Nameless Wonder: 59
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“Daddy!” Shii-Ra flung herself forward into her father’s arms; her hair still a little damp from her forced bath earlier, hanging unbound just past her shoulders. Loki smiled widely, embracing his child before lifting her up to set her on one of his broad shoulders. She just giggled, swinging her legs a little back and forth.
“Getting into trouble, my pet?” The Norse deity asked with a deep chuckle. Compared to the rest of the divinities in that part of the world, he was small and thin. However, compared to the gods of Shangri La, he towered over them and could likely flip each and every one – even their so-called war-gods – over with one hand. He had no beard, but his red hair hung down to his beltline, even in its many plaits. His skin was pale, green eyes shining in amusement as the uptight deities around them stared in shock at the informal behavior of his child.
“Of course,” The white-haired girl snickered, before her dark eyes widened and sparkled a little, “Daddy, Daddy, what did you bring me today?” She was now nearly bouncing on Loki’s shoulder. A deep laugh rumbled up from his chest as he swung the girl down from his shoulder and set her delicate feet on the floor.
Very carefully, the Norse god of Mischief slid a hand into the furs and leathers he wore, as if searching for something. His face seemed to fall and Shii-Ra’s with it, as he drew out empty hands. “I’m sorry, pet,” He whispered, brushing her cheek with his thumb. The white-haired goddess sighed, starting to turn, before Loki stopped her, “What’s this…? I thought Jaylen told you to wash behind your ears.”
“I do!” Shii-Ra protested, her hands on her hips.
“Then what in the world could this be?” Reaching just behind her shoulder, he suddenly flicked his wrist before pulling his hand back. Loki grinned down at her, before he drew back. A tiny slingshot, just the right size for Shii-Ra’s hand and wrist, rested in the palm of his great hand.
Her eyes widened and she gasped. “For me?” She asked in wonder. Loki nodded, leaning in and kissing his daughter’s forehead.
“All yours,” He murmured, before looking up. Jaylen sighed, shaking her head as she stood before them, her arms crossed over her chest.
“Thanks, Daddy!” Shii-Ra ran forward, babbling to her sister about all the wonderful things she could do now that she had her very own slingshot. Her half-sister merely smiled a little, though it was a very precarious glass smile as she looked back to her uncle.
“Jaylen,” Loki held out his arms to her, though the war goddess did not move into them, “You look well! You’ve grown since the last time I saw you!”
“Uncle,” Jaylen murmured respectfully, though her tone held a world of censure in it, “If you insist on bringing Shii-Ra gifts, could they at least be a little less…destructive…?”
Loki looked at her strangely, before laughing and shaking his head. “Destructive, niece?” He asked innocently.
Jaylen rubbed her temples gently. “Yes, Uncle. Destructive. How much trouble do you expect she’s going to get into with that?”
“Oh, just enough to keep our Eastern brothers and sisters on their toes.” The flame-haired god smirked a moment, before moving forward and finally embracing the girl. Jaylen wrapped her arms around him, gently squeezing, before he released her.
A shadow covered them, a voice like thunder booming above them. “And what of me, daughter; am I not warranted a greeting as well? I have brought you a suitor.”
With an almost inaudible hiss of irritation, she turned and looked up to her sire. Thor towered over even Loki for at least an extra three feet, wheat-blonde hair braided and plaited to his belt. His beard was also braided, if only to keep it under control where it cascaded down his chest. Cool gray eyes – eyes the same color as his child’s – looked down upon her as though she were a window of glass he had broken, however he opened his arms to her as well.
There was a whisper among the slighter gods of the East, watching to see how their hardened general would take to this greeting and news. Still, raven-haired Jaylen moved into her father’s arms awkward and gave him an equally awkward hug. Thor pulled away first, his legendary hammer swaying a little where it hung from his hip. He motioned behind him and forward stepped a blonde mortal.
The gods gasped; they had rarely ever had the sight of a mortal before them. And this one was almost as tall as Loki’s shoulder; obviously muscled and battle-hardened. His skin was scarred, but not unpleasantly so. A few of the minor love and lust goddesses cooed and fanned themselves furiously as they looked upon the young man whose wheat-colored hair hung just past his shoulders and whose blue-green eyes spoke of a barbaric power both on the battlefield and behind the closed doors of the bedchamber.
“Herleifr is the strongest of my warriors, and he is newly brought to our home in Asgard,” Thor explained calmly, “He will build you a good home, give you many fine children. He will protect you and provide for you, daughter. Marry him and be happy.” The son of Odin slid his daughter’s hands into the gauntlet-covered ones of his mortal champion.
There was a long, stunned silence. Herleifr grinned, pulling the female general forward before his lips covered hers hungrily. Another shocked gasp ran through the crowd as the blonde’s hands shifted down to sit at Jaylen’s hips, tightening his fingers into them.
It was only a few seconds more before the supposed suitor was on the ground, moaning in pain and curled up in a ball. The dark-haired woman wiped her lips and then spat on the ground. Then, she turned on her father, her gray eyes dark and blazing with anger.
“Know this, mine father,” She growled, “I do not need children; raising my sister is hard enough,” Jaylen pointed to Shii-Ra, who stood between Son Goku and War Prince Nataku, “I do not need to be protected or…provided for,” The word was sneered, vicious and biting like a thousand snakes, “I have done well for myself these past centuries, without your or any man’s help. I do not appreciate you coming into my home and telling me what I need, nor do I appreciate you foisting me off to be pawed over by your warriors.” With a haughty sniff, she turned her back on the Norsemen and began to walk, “Come, Shii-Ra.”
The white-haired goddess moved over to her father, holding out her arms. Loki embraced her, brushing his lips over the top of her head before she pulled away and walked after her sister.
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