A Tale of Mischief and Mutants

Visiting

—-Loki—-

I'm feeling better but I don't feel completely awake. I didn't even notice Sam standing at the door until she started knocking. My mind wanders back to what I had been so furious about before. Though I'm still angry about my weakness being witnessed by everyone on the team seeing the toll it took on Sam to see me almost killed was enough to make me realize that she didn't expect or need me to be strong all the time.

I glance at the names on the cards in the stack Sam gave me. I wonder if they were given out of pity or acceptance. I'm shocked to find Barton's name among them... he wouldn't pity me. I open the card he gave me letting a smile form on my lips as I read it.

-'I'm never really sure what to write in these things I just hope you're doing better soon. -Clint'-

I hear a knock at the door I look over to see I've been snuck up on again. I smile at Peter who's standing in the doorway. He quickly walks over and gives me a hug the minute I notice him and speaks sounding even more cheerful than I'm used to from him.

"Dude you scared the crap out of me."

My breath catches in my throat the sudden movement taking the wind out of me. He lets go looking concerned.

"Did I hurt you?"

"I'm fine."

He's not completely convinced.

"I'm sorry if I did. I wasn't really thinking, I'm just so happy you're gonna be ok."

'Damnit why is Peter so endearing?'

"Well of course I am look who you're talking to."

He smiles a bit.

"I'm sorry I shouldn't have doubted you, what is this like the 30th time you've either 'died' or almost died?"

He makes air quotes with his fingers as he says the first died. While the comment is funny what he doesn't know is he's not far off from the real number if I count all my close calls at the hand of Ebony Maw or Thanos but I will not concern him with such things. I decided a long time ago that Peter doesn't need to know the gruesome details about that part of my life. He's full of optimism about the universe I don't need to crush that by explaining exactly what horrors the beings living in it are capable of. I laugh.

"Something like that."

Peter, who has in jest told me he suffers from a condition called ADD, jumps on to the next thing without segue way.

"Whatcha reading anyway?"

"Just, as you know, people left some things for me here I was merely glimpsing through them before throwing them away. ...I was bored."

He looks at me teasingly.

"Yeah uh huh."

Peter doesn't believe my flimsy cover for my sentiment one bit.

"Alright fine I was reading through them all."

He smiles.

"Loki it's ok for you to be happy about them that's why they left them here for you."

He has a point. Why do I feel as if I'm not allowed to enjoy them?

"I just... I always complicate things I suppose."

Peter shrugs this off.

"Oh bitch I've been knew don't worry we love you anyway."

I'm unsure of exactly what he's trying to say but I'm pretty sure he said something to the extent of he already knew that but loves me anyway. I smile a bit as I shake my head at his ridiculous Midgardian phrasing of the sentiment. We talk for a little while but soon I know I have to rest. I can't focus on our conversation so I tell him this and say goodbye. I'm asleep before he's even out the door.