Title: Loki and the Ring
Fandom: Danmachi
Rating: PG-13
Length: 1,015 Words
Content Notes: No content notes apply.
Author Notes: In addition to filling the standard prompt (Promise), this post fills one of the squares (Bar) on my Fan Flashworks Bingo Card. The story, like several of my Danmachi works (the directory is here), takes place in a post-canon scenario that has its basis in fan theories and my odd pairing notions.
Summary: Before the Loki Familia returns to the Dungeon for a push to the 100th Floor, Tsubaki has a question that she wishes to ask Loki herself.

* * * *

It was the night before the expedition to the 100th Floor, and there was a full house at the Hostess of Fertility consisting of both the entire Loki Familia and a number of its allies and supporters in the service of other Gods, all present to celebrate life before putting it at risk in the depths of the Dungeon. The atmosphere was subdued, considering the stakes. No one had been to the 100th Floor, but it had long been rumored to be the bottom of the Dungeon, the goal of every adventurer since the founding of Orario.

Loki perched on the edge of her chair, her knees pulled up to her chin as she smiled down at a tankard of ale as big as her head. Across from her sat Tsubaki, Captain of the Hephaestus Familia and one of the leaders of the expedition. Normally, the two of them could drink each other under the table, but Tsubaki had not touched her ale, and Loki had not started hers.

"Sooo –" The Goddess set down her tankard and steepled her fingers. "– c'mon, what's eating you? You're not your usual go-getter self tonight." She tilted her head. "Surely you're not nervous? You've come with my children on so many of these that I don't think there's anything about it that can get to you."

"Eh, I've been thinking," Tsubaki said, leaning back in her chair, the long sleeves of her kimono catching a breeze as the front door opened and closed. "I'm not worried about it, really. There's just something I wanted to do before we go, and it's not something I'm used to doing. That's all it is."

"Oh?" Loki sat down normally, still grinning. "Does this involve you and me and you not wearing those bandages around your chest? Because that's fun."

"Well –" Tsubaki scratched her cheek with one finger. Not so much as a blush. Loki had never been able to break her composure – no mean feat. "– maybe later. But that's not what I was thinking about, honestly. It's more –"

"More serious?" Loki asked, her face playfully neutral. "Well, I'm not much good at serious stuff. It's too tempting to make a joke out of it." She rest her chin on her hands. "But, if you want to talk to me, I'll listen, at least for a little bit. Drone on too long, and I'll start thinking of other stuff."

"I'll jump right into it, then: Have you ever been in love, Loki?" Tsubaki rested her elbows on the table, looking very intently at the Goddess.

"Hmm! Well, I've been around a pretty long time, and I'm sure it's happened at least once, maybe a few times." She paused. "Before you say it: No, not with a horse. Ever. I'd like to find the person who started that one." She tapped her chin. "Oh, I've had lovers. Plenty! Men and women. Mostly women, really. Present company included. But have I been in love?" That made her scrunch up her face. "That's a really hard question to answer honestly, you know. I feel like I'll lose something of my essence as a Trickster if I tell you, and ... I don't think that's a joke. So I'll say ... maybe. Probably."

"Eh, good enough," Tsubaki said, reaching into a pouch at her belt. "I think I know you well enough to know that you can love. So I thought I'd give this to you." She laid a ring on the table. "Crafted it myself. I won't even tell you all the different metals that are in it. Better to keep you guessing."

"Ooo!" Loki picked it up, her eyes gleaming for a second before her face turned skeptical. "Is it magic, though? What happens if I put it on?"

"It's not magic," Tsubaki replied, "but, if you put it on, it means you accept that I love you." The half-smile on her face hinted at tiredness. "I wanted to give it to you before we go, just in case, y'know, I don't make it back."

That made Loki blink, but she looked down at the ring, nodded, and put it on. "I'm not going to turn down a promise like that." She managed to keep her face neutral, but there was a little emotion pulling at the edges. "It's been a long time since anybody's put the moves on me. I'm touched." She looked at the ring as it sparkled on her finger. "I hope Hephaestus doesn't mind."

"She and I talked about it." Tsubaki shrugged. "I think she was a little exasperated, but she's all right with it. I'm not leaving my Familia. I'm just ... formalizing what we have, just a little bit. I hope it's all right."

"Oh, it is." Loki nodded repeatedly. "You've always been one of my favorites, so, if you're willing to accept that I'm going to outlive you by at least a few centuries, I'll do my best to stay faithful." She grimaced. "I, uh, can't really promise a lot on that, though. You know me. If my fingers aren't wandering, they'll wander right off my hands. That's just me, that's all."

"I don't mind." Tsubaki paused. "Well, no, I probably do mind, but I know you can't change your nature, so, if I'm one among many, that's fine, just understand that I'll at least be faithful to you in return." She leaned forward. "Is that a deal? I know how you get when it comes to making deals."

Loki grinned. "Oh, it's a deal, all right. How do you wanna seal it?"

Tsubaki stood up, smirking. "How do you think? I want everybody to see."

And Loki laughed, standing up to join her. "That's scandalous. I love it!"

When Tsubaki leaned across the table to kiss the Goddess of Mischief on the lips in the middle of the Hostess of Fertility, most of the Loki Familia – and those others celebrating alongside them – erupted in applause, save for a couple of them who were lost in their thoughts about the expedition to come.

END.