Goddess of the Universe

The Green Towel

He couldn't hear. The buzzing of his mind and the beating of his heart were drowning out any possible sounds, words, smells, or feelings, but the sight, oh gods, the sight of her fear. The look in her eyes, the red blotches on her skin, and the way her fingers twisted until the index was at a point to his right all shook him to the core.

At first, he thought she might be feeling anger or sadness, but in the end, it was fear. Perhaps, in the end, it is always fear. The sight was so intoxicating that he didn't even notice the thick hot blood gushing from a hole in his thigh and rolling down towards the floor, soaking his sock. Then, as if she knew his body better than he did, the moment the sound in his ears returned, she screamed.

Loki woke up with a gasp. His body was now completely dry, nearly nude, and covered in silk sheets. He couldn't remember how he got there, no matter how much he rattled his brain for an answer. What the hel happened after the lake? He rose up on his hands and shook his throbbing head. Suddenly, the smell of sandalwood met his nose. He sniffed for a moment until he noticed how close it was...it was on his skin. It was all over his skin. He felt the skin of his legs that were smooth with the residue of body butter, the source of the smell.

"What the hel?" he muttered to himself. There were no signs of anyone having been in his room. Surely if this was Thor's doing, a few tables and chairs would be knocked over, some clothes on the floor, and a leftover jug of mead would be lying about. If this were Frigga's doing, the throbbing headache wouldn't be there, and there'd be a small plate of Loki's favorite fruits and cheeses by his bedside. Maybe it was...it couldn't have been.

Loki quickly shuffled from his bed, nearly falling as he struggled to get on his feet. In a puff of magic, he put on trousers and a tunic. He slipped into his most comfortable shoes and darted out the chamber door. Palace guards, servants, and wandering Asgardians watched Loki with wide eyes as he rushed down the halls searching for his brother, Thor. Loki strutted towards the battle training field, knowing he'd see Thor there, and he was right. Thor and Volstagg tussled as dozens of young and bright-eyed warriors in training watched and waited for their turn to go up against the mighty god of thunder themselves. While Loki normally would've waited for his brother to finish his match, he needed his attention immediately.

"Where is she!?" Loki exclaimed, catching the attention of Thor and the warriors and everyone outside within a hundred feet of the training field. Thor whipped his head around and smiled widely when he saw his brother standing before him.

"Good Morning, Brother! Care for a brawl?" Thor chuckled at first, but then his face straightened when he noticed his brother's frustration. "What's wrong?"

"Where. Is. She?"

Thor furrowed his brows to search Loki's eyes for whom he was talking about. Once he realized it, he snickered. "You're looking for Asta?"

"Yes, I am looking for Asta."

"Well, she is bathing, so you can wait here until she comes-"

Loki rolled his eyes and walked towards the royal bathing room, cutting Thor off mid-sentence.

"Oh gods," Volstagg said with an exhale. "It's as if she never left." Thor laughed at Volstagg's words and turned back towards his friend.

Loki strutted his way through the halls again, stalking toward the royal bathing room with an expression that worried everyone he passed on his way there. When he turned the corner towards the room, he could smell sandalwood floating from the door's cracks. With a low growl, he pulled the door open, sparking the gasps of a couple of servant girls waiting by the sink. He couldn't see her, she was hidden behind a room divider, but he could see the silhouette of her hand scrubbing her leg with a sponge.