Disclaimer: Wait… I'm writing fanfiction…. I don't think I own it…
A/N at the bottom
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Loke sat at a table in the outskirts of the Fairy Tail building, biting the back of his hand. Lucy had just scolded him for the better part of an hour for being "so damn stupid that you can't see where you're going" and "wasting my time saving you".
Loke was really starting to hate cars, if he didn't already. He'd never owned one and whenever he used them, they drained his magic within half an hour. The car didn't even go that fast and the drives were always rickety, due to his inability to control a motorized vehicle.
Mirajane walked up to Loke, a glass of frothy beer in her hand. "Here you go!" she chirped. "Your order!"
No one should be that cheery at five in the morning, Loke decided as Mira slid the mug across the table, a smile plastered on her face. Loke had always chalked it up to caffeine, but Cana had devoured both the stock of coffee and alcohol last night at an especially heated party.
Loke had always hated coffee. He didn't understand why any living being would purposely hype themselves up with a drug while getting themselves addicted to it. It seemed like a stupid way to be stuck into the downward spiral of wanting more and more.
Besides that, there was a reason Mage had never let him have coffee as a kid.
"What's that?" Loke curiously asked Harry. His older brother was sitting in the main room, nursing a cup of brown liquid. Twelve-year-old Loke had just completed another day of strenuous training with Harry and upon arrival at home, his zombie-like mas- brother. Still brother- had dug a weird machine out of the closet.
Even though Harry had started to educate Loke on machinery of the 'muggle', or non-magical, world, Loke hadn't learned everything there was to know yet. The wonderful things that played videos, also called computers, had just been added to Loke's small world two weeks ago on what Harry had dubbed Loke's birthday. July 26th, for the record.
Loke had quickly decided that the computer should be some sort of celestial spirits with insane, omniscient powers. Harry, however, had stopped Loke's conquest to actually turn the family computer monitor into a constellation, then a spirit, even if it would help with Loke's training.
Harry set the blue mug in his hands. "Coffee." Harry simply replied to Loke.
"Is it like ibuprofen?" Loke tilted his head to the side.
One of Loke's first observations of Harry is that most unusual substances that the wizard-mage consumed cured hangovers, or at least were claimed to. Not like Loke had ever gotten drunk, or even had a sip of wine. Physically a child, mentally a bit older… Not exactly the recipe for a drinker.
"Ask Ron. He makes it out to be, but I haven't ever tried it as one. I heard that more wine is good after a hangover- or was that beer?- as well as a good book. Mind you, I haven't eaten a book yet, but Luna has. She says it wards off Nargles as well. Neville likes a good read for a hangover though. I always found that a bit counterintuitive, trying to ward off the inability to read with a book, but it is Luna's husband that we're talking about."
Loke froze and turned towards Harry. "Is it also supposed to cause hyper activeness?" Loke carefully asked.
"Books? No. Well, not unless you get to a really exciting part. Then you jump up and down in your seat and you can't control yourself and you accidently cast a spell on your bed that makes it all bouncy. Wingdum Bouncinousios or something? I seriously don't know… Your Uncle Draco would know though. He's all wrapped up in that spell junk all the time- when he's not pampering his girlfriend… Isn't Ginny dating him right now? I know that her brothers are all wrapped up, even Charlie. He picked up that strategy girl, whose name I can't remember for the life of me. Marvis? Malvis? She is a bit young though and Char-Char did say he was going to break up with her soon. Something about one of rare seven dragons taking care of a human kid. When I really think about it, he mentioned five kids… Or was it four?" Harry blathered on.
"Does coffee cause," Loke rephrased before motioning to Harry. "This?"
Harry enthusiastically nodded. "Yes! It does! That's why I never drink it and I always have that spell thingy ready. 'Mione says that I'm scary after a good cup, or even a bad one. I think that's why Mrs. Weasley never invites me to tea with the twins anymore-" Loke didn't even have enough time to blink as Harry sobered up and turned his attention to the window.
"Who?" Loke innocently asked.
Loke had rarely seen his brother in such a state. There was the time where Harry had said Dobby's name and the first time he had mentioned 'Good ol' Dumbles', but that was it.
So, if Loke was to keep count, there were two times prior to this in the four mortal years Loke had known Harry where the elder had slipped into depression. Real depression, not the façade Harry put on when Loke gave his brother a scathing retort or remark.
"Never invites me to tea with the twins anymore…" Harry's voice quieted as he avoided Loke's question. "Tea with the twins."
"Want to talk about it?" Harry met Loke's eyes, giving his spirit a small, almost reluctant, nod.
"They were pranksters," Harry started with a light shrug. "And damn good friends, if you were to ask me. They started a joke shop. It flourished and was most people's favorite place in Diagon Alley, with its massive selection of gags and the WWW sign."
Loke lowered his head and shook it, urging Harry to go on.
"Fred died in the war." Harry lost all semblance of focus, his eyes looking in different directions. "He just died."
Coffee, not death, coffee, not death, Loke mentally chanted, halting the memory in its tracks. Why, why, did he have these flashbacks? It made no sense, had no reason.
"Are you okay there, Loke?" Mira snapped Loke out of his thoughts. "You've been staring into space for a couple of minutes. Haven't taken a sip of your beer or anything."
"Just remembering." Loke carefully said.
"What?" Loke gave Mira a sad look before focusing all his attention on his mug.
"Stuff that I shouldn't be."
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A/N: Wait for it… Wait for it…
EEEEEEEEKKKK! It astounds me that 90 people are willing to read a new chapter of this story every week. That just blows my mind. Screw that, blows my mind more. It was already dead from praise at this point. Luckily for you guys, dead brain=chapters. So you should kill my mind. *nods*
This story has plot next chapter. Plot! I repeat, plot! I'm starting to move from the happy childhood to the teenage years in Loke's flashbacks. Because of this and other reasons, this story might become T. Not because of sexual items, but because of swearing. Noting that, f you have any suggestions for ideas for flashbacks and chapters, please leave them in a review!
In other news, the old poll on my profile has made way for round two of pairing votes. I eliminated the lower-ranking choices and added another option: No pairings. No pairings does not eliminate all romance from the story, it just means that Loke and Harry will probably end up as bachelors, as well as many other characters.
Please Review! Reviews cause Harry to come back quicker!
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