ONE:

rivers to cry

please, picture me in the trees
I hit my peak at seven
feet in the swing over the creek
I was too scared to jump in

❛ ━━━━━━･❪ ✷ ❫ ･━━━━━━ ❜

"LOKI, I'LL KILL YOU!" CAS YELPED, running after a laughing Loki, who to place it simply was acting like a child.

"do it," He chided, whipping around, black hair flowing around with him. "I dare you."

Cas crossed her arms, skin brushing over the fabric covering her chest. the palace was aglow with the sounds of the part in the ballroom, and meanwhile, Loki and Cas were being idiots in the foyer. Heels on tile, she did her best to chase him outside, having to take them from her feet and carry the stygian heels in a hand as she chased after him, as he laughed like a madman.

He stopped and she caught up with him, the two bursting into laughter for no apparent reason, standing in the grass, Cas barefoot in the dark.

"Look at the stars," She sighed, sitting on the ground, which Loki followed. His green eyes shone in the darkness, reflecting the stars as they both laid on their backs. He was dressed in a black suit, dress shoes, and a crown on his head which was kindly taunting him.

Cas looked less interesting, emerald velvet and golden accents, her heels were next to her in the grass.

"That one," She says, pointing to it, with a smile. The stars were her favorite thing, which was lucky for her. "That is one of the stars in the Midgardian constellation of Ursa Major."

"For as long as I've known you," Loki says, turning to look at her, his hands behind his head. "You've always known so much about the stars."

"Well, I-" She cut herself off, shaking her head at herself. No making tipsy, rash decisions that could ruin her. The night was intoxicating, as was the man laying next to her, and the two glasses of Asgardian liquor weren't helping her cause.

It was simply better to stay quiet.

The quiet was something that was always very familiar. Where she was from it was a norm, it was just the thing that existed more than her father, more than her mother who traveled for three months at a time. Her home was chaos. She was so glad she was gone.

Trying to keep her thoughts at rest, and she did her best, focusing more on keeping the spells working keeping the thoughts she hated the most far from the prying green eyes of her best friend.

He liked to listen, and as far as she was told he wasn't doing it on purpose, but it still made her uncomfortable, knowing her thoughts were on display to this boy.

The quiet wasn't stiff between them, it was relaxed, not filled with things unsaid but filled with epiphanies and hopes, fears and dreams that didn't need to be said to be understood. Theirs was a friendship of chaos, hidden worlds between soft lips that didn't need to be open.

Theirs was a language of silence, filled with soft breaths and cold whispers, endeavors that could fog up the window glass. Theirs was a friendship that flourished off of the quiet and breeze, whispers of stardust that hung through the shadows of what was to come.

A beautiful daydream that held close the deepest desires of their hearts, swaying in the night breeze as well as the Willow tree in Frigga's gardens, flowers poking their heads up to whisper sweet nothings into the stars.

And ah, it was oh so sweet to only lie here, just to inhale the sickly honey air until the songs from inside died down and they were free to escape the madness with a flourish.

❛ ━━━━━━･❪ ✷ ❫ ･━━━━━━ ❜

ALL THAT WAS LEFT ON THE table after breakfast was a pastry, which Cas stole and took to the kitchen along with the dishes, sighing she set them down, the maids thanking her as she nodded, heading to the library with a book before her, wishing that Asgard didn't restrict her magic so much.

It would be so much easier if using her power wasn't so draining.

"morning," The voice of Loki said, popping up behind her, making her drop her book.

"Hey!" she gasped, even if he used his magic to deliver the leather-bound book in all of its misogynistic glory to her fingers. She was only reading it because Loki recommended it and his footnotes were funny. Otherwise, it had a boring plot and stupid characters, bad jokes that were more ignorant than funny. It made sense, as it was Asgardian.

She'd neer tell Loki but she much preferred Midgardian prose.

"Don't be rude, love, I said good morning," he said, seeming pleased with himself, making Cas stick her tongue out at him. "So juvenile Cas," He sighed, voice dripping with a condescending tone. "Enjoying the book?"

"No," Cas said, shooting him a glare.

"You seem to not be able to put it down," He chides, looking over her shoulder as they continue to wander down the hall.

"Aren't you talkative this morning?" Cas growled, annoyed with the boy, who just chuckled at the statement.

"I just wish to talk to my friend."

"mmm," Cas sighed, still rejecting his conversation advances. "what do you want?"

"you think I have a motive?"

"I know you." She says, turning around and crossing her arms with a pleased look on her face. "what do you want?"

"Last night, you had some thought that I-"

"Nope," Cas says, turning and walking from him, not wishing to have this conversation further. She knew what was coming, and she did wish to postpone the advances with haste. She made a beeline to her bedroom instead of a public space like the library and locking the door to be alone with her thoughts.

He was so intrusive all the time, constantly "accidentally" reading her mind without consent. He could at least ask! She would say no, but it was worth the gesture, right?

As much as she liked him, well, was less indifferent to him, he was infuriating sometimes. with excuses that ranged from:

"people's thoughts are loud"

to

"your thoughts are distracting"

Cas assumed that was why he was taking lessons with Frigga, but apparently, she couldn't let her mind wander without him intruding on her. It was extremely exhausting.

Loki just wore her out sometimes.

❛ ━━━━━━･❪ ✷ ❫ ･━━━━━━ ❜

AUTHOR SPEAKS!

if you figure it out somewhere in the story, please don't spoil it for anyone! I want people to be surprised and that won't happen if you decide to spoil it in the comments. If you think you've figured it out you can DM me if you want. Kiera doesn't count she knows the ending.

also, their dynamic is so much fun because their both chaotic assholes it's amazing