Alexander Collymore
NOT BETA READ‼️
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The smell of new books is always wonderful. Loki doesn't know how to explain it but it smells absolutely amazing. Every time he peels apart the crisp pages and adjusts the sleeve on the hardcover, the smell wafts to his nose and god does it bring joy. The idea that a new story is about to unfold right in his hands or knowledge he hasn’t obtained yet is going to be embedded in his brain soon. It almost feels like a brain orgasm every time he smells them. Because he knows that they are patiently waiting to be read, to be decoded and loved. And everytime Loki does just that. He dives deep into the world of writing and picks apart all the riddles and codes, stores information and fantasy deep in his mind. Loki loves books.
What smell he does not enjoy though is blood, especially in his small humble bookshop. The person bringing it in is mangled and disfigured. Blood pouring out of his nose and arm bent in a way it shouldn’t. Their hair is matted with blood, puncture wounds protrude their body, scars littering their bare legs with pus leaking out of the infected ones. To say the man was uncomfortable to look at would be an understatement.
In the hand not attached to the broken arm there was a note. Obviously folded in the past with the noticeable creases. There were words that had been scribbled on, quickly written by what Loki could see. Though he couldn’t see exactly what it had said Loki knew what had been written in there. The address of his home and shop with his name. Other men had come through those same doors with the same notes and story. Those same men had stayed in his way to nicely decorated basement and healed until they could leave and start a new page of their story.
So even though he despised the smell he pushed through it like he did every time. After over, say 50, men and women he thought he would be used to the smell but he’s not. He would much rather be smelling the new books he bought instead. But he couldn’t, he had to help the man like he did with the others. So he put the book down in the box with the others and went over to the bloody man.
Though he was hunching over slightly Loki could tell he was tall. Taller than him he dare say. While Loki was tall, standing at around 5’11 to 6 foot, this man was way over 6 foot. From his perspective he was around 6’5. Most of the men that came to him were around that height, not the women though. They were tall but never past 6 feet. While it was definitely weird considering women usually stayed around the 5’5 to 5’8 range it was more unnerving. To know that they got to the height from cruel violent experiments instead of genetics, it made him uneasy.
Loki was right in front of the man now. Even though he was up close to him he couldn’t tell what the color of his hair was. The matted blood kept the unkept locks dark. Though now as they looked at each other he could see bright red eyes. Most likely a cause of some type of serum he underwent. His eyes, though a bright color, were more dull with a lack of life. Since his hunching he had to look up at Loki and it caused a glaring look which gave his eyes an even darker look.
Taking one last look at the man Loki turned his head around. He had to make sure there were no customers present in the shop. The first couple of times people came in injured there were some buyers. They ended up freaking out and he had to spend hours deescalating the situation. After that he rearranged the book shelves to make sure every customer was in sight so he could quickly usher them out if needed.
Luckily there was no one there. So he maneuvered around the man, who shifted slightly to get out of his way, and went to the door. While taking his key out of pocket to lock up the man finally spoke.
“Are you Loki?” The voice was ruff and ragged. Even though he probably meant the question innocently his voice made it sound like a threat. That’s ok though, it’s just another thing they’ll work on. Many had come through with the same tones and sooner or later Loki shook it out of them.
With his keys in his hand he took it and shoved it in the hole of the lock. While turning it he responded “I am. Though I don’t know who are you”. As he turned it he heard an almost relieved sigh from behind him. Taking the key out of the lock he held it in his hand and turned around. Now facing the still hunched man he looked at him again and shoved the key in his pocket. “So because you wondered in here for obvious reasons let’s start off with this. Who are you and do you actually want my help?”.
As Loki took a step closer he was now a couple inches away from him as he was already close. The man looked token aback from his question. Obviously not ready to be questioned for help that he so clearly needed. Though Loki had to make sure, there was a difference between a person who was ready for help and a person who wasn’t.
With blood still pouring out his nose, that was staining Loki’s poor wood floor, he stood up straight. A grunt and a wailing wine he was seconds later standing up. The man casted a shadow over Loki with his tall stature. Even though it was night, with the moon casted over them, the darkness from the man's figure left Loki feeling like someone had turned off all the lights. It was sickeningly dark around him.
He had finally made a move to answer Loki's question though. Taking his hand with the note and handing it to Loki. Honestly he really didn’t want to touch the blood covered hand, Loki had just showered this morning. Though with the things he handled in the past he could push through ruining his clean hands with the red shear liquid. So he took the blood stained note from the man and read it as if he didn’t know what was written.
“I’m Alexander Collymore. Yes I do want your help, I wouldn’t have come here if I didn’t.” The breath he took after was rigid and shaky. “That note, an insider from a hydra escape home gave it to me. Said you could help me. That man there thought that I was too Injured to be helped by the people there. Apparently they weren’t equipped for that kinda’ shit. Only mental help.”
“Sean, that’s his name.” Loki responded as he took the note and crunched it, throwing it on the counter beside him. “The hydra escape homes aren’t meant to help the injured, they’re meant to help the physically healed but mentally dead. That’s why they sent you to me, I help the injured and mentally dead.”. Moving past, the now known Alexander, Loki started walking and singled with his hand for the man to follow.
“What do you mean? You, a bookshop owner, helps the hydra escapes. I mean fuck where the hell do you even do it?”
“Such little trust, that’s to be expected though. A couple years ago someone had run into my nice bookshop, a hydra escapee. She had been gravely injured. I took her in and helped her. Though what I had not expected was for her to start telling other hydra escapes I can help them. Suddenly the next thing you know I have a goddamn doctor’s office in my basement.”
It wasn’t exactly expected when it happened. Rosa Huckly had wandered in on the brink of death. Customers had gasped and screamed at the sight of her, running out of the shop in a scared hurry. Some had tried to call 911 but Loki knew there was a bigger story behind what looked like an attempted murder. So he had rushed everyone left out and told them that he would get help and to not worry. Though that was a lie. Instead he took the frail women in his loft above the shop and bandaged her until she looked like a mummy.
He locked up the bookshop for a few days and began taking care of her. Learning of her story and healing the deep jagged wounds that had almost killed her. Though what seemed the hardest part was getting her memory back. Her name had been remembered, seeming to be used against her because of the femininity of the word as she always had a more masculine personality, even when continuing to identify as a girl. Her past had not stayed though. Fragments of parents and friends had flashed in her mind but the full memory of them had not.
While it had taken her almost over a year to get back to health, because of the limited medical tools he had, It had taken her even longer to get her memory back. She had grown up in a big city, her parents had been mediocre. Always kind and helpful but never spending any time with her. Schools had been troubling because she needed an IEP, but apparently the principal had been keeping the money they had been getting for the services and hadn't been giving them to her. So she had to move schools more than once. Then when she finally settled in one and made friends hydra had kidnapped her. Taking her in broad daylight and breaking her down until she became a killing machine with a forgotten past. Until one day she had gotten her memories of hydra kidnapping her back and had begun making an escape plan. Hydra had tried to stop her when she started leaving but they failed. Instead she made it out free with injuries that almost killed her. Then she wandered here, right into Loki’s home and store.
Over the time she had spent in Lok’s guest room healing they had bonded. Rosa had grown fond of Loki and Loki had grown fond of Rosa. She was truly grateful for all his help and had seen him as a safe haven. Even coming back from time to time just to see him, and everytime Loki had welcomed her with open arms. Letting her stay for as long as she wanted. More than once she had come bearing gifts for him, trying to repay what he did for her. Though it never seemed to be enough for her. To her she was always in debt to Loki.
And now, in the present, over 30 people were in debt to him. Alexander on his way to being one of them. Though like he did with the others he won’t except repayment. Unless they can undo torture and family issues he want nothing they give except greatfulness.
Now approaching the basement door, that was tucked away in the back, he gestured to Alexander that they were here. Alex gave him a look of curiosity before Loki turned his attention back to the door. Opening it a sickening squeak came from the hinges on the door. Letting his new guest go first Loki followed after and closed the door behind him.
As they go down bright lights start to invade their vision. Loki remembers putting those lights in. It was far too dark before but now it was so bright a few called it the light you're supposed to see when you die.
When they finally get to the bottom they see two others sitting at a table near the left wall. Beds that are unmade sit in the corner that have obviously been aiding the two that occupy the room. Other beds that don’t even look touched are sat across the rest of the right wall where the unmade ones are. Shelves filled with medical supplies and other ones filled with entertainment make up the back wall where the sinks also sit.
Laughter was coming from the two others. A game of monopoly rests on the table as bandaged hands make grab for the fake money. Ignoring the two others Loki has housed he guided Alexander to one of the beds.
As Alex sat down he started to question Loki “who are those two?” And before he could answer back one of the two spoke back.
“I’m Lila and that’s Charlie.” The girl, Lila, was the one who responded. Long brown hair pulled into a tight ponytail, baby blues that could rival captain americas, bandages and bruises intrude her body, and pajamas with a funny cartoon print dress her. The other, a man obviously charlie, looked a little more ruff. Clearly having been here for a shorter period of time. Short ginger hair sits atop his head, a smile that’s tired but yet so happy, more white bandages than Lila’s go around his limbs, he is as well dressed in cartoon print pajamas.
“Were your new roommates so better get comfortable” Charlie had said once Lila finished her introduction. But as quickly as their attention was on him, it was off him and back on their game.
Somewhere along Loki had went to go get some supplies. Coming back though Alexander had turned his attention back to him. Setting the supplies down on the bed Loki got to work getting everything set up.
“Why are you helping me? Or really anyone, like them.”
Loki took a second to respond, it was a question asked often but he almost never answers. Finally he let words roll off his tongue as he looks back at Alex.
“Because no one deserves the things you’ve endured. The least I can do is make sure you never have to go through it again.”