There is a first for everything, she knows. Although she is not in the least doubtful of the tricksterâs ability to protect himself, there is no denying the chieftain has done it for longer, from birth, in order to survive and later in order to maintain her position. She has fought many and she won every single battle. But even she cannot say she has always won unscathed. There are scars around her body to prove. She is simply always the last one standing, breathing.
At this time, the tables are turned. Although the newly acquired wound is somewhat bad, she has endured worse. It is Loki the difference this time, skilled hands hard at work, making sure she does not bleed further. She appreciates it. She appreciates him.
Her hands pull her locks away from her back so he can have a better look at the wound, the tips of her hair creating thin crimson lines on her skin as they move. âTell me I shall liveâ, she humours him, unbothered by the lack of upper garments. In fact, she is quite content about that. Those clothes did not survive.
He loves the chieftainâs scars as he loves her eyes, as he loves her lips. They tell the story of her just as eloquently, if by a different medium. Her eyes tell him what is in her heart, her lips tell him what is in her mind, and on the parchment of her body is written the story of her life. With a little help from her lips he can read the tale of her childhood, of her rise to power, of her success in keeping contenders and usurpers at bay.
A tale that is not yet ended, the reminder of which fact is written in bold crimson, impossible to ignore -- especially since he is the one stitching up this page. Only to make room for the next, he knows, and he is not sure whether or not he likes the thought.
When she draws her hair away from her back (with a little help from his own deft fingers, to add a few stray strands to the collection in her hand), he leans forward and presses a long, warm kiss to the crook of her bare neck. The cloth in his hand is hot, and he takes exceptional care as he dabs at the sutured gash not to tear the stitches or press hard enough to hurt.
âMm, difficult to say,â he murmurs, voice bright with humour to match hers. âAs your medic, I am inclined to order a few days of bed rest in the company of your dear consort, so that he might monitor your condition and ensure you donât... er... contract an infection? Hm, yes, thatâs right. So that he can clean your wound regularly and stave off infection.â