Work Text:
“Put it back, Loki.”
“But…”
“Put it back.”
“Please.” Loki draws out the word. He’s become quite good at that.
But Mobius has also become good in resisting those big pleading eyes of Loki’s. It’s not always easy.
Mobius takes the colourful bag of gummy bears out of the shopping trolley and puts it back on the shelves. Then he moves on through the aisles. Doesn’t see how sneaky fingers grab the sweets. Doesn’t see how they get stuffed under Loki’s sweatshirt.
They make their way through the supermarket. Mobius ticking off one item after the other from the shopping list.
Loki enjoys being in the frozen aisle. Studies all the different ice cream flavours.
“Can we get some?”, he asks. He’s never had ice cream before. Is fascinated by the thought of it. Imagines it to be like frozen pudding. He likes pudding.
“Not today, Lokes. Sorry”, says Mobius distracted, sorting through packets of fish fingers and frozen vegetables.
“But I’d really like to try it.”
That usually works quite well, Loki has noticed. Mobius is always happy for him to try new foods. But not sweets. And ice cream seems to fall into this category.
When they put the food on the belt Loki tries to hide some lollipops between the carrots. This time Mobius doesn’t even say anything. Just takes the lollies and shoves them back into the front end racks. But they find their way back to Loki while Mobius pays and packs up their shopping.
“You could help, you know.”
Loki shrugs. Dawdles around.
“At least carry one of the bags.”
Loki lets out a dramatic sigh but picks up a bag. Reluctantly.
They walk home in silence. It’s not far. But Loki drags his feet. Kicks every stone that gets in his way. And back in the flat he drops the shopping bag on the kitchen floor. Then vanishes in his bedroom. The door banging shut.
Mobius sighs. He’s tired today. Tired and annoyed. Loki has given him some attitude over the last days.
It started shortly after the talk. Mobius was relieved that Loki seemed alright after the initial outburst. A bit sad. A few restless nights. But then he started acting up.
Refused to eat his lunch and dinner. Didn’t help with the washing up. Forgot to brush his teeth on more than one occasion. Talked back.
Only at night he’s his usual cuddly self. A bit grumpy. But in need of some love.
Mobius let him get away with it all. Hoped Loki would calm down after a while. But they’re going into the second week of this now.
He needs to be firmer with the boy, he thinks while filling the fridge with fresh vegetables and fruits. Has to make sure that Loki realises how hurtful and disrespectful this behaviour is.
In his room Loki jumps on his bed and gets the gummy bears and lollipops from under his sweatshirt. Rips open the bag. Picks out the red bears first. They are the sweetest. Shoves the lollies in the drawer of his nightstand. They join a stash of chocolates and wine gums. He doesn’t like wine gums that much though. A bit too chewy. The little individually wrapped chocolates with a filling inside are much better.
Loki has finished all the red gummy bears. So pink is next. Then green.
He lets a whole handful of different coloured ones vanish inside his mouth.
Oh if only Mobius could see him now! A whole pack of sweets! Before dinner! And he won’t brush his teeth later. Loki smirks.
For good measure he also gulps down all of the little chocolates. So many sweets all at once don’t taste that great. But he needs to fill his stomach. He won’t eat his dinner tonight. Not if it’s another boring vegetable stew. Or spinach. Or broccoli. Or anything green, for this matter.
Loki’s stomach feels tight now. Hard. Uncomfortable. It hurts a bit. He rolls over. So he can lay on his side. Pulls up his knees. Feels a bit sick. Closes his eyes. Maybe he will feel better after resting for a while.
A knock on his door wakes Loki up. Mobius comes in.
“Dinner’s ready. Did you fall asleep?”
Loki makes a sound. Hopes Mobius interprets it as an answer. His stomach feels a lot worse instead of better. Still tight. And heavy.
“Come on, Lokes. I’ve got a surprise for you.”
Mobius leaves the room. Loki follows him slowly. Feels a little dizzy with each step. Has to bend over a bit.
He’s relieved when he can sit down again. And the prospect of a surprise at least lifts his mood. The smell of cooking tightens his throat though. He’ll be successful with his plan to not eat dinner tonight.
That’s when Mobius puts their plates down.
Chips and fish fingers.
Loki’s favourite. On a random weekday. And neither soup or salad first. Nor any cooked vegetables.
Mobius looks at him. Expectantly. Loki tries a smile. Swallows hard.
“You seem to have a bit of a rough time, Loki”, Mobius says. “I am sorry for that. It must be hard for you to live without magic. Learning so many new things. And I’m sorry I didn’t let you have any sweets today. So I made your favourite dish. Apology accepted?”
In response Loki’s stomach makes a noise.
Mobius smiles. “Seems like you’re hungry. Tuck in then.” And he shifts his focus towards his own plate.
This is an ordeal. And Loki feels really bad now. Feels bad twice for eating so many sweets.
Turns out Mobius is right. You can’t eat a pile of chocolates and gummy bears without getting an upset stomach.
But that’s not the worst thing. Guilt is a far more horrible feeling. Guilt over stealing. Guilt over his stupid plan of not wanting to eat dinner. Guilt over not being able to eat his favourite dinner. Guilt over disappointing Mobius.
So Loki forces himself. Cuts off tiny pieces of fish with the side of his fork. Chews slowly. Swallows with difficulty.
Then another slice. Washing it down with a big gulp of water. He can feel the liquid sit in his throat for too long.
His stomach grumbles. Contracts. Loki moans. Bends over.
Mobius notices. “Are you alright?”
Loki nods. Forces a smile. Mobius isn’t convinced.
“Just hot”, Loki lies. “The chips. Very hot.” And he drinks some more water to emphasise his words. Bad idea. He knows he won’t manage another bite. Can’t keep anything down anymore. He feels dizzy. Has to lay his head on the table.
Mobius is alarmed. Abandons his own dinner and is at Loki’s side in a second. Touches his forehead.
“Do you feel ill? You’re a bit hot.”
Loki closes his eyes. “‘m sorry.”
“It’s not your fault if you’re getting ill. You don’t look well at all. You want to lay down?”
“Yes, please.”
Loki can’t stand straight. His stomach feels like filled with stones.
“Are you hurting?”, Mobius asks, helps him to the sofa.
Loki nods without further explanation. Hugs a cushion. Hides his face in it.
Mobius sits down next to him. Caresses his back.
“I need to tell you something”, Loki mumbles into the cushion. He can’t look Mobius in the eyes. Can’t look anywhere, really. But he still presses his eyes shut behind the fabric. His face is hot with shame. At least his belly feels a little better now that he doesn’t have to sit and eat anymore.
“Yes, Lokes. You need to tell me what’s hurting you so I can help make it better.”
Tears sting behind Loki’s eyelids. Oh, he feels so bad!
The turmoil in his head is way worse than the one in his stomach. He cannot tell Mobius the truth.
“I have a bellyache”, is all he manages.
“Might have guessed it. You looked a bit green around the nose when I put your dinner down”, Mobius says. “Don’t worry. I’ll make you a tea and a hot water bottle and you’ll be fine again.”
While Loki ponders what a hot water bottle is, Mobius puts the kettle on. Soon he comes back.
“You have to put that pillow down if you want to drink your tea”, Mobius says. And Loki reluctantly obeys.
“Is that a hot water bottle?” He eyes the rubbery thing half wrapped in a tea towel in Mobius’s hand.
“Why, yes! You’ve never seen one before?”
Loki shakes his head.
“It’s like the name suggests. Filled with hot water. You put it on your tummy. I put a towel around it so it doesn’t burn your skin”, Mobius explains. He gently pulls Loki’s shirt up a little and places the object on his stomach.
Loki smiles. It feels really nice. Nearly like a small warm creature curled up to sleep. He wants to pet it. Rests his hand on it instead.
“And here’s your tea. Be careful, don’t burn yourself.”
Loki reaches out for the mug. He needs both hands. Has to shift into a sitting position now.
Mobius places a blanket over him. “We have to keep your tummy really warm.”
Then he sits down next to Loki.
Loki sips his tea. Fennel. It’s not sweetened but that’s okay tonight. The warmth spreads through his body and his stomach relaxes. He feels much better. But the guilt is still nagging. And he’s sure, if Mobius knew why Loki couldn’t eat his dinner tonight, he wouldn’t have made a tea or a hot water bottle or brought a blanket to keep him warm.
And that’s the moment when Mobius asks “Did you eat something wrong today?”
Loki stares into his mug. Steam rising into his eyes. What is he supposed to say? The truth? But he can’t disappoint Mobius! Absolutely not! As much as he actually wants to confess.
“I don’t think so”, Loki finally says. The lie cuts through him.
“I hope you didn’t catch a bug.”
“A bug?”
“A stomach bug, you know. A virus.”
“No, I feel better already. Moby?”
“Yes?”
Loki moves a bit closer to Mobius. The hot water bottle pressed against him for comfort. Wants to press himself against Mobius though.
“I’m sorry about dinner.”
Mobius puts an arm around Loki’s shoulder.
“Guess we will have fish fingers again tomorrow night then, what do you think?”
Loki smiles happily. The guilt dies down. He won’t eat too many sweets again. And he won’t steal either.
But these are intentions that will not last long.