Loki's POV

"What?" I raised my brows in displeasure. "Out of all the one thousand and one possible ways to take a break from work, you chose the most pathetic one."

"It isn't that bad," she tilted her head on one side as she tried to convince me.

"Do I need to remind you that I don't necessarily do good with mortals around?" I looked down at that pretty little face facing me upside down, looking for any hints of realisation about our reality.

"You'll do alright. After all, you did put your life on the line to save those who you deem inferior." I stopped massaging and backed away from her slowly to go sit on the leather covered wing chair close to her. My lips thinned into a line as I searched for all possible outcomes of this vacation. Oh Sylvie, if only you know the reason behind Russia and China's virus attack. A decision which I still regret, second to the biggest blunder I made.

"It's Christmas time! We ought to celebrate it like everyone else," she pressed on, lifting her head up. I shot her a look. Why should I care about Christmas at all?
"Come on, you know I'm not one to sit in a corner all my life. Its been what, like a year since my last tour, so now I'm experiencing cabin fever," she said after noticing my thinking state.

My mind became alert and immediately my right hand rested on her forehead to confirm what she told about her sickness was true. Sylvie probably realized what I was doing as I saw her rolling her eyes. "It's the opposite of being homesick, my amateur Shakespeare." I scrunched up my nose on my alias, or whatever that was meant to be.

"Now who did you compare me with?" I asked, confused as to take this as a compliment or an insult. Midgardians have this weird of expressing things sometimes, which can keep me too in a puzzled state.

"That's not important now. You are coming with me on this trip and that's final," she kind of ordered than say it plainly. My shoulders sagged as I huffed. "Fine," I agreed to it reluctantly, "but where are we going?"

"Umm.. somewhere in America for sure. Disney World? Coney Island?" I raised a brow in confusion listening to how bizarre these names sounded, let alone imagining the crazy experience after visiting these.
She continued on, "Or something on the more natural side, maybe Grand Canyon? Or Niagara Falls? They say it's one of the most spectacular waterfalls on this planet."

"Well, no fall is that worthy to be compared with the falls at Asgard." My lips tugged upwards as I mentioned it.

"We don't know that yet. That's why we need to go see the world, discover the other side. Let's check up on the Internet, we'll get about and I quote 'one thousand and one' possible safe sites for fun and tourism. Now if you'll excuse me, I have a shower to attend to."

She winked at me and scooted off to her room, leaving her dirt covered sneakers on the carpet and her tote bag scattered on the couch. I frowned and got up to keep those in place. (Yes I absolutely hate doing this, but I have a promise to keep.) As I picked up the bag, my eyes quickly read the quote written on it in some curvy snake-like font :

If you remember me, then I don't care if everyone else forgets.

I rolled my eyes and took a few steps ahead before something clicked in my mind and my mouth just asked out the words loudly :

"Wait, who's Shakespeare again?"

*****

Two days later...

Sylvie's POV

I looked at my wristwatch for probably the seventh time now, as my feet started aching while I waited. Here I was, standing in one of the lawns in the Avenger compound, thinking of where the hell he went after I disclosed the news to him. My eyes flitted around, noticing blurry figures far away from me walking brusquely to get to their cubicles. Unlike him who is doing work at snail's pace right now. The familiar sound of blades chopping the air came from a distance and I smirked, knowing it was either a Quinjet or Zephyr One in action.

My handbag vibrated and I unzipped it in an instant knowing what it was. I fished out my phone and swiped right on the screen. "Hello?" I asked but I flinched on the unusual loud noise on the other end. I covered my right ear with my hand as I tried to make sense of the words among the whirring sound overhead whose volume increased. "Bucky, I can't hear a thing. Where are you..?" I trailed off and my eyes widened on seeing what now flew before me.

"I'm back!" Bucky almost shouted into the mobile. There he was, sitting in a red flying Corvette and showing his full set of teeth happily at me while he attended the call and flew the car simultaneously. My hair and jacket blew backwards due to the huge volume of air the car created as he landed it on the grass a bit roughly. He switched off the engine and came out of his driving seat. "Ta-da!" he spoke excitedly, pointing his hands towards his haul. "This is the perfect beauty you will ever get for a road trip!"

My shocked expression remained the same. "You did not just steal Lola now, did you?" I whispered, shocked of imagining Coulson's reaction to this rather than Bucky's ability to ride a flying automobile.

"Not steal, obviously," he bluffed, "ughh, that's... it isn't me. I just borrowed it for a while." I raised my eyebrow, clearly knowing the truth. Even a coma-induced Coulson wouldn't give permission to Bucky to let him borrow the Corvette. Heck, even Fury or Steve weren't allowed near her.

"No one in their sane mind would attempt to steal Lola, Bucky!" I scolded, and Bucky's smile immediately faded away on realising what he had done. His eyes flickered behind me and I bit my lip when I sensed the person standing there.

"You touch Lola again and I'll make sure you join the double amputee group." Coulson showed no sign of anger as he stood there, pointing an ICER towards Bucky with a coffee cup in his other hand. I took a step back knowing Coulson well, it was exactly this tone when he gets mad at somebody. Bucky stepped away from the car, his hands raised in the air.

"I am sorry on his behalf Coulson, he isn't much in his senses today," I spoke up, half-covering Bucky behind me. My mind however facepalmed at the act.

"Seriously, I get one Sunday off a month to spend my time flying her around, and the next thing I get to know is some overzealous person has borrowed her without asking," he said, getting frustrated.

"Even the Mona Lisa was stolen once," Bucky laughed off but regretted saying it as he looked at our disbelieving faces.

"Apologies, Agent. That won't happen again, would it?" I said, nudging him with my elbow. "Oh yes it won't. I promise," Bucky finished off.

"Fine. Because if that happens again, Fitz would be happy to design you a second arm. With all the latest S.H.I.E.L.D technology of course," he threatened with a smile like always. "This one works like a charm," he said, raising his left hand in the air. Settling himself in the car seat and taking a sip from the cup, he started the engine to life. It took me a moment to recall he had a life-like prosthetic arm too.

"And yes, a tip for you Sylvie. Christmas is the most busy time of the year around here, so be sure to make reservations at the earliest. You won't get to stay even in a rusty lodge if you plan at the last moment." I smiled and gave a thumbs up in reply. Putting on his sunglasses, he shifted the car gear and off the couple went, flying in the infinite sky.

Bucky let out a sigh and stood straight again as he faced me with my arms on my hips. "Look, I'm sorry, alright? Sorry for getting over-excited for planning a memorable road trip. I wanted to fulfill your wish. It's been years since I've had a vacation so.. damn it, I should have not done this."

I gave him a small understanding smile and kept my hand on his shoulder. "I get it. Not to worry about it. We'll adjust with the other antique cars out there for the trip, okay?" He nodded in reply. "Now come on, long faces never suit you. Let's have our vanilla lattés from the Urban Backyard, yeah?" His face lightened up and linking our arms together, we went on another coffee date like every other week.

*****

Later in the day...

It snows gently as Sansa stands there with a cloak and hood, overlooking the white cover spread over in the vicinity. She takes in a deep breath and leaves the place. "Have my sister brought into the Great Hall," she orders the guard on her way.

"I can't believe it," I whispered, my hand twirling a popcorn flake.

The scene cuts to the hall with Arya escorted there by guards. Silence pans around among the soldiers, knights and commanders present in the room as the brave girl stood in front of her for trial.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" Arya asks, disturbing the quiet after clear observation.
"It's not what I want, it's what honour demands," Sansa answers coldly.
"And what does honour demand?"
"That I defend my family from those who harm us, that I defend the north from those who betray us."
"Alright then, get on with it."

"Is she a fool to still believe Baelish's lies? Why is she..."
"Shhhhhh! Don't interrupt the climax!" I silenced Loki who seemed to agree too.

Sansa starts the trial. "You stand accused of murder, you stand accused of treason. How do you answer these charges..."

Ding dong.

"... Lord Baelish?"

My fingers crushed the popcorn flake in surprise. "Come on, not now! Not between a Game of Thrones episode!" I exclaimed in frustration. Even Loki let out a huff as he reached for the remote to pause the scene. I kept the bucket quite roughly on the couch, causing some popcorn to roll down on the seat and on the carpet. "Hey, I made those!" Loki defended as I got up to my feet to answer the door.

"Go tell that to our uninvited guest," I snapped, turning the door knob carelessly.
An elderly man stood before me, probably in his eighties in a uniform which belonged to some courier company. Wrinkles decked his face as he stood there trying to read the matter on the box he held with his sunglasses on. "Is this Sophie Hiddle- stan?" He asked in a quivery voice and smiled at me, looking triumphant at his reading skills.

"Yes, that's her," a voice quipped in from behind and I shot him a glare over my shoulder.

"With utmost respect sir, we didn't place any order." I faked a smile to hide my utter disappointment of having to handle a disorderly man in exchange for the incredible plot twist I missed seeing for the first time. Now the excitement won't be the same when I see it again.

"I never said you did," he replied, handing me over the box and a paper to sign on. Thanking him (and fuming on him from the inside), I closed the door to see Loki sitting on the couch wearing a childish smile on his face.

"Who is so generous to gift you something?" he questioned. Shaking my head, I observed the newly acquired box. It was medium sized, wrapped in red Christmas themed gift paper. On it was a note stuck which said :

Mrs. Sophie Hiddleston,
This isn't for you.

Love,
Definitely not Mungo Jerry. ;)

I smirked as I carefully unwrapped the box and opened it. I started laughing hysterically at what he sent over.

"Don't tell me you inhaled laughing gas the box is emitting," he said, puzzled at my state. Naturally, because not many people can go from being grumpy to 'rolling on the floor laughing' in moments.

"Quite the opposite, it's for you actually," I spoke between fits of laughter and passed him the item after I calmed down a bit.

Loki rolled his eyes in the most droll manner possible on seeing his gift : a framed cinematic picture of him on his golden chariot during the New York battle. At the bottom of the frame were words engraved in gold :
To the hottest reindeer on Earth,
Merry Christmas.

"It's Stark, isn't it?" I nodded with the same smile he adorned before. He scrunched up his nose in disgust as he held up the frame. "He could have at least written 'hottest in the universe'," he spat out and left the room. Somewhere around, my mobile ringed with a notification. I walked up to the charging port and unlocked my phone to smile wider at the message.

Tony : 《Let me guess, he went into drama queen mode right away after he received the gift.》

Me :《I expected nothing else from him. Btw, Christmas is still days away.》

Tony : 《I would have sent it on D-day, but the Hiddlestons aren't in town.》

Me : 《You know about the trip?》

Tony : 《How can I not? And don't worry, I ain't someone with the party crashing habit.》

Me : 《But how do you know about it? Only 5 people have intel on it.》

Tony :《Well, let's say I have ears everywhere.》

Me :《You very well know what curiosity did to the cat.》

Tony :《Says the goddess who reads people's minds.》I let out a genuine smile. And Tony won a point again. The only people who could beat me in this were Loki, Tony and Mother Frigga.

Tony :《FYI, your gift is waiting for you somewhere else Fireball. You might want to get some upgrades on this trip. Check out your email inbox.》I did as he said, and found out he booked reservations at a hotel named The Bellagio.

Tony :《Thank me later. And don't ask me again on how I know it. You deserve a break more than anyone else. Go out and enjoy. Yes, if any help required, call on this helpline number 453xxxxx. (Btw, his first name's Agent ;) 》
I immediately knew who he referred to.

Me : 《Thank you Tony. I hope you're doing fine at your end. I can't wait to meet up with you real soon.》

Tony : 《We will. Now go out and enjoy. Happy holidays! (And, fingers crossed, if any excitable action happens behind closed doors, blame Vegas for it.)》
I grinned like an idiot. Such a Tony thing to say.

"Well well well, looks like someone finds Stark's antics a little too hilarious," he commented, observing me as he half-leaned on the couch.

"He's my boyfriend, duh." I kept down my phone and crossed my arms.

"That would be a bit extreme for a lie darling, considering he is committed to Potts. And we are.." he trailed off, pointing to the ring on his left hand to make his point.

I walked up close and looked up at him. "Oh, are we?" I asked with a playful smile and booped on his nose before I changed direction and stepped away. I turned around to see Loki having the most adorable surprised face on.

I wondered as I stared at my Midgardian husband. We weren't sure yet of what we exactly were by this point, but I held on to the feeling that this trip could change the course of our relationships for the better.

Little did I know the course would take a u-turn later on...

*****

A.N. : FYI, other than Coulson and FitzSimmons, there will be many S.H.I.E.L.D agents getting introduced in the later parts, so if someone haven't watched *Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D* series yet, I recommend you to go watch it. And somehow if you couldn't, don't worry, you won't miss out much on the bigger picture.

Thank you for reading!
Till then, stay tuned!