emeralds.
β³ Loki Laufeyson x F!Reader
β³ Fluff, Smutty
β³ CW: no mention of y/n, not betaed (so potential for mistakes as always), friends to lovers (one of my favourites of all time), jealous Loki, Loki wanting to prove himself, Loki wanting to be better than the competition, smug Loki (isn't he always??), flirty Loki (same comment as previous), dirty talk (a staple here), petty Loki, pining.
β³ A/N: somewhat inspired by a request I got a (long) while back (so sorry).
Also, a belated thank you for over 500 followers <333 I never thought I'd get to this point <33333 thank you soso much, your kind words in comments, reblogs, tags, etc always mean the world to me <3 I vow to make more of an effort to message you guys so I can get to know you more :)
β³ (2.9k words)
β³ Link to my Loki masterlist
(gif by @sophiestrashcann !!) (this look is undefeated)
(tagging you @namelessanon bc you mentioned being interested in this :') i hope that's okay)
She had known him for what had felt like her whole life. She had come to Asgard when sheβd been quite young, having received an offer from the All-Mother herself to be trained into a young, proper lady within the very walls of Asgard. An amazing, irresistible opportunity. Since then, she had followed Queen Frigga (and all of her ladies-in-waiting) much like an eager pup through every scheduled affair. Years of attending to tedious, and sometimes unwanted, (a sentiment sometimes shared by the All-Mother herself) royal duties.
Frigga had always been incredibly kind to you, thankfully. Forgiving when needed (you had always tried to make certain that it wouldnβt be), kind, and incredibly patient. That last one made a lot more sense to anyone who had ever shared a space with the rest of the royal family.
You allowed yourself the right to marvel at the All-Motherβs seemingly unending well of patience, with your credentials being years spent at Prince Lokiβs side. Thor could be loud and brash, but you believed that to be nothing compared to Lokiβs hushed scheming.
It hadnβt been your intention to grow close to either of the princes when youβd first joined Friggaβs ensemble. However, theyβd both been incessantly curious about their motherβs new helper, likely due to the three of you being close in age. Your friendship with Thor had blossomed easily, with not much nurturing needed to help it grow. It had stayed rather surface-level, though. Amicable, which was enough for the both of you. Loki, however, had been content to seek you out through japes and stares, often lingering near enough to Frigga and all her ladies anyways, happy to stay close to his motherβs skirts and simply watch you, likely hoping to unnerve you. It had worked, for a time, until youβd unnerved him by approaching him with the goal of starting a conversation.
Thus, the first seeds of your friendship had blossomed. It happened to be a much more stubborn plant to tend to, a fact that had taken you very little time to learn. Although, as it now stood, years later, youβd both found your rhythm within its boundaries.
βIs this farce truly necessary?β
Heβd asked this what felt like a hundred times since youβd first told him a few days ago. The miniscule amount of (shrinking) patience youβd been cultivating was eviscerated with his umpteenth repeat of the question.
βLoki, for Nornsβ sake, I came to Asgard all those years ago to become a lady. It is customary for ladies to partake in these activities.β
βIt is a farce. Everyone already knows you, there is no need for some ser or other to be introduced to you over tea.β He sneered, the arch of his brows sharp.
βI understand that this is usually the time of the day that we have tea together, Loki, but surely you can allow a discrepancy in our habits for one day?β
βI will think about it.β His words were as sour as his expression.
You knew him well enough to know that he would certainly be listening in on your tea hour today, eager to ridicule any of the nobles hoping to win your favour.
At this point in your lives, most people who visited the castle knew of your friendship with Loki. Although the royal family usually seemed to prefer keeping their affections for others more muted, a habit that the princes were especially privy to because they were both unwed and did not wish to be drowning in false rumours, Loki seemed intent on forgetting that lesson today. He had forgone his usual trick of remaining invisible in the shadows to watch, and was simply standing behind your chair, watching your conversations with the suitors of the hour. No one, despite how much you wished otherwise, could tell him anything either, considering his status as a prince of Asgard.
You were angry with him for this, and were refusing to give him your attention from the moment he had been announced into the solar by an Einherjar.
Some noble from Alfheim was currently talking your ear off about how beautiful a wedding in Alfheim would be, particularly in the warmer months.
"Your gown will shine beautifully in the warm sun rays, my gentle lady."
You remained steadfast in your decision not to look at Loki. Nonetheless, you could feel him behind you, fighting between repulsion and great amusement as the noble prattled on.
You tried your hardest to send your mirrored emotions towards him, willing yourself to steel your expression.
However, your disdain at the noble having apparently dreamed up your wedding enough times to have already settled on your dress for your imagined wedding to him must have shown plainly on your face, because the nobleman suddenly dropped from his chair and onto his knees.
"My lady, forgive me for my lapse in judgement. How could I be this foolish when attempting to obtain the hand of the prettiest creature to ever take a breath on these Nine Realms?" He bowed his head, reaching for your hand, the one closest to him, so he could hold it in both of his. You could feel Loki stiffen behind you, looming over you as he craned his neck to watch over your chair. "If you prefer rubies to be embroidered into your gown, it shall be done. Of course it will! Or any other gem. Anything."
Although his dedication to pleasing you could be considered charming for someone else, you personally felt indifferent to it. You did not want such expressions of affection from him.
You thanked him for his kindness and watched, somewhat detached, as he began to kiss your hand, stroking the side of it with one of his thumbs, likely believing your affections for him to be far greater than they actually are.
You were thankful that he was the last suitor you'd been set to meet. Your patience for passionate declarations had gone done all while they'd grown in intensity, both happening exponentially.
Finally, after what had felt like far too long a moment for a man to be on his knees and kissing your hand, your duty was done. Loki, on your behalf, had grown tired of the display and had wasted no time in asking everyone to leave the solar, leaving the two of you alone. You were relieved, and thankful, but you were stubborn above all.
He sighed as he sat down across from you, his eyes burning into your face.
βWill you look at me now?β
βYou are ridiculous.β You riposted.
βNo, what is ridiculous is that man thinking you could ever be charmed by such idiotic displays.βΒ
"How would you know? Perhaps I have always wanted such a wedding."
"If that is true, then he would not be the one to give that to you." Loki was being stubborn again.
"He seemed quite willing." You reminded him, one brow raised.
"He could not give you all that you deserve."
You rolled your eyes and made the mistake of briefly flicking your eyes towards him during. He immediately looked victorious, a spark in his eyes that you'd learned long ago signaled danger.
"And how would you presume to know that?"
He went quiet at your question, suddenly pensive, the shine dulling into something you couldn't pinpoint.
When he began to speak again, the beats of silence that had passed between you had softened his voice, like water degrading stone.
"You received many proposals today. Is it always thus?"
You were furious with him all over again, suspecting he'd asked the sudden question just to surprise you enough so you'd look at him. Why else would he care to ask something like that?
Still, you'd already broken your own rule and looked at him. It couldn't be helped. What's more, Loki did not even seem thrilled by your lapse in judgement, his eyes set on yours as he waited for an answer.
"... I suppose. It has become more common as of late."
"You are well liked." He added onto your analysis, as if that would explain it all. "And well wanted."
Again, his words had your brows raising. He was acting odd. His words hadn't even been paired with a smarmy grin like words of this kind usually were, meant to aggravate you. He seemed resigned to what he was saying, utterly serious, as if delivering a sentence.
"Have you thought of it much? Marriage? Of accepting one of those fools' pleas?"
You began to laugh, the reaction startling both of you. You could not help it, realization having just dawned on you.
"Is the All-Mother having you ask these questions so that she might know about my possible future prospects?"
The grave, unamused look he stared you down with sobered you up, your heart going heavy with confusion again.
His curiosity usually never stirred in the direction of marriage or love. He preferred schemes and ploys.
"No, I have not much considered accepting someone's pleas." You answered his earlier question, not wanting to deal with his souring disposition. "I also hadn't considered that marriage would be this important to you."
"It is not." He replied easily, as if shooing away a most unlucky insect. "I only know how much importance is placed on it when it involves beautiful ladies, and I wish to know what the one closest to me thinks of her fate being so indisputable."
"It is something that will likely happen to me, yes." You agreed slowly, switching the crossing of your legs, lost in thought. "But I do not linger on the thought much."
"That is how the inevitability of your future will sneak up on you. Just as that dress adorned with rubies seemed ready to just slip onto you."
You noticed the grating quality of his words. Looked at his face and saw the pinched turn of his lips. Now, you well and truly felt realization dawning on you, another well of amusement filling up your insides.
"Loki... are you jealous?"
He scoffed immediately, scooting back in his seat suddenly enough for his chair to nearly go toppling backwards.
"Jealous? Over what, exactly? My words are more colourful than that fool could ever dream to paint his. My clothing is superior. My hair is more delightful to look at. My face... do I truly need to mention the stark difference there?"
"You are acting childish, which is how I know you are jealous. This is how you used to act when one of your mother's ladies would get most of her attention."
"And most of the time that happened to be you." He pointed a long index at you, accusing.
"I was the youngest one! I needed the most instructing."
"Mm. I knew all of the rules already and we were the same age." His proud words only seemed to encourage his light smirk.
"You ruined one of my dresses before a duty I had to attend with the queen once out of your spite for me. Dirtied it and had the gall to act innocent but laugh behind the All-Mother's skirts all the while."
Loki chuckled low and soft as the memory came back to you both.
"I've not touched your gowns since! What's more, that one was quite ugly. If I hadn't dirtied it, you wouldn't have been offered a nicer one."
"You seemed pretty intent on ruining my freshly offered wedding gown, though." You pointed out, the jab meant to be a jest more than anything.
Loki waved his hand casually.
"You would suit emeralds better than rubies or any other gem."
The both of you seemed to realize the extent of what he'd said at around the same time, pausing to look at each other, him more resolute than you.
"Do not marry some buffoon simply because he offers you a pretty gown or a large celebration."
"I was not planning on it."
"I could give you more than they could, no matter their riches. I know you. I know your true desires, what colours suit yours, what foods you tolerate and which ones you truly love, the jests that amuse you..."
Any trace of amusement had left you the moment you'd heard how serious he was, how genuine and tender his words were. And seeing as you knew him, you were certain this was not a trick born of his silvered tongue.
He stood from his chair and moved to stand in front of you, pushing your comfortable chair back from the small table housing the essentials you'd needed for your tea hour and crouching down in front of you.
"I know nearly everything about you. We have grown up alongside each other. You have graced me with your presence throughout every single one of my hardships, even when I did not deserve it." He looked down at your hands, currently in your lap, curled together, unsure like the rest of you as to what to do. "I know nearly everything about you." He repeated, the words even softer now. "But I should dare to hope that I could know more. That I might one day know it all. Tell me... am I being a complete fool, here and now, for confessing these things to you? Here I stand, at your feet, more pathetic than all of those laughable displays we've just suffered through, gouging my heart out to give to you, finally, after years, because I was filled with jealousy at the thought of you with another. At the realization that you might not simply remain here, with me, forever. At the realization that your current proximity would not necessarily conclude in your soul merging with mine."
Despite all your instincts, Loki was not joking. You had never seen him like this before. His words had also never been this plain, this dedicated, this certain. All you had to do was calm your heart, accept that your affections were finally being returned, and tell him this.
Unfortunately, all you could manage was a shaky nod, your gaze locked in an embrace with his.
Luck, as much as history, seemed to be on your side, however, because Loki knew you. He had known you through it all. And your eyes, and the emotions welling up inside of them, seemed answer enough to him to the point where words became unnecessary.
He took your hands, more quiet than you'd seen him in decades, and loomed over half of your lap so he could kiss them. Fingers, knuckles, backs of hands, palms. Slowly, methodically, savoring this moment just as much as he was the sensations of you.
"I wish..." He nibbled your thumb's tip. "To know every bit of you."
"You've said that twice already." You replied, rendered far too starstruck to care, simply watching him get lost in you.
He hummed slow, uncaring. As if your comment was idiotic or nonsensical. As if he was right to be repeating that.
"To know how your mouth tastes... to know how your sweat would taste off your neck... to know the weight of your breasts in my hands... to know the taste of your breasts... of your skin..." He paused and looked up at you from his crouched position at your feet, his green eyes intense. "To know the taste of your cunt. To find out how wet you have been getting beneath your skirts whenever I have been near. To know what you look like as you fall apart, what my name would sound like from your lips as you cry for me."
Breathless, you both stared at one another. From years of knowing each other, competition was swelling between the both of you, both eager to hold out the longest. You liked to torture yourselves, it seemed.
"I would like to know the taste of your cock." You began, the desire to win overshadowing any possible bashfulness at the prospect of finally confessing these secret, lustful thoughts you'd been having of him. "The feel of it as I stroke it... as I give you pleasure."
His breath had hitched during your first sentence, and you could see him, feel him, currently fighting off pride, lust, yearning, all of it.
"The sounds you would make as you cum... the way you-"
"Enough, darling... enough, I beg of you. As much as I loathe to admit it, my self control is currently weakened, I cannot take much more of your clearly vivid imagination."
You frowned for show, proud to know you had evidently won the time it had mattered most thus far.
"You could not learn all these things about me before my next tea hour with a new slew of noblemen hoping to marry me."
You watched, gleeful, as Loki's lip curled in displeasure at the thought of your time, more precious to him than anything, being shared with more buffoons.
"There will be no more tea hours." He announced sternly, biting the tip of your index now, eyes dark again. "I shall eviscerate any mention of them from any one of your schedules."
"You are very thorough, Loki..."
"Oh..." He rumbled, placing a kiss to your covered knee which had your insides fizzing pleasantly. "You've no idea how thorough I can be when it comes to things that spike my curiosity, darling..."
With a shiver of anticipation, you felt his touch at your ankles, and then felt it move as it went beneath your skirts and further, your carefully selected gown going with it.
"However, you are about to find out, I rather think."
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