Unchained memories: Loki x Sif (complete)

Chapter 7: is this dream real?

In a yellow blaze, the sun shone upon Asgard that morning, the gardens were colourful and the fountains were glittering, Sif of course felt less glittery. She awoke with a head ache that felt like a thousand drums were being played around her, her head was dazed and she could see more than one of everything.

When Thor knocked on her door, he certainly didn't make it better "go away" she buried her head under her pillow, hoping that whoever was knocking would go away, of course being Thor he persisted to knock, and knock, and knock.

Irritated she unburied her head "go away!"

"Sif?"

"Thor?"

"Can I come in?"

She sighed and sat up rubbing her head "as long as you keep your voice down" she mumbled as she rubbed the sleep from the corners of her eyes.

"I wanted to see how you are"

"I... Am... Great!" Thor rolled his eyes with disbelief "what happened last night that I wake up still dressed?"

"You were that drunk I'm afraid I had to carry you here, I thought it might be indecent for me to undress you"

"Yeah that would have been weird" she chuckled rubbing her head.

"What do you remember, exactly"

She looked down to her lap with a puzzled face, what did she remember? Nothing apparently, well nothing of great importance anyway "I remember sitting at the table as usual, and someone bringing me a drink, I remember half of Volstagg's story, then..." Thor held his breath, did she remember kissing him? "Well that's it" Thor exhaled deeply, with a sigh of relief "why what happened?"

"W... Well... Nothing important, we ate, we drank, we laughed, that was about it"

"Really?" She narrowed her eyes like she felt there was something missing.

"What else would there be?"

There was a brief flash on Sif's face like for a second she knew "...no, it's probably nothing"

"Right... Well I'll erm, leave you to it I suppose"

"Yeah, oh and don't expect me for breakfast, I think I'm going to stay in bed... Forever" she joked, Thor simply laughed and left as Sif collapsed onto her pillow.

It felt like she slept for days after Thor left, but there were plenty of dreams and flashes to keep her dormant, there was a flash of Thor carrying her through the corridors, there was a glimpse of a kiss, she could somehow smell the alcohol, then when she saw a flash of red, she knew who she was kissing.

Sif was all ready to wake up and confront Thor, but something seemed to pull her back, something seemed to pull her deeper into sleep. The dream carried on so real, she seemed to fall and hit a cold floor, but there were no surroundings, just plain darkness.

Cautiously she looked about her, to find answers, but there was nothing, only shadows, carefully she got up off her feet, as she did so something shifted in the shadows "hello? Who's there?!"

Silence, but she could feel a glare, like someone's eyes had fallen upon her, she felt for her sword but alas she had been unarmed "come out!" She could feel the grin, it was cold and wicked.

"And why should I spoil the game?"

Her breath was stolen from her and she stood frozen, his voice tingled her taste buds, sending an intoxicating shiver down her body "you! How..."

"How indeed" a tall figure stepped forward into the little light there was, he was him, in all his former glory, that is before he was thrown in a cell. He looked like a dream, probably because he was one.

Casually he walked forward until he was arms length in front of her "I don't understand"

Loki smirked wickedly "I still have a few tricks"

"But I thought the barrier..."

"There is no barrier that can stop a dream" he said softly, this was another side to Loki, and if it was the real him and not a him she just dreamt up, then this was a new side to him that she had never seen.

"But why am I here?"

"Well I wanted to talk to you without something between us"

"But this isn't real"

Loki considered this "perhaps, but if I do this..." He took her hand and held it in his for a second "... Would you not feel that?"

Sif's breath was stolen from her once again, she could feel his touch, it was real, it was warmer than she expected, his hands were quite large and they held her small hands perfectly "I can feel that"

"So it must be to some extent, real"

Sif smiled questionably "ok so why am I here?"

"Forever asking questions"

"I like answers"

"But why does everything need answering?" He said releasing her hand.

"Because... I don't know, curiosity" she shrugged her shoulders and rolled her eyes.

"You're here to enjoy the time we have"

"You sound as if one of us is going to die"

"Well staring at four walls for the rest of your life can do things to a god" She knew it was a joke, but the death of him would kill her... It would? "You look puzzled why?"

"I... I..." Should she say it? Should she just go right out and admit everything to him "I... Pictured life without you" her tone was soft and meaningful, with a pinch if fear, fear obviously of losing him. A smile spread across his face, he wasn't going to hide it "I know a lot of people would be happy if you dropped off the face of Asgard..."

"I did, remember? Bifrost? Black hole? Oh and thanks by the way"

"No... But you know what I mean. All of those people who would be ecstatic if you topped yourself, don't feel the way I do about you, and something changes in me when I'm with you, everything in me scrambles up and don't know whether I hate you or if I..." She paused hesitantly, like she was afraid of what she may say.

"If you..."

"Loki I don't know if I do though" she carried on like she had said it, like she had finished her sentence, perhaps she had in her head "I mean you're not that boy that jumps in fountains or dances to unchained melody anymore"

"Well why not" his tone brisk and bold, he opened his arms wide and the darkness disappeared, revealing the palace gardens at midnight, it was as if someone had turned on the lights.