Chapter 3- Think on the Past and Look Toward the Future
As much as Loki enjoys hanging out with his group of friends, he is always comforted to get back home. He does tend to be on the introverted side and taking time for himself is one of the only ways to recharge his social batteries. He takes the stairs tonight needing the exercise to help relieve some of his giddiness. He places a hand in his coat pocket, checking for about the seventh time that the napkin is still there. Reaching his door, he gives himself a little shake realizing he is acting like a love-struck teen. His apartment is on the third floor of a modern complex with an attached garage, pool, gym, and a doorman. Loki knows, in his heart, all the extras are extravagant, and he is indulging himself in things he once thought unattainable.
Growing up had not been a pleasant experience; what with a mother who abandoned him and a father who barely acknowledged his existence. Loki's paternal grandmother had been the only person who gave him any form of affection. He would spend summers, in his youth, with her in the mountains until her passing the year he started high school. He learned how to cook in her kitchen, how to grow vegetables in her garden, and how to knit in her living room. She left him her cabin and land upon her passing. Loki visited once during college but found the memories too overwhelming to stay. The cottage was cared from by a local handyman, and Loki received monthly reports to ease his mind. Recently, he had been feeling the urge to take some time and visit again. Of course, that would depend on if he could force himself to stay away from the office.
Opening the door, Loki calls out "So what trouble have you gotten into today?"
Two sets of eyes seemed to glare at him from the prominent bay window. He turned on the light as his two cats trotted over to greet them.
"Well hello, Frick and Frack. I see you were too busy getting your beauty rest to throw any wild parties." Loki bends down to pet Frick who is winding around his legs as Frack sits primly in front of him waiting.
He got the cats from a shelter about four years ago. They had been part of a litter found on the side of a road. The two of them were inseparable from the beginning, and the shelter feared they would not be adopted, even though they were kittens. Loki fell in love with the mix-match pair from the moment he saw them.
Frick is a small orange striped tabby with a bottomless appetite. He's openly affectionate and constantly follows Loki around the apartment. Frack on the other hand is a sleek tuxedo with a personality bigger than life. She's haughty and reserved; openly distrustful of any human other than Loki. One of her favourite things to do when Tony visits is to drag his shoe into the litter box. She is very fond, almost possessive, of Loki and always sleep on his legs at night.
After giving both cats some attention (aka ear rubs and filling their food bowls) Loki's phone plays the Law and Order knock, Natasha's text tone. Loki has a moment of panic; did something happen after he left? Did she catch Thor lip-locked with another man or worse Tony? Wait, Loki is not usually this obsessive over a guy he just met. Typically, he is someone who does not worry this much over interpersonal relationships. What is up with him?
Swiping his screen Natasha's text pops up: Did you contact him?
Loki should have known she is just noisy. Tipsy Natasha seems to love gossip, especially anything related to romance. He sends her a quick reply.
Loki: No. I just got home
He gets a reply before he can put his phone down.
Natasha: SO? You had three floors to send flirty texts.
Loki pauses at that, even Tipsy Natasha wouldn't use "flirty." His phone goes off again, twice.
Natasha: Ignore that. Tony thinks he is cute.
Natasha: Anyway he has a point what is the hold-up?
Loki stares at his phone. Did Natasha (and maybe Tony) have a point?
Loki: He just gave me his number an hour ago. Desperate I am not.
Natasha: LIES ICEy LIESss.
Okay, that time Loki knows its Tony, he is the only one to call him Ice.
Natasha: What our dear Drunk Tony means is we all saw the smolder between you two. So for once don't over think it and just contact Thor.
His phone plays the roadrunner meep meep - Oh boy Tony.
Tony: Ima gonna give ya 5 more min before I find him mysef and sign your god praises.
The message gives Loki a jolt, based on the text Tony is drunk enough to do it too. Not that he wouldn't do it sober; but drunk Tony might add on some of his own flirting.
Natasha: Before you freak out Bruce just distracted Tony with something shiny. I know why you might want to wait on this, but it has been three years.
She's right, and it's time for Loki to move on. He figures what the hell, it's not like they can't find another bar if this doesn't work …
Loki: Ok ok you win. I'll text him.
Natasha: Good. He's leaving now. Tony is still engrossed with Bruce's new tablet. Let me know what happens.
How she knows that Thor is leaving, he doesn't know, but then again Natasha always seems to know everything going on around her. Loki takes a deep breath, it is just a text. Just a few words on a screen. Has he always been this neurotic? Frick hops into his lap as Loki types out a message.
Loki: I know you said a call might lead to dinner. Does that mean a text could end with lunch?
He regrets it as soon as he sends it. Doesn't even say who the message is from, Thor could have handed out a dozen napkins to different guys. Before he spirals too much his phone chirps.
Thor: Well, that depends …
Depends?! On what?! Loki is just about to send a message when his phone starts to ring. "Oh, what have I gotten myself into?" He asks Frick, as the cat stretches across the couch.
"Hello …?"
"Hey! I'm driving home and would rather just call than attempt to use this hands-free feature."
"Is that so? Here I thought you just wanted to hear my voice again." Loki found it slightly easier to talk to Thor when the man was not right in front of him.
"Haha, you caught me. "Thor's laugh though still delightful is not as good as in person, "I was hoping to hear from you. I think our conversation got cut off too soon."
"That's only because you had to be a good person and actually do your job. It's a shame really, I was all set to distract you for the rest of the night." Loki says this in a low voice, adding a purr to his words.
"Is that so? I vaguely remember your way of distraction results in a mess." Thor's voice deepens on the word mess.
"You seem to like that type of man that could enjoy the distractions that result in a mess."
Thor's chuckle is rich, sending shivers down Loki's spine, "Imp. I can tell you can be trouble. And since I happen to like a bit of trouble in my life, why don't you join me for lunch tomorrow?"
"Hmmmmm …. Let me check my calendar. Tomorrow you say? Ahh. It looks like you are in luck I seem to have an opening."
"Great! How do you feel about Mexican?"
"Mexican happens to be one of my favourite food groups. What time do you want to meet up?"
"Does 1 work for you? I need to help stock the bar in the morning and should be free by then."
"I can meet you at the Sierra Madre at that time."
"What, not Taco Bell? Well, I guess the Sierra Madre will have to do."
"Here I thought you said I would be trouble, you never mentioned you would be a tease."
"Don't worry I am not much of a tease, usually."
"Huh, I will be the judge of that come tomorrow."
"Hahaha, you do that, Imp."
"Why do I get the feeling I will be stuck with that name?"
"No idea what you are talking about." There is the sound of a door slamming, and Thor sighs, "I hate to be the one to end another conversation, but I just got home and need to do some things before tomorrow."
"Oh, that's okay. This just means we can save up all the deep dark secrets for lunch."
"Make a list for me tonight. I look forward to seeing you again tomorrow. Good night Imp."
"Good night Thor."
They hang up, and Loki does a little mental dance about having a date tomorrow. As he gets ready for bed he sends Natasha a quick text:
Loki: I have a date for lunch tomorrow.
Natasha: That's awesome Loki! See that wasn't so difficult.
Loki: No, it was easier than getting Jarvis away from the sticky notes.
Natasha: Oh very funny Mr. Highlighter.
Loki: Yeah yeah, anyway thanks for being a pain in the ass.
Natasha: for you, any time. Someone needs to make sure you don't turn into a crazy cat lady.
Loki: uh huh, I'm going to bed now. Night
Natasha: Good idea get your beauty rest. Have fun with Mr. Tall and Built tomorrow.
Natasha: I'll be sure to run a background check on Monday. NO sex until then.
Loki laughs at that last text. He gets the feeling she already did the background check and knows more about Thor than Thor might know about himself. He is grateful to her for giving him the illusion of the necessity for waiting. Although, he doesn't plan to jump into a physical relationship right away.