Chapter 10
"They got a dance-off game," AJ exclaims as we come in and I chuckle softly.
"We changed our minds! This," Cass agrees and I nod a bit.
"Alright, fair. You guys can go first. I'm getting a drink. Want anything, Dad?"
"A rhone would be great."
"You got it." I glance at Loki and they shake their head. "Alright." I go over to the bar and they prepare two rhones, having heard us. "'Preciate it. Put it on tonight's tab, yeah?" They nod and I take the glasses over, handing one to Dad. "Alright. They have two machines. One at a time and add up all the scores where the higher score wins or face-off with one person from each team and best two out of three wins?"
"Face-off! Obvi," Cass scoffs and I look at him then at AJ and Morgan.
"Obviously," They translate at the same time and I nod.
"Right, forgot you're old."
"Morgan, you're in charge of kickin' his ass."
"With pleasure," She smirks and he returns it.
"Dad, you're going down."
"Yeah, right."
"Don't worry, we'll delay your inevitable embarrassment by going last."
"My inevitable embarrassment? You mean yours?"
"Yeah, sure," I scoff and he grins, patting my shoulder. Loki and AJ go first and do a song that AJ picked while we watch. "You don't suck as bad as I thought you did, kid."
"Duh," He scoffs and continues, owning it alongside Loki.
"So you married someone who has rhythm?" Sarah asks behind me and I smile as I turn. "Hey, Superstar."
"Hey, Sare." She hugs me and I return it with my left hand, holding my rhone in my right. "Your boy's killing it."
"Well, yeah. Sam taught them something. Surprising, isn't it?"
"Talking shit about your big brother now?" He hugs her from behind and she rolls her eyes. "So, tired of seeing my pretty face already, kid?" He smirks and I don't spare him a glance, tossing my rhone back. "Rest of the team's here if you wanna stop acting like an edgy teenager at forty-nine."
"There is my sibling-in-law," Thor cheers and drops an arm around my shoulders, a drink sloshing in a large glass. "Whom are you playing the game with tonight?"
"The boys, Dad, Morgan, Loki."
"Loki Jr is here?"
"No."
"Kid, thought you were over that? Loki ain't comin' back," Bucky says from behind me and I nod a bit.
"Interesting. So... That must not be my spouse, Loki, who just owned AJ then?"
"It was surprisingly difficult to do, my dear Captain."
"Kid doesn't suck. Good job." They smile and the others stare in silence. "So... This isn't Loki? Cuz... Damn, I'm sure it is." They chuckle and I smile. "Want a drink now, not Loki, God of Mischief?"
"That is a lovely idea," They laugh and I loop an arm around their shoulders, steering them toward the bar.
"Kick his ass, Mor!"
"You know it!" Loki shakes their head fondly and I smile a bit, letting him order whatever he wanted.
"Water?"
"What? I enjoy the beverage."
"They have wine, though."
"And it is expensive."
"Fair enough." The bartender sets three glasses down and refills my rhone. I nod slightly in thanks and carry two of the waters with my rhone, handing the third to Loki.
"Who is Shuri again?"
"The genius who gave me my helpful vibranium arm."
"Yes, but-"
"She's talking to Buckysaurus right now, Loki."
"Thank you. I will speak to her while you and your father try to beat each other."
"I will beat my father, that's easy."
"Y'know, if you're gonna talk smack about your old man, at least do it where I can hear."
"What? You need hearing aids now?" He scoffs and wraps his arm around my head. "I am armed with ice water and have no qualms about pouring it down your shirt." He rolls his eyes and lets me go. I hand one of them to AJ and he leans against the wall next to me, a little winded. "Dude..."
"Shuddup. The eleven hundred-year-old God can move, OK?" I laugh and brush my hair out of my face to watch Morgan demolish Cass.
"This is kinda painful to watch."
"Kid doesn't know Michael Jackson. It is painful, no kinda about it," Dad scoffs and I roll my eyes, sipping my rhone while AJ holds Cass's water.
"Yeah, it's just plain painful..." Morgan finishes whooping him and he just sits in a chair. "Go give your brother his water and help repair his ego slightly. Eighteen-year-olds, I swear," I mutter as he walks away and Dad scoffs.
"Like you were any better?"
"I could at least hold my own in a dance-off against you, Gramps, or Krags. Those boys wouldn't stand a snowball's chance in Hell."
"That's true. You ready to lose to your old man?"
"Ha! You wish!"
"You're getting old yourself, Ro."
"Don't mean I can't still kick your ass. I wouldn't even need the game to do it. Besides, my team already won."
"True. Does that mean you're prepared to do a normal dance battle?"
"Have you forgotten my wedding with Jay so quickly? I kicked your sorry ass then and I can do it again now."
"I'd love to see you try."
"With pleasure." Someone comes up, drunk, and I look at them. "Hello."
"Are you a man or a woman?" They ask, swaying, and I blink once.
"I'm a doctor and Captain."
"No, what's in your pants?"
"Crippling depression and debt. Bye." I guide them to walk away and they do without another word. "Drunk people be crazy." Peter laughs and I brush my hair out of my face again, tying it back.
"Oh? Finally taking my advice, Tundra?"
"Watch yourself, Zemo," I growl and he holds his hands up slightly.
"My apologies."
"Wait, where'd three thousand go?" I look around a bit and see her at the bar before heading out. With a suspicious person following her.
"She's gettin' some air. Give me a few minutes to catch up with her, see where she's headed, and then I'll kick your ass. Kay, Dad?"
"Whatever you say." I grin and head outside, pushing past Zemo. I follow the two of them until they turn down an alley and there's a small crash. I quickly round the corner, blaster trained toward the crash, and stare in shock at the scene.
Morgan had them pinned against the wall with their legs wrapped around her waist as she devoured their mouth in her male form and neither of them seem to notice me so I head back to the bar, still a little shocked. "Damn, Mor." I head back over to them and Loki notices first.
"So where was she headed?"
"Just, y'know, uh... Catchin' up with somebody." They look at me in confusion before it dawns on Dad and he laughs.
"Bet that was interesting."
"Oh, yeah." Loki seems to catch on and smiles slightly while the Avengers were still confused. "Oh, you poor, poor, innocent souls. Don't ask. Anyway... Ready to get beat, Dad?"
"Highly doubt I'll be losing, but sure. Let's do this."
"'Atta boy," Yondu cheers, drunk, and I smile.
"You are both still idiots," Gamora says and I laugh, shrugging.
"Well, I mean... Kinda, yeah."
"When was the last time you danced, Rogue?" Drax asks and I think with a laugh.
"Huh... That- That's a good question... Uh, a while? Been a little busy. Ten doctorates at a time, as well as all other schoolings for Terra, while also getting a psychotic assassin mindset deprogrammed takes up a lot of time. Hence why it took me ten annual cycles to get all of that shit done."
"Why?"
"Why not?"
"Fair," Mantis agrees softly and I look at her.
"OK, I suddenly don't feel like having a dance battle so I relent on that. Have fun doing whatever you do in your free time. Mantis, wanna dance with me?"
"Of course I do." She smiles and I return it, folding my left hand at my back while I offer her my right. She takes it with her antennae glowing slightly and I look at the bartender. They nod and put on a fairly ridiculous song, making me look at them in shock.
"Why?"
"It's fun to watch you embarrass yourself."
"I'll give you a nice tip if you do another song."
"OK, OK." They smile and I roll my eyes slightly. "Here. No other song will play so suck it up."
"Why don't I like the sound of that?" They play the song and I groan softly.
"I like this song better than the other one."
"Seriously?"
"Yes. The beat is nice."
"Alright, yeah. Beat's good. Alright, yeah, OK. Happy it is."
"Excellent! I'll start it over, then!"
"How kind of you!" Mantis smiles brightly and I can't help but laugh softly.
"OK. Ready?"
"Yes!" She sways slightly and I look at her in a bit of confusion but follow her lead, making her smile brighter.
The song changes and it takes me a moment to recognize it before laughing, nodding a bit. "I know I asked you to dance, but this is better with your significant other. So, Charlie, right?"
"Oh! Yes! That is a good idea!" She goes over to Charlie and I look at Loki, smiling.
"Y'know, I've been thinkin' 'bout summin'..."
"What would that be?"
"We never got our dance."
"That is true. We did not. For either wedding."
"Chaos, dude. Follows us everywhere." They nod their agreement and I go over to them, offering them my hand. "May I have this dance?"
"I suppose."
"Hilarious."
"I believe so."
"Wait, when did you marry them? Weren't you just married to the fast guy?" The bartender asks and I snort softly.
"Seventeen to eighteen annual cycles ago. Damn."
"Alright, hang on. I have a better song." They press a button and I smile.
"So? Dance or no?"
"Of course, my Treasure."
"Lovely." I gently pull them more onto the dance floor and situate my hands in theirs and on their hip. "Y'know I love you, right?" I ask softly as we sway to the slow song and they smile.
"I'm aware, my Stars. And I love you in return." I smile and rest our foreheads together.
"This is so long overdue."
"I agree. This may not sound romantic, however-"
"Food sounds great."
"I didn't even get to say anything."
"I just know you, Loki... Laufeykid." They laugh at that and I smile, gently cupping their face with my right hand. "I missed you for ages... I am so glad you're back..." I gently kiss them and they smile against my lips.
"I am as well. Now, food, yes?" I chuckle as the song ends and Dad cheers. "Your father is an imbecile."
"Tell me about it," I scoff and go over to the bar with him.
"Food?"
"Yes." The bartender hands Loki a menu and I direct them on what to get.
"They don't have a huge variety but it's all good. Kinda like old family recipes, I think," I explain and they nod, getting the meal similar to onion rings and a cheeseburger. "Those noodles for me."
"You got it." They head to the back to get it started and Loki smiles at me.
"But, uh, about Dad... I've realized that he always meant well. It just didn't come off that way." They nod and I smile, leaning against the bar for now. "So, um... Yeah..." They laugh softly and thank the bartender for the meals when they come back. "'Preciate it." I take the chopsticks and the sodas that come with the meals, heading back toward the others.
"Oh? Are you paying tonight, my dear friend?"
"Not for you guys." I take one of Loki's onion rings and they look at me. "What?" I grin and they shake their head slightly as I try to break the chopsticks apart, snapping them in half the wrong way. "OK, that happened."
"They made me bring you another pair of chopsticks cuz you suck," Morgan says simply as she hands me a pair of already broken chopsticks and sits next to me, back in her female form.
"So, kid, who were you catchin' up with?" Dad asks as he sits across from her and she looks at him then at me.
"Doesn't that mean-?"
"Yeah. Anybody... We know?"
"Yep."
"Who?"
"Indri."
"Thought he was dead?"
"Nope."
"Makes sense. Gabriel?"
"Gabriel. I gave him a part of my life source."
"OK."
"You don't care?"
"Nope. I care about eating right now cuz I haven't since... A while ago."
"Yeah. That isn't healthy, remember?"
"Since when are you, my mother, Morgan?"
"Since you can't seem to manage healthy habits, Rogue."
"That's fair. You hungry?"
"Duh."
"That damn metabolism of yours. Go order something, put it on my tab."
"What else would I do with the cost? Pay for it? Are you insane?"
"I could make you pay for it." I take a bite of my noodles and she looks at me.
"You could. But... You won't."
"Shuddup and get some food."
"Aye aye, Captain." She salutes and smiles at my scoff while she goes to get food.
"How is she just like you when she isn't related to you by blood?" Tony asks and I smile.
"Rogue is just an awful influence," Drax says simply and I look at him.
"Like you guys are any better. The only good influences out of the Guardians are Gamora and Mantis. Groot sometimes."
"I am Groot."
"No, you were not. You were as bad as Rocket."
"I am Groot."
"I don't care that you disagree, it's the truth!"
"Patrons are looking at you like you're bat shit crazy, dude," Morgan says as she sits next to me in her male form and I look at her.
"Pronouns now?"
"What?" I gesture at her and she nods after looking. "Right. So... Not a female. So. Yeah."
"Cool. Male?"
"Yeah."
"Congrats on that. Morgan still?"
"Gender-neutral name."
"True. So?"
"Yeah."
"Cool." I finish eating and Morgan smiles as he starts eating.
"The level of chill you are is amazing. Dad looks ready to explode."
"He always does, what do you mean? Anyway, where's Indri?"
"Indri's nervous about seeing their parents again... Indri's, uh... Changed."
"How about you tell me where Indri is and I go find the shithead?" He thinks and nods after a moment, whispering Indri's location in my ear. "Got it. I'll go see the shit head, then." I head outside and notice them, going over.
"H-Hey, Rogue..." Indri greets nervously, wearing a female form, and I look at them.
"Male, female, neither, both, or it depends?"
"Female..."
"Got it." I look her over and hug her after a moment.
"I'm sorry... So sorry... And I missed you... So much..."
"Shh." I hug her tighter and she cries softly, hugging me back. "I missed you too..." I gently cup the back of her head and sigh softly, pulling away. "So... Got a boyfriend now?"
"Well, I, uh..." She gets flustered and I smile, losing it slightly when her stomach growls.
"Food?"
"Food... Thanks..."
"Come on. Dad and 'Mora probably can't wait to see you." I wrap an arm around her shoulders and take her back to the bar, getting her a nutritious meal first with a soda. "Food's more important right now."
"Agreed," She laughs and I smile, leading her to the table after paying the tab. "I'm nervous..."
"It'll be fine. They might want to yell at you a bit for what you did but it'll be fine."
"OK..." He lets out a slow breath and freezes when he sees Dad and Gamora. "Yeah, no, I don't wanna anymore."
"Tough." I have her sit across from Dad, next to Morgan, and take my seat next to Loki again. "Indri's my half-sister now and that's cool. Talk and eat, but mainly eat or... I don't know a good warning right now, so just eat, dude."
"Good to see you're still an idiot."
"Rude, but fair."
"Why are you always the first to learn things?" Dad asks and I look at him, taking a sip of my soda.
"Because I seek out knowledge and I have since I was a kid. I stabbed someone with a fork because they tried to take what I was using to learn about the ships. In Mess. In front of the crew and Gramps. Then just walked away. While still learning about the ships!"
"Oh, right. Forgot about that. It was kinda funny."
"Punching you in the face when I first met you was hilarious. I was, like, three feet tall, maybe four, but I highly doubt I was any taller than that. And I just laid you out on your ass. It was therapeutic."
"Wait, the first thing you did when you saw him in person, was to punch him in the face?"
"Yeah, dude. What else would I have done? What, did you think I was just, like... 'Oh my God. It is my father. I am going to love him and adore him because he gave me half of my DNA. Oh dear Lord. Such an amazing man. Masterpiece.' Is that what you thought?"
"You could've been less sarcastic, but yeah," Sam scoffs and I roll my eyes.
"No. I punched him in the face and this was after a video transmission with the Guardians, Yondu, and Kraglin. I tried to throw myself out of an airlock after that. It was fun. Gramps was salty as Hell because Pops got more of my respect than he did because he used the fuckin' Yaka arrow to pin me against a door and two walls. My first couple 'a solar cycles as a Ravager were... Interesting, to say the least."
"How? Those were normal occurrences as a kid on a Ravager ship," Dad scoffs and I look at him.
"It showed how unstable my emotions are. I went from terrified of a person, pissed off at the same person, and wanting to kill the guy. All in the span of, like... Twenty, thirty minutes. Give or take." He shrugs and I finish my soda, glancing over at the dance floor. "Who gave Thor more alcohol?"
"Thor gave Thor more alcohol, kid. And it's your turn to cut him off."
"Of course it is." I head over to him and he grins at me. "Hey, buddy. Time to drink some water."
"Drink with me!"
"I'll drink some water with you." He laughs boisterously at that and I sigh, rubbing my head slightly. "Thor, no more alcohol." I take the glass from him and he looks offended.
"That is the greatest dishonor on Asgard! You do not take a man's ale!"
"We aren't on Asgard, Thor. So, that knowledge is useless. How about some air?"
"I will go by myself!" He leaves and I rub my temples, contemplating murder. "Golden people are looking for you," He says as he comes back in and collapses into a booth, passing out.
"Oh, great! Sovereign! Lovely! Guess they're still a little sore about me shooting Ayesha... That sucks. Leave out the back?"
"Yeah, that's a good idea. Let's go," Rocket says as he stands and I lead the way out the back door.
"I've got your back since you paid your tab."
"Gee, thanks." I stop walking when a group of Sovereign are waiting in the alley and have blasters pointed at all of us. "Vai, hey."
"Rogue Emyrada. You're an Admiral now?"
"And you're High Priest. Guess they're letting anybody climb the ranks, huh?"
"You will pay for everything that you have done to the Sovereign!" He charges his blaster up as he points it at my head and I stare it down as they surround us more. "Nowhere to run."