Topsy-Turvy (sequel to Hidden Beauty)

A Bright Star

Loki placed his chin on top of her head as she continued to cry, face buried in his chest, the shirt now soaked with her tears.

Rose tried to stop crying. Tried to release him from her hold and sit back like a proper grown up woman but she tried hard and still failed to control her tears.

Her loud sobs would sometimes drop to sniffles but the moment Loki says something in a loving way, she starts crying again and that too with a renewed vigour.

Thor peeked inside the room and decided to step in. Loki brought his eyes on him and glared. "Leave now." He mouthed slowly to Thor, his hand caressing her hair and back. Thor rushed out.

"You're gonna make yourself sick if you cry like this." He said at last, his voice low and soft.

"I can't-" she sniffled. "I can't stop c-crying!"

"Your face is all red, sweetheart." He murmured in her hair.

Rose halted in her sobs and pulled back her wet face from his chest to look up at him only to find him gazing lovingly back at her.

"You-you aren't angry-angry at me-me?" She shuttered, breath hitching.

"Of course I am." Loki answered, wiping her cheeks gently with his fingers. "Breath darling."

"I am-I am sorry." Rose stumbled on each words, breath stuttering as her head jerked with sobs. "Please-please don't hate-hate me! I c-can't live with your ha-hatred."

His gaze softened, his thumb brushing away the new tears rolling down her cheeks. "You said you don't want me anymore. That I'm useless."

"I lied-lied!" She shook her head, chest rising up and down in a wild rhythm. "I-I won't p-push you away again-again. Ne-never."

"Where's the assurance that you won't pull that stunt again to hurt me?" He asked softly, fingers threading in her messy hair.

"A-A-Assurance?"

"Mhmm. Where's the assurance that you won't leave me again?" He asked, his gentle eyes boring into hers. "Where's the assurance that you won't break my heart again? Where's the assurance that I won't wake up in my bed with a heavy heart and troubled mind without you kissing me awake ever again?"

Rose sniffled, tears continuing to stream down her flushed face as she fumbled for an answer to his questions.

Loki sighed shakily. "Darling, I may look strong. I may have been suffered hell but the pain...the agony you cause me with your stupid thoughtless actions, I-I-" he shook his head, closing his eyes with a pained look. "Norns...I prefer death over it."

"I am sorry! I am sorry!" She repeated, no other words in her mind as she sobbed, pressing her face into his chest.

"I know you are. I'm not denying that and I never would." He said, caressing her head as her frail body shook with each sobs. "But my love, how can I be sure that this won't happen again?"

He took her hand in his and placed the palm on his chest, just over his beating heart. "I am weak. Vulnerable. Coward. An emotional lovesick fool when it comes to you. You're my weakness. My strength." He cupped her cheeks. "My whole world, darling, revolves around you."

"I-I'm sorry!"

"You, my sweetest Pudding, are the reason I'm a changed man. You healed me. Loved every broken piece of my heart. Showed that a monster like me is capable of loving and being loved." He continued.

"You're no monster Loki! You were never one!" Rose interjected, whimpering.

"That's your point of view, sweetheart." He smiled. "I'm lucky to have you and others who don't see me as a villain." But his smile slid down his face slowly. "But we aren't talking about that right now. What I mean to say is that...I can't... I can't bear this pain anymore."