Sleipnir smiled and replied easily, “She’s coming. I’m more glad you could make it, considering your position. I’ve just been lounging around all day.” He glanced down at the strange contraption in her hands and decided it was a type of cell phone. She seemed to be playing a game on it, at least.
He turned towards the doors when he heard them slam into a wall (as did several other people in the foyer) and chuckled (it was an interesting new feeling, to be able to properly laugh). Of course the fiery Summer would kick in the doors. “I am ready to go when you are, Piper. Whenever you reach a point in your cell phone game where you can stop.”
He turned towards Summer again and blushed slightly, which was another entirely new feeling, though he knew it had something to do with embarrassment. It was rather inconvenient, to wear your emotions so plainly in this form. “I fear you and a weapon of any kind would not go together very well, Summer,” he informed her, after hearing her tone of voice. “And I’m pretty sure Piper has a…what is it called? Game plan?”
“Of course,” Piper said, grinning. “You must be Summer. Nice t’meetcha,” she greeted. She stuck out her hand like her aunt taught her.
She didn’t know Summer, but she did trust Slep, so any friend of his… And she seemed nice enough, to be sure.
“Piper Parker.”
Summer shook Piper’s hand quickly. The other girl was young and outrageously cute; it made Summer feel old and worn. She ignored that feeling, though. You were only as old as you let yourself feel, and tonight she intended to feel very, very young.
“Well, my car is ready to go, and I’m ready to take y’all, just as soon as I know where. Sleipnir, you’ve got the backseat, because your legs are longest. Tall people, pff.” She bumped a fist into Sleipnir’s arm.
Sleipnir raised an eyebrow skeptically. “Wouldn’t sitting in the back of your iron horse give me less leg room?” He decided to go along with it though, easily shoving back at Summer as he’d seen Thor, Sif, and the Warriors Three do. Only he made it much more gentle.
“Let us be off, then. I trust you won’t get us into too much trouble, Piper.” He opened one of the many glass doors leading out of the building and held it for them.
“Me?” she asked innocently, her grin anything but. “Trouble? Never. Perish the thought, Slep.”
Inwardly, she was grinning. They had no idea. This was going to be great.
“Besides, my aunt would kill me.”
Slapping Slep on the back affectionately, she walked with a spring in her step to the door. “Let’s blow this taco stand!”
In truth, she was really excited. Piper didn’t make friends well or easily; most of the time, she was awkward and shy, and when she wasn’t, her nighttime hobbies made it even more complicated. So this was a real treat for her. Piper couldn’t remember the last time she and some pals just went around town hanging out- if ever.
Piper’s enthusiasm was going to be infectious, Summer could tell. All to the good. Leading the way to the car, she motioned Sleipnir to the backseat. “Normally you’d be right about the leg room, Sleip, but you might have noticed I’m short. Therefore, you sit behind me, where you get all the leg room I don’t need. Piper, are you directing from the back where you can cuddle with Sleip, or from the front? And where are we going? Details, kids.”
Hopefully, a lot of chatter would keep either of them noticing how much she envied them. They were cute, separately and together, and that old familiar jealousy wanted to sneak its way back in. A little verbal distance and a lot of talk would keep that in its place — forgotten, as it should be.
And maybe she could sneak a few hugs out of Sleipnir later.