Of Numbers and Strange Friendships

Chapter 10

Peter's tears eventually dried and he started to look embarrassed. Loki couldn't have that. There was no need for him to be embarrassed over having emotions. Loki smirked at him. "So which Midgardian pastime would you like to enjoy this afternoon. Fighting creatures? Silly animated movies?" Loki asked, sounding put-upon and bored, though they both knew it was an act. He wanted to spend the afternoon with Peter and wanted to make sure the arachnid was feeling better. He'd missed his friend while he'd been gone and he was worried that Peter had been in the hospital of all places.

If Loki had anything to say about that, he wasn't going to let that happen ever ever again.

He would convince Aunt May to let him help Peter.

He would.

No matter what it took.

He wouldn't let Peter suffer.

So he summoned the screen to play old Disney movies and he and Peter sat against the headboard, playing Pokemon on Peter's legit Gameboy and Loki's cloned one while they watched the movie.

Both of them tried not to tear up at the little blue alien's line "Ohana means family and family means no one gets left behind or forgotten,"

Both of them failed.

Miserably.

And Loki remembered that Peter had faced more loss than anyone his age should ever have to. About halfway through the second movie. Some Shakespearean remake with lions in which Loki too closely identified with the villain, the kid fell asleep. He obviously hadn't intended to, but Loki could tell he still wasn't feeling well from the medication that had landed him in the hospital.

Loki checked to make sure he was asleep and that Aunt May wasn't bursting in at that moment. Then he did something that he would never admit. He let his hand shimmer to Jotun blue and placed it against the teen's burning forehead. Peter sighed in relief and sank further into much-needed sleep. Not at all thanks to Loki's magic.

At least not that Loki would ever tell him.

Loki stood from the bed and covered the teen with a blanket, making sure his friend would get some real restful sleep. It was the best he could do for the moment. Until he spoke with Aunt May.

While the silly Midgardians may have considered it unmanly to take care of his friend in such a way, where Loki came from there was no shame in embracing fellow warriors. There was no shame or fear in the mind of the warrior male. You fought side by side with them and were not ashamed to relax together. Platonically of course. Which is all Loki's friendship with Peter would ever be. Even if they were close. It just wasn't like that. Would never be like that.

He slipped from the room after he was sure Peter would sleep peacefully.

Aunt May looked up from the couch when Loki entered the room. "How is he? Is he alright?" She asks concerned.

Loki gave her a warm smile. "He is just fine. He fell asleep, so I was going to take my leave so he may rest. However, there is something I wished to bring up to you. Especially as he is still... underage?" He questioned the word, unsure if it was the correct one.

Aunt May looked understandably wary. "You want to ask... my permission for something?" She confirmed what Loki was looking for.

He gave her a tentative nod. "Peter explained what has ailed him," Loki started and paused, searching for the right words to get what he wanted, to be able to help his friend. "I dislike seeing my friend so ill. I know you do not usually approve of magical solutions to problems. And I would not wish to make you uncomfortable. But I thought, perhaps for his sake, you might be willing to make an exception. He explained that his future is filled with more medication and a painful surgery that still will not completely correct that his body was born incorrectly for his mind," Loki steeled himself, knowing Aunt May didn't particularly care for magic, and yet this was important. He shifted to Lady Loki in front of her. "I understand Peter's condition more than you may have been aware, as I am neither male nor female, but can change between the two as I see fit due to my magic," she changed back to the Loki Aunt May properly knew.