Young God | L. Laufeyson

16. Bonding

"So, everything I assumed about you was right?" Aurora carefully asks while she tries not to hit his sensitive spot again, having learned her lesson from the last argument. Loki just scoffs and rises his chin in arrogance, yet he's not annoyed or mad at her anymore. The night has begun, he can sense it, and the two prisoners started a conversation an hour ago.

"Oh, please, don't flatter yourself." He only responds, even though she secretly is right.

"Come on, Loki, don't let the wall around you grow. The world won't end if you show feelings, I'm just trying to understand you." She attempts to encourage him to open up, her voice more eager than ever. "Besides, I can't tell anyone anyway, I'm stuck here, remember? So it won't ruin your image, don't worry."

He sighs at her hopeful voice, why does she try to understand and see the good in him although she's aware of his blood stained hands? "You were not wrong."

"Ha! I knew it!" Aurora yells triumphantly, clapping loudly with her hands once before she lets them sink at his confused glance. Her voice lowers, the excitement quietens. "I mean, aw, no, this is not good."

Shaking his head, Loki almost grins at her spirit that seems to have returned. It is refreshing to see how her old self slowly comes back, after she has suffered so much through Ophelia's death. He has grown used to her bubbly soul and he's glad that the sorrow seems to have left. "I beg to differ."

"Now your high pride is talking." She snorts, her mood rising incredibly. Aurora is glad that there is some good in him, now she has something to hold onto to stay sane. And that's enough to make her smile, to regain hope.

"Do not overvalue my comity, Lady Aurora." Loki tries to sound serious and to threaten her, yet he fails as she laughs and he joins her with a chuckle.

"Lady Aurora." She repeats, laughing genuinely and shaking her head. "I thought it was ridiculous when Thor said it, but with your tone, it sounds beyond stupid. I'm not a lady- Wait a minute. You just laughed."

Now the fallen prince frowns. He's aware that he doesn't laugh often, at least not sincerely, but he's still confused by her reaction. "So? Am I not allowed to?"

"No, no, it's just I saw it for the first time. You should do it more, you look much more handsome with a laugh!" Aurora suggests bluntly and now Loki smirks, not surprised by this odd behavior from her. It is unusual that a lady on Asgard behaves this openly towards a man, let alone the prince. Usually, the men always court the women.

"Much more handsome? I never considered you to be romantically interested in me, Aurora." He purrs amusedly and would definitely use that against her to tease her, yet her response surprises him and ruins his plans.

"Oh, you didn't notice? I thought you knew that I'm totally into short tempered, narcissistic assholes since you are always so observant." Sarcasm drips from her voice and the exaggeration is accompanied by a short giggle.

"Choose your next words wisely." Loki attempts to threaten her again but it just causes both of them to chuckle lightly, it's been an eternity since they could be that light-hearted due to the chaotic last weeks. The silence soon arrives which feels weirdly comfortable to both, almost natural. The God of Mischief cannot remember the last time where he was at ease like this.

"When... when we had that argument... Did you mean it? About me being at fault for Ophelia's death? Or did you say it to make me feel something other than grief, to let out all the anger that I carried around?" Aurora wants to know and Loki's emerald eyes are attached to her, slightly widening. "I just want to know the truth, no lies. I won't be mad, I promise."

He would have never expected from her to see through his intentions and a softness edges his pale face. "You're not to blame for the girl's death, you fought for her bravely."