Bad. He was bad. Bragi had been told this by people he loved before. He'd thought it wasn't true, but now there were three witnesses. Three good ones who knew something about bad. He trusted them. Not just an accident, a mistake. He shouldn't have been born. And now someone who should have was gone because of someone who shouldn't have. But Bragi couldn't not do a bad thing back in that circle. Idori didn't want to talk. And he'd raised that knife. Bragi couldn't have not done a bad thing. Wasn't that the very definition of a bad thing itself? It could only do bad things? Bragi nodded. He swallowed, and he nodded. Bad.
“I understand.” he said. His vision wasn't blurred anymore. Bragi could see everything. “I understand.” She had to hate him. She couldn't not. She had to. This was just how it worked. He'd killed two birds with one stone. Bragi's face stung as if she'd slapped him. He felt like there was a dagger in his chest. Like he'd embraced her, and she'd plunged a knife, but it wasn't murder. It was self defense. He'd very nearly killed her. She wasn't supposed to be there. She came because of him. It was Bragi's fault that she'd been there and nearly died, and it was Bragi's fault that her brother was dead. He hadn't even really known her brother.
If he stayed, she'd be stuck with someone she had to hate. He knew what she was telling him to do now. Bragi would do it for her. Her heart would be broken over the brother, but without Bragi around, maybe she could find peace. Maybe she could find someone to love instead one day, since she had to hate him. Like his mother. His mother was happier now. Bragi wanted Idun to be happy. He didn't mean to hurt her. He just couldn't let her be the one that died. Sometimes the best thing to do for people you loved was to go. His mother taught him that. She was so happy now.
“I'll go” Bragi said, “I'll leave you. Don't worry. I'll go. I'll go for you. You won't see me and then you won't have to worry. You can hate me. I understand. I'll go.” That was what he could do. He didn't have a home. She did. He should be the one to go. And then she wouldn't have to. And Idun could have a home. Bragi didn't want to take her home away too. She really loved it.
His hand released it's grip and slid down her arm. It curled around the tips of Idun's fingers for one lingering second, then Bragi let go. He turned and walked thirty paces and threw up. Then he kept going. He stopped at a crossroads. The path to the right led him back to the halls, and his family. The closest thing he had to home. He could pick up his things there. Bragi stared at the path for a second. Then he slowly walked down the other one. Throughout Asgard, all the music stopped.