Dog Days

Chapter 72

At the end of the session, we went home and I sat on the couch for about an hour as I began dozing off. Eventually Hela sighs "Go lay down. I'll wake you up for dinner."

On the way to my bed, I set an alarm for six and curl up in the blankets.

The next thing I know, my alarm startles me awake. With a sigh of exhaustion, I sit up and pull myself out of the bed. When I wake back into the living room, I find Heimdall and Hela kicking each other for leg space as they pass the bong back and forth.

When I take a seat in an armchair, Hela smiles "Dinner will be ready in ten. We're having burgers. Dad is cooking them on the grill."

I give her a short nod, before looking up at the television to find they're watching family feud. After a few minutes, I stand as Heimdall asks "Where you going?"

I take a deep breath and sigh "I'm going to go talk to dad. It's barely fifty degrees outside. I'm sure he could use some help."

As I walk out the back door, I find him next to the open grill with a smile on his face "Thor? How was your nap?"

I scratch my forehead as I lean on the railing "I'm finding it difficult to stay awake."

He hums, before declaring "Supposedly, that changes as your body gets used to your meds. Shouldn't be much longer."

I sigh as he flips a couple of burgers. And when I look down at the meat, I realize that it doesn't look quite right "What animal did this come from?"

He gives me an amazed look "Heimdall makes vegan meat, now. He's been vegan since he joined the commune. I think Hela has been giving it to you for awhile, now."

I furrow my brow and remark "There's a lot of vegan meat in my fridge. I don't mind it, but I kinda want to know why."

He smiles "Hela hasn't butchered any livestock since you came home. I think seeing you all-" he thinks of a word "-mangled, made her squeamish. So far, nobody has complained, but eventually we may want more."

I shrug, before declaring "I don't really care. I wouldn't mind eating mainly plant based. I haven't noticed it in the past couple months."

Odin sighs "You look like you're still mainly gaining muscle. Your shoulders look huge."

I furrow my brow and ask "Why is everyone saying that? I haven't worked out since-" I try to think of the last time I exercised only all I can remember is boot camp "I don't know. Probably as a Corporal. I think it might just be post-op swelling."

Odin scoffs, before remarking "Swelling? Three months post-op?"

I sigh and look down, before he asks "What do do you think is going to happen, tonight?"

I feel the joy slip from the conversation in a matter of seconds, and I give him a regretful look "I don't know."

He gives me a tired smile, before he looks down to the grill "It's hard, not knowing, huh?"

I take in a deep breath and state "This entire time, I've been so angry, because there's a good chance he's dead and has been for awhile." I furrow my brow and declare "It's hell, not knowing."

He flips a couple burgers, before he sighs "I'm sorry you're going through this, Thor."

I give him a soft smile and he huffs, before declaring "For what it's worth, I hope he doesn't die. He's kinda my best chance at grandkids."

A warm smile crosses my face as I allow myself a single moment to imagine a couple of future. A couple of kids running across the hardwood and laughing as they chase the cats. Loki would definitely be the type of father to help them construct pillow forts. Hell, I'd probably join them.  

It's a happy life, but I don't even know if he's alive, now. It's a foolish dream.

It's foolish to believe I'll ever see him, again. It's foolish to tow the line of him being able to handle himself. Nobody knows if he's alive or dead, or even where he is. There's no way to help him. He's all alone.

I look at my dad and ask "Can you promise me something?"

He gives me a soft smile "What?"

I take a deep breath and look down at the ground "If he dies, get everyone away from me." I continue to avoid eye contact as I explain "I'm going to take my meds before the video starts, so I eventually just pass out. I don't know what I'm going to do, and I don't want to hurt anyone."

He's silent for a moment, before he asks "Do you think we're going to watch him die, tonight?"

I look him in the eye with a terrified smile "I'm scared he might. I haven't felt-" a tear rolls down my face and I look down as my body trembles "I had a horrible feeling the morning of the first video. I feel like I lost something, I just-"

He gives me a sad smile, before he pulls me to him and hugs me. He sighs as he pats my back "It's all going to be okay, Thor. Even if it isn't, we're still here with you."

I wipe my face and force down the emotion in me. I take a deep breath, before backing away and sighing "I just want to get through the night."

He gives me a cocky look "Oh, to be young." I give him a confused look and he just smiles at me and I realize something I really fucking hate. My cock is at half-mass, just like it always is after getting out of bed.

I sigh in annoyance "It's the antidepressants. It makes no sense."

He chuckles at me as he collects a couple of burger patties "Big dick problems. How did you survive in the marines?"

I grovel, only to remark "I had a lot of unused opportunities, apparently."

He narrows his gaze and states "You missed out, then."

I sigh "Not very fun to fuck someone when you haven't bathed in a month."

He gives me a disgusted sound, before pulling the last of the burgers off the grill "Ready to eat?"

I hum, before stepping inside to find Frigga setting the table and Heimdall and Hela kicking each other over the couch.

With a sigh, I help mom with the last of the dishes and dad walks in to call out "Dinner is ready."

As we take a seat at the table, Odin asks "You said something at the dinner last Friday, about meal rations?"

I shrug, before explaining "We'd get a shipment in every few months, with new recruits, and we'd line up to carry them to the mess hall. Just pour some boiling water in the bag and wait ten minutes."

Odin scoffs "I know what meal rations are. I was wondering about the game. Was there any?"

I scoff at him, before explaining "There was mainly lizards, snakes, foxes, wild cats called caracal, desert goats, small birds, wolves, and hyenas. Not really the best selection for hunting."

He gives me a short nod, before declaring "I was just wondering."

I take in a deep breath and explain "We did occasionally eat the lizards and snakes. Ate a couple of goats, too."

Odin gives me a disgusted look, before Hela asks "What does lizard taste like?"

I think back to my time in Jordan, trying to remember the sensation, only to sigh "It kinda tasted like slimy chicken."

Heimdall gags on his bite and I remark "Maybe this isn't the best conversation to have, at the dinner table."

Odin give me a proud smile "Maybe not."

I shrug, before realizing Heimdall is a bit ill. I smirks, before declaring "Snake tastes about the same, but chewy and slimy. The rare occasions we would find toads, those were soft and just slimy."

Heimdall stands up and heads out the back door as I laugh to myself and fork a burger onto my bun "I forgot how easy it is to make him sick."

Hela laughs as Frigga and Odin try to keep it together. It isn't until Heimdall rejoins us that I ask "Have you ever eaten a frog leg?"

He flips me off and we continue eating in silence.