Loki, Unraveled|| NovaVerse 2

16|| Connections and Confession

Word Count: 2,866

Nova patted Loki on the back. "That's good to know," she said, her voice muffled by his chest. He did not release her for a few moments, and as they stood there, she wondered what the cause of his sudden outburst could be. It was already established that Thanos would gladly take her and do God knows what, but surely Loki knew she was capable of defending herself? Nonetheless, his reassurance and hug were welcomed. "Are you okay?"

He realized he had been holding on a moment too long and regained his usual composure. "Of course, it must be some odd side effect of groveling to a mortal. Not something that many gods have ever done, and I do not wish to do again, so consider yourself special to have experienced it," the corner of his lip tilted up.

Nova gave him a playful bow. "But of course, my prince, I shall treasure this memory for as long as I shall live."

They stared at each other before bursting into laughter.

Afterwords, they laid on his bed and stared at the ceiling murals. Nova turned her head towards him and stared at him seriously. "Aren't you afraid?" She asked. He turned his face towards hers and she searched his eyes. She never noticed the flecks of gold in his sea of green.

"Of what?" He asked.

"If in refusing to give up Natasha and I, you might be putting yourself in danger. What if he takes you as punishment?"

"The thought of you and your loved ones safe will bring me all the comfort I need. Besides," a mischievous glint appeared in his emerald and gold flecked eyes, "I have a vampire. I'm sure she would protect me and suck the enemies blood."

Nova chuckled. "You seem so confident in your answer."

"Am I not correct?"

A pause. "Whatever helps you sleep at night, Trickster."

She stretched as she yawned, pulling a pillow underneath her head. She took notice of how much more comfortable everything in Asgard was. Except perhaps the people, but it seemed that perhaps she was too quick to judge them. Sure, Odin seemed like an ass, but she didn't like Loki when she first met him, either. And his mother and Ingrid seemed nice enough. But she could live here forever without complaint. She had her best friend next to her now, and a part of her family in a room elsewhere. If only the rest of the Avengers- her family- resided here, life would be perfect.

Loki tucked her in.

"How did she meet you?"

Natasha stood by the door, arms folded, as she raised an eyebrow. "Why should I tell you?"

Loki rolled his eyes and sighed heavily. "I have proved myself worthy of your trust, to have protected Nova and jeopardize my kingdom for her safety, yet you still do not have the slightest bit of faith that if you reveal even a sliver of a detail, that no one will be harmed? I am aware I have not always been the most trustworthy in the past, but is it the past that matters, or the present?" He rubbed his temples. Natasha was a person Nova loved very much- she adored her- and yet Loki could not get along with her, no matter how hard he tried. He wondered how Nova broke the walls that Natasha built around herself, how she earned the trust that Natasha kept locked up. "Listen, I just wish to connect with her- to know what she was like before Asgard." Loki looked at her pleadingly.

Natasha rolled her eyes and sighed. "It was a year ago. We were outside taking a walk when there was a bright light that appeared from out of the trees a few miles away. We rushed over and the trees and bushes were on fire, and we first saw her when she put them out. This was all a week after Fury talked to her, by the way, and we knew who she was as soon as we saw her. I don't think any of us were prepared for her. Fury said she was young but... I just didn't think it was right to have someone who was barely an adult fighting and having power they can't control."