Agent A: Displaced

I'm OK

The soft caress of her fingertips across his abs woke him. Annalise was still sleeping, one arm outstretched, reaching for him. Entwining his fingers in hers, he watched her smile softly at his touch, her cheeks glowing softly as she slept on in the safety and comfort of their room.

"Good morning," he greeted her as she opened her eyes.

"Morning," she smiled, eyes looking brighter than they had for a while.

"How are you feeling?"

"Comfy," she burrowed deeper into the quilt as Loki chuckled. "I don't feel as tired anymore, did it work?"

"Yes, I think it did. You have a little bit more colour in your cheeks and this is the most I've heard you speak out loud since the attack."

"Thank you," she mumbled, suddenly shy.

"Annalise, I would have torn the nine realms apart to find a way to help you feel better," he kissed her softly, pulling her into his chest. They lay entwined together for a few moments longer.

"I promised mother I would let her know when we were awake so she could come and check that you are alright. Are you ok if I call her in?" Loki broke the comfortable silence.

"She'll be here in a few minutes, can you try and sit up for me?" He watched closely as she eased herself upright, checking her expression for any signs of pain or distress.

"I'm ok," she smiled reassuringly at him.

A rush of warm emotion filled his chest as he kissed her gently. "Annalise, I love you. I was so worried."

She leaned into him, deepening the kiss hungrily.

"Ah, ah, steady Little One. You still need to take it easy, I can't have you wearing yourself out too quickly."

"He's right, you know," Frigga called as she stepped into their bedroom. "You may feel better, but there will be no tearing about the palace like a child and absolutely no magic use until we are sure that you have recovered. Am I clear?"

"Yes," she agreed quickly.

"Good, now let me have a look at you."

After checking the wound on her side, which had started to knit together with no sign of infection, Frigga raised her hands to Annalise's forehead, checking for any sign of fever. Her fingertips left a tingling trail across her skin and, before Annalise could stop it, her body had absorbed the power hungrily, pulling her towards Frigga in its quest for more.

Loki's strong hands dragged her away. "I'm sorry," she gasped, guilt flooding her. "I didn't know that was going to happen." Her tears burned as they spilled from her eyes and she looked down in shame.

"Annalise, it's ok," Frigga soothed, pressing a large smooth stone into her palm. "Draw the power from the stone."

"But you just said I shouldn't use magic?" She could feel the seidr within the stone tugging at her attention, even as she protested.

"My dear, this isn't about frivolous magic use, this is about survival. Your body is sending you a clear signal about what it needs and you have to listen to it, now do it."

Loki let her go when she had finished draining the stone of its power and Frigga continued checking her over as if nothing had happened.

"There now, all done. You are healing nicely and I hope that will continue, you just need to rest and try to get your strength up. I will come and check on you again tomorrow." Frigga kissed her cheek, lingering just long enough to reassure Annalise that she wasn't angry about what had happened.

"Now, Little One," Loki smiled as he stepped back into the room after showing Frigga out. "How about a little breakfast? You can have whatever you want, from anywhere across the nine realms. Name it and it's yours."

She smiled at the possibilities. "Can I have some pain aux chocolat? Warm? And can we eat them outside?" Their balcony was bathed in golden sunlight and she ached to feel its warm kiss on her skin.

"Yes, of course. I will be back in a moment, then we can go outside."

As the taste of bitter chocolate and buttery pastry mingled on her tongue, her stomach responded enthusiastically, making her realise how hungry she was.

"Your on the mend, Little One, I can hear your stomach growling," He picked up a pain au chocolat and bit into it, sending a spray of crumb over his lap. "I'd have been worried if you'd lost your appetite," he joked.

"Mmm it all tastes so good."

"I'm glad to hear it," Loki smiled as he handed her another croissant. "Are you feeling up to having a few visitors when you've finished? Thor and the Warriors Three are very keen to see how you're doing."

"That would be nice."

The four warriors crept in, trying not to let their boots make too much noise on the marble floor.

"Hi," she waved at them from the balcony, trying not to giggle at their ridiculous behaviour.

"Lady Annalise, we're so glad to see you're ok." They all thrust fistfuls of flowers at her. "We heard that it's a Midgardian tradition to bring people flowers when they are sick," Thor explained.

"Thank you, they are beautiful." She smiled as Loki conjured a vase and began to shove the flowers into it.

"They are a small token," Thor shrugged. "But not enough to convey how sorry we are that this was allowed to happen."

"It's not your fault, please stop apologising," she protested, tears forming at the edge of her vision once again.

"Right, now you've seen she's ok, let her get some rest," Loki ushered them out of the room.