“Oh, don’t be like that,” she sighed. Finding a bigger tree, she stopped by it and rolled the backpack off her shoulders. “I’ve been assuming we have an actual destination — do we? Or are we just wandering and hoping to find a cave?” She rubbed at a shoulder where the strap had bitten into the muscle.
“Our destination is some semblance of a life for me,” he said bitterly, and dragged himself to the tree, leaning heavily against it.
“Honestly, what am I doing out here?” He rubbed both hands over his face until it hurt.
“Running away, I thought.” Summer brushed her hand against Loki’s arm. “I’m sorry. Is this not a good plan? You don’t want to be locked up, and I can’t blame you, and honestly I don’t know any better way to get you anywhere else. I only know a little bit of Asgard, and Earth. Midgard. I can’t get you off this world, Loki! I can’t — I’m just an empath, I’m not really going to be a lot of good to you, but I won’t leave you if you don’t want me to.”
She ran down after a minute, trying to figure out what else to say. “You said you’d try. I’m just trying to help.”
He caught her hand and pulled her into his arms. “You are the only thing that helps, and I forbid you to leave me,” he murmured, leaning down so their foreheads touched. He felt wildly possessive, desperate to dig out any inkling that she may feel useless to him and go. “I will run away until we find somewhere to take root, and there we will be exalted and adored, and you will not leave me.”
Loki’s sudden clasp startled Summer, but she nestled into his grip nonetheless. “I’m not going anywhere, then,” she murmured into his chest. “I won’t leave you alone. Don’t you leave me alone, okay?” The strength of his feelings was a little frightening, considering how little time they’d actually had together.
They’d only ever teased each other. How could he possibly — well, probably she was misinterpreting his feelings. Summer tipped her face up to Loki’s, hugging tight.