A Stroll in the Park (Tom Hiddleston X Fem Reader)

Your Decision

The flight back home was taken in complete silence on your part, the usual bustle and liveliness of the airport doing nothing to ease the emptiness that had formed in your chest. You fear that you had estranged your seat neighbour on the plane as you had snapped at them the third time they had asked to get past for the bathroom. He stopped ordering as many drinks after that. 

That fear dissipated a hell of a lot quicker than it came on though, your mind drawn to other topics despite you trying to not think about them. Once the cabin lights went down for passengers to sleep you found your headache eased a bit but not enough to get any type of proper rest. Instead you settled for re-watching Brooklyn nine-nine. Your laptop sat alight for the entire flight, being asked if you were still watching by it on three separate occasions. Despite the fact that you were painfully tired and your eyelids felt heavy, it was impossible to sleep. 

Iris meets you a the airport, stood with a sign over her head reading "Welcome back Timon" with a little drawing of Timon and Pumba in the bottom corner of it. 

"Assuming Kyra drew this?" you ask as you get close enough to appreciate the delicate design of the characters and letters. 

"How do you know it wasn't me?!" she asks in faux-offence 

"Iris sweetie you couldn't draw a straight line if you tried" 

She giggles and agrees, admiring Kyra's handy work once again. You join her and examine the various sweeping lines and graceful strokes with a smile that didn't reach your eyes. You're not sure when she started looking at you but when you meet her eyes you realise she's already been watching you and is giving you a knowing smile tinged with sadness. 

"I'm fine" you assure her, receiving a silent hug from her anyways, something you would be a fool to refuse. 

She walks you out in silence. Some people might have asked you what was wrong, others may have provided a distraction and offered a different topic on conversation. Iris on the other hand understood you too well, knowing that prying wasn't her place yet and distraction would only irritate and exhaust you. Instead, she takes one of your bags, leaving you with your case and walks you to the exit where you see Kyra with an impatient looking Loki. 

You wanted to curl up in bed and cry. You wanted to scream. You wanted to punch and break anything you could. You wanted to draw the pain out with a needle and throw it into the furthest corner of the world. You wanted to be left alone. You wanted not one single person to be anywhere near you but damnit if that dog wouldn't always be the exception.

As soon as Loki realises who exactly is coming towards him he practically tears Kyra's arm out of her socket, racing towards you and toppling you backwards onto the ground. He paws, nuzzles and licks at you endlessly, making it almost impossible to stand upright again.

Kyra and Iris chat to you the whole way back, and you join in, although you're not sure what you're saying, you can't hear the words you're saying, nor can you hear what they're saying to you. All you know is that there's a conversation going on while Loki whines in the boot that he can't sit next to you and you watch the cars pass by you. 

Once you get back home Kyra seems eager to stay and catch up but Iris argues that you'd be tired after the long flight and would want some peace and quiet. You hug them both goodbye, insisting that you'd all have a proper catch up soon as they walk out of your home. 

The sofa seems cold and unwelcoming after not being sat on for ages but Loki bounces up next to you, settling his head in your lap as you slump down into your usual spot. Your fingers run through his thick coat, holding him close to you as the tears, no matter how hard you try to stop them, come falling out, one by one, building on your cupids bow and down past your chin.