taken [loki laufeyson]

8: midgard

Lately I've been really distracted with this window that I've discovered. It's my only portal to the outside world. Right now, the Asgardian sun shines hotly through the opening, warming my chilled skin. I like to think that Marie and my family are enjoying this sun too.

Closing my eyes, I block out the world around me. Maybe one day I'll open them and see myself back in my dorm.

It's not terrible here, but it certainly isn't fun. But I did love the library.

No, you liked being there with Loki.

I push the thought away. I will not accept it. Definitely not know, when I have about, oh, a thousand things going on right now.

"Hey." I turn at the sound of Loki's honeyed voice; it snaps me back to reality. As usual, he stands before the cell, arms crossed behind him. The only thing unusual about this encounter is how he presents himself. His gaze is as sharp as ever, but the aura he gives off is anxious.

I stand up slowly. I've never seen him like this. Not sure how to respond to his appearance, I greet him back. My hands fold in front of me.

I decide to try something. "I liked going to the library yesterday. I really liked spending time with you."

He blushes profusely, a small smile hinting at his lips. "I loved being with you." At this reaction, I conclude something about him that I thought completely impossible. Something that the old me would have hated myself for. But I'm not sure about it yet.

Silence falls between us and I find myself staring into his surprisingly gorgeous green eyes. I lose myself in thought.

Suddenly, Loki's gaze falls to the floor, and then straight up, back to me. Right into my eyes. The intensity of the contact chills me to the bone. "I was wondering if you'd like to get out of here for a little bit, with me. Maybe . . . Midgard?" He plays with his fingers in nervousness.

His question takes me back. Emotion floods through me at the mention of what I used to have, who I used to be. There's no way I could escape his strong grasp, but just seeing it . . .

"Sure." I step a little closer to the wall that separates us and feel a smile of my own creeping onto my lips. "But why?" Unsure if I'll even get an answer anyways, I go for it.

"I just thought maybe we could go somewhere. Get out for a bit. Explore together." Loki tries to hide the grin on his face, but he has clearly portrayed his feelings to me. For me? "Well, I guess I will see you later." And with that, he disappears.

I stumble backwards a little, sitting back down on the cold ground to stare out of the window again, desperate to understand what just happened. Sure, on the outside I was calm, cool, and collected. But I am as baffled as ever inside.

There's a part of me that really wonders if Loki believes this seemingly innocent trip is more than just that. It's scary to think about that. I'm not ready. Too many unhealed wounds.

I doze off in the sunshine cast down from the window, back leaned against the wall. A sense of calm returns to me, a feeling I thought vanished after being kidnapped. Everything is okay.

-

I blink my eyes open, the hold of sleep losing it's grasp. The sun I had dozed beneath is long gone, and the sky is in the process of turning into a beautiful fiery orange color.

The conversation with Loki resurfaces and I remember the trip to Midgard. Across the cell, I see a neatly folded pile of a change of clothes. I grab it and quickly dress, slipping the smooth fabric over my body.