Unfinished Gems

Iron Maiden - 14 - FIN

Loki looked at the massive wings with open fascination. It took Jazz everything she had not to moan when he threaded his fingers through them.

No one had told her how sensitive the stupid things would be!

"So basically you had to go through an obstacle course with many perils, lead a team in a hunt in another realm, and defeat a senior warrior without tripping on these," said Loki, terribly amused.

"My luck is chaotic," she complained. "And stop doing that!"

Loki's smirk widened.

"You mean this?" he asked, stroking the feathers in a downward fashion, making sure to thread his fingers through the individual feathers.

Jazz lost her control and moaned. Loki's grin was positively smug and devious. He was going to have so much fun with this.

"Quit that!" she complained, though he could tell her heart wasn't in it.

Loki didn't bother to reply, and kept 'grooming' her new wings. He had her a complete wreck before she finally had enough and pounced on him.

He was rather pleased that his girlfriend had gotten the upgrade long before she had made full Valkyrie. It made for so many interesting new things they could do.

Of course now she had to get used to the wings in question and building up the necessary muscle strength before they could return to Earth. It wouldn't do for her to have such a glaring weakness like a pair of wings she wasn't used to.

He found her the next morning at the leather smiths, showing them a design that she wanted. Why would she want to add discreet pouches inside the jacket she brought back with her from Earth?

Loki wasn't the only one baffled when, a few days after the new jacket was made, Jazz started walking around without any wings visible.

"How?"

"Undetectable expansion charms on the pouches inside the jacket. Once you fit the wings through the opening, they can move freely without smacking you in the face. I have an idea for a dress that could discreetly hide them too, though that's going to be trickier," she admitted smugly. "Some wizards may have abandoned their common sense when they graduate, but I never let those fools corrupt me with their so-called logic and close-minded thinking."

Within a few days, several of the older Valkyries were making discreet orders of their own for similar jackets, once they found out that the charms were rather stable and easy enough to cast. Jazz was very busy, but at the end of it, the warrior women had a new fashion trend going on.

And that was before she made a line of dresses that had the same discreet pouches with a few minor additions to draw notice away from the remainder of the wings that weren't covered. The simple strips of cloth were covered in 'notice-me-not' charms that drew the eye away from the parts that weren't inside the pouch that hung loosely as part of the sleeve. All were quite tasteful and well within Asgardian standard for fashion without looking too garish.

Loki was vastly amused by this, as she had become the Valkyries' new favorite person and member. If she ever needed their support, she had it, as he had seen even Brunhilde wearing one of her creations.

It was almost enough to distract him from the fact Thor was to be coronated soon. The braggart had far too much growing up to do before he was remotely ready to be king.

Jazz looked at Loki.

"I don't know about you, but if he gets crowned king, I say we take an extended 'vacation' back on Earth."

"Agreed," said Loki. He had almost finished the books he brought with him anyway, and they still haven't gone through half of the movies. "How goes the trials of learning to fly?"