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{Chapter: 64 - A Date a with Sif}
"Are you awake?"
The voice was soft, barely above a whisper, laced with concern.
Aiden's eyes fluttered open. Everything felt soreāhis muscles ached like they'd been torn apart and sewn back together with fire. His vision was hazy at first, but the outline of someone familiar slowly sharpened into focus.
Sif.
She sat at his bedside, her long raven hair braided neatly over one shoulder. Her armor was off for once, replaced by a simple dark tunic that somehow made her seem both regal andā¦ approachable. There was a softness in her expression that Aiden hadn't seen before.
"Whereā¦ am I?" His voice came out hoarse, as if scraped against gravel.
"You're safe," she said, her tone quieter than usualāgentler, even. "This is my house."
Aiden blinked, confused. His mind was still catching up.
"Your home?" he asked, scanning the room.
It wasn't what he expected. The furniture was functional, not decorative. The walls were lined with old weapons, shields, and trophies of past battles. A thick fur pelt rested across a chair in the corner, and there was a strong scent of pine, steel, and leather in the air.
Not exactly the cozy nest of a delicate ladyābut then again, Sif had never been a delicate lady.
He smirked faintly. "Bit moreā¦ warrior's den than a princess's bedchamber."
Sif raised an eyebrow, but there was a flicker of amusement in her eyes. "I didn't decorate it for you."
Aiden chuckled, then winced. "Right. Probably shouldn't laugh just yet."
"You shouldn't even be awake," she said, rising slightly to check his bandages. Her fingers brushed against his chestājust for a momentābut lingered a heartbeat longer than necessary. "You overdid it. Again. You nearly burned yourself alive."
Memories came rushing backāMalekith's retreating scream, the scent of melting steel, the roar of flame, and thenā¦ darkness.
"I went supernova," Aiden murmured. "No wonder I feel like I've been hit by a planet."
"Idiot," she muttered, but the word lacked venom. "You used the power of an Infinity Stone before which made your body already over its limit. Then you used your power If you hadn't collapsed when you did, your flame would have engulfed the city."
He turned his head toward her. "So you were worried."
"I carried you here, didn't I?" she snapped back, though her cheeks gained a faint shade of pink. "And dressed your wounds myself."
Aiden's eyebrow rose. "Personally?"
"I don't trust others with your body," she answered flatlyāthen blinked, realizing how that sounded. Her expression stiffened as if she'd stepped into a trap.
Aiden grinned, clearly enjoying this. "I'll try not to read too much into that."
"You're impossible," she muttered, turning away to pour water into a silver cup.
"But charming," he added with a wink.
She handed him the cup without looking directly at him. "You should hydrate before your ego ignites the roof."
Aiden drank, then lowered the cup. "Soā¦ Malekith. Is he dead?"
Sif shook her head, her mood shifting. "No. You injured himābadlyābut he escaped. His magic cloaked his presence before the Allfather could finish him off. We searched the ruins, but all we found was blood and burnt armor."
Aiden cursed under his breath. "Damn. I hit him with enough heat to vaporize a dragon."
"He's persistent," Sif said darkly. "And desperate. The Aether is everything to him."
Aiden nodded. "If he comes again, I'll be ready. Next time, I won't hold back."
There was silence for a moment.
"The attack on Asgard?" he asked.
Sif's lips thinned. "The damage wasā¦ significant. Many guards fell. Civilians were wounded. The palace's western wall is gone."
"I'm sorry," Aiden said quietly.
"We'll recover," she replied. "We always do. Odin is rallying a legion. The dark elves will answer for this."
Aiden's gaze lingered on her. "And you? You'll be going with them, won't you?"
"Of course," she said, raising her chin. "My blade thirsts for retribution."
He smiled faintly. "I should've guessed. You don't strike me as the type to sit around polishing armor."
Sif looked down at him. "And you don't strike me as someone who stays in bed."
There was another pause.
Then Aiden smirked. "Since I'm alive, I guess I should claim my reward."
Sif blinked. "Reward?"
"The bet," Aiden said. "I won, didn't I? You said if I beat Malekith, you'd owe me a date."
Her eyes widened slightly. For a moment, she seemed caught off guardāthen her warrior pride surged forward. "I didn't forget."
"So?" he asked, voice low, teasing. "Are you going to pretend to be shy now?"
Sif exhaled through her nose. "A warrior keeps her word. I lost the wagerā¦ I owe you a date."
Aiden raised a brow. "You sound like you're marching to the gallows."
Her cheeks turned redder, but she crossed her arms stubbornly. "It's not that I mind. I justā¦ never thought you'd survive, let alone win."
"Ouch," Aiden said, placing a hand dramatically over his heart. "Wounded again."
Sif smirked. "You'll live. Barely."
Aiden reached out and gently caught her hand, surprising her. "I'm looking forward to it, you know."
She stared at him, her expression unreadable.
"I'm not teasing," he added. "Not entirely."
For a long moment, neither of them spoke. Then Sif's fingers curled slightly around his.
"You're unlike anyone I've ever met," she admitted softly. "Reckless. Infuriating. Proud."
"I get that a lot."
"But also braveā¦ and strongā¦ and," she added with a sideways glance, "surprisingly gentle when it matters."
Aiden chuckled. "Careful. If you compliment me too much, I might start falling for you."
She gave him a small smirk. "You might already have."
They stayed like that for a moment longerātwo warriors who had faced death side by side, now quietly sharing a victory that wasn't just on the battlefield.
Then Aiden broke the silence with a grin.
"Soā¦ dinner under the stars? Or are you more of a mead-and-bar-fight kind of girl?"
Sif laughed, a rare soundāclear and beautiful.
"I'll let you decide," she said. "But if you try anything funnyā¦ you'll be limping for real next time."
Aiden leaned back and closed his eyes with a contented sigh.
"Worth it."
Sif paused momentarily, listening to him. As she gazed into his eyes, she twirled her hair, deliberately avoiding direct eye contact.
"That asideā¦" Sif's voice broke the silence as she leaned back slightly, arms crossed, yet with a faint, knowing smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "You may not know it, but you've become something of a hero in Asgard."
Aiden tilted his head, his curiosity piqued. "Oh? A hero, huh?"
"Don't play dumb," she chuckled softly, her eyes glowing faintly with admiration. "You killed Kurse. You injured Malekith and stopped the dark elves from breaking through. Even killed more dark elves than any men in the Palace. That's no small feat. Trust me, those stories are spreading faster than a wildfire in Asgard."
She leaned a little closer, teasing now. "Countless women are swooning. I've heard whispers ā some daughters of noble houses are already asking their Fathers for an introduction."
Aiden's eyes narrowed playfully as he reached out and gently grasped her hand. "Well, I'm not interested in whispers or noble daughters," he murmured. "Because the only smile I want to see... is yours. Just yours. From now on... I want it to belong to me alone."
Sif blinked. Her breath hitched as color bloomed over her cheeks like the first light of dawn. She looked down at their joined hands, unsure of what to say, her warrior instincts unprepared for this kind of battle. But after a moment, she nodded ā slowly, shyly ā and glanced up at him again through her lashes.
"Aidenā¦" she whispered.
He smiled, emboldened by her reaction. "You know, I heard something about you," he said casually. "That you only like warriors. Strong ones. The kind who've seen battle and bled for what they believe in."
Sif straightened slightly, her pride resurfacing as if drawn by instinct. "That's true. I've always admired strength ā not just of body, but of will. Cowards and flatterers are no match for someone who stands in the thick of war."
"Then let me ask you this," Aiden said, tightening his grip on her hand, "If one day you met a warrior stronger than meā¦ would you leave me for him?"
Sif's eyes sparkled with amusement. "Do you think so little of me?" she teased, but her voice was warm. "I admire strength, yes. But I also value loyalty, courageā¦ and a heart willing to fight not just for glory, but for love."
She leaned forward again, her voice low and smooth. "There may be someone stronger out there... but I believe you will surpass them all one day. Because you're stubborn ā and proud ā and reckless."
Aiden chuckled. "You make me sound like a fool."
"You are a fool," she said with a smirk. "But you're my foolā¦ at least for one date."
"Hah! I'll take it," Aiden grinned. "Just wait, give me a little timeā¦ and I'll be the strongest man in this universe ā and all the others."
"We'll see," Sif replied, though her heart was already thumping in a way she didn't quite understand.
She looked at their hands, still entwined. "But rememberā¦ I only promised you a date. Nothing more."
"Doesn't matter," Aiden said boldly. "Just means I'll have to make that date so perfectā¦ you'll want a second, and a third, and a thousand more after that."
Sif scoffed softly, though she didn't pull her hand away. "You're awfully confident."
"Confident and charming," he winked. "Soā¦ when does our date start?"
"Youā¦" Sif flushed again and finally tried pulling her hand free. "Let go of my hand first."
Aiden's grip tightened gently, just enough to make her pause. "Holding hands is normal on a date, isn't it?"
"Is it?" she asked, genuinely confused. "I've neverā¦ done this kind of thing before."
"Then allow me to be your first," Aiden said smoothly. "Your first date. Your first hand-hold. Your firstā¦ everything."
She rolled her eyes, but her smile betrayed her amusement. "You talk like a bard."
"I'm a warrior and a bard," he replied proudly. "I conquer battlefields and hearts."
Sif chuckled and looked away to hide her smile. "So? What do we even do on a date? I know swordplay, notā¦ loveplay."
Aiden laughed. "Well, first we sit together like this. Maybe we eat something. Then we talk. Then I compliment you endlessly, and you try not to blush."
"I'm not blushing," Sif lied.
"You're blushing so hard the Bifrost might beam you straight to Midgard."
"Hmph," she huffed, looking flustered. "Fine. But we're not going anywhere. Outside is chaos. There's no wine, no music, no ā"
"Then let's have a home date," Aiden offered with a boyish smile. "Just the two of us. Here. No distractions."
"What would we do here?" she asked, suspicious.
"Oh, all kinds of things," Aiden grinned wickedly. "Board games. Storytelling. Maybe I'll brush your hair."
"Brush myā!?" Sif's eyes widened in shock.
"Yeah. Sit you down, make you feel like a goddess you are, the way you deserve. What? You've never been pampered?"
"I'm a warrior! Not some princess!"
"I know," he said, voice softening. "You're far better than a princess. You're Lady Sif ā the woman who taught me what real strength looks like. And I want to learn everything about you."
For a moment, neither of them said anything. Then Sif looked away and whispered, "You're dangerous when you speak like that."
"And yet, you haven't let go of my hand," he teased gently.
"Maybe I don't want to," she said quietly.
Aiden smiled. "Then let's start our dateā¦ right now."
And just like that, the war outside Asgard's walls felt distant ā as if time itself paused to give two warriors a moment of peace... and perhaps, the beginning of something deeper.
*****
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