Choices

Chapter 18
"We need to outsource you to something called colors." Cephera called from inside Loki's closest. They had worked for long hours that day for a cure and had yet to create one. Loki hadn't been kidding about swapping clothing. Currently, she stood in his wardrobe wearing a pair of black pants that were too long but the clasping at the bottoms kept her from treading on them and a white shirt that had a small V at the collars opening and nothing else. Her hair she had braided in one length down her back.
"There are colors." He insisted joining her.
"I meant something beyond blacks and greens. I mean even a lime green would give this place a bit of attitude. Everything is so dull." She frowned trying to find a suitable overcoat.
"Well, I'm sorry, but pinks and yellows don't suit my green eyes and black hair." He told her dryly.
"I didn't say it had to be pink. What about blues, reds, golds." She pulled down and unfolded yet another black and green overcoat and with a sigh she settled for it.
"Thor tends to wears reds and golds." Loki informed her as she pulled the garment on. Loki was comfortable in himself. He had placed himself in her dress she'd been wearing earlier. They would see a seamstress only if they couldn't find a cure within the next few days. The dress she'd worn was red with yellow flowers printed along the hem. The sleeves coming up shorter in the arms than they should and the bust leaving nothing to the imagination. Luckily for Loki the dress laced in the back and easily was made to fit his well endowed chest.
He made a pretty woman even with the shortly cropped hair. Cephera, however, made a very awkward looking man. She'd avoided her sister all day long just so she wouldn't have to hear her teasing. She could only imagine what else her sister would have to say about the change, all sexual no doubt. Cephera didn't want to hear it. She'd already experienced going to the bathroom and it was a mess, both literally and figuratively.
Aiming apparently wasn't as easy as she thought and as her mind maintained the female flow she felt nothing but perverted having to touch the flaccid length that was now part of her. She could have asked Loki on the matter, but that was altogether embarrassing and there was no other male she felt comfortable with. She instead suffered her feelings and awkwardness in silence. She'd promptly cleaned her mess and made sure to dispose of the evidence.
Just thinking about it made her shift in discomfort. She joined Loki at his desk and he sat down while she placed her rear on the top. She saw the look given to her from Loki, he clearly disapproved of her choice of seating, but he didn't voice it. While he opened up a new book Cephera looked down and her eyes fell to his large bosom. She frowned, why did they have to be that big.
"You're staring," Loki said snapping her out of her thoughts. Cephera's eyes snapped wide.
"Sorry, they're just so much bigger than my own." She told him pursing her lips.
"Do they please you?" He inquired smirking.
"Just because my body is that of a man doesn't mean my mind is. The female form never attracted me as a female and it doesn't do so now. Don't flatter yourself." She glared.
"Pity, I've never been bothered by the thought of men. In fact, I've dabbled in a few tryst though normally with a female involved. It would have been interesting to feel what it is like from a female point of view." Cephera gave Loki the most horrified look she could muster. It wasn't the thought of him bedding men in any manner, but more the fact he was implying he would have sex with her as a man.
"Is this something you think about when I'm female?" The question spilled from her lips before she could stop it.
He eyed her in amusement. "Don't be silly. It is simply the thought of trying something new for the two of us. I am your teacher, I do not mix business with pleasure." He waved her insecurities off.
"Are you trying to lead me to believe that if Amora offered you, you would not take it?" Loki's eyebrow arched delicately.
"I suppose not, but you are not my type. Rest assured I've no intimate intentions toward you." Cephera wanted to sigh in relief but felt it might be disrespectful and perhaps even insulting.
"Thank you." She replied instead with a small head nod. Loki did the same and looked back down at the book.
(Thor)
It had been three days since one of Loki's potions had gone wrong and Thor still could not contain his teasing. His brother made a very beautiful woman and Thor made sure to tell him so. Loki wasn't glad to hear Thor sending him words of flattery and Thor knew it. The same went for Cephera, Thor didn't tease her but her sister did enough of that.
Sif felt bad for the two of them, well more so Cephera. "If she is not careful much worse could befall her should she continue to train under your brother." She had told Thor. Thor didn't reply to her. In some ways, he agreed and others he knew Loki would not harm the princess on purpose. Even when it came to Sif's hair Loki hadn't hurt her, at least not physically. There was still some sour feelings between his companion and his brother, but they were doing well to hide it.
Thor had left the training ground early this day and was currently heading to the throne room to see his father. Odin had requested him in private. Thor entered the enormity of the throne room where his father was stood conversing with his mother. When she spotted him she smiled warmly and when he was close enough she gave his a hug and kiss to the cheek. "You've grown so tall," She said as though it was something new. "I remember when you were naught but a short boy running around behind my feet."
"Many happy times mother." He agreed kissing her cheek in return.
"I will leave you two to talk," She said and walked away soundlessly.
"Come with me." Odin told Thor and led him off to a more private room used for only the most important matters.
"Is everything all right father?" Thor inquired concerned.
"Your nameday approaches." Odin clasped his arms behind his back.
"It does." Thor agreed grinning. "Though not for another two months." Curiosity was aching inside him. Normally their namedays were celebrated with party, food, and drink.
"I have a surprise for you this nameday, but it requires me to journey off Asgard." Thor straightened his posture.
"Away from Asgard?" Thor couldn't remember a time since the Jotun war that his father had left. "Who will oversee things whilst you are away?" A thumping in his chest gave him hope that his father meant to leave Thor as temporary ruler of the kingdom. He held his breath in his eagerness.
"Your mother will oversee the kingdom with my advisors to aid her should she need them. She is well versed in my daily doings when need be." Odin replied shooting down every hope Thor had.
"Of course." Thor promptly commented trying to hide his disappointment.
"I will return as soon as possible, but I wanted you to know that this nameday will be special. Do not worry about my absence."
"Will you be informing Loki of your leaving?"
"You know how your brother can be. He will not be pleased to find out I have extra plans this year for you when I have none for him." Thor frowned.
"Then why give me anything?" Thor asked. He knew his brother would no doubt feel disappointed and perhaps a spark of jealousy.
"Loki has done nothing to deserve such a thing as I plan to bestow upon you, at least not yet. His malicious mischief has only grown worse over the past few years and until he grows out of such childishness he will not be rewarded." Thor's frown deepened. He knew what his father said was true and yet he didn't think Loki would learn this way. Soon his worry for his brother subsided as his thoughts fell on this thing his father planned to give him. The thought of what it could be overtook his concern for Loki, the trickster, and settled on his nameday surprise.
"I look forward to your return." Thor told Odin. Odin gave Thor's shoulder a heavy pat before departing.
***
The night was growing long and Loki had noticed Odin's absence. It took everything for Thor not to tell Loki that their father had a magnificent surprise gift planned for Thor. In his heart, he wished he could express such things with his brother, but he knew of Loki's ongoing jealously and envy. He wished they could have a more open and trusting relationship. Where Loki believed Thor to always be seeking ways to look better than him it wasn't true.
Loki's shortcomings in fighting were his own fault for his lack of interest and practice in their younger years. Then Loki had come running along as a boy to join Thor and his three friend, Fandral, Hogun, and Volstagg on their little adventures into the forests. Loki had gotten himself badly hurt and Odin had chided Thor for not having kept a closer eye on him. After that Thor feared letting Loki go and Loki saw that as Thor treating him like he was weak and unworthy.
He later turned to magic, an art he was always fascinated in, but was then and still is seen as something only females practiced. Thor admired Loki's spirit to continue his magic practice so openly for all to scrutinize. It was true though that Thor often made jokes about Loki when he wasn't around, but in the moment he meant only to impress his friends and make them laugh. It was wrong and admittedly Thor would feel bad afterwards, but found himself not thinking of such things in the moment. Princess Cephera had made a point of telling him off when she overheard him making fun at Loki's expense. Truthfully, she had made him feel low and with good reason.
He had been trying his best lately to not speak of Loki in any negative ways. Loki had enough reason to wedge a stone between their once strong relationship. As the years moved onward they only seemed to grow further apart and Thor wasn't sure how to fix that. He had hoped that perhaps Cephera would help calm his brother's poisoning emotions, but only time would tell.
They had been spending a lot of time together since their gender swap. Perhaps a friendship would bloom and maybe even something more. Thor sat drinking and smiling as stories were told among them. Cephera and Loki sitting close by, but both attempting to remain invisible to avoid teasing. Seraphina was, perhaps, the most intoxicated of them all. Sitting in Fandral's lap giggling and cheering loudly at his tales. She had at one point knocked him in the face with her elbow which Sif found amusing. Thor hadn't forgotten how Sif came to be with him. He often wondered what the girls had done in the privacy of their own rooms. The thought stirred his hormones and he felt a tightening in his pants which he chose to ignore. He was no fool as to suggest to Sif to take Seraphina back to bed with them. She may very well have his head no matter what relationship she and Seraphina once had.
Thor took a heavy swig from his cup and noticed Loki watching him. A strange look plastered across the younger princes face. A look that told Thor that Loki knew something as to why Odin had left. Loki always seemed to know more than he should. Thor chose to keep his tongue still on the matter. When their father returned then he could explain his journey rather than leave it up to Thor to tell him. Thor was afraid if he told him that Loki would take it as him boasting and right now they were all having a good time, well almost all of them.

Notes