Unexpected

XXXIX

It was late at night, and Loki and Nina were still in his room. They had been to the castle's library earlier, and once Loki revealed he didnt have much knowledge about Gallifrey if not for the War, Nina grabbed about three books she found on her home planet.

After that, they had spent the whole day in his room. Nina explained everything to Loki, she answered his questions and corrected everything the books had gotten wrong.

Nina found herself more and more comfortable talking about the Time War, because for once, the person she was speaking to understood her pain.

Nina described the Time Lord's principal city, named The Capitol, and its shining towers protected by a mighty glass dome. Outside the Capitol was a wilderness with plains of red grass capped with snow, giant trees with their silver leaves that would shine with the light of the burnt orange skies and would look like a forest on fire.

Gallifrey was a wonderful planet. Nina said it was the most beautiful planet she had ever been on. But again, she could have been biased. There's no place like home.

Loki had to agree, Gallifrey's description seemed like the complete opposite of his own home planet, Jotunheim. His world was dark, cold, no second sun rising from the south making the mountains shine. She spoke of the two moons, Gallifreya and Polarfrey, the cooper coloured asteroid and the gas giant that orbited Gallifrey.

"I once read Gallifrey was called Jewel by several other civilizations," Loki told Nina. She smiled and nodded.

"By some people, yes," she agreed. "But mostly, it was called 'The Shining World of the Seven Systems', because from a distance, Gallifrey looked much like a star," she explained.

They spoke of their home planets for hours and hours, until Loki was too tired to even keep his eyes open. By that time, it was almost three in the morning.

"Maybe you should rest," Nina said when she saw him yawn. Loki hesitated, but ended up nodding. He knew he couldn't stay up for much longer, even if he wanted to.

Loki was so tired that he simply walked form his desk and let himself fall on the bed. Then there was a flash of light and he had changed into his night clothes, which consisted only of pants. Nina smiled at him. It wasn't every day you saw a God throwing himself onto a bed.

"Okay, then," Nina said, and closed the book that was still open on the desk. She started to walk to the door when a voice stopped her.

"Stay," Loki mumbled, his eyes barely open. "Please." Nina was more than happy he had asked her, and then frowned at herself. Why was she so attached to this guy? They had only just met, like three days ago. Yet, Nina didn't even fight it as her body walked itself to his bed.

Loki got under the covers and pulled it back for Nina to take her place beside him, which she did. She slowly laid down next to him and he threw the covers over her.

And there they slept.