A Tale of Mischief and Mutants part 2

Groomsmen

—-Loki—-

I finish up with Sam's wrists and sit down next to her. She leans into me looking up at me with those captivating chocolate brown irises.

"How's wedding planning going?"

"It's going well I was thinking though, do we know how Vili would do around cats?"

She gives me a bewildered look and I suddenly realize that she of course doesn't know anything about those sorts of traditions.

"What...?"

"It is a customary gift for the bride, a kitten that is."

"Huh, well... she'll probably see them as food... everything else we bring home like that is."

I had been thinking about this, while we don't feed her cats it's probably difficult for a snake to distinguish between a cat and her usual meals of rats and other creatures that are considered vermin on Midgard.

"Maybe I should explain the situation to people so you're not bombarded with a box of kittens that we can't keep."

Knowing Sam once she laid eyes on them she'd desire to keep them but living in a house with a predator like Vili just isn't safe for the small creatures. Her next words confirm my assumption.

"Yeah that's probably for the best I'd be too tempted to keep them. Everything's in order for the wedding though right? I just feel like I'm out of the loop."

"I thought you wanted out."

"Well kinda, I just want to know we're not missing anything... we sent out invitations?"

"Yes."

"Decorating's taken care of?"

"Yes."

"Ok, and I have my bridesmaids chosen, you told them dress colors right?"

"Yes darling, you worry too much."

"Ok so who did you choose for your groomsmen?"

I suddenly come to a realization that I had completely shoved that task aside when Sam was taken.

"Shit..."

I immediately get up in search for my phone. It's probably not proper to ask people this way but if I want them here I need to ask as soon as possible as it is already nearly inexcusably late notice.

"It's under control... I simply need to make some calls, ...I just hope they won't be terribly offended."

She giggles slightly at me trying to remain smooth despite my panicking.

"They'll understand Lo', you've been busy."

I rush into the next room to make the calls without responding I'm too concerned with the task at hand to reply. The first person I call comes without any second thought, Peter. The call goes as well as I'd expected. He's really excited about it and was understanding of my delay in asking.

I'm in a good mood now from my conversation with Peter and ride that wave of emotion in order to make the next call in which I'm slightly less sure of the outcome. Bruce picks up the phone seeming confused.

"Uhh hello? Loki?"

A wave of anxiety induced nausea hits me. 'Damn it why did I call him?' He won't want to be in the wedding anyway, how could he? He probably only tolerates me and is nice to me out of pity. I can't hang up now... I may as well finish what I've started. Luckily my words come out smoothly with only a slight delay.

"Hello Bruce I'm terribly sorry to ask on such short notice but I'm in desperate need of groomsmen..."

I stop. 'Do I dare ask him?' I could make something up about needing a number for a different team member...

"Loki? ...Are you insinuating that you want me to be one of your groomsmen?"

I backpedal thinking he finds the idea ridiculous, I was his enemy and am merely an acquaintance that happens to be an ally now of course he doesn't want to.

"I understand if you don't want to it's such short notice after all and-"

"Loki."

He cuts me off with that and I go silent expecting him to politely decline.

"I'll be there buddy."

I hope he can't hear the change in my voice that the relief his answer brings.

"Very good then. ...I'll see you in two weeks."

"Yup! See you Lokes!"

"Yes well... farewell."

"Yup bye!"

"Goodbye."

I awkwardly end the phone call. Though I'm embarrassed from my awkwardness I'm also smiling, that is until I'm hit with another wave of anxiety. Two down, four to go...