Chapter Text
“I don’t think I have the fitness for this”
“Always with the dramatics” Loki sighed, as he continued to drag you through the halls.
“Where are we going?” It had been at least half an hour of being led around like a pet on an extremely short leash. The walls all looked the same, just with different family portraits hanging proudly on them. You felt Loki tug at your hand as you stop to admire one of his mother.
“Come along, we don’t want to be caught”
“Caught” Your eyebrow raised, as his lips twisted into his signature mischievous smirk.
“I promise you will not be punished…” His hand gripped yours slightly harder. “Unless that’s what you like…” You lightly smacked your hand against his chest. The leather made it almost impossible for him to feel your action. But he still painted an expression of hurt onto his face. His eyes looked as if they were almost about to over flow with tears. “I thought I was the dramatic one?” His face quickly snapped back to playful, as he finally continued to drag you along. The pain in your feet quickly assured you that you had the incorrect footwear on.
“Ladies first” As Loki flicked his wrists, a trail of green light danced from his fingertips. The trail danced its way around the door handle, mimicking the lights of the aurora borealis, which often lit up the Asgardian night sky in winter. You could only assume Loki was using some trick to unlock the door, but the intrigue was too much to make you question his actions. “Not much further” His hand found its way to your lower back, lightly guiding you into a smaller corridor. His fingertips lingering as you passed through. A high set of spiral stairs graced your eyes.
“Of course, more walking” You internally moaned. His body stayed closely behind yours, almost hovering. “I’m not going to fall”
“I know, I wouldn’t allow it”
It was a shorter journey this time, but as the light started to pour down the steps, you knew you had almost reached your destination. A large opened archway greeted you, allowing a light breeze to dance against your exposed limbs. “Keep moving” Loki urged, his hand once again pushing you for guidance. The archway opened onto a small garden. There were much smaller vines growing here, each twisting their way along their own individual stick to help guide their growth. Berries and flowers battled for dominance in small wooden planter boxes. “This is my mother’s private garden” At the back of the small area there stood a two-seater chair, carved out of the most magnificent stone. A stunning wooden archway surrounded the seat. Flowers softly twisting their way around the object, all fighting to be the one closest to the sun.“We spent many an hour here during my studies, it was a place reserved just for the two of us” The shimming sky of Asgard provided only more beauty to the scene. The suns above glimmering almost as brightly as the smile on Loki’s face.
“How did I not know about this?”
“Because you didn’t need to know” You could barely even give Loki your attention. The beauty of the surroundings commanded your eyes and you couldn’t bring yourself to fight it. The sound of water bubbling provided the sound track to this moment. A smaller version of the fountain in the palace grounds, sat peacefully in the middle of the plants. You finally let your eyes fall to Loki, his hand lightly pouring some water over a few thirsty looking flowers.
“What are these for?” You had never seen half of these flowers before, each one looked like its own story grew with it.
“Father brought mother a flower from each of the nine realms. He promised her that with every excursion he undertook, he would bring her back a flower that compared to her beauty” Loki was never the sentimental kind, but it was undeniable that this place truly made him feel something other than resentment. “This is my favourite” His hand beckoned you towards him. His palm stretched out flat in front of him, as he waited to take yours into his. The same sensation as the previous night took over your body. The warm electricity shooting its way up your arm. “This one” With his free hand he pointed to a bunch of almost bell looking flowers. They stood alone in their own specially created plant pot. A mix of orange, purples, pinks and reds.
“What are they?”
“From Midgard... A tulip I believe” “Tulip” you repeated, leaning in slightly closer. You could feel Loki’s body happily moved forward with you as you did so. “According to mother they represent a declaration of love”
“Who knew you would be so into floriculture” You jested, finally raising yourself back to Loki’s side.
“Oh no my dear, I just take particular interest in certain things which capture me” His free hand brushed lightly over the flowers, twisting through the colours. With a swift movement he pulled a flower free. The roots of the plant dancing in the breeze, as Loki observed its beauty. “I hope you accept this apology for my recent behaviour” Delicately Loki slipped the flower behind your ear, his hand cupping your face for a longing second.
“If I didn’t know better, I would think you are flirting with me”
“Good thing you know better then” Just as before Loki petted your face, but this time with more care and less mischief behind it. There were some emotions lingering in the air, but that one movement made the moment melt back into reality.
The day almost didn’t feel long enough, as the sun finally begun its nightly descent. To be fair to Loki, he promised you would still learn today and learn you did. You saw a new view of Asgard that you had never observed before. Learnt about the stunning flowers of Midgard. But more than that you relearnt just why you and Loki worked so well in previous years. Even in the silence that surrounded you both as you happily read for a few hours, you just felt an air of comfort.
“I guess we should make our way back”
“I assume you are right” Loki sighed placing his book into his lap. “I wouldn’t want the Royal guard accusing me of kidnapping the princess”
“True, you could be exiled for that”
“And we both know I could not cope with that” Loki dramatically sighed, letting his body slip down the seat.
“Thank you” You piped out, your eyes watching as Loki pushed his body up again.
“No need to thank me, it’s nice to share this with someone” Your chest tightened slightly, as Loki made that confession. But you had grown up with him, and couldn’t help but to scan his face for any hint of a lie. It was almost as if he caught onto what you were doing, his eyes now trailing your face. “I know you don’t trust me. I mean I haven’t given you a reason to. But…” Before Loki could even finish his thought, you rested your hand on his.
“It’s okay” You gave him a smile, and lightly stroked your fingers on his. “Truce?”
“Truce”
“My lady!” Thor shouted as you made your way to the dining hall. Loki had dropped you back to your chambers, but quickly excused himself before you could even offer for him to join you for some food. “I missed you in studies today” He managed to choke the words out, as his hand shoved another mouthful of bread into his face.
“I did some personal studies today” You shrugged, letting your body rest onto the bench next to him.
“Did you learn anything interesting? You didn’t miss much I promise”
“Just more about your land” You politely thanked the servant as they placed a bowl of food in front of you. Before making your way to the dining hall, you made sure to leave your gift from today’s adventure in your chambers. It was already a lot for Loki to trust you with his secret, that was not a trust you wanted to test.
“Well if you would like, I will happily show you my notes after our evening meal” You nodded as you continued to enjoy your food, smiling away as Thor started some story about a recent Asgardian gathering.
“I will meet you in the study shortly” You decided to slip back to your room before your late-night revision session. You needed to get your scrolls, a pencil and other supplies. But there was also a personal reason you wanted to return. Waiting for you on the reception rooms table was the stunning tulip. The flower represented the growth of yours and Loki’s relationship. But you could only hope that him ripping it out of its comfort zone, was not a representation of the relationship to come. You scrambled across the room looking for three items. Two pieces of paper and a book. You remembered once hearing about flower pressing, as a way of preserving their beauty. You placed paper on either side of the flower and laid it between the pages of the “Entire History of Asgard”. You couldn’t help but laugh at the irony of the reading material.
“Who knew so much went in ruling” You sighed, your head falling down onto the scroll in front of you. “I just assumed our fathers said things and they happened” Thor laughed, his face now coming down to your level. You couldn’t help but chuckle, it was a very different kind of view seeing a god from the side.
“I will tell you a secret” There must have been something in the water that day, which cause the Odinson's to reveal their secrets so freely. “I slept during classes today, I don’t even really know what I am telling you” You laughed lazily smacking his arm before moving it back under your head.
“How are we going to do this?”
“Do what?” You rolled your eyes as he continued to smile.
“We both barely pay attention in lessons and are somehow assumed to just know how to run things?”
“We will work it out” His elbow bent out towards you, nudging against yours. “Team work” Thor was like a therapist and a god all in one. Ever since he was a child he had a caring nature that surrounded him, always aiming to make sure those around him felt good. It was a trait clearly inherited from his mother.
“Evening All” Both yours and Thor’s chins lifted to rest on top of your hands. Neither of you had enough energy to fully move
“Brother” for the first time since you arrived Thor’s tone was not booming. He didn’t shout, holla or call. He spoke at a normal level.
“Haven’t interrupted, have I?” You let your head fall back to the side, allowing Thor to take the brunt of the conversation.
“Just studies, you are welcome to join us”
“I have missed a lot recently” You watched as the chair before you moved, soon filled with that familiar body. Your hand lazily held up a scrap of paper for him to take, his fingers quickly snatching it from yours. “So, what are we learning”