'Cause you can do like you do,
Or you can do like me,
Stay in the cage, or you finally take the key,
Oh Damn! Suddenly you're free to fly
It'll take you to the other side.
~The Other Side~
HARLEY POV
Once they'd arrived at Cherry Creek, it didn't take an overly long amount of time to find a burger king which Harley put down entirely to his Burger Senses claiming it was his super power to find burger restaurants. Once parked up and inside they found a few others sitting at tables, mostly adults, leaving a wide selection of tables for them to choose from.
To be fair, it was getting late so it wasn't exactly prime burger time. Harley was anxious all of a sudden as they approached the counter to order; this was the first time he'd actually taken Loki somewhere around other people. He didn't even brief the guy. What if Loki decided to spontaneously kill somebody? After earlier he wasn't overly sure that the god wouldn't. Of course, there was a promise to spare Harley which was reassuring because, you know, he values his own life. But he doesn't want others dead.
Hesitantly he calmed himself. It was just a burger. There's like three other customers inside. Nothing's going to go wrong.
Unfortunately, in his mind, that statement sounded like an invitation for things to go wrong.
"Hi, welcome to burger king, what can I get you?" The bored voice of the cashier droned, igniting Harley's worries again just as he'd began to supress them.
"Uh- uhm." He stuttered out, mouth suddenly dry. Come on Harley. Just order something. "Chicken Royale meal and single fries on their own?" he asked eventually, given that Loki was quite content to stand aside and let Harley order.
"Sure. Drink?"
"uh… Loki what do you want to drink?" he asked over his shoulder.
"Anything shall suffice. Water would be preferable." The god replied, stood formally with his hands behind his back, nose scrunched up slightly at the grease in the air.
"Water" he repeated to the cashier who nodded and began tapping in the order.
"Anything else?" The cashier asked, at this point Harley had found out his name was Jonathan from the name tag on his jumper. Harley shook his head. "Alright, that'll be $6.78"
"cool" Harley breathed, putting his bank card into the machine and doing his pin, dreading for a moment his card would decline. Thankfully it didn't. He got his receipt and the food and led Loki over to a table.
Success.
Nobody died.
Loki seemed pleased with the burger Harley had chosen for him and began silently eating it whilst Harley anxiously tapped his foot repeatedly against the ground. The fries he was eating tasted like sand if anything, maybe because he wasn't focusing on them to be precise. His mind was clouded with other worries now that the initial adrenaline of parading around the country with a God had worn off.
Now as he sat here in this basically dead, fast food stop, he felt an overwhelming amount of regret form within him. What was he even doing? Running away from home like some idiot? Clearly this was the universe punishing him for his poor decisions in life. What other explanation as there for a maniacal god to fall on his jeep? Along with that he had no idea what was waiting for them in New Mexico, or why a god would even want to go to New Mexico of all places. Gods were supposed to be all about protecting earth in like every religion, but with Harley's streak of luck he couldn't help but think that he'd managed to find the one god who wasn't overly fond of earth.
Loki kind of gave off the whole 'I'm evil' vibe sometimes. Maybe because he throttled Harley earlier.
His foot began tapping more rapidly, fries barely eaten.
"Harley would you please refrain from doing that, it is incredibly annoying." Loki asked eventually.
Harley's foot froze "Sorry."
At that, Loki actually raised an eyebrow of suspicion "Are you quite alright? Your usual… charismatic personality seems to have drowned slightly. You are being abnormally quiet. Not that I am complaining."
The spotlight was entirely on him. He didn't like it. The weight of the day was pressing on him. "I-.. um—I need to go to the bathroom!" he blurted out and stood up abruptly, racing over to where the bathroom door was and pushing through without sparing the god a second glance, feeling a confused stare on his back.
Once inside the men's room he began pacing frantically. What was he supposed to do? Loki was a god and had already caught Harley during one escape- escape? Harley was seriously considering escaping again?
His mind reeled in two different directions. Did he really want to escape? Yes of course he did, Loki was a lunatic who was probably going to get Harley killed! He'd already threatened his life twice, promise or no promise Loki is a god, what would he even care about breaking a promise with a friggen mortal?
But… escaping implied he was being forced to take Loki to New Mexico. Which he was… right? So, he was perfectly justified in plotting an escape. Because Loki hadn't really clarified that Harley wasn't his hostage.
He paused his pacing in front of the mirror, taking in his reflection. It was an image of exhaustion. His spidery hair was the picture of stress, sticking up oddly where he'd bawled his fists into his hair in frustration. It was becoming slightly matted, suggesting his need for a shower soon. And his complexion was paler than usual, bags growing under his eyes. He was tired.
Well, he's been driving a psycho across South Dakota all day of course he was friggen tired.
With a sigh he ran his hand through his hair and thought on what to do. Then an idea formed in his mind. He was in the middle of burger king. He wasn't alone anymore. It wasn't just him and Loki. That was to his advantage. Loki couldn't terrorise him completely because that would get the attention of others. He could escape right now.
Harley, in approval to the decision crept out the bathroom door and into the corridor that had a fire exit, the door back into the restaurant, and the bathroom doors to each respectful gender. The fire exit was a good call, that way he wouldn't have to pass Loki.
Quickly he pushed towards it, highly convinced this was the right call. He could get out without Loki noticing for at least another minute, jump in his jeep, call the police, the drive as far away as possible. It was a fault proof plan.
Except…
Did he really want to do that?
Harley's hand rested on the fire exit, having not pushed it open yet. Puzzled he glanced over his shoulder at the door that led to the restaurant. Was this a correct course of action? Loki was a lunatic, that much was obvious. But maybe he wasn't as psychotic as Harley was portraying him to be. Maybe he was just misunderstood. And desperate.
Desperate.
That was a thought.
Was it possible that Loki was not actually as bad as he made himself out to be? Was it purely desperation that had made him threaten Harleys life? After all, he hadn't killed Harley. In fact, after they'd fixed the car and hit the road the conversation with Loki… had been tolerable compared to when they first met. Loki had even helped him through a panic attack and fixed his glasses. Granted, he had been a catalyst to both of those things, but he fixed it. Sort of. The panic attack… confused Harley. Loki didn't need to help Harley through it, but he did, which begged the question of why he'd done so. That burned at the front of his mind now. Loki didn't seem like the character to be sympathetic to things like panic attacks.
Nevertheless, it was still ridiculous to even be thinking that staying within Loki's company would be safe for him. But Harley had always been a little bit ridiculous.
He thought back to Loki explaining briefly that he'd had a fight with his family which made him 'bypass fury onto Harley'. It was easy to connect the dots that family issues played a heavy part in why Loki came to be here. Whether that theory was right… he wouldn't know unless told. For now, it seemed the most possible explanation. And since Loki was a prince… that's gotta be a pretty dramatic family dispute.
Harley couldn't exactly be totally angry at the god without sounding like a hypocrite. He'd also done some rash actions after falling out with his own family. Which maybe makes him and Loki more alike than either of them thought. So… maybe Loki wasn't some big evil villain with a serious hatred of Nik-Naks.
Maybe. Just maybe. Loki was just as lost as Harley right now.
Harley sighed, shoulders dropping in defeat as he turned and walked back over to the door that led to the main room, pausing to glance through the glass window on the door, Loki visible on the other side of the restaurant unsurely poking at Harley's phone that he'd left on the table. After a moment of poking Loki threw it back down to the table and sneered at it.
A smirk crept onto his face and he dipped his head down. Desperation... yeah. A god alone on earth, clearly having no knowledge of earths customs, of course he was desperate. The guy really did need Harley. Well... that was a pretentious thought. But it was slightly true. Loki had absolutely no idea about earths cultures or how things worked. Maybe they hadn't gotten off to a great start… but… he'd be an idiot to leave a god sitting in a burger king booth.
Curse his self-sacrificing attitude.
So, with a determined rearrangement of his glasses, he pushed back through into the restaurant and strolled over to the table, sniggering upon realising what Loki was so frustrated about with his phone.
"What do you mean you're sorry you do not understand. You are the one who began conversing with me, robot, now answer me why you are directing me to a page about apples. I do not require apples." Loki snapped at his phone.
A single eyebrow was quirked upwards from Harley "Are you… arguing with my phone?"
"This device is hardly effective it if will simply ignore your demands" Loki snarled, pointing his nose away from the phone in spite.
Harley carefully picked up his phone and inspected the screen "You do realise you're just talking to Siri right? It's something programmed into the phone to help you find things."
"It is highly useless then considering it failed humiliatingly on helping me be rid of it." Loki said, casting the phone a hateful glance. "it is broken. It kept trying to direct me to apples. I do not want apples."
Harley laughed at the man "Oh my god…. Ok, listen, its directing you to apples because the company that produces these phones is called Apple. So, it's directing you to their website. Get it?"
Loki digested the information then his scowl deepened "Why does this race have a strange affiliation with food to the point where they must continuously name organisations after it? Is it not confusing and misleading to you?"
Harley shrugged "because food is amazing?" he offered, for once actually realising that, yeah, they did call a lot of companies after foods. "I dunno… anyway why were you on my phone? You must have been on it to get Siri's attention."
Loki's face soured considerably at the accusation "Well, it is of your belonging, but it began playing one of your awful Midgardian songs that I have heard you continuously play and I was receiving some irritated glances because of its volume so I picked it up to obliterate it and somehow shut off the sound and summoned this… Siri."
"Sounds traumatising" Harley smiled, plopping another chip into his mouth. "I promise never to leave you to the mercy of my phone again."
"are you mocking me?"
"never"
"hm."
"Wait hang on- if it was playing music then I was getting a call" he murmured, unlocking his phone and finding his way to his missed calls, freezing when he saw that it was a missed call from his mom. "My mom called me?" he said out loud, staring unsurely down at the phone. With an awkward laugh he hastily pocketed his phone "Shouldn't call her back. Its rude to use the phone at the table anyway." He murmured an excuse.
"That didn't seem to be a problem earlier."
"we were in a car earlier." He shot back defensively, stuffing more chips into his mouth. Loki had finished his burger. "Right. If I ask you a question, will you promise you won't… obliterate me? I mean we're in public so even if you do decide to obliterate me at least six people are going to see you do it, therefore you're going to get the police called on you, then you'll be in trouble on this planet for obliterating me and refusing to come quietly because I know damn well you wouldn't go quietly because it's you and- you're sort of arrogant and self-absorbed because you're a god so you think your better than us earthlings- I'm making this considerably worse, sorry I get rambly when I'm nervous and well it's not you… ok it is you, you're staring at me weirdly and it's only making me ramble more because now I'm scared and regretting even bringing this up-"
"Harley" Loki cut him off, raising a hand to put his rambling to an end. Harley clamped his mouth together thankfully. "Please, stop the atrocity of words that are departing from your mouth. What is that you wish to ask me?"
"Promise you won't obliterate me?"
Loki's lips twitched slightly "As you have very described in very lengthy sentences, it would not be entirely sensible to obliterate you in public. Along with this we still have our accord against me causing you harm. Ask away."
"M'kay." He said and went silent for a few seconds longer than was usually acceptable, mulling his question around in his mind. "Why are you on earth?" he asked eventually. "I mean, not that I don't love your company, I just… why? Did something happen up in god-land? Are you in trouble? Are you running or something? You started dodging the question earlier… I'm just worried, you know, if I'm going to get caught in some kind of crossfire. Like, you said a family dispute costed you your position in uh… godland. So… are you just banished or something?"
Loki stiffened notably, eyes going blank projecting a very firm stoic mask, but Harley studied it hard, noticing how Loki suddenly had crossed his legs, intertwined his fingers on the table then become stock still, lips tightening ever so slightly.
"You are apprehensive of your safety in my company?"
"Well- I mean…yes." he managed to get out, rocking from side to side on his chair, failing to keep eye contact with Loki any longer and resorting to concentrating on eating more of his chips.
"I have already assured you of your safety." Loki stated, defensive demeanour remaining.
"You said you wouldn't hurt me." Harley corrected, giving the god a pointed glance "there is a difference. Also, you totally just dodged the question again."
Loki sighed heavily "I believe it is my business how I came to be here, not yours."
"It is if I get killed because of it."
Something shot through Loki's eyes that looked remarkably like wonder, along with him cocking his head slightly. "You truly believe I bring such a threat to your existence, however worthless it is?"
"I mean you've threatened to end my existence twice today." Harley pointed out, rocking more and more.
"Are you going to continuously bring that up in conversation?" Loki asked in irritation. "I already apologised for doing so."
"oh yeah, I'm soooo gonna be milking that. I think you owe me that." Harley snorted.
"I owe you nothing."
Instinctively Harley backed down a little, noticing how the rain had picked up again outside, pattering against the glass window they were seated next to. It was dark out. Impossible to see further than the street lamps allowed. Making him feel like he was still alone with Loki despite being within a public area.
"Right" Harley drawled, trying not to be disheartened by Lok's continuous sour attitude. "So… family then? Same, man. Mine kicked me out yesterday as well. Isn't that just a weird coincidence of fate that you landed on my car?"
"I never said that I was forced out of Asgard by those I resided with." Loki said carefully. His words made Harley frown a little, sensing that part of Loki's barrier had come down slightly there. "I simply said a quarrel with them costed my position on Asgard."
"What was the argument about?" Harley asked curiously, shrinking at the glare he got in return "right. Got it. Personal. Sorry. I'm bad at boundaries." He said awkwardly, rubbing his neck to satisfy an itch that wouldn't leave. "well… I'm not saying it's inappropriate… but nevertheless I do feel like I should say something because strictly speaking I should have asked this when we first got in the car… why are we going to New Mexico?"
"I must retrieve something" Loki stated then briefly looked confused, going back on himself after shaking his head "There is business there I must see too. Do not fear, you shan't be involved in it, you are merely my means of getting there."
"Care to share?"
"Not particularly."
"You know how nuts it is for me to blindly be taking you to New Mexico right?"
The tension in Loki was draining some, but he still seemed defensive about the topic. The statement was considered by Loki for a lengthy amount of time, in which Harley's rocking on his chair grew more and more.
"There are countless other potential allies to choose from in this universe and yet I find myself sitting in this below satisfactory establishment with you. A simple-minded mortal with a bundle of issues. I'll admit this would not be the desired course of action and to some extent is mildly humiliating on my behalf, but it is what I have at my disposal and I intend to continue travelling with you even if it is as you described, nuts. Therefore, you may rest assured that the feeling is mutual."
Harley bristled "So why not go find some other person to take you to New Mexico if I'm so awful?"
Loki sighed "I have my reasons."
"you know your vagueness is becoming an annoying trend." Harley shot back, glaring a little, then suddenly a bright grin broke on his face "wait did you just call me a-"
CRASH
Harley found himself tumbling onto the ground with the chair after rocking it too vigorously in one direction, forcing a yelp from his throat that cut off his sentence. A short groan followed and he hurried back onto his feet, rubbing his head from the impact. "Ally- did you just call me an ally?
Loki looked torn between smirking and scowling making an odd twist of his features on his face "Unfortunately."
"Hey!"
"because of your clumsiness you just injured yourself, I think I am justified in having doubts."
.
Once they'd finished, they'd respectfully departed and headed back towards the car, Harley nibbling on his lower lip anxiously. The sidewalk they were on was dimly lit by the streetlamps and a cool breeze ruffled his hair, making strands tickle the back of his neck and remind him that he really needed a haircut. It was raining, but it wasn't hitting them. Loki had briefly explained that some spell was stopping it from reaching them. However, that wasn't his largest concern.
Despite knowing how much money he had, he stopped at an ATM cash point to check his bank allowance, frowning when it read '$39'.
"so… we have… a problem." Harley began awkwardly, unsure of how to explain this.
"Yes?"
"I have no money. So… I can't… actually afford for us to go to a motel. Meaning we need to camp in my car." Harley stated, peering back at the god carefully.
Loki stared at him unimpressed "you expect me to rest in that vehicle we have been cramped in all day long?"
"Sorry. Unless you have a hidden wad of cash then… we're sleeping in the car. I can't exactly help that I'm poor, you know. Just because you're a prince- in fact, I don't see why you're making me pay for all of this! It's your trip that I'm still not sure whether your forcing me on- so- so you should fund it not me." he argued, tiredly, honestly thinking that even his jeep sounded like a good place to sleep at this point.
For a second, he was very certain Loki was going to obliterate him for saying such things, but then Loki grimaced "I see. I apologise I had not thought about how costly this would be for you. You are correct, I should fund this trip however I'm afraid most of my funds are in Asgard like most of my belongings. My departure wasn't exactly planned." He explained, clearly working out what to do.
"Great. Car it is then." He mumbled, making to leave but stopping when Loki didn't follow and he'd walked out of the magic shield bubble into the rain, yelping and jumping back in.
"You receive money from this machine?" Loki asked, pointing to the ATM.
"Yeh, but it all depends on how much is in my bank. I can't take out any more than I own." He informed the other, rocking back on forth on his heels.
Loki hummed, approaching it "Perhaps I can help with that. Is the money stored within this?"
"um- yeah." He said, furrowing his eyebrows slightly, not getting at where the god was going.
"Alright." Loki said then placed a hand on the ATM, eyes closing for a moment then a spark of green energy flowed from his hand into the machine and a flurry of sparks shot from it, a loud crack snapping through the air along with a dance of smoke that began to rise. Then, it quite literally began to rain money as paper dollars began shooting from the ATM onto the ground.
Harley gaped in astonishment, frozen in place in utter shock. Had- Loki-Just-Done-That. Had he really just done that. For a long moment, he just stood watching the ATM shoot out money. Then his senses kicked in.
"What are you doing?!" He shrieked, hands weaving themselves through his hair. Boy, he was going to be grey haired by the end of this trip. "You can't just- oh my god. You- no. that's – that's a crime Loki! Are you insane?"
Loki shrugged like it meant nothing "I have acquired the money for this trip, in doing so making you a great deal richer. Now, take it and let us find an inn to stay at."
Harley gawked now, hands gesturing wildly between the ATM and the money as if that was going to explain his point any better "you- you can't just- there are camera's inside that thing! Now the cops are going to be onto us! Idiot! We can't stay here now- we're fugitives of the law- oh my god I'm a criminal. Oh my god I'm gonna go to jail." He frantically began pacing, trying not to step on the money, breathing rapid now. What if somebody sees-
In horror he glanced about, trying to scan every corner of the currently vacant street. Thankfully nobody was around. That didn't mean nobody couldn't come along... and see a hurricane of paper notes flying from the ATM machine.
"Harley, calm yourself." Loki said with a smug little grin. "I assumed there would be some degree of surveillance and ensured to check for it. Don't worry, I blocked it with a simple clouding spell. They have no way of identifying us as the culprits here."
"US? This was entirely you- they have audio sounds as well-"
"-and I masked that as well. This is a tiresome argument. Just take the money as a gesture of my goodwill and come." Loki said again.
Harley smacked his palms to his forehead, now torn completely. "goodwill?! This is a crime- we can't just- take this!"
Loki smirked then "if you do not, I will take some and get myself a room at an inn whilst you take to sleeping inside your jeep. Likewise, if you refrain from taking it now I'm sure some poor beggar will likely come along tomorrow and take the majority of it that hasn't been damaged by the rain. It is in our best interest to take it, I heard your conversation with this good friend of yours Chips and you mentioned not having the funds to get to New Mexico. Therefore, it's necessary that we take this."
"That doesn't make it not a crime!" Harley growled "there's got to be like $5000 here- it's literally still coming from the machine! What are we even supposed to do with that much money? I can't- I didn't sign up to be your partner in crime, ok?"
"You signed up to lend me your services"
"this isn't a service I provide." Harley growled back.
Loki quipped an eyebrow up in amusement then with an enigmatic smirk "And what, pray tell, services do you provide?" he asked, shoulders rolled back further.
Harley felt his face flush slightly, trying to supress the countless dirty thoughts that just gushed through his mind. "I'm driving you to New Mexico and buying you junk." He got out with a glare "but I don't rob banks with you."
Loki rolled his eyes "Alright, if I take the money then it is I who commits the crime. As long as you never come into contact with the money then it is not a crime committed by you and you can only be persecuted for with-holding information. To which, you reply that I forced you to do so, if we get caught, which is unlikely. Does that sound agreeable with you?"
Harley considered it "… so you take the money… I guess that's technically… I mean… I'm still aiding and abiding… and… it's still a misprision of felony which is illegal but technically I can pull the hostage card- I swear if this gets me in jail I will kill you." he eventually spat out, folding his arms and glaring hard at the ground.
"Wonderful, now pick up the money and let's go."
"I'm not your servant. Besides, you said that you were going to take it. I can't have my finger prints all over it" He replied cockily, wiggling his fingers in front of his face to exaggerate his point. "Besides, how am I supposed to pick up that much money anyway? Did you even think about that? where is it all gonna go, huh?"
Loki scowled then outstretched his hands a faint green glow emitting from it, then the money began dancing along the ground and stacking itself up neatly besides his feet. Once a hefty stack was created he bent over and summoned a bag that looked remarkably like an old medical bag, but it had a symbol on it that stuck out with beautiful gold and green engravings. The money was placed in the bag.
"Thief" Harley stated, eying Loki disapprovingly.
Loki cracked a toothy smile "God." He amended
Harley winced "Are you done committing felonies now?"
Loki shot him a glance, straightening up again and adjusting his t-shirt. "Quite."
.
Their next stop was a motel, and according to his phone maps there were only a few in this place. The closest one was Cherry Motel. They pulled up outside and stepped out of the jeep, Harley giving the establishment a sceptical analysis. It was… almost inspired by every classic trope about motels in movies that had ever been done. The tropes don't lie. It looked exactly like the type of place filled with hookers, pimps, drug dealings and addicts. There was an external wooden stair that lead to a second floor, a second row of doors, that looked like the health inspector was either bribed to pass it or drunk on the job. Probably the latter.
A large, tacky, pink, neon glowing sign read 'Cherry Motel' with a picture of a girl winking underneath it. Well, this is just great.
"Are you sure the jeep isn't a better place to sleep?" Harley asked nervously, flinching as they walked to the main reception and passed a room that had the sound of an enraged man screaming something behind the door.
"Oh, come now Harley, this place is not intolerable." Loki replied sarcastically. "But that being said, you humans seem to have issues with sanitary conditions…" he muttered
They went to the reception where a very old looking man smoking a cigar told them that it was too late so they should have booked ahead, then almost engaged in an argument with Loki, and finally gave them a key to the 'last room' in the place. Loki had paid by taking cash from of the mysterious bag that somehow fit the ridiculous sum of money they'd taken from the ATM machine. Let's just say the old man was more than curious about how much money they had on them.
Harley couldn't help but feel a little like Walter White and Jesse Pinkman from Breaking Bad. Of course no drugs had been involved in getting this money...but it was still stolen money. And a lot of it.
But, Walter was at least mildly polite to people... and Loki had not been very polite at all to the motel owner...
"Do Gods always introduce themselves by being an asshole?" Harley asked sarcastically.
"I don't think I was being such a thing." Loki retorted smoothly, following Harley who boldly led the way up the stairs towards their designated room.
"You told him that he was deaths head upon a mop stick and his motel was full of bedswevers." Harley reminded the god "You Shakespearean weirdo. It's lucky he looked too stupid to understand what that word means, otherwise we probably wouldn't be getting a room right now."
"It's a wonder you understand what it means." Loki mumbled.
"I took Shakespeare in GCSE." Harley shrugged "not that you know who that is."
"You are correct, I do not." Loki confirmed as they reached their room.
217. Well that's just great. Not only is this place possibly packed with murders, they've also managed to get a room number that has creepy associations. At least this wasn't the actual Stanley Hotel in Colorado. Huffing, he shoved in the key and turned the lock, pushing into the room and being hit by an unmistakable waft of Glade Shanty Air-Freshener. It was such a potent chemical smell he actually scrunched up his nose to avoid coughing or sneezing.
The room itself was dark and uninviting it took several flicks of the light switch to get even a faint bit of light, blue and green wallpaper crawled up the walls and peeled in areas close to the ceiling. What was most noticeable, and most heart breaking, was that there was a single, double bed in the centre of the room, with an ill made patched quilt thrown over it.
Harley scrunched up his nose "I want out." he decided, turning to Loki pleadingly "I don't like it. We're definitely going to die here. I don't want to die in a place that has a chemical smell strong enough to mask the scent of decay for like three years."
"it has a bed." Loki shrugged optimistically, but still looked apprehensive as well. "That is more than you can argue about that vehicle of yours."
"yes, well my jeep isn't covered in suspicious stains that could be one of two things; blood or- something worse." He hissed, crossing his arms stubbornly and refusing to enter the room any further, door still wide open. "Could you please just put up with the jeep for one night?!" he begged.
"I am a prince. I will not be sleeping in the vehicle when we have this place at our disposal. I can easily clean the sheets on the bed with some simple spells. I believe there is a washroom in that room over there and after sitting beside you for hours on end I can safely argue that bathing would not be against your favour currently."
Harley sniffed "I do not smell." He lied, knowing full well he had been smelling a little funky for a few hours now. "you smell."
Loki shot him an exasperated glance, already walking towards the bed and beginning to do that 'cleaning spell' he spoke off. "Perhaps you should utilise the resources we have and stop your mewling. It's becoming rather bothersome."
"Since when did you become a voice of reason?" Harley retorted "shouldn't it be you sticking your nose up at this place? Why have the tables suddenly turned?"
Loki stopped his spell and pinched the brim of his nose "because, you fool, I understand that we must stay here for tonight. By Valhalla- these are your lands but I am not foolish enough to consider sleeping so vulnerably in your car whilst in an inhabited town. Especially considering the foul humans residing within this establishment, they prove as an example as to who could be lurking the streets at night."
"Loki, I don't want to." He finally let his voice break a little "this is- there are probably murderers here! Somebody probably died in this room- I don't know- I just get the heeby jeebies here."
"What makes you think that I do not fall under that category?" Loki replied slyly, a wry smirk resting on his lips.
Harley gaped unsurely, eyes widening and taking a very firm step back "I- uh- um- you- uh- you aren't, are you?"
For a moment Loki remained silent, then chuckled light-heartedly "I apologise. It was a mere jest, stop fretting."
"This is why I think you're an asshole" Harley scowled, kicking the ground slightly and watching a cloud of dust poof up from it. A yell from behind him followed by a smash of a bottle made him yelp and fling the door shut. Somebody outside on the lower level was definitely having a bad night. Harley shot Loki a know-it-all look. "Murderers." He repeated, back firmly pressed against the door.
All he got then was a simple roll of the eyes in return, the go apparently going back to his spell. Harley crossed his arms and gingerly went forward into the room, inspecting it further. There really only was one bed. That man had done this entirely on purpose, he was sure of it. It wasn't all too bad, there was a tattered sofa as well against the wall. Great.
Moodily he stomped towards the bathroom and shut the door behind him, not allowing himself to even think about how awful the bathrooms condition was. That definitely wasn't slime oozing off the walls or anything. This place wasn't completely disgusting or haunted. Totally.
He didn't shower.
He was too tired.
Instead he slipped into some plain blue pyjamas he'd pulled out from his backpack. OK, they weren't plain. Of course, there was a Doctor Who reference on it. It was just a Tardis on the top with the words 'Allonzi' underneath. He always had had a soft spot for the tenth doctor. At least these clothes didn't smell awful like his other one was starting to. In his defence he'd been wearing it for two whole days.
His eyes lingered on the toilet for a second after he'd changed. Was that… duct tape? There was literally duct tape holding on the toilet seat. It didn't' even have a lid. At least Harley didn't have to pee currently.
He spent a good, long while mulling over whether the sink was safe to use, but to his surprise it seemed relatively clean, except for the building layer of dust on it. Furthering this surprise, the water actually worked. So, to aid his hygiene he brushed his teeth and splashed some water over his face.
"Right Harley. This isn't crazy at all." He murmured, staring at himself in the mirror for the second time that day and still wondering why he hadn't bolted at burger king. "You're a badass, and you're gonna spend the night in this god-damn place, pick up your life tomorrow and get some friggen straight answers." He continued, pumping himself up with a firm glare at his reflection. "Ok- ok- ok. You got this. You got this." He turned and flung open the bathroom door with a determined stance which faltered when he realised the room was empty. "L-Loki?" he asked the air cautiously, stepping into the room.
His shoulders tensed considerably and a shiver ran up his spin. He was alone in the room. About 100 negative thoughts shot through his mind in one quick spur. He was gonna die. He's alone in a haunted motel. He's alone in a haunted motel filled with murderers. Holy shit had he been imagining Loki? Had he gone crazy?
A small whine shook his throat as he unsurely continued to stare around the small room as if he was missing a corner where Loki was stood. There wasn't a secret corner he'd missed where Loki was stood. He was alone. For the first time that day he wished the god was still with him.
Alright, rational thoughts activate please?
It was possible Harley had imagined Loki. He wouldn't put that past himself at this point with how shit everything was going. But, if he hadn't then… had Loki abandoned him? Was that his master plan here? To get Harley somewhere like this then ditch him? It wasn't impossible to consider since Loki had no belongings to leave in the room and signify he was coming back, except the bag of money which had mysteriously disappeared after they got it. That made a spark of anger jolt through him. WHAT an absolute asshole.
NO- okay. Maybe Loki hadn't ditched him. The guy said that Harley was he way of getting to New Mexico, right? So, he wouldn't just abandon Harley. Unless… well, they were in a motel full of people, what if Loki had grown tired of Harley's annoying talks and found somebody else? WHAT IF LOKI STOLE HIS CAR?
Harley frantically searched for his keys and with a sigh of relief realised they were stuffed inside his wallet as usual. Idiot.
So... Loki could have hitched a ride with somebody else. Or, he went to get some ice or something… HOW WOULD LOKI KNOW WHERE THE ICE IS HES A GOD DAMN GOD? WHY WOULD HE EVEN NEED ICE.
Harley growled and marched over to the front door, clearly going through some kind of moment of stupidity because as soon as he got out into the cool night air and slammed the door shut behind him, then logic took over and with a quick jolt he turned back around, beginning to push against the door and battle the handle.
"Fuck- no- fuck- come on- dammit-" he spat, jiggling the handle more and more. He'd left the key inside. Idiot. Idiot. Idiot. Absolute idiot. Not only had he left the key inside, he'd left his belongings, which included his phone. At least he had his car keys and his wallet? "FUCK" he banged his head against the door in defeat.
Alright, whatever. Sure. That happened.
Harley reluctantly lifted his gaze away from the chipped wooden door and gazed across the motel area, hoping to catch sight of the ridiculously well fitted green top that the god wore, or the stupidly raven black hair. He didn't.
Gulping, he began padding across the metal flooring with his bare feet, reminding him that he was now out in the open, smack bang in the middle of a dodgy motel, dressed entirely in his pyjamas. Great. Just great. Way'da'go Harlz.
"Should have left at burger king, should have left at burger king." He muttered repeatedly, feet beginning to freeze now as he descended the stairs and entered the rain, having no more cover from the overhanging roof until he ran under the sheltered bit that harboured the vending machines and an ice container. Well, there's the ice. There wasn't a Loki here though. There wasn't a lunatic of a god who apparently can't leave Harley's sight anymore otherwise he'll spontaneously disappear.
With a shiver, this time probably more due to the cold, he scrubbed his eyes tiredly and approached the vending machine. Well, if anything he was going to get a god-damn chocolate bar. Don't ask him why. He just fucking is. This day is horrible. And he wants a chocolate bar. Because right now, that's the only attractive thing in this place.
Thankfully he had some loose change in his wallet which he'd hung onto in his moment of determination to find the god. Like it was the most important decision of his life, he scanned the available chocolate selection, rubbing his chin in thought. Hershey's and Cadbury's were too much like comfort food after a breakup. Twix indicates your sharing with somebody. There was a specific mood for Butterfinger's which wasn't his current mood. M&M's were all out. He wasn't exactly angry enough for a snickers.
Eventually he settled on Reece's, jamming in the numbers and inserting the change, mouth-watering as the wires rolled, bringing the chocolate closer and closer and then – It caught. For a moment Harley didn't realise the Reece's had caught on the wire, continuing to stare expectantly. But when it sunk in…
"OH, COME ON" he yelled, squishing his face against the glass of the vending machine " ARE YOU KIDDING ME?" He continued, palm smacking the space besides his head which sent a tiny vibration through the machine, not enough to make it fall. Another frustrated screech came from him. "COULD THIS GET ANY WORSE-"
BANg
Harley shot away from the vending machine with a startle, eyes flying to where a large, hairy hand had smacked against the side of the machine which had in fact sent the Reece's chocolate free, the orange wrapper untangling itself from the wire and falling to the bottom ready for collection. The hand connected to a man significantly taller than Harley. A man that was RATHER drunk, breath hot and heavy as he grinned down at Harley with a set of yellow, crooked teeth.
"Having a little trouble there four eyes?" The man asked, a deep growl in the back of his throat as he spoke.
The hairs on Harleys neck pricked and on instinct he punched his glasses up. "uh- um- yeah- I- yeah, thank you." he stammered out, falling to the ground and grabbing the chocolate from the vending machine, rising to quickly and disorientating himself so that his head hit the glass of the vending machine on his way up "Ow" he hissed, free hand rubbing the sore spot.
"Y'aright? Screaming bloody murder" The man slurred
Harley squirmed slightly "I'm fine"
"Seem a bit tense there, four eyes. Having a hard day? Need some help with that?" The incredibly shady guy offered, puffing his chest out a little and leaning against the vending machine confidently.
"What does that even mean-" He began asking but quickly shut that sentence down "No- NO I'm good. I'll Just be- yeah" he shoved a finger over his shoulder to signal his departure, taking a few steps back with his heart hammering in his chest.
"Gotta name?"
"Do you?" Harley shot back sarcastically, clamping his mouth shut instantly with regret. Don't sass the possible murderer.
To his surprise, the man chuckled darkly. "Damien. Call me Damien. You ain't from round here are you? to pretty to be one of the fuckwits from these parts. You gonna tell me your name pretty boy?"
"Not really. I like sticking to the stranger danger rule." He blurted out, wincing at the irony of that. Technically... Loki was still under the stranger danger category.
"I asked what yer god damn name was" Damien growled, hand hitting the machine again.
Harley flinched slightly "Harley!" he bit out quickly.
Damien relaxed the second the name rolled from Harley's tongue. "Harley? Aint that a chick's name? ya aint a chick are ya?"
"Isn't Damien a name associated with the devil?" Harley snapped back, folding his arms and hating how Damien's grin only grew wider at his words.
The man leaned forward a little, breath brushing against Harley's face making him scrunch his nose up. "Only if you want it to be."
Harley's eyes flew wide and he laughed awkwardly, stumbling back and out into the rain, not caring if his pyjamas were going to soak at this point. Why is this happening to him? Seriously? Are there any good gods up there that want to throw Harley some kind of bone because this is fucking ridiculous.
He continued laughing strangely for a few seconds "I'm gonna- go. Bye. Devil dude." He got out, turning to go but being stopped by a firm hand on his shoulder spinning him back around so he was facing a very large leather coated chest.
"What room are ya stayin in? want some company?"
"not really"
"What room" Damen persisted, alcohol radiating from him at this point. A dangerous glare in his eyes.
"Please leave me-"
"Harley." A familiar voice rang through the air. He whipped his head around and saw Loki stood a few feet away, also getting drenched in the rain now, giving him a strange stare as if trying to work out the situation. He had never been so thankful in his life.
"Loki!" he exclaimed in relief, highly unsure of what to do right now since Damien still had a pretty firm grip on his shoulder. In the end he settled for sending Loki a pleading glance.
'The hells this?" Damien drawled, staring at Loki in all his drenched godly glory. "This your boyfriend or something?"
"Unhand him." Loki told Damien in a curt tone.
"he's not my boyfriend-"
"If you wish to keep both of your hands, you will unhand him" Loki bargained, staring Damien down quite threateningly. It made Harley shiver, there was something very deadly in his eyes, some cold, dangerous glint in them that in the end made him appear more intimidating that Damien. And Damien was probably far muscular than Loki.
After a tense silence, Damien withdrew his hand from Harley, glaring the whole time at Loki then turning to leave "see you around pretty boy."
Harley swallowed thickly, hands shaking a little. "I think I just had a minor heart attack" he admitted, but when he looked at Loki again the god was already walking towards the stairs leading back to their room. Flailing slightly, he ran to catch up "wait- where have you been!" he demanded, previous anger flooding back into him.
"I could ask the same about you." Loki shot back.
Harley scoffed "I've been looking for you- don't ever do that again! EVER. You scared the holy hell out of me." he told Loki as they reached their room.
"Are you giving commands to me now?" Loki asked, bemused.
"YES" He screeched, arms flapping wildly by his sides like a crazed chicken, then he furrowed his eyebrows "wait- no. maybe?"
Loki shook his head a little and gestured to the door "Let's retire for the night."
"oh- right. Um. You know how I'm an idiot? Well- I sorta locked myself out as well… so you wouldn't happen to have a key, would you?" he asked hopefully.
Loki gave him a deadpanned expression "Could you not have simply waited in the room?" he asked, then casted a spell which made the lock click open granting them access to the bedroom again.
"Could you have at least told me you were going to magically disappear for a good fifteen minutes?" Harley snapped back grouchily, stomping back into the room with folded arms "where did you go? Don't doge the fucking question again or I swear I'm gonna loose it! You don't just leave me alone in a place like this- did you see that guy who was talking to me? If you hadn't shown up-"he drew in a shaky breath and then exhaled "My point is I thought you left or something."
Loki cocked his head, scanning Harley's face with interest "You thought I had abandoned you here?"
"Yes. Genius." Harley jeered.
"I have been trying to request another room since ours has only one bed but the unpleasant man owning this monstrosity of an establishment refused to have my audience again." Loki explained in a dull tone, his lip twitching upwards suggesting that he found something about this amusing which irked Harley further. "You are aware that you wouldn't have been in that position with such a man had you remained put in here?"
Harley scoffed in disbelief "oh right yeah- sorry. My fault I almost got molested."
Loki frowned a little then "I wasn't implying-"
"whatever" Harley cut him off, flopping onto the bed "Just don't do that again."
A moment of silence ticked by, then Loki nodded "alright." He promptly turned and shut himself away in the bathroom after that.
Harley refrained from pointing out that Loki had just left him in the room alone again, but he knew this time it would be petty if anything. The guy was probably changing. Speaking of which, Harley's pyjamas were drenched and a little muddy. So much for being slightly clean. Another shiver went through him.
Could this day just end already.
Or his life.
Unfortunately, even though he was determined to believe Loki was the one who got Harley in the situating with the devil dude downstairs, he had got him out of it. And yeah… if Harley had stayed in the room and not acted like a scared impulsive kid then he wouldn't have even met Damien.
As his irritation withered and he lay on the uncomfortable bed, it occurred to him that Loki had gone to request another bed… meaning to some extent maybe the god actually did care about Harley's comfort levels. Or, he just didn't want to share a bed.
Harley is still supporting his hypothesis that Loki isn't a bad guy. Just because Loki had threatened him that didn't make him a bad guy. After all he had apologised… pretty crappily but it beat Kyles apology any day. but they weren't friends. Well... frienemies maybe? Acquaintances? More like both. Fracquatemies. Yep. That made sense. Still, he had no idea who Loki was. Who he really was. So actually, they were strangers.
This is a prime example of how Harley keeps directing his life into chaos.
He didn't know anything about this person he was sharing a motel bedroom with except they were from another realm, capable of magic, and known for trickery. None of that is very reassuring. He was alone in a motel room with a stranger. Great.
Brilliant, just brilliant Harlz, you're really picking your life up again.
His mind promptly recalled his little freak out earlier, and how Loki had helped him through it. Why? it was odd, and Loki was definitely Bipolar. That was confirmed. One minute the guy wants to kill him and the next he's helping him through a panic attack or saving him from possible motel rapists.
When Loki emerged from the bathroom, his apparel had changed into more comfortable bed clothing, which was weird since the guy had entered the bathroom with nothing in hand. Did Loki even have a bag? Not from his Knowledge. Oh well. Magic!
He'd safely reached the conclusion Loki was pretty much a sorcerer. He was essentially a harry Potter character without a wand. It was as much as he hated to say, fricken awesome.
Loki stood by the side of the bed with folded arms, patiently waiting. Despite how pissed off he was with the god, an innocent smile blossomed on his lips. He could definitely play this game.
"must I ask for you to move?" Loki asked with a tired tone.
"I mean, you can ask." He shrugged, sprawling out further on the bed to prove his current upper-hand.
"Move" Loki ordered with a tad more force, indicating he wouldn't be asking again.
"or wha-OOFH" he hit the hard and dirty carpet with a loud thud. He scrambled back onto his feet with a deep scowl at Loki who was settling down onto the bed with a smug smirk. The asshole pushed him.
"Why do you get the bed!" he exclaimed with a pout.
"I am a god."
"Stop using that as your excuse for everything!"
Loki smirked then in amusement "Alright, I am the one who went through the efforts of cleaning the bed, therefore have earnt my right to claim it."
Harley opened his mouth to argue that he'd been the one driving all day, but found he was too exhausted now to argue, so settled for "you're an asshole." And began marching over to the couch and collapsing on it whilst trying very hard to ignore the dark chuckle from behind him.
Stupid god.
When he reached the couch, he realised he still had the Reeces from earlier in his hand so he dumped it on the floor, finding the chocolate didn't seem to appealing anymore after what he went through to get it. That, and he had brushed his teeth. The sound of sheets rustling and the mattress springs squeaking indicated that Loki had gotten into the bed.
As soon as silence hit again his mind burned with the question.
Gathering courage, he shot Loki a glance with a deep breath, finding Loki settling back onto the bed still looking smug.
With a pout he coaxed himself into asking the question.
Just do it
What if he decides to blow his head off?
Stop bullshitting
But he is a GOD. Sorta.
Fuck me- fuck me- okay just do it. DO IT.
"HEYwhy did you helpmebackatthecar" he blurted out so fast that all of his words jumbled into one another.
Loki did his signature look; one eyebrow was risen "I'm afraid I didn't quite catch that."
Instinctively he began nibbling his lower lip but stopped himself so he could speak more fluently. "why uh… why did you help me back at the car when I like, you know, freaked out."
Please don't get angry. Please don't kill me.
"because you are the only one here who is capable of operating the car. If I did not interfere then our journey would be delayed. I would rather reach New Mexico sooner than later, if it's all the same with you." Loki replied smoothly.
"oh..." he scratched his chin in thought. "so how did you know what to do?"
Loki halted, for once the guy seemed like he was caught off guard or contemplating something. "I am familiar with the experiences of mild panic disorders"
Harley blinked in shock. "sucks right?" Loki just nodded slowly. "can I ask you another question?"
"from my short time spent with you I assume you will ask regardless of my answer."
He snorted in amusement "probably. I'll take that as a yes. If I take you to New Mexico… I'm not going to get screwed over or anything am i?" he asked carefully he managed to remain calm.
Loki didn't quite understand "I believe in our accord I promised not to harm you."
"Yeah but… I'm not going to get hurt or die or anything right? Earlier I just didn't want you to strangle me anymore. Now…" he trailed off. Now it all feels a little more real. "you won't tell me what we're going for. I'll respect that. As long as you promise it won't get me killed. Or make me lose any limbs… I kind of like my arms they're my most redeeming quality. Apart from my nose I have a decent nose I guess." He felt the nervous babbles brewing in him.
Loki's eyes sobered a little at this " I assure you, no harm will come to you from me. As already stated in our accord." He repeated simply which made Harley grimace a little. None the less, he rose from the couch and plodded back over to the bed.
"pinkie promise?" he held out his pinkie and watched Loki's confusion grow as the man's eyebrows knotted together. He sighed "just link our pinkies together and promise you won't hurt me…it'll make me feel a whole lot better." He urged then became impatient at Loki's uncertainty. "just do it."
Loki hesitantly linked their pinkies together "I promise you, Harley Brookes, that I shall not harm you on the duration of this journey… why must we interlock fingers for this promise? Is there some unspoken salience to it?"
"When you make a pinkie promise with somebody, you can't ever break that promise... it's just more reassuring for me." he explained briefly.
"There is no magic involved?"
"nope"
"we simply have to lock fingers?"
"yup."
"… how fatuous, and unavailing." Loki finally concluded after a moment of reflecting over the gesture. Harley snorted. "never the less, rest assured of your safety."
"aaaand can you promise to never ditch me in a creepy motel?"
Loki unlinked their fingers.
"Figured." He mumbled and flung himself back on the couch, draping one arm over his eyes. "Well, just so you know I will completely kick your ass if you do it again."
Loki shifted on the bed "Your threats make me cower in fear" he retorted sarcastically.
"Oh- look at me. I'm Loki. I can do sarcasm now." Harley mocked back at Loki.
"Careful with your words, human." Loki said acidly.
"Careful with your words, human." Harley parroted then snorted at his Loki impression. "Right. I still have like a million and one questions about who you are and where you came from and why the fuck we are even going to New Mexico…even if you flat out refuse to answer any of them. but for now, I'm too tired to care. So, goodnight Princey. Hit the lights, would you?"
"it would be far simpler if you did. If I were to get up and turn the lights off you would with no doubt, take the position on the bed. Not that it would matter, Asgaurdians have strength far superior to humans. Removing you would be no trouble."
" I would not take the bed! Well… maybe I would but still, you've made it pretty clear you'd be able to take it back. If anything, I'm now flattered you won't turn of the lights because I'm a threat to your bed."
Loki sighed "Listen, if you wish to turn the lights of I suggest you get up and do so."
"you're closer!"
"you're being problematic."
"because you're being difficult"
"well I refuse to get up and execute your request."
"Fine!"
"Fine"
"Good."
Three seconds went by.
Click.
The lights shut off. Harley squinted through the darkness and twisted his head to search out Loki, finding his form still comfortably laid on the bed. In confusion he momentarily wondered how the lights had been turned off. Then it hit him.
"Wait- why the hell didn't you just do that in the first place?"
"because I would rather not waste my limited energy source on such idle tasks that could have been accomplished in a more sensible manner had you not been so indolent about it."
"You- you've literally been using magic all day- you robbed a ATM machine with magic, stacked the money with magic, cleaned the sheets-protected yourself from the rain- do you want me to go on? because I can."
"They were necessary."
"You didn't need to rob a bank."
"We would currently be sleeping in your nanoscopic vehicle had I not."
"It's not my Jeeps fault that you're all gangly and giant like."
"Would you like for me to turn the lights back on?"
"Shut up."
"I don't take orders from humans."
"I don't believe in gods."
"Well, then perhaps if you have turned the lights off yourself we would not be having this argument."
"oh, like you were so eager to get up and do it yourself."
"insufferable human."
"Martian Man."
"I am not a-"
"WHATEVER"
.
LOKI POV
Darkness.
A common theme in his life it appeared.
Though here he was floating through an eerie abyss of space.
No… no he wasn't. that wasn't right. He was… on the Sanctuary. Yes, that seemed right. Not quite darkness, not quite light either though. A combination of striking, dangerous, colours that the galaxy bore, smudged red lines racing across the black canvas along with dotted glowing blue stars in the distance. The sanctuary was an asteroid field that went on for miles. Inhabited by the Chitari.
Hang on… no that makes little sense. He was just on Midguard.
Pain jolted through his body making him convulse to get away, finding his limbs tied down.
"How the mighty have fallen, young, abandoned Prince. A Prince of what, may I ask? For I have heard of your story, and it is pathetic. Join me, and I can make you rise greater than ever before. You will know of fortune and power like no other. What say you?" A voice boomed in his right ear. Yet he couldn't see the source, it was all suddenly… blurry.
His head pounded trying to string together information.
"-nEver." His voice said without permission, damaged and broken.
The unknown being besides him chuckled darkly. "The Order has never failed me. I will have your allegiance. They say a Frostgaints weakness is fire, shall we see just how true that may be?"
Then pain. Burning, undeniable pain in his chest.
.
"oki- Lo- Loki! LOKI!" another voice screamed desperately, as something clamped his shoulders and shook him violently. "Loki wake up!"
With a startle his eyes flew open, the darkness being replaced instantly by the lit room of the foul motel, and two worried brown eyes gleaming down at him from above and completely taking over his vision. It took him a moment to work out his throat was raw from yelling, and skin slick with sweat.
A dream?
"oh my god- thank god." Harley exclaimed with a breathy chuckle of relief, pulling away from Loki and collapsing on his back at the end of the bed. "Are you ok? Are you dying again? Please tell me you aren't dying."
The burning ache in his chest made him question whether it actually had been a dream. For he had never experiences any dream quite so realistic that it had physically affected him. But it had been Thor to damage his chest during their fight, had it not?
"I-" he began the coughed a little to clear his throat, tentatively pulling himself up into a sitting position on the bed. "No." he final said quietly, still trying to rationalise his thoughts. "I am not."
Harley shot him a suspicious glance "Right… That was one bad nightmare you were having." He said and Loki didn't say anything in return, mind reeling with several different emotions. "Do you want to talk about it?"
"No."
"But… it looked pretty bad-"
"I'm not discussing this. I had thought you wouldn't care given our catastrophic relationship." Loki snapped.
"I'm just trying to be nice." Harley frowned, pulling himself up into a cross-legged sitting position on the mattress.
Loki glared at him, without realising rubbing his chest where it still ached. "I told you no."
Harley shot is arms in the air in defeat "alright!" he exclaimed, pouting slightly.
A second passed
Two seconds.
"Is it to do with your chest?"
"Mor- Human." He growled, sending the boy a warning look.
"What?! Is it really such a bad thing that I'm concerned that the person I'm travelling across the country with started screaming bloody murder and having what looked like a seizure in the middle of the night!" Harley snapped, irritation bleeding onto his features.
"Is it really any of your business?" Loki countered.
Harley opened his mouth furiously to argue, but them closed it again and glared hard at Loki. "No. It's not." He agreed, jumping off the bed and standing with his back to Loki for a few moments, arms folded.
Loki let out a sigh of relief, allowing himself to rub his face tiredly to chase away the inconvenient reaction his body was having to the dream; something he refused to call fear making his nerves stand on edge. Though he'd rather not think it so, there was a part of him knowing that the dream had been too familiar, too real for it to have been simply a dream.
Was it possible part of his mind had a number of supressed memories?
After all, he had been confused as to why he was so adamant on going to New Mexico with little reason to when there was a whole universe out there now open to him. There was such thing as dream syncing… dream materialization…even dream inducement, but this felt nothing like the sort. It was real and horrid. And the ache on his chest proved him correct. Thor had placed Mjolnir on his chest but surely it wouldn't have inflicted a great amount of damage that it continue hurting to this very day.
The voice in his dream he knew quite well somehow. It was recognisable, but he couldn't place a face or name to it. How Loki hated not knowing.
After another minute of heavy contemplation, he settled on the dream being as the mortal described 'a nightmare', despite his senses screaming at him that it was otherwise. It was touching that the human had woken him… but they had argued so much this day that Loki perhaps was a little harsh on the boy.
"Did I wake you?" he asked stiffly.
Harley turned back around, blinking in surprise. "Well-" Harley shuffled awkwardly on the spot "You weren't exactly being quiet. But no- don't worry. I was already awake anyway."
Loki nodded, managing to stabilise his irrational nerves over… a dream. "I did not mean to disturb you. I assure you this is not a usual occurrence for me."
The humans eyes softened "don't worry about it." He brushed off easily, then bent over and picked something up from the ground, pattering back over to sit on the bed, holding an orange wrapper of sorts with the words 'Reeses buttercups' written on it. "Can… we totally just start over?"
Loki blinked for a moment "You wish to start over?"
"well… we didn't exactly start off on the right foot so…" The human trailed off and sucked in a breath, the stuck his hand out in Loki's direction "Hi, I'm Harley Brookes, 19 years old and completely human. Nice to meet you."
Ah, that was the humans game.
Loki, slightly bemused, reached out a shook the hand "A pleasure to make your acquaintance. I'm Loki of Asgaurd. Approximately 1048 years old."
Harley seemed satisfied and shyly grinned, dipping his head slightly "So… when I have nightmares usually a secret stash of chocolate helps. want some?" he asked, opening up the identified object, chocolate, offering Loki one of the two chocolate pieces within the packaging. "It would also start of what I can sense is going to be a beautiful friendship?"
Loki stared at it, then at the human. "My thanks." He eventually said and took the chocolate, waiting for Harley to begin eating before biting into his own. It was… a particular taste. Loki chewed for a moment before humming his satisfaction over it.
"Helps, right?" Harley smiled.
"Once again this race uses food for almost everything." Loki muttered in response.
"Stop judging us" Harley snorted back, stuffing the remainder of his chocolate into his mouth. "We just like food ok? Nothing wrong with that. Besides, you liked it."
"indeed."
"I can still sense you judging us from the other side of the bed and its honestly uncalled for."
"Why are you on my bed?"
He saw the human's cheeks tint pink "It's technically not your bed. You're just sleeping in it. The jerk who owns this place technically owns the bed. So technically I'm sitting on his bed. Technically speaking." He said, then cleared his throat awkwardly.
"Would you care to remove yourself?" Loki continued, an eyebrow raised expectantly. "it is late after all."
"Right. Sorry. Thought we were having a chocolate bonding moment."
"You evidently thought wrong."
"of course." Harley picked himself up and strode over to the light switch, shooting Loki a grin "if you really think about it. We were having a chocolate bonding moment and that's important because we didn't actually end on an argument."
"Would you like to ruin that by continuing this conversation?"
"Oh- shut your face moody pants. I'm just saying, not everything between us has to end in a fight."
"if you say so."
Harley continued smiling and flicked the lights off, stumbling his way across the room to the couch where he hit his leg more than once and blurted out a series of human curses.
Once Harley reached the couch he laid himself down on it unceremoniously, the springs in it protesting and the wooden legs creaking. Then a large yawn came from the boy. "Night Martian."
"That's not what I am and you know full well."
"Ok. Night Loki, Prince of Asgard, God of something, bane of my existence." The boy mumbled back, voice muffled slightly from his mouth being pressed against the cushions on the couch.
"God of Mischief." Loki corrected, not being able to fully stifle the smile that tugged at his lips. Oh well, it was dark in the room.
"That."
"Until tomorrow, human."
"Harley." Another tired mumble.
"Until tomorrow...Harley"
A.N
what a pair of tired, grumpy boys. I have too much fun making them bicker xD I promise they might start to get along better next chapter. probably. maybe. we'll see.
Anyway, thank you for the lovely reviews! it means a lot to me!
So, will Loki and Harley survive the whole night in the motel? will Damien return? what did the dream mean? is Harley... actually going to take Loki to New Mexico? Will they stop fucking bickering like an old married couple?!