A Legend of Mischief (Loki Fanfiction)

Chapter 11

She prayed to the spirits that it wouldn't be too bad.

~~~

A few days later, Nyneve realized her prayers had gone unheeded.

One moment they were simply sparring like usual. The next, it was like a switch had been flipped and Loki came at her more fiercely. She was barely able to dodge a blow aimed at her head. When he swiped her feet out from under her, she dropped in a roll. Spotting another attack incoming, she was forced to resort to teleporting, ending up behind him.

"Loki," Nyneve called his name, but it was like he couldn't hear her as he spun to attack her again. She continued to dodge, analyzing his movements and mannerisms in an attempt to figure out what had changed. It was almost like he was coming at her with a killing intent, his eyes appearing glazed over as if he were desperate to fight back against some enemy. He was lost in his own mind, in memories that were clouding his view of what was truly in front of him.

This couldn't continue. It wasn't good for him nor safe for her. If her voice couldn't reach him, she would have to try something else.

So, instead of dodging, Nyneve blocked his next strike, keeping herself still with her eyes locked on his. She forced herself to not wince at the pain that shot up her arm. Magic had helped reinforce her own strength to absorb the hit, but it still hurt. If it hadn't been for her magic, the injury would likely have been worse.

"Loki." This time, the combination of stopping his movements and calling his name seemed to break him out of the trance he had been trapped in. Confusion flashed across his expression, realization on its heels.

"I think that's enough for today," Nyneve said softly, never taking her gaze from his. She waited until he relaxed his stance before she did the same, stepping back and removing her leather bracers from her forearms. Putting them back in their place near some of her other gear, she began walking toward the stairs. Loki remained where he was, staring down at the dark matting beneath his boots. After a moment, his turmoil grew too much for him to keep it at bay.

"Why are you still not afraid of me, when I do things like this?!"

She paused, turning to look at him. "...Because I can tell that, in truth, you don't want to hurt anyone."

Loki stared after her in astonishment as she left the basement. Then he gritted his teeth, both hands clenched tightly into fists. How could she continue to read him so well, when he barely understood himself?

~~~

Having changed from her sparring clothes into more comfortable attire, Nyneve walked back downstairs to the first floor. Seeing Loki sit down on the living room armchair, running his hands through his hair in frustration, Nyneve pondered an idea. Deciding it was worth a shot, she stepped into her kitchen and opened the freezer. A few moments later, she returned to the living room, two bowls with ice cream and spoons in hand.

Loki stared at the bowl she set in front of him. "What is this?"

"Just try it," Nyneve replied with a small smile, sitting down on the sofa with her own dish of ice cream. She watched as he hesitantly tried a spoonful, quietly chuckling to herself when his stressed expression eased a bit with surprise and then enjoyment of the dessert. Turning her attention to her own dessert, she hoped the simple chocolate chip would help him feel a little better. He'd been awfully silent after the sparring session, absorbed in his own thoughts. She knew he likely felt some shame over what had happened, despite the fact that she herself didn't blame him.

Nyneve remembered the days when she was feeling down and her grandfather would give her ice cream. It had always helped her. Hopefully she could pass along the comfort her grandfather had once given her to Loki.