A Tale of Mischief and Mutants part 2

Steve and Bucky

—-Loki—-

I wait as the phone rings wondering if Rogers has chosen to ignore my call. Finally though he picks up. What I recognize as swing music plays in the background as he speaks.

"Hello?"

There's a muffled voice in the background.

" ...no, Buck I'm on the phone. Sorry about that is there something you needed? I know you might be wondering about any development in our search for whoever attempted to take Sam but I gotta say I'm probably not the right person to call."

"I ah... well, Steve, you've always been at the very least tolerant of me being on the team and I appreciate that sincerely... I also appreciate you helping Sam with her anxiety when I was unable to back with Amora, and the fact that you trusted me with that mission... I know it is late notice but I would like to ask if you'd- if you'd be one of my groomsmen."

There's dead silence on the line. 'He's appalled by your question, the righteous and perfect Captain America would never stand behind someone like you.' I go on quickly.

"Of course I understand if you don't wish to-"

"Loki it's not that. I'm just surprised you asked me that's all. I didn't know you saw me as your friend."

"I... I do."

He chuckles slightly at the timidity that's crept into my voice.

"Then I'll be there."

The way he says this tells me he's going to end the call so I scramble to say something before he does. I don't know if it's more awkward to do it this way or to call Barnes after.

"Wait is Bu-Barnes still there?"

I decide against calling Bucky by his nickname to Steve at the last minute making my question all the more awkward. 'Why am I this awkward?' Talking to people is easy when I'm putting up a facade and trying not to convey my real intentions and emotions but the moment I pull back the curtain my silver tongue starts to slip up.

I guess I used to be this way when I was young but one day I decided to try and act the way everyone expected me to and it worked. People saw me as competent not as great as Thor or many of the other children but acceptable. The only person I'd allow to see behind it had been mother and she didn't shame me for my over emotional nature like everyone else.

Unfortunately I couldn't always keep up the illusion and whenever it faltered Thor's friends would be there to remind me that my act couldn't change anything about the weakling I am behind it. It wouldn't be so bad if Thor was with them... Thor defended me whenever he picked up on their not so subtle jabs at me but this only added to my feelings of inadequacy.

The fact that I needed to be defended was something that sparked some of my bitterness towards my brother. Besides some times with Thor and Peter since arriving on Earth, I've only just started to come out from behind that act again over the past year. I guess I'm just not sure how to be myself, behind this illusion I've made who am I? I'm pulled out of my thoughts by Steve.

"Yeah he's right here. ...You need to talk to him too?"

"Yes."

"Here catch."

There's a clang that I can only assume is Bucky catching Steve's phone with his metal arm. Bucky immediately chastises his friend.

"STEVE! You shouldn't do that! These things break super easy!"

I smile a little imagining Steve shrugging nonchalantly at Bucky's concerns as Bucky sighs in annoyance before turning his attention to the call.

"Hey Lokes, you and Sam doing ok?"

The fact that he's asking this question so genuinely is precisely why I have chosen him as one of my groomsmen.

"Yes we're doing a bit better Sam went to a friend's house today without me. ...I don't think she would have if not for her talks with Doctor Fennhoff. ...Thank you for that,"

I hesitate before going on but I want to fully express my gratitude for his role in getting Sam and myself the help we needed.

"He's... he's helped me too."

"That's great! I've been wondering how all that went I figured well but you can never be sure."

I smile hearing the genuineness in his voice again, it makes me far less anxious.

"So... I was calling to see if you could, and I'm aware it's late notice, if you could possibly be one of my groomsmen?"

The same silence follows though its less nerve wracking now that I know it's likely due to surprise and not outright rejection of the idea. He seems to break from his stupor.

"Yeah, of course."

"Great I'll see you both in two weeks."

I hang up the call feeling confident for the next. Apparently people don't hate me as much as they once had or as much as I'd perceived them to.