Heart Of Stone

Chapter 57

Yes, the water can heal my injuries, but it can't prevent pain or wake me up when I'm unconscious. Due to this, I'm hardly surprised when I wake up in a familiar bed, familiar clothes on my body and a familiar fluff ball by my feet.

What does surprise me is the familiar god sitting in the corner.

As I start to slowly sit up, he notices me and comes over. "Are you okay?" He asks me, helping me sit up. "I am fine," I nod. "Thank you for what you did back there."

"I owe it to you for touching you when your charm was away from you," he says, sitting beside me. "I knew that you would need to convince Attuma that you were betraying us."

"It is fine," I smile. "I understand. I am glad things have worked out... they have worked out, right?"

"Of course," he nodded. "You struck at the perfect moment; Attuma leaned right back into it so he could hurt you again. The barb went through a gap in his armour and impaled his chest, though only the side. If the Atlantians can heal him fast enough, he may live. They fled the instant he collapsed, though, so chances are only those who still follow him will tend to his wounds."

"Those who still follow him?"

"Many follow you," Loki answered, a small smile on his face. "They still see you as their Queen and have abandoned Attuma. They follow you, now. They wish for peace between the surface world and themselves."

"They... still see me as their Queen?" My eyes widen and I look down in shame. "I did nothing for them..."

I feel his heatless hand move beneath my chin and gently lift it up so I'm looking into his green eyes. "You gave them hope," He tells me. "Hope for a better way of life."

Before he can say anything more, I'm tackled by a furry beast. That is to say, a yipping Rune. "Hello there, lycanus minscale!" I laugh, petting her and doing my best to avoid her little pink tongue. She's grown bigger over the last three weeks, but thankfully not by much. She's about the size of a Jack Russel now.

Lexis, you woke up! She grins, her grey tail wagging all over the place. "Of course I did, Rune," I smile, rubbing her head. "I trust you were well looked after?"

Thor and I wrestled!

I chuckle at this. "And did you win?" I ask curiously. He gave me food after. I would call that a win, she answered. I laugh at her and hugged her. I've missed her over the past few weeks.

Though now that she mentioned it, the thought of food did make my stomach growl.

Loki chuckled. "I assume you are hungry?" "Ravenous," I replied with a chuckle of my own. "All I have had to eat in three weeks has been seaweed and kelp."

"I would have assumed fish," he remarked, standing up and offering his hand. I chuckled and took it. He helped me up and we started making our way to the penthouse, Rune at our heels.

We're the only ones in here. Loki says the others are all resting. I was the worst off after the fight, the only one who wasn't in dire need of rest being Loki as it had been his mission to get me out of there instead of join the battle. It seems like we're the only ones awake.

I check the fridge, but all I see is leftover pizza. Good enough, I think to myself, taking a slice. Loki does the same and we take a seat, eating the delicious food.

We eat in a comfortable silence, not needing to speak. All necessary words have already been said and there's no need for idle talk. The room is dark as we didn't turn on the lights, but the large full moon and the gleaming city below us illuminates the room enough so we can see.

After I eat, I hug Rune, who's leaning into my side. She licks my cheek, making me smile. I've said it once, I'll say it a million times, I've missed my little wolf.

"... Lexis?"

I look at Loki, a little surprised that for the first time he hasn't put the word 'Lady' in front of my name. His green eyes bore into my steel grey ones, which are now soft with concern. "Yes, Loki?" I ask.

"... I know little of how one would ask this of a Midgardian maiden, but you have protected me, defended me, done everything in your power to aid me. I doubt I have much to offer you and I know I have made many mistakes in my lifetime that have cost you dearly. You were right when you called me a monster. I am one. But this is why I am fighting for redemption."

"Loki... What are you saying?" I ask, confused. Is he trying to apologise again? If he is, he doesn't need to. I've told him that I forgive him. I've told him several times over.

"... Alessandra... may we court?"

Steve would've called this getting asked out on a date. Tony would've called this 'a chance to get laid' - whatever that means - but to me it was a shock.

But a very pleasant one.

"I... of course we may," I smile slightly at him. He smiles back. It's that devious smile I know means he's up to no good or he's just got his way and is acting like a naughty child that just stole the last cookie because of it. I very much hope this is the latter.

He placed his hand on my own. Misunderstanding what was happening, Rune put her paw on as well. We both chuckle, especially when her little pink tongue lolls out the side of her mouth cutely.

Suddenly the lights turn on and we quickly turn to look at Steve and Tony, who are looking at both of us in shock.

And I sincerely hope I will never forget what they said.

"What the fu-"

"Language!"