Some small part of Idun had refused to believe what the mortal Bragi had told her. That small part just could not imagine a world where Bragi was broken. But now she was staring at him, watching him enough for the both of them, and there was no spark. The life had been drawn out of him, and Idun couldn't help but wonder if it had been left in that alleyway ring of onlookers, or further down the road, at the battleground of her cruelty. She didn't want to know the answer, mostly because she already did. Taking a life in order to save another, that was noble. Refusing to listen to the truth that could've avoided all of this?
A painful sign of cowardice.
Bragi didn't pull away this time, and Idun realized that was far from cause for celebration. She'd taken from him his will to fight as well. Removing her hand twice was possible. When she continued to persist, he'd lost that will as well. All she wanted to do was shake him and yell about silly things like transitional rifts and the nets of frost giants, something, anything that might rekindle the spark behind his eyes. Bragi was every adventure the worlds would ever know, he was beautifully creative and curious and astoundingly smart. But this god before her, he was a shell. It was her fault. When she walked into a tavern and asked a skald about the smirking, laughing, tender-hearted, silver-tongued Bragi, she should never be met with confusion and a heartbreaking correction.
"What happens to them? The lovers?" Idun asked him. She could feel the cowering words beginning to straighten up from behind all the wrong ones. He wasn't going to look at her. Not unless she forced him to. The truth was her only card to play. Idun wasn't sure this would end well for her at all, but this wasn't about her. Idun had been far too selfish for far too long. She wasn't thinking about anyone but Bragi anymore. His happiness cast the worlds in a brilliant glow. The worlds needed that back, and so did Bragi's heart.
It didn't matter if he didn't love her back. It didn't matter if her declaration even mattered. Idun knew the truth now. She knew he was her savior, and she knew the sacrifices he was willing to make in order to keep her alive. As far as friends went, Bragi was pretty much the top of the list. He needed to smirk again. His goddess deserved her Bragi back. Idun missed her friend, even if friendship was no longer appealing by itself. "Because...I didn't always believe that love could expose the warmest depths of a heart or make sacrifices seem like the smallest prices to pay or...especially not that true love could overcome anything...but I'm starting to rethink my stance on all that. And I heard you knew about stories. Everyone has told me you're the person to ask."
Idun paused. She stroked her thumb against his hand. In vain, she sought out his gaze again. When Bragi continued to avoid hers, Idun let out a quiet sigh. "So I'm asking."