He nodded, face much more serious as he let a hand rest palm-down on his own thigh. He watched his other hand as his fingers moved about absently. “Yes, that’s quite fine. Most do ask about the chains sooner or later. I have grown rather used to it…” He mused over his own thoughts. “Did I ever tell you how I came to be in that cave, Summer? Or did you already know—from stories?”
“I don’t know anything about it. Norse mythology is much more tangled than any other I ever looked at.” She moved around and sat back down, slouching a little and watching him across the flickering of the candle flame. A free strand of hair fell down over one eye. “Please tell me there’s a reason other than fear of you.”
He watched the candle, instead of her reactions. “That is just about the gist of it. The way I was born worried the Asga—” He paused, glancing about for a moment. There were too many wandering ears about. He cleared his throat and adjusted his position in his seat. “other people. My father had taken myself and my siblings to live with him after we had been raised by our mother for a time. This put them further ill at ease, and some began to speculate that we would bring ruin to…” He tried to think of a Midgardian way to put ‘Asgard’. “You know.” Close enough.
“We were banished. They cared more for exterminating any threat, rather than actually attempting to get to know my father’s children.” He sighed in annoyance, more begrudging of the treatment of his family as a whole rather than his own. “They were afraid of us. They hated us. We were damn well lucky that they couldn’t kill us, not there.” A hand ran through his hair absentmindedly, and he shook off his growing dark thoughts.
“But that is improper dinner conversation. I am sorry.” He forced a smile. “You needn’t worry for your safety though, my friend. I shan’t harm you.”
“I don’t know where you got the idea that I’m worried about my safety,” she said, dropping her hand flat on the table. “Others may be afraid of you, but I can tell you’re harmless to me. I guess … you want revenge, huh? And now I’ve brought it up again.” Summer made a sad face at him.
Fortunately breaking the mood, Michelangelo bustled up, arms full of steaming dishes and face full of smile. He set the plates down, flourished silverware, and proclaimed, “Dinner is served!” before rubbing his hands together and departing, leaving Summer gazing at Fenrir.
Blue eyes were drawn towards the movement Michelangelo provided, and Fenrir donned a fake smile as the man set their food before them, flurrying away almost as fast as he had come. When they were once again alone Fenrir took one last sip of his wine, draining the glass and staring at it, still touching the cool, clear material.
“Revenge is one word for it. Destiny, I suppose, is another.” He waved it away. “Come. We should eat, before it cools.”
“Yes, Fenrir,” Summer responded wryly, already spreading her napkin across her lap. The next few minutes disappeared in the consumption of the delicious pasta, until initial hunger was sated. Laying her fork down, Summer picked up her glass and eyed Fenrir over the top of it.
Michelangelo notwithstanding, she could already tell that she was going to spend a lot of her daydreaming time thinking about Fenrir after he had to leave. However he’d been turned human, his human form was extremely attractive, and his polite, warm personality just made the attraction stronger. Touching him with her gift, of course, heightened it even more; but that was a side effect she was used to.
Pressing her lips together, she forced her gaze away and back to her plate. She could at least try not to ogle him openly.
Fenrir had been enjoying his veal Marsala innocently, and wiped at his mouth with the napkin, still looking down at the plate as he set his fork aside and swallowed.
“Are you going to finally tell me if there is something on my face? You have been staring at me all night. Perhaps there is something burdening your mind?” His eyes had a rehearsed innocent serenity to them, twinkling just right with the hint of mischief. He did so love to tease her a little; put her on the spot. It was rather… cute to watch.
It took Summer a split second to register the comment before she burst out laughing. “Fenrir!” She couldn’t say anything else for a minute between laughing and hiding her face. “Okay, you got me. I am watching you. There’s nothing wrong with your face, which is the problem.” Another bubble of laughter interrupted her.