Just Another Day
Chapter 15: Just Another Day
Loki sighed as he was pulled from a peaceful sleep at promptly eight o clock by the sound of his phone ringing. He was tempted to ignore it, but the possibility of it being the Summer Camp with some sort news of Kevin had him reaching for the phone and not even really bothering to glance at the number that was calling him.
"Hello?" He mumubled as he pressed the phone to his ear after answering and buried his head back in the pillow.
"Is this Lyle Mobius?"
"It is. May I inquire as to who this is?"
"Hey, this is the airport. We finally got your suitcase here, it was scanned in and cleared about an hour ago. So whenever you're ready to come and pick it up just go over to customer service, bring ID obviously and they should be able to help you."
That was probably the best news he had received all week. Relief went through him. He would have his books. He would have his nightlight. He could care for his hair and his skin with the proper routine. The last couple of nights without his skin care products had been a little unsettling. Not that his skin really needed it, but it was moreso the action. The time to slow down and just be in the moment. Spend some time with himself in the mirror now that he could finally stand to look at himself in it most days again.
"Thank you, I will probably be there later today to pick it up. Is that alright?"
"Yes, we're required to hold things for thirty days before it's handed over to lost and found."
Loki thanked him again before he hung up and set the phone back on the nightstand and then hummed as he felt the strong arms wrapped arond him pulled him a little closer so that warm lips could be pressed to the back of his neck. "Who was that kitten?"
Loki let his eyes close he could almost go back to sleep. "The airport. My suitcase got there this morning. They said that we can pick it up whenever we're ready."
"Well that's good news." Mobius murmured as he pressed a couple kisses on his back before they slowly climbed higher to trace along his neck causing a little shudder. "Sean's probably still asleep..."
Loki chuckled, but regrettably pulled away from Mobius. "No morning sex until after the kids are out of the house. You were the one that was worried about them walking in on us."
Mobius chuckled a little. "Yeah...they're old enough to know to knock though."
"Still don't need to risk it." He said through a yawn and Mobius frowned a little as he reached out and gently brought Loki's face into more of a view. "You got bags under your eyes sweetheart. Not a lot, but have been getting enough sleep?"
Loki moved his hand in a so so motion. "Not the greatest, but it could be worse." The last two evenings while they had been out apartment hunting he had gotten really bad nightmares and fractured sleep, but he hadn't wanted to bother Mobius. He would need his sleep and energy for the coming days. No reason for both of them to be fighting off exhaustion.
"Why don't you stay in today? I was going to take Sean to do some furniture shopping. He needs a new bed anyway, he's been sleeping on the one in his room for the last seven years and it's easier to buy one for him here than try and move the one at home. He'll need stuff for the kitchen and bathroom to."
Loki sighed. "I...I actually wouldn't mind that, but...I should be a part of all of this. It's important to him and I want to be there." I don't want to disappoint him.
"Sweetheart, it's just some furniture. He'll understand if you sit this one out. He knows how much you care." Mobius said as he pushed himself up to get a pair of his boxers.
Loki looked to Mobius still hesitant. "Are you sure Mobius?" He said quietly.
Mobius smiled one of those smiles full of certainty and surety that always washed away his doubts. "I'm positvie Loki."
Loki closed his eyes for a moment and let out a small breath before he nodded. "Alright." He said quietly. "A day or two staying in would help. I'll be ready to face the city again soon though."
Mobius pulled a nicer pair of slacks and then came over and kissed his lips gently. "I'll take the little fiend shopping to get his aparment outfitted and we'll stop and pick up your suitcase from the airport for you."
Loki pushed himself up, but only to pull on the tank top and cotton pants he had been wearing to sleep in before he gave Mobius a fierce hug. "Be careful." He murmured. Praying again for their safe return as it was all he could really do these days without giving himself away.
"I will sweetheart. We both will. I'll see you later. Go back to sleep."
"I hardly think I will be able to, but I will still try."
Mobius reached up to ruffle his hair a little and Loki gave him an unamused look to which he just laughed and proclaimed his undying love and their inevitable return later before he left the room and shut the door behind him.
Loki settled back down on the bed and after only a small bout of panic about letting them go out without him again he calmed much easier. Everything had proven to be fine thus far. He could get through this trip in one piece and with some deep breathing excercises he finally managed to drift back off again.
***
About two hours later Loki startled half awake as he heard the door open. Looking around a little and ready to wake up the rest of the way if need be, but then he saw Sean very carefully carrying a small tray with a breakfast sandwich and a cup of tea. He was so busy watching the tray to make sure the tea didn't slosh over the edge of the cup from his movements to notice that Loki was watching him.
Loki didn't want to startle the boy though so he just closed his eyes again and waited until he heard it set down on the nightstand and then feigned just waking up a little at the sound of the noise.
"Sean?"
Sean smiled, but also cringed a little. "Sorry. I didn't want to wake you. Dad and I are getting ready to leave, but I wanted to bring you some breakfast before we left. Dad said you aren't feeling good today."
Loki smiled softly. "That's so sweet of you. Oh, before you leave set any clothes you want to have washed out in the hallway by the room that you're using. If I feel a little better later I'm going to take a trip to the laundry mat I saw downstairs the other day."
"Okay. I hope you feel better."
"I will. Listen to your father while you're out today and be safe. Smart."
"Yes Loki."
Loki gave him a little wave as he ran out of the room, remembering to shut the door behind him and Loki snuggled back into the blankets for some more sleep. The last thing he registered being the door closing out in the main room.
***
"Pathetic."
Loki grunted as he felt a foot connect with his stomach hard enough to have him doubled up in pain. His body already battered and bleeding and his seidr exhausted.
"Look at you. Look what you allowed yourself to become. A weak sheep playing house with a couple lowly Midgardians."
Once he managed to clear his vision he glared up at...well...himself. Or at least a younger version of himself. A much more unhinged version of himself that he did not wish to become ever again. "Do not speak of them that way. They are pricelaggh!!" He screamed as a blade was buried to the hilt in his shoulder.
"We swore to never let someone shackle us again. Yet even though the shackles are invisible most of the time they still exist! Don't use magic. Watch your strength. Don't leave the house to much."
Loki grit his teeth as he reached up and yanked the blade from his shoulder. "None of those were his choice! They were mine! It's necessary to keep them!"
"We don't need anybody!! When did you forget that!?"
"Once I found someone who gives a shit!" Loki snarled right back as he lunged at himself with the blade in his hand. Only to be impaled on a much larger blade that seemed to spring from the ground.
Loki choked on the gasp as he woke. Fingers clenched in the sheets. Sweat pinning his hair to his forehead. His chest heaved and it was a solid ten minutes before he finally slowly remembered where he was and reaching down to his chest found it whole and undamaged. No blood staining his shirt. Finally he let out a breath. He glanced to customary clock on the nightstand which displayed two in the afternoon. That would have to do. He wouldn't be getting back to sleep after that.
He took a quick shower and enjoyed the breakfast despite the tea being cold, before he settled down on the edge of the bed to check his messages. There were a couple updates about where they were at or what they had gotten.
Sean had also sent him a picture of a blanket they had seen at the furniture store that was hung like a tapestry showing off an intricate picture of a wolf and smiled a little.
The latest message was from Mobius, saying that they were taking a break and getting some lunch at a rather popular restaurant they wanted to try. The little video under that was only a couple seconds, but it was Mobius and Sean blowing the wrappers of their straws at each other.
Loki laughed and smiled fondly. "Just because I'm not there doesn't mean you don't have to behave children." They knew him well enough to know that he wasn't being serious though.
With that caught up with he collected the laundry that needed to be done. It was only enough for one load and he pocketed his phone and wallet. He stuffed everything into the washer and added in some of the soap that the machine dispensed automatically before he swiped his card and watched as it started to fill with water.
He sat down in the lobby with the book of stories by Poe that Sean had confirmed had been from him. Intending to read at least two or three of the stories while he did the laundry. He only got past the first one.
His reading was interrupted when he heard a gasp come from someone else in the lobby and he looked over to a see a woman standing near one of the TVs. He felt his heart stop as he marked his place in his book and pushed himself up to get a closer look at the TV and he instantly wished he hadn't.
Breaking News was playing and an anchorman was talking about a huge explosion that had just rocked a couple establishments in the city and when he looked up the address frantically he felt his knees buckle as his book clattered to floor. "No...no no please no...." His phone clattered to the floor showing a picture of the restaurant that Mobius had said they were stopping at just twenty minutes ago. They would still be there.
"Sir?"
Loki heard the voice, but it sounded very far away as his arms came to wrap around himself and he doubled over with his forehead pressed to cold linoleum.
He felt a hand on his shoulder, but it felt wrong because it wasn't Mobius's hand. There was no comfort. It felt like a dead fish on his shoulder and he pulled away from it instintively as he struggled to get some air. He felt more than saw a cold darkness closing in around him. Alone. He was all alone. Again.