“Of course not,” Bragi replied dryly. He smiled before he adopted the necessary serious demeanor. “You were just checking on the dead people. In case they were dead.” His eyelids felt so heavy. They drooped for a second but didn't close. He'd kept his eyes open for so long looking at horrors. Bragi wasn't going to close them on wonders. He felt safe with her face making up his entire view and her arms on him, but they weren't safe there. He'd kept his eyes open for so long. Managing a bit longer would be easy. “I'll find you a magnifying glass,” Bragi said, “and start teaching you Swahili.” He laughed. It barely made a sound.
It was strange to watch her mulling it over. The fight felt like ages ago. Like they had been different people. Bragi didn't have any trouble remembering how upset he'd been. That was clear. But it didn't matter anymore. He'd sat on the steps and stared at that door after she'd left. He didn't follow her because she said she needed space. Except they'd been fighting about her having too much space. Then a day passed and Bragi thought she was demonstrating what having too much space was like. He'd started looking for her then, but he didn't like to leave the door too long in case she came back. He'd been looking at the door when he'd gotten the call. His wife was frozen with the dead. Bragi hadn't thought about the fight again after that. Not until now.
“I'm sorry too,” Bragi said, “I gave you too much space both times.” He should have followed her the second she'd left. He should have ran after her. Idun had gone and cleared her head too much. But now that she'd apologized, but Bragi wasn't sure what she was apologizing for. Did this mean she was sorry she'd frozen, or did it mean that she wanted to take back the things she'd said. Bragi would wait until she remembered them. He didn't want to have the fight again a few months down the road. It took them straight to Niflheim.
Bragi shrugged slightly as if to say they'd done alright. “It was our first fight,” he said offhandedly, “we survived.” Then he stopped teasing and smiled. “I love you” Bragi said. He would have kissed her again then, but it was so hard to feel them. They needed to get out of there. “We'll get better,” he promised. His eyes closed. Bragi would just keep them closed for a second or two. Not very long at all.