Watching her reaction shift when Bragi spoke was like watching his grandfather chop down a tree. Except worse. Bragi knew it was a necessary shift. He should have been pleased that she'd looked so happy after he'd pulled away, and that when he talked about can'ts, and logic, and goddesses, her face had fallen the way that it had. But Bragi couldn't be pleased with her fallen face. Even if it was a small sacrifice for a greater, bigger picture. Even if it made the sliver of hope grow bigger. Even if it meant she definitely returned his sentiment, even if she couldn't act on it yet. When her face fell, it broke his heart.
The corners of his lips turned slowly upwards into a small smile when she grasped his hand. Bragi had blinked back any emotion he might have had left in his eyes. He had gotten a bit off track before, but now he was ready to play the game again. If anything his resolve had been strengthened. Now there seemed to be even more at stake than before.
The words and sentiments she offered him in return seemed mostly genuine, but the smile was not. Her genuine smile was wonderful and true. Bragi had just seen it. He knew the difference. He had it memorized. Now that he had gotten over the initial sting of chopping them both down for the greater good, Bragi could appreciate that her smile took obvious effort on her part. The one he gave her in return was effortless. “She's very lovely. And that means a great deal coming from such a dear friend” Bragi said, “I wish the same happiness for you as well.” She wasn't happy. If Bragi had known then how to high five people, or what that meant, he would have clapped.
He reached over and brushed the section of hair over her eye back behind her ear. It was friendly. Well, Bragi attempted to do it in a fashion that seemed more friendly than if he had been doing it romantically. He just didn't think that a friend should be deprived of seeing a friend's eyes. Plus her hands were busy with the apple. That was all.
Bragi took the half she offered with a smile and a “Thank you,” but the change disturbed him for some reason. He wouldn't have thought anything of it, but she had been doing slivers before they kissed, and now she had decided she had an entire orchard full of apples. Bragi didn't know what this meant, but it didn't seem like a good thing. “It must have been nice growing up here” Bragi remarked. They needed to get the conversation going again. “You were probably never in want of a good apple dish.”