"Dammit, I knew I shouldn't have forgotten my jacket today."
Loki wrapped his arms tightly around himself as another chill wracked his body. He loved his job at the bookstore, but the building was extremely old and had a tendency to get rather drafty at times.
He was about to reach for the old space heater that was kept under the desk, when suddenly, all of the lights went out. Cursing under his breath, Loki turned on the flashlight on his phone, and carefully made his way downstairs to where the breaker box was.
"I don't get paid enough for this," He grumbled as he opened the electric panel.
As soon as the lights came back on, he shut the panel door and turned around to head back upstairs. But just as he reached the bottom step, the floor groaned behind him.
"Hello? Someone there?"
He didn't receive a response, so he continued to head back up. Suddenly, the lights went out again, and the floor gave another creak, followed by the high-pitched giggle of a small child.
Terrified, Loki flew up the steps.....
And ran straight into a large, dark mass.
Oh he definitely did not get paid enough for this.
When the thing tried to grab him, he freaked out and started hitting at whatever part of it was within reach. It was only when the figure let out a yelp of pain, that he recognized who was holding him.
"Thor?
"Jesus Lo, what's gotten into you?!"
"I...I...."
Before he could answer the electricity returned, and Loki let out a sigh of relief that it was only his boyfriend staring back at him.
"I'm sorry, love, seems my imagination got the best of me," Loki said as he wrapped his arms tightly around Thor," What are you doing here, anyway?"
"I got home from work early and noticed you hadn't taken your jacket with you, so I thought I'd bring it here."
"Aww you're sweet."
"Hmm, I know," Thor chuckled before leaning down to press his lips to Loki's.
The kiss was getting more intense when the door to the basement banged open, causing them to look over at it, startled. The lights started to flicker, and the creepy laughter from earlier began to reverberate around the room.
"Uhm....Loki.....is you're imagination still getting the best of you?"
"I don't know...but I definitely am not getting paid enough to find out!"
They ran out of the entrance, hopped into Thor's car, and sped away as quickly as possible.
*************
The next morning, the owner of the bookstore went to open the shop. Loki had sent a frazzled email tendering his resignation the night before, and while he'd been disappointed to lose another clerk, ultimately he wasn't surprised.
"I don't know what it is about this place, but Noone ever seems to want to stay long. Oh well, guess I'll have to try again."
He stuck the help wanted sign in the window and set about tidying the books.
He failed to notice the sign falling into the floor....and the mysterious giggle that accompanied it.