huginandmugin-suggestions

[huginandmugin-suggestions]

This fine young woman is writing about Moog.

*corvid scratch to corvid chin*

no, I don't think I'll tell him. Far too young. Innocent. Well, confused, really.

The Ravens Are Easy (Heimdall Takes More Work)

For the @sifkiweek 2024 day 2 prompt "Bribe." Sif and Loki's relationship is still new when a certain raven spies them in bed. Pre-canon, rated T, 1071 words. AO3 link

*****

A ray of morning sun fell across Sif's face and she stirred, stretching comfortably and feeling the pleasant reminders of last night's activities. She opened her eyes lazily, a soft ruffling of feathers drawing her gaze to the nearby open window and the large black bird perched there, its bright, beady eyes fixed on her.

"Loki," she said.

"Hm?"

The body at her back did not stir.

"There's a raven on your windowsill. It's looking at me."

"Mm?"

She felt him nuzzle into her, apparently unconcerned.

"Loki," she said more urgently. "What if it's one of your father's birds?"

The kisses that he'd started to trail down her shoulderblade stopped.

Loki raised his head, peering over her shoulder. "Hugin?" The raven was silent. He tried again. "Munin?"

"Kraa!," the raven croaked cheerfully.

"Is there something you want?"

"Allfather want to see you."

"When?" asked Loki. "And do you know why?"

"Breakfast?" suggested the raven, and then shrugged. "Allfather not tell me anything. I tell him. Everything I see. Sometimes." A pregnant pause followed.

"Ah," said Loki, sitting up properly, Sif grabbing at the sheet to keep it from sliding down her body. "What will you tell him when you return?"

"Loki sleeping. Woke. Delivered message."

"Anything else? Will you tell him who else was in my bed?"

"Is it important?" The raven cocked his head, an intelligent gleam in his eye.

"Not to him," said Loki, choosing his words with care.

"To you?" Munin queried.

"Yes," said Loki. "it's important to me. And it's private. Where a lady chooses to sleep should be her business and no one else's. Do you understand?"

"Munin be quiet," the raven promised. "Munin be quiet for a treat."

"He wants a bribe?" Sif exclaimed, sitting up as well, keeping the sheet pulled up against her chest.

"Pretty lady give Munin treat?" coaxed Munin winningly. He hopped from the windowsill to the headboard of the bed. "Nut? Berries? Egg?"

Loki snickered, and Sif shoved at him, without heat. "What are you laughing it? We're being blackmailed by a bird! And this is your bedroom, not mine -- do you have anything to give him?"

Grinning, Loki rolled out of bed, giving Sif a tantalising glance of long legs and the taut curve of his buttocks before he pulled on a dressing gown hanging on a post at the foot of the bed.

"All right, you beggar. A treat for your silence."

Munin flapped over to the footboard, shifting from foot to foot in anticipation. Sif tried to fight back a smile and lost; the raven was rather endearing. She watched Loki take an apple out of a basket of fruit on top of a side table and cut a slice out of it, which he fed to the happy raven. A second slice followed, then Loki divided the rest of the apple and passed half to Sif while taking a bite from his half. Sif crunched down on hers, finding this shared breakfast oddly cosy.

Loki eyed Munin as the raven finished his apple and looked like he was about to settle down for a nap. "Munin. Don't you think you'd better return to the Allfather and let him know you've delivered his message before he wonders what happened to you?"

"Work, work, work," Munin grumbled. "Never get to have a little rest. Never get to visit with friends."

"You and Hugin roost all night in the Allfather's chamber," Loki said bluntly. "Surely you are rested."

Munin gave him such a baleful look that Sif snorted with laughter. "Perhaps he had a bad night? she suggested.

"How does a raven have a bad night?" asked Loki in exasperation. "Was he worrying over tax reports? Crop yields? His brother dragging him along on some stupid adventure?"

"Maybe the Allparents kept him up." Sif gave Loki a truly mischievous smile.

"What do you mean by that," he said flatly.

"Why you don't have a whole flock of siblings I don't know," observed Munin, puzzled. "They certainly try."

"I did not need to hear that," said Loki, grimacing. "Go on, now, back to Father. Shoo!" He waved his hands at Munin and the raven launched himself into the air, heading towards the open window. "And remember our deal!" Not that Loki was worried; Munin was very good at keeping secrets when it benefited him. He turned to watch as Sif rolled out of bed and began getting dressed.

"Must you go already?" he asked.

"I should. You're expected at breakfast with your parents; I don't want to make you late."

Loki made a face, but Sif was right. He'd need to bathe if he didn't want to appear at breakfast smelling of sex. "I'll see you again, though? I mean privately, like last night."

"You want me to come to your rooms again tonight?" This thing between them was still so new she had to ask. Last night had been the first time she had slept in his bed, and she had to admit she had liked it.

"If you would so honour me," said Loki, coming to stand before her, and lifting her hands to his lips to press a kiss against her knuckles, first the right one, then the left.

"What time?" Sif felt breathless, thinking of another night like the last.

"Anytime after supper. If I don't find you, come find me." He gave her a lopsided smile. "Does that sound too overeager?"

"I like eager," Sif assured him. "You make me feel like my blood is fizzing in my veins." She pulled him into a long kiss, neither of them breaking apart until they needed air, Sif reconsidering the merit of pushing Loki back down onto the bed and untying the belt holding his robe together. But she didn't want to feel rushed, she wanted to take her time making love to him. Reluctantly she pulled back, and felt the equal reluctance with which he let her go. She cast about for something to say before she left.

"So," she said conversationally, "If I ever need to bribe a raven -- fruit, nuts, or eggs?"

Loki laughed. "Yes, if what you ask of them doesn't directly go against one of Father's orders and they like you. And if they don't like you, start with an egg and they will after that."

"Good to know." Sif filed this information away in her mind.

"Now Heimdall," said Loki. "Heimdall takes more work."

[huginandmugin-suggestions]

Family Photo.

Back row: Henry, Boris

Middle row: Binker, Clyde, Moriarty

Front: Moog, me (Hugin!)

[huginandmugin-suggestions]

Moog has been taking music lessons.

[huginandmugin-suggestions]

Hey Loki! S'up?

*sitting in corner, facing wall*

Hnnnnnnggg hhhhhhh *sniff* nn nn nn hhhrrrr *sniff* sssnnnnn k k ffff *sniff* AAAAAAGHHH www www hmm GAAA hmm *sniff* hhhh

[huginandmugin-suggestions]

No, Moog, I am not cooking those for you. Put them back.

[huginandmugin-suggestions]

Just a visit to some cuzzins, that's all.

[huginandmugin-suggestions]

Very nice.

A crow with a halo. One thousand gems of genius in poetry and art. 1889.

Internet Archive

[huginandmugin-suggestions]

Yes. Yes, we do that.

[huginandmugin-suggestions]

That's Dave. He's a jerk.

i love ravens so so much

[huginandmugin-suggestions]

Awww

[huginandmugin-suggestions]

Bravo.

Duly noted, no more ties for me!

[huginandmugin-suggestions]

We're unemployed at the moment, and will spy for scraps. Just saying.

we should replace emails with eagles. as well as being an obvious and immediate improvement this would create hundreds of new job opportunities, and it'd hardly be worse for the environment than anything else we're already doing.

[huginandmugin-suggestions]

*land on high beam*

*watching*

Hmgnf

[huginandmugin-suggestions]

There was never anything wrong with a tasty scrap.

“ravens are symbols of death, demons, and the underworld”

x

[huginandmugin-suggestions]

Just popping in to say we'll work for scraps.

emails should be banned. want to get in contact with me? send a raven

[huginandmugin-suggestions]

That's a yes.

[huginandmugin-suggestions]

We're just cool dudes, bro.