Everlasting Flame~Loki x oc

Freedom at last

Yesterday:
Kari's eyes scanned the pages of a book that she's already read once or twice before. Today was the day of Thor's coordination. That much she knew. She had not expected Loki to visit till after the celebration and festivities had come to a halt. So imagine Kari's surprise when he approached her cell an hour or so after lunch.

" Release her." His voice wavered slightly as he ordered the guards who looked just as lost as Kari felt.

"But sir..."

"As acting All-Father I demand you to release her!" Acting All-Father? What had happened during Thor's crowning? Kari stood to her feet, her book long forgotten. A piece of curly red hair fell into her face, covering one eye.

The poor guard did as demanded, and Loki outstretched his hand towards Kari. After a moment of hesitation, she excepted. Kari couldn't help but flinch at the skin contact. In all fairness, that was the first time in centuries that she had touched someone besides herself.

"You will tell no one of this." Loki all but hissed at the guard, getting another glance of confusion from the Valkyrie. The guard, a fairly short (at least for Asgardian) lanky man who was awkwardly wearing armor a tad too wide for his slim frame. His ginger hair was tied back in what Midgardians would call a man bun. His blue eyes widened as he nodded in an unspoken agreement to not tell a soul.

Kari looked back to the guard and her old cell momentarily as Loki's hand tugged her along. She would not miss that sliver of Helheim.

Kari's p.o.v:
The second we made our way into the hall, Loki sighed. Whether this was a sigh of relief or frustration, that I do not know. I was too focused on the hand that intertwined my own.

"You have questions. Ask." Loki's voice seemed weary and tired, which was to be expected.

"Thank you for freeing me from my cell, but what did you mean by 'Acting All Father'? What are the whereabouts of Thor?" My voice was soft, yet ever demanding.

"Father has fallen into Odinsleep and Thor has been banished, never to return." Loki's words seemed heavy and solemn in the mostly empty corridor. But there was something more, something he wasn't informing me about.

"Loki," I start as I pull him into a hug and take in his scent. Leather, Asgardian gold, and Peppermint. An odd mix, to say the least. "I'm so sorry. But what more have you not told me?"

His green eyes glance momentarily from side to side in a nervous manner before he muttered, "Not here. We'll discuss it in my chambers." His nervous behavior must have rubbed off onto me, for I too felt the need to discuss it in private.

"Ok. Alright," is all I managed to squeeze out, barely above a whisper. I follow him to his room, not managing to say anything else. Loki closed the doors behind us and I took in my surroundings. It hasn't changed much over the years. The bedsheets were emerald green with golden embroidery and a black bed frame. "So what was so important that it had to be confined to thy's chambers?"

I could practically see the gears turning inside his mind as he searched for proper phrasing. His body seemed to be shaking slightly, almost as if he was having a nervous breakdown. It wasn't hard to tell that Loki was terrified. But what of?

"It-It's easier to show you." My eyes widen as I watch his skin shift to a royal blue and his eyes, which refused to look at me, turn red. Frost giant. I observed him carefully, and Loki looked almost as if he was expecting me to do something drastic.

"Loki, look at me," I softly mutter, my hand softly guiding his chin so he had no other choice. "You're still the same kid I've met all those years ago, just you're taller now. This doesn't change anything..."

"Yes, it does! It changes everything! Everything I've ever been told about myself...lies! I'm just the monster that terrifies people at night! You should hate me!" His voice cracked at the last sentence and my gaze softened.

"Loki, it will take a lot more than telling me that you're a frost giant to scare me off. I didn't know of my powers until I confronted Odin about my brethren. Instead of receiving help, I was locked away. I won't let that happen to you," I promise.