Jewel Thief ◇ L. Laufeyson

6 ◇ unfortunately

SOMETHING SMELLED LIKE smoke.

My eyelids were heavy. I forced them open.

The room I was in wasn't very bright. Candles were lit around me - that's obviously where the smoke smell was coming from.

A red silk blanket covered me. I wasn't wearing anything, just a sort of wrapping that resembled a strapless bra, and a short skirt made of the same bandage-like material. The thick strips of black ribbon were tight around me, but I was thankful for the coverage.

My side ached, and a different sort of bandage - white colored - was covering a six-inch section of my side. Probably from the wound I got from whatever stabbed me when I tumbled across the ground.

The room I was in had red and white striped walls; a busy pattern I didn't like.
Just pick a color, I thought. Ridiculous.

Someone sat next to me, their face hidden in the shadows of the dark room. I knew who it was, however, mostly from a gut feeling.

"You're awake," Loki said, his voice unemotional.

"Where are we?" I asked him.

"Save your breath. You'll need your energy."

His statement puzzled me. What the heck would I need my energy for?

I sat up, making my side shoot pain through my body. I ignored it as Loki jumped up from his chair. He grabbed my shoulders, gently, as if to stop me from moving anymore. I pushed him away, and forced my way off the bed. The black bandage things saved me my dignity, but were still only covering a bit of me, so I quickly grabbed the silk bed sheet and wrapped it around myself, like one would do with a towel.

Loki's disappointment of me covering up did not go unnoticed, his lips frowning as I secured the blanket. I raised an eyebrow at him and gulped. "Um...were you the one to, uh-"

He chuckled softly. "Take off your clothes? Apply those black coverings? No."

I sighed in relief, while Loki mumbled under his breath, "Unfortunately."

I glared at him, but let the comment slip away. We needed to get out of here and stop Hela. Find Thor, save Asgard. We didn't have time for banter, or flirting.

"Whatever," I said harshly, "let's just go."

"Y/N," Loki spoke much more firm this time, "we're not leaving."

"Yes, we are. We have to find your brother and get back to-"

"No. You don't understand," Loki's voice was condescending and scolding.

"Then explain it to me!" I shouted at him. He hastily stepped over to me and put his hands out, like he was trying to calm an angry dog.

Then, Loki did explain.

We were on a planet called Saakar, lead by a man named the Grandmaster. I had been unconscious for two days, and during those two days Loki had successfully lied to the Grandmaster and convinced him that Loki and I were somehow important enough to keep around and not kill. On this planet, the Grandmaster held a violent, bloody game of blood spilling, a fight to the death between unlucky competitors. The Grandmaster had a "champion" that has gone on undefeated for two years. Loki didn't have any info on the champion, though.

"So...were just suppose to party on this planet until...until what? When can we leave?"

Loki swallowed uncomfortably. "Y/N...The Grandmaster wouldn't let us stay unless we provided him competitor. I told him, ah...that you are my competitor."