After the party

After Loki's words, Darvin had a serious expression on his face, which only made Sam uneasy. He looked like he was going to do something stupid that could get him killed. It was rare for Darvin to be serious about anything.

"What is it?" Sam asked. "Is everything okay? What happened?"

For one brief moment, Loki stood silent and watched the two of them. After a few seconds, he said, "Darvin, I am not... your little brother." making Darvin flinch back slightly at the suddenness of Loki speaking.

"Explain yourself," Darin replied, crossing his arms defensively over his chest.

Loki continued, "Loki and I swapped bodies. However, now he lives in an entirely different world."

Darvin glanced at Loki, and with a slight grin, he asked. "Is this some sort of a joke?"

With that comment, Loki smiled and shook his head. "No joke, I assure you. While physically I am indeed your brother. But... "Loki paused for a few seconds. "I was not the one you knew for eighteen years."

Darvin raised an eyebrow sceptically at Loki, then shook his head. "That doesn't make sense.

He couldn't understand how could this be possible. What Loki said was too much to process for him.

"I think maybe you should sit down and take some time to consider what you've heard here," Sam said.

Darvin took a deep breath to steady himself, then nodded, turning back toward the kitchen table and taking a seat. Thor sat next to him and placed a hand gently on his shoulder.

"You're not lying? Loki..."

"My real name is Roger..." He said, but deep down, he wanted to take back everything he said. Let it all go and pretend that this situation didn't happen.

Sam gently put his hand on Darvin's shoulder. "Are you okay?"

Darvin looked to Sam and sighed before continuing, "Yeah... but it is hard to believe that my little brother is from another planet."

"I am sorry," Loki said sincerely. "I wish there were an easier way to explain it..."

"Why did you two switch bodies anyway?" Darvin said as he looked around the table. "What happened?"

Loki sighed deeply, looking down at the tablecloth. "Loki had an amazing superpower. However, he wasted it. And in the future, died miserably. That's why his power decided to take a new host, so it swapped our souls."

"What?! Died? How?" he replied incredulously.

"The hero got him killed..."

The table grew quiet after that. Darvin didn't know what to say or how to react. The fact he was having trouble processing what Loki just told him seemed to be an understatement.

As if reading Darvin's mind, Loki spoke up.

"But you don't have to worry. I lived in a peaceful environment." Loki gave Darvin a reassuring smile. "World has its flaws, but it is peaceful. He will live peacefully, find love and grow old."

Darvin seemed to be a little relieved. But he still wasn't convinced.

Sam spoke up next.

"Loki isn't lying," Sam said. "Jasmine already confirmed it."

Darvin looked at Sam and nodded. "Okay... Okay." Then he gazed at Loki with a smile. "How should I call you from now on?"

"Whatever you like. I prefer Roger," Loki laughed softly. "But Loki will be fine, I guess."

Darvin chuckled, trying to keep from laughing hysterically like a fool. Then he thought to ask,

"Shall we have a drink? Roger?" Darvin purposely called him Roger and picked up a glass of whiskey

.

Loki stared at Darvin blankly. "Sure," he answered. "Join us, Sam."

Sam hesitated for a second before accepting. He looked between Darvin and Loki nervously. Soon, Darvin handed Sam the bottle.

After a few more moments, they each had a drink, and Darvin raised his glass. "Cheers for my new brother, Roger! And for Loki, who began his new life!"

"Cheers," Sam and Loki echoed.

They clinked their glasses together and drank.

The next day, Loki woke up with a slight hangover. He felt something in his hands and instantly knew what it was. Even before opening his eyes, he shouted in frustration, "GET THE FUCK OFF ME, JASMINE!!!"

"Oh, good morning?" Jasmine said while rubbing her eyes. Next, she realized what she had done, her face turned red, and she screamed. "Kyaaaa!~"

Loki groaned loudly and rolled away from her.

She immediately fell off of the bed. "I am so sorry!" Jasmine cried out while covering herself with her blanket. Loki just stared into nothing.

After several minutes of awkward silence passed between the two of them, Jasmine eventually spoke up. "So um... did you guys have fun last night?"

"Yeah..." Loki mumbled. "And I have a headache."

"Oopsie?" Jasmine winced. "I think you need some medicine."

"Nah." Loki just healed himself using golden mana.

"Can I make breakfast for you?" Jasmine asked hopefully.

"Yeah. That'd be nice, thanks."

Jasmine smiled brightly and went upstairs to prepare breakfast. While waiting, Loki closed his eyes and rested his head against the pillow. "Jeez. That woman." Loki sighed, his thoughts drifting to the previous night. "I really need to forbid her from drinking."

Suddenly, someone knocked on the door. Loki lifted his head slightly and called, "Come in."

It was Sam. "Hey, buddy."

"Hey, man."

"You feel better? You seemed pretty hammered last night."

"Ughhh, yes. Much better now that I healed myself." Loki stretched lazily.

Sam smiled. "That's great to hear." He walked towards Loki. "Jasmine and I will be leaving today after I will get a new job in the adventurer guild."

"Oh..." Loki didn't want them to leave. After he revealed the secret to Darvin, he believed that staying together alone in the same house might be awkward for them. So Sam and Jasmine could be their ice breakers. Besides, he liked Sam and Jasmine. "You could stay a little longer if you want..."

"It would be nice, yeah. But..."

"What is it, man?"

"... I don't want us to intrude for too long."

"Oh..." Loki's face lit up a bit in embarrassment. He didn't want to admit that Loki wanted them to stay, but he wasn't sure how to ask. "You're not intruding, trust me!"

"Well..." Sam hesitated. "We'll see."

Then suddenly, Jasmine appeared, carrying some fruit, juice, eggs and toast. She smiled at the boys as she set everything down on the table. "Here, have some breakfast!"

"Jasmine. Would you like to stay here for a while?" Loki questioned. "Sam would stay as well."