Bitter Like Coffee(LokixOFC)

Terrible Things

The day was strangely pleasant and comfortable, with the sun shining bright and warmly, but with an occasional breeze blowing past to cool people off. The waves lapped at the shore calmly. The gulls cried overhead. Very few people milled around on the actual beach, but the commotion on the boardwalk made up for the lack of excitement. Of course, it was not yet noon and early spring, so few people really were trying to be on the beach. The perfect time for couples who wanted to escape work and their kids.

Kalliope lounged in a chair, sunglasses on, sighing quietly as she adjusted in the seat. As footsteps approached her, she gently glanced over the top of her glasses and smiled at Valkyrie. "Were you able to get ahold of 'im?"

"Yeah. Responded early this morning. He and Mal would head down asap." She set down the cooler and picnic blanket. "What I don't understand is why you're inviting 'em on our getaway and why I had to text."

"Malachi would be upset if he found out we went to the beach without him. Especially since we told him that we couldn't come down during the summer."

Valkyrie motioned for Kalliope to move over and squeezed on the chair next to her. "It's not like we're not doing anything for the summer. But, I don't have an issue with Malachi being down here." Valkyrie folded her arms and rested her head on Kalliope's shoulder. "Why's he gotta be here?"

"Cause I need you to practice being nicer to Loki. Stop pretending you hate him."

Valkyrie huffed, "Well, I don't like him."

"Anymore."

Kalliope grunted as Valkyrie somewhat gently punched her arm. She rubbed the sore spot then frowned. "Also, get your own chair. We have more in the car."

"Nuh uh. You haven't carried a thing. You go get the other chairs."

"I carried the bags!"

In one swift movement, Valkyrie hip checked Kalliope out of the chair. "You need to use those muscles more."

Kalliope stood, brushed the sand off of her, and stuck her tongue out. "Fuck you."

"I will. Later." Valkyrie winked.

Kalliope scrunched up her nose, trying to keep from showing her flusteredness. With an exaggerated sigh, she grabbed the car keys from atop the blanket and hiked uphill towards the parking lot. As she got closer to the cars, she waved at the driver coming up but still headed towards her own vehicle. She unlocked the trunk and pulled out the other two beach chairs, one adult sized and one more child-sized. Kalliope set the chairs on the ground then slammed the trunk close at the same time that Thor and Bruce stepped out of their car.

"Kallie! Valkyrie's making you carry everything?" Bruce walked over, hands shoved into his swim shorts pockets.

"Yes," Kalliope lied, "Thor's making you not carry anything?"

They both glanced back at Thor. The man was extremely focused on balancing three beach chairs, an umbrella, and another cooler and blanket in his two hands. While Kalliope was focused on the fact that Thor's tongue was just barely past his lips in concentration, Bruce stared at his partner's unbuttoned shirt. Or rather the exposed abdomen.

Bruce shook his head, regaining his focus and held his hand out towards Kalliope. "Here. Let me help."

Before she could hand him the bigger chair, Thor reached them and somehow managed to take it from them. "I've got it."

Kalliope smirked. "If I had to guess, you just want to show off your bulging muscles for your man."

Thor winked at Bruce, causing the smaller male to blush furiously. "What makes you think that?"