He never liked taking part in royal ceremonies. Probably because he wasn't the centre of attention of anyone who was sent there, or maybe because he couldn't pretend in any way that he liked to be with people who would laugh at even the stupidest of what his brother Thor said - also because, to be honest, he said so many of them in just five minutes, so many that Loki wouldn't be able to count them on his own fingers.
Unfortunately, however, it was part of his duties. He could not have shirked such a task, and offend the honour of his family name, however little he could cared about Odin. As prince of the kingdom, he still had to make himself present in the eyes of his people, and so he did.
Certainly, he would only sit in his gold chair with a glass of brandy in his hands, which he would occasionally fill with his magic for the sheer pleasure of facing ceremonies in a different way. But at least, he did.
Loki looks around, trying in every way to hide his disgust and annoyance, which was quite difficult for him because he was aware of how badly he was at hiding such feelings. It was in his nature, after all, to show superiority to everyone around him.
Focusing on the celebrations and conversations began to be difficult when a voice in his mind began to become louder and louder, more and more evident. And he realised that it was not just hallucinations when the words became clearer and clearer.
"And we started fighting over some stupid fictional characters, can you believe it?" she said. He could hear her laughter, light and overwhelming, as he took the glass to his mouth to steal a sip.
Undoubtedly, an excellent excuse to run away from that horrible party. He gets up in a snap, muttering a "You must excuse me, I'll be back in a hurry" to his brother, who with a nod and a smile not even addressed to him greets him. Loki turns his eyes to the sky. How stupid.
The buzzing in his head is starting to get louder and louder. It is still unclear to him how it was possible that she could make herself heard even if she didn't want to, since Loki had not been able to communicate with her, and yet he chose to take advantage of the moment.
As he walks the long corridors of the castle, heading towards the gardens in search of some peace and quiet, he can hear a loud "It's amazing how everything has to revolve around superheroes for you", which certainly didn't come from his soulmate.
"Here she is...", he murmurs, as he takes his place on the steps of the large glass door that overlooks a huge and luxurious garden, lit only and only by the splendid moon high in the sky.
The unexpected happened. His soul mate did not delay in answering. "Did you hear that?", and consequently whoever was with her said, "Heard what?".
He couldn't help but burst into a noisy laughter. Relieved? Probably. Smug? Even more so. "I'm afraid they can't hear me," he says, trying to hold back the laughter and hoping in his heart that it would work and that it wasn't just a stupid coincidence. But luckily for him, she announced to her companions that she would be away for a while to 'take a call'. What this meant was unclear to Loki, but it was easy to deduce that she was trying to communicate with him.
He turns the glass half empty in his hands. It takes him less than a moment and a snap of his fingers to see it shine an almost blinding green light, and wine starts pouring itself into the glass.
"So, who are you?" she says.
As simple as the question was, those four words managed to leave Loki speechless. Going over everything he had been able to hear in the last few days, it came to him that he could not reveal his identity to her. Not yet, at least. Even if sooner or later he would have to.
He chose to play it as best he could. "Your soulmate?".
"Yeah, but you didn't tell me your name", she laughed, pleased by that brief exchange of jokes. Loki joins in.
"Just call me soulmate for now," he answers immediately, sipping wine from time to time. "It makes things even more interesting, don't you agree?".
Though he couldn't see it, the reaction can be deduced from the tone of his voice. "I can't blame you, you're right", she announces, probably smiling. Although it is not clear to him why, Loki's soul seems to lighten to the sound of a sigh from her.
"I already see a glorious future for us. We've been talking for less than five minutes and you're already agreeing with me, fate never seems to be wrong", he continues, and even if he can't know it, the soul that is connected to him is smiling more than she was aware she could do. "I have listened to you a lot in the last few days, even though I have not been able to communicate with you. You are always talking about a certain... Superhero, I guess?".
"Oh, you listened to the most obsessive and embarrassing part of me", she giggles, probably ready to feel pure shame for having given such a first impression to the person with whom she should have lived the rest of her days. "Loki, I suppose."
"Yeah, him. Loki," he replies immediately, pretending to be in the dark of everything. Was that the right move? He can't know that, no matter how much he was trying to behave as less suspiciously as possible. Then, everything changes: he brings a hand to his face. Really? Is that all you can ask after you've just revealed yourself to her? Good move, idiot. "Exactly, him. Would you mind telling me what this is all about? It must be important to be at the centre of all your conversation."
"He... Well, let's start with the fact that he's Thor's brother, I don't know if you know him."
"Thor?"
"Exactly."
Loki just mumbles, inviting her to continue.
"And it's quite important to me because he's particular, in constant conflict, misunderstood." She frowns. How does hse know so much? Do they really write so much about him too, on the planet Midgard? He decides to take a step forward.
"Because of his family, am I right?"
The girl grumbles with approval. "Exactly. They've been filling him with lies ever since he was born, basically. And this pile of lies put on top of each other have created a man... Difficult, no doubt. But full of pain. Different facets that no one close to him has been able to understand. And the lack of understanding, of affection and of truth led him to cause some... Damage. Let's call them that."
She takes a big, long breath after talking at length about how important he was. Loki can feel his throat start to pinch. He swallows, continuing to drink, regardless of the consequences. He certainly didn't expect the speech to progress so melancholy so easily. Yet, he should have known, since it was he himself who introduced the topic. Stupid of him, to be called one of the cleverest Gods that ever existed.
And yet, he doesn't feel like stopping. Not to say that he would have no idea how to change the subject. "It's a tough story," he admits, lowering his gaze to his fingers, tightly around the glass. His gaze begins to get lost, while putting all his concentration on that conversation. "But I can understand his pain."
For a while he receives no answer. He knows that he has gambled a little too much, that's for sure. But what to do? He couldn't jump from one subject to another as if nothing had happened, regardless of the incredible words she had spent on him. She is cornered. "But I am sure that everything you are saying would help him. You would be the perfect person for him."
"Really?", this time she answers immediately. Both their hearts lighten a bit. Although maybe one of them has a little too much head in the clouds to understand what's really going on.
"Absolutely."
"Maybe I'm the perfect person for you too," she hums, trying to tease him.
Loki half-closes his eyes, now discouraged again. How to tell her that the one who had caused all that panic and destruction on the planet Midgard was her soul mate? Would she really have reacted in the same way, or would she have changed her mind about it? That's a lot to take. Discouragement and perhaps even a little fear overwhelmed the excitement he had at the beginning of finally being able to talk to her.
"Maybe."
Meanwhile, on another planet...
"So, your Prince Charming has finally revealed himself?!", shouts excited Lola, walking by your side as you make your way to the school entrance.
You pinch her on the shoulder, ordering her to be quiet. You can sense how much she can't wait to tell everything to your classmates, so that you could talk about your love stories all together, excluding absolutely no one. "Yes, yesterday afternoon. I was with the boys, telling about what had happened the night before while I was watching a movie with my family and... Well, he wanted to get into it."
"And what did you talk about, let's hear," Lola giggles, carrying an arm under yours. She pretends to take a hand to her ear to hear better, as you burst into laughter. "What is his voice like? What do you expect?".
"Oh, silly girl. Would you kindly stop that? Does it have to become public knowledge?" you tell her, giving her a look she seems to be frightened of.
"How obnoxious you are," she replies, pushing you just now. You start laughing together again.
As nagging as she might seem at times, Lola was the only one you could rely on. Friends forever, you were born and raised together, walking the same road every day, hand in hand, not letting anyone ruin what was between you. Certainly, an excellent shoulder on which to cry, accommodating arms between which to take refuge in difficult moments and a great mind full of advice. But, simply, sometimes she couldn't help but shut her mouth.
"I already know how I imagine your he. Blue eyes, blonde hair. Tall, very tall. And muscular." She moves her hands in a bizarre way while talking, dodging one student and then another one walking in the opposite direction, probably to skip that school day.
You shake your head. "You know I love bad boys. Little angels aren't for me."
Lola brings a hand to her mouth. "Dirty girl."
As much as you asked to keep it a secret, for the moment, Lola just couldn't keep her mouth shut, caressing the curiosity of all your friends, who didn't stop asking you questions at lunchtime.
They were all excited that your time had finally come, even though they were already far ahead of you, but better late than never.
From time to time you and yoursoul mate exchanged a few words. You talked about the most varied things. And between a few jokes and laughter, he would ask you how the day was going and if you were doing well, clearly the least he could do, but it still turned out to be appreciated.
And so you spent the whole school day chatting about who you were and future plans ahead of you. You kept talking about how you would have liked to continue that conversation, the night before, unaware that, somewhere else, your soul mate was listening to you. Smug, satisfied, but at the same time also with your mind full of questions and concerns to which you could not give answers, for the moment.
"I can't wait to get home and jump into bed. I think I need a whole night's sleep," you yawn as you and Lola walk side by side.
She tries to suppress a laugh. "Did you have a late night yesterday?" she asks.
"Well, me and... I mean, we had a long talk. He was very interested in some things, and there were also some confessions", you turn to her to give her a wink. She shakes her head, pretending to be quite shocked by it.
"You have done... The dirty?".
"Lola!", you exclaim, disgusted by the question, as you begin to walk away from her to take the road home.
"What's the matter? It seemed like you were trying to tell me something like that!", she raises her voice, trying to make herself understood as you move further and further away from her. "Was it even good?"
"Goodbye, Lola, and I mean forever!", you yell in response, lifting your middle finger in her direction. Even if you can't see her, you are more than sure that she is laughing smugly and even loudly. One would expect certain assumptions, her mind works differently.
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And that's it for today. I had a lot of fun while writing Lola's part. I had to add someone problematic to the story.
Also, today I thank you immensely for the love you give me every time. I am not sure I can post every day, as the university and pre-exams keep me quite busy, but I promise you that I will do my best.
As always, I want to read the same funny comments that you left me on TikTok because they are a blast. I hope you enjoyed this chapter too.
Giada. xx