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fanfic-collection · 5 years ago

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Loki x Reader: Secluded Village - Pt 2

I’ll just do it in parts instead of chapters cus like Idk, but yes I get to make up stuff and base stuff in fact and I don’t even know. I hope you enjoy, eventually there will be more Loki. I don’t know what’s happening. I just am writing. I’m just laying groundwork right now. I don’t know what’s going on.

Please comment

Something heavy lay on your chest as you whined softly, beams of sunlight coming in through your thick curtains. Late morning sun forcing you awake as you finally stirred, your hand rising from your side and reaching for the lump on your chest: Chester the stray cat.

'Hello, Chester.' You murmured with a faint smile and another groan as you scrunched your eyes tighter against the sunlight creeping in between the curtains.

Chester yowled back at you, snuggling his head against your bosom and settling in more comfortably to stay asleep.

Slowly you blinked yourself awake, realizing sleep would elude you and knowing how late it was; patients would be coming soon. Despite Chester the large orange tabby's defiant protests, you had to get up.

With great effort, and Chester's continued cries, you sat up. Scooping the cat into your arms, you settled him back into the still warm bed and bundled him into the blankets that he might stay warm and comfortable. This eased his complaints somewhat and though he grumbled a bit more, he finally settled in and fell asleep once more, curled up contentedly as you set about your morning tasks.

Your home was fairly spacious, a one room cottage filled with plants of all manner growing in the many windowsills. You threw back the many curtains you had drawn last night to darken the room that you might be able to sleep well into morning knowing the late hours you kept. Planters hung from the ceiling, those that needed shade and little sunlight. You reached for your watering can and moved about the cottage watering your plants as you thought about the mysterious man you had met last night.

'You would've liked him I think, Chester.' You said as you moved about the cottage, setting the can down beside the fireplace, prodding the flames back to life. Chester slept on. He usually did in your one sided conversations but you felt that he listened despite his sleep, his ears twitching at the sound of his name. You glanced over your shoulder to make sure his ears were twitching, faithfully, they were. 'Loki he said his name was.' You reached into the pot next to the fire and added some spices to your morning breakfast, before reaching into the other containers beside the fire and adding herbs to the other cauldrons baking healing mixes for your expected patients. As well as unexpected patients.

Leaning back from the fire, you eyed the four or so hanging cauldrons and the kettle, all nestled together, carefully bubbling away. With a smile, you reached for your bowl and spooned yourself some breakfast as you finished up the last of your chores inside.

Sitting down at last at the kitchen table which often doubled as the place you saw your patients, you continued talking to Chester, 'You know, he's mysterious, that Loki, but between you and me,' you looked at the tall flowered plant sitting on the center of the table, petals splayed out like a star, 'And you I suppose,' you added to the plant, 'I wouldn't mind getting to know him if I ever saw him again. But you know how chance encounters in the woods are. Can you imagine, running into some strange man in the woods and thinking I'll ever meet him again? Maybe he'll pass through the city. What was he doing out there though? I mean honestly, that time of night? I know what I was doing. Chester don't look at me like that.'

Chester sat up, cleaning himself, staring at you judgementally.

You crossed your arms and leaned back, spoon in hand, 'Honestly you're so cruel.' You looked at the plant, 'So are you.' Glancing back at Chester you were certain he rolled his eyes. Opening your mouth to respond, there came a soft knock at your door. You bolted upright, pushing your chair back with a screech on the stone floor as you rushed to answer the door.

'Please, healer, are you busy? Can you help us?' An old woman stood in the doorway, hand on the shoulder of a swaying young boy who shivered uncontrollably in the warm summer day.

'Of course, come in.' You replied, motioning for them to enter.

The woman looked around curiously as she guided the boy in, 'Who were you talking to?'

'How long has he been shivering?' You ignored her question with a blush.

'Three days.' She replied.

The boy swayed and you gripped his arm, helping him to sit in the chair you had just been occupying.

Chester glared at the boy from your bed, sinking into a crouch and watching the commotion. After a moment he darted out the door and disappeared from sight.

You glanced after the cat before focusing on the boy. 'Can you tell me your name?'

'Thebian.' The boy replied through chattering teeth.

'Thebian.' You repeated, touching his clammy forehead, 'it's very good to meet you.'

'No it's not, you're-you're the healer. Only sick people meet you.'

You smiled, 'I see you still have your sense of humor.'

Thebian smiled back at you, teeth chattering, he pulled his blanket tighter around himself.

The woman, you assumed was his mother, sighed, 'Unfortunately Theby, you're sick, we need you working the shop and no one will come if you have the shivers, this healer is the only choice we have. Healer, can you help him?'

Resting your elbow in one hand and your chin in your other hand, you gazed at Thebian, studying him closely. 'Let me run some diagnostics and then I should be able to get you a treatment for it, but I should be able to help you, yes. The shivers can be nasty.'

Thebian shuddered, eyes closed as he shook, 'You're telling me.'

'You feel weak?'

'Yes.'

You nodded, 'Dizzy when you stand up?'

'Yes.'

'The world spins and you see spots?'

'Yes.'

'Shaking is obvious, touching you you feel feverish.'

Thebian coughed violently, suddenly, bending over for a few moments before straightening up and swaying in place eyes shut. He blinked a few times before slowly opening his eyes and staring at you, clearly dazed.

'Did you lose your vision there?'

'Uh ye.'

'Your vision goes away when ye cough?' The mom asked terrified.

Thebian nodded slowly.

'You can see the pupils of his eyes go out of focus.' You explained. 'This is advanced shivers. Luckily I've had a few cases of it recently so I've prepared a concoction to deal with it.' You moved to the fireplace and reached for one of the cauldrons. Moving to the side, you grabbed a medium sized urn, 'You're fairly far along so you're going to need more treatments than if you'd caught it sooner, you'll have to come back for more, but this should be enough to get you started.' You filled up the urn, pressing the lid onto it and sealing it tightly. 'Sip this nightly and be sure to bathe each day in warm water. You have to stay clean.' As you explained further instructions on how to care for the shivers, you began to refill the cauldron so that should another shivers patient come along they wouldn't be without treatment option.

'Bathe daily?' Thebian asked, holding up the urn and nearly dropping it.

The woman with him took it so he wouldn't drop it, 'That's awfully difficult.' She complained.

'So is dealing with blindness and possible death if it evolves too much.' You replied, continuing with the concoction and glancing over your shoulder.

Both their mouths fell open though Thebian's rattled and shivered until it was effectively shut again.

'Look, if you don't want the treatment plan, I'll keep it for a patient who will follow my instructions.' You reached to take the urn.

The woman held it away from you defensively, 'He'll do it.'

'Good, then I'll see you in a week. Make sure he bathes daily in warm water.'

She nodded slowly, 'Fine. Thebian, you're gonna smell like a fresh flower all pretty and clean.'

Thebian snorted but with his shivering it was hard to tell.

'Thank you healer.' The lady added.

'Of course.' You bowed low.

Compensation was arranged for your time and effort and the two left and then once more you were alone. Though only for a moment. A string of patients wandered in and you saw to a myriad of symptoms: injuries, sores, illnesses, and then finally...

Just as you were thinking things were dying down for the day a sudden rapping came at your door. Chester had returned some time ago and you were sitting on your bed scritching his chin, startled, you jumped to your feet and ran to the door.

Standing in the doorway, an official looking city guard stared down at you imperiously, 'Healer, you're needed urgently. Grab whatever supplies you think will aid you most and come with me.' The guard pointed towards a coach waiting a few meters away.

You blinked, dumbfounded. 'What's wrong?'

'Someone important is fallen ill and your skills are necessary. Urgency is required.'

You stood there for a moment as your brain struggled to comprehend. The guard glared at you, head bowing to stare down at you, clearly annoyed why you weren't complying.

Finally you realized, turning around and grabbing your cloak, rushing inside to grab your bag and medical things, basic herbs that could treat minor burns and cuts, lessen fevers and aches, and other minor illnesses. You rushed back outside, 'Sorry!' The guard followed after you, motioning for you to enter the coach and clambered in after you. The door swung shut with a very final bang.

Peering past the guard you watched the coach circle your cottage and drive back into the city. Your cottage and garden, were on the edge of town, your plants grew better outside the city limits. On top of that if you ever had a sick patient that needed to board, it was better for them to be outside the thick city air, it was fresher out here near the forest, away from the dense city air. The river was fresher and the forest was crisper, the trees more alive.

Then slowly your cottage was gone from sight and you began to wind your way through the city, you leaned back into your seat, holding your bag close to your chest and stared straight ahead, unsure of what else to do on such a ride.

The guard loomed over you, sitting opposite you on the other bench and stared down at you unblinking.

'What's your name?' You asked timidly.

'Vance.'

'That's a nice name.'

Vance grunted.

'Where are we going to, Vance?'

'Lord Medve's estate.'

You blinked. Lord Medve? Wait until Chester heard, Lord Medve was one of the richest nobles in the city. Chester wouldn't be impressed though, still you wanted to tell him, you imagined Chester had been in his gardens, hunting Medve's exotic birds. 'Lord Medve's sick?' Is what you said out loud instead.

'We don't know.'

'Right, hence the short notice and the nondescript details on what to bring.'

Vance nodded, 'If we knew what was wrong, we wouldn't have brought you in. We'd have his personal healer heal him. She's baffled, so we're getting fresh eyes. Her stocks will have everything you need.'

You raised your eyebrow but didn't comment.

'Can you give me any background on his symptoms?'

Vance rubbed the back of his neck, 'You'll have to ask Patrice, his healer.'

You nodded, symptoms and diagnostics running through your head. 'Very well, the sooner we get there the better.'

'He's in a bad state, he collapsed this morning and hasn't woken up, that's when I was sent to get you.'

'He's unconscious? Oh we don't have long.'

'No, whatever it is, I imagine we don't. See the thing is, he got real sick for a day or so and then he was doing better and then out of no where he just collapses and I don't get it.'

You nodded, crossing off symptoms. 'Coughing?'

'Uh yea terrible cough.'

'See, you do know his symptoms.' You grinned.

Vance creased his brow and muttered, 'You should ask Patrice.'

'I'll ask her too, don't worry.'

The guard nodded.

The carriage lurched to a stop and the guard moved to the side, opening the door and motioned for you to follow him. Vance called, 'I got the public healer.'

'Bout damn time!' Someone snarled.

'Traffic's a bitch in the city at this time, don't you blame me.' Vance replied.

You clambered out of the coach and looked around. Two guards were standing there waiting to meet you and Vance.

'This her?' One of the guards asked.

Vanced nodded, wiping his mouth absently, 'Aye, it's her.'

'She helped my cousin with shivers.' The second guard muttered.

You managed a weak smile and waved, lifting your hand from your bag before gripping it once more. A light fog started to gather as the sun drifted low in the sky.

The first guard nodded thoughtfully, spitting into the gutter. Vance looked at the rising fog uneasily and the second guard gave you a small but grateful look.

'Let's just get her inside, the sooner whatever this is is cleared up the better.' Vance muttered.

You were within the richest part of the city, among rows of massive mansions. Even though they were in the city, they still had medium sized green grassy yards for exotic animals to lounge on.

Vance led you inside the front door, the first guard opened, resuming his post once you were inside.

Insides servants flew about, a certified circus of excitement as people ran to and fro.

'Vance! You're back! Is that the healer?' A woman called from the top of the stairs, harried and worn.

Vance turned and spun around, dodging a servant or two as you were plowed into, narrowly avoiding dropping your bag. The servant barked angrily at you and you quickly apologized, pressing yourself against the wall and trying to be as small as possible.

'Yes I have her!' Vance called back.

'This way, this way.' The woman called, motioning towards her.

Vance grabbed your arm roughly and dragged you towards the stairs. 'That's Patrice.' He explained as he pulled you along.

'There's a sick man in the house!' Patrice bellowed, her frayed blonde hair coming undone from its bun, 'Quiet down!'

You blinked at the loudness of it all, missing the peace of your cottage but dutifully following anyways. Holding onto your bag as tight as you could and gripping your hair, you winced at the tug on your arm by his burly hand.

Up stairs, down halls, past doors, on and on, the house seemed endless, your mind spun as you memorized the path you took. This was not like the friendliness of the forest, this was harsh and cold.

Finally Vance yanked you to a stumbling halt, nearly pulling an angry protest from you at being tossed about like some sort of cattle. Patrice held up her finger looking at both of you and motioning for quiet.

Patrice's voice, just above a whisper, 'Lord Medve sleeps within, he cannot wake, we have tried. This is beyond my knowledge. Healer, we bring you in now as our last hope, can you do anything for him?'

'I need to see him,' You replied just as quietly, 'and then I need to ask you about his symptoms since he cannot speak for himself, and then I will see what I can do.' You nodded, 'I think I have some ideas.'

Patrice inclined her head, 'Very well. You may enter.'

Vance opened the door and a strong odor filled the hallway as you entered the room. You were used to such smells by now but you didn't care for them regardless.

Upon entering the room, you could hear easily how strained Lord Medve's breathing was. You leaned your head against his girthy chest and listened to his lungs, straining to suck in and exhale air, moving your ear to his chest, you listened to the slow painful beating of his heart.

Reaching for a candle from the wall, you held it before his eye, and peeled his eye open, watching for signs of tracking the light but to no response. More confirmation to your theories. You glanced over at Patrice and Vance who were watching you with arms crossed. 'When did this all start?'

'Two days ago,' Patrice replied. 'About.'

'And this morning is when he collapsed?'

'Vance told you?'

You nodded.

'He's had a headache, nausea, coughing like the devil, barely slept a wink, aching like no one's business, I suspect the sleeping is from all the symptoms though. The devil's got his bowels too.' Patrice added.

You nodded.

'Been a nightmare keeping him decent. Especially now that he's unconscious, he's barely been off the pot when it started, and then suddenly he had a day of reprieve, we thought he was on the mends. Then he drops cold and everything is worse than ever. Do you know what it is? I'm stumped.'

'Yes, and it's not good. Even worse, I don't know who I'm supposed to tell.'

'What does that mean?' Patrice looked at you confused.

Vance blinked. 'It means someone's doing this to him.'

You nodded.

'He's being poisoned?' Vance asked, looked at Lord Medve.

'Pretty nasty poison too.' You continued, 'I don't keep the antidote on hand, it's that rare, you have a real nasty assassin you're working against. I'll have to go out into the forest to get it.'

'I'll go with you.' Vance announced.

'Well me too, I need to know where these antidotes are.' Patrice looked between the two of you.

'Uh no.' You looked at Patrice. 'Healer's trade, you're not my apprentice, I don't know you, and you'll slow me down, we're in a critical time period, we're running out of time, I have to leave right now to get this or he won't live. Vance, you'll slow me down too. I'm going to leave now, I can be back by morning with it to whip up an antidote.'

'Morning, I thought it's critical?' Patrice asked.

'It'll take time either way. My cottage has the rest of the ingredients I need and I'm familiar with those, I can make the antidote there and just have you administer it to him here, all you have to do is get him to drink it, you don't need me for that. The next step is making sure whoever poisoned him in the first place, doesn't poison him again in another newer and more creative way. Or doesn't go for a more efficient approach.' You said.

Vance nodded, 'Hopefully they don't go for something like steel.'

'Exactly.'

Patrice shook her head, 'Barbaric.'

'It's an Amatoxin mushroom, for the record.' You added, looking between them, hoping you could trust them both not to be the poisoners. The fact that they had both provided you with this much information gave you hope, but after all it was their boss. You shrugged inwardly, time was of the essence, you had to leave now.

Vance spoke, 'I'll get the coach to take you the edge of the city. You can leave from there.'

'Thank you.'

Before too long you were once more walking through the woods, following another familiar path. Breathlessly you walked along, counting footsteps.

'Cornacea extract.' You breathed as you walked. 'Cornacea.' You pulled your cloak tighter around yourself as summer was coming to an end, growing chillier and turning into autumn. Looking this way and that, you knew you should be coming close to the cornacea plants. Cornacea were tall ugly brown flowers, that looked perpetually dead no matter how it rained on them. They refused every effort you had made at repotting them and you couldn't figure what sort of soil or sunlight combination they required.

'Cornacea?' a voice came from the shadows.

You nearly jumped out of your skin until you registered who it was. 'Loki!' You snapped.

'Hello, pet.' Loki fell into step with you, appearing on the path beside you and walking along. His raven black hair trailed behind him on his long silk cloak, this time you were certain it was green on the inside. You looked closer and saw that his vest was actually velvet, or perhaps this time it was velvet and other times it had not been. 'What's cornacea?'

You scowled at him. 'It's a flower.'

Loki nodded thoughtfully, 'For healing I presume?'

'Yes.' you responded through grit teeth.

Loki looked at you under long eyelashes, seeming amused, 'Did I frighten you?'

'Yes.'

'The woods are full of frightening creatures, I thought you were aware of such things.'

'I wasn't expecting you.' You huffed before looking away and going back to peer in the gloom for the cornacea. 'Do you mind?' You finally added.

'Mind what?'

You pursed your lips. 'I'm here for my work.'

'Oh?'

'A nobleman is being poisoned and I need to find this cornacea extract to heal him.'

'How did you know he was being poisoned?'

'Based on the symptoms, I narrowed down the possibility that it wasn't certain illnesses given that you know, like he wasn't bleeding or coughing up blood or vomiting, and he only just now fell unconscious, and that he got better before he got worse which is symptomatic of amotoxin mushroom.'

Loki raised his eyebrows, 'You could tell all of that just by a few symptoms?'

'It's what I've studied for.'

'Impressive.' Loki nodded.

You blushed despite yourself, smiling and looked away, 'Thanks.' The two of you walked some more in silence as you continued looking for the plant. 'You know normally I do this alone.' You finally mumbled.'

Loki nodded, 'I figured. I'm just curious and want to learn.'

You thought of Patrice and Vance. Well, Loki wasn't slowing you down, and you couldn't begrudge him wanting to learn.

'What's it look like?'

'Tall, brown, ugly, kinda like a dried worm no matter how much rain it gets.' You replied, looking around in the dark gloom.

Pointing into seeming black darkness, Loki asked, 'Is that it?'

You squinted following his pale hand with long sharp nails, 'I don't see it.'

Loki looked down at you. Carefully he took your hand in his icy cold hand and you felt chills run up your spine, though whether it was from the cold or something else entirely you weren't sure. 'Here.' Slowly he guided you towards the spot, stopping just shy of the patch of gloom and helping you to kneel down. As your eyes adjusted to the increased darkness, you could make out the cornacea's brown wrinkled petals.

Your eyes lit up as you saw the plant for the first time, 'Loki you're brilliant!'

Loki smiled a closed mouth smile at you. 'Thank you.' He pulled his hand from yours and stared down at you waiting to see you collect it.

Your mouth opened for a moment at the absence of his hand from yours and you quickly snapped it shut, not sure how to explain what you were thinking. Numbly, mutely, you reached forward and began to pluck at the cornacea petals. A whole plant would do.

When you had finished, the two of you stood up once more.

'Will I see you again?' You blurted out.

Loki blinked, looking down at you.

'I uh, I need to get this back to Lord Medve, but, I … I didn't know if I'd see you again after last time I ran into you.'

Loki glanced up at the moon. 'You live in the nearby city?'

'In a cottage at the edge of it. I'm the city healer.'

Loki nodded thoughtfully, 'Perhaps so. I think we will see each other again.'

You smiled at him. Then you sighed, 'I need to go brew this, this man's life is in danger. Take care Loki.'

'And you, pet.'

You could feel Loki's eyes on you as you trotted back the way you came from. Though you didn't run as you did last time, you kept a steady pace back to your cottage.

To your surprise, Vance was waiting for you, dozing in the grass outside your door, hands crossed over his stomach, clearly waiting your return. You stepped past him softly opening the door so as not to wake him and hurried inside, reigniting your fireplace and began making the ingredients for the amotoxin antidote.

Vance started awake, moment's later, knocking at your door when he noticed the smoke coming from your chimney. You invited him in, offering him a cup of tea. Blearily and shaking away sleep, he accepted, sinking into your kitchen chair.

'You keep odd hours, healer.' He muttered.

'I get to sleep in is my trade off.' You replied nonchalantly. Pulling your blanket tighter around yourself and fighting off a yawn but failing, you poured the antidote into a stopper, 'This should do the trick, if I'm wrong...' you shook your head, not daring to offer the alternative.

'Don't be.' Vance said, pulling himself to his feet.

'I'm not.' You insisted.

'I'll be in touch.'

'It's been nice meeting you.' You replied as you handed him the small vial.

Vance took the vial from you and placed it carefully in his pocket, 'You're good at what you do. Or at least you seem like it, we'll soon find out if it's true.'

You nodded.

'Get some rest.' Vance turned and walked out the door, shutting it behind him.

With that, you stumbled over to your bed and sank onto it, collapsing and pulling the blankets around you. Chester came slinking into your house, however he managed to find a way in and curled up beside you, the two of you quickly falling fast asleep.

For a moment, just before you fell asleep, you jolted awake, startling Chester. Loki had promised to see you again? And he knew where you lived? You blinked. Exhaustion quickly regained control of your mind and an angry tired cat's insistent purring overwhelmed you. Sleep overcame and darkness fell around your mind. Two green eyes shimmered in your window and you were lost to the dreamscape.

#Loki x reader #multi chapter

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