Little Loafki

Elio had never thought of having an imp. 

Not one to stay at his apartment anyway. 

Grape loved to live in Coney’s. Chilling out on the small swing the other had installed for him. Watching all the people that came by and eating the snacks he was provided with. Grape was a good pet. The little chirop was easy to care for, and Elio loved having him at work. 

When he wasn’t around, Grape knew where the snacks were. He knew how to fly around the interior of the bar and find the perfect spot to take a nap until Elio came in the next day. But at home, things were different. 

Elio had always liked his apartment clean and tidy. 

Not a spec of dust on any counter or on any piece of furniture. As sparkling as it was when it was first built and fitted out with all kinds of equipment and appliances. His apartment was his sanctuary. 

But when he was coming home from the festival a few years ago, he’d spotted a loafki in a box on the side of the road. It was bright red in colour, with wispy white pearls of smoky horns and yellow spikes along its back. Its tail whipped as it saw Elio and the other looking curiously at the moon-shaped pendant on its tail.

“Hello there,” he said to the Loafki who hissed in response. Elio had a knack for imps. He was good at talking and caring for them which was why it was always a shock that he didn’t own one. 

“Don’t be scared, it’s alright, you must have gotten into some mochi huh,” he said to him and reached out his hand only to be scratched. Elio swore and shook his arm in pain before going back.

“Right, stay out here then,” he growled in response and turned to walk away only for him to stop as an overly dramatic cold breeze swept across the laneway. He cursed himself and marched four steps away before turning to march back. He picked up the box and noticed that the little red loafki didn’t even budge. 

Was it hurt?

Elio sighed and brought it home, he could have a better look inside where it was warm and free from prying eyes. 

Plopping the box down on the sitting room table, Elio looked down at the little loafki. 

“You, better appreciate this. Stay put I’m going to call a friend,” he informed the little guy and went to his house phone, dialling Hutch’s number and asking if he could come over to take a look at the wee thing. 

Hutch, despite being ready for bed, agreed to pop by Elio’s place and take a look at the little guy. He arrived twenty minutes later with a bag of imp care tools and treats. 

“Hey Elio, where’s the little patient?” Hutch asked him. 

“In here, he’s just kind of sitting…not moving, didn’t even jump out of the box when I carried it,” he explained.

“Well, loafki are fairly lazy imps, maybe he’s decided this is his home,” Hutch said as they walked in to see the loafki still in the box, eyes on Hutch and the bag of ‘things’. 

“Hey there sweet angel, I’m just going to take a look at you,” Hutch said and gently picked up the loafki and held it close, stroking its head softly before examining it. “Hmm, looks like you were right Elio, its leg is broken, I’ll bandage it up but you’re going to have to take care of it for a few days.”

Elio grumbled and nodded.

“Alright, can you write me a list of loafki care items, I’ll pick them up tomorrow,” he said with a sigh and Hutch smiled before nodding and placing the little loafki back down. 

Hutch bandaged up the loafki and set him on the armchair, where he immediately got comfortable - it was his now. 

“Seriously on the armchair,” Elio complained and Hutch just smiled.

“Call me tomorrow if you need anything okay Elio,” Hutch told him before waving goodbye and heading back to his own home to go back to bed. 

Elio stared at loafki who was loafing on the plush seat. 

“Well…make yourself at home I guess,” Elio grumbled and left to go get ready for bed. 

When he came back out the Loafki was sleeping soundly on the chair, curled up and snoozing quietly. 

“You’re very cute, but this is only temporary,” Elio said to the imp but he was simply speaking to himself. He pet the little imp’s head and smiled before heading off to bed. 

The next day Elio went shopping, he bought the appropriate food and treats for a loafki and some toys. He thought about buying a bed but from what he knew about the species of imp - they tended to sleep wherever they wanted. 

“I guess I can clean the chair after,” Elio said as he picked up some bowls for food and water. After his purchases, he made his way home, opening up his door to the little loafki running after a bug that had managed to get in threw the window.

“Oi, oi, calm down you little fiend, you’ll hurt yourself more,” Elio said and picked him up under the arms. There was peace for a moment before the loafki struggled and leapt from his arms onto the two-seater, curling up.

“Oh no you don’t, armchair,” Elio said, picking him up and placing him on the armchair only to watch as he crossed to the two-seater again. 

“Okay then,” Elio growled and went to pour some food into a bowl and fill the other with water. He picked up the loafki again and brought him over to see.

“Look, water and food, for you, so you know where it is,” he explained and happily watched as the little guy chowed down.

After cleaning up a bit, Elio played with the little guy using some feather wands and tiny remil plushies. The imp enjoyed it a lot and Elio was happy he had to admit it.

Over the course of the week Elio played and hung out with the little loafki. He had gotten quite attached to the little guy if he was honest and when Hutch came to check up on him he was a little sad that he might have to go soon. 

“Yup, he’s all healed,” Hutch said simply and pet the now much friendlier little guy. 

“Oh right, umm, so what now?” Elio asked. 

“Well, I can try find him a home if you want, you don’t have to keep him,” Hutch said, knowing how much Elio enjoyed his clean space. 

“Yea…” Elio replied and looked at the little loafki. It looked back at him and hopped down to pad over to the armchair, curling up to sleep.

“I think I’ll keep him,” Elio said softly and Hutch smiled. He knew he would. He’d heard the other talk about how much he had been enjoying the little imp’s company. Plus he’d spoiled him with toys and food. 

“Yea?” Hutch questioned with a smile. 

“Yea, need to think of a name though,” Elio said and Hutch laughed. 

“The hardest part of imp ownership, well, good luck then Elio, let me know if you need anything,” Hutch called before leaving. 

Elio waved goodbye and sat on the couch, the little loafki moving to sit on his lap.

Now, a few years later, the loafki was still with Elio, both comfortably sat on the couch. Elio pet him gently and scratched under his chin. Smiling at the medallion on his collar that clearly red ‘Ziggy’. 

“You’re a little nightmare aren’t you zigmeister,” Elio said and the imp made a purr sound in response before curling up tighter on his owner’s lap.