Chapter 11
Sylvie watched Frigga go then turned to see Loki studying her face in disbelief.
“I still can’t believe you’re here,” he said softly.
“You didn’t make it easy,” she teased, taking his hand easily to hold between them.
Loki looked pained, “I’m sorry, I didn’t know where to go… the TVA you sent me to was on a different timeline… I feared it might be pruned or that you might never find it…”
He sighed and looked at their joined hands, “To tell the truth… I really thought I might have imagined your words…” he looked up at her and her eyes were sympathetic.
“I didn’t mean to hurt you…” she said softly.
Loki looked at her without a trace of resentment, “I know…” he said quietly, “you’re worth the pain…”
A tear fell from her watery eyes and her breath hitched as she shook her head in disbelief.
“I was so afraid, deep down I feared you were using me to take over in the wake of my plan to destroy the TVA,” she looked at his face and gulped a breath as her voice changed—honest conversation wasn’t her forte and she was making an effort to open up to him, “you were so charming, and handsome, I feared it might be an act…”
Loki scoffed a soft laugh of disbelief, “it used to be, when I was young and wanted to get something from someone, it was easy to play the part…” he looked at her openly, “but after Lamentis… sometime on that train it stopped being an act…”
“Love is a dagger,” she whispered with a little quirk of her lips.
He smirked, “I thought you hated that metaphor…?”
Sylvie smiled despite herself, “I do. But I liked the way you said it,” she grinned wider.
Loki chuckled and looked at her completely smitten, “I adore you…”
Sylvie’s eyes were hopeful and uncertain, “don’t say it if you don’t mean it, don’t you dare…” her voice trembled nervously.
“Sylvie,” Loki looked into her eyes with determined conviction, “I could never lie to you, not you, and certainly never about that.”
“You sure?” She asked quietly.
He nodded slowly and squeezed her hand, “I told you before all this is new for me, and my heart is pounding so hard… I feel like it’s going to burst,” he confessed with a laugh.
“But I think I need to be brave, because I think you need to hear it…” he swallowed thickly.
“Yes?” she whispered.
“Sylvie.” He took a deep breath, “Sylvie I… I think… I know… I… god why is this so hard?” He looked up berating himself mentally.
“Loki,” she whispered, her voice bringing him back to the moment.
He looked at her then clearly and openly, and summoned his courage.
“I love you. Sylvie, I love you. And I know it’s unusual, and I don’t care what it says about me, because you’re all the things I wish I was. You’re so driven, and self sufficient, and completely terrifying in the most amazing way. Your conviction and strength inspire me, and I can’t explain it but when I look in your eyes it just feels… right.”
Sylvie’s eyes were shining and vulnerable as she stared at him.
“Do you know what I’m talking about? Or am I just completely mad…?”
Sylvie nodded as she smiled tearfully, “Both. And I do… I love you too, I didn’t want to, but I do.” She sniffed, “You drive me crazy and you’re insufferable, but it’s only when I’m with you that I don’t feel alone,” she said softly.
Loki grinned like an idiot at her teasing words of affection. Her fire and sharpness were part of what drew him to her and it kept him always wanting more.
His attention was distracted as two of the Queen’s handmaids came in carrying large platters of food. They curtsied and bowed their heads before placing the golden trays on the table before them.
“Thank you,” Sylvie murmured, a little unnerved by the formal behavior. Loki gave her a comforting smile and sent the women off with a formal nod which they returned before departing.
Loki and Sylvie ate casually discussing what foods they each liked best. Sylvie was accustomed to eating largely for sustenance while Loki had grown up with a refined palate. He told her about the delicacies of the kingdom and chuckled with amusement as she sampled the different foods.
In a way it was like the first date neither of them had ever had. They shared foods they liked and Sylvie even fed Loki a grape while he poured them more wine.
Sylvie took a large drink of wine and almost spilled as he tried to eat a whole fig in one bite making her laugh. He ended up having to bite part of it off but his cheeks were filled awkwardly with the fruit and she descended into fits of laughter.
Loki basked in the feeling of entertaining her and chuckled warmly. Sylvie’s lips were stained red from the wine and her cheeks were beautifully flushed.
He stared at her fondly, “I don’t understand… how could any power in the universe see you as a mistake?”
Sylvie smiled softly, “if they hadn’t, then we never would have met…”
Loki tilted his head in awe of her, then leaned in to kiss her gently. Sylvie sighed into the chaste kiss, then hummed and rested her face against his cheek tenderly.