Silence.

That was all Loki had heard following his unexpected meeting in the forest clearing. The pair had enjoyed each other's company; watching the stars and conversing beneath the moonlight. He had almost forgotten any tension between them stemming from the incident earlier that day. It had seemed at the time that the barbecue was nothing more than a distant memory. All was well between the fire god and winter goddess.

Then, Yuna disappeared.

He hadn't seen hide nor hair of her since that night and hadn't seen any further indication that she was anywhere in the area. Any attempts at contacting her had proven fruitless and trying to track her only led to encounters with far less friendly garden-variety canids. It was beginning to look as though the goddess was avoiding him, staying out of his sight in that alarmingly efficient way that only Yuna could. And for the life of him, he couldn't figure out why.

At first, he had simply assumed that she was more interested in spending time with one of the other gods. She and Balder certainly seemed to be growing closer, as evidenced by their behavior at the barbecue. But a run-in with the god of light quickly disproved that theory. As it turned out, Balder hadn't seen her either. Another check with Thor told much the same story; as she had been eluding him as well. No one had seen nor heard from the winter goddess since that day… and it was starting to worry him.

There were any number of things that could have happened to her in Asgard, some of which were far less pleasant than others. In proving herself a close friend of his, she had effectively allied herself with the most hated god in all of the realm. It wouldn't be difficult to imagine a scornful god taking their misdirected ire out on her. Some may go so far as to harm her just to get to him. Such was the nature of hateful Aesir. And Yuna was alone. A single goddess in a foreign realm. While she was clearly more than capable of handling herself, she would be far outmatched in an ambush, no different than anyone else.

Then, of course, there was the possibility that nothing had happened to her at all. The goddess of winter was taking a pseudo sabbatical from her duties and homeland. Perhaps her time had run out and she had simply returned home. Although, the thought that she would do so without even saying goodbye was a little hurtful. Maybe he was concerning himself too much. Surely, Yuna would turn up eventually if he just waited long enough. Such was her way. He needed only to be a little more patient…

"Hmm?" Loki paused along the forest path. His eyes followed along the snowy walkway leading up to his cottage. It was early evening, the sun slowly setting in the orange sky. The birds were singing quietly in preparation for their nightly sleep, and the woods were growing quiet as all was laying to rest. Yet he couldn't shake a feeling of unease as he looked around the area. As a god of mischief, Loki knew when the atmosphere was abnormal. There was a shift in the air, a sense that something or someone didn't belong.

Something was suspicious.

Slowly, Loki wandered his way towards the cottage, keeping a close eye on his surroundings. He had seen this sort of thing before. Throughout his youth, he was frequently bullied by other gods, frequently to the point of serious injury. Multiple attempts had been made on his life with little provocation, particularly before he had come into his power. Even following his power's awakening, he was generally solitary, making him an easy target for ill-intended gods. It would not be the first time that a group of such people awaited him in his own home.

The sound of a small clatter reached his ears as he neared the doorway, confirming his suspicions and setting him on high alert. His concerns had been correct. Close inspection of the area leading into inside further showed evidence of the invader's entry. While the falling snow had covered any footsteps, the doorknob lacked its typical layer of ice that slowly formed over periods of his absence. Whoever had invaded his space had been there long enough to cover their tracks, but not enough for the familiar sheet to form. There was no doubt in Loki's mind. Someone had entered his home. And from the sound coming from inside, they were still inside.

Typically, he wouldn't really mind it as the only people that really invaded his living quarters were Balder, Yuna, and Thor. But Thor was occupied that day, handling business with the hunting parties for their next excursion. Balder was in the city, entertaining the other gods for a small gathering, one to which Loki was not invited. Well, that wasn't entirely true. Balder had invited him, but he had no wish to attend yet another banquet with dirty looks constantly thrown his way. And based off of their growing closeness as of late, Yuna was probably at the feast as well… likely with Balder.

That meant that whoever was waiting inside his home was not one of his very small circle of friends. And if that were the case… they were probably his enemy. Summoning flames to his fingertips, Loki carefully climbed the stairs. His body tensed like a coil, fully prepared to roast whatever brave or foolish soul had dared to enter his domain. His flickering embers erupted into an inferno, engulfing his entire hand as he opened the door. He sauntered through, heat radiating through the room from his presence. He would punish the fool who thought to surprise him. He would burn the flesh and bones and scorch them, leaving only ashes in their wake. They would rue the day they ever sought to ensnare the god of -

"Eek!" A small white form tumbled backward, startled by his sudden entry. Her head looked wildly around, quickly feeling the rising temperature of the room. She had spent many weeks with him, yet she had never truly considered the true meaning, the true power, of the Norse god of fire. Her eyes grew wide as she gazed up at him, uncertain of what to do in the face of this sudden rage. A rage that quickly subsided at the sight of her pressed against the back wall.

"…Yuna?" Loki blinked, extinguishing his flame. "You're not at the feast?"

She quickly shook her head, obviously shaken by what must have been an utterly terrifying display.

"What are you doing here…?"

"I-I'm… Well, I was cooking, but…"

"Cooking?"

Yuna's words took a moment to sink in, his mind still trying to process what was going on. The missing winter goddess had been the absolute last person he expected to see in his abode, especially without his prior knowledge. It wasn't until he had calmed, leaving his angered state, that he slowly started to notice. Aromas filled the air in the main area, strong and sweet. In the center was his hearth, currently repurposed into a spit where a rabbit was finishing. Around the room were little dishes of various types. Candied fruits, sweetened boar, stewed deer… It was small but lavish. She had clearly put in quite a bit of effort, and she had done it all without the use of fire magic. She must have been working for hours.

"I… I don't…" He didn't know what to say. He wasn't even sure what to make of the situation. What was Yuna doing in his house? Why was she making what looked like a miniature feast, ironically, on the night of an actual feast in the city? Yuletide had come and gone, and to his knowledge, there was nothing further for the current moment worth noting. Was she celebrating something from her homeland? And if so, why had she included him in that celebration?

Yuna smiled, approaching him timidly from the wall. Now that she was certain he wasn't going to incinerate her, her confidence slowly returned. "Happy birthday, Loki."

"…" His mind froze. What in the world was she talking about? His birthday had been moons ago, and certainly she must have known that if she had gone to the trouble of figuring this all out. "…Eh?"

"I-I… I know it's already passed. I didn't even arrive until weeks after, but…" She paused, slowly walking towards him with a lowered head. The look on his face didn't give her much to work with and she couldn't tell if he was pleased or upset with her. "It's just… I know the other gods probably don't celebrate your birth… besides Balder and Thor, of course. To be honest… most of them… probably aren't very happy about it… or possibly don't care at all."

Loki listened, following her with his eyes as she walked nervously towards him like a frightened child. She spoke the truth, her words cutting deeper than she probably realized. Until she said the following three.

"…But I do." She looked at the floor, her words barely a whisper. Thor had encouraged her that Loki would enjoy the sentiment. She had taken the time gather as much information as possible, watching his movements during the barbecue and observing which foods he seemed to like. Now, she was beginning to regret her decision. What if she angered him or offended him? What if he didn't celebrate it because he didn't want to, jaded by so many years of rejection? What if he didn't appreciate her, an outsider, intruding in his personal affairs?

"Yuna…"

"Yes?" She lifted her head, nervously dragging her eyes from the floor. They didn't get very far. Her vision was almost immediately obstructed by an ebony blur moving towards her. It startled her so much that she likely would have stumbled backward had a pair of arms not been holding her there. Loki was embracing her, his chin resting overtop of her head. "L-Loki…?"

"You don't know what this means to me…" He whispered, his arms tightening around her body. Yuna was absolutely right. Never in his life had anyone done something so extravagant and so thoughtful. Not even his two closest friends. It wasn't that Balder and Thor didn't celebrate his birthday. Nothing could be farther from the truth, in fact. But they had never gone to such lengths to make an event of it. To truly rejoice the idea of his existence. It was a completely foreign concept to him… and he was overwhelmed. His nose took in the smells around them, the scent of sugar filling his nose. She had even emulated his favorite flavors, somehow managing to combine the sweet flavors of candy with what she had found available.

"So… does that mean… d-do you like it…?" She asked, her voice muffling against his chest.

He pulled away from her, his eyes practically dancing with joy. "I can't even find the words…" 'Thank you' didn't even begin to express his gratitude. His chest was filled with elation unimaginable. He didn't think it was even possible for him to be this happy… yet here he was. Thanks to her.

Yuna seemed to understand his meaning, her face lighting up with joy and relief. She had been worried for nothing. Thor was right. "U-Um… we should… I mean…"

Loki looked down at her, too caught up in his own contentment to notice he was still holding her. And standing very, very close. He backed away, averting his gaze from her blushing face… and trying unsuccessfully to hide his own.

. . .

The pair enjoyed their two-person celebration of a birthday nearly four months prior. At first, Yuna had been deeply concerned about holding the event when she learned of the banquet occurring on the same evening. She had assumed that Loki would want to enjoy the gathering with his closest friends and would have cancelled had everything not already been prepared. But in the end, it didn't matter. They had a blast with just the two of them and, if he were being honest, Loki was happy to have the goddess to himself. To enjoy a night with her filled with joy and merriment. A night about him. With her.

After enjoying all of Yuna's various dishes and more than a few mugs of ale, the two found themselves relaxing, surprisingly, in a new part of the house. Somehow, between stuffing themselves, drinking, and dancing drunkenly to the nonexistent music in their head, the two of them had stumbled their way into Loki's bedroom where they splayed out on his large furry bed gazing up at the ceiling. They were laughing like a pair of idiots, all inhibitions going completely out the window.

"Hey… Yuna." He mumbled, trying to properly formulate words.

"Yeah?"

"Do you really like being a wolf?"

"I guess so. It's kind of become second nature to me."

"So… you never get tired of having fuzzy ears or a tail…?"

"Do you ever get tired of the horns on your head, or the heels on your feet?"

The two fell silent, slowly turning their heads towards one another. Then, they snickered and burst into laughter, neither one able to keep a straight face in their drunken reverie. Loki rolled, poking her in the nose with his index finger. "Hey… it's my birthday. You have to be nice to me."

"It's not your birthday, Loki."

"But we're celebrating it."

"We were celebrating it."

"Eeeh? Then, what are we doing now?"

"No idea." She mumbled, her mind clearing for only a moment as she actually considered his question. Then, her moment of clarity was shattered. An undignified squeak left her as Loki leaned over her, grabbed her opposite arm, and yanked her over top of him in one swift motion. She turned her head to look up at him, now resting on his chest. "…Why?"

"Why not?"

Yuna stammered, her face turning a brilliant red as he smirked down at her. Then, to make her embarrassment even worse, he lifted up and kissed the top of her head, turning the icy goddess into flame. "Loki, this is…! We're not - I-I mean - you and I aren't -"

"We could be." He answered nonchalantly, as though it were the most casual thing in the world.

Yuna paused, taking a moment to consider the possibilities and the situation. She and Loki were lying in his bed, both more than a bit loose from excessive alcohol consumption. The god of fire was also the god of pranks, one who seemed to take particular joy in poking fun at her specifically. He loved to watch her squirm, making her dance in the palm of his hand like a marionette. Of course, he was messing with her. He had to be. With an exaggerated sigh, glared up at him. "Ugh… Can't you be serious for two seconds?"

"Who said I was joking?" He asked, looking down at her to meet her gaze.

Silence hung in the air following Loki's words. The two gods stared at one another, each uncertain of what the other was thinking. Surely, the fire god couldn't be serious. Why would he be? With her? It was impossible. Surely, the winter goddess couldn't actually be entertaining the idea. With him? It was impossible. Although, Loki couldn't deny that a part of him was curious. Was hoping that maybe there was a chance. A chance that she would return his feelings towards her… whatever those feelings may be. He was still in the process of trying to figure that out himself. Deciding to err on the side of caution, Loki turned, breaking their eye contact before the situation could escalate beyond their control.

Sighing, he stared back up at the ceiling, tracing small circles along the exposed skin of her back. "Yuna… thank you. Truly, this was… I'm…"

Yuna smiled, gently rubbing her cheek against him, letting him know that she understood. "Anytime, Loki. We can do it again next year too… if you want."

"I'd like that." He mumbled, indulging himself for a brief moment in the fantasy doing this every year with her. "Come to think of it… how did you find out?"

"Hmm?" The goddess shifted her position, looking up at him. "Oh, Thor."

"Thor…?"

"Yeah. It came up when we were talking over breakfast."

"You and Thor were having breakfast?" Loki blinked, the situation growing more confusing by the second.

"Not really. I was celebrating alone… he just decided to join me."

"Celebrating what?"

"My birthday, actually. It's a tradition I've developed over the years."

Loki fell silent. His inebriated brain tried to make sense of the spiraling conversation, putting together the pieces of information before reaching a coherent conclusion. "Wait… it was your birthday?!"

Yuna laughed, shaking her head as best she could in her position. "No, no, it had already passed. I was preoccupied on the actual day, so I just decided to do it later when I was bored."

"Sorry… I guess I missed your birthday too, didn't I?"

"No. You were there. It didn't go as I had planned, but…"

"Eh?! When?"

"Loki… I am a goddess of winter. My birth coincides with the winter solstice."

Once again, Loki fell silent. Her birthday had been the night of the winter solstice? The night of the feast? Now, it all made sense. Her fascination with the Yule holiday and all of the festivities. How had he never made the connection?

Yuna laughed away his concerns. "Loki, it's perfectly fine. It was the first time I have ever seen a feast on the day of my birth. Even if it wasn't actually in my honor, I enjoyed myself."

"You spent the evening playing hide and seek. I would hardly call that a good time."

"Of course, it was… That was the night I met you." She murmured, her eyes starting to droop.

"…" Loki was speechless, his heart accelerating at the sound of her words. He knew it was the ale talking, but… part of him wanted to believe otherwise. To let himself think, if only for tonight, that she had meant it in its entirety.

The god of fire gazed upward, lost in his thoughts. He didn't notice the winter goddess gently taking ahold of his hand, nor the rapidly dropping temperature around it until the sound of hardening ice tore him out of his stupor. Alarmed, he looked downward, gaping at her as she smiled back at him. On his gloved middle finger was an accessory that hadn't been there before. A ring of dark silver, with a shimmering blue running around the center band. It was cool to the touch and radiated with magic. Had she crafted this?

"A gift…" She said, running her thumb over his palm. "I don't know when I'll return home, but… when I do… I want you to know that I'll always be with you. Even when we're far apart, I'll always remember you, Loki. And hopefully… you'll remember me too."

That did it. It was far too much. Loki couldn't say whether the burning in his eyes was from the alcohol or the overwhelming joy filling his heart fit to burst. He blinked away the brimming liquid, tightening his grip around her waist. Looking down at her, he grinned.

"Of course, I will… I'll never forget you, Yuna."

Loki meant every word. And as the tired goddess slowly drifted off to sleep, succumbing to the effects of her intoxication and exhaustion, he looked back up at the ceiling. He knew he shouldn't feel like this. It was dangerous as it was foolish. The winter goddess spoke words to him kinder and more affectionate than any he had ever heard. And while he would love nothing more than to believe them, he knew better than to fall prey to such a trap. He had seen the way they looked at one another, and chances were, it was only a matter of time. Why would Yuna choose him? No one ever looked at him.

But that didn't matter right now. For now, he would make the most of the time they had together. And as the veil of sleep slowly pulled over his head, he smiled. He knew that what he was feeling wouldn't last. Until a later time, he would allow himself to pretend that it would.