More Than Just A Dream
As it turned out Steve lived relatively close to a number of places in Brooklyn which were still open. Sylvie managed to drag Loki into a dive bar where they ordered drinks.
Much to Sylvie’s horror the bar also did karaoke and after a few cocktails Loki serenaded her—again. They stayed until 4am when the bar closed and spilled out onto the street with the other drunk patrons.
Loki crooned various love songs to Sylvie while they walked and she pretended not to like it. Eventually they passed an alley which was home to more than rats and an arm reached out to grab Sylvie, dragging her back into the dark.
For a moment Loki was temporarily confused, unsure if she had ducked out from under his arm intentionally and spun around looking for her.
Suddenly he heard a pained cry and the thud of someone colliding with a brick wall. He frantically darted around the corner into the alley in time to see Sylvie kick one of her assailants in the chest, sending the man crumbling to the ground in pain.
The first attacker already lay slumped against the side of the alley, his nose bloody—presumably from where Sylvie had thrown him into the wall.
She stood breathing a little heavier but overall looking quite pleased with herself as her two attackers groaned pitifully on the ground.
“Ah, I see you found something to hit besides me for once—” Loki smirked and felt a wave of relief that the woman he loved was so capable and self sufficient.
“To be fair, they did find me, but the result was the same in the end. Now,” she stepped over the first attacker and walked over to Loki, “that’s certainly got my blood pumping, so you better kiss me before you meet the same fate as these idiots—”
Sylvie had hardly finished speaking before Loki had captured her mouth hungrily. Bleeding muggers be damned, she was fierce and radiant and he needed the taste of her lips.
“Mmm my love, I admire how swiftly you dispatched with these sorry fools…” he murmured softly and Sylvie preened under the attention.
“I’d say they might’ve had better luck grabbing you—intoxicated as you are—but I doubt I’d have shown such restraint if they’d touched this pretty face…” she stroked his cheek tenderly and Loki grinned.
“My hero… I’d gladly play your damsel, so long as you ravished me as your reward.”
Sylvie laughed softly at the idea, “You would indeed make a lovely damsel.”
They made their way back out to the street and meandered casually through the neighborhoods.
Soon they came across a brightly lit donut shop which was already open. The smell of fresh coffee and sugar coated pastries wafted outside and drew them in easily.
Two coffees and half a dozen donuts later they were sat giggling to each other like idiots in an uncomfortable booth on the far wall.
“—I don’t care, there is absolutely no way you are ever getting me to sing karaoke. Period.”
“Not even for another dozen glazed?”
“Mmm no, not even then.”
“You can be a terrible stick in the mud, you know that?”
“‘Stick in the mud’? What are you two hundred?”
Loki laughed and held his side at her teasing.
“Alright fine, ‘pain in the arse’—are you happy?”
Sylvie descended into a fit of laughter at the way the phrase rolled off his refined tongue.
“I do love the sound of you cursing… though I don’t know if ‘happy’ quite covers it.”
Sylvie’s playful tone transformed into something a little more heated as she traced her fingers idly over his wrist.
Loki breathed a little heavier as he stared at her lips hungrily.
“Is that right…?” He murmured breathlessly.
“Mmhm,” Sylvie hummed softly in confirmation.
“I shall have to keep that in mind… a bit of—”
“Hey! If you’re gonna start making out, take it someplace else—”
The man behind the counter grumbled loudly at Loki and Sylvie as the heat between them approached a boiling point.
Loki threw the man an annoyed glare but huffed in resignation as he looked back at Sylvie who was trying not to burst out laughing.
“It seems we may have overstayed our welcome in this establishment,” Loki sighed.
“I’m tired of it anyway—let’s get out of here,” Sylvie grinned as she stood. Taking Loki’s hand she headed back out onto the street feeling giddy and more alive than she could remember.
The sun had begun to rise while they were inside and bathed the city in a pinkish orange glow. Walking aimlessly hand in hand they passed a small park. Loki pulled her suddenly into the public garden and found a large tree to press Sylvie against.
A little thrill went through Sylvie at the spontaneous move as he kissed her deeply. She sighed softly and draped her arms over Loki’s shoulders.
“I’m still not having sex with you in public,” she teased softly between kisses making Loki chuckle against her lips.
“I thought it was the woods you objected to?”
“No—I love the woods, it’s the prospect of getting caught with my pants down I take issue with.”
“Ahhh,” Loki said in overly dramatic understanding, “and that is where we differ, my love. Do you honestly see no appeal in the thrill of almost getting caught?”
Sylvie rolled her eyes, “Spending your life almost getting captured by omniscient fascists sort of takes the fun out of it.”
Loki deflated slightly, “Apologies my love, I had not considered that…”
Sylvie shrugged, “You’re impulsive… it’s what I love—and also drives me crazy about you, min elskede.”
Loki pressed his lips very softly to hers and breathed heavily as the moment stretched on between them.
They continued kissing and whispering flirtations softly to each other there against that tree for almost an hour as the sun rose fully and filtered through the leaves.
People began to wander through the park; morning joggers, dog owners taking them for walks, and parents bringing their children to climb on the far playground. Loki stepped back with a resigned sigh as their privacy disappeared and followed resolutely as Sylvie started walking again.
“I want eggs and toast,” Sylvie announced making Loki laugh and take her hand to place a quick kiss on the back of her palm.
“Insatiable as ever—if that is what you desire, then eggs and toast you shall have.”
They found a cafe and Loki watched with amusement as Sylvie ordered a full breakfast, ordering only a tea for himself. The next few hours after the meal were spent exploring the area until it was time to return and collect Steve.
When they reached the captain’s door Sylvie knocked softly and Loki gave her a quick kiss on the cheek as they waited.
Steve opened the door and heaved a sigh of relief, “I was starting to worry I’d just had a really crazy dream.”
Sylvie furrowed her brow, “are we late?”
“No, not at all, it’s just that I fell asleep writing letters and when I woke up I couldn’t be sure I hadn’t made the whole thing up.”
“Surely the letters indicated you had not been dreaming, unless it were some kind of mental break from realit—oof,” Sylvie elbowed Loki in the side as he rambled unnecessarily.
Steve laughed fondly and extended his arm to allow them inside.
“Can I get you anything? Have you eaten?”
“Obviously,” Loki rolled his eyes and darted just out of reach as Sylvie made to jab him again for being rude.
“We’re fine, Steve, are you all ready to go?”
“Uh, yeah I guess there’s no time like the present—although, I have letters written out here, do you mind if I run them down to the mailbox?”
“Go ahead, we’ll wait here.”
Steve gathered the envelopes and headed out the door leaving the two alone in the apartment.
“You, are terrible,” Sylvie jabbed a finger into Loki’s chest as he grinned wickedly.
“Terribly good looking?”
Sylvie huffed, “That’s beside the point.”
Loki pulled her close by the hips and brushed his nose against hers teasingly as she gasped softly.
“How about now, or have you quite forgotten the point?” He murmured against her lips.
“Hmmm ask me again in five minutes…”