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I sighed and sat down on the counter, letting my legs dangle uselessly over the edge. Another day at the store finished.
As in, another day without Hearthstone finished.
He was off in Asgard for one-on-one rune training with the All-Father himself, Odin. The words felt unreal when I thought about them. Hearthstone, my Hearthstone, hanging out with a god. Meanwhile, I was here, glaring in the direction of the door as though that would magically make it open and he’d be there.
Hearthstone could only come back for a few visits. Every two weeks, he came back and stayed for the weekend.
Well.
That was the arrangement, anyway
It was the second Friday since he’d left and he wasn’t back. Maybe I’d misinterpreted his signs. Maybe he meant that he’d come back on Saturday and leave on Monday, not come back on Friday and leave on Monday. Maybe I’d just… assumed. I was very good at assuming things when my heart was involved.
I let out another heavy sigh and leaned back on my hands.
And then the bell on the door dinged.
I jumped off the counter and raced to the door, and…
Magnus.
“Oh,” I said, shoulders slumping. “Hi, kid.”
Magnus scoffed. “I feel welcome.”
“Sorry,” I apologized. “I thought – ”
“That I was Hearth?” Magnus guessed.
My shoulders slumped further. “Yeah.”
“Blitz,” Magnus said calmly, “he’ll be back soon.”
“Will he?” I questioned. “Maybe he just can’t visit. Maybe Odin won’t let him. If so, Odin can fuck himself.” It’s not like I could tell Magnus my real fears. I had to make some up. But I sort of believed what I said? Kind of?
“Blitz,” Magnus chided.
“What?” I snapped, then deflated immediately. “I just miss my… my friend.”
Truth was, I wasn’t sure what to call Hearth.
We’d sort of…. Kind of…
Kissed.
Before we left for Gunilla’s funeral, and before he left for Asgard.
It was just one kiss.
Okay, maybe two. But still. They were quick and they probably didn’t mean anything. Or
he’d realized he didn’t like me like that and that's why he wasn’t back and he wasn’t going to come back because he thought I was weird and –
“Woah,” Magnus said, holding out his hands. “I can see you’re spiraling. I think you should just go upstairs, eat dinner, and go to sleep. Okay?”
I crossed my arms. “I was going to wait for him down here.”
“Nope,” Magnus said firmly. “Go upstairs.”
“But – ”
“Blitz.”
“Magnus.”
We had a fierce staring contest. Never have a staring contest with a dwarf. Our eyes are
strong, especially if we’ve been petrified or our eyes have before. Mine have been, so I had that going for me.
But Magnus still beat me, which was annoying. “Fiiiineeee,” I groaned. “I’ll go upstairs.”
“And?”
“And eat dinner, and go to bed.”
“Good,” Magnus said, satisfied. “I’ll see you later?”
“Yeah,” I answered. Magnus smiled, waved, and left.
I trudged slowly up the stairs. I sullenly warmed up some mac and cheese and ate it slowly. When the clock hit eight P.M., I watched T.V. for a bit, then slowly sulked my way into my room. I showered, slipped into pajamas, and crawled into bed.
I tried to read for a bit, but the stupid book was a damnable romance, so I buried it deep into my closet and tried to sleep.
I tossed and turned for what felt like hours. The darkness enveloped me. I like the dark. All dwarves do. Light means sun, and sun means being petrified. From stories, it’s not the greatest experience to have.
I stared at where the bedroom door would be. I just wanted Hearthstone, whether he be my friend or my boyfriend or some guy down the street who I barely talked to. I just needed to see him.
The door creaked open.
I shot up in bed, and from the dim light emitting from the hallway, I could make out a tall figure, probably about 5 '11, standing in the doorway.
“Hearth?” I whispered, which was pointless, because if it was him, he wouldn’t be able to hear me.
The light switched on. I covered my eyes, which weren’t used to it yet, seeing as I’d been sitting in darkness and sulking for hours. I was cold already, since I’d been lying under the blankets, but now they were pooled around my knees.
When I finally blinked away the black spots, Hearthstone stood in the doorframe, looking absolutely gorgeous. His hair was mussed but still as spiky as ever. His scarf was wrapped around his neck, the red and white theme making him look extra cute. His shoes were already off, probably near the door in the living room. His expression was nervous.
He gave me a small wave, and suddenly I was on my feet and throwing myself across the room to him. I crashed into him and we fell to the ground, but I didn’t care. Hearthstone was back. My best friend was back. And he was letting me hug him. He wasn’t pushing me away.
I clasped my arms around him and squeezed him tightly. I buried my face into the front of his scarf, breathing in his scent of pine trees and fresh linen. His scarf was soft and I pushed closer. His arms snaked around me and squeezed me back, and I relaxed into him. Hearthstone. My Hearth.
When I finally, reluctantly pulled back, his cheeks were splashed with lime. I couldn’t tell if it was from how ungodly hot it had been hugging each other, or because of how close we were.
My eyes flicked down to his lips. “Hearth,” I breathed, then leaned down and pressed my lips to his.
It was soft, it was quick, it was warm, it was everything I’d ever wanted. I was thrown back into the lonely, cold nights we’d spent together in the streets, and the night I first saw him, half-dead in the street, and every hug we’d ever shared. Every memory I had with him. Him saving my life when Fenris attacked me, glowing like the sun as he smacked his staff against the Wolf’s forehead. All of that pure, uncorked rage at Fenris just for me. Risking his life just for me.
It was every memory, every hug, everything.
I pulled back. “Was that okay?”
He nodded eagerly.
I grinned, then helped him up. “Want to talk for a bit?”
He nodded again, then signed, ‘Can I change into pajamas first?’
“Duh,” I said with a laugh. He gave me a small smile, then disappeared into the bathroom, reappearing a few moments later in black flannel pajama pants and a black t-shirt, scarf wrapped lazily around his neck. He held up a book. ‘I found this in the closet.’
I burst into laughter, and laughed even harder at Hearthstone’s confused expression. He handed me the book as I wiped tears from my eyes. It wasn’t even that funny, but…
He sat down next to me and I set the book aside. “How was Asgard?”
‘Amazing,’ Hearth signed. ‘Absolutely insane. It was beautiful up there.’
I smiled and nodded.
‘Odin is kind of crazy, though,’ Hearth mused. ‘Always talking about his books. But I learned a lot, so it was worth it.’ He gave me a small smile, and added, ‘But I also missed you a lot. I was going to send you letters, but I was worried they wouldn’t reach you in time. Plus, I thought you hated me.’
“Why would I hate you?” I asked, a red flush on my cheeks. He’s missed me! I was pleased, beyond pleased.
‘I kissed you,’ Hearthstone signed.
“And I kissed you, so now we’re even.”
Hearth let out an exasperated, fake sigh. ‘But I thought you didn’t want that. That’s why I thought you hated me.’
“I would never hate you,” I promised, taking his hands. “I swear it on my life.”
Hearthstone’s eyes widened slightly, and he looked away, cadmium green appearing on his cheeks and the tips of his ears. It was very cute.
“Hey,” I said softly, reaching out to turn his face. “Look at me.”
He gave me a small, sad smile. ‘No one has ever said something like that to me before.’
“Well, I’m glad to be the first, then,” I whispered.
His eyes flicked downwards, to just below my nose, then back up to my eyes. He leaned slightly closer, and so did I, and we met halfway, our lips brushing together. It was quick, again, and we pulled back, but just barely, before I tilted my chin up and kissed him again. This one was longer, fuller, a true, real kiss, not just a brush of the lips.
I leaned closer into him, getting more access. I pushed him down and crawled on top of him.
Now, I know what you’re thinking. Oh, haha, they’re in a bed and they’re kissing, I know what comes next!
Just… no. Ew. We literally just got together. We weren’t ready for that. And we might never. If he never wanted to do it, then I would never, too.
I brushed my tongue over his lips, and his mouth opened in a slight gasp, so I took a chance and slipped my tongue into his mouth, and he welcomed it gladly, kissing me back with just as much passion. He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me closer, and, oh my gods, it was really hot in here.
I pulled back and nosed his scarf out of the way, and kissed his neck once, gently. I pulled back and his expression was shocked, emerald and mint coursing through his cheeks.
“Hi,” I said with a grin.
He gave me a weak, shocked smile.
“can I do that again?”
he nodded eagerly, and I grinned, then leaned down to kiss his neck again. I bared my teeth against his neck and he pushed me back to pull me down for another deep kiss. He bit down on my bottom lip and I kissed him harder, eager. I’d wanted this since I’d met him. I had to make the most of it.
”I love you,” I whispered, pressing a kiss to his temple. “We should probably go to sleep now, yeah?”
He nodded reluctantly, still sprawled out on the bed. I lay down next to him, snuggled into his side. His arm wrapped around my shoulders and pulled me closer. I’d missed this. Every night had been so lonely without him.
I curled into him, twisting myself sideways to press my face into his chest. He wrapped both arms around me and twisted his legs through mine. We were very intimately cuddling now, with both pairs of major appendages. We weren’t strangers to cuddling with each other, but this was more… I don’t know. Just more. And it was wonderful. I wanted to do this every night with him, to fall asleep wrapped in his arms, warm and content and happy. He’d have to leave again, but he’d come back eventually, and we’d be able to do this again.
And it would be like this for the rest of our lives.
The end.