Unexpected

XXXV

Loki immediatly ran after Nina. Thor went to chase after him, but Sif held his arm.

"What are you doing?" Thor asked as Loki disappeared down the hall. What was Sif thinking? Why was she letting Loki go like that?

"Let him go," Sif said. "He obviously cares about her, so he will be back." Thor stopped to think about it. She was right. If Loki cared for her, he wouldn't want to keep her around for much longer, seeing she didnt want to be there, and Loki certainly did care for her. "Now, you should go tell an excuse to Odin. He is waiting for them."

Loki knew exactly where Nina was trying to go, he just wasn't sure if she knew how to get there. She was most certainly heading for the terrace, and she would probably search the entire castle to get there if she needed to. So, instead of looking for her, Loki went directly to the terrace, and sat down on the edge of the roof, waiting for her.

Guess what? She did show up. For the first time ever, Loki saw her struggling to breathe. He first thought it was because she had run her way to him, but when he turned around to look at her, he noticed Nina grabbing her throat with her hand, as if to check if it was still there. Loki frowned and stood up, finally realizing she was gasping for air from the panic of meeting with Odin. He immediatly ran to Nina, reaching for her with open arms. She gladly let herself into Loki's embrace.

"It's alright," Loki told her. "It's alright, just breathe." He started, soothing her back with his hand. Loki then walked her to the edge, where he was previous sitting. Theres was a jest of wind and Nina took a deep breath in, feeling the air on her face. Loki threw his arm around Nina's smaller body and brought her closer to him.

"You're not in cuffs anymore," Nina remarked, reaching for his hand. Loki chuckled.

"Yes, I am not entirely useless," he told her, expecting to get even a laugh out of her. It didnt happen, not even I small chuckle. "Are you better?"

"I don't want to meet him," Nina mumbled. Loki sighed.

"I know," he started. "I know, but you have nothing to be scared of-"

"No," she interrupted. "No, no. I'm not scared. Dont get me wrong, I'm not scared of Odin. He is not in the least intimidating. I just resent him," Nina said, her voice more firm than before.

"That is one thing we have in common, then," Loki told her. Nina frowned and turned to look at him, searching for an explanation. "I'm the heir to the throne of Jotuheim, son of Laufey." Nina was surprised, it was obvious, but Loki was so relieved when she didn't show any signs of resentment towards him. "Odin destroyed my people and took me from my father. He pretended to love me for years, and then I found out he only brought me with him for the sake of Asgard."

Nina laid her head on Loki's shoulder and took his cold hand into hers. The two of them had some unfinished buisness with Odin. If Loki had to go through this, Nina told herself she had too.

Loki didnt even know why he was telling Nina all of that. It wasn't like him to open up to anyone. But it wasn't like him to invite a girl he knew for two days into his home either.

"I'm sorry," Nina said. And for the first time in his life, Loki felt like someone was being honest with him.