Catch Me

Chapter 2: Hunted

You couldn't find the words.

"Adorable. Is this not where we would spend the days of our youth? How romantic." He stated, taking on a deeper, smooth tone which worried you to a great extent.

"L-Lo-!" you managed to choke out, void of oxygen. Void of thought.

"Hnn?" he acknowledged coolly. "Speechless? Well that would be a first. Honestly Aria, did you not think that I wouldn't know to look here first?"

'That would also be a first' you mused.

Try all you might, you found it impossible to turn your head to face him. You couldn't begin to fathom what you would be faced with if you did. 'Games' like this always brought out the animalistic side of Loki…the main reason behind why you always insist that he didn't request for you to participate. The idea of hunting always did seem to enthrall the young prince.

Perhaps the reason behind his insatiable desire to hunt you down, was a result of all the missed opportunities to accompany Thor and his father when they ventured outside together annually.

You almost pitied him.

Maybe if he didn't currently have you in a very compromising position, in which you felt extremely uncomfortable if you might add.

"Would it hurt to at least loosen your grip?" you venture, curtly.

"Hmph."

Did he honestly just scoff at you? Scoff at you?

Well at least his fingers had slackened around your indefinitely bruised wrists.

As you hastily rubbed at your sore wrists in a vain attempt to lessen the pain inflicted by your friend, you again began to ponder on the thought of escape. Looking past Loki's infuriatingly smug face, you spotted the clearing through the trees that had been your original destination.

Could you make it?

No way in Hel. Loki caught up to you in less than 20 seconds…and there was a considerable distance between the two of you when you began this childish activity.

As your heartbeat again began to become erratic, you dared to look him in the eyes.

Yes, indeed. 'Friend' is a strong word.

That damned shit eating grin was back. Plastered across his face as if it had never been absent.

"By the gods, Loki…how did you ever catch up to me so fast?"

Hoping to at least distract him enough for his grip to cease entirely.

Instead, he only stared at you.

You honestly lost all thoughts of escape in that moment.

Never in all of your years had you seen him look at you like this.

Not since the Royal Ball…

Memories flooded back, almost drowning you in the beautiful atmosphere of that night.. how he had searched for you through the floods of red dresses. How his eyes continuously found yours. How your heart fluttered. How guilty you had felt for letting your interest develop into infatuation.

He was a prince.

You were bought to be his friend.

Lady Seeva had been very clear on that. Nothing would come from the time spent together with the young Loki.

So you ran.

As Loki had affectionately let his long, smooth fingers trail delicately up from your wrist to your shoulder, before his heat had clawed its way into your heart once more, you severed the bond, leaving him standing there..looking hollow.

And you did not look back.

Not once.