IDUNA (Loki x Reader)

Chapter 15 - Where to Next?

"Damn it." you felt frustration and sadness well up in your eyes. A night that had the potential to be so perfect with an even better man still had the chance to be ruined by Loki and his never-ending schemes. You excused yourself from Eir and tried to find a quiet place to gather yourself and not ruin the makeup that your new friends spent so much time on.

You smiled as you passed numerous guards and started walking the flower-ridden paths outside the property. Groups of friends and couples were scattered all over and your feet began to hurt from the high-heeled walking. Once you'd gone a while without seeing anyone, you took them off and walked barefoot out into a field behind the palace, hoping the darkness of night would protect you from having to explain yourself to anyone. As you walked further and further with no destination in mind, you came across a tree with a swing tied to its strongest branch.

The sadness that had been slowly escaping with each barefoot step suddenly resurged, and you felt a tear roll down your cheek, carrying the makeup your friends had done so perfectly with it. A tear filled with anger about so many things. How he ruined your night, how you'd been wearing him around your neck, and how he still had this undeniable power over you that you weren't sure would ever go away. You unclasped the necklace and held it as you sat on the swing, looking into the emptiness. You wanted to be you tonight. Bragi's girlfriend, Eir's best friend, goddess of immortality. Now you were Loki's victim.

A slow vibrating sound began as the green light appeared by your side. Standing by you now was Loki, who looked at you quietly. You tried to keep an ounce of emotion in, not wanting to give him the pleasure of succeeding.

"I trust you've figured out my...scheme by now."

"I have."

"And are you angry?"

You didn't answer.

"May I?" he asked and sat down before you could give him an answer. 

"It wasn't meant to upset you. I simply wanted-"

"Me to feel like you owned me? Like no matter what I do, I still belong to you somehow."

"What?"

"Like I'm still an emotional prisoner of yours. A reminder that even when I do exactly what's best, what you've asked me to do, you still have power over my every thought and feeling."

"I don't want that, Iduna."

"Right, of course not." You tried to wipe a tear from your eye before it became visible.

You were both quiet for a moment and you heard only the soft wind and chirping animals from the forests surrounding the rolling hills and fields.

"I didn't-" Loki stuttered, "I didn't know how else to get you to acknowledge me. Truly you have no obligation to, even now. The things I did and said, it's as if it's in my blood to be evil to even the person I want to be kindest to."

"You can't do this. I won't let you manipulate me into thinking you're sorry. You hurt Bragi; you attacked him. You wanted me to be with him and then you hurt him."

"I know." You'd never known Loki to have moments of silence, not knowing what to say to control every situation. He was breaking in front of you. "I've been wary of him. The night the palace was robbed, he was there."

"He had come to see if I was okay."

"How would he have known anything was wrong in the first place?"

"Word can travel fast."

"Does he know about your ability?"

"No."