My Friend Loki: Strange Magic

Chapter 17

Once Strange had taken his leave, I got out of bed and wrapped a blanket around myself. Walking over to open the connecting door, I entered Loki's room. Like yesterday, I found him still in slumber and yet again, the expression on his face was so sweet. I really didn't want to wake him. 

However, I was almost bursting at the seams wanting to tell him the good news, and I knew Doctor Strange wouldn't want us to keep him waiting for too long.

Gently stroking his hair, I spoke softly, "Loki, wake up."

His eyes fluttered open, and as soon as they focused, he smiled, "good morning, Beverlee." He grasped my hand and pulled me to sit down on the bed beside him, "by the look on your face, it appears this is going to be another good day."

I looked at him with affection, "indeed."

"Anything sore from yesterday's... horseplay?" he asked quietly, eyeing my legs with concern, then looking up at me.

"I love it when you're... 'jockey-lar'," I smirked, touching his cheek. "I'm a little sore, but it's manageable."

****

After telling Loki I had secured an audition with the organizer of the event, followed by giving each other a high-five, we both proceeded to get refreshed and dressed. When ready, Loki entered my room, and together we touched the doorknob on the main door.

Immediately we were in the kitchen!

"You finally made it," Doctor Strange said, sitting at a round table with another individual who was Asian. "The foods for breakfast are over there on the sideboard. Help yourself, and join us. By the way, this my friend Wong, another Mystic Master."

Loki and I greeted Wong with a nod, then walked over to the area where the sideboard was. There was a bowl of fruit, a tray of scrambled eggs, another with strips of bacon. A few varieties of bread were available in a clear air-tight container with a choice of spreads - and a toaster. There was also a large elegant teapot with matching cups.

As per our conversation in the diner yesterday, Strange wasn't kidding - it all looked and smelled delicious. We choose a little bit of everything to put on our plates. I wanted to also get a cup of tea, but upon seeing how ornate that teapot was, it made me nervous...

"Loki," I whispered, "I'd like some tea, but I'm afraid if I heft that pot, I'm going to drop it and it will break..."

"Allow me," Loki said with a happy-to-help smile, then with a wave of his hand, the pot lifted into the air, and tipped just enough to begin pouring into one of the cups. "Say when," he chuckled.

"Thank you," I grinned, then took my cup.

"Loki," Doctor Strange spoke, "if you don't mind, we could use refills over here too. Would you please?"

The request took Loki by surprise and by the look on his face he was more than conflicted. I was almost certain he thought Strange was attempting to make him feel like he was some trained monkey or tea boy to 'serve the Mystic Masters' - but I had an inkling this was not the case.

Still holding my plate and cup, I took a step closer to Loki and looked up at him with the most encouraging smile I could muster. Keeping my voice low enough for only him to hear - although if the others heard, at least I would hope they would understand, "this isn't subservience. Show them what you can do."

"I don't have to prove anything to them," Loki growled.

"No, you don't," I agreed, shaking my head in assent. "This is about being yourself."

He glanced at Doctor Strange and Wong, then back to me, with a hesitant look in his blue-green eyes.

I answered him with a look of assurance in mine.