I finally cracked and decided to post a final chapter to sum up the end of Don't Stand So Close to Me.

Loki's head nodded and fell around back and forth and his eyes almost opened more than once; he thought he saw white walls and thought he felt less than soft sheets. He closed his eyes tighter and went back, slipping back into the dark.

Loki blinked, gradually taking in his surroundings. There was a simple black clock nailed to the wall, a TV, and a whiteboard with the words "Loki Laufeyson - collapsed from shock; coma possible. Current shift: Dr. Johnson." The time was about half past four, morning or evening Loki wasn't sure. He turned to find the curtains were closed and the chair next to the window was occupied by Clint, who had his head down in a book.

"Clint?" Loki cleared his throat. Clint's eyes opened wide and he put the book down, moving from the chair to stand next to the bed, taking Loki's hand.

"You're awake," his voice was surprised but joyful. "I didn't really know what was gonna happen from there. The doctors were pretty sure it wasn't anything heart-related, mainly because you're not very old. Do you know what happened?"

"What did the doctors tell you? The board says shock. How long was I - How long was I unconscious?"

"Just a day," Clint looked towards the half open door to call for a nurse. "I was here last night until visiting hours ended. 'Scuse me, ma'am?" Clint raised his voice, gaze still on the door. A short, brown haired woman in light blue scrubs entered the room.

"Can I help you?" She was unfamiliar. Clint hadn't seen her before, so chances were she didn't know what was happening.

"Is Dr. Johnson around? Loki's awake now."

"Sure, sweetie. Give me a few minutes, I'll get him in here if he isn't too busy." She smiled politely. Clint nodded and she exited the room.

"You have not neglected your homework because of me, have you?"

"Nah, I've been bringing it with me. I do it in here," he tipped his head toward the corner where his black backpack sat.

"Good." Loki took a deep breath and leaned back against his pillow again.

They waited until it was a quarter past five, the doctor finally entering the room.

"My apologies, I was tending to a patient in the ER. So, Mr. L-" he paused and looked at the sheet, not particularly wanting to mispronounce the last name.

"Laufeyson," Clint pronounced for him.

"Mr. Laufeyson, how are you feeling?" Johnson wrote on his clipboard. "What time did he wake up?" He turned his attention to Clint before Loki spoke.

"About four-thirty," the doctor nodded and wrote it down .

"I feel fine. I feel like I just took a nice nap. Did I really need to be here in the first place?" Loki shifted under the thin hospital blanket, swallowing as he recalled throwing a hand to his chest as his breaths came harder and harder to control, Clint's worried face being the last thing he saw.

"You could have potentially gone into a coma, so yes. Now, your . . . Student, here, tells me you were coming back to the classroom. You had a panicked expression, you appeared to be breathing at a high rate, and you collapsed like you'd been shot or something of that manner."

"Yes. I think I remember now." Loki moved a stray piece of hair away from his forehead. "But I'm fine now, so is it possible that I can leave today?"

"We'll check your vitals to be safe, I'll give you something for stress, and that should be all," Dr. Johnson turned to leave the room. "I'll be back in a few minutes. Don't put your clothes back on or anything in case you have to stay again." Loki sighed but didn't argue.

"You never told me what you remembered," Clint looked into Loki's green eyes once the doctor left.

"What do you mean? You saw me. You know what happened."

"Yeah, I saw you and I saw what happened, but I still have no idea why. Is that stress or anxiety or something?"

"No."

"Then what is it?"

"Clint, I was in shock. Literal shock, not just largely surprised."

"But why? Did you lose your job?" Clint's eyes began to show some worry.

"No. I was," he thought of his fellow teachers' voices and grimaced. "I can't explain it."

"I know you ca-" Clint stopped himself. He wasn't going to press the matter. He didn't want to upset Loki, and if Loki felt it was necessary, he would tell Clint eventually. "Well, I suppose it doesn't matter. You're up and around again and that's enough."

"Thank you."

the night after Clint's graduation

"I am honestly proud of you." Loki smiled. Clint matched his expression and pulled him into a tight hug.

"I had some great incentives, what can I say?"

"You didn't need me. You had it in you," Loki let go of Clint. "I was just here for moral support."

"Whatever. So, where do we go from here?"

that was weak. that was a weak ending. maybe i'll write some fluff or something to make up for it.