Last Light: A SoaV story

Instructions

Loki took a deep breath, held it for a moment, and slowly exhaled. The warm air felt painfully pleasant as he stood on the cliff side just outside the Avengers Cat Academy Campus. The waves crashed quietly hundreds of meters below, and the last of the birds flew in and landed along the coast. They pecked at the sand and shuffled away seaweed and shells while looking for food. A most peaceful evening, but this feeling didn’t match those inside of Loki. The dark cat’s eyes searched the sea, not sure where to settle. How could he just lay back and relax? After everything he’d been through, why hadn’t he finally found peace? Because you turned your back on the one person who believed in you, Loki thought, his face twisted in anguish and regret. He had left his best friend, his teammate, his father. His Dave. And what for, his mind rattled on bitterly. A strange spirit in your mind? The fact that all your other variants are evil? The lies that you told yourself, that Dave would never love you if he knew what you were? A Loki? Loki looked back at the tall white ACA building, and then back out to sea. The waves were slowly getting smaller, and the birds were finally backing away to their nests. The sun was nearly touching the horizon, just a few more minutes and it would be gone. A silent, gentle breeze blowed his fur. Loki let out a sigh, and turned to head back to campus. He had just risen to his paws to his paws when an old, soft voice sounded behind him. “Loki,” A long haired brown tabby was standing just a few feet away from him, his large paws barely making a sound as he stepped through the whispy grass. His old, fluffy body moved in a humble, soothing way. Loki froze where he was, he couldn’t move. All his muscles had tightened up, and his shocked, worried eyes locked with the tabby’s. A moment of silence arose between the two of them. All that could be heard was the stiff, long grass blowing in the breeze. Finally, the old, brown cat repeated his call. “Loki.” Loki shook his head. He spoke frantically. “No. No. Why would you come back to me, I left you! I don’t deserve to see you again! Dave, I was so wrong to you!” Tears were streaming down his face. “Dave, I-!” Suddenly, Dave thrust forward, pulling Loki close with his strong arms. He hugged him tightly, so hard that it was difficult for Loki to breathe. He couldn’t have anyway, he was so painfully shocked that he was left speechless. After a long moment, Dave loosened his hold, still wrapping Loki in his arms. Loki was so surprised by his friends gesture. “But-but how? How could you forgive me so quickly?” He stammered. Dave whispered so quietly that his gentle voice was barely audible. “I have my Loki back.” He released Loki and took the dark cat’s face in his paws. The two stared into each other’s teary eyes. Loki’s were full of wonder, Dave’s were full of searching love. “You came back.” The sun was shining brilliantly as it started to dip below the horizon. Loki’s heart filled with so much joy and love that he could barely breathe. He hugged Dave tightly, tears still pouring, as the sun blazed orange and yellow and pink light across the sky. Dave closed his eyes, and sighed in the moment of true peace. Peace… Loki released his friend. The two sat down and looked out the setting sun. “The last light of the day,” Dave remarked. The wind blew on the raspy grass. Loki sighed, shuddering. He put his head on Dave’s shoulder. The sun set below the horizon, casting the world into darkness. The peace of this moment enveloped Loki like a blanket. Silently, he eventually slumped to the ground, sound asleep. Dave just shook his head with a tiny laugh. He lay down beside his friend. “I love my Loki,” he sang quietly. “I love him, I love him, I love him. He’s the best kid ever. I love my Loki.” He closed his eyes. “I love my son.”