Caliofrotnia Adventure P.1: Not Worthy

This post here was written entirely by Loki, but I am here to introduce it because he's not too fond of those and this post has been a work on progress for a while, so I just took this over for him. This post is the first of three in a... mini-series, if you will. During the summer, She's family went on a very special vacation on only a few selected dolls could go. I bet you can already guess from the author that Loki was one of them, but how he got to go in the first place is an interesting story that had to be told. I finally got him to finish working on it so it could be published in October. Better late than never, right?

***

July 6th, 2018.

Summer was well on its way and Independence Day had come and gone. Ever since She found out about the Code of Dolls last month, She was allowing us more and more freedoms during the day. As long as we were out of sight of the other humans, her mother and father especially, there were virtually no limits to what we could do. Idina fashioned swimsuit tops for Anna, Elsa, and Anelle, hoping one day for a doll-sized pool party. Benny and Napoleon set off a miniature fireworks party, with handheld sparklers and matches instead of the usual overhead pyrotechnics displays. The Funkos were still on the search for real estate, somewhere away from the rest of us where they could communicate on their own, but otherwise, they were incorporating well with She's other dolls. And speaking of other dolls, She's newest and most unexpected addition to the doll family, a fellow named Arthur Dent, was still getting used to the place. It seemed for a while that was how things were going to be and how they were always going to be. Not that I minded it whatsoever. I'm the sort of person who relishes in routine. But eventually, things must come to an end, and they did, whenever we noticed She folding and stuffing clothes into a paisley-printed duffel bag shortly after the fourth of July.

She did her best to distract us, never once explaining as to why such a thing was being done, but we knew that we had to find out. Olaf took the liberty of searching She's luggage tags, which wasn't ideal since he cannot read.

"What me to help, Olaf?" Elsa suggested. We were all waiting eagerly upon our new home, the white shelf She had sanded and painted herself. It was an admirable job for someone with absolutely zero experience in that realm.

"No, no, wait. I got this. Let's see... hm. That could be a plane ticket. So She has to be going somewhere far... you don't think She's riding a plane to college, do you?"

My hopes dropped. Last month She had said She'd be living home to go to school, but a lot could change from one month to the next. Was such a thing possible?

Olaf laughed. "No, She can't be doing that every day! It says here on the ticket... Cal-oh. I don't know."

"Just take a guess, Olaf." Said Elsa.

"Okay. Okay. Um..." Olaf squinted at the paper, then pressed his hands to both sides of his puffy face and gasped. “She’s family is going to Caliofrotnia!”

I snorted in my throat rather unexpectedly to both myself and the others. “Actually, it’s pronounced-“ I began, before suppressed laughter made me unable to finish.
“What?” Elsa asked.
“Nothing. Nothing at all. Caliofrotnia is fine.”
“Why Caliofrotnia?” Said Moana. “It sounds funny to me. “What do they have there?”
“What do they have there?!” Magneto repeated, incredulously. “What haven’t they got there is the real question. Mountains, ocean, forests, cities, boardwalks, food, parks, museums... it’s exhausting.”
“Magneto? You’ve been there before?” Elsa said.
“Yes, once. A very long time ago with my second owner. He used me to mark his luggage. And that was the last time.” He replied, more quietly than before.
“Wait a minute, did you say ocean?” Moana’s eyes lit up. “I’ve never seen the real sea. I’ve got to go there!”
“Hold on,” Elphaba whispered logically. “She’s probably fully packed at this point. There’s got to be no chance that any of us get to go.”
“Oh, Elphie, you’re such a party pooper! Keep your hopes high. You never know what might happen. We could always ask She if we could come along and maybe She can make some adjustments.” Nessa had latched in immediately to the idea of getting more involved in our human’s life after She discovered our secret, but Elphie still was skeptical.

Just at the right moment She slunk through her doorway and closed the door behind her. "Woah, hey, y'all are talkative. What's up?"

"You're going to Caliofrotnia!"

"Wha... oh. You mean California?"

"Yeah," Olaf replied bashfully. "That's the one."

"Don't be embarrassed. I think Caliofrotnia sounds a lot better," She grinned and patted Olaf on the head. "And I'll be in Caliofrotnia for a whole week."
"That's an awfully long time," Nessa remarked. "You won't be wanting to take any of us along, would you?"

She let a gust of air escape her mouth. "I don't know, Nessa. If I lost any one of you I would be heartbroken. You know that."

"We won't get lost. Promise."

"Well, even if you didn't, I can't take all of you with me! My travel bag is already set out to be full, and my carry-on's not exactly an ideal place to be."

"We really want to go!" Moana begged, her hands clasped together as if in prayer. "We'll be good wherever you put us."

Suddenly I caught a spark of something in She's eye. She looked up at the fourth quadrant of the shelf, to where I stood with the PSA. Her eyes wandered over to Thor, and the spark changed from just an idea to something mischievous.

"You know what? I'll see what I can do. There might be a way I can take just a few of you. I'll create contest, and whoever wins gets to go. I'll be right back."

She left the room, and we all began speculating on what sort of contest it would be.

"You don't think it will be some sort of sports contest, will it? Because I really don't like sports." Olaf worried. Moana and Steve locked eyes, knowing full well that if it were to be a sports contest, they would win in a heartbeat.

"I don't think so. It would have to be a fair contest." Elsa explained. 

"But we really don't know what She has in mind." Anna added. 

"Let's hope eet iz something simple, like pick a number from a hat." Idina said.

"Let's hope the contest is optional!" Arthur puffed.

"What? You don't even want to try to go?" Olaf asked. The notion was unheard of.

"Oh, no. I'm quite the homebody. I'll avoid any sort of travel unless the world is about to end. And even then..." Arthur rolled his eyes and looked overwhelmed. "Even then it will take a lot of convincing. At least four bitters."

Olaf, having no clue as to what a "bitter" was, kept talking. "What if I don't win? Everybody will be having fun without me. But what if I do win? And you don't?" He was talking about his fiancee.

"If you win and I do not, go without me," Idina said. "I do not mind being alone for a week."

Thor, who was perpetually standing beside me with dental wax beneath his bad foot for balance, courtesy of She, stuck out his legs to sit down with a clunk. "How long have they been together, do you reckon?" He asked.

"Olaf and Idina?" I gave up and sat down, too. This could be a while. "They met on Christmas Day of 2014. They have likely been dating since the beginning of the following year."

"That's nice. They make a good couple," Thor began. "You know, Loki, I've noticed that smaller one with the red pigtails has been noticing you as of late."

"Oh, that's Nessarose. She's always been that way." Besides, she had eyes for Vision now, and I had mine for She.

"If your friend Nessarose has been that way for so long, why haven't you conversed with her? Planned an outing or something of the sort?"

I laughed bitterly and quietly. "Because I do not feel the same way for her as you think she does for me. Nessarose likes Vision now."

"Does she?" Asked Thor. "'Tis a fitting bond. I can see it now... yes. Except for Vision is an android, and none of us are quite sure if he is capable of love."

"If he's a doll, he's got a magnet. Only 1% of them don't, I've heard."

"And how does your magnet, brother?"

"What are you, a love expert?"

"Sometimes I like to think of myself as well versed in romance, yes," Thor tried looking me straight in the eye, and the power radiating from his stare was like lightning. He still expected an answer from me. "Well?"

"My magnet's broken," I whispered. "I've not developed feelings for any doll."

"'Well, 'tis possible you may never meet your magnet-mate, brother. Many do not."

I drew my lips to the inside of my mouth. That was all true, but I was unsure whether or not to tell Thor I believed the whole magnet-mates thing to be phony. I even had to force myself to say that every doll had a magnet within them. No human manufacturer would go to such lengths to place a magnet inside every doll they made and place a polar opposite of that same magnet within another doll, not necessarily a doll of that same variety. No human manufacturer would go to such lengths unless they were sure these dolls were alive and desired companionship. And maybe that wasn't so far of a stretch now after She had reacted so well to having to Code of Dolls broken for her. Each day I was starting to doubt my previously held beliefs about love and dolls more and more. But if I loved a human, did that meant my magnet was broken, or had I not been given a magnet at all?

"I think you already know this. Do not make me say it again."

"Say what?"

"Don't be stupid, Thor. You know where my love lies."

"Is it with Wanda? I seem to think she fancies you."

"Wanda? What? No. We're close, but just friends." I glance over at Wanda, who was practicing her magic with Hawkeye. She was like me, and her powers would only be triggered when experiencing strong emotions, and right now it was joy. Ghostly auras the color of cotton candy encased her arms in magic, and her eyes lit up with sheer pleasure as she stole Hawkeye's quiver from his back and twisted it around this way and that. She had these special sort of eyes, a true and vivid green. While the Anna dolls were dark or somewhat turquoise, hers were bright and often mesmerizing. In certain lights, She's eyes would often look this way, too, but grayer. Only Wanda's eyes were so unique.

"Loki?" Thor called me back to reality, and his eyebrows were raised in skepticism.

"Just friends," I repeated. "Come on, Thor. Don't make me say it. She could be back any minute."

"She? Is it She?"

"Shh! Okay, yes, it is. Now you know."

Thor could incredibly happy, but I wasn't sure if he was happy with himself or for me. "This is excellent! I figured that was so all along. One must not be so frequent with the compliments, eh, brother?"

"What have I said about you calling me brother?" I groaned, trying to shake my hair into my face, hoping in vain that it might cover the blush on my cheeks.

"Yes, but when have I ever listened to you?" Thor patted my shoulder, which felt like a weight. "Here's what I think. You win a spot in this contest, and you get sent to the realm of Caliofrotnia with She. It is the perfect opportunity to get to know her better! And perhaps even win her heart."

"Human hearts cannot be won the same as contests," I reminded Thor sadly. "They are fickle, yet not so easily changed. Besides, how could a doll and a human ever be together?"

Thor was caught in my defense. "Well, urm... I'm not too certain on that one. But it is worth a shot, is it not? Tell you what. I swear to you that I will not participate in this contest, whatever it is. I wouldn't want someone as dashing as myself to come in the way between you and your lady of interest."

"Gee, thanks." I said, although I was not grateful.

"Shush, brother! She returns."

"I'm baaacccckkk," She said right on cue in a creepy voice. "I brought something to be a part of the contest. And just so you know... I can take four of you with me... no more, no less. That's the rule."

"Then who will you decide to take?" Olaf asked.

She looked mischievous. I shouldn't be worried, but I barely knew our human until recently. She could be an enormous trickster- one that delights in deceptions and diversions. "I have here a certain object in my pocket. I'm going to put it on the dresser. Whoever is able to lift it may go."

"That's it?"

"Yep," She affirmed, but something in her voice told us not to assume until we'd seen said object. Continuing on with that sly smirk, She slunk over to the dresser, where all of us could see, plain as day, the object revealed when She opened her fist and set it down.

It was heavy-sounding, prism-shaped, and had a long handle of the same pewter material, with a brown leather strap wrapped around the end in a loop.

"Mjolnir." Thor whispered in dread.

"Whoever is able to lift it may go." She repeated.

Nobody else could recognize it, or maybe if they could, they didn't realize what this meant. I was stunned. "But that's Mjolnir! Thor's hammer!"

My heart sunk, likely along with everyone else except Thor. Thor's hammer was meant to be impossible to pick up unless you were Thor himself... or at the very least, worthy to wield such mythic power. We were all doomed, and She knew it.

"I know what it is," She started to walk away slowly, out of her room and into the hallway, but still looking behind her shoulder, smug at our shock. "I'll leave you to it, I know you'll play fair. Just tell me who was able to lift it. You have a half an hour."

The door was closed, and we were left to deal with the impossible challenge before us.

Anna, willing to establish some sort of order before chaos broke out, suggested we go in a line, starting with the one standing closest to the hammer.

Which was me.

I started backing away from Mjolnir like it it had a disease. "No, no, I shouldn't. I already know I'm not going to be worthy. I'm a villain."

"Your character is a villain," Anna reminded me. "You are not."

"Thanks, but..." I still wasn't liking this. "I'll go later. Let the others have a chance first."

Elsa gave me a pitying look. She knew I loved She. Elsa knew it would mean the world to be to go on a vacation with She. She probably hoped I would at least give myself a chance to be one of the chosen four.

Anelle was the second closest to the hammer. She wrapped her hands around the handle, twisted her wrists through the leather loop, and threw her back out in vain attempt to lift Mjolnir off the dresser, but to no avail. She sighed and pushed her hair away in frustration.

"Guess my arms are as weak as my legs." She smiled meekly.

Kristoff patted her shoulder. "Let me handle this. I'm an ice harvester, aren't I? We're supposed to be strong. I'll win ya a place, Anelle."

"No, no, you should be doing this for yourself."

"Relax, mkay? I'll do what I want. And if I want you to go on that trip, then... that's what I want."

But Kristoff wasn't successful either, no matter how many irritated grunts he made. He was being so obnoxious that Sven even started to imitate him with similar reindeer noises.

"Mkay, buddy. I'll stop," Kristoff was out of breath and finally accepting defeat. "Sorry, Anelle."

Sven grunted again and tossed his antlers.

"What? I'm done, okay? Stop mocking me. Geez."

"I think he wants a go at the hammer!" Elsa giggled.

Sven tried pushing it with his antlers, tried gripping it with his mouth, but he got nothing out of it, nothing but most likely a gross metallic taste. Benny and Napoleon, being soldiers, were confident in their abilities, but Mjolnir didn't budge an inch. Dorothy and Bell's attempts were both well-fought but weak, and Magneto could barely raise his arms high enough to reach Mjolnir. It looked like this impossible challenge might really be impossible.

"Olav, you next," Idina ordered, pushing her husband-to-be forward. "I vant to see somebody win. Othervise eet iz boring."

Olaf wasn't so sure he could lift it, but there was always some hope to be found in the optimistic snowman. He laughed nervously and stepped forward. "Okay, okay! I normally don't like competitions but this one is fun, right?" He looked around at the rest of us, and most of our facial expressions were less than agreeable. Olaf shrugged and bent down to grab the hammer.

And it came up easily in his hands.

Idina was ecstatic. She clapped her hands with glee. "Way to go, Olav! Now you get to go to Caliofrotnia!" But then her attitude changed. "... without me..."

"But you didn't try the hammer, Idina! Come on, I believe in you!"

"Dat's nice of you to say. But I am a lady. I do not do heavy lifting."

"But... our wedding..." Olaf tried desperately.

"Will commence right after you come back. Don't vorry about it." Idina said, although she looked uncertain herself. Her wedding to Olaf was all she was able to talk about most days, and a summer ceremony meant a lot to her. Once She got back from California, it would only be a matter of time before She went off to college, and fall would arrive soon after.

"Okay," Olaf hugged his fiancee. "I can't believe I'm going to Caliofrotnia!"

Anna smiled, albeit impatiently. She was watching the ticking clock for sure. Only one doll had managed to wedge their way into a four-person group, and we had wasted more minutes than she would have liked. "Moana, why not you next?"

Moana jumped up immediately. She'd been impatiently rocking back and forth on her heels since the contest was even mentioned. "I'm ready! I've got to see that ocean!"

Moana attempted all the best tactics. She was clearly physically strong, and mentally powerful enough, but apparently just not worthy enough. She tried over and over, spanning a good two or three minutes of time, although it felt longer. Eventually, Moana had to give up when her hands slipped on the final pull and she fell backwards. I had never seen her look more devastated. It made me wonder if this contest was fair at all, when She could have chosen the one we all knew wanted to see California the most.

Anna tsked. "Sorry, Moana. How about the Marvel bunch goes next?"

"Like Steve?" Elsa suggested, staring up at her own fiance.

The soldier politely declined with a shake of the head. "No, not me. I'd rather stay here with Elsa."

"What? Why?"

"I've no need for travel. I've already found my whenever. With you."

Clearly Elsa and Steve also had their own wedding in mind. The California trip could throw everything off the rails of our plans.

"Aww," said Anna. "Anyone else, then?"

"I shall also decline," Thor spoke up, winking my way. "I already know my worth."

"Excuse me, but what the hell? This is a once in a lifetime chance, and nobody's going to take it? Rhodey, come here." Tony said, flying down from the shelf and beckoning for War Machine to follow in suit.

"Are we gonna do that thing we did in Age of Ultron?" Rhodey asked.

"You bet we are, buddy. California, here we come."

With the two of them together, lifting Mjolnir should not have been a problem. But going solo or as a team, neither Tony nor Rhodey were worthy enough.

Chris failed.

Hawkeye failed.

Wanda, even with the aid of magic, still failed.

"It's not much use, is it?" Vision observed. "Well, regardless, I'll give it a go."

Nessa's eyes grew wide when Vision floated down from the shelf and picked up Mjolnir with one hand. He didn't boast about it verbally or physically. Instead, he regarded the instance thoughtfully.

"I suppose that makes sense. Vision was also worthy in the films. Wonderful craftsmanship for a keychain."

"Nessarose is next!" Elphaba cried, raising her hand excitedly, with the other pointing to her sister.

Nessa tried to catch Vision's eye, then mine, and succeeded. I bowed my hand away out of respect for her emotions. For once, she wasn't eager to try something new. Elphie didn't care. She pulled Nessa off her feet and walked behind her, slowly towards the spot where the hammer laid.

"Elphie, what are you doing?" Nessa squeaked. Her attempts to escape were in vain.

"Helping you out!" Elphie's ice-blue eyes concentrated on Nessa's cyan ones. It didn't take a genius to figure out what the unspoken words were. This is your chance to get to know Vision better. And in California, no less! That's got to be romantic. So you're going to try to lift that hammer or I'll never let you live this down.

"Just try it," Elphie urged, pushing Nessa into Mjolnir. "No regrets."

"Sure," Nessa rolled her eyes and wound her little arms around the handle. It was almost laughable in a way to assume that anyone as small as Nessa could do this. "Elphie, you're crazy. I'm not gonna get it. I'm never gonna get it. See? See?"

"Um, Nessa, do you see?" Her sister asked, her mouth covered in shock.

Nessa turned her head to the hammer, only to see it off the ground, held aloft by her tiny hands.

"Oh my gosh!" Nessa dropped Mjolnir with a clunk. "I'm worthy? I'm worthy! How? Why? Oh my gosh, nevermind! I'm going to California!" 

"Congratulations." Elphaba grinned.

"Now you try!" Nessa squealed.

"Me? No," Elphaba shook her head and winked at Nessa. "Not me."

"Okay. The Funkos? How about you guys?" Anna asked. Blake, Heimdall, and Iron Man signed in their language amongst themselves before Blake shook his head. They weren't ones to leave the house if they could help it.

"Arthur?"

The newest doll laughed ironically.

"That's a no, then... anyone else?"

"Loki's the only one left." Said Elsa.

My nerves spiked. 

"What about Westley?" Rhodey cut in.

"Yeah. Westley." Moana remembered. She was comforting herself by cuddling Pua and HeiHei.

"He's outside," said Elsa. "Besides, he wouldn't want to go. Loki's last."

Anna pursed her lips, but said nothing related to Westley. 

"Come, on, brother!" Thor practically shoved me forward with a tap of his hand on my back. I lurched into a standing position and found myself confronting the hammer. "It has to be you! She wanted four, and we've only got three thus far!"

That's true, I thought. But that doesn't mean that will help me.

Suddenly there was a rap on the door, and it opened. "Time's up. Who are my champions?" She asked, looking eagerly around at both the shelf and the dresser, then her eyes fell on me, and she leaned against the doorframe, her arms folded. No interruptions.

I avoided her gaze and coiled my fingers around the end of the handle. The metal was cool to the touch, and the leather strap soft against my wrist was soft and textured. It felt almost... natural. I doubt I will ever know the reason why.

Then I pulled back my arm.

And the hammer lifted.

I couldn't look, but the gasps from the other dolls let me know what I had done.

Was Mjolnir really in my hands?

Was I worthy?

I was completely dazzled, obviously.

I risked an upwards glance and saw She, the corners of her eyes crinkled in a proud grin. The realization struck me that this was reality, and now I would be heading off on a week-long California trip with She. 

All other reactions tuned in like increasing the volume on a television, getting louder and peppier with each new comment from someone else.

Wanda and Thor were the first to greet me. Thor with a hug, of course, and Wanda with a fist bump.

"Nice job, dude. I knew you had it in you. Just don't have too much fun in California, okay?"

"I won't." I told her, still reeling.

"Oh, but you must!" Thor cried. "'Tis a once-in-a-lifetime chance for humans and dolls alike! Right, She?"

She entered her room and collected Mjolnir, and I knew that we would likely never see it again. "That depends, Thor. But the four of you are very lucky, considering I wasn't going to take anybody anyways. Speaking of, who won?"

Olaf roped Nessa, Vision and I together unwillingly. "Me, Nessa, Vision, and Loki!"

"Perfect," She gushed, leaning down until her face was aligned with the surface of the dresser where the four of us stood. "Let me walk you through how everything's going to go."

The other dolls who had failed or declined the opportunity to the vacation left us to it as She gave us the complete run-down of the vacation by her bag on the bedroom floor. She explained each day's plan, the various modes of transportation, and the importance of safety. Especially not letting anyone get lost along the way. 

"...And an airplane ride will bookend the trip. Now I want you to know th-"“What’s an airplane?” Olaf interrupted.
“It’s like a big metal bird in the sky,” She stretched out her arms and began dipping and rising in the same motion as an airplane’s wings. “And a hundred people can ride on one every day.”
“Is it safe?”
“It’s extremely safe,” She nodded. “Statistically one of the best ways to travel. No worry of pedestrians walking about in front of you, and no cars beside you or behind you. No birds, either, no. Not way up there. The sky’s completely clear. And the views are spectacular on clear days. Come on, Olaf. You’ve been on one before. In 2014.”
“Right! I almost forgot,” Olaf laughed. “How else did I get here from Disneyworld?”
Contrary to Olaf, I hadn’t forgotten a detail. On that day, Olaf and Elsa, still tagged and boxed up respectively, had gone in She’s duffel for the trip. Only I had the experience of riding along with her in She’s carry on bag. Every now and then, on the way back home from the flight, She would reach in and give me a little squeeze to make sure I was still in there. It was more than what was necessary, but it is because of that experience that I really latched on to She. She was the first one who cared.

"Loki, Nessa, and Vision- you'll be riding on my purse so I can have you on hand at all times. Olaf, unfortunately you’ll have to go in the duffel bag,” She unzipped her bag and peeled back a beach towel to reveal a cozy, empty spot just right for Olaf. 

The two of them bantered back and forth about Olaf's fear of the dark before he eventually surrendered and settled in. This didn't concern me, and while I would typically stay anywhere She was, but the fact that I was going to spend an entire week in her purse, as physically close to her as possible, I was starting to feel overwhelmed. I sneaked away from the group, only catching Nessa's attention, but she was too busy trying to find a chance to speak to Vision to follow me. 

I liked it better that way.

Meanwhile everybody was getting back to their regular routines of the day, either dwelling on the results of the contest or attempting to move on and forget it entirely. Only Wanda seemed lost on what to do, so I went to her for advice.

"What's up, oh-worthy-one?" She joked.

I wasn't in the mood. "Do I deserve this, Wanda?"

She raised an eyebrow at me. "You're not thinking of going back on this now, are you?"

"No," I sighed. "I want to go. Really I do. But..."

"But?"

"But this is a new thing for me. I've never been so close to- I've never been out of house, nevermind so far away from it- for so long. And there are plenty of other dolls I know should have gone in my place. I-"

"So you know you're worthy, you just don't feel worthy of being worthy," Wanda flipped her hair across her shoulder and patted a spot on the edge of the dresser where she sat, signaling me to get next to her. "Interesting."

I nodded and settled in next to her. We both watched She and the champions of the contest from afar in the silence.

Then, out of the blue, Wanda says my name. “Loki?”

“Yes?”

“I’ve been meaning to ask you his since I met you, but I guess I didn’t have the guts to last week...”

“Okay?” I don’t know why I suddenly felt nervous.

“...But when we first met you, why did you introduce yourself as Prince Loki of Jotunheim? Aren’t you from Asgard?”

I was tongue-tied. My character never saw either place as a true home, at least not until the more recent films.

“...It’s written on my card.”

“Your card?” Wanda scoffed. “There's your problem! Don’t believe anything your card says. Unless it’s about your powers, I can guarantee that at least half of it is outdated or not applicable.”

“And you know this how?”

Wanda stood, held out her arms, and spun around in a ta-da moment. “Look at me. Do you think I follow the ‘rules’ of my card? The only thing it’s useful for is learning your abilities. Aside from that, character traits, status, and origin are all futile. In fact, once the humans put away our cards and eventually forget them, give it maybe two or three days, I’m going to get mine and toss it out with next Monday’s garbage.” She coolly plucked a piece of lint from her jacket and flicked it away, most likely envisioning it as her card. She was most definitely nothing like the neurotic, introverted Wanda I had learned about from the movies.

“Don’t you think that’s a little risky?”

Wanda shrugged one shoulder and smiled with only one side of her face. “So what? I like a little risk. Besides, my card says I’m in love with Vision. Can you believe that? I could never imagine the two of us other. He’s just too...” Wanda shifted her hands back and forth during the pauses to express words that wouldn’t come. “And I’m too... well, you get it. I just can’t have that romance thing around any more, not with that information on the back. It’s too awkward. For the both of us.”

“I see.” I replied. 

"So don't worry about it, dude. If you're worthy, you're worthy! You are not your card."

I guess I could try to see it that way. But my mind is not so easily changed. It would take some time. And the way Wanda saw it, this California trip was exactly what I needed.

"Thanks, Wanda."

"No problem, dude," Wanda socked me on the shoulder in a friendly way, and less painful than Thor would have. She offered me her hands and I let her pull me up. "Anytime you need me, you tell me, okay? Now let's go celebrate with the PSA. Thor won't stop talking about your victories."

I rolled my eyes. Of course he was. "Alright."

And we walked together in the search of the other Avengers, leaving She and the California trip behind.

At least for a little while.

-Loki