Disclaimer: Maybe I'll own it…someday … but not just now... T.T


Chapter 1

The sun's golden rays shined on him, warming his skin. But he barely acknowledged this, for inside he felt a coldness not even the hottest furnace can melt. Standing silently, watching the green and verdant countryside, it was hard to guess what he might be thinking. He shaded his eyes and walked under a small tree. The aquamarine orbs were devoid of any emotion, had been for the most part of sixteen years.

What am I doing here? Five years aimless wandering had inadvertently brought him to The Place. It seemed so different. Green grass instead of brown mud splashed with red. Trees where small shrubs had been. And, he wondered who had done this, four graves lined up neatly on a small hill, bare of any inscription.

It should have been five. He frowned almost imperceptibly. Do not let your thoughts stray to that subject, he chastised himself mentally. But the warning bells were already ringing in his brain. Too late.

Sixteen years of showing no emotion, of bottling everything inside, was bound to take a toll on any person. Even, no, especially ice cold assassins who did more than just bottle them up. He refused to feel anything, squashing all illogical thoughts and ruthlessly cutting off any small feeling threatening to grow. Almost as if he was afraid of them.

But even he could never hope to not feel, to keep it inside all the time. They had to be released. And they did so in a violent, all-consuming way, making him vulnerable. Loki hated being vulnerable. But there was nobody in sight, and he couldn't hold off much longer. Loki gave in to the swell of emotion, sinking to his knees as the sensations and memories hit him.


Ruri-chan was grinning as she ran along the dirt path. What a great day!Blue skies dotted with white cotton-candy clouds, golden sunshine, and a cool breeze carrying the scent of wildflowers from the meadow. Best of all, it was completely monster-free! And that allowed her to explore along the creeks today…

She laughed out loud, her giggles mixing with the tinkling sound of her right earring, the thud of her sandals against the path, and the quiet swish-swish of the scarf she had tied around her left leg. Impulsively, she did a running cartwheel and landed on flower-strewn grass. Inhaling the scent of the meadow, she smiled peacefully at the sky.

On second thought, I could skip exploring and just lie here all day… Ruri closed her eyes and curled up on her side. Who said that thing about the bed of roses? This is a hundred times better. She relaxed and let her thoughts drift.


Loki was in agony. Yes, there were flashes of happy memories, wonderful emotions. But the pain outweighed everything else and reminded him exactly why he chose to live like this. The jumbled thoughts and feelings intensified, overwhelming him. He clutched at his sides, as if trying to keep himself from bursting into a hundred tiny pieces.

Lo…ki? – DON'T KILL MY DADDY – right, Buddy? – Ymir's heart – to the capital, Prontera! – yours to keep forever – will always remember your demise – Balder-Chaos – she smashed a boulder on… – captain puppet – morbid numbskull skeletor freak – K…Kay…yos…..l..lo…ve…y…

He vaguely thought he heard something, an inhuman cry of torment. But he couldn't register anything except the scenes flashing through his mind. Loki rocked back and forth, unknowing that it was he who was producing those hideous, wracking sobs.


Ruri sat bolt upright. What the heck was that? An animal? The bogeyman? An acoustic anomaly caused by the breeze? Santa Claus exiled to Rune-Midgard? It sounded like it was in pain…

What do I do? Ignore it even though it might be someone needing help? Report back to the village and cause a helluva false alarm? Decisions, decisions… She decided to investigate. Now where did it come from?

Ruri crept quietly along the path, scanning her surroundings. Nothing here… A bend in the path…there! Under a tree! On his knees with his arms around his torso, his middle bent, his forehead inches from the ground. Rocking back and forth in what appeared to be mortal agony, groaning and sobbing in pain.

Oh, gods, he's having some sort of attack! What if he dies? I'm too young for this… What do I do what doIdo whatdoIdo? She ran toward him, in a state of near panic. I have to bring him to Gram…she better know what to do! When she reached him, he was grew still, and slumped to the ground. She straddled him, grasped his shoulders and tried to rouse him. No success.

Oh my Odin he's dead! No, wait, he's breathing, right? Oh sweet Thor what if I have to do mouth to mouth? Nooo…hey, he's kinda cute, it won't be that bad…HALT THIS TRAIN OF THOUGHT! No, no, deep breaths, Ruri, take deep, calming breaths. Check his breathing, then pulse. First, see it there's anything stuck in his airway and then –no wait he's waking up!


The pain subsided, the memories faded. Totally drained, Loki let himself fall. He felt like death. In fact, he hoped to die, to end this cursed existence. But he never really did manage it. Loki would not be one to die by his own hand….Wait. What was that sound? And why was his head snapping back and forth?

"Are you okay mister? Hey! Wake up! Nobody dies on me ya' hear? Oh gods help me what if he's dead? By Odin don't you dare be! Hello-oo? Mister please wake up..." A girl. A very noisy and agitated girl. More importantly, one who witnessed him vulnerable. Loki wondered if it was necessary to kill her. All he wanted right now was to make her go away. Wanted? It was going to take a while for all the effects of this attack to subside.

"…and I'll give all my extra money to the poor and give all the gods sacrifices on their feast days if they just don't let anybody die on me…" Was that what she wanted? Fine, anything to make the noise and the shaking stop.

Loki stifled a groan and looked up into a shimmering sheet of bright green hair, laced with blue. A faded red shirt, small shoulders, darkly tanned skin, a small pink mouth which finally seemed to stop issuing those aggravating sounds. He continued, letting his gaze sweep higher.

And found himself staring right into Fenris' violet-blue eyes.

End of Chapter 1

Lynna: Straddling him?

Lidia: Great, another F/L. They're multiplying like the nines table. D;

Me: Uhh…I'm not sure this is an F/L at all…

Loki: Why am I always getting weak and tormented?

Lynna: 'Cause we like you that way.

Chaos: ((singing))…the ants are my friends, they're blowing in the wind

Iris: ((proudly)) I taught him that.

Fenris: Ehehehe…. ((sweatdrop))

Iris: Loki, do the honors.

Loki: Read and Review. Now.

Me: …please! ;D