You're Always You

Chapter Fifty-Four

Lydia Petrov

The following day, bright and early in the morning, David told Lydia that he got a text from his mother. Something about needing help moving some furniture around. Lydia wasn't quite certain, but she merely ignored it and gave a nod after David gave his reasoning.

Therefore, after a quick breakfast, Lydia kissed David goodbye with a smile and told him to text when he was done.

It wasn't as though Lydia really had anything else to do, aside from sitting around and waiting for him. She already was proactive on cleaning when things were dirty, which meant she didn't have much to... do.

Lydia ended up lying down on the couch on her phone to poke around for something productive to do not only online, but in her life. Specifically, career hunting.

David had mentioned that in another life, Lydia was on broadway. Which sounded wonderful... but getting that kind of career after being a stripper... Lydia didn't know if that was possible. What if she was scrutinized? Did people... really look that close on broadway performers?

Lydia didn't know.

However the fact she was lying on the couch thinking about the possibility of her being on broadway... it made her a little bit giddy.

Therefore, when she got a text from David, she was already happy.

Hey Baby. Come unlock the door - I left my keys inside.

Lydia rolled off of the couch with a happy smile and set her phone on the couch. She stepped over to the apartment door. Easily, Lydia unlocked the bolt and pulled open the door. Though, she blinked her eyes in a few times in surprise seeing Loki, the... supposed hair stylist standing on the other side.

"Lydia!"

The woman slammed the door closed.

Though, Loki seemed to easily open the door once she unlocked the bolt. And, unfortunately, Loki was much stronger than her on keeping the door closed. "I really don't want to break the door," Loki said with a chuckle, letting himself inside much like he had last time.

...

"You shouldn't be here," Lydia said, crossing her arms.

"Technically in this reality, you shouldn't be here either." Loki pointed out with a cocky grin. "I'm pretty sure you're supposed to be with Richard for another... seven or so years until you die from a not-so-accidental push down the stairs from your beloved."

...

"Richard...?"

Loki chuckled and snapped his fingers. "Well technically that's supposed to be your beloved here. You don't even bat another eye at David. So, don't give me this 'you shouldn't be here' argument."

...

Lydia decided to stay silent, crossing her arms somewhat. "...Why are you here? David isn't here." She mumbled softly.

"Well, I'm here for you." Loki said confidently. "Come along, let's have a seat." Loki said, steering Lydia towards the couch as if this was his home.

...

Yet, Lydia went along with him. Loki sat down on one couch and she made her way over to the other couch, sitting down next to her phone that she abandoned. Briefly, Lydia debated about using her phone to call the police or David.

...But Lydia also knew that it was futile, if this was somehow a god.

"Wise choice," Loki said with a chuckle, kicking up his feet. "Anyway, I'm feeling a little bit generous." Loki said with a hum, tapping his fingers against his stomach in thought.

"...Generous about?"

Pointing his finger towards the front door, Loki nodded his head. "David right now is out there on the hunt for me because he wants to go home. His home - the real one. Not this one." Loki gestured around the apartment.

Lydia glanced down briefly, masking the pinch of pain it made before looking back up towards Loki, though a slight frown was on her face. "He's with his mother right now," Lydia told him.

Loki chuckled. "I sent him out on a goose chase for me, but you believe what you want." The god corrected with a slight wave of his hand. "Anyway, I'm not here for him. I'm here for you. Because I'm feeling generous." Loki explained. "I told Davie boy there that if he can 'fix' everything, he can come back home." Leaning forward, Loki leaned against his elbows. "But I'm feeling generous, and I thought I'd let you decide that. You can decide if he goes back home or if he stays here until he dies. With you, of course." Rolling his eyes, Loki shrugged his shoulders. "I already changed the fate of this reality. I might as well just fuck it up some more."

...

Lydia blinked her eyes, though she stared over at Loki with a bit of a dry mouth. "...What?" She mumbled eventually.

"Sorry, I forget the smaller IQ of strippers." Loki said, rolling his eyes in annoyance. "Let me make it short and simple. Do you want David to stay here or go back to his world." Leaning back in frustration against the couch, Loki gave a huff. "Here I am being generous and letting you pick."

Lydia decided to ignore the jab at strippers and shook her head somewhat, rubbing at her face. "I... I mean... why is it on me?"

"Because I felt like it."

...

Lydia glanced down at her lap, furrowing her eyebrows together. She didn't know the reason for why Loki was sitting here letting her make a decision like this... but... Lydia also wished for it to not be in her hands, either.

A decision like this altered not only her future but David's future... forever.

Plus, Lydia was scared. She was scared of what would happen to her when he was gone. She was scared of being alone. Because even if in the other world that Lydia has friends and family, she didn't. Lydia didn't have Richie anymore. She didn't have her parents or siblings, for that matter. Lydia no longer had a job or a home of her own. Lydia had Monica, Sasha, and Sam she supposed... but that was it. The only thing Lydia had here was David and a track record as an abused stripper.

...Lydia didn't want to picture David gone.

Yet, at the same time, David was out there searching for a way... home. His home. To his wife. Away from this Lydia. David didn't want to be here, Lydia knew that. She could feel that, even if he did care about her.

Going home... it was what David wanted.

Lydia wanted to be selfish and open her mouth to make David stay here to Loki. If that happened, the deal would be done. Lydia could consider that other Lydia dead. It would just be her and David.

But the guilt of being the one that kept David here... the one that might make him unhappy from not being able to go home. Even if he blamed Loki.

...It would still be on her.

David, he... he didn't want to be here. He wanted to leave. And if he was gone, Lydia would be... left here. Alone. With... nothing.

Having no one.

It was between David going home and being happy to Lydia being selfish and happy.

At least if David went home, he would be happy. Beyond happy. Lydia heard the stories. She saw those pictures. That Lydia belonged with David. Not... this one. This one... she belonged with Richard. Killed, rather, murdered in seven years.

But between now and then, what did Lydia really have to live for? She had nothing to her name. No one to love or that loved her, anymore.

...Maybe those seven years could get cut short. David would be happy and Lydia wouldn't even feel sadness at that rate. She would feel... nothing. Emptiness, really.

...

"Send him home."