Bend Around the Wind by Scyllaya

Chapter 51: Hear my Friend, I am Silent

Chapter Fifty-One

Hear my friend, I am silent

Milky Way Galaxy

Tilnast System

Planet Sarka

Loki left Stark sleeping in their bed. He dressed quietly and headed back into the cargo hold. When he got there Drongo was sitting on a large crate, fully dressed in winter clothes now, and Hatchet was comfortably lounging on a different box not that far away from him, scribbling some things on a piece of paper.

'Thank you for staying here, Drongo,' Loki said when he was close enough.

'It was no bother,' the giant replied and stood up, stretching lazily. 'Juyu stayed for a while too, but she decided to check up on her sister not that long ago.'

'Get some rest, eat something,' Loki said. 'I have things under control.'

'He's annoying, but he did not make any trouble,' Drongo told him before he left. Hatchet smirked at that, obviously listening to their conversation.

'So, was he jealous?' Hatchet asked once it was only the two of them. Loki hummed noncommittally in answer, but it still made the elf smile up at him. 'You're welcome,' he said cheekily. Right, of course.

Loki walked up behind him, slid his hands down on his shoulders, and dug in his fingers... hard. Hatchet winced and straightened up right away. He leaned closer without loosening his grip one bit.

'Don't play games with him,' he warned in a quiet but stern tone.

'Aye, my prince,' Hatchet said, glancing at him from the corner of his eye. 'As you wish.'

Loki nodded and let go of him. Hatchet rolled his shoulders and glared at him half-heartedly. Then he kept looking at him, searchingly, trying to put everything together and figure out the situation.

'He's not just a lover, isn't he?' he asked then.

'No,' Loki answered simply. Hatchet kept looking at him for a moment, then his eyes widened just a little in realization.

'It's serious, isn't it? Not even just a little. This is completely serious.'

'Yes, it is,' Loki said. It was best to make things clear as soon as possible.

'Loki, he's mortal-'

'Not a word,' Loki interrupted him with a look. Hatchet knew better than to start arguing. He looked away. It took him a few moments to digest the news.

'Oh, that's... huh, I was not expecting that... that's like... whoa... uhm... that is splendid, truly. Wonderful news... and uh... sorry then I guess,' he settled on finally. 'I'll behave from now on.'

'You're not really good at that,' Loki replied right away. Hatchet huffed out a laugh.

'No, but I can make an honest effort. It makes me considerably less annoying.'

That was certainly true. Loki just hoped it was going to be enough to keep things peaceful between Hatchet and the crew and most importantly Stark.

Hatchet stood up and held out the piece of paper he was writing on up until now.

'I wrote down how much you can expect to get for the things you have. I assume you don't want to sell any of the alyndor though.'

'Of course not,' Loki agreed and took the paper.

'I wrote down the lowest selling price, if they offer less than that, you just tell them to shove it up their asses. If the zeDat tries to be stingy, jut let me know and I can get you other buyers. But corporate guy saw now that you have an inside man, so they probably won't try to screw you over again.'