Chapter 4: Over the Hills and Far Away
Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction. I do not own any of the characters mentioned in this story, as they all belong to Hiro Mashima. The contents of the story are based entirely on the plots of Mamma Mia! and Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again! with spins and twists of my own, which are still old hat/cliche! Please enjoy anyway!
Loke and Lucy worked in comfortable silence as they cleaned the kitchen together. Sighing, Lucy dried off the last dish and moved to stand beside Loke, who was cleaning the mess he had made on the stovetop. "Thank you for breakfast," she said, smiling lightly at him, "also, uh, do you know the best way to get to all the libraries in the neighborhood?"
Loke looked up at her perturbed, "As in, do I know which one is easiest to get to? What do you mean all the libraries?"
"No, I actually mean like… what's the best route to visit all the libraries? Like are they spaced out over town, or in a district or what? I wanted to visit all of them. Literally." Lucy explained, unphased by his reaction.
Loke stared at her shocked, and upon noticing she wasn't toying with him he started frowning. "Why on earth would you want to do that?"
"I mean, I'm only asking 'cause you live here! I can't imagine that you've stepped in any of them. Forget I asked." Lucy stomped out of the kitchen towards the front door, fists at her side.
"Aww, Lucy, I didn't mean it like that! I'm just saying you don't look like the type to be bonkers for books, 's'all." Loke rushed out, trying to hide his laughter and failing.
Turning around, Lucy had a frown stuck to her face, but seeing his struggle, she stopped feeling offended. He obviously was just a joker and… "I guess it is odd to want to visit 13 libraries in one day, isn't it?"
"A little," he answered, scratching the back of his neck again, "I could, well I could show you all of them?" I don't work until 6 tonight," he mumbled checking his watch, "It's only half past ten now, so we could see a couple.." he trailed off, looking at his feet rather than at Lucy.
"That'd be great! I'd hate to get lost, and this way I can eat at the restaurant again tonight."
"Please don't drink as much beer." He begged, face full or trepidation.
"I promise I won't!" Lucy giggled as she walked towards the front door, "Well ya comin' or not?"
Running up the stairs to the first library, Lucy's smile was bigger than Loke had ever seen. He smiled too, shuffling up the stairs with his hands in his pockets. He followed behind her, as she entered the foyer, spinning and taking in the sights. She looked at the ceiling, "My god, everything in this country is beautiful, isn't it?" She stage-whispered to him.
"I mean, I guess, look at me." He joked quietly, thinking she wouldn't hear it. But she did.
Lucy scoffed, "Well there's the self-confidence I knew had to be in there somewhere." She reached for his hand, and pulled him along behind her as she gazed at all the titles on the selves, art on the walls and busts of men and women, whose stories she yearned to know. Loke followed behind her obediently, not quite knowing what to do with his other hand. It looked awkward in his pocket now.
By the time they had finished with the first library, Loke's hands were both solidly in his pocket and it was already 3 PM. "Well, Lucy, it looks like we may only have time for one more today."
"Oh shoot!" Lucy pouted, "Well, I suppose I could come back tomorrow and the next day." Loke smiled thinking of how she was going to be around for a little while longer, when he realized something.
"Hey, uh, Lucy…" he started, once again scraping the back of his neck trying to will away the awkwardness.
"Yeah?" She prompted, eyes curious.
"Uh, I forgot to tell you, I am leaving the day after tomorrow, so the hotel is going to be closed. I can help you find another place if you need?" he offered, eyes cast to the ground.
"Oh! It's alright. I was planning on heading to Paris the day after tomorrow, so I'll be leaving myself. Where are you headed?"
Looking genuinely surprised, Loke stuttered, "I-I-I was he-heading to P-Paris, too! I promise I'm not stalking you or anything." He frantically waved his hands, "It's for school!" She smiled, nodded and then started babbling about how wonderful the library was while they made their way to library number two.
As they walked, Lucy started to fall silent, comfortable just walking with Loke. She started humming unknowingly, after getting too lost in thought.
"Waterloo?" Loke asked, bemused. "You would listen to ABBA," he commented.
"What is that supposed to mean?" she demanded.
"Well, clearly, you're the happy-go-lucky, popular music loving type girl."
"What does that even mean? And so what! What kind of music do you like then?"
"I like a lot of American bands actually. Led Zepplin, Aerosmith. I also like stuff from here, Pink Floyd. The Beatles. Stuff like that," Loke shrugged, looking around at the square they were walking through. There were lots of stands with food and baubles.
"Your like rock? Mister quiet-as-a-church-mouse? Really?" she asked. They were passing by a stand with a guitar at the time, so he pulled her over to the kiosk. Strumming the guitars, he picked one up that was tuned.
Without saying anything, he began to play "Over the Hills and Far Away" by Led Zepplin switching between picking and strumming and showing off with his hammer-ons. Lucy pulled her lips taut, nodding in surprise and enjoyment, "Wowwwww Loke, I'd've never guessed!" She began pulling him along, the guitar still in his hand. Seeing this, the owner of the kiosk started hollering obscenities at them. Loke runs back, apologizing profusely and asking the man what it cost.
"It's £17," the shop owner quoted.
"Shite. I've only got a fiver. Lucy, do you got anything?"
"I've only got five pounds as well." She responded frowning.
"Eh, I'll take it for the £10 and that Jonny Rotten t-shirt you got on. My son is a huge fan." The shop keeper relented. Smiling, Lucy shook his hand.
"Deal mister!" Lucy stated enthusiastically. With many protests and his face as red as a tomato, Loke pulled off his shirt, bunched it and handed it over to the man, before quickly zipping his leather jacket all the way up to the top.
"Aww," Lucy goaded, "I was looking forward to staring at your chest a little more," she teased, brushing his hair away from his glasses.
"Stop joshing, you." Loke replied, smirking all the same. He happily carried his guitar, the strap slung over his shoulder and its neck in his hand, "honestly, though. Thanks for the five quid. I'll pay you back when we get to the hotel."
"No worries! Just direct me on dinner again, and help me find the train to Paris!" he snorted then smiled nodding, before falling silent again, "let's ditch the second library and just walk around here, okay?" Lucy suggested before moving off her path to the library and strolling up to several stands.
Loke followed behind her for awhile, explaining what things were and telling the occasional joke. Lucy would nod and laugh at the right time, her eyes lighting up every time without fail.
As the towns church bell struck out 5 PM, the two made their way back to the hotel for Loke to change and drop off his new guitar. Lucy grabbed more money, and then the two made their way into the restaurant.
"To Loke, my boy! Thank you for being such a hard worker! We all know you're going to make it far in your education and we wish you the best! To Loke!" Capricorn raised his glass in toast to the young man who was leaving on adventure.
Lucy thrust up her shot glass full of Chivas. "Loo Toke!" She slurred. Throwing it back, just like the three glasses of wine and two full pints prior. The entire staff chuckled at her expense and Loke's panicking. He was trying to clean up her spills, while avoiding her large chest, even though that was where most of the mess resided.
"I guess we can call it a night, my man," Taurus started, then slapped his back, "We really will miss you buddy."
Beaming and tearing up a bit, Loke bid his goodbyes to everyone with lots of sniffles from Cancer, some odd advice from Virgo and a couple threats laced with curses from Aquarius. Giving the group a two-finger salute, Loke carried Lucy home to the hotel. As he laid her down in bed, she yanked on his arm, practically sprawling him on top of her "Loke?"
"Hmm?" he hummed as he tried to readjust himself to beside her rather than above.
"What did you mean you'd have to close the hotel? Aren't your pa-YAWN-rents coming back to take care of it?" she probed, snuggling into his side. He frowned and sat up slowly, trying to think of a good answer, even though he didn't want to explain. Looking back, he noticed her eyes were shut and she was breathing evenly. He sighed to himself, covered her with a blanket from the foot of the bed, and walked out of the room.
