Out of reach • A Loki fanfiction

Chapter 32 - Flesh and ink

Era wasn't sure on what to focus here. Unlike the others and her physical body, her mind seemed to be completely frozen in place.

After climbing the stairs and walking on deck, the first thing to notice was how much the ship was actually being rocked back and forth. Not enough to let her lose her balance, but enough to have her dizzy. The second one was the little damage that was done to the wooden railings, laying shattered on the deck in splinters. And third, of course, the team.

They were fighting something Era couldn't see from here. It was a creature, no doubt, hidden beneath the glossy black water.

Walking up closer, she walked past the Captain, down on his knees while he mumbled and cried up to the grey skies. She couldn't exactly make out what he was saying, her ears were ringing as she looked around in utter shock. But Bodil and Fandral seemed to know. Kneeling in front of him, they tried to bring him back to consciousness, to get him back to steering his own ship. Right now, Hogun took that spot. And he was desperately struggling while trying to keep that ship in its lane.

"Watch it!" Only when Loki pulled her back from being knocked out by a slimy tentacle did she register she had completely blanked out. "Don't space out now, Era."

"Sorry." She automatically mumbled, her eyes wide by the slimy tentacle laying before her.

"Loki!" Thor yelled, throwing Mjölnir trough the flesh before the creature shrieked by the way it was impaled, and retrieved its tentacle back into the water. "We need your seidr! Astrid needs your help!"

"I can't, Thor, I'm here for one reason only."

That had Era suddenly wide awake, back out of that trance Helheim put her under, and back to being a little more fearless. Because Loki grabbed her by the waist with that sentence. He wouldn't leave her side. And that wouldn't do. Not right now.

"Loki, go."

Another hit of a tentacle damaged the front of the ship, strong enough to have everyone stumble down on their knees. "I don't want to. I'm here for you!"

"By Od's blood, stop being selfish!" She yelled back over the noise of waves and battle cries.

"It's in my nature." He helped her up on her feet, though was surprised to see Bodil coming up to wrap an arm around her waist before he could do so himself.

"I'll stay with her!" She yelled, holding on to a mast to prevent falling from the next impact. Thor was there already, knocking away the next tentacle before it could hit. "I have no seidr, and no training in combat. I'm useless fighting compared to you, but can function as a living shield just the same, so go!"

Era just did as if she already fell into Bodil's offered help. With pleading eyes, she looked back and forth between Astrid trying to hold the ship together and Loki, who was the only one able to help her do that. "Go. Please."

"Loki!" Thor yelled to him once more, on the other side of the ship while swinging around his hammer.

With her grip on Bodil and her bow, ready to go into action, she watched Loki's contemplation in his eyes. But Era wouldn't take no for an answer here. He had the power to help. Not using it because he wanted to listen to his overprotective possessiveness wouldn't do. So with a stern look this time, she managed to convince him. Though not without some words.

"Never again after this." He pointed her his index finger, perhaps even anger to be seen in his eyes. "Order me away from you one more time and I will be the one to strangle you."

Leaning in close to his ear, to shut everyone else out of the conversation, a sudden rush of mischief entered her veins. "Is that a promise or a threat?"