A Temporary Departure
Chapter 20: A Temporary Departure
The next morning Loki was up early and while he normally didn't like to wake the other's up unless it was necessary he was eager to get a move on. He had stayed in the city longer than he had intended after using his magic and he was starting to get antsy. So once he was dressed he gave a knock on Sean's the door. He knocked again a moment later when there was no answer before he just pushed the door open and made his way over to the bed. "Sean?" He called quietly as he laid a hand on his shoulder.
Sean blinked open his dazzling blue eyes, just as striking as Mobius's, before he rubbed at one of them. "Loki? Is everything okay?"
Loki smiled a little. "Everything is fine. I wanted to take you to do something this morning. Just the two of us. Can you be ready to go in about a half an hour?"
Sean was a little more awake at that and he sat up a little more in his bed. "Yeah I can. Any special occasion?"
"I'll explain more while we're out. I'll meet you out in the living room."
Sean nodded as Loki left the room and pulled the door shut behind him.
Loki took a seat in the living room and did a little investigating on his phone to see what there was to do around here. There was times square, but that was such a busy area, he wasn't sure he was ready to go there yet. There was always Central Park and there was a lot of good things there, but nothing really seemed to call out to him until he found the American Museum of Natural History. Sean liked History and there might be some cool stuff there that would give him some ideas of things to draw.
He looked up as he was joined in the living room and smiled as he saw Sean dressed and looking much more awake with a postcard in hand to deliver to the front desk.
"Did you really manage to fit everything you wanted to say on that little postcard?"
"I did. I wrote super tiny." He said before he frowned a little. "I hope he'll actually be able to read it. I'll write him a real letter soon."
Loki chuckled as he took a peek over his shoulder at the tiny letters that filled the back of the card. "I think it will be okay. And he's a resourceful one. He'll make a makeshift magnifying glass in no time."
Sean laughed at that as he made sure he had his phone and wallet. "That sounds like him."
"Do you have everything?"
"I do. Does dad know we're going out?"
"Don't worry I left him a note on the nightstand next to his side of the bed." Loki said as he held open the door for him and stepped out after him. They stopped by the front desk and Sean handed over his postcard to be sent out with the rest of the outgoing mail and thanked the person at the counter. Loki smiled a little to see that he was every bit the polite young man his father had taught him to be.
Once the post card had been passed along to the front desk he lead the way out to the car and unlocked it so they could both climb in. "I was thinking the American Museum of Natural History. I wouldn't mind learning some of the history and I thought maybe it would give you some inspirations for your drawings. What do you think?"
Sean contemplated that for a moment before he nodded approvingly. "That sounds interesting and it actually might. Darn I should have brought my sketchbook."
Loki had only just pulled out of the spot so he looked over to him as he stopped by the front door. "Do you want to run up and grab it?"
"I'll be right back!" Sean promised as he unclipped his seatbelt and hurried back up to the room to collect said sketchbook and a small pouch of pencils. Once he had gotten back to the car Loki pulled out of the driveway entirely to join the throes of traffic.
Once they got to the Museum he found a place to park before they both hopped out. Loki the locked the car and tucked the keys in his pocket and they both headed inside. Loki got them two tickets for the day and then handed Sean the map. "Where do you want to go first?"
Sean eagerly took the map and looked it over before he pointed to one of the areas. "Let's start here!"
Loki looked at the map over his shoulder before he nodded and glanced up at different signs that would point them in the right direction and then glanced back at the map again. "I think we go this way then."
They did manage to put their heads together and with only minimal difficulty found the area that they wanted to be. Loki followed him around as they read some of the plaques and informative displays. They would take turns reading out interesting facts that they found along the way.
Sean had also recognized it as the setting of a movie he had enjoyed a lot as a kid, though not something Loki had had the pleasure of watching with him, but this night at the museum did sound like a rather entertaining story. "Maybe I'll have to give it a watch then. If you hold it in such high regard."
Sean nodded as he babbled on, took a couple sneaky pictures on his phone despite the warnings of no flash photography. A couple times they would take a break in their wanderings so that Sean could sketch something out that he either wanted to incorporate with another idea or something that he just wanted to flesh out later.
"Sean?"
Sean looked over as he continued to walk a little ahead of Loki, but he turned backwards entirely to face him as he stuck one of his hands in his pockets. "Yeah Lyle?"
"I wanted to have this time with you this morning because I do have to go back to Ohio today. I wasn't...just leaving because of what you said to me. What I did...it was likely picked up and there's still a chance they might still put pieces together even though they haven't yet and I really don't to be here when they do."
Sean looked down a little as he turned to face forwards then and slowed his pace so that he was walking next to him. "But...we're okay right? You're not...leaving still because of me?"
"No Sean. That's why I wanted to spend this morning with you so that I could explain to you. We are okay. I'm so very proud of you and I won't stay away forever. I promised Kevin we could come and visit before the school year starts for both of you so I'll be back to see how you've settled in before things get hectic for you. Alright?"
Sean looked up at him for a moment before he nodded as relief flooded his face again. "Do you really think you have to go?"
"It is what is safest for everyone. Mobius will be here for the rest of trip with you. I'm sure there's a letter at the house from Kevin that he would like answered as well."
Sean pouted a little, but he did understand. "Thank you for coming at all...I know how you scared you were and now I know why, but thank you for still coming and for letting me come. I know it's not easy for you at all."
"Your happiness is worth it to me Sean."
***
After the museum they headed back to the hotel and Loki headed up to the room to collect his suitcase. Once he he had was sure everything was in it he first gave Mobius a tight hug. Told him once again to be safe and that he would see him in a couple weeks.
He pulled away and then set a hand on Sean's shoulder. "Remember everything I have taught you about self defense, but also remember everything I have taught you about honor as well. I do not want to hear about you starting any fights. You hear me?"
Sean rolled his eyes a little. "I haven't started a fight since middle school."
Loki raised an eyebrow.
"Yes Loki." Sean sighed out.
Loki smiled as he bent down to press a kiss to his cheek and then gave him a hug. "I love you Sean. If you are in trouble or if you need anything you know that you can call me and I will help you."
"No lectures?"
Loki smirked a little as he straightened up again. "My first priority will always be making sure that you are okay and safe. Then lectures can be given."
Sean swallowed a little at that. "I'll be good."
"Just don't get into anymore trouble than you can afford. Have lots of fun." Loki said before he finally collected the handle of his suitcase and took his leave. Hailing a cab once he was downstairs that had been dropping someone else off to catch a ride to the airport.