A/N: Hi All =] I was so scared at first to publish this, but I'm glad you guys seem to like it. Thank you for all of your reviews =] One quick comment. Chatnoir1 caught that the quote did come from a youtube video =]
The link is posted here: http:/ www [dot] youtube [dot] com / watch?v=U94cuE4f77g
The walls of the hospital were a barren, sickly green color. The sterility of the room gave the hospital an eerie feel. There was only one window in the far corner of the room and the dank drapes that covered it blocked what little light might have shown through. There were three beds in a line along the wall, each with an eggshell white privacy curtain and a stiff backed chair that sat across from the foot of each bed. However, only one of the three beds was occupied.
A man's quiet breathing echoed in the otherwise silent room. Annie sat in a dreadfully uncomfortable, paisley chair. She wasn't sure what made her wait by his bedside. Maybe it was the look in his eyes the brief moment he was conscious last night. He looked so relieved to see her. No one ever seemed pleased to see her these days. It was nice. Maybe she was curious to find out who the man wearing a green cloak and metal armor in the middle of the desert was. Or perhaps, she just wanted to meet the man who was so unlucky that a shooting star, the symbol of hope and wishes come true, had hit him and knocked him unconscious. She chuckled at the thought… now that's unlucky.
With the strange man unconscious, she felt safe in examining his features more closely. His raven colored tresses framing his pale face made for a remarkable contrast. Though his dark, long lashes were closed, she knew they hid his mesmerizing, though, sorrowful green eyes. His jaw lines were angular and his cheek bones high. He was, in a word, striking.
Annie was shaken from her thoughts as a plump elderly woman entered the room. Her gait was uneven as she hobbled over to the stranger. With clinical precision, she began redressing cuts, putting ointment on bruises, taking blood, and checking his vitals. It was only when checking his temperature that she paused. Her brows knit together as if she was solving a particularly baffling puzzle. She left the room and returned moments later with another thermometer in hand. Placing it carefully into his ear, she waited and read the number again. Annie's interest was piqued further when the woman croaked out "Baloney" and shuffled out of the room once more.
Content that nothing was too amiss, Annie dug through her Beatles tote bag and grabbed a puzzle book from her bag. She was nibbling her pen, contemplating a six letter word for "a person of puzzling or contradictory character" Hmm and with g as the 1,2,3… 4th letter, when the aged nurse entered the room again, this time with a grumpy doctor in tow.
"Helen, I'm really too busy to deal with malfunctioning equipment," said a middle-aged man in a squeaky voice all too unsuitable for a man his age. He stood at about 5'6" and looked peculiar with his small beady eyes and thinning, grey hair.
"I assure you, Dr. Morris, there is nothing wrong with the equipment. I used two different thermometers and—"Helen was interrupted by Dr. Morris.
"Well then, you did it incorrectly. Twice. A man's organs would start shutting down at that temperature. Since Give me a new thermometer and I'll do it myself." He looked irritated, while the nurse just looked cross. She shoved the instrument into his hands with a glare. The doctor took the measurement. Annie couldn't help but wish that she had some popcorn for the drama unfolding before her. The shocked look on the man's face was simply priceless.
"But that can't be? None of the monitors have picked up on any system failures. Perhaps Vince will have a better understanding. Come on Helen."
"Who's inept now, Shorty?" Helen grumbled in a low voice so that Dr. Morris wouldn't hear. Annie sniggered quietly. Helen caught her eyes and gave her a quick wink before leaving with the doctor, who would forevermore be "Shorty" in her mind.
Her mirth turned to shock, however, when she turned her focus back to the hospital bed to see the stranger awake, sitting cross-legged, staring at her with a bemused look.
"It's impolite to stare, you know?" the man spoke with a glint in his eyes.
"How are you awake? Are you alright? Should… should I call them back in? Do you need help?" Annie quickly sputtered.
"How am I awake? It's really quite strange actually. You see, when a person finds themselves rested after a period of time, they just wake up. Stop me if I'm going too quickly." He was teasing her. "But really, I am quite well… Miss?" He paused.
"Annie." She managed to chirp out. She was having the hardest time figuring out this perplexing man. "And you?" He seemed to pause for a moment, deep in thought.
"It's not that hard, he of biting wit." Her eyes widened. She really hadn't meant to say that aloud. I really need to stop doing that, she cringed. A blush colored her cheeks as a strong, baritone laugh filled the room.
"My name is Loki. So… have you any idea as to the location of my belongings? I'd rather change out of this unsightly, sea foam gown- does nothing for my figure." Annie giggled. Loki was certainly charming.
"I think they put everything in the cabinet over there, but you really should lie down until they make sure you're okay. A meteor hit you for goodness sakes."
"I assure you I have suffered worse." And with that he gracefully left the bed and grabbed a small box with his clothing.
I've suffered worse. What an odd thing to say. Annie thought as she recalled how anguished he looked lying in that crater. Her eyes followed him as he set the box down and with embarrassment; she realized he was going to change right then and there. She let out a small 'eep.'
"I'll give you some privacy." She spoke as she stepped out of the room.
Loki chuckled as the door shut. People were too easy to read. How easy it was to embarrass her. This mortal was much more tolerable than the doctors and nurses that had seen him that day, when he pretended to sleep. The old woman was nice enough, but the arrogance of that doctor could have rivaled his brother's. His heart wrenched for a moment as he remembered how far from home he was. He pulled an undershirt on over his head as he wondered what he would do on the planet. With the Bifrost broken, he would have to travel back another way. He wondered if his magic had suffered any damages. Closing his eyes, he pictured himself on the opposite end of the room. He opened them. Damn. Loki had not moved. He finished dressing before attempting another trick. Once again he closed his eyes, he could feel his magic like static on his fingertips, and then—
The door opened and Dr. Morris, another colleague, and the nurse walked in, while he heard a clear voice chastising them.
"Don't he's changing." Annie reprimanded the others. Her hands were firmly placed on her hips as she gave them all a fixed stare. He was caught by surprise as this woman he barely knew defended him
"Who do you think put him in the gown, Dear?" The nurse responded.
"Sir, get back into the bed this instant. You are unwell. As this hospital's chief resident of this ward, I command you." Dr. Morris pretentiously ordered.
Loki began to open his mouth, but Annie beat him to it.
"Shorty, you're not as important as you think you are." Annie accidently blurted out. Once again she cursed herself for not thinking before speaking.
Loki allowed a tight smile to form. Helen laughed freely. Annie looked abashedly at her feet. Dr. Morris, however, looked enraged as he approached her menacingly. Looking up again, Annie stood like a deer caught in head lights. Loki caught the sheer panic in her features as she cowered back and acted quickly.
"Stop." As if by magic, the doctor halted. "Now, I thank you all for your help evening last, but I needed to be going."
"It would be against medical advice that you leave. You'll have to sign papers and we'd prefer if you left and were monitored by someone." The new doctor spoke.
"As you wish. Miss Annie, if she is willing, shall observe me?" He answered the doctor and simultaneously questioned Annie.
"Umm… sure." She answered, confused.
The doctors and the old woman left the room to get the paperwork, leaving Loki and Annie alone. An awkward silence fell over the room until Annie posed a question.
"So… where'd you get those flowers from?" Annie questioned as she pointed to his hand.
Loki looked at his hand for the first time since changing. He still had some control over his magic then. He grinned freely.
"Oh, these? Found them in the box. I assumed you had brought them." Loki lied easily.
A/N: Hope you guys had as much fun reading this as I did writing it =] Virtual cookies for anyone who knows the answer to the crossword puzzle clue.
