Lonely Souls

Fan story by Shaila A. Canson

Characters from Original Story “Fated” by Koizumi Tsukiyo

 

 

                Drinking water from her goblet, passing it off as mead like all the others, crystal blue eyes watched as Vanaheim was brought to its best by the feast thrown tonight, in honor of Lady Freyja’s visit. Runa didn’t particularly know the goddess personally, but she liked Vanaheim’s parties. It actually made the place somewhat bearable, children playing and having fun. Runa couldn’t remember a time when she’d laughed like that in Vanaheim. In fact, she couldn’t recall if she’d ever cracked a smile.

                Vanaheim was just too different. Wait, no, she was just too different from the Vanir. She didn’t enjoy things the way the others did, so she spent her time traveling from the moment she’d finished learning how to protect herself. Quite proudly, she could grin that she could do so just fine thank you, finishing her water in an exaggerated swig. Time to go before the Vanir men started hitting on her because they drank too much. Drunk Vanir men were such a pain.

                Where would she go?  Tying the bundle with her clothes and what not around her shoulders, Runa walked away from the music and laughter, wondering idly as to what world she’d go see next. Alfheim and the elves? Nah…too much happiness if what she heard of Lord Freyr’s world was right. The energy and liveliness there would make her gag. Midgard? But she’d just come from there, and it was riddled with war at the moment. She wanted fun and some adventure, not drama. No chance in hell was she going to Muspellheim; she hated the heat! And Niflheim was just simply out of the question. Svartlheim? Gah, no, the majority of them were as obnoxiously perverted as drunken Vanir men when sober and twice as small so it was like beating up on a child! Asgard was out; that place annoyed her like hell the one time she went there for…she couldn’t even remember why. Curiosity, probably, and when she was 6 or 7. They had issues those people, and she wasn’t very fond of them – one of the few if only things she could say she had in common with her Vanaheim kin.

So where to go?

                The answer smacked her in the head like a hammer to the brain. Jotunheim! Of course! It was cold, she liked the cold, and the majority of them were so stupid it was almost sad. She liked picking on them, a guilty pleasure, and outwitting them was no challenge but usually very fun and amusing. If trouble did occur, well, she could easily just make them self-implode, though she didn’t enjoy it as much as most thought. But hey, her health over theirs if they really wanted to fight. It wasn’t her fault they were sometimes so silly it was ridiculous.

                Grinning, Runa’s violet hair that was pulled into a single loop bounced, the remaining of it that came out of her headpiece blowing in the wind as she ran towards the direction of Jotunheim. A trip to the cold mountains was just what she needed!

 

 

 

                A scowl marred Runa’s lips as she grasped the firmly made wooden bars of her cell, staring at the boiling pot of water and the tall giants yucking it up about capturing her, rummaging around in her bag for something of interest. She had nothing, of course, so they quickly got bored, throwing it over their shoulders carelessly and messing up her spare sets of clothes. Idiots, now they were all dirty! And they were hell to clean! And what was that they were saying? Too pretty to just eat? Why not have some fun? She definitely didn’t like the sound of that, a vein popping out of her forehead as it throbbed in anger. Hell no. She’d tried it the nice way, even reasoning with them (a concept far beyond their comprehension, obviously), but these idiots approaching her with that appreciative look in their eyes many drunk Vanir men and dwarves got around her were asking for it.

                Her health came first, damn it.

                The moment the words few outside of Vanaheim knew passed from her lips they screamed, imploding in a painful death. No gore to clean up afterwards, though a painful way to die. Holding out her palm, the orb of water which formed blasted through the bars easily, Runa huffing as she made it disappear and went to go grab her clothes with a frown. They were so dirty now…she had to find a river before the dirt set in. Especially on the white dress she wore underneath her off the shoulder coat. Hadn’t their been a river nearby as they’d been taking her back to this place? Gathering the clothes, she walked out the door, pausing only enough to look back at the vegetables they’d cut up to cook with her. …Nah…

                Looking side to side, Runa didn’t even wince as her sandal clad feet stepped through the cold snow which covered nearly all of Jotunheim. They went numb about an hour ago. She had a little while longer before they began turning blue too, now that they’d been in the warm home for about an hour. It’d been the reason she’d actually humored those idiots. Well, that and the fact that if she broke free, they would’ve only had to pick her up by the back again. They weren’t smart or fast but had long legs and arms and were strong – they could cover more distance with just a large stride then she could, even at her fastest (which wasn’t all that fast, even by mortal standards).

                Now where was that silly river? Closing her eyes, she let her water magic circle around her, leading her to the closest body of water until it came into view about 15 minutes later. Good; the stains were just about setting in too.

                Kneeling on the frozen dirt patch by the riverside, the only part of Jotunheim’s ground NOT snow covered in the area it seemed, she looked at the thin cover of ice blocking her from the icy river waters. Though not as thick as she would’ve guessed, it was still thick enough to not crack easily.

                Luckily, she just happened to be stronger then most.

                Dunking the fine fabric into the water, she rubbed at the stain viciously, water splashing from where she’d cracked through the ice with her fist. The icy water stung a little at first but her hands soon numbed just like her feet had, the pain lost to her. Yep, she was definitely stronger then most. The other Vanir didn’t really like pain too much, or couldn’t handle it. She could just ignore it after awhile. It made her wonder if she was really blood tied to them at all.

                Hanging all her sopping wet clothes over a low tree branch once they were done (she couldn’t reach very far since she was one of the shortest in Vanaheim), she looked around for some sort of shelter she could use while they dried. As much as she liked the cold, sleeping in the snow wasn’t very appealing, and she couldn’t go back to those idiot giant’s home. Their kin might come back and go hunting for her head, if they had any. She didn’t know and didn’t want to find out.

                “Where is that little worm!?” The sudden boom made her freeze, the ground shaking as two giants came barreling through the forest, knocking trees over in their wake as they searched for someone, searching for blood from the looks of their weapons. Uh oh. “KALI!”

                OK, so maybe they weren’t looking for her. Sighing in relief, she immediately took it back when they knocked the tree with her clothes over, falling backwards into the river with a loud scream that echoed through the entire area even louder, her clothes falling into a muddy patch of dirt on the opposite side of the river where the water hadn’t frozen. Paling even worse then she already had, the icy water was the only thing keeping her temper down. She’d just cleaned them too, damn it!

                Her scream apparently reached the ears of the gigantic giant brothers, both looking down and bursting out laughing. OK, that didn’t help much. Her temper rose slightly. “Well look, if it isn’t a little mouse.” Magic circled around one of them, the more pleasing to the eye one, and the smile on his face grew wider, a chill running down her back. And it wasn’t because of the water, either. “A Vanir mouse!”

                The other, less pleasing to look at by a long shot and just like the other dummies she’d gotten rid of from the look in his eyes, lit up hopefully. “Vanir? Like that beautiful wench, Freyja?!”

                He sounded far too excited about that, damn it. And his eyes lit up WAY too much.

                “Apparently.” Runa yelled indignantly as he grabbed her by the HAIR, her head piece falling loose as she held her head, thrashing about wildly. “A set of lungs on her too. Not as beautiful as that Asnyjur either.” To add insult to injury, he held her out to his stupidly grinning brother like a piece of meat asking, “You want her?”

                “Yeah!”

                Oh hell no. Her drenched form which was now outlined by her sopping wet clothes didn’t help much either.

                The same words slipped from her tongue that had with the other two brothers and the gawking giant went bye-bye, his brother letting a roar of rage out as he dropped her and raised his weapon to crush her. It was so long and large, she’d never outrun it in time. “YOU~!”

                But with a scream he imploded, though Runa hadn’t even opened her mouth to say the spell. Unfortunately, this spell obviously wasn’t as clean as hers was, gore and blood flying like rain around her.

                Even worse, a huge chunk of what had been his…something…dropped right smack on her clothes, blood seeping into them so fast it made her jaw unhinge.

                “MY CLOTHES!” Great, now she had to walk around in these wet things? She’d REALLY be taken for a true Vanir then! They were nearly see through when wet!

                A laugh, obviously from the one who’d both saved her and put her in a position she’d rather NOT be in, made Runa glare daggers at the nearest tree, the trunk cracking as it fell. A blur of light blue passed and she narrowed her eyes again, though she could feel the makings of a barrier of sorts. He was a sorcerer then. Hands glowing, the water orb formed and it lashed out in multiple streams, more out of irritation then anything. She wouldn’t kill him. She’d make him PAY!

                The laughing continued until she hit his barrier, much stronger then he expected if his yell of surprise was any indication, her jets of water knocking straight into him and pushing him back until he slammed into a tree that fell over from the force of her blow. Mighty strength…yep. Whoever named me did a good job.

                Liquid blue eyes stared up at the blood covered girl approaching him, shorter by only a few inches then him, hands held high in defeat as he said, “Sorry; I should really be apologizing. Especially after you saved me from the stupid giant back there. He was the faster one, though not as smart as his brother was. He would’ve caught me sooner or later.”

                Runa was still glowering with a glare that could kill. Given the fact that he’d seen her all but do so with just a glare and a mental chant, the handsome giant Kali added hastily, “And I ruined those beautiful clothes of yours, though I must say you yourself still look beautiful covered in blood.”

                It shocked her enough to make her stop glaring, blinking in surprise. No one had ever told her that before. What was she supposed to say? Thank you? But even that seemed horribly inappropriate and stupid so she stayed silent, rooted to her spot. Staying silent was rather inappropriate too since it WAS a compliment, but at least she didn’t sound stupid.

                Kali’s eyebrow arched. “Stunned to silence?”

                “I don’t know what to say.”

                “I’m flattered or what are you drunk on are two possibilities.”

                Runa cracked a smile, forgetting about her clothes. Finally, an intelligent one! And he wasn’t bad to look at either. “I’m flattered then, giant with the quick tongue. Or should I call you Kali?”

                “Kali.” Sensing it was moderately safe, he stood up, brushing off the snow that had fallen on his head when he crashed into the tree. “And may I know yours, strong voiced Vanir?”

                “Runa,” she said, face twitching at the name. Strong voiced Vanir…Why does that feel like an insult?

                His lip twitched in amusement. “Mighty strength, hmm? Fitting.” Rubbing his chest where he’d gotten slammed absently, he glanced towards the forest which had magically fixed itself. “Well, since you did save me, and I made you lose what clothes you had most likely, allow me to open my home to you, lovely seid.” Eyes twinkling with a look she didn’t quite know a name for he said, “You are a seid, correct?”

                “Yeah…”

                “Then please bless my home with your  presence so I may thank you properly.”

                He really was a smooth talker, wasn’t he? Ah well. He was opening his home to her, and her feet were turning blue. Even if she didn’t trust him completely, her feet needed the rest. “Thank you…lead the way then, Kali.”

 

 

 

                For once, the heat didn’t piss her off, blood flow in her feet finally starting as she sat in front of the cramped home’s small fireplace which burned away the numbness and gave feeling back to her frozen limbs. Despite her weariness, Kali was a very generous host, a tiny pang of guilt having blossomed over the fact even. At the moment he was searching for her headpiece, one of the few things she’d gotten from Vanaheim and kept. The Vanir were big on beautiful things, usually very elaborate and stunning, so something gorgeous in its simplicity like her headpiece was rare.

                The small, tiny fact that this home was built for one, obviously, and seemed like it was choking her was inconsequential.

                Really, it was. Must be the magic.

                Thinking of that, her grin widened even more. She’d heard a rumor from a talkative Vanir woman at a party once that giants were very ugly, but those who were smart and knew magic were usually handsome ones, thus making it easy to tell them apart at a glance. It must’ve been true, she mused, and Kali certainly WAS nice to look at despite the occasional glances he’d take at her that would remind her that he was still a Jotun, even if he was kind. And she was still a goddess, even if by a technicality. Jotuns didn’t like the gods. Though qualms were mostly with the Aesir, the Vanir were still equal gods, but simply less talked about, and technically the Jotun’s enemies as well. Jotuns and Gods were enemies. Who knew what the other Vanir thought of them or the Aesir for that matter anymore. She still had to be careful.

                A smile twitched at her lip. Her trip was turning out to be much fun. And she’d only been there a week! She may not have come here with the purpose of killing giants like that Aesir thunder god did, but there were plenty of other pleasurable ways to tease Jotuns without killing them. She much preferred those methods. Killing them was only a last resort to protect herself.

                The door blowing open, a cold wind rushing in and nearly blowing the fire out, signaled Kali’s return as he shut it, shaking snow from his head. “It seems you will have to spend the night here, Runa. A blizzard started up.”

                Obviously. She couldn’t even see anything outside the window anymore! “Hn…I guess so.” She didn’t mind all that much. Even if he did know magic she could handle him if he tried something. Even if the smart ones were the most dangerous, they were also the ones most likely to listen if you reasoned with them. And she’d picked up the habit of learning to reason her way out of trouble sometime during one of her trips to Midgard. It seemed to be a specialty of many humans. “I hope you don’t mind, since this home doesn’t seem suited for two.”

                “Not at all. I don’t receive company and it can get lonely.” He smiled, his cloak still wrapped about his shoulders as he kneeled by her. “And you’re so small that you hardly take up any room.”

                Runa’s face twitched despite herself. Did he have to bring that up? “You’re pretty small yourself. Even in a normal form, giants are tall and skinny I believe, and though you are very thin you’re only barely taller then me.”

                Kali’s own face twitched despite his smile. So it was a sore spot for him too. “I’m a rare one.” He’d been rummaging around under his cloak for awhile now, finally pulling out her headpiece that he’d gone to look for. “I believe this is yours.” As her eyes lit up, skillfully working her hair back into its usual style, Kali couldn’t help note, “It’s pretty simplistic for you, isn’t it?”

                “I like it simple.” Leaning back against the trunk in front of his large bed, she smiled somewhat proudly, “I was never in Vanaheim long enough to pick up other common Vanir tastes. I only go when they throw parties. Otherwise I travel, mostly on Midgard.”

                “No wonder you act human,” he snorted, “So why, if you don’t mind my asking, come to Jotunheim?”

                “I wanted some fun and adventure. Jotunheim’s the best place to come for it, right?” It was one of the few other things she could say she had in common with the gods.

                “A Vanir version of Thor?”

                Her face twisted. “No need to insult me.”

                Kali laughed at her comical expression. “Had to check.” More seriously he muttered, “I couldn’t tell at first.”

                Runa cringed. OK, so maybe she had “jumped the gun” with the giant brother by the river. It wasn’t his fault he probably hadn’t seen anything with two legs and breasts with a pretty face within reach in his life. But he would’ve taken her if she hadn’t! And very unlike common Vanir goddesses, she was protective of her skin. A result of being on Midgard so much. Women there were protective of their bodies too, though less successful then she usually was. Runa felt the odd need to explain herself to him. “I’m just protective of my body.”

                “I could tell.” He finally let his cloak fall from his shoulders, shoving it inside his trunk before sitting back against it, beside her, one knee propped up as he kicked off his boots and dried his slightly frigid feet. “It’s why I decided to help you. On any other day I just might’ve let them have at you.”

                She twitched noticeably. She knew he’d say that, but it was still irritating. “I figured, but why because of that?”

                “I wanted to know why a Vanir goddess of all people is being protective of her body.”

                Runa let her head clonk against the trunk behind her in exasperation. Lady Freyja, your reputation and that of Vanaheim will be the fall of me yet. “Well, like I said, I’m traveling so much I never picked up  a taste for typical Vanir pursuits.”

                “Obviously,” he laughed, and yet again Runa felt the odd feeling she was being insulted, “But I also wonder now why you go alone. Goddesses don’t usually come here of their own free will, let alone at leisure, but I suppose it’s obvious you’re no normal goddess. But even the gods travel in groups for protection when they come here, so why not you?”

                Runa reached for her glass of water and took a long drink before answering. “I like being alone but lonely. It’s better then being in a group but feeling invisible.”

                If Kali had any reaction to that he didn’t show it. The light haired giant only nodded, chuckling deeply as he stared at the fire muttering, “We’re a couple of lonely souls then, aren’t we?”

                Another drink. Really, her throat was dry for some reason. “Yep.” Holding her empty mug she grinned sheepishly, “More water please?”

 

 

 

                A day turned to two. Then it became 5, and then suddenly it became a week. A week soon became a month so quickly, though she was sure no one in Vanaheim noticed. Not that she minded. Kali was pleasant company, but she’d gotten the inkling that the blizzard wasn’t as natural as it seemed around the 5th day, the snow having never raised an inch despite the constant falling of it. Impressive, really.

                She hadn’t pegged him to be that lonely since he did say he had a friend on one occasion, though this ‘friend’ wasn’t around very often and got him into trouble (like with those brothers they’d taken care of) when he was. She liked Kali though; she’d known him enough that she could say he was her friend too, and they’d gone off and had fun on Midgard once or twice only to come back laughing so hard it didn’t stop for hours.

                He even showed her some good candidates that would prove amusing to tease among the Jotuns! Apparently, the guy had had nothing to do but watch those around him for many years. And he’d even introduced her to some nice giantesses who taught her some endlessly helpful ‘tricks’ she could use. Any friend of Kali’s was welcome anytime, they’d said. How kind of them.

                They did all this when the blizzard “stopped” of course. It conveniently started again whenever they got back inside the house.

                “Runa!” His constant teasing smile and grin had become so common to her they no longer made her uneasy, grinning back from where she sat on the floor. Her trip was turning out far better then she’d planned. She’d actually managed to find a few Jotuns who were fairly decent too, though not nearly as close to being friends as she considered Kali. They were more like amiable parties she could hazard to seek out if she needed something. Like a weapon, though her decent fighting skills and more then mastered skills with her water and seid made the need for a weapon unlikely. None of them were trustworthy, but they were people to be around for some fun. “Think you can cook something good with this?”

                She went crossed eyed as she stared at the fish flopping wildly, held by the tail. Tying back all of her hair, even her bangs which she always kept loose, into a ponytail, Runa shook her head before its flopping made her dizzy. “Hey, I can cook anything. Hand me the knife.” She hadn’t traveled for so long and lived by freeloading food from people. Hell no. She’d caught her own stuff too, though it was usually small game, and cooked it. It was a fact she was certainly going to prove now.

                With a smile, Kali fell forward onto his bed on his stomach, watching her expertly cut up the thing and stuff it with herbs she’d asked him to get sometime last week, tongue sticking out slightly. He couldn’t remember. Didn’t really care either. He’d grown fond of the little Vanir pretty quickly. “You think it’s enough?”

                An image popped into her mind and she snorted, cleaning her hand on a nearby cloth once the fish was set over the fire to roast. “Probably not. You may not be the biggest glutton here but your appreciation for food is large. This won’t even fill half of YOUR stomach, let alone stretch enough to make it to mine.” Looking out the window, the blizzard “blowing”, a smirk crossed her lips knowingly. Time to bust his trick. “Stop the blizzard and I’ll go out to get two more myself.”

                His smile only grew. If he was disappointed she’d caught him, the blizzard disappearing with a flick of his wrist, it certainly wasn’t noticeable. “When did you know?”

                “About 5 days into it.”

                “Why didn’t you bust me sooner? Like my company that much?”

                Her smile in answer actually stunned him. It was probably the first time she’d seen him truly startled. “I’ll be back.” And with a laugh she left, feeling his eyes stare after her even after she’d shut the door, greeted by a refreshingly cold breeze. Catching fish was easy, but getting them to where you wanted them was the hard part. Was she even talking about fish anymore? Runa didn’t quite know herself, humming as she went to the river and watched carefully for the fish. She didn’t hum – ever. Maybe when she was alone and very happy about something. And she was, granted, very happy about actually startling him. But why would that of all things make her happy enough to hum some nonsense tune that she was sure had strong undertones of things she hadn’t had any clue about as a tiny girl when she’d first heard it? Why was she feeling so oddly satisfied?

                Hand darting out the moment she spotted her prey, Runa plucked the humungous fish over half her size and the smaller, average sized fish by normal human standards from the water by their tails in triumph. She could definitely catch like any other.

                Staring at the humungous fish that was barely being lifted from the ground in her right hand, flopping harshly in protest, Runa arched a curious eyebrow. “I wonder if this is enough for him…?” Looking at her own little catch that was just enough to keep her stomach satisfied she muttered, “You’ll be all my dinner, that’s for sure. If I let him get his hands on it all I just might lose too much weight and become half Kali’s size.” Half his size wasn’t even a stick. It was a twig, easily snapped in two, though whether she could be easily snapped as a twig was debatable.

                Runa gave up carrying the larger fish half way back, dragging it the rest of the way and at a much faster pace. Especially after she’d made the thing hit it’s head on a rock one too many time, killing it. Now all she had to do was worry about her own little sardine sized fish (in comparison to Kali’s anyway) that still had quite a bit of life left in it, actually smacking her in the face once or twice.

                Her grip never wavered. It tightened, actually. Every hit made her want to roast the thing more.

                The moment Runa kicked the door open, dragging in the large fish and gripping the smaller, more lively one which YET AGAIN smacked her in the face in a death grip, Kali’s eyes crossed, his mouth agape as if he’d planned on saying something when she came in. There were just no words for the scene before him though. None. But there was laughter. Plenty of it. Hell, he fell right off his bed backwards laughing. It was just that hysterical.

                Runa watched him cling to the side of the bed, eyes opening as he tried to say something but failed, the little fish smacking her in the face for the GODS BE DAMNED 5TH TIME! It made him break into all new gales of laughter, collapsing back onto the floor in such insane guffaws she thought he might go on all night and into tomorrow. “You think that’s funny?” She waited for him to find his way back to the bedside, clinging onto it heavily with his face buried into the pelt draped across it as he continued laughing. “Getting hit in the face is funny to you?”

                He looked up with a smile, nodding.

                Runa promptly dangled the fish in front of him, the tiny thing promptly smacking him in the face rapidly five times so he fell backwards out of sheer surprise. It was Runa’s turn to bust out laughing, though she didn’t fall to the floor. There was practically no room with the huge dead fish and the now grumbling giant on it. “You’re right! It’s hysterical!”

                “When are you roasting that thing?” he grumbled, laughter ceasing as he rubbed his stinging cheeks. HE arched an eyebrow this time as she refused to stop, grabbing the damned fish and letting a spell fall over it, ceasing its movements. Killing a fish so small was simple, with or without magic. “Would you quit it? I get it. Getting fish slapped isn’t funny.”

                The term ‘fish slapped’ made Runa finally fall over onto the bed, clutching her stomach as the laughter wouldn’t stop, her lungs running out of air.

                But then she really did go breathless, but not because of lack of air. Her laughter ceased with a surprised shout against warm lips, light blue hair tickling her face as it fell over his shoulders.

                Kali pulled away once she’d stopped, satisfied, touching his lips that were pulled into a very satisfied grin. He should be. He’d done the impossible and put her at a loss for words, even going as far as to make her blush despite herself. “Now you stop.”

                “What…was that?” Her face was still a little red, but her wits had recollected themselves. That was probably the most important part.

                “I forgot…you’ve never known the kiss of a man, let alone the touch of one.” Gently, he tugged her hand away from her mouth, the fishes long forgotten. “Tell me, Runa…tell me why you’ve stayed if you knew the blizzard was my illusion. Why have you stayed with me?”

                “Why did you want me to stay?” she retorted, not quite willing to answer. She’d blush again if she did and she didn’t want to do that. “Why did you create the illusion?”

                Fortunately (or unfortunately), Kali was more open in his response. “I was hoping to get a night with you.”

                Runa fell backwards, face twitching.

                Kali laughed, pinning her down by the wrists with his hands so she couldn’t escape him. “So answer my question now, Runa. Why did you stay?”

                She averted her eyes, watching smoke rise from the fish. “Your dinner is burning.”

                “Runa!”

                “Alright!” She grimaced from the look in his eyes. It was too…wild. It was both unsettling and intriguing. “I like your company. I like how I feel when I’m near you.”

                “And how do you feel?” Kali was looking just a bit too anxious as he asked this.

                “Well how do YOU feel?”

                With a smile she couldn’t name he let her scramble out from under him, sitting on the bed as he watched her back, Runa quickly changing fishes before the first was burned to a point beyond edibility. Even after the second and much larger one was up withy much fancy maneuvering on her part, she didn’t turn to face him, instead sitting down and working on cleaning out her own small one, the herbs at her side. “Fish is done.”

                “I’m not all that hungry.”

                “I hear your stomach growling from here, Kali.”

                With a soft chuckle, Kali sat down next to her, tilting her head so she had to face him, crystal eyes narrowed mildly in irritation. “Now why the sour look?”

                “I don’t like feeling like this.”

                “Like what?”

                “Like this!” He was going to make her say it, wasn’t he? He was, judging by his infuriating grin. “Like I’m weak with you.”

                Runa literally fell over as he tumbled backwards laughing, nearly sending the fish flying as his arms stretched out. What in Asgard was wrong with him now?!

                “Weak?” Grabbing her arm, face still alight in laughter, Kali tugged her down despite her yelp of protest, the utterly clueless seid pressed tightly to him as he whispered in her ear, “You are like no Vanir. You are utterly human in your actions. But one thing is certain and never changes: you are not weak, you naïve girl.”

                “Naïve?!”

                “Naïve,” he repeated with a teasing smile, patronizing her further by pinching her nose, “You don’t know attraction even when it bites you.”

                Her face blanked. Kali laughed again, sanity completely lost as he broke out in a fit of guffaws which shook the forest that hid his home to the core, snow from the branches falling against the roof. It was only when he heard Runa shriek something about burning the second fish that he sat up, tearing a piece from the long since cooled roasted fish he’d originally gathered. Laughing so much made him hungry. “So is the other one done?”

                Runa looked ready to cry, the fish she’d so painstakingly carried AND dragged back half singed and inedible. She hadn’t gotten it off the fire in time. “I worked so damn hard getting it back here too, damn it!”

                By the time she’d cut away the inedible part, he’d put down the entire first fish, the water dweller now only a pile of bones that were sucked clean, Kali picking at his teeth with a particularly sharp one. Those herbs really did do wonders, didn’t they? The meat had tasted better then he’d ever tasted it. “It still looks good.”

                Runa wasn’t pacified, her own fish finishing in less then a minute because of its size and the intensity of the fire. “All that fish wasted,” she brooded, sulking, “And after getting fish slapped by this thing the whole way back while carrying it too.” She didn’t even pay attention as she bit into the skewered fish, too lost in her brooding thoughts.

                She really should’ve looked first.

                Kali was on the floor for the umpteenth time laughing as Runa hacked out the head she’d bit off, the foul taste of roasted fish eyes obviously not a favorite in her diet.

                “You think that’s funny?” Eyebrow ticking as her eyes narrowed, she grabbed something behind her and shoved it in his mouth, Kali gagging as he choked the foul thing out and resisted the urge to scrape at his tongue. “How are burnt eyeballs for you?”

                Kali downed several glasses of mead (the water she constantly drank was too dull for his tastes) before he could speak again. “Hideous! That isn’t funny!”

                Runa continued laughing anyway.

                He, in retaliation, silenced her the same way he had before. He was definitely going to enjoy this.

                Runa shot him such a half hearted glare he wanted to kiss her again for the hell of it, settling from planting a large smacking kiss on her cheek as he smiled teasingly, “You’re such a mean one! But still a fantastic cook, so you’ll make a good wife!”

                THAT sent her a hideous red, a few colorful things even he never heard before sliding from her tongue as she grabbed a pillow and started whacking him with it. “Now you shut up with that talk! I never should’ve said anything!”

                “But I made you,” he noted, blocking her attacks with his arms laughingly.

                “I could’ve kept my mouth shut!”

                “Nah; I’m too irresistible.” As Runa keeled over in exasperation, yelping as she banged her head hard on the wood floor, Kali crawled over and put his forehead to hers as he grinned, “Not that I’m complaining.”

                Her look was as dry as it was embarrassed. “ I need to sleep. You wear me out.”

                “Can I join you?”

                “If you sleep over the covers like usual,” she shot back dryly.

                Kali face dropped. “Geeze…stubborn.”

                “Pervert.”

                “Hey, I AM still a Jotun man.”

                “I know,” she groaned as she buried her face into her pillow. “That’s what worries me!”

 

 

 

                They sat in the cold, staring at the dying embers of the fire silently, eyes gazing at nothing in particular. Runa didn’t care all that much. It was nice just being there in his arms – a position she was often put in lately.

               How long had she been there? Runa lost track, burying her face in his chest with a sigh. She couldn’t remember ever feeling like this. It was strange but not unpleasant, smiling slightly as she felt his fingers run through her hair and his lips kiss her head. It was a warm feeling that made her chest twitch, her mood always brightening whenever she thought about the feeling which always seemed to be brewing inside her. What was it? Oh yes; happiness. She was happy. She’d always been content but never happy until now.

                Kali was in a semi-disturbing quiet mood, silently contemplating things as he leaned against the wall, making sure to hold onto her tightly. “I think I should make this home bigger,” he finally said, his tone light and mild. “So we will have more room.”

                “Confident I’ll stick around?”

                “Well it has been 6 months.”

                Had it been only that long? With a shrug Runa smirked, “I could still up and leave any time.”

                Kali’s lips twitched. “You wouldn’t. I’m just too good to walk away from.”

                “I suppose so…” Smiling as she felt his lips upon hers, laughing slightly in the back of his throat, Runa mumbled, “Kali?”

                “What?” He wasn’t paying much attention, instead kissing her neck, savoring her scent. He loved her smell. He’d loved it when he first met her, but he especially loved it now that it had mingled with his own.

                “What do you want from me?”

                The question was so peculiar it made him stop, pulling back to blink at her, confused. “What do you mean?”

                “What do you want from…?” What were they? More then friends, certainly, but not close to lovers, though they did kiss. A lot, actually, but she always got the feeling he wasn’t satisfied. She herself felt restless about it, something between them just…off. “…from whatever it is we are?”

                Kali actually had to think it over, rearranging his words correctly before he smiled that sly smile, arrogant even as he pushed her down against the bed and brought his lips to her ear. “What I want, Runa, is to be the only one who can bring you happiness. I want to be the only one you ever sleep beside for as long as you live. What I want from this ultimately, Runa, is to become your lover in every sense of the word. You know that though. I’ve made that clear I think, so why would you…?” His face broke out into a wide smile as it hit him. It made her want to both go hide under the bed and just hit him until he was nothing but a twitching mess on the floor. Kali was way too happy about this. “What is it you want from this arrangement, Runa?”

                Her eyes lowered. What did she want? She’d never been able to sufficiently align her priorities since she didn’t know what she wanted in the first place. “What do I want? I wonder…”

                “You have to want something.”

                “…I want a home…”

                Of all the answers possible, that hadn’t been expected. Kali fell off her and onto the floor twitching, the pain of his head crashing to the hard wood unnoticed.

                Runa couldn’t help snickering, lying on her stomach and looking down at him from the bed. “You know how I traveled all the time…I want a real place to call my home.”

                Kali wanted to say, “This IS your home!” but stopped, biting his tongue. That’s presuming she wants to live with you forever and chase the shadows of loneliness from your bed.

                Apparently, she wasn’t finished yet though. “I’m sick of traveling all the time, wondering if I’ll have someplace to go to when I get back…if, one day when I return, they just won’t outright not know who I am.” To be that invisible hurts. “But…” With a soft smile, she crawled down to the floor where he’d sat up, resting her forehead against his intimately. “What I want most in all the 9 worlds is to stay by you and not lose the feelings you’ve brought me…”

                His liquid blue eyes narrowed thoughtfully. Was she saying what he thought she was? Runa seemed to love playing with her words and his mind was too out of it to process them.

                Runa caught the look and her own crystal blue eyes lit up in laughter. “I suppose I’m saying that what I want from this arrangement is a place I can feel safe…with you.” Her face twitched as she still saw him remain blank, though his eyes lit up. Did she have to outright say it!? Grumbling something about stupid males, the frustrated seid used her last tactic – the one she knew would definitely get through to him – and her lips pressed against his deeply. Only look at me with those eyes…let it only be me who shares your bed…

                As she pulled away, a kind smile was on his lips, eyes soft and loving in that gaze she often caught Kali glancing at her with when he figured she wasn’t paying attention. He made no move to hide it though, his hand brushing her bangs from where they’d fallen in front of her face and saying, “You never kissed me first before, Runa. Are you trying to tell me you like me?”

                It was her turn to kiss the ground with an aggravated twitch.

                Laughing, he pinned her down with his arms, burying his face in her hair that had fallen loose. “Your home is with me, Runa. I want you to think of this as our house.” He gave her a withering glare when she opened her mouth to protest. “OUR house, Runa, and…” More lightly, he let his fingers fall to the clasp which kept her coat together, tracing a pattern around it in a silent question. He was asking for something she’d killed to protect so he had to tread carefully. “I want to fill it with all of our memories. No more loneliness or feeling invisible.”

                Runa didn’t verbally answer. Instead, she brought him down to meet her lips, her jacket falling to the ground below her…

 

 

 

                Kali’s entire being had never felt more happy and contented, Runa sitting between his legs and leaning back against him, face tucked into his shoulder tiredly. The large pelt from his bed covered their bare bodies, more for her then him. He’d never had any qualms about letting himself out. Who came visiting anyway? No one knew how to find his home. In a way he was almost like his “friend” Utgard-Loki, appearing and then disappearing, his exact location unknown to any Jotun. They knew where it was – they could never find it though. His magic made sure of it.

                “Kali…” Runa’s soft murmur made him look down, watching her lidded eyes open ever so slightly. She was still tired by what they’d done only moments before and perhaps he’d let his eagerness show too much.

                “I’m right here.”

                Her lips twitched into a contented smile. “I should thank you.”

                “For what? Was I that good?”

                Runa choked a little but otherwise said nothing in response, muttering something about stupid male pride. “Not for that. For making me feel…wanted…”

                Shaking his head, Kali kissed her lips lightly muttering, “Don’t thank me for that; it’s how you should feel. I need to thank you though.”

                “Why?’

                “For staying here with me.” He didn’t say it outright but she understood, nodding slightly. “You sure you don’t want to go back to Vanaheim?”

                Runa still had enough energy to pull none too gently on his anatomy and cause him to yelp. “Don’t joke like that.”

                “OK!” Swallowing hard, he was relieved when the painful grip disappeared. “You’re cruel, Runa.”

                “Of course.” Stretching languidly, she smiled into his shoulder as she said, “But you knew that already. It makes me wonder why you still want me.”

                “It’s your cooking,” he grinned, “It’s the best I’ve ever had the pleasure of eating.”

                She wasn’t sure whether to feel insulted or flattered. He was the only one who could make an innocent sentence like that sound perverse. Runa decided not to think about it. Kali was good with double meanings and it would give her a headache figuring out what the other meaning was with her disoriented mind. Right now, she just wanted to sleep. “I’m tired…”

                “I’d be insulted if you weren’t.” As he laughed he’d already picked her up, setting her down on the bed and sliding in beside her. Under the covers. Kali half expected her to protest it.

                As soon as he slid in she was curled into him though, her breathing already having evened out. Grabbing her hand, it clutched his lightly, bringing the pale and tiny limb to his lips lovingly. You’re the only one I’ll see, Runa…Niflheim itself would never keep me from you. Staring at her, he almost considered waking her so they could have at each other again, but she’d kill him then. Tomorrow. Tomorrow morning he could satisfy his newly risen desires. After breakfast when she was in a good mood and not likely to strangle him.

                It still didn’t mean he’d get any sleep though. Especially when all he could do was watch her sleep. Oh, Runa, if only you knew how much trouble you cause, even when asleep!

                Kali didn’t need to know she knew. She was still awake and could feel his problem. Enjoy your night, Kali…

                She’d make it up to him tomorrow morning though. After breakfast.