Drew reached across the table for Tomasz, apologizing over and over again.
"That's not why I'm upset, Drew. I'm upset because you've been forced to do all those things you never wanted to do."
"But I tricked you. I flirted with you to win you over. I flirted with Sandro. I wasn't genuine with you."
"First of all, we just thought that's what you're like. A player. If we didn't like you, we wouldn't have befriended you. And secondly and most importantly, you weren't disingenuous. You were ordered to do all those things. You had no choice. So there's no reason to feel guilty about it."
Drew frowned. "You're way too forgiving. I thought you'd be mad."
"Then you're overthinking this. But it's understandable," Tomasz said.
"Look, Drew, you know I wasn't your biggest fan, but I know a thing or two about being enslaved. You shouldn't blame yourself for things that were outside of your control," Loki said.
Drew cocked his head. "You…you do? How?" he asked.
"That's why I called him," Fenrir said. "Father?"
Loki huffed and raised an eyebrow at his son before he leaned forward and put both hands on the table. "I was enslaved for a long time, like you. My ex…he bound me to an object. And anyone who possessed it, possessed me."
I could practically hear Drew's head explode as he leaned closer and his eyes went wider with tame excitement.
"What-how did you escape?"
"I didn't. Tomasz freed me but I chose to bind myself to him instead."
"Why would you do that?"
"Because, freedom was too much for me. You see, I'm not like other gods. I'm a chaos god. I have to cause chaos. Misery. Grief. Confusion. It's in my blood. Being free would mean I wouldn't stop until I destroyed this world with my games. So instead, I chose sanity. And love." Loki moved his hand to Tomasz's lap and the young man held him tight.
"So…so there's no escape? I can't find a way to not be influenced by Horus?" Drew asked, the hope draining from his face as if it was life itself.
"Not necessarily." Tomasz narrowed his eyes and studied his boyfriend for a few moments before he turned to Drew. "There might be a way to…shield yourself."
"How?" Drew shouted.
Tomasz flinched but wasn't deterred by his friend's eagerness.
"A while ago I had this made," he said and showed a bracelet he was wearing. "It links with another piece that when Loki wears it, he can resist my commands and he can compel me instead."
Loki smirked and pulled at his shirt, to reveal a dog collar around his neck.
"Oh my! Ew. Dad! I told you, I don't need to know what goes on in your sex life!" Fenrir groaned and walked away shielding his eyes.
I chuckled.
"He's sensitive," I said. "My son was practically begging me to get screwed."
"Well, I'm glad you listened to him." Loki smirked and glanced at Drew.
Drew didn't seem interested in this conversation however, or in Fenrir's prudish theatrics.
"H-how did you get those? Do you think they could work for me?"
Tomasz shrugged and pulled a card from his phone case.
"I don't know. These were made specifically for us so we can’t even test it. You'll have to talk to Frankie and he'll help you figure out what's possible, but if there's anyone who can do it, I'm sure it's him."
He slid the card across the table and Drew snatched it as if it was the most precious thing in the world.
