Nightingale: Agent of Torchwood

Ghost Machine [6]

Nightingale sat in her apartment, her eyes drifting to the box Loki had given her right before he left. She opened the bag where she had snuck the Ghost Machine out of Torchwood. "Runs on emotion, huh?" Looking at the box, she took a deep breath and pressed the button.

Frigga led a young Nightingale through the halls of the Palace of Asgard.

The young Gallifreyan tugged at the formal garb as she followed, only to bump into the Queen as she stopped.

"Boys," Frigga announced.

Nightingale glanced around the Asgardian Queen and saw two boys before her, one with blondish hair and another with slick black locks.

Frigga positioned Nightingale before her, causing the young girl to fidget nervously. "I'd like for you to meet Nightingale. She'll be staying with us for a while," she looked down at the Gallifreyan "Well, go on, introduce yourself,"

"My name's Thor," The blonde boy announced, "and soon I'll be the ruler of Asgard,"

Nightingale merely nodded, moving a bit back at Thor's loud nature.

The black-haired boy moved softly and held his hand out. "Hello, I'm Loki,"

Nightingale smiled softly.

***

Nightingale was sparring and pushed her opponent to the ground, but her opponent pulled her down with him. She was ready to engage until she recognized a familiar green glimmer. "Loki," she chastised, "we've talked about this,"

Lokik returned to his usual self as he brushed a bit of Nightingale's hair from her face. "I know, but the thought of someone touching you..."

Nightingale sat up. "I was doing pretty good up until the moment you dragged me down with you," she said, standing up and putting the training staff back in its place.

"I didn't mean to upset you..."

"I'm not upset..."

Loki brushed her cheek and gave her a look.

"I mean, people are talking..."

"I will speak to Odin; everyone knows not to talk about Gal..."

Nightingale looked away, it had only been a couple weeks since Heimdall had reported Gallifrey's destruction. "It's about us,"

"Us? As in..."

"As in you and me."

"Oh. I see,"

"Women are going to start noticing you, Loki, proper suitors...if you wish for one of them, you need to stop hovering over me,"

"What if I don't want to stop?"

"The ladies of Asgard are getting jealous saying that you..." Nightingale laughed. "I tell them it's lies, and we're just friends. But..." she stopped seeing Loki's face.

Loki's eyes softened as he watched Nightingale rant. These were the very eyes many had told the Gallifreyan they had seen him use whenever she was near and spoke.

Nightingale glanced down and realized that Loki had taken her hand. "Oh..."

***

Nightingale quickly put the machine down and wiped away the tears. She looked at the box and picked it up. "I miss you, Loki." Nightingale kissed the box, and she could have sworn she felt a soft touch on her cheek for a brief moment.