"...I know." Loki says, and he means it. He hasn't known Halsin for long, perhaps, but he sees no malice in him. "And thank you. I wasn't expecting it. I thought I was...well, not completely over it, but over it enough to school my facial expressions."

The petting is soothing, and he makes a pleased, whining sound, resting his chin on Halsin's leg.

He listens to the story in silence, tail swishing now and again to flick against Halsin's stomach or hip, as if in reassurance. He doesn't know the pantheon, doesn't fully comprehend what a Dark Justiciar is, but context tells him what he needs to know.

He looks up when Halsin smiles at him, green eyes searching his for a moment. Loki stretches out, puts out a foxy tongue and licks his hand like a puppy. "It's not foolish," he says after a moment of vulpine kisses. "Things we experience leave a mark on our memories. That's just how the mind works. Shadow marked your mind, just as fire marked mine."

"Neither darkness nor fire are evil in themselves. They're just elements. But hurt is hurt. It's not wrong to protect your own scars."