Following Our Own Script

Chapter Five

Chapter Five: I Hope You Die. I Hope We Both Die

"You snored."

"I do not," Loki yawned. "Your ears are too sensitive."

"I know the difference between breathing and snoring."

They had found a lake not too far from their camp. A hot spring would have been preferred. Heimdall sank into his seat, water coming up to his chin. It had been ages since he was able to properly bathe.

Loki stripped down behind him. Heimdall's eye twitched at his childish intentions.

"Don't even-" But it was too late. Loki ran, jumping into the lake. Heimdall had turned himself away from getting splashed but was still annoyed.

Loki surfaced, spewing a fountain of water from his lips.

"Get that fish-piss out of your mouth," Heimdall sighed. "Or don't. Drink the whole damn lake and suffer from stomach ulcers."

Loki treaded water. The lake wasn't deep enough to need to swim, but Loki couldn't just sit still and enjoy something like an adult.

They started their day close to noon. The two slept soundly for hours. Huginn had taken watch. Neither men were sure the raven needed sleep or if simply liked relaxing. Regardless, Huginn sat on a nearby branch, hunched over as if dozing off.

Heimdall's injuries were nearly gone. His voice had returned from its raspy state since ingesting his weight in salt water. Feeling clean was healing his mind. The sludge that had been building against his brain since Loki's disturbance in Asgard was starting to loosen up.

Submerging himself underwater, he opened his eyes. This water barely irritated them. The view was gorgeous. Rays of sunlight bounced off the lake's floor. Small fish swam around him, weaving between yellow plant life. Crab-like creatures swayed through rocks. Pink flowers blossomed up through the sand. Heimdall's toes dug into the ground, catching gravel between them. He breathed out air, letting his body sink until he was sitting. Looking up, Heimdall watched the godrays dance as the water ripple. Is this what Valhalla looked like? Would he ever get to know?

Not a moment of rest went unpunished with the Jötunn, though. The brat's ass came dangerously close to Heimdall's head. Instead of moving out of the way, he grabbed Loki's ankle, pulling him under. He watched the boy's lungs fill with water and eyes widened in panic. Heimdall smiled as Loki kicked off the ground, surfacing to gag water out of his nose.

Heimdall emerged next to him. Loki clung to the riverbank, hacking obnoxiously. The peace this brought Heimdall definitely made him a bit of a sadist.

He ran his hands up his beard, his face, into his hair. Heimdall let out a long sigh as the water cleansed his face.

"Asshole," Loki spat, wiping the back of his mouth.

"Toddler."

Loki positioned himself to splash but thought better upon seeing Heimdall's unamused expression. The threat to drown the brat wasn't gone.

"What do you have against fun?"

"Nothing. I pulled you under, didn't I? Isn't that wholesome fun?"

"For you."

"Do I take you as someone who enjoys things that make both parties happy?"

Loki ignored him, switching topics. He pushed onto his stomach and circled his limbs. "Look, I'm swimming."

Heimdall glanced. Huh. Look at that. "Congratulations. Let's find some children for you to race."

"You were right about smaller movements. I needed to focus on using my whole body and not just my arms."