A Tale of Mischief and Mutants

Self Defense Lessons

—-Sam—-

When we arrive home Vili is once again at the door to greet us. Mary gets on the floor with the snake and begins petting her now comfortable with her. Loki and I carefully avoid stepping on Vili as we make our way past the two into the house. Mary gets off the floor and follows us now holding the snake. She plops herself down on the couch and takes out her phone.

"Should I book an evening flight or a morning flight?"

I sit down beside her and begin stroking Vili.

"Whichever's fine."

"Morning it is."

Loki takes a seat next to me.

"What time?"

"10:00 AM"

I lean into Loki and he inhales sharply. I look at his face he smiles he would fool anyone else with that but I can see it's off, he's hiding something. I pull up his sleeve remembering the bruises from my nightmare. They're bad they look worse than they looked when they were fresh. I don't remember when I got them myself.

It must have been at some point during my kidnapping but I don't remember that specific injury among everything else I had endured. I feel like I have some chunks of my memory blocked out. The fact that I remember what I remembered in the dream kinda scares me. If I remember that what worse happened that my mind decided I couldn't cope with it?

"Lo'..."

"I'm alright mortal."

I'm not convinced and it must show. I know he doesn't want me to but I have the urge to take the bruises. He seems to know exactly what I'm thinking. He looks at me sternly.

"I will not allow you to take them. Don't try it."

He looks at me sharply in warning it's all a show. His tone of voice is the same condescending and sharp tone he only uses with me when he's scared. They must hurt him a lot and he doesn't want me to feel that. He's afraid I'll take them without his consent to.

Mary looks a little upset by his tone she doesn't understand he doesn't mean it. I know what it's like when someone means it and what's going on right now is a far cry from that kind or really any kind of abuse. A bit confusing to others but at the end of the day harmless to our relationship.

Though we haven't exactly had a conversation about it I think it's safe to say we both understand it's a coping mechanism he uses, just a bad habit, nothing more. I nod submitting to his demand. Not because of his tone, but because of the fear I know is hidden beneath it. Loki's the kind of man that seeks control when he's afraid so I'll let him have that.

"Alright."

I kiss him on the cheek he flinches from it fearing I'll go back on my word. I don't and he smiles slightly at this. I smile too he's really sweet for barring those bruises for me.

"I love you."

His smile widens and he pulls me closer to himself with his good arm. He kisses me back in response then holds me there for a moment. Mary looks like she feels out of place she doesn't understand what exactly is happening. I don't want her to be worried by any of this we're completely fine just a bit unorthodox. I suddenly get an idea.

"Hey Mary have you had any combat training yet?"

Mary looks at me nervously likely completely forgetting the situation at hand to wonder why I'm bringing this up.

"N-no... why?"

I smile.

"Because, can I show you a couple things?"