Authors Note

Song The Album Leaf - The Light
/watch?v=dM6lFQysxtg&list=PLb-h0TgZRJZpYbnvq7gW1FBvsBMdCI_mZ&index=19

Whole Playlist:
/playlist?list=PLb-h0TgZRJZooJ-TPIjxWEFoYEnXi2vcl

The last note faded from her lips and Loki gently put her down after having lifted her for one last time. They were both out of breath, but laughing. And even though the song was over none of them made a notion to let go of the other. The previous melody had faded, but instead of silence filling the grand throne hall, the music changed to another calmer, serener melody.

[ The Album Leaf - The Light ]

"I don't remember agreeing to a slow song." she said in a playful tone.
"Well, you didn't disagree either." he responded with the same playfulness, as he pulled her even closer, wrapping his arms around her. "You're free to leave any time. If you can, that is."
"You do know that I could take you out without any effort right now, don't you? I just need to turn this melody up to max volume and you'd be on your knees in seconds."
"Heh, well, I guess I just have to trust that you won't."
Luciana shook her head at him, but still proceeded to wrap her arms around his neck. His eyes turned wide for a second and he momentarily glanced away as the smile on his face grew just a little bit wider. Like that they swayed, being held by the other.
It was Loki who broke the silence after a while in a whisper.

"What are you thinking right now?"
"Hm? Nothing, really." she answered with a small chuckle.
"Is that so…"
"What's with the sudden question?"
"No reason," he said nonchalantly, shifting his gaze. But as silence followed he decided to continue. "It's just, you always say how I can't trick you. How my illusions don't work on you. And you often seem to know exactly what I'm thinking or trying to do and yet-" He paused for a second, searching for the words he was trying to say. "Yet I can never tell what you're thinking. With everyone else it is easy, I can predict their actions, their habits and often what they will say. But you, you've always been a complete mystery to me. Sure, I can guess some things, but I can never be sure what you're gonna do next and-"
"You want to know what I'm thinking."
He swallowed the "It's driving me crazy." he was about to say and just nodded slightly, unsure whether he actually really did want to know or not.
"Well then, tell me. You want to know my thoughts about what?" A strange feeling started to rise inside her chest as she uttered the words and she tried to focus on the gentle melody instead. This situation was strange. Unexpected. Irregular. It strayed from the usual flow. She didn't know what would happen. And it made her nervous.
But she wasn't the only one.

Uncharacteristically for him, the God of Mischief seemed to struggle with his words. He kept shifting his gaze, looking at anything except her. He seemed tense. And the sight didn't do anything for her own nerves.
"Loki. What do you want to know my thoughts about?" she repeated her question, urging him to speak up. He bit his lip but after another long moment of silence he finally opened his mouth.
"About… Me."
"!?"

Luciana drew in a sharp breath. Had she just heard right? Was he asking her what she thought about him? No. It couldn't be. It was wrong. He never had asked something like that before.
"I mean, it's only fair to ask that. After all, you must know."

It wasn't supposed to happen.

"If you truly can see through me, like you claim to- Then there's no way you don't know what I think."

It couldn't happen.

"…Think about, uhm, you. That I-"

She couldn't allow it to happen.

"I am leaving Asgard tomorrow."
"...I beg your pardon?"

The God of Mischief stopped in his tracks, effectively stopping their dance, although the music kept on playing. He let go of her and unwrapped himself from her arms, bringing some space between them as he looked at her with a serious expression.
"What do you mean you're leaving Asgard tomorrow?" he asked her, not bothering to hide his accusational tone and confusion.
"Exactly what I said. It's what I initially came to talk to you about, before all… this."
For a few moments he just stared at the brunette, stunned by what she had just hit him with. "Why?" he finally managed to choke out.
"There is something important I have to take care of."
"What does that mean? What do you need to do Lucy?"
"I… I'm sorry, I can't tell you that. It's nothing dangerous though and-"
"I'm coming with you then."
"What- No, Loki, you can't. You've taken Odin's place. A king can't just get up and leave the kingdom he rules over."
"It's my brother, isn't it!?" he shouted.

Luciana blinked. Why did he suddenly bring up Thor? The God of Thunder had nothing to do with this. She was about to tell him that, when she noticed his expression. He was clearly mad, bordering on furious. But at the same time he also looked sad and hurt, incredibly so. She felt her heart clench in her chest. Oh, how she hated to see that face on him. There was no way she could bear the sight of him like that for another second. She knew it was probably a bad idea and something she shouldn't be doing. But before she knew it, Luciana had already wrapped her arms around him, wrapping him in a tight embrace. She had tackled him with such force, he tumbled backwards a bit, almost losing his balance.

"Lu..cy?" He called her name timidly, not knowing what to do in this situation.
"You're an idiot, you know that?"
"What?"
"You really think I would leave to run away? With Thor of all people?"
"I- That's not what I said. Of course, I know you wouldn't. You've got taste after all." he jokingly tried to play it off.
She chuckled, looking up at his face. "Well, I don't know about that, after all…" she trailed off, swallowing down the words that had almost spilled from her lips.
"After all, what?"
"Hm, no it's nothing."
"Now that's not quite fair, don't you think? You said you'd tell me what you're thinking."
The brunette tilted her head to the side, thinking for a moment. "I didn't promise anything, but I suppose I can tell you."
Hearing that, a pleased grin appeared on Loki's lips, but it soon froze in place at her next words.
"When I get back that is."
"Mean. Also very clever. But mostly mean." he pouted, but after a moment he quietly added "You promise to come back, right?"
"I promise."

Luciana smiled up at him, trying to calm the anxiousness hiding behind his blue eyes. She squeezed her arms around him a bit tighter, lingering like that for a while before letting go and taking a step backwards. "And you promise me to not do something stupid while I'm gone."
"...What do you count as stupid exactly?"
"Loki."
"Alright, alright. I promise." He chuckled, raising his hands in a pacifying gesture. Lowering his arms again he took a moment to look at her, a somber smile on his lips.

"Before you go though…" With the notion of his hand her neck was suddenly engulfed in the greenish glow that was so typical for his illusions. Surprised, Luciana turned her eyes downwards and when the light faded she found herself looking at a golden necklace. It held a green gemstone, formed in the shape of a heart.
"Loki is that an-"
"Emerald. Yes. Just like your eyes."
She looked up at him with big eyes, catching him grinning at her cheekily. "When did you…?"
"Oh, earlier when we were dancing. I actually planned to reveal it to you after that but well… Do you like it?"
"I- Yes, it's beautiful! But why?"
"It's a birthday gift."
The brunette raised an eyebrow at him. "Loki, my birthday was a few months ago."
"True. But I kinda missed that one. …Actually I missed several of them."
"Well, yeah. You were busy planning and conducting an alien invasion. So, it's fine."
He laughed. "Yeah, well…"
"Besides, I also missed your birthdays too, so-"
"Lucy, stop right there. No matter what you say, I'm not taking it back. I got it for you, so it's yours." he stated and it was clear that he wouldn't budge on the issue.
"I… But that's- …Thank you." She mumbled the words as she turned her head towards the ground, hoping to hide the slight blush that had appeared on her cheeks as well as the happy smile on her lips. She was sure Loki could still see it, but against her expectations, he didn't comment on it.

"Well, I suppose you should go. It's already very late and if you really want to leave in the morning you should catch as much sleep as you can." There was still a certain melancholy in his voice but Luciana could tell that he wasn't angry anymore. He trusted her to do what she had to and return afterwards.
It was the first time this had happened. The first time she would depart while being on good terms. And while it filled her heart with warmth, she couldn't shake the tiny spark of anxiousness inside her. "You're right. …I guess this is goodbye for now then."
"Mhmm, take care Lucy."
"I'll be back faster than you want me to."
With that she turned around, taking a few steps down the long corridor. However, her heart only grew heavier with every step and after only a few more she came to a halt. Her hand reached for the small emerald gem around her neck, touching it gingerly. Luciana gulped. What she was about to do was probably a very bad idea. But even so, knowing it didn't stop her.

She spun on her heels, walking back the short distance with determined steps. Loki, who was still frozen in his place, stared at her, his eyes widening by the second.
"Lucy? What is-?" His voice caught in his throat the moment the brunette closed the last bit of distance between them. He felt something tickle his neck and it took him a second to realize that it was Luciana's breath. Her face was right next to his as she whispered in his ear. "I can't leave before giving you at least a small gift in return."
The next moment she leaned forward and placed a kiss on his cheek. It was a gentle motion, but fleeting. For a short time she gingerly lingered. Too short. Too soon her warmth disappeared from his side. And when he came to she was already at the end of the hallway. There were a million things he wanted to shout after her, but his heart was hammering so loud in his chest that he couldn't phrase or articulate a single one of them. He could only stare at her back with rosy cheeks as Luciana turned around the corner, disappearing from his sight.
Just as the last note of the song resounded through the grand hall, after which only silence followed…

After leaving the throne hall the brunette darted off into a run. She needed to get away, afraid of what could happen any second. She ran and ran, not stopping, for as long as her feet carried her. By the time she finally stopped, she was gasping for air, feeling dizzy by the lack of oxygen. Her heart was racing and while she tried to convince herself it was only because of her sprint, she knew that wasn't the only reason.
Anxiously, she pulled up her dress, reaching for the device attached to her leg. She fumbled with it for a second, dreading what she would find on the screen.
But to her surprise her eyes were only met with a steady orange graph that flowed horizontally in a singular line across the screen. Relieved, Luciana let out a sigh. Nothing had changed, there had been no consequences to her actions. She could still keep on going. They wouldn't need to interfere.

Slowly she turned around, her gaze falling on Asgard's castle. It had always looked devine to her, but right now it seemed to glow more golden than ever before. It had taken her a long time to notice it, but it really felt like home to her. Like the place where she belonged. A sad smile crept its way on her lips and Luciana wiped her eyes to stop the tears that were starting to well up in them. Then she turned back around, typing something on the small device. Soon a door-shaped orange portal opened up in front of her. There was another place she had to go to before it was time to go back. Taking a deep breath she stepped through it, knowing that things would change drastically once she returned.

F I N