Out of reach • A Loki fanfiction

Chapter 43 - A symbol of liberty

The blue of her dress created the perfect painting with the forest green that he was wearing, as if together creating a landscape with silver and golden linings highlighting the water and trees. Her nerves and his proud smile combined in a most beautiful picture, producing sparks of excitement, thrills, and to every watching eye, undoubtedly the hints of affection. Perhaps even love.

Who was watching, she didn't know. And quite frankly, she didn't care to know. Loki, her prince, was all that stayed in her line of sight. Those dark green irises, that playful yet loving smirk on his lips, his thick black locks properly taken care of, and the calm stance he stood in, as if every worry he once had, had dissolved together with everything Era's eyes and ears decided to block out.

Without his words, Frode had agreed to this. Her father had given the two permission in his own way, by allowing Loki to open the dance floor with her.

Not quite the same as a first day of private school. No, it was much, much more than that.

Golden trinkets secured to her dress caressed her back with every step she decided to take forward, wanting to drown in Loki's presence the more and more she simply stared at him. In return, he did the same. Postures straight, eyes glinting underneath the dozens of lights, and warm smiles painting their faces as if noticing each other for the very first time.

Pausing at the appropriate distance, Vera lowered herself in a smooth, elegant courtesy.

"My Prince." She looked up at him, beaming trough her lashes. "You look dashing."

"My Lady." He responded with a practiced nod on his own, to which she knew was a sign to stand back up straight. "I dare say that... you look absolutely stunning this evening."

That wasn't practiced. That came rolling off his tongue in the mere moment, causing for his voice to break that tone he always spoke in on evenings like these. A tone he now spoke in that Era knew was completely his, and utterly dedicated to her.

Extending her his hand, he once had to clear his throat to get him back on that appropriate track. To present himself, and hopefully her, in front of Asgard in the most proper way possible.

"May I have this dance?"

Holding back a grin, she wasted no time in considering anything. Truly, there was nothing to consider here. So she placed her hand in his palm, and got lead back to the middle of the dance floor as soon as they touched skins.

"You know they're all watching, don't you?" She whispered as her hand found its way to his shoulder, and shivered by the way his effortlessly found the curve of her waist.

Mischief dripping trough his veins, he pulled her inappropriately close, for the crowd to perhaps even gasp, and for Vera to drown in his scent.

"Let them." He whispered in her ear, before the orchestra tripled their volume, in order for the first dance to kick off. "It's just you and me."

His hand flattening on her bare lower back, her feet began to move for their own to follow her prince's steps. They were smooth, as if swaying on clouds and basking together in the golden glow of a setting sun. Only then did she realise that his was their first dance together. She had seen him dance before, perhaps even done the deed in her dreams one night, but at least never for real, like this. And damn, did this feel right.