The Bridge Between Us - Loki X Reader

1- "What more could I have asked for?"

The city of Asgard was quiet, the endless light of the cosmos glancing off gilded structures and reflecting a golden shine on everything around it. Mornings were peaceful, the residents of the city having barely awakened and not yet gone about their regular business. The tranquility did not last long, however.

The clopping of horse hooves broke the silence of the still morning, echoing in beats as the beast galloped across the glimmering rainbow bridge and through the magnificent vaulted front gateway. The rhythmic pound of hooves on stone echoed off the walls of the surrounding houses as the horse left the bridge and turned down a larger road. The rider's blonde hair whipped in the wind and his dark cloak flapped behind him as he guided his steed towards the right wing of the enormous palace.

He heard his name being called out and pulled his horse to a stop as three women waved at him. "How are you fair ladies this lovely morning?" Fandral asked, dismounting his horse to greet them. He had seen them before on occasion, but their names were lost to him at the time. The bridge glowed faintly under his feet with every step he took, lighting the area beneath him with a soft rainbow shine. Fandral knew exactly what the three women were after, so he stopped in place and beckoned them forward. "Come on then, aren't you at least going to try?"

With the encouragement the females all darted onto the bridge, watching below them expectantly, but nothing out of the ordinary happened. A chorus of 'awws' could be heard as they looked back up at Fandral with disappointed expressions. He only shrugged and smiled, holding up his hands in an empty gesture.

There was an old saying passed around by the Asgardian people that says if two persons were meant to be together and both stood on the rainbow bridge at the same time, the bridge would light up and connect the two. It was the favorite pastime of young Asgardians who were chasing love to drag their friends onto the bridge in hopes that they would find their true soulmate.

Though it was called a legend, everyone knew of it to be true. Asgard itself was built on the tales of old, and Fandral himself had had the opportunity to see this fantastic event take place several times during his life.

Fandral found the idea of 'true love' quite ridiculous, but even he couldn't deny that the bridge had a certain power to it. Even Odin and Frigga had been bound together through it. He was also happy to play along with the other women if they wanted. There wasn't any harm in trying, and he couldn't deny that he liked the attention. Besides, if some lady did end up being destined for him, he wasn't the kind of man that would say no.

The three women left, still looking a bit downcast as they did, and Fandral returned to his horse, chuckling to himself. "Maybe next time, no?" Mounting the beast, Fandral gave a small salute to ladies, winking characteristically before he started off towards the palace once again.

Right before he came up to the fluted columns of gold, he turned off and instead followed a smaller path to the stable that was nestled in between a few trees. The rider pulled on the reins, bringing his horse to a trot as he arrived next to the stable doors. Several other horses poked their heads out of their windows to investigate the newcomer as he slid off the saddle and onto his feet.

His horse nickered as he tied it to a nearby post and patted it on the neck, earning an affectionate nuzzle from the beast. The man laughed and pushed the horse's face away as it attempted to chomp on his beard.

"Sorry Miss, I would rather keep my face intact," he joked, avoiding another headbutt from his friend. Leaving the mare outside he entered the stable, glancing around quickly. There was no one else to be seen, and he frowned. "Those lying sons of a—" He didn't get to finish his sentence, as he was tackled from behind by a much larger man who wrapped his arms around him and brought him down before he even had time to react.