{Chapter: 374 What I Said}
"Ugh…" Sif groaned softly, her face contorted in discomfort as she slowly blinked her eyes open. She sat up gingerly, one hand gripping her head. "By the nine realms… my head feels like it was trampled by a frost beast…"
"Here, drink some water. Might help flush out the humiliation too," White Queen said sweetly, offering her a chilled bottle of mineral water with a grin.
Sif narrowed her eyes at the unfamiliar woman, taking the bottle but not drinking right away. "Who are you?"
"My name's White Queen. First time we're meeting face to face. I'm more of the 'observe, record, and mock' type. By the way," she added, tilting her head toward the next bed, "William hasn't put on his clothes yet. Want to burn your retinas a little more this morning?"
Sif's eyes darted instinctively to where William sat, shirtless, grinning like the devil himself. She rolled her eyes with disdain. "Shameless exhibitionist."
"You're not wrong," White Queen agreed, nodding with exaggerated seriousness. "He walks around half-naked so often, we've started charging him a decency tax."
Across the bed, Alice stretched lazily and shot William a glance. "Huh. Surprised you haven't worked your magic on this one. She still looks like she wants to stab you instead of—well, everything else."
Sif turned her gaze to Alice, then to Ada, then Pepper, and then finally to White Queen again. She hesitated, something unspoken flashing behind her eyes, but her lips thinned into a cold line. "This has nothing to do with me."
William raised a brow, feigning innocence. "Sif, you sure? You look like you've got something you're dying to say."
She didn't look at him. Her voice was flat and clipped. "Do I look like I have a voice in this little harem circus of yours?"
White Queen dramatically sniffed the air. "Ooooh, do you smell that? Yep—pure vinegar. Thick in the air. Our mighty Asgardian warrior maiden is pickling in jealousy."
Sif scowled. "I'm not jealous."
White Queen leaned in like a giddy gossip. "You brought up William before anyone else did. That's a Freudian slip. You're totally into him, aren't you?"
Sif's lips twitched. "I… What nonsense. That man is a beast."
Jane, still sitting awkwardly on the edge of her bed, murmured, "Tell me about it…"
"Jane, Pepper, Alice, Ada, and myself… we're all well-acquainted with that beast now," White Queen added with a smirk. "But you—what's really going on in that head of yours?"
Sif ignored the jab and abruptly looked down at herself, patting her armor in a moment of panic. Her eyes widened slightly with relief—it was still intact.
Then her glare turned ice-cold. She whipped her head toward William. "Did you do anything to me?"
William held up his hands in mock surrender. "Me? Absolutely not. Didn't even touch a single warrior-goddess big boob."
Jane gasped and snapped her head toward him. ""Big, big breasts?! Seriously?! Could you maybe, for once, use a word that doesn't make me want to punch you in the mouth?"
"Okay, okay—chesticles?" William offered with a devilish grin.
"Go jump in the ocean," Jane groaned.
Sif crossed her arms. "So you do admit to trying to get me drunk."
"I admit to offering drinks," William said smoothly. "It was your idea to try to outdrink me. Besides, if I really wanted to… you wouldn't have armor on right now."
"That's… not helping," Ada muttered.
"He's telling the truth," White Queen added helpfully. "We showed up just in time. Trust me, I'd be the first to mock him if he crossed a line."
"You're all in the same clique," Sif snapped. "None of your words hold weight with me."
Alice raised a brow. "That's fine. But maybe you should stop pretending you're not affected."
"Excuse me?" Sif looked genuinely offended.
Pepper, still sore and wincing from last night's enthusiastic lovefest, muttered dryly, "She's just pissed we interrupted before he got to her."
"You're welcome, by the way," White Queen said cheerfully. "We might've spared you from getting devoured by this maniac."
Sif narrowed her eyes. "I wouldn't have needed saving."
"Oh, I know," White Queen said with a grin. "But you still haven't answered one thing: why does your voice get so tight when you talk about him?"
Sif looked away.
William's smile softened as he finally stood and pulled on a loose shirt. "Sif, listen. I didn't do anything because… I knew you wouldn't want it like that. Whatever is between us—it's complicated. But I'd never force your hand. You're proud, strong… I respect that."
There was a flicker in Sif's eyes—something unreadable—but she said nothing, only adjusted the strap on her bracer.
White Queen, for once, toned it down. "Guess she's still figuring out what she wants. And guess who's the idiot in the middle?"
"Me," William admitted, chuckling. "But hey, it's good to be wanted."
Alice leaned into William and whispered, "You're lucky we do want you."
"And want to strangle you sometimes," Ada added.
"Balance is everything," William said with a wink.
Sif turned her back to them all, but her lips curved ever so slightly.
"What a personality. I like it," White Queen said with raised brows, a playful smirk tugging at her lips as she watched Sif fume.
"It doesn't really matter what you like," Sif shot back, folding her arms across her chest.
Alice stepped forward with a faint, knowing smile. "You've clearly got a lot of resentment toward William. But under all that tension… there's something else, isn't there? Something a little more complicated."
Sif turned her face away sharply, as if dodging a physical blow. "You think too much."
"Maybe. Or maybe I'm just good at reading people." Alice held out her hand. "Anyway, we might be seeing a lot more of each other from now on. I'm Alice."
"I'm Ada," Ada added smoothly, flashing a small smile.
"And I'm Pepper," said Pepper, more subdued but polite.
Sif gave a curt nod. "I know. Just call me Sif."
From the other side of the sand, Jane suddenly groaned, "William! Put your clothes on already!"
William stood lazily, fully naked, completely unbothered. "Since the lovely Dr. Foster insists," he said, stretching without shame, "I'll put them on. Though personally, I find clothes an unnecessary restraint—bodies were meant to breathe, to connect freely with nature, with the earth… with each other."
Sif groaned and slapped her hand over her eyes. "Shameless exhibitionist."
"What are you covering your eyes for?" William teased, smirking as he grabbed his pants. "You'll be seeing it again anyway."
"In your dreams," Sif growled. "I'd rather kiss a troll."
Jane turned bright red. "Ugh! Must you talk about that thing like it's some sort of trophy?"
William looked down, nodded, and grinned. "It is a trophy, actually."
White Queen chimed in with a mischievous grin, "Careful, Jane. Human curiosity is a slippery slope. You humans love doing that kind of thing. Last night, the air was full of... let's say 'educational' sounds. 'Husband, faster!' 'Don't stop!' 'It's so deep!'... Quite the audio experience."
Pepper's cheeks turned crimson. "I didn't say all that!"
Jane clutched her blanket tighter around herself. "Shameless…"
Sif's eyes narrowed slightly as memories flickered faintly. She looked at William with suspicion. "Did I… say something to you last night?"
William, now tugging a shirt over his head, chuckled darkly. "Oh, you said plenty. And you vomited on my face for good measure."
Sif winced. "Ugh. Okay, I'll apologize for that. But… what exactly did I say?"
White Queen leaned forward with glee. "That's the good part. When drunk, people tend to spill the real stuff—the things buried deep in their hearts. William's the only one who heard. Juicy, isn't it?"
Sif's voice turned sharp. "Tell me. Now."
William gave a slow, devilish smile. "Are you sure you want to know? It might be something... you can't take back."
Sif glanced around at the others, then muttered under her breath, "Not here. Not now. I'll ask you again later."
"Ah, William, now I really want to know," White Queen said, giggling.
"No, you're not allowed to say a word!" Sif snapped, turning to William with a threatening glare.
"Come on, say it," White Queen teased, shaking his arm. "For science. For entertainment."
William rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Mmm… No. This secret stays between me and Sif. Just the two of us."
"Boo," White Queen pouted. "Party pooper."
Pepper cleared her throat. "Alright, how long are we planning to stay here? We should get moving soon."
William lay back down lazily, arms behind his head. "Why rush? We've been running from mission to mission, battle to battle. It's about time we slow down. Just enjoy the sun, the breeze, the sound of waves crashing on the shore…"
"And your terrible jokes," Ada muttered, smiling softly.
"This isn't just a tropical island, you know," William added, eyes twinkling. "It's historic now."
"Historic?" Pepper raised a brow.
William turned to her with a smug smile. "Of course. This is the very beach where you gave me your heart. And also your virginity. That's practically sacred ground now."
"Go to hell!" Pepper shouted, swatting his arm. Her face was red enough to match the sunrise.
The sun rose higher, bathing the shore in golden warmth. William stretched again, now half-dressed, as Alice and Ada relaxed beside him. Sif sat apart, conflicted but unmoving. Jane still looked scandalized, and White Queen looked far too entertained for anyone's comfort.
And so, the morning after their storm of passion, the team sat amid sea, sun, and lingering tension—each of them aware that life, like love, wasn't getting any simpler from here.