A Tale of Mischief and Mutants

Goodbyes

—-Sam—-

I wake up excited yet nervous for the day ahead. We are traveling by plane to an airport about an hour away from the small town of Tønsberg now the capital of New Asgard a country no larger than Rhode Island situated on land that used to be part of Norway.

Apparently when the refugees from Asgard showed up the Norwegian people and their government were kind enough to give them the land because of Thor's reputation as one of Earth's mightiest heroes. I was shocked when Loki explained what happened to Asgard, there aren't very many Asgardians left.

Though we could take the Bifrost directly to Tønsberg via Stormbreaker, I'm thankful it was decided I wasn't quite ready for the experience of traveling through an Einstein-Rosen Bridge. I have done crazier things during my time as an X-man but I don't really feel like relying on technology that foreign to me. Maybe I'll try it someday when I'm pressed for time but right now I have plenty of it.

I get out of bed and begin getting ready for the day. Loki's still sleeping but he looks so peaceful that I decide to leave him be for a little while longer. I'll wake him up if he's still sleeping after my shower. I notice something sticking into the room from underneath the door. It's a black t-shirt in my size with the S.H.I.E.L.D logo on it and a note:

-'Thought you might be in need of clothes seeing as you don't really have a wardrobe right now, so we got you started with this shirt. Congratulations and good luck we hope life treats you better from this point on.'-

It's signed by Maria Hill, Sharon Carter, Dr. Cho, and a couple other names I can only assume to be nurses and other staff members I had somewhat warmed up to during my time here. I turn it around and there's more on the back:

-'P.S. Fury was too stubborn to sign this but we know he feels the same.'-

I smile to myself and bring the shirt along with other clothes and my jeans from yesterday into the bathroom with me.

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I come out of the bathroom to see Loki he's dressed and ready to go for the day already I know he cheats though he uses his magic to change and wash up in the morning and several times throughout the day. He raises an eyebrow at me.

"Where'd that come from?"

I cheerily hand him the note. I notice him smile as he reads it too. Loki who's sitting on the bed reaches up and touches the collar around my neck I move my hair out of the way knowing he likely got the combination from Fury to remove it via text now that my citizenship is official.

He pushes a sequence of buttons and I'm finally free of the wretched thing. It feels so good to be free of it after five years of wearing one. Just then there's a knock on the door. Loki hands the note back to me and answers it. It's Peter.

"Hey Mr. Loki! Hey Sam! I thought I'd just come by here before my college classes start for the day and say goodbye."

He's holding a bag full of snacks specifically some of my favorites. He seems to realize he's still holding it.

"Oh yeah um I got this for you. I know New Asgard's kinda old fashioned and I don't know if they have all of these things readily available there."

He holds them out for me to take I do so then give him a hug.

"Thanks for everything Peter!"

"Hey it's no problem."

Peter pulls away and I feel tears streaming down my face.

"I'm gonna miss you."

"Hey it's ok I'll be in touch Mr. Stark told me to give you this."

He reaches into his pocket and holds out a phone. It's an iPhone XV but I can see that some adjustments were made to it likely with Stark tech. It has a case and everything.

"It's super cool he modified it so it never needs charging and won't break as easily."

Peter was rambling filling in the silence so he didn't break down crying himself.

"You still need to come visit."

"Of course."

Peter's phone goes off then. He looks sad as he takes it out and stops the sound.

"That's my alarm for when I have to leave. I need to be in class soon. I'm sorry."

"It's ok go, text me later."

"You got it... goodbye."

Loki speaks up.

"Goodbye, thank you Peter."

"No problem Mr. Loki. I really gotta go."

Peter seems to be stalling for time. He doesn't want to leave we've become very close friends over the past months. Peter takes one last look around the room seemingly looking for an excuse to stay then runs off.