Silver and Scales
Chapter Twenty-Eight: Tender Words
Vyperia and Loki stood in the throne room, looking at one another. They were enveloped in the other's arms, mere inches apart, having departed from their gentle kiss. She looked at him with more than just doting love. Admiration—even fascinated worship—beamed in her brilliant, green eyes. Loki recognized it with willful pride. If those eyes had belonged to his own family, gazing at him with that much adoration, maybe war wouldn't have been an option.
Loki reached for her hand that held close to his waist. Her gaze followed his arm as Loki interlaced his fingers with hers, and placed her hand on his shoulder in a romantic gesture. Vyperia smiled at him.
"Why is it," she said through an amused snicker, "that you can be so stern and consistent one moment and then the next be a gentleman whose mere gaze hypnotizes my very soul?"
He grinned at her.
"Do you know what you do to me?" she asked him affectionately.
"I do," said Loki. "The effect that I have on you is like a drug; and it is toxic and liberating at the same time."
"How do you know this feeling?" she said, wrapping her other arm around his shoulders. She connected her fingers on the nape of his neck.
"Truly?" he began with a mischievous smirk. "I know that you cannot stand to stay away from me because while I know that you ache for me late at night, it burdens me in the same way in the afternoon."
"That's beautiful," cooed Vyperia.
"It's dangerous," said Loki.
"It is peculiar how often those two often coincide," she added with a smirk of her own. "We are each other's weakness. It is like a written poem that has never been transcribed into words. Do you feel that, Darling? The world intends to see us tear apart, but it never happens."
"Why do you think that?" asked Loki.
"Why should we stay separate while the world burns?" his queen returned sardonically.
"As if we could stay separate…"
"As if I could stay away," Vyperia noted with genuine sincerity.
Loki made an amused chuckle and pulled her close.
"I mean every word, Darling," said Vyperia quietly.
Loki settled a hand along the nape of her neck. They pressed their foreheads together, and their eyes closed. They had begun to slowly sway on the spot absent-mindedly in a tender, intimate dance.
"Ever do you speak about how your life would become meaningless if you were apart from me," said Loki gently. "I appreciate your precious sentiment, but you must promise me one thing."
"Anything," vowed Vyperia strongly.
"Never forget this," said Loki into the silent chamber.
Vyperia opened her eyes to see him staring at her from their close proximity.
"Whenever we are apart," said Loki, "whenever you are lost, I am here"—his hand left her neck to place his fingers upon the temple of her head—"in your mind."
"I could find you, but you could block me." Vyperia told him. "Would you have me search for you like a lost servant in search of her master? I would surely come undone if I believed that you had abandoned me without warning."
"You are my equal; you always have been," Loki said significantly.
He caressed her cheek with care.
"Love makes people so."