My Friend Loki: Strange Magic

Chapter 23

Although Loki was sleeping soundly on my lap, I knew he couldn't stay in this position. Bodies, including his, I had learned, naturally change positions several times during long-term slumber.

And I was actually waiting for it to happen.

Being at the facility, I soon realized it would allow me to run some errands for the sake of my friend.

After twenty or so minutes, Loki stirred in his sleep and attempted to shift his position. I had to be careful because I couldn't have him lying on his back - it might jolt him awake.

Slowly I removed my hand from his back and closed the flap with the Velcro enclosure. Taking my time, I extricated myself from the pillows on my lap, but still held them up as if they still were, then slowly lowered them on the mattress. For a few minutes, I didn't move and waited to see what would happen next.

To my relief, Loki simply adjusted his position with the pillows, and the expression of comfort had remained on his face.

Taking the pillows I had been laying against from the headboard, I placed them on either side near his back, just in case his next shift was in one of those directions.

The last thing was to get off the bed without disturbing him. However, the bed was large and the mattress was firm - as I got closer to the edge, my motions became more isolated with less chance to wake him.

As I made it off the mattress, it suddenly occurred to me...

Loki was sleeping in a king-sized bed.

Somehow I wasn't surprised and couldn't help but smile to myself.

Then I took a moment to take in Loki's quarters.

They were very well kept but rather spartan. There were a few chairs for lounging along with an entertainment unit for a living area, a computer console on a desk with an office chair as a work area, a table and chairs for dining along with a basic kitchenette and of course, there was the bedroom.

I looked forward to seeing these rooms in more detail upon my return, as well as locating the washroom.

Before I left, I wrote a note. While I hoped my friend would only awaken when I returned, as he'd have to let me back in, if he did before then, I knew how he'd fret, thinking he'd done something wrong if he found me gone without having said goodbye.

****

Just as I closed the door of Loki's quarters quietly behind me, I ran into Blitz, another member of the Initiative.

"Princess?" he looked at me with pleasant surprise. "You sure came quick."

"Well, Loki needed me..." I began to explain. "Wait, did you just call me 'Princess?'"

"Yes, I did."

"Why?"

"Loki and Thor are both princes from Asgard, weren't you aware of that?"

"Well, yes, but, I don't see the relevance. I'm no princess - far from it."

"Well, others would tend to think differently. Like... the person who resides in the quarters you just left."

"Blitz..." I said, "I appreciate the flattery, but, I don't have time for this right now, I have to go find Doctor Lowenstein."

"Is Loki all right?"

"He's fine, considering what he's dealing with. At the moment he's sleeping peacefully. I just have some questions to ask."

"Well, when you're done, feel free to join us at the cafeteria, we should be there for a while."