Frost Bite

Bite me...

Loki and Thor had gone through everything, the turning, the fact they could be out and about in daylight - day walkers they were called - and the fact that they were technically dead.  No eating, no drinking - other than the blood which they had replaced with a synthetic liquid - and yes, they cast a reflection.  No, they didn't burn at the sight of a cross and Holy Water?  That, together with garlic was the imagination of Medieval swindlers out to part terrified travellers from their coin.

"So ultimately what you're saying is you really ARE aliens then?" She sat and shook her head, hardly able to take in what had been said. It had been a very surreal few minutes. In fact, surreal didn't even come close. Mentally deranged was more like it.

"Well, technically yes, since we don't come from your world" Loki smiled "but we're not green and we don't insist on you taking us to your leaders!" He smirked and Thor rolled his eyes.

"And you DON'T drink blood? You SURE about that?" She pointed a finger at him and furrowed her brows.

"Yes. Like I said, the healers in Asgard found us a synthetic replacement. We have all the other attributes, strength, agility, speed and I have the ability to shape shift, but not that. And yes, before you ask again, you have to be bitten to turn. " he looked at her more seriously for a moment. " and yes. It hurts. A lot. " his eyes betrayed the memory of his turning and she suddenly saw him for who he really was.  Just another being trying to make sense of being alive - or in his case dead - in a world that was full of fear, judgement and ultimately betrayal.  He wasn't a monster any more than any other man she'd come across.  Ok, she admitted to herself, there were no other men EXACTLY like Loki Laufeyson, but that wasn't necessarily a bad thing.

Realising she had been silent, lost in thought and the two of them were staring at her intently, she smiled and sat back.  Taking a sip of the wine that remained in her glass, she savoured it's taste, it's feeling in her mouth.  Warm, spicy and reassuringly calming.  She drew a breath then said

"Ok Count Dracula, " she smiled and to her relief he smirked "So if you're now Super Vikings or whatever, why on Midgard " she winked "do you want me?"  A deliberate choice of words, not lost on Loki.

For a moment, Loki looked at her.  Just looked.  Her eyes were hypnotic, even to him. Especially to him.  He could hear her heartbeat, it had increased and decreased with her fear levels and now was strong and regular.  As he looked into her eyes, her pupils started to dilate and her pulse quickened again. It was the dream all over again. He could, to his both shame and excitement, feel his own arousal matching hers. He could taste her and it made him clench inside.  Technically he may be dead, but lack of heartbeat didn't mean lack of any other bodily function.   Gods in Valhalla he wanted her, but he had to keep a grip on things, and for now that didn't include her body.

"Well, that's the first sensible question you've asked" Loki reverted back to type, covering his tracks.  He couldn't let her - or his damned brother - see how much she affected him.  Not yet anyway.  Not until...  he pulled himself together. "My previous PA, Adam, has left so.."

"Voluntarily?" she asked, narrowing her eyes. "Or do I need to worry about making a mistake?"

"Yes I mean No!" he was almost offended by the implication, almost.  He was also very impressed again by her shrewd mind. She trusted nothing, questioned everything.  It would serve her - and them - well.  "He decided that it was time for him and his wife - yes we do have lives other than hanging around waiting to bite the necks of innocent virgins - to make a fresh start.  Tangiers I believe." he looked at her, arms crossed, defying her to say something.  She did.

"I accept."

The two brothers stared at her.  "You do? " Thor asked as Loki stood and came to stand behind her "But you haven't heard about the 'other' side of things. The additional role for our merry band of misfits"  Loki put a hand on her shoulder and she looked up at him, a small smile on her face.  He almost bent and kissed her. With monumental effort he stopped himself, a quiet snigger emanating from Thor.  Damn his brother, he was too sharp sometimes.

"Go on, explain" was all he said.

"I don't need to hear any more.  I trust you.  And not because you are in my head  -  what was it you called it?  Glamouring?  No. I trust you because you told me.  Everything.  If you didn't think I could be trusted, if you didn't think I could do whatever you're going to ask of me, we wouldn't be here. You have all the time in the world to find a replacement.  The fact you asked me, now, here speaks volumes.  And then there was that dream" she flushed at the thought but went on. "As tests go it was one of my more enjoyable I have to say." she stood up and turned to Loki. "Just one thing I ask in return.." the thought had entered her head unbidden and instantly made perfect sense.  She knew it was exactly what she wanted.

"Yes? If it's in my power it's yours..." Loki was curious, this amazing feisty woman had accepted what they'd told her, hadn't bolted for the hills and now was actually negotiating with them.

"Turn me."

"WHAT?" the two brothers replied in unison, Thor standing up in shock.  There was total silence as the three of them looked at each other.  

"You heard me." she said slowly, quietly, putting a hand on Loki's cheek and stroking it gently. she knew exactly what she was saying, doing, on every level possible. 

"If you want me Loki, turn me."