You finished getting your results and congratulations from the team. Cap tried to be more professional about it, but Thor and Clint kept fangirling so hard about how well you'd done that he finally had to give up and let them fangirl. Nat finally helped you escape the fangirling, which you greatly appreciated, since you also wanted to go get a shower, but weren't quite as direct about it as Loki had been.

You finally got to escape to your room to get the lava hot shower you needed after spending all morning sparring against Loki. Your mind wandered while you were in the shower as minds tended to do, even as you fought against the instincts that Hydra had instilled into you. They had forced you to take super quick showers, just long enough to get clean. You didn't have to do that anymore and could enjoy your lava hot shower in peace and let your mind wander while you did.

You couldn't help replaying the sparring match in your mind and the flirting that had come after it. It was just one line, practically a throwaway comment about how you'd done in the sparring match, but it was how he'd said it, how he'd purred it that had made your insides melt and you'd known that he'd done it on purpose.

He was interested. That was for sure. It was no surprise that he was interested. You had his Sigyn's soul in your body. You didn't know entirely what that meant. You were your own person. You'd lived your own life and had your own memories.

But Loki was interested in you all the same.

And if you were honest with yourself, there was a part of you that was interested in getting to know him better. You were drawn to him in a way that you couldn't explain. In a way that you'd never been drawn to anyone before him.

And you found yourself not wanting to fight it.

That decision made, you finally finished your shower and dried off before you dressed in clean clothes. You cheated and used magic to dry your hair. What good was having magic if you couldn't use it to cheat and not have to spend an eternity under a hairdryer?

As you were contemplating what to do with your day, a blaring alarm started going off throughout the whole tower, which made you jump when it first started blaring. You were tempted to clamp your hands over your ears, it was so loud, but that wouldn't do you any good. Instead, you rushed out into the hall to try to get some answers. Luckily, Loki was coming out of his room at the same time.

"What's going on?" You asked, practically shouting to be heard over the alarm.

"Mission alarm," Loki explained. He took your hand as if this were a normal everyday occurrence and began to lead you to the elevator. "Come on. The team is gathering downstairs. This way," he said and began to lead the way. His hand was cold in your warm one, eclipsing yours in his. He was on high alert, though the mission, whatever it was, hadn't truly started yet. He was acting like it had, like you were already in danger. He was scanning the hallway ahead of you for trouble as you walked and wouldn't let you off the elevator until he had seen for himself that the common floor was safe. He led you to a meeting room on the common floor where the rest of the team was gathering. Once you were all there, the alarm blessedly stopped blaring and you felt like you could think again.

Loki pulled out a chair for you automatically and took the last chair for himself. Stark was about to say something snarky at this behavior, but Cap got to discussing the mission before he could. You slipped into the offered seat and turned your attention to Cap who was explaining how Hydra had set some monsters loose uptown and the team needed to stop them. No one knew what their goal in setting the monsters loose was or even if they had a goal, or even if it had been on purpose, you just had to deal with the issue and quick.

"Everyone gear up, we leave in five," Cap ordered. The team rushed out as quickly as they had rushed in to go get their gear on and head down to the cars or fly out in Stark's and Thor's cases. Those two headed out first, since they could change into their armor the soonest. You didn't have armor, but you also couldn't fly, so you waited for the others.

Or at least that was your plan.

Loki also hung back, letting the others leave. When they were all gone, he stood with feline grace and his armor shimmered into place with magic, even his golden horned helm.

He looked to you and his expression grew concerned. "Lady? Do you not possess armor?" He asked gently. He was torn about something. He didn't want to make you stay behind, but didn't want you out in a battle without armor, most likely.

You stood to be on equal footing with him, not wanting to be sitting while he was standing, while you had this conversation. You weren't going to be left behind just because you weren't as well equipped. You shook your head. "No, the team hasn't had time to get me any yet..." you replied, you could feel your chin sticking out stubbornly.

Loki sighed. "You are not going to stay behind no matter what I say, nor how dangerous it might be in Midgardian clothing," he said, recognizing the stubborn look in your eyes and the equally stubborn set of your jaw. That seemed to have made up his mind. His eyes looked you over from head to toe, evaluating. "Do not take this the wrong way," he said and summoned a set of armor in his arms. You could tell it was high quality and perfect. "You are nearly the same size as Sigyn was. I had this set made for her, but she never got the opportunity to wear it. It would be a shame to see it go to waste, when it could benefit her namesake," he said and held the bundle out to you.

You hesitated for a moment, knowing how much this meant to Loki, to let go of any piece of anything that reminded him of his wife. Even something she hadn't actually gotten to wear. "You're sure?" You asked gently. You wouldn't hold it against him if he couldn't do this. If he wasn't ready.

He pressed the bundle of cloth and metal into your arms. "I am quite sure that I wish to see you protected, Lady," he replied

"Thank you," the words weren't enough for what he was giving you, but you put the emotion into them and Loki inclined his head.

He understood.

You used magic to change into the armor in your arms. It was both beautiful and functional. Gold chest plate and shoulder plates, with durable green fabric under, a skirt, leggings, gauntlets, and boots. It looked like something Lady Sif had come to Midgard wearing, but in Loki's colors.

Loki's breathing hitched when he saw you wearing it. Memories swam in his eyes for a moment, memories and something more. "It suits you, Lady," he said and lifted your hand to brush his lips against your knuckles.

Even before battle, he could find the time for romance.