Loki's date with Alexi is fun. They eat, they wander through Central Park. Alexi buys them hot chocolate from a food cart, and they cuddle together on the bench by the ash watching the clouds gather as a storm rolls in, the blanket around their shoulders. When the thunder starts rumbling, Loki invites Alexi in and they stay up until very early talking about their dreams.
"What do you want to do with your life, Loki? Do you want to have a family? Travel the world? Run a marathon? Make good art? Make bad art? Start a cooking show on cable TV? Share a dream or two."
"I have had only a short time to start over with dreaming. But traveling sounds nice. I would have to hire someone else for the bookshop, though. Ralph wants to sell it to me at the end of a year. I like this work, purveying old books, well loved books, to those who find them as comforting as I. Beyond that...I do not know. I do not know how I would have a family, but I like the one I am building now. Perhaps I will paint scenes from my life in Asgard and sell them without anyone knowing that they are true. Or maybe I will convince Mr Stark to part with his fortune for the betterment of the Sylvia Rivera Safe Haven. I do not know. But I would like to make a mark, at least in the lives of those around me. And you?"
"I've been dreaming my whole life. I want to climb a mountain. Maybe run a marathon. I'm training for it already. And I really want a family someday. I don't know how, but I want kids. And I want to learn to carve statues with a chainsaw. Write a book of poetry about the things I've seen at the centres. Make the world a little safer for transgender people. And I want to lobby our government to take transgender refugees from the places they're being killed. I have to change the world because so much of it sucks."
"Then I will help you find a way to do these things."
"You'd be OK with having kids someday?"
"I have not considered it in years, but when the time is right, yes."
"See, now this is something you don't usually talk about on a second date. But here we are, talking about kids."
"I suppose we are hardly a commonplace pair of people."
"You really want to call us a couple, don't you?"
Loki takes both of Alexi's hands, "I have a lightness in my heart when I hear your voice on the telephone. I danced without music and sat on the balcony watching the stars for hours after you left our first date. I will likely not sleep tonight, my mind will be so full of bliss. So yes, I do. I want this to be something that lasts. I have no idea how to do so, but I want it."
Alexi blushes, "Wow, that's not pressure on a guy at all."
"Did I say something wrong?"
"No, not at all. You said everything right. I just didn't expect it. And I've never dated somebody who was so sure they wanted a relationship with me so early. I usually get the one night stands or the people who take months to even figure out that they want to kiss me. But you're really into this and it's sweet."
"According to Magda, I am 'delightfully old fashioned'. I think this is a fair assessment."
"I like it. But does that mean you won't kiss me for months, either?"
Loki leans forward and places a soft kiss on Alexi's lips.
"I like your answer."
"Do you wish me to answer your question again?"
"As many times as you'd like."
Loki starts his Saturday by not sleeping. Alexi leaves a little before three and he simply cannot put his head down on the pillow. He twirls in his bedroom, laughing, the taste of Alexi's lips lingering on his own. His mind is reeling far too much to read, so he instead takes his drawing pad down to the dining table and lets his wandering mind guide his pencil, sketching little details from his evening. Alexi's hands, the ring on his right index finger. The way the fabric of his shirt creased when Loki's hand rested on his hip. The curve of his mouth. The ears into which he some day hoped to whisper endearments. Dreams.
He is still sketching when the light of dawn creeps into his kitchen. It is only when the sunlight touches the table that he realizes he has not yet slept. So he places the pencils carefully back in their case, closes the drawing pad, and retreats to his bedroom. He knows he might need the paper and pencils close if his dreams wander, so he places them on the nightstand. He strips, drops his clothing on the floor, and slides under the cool sheets, quickly dropping off to sleep.
His phone rings after noon and he answers from his pillow, "Yes?"
"Are you just waking?"
"Yes, Wanda, I am. I had a delightful long night and second date last night."
"Oh?"
"My lips are still tender."
"Oh my! Do we need to get together so you can tell me all the scandalous details?"
"There is little scandalous about it. We kissed. Quite a lot. And my head feels as though it may still be spinning from the wonder of it all."
"I am so happy for you."
"Thank you. But I assume you had another reason for calling? I have hardly seen you this past week."
"I know. Thor is here. And we have the day off. Would you like to get together?"
"Of course. Perhaps here? Alexi works until this evening. I would like to invite him as well."
"That sounds lovely."
"Bring Magda. I will cook. She has been teaching me to use curry. If you come this afternoon, we can play board games until supper."
"I will bring a few. Do you know how to call Thor, or do you wish for me to tell him?"
"If you share his number, I will call."
She does, and he calls. Thor is unavailable, but he leaves a message and receives a text confirming their games and dinner date. He then contacts Alexi, knowing he will not join them for the earlier part of the day. When he sets his phone down, he realizes that he needs to dress and staggers out of bed to get ready for his guests.