LOKI'S POV

I sit on the towel that I had laid down on the sand and watched Natalie as she ran towards the ocean. Once she was in the water, she walked a little. Then a little more. And then she just stood there. Was she okay?

She just stands perfectly still. Not moving. I notice a wave forming behind her. I get up from my spot on the towel and shout to her.

But she doesn't hear me.

She gets swallowed by the wave and I peer into the distance. Come up, Natalie. Get out of there. I say in my mind. Nothing.

My breathing gets faster as I start to panic. I run towards the water as fast as I can. I get slowed down by the water, obviously. Damn physics.

As soon as I get to waist deep water I search everywhere for Natalie. And then I see her. Her face is just above the water, floating, and unconscious.

A lifeguard comes on a jetski. "Grab her and get on." She orders. I grab Natalie's unconscious body and get on the jetski with her on my lap.

The lifeguard steers us back to the shore and I lay Natalie on the sand. The lifeguard does a few sets of chest compressions before Natalie coughs up the seawater she took in.

She pants out of breath before looking at the lifeguard. "Thank you," she says and the lifeguard nods. "Just doing my job ma'am." The lifeguard responds before jogging back to her station.

Natalie turns around to face me. "Loki!" She exclaims before wrapping her arms around me. I pull her closer and inhale the smell of saltwater that stuck to her.

"I'm so sorry. You must've been so worried. I just- I was standing and, and there was this wave, and I couldn't get back up and I- I was so scared. I couldn't breathe. All I felt was darkness and I-" she breaks out crying.

"I could've lost you," she says between gentle sobs. I pull her back in for another hug and I soothingly rub her back. "It's alright Natalie. You're okay, and that's all that matters." I tell her.

She sniffles a little before nodding. "Yeah. Everything's okay." She says as if she's trying to convince herself.

"Let's go home," I say, and she responds with a simple nod. I make her give me the keys because I felt that she was too traumatized to drive.

We arrive at her apartment a good 15-20 minutes later and when I park the car and get out I look over and realize Natalie had fallen asleep on the ride home. I roll my eyes and carefully lift her out of the car.

I carry her up the stairs gently, making sure not to bump her head on the railings or the wall. I open the door to the apartment and set Natalie down on her bed and I quietly close the door.

I rush back downstairs to cover the car and lock it. Then I rush back upstairs and close and lock the apartment door. I'm absolutely exhausted after all that so I decide to take a nap on the couch.

I lay down and close my eyes.

A little while later I open my eyes and find Natalie lying next to me. I smile a little to myself, happy knowing she feels safe when I'm with her.

Little did I know, that would be the last time she would trust me.

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~♡ Miki