Loki Laufeyson - Nunight
Loki Laufeyson - Nunight
I stared straight ahead at the screen, afraid to look away in case anyone was staring at me. I felt my heart pounding in my ears as I tapped my fingers nervously against my leg.
Had anyone noticed? I hadn’t realised how close Amelie was until I’d turned to look at her.
I had been going to ask her something about the film, but the question had died on my lips as our eyes had met, our noses practically touching. Instead of shrinking back in discomfort, she stayed perfectly still, her gaze meeting mine head on with just as much intensity.
Her proximity as well as her sense of ease had caught me off guard, and her gaze had felt palpable on my skin, like a tattoo made of something other than ink. I wasn’t sure why, but I hadn’t been able to look away.
My eyes nervously flicked toward the bar and I saw Amelie refilling her glass. After downing it, she refilled it. Perhaps she hadn't been as comfortable with our closeness as I thought.
I quickly chastised myself, afraid I’d ruined whatever expression of friendship I had found. Steve returned with beers for everyone as well as a few for the table, and Amelie followed close behind him, handing me a new glass of whisky before she sat down next to me. The size of the gap between myself and Peter meant that Amelie’s leg was immediately pressed up against mine again. I kept my gaze on the TV, lifting the drink to my lips before subtly downing half the glass. “Thank you.” I whispered, afraid she wouldn’t answer.
A few moments passed and I worried that I really had made her uncomfortable, before she finally replied.
“No worries.”
I chanced a glance at her and she smiled at me, seeming like she always did, as if nothing had happened.
I breathed a sigh of relief and returned her smile, before turning back to the TV.
Soon the credits rolled and people began slinking off to bed. Thor carried Peter to his room in the tower while Bruce shook Tony awake. After Amelie stood, stretching her arms above her head, I got up from the sofa. I turned toward the kitchen, heading to the fridge for a bottle of water.
After everyone but Banner, Amelie, and Tony had left, I watched as Amelie tried to help Bruce wake Stark up. Eventually they gave up, and Amelie lay a couple of blankets over him as Bruce headed toward me. He smiled at me warmly before grabbing a water for himself. “Seems like you’re truly one of us now eh? If you can survive our movie nights then I’d say you’ve passed your initiation.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Initiation?”
Bruce laughed quietly before placing a hand on my shoulder. “Goodnight.”
I watched him leave quietly, mulling over his words. Amelie appeared in the kitchen, dimming the lights further for Tony. My attention was drawn to her; however, I could not express what it was that held me captive. She smiled at me, gesturing to leave the room as I followed dutifully behind her. We walked in silence the whole way to her room. Once we were outside her door, I hesitated, not sure if I should linger to say goodnight or if it would have been better etiquette to retreat quickly.
“Thank you”
I turned to her in surprise. “For what?”
“For staying. I know that you wanted to run away, but I’m glad you didn’t. Everyone here is starting to warm to you and tonight definitely sped things along.”
I smiled and clasped my hands behind my back. “You’re thanking me for doing something that ultimately ended up being for my own benefit?”
Amelie chuckled quietly, shaking her head. “Well, yeah that’s a benefit of tonight, but I’m thanking you for pushing yourself. It can’t have been easy to walk in there.”
I looked down thoughtfully. It hadn’t been easy, but thinking back over the evening I could honestly say that I was glad I had stayed. “I’m the one who should be thanking you. If you hadn’t come over to me then I almost certainly would have retreated to my room.” I smiled at her, feeling shy all of a sudden. “So, thank you.”
She beamed at me, her eyes twinkling in the moonlight that streaked across her face. I watched her, momentarily fixed in place.
Amelie gave me one final look before placing her hand on the door handle and pushing it open softly. “Nunight Loki.”
I smiled at her choice of wording, committing it to memory. “Goodnight Amelie.”