#and id go back to the liquor store the next day to rectify this

[isdalinarhot]

every night im like this is it this is the night i relapse because i Cannot Stand It Anymore and then every night i end up not doing that. win i guess

[imagine-loki]

Giftless

TITLE: Giftless CHAPTER NO./ONE SHOT: 44/50

AUTHOR: nekoamamori ORIGINAL IMAGINE: 

Imagine that you are Stark’s niece and you secretly share a strong relationship with Loki since he entered the crew. One day you get hurt so bad during a mission that you are about to die.  Loki knows a spell that will save you and share his immortality with you but you and he will be linked forever sharing thoughts, pain, emotions…

RATING: T NOTES/WARNINGS:  Also on AO3 click here

You reappeared in the common room of the tower and were greeted with cheers and hugs when you stepped out of the portal. “Kat, what are you wearing?” Wanda asked once you had disentangled yourselves from your family of supers. You looked down and realized you were still wearing an Asgardian dress. You grinned when you looked back up at her.

“I am wearing a dress,” you replied with a touch of sarcasm. Even Nat laughed at that.

“And the tiara?” she asked with a smirk. You blushed; you’d forgotten about the tiara. And you hadn’t told anyone but Tony and Fury that Loki’s family now thought you were married.  It was all very complicated.

“Tradition on Asgard,” Loki answered quickly.  It wasn’t even a lie. “Did anything important happen while we were gone?” He asked the team in general, changing the subject to something safer.

“The Harlequin has been causing problems again. There’s also been some supposed sightings of Balder, but no one’s been able to confirm it,” Nat reported.  As one of the original Avengers, it was one of her jobs to give such updates.  “But there’s nothing urgent for you two today,”

You nodded at that, relieved that you got a reprieve. “Thanks Aunt Nat. Come on, Loki, there’s something we need to do,” you grabbed Loki’s hand and started dragging him with you. You had put this off too long and that needed to be rectified now.

“Darling, where are you dragging me?” Loki asked, laughing.  He didn’t fight you, but did wonder what you were up to. 

“You’ll see,” was the only reply he got. He sighed, but dug in his heels at the door to leave the tower. You stopped and turned to look at him. “What?” you asked, confused as to why he was stopping now.

“Maybe we should be wearing Midgardian clothes?” he asked, calmly and reasonably. You sighed, but used your power to change your dress to a blue sundress and sandals. Loki just gave you an expectant look. You rolled your eyes, since he was perfectly capable of changing his own clothes by magic, but he just continued to look at you expectantly. You closed your eyes and focused. It was harder to change his clothes than your own, but after a moment, he was dressed in a suit, just not the all black one he usually chose for himself. “A suit?” he asked, confused by your choice.

“You want to make a good first impression,” you told him. He nodded, but you saw the confused expression on his face. You led him to your car and summoned your purse and keys. The first place you drove to was the liquor store first, parking far enough from the entrance that they wouldn’t be able to see you from inside the store. “Your ID says you’re at least 21, right?” you asked him when you pulled into the spot. 

Loki nodded warily “Of course.” He didn’t trust where your mind was going.

“Good,” you pulled out some money from your purse and handed it to him. “Go in there and pick something out. Something a man would like,”

“Darling…”

“Please, Loki. It’s important,”

“And you cannot come?” he asked, confused. He knew there was something about Midgardian customs he was missing and wanted to understand before he did this favor.

You shook your head. “I don’t have a fake ID and you have to be 21 to buy alcohol,” you reminded him. You hadn’t bothered getting a fake when you were so well-known.  It would’ve been stupid.  “They won’t sell it to you if they think you’re buying it for a minor, for someone under 21,” you clarified that last point.

“Am I buying it for a minor?” he asked with a look of disapproval.

“Of course not!” you spluttered, indignantly, like you’d ever ask for something like that. Besides, you could always steal booze from Tony if you really wanted some.  “It’s a gift,” 

He nodded and kissed your cheek.  That, he could understand.  “Very well, darling,” he finally answered and went to go complete his task. It took him awhile, but you didn’t mind.  You were just glad he was taking the assignment seriously. He came back with something fancy looking and sounding. You knew nothing about alcohol, but he insisted that the clerk had recommended it for a gift.

“Good! One more stop,” you told him. Your next stop was a florist. They knew you there, of course.  It was the florist you always went to.  

“Kat, we weren’t expecting you. I don’t have your usual order ready,” the nice lady who owned the shop greeted you.  

“Don’t worry, Mary, I didn’t place an order today. Do you have any roses, today? You know they’re her favorite,” Mary gave you a warm, matronly smile.

“Of course, dear. I even have a couple of the purple ones she’s particularly fond of,”

“Will you make something pretty for her?” you asked, trying to smile, though it was hard. It always brought tears to your eyes, even though you knew you shouldn’t cry.

She nodded, understanding in her eyes and voice.  “Of course, dear. It’ll be ready soon,” she got to work on the request right in front of you. “You’re taking your young man to meet them?” she asked while she worked. Loki wasn’t often called a young man, but you weren’t going to quibble over it. 

You nodded. “It was time he was introduced to them,” you replied.

She gave you a knowing smile. “It must be getting serious, then,” you blushed. You weren’t going to answer that. You pulled your phone out. “Sorry for being rude and being on your phone, Mary, there’s one more thing I need,” you texted Tony asking for his help.

-I’ll meet you there- came the reply in an instant.  Uncle Tony would always drop anything to help you.

“Darling, will you be telling me who I am to meet?” Loki asked overly patiently. You gave him a look and he sighed. “Of course you will not,” 

It wasn’t long before Mary gave us the rose bouquet.

You drove to the cemetery after that. You had never made this drive by yourself. Tony always drove you, but you didn’t lose your resolve or your way. Loki was subdued as you parked in front of your parents’ graves. He had realized when you pulled into the cemetery who you were going to see. Tony wasn’t there yet, but that was fine. He was giving you time to do this your way. You took a deep breath. “Ready?” you asked Loki. He gave you his usual smile.

“Of course, my dear. Don’t fear, they will love me,” he told you warmly.  You got out of the car and you took his hand to lead him up to meet your parents.

“Mom, Dad,” you took a breath, this was hard. “There’s someone I’d like you to meet.” 

You pulled Loki up the last couple of steps to their graves.

“This is Prince Loki of Asgard, my boyfriend,” you announced.  You always spoke as if they were there and could hear you.  It was weird, but thankfully, Loki went along with your eccentricities.  

“It is a pleasure to meet both of you,” Loki added with a bow. He produced the bouquet of roses, which were now in an elegant vase. “Kat mentioned that these are your favorites, Mrs. Stark,” he said as he knelt down to place the flowers in front of her grave. He didn’t think, or at least didn’t say, it was weird that you was talking to your parents like they were still alive. He even played along. “It is not playing along, darling,” Loki told you, gleaning your thoughts. “The spirits of the dead can and do watch over us,” he thought for a moment and summoned a spellbook. “I cannot do this spell often, but for today…” he recited the spell and your parents appeared, standing between their graves. 

You just stood there shocked and starting.

“An illusion?” you asked. He shook his head and that was all you needed.  You ran for them. Ran wasn’t a strong enough word, but it was the only one you had. You wrapped your arms around both of them, holding them too tightly. You’d never gotten to say goodbye and now they were here and they were real.  So very real. “Mom? Dad?” you asked, sobbing as you held them tightly so they couldn’t vanish from you again.

“We’re here. We’re always with you, dear,” mom told you. “Though your father does admittedly spend most of his time looking after that uncle of yours.  The trouble he gets into playing a superhero…”

“How?” was the only word you could get out, refusing to let them go. You hadn’t seen them in years. They were dead. They shouldn’t be there.

“It is just for the afternoon,” Loki repeated firmly.  He wasn’t giving any illusions that the spell was stronger than it was.  “Their spirits remained to watch over you and your uncle when you need them. I simply allowed them to visible and tangible for the afternoon,”

“Then we will have to just make the most of the afternoon,” you replied as Tony pulled up in his car. You somehow disentangled myself from mom’s hug and ran down to help him. You came back up with the blanket and picnic Tony had brought. You set up the blanket quickly while Tony just stared at your parents in disbelief. Soon he had wrapped his arms around his dead brother, much as you had.

You sat and chatted all afternoon. Loki, Tony, and dad shared the bottle of alcohol that Loki had brought as a gift for dad. It was a bittersweet afternoon, but Tony and you got to catch them up on everything. Loki and you got to tell them all about Asgard and your visit there. Tony told them all about his work with the Avengers. They seemed so happy that you and Tony were both doing ok.

It was almost dark when Loki spoke up. “Darling, I cannot hold the spell much longer,” you looked over at him and realized that he was hiding how low on magic he was. He was nearly tapped, which was dangerous. “My love, I’m sorry, but it is time to say your goodbyes,”

You all stood then for hugs, tears, and goodbyes. “Thank you, Loki,” mom said, giving him a hug too, which threw him as he wasn’t expecting it. “You are wonderful for our daughter,” she told him. You saw the tears in his eyes at that. He wasn’t expecting to actually be accepted. Midgardians didn’t much accept him, even now.

“I’ll allow it,” dad added gruffly. That was the best Loki was going to get from him. You hugged each of them one more time, tears streaming down your face.

“I’m going to miss you,” you told them.

“We’re always with you. You can come visit and talk to us anytime. We’re always here to listen. I love you, Kat, Tony. Take care of each other.” mom told you before the magic faded and she started to vanish.

“Yes, mom,” you replied with the same obedient tone you had given her all of your life.

“I love you, kitten,” your dad told you.  He turned to his brother.  “Tony, you know you didn’t tell you enough that I love you, and dad was an ass to both of us, but I’m glad things are turning out so well for you,” dad told him, which was more acknowledgement from Tony’s family than he ever got, besides you of course.

The magic faded completely and they both vanished. You fell to your knees sobbing, staring at the spot where they had been. Tony knelt beside you and wrapped his arms around you . “It’s ok, Kat. They’re proud of us and they’re glad we’re ok, remember?” he asked. “They want us to be happy,” you nodded and rubbed the tears roughly from your face.

“You’re right,” you told Tony and we got back to our feet. you turned to Loki to thank him, but all you saw was that he was too pale. You ran to his side and managed to get your arms around him before he passed out. It was a close thing. “Dummy,” you told him softly, exasperated. He had pushed himself to the breaking point keeping the spell going as long as he physically could.

“What happened?” Tony asked. He came over to us and took Loki from you, hoisting him over his shoulder. It was surprisingly little effort for Tony, but he was surprisingly muscled from his work.

“He used too much magic to make that spell for us,” you told him. 

Tony nodded, accepting that answer. “He was like this the night he saved your life too,” he explained. “He’s good for you, even if I’m still against you dating at all.” Tony grinned at you and carried Loki down to his own car. “I won’t kill him on the drive home, imp,” he told you warmly. “He did us both a huge favor today. I’m not going to forget the kindness, even if he is dating you. Besides, if I kill him you die too,”

You finally relented and let Tony carry Loki. It was easier and better than you struggling to do it. You used magic to clean up our picnic, though you left mom’s flowers and set out a glass of the alcohol for dad. “Goodbye, mommy, daddy. It was good to be able to see you again,”

With that, you headed back to your car. Tony wouldn’t leave until you were safely driving away, even though you were more powerful than he was now. Tony carried Loki back up to Loki’s suite and set him on his bed when you returned. Loki was still unconscious. “Thanks, Uncle Tony,” you told him, grateful for his help.

He nodded his acceptance, then changed the subject.  “We get back to training tomorrow,” he reminded you. 

You nodded with a sigh, not looking forward to that. “I’ll be there.” With that, Tony left you alone. You used magic to change your clothes and Loki’s to pajamas and tucked Loki into his bed.

“Thank you, love,” you whispered and kissed his forehead. You sat on the bed next to him and summoned the tales of Hiccup the Viking. You hadn’t had a chance to finish them while you were visiting his family.

Loki finally stirred a few hours later. “Hello sleepyhead,” you told him with a smile. He looked around confused.

“What happened?”

“You used too much magic with the spell to bring back my parents for the day. You’ve been unconscious for about four hours now,” you told him. He at least had the decency to look sheepish. You pulled up your phone and showed him the picture you had taken of Tony carrying him up to his room. “Uncle Tony carried you to bed. I think he might almost like you. He actually might like you if you weren’t dating me,” you added with a smile.

“Oh dear. How many people have that photograph?” He asked. 

You shrugged. “I haven’t sent it to anyone,” that didn’t mean Tony hadn’t.

Loki sighed. “He better not start acting like Thor. My magic works just fine against your uncle,” he grumbled. 

You just laughed, imagining Tony acting like Thor.  It would never happen.

“Thank you for everything today.” Those words weren’t enough for what he had done for you, no matter how much sincerity you put in the words. You leaned down and kissed him.

“I am glad you thought enough of me to introduce me to your parents,” he answered. He got out of the bed and pulled you up with him. “We should find some dinner,”

“We should. I’m sure Helene has made something delicious,” you replied and you headed downstairs with laughter. You spent your evening as usual, watching movies on the couch with your books. A nice quiet evening was what you both needed after the emotional day.

“Kat, what’s with the matching tattoos?” one of the super teens asked. Some of your friends had come to watch at your TV, since you were finally getting back to watching the DVD of the new Avengers movie that Tom had sent you. You had been interrupted the last time you tried to watch it. 

You blushed. “It was a side effect of the magic Loki used to save my life,” you explained. You didn’t want to tell them about the soulbond if you didn’t have to. They wouldn’t understand. They accepted your answer though. It was so different here, hiding the soulbond after you spent the last week being praised and congratulated for it.

“It’s ok, darling. You’re right that they wouldn’t understand,” Loki whispered in your ear. “We know what it is and that is all that matters.” You nodded and cuddled back up against him. You blushed and hid your face in his chest when you got to the kiss scene while Loki just laughed. The teens looked at him confused, so he paused the movie and pulled you to your feet, changing your clothes in that instant to the ones you had been wearing the day you were filmed. He kissed you, in the exact same pose as you were in in the scene.

“That’s you two?!” exclaimed the crowd. You turned even more shades of red and nodded. You pointed out the scar on your leg that could be seen in the film.

“Go Sigyn!” they called, cheering. You blushed and apparently acquired your superhero alias, since they wouldn’t stop calling you that for the rest of the night.