Chapter 9
Mabel needed not worry, while the waiting area had started to fill as they had waited, it seemed, even with their reservation, they had beat the rush. In no time at all they had been seated with drink orders taken, and left to look over the menu at their leisure. It was around then that Veronica seemed to have found her voice again.
"It's so nice that you were able to join us after all, um, I'm sorry I don't think we caught your name earlier." she smiled sweetly as Loki as she attempted to make small talk. "I'm Veronica, by the way, and this is Ethan, and you've already met everyone else."
"Pleasure." he smiled, pleasantly. Loki had been watching the woman who now spoke since his initial arrival. He'd been watching all of the company in fact, and so far they had all been pretty easily read. Mabel and Frank, two older individuals who seemed to care deeply for each other and for the most part seemed to be exceptionally hospitable to almost anyone they encountered. Veronica, she'd been rather easy to figure out too. He could already tell she was a sharp one and if he'd had to make a bet on it, that she might have actually been enjoyable company, if Maeve wasn't around. However he wasn't sure yet if it was solely due to Maeve's presence or if it was the fact that both women were in the presence of the one now known as Ethan. Speaking of, he'd kept mostly to himself since Loki's arrival; there were moments of long and rather direct glances, borderline stares, as though he were trying to get his own read of Loki, but he'd yet to say anything, directly or indirectly to him. All of this only served to make him more curious. There was obviously a history here, specifically between these three, and for his own amusement really, he was quite determined to figure out just what that might have been.
"My name is Loki. Loki Friggason." out of the corner of his eye he saw the slightest of head movement from Maeve, even as she still poured over her menu, her ears clearly peaking with interest at his choice of name.
"'Loki'?" Veronica sputtered slightly, almost making a mess of her glass of water as she had just taken a sip when he had answered. "Your name is 'Loki'?"
"Yes. Is that a problem?"
"Oh! No! No, no. It just, I just wasn't expecting, I'm sorry, it's simply an unusual name, is all." She was doing a terrible job at keeping any sort of poker face, try as she might to choke back her giggles. It also wasn't lost on Loki the quick, unconscious dart her eyes had done towards Maeve when she had been attempting to collect herself, a smirk of sorts making its way onto her face.
"Yes I suppose it would be, if you're not too familiar with literature and mythos." he offered in a simple but bland enough tone that could easily be interpreted as annoyance.
"It's 'unusual' for where we're from, I'm sure is what Veronica meant to say, isn't that right dear?" Mabel spoke up now, in a tone that Loki had heard before. It was one mothers used when correcting behavior they found annoying while in the presence of others. The younger woman had the wherewithal to at least look somewhat sheepish at being called out on her behavior, choosing to nod in agreement as she took another sip from her drink. "I think it's a lovely name. I think it shows the type of thought and consideration your parents put into it; it wouldn't be rude to assume they were fond of Norse mythology, right?"
"Not at all." Loki smiled warmly at the older woman.
"I thought as much." Mabel smiled looking quite pleased with herself. "I love reading old stories like those, they're always quite interesting and amusing. Obviously you know that Maeve studied such things, we used to talk about them from time to time when she first came into the store."
"Yes, well it is one of the many things I found interesting about her."
There was no corner of the menu that she hadn't read at least twice. There was no point in disappearing behind it any longer, now that Mabel had called her out quite soundly, in an attempt to pull her into the conversation. Plus she'd already made her choice some time ago, though she was hoping the waiter would have returned by now, it seemed that particular proverbial life preserver was nowhere in sight.
"Yes well, she did seem to be deeply invested in a lot of those 'stories'. One might almost call it an obsession." Veronica chimed in, pointedly ignoring Maeve, her gaze fixed on Loki.
"I'd have to agree, her dedication to her work is admirable. However I am more than happy that she agreed to come on this trip, a break, no matter how small, is still good from time to time." he smiled now turning to her, moving his hand to rest on the one in her lap, giving it a squeeze and winning a faint quizzical look from her. What game are you playing? Whatever plans he had, his eyes didn't even reveal them as he turned back to face Veronica. "I must admit, I'm surprised you're familiar with her work, I never would have guessed from your reaction earlier."
"Oh, no, well I wouldn't say I'm 'familiar'," she began again, fumbling her words slightly until she found her footing. "We, the three of us, went to the same university. It was a small campus, so it was hard not to bump into one another, if you know what I mean. A friend of my roommate had similar classes with her, so I heard about it." her sentence trailed a little towards the end, winning a small smirk from Maeve as she tried to dress what she knew was a pretty lame lie.
"Besides, with my degree path, I didn't have time to dedicate to fairytales and the like."
"Every myth has a kernel of truth in it." Maeve interjected before taking a sip of her drink, earning a small scowl from Veronica in the process.
"You all went to school together?" The tone in Loki's voice had Maeve's attention again. He was up to something, her instinct was warning her of as much. He was sniffing around for something, and she didn't care much for it. "Odd how you never mentioned it."
"She never mentioned any of us?" it was there for the briefest of seconds but Maeve saw it, and she was able to start piecing together exactly what he was after, when she watched his gaze turn to Ethan at his question.
"Well," he began, reaching for his glass. "I remember her mentioning Mr. and Mrs. Cooper, and the names of a few others, but I think tonight is the first I've ever heard either of yours." Loki grinned, taking a sip of his drink. Maeve watched as Ethan's eyes narrowed slightly, his gaze tracking slowly from Loki to her.
"Must have slipped my mind." she offered with a shrug, as she too reached for her glass of water.
"I suppose that makes sense. We hadn't heard of you either, until the other night." Ethan offered up, turning his attention back to Loki.
"Oh, I'm not surprised at all. She's a bit more on the private side when it comes to personal things."
"So when did you get in town?"
"Some time ago was it? Time has a way of flying here. When did your generator go?"
"You were here when the generator went?" Frank raised an eyebrow.
"He'd just shown up, not too long before that." Maeve interjected now. Why? She wasn't exactly sure, but she didn't care too much for the questions surrounding Loki's arrival.
"Really? I don't remember seeing you there."
"You were outside, it's not that hard to miss someone when you don't come inside."
"I was inside-"
"For like two minutes, to find Chris." Maeve cut him off, still a little annoyed at the memory of him having just barged into her house and looking around, thankful even more so now that she had stopped him from going into the guest bedroom.
As much as he had been enjoying watching Maeve and Ethan dance around each other, Loki hadn't stopped paying attention to the others at the table. Mabel and Frank weren't of much interest, the date Veronica, however, was. It had been very subtle, had he not been watching for anything he would have certainly missed it, but there it was, a look of annoyance and bristling at Ethan mentioning that he had been inside of Maeve's house. Oh it couldn't be all that simple, could it?
"It must have been pretty boring," Veronica chimed in, a thin edge to her voice as she played with her glass before taking a quick sip. "Just sitting out in that house by yourself while Maeve was out. Seems like a perfectly missed opportunity, to show you around, instead of going out and getting drunk on the town."
Her bait couldn't have been anymore obvious, and before Loki could interject, Maeve piped up.
"His visit was unexpected, and I had already made plans." she stated simply, placing her menu down, and squarely locking eyes with Veronica, a simple smile on her face. Loki noticed the change in her demeanor as well. It was subtle, but he had witnessed something similar with her before; an odd sense of calm. No need to worry. If it's not the most dangerous thing in the room.
"Still seems a bit rude to leave a guest at home." Loki watched as Veronica tried to adopt the same sort of calm poise as Maeve, and failed. "Almost as rude as dancing all over other men while said guest is left at home."
"Veronica." Mabel's tone was back again, terse and motherly, politely but clearly showing that the young woman had, in her opinion, crossed a line.
"What?" she turned to Mabel, adopting a simpering tone and an air of unknowing innocence. "It's true, while Ethan and I were out we saw her all over some guy on the dance floor. I just think it's rude to go and have a night out like that, while you have company left at home to fend for themselves."
Loki's chuckle was what cut through the tension, earning quizzical looks from everyone at the table.
"I suppose you would be right, if that 'guy' hadn't been me." There was a general look of confusion that made its way around the table, but the look that would stay with Maeve's brain would keep in its back pocket for a rainy day, was the look of complete bewilderment across Veronica's face.
"As she said, Maeve had plans with her friend. I'm an adult and can entertain myself, so I went exploring a bit and we just happened to bump into each other. And anyways, even if she chose to dance with someone, I'm not too worried, relationships are built on trust after all, she can dance with whomever she wants to."
It was Mabel, clearing her throat, who seemed to be the one to snap Veronica out of her state, having the wherewithal to look embarrassed as she offered up a pitiful attempt at an apology.
"I'm sorry- I just-"
"No worries. It was an honest mistake, I'm sure you meant nothing by it." with both Loki and Maeve fixing her in a similarly calm stare, she seemed to wither slightly, pulling within herself a bit, and refusing to acknowledge Maeve.
Thankfully, for Maeve, the waiter came then, having been politely waved down by Frank. Taking their orders and menus, refilling drinks and leaving behind a basket of fresh rolls and butter for everyone. The interruption allowed Frank to steer the conversation in a different direction and for the most part the rest of the dinner went without much of an incident. After a little desert and the check came, Mabel excused herself to the bathroom before they left. The two younger couples stepped outside so as not to add to the crowd in the lobby, leaving Frank to wait for Mabel.
Once out in the air, Maeve took a deep breath of the crisp night air, pulling the shawl a little tighter around her shoulders as a small chill ran through her.
"Cold?" she glanced over to Loki, who seemed to be watching her with those sharp eyes of his.
"Only a little."
"I suppose it's a good thing I brought you that surprise then?"
"I would have managed. I wasn't exactly planning on being outside for very long if I'm honest." she shot back, falling easily into their familiar little back and forth, this weird game they played. "Though, out of the surprises tonight, one was certainly a little more welcome than the other."
"Oh really?" an eyebrow arched on Loki's face. "Careful, say it too loudly and your admirer might swoop in on the chance to steal you away from me."
Maeve's gaze cut from him to the other couple in question, having chosen the opposite side of the restaurant entrance, just a few feet away. "One," she began with a snort and a smirk. "They're not close enough to hear us, and two, you'd have a better chance of mixing oil and water."
"I don't know, I'm sure if offered the chance, he'd take it. What do you say? Maybe we should ask him." Loki watched as she studied him for a moment, narrowing her eyes as did.
"I know what you're up to. Drop it. Now."
"Oh, giving orders now are we?" The grin and light dancing in his eyes showed he was far more amused with her bluntness than bothered by it.
"It's water under the bridge and I'd like it to stay that way."
"Doesn't look like it really is though, based on how dear Veronica was acting." Loki pushed back once more, meeting her gaze. After a beat he simply shrugged, before stepping closer to her, leaning near her ear, his voice low and only for her. "Don't worry, I don't care for sharing anyway." He planted a kiss on her temple, before titling her chin up and placing a sweet simple one on her lips. When he pulled back he saw her eyes slowly drift open, however her eyebrow was already quirked in a questioning sort of way, which only led to him chuckling once more.
"I mean it Loki. Let it go."
"I don't think I'm the one who needs reminding." he taunted again, subtly nodding his head in the opposite direction. She didn't even need to turn around, Maeve already knew. That extra sense of hers could already feel it; the underlying anger, or resentment, she wasn't sure which there was more of, but they were both there, and it was pouring off of Ethan like a fractured dam.
Just then, Frank and Mabel stepped out into the crisp night air. Turning to Maeve, Frank gave a quick nod with a friendly smile. "Ready to go?"
"Yes." she offered back. It was her turn to surprise Loki as Maeve linked her arm through his, giving him a gentle tug as they started making their way down the street.
"Loki, are you familiar at all with tonight's play?" Mabel turned to glance up at him, clearly the thought had just occurred to ask.
"I can't say that I am."
"It's 'Sweeney Todd'." Maeve adjusted her shawl as she walked alongside him. "I think you'll like it."
"Oh really?" an eyebrow raised, he cast a curious glance at her. "How so?"
"Intrigue. Revenge. Murder." she counted one after the other on her fingers before meeting his gaze with that familiar look she had when taunting him. "Seems right up your alley."
"You don't say." her antics winning a chuckle from him. "Sounds like things are about to get messy."
"Oh, oh my." a look of slight concern crossed her features. "I hope you're not squeamish. It's stage blood of course, but I know some people it still doesn't sit well with."
"I grew up seeing a lot of historical plays, stage blood is nothing for me, I assure you."
"Oh thank goodness." he watched as the older woman relaxed a bit, meanwhile Maeve gave him a sort of knowing look. 'Plays', right. While she was sure that there was some kernel of truth in what he had said, she was far more certain that the amount of actual bloodshed he had witnessed far outweighed the cornstarchy mess that would soon cover the theater stage.
"If you enjoy histories, then you should come back in the spring." Frank offered. "The theater has a whole program for Shakespear's plays that they put on every spring. While it's mostly geared towards the schools in the area, the weekends are great for catching a nice performance and some dinner, would make for a lovely evening outing for sure."
"I'll be sure to keep that in mind." Loki stole a quick glance at Maeve to see how she was handling the commentary. The fact of the matter was, as far as Maeve was concerned, none of this meant anything. Let them talk of the future, that didn't make it real. Of course Frank and Mabel would continue to invite him to things down the road, they wanted to get to know the man she was with. They would all share the evening together and then they'd return home. Eventually, Loki would leave, he had no reason to stay. No "real" one, anyway. He had his map, he could go at any time, the fact that he continued to stay around seemed to only prove that he liked to meddle in things, which would only be expected from someone with the moniker of 'God of Mischief'. He'd have his fun and then he'd go, and Maeve would be alone again. That's just how things were. For Maeve, he could promise her the moon if he wanted to tonight, and she wouldn't care. Tonight was about her, was for her, just as she had promised herself when she was packing. She was determined to enjoy herself, enjoy this weekend, and then return home. To what or whom? That didn't matter. This time, right now, is all that mattered; she'd deal with the future when it came, but for right now, she was going to enjoy this time for herself and no one else.
Pretty soon they found themselves at the theater. Their tickets were checked and their seats weren't hard to find. Frank and Mabel positioned themselves between the two younger couples, a seemingly unspoken understanding of them attempting to do their own part in giving Maeve and her "date" some space. Eventually things began to settle, a hush came over the room as the lights started to dim. A final call came for all cellphones to be silenced, the music began to swell as the chorus took to the stage, crying in earnest as they shared the story of the fated characters and the path they were about to take down the road of revenge. And the world around her began to fade as Maeve found herself lost in the play. Initially.
It was a packed house. Packed with both people and all of their emotion. At first it was fine, everyone for the most part was riding similar waves of emotions, the actors were fantastic, causing the audience to feel exactly what they wanted and when.
Maeve hadn't allowed herself to change since the night she went after Payton. There had been so much else happening, and on top of that, just about everyone had been combing the woods for any sort of sign of whatever it had been that Gwen had thought she'd seen. Some had assumed bear or maybe a rabid dog, but she'd insisted it was bigger, much bigger. Maeve's body had asked for the change, but also, in its own way, her additional sense had known it wasn't a great idea. Could she have gotten away from anyone she'd possibly come across? Of course. But that would mean the searches would continue, and then eventually others would come. Laying low was the best option. The downside however, was that now the sounds and calls of those around her would be louder. Their desires and wants, their raw deep true emotions sang out louder and louder the longer she put it off. And now she sat in a packed theater, in the middle of a small city, and the longer the play went on the louder everything else around her seemed to become.
She wasn't a fool. She had expected some of this when she'd forged ahead with her initial plan. Afterall her whole life had been dealing with this, suppressing the urge to change, to seek a sense of justice on her own terms, to simply be without having others emotions affect how she went about her own life. She had expected to feel that slight pressure at the edge of her consciousness, the push of the desires of others. That was normal. What she felt now, that was not normal. Her head felt like it was in a press, and with every passing moment it was being steadily cranked tighter and tighter. Usually in situations like this the distraction of the play would have been enough.
Maeve shifted in her seat, before closing her eyes briefly and taking a slow breath. Trying, in that moment, to push back and shut herself off from what she was feeling. She didn't care that a couple four rows down on her right had gotten into an argument on their way here and both were still pretty testy with one another. Nor did she care about the parent in the balcony who was currently unable to enjoy their first night out in how long because they were worried about their child at home. Taking a second slow breath, she pushed back again, against all of it, pushing it out, quieting things down.
"What is it?" his voice at her ear had not been what she'd expected, her slight start evidence of that. Maeve turned to look at Loki, studying him for a moment before shaking her head.
"Nothing."
"You're lying." his accusation came after studying her for a moment. She went to answer only to hear a sharp shush come from right behind them. Turning to spot the man who had decided it was his place to chide them even though they're voices had been nigh imperceptible, Maeve fixed him with a look that made him wither in his seat before turning around.
"I'm fine." she adjusted herself in her seat and turned her eyes back to the stage. Silly as it may have seemed to someone else, Maeve was still determined to enjoy herself. She wanted, needed this weekend. With everything that had happened… just one weekend to go right…
Intermission.
It was a blessing and a curse.
Maeve had excused herself at first chance, leaving the others behind and making her way into one of the bathrooms, taking refuge in a stall. The thick door of the bathroom blocked out most of the sound from the lobby, leaving only the faint hum of the fluorescent lights above.
Taking a deep breath, she released it slowly, counting in her head. She could do this. She could. She knew she could. Maeve could feel the sense and the urge under her skin; it was restless, it wanted out again, not necessarily to seek justice or retribution, it simply wanted out. Just to be out, to stretch and not be confined, but they both knew that couldn't happen. Not now, not in the city.
As she stood there in the stall, gathering herself, a chirp from her phone caught her attention. Digging it out of her clutch she found a message from Hank.
Just checking in. Hope you're well. - Hank
Hank.
"How do you manage? When it feels like too much?"
He'd been the first person she'd felt even remotely comfortable with opening up about everything. Outside of her family, he was the one who knew the most, and even though he knew he hadn't been given all of it, he still did his best to help.
"This is a part of you. There will always be parts of ourselves we may not like; feet are maybe too big, teeth not perfectly straight, nose is too small, ears are quite large. But, it doesn't change that they are a part of us. I'm not saying you have to make yourself love this part of you, it will take time to accept this part of you, but once you start to, you'll learn how to work with it, live with it, and things will come easier. It will take time, but the effort will be worth it in the end."
That conversation had happened years ago, but it seemed like her friend always had a way of showing up just when she needed him to. Maeve shot back a quick message; she was fine, she was doing alright, thanks for checking in, and added a thumbs up before hitting send.
Taking another deep breath, she squared her shoulders, letting them drop slowly as she exhaled. Eyes closed, she did her best to focus solely on the extra sense, then past it, to the other part of her.
Listen. Please. I know it's been a while but we can't, not just yet.
There was silence, but then there seemed to be a shift. Soon.
Yes. Soon, but not now. Once the searches have died down, once there's less patrols, we can go out. I promise. As many times as we like, just not now.
No.
Maeve's brow knit together. Yes. We have to wait-
Change-
Yes but-
-Is coming.
Maeve's eyes fluttered open for a second. That didn't sound quite right. The sense, the urge, felt different for a moment, as if this part of her were expecting something else.
What do you mean? Maeve was met with silence, but could feel her at the back of her head, smiling, no, grinning. As if she had picked up on something Maeve hadn't yet. What do you know?
Soon. Was all she answered before settling in the back of her mind, curled up and waiting patiently.
Stepping out of the stall Maeve caught the confused look on her face in the reflection of the restroom mirror. It was odd for this part of her to be this cryptic with things. Normally she had no problem voicing her apparent feelings on things. In Maeve's initial encounters with Loki she had made it very clear from the first time he'd pinned Maeve to the couch that she wanted to rip his face off. Had actually demanded it until Maeve had pushed her back down.
Going through the motions, Maeve washed her hands and pushed her current curiosity to the back of her mind. Her headache had ebbed some, but was still there. She'd have time to figure this puzzle out later, for now, she wanted to enjoy the rest of her night.
"Everything alright Maeve dear?" Mabel's voice pulled her out of her thoughts, a look of concern on the woman's face.
"Yes, really. I just have a small headache, it's nothing really." she offered, hoping it would pacify the older woman. It did not.
"Oh dear, you poor thing. I think I have something in my purse. It's not one of your migraines is it? What rotten luck that would be." She continued on, already digging through her bag insearch of the aforementioned pills.
"Really there's no need for a fuss." Pills weren't going to help, but there was no way she was going to be able to explain that to anyone here.
"What's Nan fussing about now?" Just drag me behind the shed and shoot me. It was all Maeve could do to keep from rolling her eyes as the others approached, Ethan being the first to say anything at all.
"Maeve says she has a headache." Mabel responded before Maeve could get a word in edgewise.
"It's not one of your migraines is it?" Frank looked over to her, now also concerned. There was more attention on her than she would have cared for, and catching Veronica overdramatically rolling her eyes only added to the present aggravation.
"No, it's not. It's fine. I'm fine." resting her hand on Mabel's arm gently to get her attention, Maeve pressed a little bit more. "Really. It's no big deal, I'm fine."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes." she insisted. "It's probably just the pressure change. I practically live up a mountain."
"If you're sure." Mabel seemed pacified for now, her rummaging having been forgotten.
"I'm sure, really."
"You should do a better job of taking care of yourself." Ethan quipped.
"I'll make sure that she does." She was unsure of where he came from in the moment, but for possibly the first time this evening, Maeve felt comfort at feeling Loki's hand press against the small of her back as he came to stand next to her. "We should head back, before everyone tries to push their way back in." and before there could be any objection to the contrary, she made her escape with him.
As they settled back into their seats and the lights dimmed, all Maeve found herself wanting as the curtain went up was for the rest of the night to be enjoyable.
Clearly that was too much to ask for.
The final curtain call had come and the applause had died down, but in the vestibule it seemed a completely different sort of show had started. Something had clearly transpired between Ethan and Veronica as they seemed to be snipping at each other, until she stormed off towards the bathroom. Mabel offered after a moment to go after the young woman, only to return a few moments later to announce that apparently she had no interest in returning to the hotel with Ethan but wouldn't tell her why. Frank sensing more possible trouble then turned to the other couple, making the suggestion that they head back without them, that they'd see them later. All the while Maeve felt like someone was trying to cleave her head open with an axe from the inside. The sounds and thoughts of the crush of people around them was beginning to get to a point of pure torture. Add to that the emotional tsunami rolling off of Ethan and Veronica, at the mere mention of having a chance to escape, Maeve jumped at it, suggesting it was late and that the two of them should get going.
Once out on the sidewalk the chill from the night air did nothing to assuage the discomfort. The lights around them stung her eyes and all of the sound around her began to become an overwhelmed blur of angry, indistinct noise. It wasn't until she felt she'd been standing in the same spot for a moment too long that she realized they'd made it back in the hotel and were stepping on to the elevator. A moment later they were in front of her room, her hands fumbling with the key card, trembling from the tenuous control she had to keep herself together in that moment. The light on the handle flashed green and Maeve pushed her way in, making a beeline for her suitcase, dropping her bag and her phone as she went. Rooting through her suitcase, her motions became more frantic before stopping all together.
They weren't here.
No. They had to be, she'd had them on the train. Where? She kept digging, kept searching, but they weren't there. She stood there trying to figure out where they could have gotten to. Where she could have left them. She knew she'd had them, she needed them now. She needed something, anything to drown out all of the noise. She needed-
"Maeve." her eyes snapped to focus, his sharp voice cutting through her thoughts like a hot knife, assisted by the slight twinge in her shoulders. He was holding her by her shoulders. Green eyes stared deep into hazel, a look of satisfaction coming to them as he realized he now had her attention. How long had he been calling her?
"What are you doing?"
"I could ask you the same thing."
She went to answer, wanted to answer but she couldn't, not just yet.
"My head- … my headphones. I need them."
"Why?"
"I…" she trailed off. She didn't want to think right now, she just wanted it all to stop, she just wanted it to be quiet. "Let go." she went to pull away from him, but felt his grip tighten, not hard but enough to hold on still.
"Loki."
"Tell me what it is and I'll let go."
"Loki." there was a warning there. An edge, a challenge, and still he didn't budge.
"Tell me." She stood there in silence, shaking her head slowly. It didn't matter… he wouldn't understand and even if he did, what good would it do? What could he do to stop it.
"Maeve, tell me."
"It's too loud! It's all too loud!" she snapped back, pushing out of his hold. "You said you knew who I was, what I was, well then you should know. I can hear them out there, their thoughts, their dreams, their needs. I can hear all of it and it's not usually too much but tonight it is and it hurts and I just want quiet. I want it to be quiet, but it won't! So I need my headphones, and I can't find them but I know I have them. They were just here, I had them on the train up and I know they're here; I just want-"
Before she could register he had moved, Loki stepped forward, his hands going to either side of her head, his fingers resting on her temples as he held her head still. Instinctively her own hands shot up and gripped his wrists, she didn't need him touching her, didn't want him touching her right now. Let alone restraining her. And just as she was about to pull away, remove his hands with force, it was as if he flipped a switch, and all was silent.
"How?" Maeve's eyes met his after a moment of stunned silence, her shock etched all over her face.
"Magic." he offered, a knowing grin on his face. A grin which quickly melted into a frown as he saw water start to gather in her eyes, her brow still knit together before she let go of him and looked away.
"Why?"
"Why not."
"Yeah. Why not." Loki was confused at her response as she began to pull away from him. While he hadn't been expecting accolades or astonishment, he certainly hadn't expected this.
"Thank you, for what it's worth." He watched as she turned away from him.
"And what's that supposed to mean?" Maeve turned back to answer, a tired and almost aggravated look in her eyes, before they were interrupted by the sound of knocking at her door.
She hesitated for a beat. Maeve knew who was on the other side, could feel who was on the other side. "Ethan." she grumbled under her breath, but Loki heard. He was surprised, however, when he saw her start towards the door.
"Maeve." Loki's surprise grew when she seemed to slow for only a second, before continuing. "Maeve!" His insistence was clear, but she didn't seem to be listening at all.
Cracking the door a bit, Maeve peered out around the corner. Sure enough it was Ethan, standing there, looking a bit bored and detached, though she could sense that his outward appearance didn't really match his inner state.
"Can I help you Ethan?"
"Nan wanted me to give you these." his hand offered a small bottle of headache pills. "She bought some on the way back, in case you still needed them."
"Thanks." she held out her hand, but he didn't hand over the bottle. Sighing, she looked up at him. "What is it Ethan?"
"I could ask you the same thing."
"What's that even supposed to mean?"
"Look it's obvious-" Ethan was interrupted by a startled gasp from Maeve as she felt a hand around her waist pulling her back in the room, the door handle slipping from her hand, causing it to shut. It reopened a second later, wider this time, with Loki filling it's frame, smirking at Ethan as he watched him down the length of his nose.
"Thank you for being so kind as to bring these up here for us, but as you can imagine, Maeve should really be resting now, to ease her headache, you understand." he stared pointedly at the young man; their eyes were locked on one another, so it was easy enough to swipe the bottle from him with base magic while the other tried to come off as just as imposing.
"Have a good night." and without waiting for a response, the demi-god shut the door in his face. His hand rested on the handle a moment longer, green tendrils leaching from his fingers, a smirk crawling across his face when he felt his magic take hold on it's target on the other side. Satisfied he turned the lock, and turned around to find Maeve staring at him clearly annoyed, but mostly suspicious.
"What did you do?"
"Excuse me?" he asked, strolling past her.
"You heard me. What did you just do?"
"Well it would seem I got your pills for you, and sent another pill on his way." he answered, shaking the bottle before offering it to her.
"Not that," snatching it from him, Maeve immediately tossed it at the bed. "I saw your hands glow green. What did you do?"
"I did nothing of note, which I can hardly say for you."
"Excuse me? No. Don't change the subject-"
"Oh I'm clearly not the one avoiding anything here. You make a good show of it though. You insist you can't stand him, that there's "never been" and "never will be" anything between the two of you, and yet and still, there you go, answering the door for him, entertaining his interest. Does it amuse you to do it or do you simply enjoy it as a way to pass the time?"
Maeve stood there mouth agape. She couldn't really process what he had just accused her of.
"You think I'm stringing along Ethan for shits and giggles. Is that it?"
"It's quite obvious. It's no wonder that poor girl, what's her name, Veronica, gets so worked up at the mere mention of you two being near one another. I can only imagine your history-"
"Shut up." Maeve all but snarled. This was the angriest Loki had ever seen her, she was practically seething and looked prepared to strangle him if given the chance.
"Alright, fine, you want to know what my beef is with Ethan? Well, he's a piece of shit. That's it, that's all that's ever been. We went to the same college, Babs went there too. Word through the grapevine was that he was interested in me, but I didn't feel the same. Bab's suggested I 'live a little', give him a chance. So I thought 'why not'? What's the worst that could happen?
"Well that turned out to be that after I turned him down gently, he apparently had only shown interest in me because of a bet. And then, because he was butt hurt that I said no, he went around telling everyone that he didn't care because I was too easy, clearly diseased, and, here's the kicker, apparently I had some crazy animal fetish because why else would I be so interested in studying stories of wolves? And it all went downhill from there. He never apologized, when asked 'why', his answer was 'because I could'. I was treated like a freak, and now he tries to act like nothing ever happened and that I should just 'get over it' and I guess just fuck him anyway.
"There, you happy now? Now you know. Our boring, stupid little history together. I tolerate him because he's still around Frank and Mabel. If he dropped dead tomorrow I wouldn't give a shit. Feel better? Itch scratched?" Maeve didn't wait for an answer. Instead she stormed off towards the bathroom, only to have her way blocked by Loki.
"Were you always this much of an insufferable dick? Is that really why you fell out of the sky that night? They booted you out of Heaven oh holy pain in the ass?" by his glare she could tell she'd hit a nerve. Good.
"I merely meant to-"
"What? Say you're sorry? It happened ages ago and I told you, I don't want or need your pity."
"And I told you I have none to give." he shot back. "So why is it you keep defaulting to that? Is it because it's what you truly want? Pity? Someone to feel sorry for you, for your woes?"
"Oh look who's talking! I'm not the one who's been screaming about my god status since I showed up filthy and smelling as though I'd steeped in ale for a month. I'm not the one who's so used to being surrounded by sycophants that I don't know how to function without them!"
"You know nothing of my life-"
"And you know nothing of mine!" The two stood toe to toe, neither one willing to back down. "You came in here, all piss and vinegar, upending my life, making promises you can't keep, and for what? You're just going to leave. That's your M.O. though isn't it? What you did in New Mexico. Cause chaos and then leave the mess for everyone else to pick up afterwards."
Loki opened his mouth to spit venom right back at her when he paused, something she said having caught his attention. … making promises you can't keep…
"I've never promised you anything." he responded after a moment. His voice was low and he seemed to be reigning himself in, pulling back and watching her as though she held him at gunpoint. His countenance had changed and Maeve took notice.
"Liar." she hissed back, her eyes narrowing, but not in anger. Not completely anyway. She was trying to get a read on why he'd shifted, why he was going on the defensive.
"Oh," a dark smile curled across his face, as he leaned in. His hands found their way to her waist, eventually encircling her and pulling her in close against him. "Oh I promised you something once, but if I remember correctly I delivered on every promise that night."
He was trying to distract her, and the flat look she gave him back showed it wasn't working.
"If it's more such 'promises' you seek, all you have to do is ask. I would be more than willing to oblige. That is unless you don't think you can keep-"
"Why does it bother you so much that Ethan has an interest in me?"
"It doesn't." he stated blandly.
"Liar. It does. If it didn't you wouldn't be so bothered by him being here."
"I couldn't care less."
"Then why-"
"Clearly you are mistaken, woman. He means less than you do."
"'Do not mistake me, I do not offer pity.'" Maeve looked him in the eye as she spoke his words back at him after a painfully long stretch of silence. She watched him stiffen; his fingers which had already snaked their way up her back and were playing with her zipper stopped.
"Maeve."
"'I do not offer pity.'"
"Maeve." it surprised her how soft his voice was, his tone, almost pleading…
"'...Do you then, accept what it is I do offer?'" her eyes burned into his. "That's what you asked me. You asked me to see, to see what you were truly offering, and asked if I accepted it. I said yes and after that moment you've acted like nothing has changed. You made a promise, and you lied."
Loki stood there frozen.
Not because he was caught, but because he didn't know how to proceed. His thoughts carried him back to that night. He remembered his words, he remembered hers. He'd not lied; he had no pity to give, he saw no use for it. She was something more, something that didn't deserve pity because she didn't need it. Her kind, they didn't need pity, reverence would have been more appropriate. But he had not offered that. Not when he had dared to ask her to look deeper and ask if she would accept that instead. However, just how deep had she been able to go was the question now. Did she now know something he didn't know about his own self? Or did her sense know and she was unaware? Or did they both know?
You only have yourself to blame for this! That small voice in the back of his head reared itself up. If you'd merely taken what you wanted and left, you would be having none of this back and forth! A part of him agreed, but yet another knew that wasn't completely true. Now here you are, a pitiful sight, wondering if this creature knows more of your own intent than you do! What a disgrace! Deny this woman and leave her and this wretched place behind you. You have much a higher calling than whatever it is she could potentially offer you!
Maeve watched him, though he seemed stoic, his eyes told her of the battle of wills he was currently fighting in his mind. Sighing, she stepped back out of his arms, walking away from him towards the bathroom again.
"Forget it Loki." He watched her as she retreated from him, the battle of wills becoming more desperate. While a part of him seemed satisfied that she was turning away from him, another seemed to panic at the thought of it, surprising him.
"Companionship." Maeve stopped as he blurted out the word behind her. Casting a look back over her shoulder at him. "It is what I offered that night, was it not?"
"Really? That's what you're going to go with? 'Companionship'?" the look she gave him told him her patience was wearing thin.
Loki held her gaze, all while trying to figure out his best course of action. What was the best way to satisfy her answer and leave him not having to confront the fact that she may currently know more about himself than even he? He knew enough of her kind to know this was possible, but whether or not she was aware of it was a different matter. Either way, what it came down to was he wasn't keen with the imbalance it caused.
"Then you tell me what it is you're convinced I offered you."
"No." It was a flat and hard response.
"I cannot read your mind," Loki snipped back, looking almost as annoyed as her. "I have many talents but that is not one of them, so if you wish this to be over, then you could do us both the favor of speaking plainly."
"Oh that's rich." Maeve shot back. "Ever since you've pieced together what I was you've been trying to use that to your advantage. Instead of plainly stating what you think or what you want, you say one thing and hope that I'm bothered enough to sense what it is you really mean. You're the only one who's been making people 'read' their mind. So how about this, for once, you just say out loud what it is you're 'offering' and if you can't then it doesn't matter and I don't want it anyway."
The two of them stood there, watching the other, the room tense with the challenge that had been issued.
Loki found himself at a strange crossroads.
He could answer her, be blunt and direct, tell her plainly what it was he hoped for, what he offered. Or he could continue as he had been, and risk losing her. It was that last part that stirred something inside of him, and he wasn't sure if he liked it.
But that's what it came down to wasn't it? Even though he wasn't ready to admit it out loud, there was a part of him that was scared of losing her, and he wasn't sure when this had come to pass. At some point, in his time spent with her, he had come to enjoy her company and he didn't want to lose it. If he lied or twisted the truth, she would reject him and would be lost; if he told the truth, she could simply not want it, want him, and reject him. No matter what he did, he could lose her, and he didn't want that.
"I… want you, with me." Loki began, watching her as he spoke, gauging her reaction to see if his words would be believed, if what he said would be enough for her.
"... I want you, as I hope you want me."
Stepping forward, Loki tentatively reached out for her hand, interlacing his fingers with hers, his other arm encircling her waist, pulling her closer. His grip was nothing. She could move away from him easily, if she wished, but he hoped she didn't.
"I want you by my side, now, and when I return to Asgard."
"You want me … to come with you … to Asgard?" This was her question after such a silence? Though he had remained composed the silence had been straining at best, but of the things he had said this was the part she latched on to?
"Would that be so terrible?"
"Loki, I can't… just go to Asgard-" Maeve began.
"Of course you can."
"Loki-"
"What's keeping you here?" he asked bluntly, looking her dead in the eye. "Your work? The royal libraries in Asgard are vast, you could certainly find more information there than you could rooting around in old fables here. Or is it your friends? Or your little house on the mountain side, or is your want for solitude simply that great?"
"... I can't just disappear… It doesn't work like that around here." she pushed back, unsure of who she was really trying to convince. "People would come looking for me, I would be missed, and then what? What would I say when I came back-"
"Why would you come back?" Maeve looked up at him as he challenged her.
"Because I belong here."
"You-"
"You're trying to get back to your home, this is mine. I can't just up and go, it's not that simple."
Loki watched her for a moment, his face neutral, but his eyes showed that a torrent of thoughts were running rampant through his mind.
"Fine," he began after a moment. "Asgard can wait, there's no need for you to give your answer right this second." Maeve made to protest again, only to be stopped by Loki pressing his finger against her mouth, the simple but soft act startling her to silence.
"Whether you come with me or not, for the time being that doesn't matter. Asgard can wait." he repeated, leaning in as he pulled her against him, the whole while his eyes locked with hers. "Asgard is not the only thing I mentioned however.
"That night, I asked you, if you would accept what I did offer, tonight I ask you the same. Do you?"
"And what is it you're offering me, Loki?" Maeve spoke, her lips brushing against his finger.
"Myself." he stated plainly. There was no tricky, no hidden riddles, just himself, plain and simple. He offered himself to her, wondering if she would do the same in return. "Do you accept?"
"Yes." there was no hesitation in her reply, no second thought, simply an answer as honest and open as his own. Loki smiled down at her, his hand moving to cup her face as he pulled her in and sealed things with a searing kiss.
Hmph! Two monsters finding cheap solace in one another. That voice hissed from somewhere in the recesses of Loki's mind. Monsters? Maybe, but at least, even if it was for only a moment's solace, at least they had one another.
Long time no update, but here's the long awaited chapter 9! I hope you all enjoyed it! Thank you for those who have stuck around this long and continued reading, I really appreciate it. Hopefully life will be kind and the next update will come sooner. As always, reviews and such are appreciated!