ephemeral ━━ 𝘓. 𝘓𝘈𝘜𝘍𝘌𝘠𝘚𝘖𝘕 ✔

□ confusion

Thor strolled in laughing. "My dear brother," he paused. "You compliment her now, do you?"

Apparently, Thor's voice wiped off Loki's grin. "It was mainly a jest," he defended. "I doubt it was sincere."

Loraine looked at him. "Really?"

"Ah, indeed... Nothing sincere." Thor raised an eyebrow. "I see you two are getting closer ever since you came back from the dungeons."

Loraine would've replied but Loki interjected. "I didn't ask for it. As much to your disappointment, it didn't change anything. We are not friends." The look in his eyes were so cold, Loraine wasn't sure who was in front of her.

"I said close. Not friends."Thor coughed. "And here I thought you were making progress Loraine," he said looking at her.

"Well yes, I have...I mean, I think---"

"Progress?" Loki cut her off. "Like I'm some kind of experiment you'd have to keep an eye on?"

She sighed. "Loki, you know it's not like that."

"And I'm supposed to believe you?"

Loraine held her hands up. "Woah hey," she stopped. She could feel his emotions scampering behind a closing door. "You know your brother just wants the best for you."

"Ah," he breathed. "The best for me. You know Thor, if you wanted someone to change me by using a girl, you could've at least had a better taste."

She could've sworn her heartbeat stopped. Loraine couldn't believe the words Loki was saying to his brother. "Was that just an insult?"

"I judge everyone all the time." Loki looked at her passively and shrugged. "And you? You are just a pretty stupid girl who does other people's bidding in hope of something," he pointed at himself. "Impossible."

Thor eyed the both of them. He could see the pain in Loraine's eyes as she struggled for an answer. Well, who could blame her? She had too many thoughts jumbling inside her mind, trying to figure out what his play was. And right now? She was hurt.

"I don't do other people's bidding." She replied in a stern voice.

"No one did," Thor added which made Loki looked at him.

He chuckled. "Oh but you are here with a task, is it not? A task coming from this oaf," he gestured towards Thor.

Loraine took a step closer to him. "Destinies aren't tasks, and I believe this is mine."

Loki stared back at her with eyes that weren't shifting to kindness. She continued to look at him as if she was challenging him to speak another word, in which case ---for a minute, he didn't. Thor had to interrupt to cut off the tension.

"Well, I believe you two should clear something out. Brother," Thor looked at him. "You've asked for this day. Do not ruin this chance to a silly argument. You know she means well to you."

Loraine stepped back and headed towards the stables without another word. She opened the gates and horses, lazily eating wheat, greeted her. She didn't pay them any attention but instead she walked towards a wooden corner and leaned, trying to ease down her heart beat. She wanted to be away for a second, trying to get her head around how passionate Loki could be one minute and verbally violent in the next.

Suddenly, the door busted open, creaking. She turned to see Loki, standing right in front of the door.

"Loraine -" he started.

"Don't," she warned. "Talk to me."

"Are you mad?"

She crumpled her fist, "Oh I'm sorry, do I look like I'm damn laughing?"