Dog Days

Chapter 20

The following morning, as I run my crew up at the sniper training grounds, I can't help but wonder if Loki found anything in their belongings.

Their practice is almost unnoticed by me as I let my mind wander off. Out of nowhere, Volstagg calls out "Staff Sergeant?"

I finally snap out of it and he asks "Are you alright?"

I hum, before pulling myself together and declaring "Didn't get much sleep last night."

Volstagg smirks as Sif asks "Why not?"

I rub my eyes, before coming up with a lie "Just couldn't sleep. Family stuff, and my satellite phone keeps fucking up so I feel like I don't have the full story."

Hogan sighs "That's the sad thing about satellite phones. You have to be in the exactly right spot to get it to work for more than thirty seconds at a time."

Peter motions out towards the spare cypress trees and states "The only place I get good signal is out over there."

Volstagg and Fandral share a look, before Fandral changes the subject and asks me "Where's First Sergeant Laufeyson?"

I think of a quick lie "He said something about a meeting with Captain Rogers, last night. I don't know if he'll be with us today."

Drax furrows his brow and states "He looks like he's overworked. I haven't even seen him in the mess hall."

I furrow my brow "Yeah, he is really busy. Honestly think he works past lights out transcripting conversations and writing notes."

Sif furrows her brow and asks "And he's here to promote us?"

I give a short nod and declare "That and he's also here for therapeutic support for you guys as well. After we lost our guys, his reserve decided we need someone to help us out."

Peter scoffs "So, he's a shrink?"

I scoff, before remarking "A shrink capable of promoting and demoting us."

The bell at the mess hall rings and I look at them tiredly "Time for breakfast."

As I lead them down the hill, Volstagg sighs "More oatmeal that looks like snot. I miss shredded wheat at this point."

Hogan sighs "I would take it up the ass for a waffle."

I sigh as I continue down the hill "That'll be me in a few months. Taking dick, high as balls, eating a waffle as I watch mind numbing television."

I hear all of them come to a screeching stop and I look back to find them in shock. I furrow my brow and remind "I'm a hippie, remember? Taking dick and being stoned is just a regular Tuesday."

As I turn back around and continue walking, they take a long moment before they continue walking. After a long moment, Groot finally states "I didn't know you like guys."

I scoff, before declaring "Either or. On the farm, everything is so much easier. No explanations needed. I didn't even come out to my parents. They just walked in on me having sex with a guy and they never asked me about it again. Mom still tries to set me up with everyone."

Sif cuts in "Do you have someone back home?"

I sigh "Unfortunately, my house is always empty, except for me when I'm home, or my sister in a magic mushroom haze, but usually I find her on my porch swinging."

Volstagg and Fandral remain silent as Hogan asks "Who are you talking about having sex with, then?"

I glance back to find Volstagg smirks at me before I continue down "Just because I don't have someone back home, doesn't mean I won't be getting anything when I get back."