrambling my brain, ‘why? What’s going on?’

He shifted, ‘I’m afraid the Hydra attack you stopped wasn’t the last.’

I stitched my brows together, putting my mind back together again like a puzzle inside my brain. I had no more time to spend thinking of what had just happened.