I frowned at him, then shook my head while smiling sarcastically and pushing his arms from my shoulders.
"I'm not a complete idiot," I told him. "We Midgardians have figured out the mysteries of birth, you know. I wasn't brought by a stork, I didn't pop out of your cranium fully formed like Athena, I had a mother and father and I was conceived, not created."
"Oh, you have all the answers," he shot back, then grasped my chin and made me look into his eyes. "Tell me, whence did your immortal soul arrive?"
"My... soul?" I squeaked, my eyes widening. Suddenly I had flashbacks of all the times I drew in church instead of listening to the sermon. "I didn't think that was your... um... purview."
"Your parents raised you Christian."
I looked away from his eyes and nodded soundlessly, made difficult with his hand still grasping my chin.
"But when you learned to think for yourself, you knew there was something missing, something wrong with what you were taught."
I bit my lip and glanced up into his eyes. He knew the truth already.
"You are mine," he reiterated. "You called me here by name, with an echo of my own power, and I came to you." His gaze softened and he released my chin to stroke my hair. "You are my beloved creation."
I'm yours and you love me? I wasn't sure what to think, what to feel.
Loki smiled gently then leaned forward to kiss me softly. His silken lips brushed mine with warmth and tenderness. I folded easily into his arms.
I want to believe you. You know I do. I want to be yours. I want to love you and have you love me. But you're not known for your veracity...
"I will call you to Asgard," he whispered onto my lips, ignoring what he heard in my thoughts. "When it is time, you will take your place at my side, my beautiful lover."
That nailed it. I knew he was lying now. I sat up and faced him.
Loki... you're married, my lord. If you're not the deity made famous by Marvel, then you're the lying, despised AEsir from the Eddas, and you're married to Sigyn, and have a son named Narfe. And even if that wasn't enough to tell me I have no place in Asgard, you have three monstrous children by another wife, the giantess Angrboda. I won't even mention Slepnir.
Please don't. That wasn't my brightest hour. His eyes met mine, the green irises faded to jade and tinged with sadness. You've done your homework.
I may fantasize about you, my lord, but I know your story. I know what history tells. I wish - oh, God I wish - it could be true that you would summon me to Asgard and that we could rule together in the Golden Palace above the Rainbow Bridge... but I know better than that.
What else do you know, my dear?
I know you can't actually be here.
And why is that?
Because the Allfather... no... no, I don't want to say it, even in my mind. I don't even want to think about it.
Loki sighed deeply and looked into my eyes. He looked older than he had, fine lines around his eyes and mouth betraying his true age. I could see that he was in indefinable pain.
"I don't want to think about it either," he admitted softly. "But before you dismiss everything I've disclosed as pure fiction, know that I did create you, and that all that you are is mine, and that I will call upon you. Do you understand me?" His voice was soft but earnest. He really believed what he said.
I nodded soundlessly.
"So before I must return to that blessed state of being," he added sarcastically, "might I be graced with just a few more minutes at your side?"
I smiled sadly at him and kissed his cheek, then his lips.
Whatever you desire, my lord, for as long as you can stay.
I knew the truth: all of this had to be a dream. But what a wonderful dream it was! I didn't want to wake up just yet; I wanted to stay with him as long as I could.
My lord, my lover, my Loki.
