Chapter 11
They lay on their backs on the grass together watching the sun twinkle through the branches of the trees.
It seemed Loki's spot was now shared with Asta. Although it would always be his spot.
They are both quiet for a long time. That wonderful comfortable quiet when two friends don't have to talk. They can just be.
He then found himself opening up to her.
"This will always be beautiful" he said.
"I can't understand how there can be such beauty in all the nine realms and at the same time such sadness." Loki mused.
"I'm not going back to Johtuheim" he said. "I was supposed to go back and see my father, but I don't want to go. I've accepted he doesn't want me and he doesn't love me. He never did. Thor is my brother now and he will look after me."
"I'm sorry Loki." Asta said. "But what about your brothers?"
"I will see them again one day, just not now." Loki tells her.
They both spoke about their fathers.
Two very different experiences.
Her memories of her father happy and full of joy because he loved her, yet he was gone.
His, very different, with sadness and beatings because he couldn't meet his expectations and blamed for the death of his mother, yet still here.
Suddenly Loki said "When I have children, I will love them no matter what.
If they aren't good at some things, it won't matter, they will be better at other things.
I will be proud of everything they do and they will shine."
"Do you think about the future Loki?" Asta asks him.
"No, not really, until just now. But I will marry and I will love her. She will be my queen and we will have lots of children and Thor will be their uncle. "
He turned over and leaned on his elbow and looked at her.
She was beautiful lying there looking up at the sky.
He dared to touch her cheek.
She turned and looked at him.
She then stood up.
He stared up at her.
She bent down and kissed him right on his lips.
His eyes went wide.
She then pulled back and gave him a huge smile and ran off laughing through the trees.
"You can't catch me Loki!" she shouted, laughing.
He groaned, but got up and ran after her.
He caught her and pulled her down on the grass tickling her.
She screamed then suddenly he was above her and he stopped and looked into her eyes.
She was beautiful and he wanted to kiss her back but he didn't want that yet, he was just a child and he was just beginning to enjoy being a child, the child he had never been. All he wanted was a friend.
He got up and put out his hand.
She took it and he pulled her to her feet. "Come on" he said "let's go to your mother, I'm hungry.
She laughed and followed him.
Thor found them later.
"Loki" he said "I want to apologise for upsetting you about your family. I have something for you."
They went back to Thor's chambers.
"What do you see that is different?" he asked Loki.
Loki looked around. The wardrobe had been moved and they was a door visible.
Loki pointed at the door and looked at Thor puzzled.
Thor told him "These chambers have connecting rooms, but if not in use then the wardrobe hides the door."
Thor opened the door and ushered Loki in.
"This is your room now." Thor said.
Loki stepped into the room.
There was a bed up against one wall, there was a fireplace, a bookcase, a desk and chair, a wardrobe and a long mirror. It even had its own bathroom.
Loki was so overwhelmed, he started crying and shook his head.
Now Thor looked puzzled.
"You are happy aren't you?" Thor asked him.
"Yes, I am thank you Thor." he hugged him. "Thank you, no-one has ever been this kind to me."
"We can keep the door in use until you are used to being on your own.
Don't worry about coming in if you are scared." Thor reassured him.
Loki smiled knowing he would be prone to nightmares and panic attacks until he was truly settled.
Loki went to the bathroom and looked at himself in the mirror.
He saw tears, but the eyes looking back at him were happy.
He washed his face then went to join Thor.
"Thank you, Thor." he said again.
"I'm going to get Asta to show her." And off he went to find her.
Asta thought the room was wonderful.
Loki didn't feel sad. Loki was happy.
He sat in his own chair at his own desk.
Had a bookcase with books.
He laid on his own bed.
It was true, Loki was happy.