Author's note:
Forget the sweets from last chapters. Something big is about to happen...
It's well past midnight and the gala is coming to an end, which means saying goodbye to all the guests. I watch the Asgardians from my seat at the table, my feet propped up on the chair next to me. The heat of the day is completely gone and I'm starting to get a little cold. I'm also very tired, which is not helping to keep me warm. But at the point I really start to regret not bringing a shawl or a jacket, Loki comes over to tell me the car is ready.
"Are you cold?" he asks, when he sees me shiver.
"A bit," I admit. "But I'll warm up in the car."
"Come here," he grumbles under his breath and pulls me to his side, sliding his arm around me. I had already noticed Loki seems to run a little cooler than the average human, but in the night air it is still very nice to be close to him.
"I'm afraid I have to ride home in a different car," Loki tells me when we walk the red carpet to the car, his arm still around me.
"Oh..." The word is practically dripping of disappointment.
"I'm sorry. But the Norse ambassador wants to talk business and he is leaving the country tomorrow. The Norse government is serious about offering the people of Asgard a new home," he explains.
There is a second car waiting behind the stretched limousine we came in. Thor and Tony Stark are already standing by the car, next to a man I have seen talking to Thor and Loki several times tonight. I guess he is the Norse ambassador.
"I'll see you soon, my little wolf. The driver will take you home. Sweet dreams," Loki says, bringing my hand up to his lips for a kiss.
Reluctantly I get in the car. I'm disappointed I have to ride home without my prince. Heimdall and Lady Eir sit together, across from Sharon and Steve. I've got the whole backseat to myself. I curl up on my seat, tucking my legs under me as far as the heels let me, and get my phone from my purse. I've got a few texts and I start scrolling through them. Lisa and aunt Yvonne both ask me if I had a good time tonight. And Thomas is almost begging for a picture of Captain America in a tuxedo. I decide to humor him.
"Steve? Can I take a picture of you?" I ask him.
"Uh... sure. Why?" Steve asks curiously.
"My friend really wants to see you in a tuxedo," I smirk.
Next to him, Sharon starts laughing. "Come on, Steve," she nudges him with her elbow. "Smile for the camera!"
"Oh, alright!" Steve says and sits up straight for the picture.
I scoot forward in my seat, to get a little closer for a good shot.
And then everything goes wrong.
The limousine suddenly makes a violent turn, there is a big explosion and the big car is lifted into the air, turning upside down.
Everything goes black.
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Someone calls my name.
It sounds urgent.
My name again.
The voice tells me to wake up.
"Wake up, my little wolf," the voice says.
Loki.
Loki.
---------------------------
A soft beep worms its way into my conscience.
Beep.
Beep.
Beep.
It's an annoying sound, however soft it is.
My head hurts.
Like, really hurts.
I'm thirsty. My tongue sticks to my palatine, it feels really thick.
I want water.
"Water."
I'm shocked by my own voice. It's croaky and barely more than a whisper.
"Here you go, honey," a voice says, and I feel a straw against my lips. Straining, I suck on the straw. The water feels good. I open my eyes.
"Hi, honey. I'm glad you're awake."
"Lars," I croak.
My uncle smiles at me, but it's a sad smile. He takes my left hand and squeezes it.
Not only my head hurts. My whole body feels like I've been run over by a bus. Everything is sore. When I try to move my right arm, I cry out. Pain shoots through my shoulder.
"Shhh, honey, don't move," my uncle says, carefully stroking my right arm.
"What happened?" I croak, my voice not sounding any better.
"You've been in a car accident."
Lars explains to me the limousine went off the road and landed upside down in a ditch.
"How?" I ask. "We were on the motorway, not even driving that fast."
My uncle is silent for a moment, like he doesn't want to talk about it.
"How?" I ask again.
"Someone fired a rocket launcher from a helicopter."