They Called Me Cold, They Called Him a Liar

Horns

The chapter name says it all.

Sparring with Thor is -and will always be- a highlight to my day. Not that fighting Sif isn't fun, she's just much too careful about my safety. Not that I'd rather spar than cook, it's just that I'm allergic to stressful work and customer service.

My knife slashes here and there, and I roll and dodge, while trying not to let anyone see my underwear in this stupid dress. Really, can't I get a nice pair of pants around here?

Thor charges, and I jump out of the way, though not fast enough.We go down rolling, me trying not to get squished in the process.

A few whistles from the crowd distract me for the tiniest of milliseconds, and I realize the reason.

My stupid 'battle dress' is bunched up around my waist, giving everyone a nice view, as a blush creeps up my neck to my face, turning it a deeper blue colour.

This itty bitty distraction gives Thor enough time to flip me over, and before I can say anything, I feel his shield hit my face.

At least, I think it's his shield.

Snarling like the wild animal everyone thinks I am, I grab his leg with both of mine and twist, rolling him to the side.

I gain the advantage, and before he can bring up his shield, I press the tip of my blade to his throat.

"Dead." I proclaim, grinning at the blond giant beneath me.

I roll to my feet, but stop as I feel my dress caught on Thor's armour.

That's it, I'm so done with this moronic outfit.

"Lady Sydney...what are you doing?" Thor asks, staring at me.

I cut my dress using my knife, just above my hip bones. Everyone's already seen my underwear, so I can't be bothered to blush now.

I then cut the skirt of the dress into strips, poking holes in the bigger strips and using the smaller ones to lace it up.

The rest I just tie around my waist as a decoration.

Smiling at my work of art, I slip into my new pair of pants.

The red fabric encompasses both of my legs, though it laces up on the outside. Really, this is better than I expected.

A warm chuckle rouses me from my thoughts.

"What?" I ask, watching the crowd around me.

Thor chuckles again, shaking his head. "Women don't generally like wearing pants, I should have known you'd be an exception," he explains.

"Thank you?"

Just then, Frigga appears behind Thor, motioning to me to come with her.

"Sorry, gotta go, dude!" I say, running to the change room and out into the hallway, where Frigga now waits.

"Yes, your highness?"

She smiles, taking my hands in hers as we walk. My bare feet are silent compared to her loud heels on the stone floor.

"Darling, just Frigga will do." she says warmly. "I've been doing some research on jotun growth and development-" ew. "-not that kind. But there was something...oh dear, it's already started!"

"What? What's already started?"

She gently brushes ebony strands of hair out of my face.

"Oh my," she murmurs here and there, rubbing the ridged surface of my forehead with the pad of her thumb.