The Day After

It was afternoon. The sun was gleaming brightly above the sea. The air was filled with a salty yet sweet scent. Loki and Nevaeh were sitting in her bedroom's balcony, choosing to stay in, mostly due to the staggering number of events that had taken place the previous night, but also because her parents were meant to return from their trip the day after tomorrow. Even though they had continuously talked to each other about the crazy day they'd had, there were so many things still left out.

Loki had just finished telling her how he'd killed Laufey, and the way he could witness the shock brimming in his monstrous eyes. Nevaeh was taken aback by this. Loki could see it on her face. 'He never found out about you? Why didn't you tell him?' she asked.

'Do you really think that I would dignify that creature's actions by an explanation? I killed him as soon as I saw the surprise of betrayal in his eyes,' spat Loki.

'Not an explanation! I mean, you killed him because he wronged you by abandoning you. I thought you would've boasted about the way you turned out even after what he did to you. Apart from being a well-mannered boy, your abilities and skills are beyond his wildest imagination! It's a shame he never knew the treasure he lost before he died,' Nevaeh said honestly.

Loki was stunned with silence by her words which conveyed much more than it said. Now that he heard her say those words out-loud, he wanted nothing more than to go back in time and do it that way. 'You, little one, are darker than I thought,' Loki said, smiling warmly. 'There is nothing I like more,' he added hastily after watching the crestfallen look on her face.

'Well, if I were in your place, I would've done it that way, that's all I meant,' Nevaeh said defensively.

Loki refused to drop the amusement off his face. 'Oh, but I like your way! It's a shame I did not thought of it myself! I want to do it that way now.'

'Huh?'

'I want to tell him. Let's do it,' Loki said with a hint of madness in his eyes.

'He is already dead, sweetie. You can't change what has already happened,' she said, laughing a little at his sudden change of mind. There really was no way that he could tell him now.

'No, ordinary people cannot. But we can.'

'Loki, what is it that you want to do?' Nevaeh asked slowly.

'I want to go back in time and boast about my grandeur before I kill him again,' Loki said excitedly.

'You are kidding, right?' Nevaeh was feeling light headed by Loki's newfound, insane thoughts.

'Does it look I am kidding? I have a Norn stone! You have a Norn stone! We have barely used them for anything! I know we can do it!' Loki said as though the stones were toys and he hasn't played enough with them.

Nevaeh was hoping that Loki would realize that this was a lunatic idea, but the excitement on his face was refusing to fade.

'You really want to go back in time?' she asked slowly, and watched Loki nod vigorously. 'To gloat that you turned out cute as a button?'

'Not precisely in those words!' Loki snapped, 'And it is about my prowess as well. That dimwit monster has no idea about how strong I am!'

'But you do know that changing the past can lead to devastating effects to the future?' asked Nevaeh, trying a slight different approach on enlightening Loki that he was going berserk.

'Who died and made you the queen of time travel?' snapped Loki.

'I have read a lot of comics' shrugged Nevaeh. 'The point is, everything is done and dusted. You don't even know how to use the stone to travel back in time –'

'I can learn,' Loki shrugged back.

Loki was looking positively sure that he could actually do what he was saying and that made her heart skip a beat. Time travel has been the most fascinating element for Nevaeh, ever since she stepped her foot in science fiction. But she knew that history of comic books had taught everyone time and time again, that no change can go unnoticed or inconsequential. Time is a stubborn factor and meddling with it can lead to nothing but chaos.

'No!' Nevaeh said suddenly.

Loki scoffed. 'I beg your pardon? It wasn't a request—

'Even if you went back in time, you never know what might happen! What damage it could cause! What if Laufey kills you while you are bragging about yourself? Or your father? Or your mother?' Nevaeh said with desperation.

'I will not let that happen! I will make sure—'

'There is no making sure when it comes to this. Everything is uncertain. Seriously I just got you back, I am not letting you go and put yourself at risk again!' Nevaeh said exhaustedly. Loki was heavily distracted by his urge as he watched her worried face.

Nevaeh was feeling annoyed by Loki's wild bi-polar thoughts which shook her senses and his stubbornness made her feel like throat-punching him. She knew that Loki will never drop his decision, unless, she distracted him again. 'You are looking so handsome right now.'

'Is that so?' Loki blushed. He loved compliments.

'Yeah, the sunlight really makes you glow,' she winked at him.

'Then kiss this glowing handsome prince,' Loki pulled her towards him without waiting for a response and kissed her. He ran a hand through her long hair to brush them off her neck and gently rub his own lips on it. She ran both her hands through his hair as he kissed her on the lips, his sharp nose rubbing against her own minuscule one.

His hand holding her waist slid under her t-shirt from beneath and he felt her soft skin shake under his touch. Nevaeh was aching to feel his touch all over her body but she clutched his hand slowly moving up in a tight grasp.

Loki withdrew his hand to place it on her shoulders. His finger lingered inside the neck of her t-shirt to pull it down from her shoulder. Nevaeh opened her eyes sharply and slapped the back of his hand, making him stop abruptly and frown heavily at her.

'I did not stop your hand because the angle wasn't right,' Nevaeh snapped.

'Then why did you?' Loki asked as he kissed her cheek.

'I don't know, we haven't even been on a date or anything—'Nevaeh paused in mid-sentence when Loki abruptly stopped his pecks and looked at her with a calculating expression on his face. Nevaeh had never seen Loki in such deep thought before and she nervously stared at him wondering if she had said anything to upset him.

'How about today?' Loki asked, letting go of his hold on her all together and shifting a little away from her. 'Midgardian dating includes; movie or picnic of some sort and/or a feast, yes?' Loki asked, as though enquiring about it with a shopkeeper. Nevaeh was stunned by this sudden change of situation and she merely shrugged.

'I will give you some time to get dolled up then.' Loki got up, buttoning his emerald shirt which had literally stayed unbuttoned since the moment it had appeared on his body.

'Where – where do you think you are going?' asked a confused Nevaeh when Loki started walking towards the bedroom door.

'I will come back in two hours, knock on your door, and escort you for the day we have planned ahead. Isn't that how a date works?' asked Loki.

Nevaeh laughed. 'But you don't have to leave the house. I mean, where would you even go?'

'If I am doing this, then I am doing it right. Don't worry about me. I shall see you in two hours.' Loki departed her room. Nevaeh laughed lightly, rubbing her lips by her finger as she immediately began wondering what to wear.

Loki reached downstairs and opened the front door to the Queen's nest in order to make a few arrangements, but stopped soon after. Joe was about to knock on the door. Loki smiled widely at her, while she stared at him through wide eyes as though seeing him for the first time.

'You're a God,' she whispered.