Peter dropped his bag next to the couch and slumped on it, throwing his head back and closed his eyes. It was one hell of a day: Ned was absent because he was down with the flu; MJ was still mad at him for forgetting their date last Saturday (he was caught up stopping a hostage situation, how could he walk away from that?); and the cherry to that sundae? Flash never stops picking on him.
He let himself get buried by the massive cushions of the couch as he heaved the heaviest sigh a teen can. He took this moment of silence in the common area of the Avengers compound before seeing Mr. Stark. Anyway, he was expected at 5:30 and it was still 4:45.
Peter closed his eyes and covered his face with his hoodie. Not a minute passed when his Spider-sense started to spike.
He opened his eyes but didn’t remove the hoodie. He expanded his senses and noticed that there’s a man a few feet away from him. Unarmed, good. The first thing he thought of was Mr. Stark but this man was taller than him. Mr. Stark would also announce his arrival, this man didn’t. Peter slowly removed his hoodie.
It was Loki.
Peter sat properly, crumpling the hoodie on his lap. “Oh, hello Mr. Loki.”
Loki has his hands on his back, observing the boy. “Hello, Peter. How are you?” He said, a small smile on his lips.
Peter tried to crack a smile, though he could feel himself choking on his own emotions. “I...I’m fine, Mr. Loki. How about you?”
Loki sat on the single couch near Peter. He knew Peter was lying. The boy was not okay. He sensed that the moment Peter walked in the common area. But he didn’t point it out immediately. He’ll let the boy speak.
“I’m good. I was having tea while reading a nice book on this fine afternoon,” he responded.
“That sounds really nice, Mr. Loki.” Peter sadly said.
It was time. “You don’t sound so good, Peter. Is there something bothering you?”
Peter sadly smiled and looked away. “It’s nothing, Mr. Loki.”
Loki moved forward and placed a hand on his shoulder. “You know you can’t hide anything from me, right?”
Peter chuckled. “Oh yeah. I forgot.” The boy shook his head. “But really, it’s nothing.”
Loki perched his elbows on his thighs. “I can feel that emotion gnawing its way out to your skin, boy,” he stated.
Peter slouched. “Fine.” He glanced at the god before starting. “My best friend was absent because he’s sick. My girlfriend won’t talk to me because I stood her up last Saturday. But that wasn’t my fault!”
Loki nodded. “You were pacifying a hostage situation, I heard that.”
“Yeah. But she badly wanted to check out this new coffee shop and there were a lot of people lining up and when I arrived she already went home.” Peter bit his thumb. Loki understood how it feels like spending a day without your best friend and disappointing the love of your life. “And then this asshole of a Flash couldn’t stop messing with me, making my day miserable.” Anger now laced Peter’s voice and Loki could feel it.
The god clenched his jaw and he straightened on the seat. “Who is this Flash?” His voice turned grim.
Peter jerked at Loki’s tone. “Mr. Loki, he’s...ah...he’s just a bully in our school. Nothing serious.”
Loki clenched his fists. “Just a bully? A bully is a bully, boy. Now, where is this Flash?” Loki stood up, ready to kick someone’s ass. In this case, Flash’s ass.
Peter scrambled and stood in front of Loki. “Mr. Loki, no need to flash daggers this time…”
Loki narrowed his eyes. “You do know that I don’t like it when people hurt the people I care about?”
Peter smiled - this time a soft one. “I do, Mr. Loki, and I thank you for that. But Flash is not a threat to this world.” He held on to Loki’s tensed arm. “He’s just a fluke in my day. That’s it.”
“Are you sure?”
Peter nodded. “Yes, Mr. Loki. You don’t have to worry about that.”
Loki relaxed. “Alright. But what is bothering you, really? I felt your energy when you entered the common room,” he said as he sauntered to the refreshments counter.
Peter followed suit. “Wait. You have been sitting here long before I entered?” Loki jutted his head to the direction of the window, where a lounge chair, a coffee table, and a book and a mug were located. “I didn’t notice you there when I entered.”
“Your spirits have been dampened enough that your so-called Spidey senses did not detect my presence.” Loki pulled two mugs from the cupboard. “Tea?”
“Yes, please. Green.”
He pressed a button on the electric kettle and faced the boy. “How are you, Peter?”
Peter sat on the barstool, swiveling. “I kinda feel a little better now actually, Mr. Loki. Flash is just so annoying I want to hit him in the face.”
“Then hit him,” Loki suggested flatly. The teen stared at him and he laughed. “I don’t understand why you can’t do that, Peter.”
“Flash is just a bully. He has not threatened someone’s life.” Peter shrugged.
“Okay.” Loki prepared the tea and pushed a mug to Peter. “Are you sure you feel better?”
Peter giggled. “Yes, I do, Mr. Loki. I realized I haven’t been talking to anyone in school for the whole day. I think I just needed someone to talk to.”
Loki reciprocated the smile. “Don’t worry about it, Peter. You know I’m always here to listen.”
Peter smiled as he cupped his hands on the warm mug. “No wonder Mr. Stark allowed you to become the honorary guardian of the kids.”
Loki sipped on his tea before replying. “Before I thought I didn’t like kids but now I have to admit, your lot are fascinating.” They chuckled. Being close and protective to children was something he didn’t expect he’ll do in his whole life. But when he met Peter Parker, Shuri, and even Tony Stark’s own daughter, Morgan, he decided that he was going to make the world a better place for them. Or maybe not the whole world but at least their lives.
“Okay, where’s Peter?” They heard Tony bellow from the corridor. They turned to the entrance as Tony appeared. “Oh, there you are kid, Loki.” He made a small salute at them. “You ready?”
Peter beamed. “Ready as I’ll ever be.” He stood up, bringing his mug, and picked up his bag from the floor. “I’ll see you around, Mr. Loki!”
“See you around, Peter!” He called back as Peter disappeared in the corridor with Tony.