In-between Love Sweat And Tears (Loki Short Stories And One Shots)

Sakaar pt 7 (continued)

You were working on your swordsmanship skills while basically holed up in your room after Val had left, doing the basics before working on the harder ones. You had told Loki that he technically could go roam around, seeing as he wasn't the one on house arrest, and he took you up on it without a second thought.

You had asked him, so you weren't upset about it. That would just be stupid on your part. You could only hope he wasn't being offered a spot in the orgy despite your protests to The Grandmaster.

Shaking your head, you focused on your training, letting yourself instead get lost in another memory.

You were eight years old now, having a wooden sword in hand as you were one of ten other young maids in training. Once a week, you would all be gathered in a large room to practice together.

Your teacher was strict, and not shy on whacking a leg or arm that wasn't in a correct stance with a long stick. You had to be in unison too, moving as one during this lesson, because apparently a group that moves as one was stronger than a group that didn't. If only that could foretell your future.

"Straighten up, keep your chin up." You felt yourself get whacked in the back, as a girl near you had the unfortunate luck of being whacked under the chin. You didn't cry, but the other did, yet she kept on. She'd be a good warrior down the line.

In an organized seven step set, you all were doing good.

"Alright, swords down. Physical exercises are next. There's no point in fighting if your own body is too weak to be of use." You hated this part.

All of you had to cross your arms above your head, and do a full two hundred squats session. And after that, it was to be broken into teams of two. You had to carry your partner from one side of the room to the other without falling, and then switch and be carried.

You didn't know when, but during the training Odin had come to inspect, and you could feel his gaze on you. It was nerve wracking at first, but then you had the overwhelming feeling to make a face at him. Which you almost did, just not the initial one. You settled for scowling at him and continued on with your training.

After the training had finished up, you were punished by the head maid, because apparently she had seen when you made a face, which caused Odin to be in a foul mood for whatever reason.

Scrubbing the shields until you could see your reflection within the metal, polishing the wooden swords with a protective oil, and mopping the floors until they were absolutely spotless.

You were bone tired, so much so that you thought about sleeping in the room instead.

And then there was Loki, watching you from afar until you were done. When he came over, he had shocked you with his first response. "Sorry, Y/N. I got you into this trouble."  Cocking an eyebrow at him with your lips pursed you stood straight. "For what?"

Your eyes snapped open as you remembered, mouth agape as you finally figured out why he had apologized with no reveal as to why. "Mind manipulation! Why that..!" "Why, what?"

You swiveled around quickly staring at the raven haired prince as he had a slight armful of freshly folded and colorful clothing, his eyebrows raised in concern at how upset you looked. "What's wrong, my pet?" "Don't 'My pet' me! You used magic on me that got me in trouble when I was training!"

It was Loki's turn to have his mouth slightly agape, before his lips started twitching upwards. "Excuse me, but I have no idea what you're talking about... Don't look at me like that." "Like, what?" You growled out, an angry smirk on your face. "Like a feline predator, ready to ambush." "I wonder why."