Coffee and Books 2

Loki's view - scene 2

(This scene corresponds with chapter 3 of 'Coffee & Books')

Loki stands before the high windows in the apartment. Outside, way below him, the streets of New York crawl with people. Puny mortals with short lifespans, living their lives oblivious of their petty state. He twists the metal cuffs at his wrists, wishing with all his heart he could pry them off. The skin under the metal is red and sore from his constant fidgeting and scratching at the damned things. He has barely enough magic to heal up the wounds when he draws blood. Last time he needed to heal a particular large gash his arm turned blue because of the drain of magic.

Loki lets his head fall back with a sigh. He needs distraction. Now. Behind him in the turning chair is the last book he read, a work about Roman mythology. But he has read every book in the apartment already. "I want to go out," he says without turning from the window.

"You know it's not that easy, Loki." The sounds of the television change to a repetitive tune when Thor pauses his video game. The leather of the couch creaks as the big warrior shifts in his seat to look at his brother. "You are not allowed to wander the streets of New York."

"Then why bother getting me out of that prison? This is just another glass cage!" Loki slams his fist against the window.

"Why don't we go for a coffee?" Heimdall suggests calmly, putting his newspaper down. The thin paper rustles when Heimdall folds it up. "That bookstore you always order from has a coffee shop next door, we can go there. It's just down the block, we won't even need the car."

Loki frowns at Heimdall's willingness to make up an outing for him, though if it gives him a chance to go outside, he'll take it. Even better if they can just walk there. The traffic on Midgard is terrible, especially in the city. Loki hates being stuck inside the tin can that they call a car here, waiting to drive a couple of feet and then wait again.

He takes a deep breath when they set foot outside the lobby of Stark Tower. The air smells like car gasses, greasy street food, human sweat and garbage, but it still beats sitting inside all day staring out of his glass aquarium.

It's a short walk to the coffee shop. 'Coffee & Books' it says in big curly letters on the shop window, above a logo of a coffee cup on top of a stack of books. Next door is the bookstore where he orders his books, the two spaces separated from each other by a glass wall with a door in it.

A bell above the front door tingles when he walks through behind Thor and Heimdall. Loki stops to look around; the place is filled with mismatched furniture, books scattered across the tables. Not all the tables are occupied, but it's clear this coffee shop is well visited by patrons. It has a vibe that the mortals would probably call 'homey' or some other cosy term. Most guests came in pairs or small groups, chatting with each other as they drink their coffee or other hot beverages. Those who came alone are mostly reading, or tapping mindlessly at their smartphones.

"I didn't hear you come in, sir... er... your highness?" Loki catches the stumbling words of the mortal behind the counter. It's the same girl as from the lobby at Stark Tower. It seems like Thor has managed to scare the girl again, she must have the nerves of a mouse.

His brother and Heimdall take a seat at the counter and place their order. The coffee machine grinds the beans and the strong smell of fresh coffee drifts over to Loki, rousing him from his pensive state.

Behind the glass wall is the bookstore and inside he can see a tall man with blond hair that's slowly losing its colour. The man is helping a customer at the register, handing the woman a book wrapped in brown paper. He suspects it's the owner, a man named Lars Frederikson; they have spoken on the phone once.

Loki walks over to the bookstore and is immediately greeted by the man. "Good morning, sir. What can I do for you?"

"Good morning. I'm Loki Odinson, we've spoken on the phone before."

"Ah, yes! The gentleman who lives at Stark Tower. Nice to meet you, sir!" Frederikson shakes his hand warmly. "How nice of you to visit."

"I thought I would come see the store that has brought me so many great books already." Being nice to humans isn't high on Loki's list, but this man has helped keep his boredom at bay for many months now. As soon as he was allowed books in his cell, Loki had asked Heimdall to order books for him. After a few orders, the bookstore had added a list of reading suggestions with each new purchase. Loki had soon found out that Frederikson's tips were worth checking out.

"You are very welcome!" Frederikson says friendly. Would you like a tour?"

The store isn't that big, so Loki doubts it is worth a tour. Nevertheless, the owner is pretty tolerable for a human and it's actually nice to talk to someone new. "Of course. Show me what you've got!"

Frederikson briefly shows him the different sections of the bookstore - it has a relatively large section of mythology books - before taking him to the back of the store. The glass cabinets catch Loki's interest. Inside are old books, most of them first editions. The Midgardian books aren't as old as some of the texts they had in the Royal Library on Asgard, but Loki's heart warms a little at the sight of the well-loved leather thomes.

Frederikson quickly catches on that his customer shares his love for old books and opens the cabinets to show Loki the books up close. His most prized possessions are some old editions of a Midgardian playwright called Shakespeare, although Frederikson is also fond of an old illustrated thome with Norse myths.

"I haven't read anything of Shakespeare yet," Loki tells the bookstore owner. "Is there a story you would recommend?"

"Oh, there are so many! Shakespeare wrote some beautiful poems about love, might that be of your interest?"

Loki smirks. "Not in particular. I hope he also wrote about some more exciting topics?"

Frederikson looks at him for a second and then he laughs. "Shakespeare also loved him some murder and family drama's. Is that a better fit for you?"

"Sounds like it is right up my alley."

Loki leaves the store with a new copy of 'Hamlet'. Thor and Heimdall are still sitting at the counter, talking to that Little Wolf girl and a young man. Loki has no interest in joining them, so he takes a seat in a classic brown leather armchair in the back of the coffee shop, away from people. There is a brown couch of the same make next to the chair, but those are literally the only pieces of furniture that seem to belong together in the entire room. The large chair is actually quite comfortable and it takes him little to no effort to tune out the sound of people talking around him. The coffee shop may have shabby looking furniture, but its acoustics are great.

Immersed in his book, Loki finds himself at peace, something he doesn't experience that often these days. It was nice talking to the owner of the bookstore and his recommendation of 'Hamlet' was again to the point. With a good book and a comfortable chair Loki is content for now.

He smells her sickly sweet perfume before her high voice pierces his ears, ripping him from his book. His calm feeling is gone immediately.

"Good morning, sir! Can I get you something to drink? I can also recommend our muffins, they're the finest in New York!" The girl rattles at hyper speed. Her eyes are heavily made up, as well as the rest of her face. She's very young, trying to look older.

"Get that hideous smell away from me!" Loki hisses at the mortal who disturbed him. "It's a perfume, you shouldn't bathe in it!"

"I'm sorry, sir?" the girl stammers, looking at him wide eyed.

"Quit yapping!" Loki snaps at her. "Go back to whatever whorehouse you came from, you mewling quim!"

The girl turns on her heels and practically runs back to the counter, where her colleague Little Wolf comforts her. Thor also comes to her aid, no surprise there.

Irritated, Loki closes his book in his lap. If he would think rationally, the girl had done little wrong. She just chose the one moment he had found some quiet in his mind to disturb him with her meaningless presence; and for that he resented her deeply. That, and her sickly sweet perfume that now clung in his nostrils.

Author's note: Art by Alex5228 on DeviantArt.