You've Got Time

Patty is two days into college…and her bedroom is a mess. Thank goodness she's not three lectures behind though. I like that song. Also I'm at college so yeah…

And now back to sweet nothings! I hope you were not unsatisfied with the Sigyn's Quest arc!

Now enjoy! Also please review and comment! It will make me a better writer!

Loki was rather surprised that Patty had not dropped by in the last two days. Usually she made a point of calling, texting, or simply just showing up at least once, but now…nothing. He supposed that she was just trying to adjust to her college schedule, and he would give her space.

That didn't make him any less lonely though.

Finally, though, Loki decided that just one little call couldn't hurt. Just to check in. He always called Patty, never texted her. It was nice to hear the sound of her voice, though Loki would rather die than have anyone else know that.

So he made the call. Nothing. She didn't pick up. Loki tried again, still nothing.

Well, that was odd but still no reason for him to worry. None at all.

So why was he doing it then?

A thousand different thoughts swirled through Loki's mind, each one more ridiculous than the next. Was she alright? Was she happy? Was something wrong?

Since when had Loki cared so much? Especially about a mortal, beings he used to ever only treat with disdain but now…with Patty…

She was different. They were different. And the difference was more palpable ever since the binding…

But before Loki could think about this further he got a call. It was Patty.

"Hi Loki!" She said. Her voice did not sound right. Loki knew immediately, though he could not tell how, that she was on the verge of tears.

"Pat?" He asked, unconsciously making his voice far softer and kinder for her than for anyone else, "Are you alright?"

"Yeah, I…I…". She caught her breath on the other line.

"No I'm not." And with that she started to cry.

Loki stood there, in his living room, listening to her quietly cry on the other end, and wondering what on Midgard had happened to him and to the multiverse that he should be able to feel this much pain on account of someone else's sorrows.

At last Patty was able to speak again. "I'm sorry, um…could we just find a place to talk? Just for a little bit?"

"Where," she added, very quietly, "nobody will see us."

"Alright. How about St. Patrick's Cathedral?"

"On top of the belfry?" She asked.

"Yes."

Patty sniffed. "That would be great. See you there."

Loki listened to the dial tone for a few moments after she hung up. It was almost like he was on the threshold of discovering something, but still could not see what it was.

A Little While Later…

Patty sat, feet dangling, not looking at Loki as she talked. "It's not like it's really terrible or anything, my roommates are fine, and stuff, but…I guess I was just overwhelmed. Everyone's telling me so many different things. Uncle Mark is just going on and on about how it will be so great and that I should join clubs and go to dances and do this and do that but also attend to my studies. But I can't, you know? I barely have time to eat, with all my science classes. And then Toni keeps telling me about all the STEM stuff I should do and about how smart I am so of course I do all the STEM stuff and it's not that I don't like it, but I was thinking about doing photography, you know how that's kinda my hobby?"

She briefly paused and looked at Loki, who nodded. "So now I'm trying to get a job taking pictures, and I'm actually pretty close to getting one at the Daily Bugle, you've heard of it?"

He nodded again and Patty began to relax. It was so nice having a friend who was just there to listen, and not try to tell her what she should or shouldn't do. She couldn't bother Nell, who was going through exactly what she was, and Loki was the only other person she had. And he always, always listened. And understood. And could talk about it with her. Not like anyone else could. There was something special between them, because she could do the same thing with him, could tell when he hadn't been able to sleep, or was angry, or whatever, and they could work it out.

They were special, and he was the one thing she had promised herself to never let go of in college, no matter what happened.

Patty took a deep breath. "It's only been two days, but it just feels like…like…"

"Like there isn't enough time." Loki finished for her, quietly. "And that it's all just slipping away from you before you've even realized it's there."

He got it. He always got it.

"Do you think it's true?" She asked. "That I really don't have time? That someday soon I'll just look back and find it all…gone? And that I never did anything?"

Loki shook his head. "No. Someday you'll look back and find that you always had time, time for what really mattered, in the end."

"I hope so." She muttered.

"Well I know so." Loki put a hand on her shoulder. "You've got time, Pat."

Patty turned to him. "We've got time."

She jumped up. "For ice cream! There's a really good place down the street that I've been wanting to try!"

She jumped off the building, and swung to the bottom, where she met Loki, shaking his head in mock disapproval. "You really are so dramatic, Pat."

She smirked. "Says the guy who teleported down here in a literal puff of smoke."

Aw…it's nice to get back to them again, I've been spending so much time with other projects recently. They're really sweet.

Also the updates for this story will (most likely) be sooner than that disgraceful gap between the Sigyn's Quest chapters. See you there!

Please review and comment!