CHAPTER 450: ROSE WITH THORNS (11)

"...You... you’re the cat..." she whispered, her voice soft, eyes wide with disbelief.

"Was," Loki corrected smugly. "Now I’m obviously a very attractive, fully grown cat demon prince with flawless skin, golden eyes, and emotional damage. Try to keep up."

Rose blinked again.

Then she slowly turned red. "You were... naked."

"Oh? Now you remember that part?" he said with a teasing smirk, crossing his arms. "Really? That’s the first thing your brain latches onto after waking from near-death?"

She covered her face with both hands in embarrassment.

Loki sighed, plopping back down into the chair like this was exhausting. "Honestly, you humans are so dramatic. A little nudity and poof—you collapse. I’ve seen demons explode and still stay conscious."

Rose peeked through her fingers. "You were sitting on my couch... then suddenly... I was touching abs."

"Yes, you were. Lucky you," he said proudly, resting his cheek on his hand.

Her jaw dropped. "You’re so—!"

"Charming? Beautiful? Hard to forget?"

"—Annoying!"

Loki smiled, ears twitching slightly.

And under all the teasing and smug pride, his eyes softened.

"You really remembered me," he murmured.

Rose slowly nodded. "You’re still warm... like before."

For a moment, neither of them spoke. The hospital monitor beeped quietly in the background, soft and steady like a heartbeat.

Then Loki leaned forward and said with a sigh, "But really, Pheasant. You could’ve at least fainted somewhere closer to the bed. My royal arms nearly broke carrying you across the lobby. Do you know how many people stared?"

"You carried me?"

"You think I’d let anyone else touch my human?" he scoffed, flipping invisible hair. "Tch. Unthinkable."

Rose stared at him again.

**

After the hospital incident, something changed between them.

It was no longer just confusion or disbelief—Rose now knew.

Loki, her childhood companion. Her fluffy shadow. Her secret comfort in the loneliest years of her life.

Sparkles... was him.

And once she knew, she couldn’t stop looking at him.

At the way his golden eyes still sparkled when he was grumpy.

At the way he still yawned like a cat—stretching with lazy pride.

At how he still liked warm spots, especially curling up by the window where the sun hit just right.

Rose became softer with him.

She cooked meals thinking about his favorites, even though he loudly pretended to be picky.

"No onions," Loki declared one morning, sitting on the counter like he owned the kitchen, shirt half-unbuttoned, hair still messy from sleep.

"You used to eat anything," Rose muttered as she chopped vegetables.

"I was a cat with no shifting power. I had no choice. Now I have standards," he said, sniffing the air. "And honestly... where’s the cream sauce?"

Rose rolled her eyes but she added the sauce anyway.

She even took time to go shopping and bought him a few more clothes.

When she handed him a soft brown hoodie and black sweatpants, Loki stared at them with a blank face.

"...These are peasant fabrics," he said.

"They’re warm and cozy," Rose replied firmly, holding up the hoodie.

"I look good in dark royal silks," he countered, still holding it like it might bite him.

"You used to wear baby socks."

Loki froze. He narrowed his golden eyes slowly. "You swore to never speak of that."

"I lied."

In the end, he wore the hoodie.

And never took it off.

In fact, two hours later, he was found curled up on her sofa with the hood up, hugging one of her warm rice pillows like it was a royal treasure. He only looked up when she came in holding coffee.

"Ah," he said proudly, "my human returns."

Rose stared at him. "Are you... purring?"

He cleared his throat and immediately sat upright. "That was my demon growl."

"Really?"

"Obviously. I don’t purr anymore. I’m a fierce warrior prince."

She placed the coffee on the table and smirked. "Want cookies?"

Loki’s eyes lit up.

"...Only if they’re the cinnamon ones."

"You remember those?"

"I remember everything now," he said, his voice lowering just a little. "Everything you gave me."

And just like that, the smile on Rose’s lips softened too.

Maybe he was taller, sharper, and full of demon pride now. But behind the smug grins and arrogant teasing... he was still her Sparkles.

And she would take care of him all over again.

When she painted, he stayed beside her—not saying much, but sometimes quietly handing her the right color before she even asked.

And when his hand brushed hers, they both paused but neither pulled away.

At night, they often ended up on the balcony again. She would wrap herself in a soft blanket, and he would sit beside her, his shoulder brushing hers. Sometimes, he would rest his head against hers lazily and mumble something about how "cold air is annoying"—but Rose knew. He just wanted to stay close.

One night, she brought out an old radio. It was crackly and old, but when the music played—soft and slow—they both stopped moving.

Rose was about to sit when she felt it. A gentle pull on her hand.

She turned.

Loki stood there, his eyes almost shy for once.

"...Dance with me."

Rose blinked. "You dance?"

He shrugged, lips twitching with that familiar arrogance. "I’ve watched enough human movies. How hard can it be?"

So she laughed, and she placed her hand in his.

And they danced.

Slowly, gently, under the quiet sky.

Her cheek against his chest.

His arms wrapped around her waist, possessive yet warm.

Their feet swaying awkwardly at first, then falling into rhythm.

Neither of them said anything.

Her heart was beating fast. She wondered if he could feel it.

The song ended, but they didn’t move apart.

"Rose," he murmured, voice low against her hair.

"Hmm?"

"You... never replaced me with other cats, did you?" he whispered.

She slowly shook her head. "You were never replaceable."

A large smile bloomed across Loki’s face—proud, touched, and just a little bashful. His eyes softened, and before she could say anything else, he gently cupped her cheeks with both hands.