Starring Gable and Bacall
Once Steve had gone inside and the door had shut behind him Sylvie felt Loki’s hand take hers firmly. She turned to see a playful smirk on his face as he pulled her along.
“What do you say, one night in 1945?”
Sylvie grinned and nodded as they headed down the street.
“What are you up to? I know that look…” Sylvie said suspiciously.
Loki furrowed his brow at her, “What look?”
“That ridiculous one on your face—you’re really not as sneaky or discreet as you think you are.”
“I’ll have you know I can be exceptionally clandestine when I so choose, and now is not one of those times—perhaps you’re reading into things,” he said indignantly.
Sylvie rolled her eyes, “Complete and utter bollocks, rubbish poker face at that.”
Loki narrowed his eyes at her and she smirked at her own ability to get under his skin.
“I know what you’re doing so you can cease baiting me now,” he grumbled.
“Then quit trying to keep a secret from me it’s bloody irritating,” she huffed.
“It’s not a secret! I just wanted it to be a surprise so you wouldn’t say no—!”
“You wanted what to be a surprise?” Sylvie asked dangerously as she came to a stop.
“Dancing. I’m taking you dancing.” Loki turned and stopped to look at her with a pout.
“No. Absolutely not. I do not dance.” Sylvie said firmly.
“And that’s why I didn’t tell you.”
“Well I would have to find out eventually—better to nip the thing in the bud.”
Loki sighed and took her hand again.
“Sylvie—you are too resistant to change. We are Gods of Mischief, a bit of chaos and spontaneity would do you good, my love.”
Sylvie looked annoyed but didn’t argue further as he resumed leading her confidently another several blocks. They eventually came to what appeared to be a restaurant which claimed to sell drinks downstairs.
“Uh, Loki I don’t think anyone will be dancing in here,” Sylvie muttered.
“Hush dear, just follow me.”
A sign at the back of the restaurant pointed downstairs and Loki quickly dragged Sylvie along behind him.
The dimly bar area below appeared to have been a speakeasy during prohibition and still retained that air of privacy.
Although the lights were low they still reflected off glittering coupe glasses stacked on the bar, and at the far end of the room a live band played. The singer was a sultry brunette in a low cut gown who crooned seductively.
To Sylvie’s surprise, couples were indeed dancing in the center of the room. She felt anxious and out of place seeing all the beautiful people twirling on the floor. Her nerves were on edge as she watched them all move so effortlessly.
“How about something to drink?” Loki asked softly.
Sylvie heaved a sigh of relief and gave him a small half smile as she nodded. He headed for the bar and she trailed behind him slowly, still feeling both mesmerized and terrified by the people on the dance floor.
“Here, to us—”
Loki handed Sylvie a drink she hadn’t seen him order and tried to snap herself back to the moment as she took a sip. He was watching her with curious concern over the rim of his champagne glass as her eyes flashed through a myriad of emotions.
“Sylvie…” he said softly, “what is it?”
She swallowed thickly and tried to summon her courage.
“I—I’ve never… I don’t know how to dance—okay?” She blushed furiously with agitated embarrassment.
Loki’s brow drew together in heartfelt sympathy at her distress.
“I didn’t get to grow up in a palace, alright? I was on my own, always scraping by—I didn’t have time for silly things like singing or dancing. Nor did I want to—who would I have danced with? What would I have been singing for? I know how to survive—and those things aren’t essential for survival. Are you happy? You get to be the cultured one—”
“Sylvie, love… you don’t need to be ashamed of that—”
Loki took the glass from her and placed it along with his on a high table nearby before returning to her.
“—you’re the strongest person I’ve ever known. The fiercest, quickest and cleverest woman to ever cross my path—not to mention the most beautiful... What do I care if you’ve never danced?”
Loki looked utterly heartsick as he took her hand and kissed it tenderly, “It just means I get to be the first one to dance with you…”
Sylvie still looked a little nervous but she no longer felt the urge to run. He bowed politely and smiled reassuringly at her.
“So please, Sylvie, would you do me the great honor of allowing me to be the first person to show you how to dance?”
Sylvie bit her lip but then nodded with a slightly unsteady smile. Loki grinned and lead her out to the dance floor before gently pulling her close.
Loki placed one of her hands on his shoulder and held the other in his own. He smiled patiently and moved his free hand to the middle of her back.
“You don’t need to know any fancy moves… I just want to hold you and move with the music,” he murmured into her ear and Sylvie blushed. “Move with me, try to let go and I’ll take care of the rest…just follow my lead.”
Sylvie nodded softly and shuffled her feet a little awkwardly. Loki moved in slow and simple steps giving her room to follow when she was ready. She gave him a shaky smile when they managed to move as one and he beamed confidently.
He swayed with her, turning them slowly and allowing the hand on her back to drift lower. It rested at the small of her back as he pulled her even closer.
“Okay love, hold on to me and just relax, are you ready?”
Sylvie felt a jolt of panic, “ready for what?”
Loki smiled and turned her quite suddenly, dipping her with the music. Sylvie’s breath caught as he pulled her back up and flush against his chest. Loki gave her a flirtatious smirk as she flushed.
She wanted to swat him and yell for scaring her—but she couldn’t help what a thrill it had been. The feeling like losing her balance and being caught in a single second, it gave her a somewhat giddy rush.
“Are you alright my love?” Loki murmured huskily, enjoying the pretty flush on her cheeks and part of her lips as she breathed heavily.
Sylvie nodded in a sort of daze and swallowed, “You could—uh, you could do that again… if you wanted to…”
Loki grinned devilishly, “You’re too kind, my lady.”
He turned and swayed Sylvie in his arms as they moved around the dance floor. She felt lightheaded from the exhilaration and gasped when he dipped her again. This time he did so as the singer held a long note, and kissed Sylvie sweetly as she hung there in his arms.
At first she felt like kicking herself for going her whole life without dancing, but a part of her was relieved she hadn’t. This felt incredibly intimate, and Sylvie was privately glad she’d waited so long to dance with someone, because she didn’t think she’d want to share this with anyone else.
They danced for hours, occasionally stopping to have drinks and make eyes at each other in the dim light. Sylvie’s feet began to tire and she winced on a sharp turn, catching Loki’s attention.
“What is it?” He asked in alarm, stopping them there in the middle of the song.
Sylvie shook her head softly, “it’s nothing—it’s just these shoes…”
“Are they not comfortable?” Loki sounded disappointed in himself.
“No! I mean, they are—it’s just, high heels weren’t meant to be comfortable all night…” her voice pitched lower as she pressed herself against him, “they do need to come off eventually…”
Loki’s eyes darkened at her meaning and he smirked, “Well then we best find someplace to remove them… and the rest of this clothing while we’re at it.”
Sylvie kissed him slowly, her dark red lips meeting his in what felt like slow motion.
When they parted Loki tilted his head slightly, his temple resting against her forehead.
“I hardly know myself when I’m with you…” he murmured in awe.
“Why’s that, min elskede—has love never made you so sentimental?” She teased softly.
“Never—and to tell the truth, nor has it ever made me so… happy.”
Sylvie beamed and followed as he lead her off the dance floor. They headed upstairs and out of the restaurant into the brisk night air.
Loki hailed a cab and instructed the man to take them to the nicest hotel in the area. He drove them to 5th Avenue, pulling up in front of an enormous twin chimney building across from a large fountain.
“Here y’are, Savoy-Plaza, that’ll be two dimes, sir.”
Sylvie blinked at the man in surprise as Loki subtly conjured a silver quarter and handed it to the man.
The cabbie hastily dug in his pocket for change but Loki insisted the man keep it.
“Thank you sir, y’all have a good evening sir, ma’am,” he tipped his cap politely to Sylvie who smiled and nodded politely before taking Loki’s hand to climb out of the car.
They headed inside and checked in for the night, turning a few heads both with their accents and lack of luggage.
“You realize people probably think I’m your mistress or something,” Sylvie muttered as they walked across the lobby.
“Would you prefer I conjure us luggage next time? Perhaps drape you in furs and jewels like the royalty you are?”
“Tacky…” Sylvie rolled her eyes and grumbled under her breath.
“Or perhaps…” he took her hand and a tiny whisp of green magic shimmered around her finger.
Sylvie felt something appear and lifted their joined hands to see a beautiful green emerald set in a gold band sparkling on her ring finger.
Her breath stopped and she nearly tripped at the sight with a faint gasp.
Loki looked mildly concerned, “I thought you might feel more comfortable—so people wouldn’t think you were ‘my mistress’ as you put it…”
Sylvie stared at him unable to form words.
“It was only an idea, here, let me—”
Sylvie pulled her hand away from him and held it tightly to her chest and a small smile spread across Loki’s lips.
“I’ll wear it, just—so people don’t think I’m a prostitute or anything—” Sylvie said hastily as a lovely pink blush colored her cheeks.
“Of course—” Loki agreed affecting a serious tone while his heart skipped a beat.
Sylvie took his hand again and gave it a gentle squeeze.
“You’ll of course need one too—wouldn’t want anyone to think you were my male escort,” Sylvie reasoned with a playful yet somewhat nervous voice.
“Quite right,” Loki agreed as he fought not to smile and flexed his left hand, a golden band appearing on his own finger.
Sylvie blushed even harder and nodded, looking resolutely at the floor.
“Shall we head to our room then, my love?”
Sylvie nodded and smiled softly, moving to take his arm instead and enjoying the sight of the ring on her finger as it rested against his bicep.
Sylvie let out a contented sigh as they approached the elevator and murmured softly, “Take me to bed, my beloved.”