The hallway was packed with people talking low and switching opinions about the case.
The lawyers were the last to leave. Thor remained close to the door and hoped to be able to aboard Loki. But the prosecutor was too busy talking with a blond young woman who held a map full of papers. The Asgardian figured out by her clumsy manners that she was his assistant or intern. Words were switched between Loki and her, in a low tone, so nobody would hear them. They finally departed and Thor decided to walk to Loki only to halt right away. The defendant's lawyer was now whispering something in Loki's ear. The smile Loki gave the clearly upset woman was one of mocking triumph. Thor patiently waited for the two to end their discussion, which took longer than he had hoped. Time was ticking fast. When they finally ended their conversation, the god of thunder walked in Loki's direction but bumped half way against somebody.
"Oh, I'm so sorry." The young blond woman that was co-working with Loki apologized while she bend over to pick up the papers she dropped on the floor during the crash.
"No, I'm the one that should be sorry." Thor immediately excused himself and helped her pick up her stuff. He had been so focused in Loki, that he didn't see the young woman rush in front of him. She gave a grateful smile and then stared at him with a positively impressed look.
"Ehm…Thank you." She said in a shy awkward manner, while she gestured a bit nervously.
"Kim, hurry up!" Thor and the blond girl both turned to the man that had called out. It was Loki and he was staring at the young woman with an urgent look, while he stood next to the door. "We have to go in!"
Thor sighed annoyed for his unsuccessful attempts in approaching his reincarnated sibling. He smiled kindly at the young woman. Kim waved back at him before following Loki into the room. Everybody took their places and the judge opened the verdict session. The defendant was considered guilty of all charges and Thor could read the suppressed triumphant happiness in Loki's shoulders when the words were outspoken. After the sentence was revealed, everybody exited the room in a loud chatter. Thor followed Loki with some distance and watched as some people came to congratulate him with a shake of hands. Afterwards Loki walked to the entrance's stairway to meet his opponent and they engaged in a second conversation.
"Hi! You're still here." Thor looked a bit down to find Kim smiling shyly at him.
"Yeah. Hey, congratulations on the case."
"Thank you." She said with a wide smile, while she placed a strand of blond hair behind her ear. Thor's eyes widened when he suddenly saw Loki approaching them.
"Want to go to Shelly's? Jenkins' paying for the drinks." Loki asked Kim with a happy smile.
"Ehm…I still have to categorize the…" Kim started, but the dark-haired lawyer cut her words.
"God, you're really boring." Loki complained while he shook his head. "We won! And it's Friday."
"I-I don't know…" The young woman hesitated.
"Having the opponent buying us a drink and savoring the taste of victory is also part of your learning process." Loki said in a tone that left no space for discussion. "Come on." He said while he turned and gestured her to follow him. "You can bring your friend along." Kim stared wide-eyed from Loki, who was already descending the flight of stairs to meet the defender lawyer, to Thor. The blond god smiled.
"Why not?"
…
"Losers first." Loki said with an impish tone while he gestured the defender lawyer to step in the bar. She gave him a reprimand look, which only made his victorious smile grow. The woman entered and Kim was right behind her when Loki stopped her.
"This is a bar, not a church." Loki whispered to Kim. Before the young woman had time to react, the raven-haired man unbuttoned her blouse's first two buttons quickly and handily.
"Hey!" Kim protested, shocked by the daring move, and mostly shocked by the discreet velocity he undid them.
"Oh, doe calm down. I'm not going to rape you." Loki's smile transformed in to a mischievous grin when he noticed Kim was controlling herself not to hit him, or something of the kind. She entered the bar while she released a frustrated groan, resulting a soft chuckle from Loki. The lawyer turned his head to his side and it was the first time he actually looked at Thor. Their eyes connected for brief seconds and Loki's wide grin slowly diminished to an almost shy smile. The Asgardian warrior smilingly gestured Loki to enter first, which he did. They headed to the bar's lounge area and sat on the couches.
"I believe we haven't been properly introduced yet." The female lawyer said while she stretched her arm to shake Thor's hand. "I'm Sandra Jenkins. I'm the one who's going to pay your drinks in celebration of Mr. Winter's glorious triumph." She said with a mocking tone, while she gestured at Loki, who already sat comfortably on his couch, loosening his tie and unbuttoning his shirt's top buttons.
"Just call me Loki." He said while he grinned.
"Thor Blake." The Asgadian decided to use his birth name, hoping it would help revive his brother's memories. The alias surname he was used to wear in the past also proved to come in handy, since nobody in this realm seemed to bear only one name.
"So, how long do you two know each other?" Loki asked curiously, pointing from Kim to Thor and back, while Sandra walked to the bar's counter to order the drinks.
"Quite recently, actually." Thor said with a wide contented smile before Kim could say anything, much to her own relieve. Loki's eyes rested on him for a few seconds, darting from up to down, clearly studying the other male closely.
"I'm guessing you're not in the law sector." Loki said, coming from the clothes Thor was wearing.
"You guess correctly. I'm actually an astrophysicist." Kim's mouth gapped and Loki's eyes widened a bit.
"Really? You don't strike me as an astrophysicist." Loki honestly commented. "What's your expertise area?"
"The Einstein-Rosen Bridge theory."
"The what?" Kim asked confused.
"It's a wormhole." Loki quickly clarified. At that moment, Sandra Jenkins arrived with two drinks and placed them in front of the prosecutors' members.
"Never knew you had knowledge on astronomy matters, Mr. Winter." Sandra said.
"There are many things you don't know about me, Mrs. Jenkins." Loki said in a playful manner and she grinned at his words. Thor realized, despite them being opponents, they seemed to be befriended. "To victory!" Loki cheered to Kim, while he lifted his drink and took a sip of it. The blond woman reproduced his gesture and almost chocked.
"Auh! It's strong!" She blurted, sounding truly surprised.
"I told you would have a complete internship with me, did I not?" Loki said in an amused giggle.
"No kidding!"
"And what would our astrophysicist here like to drink?" Sandra Jenkins asked Thor.
"A pint ale will do fine."
…
Thor was truly blissful he could be in the company of Loki again. It was great to see him again, looking healthy and above all, alive. Loki sat relaxed, smiling and giggling easily. It warmed Thor's heart to see him this happy and he had to restrain himself from hugging his brother tightly. The king of Asgard had to keep telling himself this man wasn't truly his sibling. He was his reincarnation. Loki's soul and essence resided in this Midgardian vessel, but the memories of his previous life were lost, or better, dormant. It was his task to restore them, only he didn't really know how. So now, the Asgardian was trying to figure out how to get Loki's attention, since the lawyer was engaged in a never-ending conversation with Sandra Jenkins. Suddenly, somebody called on the defender lawyer's phone and Sandra excused herself to answer it. Thor smiled, hoping this would be his chance, but Loki sat back and picked his own phone. He seemed to be completely immersed in whatever he was doing. Thor watched frustrated as Loki's long fingers touched the screen several times and once in a while a soft giggle would escape his lips.
"Ha! pseudo-intellectual jerk!" Loki suddenly barked amused. Kim blinked a few times and then stared at him with an appalled look.
"Is that?" Kim started. The lawyer laughed harder. "Self-centered egotistical goon! Really?"
"Loki! That's my phone!" Kim yelled infuriated, her face going red from embarrassment.
"Oh sweetheart, you'll have to do much better than that." Loki said with a naughty grin while Kim ripped off the phone from his hand.
"How did you get to my phone in the first place?" Kim asked still bewildered.
"You should try something more like: selfish nerdy conceited full of yourself stooge." Loki said, ignoring his intern's question.
"I hate you!" Kim yelled red from rage and embarrassment while she held her phone protectively against her chest
"Now that's really lame." Loki arrogantly retorted.
"I cannot leave you two children alone for a minute and you're already fighting." Sandra said in a joking manner, meanwhile having returned from her call.
"He had my phone! Can you believe that?" Kim accused.
"You're lucky he didn't get to your keys." Sandra Jenkins said with a knowing look. Kim looked horrified and started searching inside her purse. Thor giggled amused when Loki lifted his hand, displaying a set of keys with a triumphant look.
"Hey, give me those back!" Kim yelled, while she clasped the keys away from Loki's hand. "You bloody thief!"
"You really have to work on your insults." Loki said amused. "Sandra, you should have seen the kind of lame things she writes about me."
"What were you going to do with my keys, anyway?" Kim asked still bewildered.
"I was thinking about keeping them like, for three days, and let you put the whole office and your house upside down until I would, by the mostly improbable chance, find them and return them to you."
"T-That's what happened to George last week!" Kim realized. "You…You are twisted."
"Yep, that's Loki and his crazy pranks." Sandra said while she picked her purse. "Has a brilliant mind, but there's also a child inside of him that refuses to die."
"Are you leaving already?" Loki asked surprised.
"Unlike you, I have a family to go to." Sandra replied. "You guys have fun."
"I'm going too, before he steels anything else from me!" Kim said while she got up. She made the call me sign to Thor.
"He has no phone on him." Loki told Kim.
"And how do you know that?" Kim asked. Thor was staring as equality surprised.
"I've been through his pockets already. No wallet either. I guess our astrophysicist friend here is whether the forgetful type or a minimalist."
"Thor, the moment he starts talking too fast and without thinking, it's your queue to leave. You don't want to imagine the crazy stuff he'll do when he's drunk." Sandra Jenkins warned the Asgardian and Kim gave an almost frightful look at Loki.
"I cannot believe my internship is half a year long and it's been only two weeks." Kim moaned in a dispassionate manner, causing laughter around them.
"Have a good weekend. And Kim… behave yourself." Loki said, while Thor waved goodbye at the women. "Hey love, another whiskey and a pint." The raven-haired lawyer ordered when a waitress passed by, who gave him a flirty look, mere seconds after Sandra and Kim left the bar. "So… Thor, the astrophysicist…got any plans for the night?" The raven-haired lawyer asked with a grin Thor was very familiar with. He smiled widely knowing whatever Loki had in mind, it was filled of good old-fashioned mischief.
…
Thor couldn't remember having this much fun for ages. After the women left, Loki started spreading confusion in the bar. He explained Thor that, due to its location, it were mainly lawyers and solicitors, security guards and business men that frequented the bar. They came here every day after work and Loki knew all their names, jobs and most importantly, their little dirty secrets. How did he know all this? Through his amazing pickpocket skills, which he had been demonstrating to Thor, the last few hours. Loki would "accidentally" bump against his "victim". Between that moment and when he excused himself for his clumsiness, he would pick up the phone, wallet or keys. He would then switch the objects between several customers and enjoyed the state of confusion it provoked when they realized they had the wrong phone, wallet or keys. Thor laughed amused at the innocent pranks, thinking of how this man reminded him of Loki when they were teenagers.
"This one is cheating on his wife!" Loki said sounding scandalized, while he went through the messages of one of his "borrowed" phones.
"You might want to be careful. What if the owner sees you have his phone?" Thor said, aware the alcohol was starting to affect Loki's prudence.
"They all look the same!" Loki said in an amused giggle while he typed something. "Mr. Hunter is about to get hunted by his wife."
"What are you doing?"
"Sending Mrs. Hunter a message from Mr. Hunter that will look like it was sent by mistake, with a content she will understand was not meant to be sent to her."
"You cannot do that!"
"Why not? The guy is cheating on her! It's what he deserves."
"Loki, I admire your sense of justice, but I really think it's time to leave the bar. Let's just pay the bill and get out of here." Thor cautiously said. He knew Loki well enough to sense he had already drank too much to think straight.
"Okay, okay. I'm paying, since you walked in here empty handed… Do you have the habit of doing that? Because you do know it's illegal to walk around without your ID. Imagine if a cop would stop you… Oh well, you probably could easily knock anyone down with all those muscles…How does as astrophysicist get the habit of going to the gym, anyway?" Loki ranted way too fast for his normal self, a clear sign he was indeed quite drunken. Thor guided him to the counter, while he dropped Mr. Hunter's phone somewhere midway.
"Time to go home, Loki." Thor said, while he guided the raven-haired lawyer outside.
"What? The night is still a child! Besides, I'm starving." Loki argued.
"Actually, I could eat something myself." Thor admitted as his stomach started grumbling. He looked at Loki, who was walking slightly unbalanced next to him. He stopped and turned to the Asgardian.
"Here. I drank too much to drive." Loki said while he gave his keys to Thor. "It's that one over there." He pointed at a silver audi.
"Where do you want to go? Its half past eleven already, I doubt anything is open at this time." Thor asked, being reminded of the Midgardian costumes and ways. He opened the driver's door and entered.
"Just follow my directions."