Part One - A New Beginning (Loki x Reader)

New Character Name List

Trygve pronounced TRIG-ve, leather worker recommended by Lady Sif

     "Good morning, little Valkyrie."

     She looks up from her food and looks at Loki. He sits down next to her with his own plate of food. Lady Sif is sitting across from them and she nods at him.

     "Good morning, Lady Sif." He smiles at her and she raises her eyebrow at him.

     "You are in a suspiciously good mood this morning, Prince Loki. May I ask why?"

     "I shall tell you why. I think I have thought of a way to bring our little Valkyrie back to life."

     They both look at her and she is chewing slowly, not paying attention to them at all. Lady Sif's brow furrows as she watches her before looking at Loki again.

     "I sure hope so. She seems to be retreating into herself, not really focusing on anything around her."

     "I noticed that too. I hope I am not too late in reaching her."

     He turns to her and nudges her arm. She looks at him but this is just a shade of his friend. There is no light in her eyes, no warm smile on her face for him, her eyes red from another restless night of bad sleep.

     "I have a surprise for you."

     She blinks at him but her expression does not change so he tries again.

     "Did you hear me, little Valkyrie? I have a surprise for you."

     She blinks at him again and he sees his words finally break through the fog that has been following her.

     "A surprise?"

     "Yes."

     "For me?"

     "Yes."

     "What is it?"

     Loki smiles. "I did say surprise. We need to finish our breakfast first before you find out."

     She takes another bite and chews a bit faster. Lady Sif and Loki glance at each other, a hopeful smile on their faces. Lady Sif raises an eyebrow before leaning forward.

     "Do you think Loki will tell you if you guess correctly what the surprise is?"

     They watch her perk up and look at them both.

     "Give me a clue and I will try and guess. You know I am a really good guesser. I think it's because I read so much."

     Lady Sif smiles wider as she takes the bait. They watch some of her old spark come back into her eyes, very faint but there. Loki decides to see if she will take the bait again.

     "I did not agree to any such thing. You just have to wait and see what it is when we finish our food."

     She takes a bigger bite of food and they watch the wheels turn in her head. She turns to Lady Sif and Loki begins to eat.

     "He didn't agree but you could give me a clue. Just a tiny one."

     Lady Sif chuckles. "I would if I could but I have no idea what your surprise is. Sorry."

     She takes another bite of food then chews it quickly before looking at Loki again.

     "What if I try and guess without a clue?" Loki shakes his head. "But that's fair. You can tell me if I guess and not tell me a clue."