CW for completely accidental self-harm, brief mention

[alittlehinky]

Cricket has never gotten himself into serious trouble with spirits before. Generally, his soft-spoken, respectful approach has been enough to win at least neutrality from them, even the more dangerous types. That, and perhaps being favored by a god, though as far as he knows, Loki doesn't have any tangible mark on him.

(He wouldn't mind if Loki did, though. It might be a good idea to talk about that kind of thing eventually. Rings or something? But does a god really want to be tied to a mortal man like that? These are the things that make Cricket uncertain, despite how ridiculously in love he is.)

Today has not been his lucky day. He's not sure if he actually did something wrong that offended the coyote-man, or if he was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. Maybe he was too snappish? Maybe he wasn't snappish enough.

After Josh has carried him home and dropped him off on the living room couch, Cricket sits for several minutes, removing his leg braces and tossing them aside, taking off socks and shoes and looking himself over from the knees down, rubbing and pinching at the skin to see if any feeling will come back. Nothing happens, and when he sees a sharp scratch from his own nails has drawn blood, he stops. Hurting himself isn't going to fix this.

And so, as little as he wants to bother Loki, he knows he has to. He needs help.

Pretty bird? The text reads. I need you soon as you can get here. I'm in trouble and I run out of ideas.

And then, an afterthought: If you see a man with a coyote's head in the Nexus, don't talk to him.

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[magpiemythos]

Surely it was too nice a day for things to go wrong.

And yet here they were. Loki was none the wiser, wrapped up in the busywork of the bar. Not that she always needed to be there, she had capable enough managers and staff that she could swan off for days at a time if she so pleased, but sometimes the mundane details were good to bury herself in. Kept her somewhat grounded, gave her something to focus on, especially when Cricket was busy with his own work.

That didn't mean she wouldn't stop for a text from him. Expecting a question about what they might do for dinner, or some little affection, or a silly picture of one of their many animals, the actual message took a moment to sink in, an unpleasant punch to the gut. She shouted to Alex that she was going, sending a short text back to Cricket as she snatched up her coat.

Be there in a few

It was telling how worried she was that she shifted to the shape she did, taking wing in her magpie form. It would be quicker and more direct to get back home that way after all. And true to her message it didn't take long for her to reach their little farmhouse, dipping in through the part-opened window in the living room, shifting back immediately, worry clear as her gaze fell on Cricket and she shifted to crouch before him, taking one of his hands in hers.

"Hey there Pretty Cricket. What happened?"

[alittlehinky]

He realizes after he sends the message that maybe he should have broken it a little more gently, but it's too late by then. And he's starting to panic again. The complete lack of sensation, after years of reliably reading his own aches and pains, is terrifying. It feels like his lower half is...alien. Foreign. Sullen and refusing to communicate with him.

He's just trying to think how to get to Willie's Pokeball to let her out for company when the magpie flutters in through the window. He gives a little gasp of relief and reaches out to Loki as she shifts.

"H-hey, beautiful," he says weakly, clears his throat, and leans forward till his forehead bumps hers lightly.

"My legs ain't workin'," he half-whispers. "Happened in th' middle of the Nexus. I think I talked to the wrong guy, and it's some kinda curse, but..."

But. It's not as if something similar couldn't have happened to him all on its own, really. Just maybe not quite so abruptly.

"Josh was there. He carried me home."

[magpiemythos]

Loki just leans in to let Cricket have that contact, studying him as she did for signs of what was wrong.

"Your legs...?" That wasn't good. She felt a stab of renewed worry at that, fingers in her free hand fluttering over one of his legs from ankle to knee, especially at the explanation of what had happened. "Cause of that coyote-headed guy you warned me about?"

If there was a curse, she couldn't feel it. That didn't mean that it wasn't there though, just that it wasn't a thing she could fix with her magic. Frustrating honestly, with how upset Cricket clearly was about this. And why wouldn't he be?

And whatever she might feel about Josh, (Cricket's friend to be sure, but dangerous too, but then wasn't she just as dangerous in her own way?) she was incredibly grateful that he'd been there to help. "Sounds like I owe Josh a thank-you if I see him out and about."

[alittlehinky]

He looks like he's scared, and trying to show it as little as possible. His pulse is elevated, too, but the deliberate, even pace of his breathing suggests he's keeping himself controlled as best he can. He watches her touch his leg with a miserable expression, because he can't feel it at all, and it occurs to him that never being able to feel his loved-one's touch again would be the absolute worst torture he could imagine...

And so he takes her hand and presses it against his upper shoulder for minute, to remind himself he's not carrying a death sentence.

"Yeah, him." He swallows. "Fella in a suit. Shoulda known not to trust a fella in a suit. He was asking people about wishes and I was tired and sore. Kinda in a mood to be honest with you. Told him I wasn't up for chattin' and all I wanted to do was sit down."

"Guess he took that as a wish." And he's pissed off, and will be more pissed off later, but Cricket blames himself, too, for being careless.

"Josh said he was gonna look for answers. Not sure what that means but I hope he doesn't go get himself hurt. Might wanna talk if you do see him, yeah."