Bethroned: Mischief At It's Finest.

Awkward Married Life

The silence of the chamber was suffocating as the two of you lay side by side on the massive bed, the expanse of space between you feeling both too large and not large enough. The grand Asgardian bed, draped in luxurious silks and adorned with intricate gold patterns, suddenly seemed like the most uncomfortable place in the world.

You stared up at the ceiling, your eyes tracing the elegant carvings there, though your mind was far from calm. The events of the night played over and over in your head-the argument, chasing after Loki, the uneasy truce. Now, here you were, lying beside him, the man you had just married, but feeling more distant than ever.

You could hear his steady breathing, but you didn't dare glance over at him. The weight of the moment hung between you both, awkward and unbearable. Neither of you moved, neither of you spoke, and the tension that had defined your day together now filled the room like an invisible force.

How did it come to this? you wondered, staring hard at the ceiling as if it could provide answers.

You shifted slightly, trying to find a more comfortable position, but it only made you more acutely aware of Loki's presence beside you. You could feel the tension in his body, the same way you felt it in your own, both of you hyper-aware of each other yet too stubborn to break the silence.

"I can hear you thinking," Loki finally muttered, his voice breaking the stillness. His tone was sharp, but there was an undercurrent of exhaustion in it, as if he was just as worn out by the day as you were.

You bit back a retort, not wanting to fall back into another argument. Instead, you turned your head slightly toward him, though you couldn't bring yourself to look directly at him. "And what are you thinking?" you asked softly, your voice barely more than a whisper in the vastness of the room.

He didn't answer right away, and the silence stretched again, heavy and awkward. You wondered if he would simply ignore the question, return to that cold silence that seemed to define your interactions. But then he spoke, his voice quieter this time.

"That this is all a farce," he said bitterly. "A marriage born out of obligation and necessity, with no regard for what either of us actually wants."

You sighed, feeling the weight of those words sink in. "I know," you replied, your voice softer than before. "But it doesn't change the fact that we're here now. Stuck."

He gave a short, humorless laugh. "Stuck. That's a fine way to describe it."

More silence followed, the two of you lying there, staring at the ceiling, neither willing to break the invisible barrier between you.

You couldn't help but wonder what was going through his mind-was he feeling the same confusion, the same resentment? Was he as lost in the weight of the situation as you were?

For a moment, you considered saying something more, something to break through the coldness. But what would you even say? That you didn't hate him as much as you thought you would? That you were just as scared of this union as he was? The words felt stuck in your throat, weighed down by pride and uncertainty.

So instead, you stayed silent, feeling the strange, awkward distance between you both even as you lay side by side.

Eventually, you closed your eyes, trying to will sleep to come, though you doubted it would. Loki's presence was like an electric current beside you, impossible to ignore, impossible to relax around. And yet, despite the awkwardness, despite everything, you couldn't help but feel that this moment-this silence, this shared awkwardness-was the most honest either of you had been all night.

And maybe, just maybe, that was a start.

The morning light poured through the grand windows of Odin's palace, illuminating the expansive dining hall where a sumptuous breakfast had been laid out. The air was filled with the rich aromas of baked goods, fresh fruit, and hearty meats, but the vibrancy of the meal contrasted sharply with the fatigue etched on your and Loki's faces.

You sat across from Loki, trying to maintain a semblance of composure, but it was proving to be a challenge. The dark circles under his eyes matched your own, a testament to the sleepless night you had both endured. As you struggled to stifle a yawn, you couldn't help but glance at him, wondering if he was feeling as exhausted and drained as you were.

Across the table, Thor, ever the cheerful giant, entered the dining hall with a wide grin plastered across his face. He seemed completely oblivious to the tension that had permeated your first night together, his laughter echoing off the high ceilings. He plopped down beside Loki, his massive frame dwarfing the seat.

"Well, well!" Thor boomed, his voice full of mirth. "Look who's finally graced us with their presence! How was the first night as a married man, Loki? Did you and your lovely bride find any fun in your drama?" His laughter was infectious, but it only made the tension in the air more palpable.

Loki shot him a glare that could have withered a lesser man, his jaw tightening as he forced a grin. "Oh, it was simply delightful, brother," he replied, sarcasm dripping from every word. "I had the time of my life battling with my new bride over who gets to be miserable first."

You felt your cheeks flush, a mix of embarrassment and irritation flaring up inside you. "It wasn't a battle, Thor," you interjected, trying to defend your side, but your tone was clipped. "We were merely... discussing how best to navigate our new circumstances."

"Ah, 'discussing,' is it?" Thor teased, leaning back in his chair, crossing his arms with a smug expression. "I heard quite a bit of yelling last night. You two sounded like you were trying to take down a dragon!"

Loki groaned, burying his face in his hands for a moment before looking up again. "You have no idea what you're talking about, Thor," he grumbled, sounding more exasperated than you'd ever heard him. "The last thing we need is your... interpretation of our so-called drama."

You rolled your eyes, trying to suppress a smile despite the awkwardness of the situation. "It's not like either of us had a chance to enjoy anything, really," you said, aiming your comment more toward Loki than Thor. "You don't just marry someone and expect it all to be sunshine and rainbows."

Thor's laughter echoed through the hall, a booming sound that seemed to fill every corner. "Ah, but that's the fun part! The challenge! The two of you are like a pair of tempestuous thunderclouds, constantly at odds yet somehow destined to bring forth a storm."

Loki shot him a glare, but there was a hint of amusement behind it. "You're ridiculous," he muttered, reaching for a piece of toast to avoid making eye contact with either of you.

You couldn't help but laugh a little at the absurdity of it all. "A storm, huh? Seems fitting, considering the state of our first night."

"Just remember, my dear sister-in-law," Thor said, a twinkle in his eye. "Every storm eventually passes. And when it does, the sun shines brighter."

As you and Loki exchanged glances, you could see the flicker of understanding between you, the shared weariness of the night fresh in both your minds. Maybe the morning's teasing could be a turning point, a reminder that despite the chaos, you were now bound together in this strange, new reality.

"Perhaps we should all just eat breakfast," Loki suggested dryly, leaning back in his chair. "And spare us any more commentary on my personal life."

"Yes, please," you added, picking up a piece of fruit and taking a bite, trying to distract yourself from the lingering tension.

Thor chuckled, clearly not ready to give up. "Very well, but just know that I'm keeping an eye on you two. A watchful eye for any future 'discussions.'"

With that, you settled into the meal, exchanging glances with Loki over the breakfast table, a fragile truce forming in the wake of Thor's teasing. The laughter of your brother-in-law faded into the background as you focused on the food in front of you, silently acknowledging that whatever lay ahead, you were both in it together-even if that meant enduring a few more dramatic mornings along the way.