#{we have two major points to get through now that sif has wished.}

[defender-of-jouvente]

Mumday mum question! How long for you think act 1 will take? A week or two?

{i dojnt kno............w..........................................................}

[moonbaby26]

Title: A Party and a Spy

Pairing: Loki x Goddess!Reader

Summary: Story set nearer the Viking Age. You were a Greek sea goddess who crossed paths with the god of mischief. Continuation of previous chapter. Loki is forced to return to Asgard to unwillingly participate in the festivities honoring Odin and Thor’s victories in Alfheim. He ends up drunk and in a piss poor mood that he then wants you to help relieve. Your secret meetings also finally attract an unwanted visitor. Super brief cameos here by Sif, the warriors three, and Thor, as well as Heimdall again.

Warnings: Semi smut possibly, but no real sex this chapter. Sorry to tease, will be some next chapter. Here is just mentions of arousal, grinding through clothing. Mention of masturbation. Also some animal abuse, but a magical animal who will be fine I guess. The princes are just jerks like that.

Chapters: Previous Chapter | Next Chapter

Taglist: @rosaline-black , @lawfeys , @loveableasshole , @insanitybyanothername , @just-wordsandthoughts , @cringingmemeries

My Masterlist

——————————

You still felt warm, your head just poking out from under the blanket as you stretched a little. Your hand ran out across the mattress after a moment though, contacting nothing to your surprise as you then opened your eyes.

As you quickly sat up, the look on your face must have said far too much as you heard a chuckle from nearby.

“No, goddess, I haven’t left just yet. My, you are expressive though.”

As you turned your head towards the voice, you saw Loki now sitting in one of the two chairs at the small table opposite your side of the bed.

He was still dressed only in a pair of pants you also quickly noted, yourself still so unused to seeing this much of him as your eyes lingered on the lean muscle and pale skin.

“What?” He asked, not missing that stare either, though the sly look in his eyes told you he knew damned well what you were now distracted with. He just wanted you to say it.

“Asgardians really do wear too many clothes, if you are any proper example anyway.” You replied simply though. Why hide so much all the time?

He raised an eyebrow, but was smirking as he taunted a little further. “Oh I can assure you, there is no one in Asgard like me. And you’d prefer this not be reserved just for you then?”

You tried not to look caught off guard. Even if he were only teasing, the implication that he’d still be keeping this type of intimacy for you alone was something that made your stomach flutter slightly.

“Come here.” He said next though, snapping you back to attention, though you still hesitated. Was that a command or a request?

He only rolled his eyes after a moment though. “Oh, don’t waste time trying to be proud now. I do have to leave shortly, it will already be late morning in Asgard by now.” He extended a hand to you. “So come, sit with me.”

You eventually acquiesced, standing from the bed then, though intending just to walk to the other chair. Yet the very moment you were close enough, he only grabbed you by the arm, pulling you down to sit on his lap instead.

He was surprisingly fast and strong when he wished to be, his arms already around your waist as well before you could think to try and stand again.

“There. That wasn’t so hard was it?” He spoke lowly against your ear as you shifted.

But to your surprise he didn’t touch you any further, even though one arm did stay around your waist to keep you steady as his other hand just went back to the table.

“I have a job for you.” He added, then moving his hand oddly as a piece of parchment paper and a writing quill appeared abruptly from thin air. “At least I think it may work. I’m sure the majority of these animals are illiterate. I’m hoping at least the clan chief has some shaman or someone of the sort that understands these runes. It’s the only written language I’ve ever seen in this land.”

But even as he started to write on the paper, your mind was still only fixating on what you’d just seen as you asked abruptly. “How did you do that?”

He seemed focused on whatever symbols he was now putting on the page, but he still answered. “How do I do what? They’re just runes.”

“No, how did you conjure the pen and paper?” Controlling the elements, moving objects by will, or casting illusions was one thing. But forming a very unnatural, man made object from essentially nothing was different than the typical kind of magic you were used to.

Loki paused a moment then, like trying to digest what you’d just said before he glanced back up to look you in the eyes.

“The woman can move the seas themselves and is astonished by a piece of paper?” He mocked incredulously.

Your eyebrows lowered. “Listen, I know good and well I’m no sorceress. That’s why I’m asking. How do you create something like that from nothing?”

He shook his head. “Gods, they really just give magic to anyone these days.”

A joke clearly, as everything you had you had been born with, though learning to control it had taken time. And to be honest, was still an ongoing learning process. But you still wanted an answer as you looked at him pointedly.

He sighed under your gaze. “I really don’t have the time for this. But I know you won’t let it go.” He had continued writing though even as he kept talking. “I didn’t make them, goddess. I brought them with me. You are at least correct in that nearly all instances of magic, nothing can be made without taking of something else. I’m sure when you make those little whirlpools of yours for instance, you’re drawing the latent energy from the water. The currents, the temperature differences, what have you. To truly make something from nothing...well, that would be chaos magic. Which, may or may not even exist depending which of the ancient mages’ tomes you most believe in.”

You could tell he did take pride in his studies and the principles behind them clearly. If he wasn’t already concerned about returning to Asgard, you could probably get a whole lecture on this subject right now. But you couldn’t help but point out again, as you just responded. “Yet you still haven’t really answered my question. If you brought them with you, where were they before?” You glanced down at his pants as if to reaffirm your doubt that anything other than himself had been hidden there as they were relatively tight.

Yet he still smirked at your continued insistence. “On the scale of the things I’m capable of, my dear, that’s just a parlor trick. And if you really care so much, I can teach you at some other time.”

At that, he paused writing again though, placing the quill down momentarily as he then moved his hand again for a long dagger to abruptly be held in his palm. “You see? There are far better uses to this trick.” He flipped the knife just as quickly though, letting the blade’s point stab into the table as the dagger then stood on end.

And as it did so he made sure to look to see your reaction, also asking you, “Do you really just depend on your servants to follow you around at all hours with any weapons you may need?”

Yet you just looked from the dagger, then back to him. Surprised surely, but not actually frightened. “And do you have so many enemies as to always need that at the ready?”

“One never really knows do they?” He answered smoothly, just grasping the dagger’s handle again before it disappeared once more.

It didn’t seem like a threat really. But you felt he still wanted you to know a bit more of what he was capable of. You quieted afterward as he went back to writing for a few more moments.

When he was done, you could tell he glanced over the letter briefly, as if proofreading before he rolled the paper tightly and folded it.

He spoke rather business like then, an odd thing honestly as you still sat so intimately on his lap. “If it wasn’t already obvious, I’d like you to carry this to the village leader while I return to Asgard. I don’t have the time to deal with the mortals right now, and besides, they’re your pets.”

“Excuse me? Have you forgotten whose idea this whole ‘protector’ role was to begin with?”

“Oh, I was willing to let the lot of them be wiped out if you’d chosen not to save them. I’d only need to spare whichever the nicest home was from burning as the marauders moved through, and we still would have ended up with a place to meet regardless.”

The sad thing was, you were actually sure he really meant that too. But he just continued.

“Yet you pitied them, and now here we are. And as the beasts held up their end of the bargain, I agree it’s fair at least to give them some recognition for their work. A pat on the head and a ‘good dog’ essentially, that’s what this letter says. So you see, I’m not wholly ungrateful.”

“A thank you letter?” You asked dryly. Relatively sure it likely didn’t read completely as such.

“Well, essentially. But with a reminder on the rules as well.”

“Rules?”

“Our privacy must be respected. I’ll put a green flame at the end of the trail nearer the village when we’re present. During the night, this place is also solely ours. If during the day there’s no flame, then they can come up and clean and maintenance this tiny wood hutch like good help should.”

“Your staff at your palace must just adore you.” You mused sarcastically. “The mortals are not our slaves, Loki.”

“It’s really an odd thing how you fancy them.” He retorted, though with an air of someone just humoring another person they already thought irreparably deluded. “But I suppose you have nothing else fulfilling to pass the time when I’m in Asgard. Some people like to paint, others like to craft things...you, you have your pets.”

Arrogant god you thought. As if suddenly you had no other purpose outside of him? Surely he saw that insulted look in your eyes as well, because you could see the entertained mirth in his own before he pulled you closer to kiss you suddenly.

And this one was rough again, briefly reminding you of that night in the cave as you felt his hands move down to your hips. His tongue was already in your mouth before you could even consider pulling away.

From last night when he’d only held you, to now seeming so hungry again, the sides of him could change so quickly you were learning.

His hands didn’t move beneath your dress though, even though you thought his fingers may be grabbing you hard enough to bruise as he twisted you to be fully facing him. Straddling him actually with each of your legs now on either side of him as he rested against the back of the chair.

He kept kissing you, and it wasn’t long before you felt that distinct hardness against you even through his pants. As always though, you wore nothing beneath your dress, a matter of practicality really for as often as you were in the water. Who would want any undergarments constantly rubbing and chaffing where you were most sensitive? You liked sheer and loose material in the dresses you wore, so that it moved easily as you swam and dried quickly when you were on land.

But he knew all this by now of course, as he just ground his hips then, that rough seam of his pants then moving between your legs as he drug it back and forth.

He was intentionally trying to work you up. You sensed the trap, but still found your own hands moving across his bare chest soon enough.

Your newfound lack of willpower was really astounding. Finally though, you pulled your head back to break the kiss and warn him. “If you’re just doing this with no intention to actually follow through...”

“If you wanted it so badly, you could have taken it last night.” He retorted though. “I’ve already stayed too long.”

“Why can’t I want both?” You answered, meaning it as well. It wasn’t just sex, nor was it just being in his company. Neither by itself was enough anymore. Each had its own place.

He looked frustrated himself though as you felt him thrust against you reflexively, that bulge in his pants wasted even as it scraped against where you were now becoming wet. “I’m telling you, Odin is back at the palace now. I have to be calculated in the times I come and go. There is some damned ceremony today, likely starting any moment by now for their victories in Alfheim. If I’m not there, they’re going to come looking for me.”

As much as you knew he liked to bend the truth. It wouldn’t make sense for him to deny himself this right now unless it was actually for good reason.

“Well you’re the one who pulled me into your lap and kissed me.” You relented, though your own body now fully flustered and urging you to return to him even as you stood up and stepped away.

“Well you shouldn’t have slept so late.” He grumbled back. Pulling at his pants in some discomfort as he stood as well.

But you watched as his armor manifested then, horned helmet and all as his magic washed across him. What you guessed would now be his attire for the ceremony he’d spoken of. You assumed that clothing and armor had been in whatever void the pen, paper, and dagger had been.

At least with his illusions he could also conceal his arousal if it hadn’t faded on its own by the time he reached the palace though, you thought with some amusement.

Yet, even as he walked for the door, he taunted to you as if sensing your enjoyment of his current predicament. “You’re welcome to get back in the bed you know. Think of me while you self soothe, goddess.”

So crude. But you just fired back before he could close the door. “And is that what you do at night in Asgard? Think of yourself as well to finish things off?” You were trying to mock his evident self importance of course.

Yet he didn’t even miss a beat at the intended insult. “Why be myself when I can just be you? Then I never have to forget how you feel.”

And just to prove that he could, you stared in disbelief as a perfect likeness of yourself then smiled back at you lewdly, thin dress and all before shutting the door unceremoniously.

Gods. That was just unnatural. And you had to sit down at that, arousal now paused at least as your body’s resulting confusion was almost palpable.

———————————

Asgard, not long after

Loki was back to his normal appearance, hurriedly stepping into the small grouping of warriors he’d recognized at once in the rest of the crowd at the palace ceremonial hall.

Sif’s head turned in immediate surprise and annoyance as those golden horns entered her peripheral vision. The irritation was evident even as she tried to keep her voice low with so many others still around them. “And just where have you been!? Thor was looking for you everywhere!”

“I was in the library, did he think to look in the library!?” Loki spat back immediately, knowing that even if his brother had checked there, Thor knew the layout of it so poorly, he could always have claimed to have been in another section.

“Yet why are you breathing so hard, chap? Were you actually running?” Fandral asked as well, also looking Loki over.

“And why pray tell would I have been running?” Loki shot a glare to him next. Could they not mind their own damned business for once?

“Because you were late?” Volstagg offered in that simplistic, yet matter of fact way that was always beyond annoying even on the best day.

“Well I’m here now.” Loki huffed, though not missing the way Hogun was also staring at him critically. “And do you have something to add?” Loki grumbled at him.

But only Sif answered. “Well if you hadn’t been lost in the library,” Her tone made clear how little she believed that excuse, “You’d know that Thor chose you to give the congratulatory speech before-”

“The what?” Loki stared at her, that odd mix of horror and disgust then abruptly clear on his face.

——————————

“So what more can I say of Asgard’s favorite son?” Loki’s public speaking voice boomed richly through the great hall, the throng of happy faces sickening as he smiled right back at them. What fresh Hel was this really?

“Alfheim counts her graces I am sure to have such noble saviors defend her-” By the gods he didn’t even know what Odin and Thor had done there the entire time. He assumed there’d been skull bashing and the normal heroics. But if they’d been working out peace treaties instead the last few weeks, who knew. He’d been looking for hidden portals to Midgard still on the days they’d held the main debriefings.

“And with peace secured in the realms once more, please join me in giving thanks to the noble Allfather and the mighty Thor!” Loki wasn’t normally one for alcohol. Not in comparison to most Asgardians anyway. He thought it dulled the mind too much. But by all the mages in all the realms...he so badly needed it now, as he took a large swig of the strongest Asgard had, before throwing the glass down to shatter it as was custom. “And let the feasts commence!”

The crowd erupted in cheers. And on any other day, that would have been something he obviously would have wanted. But Loki knew that not one voice was for him as he suddenly felt a large hand and arm go around his shoulders, shaking him roughly before his brother’s voice joined the yells, yet right in his ear.

“HUZZAH!” Thor cried, one arm still around Loki as his other lifted Mjolnir triumphantly.

—————————

And it was so many hours later before Loki had finally escaped. Time and time again as he’d tried to excuse himself from the endless barrage of drinks and food, it was as if his brother had somehow sensed it.

Then there would be Thor again, telling him any one of those same stories over and over as he’d somehow corralled Loki back into the feast room. If he’d had to hear one more time how with one hand forced behind his back, and Mjolnir still in mid air, that Thor had kicked one of the enemies’ bombs right back into their own garrison, taking out an entire enemy troop as more of their stored artillery then exploded...Loki may have finally vomited.

As it was now, he wasn’t exactly walking a straight line either though. Just carrying his own helmet in one hand, his head already throbbing as he made his way slowly through the corridors. His other arm reaching out occasionally, grazing the walls for balance.

He couldn’t remember the last time he’d drank so much. Well, more like been forced to drink so much, just to try and maintain his sanity in what was essentially just another gathering of his brother’s sycophants.

Honestly did Thor even see it? Did he really think all those hanger-ons were truly his friends? Perhaps there was some argument for Sif and the warriors three. As thick headed as they all were, they were about cut from the same cloth. And that was not a compliment.

But all the others? It’d be almost pitiable really if it weren’t so damned annoying. Yet maybe it was the alcohol there as well, making Loki linger on so many of these feelings again.

By the time he reached the entrance to his quarters, he was frowning as he pushed the heavy doors open. He still made sure that they shut fully behind him though as he waved his hand to lock them doubly with a spell.

It was not without precedent that in some true late night madness, either Thor, or Thor, Fandral, and Volstagg may still force entry to try and get him to accompany them on some additional drunken adventure while they were still riding so high on their accomplishments.

“Idiots,” Loki grumbled to no one though. Still stuck in that sour mood as he moved across the dark room, losing clothes as he did so before finally ending up in his elaborate bed. The silken sheets were then the only thing against his skin as he laid there in silence, though the room still feeling like it was moving slightly in his lingering vertigo.

But he just wanted to sleep. That and to will this headache and the thoughts that worsened it away.

But instead he only laid there. His drunken thoughts churning louder and louder as the minutes passed, alone in this extravagant, luxurious, and also very empty bed.

Scattered across the palace now, he could only imagine all the couplings likely occurring. Not necessarily in the full sense of the word. But he knew how these types of festivities normally ended.

Thor was likely in an archway somewhere with Sif, pawing at each other with all the finesse of a pair of schoolchildren. Fandral and Hogun would still be at a table, Fandral now showing off his sword to a couple maidens simultaneously with only thinly veiled euphemisms of how it compared to the hidden equivalent. And Volstagg would have his actual wife and children there, somehow still not bored of them yet as they all laughed together.

And that’s what it really was, laughable.

Loki rolled onto his side, glaring towards the balcony and the stars dotting the black sky beyond it. No, he didn’t need any of that farce of companionship. Not just for the sake of it anyway like all the others. He took what he wanted, when he wanted surely. Pleasure was one thing after all, but it didn’t control him.

You didn’t control him actually. Because no one controlled the god of mischief.

But the longer he lay there in silence, the more he could then imagine your fingers soon running through his hair, or the warmth of your lap to lay his aching head in. He’d had bad days before, many times retreating to this very room alone. But he didn’t have to be alone tonight. He didn’t have to be alone at all anymore did he?

“Goddamnit.” He finally hissed. It was foolhardy, dangerous even after just returning from Midgard already once today. But he wasn’t going to sleep tonight otherwise. Not until he had what he really wanted.

——————————

Loki certainly wasn’t going to be walking all the way to the bifrost gate. Not at this hour, and not in this condition. So he’d taken a form that at least no one would have second guessed if they’d just happened to look up as he’d passed quickly overhead.

One of Father’s ravens, or the rats with wings as he preferred to call them. And as he’d landed near Heimdall, then regaining his normal form, the older god just looked down at him, unimpressed.

“She’s returned to the ocean. She already sleeps.” Heimdall spoke unprompted.

Yet Loki’s eyebrows rose mockingly, even if his words took a little more effort right now. “Oh? Making a habit of watching her…even without me then? That’s a bit perverse.”

But the gatekeeper’s expression hardly changed at the insult, still so difficult to goad. “I saw you coming, and your questions to her whereabouts are becoming predictable.”

It was true. Loki had already come here several nights, yes. Mostly to check whether the mortals had finished that structure or not. And it’d finally been a pleasant reward just the other night when Heimdall had confirmed it already done and you there waiting.

“I don’t care where she is.” Loki retorted though. “I’m going to Midgard. Open the gate.”

“You are inebriated.” Heimdall warned.

“And you have a severely itritating penchant for stating the obvious…open the gate.” He commanded more forcefully.

“Anywhere in Midgard particular?” Heimdall answered.

Loki paused though, hearing that slightest change in the guardian’s normal stoic tone with those last words. “Are you���attempting to make a joke?”

“I did not wish to assume or state the obvious again as you said. And you also say you do not care where she is. So do you not care where you should land tonight then?”

He was! He was mocking him. Loki growled, pointing his finger for emphasis. “Now listen here…it has been a god awful, long day. Quit trying to dissuade me. Send me to the village, gatekeeper!”

“Any village?”

Gods. “My village, her village, whatever you want to call it. But do it or I’ll use the damned sword myself!”

With one last cheerless look down at Loki, Heimdall turned the sword then, opening the gate even as he warned a final time. “Do not fall from the bifrost, Prince. The universe is vast and does not suffer the careless well. Do remember as well that all things done have consequences in the end.”

But Loki had no time to search for deeper meaning in the words, just ruffling more as he walked towards the light. “Is that a threat?”

“Only a truth and a caution.” Heimdall again answered, just before the other disappeared back across the bridge.

———————————

And as the light left him again, Loki was once more in that dark forest. Yet, the ground far lighter colored than normal as to a little of his surprise, his boots now found fresh snow. Winter had finally arrived to this part of Midgard apparently.

He cursed, realizing it would have been far smarter to have told Heimdall to deposit him directly onto the beach this time as he’d now had to navigate back down the hillside and to the trail that led between the cliff face.

It had started snowing again as well as he walked, the large flakes sticking in his black hair by the time he reached the ocean’s edge. He should have told you just to stay at the cabin this morning. But he didn’t expect to be standing here again so soon either.

Loki didn’t care about the water at this point though, the waves rushing up around his feet and over the top of his boots as he trudged forward to call out. “Hear me, sea beasts! Hear me and bring your mistress to me!”

And it didn’t take long of course before he saw two feminine looking torsos rise just where the waves were breaking in the distance. Not quite human, but expressive enough that he could see the skepticism in their body language.

“She’s asleep!” One called back over the waves.

“Then go and wake her!” He only hissed back as if scolding an insubordinate child. Why did everyone feel the need to test him tonight?

But the two nymphs just looked at one another. The other then speaking. “What is so important? Are you claiming injury again?”

He scoffed at the jab, voice easily sliding into its darker range then, even in his continued drunken state. He did not have time for this. “Do not forget your place, water sprite.”

And as he made a move as if to step further into the water, he was pleased to see them both shrink back at that. When they disappeared not long after, he knew all he now had to do was wait.

—————————

You didn’t fully know what to expect. Why was he back so soon? Not that you should complain, but he’d made such a point about having to return to Asgard this morning, and he’d never come back so quickly before. Even though it was now dead of night.

The nymphs also said he’d been acting strangely, even a bit ruder than normal. They insisted you bring your spear, and so you had as you broke the surface only to find him sitting at the water’s edge. Though not even far enough onto the beach to stay dry as the water now ran around him and then pulled back with each successive wave. His pants and cloak were clearly soaked, snow also dotting all over him to your surprise.

“Loki?” You asked, concerned but cautious. Normally the rare sight of snow would have distracted you in its own right had you not been so focused on him. The north was still unique to you for all its differences.

“The cold doesn’t bother me either.” He said abruptly, seeing that worry in your eyes. But he didn’t stand out of the water. “You really should reprimand your servants…”

“It’s not quite that kind of a relationship.” You replied, though not defensively as you still tried to realize what was wrong with him. “Are you alright?”

“No.” He said simply.

If it was just another trick, it was a good one. But you felt you had no real choice but to behave as if he was sincere. You only laid your spear down in the water as you then moved to sit down beside him.

He looked over at you as you did, and you could see how tired he looked even in the darkness. So close to him then, that was finally when you smelled the scent of alcohol, impressively strong even over the salt smell of the ocean.

He was drunk.

“Loki…” You said again, unsure at all what would have driven him to this kind of excess. “Do you want me to help you to the cabin?”

He leaned closer though, as if to either kiss you or lay his head against yours. He did nuzzle your face slightly though as he whispered in your ear. “I want him to get closer first.” Before you could react though, he’d then grabbed your chin to keep you from looking away from him. “He can’t hear us over the noise of the sea…but don’t look away.”

And he did kiss you then, that heady taste of the alcohol almost as distracting as the nonsensical words. His hand was moving up your thigh as well as his other moved around to your back. It all seemed like only the beginnings of foreplay before just as suddenly, he then pushed you down beneath him. His hand that had been on your thigh pulled back simultaneously to throw a dagger violently out into the darkness.

You heard a distinct sound of a hit, a creature screech, and then chaotic flapping in the sand and snow somewhere near the cliff’s base.

Loki was now laying on top of you, your back still pressed into the wet sand as the water rushed back up around you both. He glanced back down at you then, ignoring the confusion in your eyes as he kissed you roughly several times more before finally pulling back again. “We’ll have to get back to that tomorrow…” He all but purred, mood shifting suddenly to satisfaction as he stood once more and offered you his hand.

Utterly baffled, you still took it, letting him help you up before he let go of you to walk off towards the distressed sounds you still heard near the cliff. You only hung back long enough to grab your spear before hurrying to follow him.

You didn’t know what kind of beast to expect from all the noise, and only found yourself more surprised as a pitiable looking black bird finally came into view. It flapped even harder upon seeing Loki, but with one wing clearly mangled and blood spattering the snow and sand around it.

“Oh, you over dramatic twat.” Loki fussed, snatching the hapless creature up with little fanfare as his other hand reclaimed his now bloody dagger, disappearing it again with his magic. “And which one are you?” He asked, holding it roughly near his face as it now continually tried to bite him in defiance.

You didn’t know what he was looking for, and you were about to say something about how harshly he was holding the poor animal before Loki smirked in recognition.

“Well…Muninn, you little vermin. You saw me leave the palace didn’t you? Did you really think I was your other half? Couldn’t leave well enough alone could you?”

What? So this was one of Odin’s ravens? But, Loki had just stabbed it! Was this not treason? Treason that you were now a party to? You had so many questions as your inner panic began to grow.

But Loki only kept smiling, talking with condescension to the injured bird. “Yet, for you to be here so quickly, then you’ve found my door for me. There’s a rift between Asgard and Midgard somewhere nearby…and for that you get to keep your other wing tonight, you little spy.”

—————————

As you passed back up the trail to the cabin together, you saw Loki had indeed kept his word about signaling to the mortals when you were here. A green flame floated, ethereal in midair at the edge of the tree-line.

It had a haunting look to it, but you said nothing, still so focused on Loki’s rough handling of the injured raven. And by the time you’d entered the woods, you could no longer contain yourself.

“Please don’t hold him by the chest like that. It makes it too hard for them to breathe. You’re going to suffocate him!”

At your outburst, Loki seemed to have a genuine moment of surprise, looking over at you before his normal superior expression returned. “Just because you can become a bird….doesn’t mean you should give a damn about this one. Don’t waste your time on kindness. Despite your bleeding heart, his loyalty lies only with the Allfather. He’ll snitch you out regardless.”

“But, he has lost a lot of blood. We can’t let him die, Loki…” You still kept on, worried the alcohol had truly made him lose all sense of judgement.

Again he just gave you the oddest look before outright laughing though. He shook the bird a little, making it squawk again, before continuing. “This rat and his brother are imbued with Odin’s magic. They cannot perish so easily as long as Odin still lives.”

Yet, that was still not comforting to you in the slightest. In what possible way could torturing a favored pet of the Allfather end positively for the two of you?

But Loki didn’t miss the way you still stared with disapproval, just rolling his eyes as you finally made it to the cabin. “Do you know how long we’ve dealt with these little pests? When Thor got his first slingshot as a boy, what do you think he practiced it on? When I learned my first spells, what did I test them on? There is nothing new to this…”

“That’s awful.” You grumbled, though watching as Loki did this odd movement with his shoulders, his magic shifting over him so that he was suddenly dry again.

As he walked inside, you had to shake the snow off yourself the old fashioned way. Your dress and hair still damp from that and the ocean combined as you followed him inside, leaning your spear against the wall before closing the door. “So you could do that the whole time,” You commented as to his drying trick, though not really surprised by anything else right now.

He smirked a little, knowing what you were thinking. With a wave of his hand a couple of the candles also lit. “Oh, I didn’t do it that night in the cave. You were supposed to take pity and ask me to take off some of my wet clothes…of course they ended up off anyway didn’t they?”

You crossed your arms, just frowning as he unceremoniously opened the chest on the floor next, tossing the injured Muninn into it before slamming it back closed.

“I’ll deal with you in the morning,” Loki threatened in response to the resulting angry squawk, giving the chest a light kick before the noise inside silenced.

When he turned to look at you again, he only offered a dark smile. Though still looking tired as he started to remove his clothes.

You tried to keep your disapproving look strong even as you realized he was using no magic at all, removing his vestments piece by piece as if to taunt you into further watching.

But looking away would have just goaded him too wouldn’t it? Letting him know the sight of his body still did things to you. You couldn’t win either way as all of his clothes finally laid piled on the floor, no neatness this time as he went lay nude in the bed.

You stood there a further moment, really not knowing what to do. He didn’t deserve to be rewarded right now in your mind. But were you just supposed to walk right back out the door? You didn’t have the willpower for that either, not anymore.

He watched you lazily too, waiting. His voice was quieter now though as he did speak again. “If I’d wanted to sleep alone…I would have just stayed in Asgard.”

Your shoulders lowered a little at the softer words, but you didn’t know how much you really believed him. You finally did approach the bed however, removing your wet dress, and not missing the way his eyes moved across your body before you climbed in under the blanket beside him.

But you could also tell he was in no condition for love making, even as you felt his hand encircle one of your wrists, himself then pulling your hand up so your fingers fell into his hair.

He gave you an imploring look, making his intention clear even if unexpected. It was so strange, but you complied, starting to rub your fingers through his hair and along his scalp gently.

The way he clearly relaxed into the touch reminded you so much of a placated animal truly. And he even closed his eyes as you just continued stroking, letting the black hair work repeatedly between your fingers.

To drunkenly cross the vast breadth of space just for this minor affection, also risking exposure by his Father’s informants, was it telling you that he really was so reckless after all? Or…was this becoming a real need for him?

Were you becoming a need in his life?

You felt him line up his body with yours, flesh to flesh as he got further comfortable.

“Thank you.” You heard him say at last. Surprising you enough that you could find nothing to say in return.

You just kept on with your soft touches though, comforting the troublesome prince all the way until he finally fell asleep in your arms.

——————————

(Continued in next chapter here)

[just-dreaming-marvel]

It’s Always Been You ~ 143

OUT OF TIME MASTERLIST

IT’S ALWAYS BEEN YOU MASTERLIST

< previous chapter

Word Count: 3,600ish

Summary: Surprisingly, more secrets come out. A final plan is formed.

Notes: Please read the ending note. You must read Out Of Time in order to understand this. The chapter numbers continue from Out Of Time. (gifs aren’t mine)

“She’s not the only one whose kept secrets, Steve,” Natasha said, once Y/N was clearly gone. “We all have.”

“This is different,” Steve argued, mad. “This has to do with half the universe turning into dust and the man who did it. She should have told us so that we could have—“

“Done what, Steve?!” Tony retorted. “Spent the past five years planning and waiting for something to happen?! That’s not a way to live! I know that because I’ve lived that! I’ve tried to do that!” Tony took a deep breath, trying to calm himself as he backed away from everyone. “I may be the only one who feels this way, but I wouldn’t change the last five years. Yes, I miss people terribly and feel the guilt of what happened constantly. But I finally have the family I’ve always longed for. I have a daughter who is my whole world, and a wife who fights for what she loves.” 

“Her telling us everything wouldn’t have changed when Scott came back or when I put the pieces together about time travel,” Tony continued. “Keeping that a secret didn’t change anything.”

“Tony’s right,” Clint spoke up. “It wouldn’t have changed anything.”

Tony and Clint nodded at each other. Tony knew it had to be hard for Clint to admit that, especially since he had lost his whole family. Steve clenched his jaw, frustrated.

“Steve,” Natasha called calmly, “have you ever thought about how many times you get angry at Y/N for keeping things from you?”

“I don’t understand what that has to do with anything,” Steve said.

“You freak and turn around and blame everything on her. Maybe she doesn’t tell you things because she knows that you won’t react in the best way. And you doubt her, so much.”

“How is this now about me?”

“I’m sorry, isn’t everything?” Tony retorted. The two men glared at each other in silence for a moment, the tension getting thick. “I’m going to go check on my wife.”

~~~

“Hey Pepper,” Y/N greeted, video calling her friend. 

“Hey Y/N,” Pepper replied. 

“Is Morgan up?”

“I’m sorry, I put her to bed already.”

“That’s okay.”

“Is something wrong though? You seem a little down.”

“I just… can you poke me in there for a second? I just need to see her.”

“Of course.” Pepper began heading to Morgan’s room. “She really misses you guys.”

“We miss her too.”

Pepper quietly opened Morgan’s door and reached her hand in so that Y/N could see the little girl on the phone. Morgan was sound asleep, clinging onto the Iron Man stuffy that Tony had bought her. Y/N’s eyes slowly filled with tears as she longed to hold her child.

“Thank you, Pep,” Y/N said softly. 

“Of course,” the woman replied.

“Tell her we’ll call her tomorrow. And that we love her.”

“Y/N, what’s up?”

“This is all just getting more real. And I don’t want something to happen with Morgan knowing her parents love her.”

“Nothing’s going to happen. You and Tony are going to be fine.”

Y/N gave her friend a tight lipped smile, clearly not believable. “Thanks for taking care of her for us, Pep. Good night.”

Y/N sighed after hanging up, leaning back against the headboard. She closed her eyes and sucked in her lips. She had never missed her abilities more in the last five years, then at this very moment. She wished she could simply portal herself home, to hold her child. But Y/N couldn’t, and she knew she needed to stay at the compound and finish out the mission. No matter the cost.

“Are you okay?” Tony’s voice was quiet as he leaned in the doorway, worried eyes raking over his wife.

“I’m fine,” she answered, not bothering to open her eyes.

Tony sighed before he walked over and sat himself on the bed. He made sure he wasn’t touching her, not wanting to press. “I let Steve have it after you left. It wasn’t right for him to do that. Red even had my back.” Y/N didn’t respond. “Honey… I’m sorry.” He set a comforting hand on her leg. “I know that I’ve pushed you in the past for not saying anything. But I’m beginning to see the weight that the Stones have placed on you. I’m so sorry.”

“He will never understand,” Y/N breathed out quietly. “He hasn’t been able to since he came out of the ice… I lived 5 years with believing he was dead. I changed in that time and he has never been able to accept that… but doesn’t make it hurt any less. He’s still my twin…” Y/N finally opened her eyes and met Tony’s. She reached out and took his hand from her leg. “Thank you,” she whispered. “For standing with me.”

“I made vows to do so. I never intend on breaking them.” 

She pulled him closer to her. She wrapped herself around him, earning a light chuckle. 

“Can we stay like this the rest of the night?” She whispered.

“Of course,” Tony answered, kissing her hairline. “We can stay like this as long as you like.”

~~~

In the morning, the couple ate breakfast in bed before venturing out to face the rest of the group. Everyone was seemingly trying to act normal, but Steve. Every time he glanced Y/N’s way, it was harsh. Cold and unforgiving. Tony kept himself at Y/N’s side as the group began going over the Tesseract.

“Our first major run in with the Tesseract, or Space Stone, was back in the 40’s,” Steve explained. He was standing in front of everyone, pictures, videos and information were playing on the screens behind him. “HYDRA’s then leader, Red Skull, was using it to create mass energy weapons. Y/N and I were on Red Skull’s plane when it took off to bomb major cities around the world.” Steve looked at Y/N. “Would you like to tell the rest of it?”

She pursed her lips, trying to keep her emotions in check. “Sure.” She stood up and went to the front of the room. “As Steve said, we were in the ship. I was trying to get to the controls and the Tesseract, when it could knocked loose. It portaled Red Skull away. I…” Y/N paused with a sigh. She hadn’t recounted this story since she woke up. “I grabbed the cube as it fell, burning my hand. Dropping it, it burned a hole in the floor causing both myself and the cube to fall. I grabbed onto it as a fell…” Y/N looked down at her scarred hand, rubbing it nervously. “Howard Stark later found it in his search for Steve and I.”

“After that, it was in SHIELD’s hands,” Y/N continued. “And, from what Carol has added to the record, a scientist who was trying to save the Skrull species. From their Fury began tests on it and began making weapons of his own. That’s how the Battle of New York started… Being control by the Mind Stone himself, Loki came and took the Tesseract. He used it to open a giant portal, letting the Chitauri army through.” 

More video footage began being played of that day behind her. The all watched, with those who were there remembering the day like it was yesterday.

“How long did you fight these guys?” Rocket asked.

“About, uh, two or three hours,” Natasha responded. She looked at Tony who nodded along in agreement.

“The Chitauri are the suckiest army in the galaxy. Why didn’t you just blow up the mothership?”

“We didn’t know that was a thing,” Steve said.

“You didn’t know that was a thing?” Rocket laughed. Tony stood up from his seat, shaver in hand. (He was shaving as he was listening.) He went up behind Rocket and shaved some of his hair on top of his head. “Everyone knows— Hey!”

“There we go,” Tony said. “All better.”

“Tony was the one to send the missile up through the portal, successfully destroying the mother ship,” Y/N explained. “I closed the portal.” She looked at Tony, who met her eyes. “Luckily, we all came out of it alive.”

“Not all of us,” Clint commented. “We lost a good one that day. Phil Coulson.”

“Yeah… about that… Fury actually brought him back to life.”

“What?!” Natasha, Clint, Thor, and Steve exclaimed. The four quickly noticed at Bruce and Tony weren’t phased.

“Did you two know about this?” Natasha asked.

“Yes,” Bruce answered, “but only because it was vital. We were helping Skye—“

“Daisy,” Tony and Y/N corrected together.

���—and Y/N with their new found powers. Phil was a big part in that.”

“Those missions… that base you would talk about… SHIELD suddenly resurfacing,” Steve mumbled, putting the pieces together. “You leaving to save your Team… You kept SHIELD and Coulson alive, right under our noses.”

“Again, I was only doing what was right,” Y/N defended herself. “We saved the world countless more times than anyone even realized, including the other heroes in this room…. Coulson’s team is the reason we found Loki’s scepter. And in Sokovia, the helicarrier Fury brought was from Coulson. He had found it and patched it back together.”

“Sif,” Thor whispered. “She was so very vague about the two times she was down here.”

“She was keeping the secret. If people knew that Coulson was alive, it would have changed the game.”

“How did he survive?” Natasha asked.

“It was called the TAHITI Program. Fury directed Coulson to head it. It was meant for a fall of an Avenger. To bring them back if anything were to happen in battle. After years of trials, it was disbanded. The side affects were awful… but then Coulson died. And Fury couldn’t accept that.”

“Who else knew?” Steve asked.

“Besides Fury, Tony, Bruce, Sif, and myself,  Maria Hill, our SHIELD teams, and many government officials worldwide. Including President Ellis.”

Steve scoffed. “All the secrets,” he muttered, shaking his head. “This is getting ridiculous.”

“Where is Phil now?” Natasha asked. “Did he survive?”

“He died right before the Blip,” Y/N answered. “Complications from the TAHITI Program and other things that had happened… Please don’t be angry. I understand that it seems like I’ve kept some big things from everyone. But you have to try and understand it from my point of view.”

Everyone was silent, not knowing what to say. Y/N stood in the front of the room, preparing for the attack on her. But it never came. Steve stormed out and the others from the original team followed, including Tony and Bruce. Y/N closed her eyes, trying to keep herself calm.

“I know that I’m new here and don’t know much,” Scott said, standing up to go to Y/N. “But I know that you have a good heart. And that you were only trying to protect everyone.”

She looked at him with a tight-lipped smile. “Thank you, Scott.”

~~~

“It’s just one thing after another with her!” Steve exclaimed. “Is everything a lie? It’s like I don’t even know who she is anymore!”

“Steve, I think we need to stay calm and look at this from her said,” Natasha said. “She has been trying to protect everyone, except herself. The whole time she was going from fight to fight without much of a break.”

“It’s true,” Tony agreed. “I personally witnessed the wear and tear it did to her.”

“When she got shot after SHIELD fell, was that because of Coulson?” Steve asked, marching up to Tony.

“It wasn’t because of Coulson. It was because someone on her team ended up being HYDRA.”

Steve ran a hand down her face. “I don’t know where the lies stop and the truth begins.”

“She never actually lied to you,” Natasha brought up. “She told you what she could and kept the rest to herself. To protect everyone.”

“She still should have told us about Coulson,” Clint spoke up. “He was important to all of us.”

“Coulson and Fury specifically instructed her that the team not know,” Tony explained. “She actually got in trouble for telling me and Bruce.”

“But again we had to know,” Bruce said. “Y/N and Skye—“

“Daisy.”

“—had suddenly gained powers. If anyone was going to be able to help them, it was going to be us.”

“I need some time to think,” Steve said, walking away.

“We really shouldn’t be focusing on this right now,” Bruce sighed, shaking his head. “We should be focusing on the Stones. What Y/N kept from us is not the priority.”

“As long as she tells us any other information that could be of use to us,” Natasha said. 

“She will,” Tony promised.

“I can’t imagine she’s taking this well,” Clint mentioned.

“She’s not really showing very much, trying to keep it all in. But I don’t blame her. Steve’s been going after her since he got out of the ice.”

“It’s hurting both of them,” Natasha said. “It’s like they want it to be how is was before the ice. Yet, they both have changed.”

“I don’t think Steve’s willing to see it the most,” Bruce added. “It’s going to tear them apart when we need them to work together the most right now.”

“Together, they can be one of the best teams.”

Tony sighed. “Let’s finish getting the information on the Stones. Then we can worry about the rest of it.”

~~~

They all gathered back together to go over more about the Stones. They finished all the new on the Tesseract and Space Stone before moving to the Mind Stone. It was hard to talk about that one, since Vision was a big part of it.

“Where’s Vision now?” Scott asked.

“We brought him back to the Compound, but the Accords and his own will forced us to give his body to an organization called SWORD,” Natasha explained. “They were forced to dismantle him because of the Accords.”

“We were too late in getting him to Wakanda,” Bruce explained. “So there was no way to bring him back without the Stone.”

“Hopefully that the only permanent casualty we take from all this,” Tony commented, bringing Y/N closer to his side.

“That wasn’t the only life lost,” Nebula said. “My sister, Gamora, she died too.”

They took on the Soul Stone next. There was very little information on it besides what Y/N and Nebula knew.

“Thanos found the Soul Stone on Vormir,” Nebula explained.

“What is Vormir?” Natasha asked, taking notes.

“A dominion of death, at the very center of Celestial existence. It’s where… Thanos murdered my sister.”

Everyone sat there awkwardly, and saddened. Not knowing what to say or do.

“Not it,” Scott said, breaking the awkward silence.

“Y/N,” Steve called, in this stern Captain voice. “Do you know anything about the Soul Stone that could possibly help us?”

“I know that it is a very power Stone in its own right. With it I was able to conjure the spiritual representation of those who are dead.”

“What?” A few gasped. Tony reached over and grabbed her hand.

“I saw…” She paused, swallowing her emotions down. “I saw my unborn son, AJ, my parents, and Phil Coulson.”

“Our parents?” Steve questioned. Y/N responded with a simple nod. “How could you not tell me?”

“At the time we weren’t talking, and it never came up later.”

“I can’t—“

“Guys,” Natasha stood up in the middle, placing herself between the siblings. “Stop fighting. We have something bigger we need to focus on, and if you can’t see that you both can leave.”

“I’m not the one with the problem,” Steve growled.

Holding the tip of her tongue between her teeth, she silently watched Steve. She was trying to put her thoughts together when Tony decided to speak up.

“Seriously, Rogers, cut the bullshit,” Tony said. “I get you’re probably hurt that she never told you anything. But that doesn’t give you the right to make her your personal emotional punching bag. Crap happened and she didn’t tell you, but she’s telling you now.”

“You know…” Y/N began slowly. “I miss the days when it was you, Bucky, and I against the world. Just like you do. The days you trusted me and didn’t doubt me, no matter what… you blame this all on me, Steve? Fine! But communication is a two way street. Just remember that. I’m not the only one that’s kept secrets. Like the one about Howard and Bucky.” That left Steve silent. “I’ll be in the other room, trying to put a plan together if anyone needs me.” She left.

“Go work out some energy, Steve,” Natasha suggested. “We’ll take it from here.”

~~~

Tony found Y/N laying on a table with FRIDAY talking to her about the Time Stone.

“Mute,” Tony ordered, coming into the room.

“If you’re here to talk about Steve, I’m not listening,” Y/N responded, looking at the ceiling.

“I figured. That’s why I came to join you and help.” Tony leaned over Y/N and gently kissed her.

“Uh, guys,” Bruce broke in before the couple could get heated. They turned to see Bruce and Nat standing in the doorway. “We just came to see if you needed any help. Everyone else needed a break.”

“Help would be great,” Y/N responded.

Tony crawled up onto the table, sitting by Y/N, while Y/N sat up. Bruce and Nat came in further and the four of them began going through everything they knew about the Time Stone and trying to form the most logical plan to collect the Stones. After of few hours of nothing coming together, Tony and Y/N were back laying on the table. Bruce was laying on the floor with Natasha leaned up against him.

“That Time Stone guy…” Natasha began again.

“Doctor Strange,” Bruce corrected.

“Yeah, what kind of doctor was he?”

“Ear-nose-throat meets rabbit from a hat,” Tony answered, spinning his glasses in one hand while rubbing his eyes.

“Something neuro,” Y/N clarified.

“Nice place in the village, though,” Bruce added.

“Yeah,” Tony agreed. “Sullivan Street.”

“Hmmm… Bleecker.”

“Wait, he lived in New York?” Natasha wondered.

“No. He lived in Toronto,” Tony scoffed. “Were you even paying attention?”

“Guys, if you pick the right year, there are three Stones in New York.”

Bruce sat up in surprise saying, “Shut the front door.”

~~~

The team was quickly gathered and Y/N explained the best points for them to go.

“Okay, we will retrieve the Soul and Power Stones in space 2014; the Reality Stone on Asgard in 2013; and the Space, Mind, and Time Stones in New York City in 2012,” she told them, pulling the information up on the screens. 

“Now all we need are to assign the teams,” Tony stated. 

“I’ve sketched out a plan and would like to get everyone’s opinions.” 

They all glanced Steve’s way, waiting for the Captain to say something. He simply glared, arms crossed over his chest.

“Shoot,” Clint encouraged, when Steve didn’t speak up.

“So, due to certain knowledge of events, I believe that we need to try and stick to our own timelines, even though it could be dangerous,” Y/N explained. “We know our own timelines best. Where to avoid, where the Stones would be found, all that jazz. With that in mind, I was thinking Thor would go to Asgard, Rocket and Nebula would go to space, and the rest of us would go to New York.”

“The teams need to be evened out,” Steve spoke up, not impressed.

“I was just getting to that. I was going to see if anyone was going to volunteer to retrieve any of the Stones. I believe we need at least two people on each mission. And remember, the space mission is actually two separate missions.”

“I’ll go with Thor,” Rocket offered. “I think I could probably help the best there.”

“Thank you Rocket.”

“I can go with Nebula,” Rhodey said. “I’m not familiar with any of the spots, so I might as well.” Y/N nodded in agreement, making a note of it.”

“I should stay in 2012,” Tony said. “Being back in the Tower, I might have to break into JARVIS.”

“Agreed,” Y/N.

“I’ll stay in 2012 as well,” Steve said. “I also think Scott could be a good asset with us as well.”

“Sounds great,” Scott nodded along.

“Bruce, I was thinking that you and I could go and speak to the Ancient One and get the Time Stone,” Y/N suggested. “I have a feeling it will take some convincing to take the Stone from her.”

“Okay,” Bruce agreed.

“That leaves Clint and Natasha. Since you guys are a good team, how do you feel about hitting up Vormir for the Soul Stone?”

The two looked at each other and nodded, before looking back at Y/N.

“We can do that,” Clint said.

“Awesome,” Y/N responded. “Now we just need specifics for each mission. Break off into teams and use the information to create a specific plan.”

Everyone split off and created plans for their team. Coming back together, each plan was explained.

“Alright,” Steve claimed the attention once the final plan was laid out, “we have a plan. Six Stones, three teams. One shot. Take the night to get things together and rest, we’ll meet up and head out in the morning.”

next chapter >

I know that this fighting and secrets thing is probably annoying, but I promise there is a point to it. Please be patient with me. Thank you.

I appreciate all likes, comments, asks, and reblogs! Thank you for all the positive support!

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[mcfiddlestan]

Fic Writer Questions

I'm bored and this was in a note on my phone from forever ago, so I must have been tagged at some point. Apologies to whoever tagged me. 🥴

1) How many works do you have on AO3?

52. Though, I used to have a few more. I deleted a few fics some years ago bc I hated that they were just sitting there unfinished. I was going through a particularly brutal bout of writer's block that affected both my fic writing and my RP writing.

2) What's your total AO3 word count?

720,782. And I was stressing about a 30-page thesis. 😂 (which ended up being over 15,000 words)

3) How many fandoms have you written for and what are they?

I started writing fic in 2000 with *NSYNC, Christina Aguilera, and Backstreet Boys fics. I stopped writing a bit around 2004-2007 (because of a stupid boy) and picked it up again in 2012 after reading some awesome Cherik fics and wanting to write my own FrostIron College AU when I read one that was good, but kind of disturbing. I think I write for one fandom -- Marvel -- but, like different factions of it. FrostIron and WinterFrost mostly, with a dash of Stucky, ThunderFrost, DashingFrost, and WinterIron.

4) What are your Top 5 fics by kudos?

Black Light Special (WinterFrost) - 628 kudos

Can I Bum A Ride? (WinterFrost) - 425 kudos

Empire State of Mind (FrostIrom) - 420 kudos

Dark Side (FrostIron) - 398 kudos

A Worthy Collection (FrostIron) - 309 kudos

5) Do you respond to comments, why or why not?

I really do make an effort to respond to every single comment, even the not-so-nice ones. I want people to know I've seen and read the comment they took the time to post, so even if I just thank them for reading and commenting, I respond.

6) What's the fic you've written with the angstiest ending?

Considering it features two -- count 'em, two! -- major character deaths, it's definitely Empire State of Mind. Though, I'd argue Dark Side is a pretty close second.

7) What's the fic you've written with the happiest ending?

Probably Ghosts That We Knew. It was the final fic in the trilogy that is the Picture Perfect Series. It follows Loki and Tony from when they meet in college and ends 30+ years later.

8) Do you write crossovers? If so, what is the craziest one you've written?

No, not really. And I rarely, if ever, read them. There's no real reason behind it other than I've just never come upon one and thought "ooh I need to read that."

9) Have you ever received hate on a fic?

Yes. I got a lot of hateful messages after I completed Empire State of Mind. People were really angry at me for killing off two major characters. I mean, a lot of the messages were "omg I hate you but I loved this!" kind of vibe. But there were a few that cussed me out and called me names for writing it.

I had some chapters of a Fools Rush In FrostIron AU posted a while ago, in which Loki was a female, the only daughter in both the Odinson and Laufeyson families. Following the storyline of the Matthew Perry/Salma Hayek movie, Loki meets Tony Stark in a bar and gets pregnant from a one night stand. Anyway, I got a lot of messages telling me that Odin's misogyny and mistreatment of Loki was unrealistic -- even though I had literally modeled his behavior after the movie that inspired it. 🤷🏽

I have some prompts done for the 100 Ways to Say ILY writer's block challenge and for one of them, I borrowed the storyline from an episode of Will & Grace when Will's father dies of a heart attack after they have a bad argument where his father basically admits he wished Will wasn't gay so he could have had an easier life. In the epsiode, the fight starts because Will's parents gift his baby blanket to Grace, who is pregnant with her ex-husband's child. Will takes offense, they don't understand why bc he never mentioned wanting children, and a fight ensues. Similarly, in my fic, Frigga and Odin offer a pregnant Natasha (his BFF) Loki's blanket. Some readers did not like this and did not understand why I would write it. In another prompt, one that was literally how my last relationship ended, got some harsh critiques. Those ones hurt especially bc it was such a personal experience I wrote about.

And I actually got into a fight -- like a screaming match -- IRL with my best friend's boyfriend at the time. One of my bestie's friends asked about my fanfiction and I gave them the gist of one of my stories where Loki has a brief relationship with Sif that results in a child and later reconnects with Tony. Later on, Sif offers to be a surrogate for Tony and Loki and eventually births three more children for them. Bestie's boyfriend could not fathom why a woman would purposely get herself impregnated and then give the child away. I tried to explain that this was a thing that a lot of women did IRL -- and some don't even use their own eggs, but the eggs of a woman who cannot conceive; Sif used her own eggs so that all four children were half related (two by Loki, two by Tony). But he just did not believe me and told me I must not be a very good writer. Worst night of my life.

10) Do you write smut?

I was just telling @teadrinkingwolfgirl the other night how when I first started writing fic I did not write sex scenes. It was always inferred or glossed over. When I started writing again in 2012, for FrostIron, it was my first time writing more detailed sex. I cite Jackie Collins as my smut-writing mentor. I've written almost exclusively M/M smut.

11) Have you ever had a fic stolen?

Not that I know of.

12) Have you ever had a fic translated?

Yes! Which is like the best thing ever! A couple of my older fics have been translated to Russian. I have one *NSYNC fic that was made into an audio fic. And someone recently messaged me on ff*net to ask to translate as many of my fics as they can to Spanish. :D

13) Have you ever co-written a fic before?

No, not technically. I've gotten a lot of prompts and ideas from friends and mutuals, and I started reformatting my WinterFrost RP with my ex from 2014-2015 into novel form a while ago. That's tecnically the only thing I've written with someone else and published.

14) What's your all time favorite ship?

I have two that will always, ALWAYS, have my heart and attention. FrostIron (Tony Stark/Loki) and WinterFrost (Bucky Barnes/Loki). They are the two ships that I write the most, read the most, and seek out fanart for the most.

15) What's a WIP that you want to finish but don't think you ever will?

Probably The Flame. It's a fic that starts out ThunderFrost (not related; Asgardian Prince Thor semi-rescues an imprisoned Jotun Prince Loki) but eventually ends up FrostIron. It's the only fic I've ever written that features Loki with both male and female biology. I have a few chapters done but I haven't worked on it in years.

16) What are your writing strengths?

I like to think I write realistic relationships. And I think my dialogue is also realistic and easy to grasp. And I put a lot of humor in between all the angst and hurt.

17) What are your writing weaknesses?

I think I get too detailed with background. I just reread my Picture Perfect series (which I do like once a year), and there are literal paragraphs of background that in Google Docs is like pages and pages. But I want to make sure people understand my characters! LOL

18) What are your thoughts on writing dialogue in other languages in a fic?

I'm a big fan of it. I featured a lot of Norwegian in the Picture Perfect series. And French. I think as long as it flows with the storytelling and it's not forced on the characters it can be really cool. It should be natural. I always leave a translation list at the end of the chapter or explain in-text what was said. Which I think most authors I've read do.

19) What was the first fandom you wrote for?

The Backstreet Boys. LOL. Don't judge. I started writing my own fics after discovering BSB fanfiction written by an author named Mistress Lynz. She wrote a lot of fics about bloodletting, but I really enjoyed the fics where the guys were hooking up with each other behind the scenes, LOL explains why I write mostly M/M now. 😂

20) What's your favorite fic you've written?

They're kind of like my babies so at different times different ones are my faves. But if I really had to pick one, I would say Stay With Me is my favorite. I got some of the most amazing comments on this story from people that found meaning and themes in the story that I didn't even realize I'd put in there. It was one of my first WinterFrost fics I'd posted and the response was more than I could have asked for.

And now I have to tag people! @teadrinkingwolfgirl @incredifishface @incubigirl @rabentochter @marvelswinterfrost and whoever else feels up to it.

xoxo

[phantomchick]

List of wips - aka struggles

Call Me A Jason Todd fic I started two years ago and still go back to poke at longingly, will the second and final chapter ever be posted? Who can know for sure.

-

I tell myself that I don't need Anyone (But the truth is no one needs Me) Another Jason Todd fic I haven't completed, posted two years ago for whumptober, it was the only day of whumptober I participated in, intended to be full of Captain Atom and Jason Todd interacting during the fall out of Bludhaven getting chemo'd but he doesn't show up in the first chapter and have you ever tried to read Infinite Crisis? It's a fucking mess. With this wip I have a close to justifiable excuse in that I refuse to write without knowing the canon, and reading through all the canon that's relevant is A Task.

-

The Monster in The Man A Merlin fic floating around my drafts, currently at a good bit over 5k wherein Merlin gets POSSESSED by an old enchantment gone mad. Written because a Merlin fic I read ended on a horror style cliffhanger and I couldn't handle it so I charged my way through the first 2k of a sequel and I've been adding to it ever since. Angst with a hopefully happy ending, if I ever frikking finish it.

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The Dragon Lord In the aftermath of his father's death after Merlin inherits his father's dragon lord abilities he notices some minor changes to his interactions with his friends, the thing is that Merlin is a dragon lord and unusually what he hoards is people, things might just turn out the better for it.

-

Maelstrom A Naruto time travel fix it fic that wouldn't leave me alone until I got the first chapter out, ironically it has left me entirely alone since I finished the first chapter and I have no idea if inspiration for it will ever return or when that will be.

-

You Don't Know Anything Long long ago in a land of asks and a time of legend @paradise-runway sent me a fic request for "one where the other Bat boys find out the circumstances of Jason's death and resurrection and their reaction?" it has been lingering in my drafts haunting me ever since, someday, someday I shall fulfill what has been promised.

-

Of Curses and Covenants A longfic exploring the magical underbelly of Gotham's history, focuses on the intertwined relationship of the Wayne Family and the Zatara Family brought about by how often Waynes through the generations have ended up being cursed. I have an index of all the curses ready, the problem with this one is the plot and the story.

-

Vicki Finds a Bat (temporary title) Vicki Vale stumbles upon a still alive young adult Jason Todd at a wafflehouse on the way back from snooping into Cobblepot's latest criminal schemes. Convincing the young man to go back home to his loving father might prove more of a challenge than she thinks however. (will have a happy ending if I ever fucking finish it, for now it looms in my drafts like an unhappy gargoyle)

-

Hug Deficit A fic about Jason being touch starved and his family fixing it, hurt/comfort all the way, post resurrection.

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Stephanie Brown and The Mansion of Man Pain Robin Era Steph, she and Alfred have pumpkin spice lattes together, it's their thing because I say it is. Includes, Alfred raised 5 boys counting Bruce, he's not sure how to handle a little girl and Bruce trying to dad plus Steph trying her best. Would be a lot easier to write if I was any good at comedy.

-

Another Time, Another Place Some twenty years or so after their death, Martha and Thomas Wayne appear in the middle of Wayne Manor's ground floor parlour room, the major problem with this? Not only are Bruce and Dick away, Alfred's on holiday in England! Which is why Jason as the eldest has been unwillingly nominated by his younger siblings to deal with the situation at hand. Martha and Thomas in this are heavily inspired by @unpretty's amazing portrayals in her fics with them.

- Queen Blackfire and the Lazarus Lord An au with Soulmate identifying marks: Jason Todd was having an okay time as de-facto leader of The Outlaws, a band of misfits and rebels with hearts of gold (or at least silver) saving the world the best they could and filling in the gaps the more straightforward heroes tended to miss while they were at it. Then he found out he was soulmates with the Alien Warrior Queen bent on declaring war on planet Earth if the Justice League didn't find her soulmate for her. Things with his friend, team mate and potential future sister in law Kori just got super awkward and the only good thing he can find about this situation is how angry (and protective? But maybe he's just imagining that) Bruce seems over the whole thing.

Side note: Kommand'r freaked out during the years Jason was 'dead' and accidentally brought peace to a huge chunk of space and intergalactic society via building up her empire after throwing herself into work to escape the grief.

- To Grasp The Hand of a Fox Naruto and Kurama travel back in time to save the world but unfortunately they land in the same moment that Kurama's just been put under a genjutsu by Madara Uchiha, Naruto has to make his way to Konoha and wake Kurama up before the villagers seal him away inside Mito. Can he save his friend in time to save them all?

-

Those Winter Sundays Mcu fic. Snapshots of Tony working hard for the avengers and no one noticing. Civil War Team Iron Man.

- Salvation Rides a Solar Wind Iron Man fic in a Science fiction / Western style fic where Tony's presence is described through the eyes of the aliens he helps. Au where the war with Thanos goes very differently. The type of fic that needs like 5 multi chapter fics in a single series to truly shine, hence why I will likely never finish it.

-

And We Break Away Again Jason goes back to Talia after Damian is brought back from the dead by Bruce. It's not that he begrudges his little brother his resurrection, the opposite, but he can't ignore what Bruce did to him by taking him to the magdala valley and he can't ignore what Bruce doing for Damian what he didn't do for him, (do for Dick, do for any of them besides the blood related one) means. So he decides to go back to the only person who ever seemed to understand why he wanted to avenge himself in the first place, the only person who seemed to agree that he had a right to be angry that he'd died at all, the only person he can trust to hold him together while he feels like he's falling apart that won't judge him against the heroic mold while they're at it. Not sure if this will be a oneshot or a series but we're going good Talia with this one regardless, DC's been ruining her lately but through fanfic all things are possible so fuck them.

-

Fan The Flames In the aftermath of a magical fire taking hold of the Daily Planet in Metropolis, Superman is missing, can Batman and the rest of the Justice League find their friend as well as the identity of the evil arsonist before Lex Luther does it first?

-

In a Whisper (In a Wish) Ichigo Kurosaki protects people, it's not just who he is, it's what he is, down to the core of his very soul. The only problem is, that a few weeks ago he sacrificed half his soul to protect the world. It aches inside where he knows something important used to be. When everyone he cares for is avoiding him and he's starting to feel more like a shadow than a person, that aches at him too and he can't help but wish, quietly, privately, painfully, to himself if no one else that things were different, that he wasn't so broken or so alone. But if wishes were fishes they'd fill a whole sea (just be careful not to whisper them within the hearing range of the Hōgyoku).

-

An Honest Conversation (Is A Bitter Thing To Crave) Jason kidnaps Bruce but things don't go as Bruce expects. First of all the reason Jason was able to kidnap him was because Stephanie of all people was his insider, why would she support someone Batman knows she's only met once. And second of all the reason he's been abducted - So that Jason can drug them both with the same substance. And when Bruce asks what he's doing this for Jason only responds, "We don't trust each other enough to have a truthful conversation otherwise" and refuses to say anything more while they wait for it to kick in. What will be revealed by this forced honest encounter on both sides? -

carrying the world on thin shoulders Midoriya Izuku deserves better from literally all the adults in his life so this is part whump part hurt comfort part fix it fic that sprawls out from time to time but it's pretty bad tbh, at some point I'll probably make it neater and give it something resembling a coherent plot. Hopefully. -

Trust Issues HP fic. Harry gets dosed with a potion that's supposed to reinforce your strongest survival instinct, the person who drugged him might've intended to be helpful but said potion happened to be at extra strength and he was given what would be a normal fix for the regular version but for this one is twice the recommended amount. Great.. The biggest problem about all this - beyond his internationally wanted godfather Sirius endangering himself by hiding out in a cave near Hogsmeade against all rational advice, his best friend Ron hating him, everyone in school besides his other best friend Hermione also hating him or avoiding him and the entire Goblet of Fire problem - is that he can't bring himself to trust anyone enough to tell them what's wrong.

-

Truth is Treason in the Empire of Lies A post marvel avengers story, thor pov probably, made because I like to dive into a pool of thor & loki sibling feels sometimes: Starts off as Thor regales his new human shield brothers with the story of his banishment and return to Asgard ending with Loki falling into the Void and the Avengers have some questions, questions Thor had not thought of, remarks on things that Thor doesn’t know how to explain away.  After he goes to Loki’s cell and asks him some things he becomes more and more angry despite having no one he can punch > Gets drunk and criticises Sif and The Warriors Three after they try to calm him down > mention of Loki still being underage by Aesir standards during Thor 1 seeing as Thor was being crowned due to being of age in the movie > heavy inspiration drawn from queen regnant by peaceheather. “For while the Treason I detest, the Traitor I love still.” Currently just an outline.

-

Separation Split personality disorder Red Hood and Jason Todd, alternatively, Red Hood is a demon/parasite latched on to Jay. A lot of work necessary considering right now it’s currently just an idea inspired by a cool tumblr fanart.

-

A Trinity of Head Wounds The dcu trinity in the aftermath of a fight against some alien invaders (or something along those lines), whump, hurt/comfort, starts with them arguing, ends with them bleeding on each other in a friendship way, whole thing should take place in a single room on the watchtower and be a oneshot so it's gotta be a short and sweet one-two gut punch with the feelings which is difficuuult.

-

A Stark in The Stars an mcu fic, a really over complicated mcu fic, mostly because of Steve Roger's timeline fuckery, Tony's alive but he's not supposed to be, but so are a lot of people who were dead but aren't now you might say what with the snap and the blip. The thing is that Steve's timeline fuckery is making it so that everyone keeps getting confused between the two different timelines of events, obviously more confused the more that their characters were connected to the films/the events that were altered, the punchline of this particular fic though is that Tony's still alive and he's unaware of the timeline of events where he died. And as he's currently in space he's also unaware that everyone on Earth thinks he's dead (because why wouldn't they? he died in endgame after all). That makes this fic super tough to write because like ultimate unreliable narrator right here and not sure how to tie in the whole 'oh wait actually everyone on Earth thinks I'm dead because of the canon timelines' thing in or at what point of the story to do that at. The fuckery of it all gives me a headache. Plot is hard. Also all of that's basically background to the actual focus of most of the fic thus far which is Tony travelling around space in an Iron Man suit up until the point where it won't be background.

-

Magic Chained Merlin au. When you put magic restraining cuffs on Magic himself you don't just bind him you bind all magic the world over. It is therefore, infinitely lucky that Uther Pendragon never became aware of this fact.

-

A Child in The Cold bnha Midoriya deserves better also Recovery Girl and Aizawa have shit to answer for as far as I'm concerned.

-

[marvelousbirthdays]

Happy Birthday, cerridwenluna!

December 12 - Ragnarok/Infinity War Fix-it, WinterShock OTP with a TaserTricks BroTP. Bonus points if it's a cont. of the fics from 12-12-'16, 24-5-'17, 12-12-'17 & 24-5-'18. Extra bonus points if there is some major ass kicking by Darcy and Loki. Extra extra bonus points if Korg and Spidey survived as well :) But honestly, all I absolutely need is a happy ending with Bucky, Darcy and Loki alive for @cerridwenluna

Written by @ibelieveinturtles

Authors note: this is set after Ragnarok and before Infinity War. Beta'd by MorriB/ficsandteamakemehappy

***

Darcy bounced excitedly on her toes as the Asgardians exited the battered spaceship, Thor and Loki in the lead, closely followed by Bruce Banner and a woman who definitely wasn’t Sif. Beside her, Jane swore softly under her breath as she realised the extent of Thor’s injuries.

“It’s okay, Jane,” Darcy whispered. “At least they’re alive, right?”

Jane nodded silently, watching King T’Challa and Captain America welcome the refugees.

She and Jane had both been surprised when they received the summons to Wakanda. There’d been no explanation, just the request from the King himself and a waiting airplane.

Jane said it was rude to turn down royalty so off they went and here they were. They’d landed mere minutes before the spaceship and had been herded into the waiting area by several very ferocious looking women before being left to themselves.

“Why are we here, anyway?” Darcy asked. “Why is Captain America here? Where even is here? What’s going on?”

“He’s not Captain America anymore, Darcy and I don’t-”

“Doctor Foster? Miss Lewis?”

They both turned around.

“I’m Princess Shuri. I apologise for the rush and confusion but if you would please come with me, King Thor is going to explain everything.”

“King Thor?” Darcy mouthed at Jane in shock, following the young princess as she led them into the building.

The next hour was very enlightening as Thor and Loki told their story, ending with the news that the Biggest Bad ever to Bad was on his way to Earth already. The room exploded in a cacophony of scared and angry voices. After the furor died down the man formerly known as Captain America got up to talk.

“I know a lot of you are wondering why you’re here,” he started. “Simply put, we think you can help.”

“How do they think we can help?” Darcy whispered to Jane. “I mean, I know how you can help, but why am I here?”

“Shush, I’m trying to listen.”

“So, if you’ll all take a look at the lists on the screens behind you, we’re going to break into groups and see what we can come up with.” The man formerly known as Captain America waved a hand at the wall behind them and stepped down from the podium.

“Crap, I missed what he said,” Darcy moaned as people started drifting out of the room. Looking around she spotted someone walking towards them with intent in every step. Slipping one hand into a pocket, she grabbed Jane’s arm with her other. “Uh oh. Jane, is that who I think it is?”

On the other side of the room, Steve was watching people wander the room in eddies and swirls as they figured out where they were supposed to be. Beside him, Bucky was also watching.

“You really think this is going to work?” Bucky asked, eyes skimming the crowd, dancing from person to person, keeping an eye open for trouble.

Steve shrugged. “It has to. If it doesn’t, Thor says half the life in the universe will be wiped out.”

Bucky nodded. “That’s not a thing anyone wants to happen I s’pose.”

“You think?”

“Where do you want me?”

Steve rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “Go with Loki’s group. Keep an eye on him, just in case.”

“You think he’s gonna cause trouble?” Bucky searched the room. He’d seen Loki just a moment ago, approaching a pair of women near the other entrance.

“I think he’ll cooperate for as long as it suits him,” Steve said. “Which will probably be until this is over, and then about as long as it takes him to get bored.”

“And how long do you think- holy hell.” Bucky sucked in a breath as he spotted Loki and grabbed at Steve’s arm. “Steve, who’s that and how soon can you introduce me?”

“Doctor Foster, how nice to see you again,” Loki said with a smile and a bow.

Jane stiffened, smoothing her face into the expression Darcy recognised as ‘talking to people I have to be nice to even if I don’t like them.’

“Loki,” Jane replied. “I wish I could say the same.”

Loki’s hand flew to his heart and he cocked an eyebrow. “You wound me. I thought we were friends now. After all, I did have a hand in saving your life, did I not?”

“That just means I won’t hit you again anytime soon,” Jane snapped.

“I assure you, there won't be any need for you to commit violence against my person.” Loki smiled brightly and turned his attention to Darcy. “Aren't you going to introduce me to your lovely friend?”

Jane smoothed the scowl from her face, her lips pressed together but curling upwards at the corners. “Of course,” she said, grabbing Darcy’s arm and tugging her forward. “This is my friend and associate, Darcy Lewis. Darcy, this is Loki.”

A thoughtful frown was barely beginning to crease Loki’s forehead when Darcy pulled her hand out of her pocket and tased him. There was a thud as he hit the floor.

“Just because Jane won’t hit you anymore, doesn’t mean you’re safe. That’s for letting Thor think you were dead, asshole.”

Loki whimpered. Thor really did have the most interesting friends.

“Oh no,” Steve muttered. “That must be Doctor Foster and Darcy Lewis.” He started to push his way through the crowd, Bucky hot on his heels. Thor arrived first and they could hear his booming voice ringing out above the chatter of the crowd.

“Ah, didn’t I warn you to be wary of Darcy, brother?”

“Thor? Is everything okay here?” Steve really didn’t want any incidents before they even started working on the approaching threat.

“All is well, Steve. Darcy was just chastising my brother for his wrongdoings.”

“He’s not gonna learn how not to be an asshole if we let him get away with it,” the darker haired woman said, an air of satisfaction oozing from her as she continued to watch Loki wheeze on the floor. “C’mon dude, it was only a little zap. I thought you were a god?”

Steve had to work hard not to laugh as Loki glared up at her from the floor. “Perhaps… you should check… the setting…” he spat out between wheezes.

Darcy frowned and glanced at the taser still in her hand. Then she looked closer. “Hey.” She turned her head to look at Jane. “Did you touch my taser?” she asked. Smug satisfaction with a hint of guilt was written across Jane’s face for everyone to see.

Something poked Steve in a rib and he turned to look at Bucky.

“Introduce me,” Bucky whispered, his gaze fixed firmly on Darcy.

Steve coughed to hide a grin. If he needed any other proof that Bucky was well on the road to recovery, he just got it.

“I hope this isn’t going to be a recurring problem,” he said, shifting his gaze between the two women.

“As long as he isn’t a recurring problem,” Darcy replied, smoothing her hair behind her ear and flashing him a saucy grin. “Hey - what name are you using at the moment, cos I can’t keep calling you The Man Formerly Known As Captain America in my head all the time. It’s too long.”

“Steve is fine.” He tried to ignore the muffled snort of laughter behind him. “Uh, this is Bucky.”

“Pleasure to meet you, ma’am.” Bucky stepped forward eagerly, hand held out, and his friendliest smile spread across his face. “I’m a great admirer of your work.”

Darcy shook his hand, a small frown creasing her forehead. “My work? You mean Jane’s work?”

He shook his head and then nodded at Loki, who had managed to sit up. “No, that work.”

“Oh, wonderful,” Loki muttered, sharing a glance with Thor, who was watching the interaction with interest. “Can we save the flirting for later? I do believe we’re supposed to be trying to save the world?”

“Universe,” Darcy corrected him, hand still held in Bucky’s, a pink blush in her cheeks. “We’re saving the universe. I’m Darcy, by the way. This is Jane.”

Before anyone could say anything else, a bell chimed through the hall.

“Right, time for everyone to get to work,” Steve announced. “Do you all know where you’re going?”

“Jane will be with us,” Thor said, “and I think Darcy should go with Loki. Come, brother, time to get off the floor.”

Loki dusted himself off and turned to Darcy. “It’s an absolute pleasure to be working with you,” he said. “I promise, I won’t be… an asshole anymore.”

“Seeing is believing, my friend,” Darcy replied, still staring at Bucky.

Loki nodded. “Yes, friend. I like the sound of that.”

[grandthorkiday]

Mob AU “Playthings” Part 3

[Link to mob!au anon’s “Playthings" fic tag]

[Start at Part 1]*

(*Note: Link is editable for other parts, just change the number. For mobile users, tag is “playthings part1”)

Luck was smiling down on Val and Bruce.

No one came to take Loki in the middle of the night or the next morning. Loki even agreed at first to be released into Stephen Strange’s custody. Hela’s presence may have helped with that. Foster claimed as soon as the younger man saw his older sister he had immediately became more willing to cooperate with the doctors and nurses. He didn’t seem fazed when they told him he was being transferred to Strange’s private facility. He was more concerned that he had only one set of clothes and no cell phone.

He had made the trip out of the city well enough too. He drove in Hela’s car with Strange in the backseat. Neither sibling really spoke to one another. Hela mostly rehearsed what she was going to next: go and get clothes for Loki, go tell their Father he was safe, and then see about getting a phone. Loki simply made remarks about things he saw out the window: he’d eaten at that restaurant, stayed at that hotel, remembered that bodega. Strange in the back tried to merge their conversations, but the younger man didn’t take the bait.

The first hour at the facility too went remarkably well. Strange had just bought the mansion outside the city and converted it to a rehabilitation center and had yet to really attract clients outside of a few through the police department and local DAs. As of right now, Loki was his only live-in patient.

“Got the run of the place! I have two other people on my staff and a few housekeepers, but other than that you can think of it like a retreat from big city living!”

The trouble, Val had been informed when she arrived that afternoon, had arisen not long after Hela had left. One of the staff had suggested Loki take a shower and slip into some pajamas they would provide. To that they had gotten an icy response and a slammed door. Strange had then suggested that he should eat something; he had barely eaten his breakfast at the hospital and had been moving to the facility around lunchtime. Surely he was hungry.

“I am not eating until I get my clothes and phone.”

[read more cut]

It was a strange ultimatum, but no one was about to fight him. After that, things got worse. He had begun to pace, first in and out of rooms and then the halls. He asked how far they were from the city. When no one gave him a clear response, he became more distraught. He began to demand people’s phones. One of the housekeepers relented when he threatened to accuse her of stealing. Strange found him, thankfully, already attempting to call for an Uber.

“You can’t keep me here!!! I want to go home!”

That was around the time Val and Bruce arrived. Loki was going room to room screaming at the top of lungs, banging on furniture, and throwing things.

“I don’t know if I can safely release him to Odin’s custody,” Val admitted at one point as they heard a chair get thrown.

“I don’t think that’s the home he’s referring to,” Bruce said sadly.

“Neither do I,” Strange replied. “The way he interacted with Hela in the car, I think he wanted to distance himself from her. Make it easier to leave. He kept referring to places he’s been in the city. I think that was a, ‘Hey I’ll be fine, you’ll probably find me here.’”

“But he isn’t fine!” She motioned to the sound of more screaming.

“Oh, far from it. But people can get accustomed to pain and trauma.”

Loki stomped into the large entrance hall and toward the small group. “I. WANT. TO. GO. HOME!”

“Where’s home, Loki?” Strange asked calmly.

The young man glared at him nostrils flaring. “I didn’t agree to come here!”

“Actually, you did. This morning. You signed the waiver and everything.”

“I change my mind!”

“Not how this works, kiddo.”

“Well,” Bruce shuffled forward, hands in his pocket, “the door isn’t locked and there’s no gate. You could just walk out the front door.”

Loki gave the doctor a smug satisfied look and headed for the door. His hand had just touched the handle when Val spoke up.

“So, just fuck Thor, right?”

“What?”

“Fuck'em. I mean, you keep saying you want to help Thor-”

“I do.”

“Save Thor-”

“I do.”

“And you’re given an opportunity to do that and be free, but fuck all that because you want to go ‘home’.”

Strange sent a warning look but Bruce nodded to keep going.

Loki didn’t turn around but his shoulders had become incredibly tense and tight. His grip on the doorknob was a death grip.

“Nine years ago, I fucked up by you and Thor. I should have stayed behind and watched you overnight. Posted cops on that entire wing. Every time after that was a shit show. And now, I want to make it right. But you gotta help me. You gotta let Stephen here, and Bruce, and the staff help you. If we can help you, we can help Thor.”

The pause was long and silent. Faintly, one could hear the distant sound of traffic from the road. A few housekeepers had begun to clean up after Loki’s rampage. Strange’s cellphone buzzed in his pocket but he made no move to anwer it.

Loki turned back. His face was shiny and wet with tear tracks. “Okay.” It was said weakly, and very shakily, but it was a start.

“Okay,” Val repeated.

“I-I’m going to be in therapy?”

“When you’re up for it,” Strange spoke up at last. “This is your journey to recovery, not-”

“But the more I say can help Thor.”

“Y-yes, but most of our sessions could and will be confidential if you decide on that.”

“But you will tell part of them to the police and DA anyway. Because you work for them.”

“I work to help y-”

“DON’T PATRONIZE ME!” Loki shouted. “Just tell me, will it help?”

“Yes,” Strange said quickly. “Not only help therapeutic wise,” Loki glared at him, “and help with any investigations.”

“When do we start?”

“When do you want to start?” Bruce asked.

“Now. I want to start now.”

The three glanced at one another. He was willing to talk, and it would be stupid to look gift horse in the mouth.

“Alrighty,” Strange stretched, trying to make a nonchalant gesture under the circumstances, “I guess we can go to my office. And start from the beginning.”

~2009~

“I can’t believe it! After only one semester of being undecided, my Baby Brother has decided on his major!”

“I’m only three years younger than you!”

“Shut up! Remember you’re only here because of that stupid fake id.”

Loki parodied Thor talking, receiving a gentle punch in the arm. The rest of the table laughed into their beers. Loki indeed was too young to be here; he was 18 and barely that. He had just decided his major. English, to the disappointment of his adopted Father and delight of his adopted Mother. Thor, a sensible Economic major, had turned 21 a few months ago and had been bar hopping nearly every weekend with his friends and roommates. Occasionally, he would let Loki come too, though he had set down some rules.

“No ordering mixed drinks, no more than three drinks, and no flirting with anyone.”

“Jealous?” he had teased, batting his eyelashes.

“Oh definitely,” the older brother had replied, rolling his eyes. But there was something in his eyes that made Loki think he sort of was.

“So what sold you on being an English major?”

“I can actually professionally learn about the fantasy genre. And Dad can’t say shit.”

“You can’t base your entire life on saying saying ‘fuck you’ to Dad.”

“Watch me!”

“This is you coming out all over again.”

“Oh I love this story,” Heimdall, Thor’s current crush and oldest friend, said into his beer.

Before Thor was able to finish however, a waitress came by and put down two martini glasses on the table and slid them over to the him and his younger brother.

“Um, we didn’t order these,” he pushed the glasses back toward the woman.

“They’re from that guy.” She pointed to the other end of the bar to the booths in the back. Sitting alone was a thin but attractive older man, glasses balancing on the tip of his nose and his white blonde hair quaffed. He too had his own martini glass which he raised in acknowledgment. He winked playfully at the brothers.

“You two got an admirer!” Fandral laughed.

“He’s not that bad looking,” Hogun admitted.

“He looks like he has a lot of cash to burn,” Sif looked over her shoulder at the man before turning back. “You guys should go say hi!”

“What?!” Both brothers looked scandalized.

“Standard procedure if you ever get a drink at a bar. At least say thank you.”

“We’ll be here if you need us.”

Loki sent Thor a challenging look and the other sighed. As they moved with their drinks over toward the man, Thor hissed, “If this fucks up my chances with Heimdall, I’m going to kill you.”

“It isn’t my fault he bought us a drink!”

The man smiled at them as they approached the booth. “I see you got my uhm gift.”

“Yes we did. Thank you.”

“We weren’t expecting someone to buy us drinks!”

“Really?! I’m shocked! You two must be beating off people buying you drinks all the time!”

“Nope. Not really.”

“Where are my manners? Please sit down! There’s more than enough space.”

“Um,” Loki nervously looked back at the table. The small group waved them on.

Thor slid into the booth shrugged. “I mean, how’d you swing booth all by yourself?”

“I hmm know the owner. Helped his sister. He’s very accommodating.”

Loki slid in beside his brother and finally took a sip of the cocktail. “Oh that’s really good!”

“Personal favorite of mine! Glad you like it.”

“Usually don’t go for stuff like this but I think I found my new favorite drink.”

“Tell them you want the Malcolm. They’ll know what your talking about.”

“The Malcolm? Are you Malcolm?”

The man smiled and shrugged.

Conversation during the first drink was friendly and light.

“You both go to NYU AND work near full time?! AND you’re out on a Friday night?! God I wish I had your energy!”

“Being a waiter isn’t that hard. And I work mostly Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday. Brunch rush,” Thor waved the issue away.

“I just seat people. Just got promoted from dishwasher,” Loki nodded, curling in his lips. “They gave me the same shift as him on Sunday but my schedule is a bit of a mess. I’m taking more clases.”

“Well I can see why you both are on the Brunch shift,” Malcolm’s eyes wandered over the pair of them. They both blushed.

The second drink, the conversation became more flirty and loose.

“Oh my fucking God. You’re brothers!”

“Adopted,” Loki giggled.

“You’re not the first person to make that mistake to be honest,” Thor laughed into glass. “I once dated a girl once who was convinced that I was cheating on him with her.”

“Oh my god, no!”

“Swear to Christ.”

“Did you tell her finally.”

“After a few weeks. The sex was really good.”

“But the cards on the table. Have you ever-”

“No!”

“No!”

“I mean he’s adopted and your bi and he’s gay-”

“Never crossed the mind.”

“Not even for a moment?”

“Nope.”

Malcolm laughed. “I mean, what if, I dunno. Hmm, you met a handsome stranger in a bar. And he bought you a few drinks and you were having a great time.”

“Two drinks wouldn’t cut it,” Thor replied.

“I guess we need another round.”

“I guess we do.”

The third drink was where things began to turn.

“I think you’re cut off,” Thor reached across the table to Loki’s drink. The younger brother was swaying in his seat. Malcolm stopped his handd.

“Hey, hey, hey now. He’s okay. He’s fine. Your fine aren’t you, Lo Lo?”

“More than okay,” Loki giggled, stretching out in the booth.

“How about you? You good?”

Thor was about to say something but forgot. He giggled too. “This drink is strong!”

“I’ll order water next round, Sparkles.”

He didn’t order water next round.

“Hey!” Thor slurred from his position on the table. “Youse only hads one or two drinks.”

“Oh sweetheart, you’re just finding this out now?” Malcolm’s voice wasn’t as fun anymore. It sounded full of authority and menacing.

“G-group,” Loki moaned. “Get to group.”

“They’re outside sweet thing. They called you boys a cab.”

The younger brother tried to slide out of the booth and walk, but nearly fell forward. Someone caught him and helped him walk. Thor needed two people apparently, grumbling all the while. Malcom followed behind.

There was indeed a car waiting for them outside. A van actually. The group was nowhere in sight. The doors opened as they approached and two pairs of hands grabbed Loki and half threw half pushed him into the back. He tried to get out but his movements were uncoordinated. Thor struggled more, and was able to land a few punches to one of them before someone came up behind him with a taser. He went down, and he was shoved in beside his brother.

“Take them to the location, and no funny business. They’re mine and any person who touches them gets their hand removed. Got that. No playing coy about this. Swear to God, if you-”

‘Malcolm’s’ words were cut off as the door closed and they were cast into darkness.

[themattress]

My Top 11 Most Wasted Potential MCU Characters (Infinity Saga)

11. Vision - He got some good mileage and there’s somehow more to come from him in the WandaVision show, but I never felt Vision worked as well as he could have. A lot of his development, as well as the development of his and Wanda’s relationship, was kept entirely off-screen, and he really didn’t do much between his birth and his death except kill Ultron.

10. Karl Mordo - Usually, scenes during or after the credits in movies have some connection to a future installment of the Infinity Saga. The one major exception is the one in Doctor Strange where Mordo becomes a supervillain. There is no follow-up or resolution to that until well after the Infinity Saga has finished. So why include the scene at all? Couldn’t it wait?

9. Michelle - Zendaya’s character in Homecoming was hyped in promotion, only to play a completely insignificant, throwaway role and mainly just be the source of jokes. Like with Flash, I get what they were going for: have this version of MJ not start out as a love interest and be inconspicuous until the reveal that she even is a version of MJ, but I still wish she had more of a presence in the film. It doesn’t have to be too much, but more than what we got.

8. Hela - She’s Odin’s firstborn daughter, thus Thor and Loki’s sister, and yet this familial connection doesn’t end up mattering in any way whatsoever. Worse still, it actually ends up sending some extremely unfortunate implications. Hela is a power-hungry villain just like Loki, but he can be redeemed and forgiven while she can’t? Odin is guilty of all the same crimes Hela is guilty of, shaped her into what she is, and then locked her away and covered up her existence when she no longer had any use for her, and yet he can be forgiven and still revered by Thor, while Hela is deemed “the worst”? What was Taika Waititi thinking here!?

7. Ulysses Klaue - Hey, Marvel, sometimes it’s OK to just...not kill your villains. Klaue made an ideal arch-enemy for T’Challa and his Wakandan forces, with Andy Serkis clearly having a lot of fun in the role, but instead he gets killed off. Maybe they weren’t expecting Black Panther to be as successful as it was and thus thought it wouldn’t get a sequel, but now as a consequence that sequel is going to have a disappointing lack of Klaue’s villainous antics.

6. Maya Hansen - She got pointlessly fridged to give Tony man-pain. That is not cool.

5. Jane Foster - Poor Natalie Portman. First she gets taken out of The Avengers, then the director she was excited to work with on The Dark World (Patty Jenkins) is replaced by a man who is infinitely inferior and gives her a thankless, flattened role that naturally draws out a dull performance from her, and then misplaced (and misogynistic) fan backlash for this causes her character of Jane Foster to be insultingly written out with a throwaway joke. The Russos at least gave her another appearance in Endgame that re-acknowledged her importance to Thor, but even then it could have been a lot more. Oh well, at least she got a book deal.

4. Betty Ross - Even Jane has it better than Betty, who was not written very interestingly despite Liv Tyler giving an admirable, likable performance in the role, and has subsequently never been seen or even mentioned again. It’s insulting that her douchebag father can return and yet not her, especially since she had a better relationship with Bruce than Natasha did.

3. Lady Sif & The Warriors 3 - What happened here? Lady Sif and the Warriors 3 were Thor and Loki’s best friends in the original Thor, and they had very appealing chemistry with them and helped the story keep a focus on Asgard even while Thor was banished to Earth. But The Dark World sidelined them hard in favor of Loki, Heimdall, and the Earth characters. And then the Warriors 3 got one scene in Ragnarok where they were all unceremoniously killed by Hela. As for Sif, she made two cameo appearances on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D’s first two seasons and then just vanished into thin air, her role replaced by the inferior Valkyrie. Would anyone guess they were major characters in the comics based on their MCU portrayals?

2. Samuel Sterns - So says the Leader? Not in the MCU! What a waste of Tim Blake Nelson!

1. Sharon Carter - In the comics, this is THE love interest for Captain America. She was actually introduced first, and then her WWII-era aunt Peggy Carter was introduced afterwards through flashbacks. But in the MCU, Peggy is introduced first, and thus Sharon becomes doomed to be stuck in her shadow. The role she should have played in The Winter Soldier was given to Natasha which left her as a bit player, she and her relationship with Steve was barely developed in Civil War, and she never showed up again while Steve time-traveled his way into a relationship with Peggy instead of moving on with Sharon. What really gets me is that the same people responsible for bringing Sharon into the MCU are the same people who made this decision! So what was even the point of her, then? Sharon Carter deserved better.

[imagine-loki]

If I could Turn Back Time, I’d Still Choose This

TITLE:  If I could Turn Back Time, I’d Still Choose This

CHAPTER NO./ONE SHOT: Chapter 34

AUTHOR: wolfpawn

ORIGINAL IMAGINE: Imagine that when Odin found Loki on Jotunheim, he did not take him to raise as his son, as Frigga was pregnant at the time, instead he was given to a normal Aesir family. Years later, Loki meets Odin’s daughter Sigyn, and trouble ensues.

Thor thought through Anastasia’s plan. It was brilliant, if it would work, the hardest part was getting his father to consent to such a thing, and that was by no means something he thought was going to be easy, but he had to try.

Sigyn was not able to keep her facade of happy bride-to-be all the time. He was fully aware that every day closer to the farce of a wedding was a day closer to her losing her mind. He inhaled deeply and decided to go and do what needed doing, and went to meet his friend.

En route, he was forced to stop by a bothered looking Sif. ‘My dear friend, what is the matter, you seem somewhat perturbed.’

‘What is really going on with Fandral and your sister?’ Thor said nothing. ‘It does not make sense, Sigyn hates us.’

‘My sister had to make a choice, a suitable partner or banishment to Midgard, she chose the former and she chose to accept Fandral, that is all that needs to be known,’ He stated, walking past her. ‘What does it matter to you? Do you have reason to be envious?’

‘Of Sigyn and Fandral? Nothing of the sort, but he is my friend and I don’t want her using him as her next prank.’

‘Sif, I cannot impress on you enough, do not continue this. Fandral and Sigyn are doing what is right for them, do not interfere.’

Sif was startled by Thor’s demeanour on the matter. ‘I do not…’

‘Don’t.’

‘I will not.’ She raised her hand as though swearing on something. ‘Though, can I ask, is this to do with Sigyn’s disappearance from public due to illness?’ Thor looked at her, confused. ‘For a few months, there was no sign of her apparently.’

‘Yes, it has something to do with that.’

‘Alright.’ She accepted. ‘Do you want to go training?’

‘No, I can’t now, I need to speak to Fandral about something. Maybe soon.’

‘Thor.’ She gripped his arm, causing the other God to be forced to look at her. ‘I have no idea what is going on, but you can tell me.’

‘You have no idea, it is true, but believe me when I say, I cannot tell you, honestly, I cannot.’

‘I am here Thor, if you need me, as are the others.’

‘Thank you, Sif, but at present, I need to deal with other matters, so I will talk more with you soon. I am sorry for not saying more.’ There was an honesty to Thor’s words that told the Warrior Woman of the turmoil that she could not comprehend, causing her to wonder what exactly was going on.

*

Fandral looked at Thor, worried. ‘I’m not going to lie, I am worried.’

‘What is there to fret about, we are going to Vanaheim for a few days, meeting with friends, why would you not bring your betrothed with you?’

‘Because none of us has ever done that. When have you seen Volstagg and Hogun bring their wives to our outings?’

‘Their wives are not my sister.’

‘This will never cease to be wrong and odd.’ Fandral shook his head. ‘What if the Allfather finds out?’ He demanded.

‘We can live in risk of that and do nothing or we can do this and end all this madness.’

‘I am terrified as to what you are doing that you are not telling me, Thor.’ Fandral confessed.

Thor put his hand on his friend’s shoulder. ‘I swear to you, as Sigyn has, that none of my father’s wrath will fall on you, should this all come to light.’

‘I am hoping for more than a “should” here, Thor. I have come to realise that Sigyn is far more complex and dare I say it, incredible, in the time she and I have been in one another’s company, but I do not want to marry your sister.’

‘You asked for her permission to court before.’ Thor pointed out.

‘I was not aware her heart was not there to win.’ Fandral explained. ‘She loves this other man, nothing will sway that, her conviction to being reunited with him is incredible. She really is Sigyn the Loyal.’

Thor stood, silently wishing he could tell Fandral just how much Sigyn was fighting for.

‘I cannot lie, I am somewhat envious of this man, to have someone’s love like that. I hope he realises how lucky he is. Do you think we will ever be so fortunate?’

‘I like to hope so, but in reality, I am not sure. Sigyn is so unique, to put other women against her, perhaps that is to set them up to fail.’ Thor shrugged. ‘Fandral, I know I have asked too much of you thus far, and I find myself asking too much of you again, but please, we need to do this for Sigyn, she will err soon if she does not get this, and if that happens, I cannot see a way forward from this for her.’

Fandral thought over what his friend was asking of him, sighing heavily before rubbing his hands over his face. ‘Yes, I will do it. But if this does go wrong, Thor. Promise me that you will ensure my siblings and parents do not suffer.’

‘I will give my life, should it be required to prevent it.’

Fandral frowned. ‘What has happened? What has occurred to cause such conviction in you, to have you say such words?’

‘Do you recall the day you realised there are worse things than dying?’ Thor asked.

Fandral’s eyes widened at such a question. ‘Yes, after the battle on Vanaheim where the soldier lost his sight, an arm and his speech, he lay there, moaning in an attempt to talk in what I still am convinced today was a plea to end his life.’ Fandral found himself thinking specifically of that moment before looking to Thor. ‘Why, what has this to do with our current conversation?’

‘I have seen it happen my own sister. I have seen her suffer something none should ever suffer. There is no way that her sanity is not teetering as a result, I need to give her a chance to right the wrong.’

‘Well, as they say, no time like the present.’ Fandral stated as confidently as he could, Thor’s startling words set to haunt him for a time to come as he thought of Sigyn and her torment, whatever it was.

*

Odin looked at his son and soon to be son-in-law, contemplating their words. ‘So, just the three of you, no Volstagg, Hogun and Sif?’

‘No, they felt as though they were imposing. The dynamics of this are still somewhat blurred to them.’ Thor grinned.

‘I am sure it is odd for them, yes.’ Odin acknowledged. ‘But all things considered, I am not sure I can consent. Fandral and Sigyn are not yet wed. Were you to…’

‘Father, please, Fandral and I will share quarters, I will ensure nothing happens.’

‘I would consent if the Lady Sif were to go also, or else, all of your grouping but the three of you alone, no I will not.’

‘I will speak with them.’ Thor responded, wondering how he could explain enough, yet say nothing about the situation to the other warriors.

Odin gave a small nod before dismissing them. ‘On second thought, Fandral, if you could remain for a moment.’

Fandral froze in fear, looking to Thor pleadingly, though he knew there was nothing that Thor could do to assist before forcing himself to turn around. ‘Of course, Allfather.’

Thor was about to argue to stay to when he caught his father’s eye and felt that it was nothing too problematic and his remaining would cause it to become so. ‘I will go in search of the others, find me when you are done.’ He gave a smile and a clap on the shoulder to tell Fandral that it was nothing to concern himself with, which did little to quell the other man’s worries.

As soon as Thor left, Fandral inhaled deeply and faced the Allfather properly. Odin rose from his seat and walked towards him, Gungnir in hand, which did nothing to quench the terror that was gripping him. ‘I wish to speak with you, concerning my daughter.’

‘Yes, Allfather?’

‘From what I have seen, everything seems to be going well between you both.’

‘I like to think so, Allfather.’

Odin clapped his shoulder as his son had done. ‘Good. I am aware I have not had much to do with the majority of this romance. There is a line with Sigyn that I have learned not to cross anymore, one I have interfered with in this part of her life already.’

Fandral wondered if Odin was going to reveal something of Sigyn’s lover or of the crucial part of the puzzle that he was clearly missing, but he said nothing of it.

‘I pushed this courtship along in a manner that was not right, according to my daughter at least, I did not allow for her to be courted as she wished to be.’

Fandral knew of the conversation in question from his own conversing with Sigyn. ‘Yes, I know she was hoping for such things but she does understand her position clearly.’ He smiled.

Odin was slightly taken back by his knowing the conversation, but he took it as his daughter confiding in her betrothed, and not her angered ranting, as the case had been. ‘Good, wonderful. And who knows, very soon, once the wedding is done and dusted, if you were to have a few children, she would be too busy to worry about such things.’

Fandral frowned for a moment at Odin’s comment, but nodded and bade his farewells before leaving, a false smile on his face as he walked outside before finding his way to Thor, startled by Odin’s comments.

‘Fandral?’ He turned to see Volstagg smiling jovially behind him before frowning. ‘My friend, are you alright?’

‘Eh...yes?’

‘Dare I ask?’

‘I was just speaking with the Allfather.’

‘Regarding...Sigyn?’ Fandral nodded. ‘And, is there an issue?’

‘None.’

‘Then I fail to see the issue.’

‘How long are you and Susannah married?’

‘Coming up on three hundred years.’ Volstagg boasted proudly.

‘And Astrid is your only child?’

‘Unless I failed to count otherwise, she will be our first, yes?’ Volstagg was baffled by Fandral’s statement since his wife was indeed expecting their first child, a girl, due in two months time. ‘After only three hundred years, it is somewhat the norm to only be starting your family now, we are still quite young, I do not think her mother is too pleased.’

‘And Hogun and Ingrid are wed a hundred years?’

‘Hundred and fifty if I am not mistaken, and before you ask, no, there are no children there. She is hardly a thousand one hundred for Norn’s sake.’ Fandral gave a peculiar nod. ‘I have to ask, what in Valhalla’s name is going on?’

‘Sigyn is nine hundred.’

‘Yes, Thor’s thousandth Name’s Day was last year and she is under a century younger than him.’

‘So she is far too young to be considered to become a mother?’

‘She is barely a legal adult.’ Volstagg stated almost shocked at the idea. ‘She is only allowed court with six months at most and in my opinion, and I mean no malice, my friend, this courtship is already too fast heading to a wedding, a child is not a good idea at all.’

‘Exactly.’ Fandral agreed. 'The wedding is too much.'

‘You did not propose to her?’

‘No, the Allfather declared it.’

‘Odin Allfather is shoving his barely adult daughter into marriage?’ Volstagg asked, wanting clarification. ‘Have you gotten her in trouble? Is that what these questions of a child are about?’

‘What, no, I have not even lay with her.’ Fandral commented.

‘Really?’ Volstagg was somewhat startled by that declaration. ‘Though, I dare say she would not partake in certain acts before marriage, for the simple reason of that.’

‘No, but the Allfather is all but stressing upon me the idea of having her with child promptly after the marriage, almost as though he wants it to be immediately after.’

‘I think you are reading far too much into this. No father wants to promote his daughter being bedded, even by her husband, Susannah’s stepfather still is not talking to me for getting her pregnant and we are married three hundred years.’

‘Perhaps.’ Fandral dismissed, though only because it was clear his friend would not listen to his concerns on the matter. He knew only Thor and perhaps Sigyn would know if he was only being too cautious with his interpretation of the Allfather’s words.

[imagine-loki]

Across The Divide

TITLE: Across The Divide CHAPTER NO./ONE SHOT: Chapter Sixteen AUTHOR: wolfpawn ORIGINAL IMAGINE: Imagine Loki sneaking out of the palace as a youth to see the city and countryside, while out one day, he accidentally gets in trouble for something, but a young girl deals with the situation, allowing him to be left alone and his true identity be kept secret. She is a poor girl who is only in the city to sell goods with her father, so she does not realise it is Loki, even though she sees his face. They form a friendship as she shows him around the city, and tells him the date she comes to the city every month for a particular market. RATING: Teen and Up

Loki stood in front of the Lords that made up his council colleagues, one as fat and privileged as the next. He watched as Lord Ivan entered the room, with something that finally made him understand the word his mother had called a swag. He looked at Loki with a sly grin on his face, one that made Loki want to go and shake the life out of him, but he refrained, instead, he acted blissfully unaware of everything, the Lord had not realised Thor had heard of his plans, so the element of surprise, much to Lord Ivan's surprise, was not with him. "Lord Ivan, this is most irregular, is everything alright?"

"Some issues need to be attended to, your highness." Ivan grinned, "I am aware you are eager to amendments you wish to make."

"Yes, of course, it is most basic, a standard to basic living for orphaned children, warmth, basic amounts of food, nothing taxing." Loki feigned innocence, his mother often said it was terrifying, the more he knew and planned, the more he could act as though he knew nothing.

"Yes, well, there is issues in policing such matters, that is the issue."

"I cannot see an issue, we have magistrates in each town, there are schools that will note a malnourished or under cared for child, since all are supposed to be in school, and who can report to the magistrate and have the law enforcement in that area investigate, it is so simple really, it is a wonder it was not done before."

"The cost and manpower it will require, however…" Ivan began to explain.

"It is hardly any extra cost, those are the outlines of their basic duties as it is." Loki rubbished. "I cannot see how this negatively effects anyone bar the abusive. I cannot see reason for you to object to this Ivan on anything other than you being affected by it?" The insulted look on the Lord's face answered Loki's accusation. "So why object?" There was no answer. "We shall put it to a vote, shall we, I believe that though Asgard has a monarchy, it should be a fair system." Loki turned and nodded to the guard at the door, who opened it to reveal Thor, who strutted into the room, grinning widely. "As heir to the Aesir crown, a Lord in his own right and a high ranking member of Asgard's army, my brother Thor shall be the one to adjudicate over the vote to ensure fairness. He is not involved in this council, so I think him the fairest adjudicator, any objections?" The room remained silent.

"Let us get on with it then," Ivan growled, turning to face the other lords, wanting to get the farce over as quick as possible, to stop Loki's interfering with the realm and its current method of running.

"One more moment." The Lord scowled but his face turned to one of confusion as Loki smirked, "We need to have the count registered."

"Registered?" Several Lords seemed unsure what he meant.

"Yes, Someone will document who voted which way," Loki explained plainly.

"Why in the realms would we do such a thing?" Ivan demanded, repulsed by the idea.

"Because the people need to know what representatives they have on the council and how they voted and more importantly, know how their issues are being dealt with in a clear and incorrupt manner," Loki chuckled, "I mean, they could accuse us of plotting against an individual, or a coup if we are not honest from the go. If a representative lies to their workers and says they will vote one way and then go another, the people need to know, they need to be able to get answers."

More than a few lords went pale at such a thought, two shouted in anger, Ivan stared in open-mouthed disbelief. "It is not the way it is done."

"Correction, it is not the way it WAS done, now it will be the way it is done. Any that have issue, take it up with the Allfather." Loki could not help the gleeful smirk on his face, Thor, for his part, chuckled, his muscular arms folded as he watched the scene in front of him, which was just as entertaining as Loki promised it would be. "Now, we need a magistrate. I hear your daughter is one for such positions Lord Ullr, is she not?"

The Lord looked at the prince with uncertainty in his face. "Yes, she has a passion for such things, but her gender, as you can imagine…"

"Gives her no favours in her quest to pertain such roles," Loki nodded. "Have her sent for at once, she shall become our magistrate."

Ullr looked at the prince with pride and delight. "Of course, your highness, I cannot express to you of how honoured she will be." The Lord rushed to the door to have his daughter sent for.

"My mother recommends her highly." Loki looked back to the other Lords, his plan coming to fruition in front of him. He had chosen Ullr because, though he was not influential, he was an ordinary Lord, not a higher ranking one; he had not been brought in by Ivan's plan, giving his family such a role would show the lesser titled men that such loyalty was to be rewarded. "While we await the Lady Sif, let us go through the legislation as it stands, and my amendments to it, and please, I beseech you, any that have a question, no matter how menial, do not hesitate to speak up. If I have overlooked something, I am only too delighted to have it pointed out if it means we get this done right."

With Thor sitting to his right, and the young and bright Lady Sif to the left, Loki presided over the proceeding with a grin on his face that terrified Ivan. As expected, with accountability, many Lords abandoned their promises to Ivan and his attempts to get Loki to willingly walk away from his position. The amendment was passed by a majority, a very thin one, but fifty-one percent was still a higher number than forty-nine, and that was all that counted. Many of those who realised that they have lost seemed very uncomfortable in their seats, Ivan thought Loki to be bluffing and watched with almost denial as Sif wrote every name down in the ledger Thor had given to her. When, at the end, Thor walked over and took the ledger from the girl, Ivan thought that the prince was going to bring it away and discard it, that Loki was all theatrics and bluff, but instead, Thor turned and gave it to his brother. "What with it now?"

"The Lady Sif and I will bring it to the palace magistrate, who will have it reprinted to as many copies as are necessary and sent to every town hall on Asgard. I will send the original to father as proof of our work and have him amend the law as is necessary, and then, we begin the next order of business." Loki smiled.

"Wait, you cannot seriously give this to the people? What use have they for it?" Ivan demanded.

Loki turned around, his face cold and his eyes focused on the Lord. "I am as serious as heart failure Ivan and as for the people and their use of it, you forget how politics work, it is so simple really. If people do not like what they are getting for their money, they can call for change, if enough people call upon my father to have a Lord dealt with, he has to listen. The needs of the peasant many far surpass the wealthy few." Loki growled, he walked forward, close enough so only the Lord could hear him. "This is only a taste of what happens when someone crosses me, when someone who thinks himself a man runs to my father to cry and complain that I am too strong for him, too wild for him to tame like a little pup to sit obediently at his feet. you thought I would not find out what you had schemed? You are lucky I am feeling so generous this day Ivan, for I would watch you burn upon a pyre if I did not feel as I do." he swore, turning and indicating for Thor and Sif to follow.

*

Loki looked at Ariella as she slept. She looked no different from when he saw her last, her skin still like paper over her bones, her eyes still closed and her breathing, though deeper, was still harsh. "She has had no negative reaction to the food," Eir told him as she walked over to her charge.

"Neither has she had a positive one though, right?"

"Sadly, there is no change."

"Her breathing is different."

"Yes, the clean warm air is doing her some good. You say she was in a barn before?"

"A stable, a cold and draughty one."

"It makes sense then."

"Is there anything…"

"My prince, I told you already, it all depends on her getting through these first days," Eir stated kindly.

"I know." He looked at his friend for a moment. "I know you are busy, and with Ariella, even more so, but may I ask something of you?"

"You may ask, but I may not be able to assist," Eir stated, listening intently.

"Can you make a list, saying all of her illnesses and issues, I want to ensure those who made her suffer are forced to pay for this."

Eir looked at the young girl, who was fighting so ardently, yet not able to fight any longer. "I cannot say 'it will be my pleasure' as to say that means I take pleasure in her suffering, but in all honesty, nothing will give me as good a night's as knowing the wheel is turning, change is happening." The healer smiled. "Have you told her yet?"

"What is the point?" Loki looked at Ariella, her eyes closed and her body still.

"Her sleep is one of seidr induction, if she is healing, she could hear you," Eir explained. "There is no guarantee, but she may get comfort in your being here if she is aware of it." she walked off to begin her work to assist Loki, leaving the prince to sit next to his friend.

"I am trying to right the wrongs even more now, Ari," he explained. "I had my father change the law, through an amendment." He paused for a moment and sighed, Ariella would not have an idea what in the realms that meant. "I got put as a chair of a council, the one that deals with commoner issues, and I had a law changed, so that I can help you, help people like you. It is working, and it is going to do so much Ari, wait and see." He stopped for a moment, "Please, please wake up, I want you to see. I want you to see that you are so important, you are getting the realm to change. You are so important to everyone Ari, especially me."