The Poisonous Cure Ch. Six
CLICK HERE FOR CHAPTER FIVE.
Summary; Loki runs into a young girl on his morning walk and is shocked to learn she’s more than just a minor selling herself on the streets. Her web is more tangled than perhaps even his, and she certainly holds as many secrets. He swears to find more about her, but does he really want to?
Author’s Note; Phew, another chapter, yay! Almost to the end here. I’d expect one more chapter, maaaaybe two. Thank you so much to the readers out there. You’re fantastic. Btw, all I have to say about the end of this chapter is; I’m so sorry. Much love, your author.
Warnings; Language, mentions of abuse.
Words; 2,855
Chapter Six
Cabin Fever
“You’re doing it wrong.”
“No, your way is the wrong way.”
“That is incorrect.”
“This is how you cook fucking popcorn!” I shout, close to slapping him. We both stand in front of the microwave, arms crossed and pouts affixed to our lips. “Tony probably told you to cook it over a fire because it takes forever and he’s an asshole. Let me fix it my way and you’ll see it tastes the same.” I try to say calmly, looking over at his fiery eyes.
“Fine.” He snaps and we once again fall silent, watching the bag turn in the golden light of the microwave. We arrived and settled into adjoining bedrooms, then sat on the couch for an hour doing absolutely nothing. I suggested a movie and popcorn, so at least we’d have something to stare at and listen to instead of one another. He’d agreed, although neither of us foresaw the argumentative prospects of cooking the damn popcorn. I can’t wait to pick a movie. After grabbing a bowl and setting it under the microwave, the beeping alerts me to the popcorn being done. I grab it and pour the bag into the bowl as the familiar smell fills my nose. There was a movie theater just down the street from where I worked. I remember the times I’d get into a car and it would smell like this, buttery and warm. Those men were always quick. I’d guess their dates from earlier didn’t feel like putting out, so they resorted to second best. Loki and I walk back to the couch and I hand him the bowl to hold. He stares at the popcorn with distaste.
“Try the fucking popcorn, trench coat. God.” I roll my eyes and open the entertainment center to pick a movie. Thankfully, there are plenty to choose from. “Do you have a particular genre you prefer?” I ask, sitting and twisting my torso to face him nibbling on a piece of popcorn. He raises his eyebrows at me and I turn around, shaking my head. “I take that as a no.” I mumble and continue leafing through the DVDs. Finally, I settle on a classic that I know he’ll enjoy. The Phantom of the Opera.
“What have you chosen?” He asks as I sit next to him after putting the DVD in the player.
“The Phantom of the Opera. It’s a musical, but if you hate singing I don’t give a shit. Pay attention to the words and you’ll love it. I promise.” I instruct as Ghost comes into the room from napping on my bed. Gently, he puts his paws on the couch to ask if he can come up. Rolling my eyes, I move closer to Loki and pat the couch as an invitation. He jostles the two of us a bit, but then lays down and sets his head on my lap. “Good boy.” I whisper and lay an arm on his shoulders. Loki modifies his own sitting position to make space for me and ends up lightly laying his arm behind my shoulders. I’m thankful for the chill, Ghost is a heater.
“What is this picture about?” Loki asks curiously as the previews begin. I skip them all and go to the menu as I explain.
“Well, it’s about a man who is very misunderstood. His only love is the theater he’s taken refuge in, until he meets a girl. But, the girl is interested in someone else. Drama ensues. You’ll like it.” I tell him and press play. “By the way, I see that you’ve eaten half that bowl of popcorn.” He frowns at me and offers the bowl to me, seemingly a bit irritated at being caught. I settle it between the two of us as the movie finally begins to start. We’re both quiet throughout the film, but I glance sneakily at Loki throughout the movie and see him really getting into it. I believe he even tears up a little at the end.
“I enjoyed this. The singing is a tad strange, but the meaning behind the words is still poignant.” Loki thinks aloud, confirming the thoughts I had previously that he would enjoy the film.
“I’m glad you enjoyed it.” I tell him genuinely and set the empty bowl of popcorn on the coffee table, earning a slight growl from Ghost because I’ve disturbed him. Leaning back, I sigh. I’m going to make a cup of coffee; do you want one?” I offer and tap Ghost’s nose so he’ll let me up. As I’m walking the mile to the kitchen, Loki follows as my shadow.
“I’ll take black coffee, thanks.” He says and sits at the kitchen table, putting his feet up in another chair. Rolling my eyes, I fix him a quick cup of coffee before starting my own. It seems Tony already stocked the kitchen before we got here, which I don’t know if that’s creepy or not. I’m just grateful. I shove Loki’s feet out of the chair and sit down next to him, setting his coffee down in front of him.
“So, what do you do to pass the time?” I ask, idly taking a sip from my coffee. Loki thinks for a few moments, then stands.
“Reading, pondering my next scheme, but in this particular case I believe we can find something more diverting. I did promise to train you.” I perk up at that.
“Deal. What’s first?” I ask, getting up and following him as he goes outside.
“Something small.” He says with a warning glance and I roll my eyes. “I am going to throw something at you and I want you to stop it, then redirect it.” Loki directs as we separate, him walking away from a motionless me until we’re about ten meters apart. We face off for a few moments, breathing in the sunlight and feeling the rays on our skin. After a couple breaths, Loki whips a dagger out of thin air and chucks it at me. I throw my arms out and everything freezes. The grass and nearby branches stop blowing in the wind as the breeze disappears and the dagger stills. I move to the side and move closer to the dagger, then focus solely on that, letting everything else move again. I put my hand over the blade and the handle without touching it and try pushing the invisible field around it. The blade teeters a little and just barely moves away from me.
“Ugh.” I groan, but don’t give up. Suddenly Loki’s beside me and I nearly drop the blade out of surprise.
“No offense, but I don’t think it’s moved.” He drolls and I’m tempted to just grab the blade to stab him. My focus heightens and it moves an inch. Loki sighs and puts his hand on the handle, so I drop my focus.
“I would have gotten it!” I defend myself as he tsks.
“You’re thinking too hard. Magic isn’t like a bow. You don’t have to pull back, wait, then strike. You just strike. It’s a reflex.” He points the blade at me and smiles slyly. “You’re thinking too hard, sorceress.” He tells me and suddenly flicks his hand out with the blade. I stop him with a hand just in front of his own wrist, the blade inches from my throat. I smirk, rage burning through me as we stare into one another’s eyes. I back up and raise my leg, releasing him just as I kick his chest, grinning at the satisfying oomph that slips from his lips. “See? Reflex.” He groans, getting up with a slightly brighter grin on his face.
“Don’t threaten me like that, Loki.” I warn and his eyes turn wide.
“I don’t threaten, I’m teaching.” He clarifies and suddenly tosses the dagger at me. My hands react instantly, pushing out and up. The dagger follows my hands trajectory until my hands lower and it just falls to the ground. Loki grins and picks it up. “Like I said, reflex.” He tells me smugly and I resist punching his face. “By the way…” He waves a hand over the dagger and it turns into a simple stick. “Never trust your eyes, sorceress. If you’d just touched it you’d have known.” Loki explains and hands it to me just to prove he’s telling the truth. Then, he kneels and looks into my eyes. “I am not trying to harm you and you can place your trust in me. I swear to you, dear one.” His eyes burn, but not just because of their color. It seems he’s genuine and he has proven this to me multiple times, but I dislike trusting others with anything. I stare at him a moment more before nodding once.
“You have my trust.” Loki smiles brightly, and I freeze him for a second, making him look like a charming statue. “But if you betray it, I swear that you will regret it more than anything else in your life.” I tell him fiercely, my own eyes blistering with the fervor of my promise. When he’s released his grin doesn’t waver.
“I’d expect nothing less.” He tells me quietly and coaxes a small smile from me. After a quick and cold kiss to my cheek, he’s up and walking with a stick in his hand once more. “Come, let us go again.” He beckons and I nod, ready. We go again and again until I can move the stick without thinking, redirecting it seamlessly.
“How do you multiply yourself?” I ask, just a little out of breath. I’m lucky, with my temperature the air outside is near freezing on my skin, including the sun. Loki must feel like an ice cube in boiling water. He steps towards me and we meet in the middle.
“Visualization is half of magic. If you can see it, you can make it. So, visualize another you in front of yourself. Start off with only one.” Loki instructs and stands beside me, a constant presence that lends me strength. For a moment I shut my eyes, picturing another me in front of myself. “Good, good.” Loki encourages and it makes me push harder. My eyes open and I see myself staring back, although it’s blurry and imperfect. My head aches with the effort of it, but finally the image is perfect. Interestingly enough, it’s easier to maintain than to conjure.
“Why is it so…dead?” I ask, not knowing a better word to describe it. Loki chuckles and walks around it while nodding.
“While you conjured it quite well, making it move and speak requires more practice and more energy. I think we’re done for now, let us retire.” He tells me and I nod, releasing the figure and watching it fade like a picture on t.v. We walk in and I collapse on the couch with Ghost. He barely lifts his head at the disturbance. My eyes shut as I lean my head back on the back of the couch. I flinch when something cold touches my forehead, my eyes snapping open. I relax when I see it’s only Loki with a small, damp, washcloth and let him lay it on my forehead.
“Sorry. You surprised me.” I apologize, a little shocked at his gesture. He nods once, his movements more hesitant than usual.
“My…mother would do this for me after a training session. She was the one who taught me all I know.” He tells me quietly as I stare at him. “Although for me, the washcloth was always warm and she’d always serve me a special tea with it.” He confides in a quiet and calm voice.
“She knew about your form?” I ask gently, curious to hear about his parents. After all, I have no memory of mine. He nods and sits on the edge of the coffee table facing me.
“Both of my parents knew and they hid it from me most of my life. Mother never cared, though. I was always and shall always be her son.” His words now have an edge, but I like the sound of his mom.
“It sounds like you were lucky, Loki.” I tell him hesitantly, hoping not to upset him. His lips curve up into a small smile.
“With my mother and brother, I certainly was.” Loki allows and stands once again. “Would you care for some tea? The ingredients won’t be the same as my mother used, but…” Loki offers vulnerably and I nod.
“Yes, thank you.” I respond and press my lips together to keep from giggling when he turns around. I hate tea and have always hated tea. It tastes like grassy water, but if Loki is going out of his way to be nice I’ll drink a gallon to make him happy. In my experience, when someone who goes out of their way to do something and you don’t let them for whatever reason, it discourages them. I’m happy to let him do things for me if he wants to. It’s nice. He returns with his hands behind his back and asks me another question.
“Uh, would you like me to draw you a bath?” Loki asks and I can tell by the movement of his forearms that he’s wringing his hands. He’s nervous? That’s weird.
“Sure.” I respond and he nods once, heading to the bathroom. I watch him go curiously. I have no clue what he’s up to, but it’s amusing, whatever it is. “What do you think, Ghost?” I whisper and scratch his head. He blinks up at me with his golden eyes, but there are no answers there. Gently, I run the wet cloth around my entire face and neck, then get up and leave it around my neck. I head into my room to get some clothes to change into after taking a bath. God, I can’t remember the last time I took an actual bath, if I ever have. My go to is a day dress; a navy dress with pink flowers that falls to my calves and has a slit that goes up to my upper thigh. It has spaghetti straps and the neckline is a v-neck. Overall, one of the more conservative dresses I have. After grabbing that, underwear, a bra, and my iPod, I fold them up and head into the bathroom. Loki is surprisingly absent, so I just set my clothes on the counter.
“Is the water the appropriate temperature?” He asks, suddenly appearing in the doorway.
“I don’t know, I haven’t tested it yet.” I tell him, smiling at the tea in his hands. He sets it down on the small ledge beside the tub as I dip my fingers into the water. It’s freezing. “Wow, this is perfect!” I tell him genuinely.
“Good. I cooled it with my own hands, so it should stay cold a great deal longer than normal.” He explains and I’m shocked by his thoughtfulness. I cross my arms over my chest and purse my lips.
“Loki, do you want something from me?” I ask timidly, not wanting to anger him. His eyebrows furrow. “In my experience, when someone is kind it’s because they expect something in return.” I explain and his expression clears. He leans against the doorway and shakes his head.
“I do not wish to garner anything from you, little one. Well, perhaps your trust, but that is all.” He tells me and his voice is sincere. I nod and sigh, letting my arms fall to my sides.
“I’m sorry. I just…” I trail off, really not knowing what to say.
“Your apology is not warranted. I understand your feelings.” Loki reveals and straightens from his spot. “I’ll leave you to your bath.” He turns, locks the door from the inside like I like, and gets ready to walk out.
“Loki.” I call out and he pauses. I walk over and kiss his cheek. “Thank you. I appreciate everything you’re doing.” I tell him vulnerably and half-smile when he does, then let him shut the door. Sighing, I strip and lower myself into the water, hearing an audible sizzle as my skin touches it. It’s the absolute perfect temperature and I’m shocked to find that the tea he left is delicious. Remembering my music, I reach over and put in my earbuds, then turn the music up all the way. I let myself relax into the water and it’s incredibly soothing. I can see why people do this. I have no clue how long I’m in the tub, but the tea is long gone and the water is warm from my body heat when I finally get out. After drying off and putting on new clothes I feel like a new person. I take out my earbuds and turn off my iPod, then unlock the door. When I open the door, my mouth drops open. The place is trashed. Everything is either broken, knocked over, or both. Groaning calls my eyes down and to the right, finding Loki sitting next to the door. One thing turns my blood to ice.
He isn’t moving.
