Title: Five Easy PiecesSummary: The elements of character and relationships
I. Fire
To those who knew Loki of old, the
change is for the better in some ways: gone is the manic impetuosity,
the simmering malice threatening to explode unpredictably into rage.
Loki has been truly cut down to size. But he has lost other things,
too – Narugami never sees the same fire kindle his eyes (which once
blazed with so much life that they glowed crimson), and the sparkling
wit has been replaced by a cynical humour ill-befitting a child, for
that was what Loki was, and what he now only appears to be.
II.
Wood
One of Thor's virtues (some would say his chief fault) is
his straightforwardness. This has carried over to Narugami, who
believes what he sees, and will defend his belief with his bokken if
necessary, or put his weapon down if he sees no cause. But even one
as simple as he knows the prophecy, and regards Loki's "butler"
with what would be suspicion in a lesser man, as Yamino cheerfully
invites him to partake of a repast fit for the Gods. Narugami
hesitates, recalling his revulsion at a writhing mass in the seething
waters of the Hvergelmir, but he sees Yamino smile, and feels only
waves of kindness washing over him.
III.
Water
Yamino's days flow gently by, one succeeding the next as
naturally and peacefully (save for the rare soufflé that fails
to rise, or a demon escapee from the basement) as the movement of the
tides on a placid shore. He is occasionally reminded by a distorted
reflection, undulating and swirling as the greenish-brown water
disappears down the sink, but these days are getting fewer and
further between.
Then she comes and goes, and all he can do is
stare after her with mingled shock and sadness as his life pours away
between his fingers, and his world dissolves into darkness.
IV.
Earth
She wraps her arms tighter around herself as she turns away
from the happy scene, pain swallowing up whatever tender feelings she
thought she once had, drawing her deeper into hate. The tears remain
within, ice-sharp and frozen as the misty abyss she was cast into.
Hel looks up to see him grinning sardonically over the pages of one
of her books.
"Death, where is thy sting?"
Her answering
smile never touches the fathomless depths of her eyes.
"Help me
bury Loki, Heimdall."
V.Metal
His
hyper-acute senses are no avail to him here, sealed like Loki in
child form, but he likes to think that he still possesses his sharp
intellect (and tongue, Freyr adds), which will be useful to deal with
the Trickster himself. But as plan after carefully-laid plan fails,
and his cleverest schemes backfire, he fears that he has lost his
edge. To make matters worse, the unthinkable has happened: he has
actually stopped trying to kill Loki whenever he sees him, and has
been invited to his house for tea after school. Sitting in the cozy
living room with Yamino merrily bustling about, and Narugami and
Mayura nattering on happily about their latest plans, he meets the
unspoken smile in Loki's eyes, and starts to melt in their warmth.