Thor wandered around the rec room, not quite sure where to go. Because of his good behaviour, Taylor had let him be alone but he didn't want to go back to his room after hearing Loki's screams. He didn't sound human. Thor shuddered at the memory and came up with a plan.
Loki said he'd stolen everybody's file at some point, meaning he probably stole a few when he was younger, i.e. when he first got here at fourteen. Thor was nineteen so what is easy enough for a fourteen year old that he didn't get caught must be a piece of cake for a nineteen year old, right?
Thor decided not to do it just yet until he could find out where the files were kept and if he needs to steal a key first or not.
He went up to Romey, who was sat in a corner talking to herself.
"No, Alayah, I will not beat Thor with a chair, he seems nice,"
Thor stopped and listened.
"But he's only been here for a day and already got Loki to talk to him, that's impressive,"
Thor stood still so Romey didn't notice him.
"I think Loki likes him, it took me half a year to be able to sit near him without him scowling at me. And even longer to be able to interrupt him while he's reading without warranting a death threat. Thor did both those things and Loki was nice to him…. Well, as nice as Loki ever is,"
Thor smiled at that, glad that he was an exception to Loki's usual attitude to everyone. He started to feel guilty about eavesdropping and stepped forward into Romey's line of sight. She snapped out of it and smiled up at him.
"Hello Thor," She waved and Thor sat on the floor opposite her.
"Hey Romey," He wrung his hands together. "Can I ask you something?"
"You just did," Romey giggled.
Thor chuckled. "Can I ask you something else?"
"You just did,"
Thor rolled his eyes. "I'm going to ask you another question,"
Romey nodded.
"But first I need to know it you can keep a secret,"
Romey's eyes lit up. "Ooh secrets! I love secrets," She scooted closer to him and drew her knees up, wrapping her arms around her legs and resting her chin on her knees.
"I want to find out about Loki so I'm going to steal his file,"
Romey's eyes widened. "Loki is the only one who's ever been able to steal a file and get away with it,"
That just made Thor more determined. "Well, that's going to change,"
"Don't let Loki find out, 'kay? He'll be pissed," She warned.
"I won't. But I need to ask you something. Where are the files kept?"
"There's a room with lots of filing cabinets in the main building, it's the room next to Dr. Merrick's. There's a code pad on the side but only the staff and Loki know it," She leant closer and whispered. "The staffs don't know Loki knows or they'd change it,"
Thor nodded thoughtfully. "Thanks Romey,"
"You're welcome," She smiled.
Taylor walked over and told Thor his appointment was soon. Thor stood up and let Taylor escort him to the main building and upstairs to 's office. As they waited for him to answer the door, Thor glanced over at the room to the right of his office. There was a solid wooden door with no windows, like all the other doors on this floor. The only difference was that this door had a key pad beside it, just like Romey said. Before he could look any further, the door opened and Taylor nudged him in and closed the door behind him.
"Hello Mr. Odinson, take a seat," Merrick smiled over the rim of his reading glasses as he finished filing a report in a folder. Thor glanced at the name on the top and saw "Laufeyson, Loki."
He tried not to show any reaction and looked back up at Merrick.
"How has your stay been so far?" He folded his hands together and placed them on the desk after setting Loki's folder on the edge of the desk out of the way.
"It's been okay,"
"I heard who your roommate is. I'm terribly sorry, has he been any trouble?"
Thor furrowed his brow. "Loki? He's been fine,"
Merrick stared in confusion. "You've had no problems with him?"
Thor shook his head.
"Hmm…" Merrick thought for a minute before shaking his head. "Anyway, Thor, have you made any friends yet?"
"Just Loki and this one girl, Romey,"
The doctor looked more confused. "You're friends with Loki?"
Thor nodded. "Why?"
"No reason," Merrick shook his head. "He's never had a friend in here before,"
"Really? Hasn't he been here for, like, three years?"
Merrick nodded. "He's not very likable,"
"I like him," Thor felt the need to defend him.
Merrick held his hands up. "Alright. So, Romey, the schizophrenic girl?"
Thor nodded and Merrick looked like he approved. "Just watch her around chairs. She's already attacked two people with them in the past year,"
Thor nodded.
"Since this is your first session we won't speak of anything serious. Here's your medication for the day," He held out a paper cup about two inches tall and a glass of water.
Thor looked into the cup and saw two blue and white capsules; he swallowed them with some water and handed them back to Merrick, thanking him.
Merrick put them on the table but spilt the water down himself. He jumped up and Thor tried not to laugh at the feminine screech he let out.
"Do you mind if I go clean this up? I won't be long…" He asked, trying to keep the wet fabric of his trousers from touching his skin.
"No of course not, go ahead," Thor smiled and Merrick sped out of the room. Once he heard the click of the door shutting, he jumped up and snatched Loki's folder. He decided he wouldn't have time to read it all now as it was quite thick and Merrick was only in the room to the left of the one Thor was occupying so he took out the first sheet. If he took out more someone might notice.
He folded it up quickly and slipped it into the baggy pockets of his sweatpants then sat down just as Merrick came back in with fresh pants on.
"Sorry about that," He chuckled and Thor waved it off. "So, you've settled in well. Most new patients make a lot more fuss than you,"
Thor smiled and shrugged. "I'm fine,"
Merrick opened up a file with "Odinson, Christopher Thor." on the top and flicked through the pieces of paper then looked up at Thor. "Any more nightmares?"
Thor's smiled dropped and he nodded.
"Would you like to tell me about them?"
Thor shook his head and, thankfully, Merrick dropped it.
"Alright, well, that's all for this session, I'll see you at the same time tomorrow. It's about lunch time now so I'll have Taylor take you straight to the canteen," He smiled and stood up, leading Thor over to the door.
They said a quick goodbye and Taylor took him back to the Safe Block.
Glancing around the canteen eagerly, Thor saw Loki sat at his usual table with a tray of pasta in sauce and chicken with a cupcake and a bottle of water. Thor lined up to collect his food quickly and went to join his roommate.
"Hi," Thor smiled at him and Loki looked slightly startled by the company.
"Hello,"
Thor sat down and started eating his own pasta while Loki stared at him.
"What?" He spoke around a mouthful of pasta.
Loki grimaced slightly then shrugged and turned his attention back to the window. "Would have thought you'd have found someone else to pester by now,"
Thor looked like a wounded puppy and pouted. Loki rolled his eyes.
"How was your first session?" He asked, much to Thor's shock. Loki was trying to keep the conversation going and Thor didn't have to struggle as much. Then Thor frowned again.
"How did you know I had my first session today?"
"Merrick was taking out your folder while I was in there. I assumed you were next,"
The way he said it made it sound like the sessions were death sentenced.
"Oh. It was okay. He was surprised to hear I'd made friends with you," Thor chuckled and Loki turned his full attention back to him.
"Who said we were friends?"
Thor looked upset again. "Well…"
"I don't have friend," Loki stated clearly.
"But you could start now," Thor pointed out.
Loki shook his head. "I'm not supposed to have friends,"
"Why?"
"Friends are pointless," He answered and turned back to the window.
"Not all the time. Friends help you when you're upset or cheer you up. They help you when you're struggling and make things that should be boring more fun,"
Loki wasn't looking at him but Thor could tell he was listening.
"Pointless," He muttered, barely audible.
Thor sat silently watching Loki. Without looking away from the view outside, Loki pushed his tray over to Thor.
After a moment, Thor shrugged and ate Loki's food.
"Why don't you eat?" Thor asked and Loki turned to look at him again.
"I do eat, or I'd be dead," He rolled his eyes.
"I haven't seen you eat anything and I've been here for about seventeen hour,"
Loki ignored him and drank some of his water. After finishing their food, Thor stood up and told Loki he was going to the bathroom and he'd be back soon. Loki grunted in acknowledgement and Thor left the canteen, careful to avoid Taylor.
Instead of going to the bathroom, he went to his room and sat on his bed, glancing at the remains of bed sheets up there briefly.
He crossed his legs and took the sheet out of his pocket then unfolded it.
In the top right hand corner there was a picture of Loki but a few years younger, Thor assumed it was when he first came here at fourteen. He was still skinny but his hair wasn't as long, it was still longer than an average teen boy's but it was more shaggy and only just covered his ears. He had dark circled around his eyes and he wasn't smiling or even looking at the camera, instead he was looking to the right. He was pouting slightly too and looked a little confused.
Thor read the basic information along the left, next to the picture.
Name: Loki Laufeyson
Eye Colour: Teal
Hair Colour: Black
Height: 5"6 (average)
Weight: 7 1/5 stone (underweight)
D.O.B: March 29th 1995
Origin: England, London.
First Language: English.
Date of Administration: March 22nd 2010
Date Set to Leave: Undetermined
Father: James Laufeyson
Mother: Melody Laufeyson (deceased)
Other guardian(s): -
Current Diagnosis: Pyromaniac, Psychotic, Dangerous in some cases. Needs further Diagnosis
Reason for Administration: Attempting to set fire to his school (Jotunheim High School). Said to be because of extensive bullying which was not handled properly by the school system. Pouring petrol on three boys (the bullies: Jack Rodding, Callum James & Andrew Sanders). Pushing head master (Mr Michael Pedicone) down a flight of school stairs, causing him several broken bones and a mild head injury. Witnesses said he was "laughing hysterically the whole time".
Thor's eyes widened. Holy crap! He wasn't sure whether he wanted to keep reading but did anyway.
Assigned Therapist: Dr. Robert Merrick
Treatment: Medication to be dealt out when he gets hysterical and every day therapy (Mon-Fri)
The rest was written in Merrick's elegant scrawl.
Notes From Session:
March 25th 2010- Loki has shown very little signs of cooperation so far and has not said a word since he arrived at the institute. Hasn't shown any signs of understanding what is said to him.
March 26th 2010- Loki is still refusing to speak but on the way to the session I was told he tried to run from the guard when he saw the gates leading off the premises. Still makes no indication of understanding what is being said to him.
March 27th 2010- Loki has started nodding or shaking his head when asked simple questions but still refuses to elaborate.
March 28th 2010- Today as an experiment I had a candle lit in the room during the session. Despite the candle being out of the way in a corner behind me, Loki saw it and watched it intently throughout the session but made no move to get to it.
March 29th 2010- When told it was his birthday, Loki did not react. When asked how he wanted to spend it he said his first words during his time in the institute; "Flaying the skin off your bones one layer at a time." When asked why, he simply replied with; "I want to hear you scream," then refused to speak for the remainder of the session.
March 30th 2010- Loki now answers questions when prompted but still does not elaborate. The lit candle was present again and he spent the session staring at it but, as I said, still spoke although he didn't take his eyes off it.
March 31th 2010- Loki still stared at the lit candle so I tried another idea. I moved it onto my desk for the remaining ten minutes of the session. He continued staring but no changes occurred.
April 1st 2010- The candle was on the desk again, closer to Loki, and the patient wrung his hands together a few times and fidgeted a little more. Whether this was to do with the flame or other aspects are undetermined as Loki refused to answer that question.
April 2nd 2010- Today I took the experiment further. I asked if Loki would like to hold the candle for the last five minutes of the session. Loki nodded and held his hand out. When given the candle he didn't snatch it away from me or do anything dangerous, just held it in front of him and stared at it.
April 3rd 2010- Loki calmly asked if he could hold the candle again for the whole session. I made him wear gloves to prevent the hot wax scolding his hands and allowed him to. He didn't do anything dangerous besides hold it a little too close to his face.
April 4th 2010- Loki, again, asked to hold the candle. I left the gloves on the table before he came in and he picked them up without being asked and put them on, holding his hand out for the candle. The rest of the session he stared at it and ignored all questions until I asked what happened to his mother. At that point Loki became hysterical and jumped across the desk to burn me with the candle. I sustained a minor burn to the cheek before security heard his screaming and came in to pull him off, dropping the candle in a glass of water sat close by. As soon as the flame went out Loki stopped flailing and went limp in the guard's (Taylor Jensen) arms, his screaming stopped instantly too. Taylor gave him a mild sedative for precaution and took him back to his cell. When asked, Taylor told me later that Loki was sleeping peacefully in his arms before he even got to the cell.
That was the end of the page.
Thor heard noises outside including Taylor's voice saying, "Loki, you can't flip out and try killing the doctor every time he bring up… You know,"
Thor scrambled to shove the document under his pillow and lay down, staring at the ceiling.
Taylor opened the room and let Loki in. "Oh, hey Thor," He smiled.
"Hi Taylor," Thor sat up and smiled back as Loki crawled into bed. Apparently Thor had missed dinner and it was now bedtime, Loki was already in his pajamas. Thor stood up and scooped up his own, slipping out to change in the bathroom. When he came back, Taylor let him back in and locked the door behind him. Loki was facing the wall and was, apparently, asleep so Thor got into bed quietly but he couldn't sleep.
Thor stared at Loki's back, thinking about what he'd just read. He had to get the noted for the rest of Loki's sessions. Even if there was three years' worth. He had to.
When Thor thought about it, the scariest thing was that that despite what he'd just read, Thor didn't want to stay away from Loki.
He wanted to be closer to him, wanted to figure out what made him like he is now. Thor had never really had the need to understand people that some others owned; he was usually okay with the "because that's the way it is" answer, never really in to digging deeper. But with Loki it was different. It was special.