whose_son_am_i | Meme-shenanigans and Continuations.

"Sometimes it is." She shrugs. "Because I am able to. I invested my time in learning to save people, and maybe I'll save a future scientist or president. Or someone who has really wonderful kids."

She stretches her arms above her head.

"Not everything needs to directly benefit me."

"You might also just save another 'me'." Loki pointed out. "There's no guarantee it's worth it." Even if it didn't directly benefit her. "Why do you care?"

"Why do you not care?"

It's an even question. Sure there are benefits to not caring, more than there are to the opposite.

"Sentiment. It only gets you in trouble." Loki answered quickly, but said nothing more. He could be said to care, but only for a select few. Maybe it was just because he'd been hurt too many times.

"Yeah, it can. But what's the point in life, in fighting if there isn't someone worth fighting for?"

She's way more sentimental, even if she doesn't have a specific person in mind who she would fight for.

"You survive for yourself." It was a strange conversation to be having. Loki was reminded once again that he really should be going back to the guest room and sleeping. But he was still curious. "There are....precious few, I would consider fighting for." And apparently interested in seeing where this conversation would take them both.

"Self-preservation is a very basic need, and yes, I can understand that."

She feels like she's gained a little ground there.

"You're not heartless, just selective." And still shirtless lit by moonlight.

"If you'd lived my life, you would be too." He had pointed out that he had a heart earlier. He just guarded it carefully. "You leave yourself open to being hurt every day."

"I do. And I have been. Loving people, caring about people, it can be really painful."

She nods.

"You're very pale." That's her sleep addled brain thinking about his skin.

"Loss of blood. And the lack of light. I should just go back to sleep." But Loki made no move to do so.

"How can you keep doing it?"

"You probably should."

He needs rest to heal.

"I don't know. Hope that it will be worth it, that eventually I'll find someone who won't hurt me."

"Seems a fruitless quest." A pause. "You should too." Sleep that is. "You were working before encountering me, yes?" It didn't matter, except he was in her care for the moment.

"Why? People fall in love all the time and some actually stay in love." It doesn't seem fruitless at all.

"Yeah. I was coming home from the hospital, why?"

"I don't like the odds." It was a half-lie, but it would serve. "And thus, you need sleep too." She had even less reserves than he did, likely. Humans were so fragile.

Letting the whim take him, Loki uncrossed his arms and moved towards her. Reaching out to place his hand against her forehead. To nudge her mind once more, influence what he could sense of happy memories. "Sleep, Dr. Christine Palmer. No more nightmares tonight."

And when he was done, Loki turned to head back to the guest room.

"No one ever does."

She agrees with him though, she does need her sleep. And then he surprises her, coming over and touching her. She can feel it again, the way her mind shifts, but this time it's calming. The way she looks at him it's obvious she's thankful.

And then he's gone and she's quick to move back down the hallway as well.

"Good night." It's said softly as she passes the guest room.

He's quick to fall back asleep, though his mind is turning with questions. Trying to figure out the puzzle that she is, and why he was responding as he was. It had to simply be that she was treating him like a person. Positive attention was still something new and that he craved.

Loki slept lightly, but he'll sleep late if allowed to.

Christine sleeps well, her dreams are pleasant and she wakes up well rested. She will need to thank Loki for that.

She's quiet when she gets up, going about taking a shower and brushing her teeth, she wants to let him sleep as long as he's able to.

When she does go out into the kitchen it's to make coffee, her hair is wet and she's wearing a little tank top and shorts.

Loki will drag himself out of bed around mid-morning, closer to noon than not. His shirt is slightly wrinkled, but dry once more and he's made himself as presentable as he can given his circumstances. He'll head straight for the kitchen and one of those apples. It was his stomach that woke up him, but he is feeling better. Perhaps another day and he'll consider himself rested enough to leave.

By then she's sitting at the table with an empty mug of coffee and her laptop open.

"Morning. Thank you for the good sleep."

He waves it off, more interested in the apple. Only after he's had a bite and thoroughly enjoyed it, will he respond. "Consider it part of my repayment. Besides, I am still in your care. I need you at your best." Given her attire though, she probably has the day off--but it wouldn't surprise Loki to find she was still working, given her laptop.

"Oh? Do you need more doctoring?"

She's checked her email and is now making a grocery order.

"How does your side feel?"

"A little tender, and there's bruising around the stitches." But other than that, and the general tiredness, Loki felt fine. "It's truly annoying how deep the wound was, although I am grateful the blade wasn't poisoned or worse."

"You'd be in much worse shape if you were human." He probably would have died from the blood loss.

"I'll have a look at it later. I'm interested to see how fast you heal."

Another bite of apple, and Loki was quietly thinking while he chewed.

"I am Asgardian, but I'm not an Asgardian." He offered softly. "I was adopted." He wouldn't be a very good baseline of knowledge for her about other Asgardians, in his physicality or biology.

"You said something about frost giants while I was working on you." He's still not human, which seems to make him more resistant to blood loss and stabbing in general.

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