Avengers High School

Chapter 5: The Dorm

Steve's POV

After the whole mishap with Tony Stark (dang, the kid's 15 now? Last Steve had heard, he was 13 and a junior at MIT) was sorted out, they were all led to the dormitories. Director Fury and Agent Coulson led the way, with Steve and Thor following. Tony and Bruce chatted about science things like "gamma radiation" and "arc reactors", whatever those were. Steve was pretty smart, but he only knew a few things about gamma radiation, from his high school science courses. Clint and Widow brought up the rear, Widow teaching Clint Russian, and Clint showing her the corresponding words in sign language. 

"--And in Asgard, the Bifrost connects Asgard and Midgard. It is guarded by Heimdall, who is loyal to my father, and we were sent here to learn about Midgardians, as is befitting the future Kings of Asgard and Jotunheim." Thor said.

"That sounds interesting," said Steve. "Where is Loki, by the way?"

He saw that by the way Thor's face fell, it was the wrong thing to say. "I do not know. Ever since he discovered he was adopted, he has been distant. Father sent us here to both learn about Midgardians and grow closer, but I am afraid that my brother does not wish to grow closer again. It is very unfortunate. We were close when we were younger. Now I am afraid I don't know him at all."

Steve looked at the other boy. "I'm sure that you'll be able to get through to him."

Thor smiled. "Thank you, friend Steve! I am sure that we will be great friends."

"Yeah, me too," smiled Steve. He and Thor fell into companionable silence for a few minutes, before Thor spoke again.

"Steve, if you don't mind me asking, why are you training at SHIELD? Is it not custom for young men of your age to go to a Midgardian 'college'?"

Steve looked down. "Well, last--I mean, two years ago I was very small and sickly. My only friend was Bucky Barnes, and although I was in a lot of fitness programs and picked a lot of...did a lot of exercise, I got sick a lot and never really got any stronger."

"Well, you must have found some way that works!" boomed Thor. "Wait--did you say that this Bucky was dead?"

"Yeah," Steve sighed sadly. "It was a hit and run. Some big truck.  He was cremated."

"May I express my condolences, and hopes that he will reside in Valhalla with all other brave warriors!" Thor told Steve.

"Thank you," Steve said, "but Bucky wasn't really a warrior. I mean, he defended me from bullies and stuff, but he never really picked fights. He...fighting people was always more my thing."

"Many things make warriors, Steven," Thor told him. "Your friend sounds like he would make a great addition to Valhalla."

Steve smiled. "Thanks, Thor," he said.

~Thor's POV~

When Thor entered the dorm, he was blown away. His quarters on Asgard had been much more luxurious, it was true, but he never would have thought that Midgard would take care of its soldiers even a fraction as well as warriors had been cared for on Asgard.

There were six beds, stacked up into three bunks. By each bunk, there was one desk on either side, and a large computer on each desk, along with pens, pencils, a strange little white and orange bottle, and several notebooks. Anthony immediately ran to the bed nearest the window. 

"I call dibs!" he exclaimed.

"Nope, no, absolutely not," Bruce replied, grabbing Tony by the back of his shirt. "Did you not learn anything from freshman year?"

"I learned that windows are awesome," said Tony.

"No, you learned that you are never allowed to sleep by a window again for the rest of your life," Bruce said. He dragged Tony over to the bed closest to the closet. "We'll sleep here."

Widow silently walked over to the bunks by the door and sat on the lower one. "This is my bed," she said. 

Clint shrugged. "I guess I get the top, then," he said. "Steve, Thor, you guys got the window."

"Thank you, Clinton!" Thor said, smiling at the younger boy. "It will be good to have a good view of Midgard."

"No problem, Thor," Clint replied, vaulting up to the top bunk. "Hey Wid, d'you think Fury'll have brought our stuff?"

"Check the closet," she replied. 

Thor watched in awe as Clinton jumped off of his bed, grabbed the ceiling fan, and swung over to the closet, pulling it open with his bare feet. Several suitcases littered the ground. Clint let himself swing back to his bunk, and clambered back onto it. 

"Yeah, he brought it," he said.

Steven, meanwhile, had walked over to the empty bunks by the window. "Thor, do you want top or bottom bunk?"

"Either," Thor replied, looking at the bed. "Which would you prefer?"

"Um, bottom," Steven said. "Would you mind taking top?"

"Top it is!"