Dreaming in Blue

V - Time L̶o̶r̶d̶s̶ Ladies

They walked for at least an hour before finding something that resembled a village. It was very small, and had only a few buildings, but the biggest of them all had some letters on its and although Loki tried to read them, it was a language he was unfamiliar with.

"It's a hotel," Nina told him, her voice shaking. Walking in the cold with wet clothes did nothing but bad to her. "It's the lost language of the Taloks, old guardians of time," she managed to get out. This had been the longest sentence she had spoken ever since their meeting in the Wizard's mansion.

"Alright, let's go," Loki told her.

"We don't have any money," Nina reminded him.

"I'll handle it," Loki said. He was a sorcerer, for goodness sake. He could make some money appear.

"You don't know the currency," Nina mumbled. Was she just saying whatever to contradict him?

"Then I'll ask them gently for a room," Loki responded.

"They won't just give you a room," Nina said. Loki decided he didn't care if she was just screwing with him. He wanted to hear her voice, he needed to hear it.

"I'll beg then," Loki decided to say.

"You would never," Nina said. There was a hint of humour in her voice. She might have been smiling, but Loki couldn't see her face; the hood of his cape was over her head and was preventing him of seeing her.

"Yes, I would. You need to rest," Loki argued.

"I'll be fine," she contradicted. "I can withstand the cold."

"And the cold water?"

"Kind of."

"And the stab wound?"

"Technically," she said.

"Technically?"

"Yes. Technically. Technically, I could just regenerate. No more cold, no more wound, brand new face," she said casually. She enjoyed not having to explain everything to someone. She could just mention regeneration, or mention the two hearts, and Loki would understand what she meant. This was not the case with humans.

"Why not then?" Loki asked her. They were nearing the hotel, by now.

"Well, even if it's still me with another face, it still feels like dying, you know?" She said quietly. "It's not a thing you'd do willingly, it's the sort of thing you put off for as long as you can." Loki became curious.

"So you don't just chose you're too hurt and then regenerate?"

"When I absolutely have to, it just kinda comes along. When it's life or death, you know? I could just trigger it, but why would I do that? When it just comes along, I can fight back. Some people chose just not to regenerate."

"Why would you chose that?"

"Well, I did it once." This took Loki by surprise. "I had been stabbed, except it had been in here," he looked at her as she pointed to her lower stomach. "I could feel it coming. It's like... this numbing sensation, and then it feels like it's burning. It's one of those feelings you want to get rid of as quickly as possible because it is agonizing. So usually, I'd just do it. But that time I was very close to a doctor whom I knew could save me, so I didn't."

"Si you can just fight it off. Not regenerate?" She nodded. "What happens if you decide not to regenerate and the doctor friend can't save you?"

There was a silence and Loki understood. She would have been dead.

"And... are you putting it off right now?"

"No," Nina quickly answered. She could almost feel the relief in his heart when he heard her answer so firmly. "No, this is definetly not enough to kill me, trust me."