TW: A character has a panic attack.


Sylvie texted Loki a couple times before their next meet up. Mobius really did have to be at the tutoring center during when he would normally have his check-ins with Loki, but Sylvie was okay for continuing to fill in for her uncle so long as that was okay with Loki. She texted him to ask as much and then they kind of just kept up conversation every few days like they were friends, even though they kind of weren't really because they still knew pretty much nothing about the other person. It was freeing and lonely at the same time.

When Sylvie asked Loki if he would meet her in Central Park for a walk for their next outing, he agreed. The leaves had finally started to turn and the air felt crisp. He liked the colder months and found comfort in being able to wear a lot of layers at once. (Either he was too stubborn or too clueless to admit that layers let him hide himself from others while also providing some weight around him like he was being hugged or held closely. Likely the former, as Loki was clever about most things, though maybe not when it came to his own feelings.)

Sylvie got to the park a little earlier than their planned meeting time, so she sat on a bench and texted Loki that she was already there and where she was before pulling up a library book on her phone to kill time.

After a few minutes, slightly scuffed brown shoes beneath cranberry jeans came into her eye line. Without looking up, she waved off the person who was far too close for her liking. "No thanks. My boyfriend's on his way."

"I beg your pardon?"

Sylvie's eyes widened as she looked up to see a very confused Loki holding two to-go cups with tea bags hanging out of them. His cheeks were stained the color of his pants and he was wearing what looked like the softest sweater just a few shades darker than his panicked eyes.

"Oh! It's you! You're… you're not my boyfriend. Ha. No… I was…" She shook her head and tried to collect her thoughts. "When I'm by myself and someone approaches me I kind of automatically say my boyfriend's coming so he'll leave me alone. Guys, uh… guys won't back off if I just say no, but they will accept that I'm another man's property. It's just something I've been taught to say since I was a girl whether or not I actually have a boyfriend. Like, if I have a girlfriend or I'm single, I say it too. Because it's just… safer. Hi. Sorry."

Midway through her explanation, the tension dropped from Loki's shoulders and he just let her ramble. When she finished, he handed her one of the cups and sat down a good foot away from her on the bench.

"It is I who am sorry that you had to be taught something like that to begin with just to protect yourself. I've never had to say I was waiting for a girlfriend or boyfriend whether I had one or not at the time to stave off unwanted advances. People tend to, uh, leave me alone," Loki said with a sad smile.

"Well, I can't imagine that many people are keen to pick up an undertaker," Sylvie deadpanned.

"Hey," Loki said, slightly offended. "Do I really look like an undertaker?"

"Not today," Sylvie acquiesced. "Today you look like you stepped out of a J. Crew catalogue or something. You have a hot date after this or what?"

Loki's cheeks flushed again as he ducked his head. "Um, no. I don't always where a suit, you know. Or black. I just thought jeans would be more appropriate for a literal walk in the park."

"Those aren't even blue jeans, though, Loki. Those are the color of a berry."

"Well, I couldn't wear blue jeans and a blue sweater now, could I? Because someone would ask me if I were a blueberry. Or in Blue Man Group."

"Or maybe just sad?" As soon as Sylvie said it, she knew she shouldn't have because Loki's entire body went rigid.

"Maybe." Loki made himself look Sylvie in the eye, hoping to telepathically tell her to drop it.

She did.

Sylvie held up her to-go cup. "Thank you for this. Should we, uh…" She nodded toward a nearby walking path. Loki nodded and they stood at the same time. He made an after you gesture with his free hand and together they silently started to walk.

The silence didn't last too long. Every now and then either Sylvie or Loki would point something out to the other—a cute dog, or a weird piece of garbage, or some statue.

At one point, Loki was trying to get Sylvie to look at what he thought was either the biggest chipmunk he ever saw or some other rodent that maybe she could help identify, but she was busy staring at a handsy couple near one of the food trucks along the walking path.

"Sylvie?" Loki looked back and forth between the couple and Sylvie. Her face had gone very pale, her breathing was labored, and she was swaying on her feet. He was worried she was going to fall over and began looking for a bench that was both close, but also a bit out of the way from the main path so she could have some privacy.

Loki didn't want to touch her, but he also knew she probably wasn't going to be able to get anywhere completely on her own.

"Sylvie, we're going to walk over to a bench, okay?" He leaned down in hopes she could hear him better. "I'm going to put one of my hands on your shoulder and another one on your back to help you. Is that all right?" He waited and she nodded with quick jerks of her head, never once taking her eyes off of the couple. "Okay," Loki said. "I'm putting my hand on your shoulder now and we're going to walk together, okay?" She nodded again and he gently placed his left hand on her left shoulder and nudged her forward a bit with his right hand on her back. "All right. We're aiming for that bench up ahead. Just there."

They somehow made it to the bench without incident and sat down together. Loki removed his hand from Sylvie's shoulder and folded his hands in his lap.

"Are you okay?" He asked. When Sylvie didn't answer, he frowned. "Can I get you a water or something?" A tear rolled down Sylvie's cheek and she nodded. "Water?" She nodded again.

Loki looked up and saw a drinks vendor about 50 feet away. He pointed to it. "I'll be right back, all right?" Another tear rolled down Sylvie's cheek. She wiped it away and nodded.

He got up and half-jogged to the vendor, looking behind him several times at Sylvie on the bench. He purchased two bottles of water and an orange juice (just in case) and made it back to the bench in less than two minutes. He sat back down and held the three bottles out for Sylvie. She took one of the waters.

"Thanks," she said quietly before unscrewing the cap and taking a tny sip.

Loki gave her a small smile and put the other two drinks on the bench next to him. He folded his hands in his lap again, not knowing what to say (or if he should say anything at all).

"That couple," Sylvie murmured. "At the food truck. He… Thomas…he was my… we were together for… and, like, living together for… and… the cheating… just years of my life…my love… my future… gone. Wasted."

"I'm sorry," Loki said quietly.

Sylvie looked down at the water bottle in her hand. It was a simple thing, really. Getting someone a bottle of water to help them calm down. But, at the same time, it wasn't. She didn't have to ask for it—he just offered it. He didn't yank her over to the bench, he managed to take charge and still ask her consent before putting his hands on her.

The hands that had felt so sure on her shoulder and back were now nearly shaking in his lap. Sylvie reached over and touched Loki's arm that was closest to her. His sweater really was the softest one she had ever felt.

Loki looked from her hand to her face. "You okay?"

Concerned lines creased his pale forehead. Sylvie gave Loki a small smile and nodded. "Yes, thanks." She gave his arm a squeeze and then clutched her water bottle with both hands. "That's why I'm staying with Mobius, you know. I didn't… I didn't have anywhere else to go. My parents are still in England and most of my friends either gave up on me these past few years because they hated my boyfriend or they didn't have room for a freeloader. Because I…" Sylvie huffed out a sad laugh. "I lost my job. Which is not funny, I know, but the timing. Loki, the timing, was hilarious. Can you imagine? I got sacked from the PR firm I was doing graphic design for and then found out Thomas had been shagging other women for half the time we had been together. And we were going to get… this fall… I mean, god."

She laughed again and took another sip of water while Loki sat there horrified.

"Sylvie, that's… that's awful. I'm so sorry."

"There were so many red flags. And I ignored all of them because once in a blue moon he would say or do the right thing and I would feel so special. I thought that was love." Tears began rolling down Sylvie's cheeks again and she did her best to try and wipe them away. "But it wasn't real."

Loki knew he didn't have the words or experience to help in anyway. He had never had a serious relationship or been in love. He had never been popular like Thor or good natured like Frigga. Most people thought he was cold and callous—a narcissist even—because he only seemed to care about himself. The truth was, though, he knew he was capable of loving someone else, but was so convinced that no one could ever care about him for who he was, so he often put himself first. It made for a lonely life.

He squeezed his hands in his lap even tighter, wanting to comfort Sylvie somehow but too afraid he would do or say the wrong thing. He didn't want to hurt her even more.