Working Title : Loki & Annie

Chapter 34 - Wal-Mart People

A small closet had been converted into a tiny laundry room with a stacked washer and dryer. It was near the kitchen which made it easy for Annie to bring them over to get them going in a load. She left the door open because she didn't always hear the buzzer with the door closed then started on cleaning the kitchen. She was doing a quick wipe down of the counters when Thor came back out of their room, Loki in his arms, wrapped in the red cape.

He laid the boy on the couch so that Loki could see into the kitchen, resting his head on a decorative pillow. There was affection in Thor's actions as he made sure the cape was settled around his Brother, tucking it snuggly around Loki's shoulders and his feet, leaving nothing but his head poking out. When Thor walked away Loki's eyes were already closed.

Annie smiled at the sight, "Looks like someone is ready for a nap." She watched as Thor stretched, his arms straining upwards while his back arched. He looked much taller than his nearly seven feet of bulky muscle. Much more. Holy. Cow. With a side of ribs. His shirt pulled up and exposed his ribs, which looked-. Damn. Just. Damn.

Annie jerked her head away from facing Thor. No. No. No. Bad Hostess. Bad. Bad. She really hoped he hadn't said anything to her in answer because she hadn't heard anything but her own internal monolog which, true, was only several low level vocabulary words but still, she hadn't been paying attention at all if he'd been talking to-

A hand waved in front of Annie's face and Thor's head leaned in front of her line of sight. "Lady Annie?" He wore a bemused smile.

"Huh? Yes! Yeah?" Annie felt her face flush. She really needed to get over the fact that she had a really good looking god as a room mate.

"I was asking what our next plans were." If there was a slight knowing smirk on his face Annie didn't notice because she was refusing to look at him.

"Ohh, yeah. Well-" Annie glanced at the clock on the microwave. Ten-forty? How could it only be ten-forty in the morning? It seemed like it had taken hours and hours to get Loki bathed and here was proof that it hadn't taken nearly as long as it had felt. The stress and anxiety had just made it seem so. Annie took a chance to peek at Thor and was surprised to see that he looked exhausted. She turned to face him fully so she could study him. It was as if his body had finally relaxed now that Loki had his basic needs met, and was telling him that his own needs hadn't been met in quite a while.

Annie made up her mind as she was speaking. "Well, I was thinking about doing some quick shopping for some basics. While I'm gone you can take a nap yourself and I'll bring us back lunch."

Thor seemed about to say something then let his eyes roam over to Loki. He nodded, "Very well, if you're sure?"

Annie waved her hand at him, "Don't worry about it. Wal-Marts not far, I'll be back before you wake up." She headed towards her room to grab her wallet and phone along with a coat. She laced up heavier waterproof shoes along with grabbing gloves and a beanie hat. Back out in the main room of the apartment she looked at Thor who was sitting on the couch looking down at Loki.

He glanced up at Annie then back down at Loki. "I feel he finally has a chance."

Annie stood at the end of the couch watching the brothers. "He's getting there. Next is getting him to drink and eat more. And just getting him to come out of his shell." Thor looked up at her with a frown and Annie spoke before he could. "That means getting him to feel comfortable enough to start acting like a kid again. Like a young boy should."

Thor raised an eyebrow. "Hmmm, perhaps not too much like his old self though. Loki as a young boy was -" Thor gave a wry smile, "A challenge."

Annie grinned, "Oh? You say that like you weren't a handful yourself which I now know isn't true. Mister Elf tart thief."