[She grins - it's highly unlikely, even given Loki's penchant for mischief, since they're trying to avoid drawing extra attention. Wanda and her unusual powers have already made quite a splash.]
What would I do without my guide? [Wanda laughs softly, watching with interest as Loki slices the fruit in half. She wasn't expecting the color of the fruit.] It does look a little...frustrating to eat.
[Is there a graceful way to bite into it? Should she just go for it? Wanda hesitates, then gingerly attempts to take a bite.
Except both fortunately and unfortunately for her, the fruits of Alfheim tend to be particularly juicy, much more so than Wanda was expecting. As soon as she feels the juices start to run down her chin, she leans forward, just barely managing to catch any drips and save her dress.
Smooth. She can feel her cheeks flushing from embarrassment as she glances up at Loki. Still, even now she's a far cry from the dour shadow of a girl who had first come to Asgard.]
[ Reflexively, he immediately takes a half step away when she leans forward to save her dress, but then they meet eyes and his shoulders shake with a breathy chuckle of amusement. ]
Most do.
[ But let's be real here, Loki offered her a fruit she didn't recognize knowing that she might bite into it then and there. Soulmate or not, he's still a little shit.
Without dwelling hard on it, he cups her chin and swipes off the remaining juice with his thumb. ]
How's it taste? [ he asks, before somewhat hastily catching the juice with his lips before it runs down his palm. ]
[Wanda huffs and rolls her eyes, the picture of fond exasperation.]
Loki...
[He's lucky he's a cute little shit, following it up with a charming stunt like that, and that Alfheim has her in such a good mood. In moments like this, Wanda can't help but think that he and Pietro might have gotten along scarily well...once Pietro got over the idea that he'd have to share her.]
Hmmm, I think I need another taste when I am not scared for my dress. [She grins and nudges him gently. She isn't thinking too hard about it either; it just feels natural to be close to Loki after all the time he's spent disguised as her handmaiden.] Come on, there should be spoons in the kitchen.
It's not impossible, you know, [ he says conversationally, thriving in her fond exasperation. He follows her into the cottage, sticky palm held several inches from his side. ] But it helps to commit.
[ Passing inside, he makes a mental note to light the lanterns before dark and then tugs the door shut with his pinky curled around its handle. While Wanda looks for spoons, Loki will maneuver around her to rinse off his hand in the kitchen basin. ]
[She raises an eyebrow.] It helps to be wearing black.
[It's like a dance of sorts - Loki gets up to mischief, Wanda plays at being annoyed, and they're both actually enjoying themselves.
Wanda flicks a finger to open the drawers all at once and floats one spoon to Loki and another to herself. She nudges one shut with her hip, while the others close in a flicker of scarlet.
...on second thought, better get a bowl just to be safe. Wanda goes back to searching again, this time flicking the cabinets open one by one.]
[ He makes a show of appearing taken aback, utensil and fruit held up in each hand. The dagger is nowhere to be seen. ]
Oh, now you're just asking for too much.
[ Some of the cabinets are probably stocked with several disgustingly sweet things, he thinks, but she can discover that for herself. Chocolate is definitely one of those things, though he can only hope they've included the bittersweet variety.
He leans against the edge of the wooden dining table, mindfully avoiding the cabinet doors as they open, and works on his half of the passion fruit. It's a genuine treat for him; they don't grow on Asgard and it's been at least a decade since he's last visited Alfheim. ]
You'll have quite a bit of fun in here, I imagine. [ He hopes, actually, since she enjoys cooking and this -- well. It's... cozier than the kitchens she used in Asgard. More her style. ]
[Clever little shit. He had a spoon the whole time, didn't he? A spoon that he surely would have lent her if only she'd asked (but of course, she didn't know one would be necessary).]
You're impossible. [But despite her words, the fondness in her voice is unmistakable. The extra spoon floats back to the counter to be put away later while she continues her search for chocolate.
Wanda has to admit, it's a very well-stocked kitchen and shows the same forethought their hosts had put into her wardrobe - she almost missed the chocolate completely. Much of the food looks familiar, but there are plenty of ingredients she can't quite place at first glance. Things to play with later, then.]
I have some ideas after the feast. You should tell me now if there are foods you hate so I don't make them.
[She takes one of the copper pots hanging over the fireplace and starts breaking off pieces of the chocolate into it. As if sensing her intention, the hearth sparks to life in brilliant golden flames.]
[ He pauses, resting the edge of the spoon against his bottom lip. ]
Well, I'm not overly fond of sugary things... [ Wanda might have noticed his avoidance of the majority of desserts offered at the feast -- namely those that looked capable of inducing cavities at the mere sight of them. Desserts that focus on their main ingredients rather than sweetness itself are more to his palate. ]
Mmm, then I will try not to make so many desserts.
[She's used to providing sweet things; even before the experiments Pietro had never met a dessert he didn't like. Wanda likes them well enough, but like Loki, she prefers them with some kind of actual flavor. Like this, actually. Wanda was able to taste enough of the fruit to be pretty sure that Loki's chocolate suggestion was a real one.]
It is just melted chocolate to pour over them, like you said. I'm not going to add any sugar.
[Simple? Loki? Never. Wanda laughs and gives the chocolate a lazy stir with a tendril of scarlet. Why dirty a spoon?]
That sounds nice. It looked so beautiful when we rode in. [She can't swim, but it might be fun to put her feet in the water for a while.] I think maybe they named a wine on Earth after it?
I suppose it's curious how certain elements make their way to Midgard, [ he murmurs, absently stirring the pulp of the passion fruit with his spoon. He nods toward her, brow arching. ]
[She laughs, still lazily stirring the chocolate.]
I never tried it. We could never have afforded it even when Sokovia was at peace. [She looks away, her smile turning bitter.] And even though Strucker tried to pretend he was our friend, you can't have alcohol with the 'medicine' he gave us.
[Her expression softens as she chances a glance back at him.]
[ His expression falls flat as she answers. Something cold inside him stirs, like a mist of -- disapproval, he wants to call it, but it's more than that. A possessive flavor of irritation on her behalf.
He reins it in before she finishes settling her glance upon him, expression smoothed over, and offers her another cocked brow, lips quirked in a lop-sided smile. ]
Like today? [ After a brief pause, he adds, ] The name isn't just for show.
[That smile is also cheating and Wanda can't hold his gaze for long before turning her attention back to the pot. It's just in time - the magical fire has melted the chocolate much faster than Wanda had anticipated, even if there wasn't much in the pot to begin with. Something to keep an eye on later so that she doesn't accidentally burn their dinner, then.
She'd probably never hear the end of it.
Wanda rescues the pot from the fire with her powers and sends it to rest on what appears to be a safe countertop. She's expecting this to taste good - Loki had sounded sincere and she knows well by now how picky he can be. She drizzles some chocolate onto the fruit, takes a bite...and closes her eyes at how delicious it is.]
[ Just then, watching Wanda savor the treat, something else stirs inside of him. There's a delay in response as he catches himself staring and shifts his weight to favor the window again. ]
It occurs more often than you think.
[ The words themselves are rooted in centuries of bitterness, but their actual delivery lacks any of it -- a mere throwaway response. ]
Of course. I have the best guide in the Nine Realms.
[Even if he's not looking at her, the smile's evident in her voice. Wanda lacks the context to fully understand any greater significance to his words. After all, their entire relationship has been built on a fragile initial trust, and she's always defaulted to believing Loki unless there was a good reason to suspect he was kidding.
He looks so pretty the way the light from the window hits him...now it's Wanda's turn to stare for a brief moment before snapping out of it.]
Thank you...for everything. [Suggesting this trip, coming with her...all of it.]
[ The expulsion of a breathy laugh follows her initial response. Best, well, even he might not be pompous enough to consider himself as such -- but he's not very far.
The shift in tone is subtle, but noticed. Loki looks over his shoulder, meeting her gaze, and the sincerity behind it. Always with that sincerity. He suddenly wonders if it will be his downfall.
If he needs to re-evaluate his definition of it.
He allows the smile that wants to form: a genuine, slight curve to his lips that holds for a moment before it turns into a lighthearted grin. With leisurely steps, he returns to her side. ]
Your gratitude comes so quickly. Are you sure you've given it enough thought?
[Oh, she is deeply in trouble. That grin...Wanda can feel her cheeks heating and she can't help but reach for Loki's hand. Seeing him like this, so relaxed and beautiful in the setting sunlight, she wants--more, but it's nothing she has the words to articulate. And so she continues to dance away from fully stepping up to that line, showing but not telling that something has shifted since her recovery.]
I had many weeks to think about it. You've been very kind to me.
[Thor sets a low bar of 'not putting her in mortal danger,' but still.]
[ She doesn't need to tell him. In this moment, Loki can feel her yearning for that something more. There's not doubt about it in his mind; he has intentionally cultivated the very same thing in others before, knows how to pick it out. A means to an end. Flattery. Something to fill the gaps he avoids acknowledging.
There's a difference between all of those and Wanda. One might scoff, find it a waste of breath to say so -- of course she's different, she's his soul mate. But it's not just that.
It's them. The tenuous trust they had to place in each other's hands reluctantly, hesitantly. That sliver of vulnerability afforded to pursue personal gain, only for it to morph into this unspoken thing that terrifies and excites him, now hangs like a heavy storm cloud threatening to spill that first drop.
He sets the fruit down, not drawing away from her hand. He lifts his other hand, slender fingers molding to the curve of her cheek. ]
You should know better than to trust my kindness, [ he murmurs, looking down at her with a glint of amusement in his eyes. There is undeniable truth to his warning, but no bite behind it.
It's almost like an invitation for her to fully step up to that line. ]
[They have been close in the past, but this is different, like the night they'd both accidentally fallen asleep on her chaise. Choice rather than fate. Wanda leans shamelessly into his touch, eyes sliding shut in bliss as her free hand comes up to rest on Loki's. This is what she wanted, the culmination of the unspoken something their growing trust and affection has blossomed into.
It feels like her heart might hammer out of her chest, but this sudden intimacy has given her courage. Wanda opens her eyes to look up into his, taking a small step closer. Her gaze is utterly lovestruck. She feels so exposed now, but as usual, there's an odd kind of safety in her vulnerability with him.]
I trust your heart. [Slowly Wanda turns her head to press a kiss to Loki's palm.] I love you.
[ Despite all his mental hemming and hawing, Loki feels an almost otherworldly defiance to live in the moment. Her admission rekindles the hearth in his chest, its warmth a reminder of matters undeniable. Brushing loose strands of Wanda's hair behind her ear, he smiles wryly and sighs. ]
Against the caution of many if they knew.
[ But Wanda is sharp -- sharp enough to trust his heart, upon which Loki has acted more often than not no matter how much he'd like to claim otherwise. ]
[An answering warmth only grows in Wanda's own chest the more he touches her and the longer this moment extends. Loki displays no interest in stopping or slowing down and so it only feels natural for Wanda to mirror him and lay a gentle hand on his own cheek.]
I don't care. I only want you.
[Her thumb traces gentle arcs over Loki's cheekbone. His skin is soft, softer than she'd imagined, and slightly cool. Slowly, to give him ample time to stop her if he wishes, Wanda closes the distance between them. The height difference doesn't intimidate her - if anything, she feels perfectly safe in his presence. And if Loki lets her, she'll rise on her tiptoes to finally kiss him properly.]
[ Understanding her intent, Loki cups her jaw and meets her halfway. His kiss is gentle, but certain -- an encouragement. 'Yes, this is the right choice' because he doesn't want her to reconsider, not after they've come this far. He has always handled rejection so poorly.
Before parting, he tugs softly on her bottom lip, savoring the taste of fruit, chocolate, and her on his tongue. The heat in his chest radiates like an old comfort, as if he were returning to something from so long ago that he cannot remember it.
He withdraws just far enough to search her eyes for validation. Her own certainty. ]
[Any doubts Wanda had about whether this was what Loki wanted too are soundly banished. She lets go of his hand to wrap an arm around him instead, pulling him as close as she can and melting into the kiss. Oh, this was definitely the right choice. She can feel their bond glowing in her heart and mind, a sister channel to what she used to share with Pietro. Loki feels like home, like the warmth of a fireplace.
A soft sound escapes her as they part, both from the sensation of Loki sucking on her lip and a deep reluctance to let this end. Wanda leans into him for balance but she doesn't let him go, not even to settle back on her heels.]
Loki...
[Wanda's flushed and breathless and certain in her need to be close to Loki again. It's not fair that she hasn't had a chance to taste him too, so after another breath she closes the distance between them again, tongue darting out to trace the seam of his lips.]
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[She grins - it's highly unlikely, even given Loki's penchant for mischief, since they're trying to avoid drawing extra attention. Wanda and her unusual powers have already made quite a splash.]
What would I do without my guide? [Wanda laughs softly, watching with interest as Loki slices the fruit in half. She wasn't expecting the color of the fruit.] It does look a little...frustrating to eat.
[Is there a graceful way to bite into it? Should she just go for it? Wanda hesitates, then gingerly attempts to take a bite.
Except both fortunately and unfortunately for her, the fruits of Alfheim tend to be particularly juicy, much more so than Wanda was expecting. As soon as she feels the juices start to run down her chin, she leans forward, just barely managing to catch any drips and save her dress.
Smooth. She can feel her cheeks flushing from embarrassment as she glances up at Loki. Still, even now she's a far cry from the dour shadow of a girl who had first come to Asgard.]
...I should have waited for a spoon, yes?
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Most do.
[ But let's be real here, Loki offered her a fruit she didn't recognize knowing that she might bite into it then and there. Soulmate or not, he's still a little shit.
Without dwelling hard on it, he cups her chin and swipes off the remaining juice with his thumb. ]
How's it taste? [ he asks, before somewhat hastily catching the juice with his lips before it runs down his palm. ]
keywords super relevant
Loki...
[He's lucky he's a cute little shit, following it up with a charming stunt like that, and that Alfheim has her in such a good mood. In moments like this, Wanda can't help but think that he and Pietro might have gotten along scarily well...once Pietro got over the idea that he'd have to share her.]
Hmmm, I think I need another taste when I am not scared for my dress. [She grins and nudges him gently. She isn't thinking too hard about it either; it just feels natural to be close to Loki after all the time he's spent disguised as her handmaiden.] Come on, there should be spoons in the kitchen.
♥
[ Passing inside, he makes a mental note to light the lanterns before dark and then tugs the door shut with his pinky curled around its handle. While Wanda looks for spoons, Loki will maneuver around her to rinse off his hand in the kitchen basin. ]
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[It's like a dance of sorts - Loki gets up to mischief, Wanda plays at being annoyed, and they're both actually enjoying themselves.
Wanda flicks a finger to open the drawers all at once and floats one spoon to Loki and another to herself. She nudges one shut with her hip, while the others close in a flicker of scarlet.
...on second thought, better get a bowl just to be safe. Wanda goes back to searching again, this time flicking the cabinets open one by one.]
I wonder if they left us any chocolate...
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Oh, now you're just asking for too much.
[ Some of the cabinets are probably stocked with several disgustingly sweet things, he thinks, but she can discover that for herself. Chocolate is definitely one of those things, though he can only hope they've included the bittersweet variety.
He leans against the edge of the wooden dining table, mindfully avoiding the cabinet doors as they open, and works on his half of the passion fruit. It's a genuine treat for him; they don't grow on Asgard and it's been at least a decade since he's last visited Alfheim. ]
You'll have quite a bit of fun in here, I imagine. [ He hopes, actually, since she enjoys cooking and this -- well. It's... cozier than the kitchens she used in Asgard. More her style. ]
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You're impossible. [But despite her words, the fondness in her voice is unmistakable. The extra spoon floats back to the counter to be put away later while she continues her search for chocolate.
Wanda has to admit, it's a very well-stocked kitchen and shows the same forethought their hosts had put into her wardrobe - she almost missed the chocolate completely. Much of the food looks familiar, but there are plenty of ingredients she can't quite place at first glance. Things to play with later, then.]
I have some ideas after the feast. You should tell me now if there are foods you hate so I don't make them.
[She takes one of the copper pots hanging over the fireplace and starts breaking off pieces of the chocolate into it. As if sensing her intention, the hearth sparks to life in brilliant golden flames.]
Do you want some?
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Well, I'm not overly fond of sugary things... [ Wanda might have noticed his avoidance of the majority of desserts offered at the feast -- namely those that looked capable of inducing cavities at the mere sight of them. Desserts that focus on their main ingredients rather than sweetness itself are more to his palate. ]
What is it you intend to concoct?
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[She's used to providing sweet things; even before the experiments Pietro had never met a dessert he didn't like. Wanda likes them well enough, but like Loki, she prefers them with some kind of actual flavor. Like this, actually. Wanda was able to taste enough of the fruit to be pretty sure that Loki's chocolate suggestion was a real one.]
It is just melted chocolate to pour over them, like you said. I'm not going to add any sugar.
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[ The irony of saying such isn't lost on him, not by that twitch of his lips.
He scans the room once more, gaze settling on the window that faces the direction of the Chardonnay. ]
Would you like to visit the river after this? We've at least a few hours of light left.
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That sounds nice. It looked so beautiful when we rode in. [She can't swim, but it might be fun to put her feet in the water for a while.] I think maybe they named a wine on Earth after it?
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You'll have to let me know how the two compare.
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I never tried it. We could never have afforded it even when Sokovia was at peace. [She looks away, her smile turning bitter.] And even though Strucker tried to pretend he was our friend, you can't have alcohol with the 'medicine' he gave us.
[Her expression softens as she chances a glance back at him.]
Maybe we can try it together someday?
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He reins it in before she finishes settling her glance upon him, expression smoothed over, and offers her another cocked brow, lips quirked in a lop-sided smile. ]
Like today? [ After a brief pause, he adds, ] The name isn't just for show.
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[That smile is also cheating and Wanda can't hold his gaze for long before turning her attention back to the pot. It's just in time - the magical fire has melted the chocolate much faster than Wanda had anticipated, even if there wasn't much in the pot to begin with. Something to keep an eye on later so that she doesn't accidentally burn their dinner, then.
She'd probably never hear the end of it.
Wanda rescues the pot from the fire with her powers and sends it to rest on what appears to be a safe countertop. She's expecting this to taste good - Loki had sounded sincere and she knows well by now how picky he can be. She drizzles some chocolate onto the fruit, takes a bite...and closes her eyes at how delicious it is.]
Mmmmm...you were right. This is wonderful.
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It occurs more often than you think.
[ The words themselves are rooted in centuries of bitterness, but their actual delivery lacks any of it -- a mere throwaway response. ]
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[Even if he's not looking at her, the smile's evident in her voice. Wanda lacks the context to fully understand any greater significance to his words. After all, their entire relationship has been built on a fragile initial trust, and she's always defaulted to believing Loki unless there was a good reason to suspect he was kidding.
He looks so pretty the way the light from the window hits him...now it's Wanda's turn to stare for a brief moment before snapping out of it.]
Thank you...for everything. [Suggesting this trip, coming with her...all of it.]
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The shift in tone is subtle, but noticed. Loki looks over his shoulder, meeting her gaze, and the sincerity behind it. Always with that sincerity. He suddenly wonders if it will be his downfall.
If he needs to re-evaluate his definition of it.
He allows the smile that wants to form: a genuine, slight curve to his lips that holds for a moment before it turns into a lighthearted grin. With leisurely steps, he returns to her side. ]
Your gratitude comes so quickly. Are you sure you've given it enough thought?
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I had many weeks to think about it. You've been very kind to me.
[Thor sets a low bar of 'not putting her in mortal danger,' but still.]
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There's a difference between all of those and Wanda. One might scoff, find it a waste of breath to say so -- of course she's different, she's his soul mate. But it's not just that.
It's them. The tenuous trust they had to place in each other's hands reluctantly, hesitantly. That sliver of vulnerability afforded to pursue personal gain, only for it to morph into this unspoken thing that terrifies and excites him, now hangs like a heavy storm cloud threatening to spill that first drop.
He sets the fruit down, not drawing away from her hand. He lifts his other hand, slender fingers molding to the curve of her cheek. ]
You should know better than to trust my kindness, [ he murmurs, looking down at her with a glint of amusement in his eyes. There is undeniable truth to his warning, but no bite behind it.
It's almost like an invitation for her to fully step up to that line. ]
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[They have been close in the past, but this is different, like the night they'd both accidentally fallen asleep on her chaise. Choice rather than fate. Wanda leans shamelessly into his touch, eyes sliding shut in bliss as her free hand comes up to rest on Loki's. This is what she wanted, the culmination of the unspoken something their growing trust and affection has blossomed into.
It feels like her heart might hammer out of her chest, but this sudden intimacy has given her courage. Wanda opens her eyes to look up into his, taking a small step closer. Her gaze is utterly lovestruck. She feels so exposed now, but as usual, there's an odd kind of safety in her vulnerability with him.]
I trust your heart. [Slowly Wanda turns her head to press a kiss to Loki's palm.] I love you.
[Folly, perhaps, but the folly she's chosen. ]
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Against the caution of many if they knew.
[ But Wanda is sharp -- sharp enough to trust his heart, upon which Loki has acted more often than not no matter how much he'd like to claim otherwise. ]
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I don't care. I only want you.
[Her thumb traces gentle arcs over Loki's cheekbone. His skin is soft, softer than she'd imagined, and slightly cool. Slowly, to give him ample time to stop her if he wishes, Wanda closes the distance between them. The height difference doesn't intimidate her - if anything, she feels perfectly safe in his presence. And if Loki lets her, she'll rise on her tiptoes to finally kiss him properly.]
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Before parting, he tugs softly on her bottom lip, savoring the taste of fruit, chocolate, and her on his tongue. The heat in his chest radiates like an old comfort, as if he were returning to something from so long ago that he cannot remember it.
He withdraws just far enough to search her eyes for validation. Her own certainty. ]
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A soft sound escapes her as they part, both from the sensation of Loki sucking on her lip and a deep reluctance to let this end. Wanda leans into him for balance but she doesn't let him go, not even to settle back on her heels.]
Loki...
[Wanda's flushed and breathless and certain in her need to be close to Loki again. It's not fair that she hasn't had a chance to taste him too, so after another breath she closes the distance between them again, tongue darting out to trace the seam of his lips.]
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pity for anyone but himself? inconceivable
let her have her dreams
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I'm so sorry, I've either had migraine brain or soup for brains
no worries
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omg sorry!!!
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