Mine (A reader-insert/Loki fanfic)

Part Eighteen: The Dress

After searching for a while longer, you found Loki outside sitting on the edge of a fountain.

“Hello,” he said, looking up at you.

“Hi,” you replied. You were quiet for a minute. “I have something I need to tell you,” you started.

“I already know,” Loki said, cutting you off. “Thor came to tell me, and to invite me to be his best man.”

“Did you accept?”

“Why would I accept when my brother is marrying the woman I love?” Loki said the words bluntly and it struck you like lighting.

“Good point,” you mumbled. Silence passed between the two of you.

“Why not refuse to marry him?” Loki asked suddenly. You could hear both tears and bitterness in his voice.

“I can't. It's my duty. It's the whole reason I was ever brought up to Asgard. To one day marry either you or Thor and form a bond between Asgard and Midgard.”

Loki sighed deeply. He knew it as well as you did. And there was no way you could disobey Odin, unless you wanted to be exiled.

“You should of broken the ring when you had the chance to,” Loki told you.

You didn't agree. Even if you were marrying Thor, you didn't want to forget Loki. He was still your closest friend and the person you truly loved.

A thought came to your mind. “Don't object at the wedding,” you told Loki.

Loki sighed and smiled. “Why must you ruin all my fun?” He asked in what you thought was a joking manner. “Well, then at least let me help you pick out a dress.”

“Alright,” you agreed.

The next day was hectic. There was wedding planning of all sorts and endless questions. In addition, the question about who would lead you down the aisle arose. Loki was suggested, then Odin, and even Frigga. You were given the final decision, but you had no idea who to choose, so it remained undecided.

By the end of the day, you wanted to collapse and sleep for a week, but you still needed to get a dress.

You knocked hesitantly on Loki's door. He opened it and smiled when he saw you.

“Ready?” he asked softly.

The gentleness of his words made you realize just how much Loki had changed in only a few days. His mischievous demeanor was gone, replaced by a soft and gentle one.

“Yeah,” you replied.

Loki stood and you followed him through the tall, golden halls until you reached a room you had never seen before. It had short double door with curved golden handles. Loki opened it and inside was a sea of white dresses.

You gasped when you saw it.

“I had Frigga help me gather them all,” Loki explained.

“Why?”

Loki looked deeply into your eyes. “I wanted you to have a perfect dress even if you couldn't have a perfect wedding or a perfect husband.”

You were speechless. You didn't know what to do or say. You wanted to say “thank you”, you wanted to jump into Loki's arms and scream “I love you!” so loudly that the Heavens would hear, you wanted to cry, and you wanted to embrace Loki tightly and never let go.

Big, wet tears started to roll down your ruddy cheeks and you hugged Loki for what seemed like and eternity. He returned the hug, lightly stroking your back.

“I love you,” you sobbed.

“I know,” Loki replied, his deep voice soothing you. “Trust me dearest, I know.” Loki pulled back. “Because I too, love you. More than anything else in all the nine realms.

Fresh tears rolled down your cheeks. Loki had never said anything like that before. He'd never admitted to you that he did, in fact, truly love you. You tried to cling to him again, but he backed away, putting up his hands.

“You still need a dress,” he explained.

You gave him a smile and began browsing through the nearest rack of dresses.

You searched through racks and racks of white dresses.

You tried on quite a few, always coming out of the dressing room to get Loki's opinion. Most of them didn't get his approval. There was one with a long, lacy skirt and a heart-shaped bodice. It was apparently “too overdone.” Another was “too revealing”, it had shoulder straps, a skirt that flowed to the ground, and a diving “v” neckline. The one with the knee-length skirt was “too short for a wedding dress”, and a dress with puffy, short sleeves and a short, frilly skirt apparently made you look like a “bar wench.”

And then, finally, you found the perfect dress. You knew right from the minute you put it on, you didn't even need Loki opinion. In fact, if he didn't like it, you were still going to wear it. The dress had a long, layered, chiffon skirt and a satin, heart-shaped bodice that had swirling gold embroidery lining the top and a gold silk belt around the waist.

You stepped out of the dressing room and Loki's eyes widened and he smiled and stood, coming coming over to you.

“It's perfect,” he said, gently placing the long gossamer veil over your face. “You look absolutely beautiful.”

You smiled and blushed a little at the compliment.

Loki smiled at you again, this time slightly sadly. “It will break my heart to see you wearing this tomorrow while you marry my brother.” Loki looked up into your eyes. “If he ever does anything to hurt you, tell me immediately. I will make sure he regrets it dearly.”

You gave Loki a little smile. “Alright, I will.”