Coffee
"A man is only the sum of his memories you know" – The Doctor
The population of Earth included 7 billion humans at last count. 7 billion souls, both uniform and unique. Some carried the weight of the world on their shoulders, some felt the world owed them greatness and glory, and some who were content to play the small role they had been given in the grand play known as life. As the play went on, one such man entered the stage...
"And then there's pain, unimaginable pain. Every part of me burns and I feel as though my bones are going to explode and then-" the young man paused for dramatic effect causing his companion, a young woman, to stop stirring her coffee and look up at him "-I wake up".
Alex sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. "It's been happening for months now" he murmured picking up his coffee and taking a sip, "the same dream. Well, nightmare I suppose".
The young woman studied her friend's earnest face for a long time. Alex was a quiet, unassuming and sensible young man, although, his appearance did not overwhelmingly suggest this. With his long black hair, dark jeans and grey shirt, he looked more like a hipster musician than a clerk for an insurance company.
The young woman finally spoke. "Perhaps you're working too hard Alex?"
Alex frowned at her over the rim of his coffee cup; disappointment flickered in his green-blue eyes "really? Nell that is probably the most cliché response you could possibly have given me".
Eleanor 'Nell' Bennet was a slight woman with dark blue eyes that were sharp and intelligent, and long blonde hair that fell in gentle waves around her shoulders. She had a pretty, impassive face that reminded Alex of a china doll, although he knew she was certainly not as fragile.
Nell shrugged, clearly bored with the conversation. "Well I'm not a psychologist am I?" she gave him a sympathetic look "sorry mate, I can't tell you what it means. Frankly, I don't think dreams mean anything".
Alex examined his coffee cup carefully as though it were a priceless artefact. "Carl Jung said that the dream arises from a part of the mind unknown to us, but none the less important" he mused.
"Who?"
"Carl Jung" Alex explained, "founder of Analytical Psychology".
"Right so you're a student of Psychology now are you?" Nell laughed, "Since when have you been studying Carl Jung?"
"I just needed something else to read other than insurance reports" Alex smiled wryly, "you've no idea how mind numbingly boring my job is".
"I work for the government Alex; I have a pretty good idea".
Alex laughed softly and smiled his most charming smile, causing the waitress serving the table next to them to spill coffee in a customer's lap.
Alex didn't notice the commotion at all, which made Nell smile inwardly. Alex never noticed the effect he had on some people. Even Nell's 85 year old neighbour Dotty tried to flirt with him. It would have only been a tad embarrassing except for the fact that Alex had mistaken the flirtation for grandmotherly affection. Nell had had to rescue Alex from Dotty's invitation of lunch and explain that 'come in and take your shirt off' was not just a colourful slang expression that Alex hadn't heard before.
Suddenly the sound of Beethoven filled the air. Nell looked at the caller ID on her phone and groaned "speaking of work, looks like I'm being summoned".
"That's alright" Alex said rising from his chair, "I should be getting home anyway. I promised Mrs. Astor I'd watch her son this evening".
"OK, are we still on for the cinema next week?" Nell said finishing the dregs of her coffee, "the new Superman film is showing".
"Urgh, anything but that" Alex picked up his coat with a shudder, "something about superheroes just rubs me the wrong way".
Nell laughed "OK, some depressing independent film it is. And don't forget that 'Game of Thrones' is on tomorrow night if you want to come over and watch it". She pecked him on the cheek and walked out of the coffee shop with a friendly wave.
Alex waved back and then gingerly brought his fingers where she had kissed his cheek, secretly wishing it had been his lips instead. With a sigh he shrugged his coat on and stepped out into the streets of London, wondering if he'd ever have the courage to tell her how he really felt.
Far away on Asgard...
"Can you see him anywhere?" Thor asked desperately, even though it was the third time he had asked the question and he already knew the answer.
"No" Heimdall responded patiently, "not in any of the realms. If Loki is alive, he's shielded from my sight".
Thor gripped Mjolnir tightly "what could he be planning this time? I must find him. Where did you see him last? Who was he with?"
"He was in Midgard" Heimdall responded, "with the rogue Time Lord. The one who calls himself 'Doctor'".
Thor looked out to the cosmos grimly "then I must find the Doctor".