Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
—-Sam—-
We arrive at Clint's homestead in Iowa via Thor's use of Stormbreaker, Loki's never been here Clint never trusted him here before but apparently he's changed his mind. It was decided that this was the best place for us to have a barbecue, bonfire, and shoot off fireworks. Here we can also avoid the press.
I thought it was a joke when Thor told me Cap was born on July 4 but no, somehow the star spangled man with a plan just so happened to be born on the most patriotic date possible. We join the others who are milling about on the lawn I can now hear what I think is either swing music or jazz music playing.
Surprisingly it's not bad at all it even gives me some party vibes and from the lyrics I can only guess it's titled 'Stuff is Here' or 'The Stuff is Here'. It's kinda catchy, so they did know how to party back then I guess. Well now that I think about it Cap would've been a little kid during the roaring twenties and if history class is to be believed that was just one big party so that makes sense.
Loki looks a bit unsure of what to do. He's probably never been to a party like this before. I take his hand and head for the cooler. Alcohol will ease our nerves even if I think it's mostly placebo for him. There's no way he actually feels the effects of this puny mortal stuff like... I glance at the label on the bottle... Bud Light?
Logan would be appalled. Ah well alcohol is alcohol. I get us two bottles and we pop the tops off taking a swig before we face our social anxieties. As I approach Wanda to start talking my attention is stolen from that as Thor greets someone with a hug seeming excited to see her.
"Lady Roz!"
He lets go then leans down and kisses her. Both Loki and myself look on in shock. I lean over to my husband and whisper.
"When did that happen?!"
"I haven't a clue."
Thor notices us gawking flashing us one of his overly enthusiastic smiles. He grabs the woman's hand and begins pulling her towards us excitedly.
"Oh! Come! You must meet my brother and sister-in-law!"
She gives us a nervous wave and smile as she nears us staying close to Thor a bit shyly. I smile at her hoping to ease her nerves.
"Loki, Sam, this is Agent Rosalind Solomon... we started dating after the er... incident."
It's funny in a cosmically horrendous way that I have to think for a minute as to which incident he's referring to. It must be my failed abduction as that's when he would have had time without us on missions and other Avengers and S.H.I.E.L.D related events in order to snag a girlfriend without our knowledge. 'What's up with siblings and not telling you about their new significant other?' Loki still looks confused looking at the woman in bewilderment.
"Why wasn't she at the wedding?"
"I told her she was welcome but she thought it would be rude as you've never met."
"Surely we must have talked before if she's with S.H.I.E.L.D."
Roz speaks timidly I don't know if it's due to general social anxiety, talking to a celebrity/Avenger, or because she's afraid of Loki in particular.
"I just graduated my training... I was assigned as an agent for Fury's core team only recently."
Loki picks up on her timidity and seems to immediately attribute it to her being afraid of him. He hides the hurt well as he responds but I see it.
"Nonetheless I'm sure you know all about me."
There's clearly still anxiety in her voice as she speaks.
"...Not really... just what I've read, and I know I'm inexperienced but I don't feel like I can know someone from a piece of paper."
I can tell that despite her words Loki does scare her because of what she's read but that she is also willing to withhold forming her opinion about him until she's actually interacted with him. I attribute this solely to the enthusiasm and love Thor always seems to display for his little brother regardless of the little brother in question claiming to hate that he does this.
I happen to know he loves it and is just too proud to admit it. Sometimes I think Loki would have been far more happy and better off if he had sought his brother's approval rather than his father's when he was a child. From what Loki's told me Thor was mostly encouraging and understanding when they were younger. The two used to be nearly inseparable but then good ol' puberty hit.
Suddenly Thor was leaving his brother behind to spend time with his friends and chase women. Though Thor still thought highly of his brother, this made them grow apart and Thor became stubborn, arrogant, and self absorbed. Part of me thinks that's due to the lack of him seeking Loki's guidance on things like I've seen him do from time to time now.
Loki somehow offsets Thor's overeager and impulsive nature while Thor offsets Loki's avoidant personality managing to almost always get him to crack a smile at Thor's antics. Thor doing things like having a blonde moment, breaking things on accident, being overly excited by something most would find mundane, or in short, Thor just being Thor will make Loki roll his eyes and smile despite himself.
Despite being so different the two brothers work well together. Part of Thor's success as New Asgard's ruler can be attributed to him seeking out and taking Loki's advice from time to time. A small smile forms on Loki's lips from the woman's words.
"In the circumstances where you're limited to a rap sheet, physical profile, and Midgard's horrendously inaccurate mythology texts I'd have to agree."
She seems to relax a little at his laid back response this in turn makes Loki relax a bit. We continue talking Thor explaining to us exactly how they met.
