Man Clad in Green

Chapter Four

He's decided that my cottage is the place he is going to use as a hideout. I'm hiding a criminal in my home. That thought alone almost drives me insane. The other fact that it's Loki drives me to the brink of insanity. It's only been a few days and we haven't run into each other. I feel his presence though. I feel the same tidal wave of emotions as I felt in that military base.

Mandy called earlier today, asked how I was doing. I told her I was fine. I wanted to tell her that a crazy lunatic that just so happened to be the guy in my dream was forcing me to house him, but I didn't think she'd believe me. Besides, what was she going to do? Call the police? I'm pretty sure Loki could take care of some lowly police officers.

I don't know how long he's planning to stay, but I hope it's soon.

Cordelia heard footsteps approaching her room, so she stuffed her journal back into her drawer. She waited until the footsteps stopped in front of her door and a faint knocking could be heard. Was Loki seeking her out? She took deep breaths. She wasn't prepared for this. Maybe she could meet him out there.

She quickly shuffled to the door. Before she could place her hand on it, the door was opened. Loki was on the other side, not looking particularly amused.

"I don't have all day to be waiting for your answer. I need to speak with you." His words were crisp and to the point. Not usual for him. He liked to joke and be vague. It's what irritated her about him. Well, that was one of many things about him.

She folded her arms across her chest. "Alright, let's talk in the kitchen."

He huffed, irritated to prolong what he wanted to say. Midgardians were so irritating, he thought.

Cordelia poured herself a glass of sweet tea before she sat down at the small table. Loki sat across from her. He folded his hands and placed them neatly on the worn, wooden surface.

"I was imprisoned as you realized. My captors are a group of fools that refer to themselves as the 'Avengers'." He seemed to be thinking about how to phrase his words. Cordelia, however, took this as her turn to reply.

"Yes, I remember seeing something about them on the television. They were in New York and they had saved the world from a crazy guy?"

Loki's eyebrow rose and Cordelia almost slapped herself. That's why he was imprisoned! He was the one that let all of those aliens invade earth!

A warmth spread across Cordelia's cheeks. She didn't want to further her embarrassment, so she shut her mouth.

Loki smirked, finding her embarrassment amusing. "Yes, yes. Indeed 'crazy'."

He unfolded his hands and placed them on his lap. He seemed a bit fidgety. Another weird habit she did not imagine he did often.

He took a deep breath and spoke once more. "They will be tracking me down. It is for the best that I stay down low. We do not need to alert anyone, which is why I am forbidding you from leaving this house."

It popped open like a lid. Her anger surged through her like a tidal wave. It came faster and greater than last time. She felt it pour out of her finger tips.

"What gives you the right to order me around? Why am I the one involved in this? What have I ever done to you? Why will you not leave?"

A daring smirk stayed glued onto his features. It made her new found anger boil.

"You frighten me, my dear. Do try and take your anger down. I wouldn't want you to frighten me."

She huffed, crossing her arms. She hated how vulnerable she was. How she could do nothing in this situation. She wanted to blast his head off his shoulders. She wanted him gone. She wanted a normal life.

"I stopped wishing for that a long time ago." Loki said.

She slammed her hands down onto the table. "Don't reading my mind!"

He only chuckled at her anger. She wanted it to boil even further. She wanted it to drive her to actually hurt him. But nothing happened. In fact, she felt more and more drained as she held onto it.

She crossed her arms again. She stayed silent this time. She opted to not give him any fuel. She was too drained to be angry anymore. Though she still felt it just at the surface, ready to erupt again.

He eyed her. His eyes stayed ever amused at her.

"I don't need you running around, telling every one about the man staying at your house. You will stay here. You will not contact any one. Simple."

"I have a job. I can't just not show up. I'll get fired. And eventually, people will come to my door." She countered.

He rolled his eyes, "Midgardian jobs do not concern me. I don't care if you get 'fired'. As for the people coming to your door, I shall take care of them."

She narrowed her eyes. "So, I'm just supposed to stay holed up in here until you see fit?"

"Is that not what you have been doing all this time, my dear?" He smirked at her.

She took a long sip of her tea and avoided his eyes. She was pretty sure it was time for bed. It might be some time in the afternoon, but she didn't care. She wanted to sleep for eternity if it meant never seeing him again.

They sat at the table for some time. They spoke no more words. Cordelia drank her tea and Loki planned out his next move.
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Cordelia lay in her bed that night. It was late and her eyes were wide open. She couldn't even consider sleep. She tried to shut her eyes, but she couldn't stop thinking. Would the dream be worse now that he was here? Would it go away? Maybe he'll make it worse...

The thoughts plagued her mind. What would he do? He could make them much worse, now that he was so close.

Stop worrying about this, her mind told her.

She heaved a great sigh and shut her eyes. She tried to will her mind to empty itself. She tried to think of something else.

Her parents maybe?

No, she didn't even know what they looked like. It was odd. She remembered being a child, but her parents were a picture that didn't fit the puzzle of her memories.

They hadn't even contacted her. She hadn't spoken to them since.. Well, she can't ever remember speaking to them. It was like a chunk of her life was just gone. Like it was never there.

Her head pounded. Okay, let's not think of my parents, her mind reasoned.

She squeezed her eyes, though she knew it wouldn't help anything. Maybe she should just think of the good times. That day her and Mandy first walked in the cafe. It was a warm day. Such a warm day.

She felt much more relaxed. Her eyes relented from their straining. She could feel sleep calling to her then. So, she continued to think about that day until her brain shut down and she could feel the warm embrace of sleep calling to her.