ANNA PULLS AWAY from Loki's embrace, her pulse racing as she gasps for air. Leaning her forehead against his chest, she can feel the chill radiating from the skin of his neck. His body is firm and muscular against hers, his strength evident beneath the thick layers of Asgardian armor, and she inhales deeply. A hint of spice muddled with the scent of fresh snow is so subtle that it tingles her senses and causes her mouth to twist into a contented smile.

He presses his lips against her hair and allows them to linger for a moment, savoring the warmth of her small body in his arms, before straightening.

"We should go," he says softly, one of his hands caressing the small of Anna's back. "Thor awaits."

Anna groans into his chest before tipping her head up to face him. A shy smile stretches across her face, and Loki cannot help but notice how radiant the brunette is at this moment. It's as if she is exuding light from within her very being, and he is beyond grateful to bask in her glory. He smiles back at her, green eyes sparkling with delight, and he presses another kiss to her lips.

The kiss is gentle and brief, and it contains none of the urgency of their earlier kisses. Once they break apart, Anna smiles again - this time without reservation - and Loki lifts his arms to release her from the cage they form around her.

"We should do this again sometime," she teases Loki, taking a moment to adjust her appearance before they rejoin the others.

He smirks and lifts his shackled hands, "Without these perhaps?"

"Oh, I don't know," Anna gives him a sly wink before turning and calling over his shoulder. "I could think of a few good uses for them."

Loki's green eyes darken at the thought, burning with passion, and he takes a moment to compose himself before following after her. His long legs allow him to catch up with her quickly, matching his pace with hers, and they soon rejoin Thor and Jane. His brother gives him a questioning look, but Loki ignores it completely. Needless to say, Thor does little to hide his smile.

Rounding the corner, they enter the room where one of the Dark Elves' ships crashed, pillars demolished and rubble still scattered across the floor, and Volstagg stands awaiting them.

"I will give you as much time as I can," the red-headed Asgardian warrior tells them, earning a grateful nod from Thor.

"Thank you, my friend," the god of thunder says, clasping his friend's arm.

Volstagg gives a merry smile to Jane and Anna as they walk past, both of whom smile back at him, but he reaches out to halt Loki. Pushing back the fallen prince, Volstagg turns to give him a warning look.

"If you even think about betraying him," he warns, his voice low.

"You'll...kill me?" Loki asks sarcastically. "Evidently there will be a line."

He pushes past Volstagg and heads toward the ship, where Anna is waiting for him, and they board while Volstagg twirls his sizeable axe and prepares himself for the inevitable guards. Sif is talented, but without seeking to deal lethal blows to the guards, it would be nearly impossible to hold them off forever. He is the next line of defense.

Inside the ship, Thor begins pressing buttons on the foreign control panels. The ship whirs momentarily before returning to dormancy while Jane, Loki, and Anna join him inside. He presses another button, causing another sound, to no avail.

"I thought you said you knew how to fly this thing," Loki remarks.

Thor sighs, moving to another panel to try it's controls, "I said how hard could it be."

The sound of heavy footfalls thunder in the distance as the guards arrive into the chamber. Volstagg readies himself, one man against several, as they rush toward him.

"They're on the ship!" The captain of the guard shouts, "Get to the ship!"

"Well, whatever you're doing brother," Loki adds, noticing the metallic sounds of a fight clashing outside the ship, "I suggest you do it faster."

Thor grimaces, "Shut up, Loki."

"You must've missed something," he tells his brother, holding his shackled hands in front of him as he watches with thinly veiled amusement. Anna frowns, elbowing him in the ribs.

"You're not helping," she hisses, just loud enough for Loki to hear.

"No, I didn't," Thor replies to Loki. "I'm pressing every button on this thing."

Loki shakes his head, "No, don't hit it. Just press it. Gently."

"I am pressing it gently!" Thor insists, giving way to his frustration as he begins to pound on the various panels. "It's not working!"

The dim lights inside the ship flicker out before the control panels come to life, as well as the screens in front of them. Holograms of the layout, as well as the ship's various instruments, illuminate the interior and Thor laughs heartily.

He grabs the steering controls, his hands stretched wide as he slowly brings the ship to life. The engines begin to roar as they slowly lift off the ground, rotating slowly, and point out of the Asgardian palace. Once it reaches full power, Thor punches the ship forward - smashing through ornate columns and the thick palace walls, before emerging above the city.

"I think you missed a column," Loki says with a smirk.

Focused on the task ahead, Thor frowns, "Shut up!"

Now Playing: "Take Me Out" by Franz Ferdinand.

*****
AUTHOR'S NOTE

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