I cannot believe we are here.
But we are.
Background music suggestion: Muse: Exogenesis Symphony Part 3 (Redemption)
This chapter quite possibly needs this song.
Chapter 36 - The Dawn
Just let us start it over again
-Muse: Exogenesis: Symphony Part 3 (Redemption)
...
Passion and bliss.
Not long ago those were the last things Loki expected in his life and last night they had filled his existence. She had filled it. He didn't know what he had imagined but it had been so much more. He could feel her warm body against him, asleep, but he himself couldn't sleep. He just wanted to be there and feel her.
The morning hadn't dawned yet but he could feel her shifting, waking up. He turned a bit and leaned on his arm so that he could see her face. The room was still dark, the stars softly pulsating on the ceiling. Diana's eyes were closed but he could see she was more or less awake. He kissed her collarbone. She opened her eyes and the look in them made him shiver. Her expression soon turned to an amused one. She slid her hands into his hair.
"I am so sorry. I seem to have messed up your hair."
He touched it and realized it was indeed very disheveled.
"I do not mind," he smiled.
She leaned forward and kissed him, her hands still in his hair.
"You look adorable," she whispered on his lips.
They were very much going to Valhalla and back again.
...
Later they were lying on the bed peacefully, her back against his chest.
Diana was suddenly startled by the fact Loki's hand was caressing her upper arm, the scarred part of her skin.
"I'm sorry."
She was perfectly still.
"It's okay."
"Diana, there is actually something I wish to ask you…"
He had sounded so serious and she just had to turn to face him.
"What is it?"
"Would you want me to heal them?"
She looked at him wide-eyed.
"You could?"
He nodded.
...
Loki couldn't help thinking how absolutely beautiful she looked, lying on her back under the sheets. Very slowly and carefully he began to run a finger on a scar. She could feel the warmth of his magic and see how a trace of perfect skin was left behind. One scar after another, taking his time and looking so concentrated, he continued his work. Diana didn't know whether to laugh or cry. What he was doing caused her to feel so many things. And she couldn't help it that one of these emotions was sadness. She couldn't quite understand it. But then she just looked at Loki and just saw how he wished to express his love this way...and it just warmed her heart.
He had been now doing his work for quite a while. He had already finished the other arm.
"Please don't exhaust yourself."
He simply smiled at her.
"I won't."
...
"What about your scars?"
She was running her fingers on the smooth skin of her upper arms. It was incredible.
"Well, you saw how it is done...So I cannot do it for myself. But I guess I could ask Eir to help."
Somehow she sensed this was not something he wished to do.
"Unless…" Loki said but then shook his head.
"Please do tell."
"I was wondering…If the magic could run though you."
He said this in a pondering tone.
"Through me?"
"I honestly don't know if it could work. But in theory you could be a conduit."
"Please. Let's try. What should I do?"
"Just run your finger slowly on a scar. Nothing more."
It actually worked. She could somehow sense the way the magic flowed through. He was lying on his stomach while she sat next to him in his silk-like black bathrobe, her finger tracing a scar.
"We need to stop," Loki suddenly said.
They had been doing it only for a few minutes.
"Are you tired?" she asked.
"No."
His voice sounded strange.
"What's wrong?"
"THIS!"
Diana was startled by his voice. It was only then he turned to face her.
She could see his eyes were filled with tears.
"I should not do this. I deserve these scars."
He was gasping for air and then he shut his eyes tightly.
Diana did the only thing she could think of. Lay down beside him.
Loki could feel her arms around him, how she so carefully pressed his head against her chest. He could feel her heartbeat and he couldn't help thinking of a small bird and he felt so sorry he had scared her...But then, he realized the heartbeat became more and more steady.
And then he heard it. And felt it.
She began to sing.
And he immediately knew the song.
He just listened and let it flow inside of him.
...
Suddenly she couldn't go on anymore.
"I am sorry..."
She closed her eyes. The tears had already travelled a long way down her cheeks.
She could feel he held her tighter.
And it was then she heard it.
He began to sing. Where she left off.
But He would never abandon,
the lost and the broken,
Beyond the stars and the time,
He still calls them.
So ask and it shall be yours.
A new beginning, a new heart.
And she knew what had caused her sadness.
"The real scars..." she began but couldn't continue.
"I know," he said.
They held each other.
"Do you think we are ready..."
"To ask?"
...
At first it didn't feel like anything happened. But then, something changed somewhere, perhaps inside of them, perhaps on the other side the multiverse, possibly even beyond it...And they felt it and when they opened their eyes they saw it in each other's eyes. Neither of them knew what it exactly meant and what would happen next but they both knew the room was filled with hope.
"I knew we could do it," Diana said with a knowing smile.
Loki could only stare at her.
No, it seemed too incredible.
But somehow it felt as if he saw Diana with new eyes.
And as they kissed, their magics mingled and even Diana could feel it.
In her heart.