#smoft

He leaned over to you and whispered directly into your ear. “You already are.” He looked into your eyes and smiled adoringly. In my eyes, at least.

Asgardians were modest, you learned. Dressed in simple robes. Some wore brown leather boots. Others, sandals. The women wore their hair in the half-up half-down style you knew from Frigga. You wondered if it was a trend she started, or simply adhered to. Many of them had gold features in their hair, some type of clip or fastening. Men typically wore their hair short, though some men had shoulder-length hair, like Loki, either tucked behind their ears or the crown of their hair tied back. You noticed one or two Asgardian men with hair cascading down to their waist. They tied it back neatly at the nape of their neck.

Witnessing the simplicity of Asgardian wear made Loki’s status obvious now. Even if you had landed on Asgard yesterday, with no prior knowledge of galactic royal ranks, it would be immediately clear Loki held a position of power. You also noticed how everyday Asgardians didn’t wear any armor. Discreetly, you asked Loki about this. He told you it was for protection. You imagined the royal family members on earth, or high-ranking political figures, who wore bullet-proof vests when they were out in public. It seemed similar, and you explained this to him. You wondered why anyone here would attack him, when his realm seemed so peaceful?

He told you that wasn’t the reason he wore armour. It wasn’t to protect him from a stray bullet or arrow while he was out in public. It was to ensure he was prepared for attacks from outside forces. Loki and Thor had to be ready to defend the realm, and their people, at a moment’s notice.

Here you were, thinking of him as a spoiled prince who wanted to protect himself and stop himself from getting hurt. When in reality he had to be ready to fight and protect Asgard. You noticed the way they looked at him. With an esteem. A respect. And some – with desire. They looked at him, then looked back to you.

“Is it, like, controversial that you’re dating me?” You had asked.

“A little. Yes.”

“Because Midgardians are considered less-than.”

“Well. Mortals and Gods, it’s… some may say it’s not an equal match. But I – ” He continued talking before you could protest or have chance to take offence. “I do not subscribe to that belief system.”

“But you did before.”

“Before what?”

“You mean before who. Before me.”

“Yes.”

“Well. At least you’re honest.”

Loki chuckled, then stifled a yawn.

“Not sleeping well, baby?”

He shook his head, then turned to you and forced a tight smile.

You walked through the town, offered food and drink and gifts at every turn. Some you accepted. Some were politely declined, as Loki placed a hand on his abdomen and bowed in thanks. You gave a nod of your head, copying his customs.

So. Frigga. She knows. About my powers. And yours.

Yes, well. There is little we can do to change it.

Yeah but. You said I would be deported if they found out.

If Odin finds out.

She won’t tell him?

Well, technically she doesn’t know.

“What do you mean?” You kept your volume low.

“Would I be correct in assuming she didn’t actually say anything to you?”

“Yeah. She sent me her thoughts. And communicated that way.”

“She couldn’t hear you. But you could hear her. Correct?”

“Yeah. How do you know?”

“She performed the same ritual with me as a child. We never spoke of it. Well, she did mention her suspicions recently after I met with father. But no. We’ve never verbally disclosed it to one another.”

“You said open communication isn’t your family’s forte.”

“Yes. Though in this instance, it isn’t the reason.”

You stopped walking for a second to let a group of three boys run past you, one almost running into your side. An adult Asgardian, presumably a parent, apologized sorry to you both. “There is no need to apologize,” Loki assured her, his tone soft and gentle.

He explained to you the woman was likely an aunt, not a mother or father. It was customary, he said, for extended family to take care of children. Especially if their parents held a stall in the busy marketplace.

The boys threw a metal ball up into the air. It separated, revealing a hollow gold ball in the center, surrounding by a collection of swirling silver threads, snaking their way around the gold center. It suspended up in the air. You stood underneath it, gawping at it. The boys covered their mouths to hide their giggles. They were amused by your astonishment at their toy. The aunt apologized again. Loki smiled politely at her, and placed a hand on your lower back to usher you forward.

You continued to talk when you were out of earshot. “Go on. What’s the reason she didn’t say anything out loud.”

“Because if she is ever questioned on it. She can deny it with sincerity. If she is questioned on whether or not she has talked to us about it, she can say no. And it would be truthful.”

So, erm… I guess the best way to confirm someone’s telepathic is to communicate with them without the spoken word. Right?

Exactly.

So she’s keeping it from Odin.

She appears to be, yes.

She erm… she also said she’s afraid. Of my powers. She said she’s afraid for Asgard.

Yes. She mentioned something similar to me.

What happened?

She spoke with me discretely, when I had my meeting with Odin, the day after our banquet. I, erm… I lied. To her. She asked me plainly if you had experienced any changes within the soul forge. I told her you had not. I lied, darling. I lied to my mother.

Shit.

Yes, quite.

And now she knows we’re both bullshitting.

There… there is more. But it’s rather… a lot.

Tell me, Lokes. Please.

I will, love. But not today. Let’s enjoy our day out.

Alright. Deal.

You spent the next couple of hours walking around the market stalls. Loki watched as you looked in wonder and fascination at jewelry, trinkets, snacks and Asgardian silks. He bought a number of items for you, paying in what looked like a gold coin engraved with runes. The market sellers insisted he received the items as a gift, and he protested and attempted to pay. When the sellers were particularly determined to not receive payment, he would discretely leave a coin on the corner of their stall as you both walked away, for the seller to find later.

“Such a rebel,” you quipped.

“They deserve to be compensated for their wares. I will not be handed items simply because I am a Prince.”

You walked around the stalls some more, looking at the items as Loki accepted more drinks and snacks from well-intentioned Asgardians. He held your hand as you walked to another stall.

Love. Can you hear me?

I can.

I, erm. I wish to return to the palace darling. I apologise. I realise you are having a wonderful time. If you wish to stay longer of course, we can. I will wait.

You looked at him, your head tilted.

I need to use the amenities.

You gave him a warm smile. Then let’s go back.

You’re certain?

Yep.

I can hold on, if you wish to stay longer. After all it’s my own doing, I should not have accepted all of those –

It’s okay Lokes. Let’s go back.

You looped your hand in his arm as he walked you both back to the palace, noting how straight he held his torso and how stiffly he walked. His free hand, the one not holding yours, was balled into a fist. The moment you walked up a stone staircase and through a side entrance into the palace, Loki relieved himself in one of the discreet WCs built for passing nobility. The fact that he didn’t even attempt to make it to his chambers told you everything you needed to know. At the same time, you also took the opportunity to use the facilities.

You kissed him on the cheek when he emerged back into the hallway. “Thank you for telling me what you need.”

He blushed at your words and let out a soft sigh. “I do feel much better, I must say.” He tilted his chin up proudly. “How would you feel about lunch, darling? And then a visit to the library. I would like to find some documentation on Seidr and Midgardians.”

“Sounds like a plan.”

You were ready for Loki to take your hand and lead the way to the library. Instead, he stood in front of you, looking at the floor as his fingers toyed with yours.

“Would you care to join me in our chambers?” He looked up, his eyes wide. Innocent, almost. “I… I desire to give you pleasure. If you would like. If you do not, I understand…”

“Hey….” Your hand cupped his chin. “I would love to. Would you let me know what I can do to make this safe for you? Can you tell me what you need?”

It would be the first time you had been intimate since Loki’s confession about The Void. The weight of the moment felt thick and heavy, the air filled with density, the same type of feeling just before an electric storm broke.

“I just need you.”

“And my consent.”

“Yes.”

“You have it.” You leaned forward and kissed his cheek. You closed your eyes as you lingered there, a gentle hand resting on the leather armour over his chest. He wrapped his hand around yours and gave it a squeeze. You squeezed back. You whispered into his ear. “You can do whatever you want to me, Loki. I trust you.”

He cradled the back of your head with a firm hand and let out a long sigh. “I love you, darling.”

You held hands as you rushed through the halls of the palace towards your chambers, your feet scuffing clumsily over the stone. Loki’s pace quickened. So did his heartbeat.

You giggled. You’re in a rush.

I cannot begin to tell you how impatient I am to have you. If the circumstances were different, I would be sorely tempted to conjure an invisibility orb and take you right here.

You blew out a breath. I’m okay with it if you are.

Not today my love. Our chambers, somewhere private. If that’s alright.

Yeah, of course. I want you to feel safe.

Loki’s breath became shaky as you rounded the corner and approached the long hallway to the ornate double doors of his chamber. Was the hallway always this long? It had certainly seemed to be never-ending whenever Loki was desperate to make it to privacy, be it after a long banquet with copious amounts of wine, crossed legs and squirming, or whether it was to pleasure the love of his life.

Loki.

Mmmm. He chewed on his lip.

You hard?

Extremely.

Jesus…..

“Would you take leave for an hour? You may take a break for your midday meal.” Loki straightened his back and commanded the guards at his door. They nodded and clinked their way down the hallway and out of view. He opened the door and pulled you inside. A yelp and a giggle escaped you. His mouth devoured yours before you heard the click of the door closing.

His kisses were hot, wet and desperate. His hands claimed the side of your face, then your waist. Then they roamed all over your back. He gasped and whined as he kissed you, walking you towards the wall right next to the door. His hands made contact with the wall first then he gently pressed you into the hard surface. His lips were all over your chest now, smothering you with open-mouthed kisses. One hand rested on the wall next to your shoulder. His fingertips trembled.

“Hey, hey….” With both hands you lifted his head from your chest. “Look at me.”

His bottom lip quivered as he gazed at you with glassy eyes.

“Slow down, baby. Can you slow down for me?”

He nodded. “Y-yes. I’m s-sorry. I’m going too fast for you, I apologise darling.”

“No baby… not for me. For you. Please breathe. There’s no hurry. I’m here.”

He swallowed and closed his eyes for a breath. You lifted his trembling hand from the wall and placed it over your heart. You looked into his eyes and you breathed in slowly, and out slowly. You counted the breaths. In for four, pausing, out for four, pausing. You repeated the cycle until his wide eyes slackened and the furrow in his brow dissolved. The rise and fall of his chest slowed.

“Thank you.”

“It’s okay. I’m here. Take your time, okay?”

He nodded. His gaze moved from your eyes to your lips. He placed two gentle hands either side of your face, cupping your face and kissing you slowly and deeply. You moaned as he bucked his hips into you. He gazed into your eyes and smiled lovingly as he tucked your hair behind you and sucked at the delicate flesh between your neck and your shoulder. A hand snaked down your body and rested on your hips. It ghosted over your abdomen, pausing only to draw a figure of eight on your hipbone. His hand moved down your thigh stopped at your knee, gathering the fabric of your dress and drawing it upwards to your hip. He placed your hand there, and you held the fabric in place as he moved your underwear to the side. One finger swiped from the base of you to the top, brushing over your clit and drawing a gasp from your lips. His eyes searched your face as he continued to pleasure you with his hands, occasionally reaching forward for a kiss.

Your mouth was open, lips flushed, your breath becoming labored. The rise and fall of your chest and the heaving of your cleavage caused his cock to twitch. He bit his lip on the sensation. His mouth trailed more kisses over your chest and then he kneeled in front of you. One hand kept your underwear pulled to one side and the other hand rested over yours, on your hip. Your free hand cupped his head as he pleasured you with his mouth. It wasn’t long until you were grinding your hips into his face. You didn’t mean to. But it was impossible to stay still under his relentless pursuit of your pleasure. Frankly, attempting to stay standing and not allow your knees to buckle was a noble act worthy of a warrior’s medal, or so Loki was thinking as his tongue circled your clit and two fingers pumped in and out of you.

You came with a cry and squirted a spray of release into his mouth. He lapped at you gently as you rode out your climax, fixing your underwear back in place and straightening the hem of your dress. He held you upright with two hands on your waist as you regained your faculties.

“Are you alright?” His tone was a whisper.

You hummed confirmation. You felt drowsy. Drunk, almost.

“Would you like to sit down?”

“Better had, yeah.” You chuckled, flushed with both arousal and embarrassment.

You mutually decided to have lunch brought to you, rather than eat in company, as you recovered from Loki’s intense session of pleasuring. After you had eaten, despite his insistence that it wasn’t necessary, you kneeled in front of him.

“I need your consent, Loki.”

“Really love, it isn’t necessary to pleasure me. I’m not keeping score.”

“I know. But I want to do this for you. And if you don’t want me to do this, please tell me.”

“I… I do. I… I want you.”

“Would you like me to be gentle?”

He nodded. “Please.”

Over the next thirty minutes, you gave him the most unhurried, languid, tender and pleasurable fellatio of his long life. You dabbed his forehead with the back of your hand, and poured him a goblet of sweet elixir after climax number three.

He assured you he didn’t need a nap, he simply swigged the elixir and held your hand as you walked together to the Royal Library.

Palace staff turned their heads and stared as the crown Prince held his lover’s hand in the palace hallway, swinging his arm playfully as he grinned at her and she beamed radiantly.

Even if Loki had noticed their gawps, he wouldn’t have given a care.