My Friend Loki: Strange Magic

Chapter 21

While at work, still remembering the fantastic time I had at The Plaza, with Loki, Thor and the members of the Initiative, I got a text from Thor.

Yet again, the Initiative was called in for another assignment.

Shrugging my shoulders, I texted him back:

"Understood. Be safe."

Concerned that they had been called in as it was getting closer to the official holidays, I was aware crime and mayhem never took a break. In fact, it just got worse during these times...

I offered a silent prayer to anyone who may have been listening for my dear friend and the Initiative to be successful, and come home safe.

Then I got back to work.

****

Just like October, I continued to immerse myself in mundane reality, short of practicing my part for the Winter Party. I made every attempt to stave off those usual worrisome thoughts and prayed that my mischievous friend would not show up earlier than a day before the event. But as before, days were passing quickly...

Then, all of a sudden, I began to have anxiety attacks - but had no idea why. While I understood anything could be a trigger, I hadn't suffered from many attacks after my recovery from being shot in that mall in New York. One night I was feeling particularly overwhelmed and I ended up sleeping on the couch in the living room for comfort.

It was then, the day after when I came home after work, which was a Thor's Day - I mean Thursday - when I got a text from Thor:

"Initiative has returned. Loki is in the Med Centre, but soon will be discharged to his quarters. He's injured - not in any serious danger, but he needs you."

I texted back:

"Then come get me. Open the portal now."

****

Emerging through the portal into the auxiliary SHIELD facility, Thor was waiting for me. I gave him a big hug then asked the obvious question, "what happened?"

"I'll tell you on the way. As you know, I can't tell you much, but you can talk to Doctor Lowenstein after so he can clarify the details."

"I intend to," I promised.

What he could tell me was that it took place in an electronics assembly plant. Once the team got what they came for to complete the mission, something went wrong, and they had to punch their way out of it.

During the battle, and it was quite the mishap, Loki fell into a large bin of miscellaneous electronic parts. Seconds after, he started to cry out in pain. At first, they all thought it was a joke, but knew better, when, between his cries of anguish, he told them he wasn't able to physically climb out of the bin. Thor had to retrieve him.

They took some scans of the contents of the bin for Doctor Lowenstein to study. During their trip back to the facility, a brief assessment revealed there were some raised bumps on Loki's back, with a few near his spine, which looked like small nodules.

"Wait," I said, starting to worry, "are you telling me Loki can't walk?"

"Oh, he can walk," Thor assured. "Whatever happened in that bin only temporary paralyzed him. However, because of those things on his back, some movements cause him discomfort."

"Beverlee?" A familiar voice spoke from an adjoining corridor.

Turning around, there stood Sasha and Minerva. Two people who were part of the Initiative, but also friends who had looked after me when I was recovering from my injuries from that mall incident. We embraced one another warmly.