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To Love Like A Human Chapter 2

Fateful Encounter

...Previously... ...Next...

A playlist for to love like a human

The Avengers tower gleamed in the midday sun, its modern lines and towering presence a sharp contrast to the ancient figure of Loki lounging on one of common room couches. His long legs were sprawled out, his black suit immaculate, and his smirk ever present. Across from him stood Thor, his broad arms crossed, looking every bit the exasperated older brother.

"You will do this, Loki." Thor insisted, his booming voice echoing in the room. "It's better than rotting in a cell."

"I prefer the cell," Loki drawled, picking at a nonexistent speck of dust on his sleeve.

Thor sighed heavily. "We've been over this. You must give back to Midgard, show them you are capable of more than destruction."

"Ah, so I'm to play servant mow? Fetch their books? Mend their shoes?" Loki raised a an eyebrow, his tone dripping with sarcasm. “What grand punishment shall you bestow next? Milking cows?”

Thor’s patience snapped. In one swift motion, he reached down, grabbed Loki by the collar, and yanked him to his feet with little effort. Loki sputtered, his dignity bruised more than anything else.

“Enough of your whining,” Thor growled, practically dragging him toward the door. “You’ll come with me now, or I’ll carry you like a sack of grain.”

“Unhand me, you oaf!” Loki protested, wriggling in Thor’s iron grip.

Thor ignored him, his expression calm but firm, as though dealing with a particularly troublesome child.

Eris strolled down the sidewalk, her mismatched eyes darting from shop to shop. Her scarf was wrapped snugly around her neck, the cold winter air biting at her skin. She carried a small paper bag filled with books and tea supplies, her boots crunching against the thin layer of snow that dusted the ground.

The voices of her souls murmured softly in her mind, though none pressed for attention.

“You’re weaker than you should be,” Liora, the Soul of Justice, finally said, her tone matter-of-fact.

“I know,” Eris muttered under her breath.

“The time is coming, Eris,” Haran, the Soul of Strength, added, his deep voice tinged with concern. You’ll need to take another soul soon, or your body won’t hold up.

“I said I know,” Eris snapped quietly, earning a curious glance from a passing couple. She forced a smile and kept walking.

She hated this part. The idea of consuming another soul, even willingly, never sat well with her. It wasn’t murder—not exactly. Every soul she’d consumed so far had agreed to the contract, their essence living on within her. But it still felt… wrong.

As she rounded the corner, her attention was caught by the sound of a commotion.

Thor was halfway down the street, still hauling Loki by the collar, when the latter finally managed to plant his feet and twist out of his brother’s grip.

“Must you always resort to brute force?” Loki snapped, straightening his suit and smoothing his hair.

Thor chuckled. “It’s the only language you seem to understand, brother.”

“I am not a child to be dragged around,” Loki hissed, his cheeks flushing with embarrassment.

Unbeknownst to them, Eris had stopped a few paces away, watching the exchange with mild amusement. The sight of the tall, imposing god of mischief being manhandled by his older brother was too good to pass up. A quiet laugh escaped her lips before she could stop herself.

Loki’s sharp ears caught the sound immediately. His head snapped toward her, green eyes narrowing. “And who are you to find this so amusing?”

Eris froze, caught off guard. “I—I didn’t mean to—”

“She’s right, though,” Thor said, grinning. “It is amusing.”

Eris relaxed slightly, her lips twitching into a small smile. “Sorry. I couldn’t help it.”

Thor stepped forward, his friendly demeanor instantly putting her at ease. “I’m Thor, son of Odin. And this—” he gestured to Loki—“is my brother.”

“Loki,” Eris finished, her smile fading. Her gaze flicked to Loki, and she felt a strange, unplaceable tension.

“And you are?” Thor prompted.

“Eris,” she replied, adjusting her scarf.

Loki tilted his head, his keen eyes scanning her. “You’re an odd one, aren’t you?”

Eris stiffened. “Excuse me?”

“Your appearance,” Loki clarified, gesturing vaguely at her hair and the faint stitching along her cheeks. “Unusual. Though I suppose that’s the charm, isn’t it?”

Thor groaned. “Loki, stop being rude.”

“It’s fine,” Eris said quickly, though her fingers tightened around the paper bag she held. “I’m used to it.”

As the three of them stood there, the air seemed to shift. Loki, ever perceptive, caught a faint ripple of something unnatural emanating from Eris. It wasn’t magic, not exactly, but it was… off.

“You’re hiding something,” he said suddenly, his tone curious rather than accusatory.

Eris’s heart skipped a beat. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Don’t you?” Loki’s smirk returned, his eyes glinting with intrigue.

Thor frowned, placing a protective hand on Eris’s shoulder. “Leave her be, Loki. Not everyone is a puzzle for you to solve.”

Eris glanced at Thor, grateful for his intervention, but the moment was short-lived. A wave of dizziness hit her, and she stumbled.

Thor caught her easily. “Are you all right?”

“I’m fine,” Eris said quickly, though her pallor betrayed her words.

Loki watched her closely, his expression unreadable. He could see the cracks in her facade, the weakness she was trying so hard to hide. “You should sit down,” he said, his voice softer than before.

Eris hesitated but eventually nodded. Thor led her to a nearby bench, and she sank down with a sigh.

As they sat there, the voices of Eris’s souls stirred again.

“You’re running out of time,” Liora said firmly.

“We need to find someone soon,” Marina, the Soul of Hope, added, her tone gentle but insistent.

Eris closed her eyes, willing the voices to quiet. “Not now,” she whispered under her breath.

“Talking to yourself?” Loki asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Just tired,” Eris replied, her mismatched eyes meeting his.

For a moment, neither spoke, but the tension between them was palpable. Loki’s curiosity burned brightly, and Eris could feel his gaze as if it were a physical weight.

Thor broke the silence. “Perhaps we should escort you home, Miss Eris. You don’t look well.”

Eris hesitated but nodded. “That might be a good idea.”

As they walked, Loki stayed a step behind, his mind racing. There was more to Eris than met the eye, and he was determined to uncover her secrets.

The walk to Eris’s townhouse was quiet, save for the occasional chatter from Thor, who seemed oblivious to the awkward tension. Loki, walking slightly behind them, was unusually silent, his sharp gaze dissecting Eris with every glance.

Eris’s townhouse came into view, an unassuming two-story structure tucked between similar homes. The garden was small but well-kept, with clusters of herbs and flowers bordering a neat pathway. She hesitated briefly at the door before turning to the two gods behind her.

“Would you like to come in for tea?” she offered.

Thor’s face lit up instantly. “That would be wonderful! I can never refuse good hospitality.”

Loki raised a skeptical brow. “Tea? How quaint.”

“You don’t have to come in,” Eris replied dryly. “It’s not like I invited you specifically.”

Thor laughed heartily, clapping Loki on the back so hard he stumbled forward. “Come, brother! A bit of tea might do your sour demeanor some good.”

Loki gave a reluctant sigh but followed them inside, his expression one of mild disdain.

Eris’s home was modest and lived-in. Shelves packed with books lined the walls, and the faint aroma of lavender and cinnamon lingered in the air. Thor immediately made himself comfortable in a worn armchair that creaked under his weight.

Eris set her bag down and motioned toward the couch. “Make yourselves comfortable. I’ll get the tea ready.”

As soon as she disappeared into the kitchen, Loki began wandering. His sharp gaze scanned the room, taking in every detail. His fingers trailed over the spines of books, his eyes narrowing as he noted the handwritten notes in the margins.

Thor frowned at his brother. “Loki, sit down. You’re being rude.”

“Am I?” Loki murmured without looking back. “I’m simply… observing.”

“You’re snooping,” Thor snapped, standing to block Loki from heading toward the hallway.

Eris, meanwhile, was busy in the kitchen. She filled a teapot with water and set it on the stove, her hands working swiftly as she prepared the tea and some simple biscuits. As she worked, the familiar voices of her souls stirred in her mind.

Saelin the soul of betray, began to speak, his voice low and wary. The trickster can’t be trusted. He’s already looking for secrets.

“I know,” Eris whispered under her breath. “Let him look. There’s nothing here for him to find.”

“Still, be careful,” Haran warned. “He’s not like Thor.”

Eris sighed, her focus briefly slipping. “Thanks for the reminder,” she muttered.

The kettle began to whistle, breaking her thoughts. She poured the tea into a pot and carried it on a tray back to the living room.

When she returned, Thor was glaring at Loki, who was halfway to the hallway. “Brother, must you?”

Loki smirked but stepped back into the living room as if nothing had happened. Eris placed the tray on the coffee table and began pouring the tea.

“Thank you,” Thor said, accepting a cup with a broad smile.

Loki took his tea reluctantly, sniffing it with a slight grimace before taking a tentative sip.

“Is it poisoned?” Eris teased, noticing his expression.

“One can never be too cautious,” Loki replied, his smirk returning.

Eris rolled her eyes and sat in the armchair opposite them, taking a sip of her tea. She allowed Thor to lead the conversation, his booming voice filling the room as he spoke of his time among the humans. Loki remained mostly silent, his piercing gaze occasionally flicking to Eris.

After the tea was finished and the gods finally took their leave, Eris took herself to the living room. She knelt in the center of the room, the soft glow of her souls beginning to stir within her.

Orin’s voice came to her first, light and restless. “You’re stalling, Eris. You know what you need to do.”

“I know,” she murmured, reaching out with her thoughts. “You’ve said that already.”

“Then stop delaying. The longer you wait, the weaker you’ll become.”

Eris sighed, closing her eyes as Orin’s form began to materialize—a butterfly with iridescent wings. It fluttered around her briefly before settling on her hand.

“Find a wandering soul,” she said softly. “Bring them back to me.”

“I’ll find one soon,” Orin promised, his voice filled with quiet determination. The butterfly lifted off her hand and disappeared through the wall, leaving a faint shimmer in his wake.

Unbeknownst to her, Loki had lingered outside, hidden in the shadows. He watched with narrowed eyes as the light of the soul faded from view.

“A mutant,” he murmured to himself, though something about the display felt… different. This wasn’t just mutation. There was something else at play, something older and far more dangerous.

Thor called to him from the street, and Loki sent a decoy to follow his brother while he remained behind. This warranted further investigation.

Slipping around to the side of the house, Loki peered through a window. Eris was still sitting on the floor, her face calm but weary. He could see the faint glow of other souls within her, their energy swirling like a constellation.

Loki’s mind raced. He would have to tread carefully. Whatever Eris was, she was no ordinary human.

And she was hiding something far more significant than he had anticipated.

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