Working Title : Loki & Annie

57 Monolog

A/N::: Apologies! This chapter was overlooked and not published in the correct order.

At the quiet breath that pushed out a single word Annie thought she felt the world stop for just a few seconds. It seemed as if they were in a bubble where the rest of the world became meaningless while she absorbed the fact that Loki had spoken. To her. He had spoken to her and answered a question that she had asked.

Then the world rushed back in like a fist to the chest as her breath stuttered out in one long, ragged exhale. She took a just as ragged inhale before she spoke on the exhale, "Oh, buddy." Impulsively she hugged him against her, only thinking afterward that maybe she should have asked first. Then she dismissed the thought, she didn't care and he didn't seem to mind because he shoved his face against her chest while one arm tentatively hugged around her.

Of course, he was still sniffling so maybe his intent was only to use her shirt as a tissue but she didn't care about that either. She would take what she could get and she had just been given a huge gift of trust. A snotty t-shirt meant nothing in comparison.

"See? I told you. You're a smart kid. A perfect little guy who is so amazingly brave. I'm just amazed by how brave you are." Annie kept her arms around him as her voice came out lightly raspy, "You're such a smart kid. Thank you for talking to me." She touched her chin to his head, feeling the soft hair brush her skin. "Especially after the morning we've had. The morning you've had. I wouldn't have expected you to chose now to start talking." She used her shoulder to wipe at her watery eyes. "But I'm so glad you did." She gave him another light squeeze. "You have no idea." Annie sat for just a few moments, rocking Loki with small side-to-side motions, her eyes closed as she breathed in the smell of him. Taking a deep breath she opened her eyes while smiling softly.

Loki lay against her chest, he was still taking shuddery breaths and sniffing so she leaned them both forward so she could grab the box of tissues from the coffee table. Using one hand she pulled one out and wiped at his eyes that were still tearing then his nose. He let her with no fight.

Tossing it carelessly onto the couch beside her she settled back, holding him against her within both arms. "Thor is going to be so happy when he gets back. He'll be so proud of you." Annie leaned her head slightly so she could see more of Loki's face.

He was holding Hulk and Thor under his chin, his fingers slowly flexing into the fabric. His tears had stopped and she could feel him relaxing against her. The hand that was around her grasped at her shirt, fingering the fabric while occasionally rubbing against her back.

"I'm going to tell you again because I want you to believe me, I'm really proud of you. I told you you're really brave." She gave his back gentle rubs. "And you only have to be brave for a little while longer. Thor went to talk with someone about getting this collar off you and then you'll be safe." Annie thought a moment before speaking as she was thinking, "Then you'll go back to being yourself. Your adult self." She gave him another slight squeeze without realizing it while lowering her head once more, this time resting her cheek against the top of his head. "You'll be all grown up." Her voice was soft, "And Thor says you'll have your magic back. And you won't need me to keep you safe, you'll be able to do that all by yourself." She raised a hand momentarily to rub at her eyes, "I guess you guys will leave then."

Annie continued rocking Loki as she thought about Loki and Thor leaving. Soon if Thor was able to make arrangements for the collar to be removed. Already she was feeling a sense of loss, she would miss him. Them. She would miss them both. Even though it had only been a weekend she knew they had made a huge impact on her life and she would never forget the experience. She could only hope that Loki would still have his memories of her once he turned back into an adult. She hoped that she had been able to offer him something that he would take with him where ever he went. 

Loki let out a deep breath and turned his face towards Annie's chest before letting it all out again as he once more set his chin on Hulk and Thor. His head rested against her, leaning heavily as if he were completely relaxed. His breathing was slowing back to normal, now only the occasional shuddering breath shaking his little body.

Annie snugged him up closer to her. "Maybe you'll come back to see me sometime, huh? Hang out together or something." She gently rocked side to side, a smile slipping onto her face. "You spoke, buddy." She knew no matter how much time went by she would never forget the moment he had spoken. "You're doing such a great job. In no time you'll be free and able to go wherever you want."

There was a knock at the door, heavy and insistent. 

Annie's thoughts jumped to the fear of those two people who were looking for Thor. She wondered if they had returned and found them. Getting up while keeping Loki in her arms she carefully walked to the door, trying to avoid the floorboards that creaked and squeaked. She listened for a moment then looked through the peephole. With relief, she unlocked and opened the door to see Thor standing on the other side.