Your Hand To Hold

Chapter Thirty-Four: Too Far, Said She

          "There you girls are, we were just about to come looking for you," Steve said with a smile as we rounded the corner into the common area beside the kitchen. "Rhodey almost has dinner finished, Wanda you know your duties." She nodded, excusing herself with a knowing smile to follow after him as Loki slowly came toward me, looking more relieved than I had expected.

   He took my hand in both of his, running his fingers delicately over the sides of mine. His eyes carried his fear and pain as I touched his cheek softly, forcing him to look me in the eyes. "Were they kind to you?"

   He nodded. "As welcoming and kind as one can be to someone they despise."

   "They do not despise you, Mo Chroí. Wanda has reassured me-"

   "I am sure she has, and while I do not wish to dismiss your friends, I must ask if we must stay here."

   I sighed, shaking my head at him. "Why? Are you worried they will find out that you care for someone other than yourself and that all of this has not been some cruel act?"

   "I have already been warned that if I put a toe out of line in regards to you, I shall meet a rather violent end. Evidently, there will be a line... You seem to be well received everywhere we go, Little Dove."

   I managed to stifle a chuckle, though I was unsure if I had managed as well as I had hoped. "Do I detect an air of jealousy, my love?"

   He smirked, only for a moment but it had been there. He sighed, lifting my hand as he planted a kiss across my knuckles. "My love, hmm? So, you have forgiven me?"

   I hesitated, unsure how to explain how I felt. "Forgiveness is-"

   "I understand. I can wait a while longer; forever if I must, even."

   "Would you please not interrupt," I scolded, watching as his eyes fell once more. I tilted his chin and sighed, shaking my head. "Whatever will I do with you, Mo Chroí? While complete forgiveness is difficult given the depth of such a betrayal, you are right that we were children. If I am to show you that redemption is possible, that everyone here whom you feel is incapable of forgiving you simply needs more time to come around to you, then I must lead by example."

   "Could you come around to me if I had attempted to kill you?"

   "You have and I did. Thor has forgiven your countless attempts on his life; I see no reason why others who have only experienced it once cannot do the same."

   His jaw feathered as he hesitated. "Does this mean I do not have to remain in my room tonight?"

   My nose crinkled as I smirked. "We shall see, do not push your luck though." I popped to my tiptoes, pulling him down toward me as I planted a kiss on his cheek before we turned to hurry after the others, hand in hand.

   Dinner was grilled burgers and hotdogs made on the compound's patio. While both were foreign to Loki and me, they tasted delicious and we agreed that the hotdogs were similar to pølse, only with a fluffier bread and far fewer compelling toppings. Several made suggestions for us to try, though Loki preferred the trial-by-fire route as Tony put it. Ultimately though, he accepted the assistance and enjoyed both but admitted to favoring the hamburger when pressed by Rhodey.

   "See, that's how you know a grill master is in the house," he said confidently as he tipped his beer toward Tony cockily.

   "Well, a master is only as good as his tools and since my barbeque can basically cook an entire Thanksgiving dinner on its own, I'm gonna have to call bullshit on that title."