Following Our Own Script

Chapter Four

Heimdall looked up into the trees. Intrusive brat.
"Love isn't straightforward."

"So yes?"

"No."

"So.... no?"

"No."

Loki groaned. "You're impossible."

"How many giants do you plan to look for before you go back to her?"

"Uh, all of them, I guess."

"And how many is that?"

Loki shrugged. "You still aren't answering."

"When you think of the girl, you want to protect her, yes? Be around her, hold her, etc etc?"

Loki nodded.

"But then there are other thoughts. Innocent as you may be, there's still lust. Lust and love are a wonderful combination for those that have it." Loki's awkwardness around the conversation of arousal was amusing. Embarrassing him was too easy. But for now, Heimdall continued. "In that sense, I have never had a person who I wanted both from. I've lusted for few, taken what I wanted, and left. Romance has never held my interest."

"Ever?"

"Hard to believe someone as handsome as I passed up opportunities to love? My priorities were elsewhere." Heimdall did not seek approval outside of the All-Father. It was the only love he had ever focused on.

"Even when you were younger?"

"Why does this fascinate you so much? The first person your age that you met you immediately fell for. Do you think that's as common for folks not locked away in a cabin?"

"I don't know. Like you said, I don't have a lot to go off of."

"Ah, I suppose that's true. How sad."

Loki turned to Heimdall. "How's it sad? I see it as being lucky."

"Why, because you don't have to experience heartbreak? Don't get cocky. There's plenty of time for a flaming fallout between you two."

"You're just jaded."

"Between all of the relationships I have to look upon, why do you think that is?"

Loki laughed. "Yeah, everyone in Asgard was pretty stressed."
"Stressed isn't the word to use."

"Maybe none of it was true love?"

"You sound like Thrud when she was four. I'm to assume your brute of a father did nothing but shower your mother in affection?"

"The man my father became is because of my mother. Love is different for everyone, right?"

Heimdall scoffed. "Enough of this. We have what we need."

Loki adjusted the animal carcasses on his back. They were feasting tonight. "Haven't seen an opening yet for a camp. Should we cut down on our own?"

"Obviously."

The two hacked away a path between several trees. Loki worked on building a shelter while Heimdall cleared additional foliage. Last thing they needed was to catch the entire island on fire. Everything was still too wet to be much of a threat, but better to use caution.

By the time the sun set, they'd made themselves a fine campsite. Heimdall skinned their kills by the fire. Doing so with one hand was troublesome, but Heimdall didn't want to rely on his bifrost arm to make him functional. He used a make-shift knife to hold the creature's head in place on the ground. He then used Loki's knife to prepare it for cooking. The craftsmanship was mediocre at best. If not for its keepsake nature, Heimdall would have suggested tossing it for a better one altogether. They'd need to make additional tools at some point. Knives and swords wouldn't cover all of their needs. Although as useful as an ax may be, Heimdall didn't want yet another reminder of Kratos.