WE'LL MEET AGAIN [tw: Infinity War related violence, inferred death]
“Play the song, Daddy.”
“Again? You listen to it every night. Aren’t you tired of it?”
“It helps me sleep.”
Loki stood up and crossed the room to the small turntable cabinet beside the dresser. He lifted the top and flipped the switch. A low crackling buzz echoed through the speakers as the old tubing sparked to life. Then he slipped the record out of its sleeve and glanced back over his shoulder at the young girl half tucked under a red and blue quilt, a stuffed alligator clenched in her arms. “You’re sure?”
The girl giggled. “Yes! Please!”
“Well, if you insist.” Loki grinned and placed the record over the spindle. He turned the dial on the speakers and lifted the stylus over the plate. There was a scratchy whirr as the needle adjusted to the grooves. Then the dulcet tones of Vera Lynn’s alto voice flooded the speakers.
We'll meet again, Don't know where, Don't know when But I know we'll meet again some sunny day
“Sing!” The girl cheered, sitting up against her pillow.
“Oh, no. No one wants to hear that,” Loki said, sitting down on the edge of the small mattress.
“Please, Daddy?” She turned on that look. The one she knew she could always win him over with. With big bright eyes and pouting lips.
Loki tapped her on the nose. “Your illusions need work.”
“It’s not an illusion. It’s a pout.”
“You could be more convincing.”
“You could be more convincing.” She smiled and tried to wink but just ended up blinking both eyes.
Keep smiling through, Just like you always do 'Til the blue skies drive the dark clouds far away
Loki shook his head, pretending to be annoyed, but there was nothing but joy in his face. She was right, after all. He could have been more convincing. But he didn’t want to be. Not with her. She was the only one who received complete honesty from the God of Mischief.
“You’re going to get me in trouble, you know. You were supposed to be asleep fifteen minutes ago.” Loki tucked her wavy hair back behind her ears. In the hazy glow of the yellow lamplight it had a copper tint. But as soon as the lights went out her strands would be black as night. Darker than his own.
“You’ll just lie and say you accidentally left the radio on.”
“Lie? Me? I think you have me mistaken for someone else. Surely I would never be caught in such an obvious fabrication of the truth.” Loki flipped his hair over his shoulder to over-dramatize the performance.
The little girl laughed. “You’re silly.”
“Silly looking?”
“Just silly!”
“Well, that’s absurd.”
“No.” The girl crawled back down in the sheets, resting her head on the pillow.
“No?”
“It’s silly!”
“Oh, of course. How could I miss that?” Loki lifted the quilt and tucked both her and the plush alligator in.
“Please?”
“Only one verse.”
“Two!”
“Only two verses.”
Loki hummed the melody until Vera was joined in chorus by the Sailor’s of Her Majesty’s Forces. Then he sang along.
So will you please say "Hello" To the folks that I know? Tell them I won't be long They'll be happy to know That as you saw me go I was singing this song
The girl yawned, her eyelids slowly drifting shut.
We'll meet again, Don't know where, Don't know when But I know we'll meet again some sunny day
When her eyes were closed, Loki turned off the lamp. He leaned forward and pressed a kiss to her forehead. Then he stood up and dialed down the volume on the record player. It was then that he noticed the red gleam beneath the doorway. Odd. He knew the lights were out in the corridor. He cast a final glance to the sleeping figure of his daughter. Then he opened the door and stepped out—