#the agent of asgard one and Lady Loki are top so far

[brsb4hls]

Funko knows how to rake in cash. Three new Lokis within a few months.

This is the newest one, Frost Giant Loki from Thor 1 with the casket of ancient winters.

I think this one's really gorgeous. The armor is very detailed and looks pretty elegant, he has the markings from the movie and I love his hair.

He comes with a stand, but can stand on his own.

Look at the details from the boots

There's a lot going on here that one of the older Frost Giant versions did not have:

The 'Glow in the dark' part is the casket, it has a very soft blue glow.

I highly recommend this one for Loki fans.

[meowmeow-motherfucker]

Covenant- Chapter 8

Summary: With the five year anniversary of the attack on New York approaching, Odin and Fury come to the agreement that an arranged marriage between Asgard and Earth would show good faith toward all future interactions. When Odin refuses Jane’s candidacy, Agent Coulson is tasked with finding a suitable wife for the prince of Asgard.

Pairing: Loki x OFC

Chapter warnings: mutual pining, jealousy, flirting, Loki being a little shit, brief mentions of flashbacks and torture, cringy Thor shenanigans, light smut not between our lovers

Taglist: @lokisgoodgirl @gigglingtiggerv2 @icytrickster17 @mysteriouslyfriedjellyfish @lokislilkitten @justjoanne242 @amlocked @ddmariegirl @mags-04-blog @sharris8 @meepycheep @iamlokisgloriouspurpose @the-fantasy-loving-angel @jaidenhawke @smolvenger

Please let me know if you'd like to be added to the taglist! I'm SO sorry this chapter took me so long, it's been a real pain in the keester. Hopefully it makes up for the long wait! Not much longer until the wedding!!

One day until the wedding

“Good morning, Your Majesty!” Ragna crowed as she ripped open the curtains, assaulting Claire’s eyes with obnoxiously bright sunlight. “Today the wedding games will take place!”

“You are far too happy for what time it is.” Claire groused, bundling a pillow over her head. Ragna laughed and ripped the blankets from the bed, clapping her hands excitedly.

“Up, up, up! The games are always exciting, and today promises to be extra special!” Ragna said excitedly.

“Why is that exactly?”

“Your Majesty,” Ragna gasped, sitting on the edge of the bed and leaning in eagerly, as though sharing a secret. “This is a momentous occasion! You are the first princess Asgard has had since the Allmother came to marry the Allfather over 2,000 years ago! That would be many, many generations of your people, would it not?”

“Uh, yeah,” Claire said. “Yeah, it definitely would,” she chuckled. “Okay, now I see why everybody is so jazzed about it.”

“Jazzed?”

“It’s another way of saying someone is excited.”

“Oh!” Ragna smiled as she got to her feet. “Then I am jazzed to help you get ready!”

“Okay, okay, I’m up!” Claire laughed as she climbed out of bed. Ragna was already gathering clothes excitedly, practically coaching Claire and her other ladies through each task like a cheerleader.

Her ladies prepped her until she practically glowed, and then it was time for Claire to head downstairs to start the festivities with Loki.

~~~~

An air of excitement filled the palace as Claire and Loki welcomed their guests during breakfast. Everyone was eager for the games to begin- including the guests. Several of them had joined Thor and the warriors three in pre-gaming which, unbeknownst to them, would render them unable to participate. Claire and Loki shared a laugh as they watched the would-be competitor’s fall to the powerful mead one after another.

After a leisurely breakfast, the guests and competitors made their way out of the palace. They walked into the heart of the city, where stands were erected around empty fields. Equipment had already been set up for the archery competition and various other events. Claire gazed out at the field, trying to picture what everything was for- she’d been told there would be feats of strength and skill, but being unfamiliar with the games themselves, she wasn’t sure what each event needed.

Claire and Loki went their separate ways once they reached the field to prepare, Claire making her way toward the makeshift archery range, while Loki went with Thor and the warriors three to prepare for the games they would compete in.

Their guests filled the stands surrounding the field, all of them eager for the games to begin. Eager chatter filled Claire’s ears as she gazed around the field.

Tall beams had been erected at the far end of the field, with a smaller cross beam running between them at the top. Another area had been set up a few feet away from the beams, looking to Claire like a set up for shot put- markers had been set equidistant from each other to measure distance.

The area closest to Claire was set up for archery. Quivers had been placed in a neat line several paces from the row of targets, and a rack of bows had been brought over the training yard at the palace. Claire glanced back at the other areas on the field to see Loki helping Thor and several others carry...large boulders?

“Shall we prepare?” Sif appeared from nowhere, pulling Claire’s attention away from the way Loki’s tunic had already begun to cling to him. “You will have plenty of time to gawk at your intended once your events are over.”

“Haha, very funny,” Claire replied. “I suppose I could use more practice with the javelin.”

~~~~

“Do you think you will learn to shoot before the end of the century?” Claire startled when Loki appeared out of thin air. She released her grip on the string, her shot going wide as she turned to glare at him. The games were due to start any moment, and she was trying to get some last minute practice in.

“Unless you’re here to help, go away,” she said without ire. “I thought you couldn’t be alone with me anyway.”

“We’re hardly alone,” Loki mused as Claire notched her arrow again. “Half the palace and our guests are here.” He wasn’t wrong- several members of the staff and their assembled guests who’d signed up for the games were all milling about the field.

“Semantics.” Claire scoffed, releasing her hold on the string and letting the arrow fly. The arrow zipped through the air and struck the target- just not on the bullseye. Loki looked on, one judgmental brow raised at her poor performance.

“Who taught you to shoot?”

“I’m getting better,” Claire argued. “I’m not used to this kind of weapon.”

“Are you sure?” Loki asked leadingly, his lips curling inward as she missed again and he tried not to laugh.

“Yes,” Claire said stubbornly. “Ugh, no.” She readjusted her stance, even though she felt like it wouldn’t make a difference.

“May I?” Loki asked as he stepped up behind her. His lithe frame wrapped around hers, his large hand settling over hers gently on the bow. “Relax this hand,” he coached softly as his other hand found the crook of her arm. “Lower your elbow.” he gave the smallest amount of pressure as he corrected her stance.

Claire was in hell. Or maybe purgatory? Wherever she was, she was suffering. Loki’s hands on her skin was giving her all the good feelings and it was hard to focus on anything else. She could feel his chest pressed against her back, the heat coming off of him delightfully distracting. His breath teased the hair on her neck, spurring shivers of promise as he adjusted her grip on the bow. Those hands should be bronzed.

Claire couldn’t believe she was having a Princess Diaries moment.

“Breathe in,” Loki practically purred in her ear. Claire inhaled, feeling her back mold against Loki’s chest. She could faintly feel the steady beat of his heart. “Breathe out,” Claire released her tense shoulders as she exhaled. “Good. Now release,” Claire’s fingers released the string, eyes widening as the arrow FINALLY hit the bullseye. “Did that feel better?”

“What?” Claire asked dumbly, her mind focused on the feel of his skin on hers.

“It seems you can learn,” Loki said smugly. “Do it again.” he nodded to the full quiver by her feet with his chin, taking a step back to allow her space.

“Okay,” Claire’s fingers didn’t want to cooperate as she reached for another arrow, chasing it awkwardly around the quiver as Loki looked on. She finally grabbed it and strung it on the bow, taking her stance as she aimed at the target. She took a mental checklist of Loki’s instruction, correcting things as she went. Releasing her breath, Claire let the arrow go.

It sank into the wooden leg of the target with a hollow thunk.

“Somehow you have gotten worse,” Loki teased, a pleasant laugh escaping his dumb mouth. Claire scowled, tamping down her stupid butterflies. “Perhaps I should pretend to be you and participate in your stead.”

“Well if you wouldn’t distract me-”

“I distract you, do I?” Loki asked leadingly. “Why is that?”

“I’m not answering that,” Claire said stubbornly, crossing her arms over her chest and dropping the bow clumsily. “Shut up.” she added when Loki laughed at her.

“Very well, little wife, I shall leave you to practice without distraction,” Loki cackled, stooping to retrieve the bow from the ground for her. “Remember what I said.”

Moments later, Claire was still practicing when she felt another presence behind her.

“May I assist you with your form, Lady Claire?” a heavy hand touched her waist a fraction later, and Claire wrenched the offending hand around the newcomer’s back, bending his arm at a very uncomfortable angle. “Ah-ah!”

“I do not need your help,” Claire spat. “Touch me again and I will break your hand.Do you understand, Fandral?”

“Yes-I understand-ah!” the ‘warrior’ winced as she released him, pushing him away from her.

~~~~

Claire may have lost the archery competition, but she did well in the javelin throw and now she was taking a well deserved break to watch the rest of the morning events. Watching Loki toss boulders and giant trees that looked like telephone poles didn’t sound very exciting, but shit had she been wrong. Loki’s outfit, once pristine and appropriate, became damp with sweat as he hurled a massive boulder the length of a field, succeeding in defeating Volstagg and Hogun.

Claire learned that the telephone pole looking trees were called cabers, and the entire point of the game was to carry the pole down the pitch and then lift and flip it. None of those things sounded particularly interesting, but it did give her an excuse to ogle at Loki. To her surprise, it was actually a pretty interesting event, and all of the competitors were built. There were a number of competitors from Earth, like Steve and Bucky, as well as Asgardian competitors: Loki of course, as well as Thor, Volstagg, and Hogun. Soooo much eye candy to look at.

Hogun really had no business being so hot. As the heat of the morning rose, the stoic warrior had gathered his long hair in a top knot, and his beefy arms were on full display as he took his place at the end of the pitch. His biceps bulged as he cradled the end of the caber in his hands, jogging gracefully down the pitch before hefting the caber overhead. The caber did a graceful arc through the air, the other end striking the dirt and coming to a stop just before tipping over. The crowd groaned in disappointment but clapped politely as Hogun left the pitch.

Steve tried next, his caber almost flipping but just falling short. Anja cheered the loudest from Claire’s right. Sandwiched as she was between Sif and Anja, Claire heard every mutter of appreciation.

“You are a very fortunate woman.” Sif observed as Bucky threw his own caber, managing the first flip in the caber toss.

“Don’t I know it.” Anja preened, smiling when Bucky waved to her. Frigga offered no comments of her own, but giggled alongside them.

“I have so many questions about the metal arm.” Claire whispered to Anja.

“I also have questions.” Darcy muttered from beside Sif. Anja snickered, winked, and turned to wave back at Bucky. Volstagg took his turn next, failing to flip his caber. Thor managed to flip his as well, and finally, it was Loki’s turn.

Loki’s large hands cradled the caber delicately as he began his way down the pitch. Loose strands swayed as he moved, his biceps bulging with the strain of carrying the heavy weight. His handsome face was a mask of concentration, sharp jaw set firm as he prepared to launch his caber.

Loki planted his feet in the dirt, muscular thighs bulging as he lifted the caber over his head with a mighty roar. His tunic lifted with his arms, revealing a swath of toned muscle that Claire wanted to sink her teeth into.

The caber soared through the air, further than Bucky’s, planting in the ground with a solid thunk and creaked as it flipped, striking the ground with a loud crack. Thor bemoaned his loss as Steve and Bucky clapped Loki on the back.

“Woo! GO LOKI!” Claire cheered from the stands, setting off her airhorn multiple times to her neighbors shock and annoyance. The people from Earth in the audience laughed as the Asgardians looked around for the source of the loud noise in alarm.

“Where were you hiding that?!” Anja asked after her shock had passed. “Up your dress?”

“It has pockets!” Claire said gleefully, tooting the air horn a few more times. Somewhere in the crowd, Claire recognized the laughter of the former US president. She looked over her shoulder to see him and his wife cracking up, waving excitedly when they acknowledged her. “I made Michelle and Barack Obama laugh!” she giggled as she turned back toward the field, spying Loki as he and the others made their way to another area. Claire waved at him, feeling her cheeks grow warm when he waved back. He seemed surprised at her support, but it was clear he appreciated it.

“Look at how she blushes!” Sif teased.

“So cute!” Darcy chimed in.

“So precious!” Anja cackled.

“You guys are dicks,” Claire sulked, turning away from her so-called friends as her cheeks burned. Across the field, Loki and the other competitors were getting ready for the wrestling to begin. As the men were standing around talking as they awaited the judges, Claire took the time to inspect Loki. His tunic clung to him, wet with perspiration at the neck and back. His long dark hair had lost its beautiful bounce and had been tied back in a low bun, but several strands hung limp and loose around his collar. The tight pants he’d worn cupped his backside almost indecently, the fabric clinging to the meat of his thighs as if the material had been poured over his body. “God damn, I’m a lucky bitch.” she mumbled.

It was then that Loki noticed her staring, color rising in his cheeks as his companions ribbed him good-naturedly. Flashing her a smile, he made a swift gesture with his hand, and a flash of green on the railing in front of her drew Claire’s attention downward.

A cluster of delicate purple blooms sat atop a backdrop of fat rounded leaves, the stem just long enough to anchor in her hair.

Smiling, Claire tucked the small flower behind her ear.

“Ah, young love,” Frigga sighed wistfully from behind them. “His father and I were exactly the same way. We couldn’t keep our eyes, or our hands, off each other. We were caught in some very compromising situations in our early days.”

“Your Majesty!” Darcy gasped dramatically. Frigga merely chuckled.

“I imagine we’ll have quite a similar situation with these two.” she smiled at Claire knowingly. Claire averted her gaze as the women around her laughed like hyenas.

A cheer went up from the crowd as the start of the wrestling was announced.

~~~~

The wrestling was by far the best event of the morning. Loki and Fandral were locked in a vicious battle, and even though there were several yards between Claire’s seat and the match, she could still see the tantalizing strength of Loki’s muscles.

Sweat made his tunic cling to his back, fabric straining as his biceps bulged and flexed with the effort of defeating his opponent. Fandral pinned him, but Loki freed himself, shoving Fandral into the dirt with a feral snarl. Both men were dusty and filthy from rolling in the dirt, but somehow Loki was even more attractive, especially when mopping the floor with Fandral.

Thor and Volstagg had already had their bout (which Volstagg lost), and Hogun had bested Sif in theirs, but she’d been most excited to watch Loki in action.

“She is crazier than you are,” Fandral hissed, tightening his grip on Loki’s collar. He tried to shimmy free from Loki’s grip but found he couldn’t move an inch. “You two deserve each other.”

“Couldn’t agree more.” Loki gave Fandral a sneering smile before twisting his arm mercilessly and making him howl in pain.

“For Odin’s sake, I yield!” Fandral shouted, crawling away pathetically when Loki released his hold on him. “Odin’s beard. You’re both lunatics.” The referee called the match as Fandral stormed off, and Loki laughed aloud as Claire set off her air horn again. It was the most support he’d ever received at an event such as this, and it pleased him to no end.

~~~~

After the mornings events, lunch was served on the field. Blankets were spread on the grass and guests stuffed themselves with cured smoked salmon, reindeer sausage, and cheeses, along with fruit tarts and thick waffles with fresh butter and lingonberry jam.

Claire and Phil shared a blanket with Thor, Frigga and Odin, and Frigga kept them all occupied by sharing her thoughts on the morning’s events.

“Did you participate in the games for your wedding?” Phil asked.

“Oh yes,” Frigga chuckled. “When I was much younger, I was quite athletic.”

“Back in those days, war games were commonly played before weddings. Frigga was quite brilliant when we played; I’ll never forget how she bested me.” Odin looked over at Frigga fondly, who clucked her tongue and shoved at him playfully. Thor looked at the blanket uncomfortably at his parents display of affection. Claire also felt uncomfortable, but it was nice to see they still cared for each other.

Would she and Loki feel that way about each other in two thousand years?

“Ah, there is our victor!” Frigga said cheerfully as Loki dropped onto the blanket beside Claire. He was clean again, his hair still wet and beginning to curl at the ends.

“I see you’ve all started without me,” he said jovially as Thor passed him the salmon. “Hello, darling.” he added softly to Claire.

“Hey yourself,” Claire replied, offering him the platter of waffles. “I didn’t know your hair was curly.”

“Ah, yes,” Loki said sheepishly, eyes dropping as his cheeks turned the slightest pink. “It can be quite annoying at times.” a flash of green covered his hair, leaving it completely dry with nary a curl in sight.

“I think it’s cute.”

“Thank you.” Loki said sheepishly before taking a small bite of sausage.

“Are you both looking forward to the knattleikr?” Frigga asked, reminding them both there were other people around.

“I for one am very excited!” Thor said eagerly, taking a hearty bite of reindeer sausage. “I wager that Claire’s team will obliterate Loki’s.”

“They each get a team?” Phil asked.

“Oh yes, it is customary for the bride to lead her guests against the grooms,” Frigga replied. “It shall be most entertaining, I think.”

“I shall be gentlemanly and go easy on you.” Loki offered.

“Aw, that’s so sweet. I’m gonna destroy you.” Claire grinned.

“Never before have I heard such a charming threat! Well done,” Loki praised, popping a berry into his mouth. “This could do with eel.” he muttered as he tore a piece from his waffle.

“Ooh yes, that eel we had a few weeks ago was fantastic,” Claire agreed. “We should go back sometime, without Fandral.” she rolled her eyes, glaring over at the offender on his blanket across the field.

“Indeed.”

The rest of lunch passed easily, an excited buzz filling the early afternoon air. After everyone had eaten their fill, the spectators returned to the stands while the guests competing went to change. Claire, Anja and Sif chatted as they changed, joining the men on the field as they held a spirited conversation.

“I’m just saying, her records from S.H.I.E.L.D. are pretty impressive. Are we sure she’s not of super soldier origin? Hmmmm?” Tony asked, peering at Steve intently. Steve pulled a disgruntled face, backing away from the scientist.

“Um hi, hello. What are we talking about?” Claire asked. “You pulled my records?”

“Oh just speculating wildly on your hitherto unknown paternity,” Tony replied cheekily. “You know, locker room talk.”

“That’s messed up.” Anja muttered. Claire nodded, annoyed and slightly embarrassed. Trust Tony Stark to find exactly what would make here uncomfortable.

“I’d prefer if you didn’t.”

“But I want to?” Tony shrugged.

“You do realize I carry knives on me all the time, right?” Claire asked. “Stop talking.”

“What are you gonna do; stab me with no warning?” Tony cackled.

“Stabbing is a warning.” Claire and Bucky said in unison. Both wore matching annoyed expressions.

“Shit, maybe she’s yours, Barnes.” Tony elbowed Bucky, who looked at Tony like he was insane.

“Dude, stop.”

“Enough, Stark,” Loki growled. “Your speculation is unwelcome.” Tony gave Loki a cheeky grin.

“I mean, I could continue to throw out theories-”

“By all means,” Loki returned the cheek. “I will gladly step aside and allow you to be stabbed.”

“Okay, that’s enough, no one is stabbing anyone,” Steve said as he stepped in the middle. He glanced at Claire meaningfully. “Right?” Claire shrugged.

“We’ll see.”

“Hey, my wife will be very upset if you stab me!”

“Will she, though?” Claire asked. Tony gasped in fake shock.

“I cannot believe I claimed you as my possible-daughter; you’re out of the will!”

“Oh no, not the will! How ever will I live?!” Claire asked sarcastically. “Can we hurry up and pick teams so I can beat you?” she asked Loki.

“So confident,” Loki graced her with a smile. “Very well. Shall we?”

~~~~

The teams were down to the final quarter of the game, and the score was tied. The eight competitors were damp with sweat and painted with mud, but spirits were high. Claire’s team of Tony, Clint, Bucky and Anja had done very well against Loki’s team of Steve, Hogun, Sif, and Thor. No one had scored a goal yet in the final round and Claire was determined to win.

“Come on, set it up!” she called to her teammates, dodging Thor’s attempt to block her. Even though the god of thunder was competitive, he was clearly afraid of hurting her as any contact between them had been feather light and easy to evade.

Loki on the other hand, was not going easy on her like he’d promised. Not that it mattered to Claire- in fact it would make beating him all the better. They were both competitive, and delighted in stealing the ball from each other.

The ball began to shimmer, darting off course from where Hogun had kicked it and heading toward Claire, poised to score a goal.

“I saw that!” Loki shouted, signaling for a pause just as Claire reached the ball. “Seidr is not allowed.”

“Are you cheatin’, doll?” Bucky gasped, glancing at Anja with a scandalized expression.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Anja said innocently. “This is clearly the work of nargles.” Claire snorted a laugh, curling her lips inward to smother her laughter as Loki glared at her.

“Of what, madam?”

“Nargles!” Anja insisted. “You know, mischievous creatures that like to steal things? They’ve clearly taken a shine to the ball.”

Loki had never heard such nonsense. He had studied creatures, both magical in nature and ordinary, and never once had he heard of anything called a nargle. Yet he detected no hint of falsehood.

Odd.

“Fine,” he conceded. “Since play was disrupted, we shall reset and start again. Claire, the ball, please.”

“But I was about to score a goal!”

“Give it to me.” Loki demanded, grabbing the ball with both hands.

“Make me.” Claire stepped back, pulling the ball tighter against her body. Loki pulled harder, equally determined to keep his hold. Claire elbowed him in the solar plexus as she tried to wedge her body between Loki and the ball. Loki huffed in amusement, shaking his head as he fought against her hold.

“You are such a brat.”

“I’m not hearing a complaint.” Claire made a noise of protest as the ball slipped free of her grasp.

“Merely an observation.” Loki grinned, tucking the ball beneath his arm. Claire growled, charmed against her will by his dashing smile. Stupid handsome jerk.

“Hey love birds!” Tony shouted. “Can we speed this up? I’m too old for this shit.”

“You can take a break if you need to, old man,” Claire teased. “Want someone to bring your walker?”

“Oh you are so out of the will. Nargles, my ass,” Tony groaned, bracing his hands on his lower back as he cracked his spine. “Throw the ball already!” he complained.

“I was waiting for you to finish complaining.” Loki murmured as he spun the ball between his fingertips.

“Yeah, that’ll never happen,” Bucky shook his head. “We’ll be here all day waiting.”

“Shove it Barnes!”

“You shove it!” Bucky shot back. “C’mon, let’s wrap this up before the ol’ fogey breaks a hip.”

“No more nargles?” Loki peered at Anja suspiciously, ignoring the vulgar hand gestures Tony aimed at Bucky. Claire smothered a laugh as Bucky aimed one back.

“Don’t look at me, I didn’t have anything to do with it.” Anja said defensively. Loki grinned. Lie.

He tossed the ball into the middle of the field, his balance thrown off as Claire immediately shot past him to intercept it. She slid on her knees between Sif’s legs when the warrior tried to block her path, jumping back up to her knees to chase the ball. Thor reached it at the same time, heading her off. Perfectly at ease, the god of thunder posed no threat and simply wished to annoy his new sister by preventing her from advancing down the field. Claire was ready to win.

“Peace, sister, I do not wish to hurt you-ah!” Thor gasped as Claire moved him aside with a hip throw. Thor struck the dirt and Claire spun away, cackling as she kicked the ball back toward her teammates. The crowd laughed at the comical sight of the god of thunder sprawled in the dirt, as did Loki and everyone else on the field.

“You can’t do that!” Loki shouted in protest as Claire raced past him with the ball.

“Nobody told me that!” Claire shouted back gleefully. Bucky was waiting to block Hogun as Claire kicked the ball further up the field.

“What in Hel’s name are you doing?” Loki raced to Thor’s side, hoisting his oafish brother to his feet by his collar. “We are going to lose!”

“Did you see her throw me, brother?” Thor laughed in amazement. “She is fast as lightning!” he crowed.

“Gods, you are a fool. Come on!” Loki took off running, intent on stealing the ball back from Claire and Anja before they could score. He caught up to Claire easily, but she sensed him coming and darted to the side, evading his long reach. He followed closely, their arms tangling as they fought over the ball. Claire’s foot hooked around his and he was tugged off balance. Loki hit the dirt, rolling as Claire kicked the ball far ahead to Anja. He watched it sail through the air with sinking hope for victory. His teammates made no effort to foil their opponents and it reached the blonde with no interference. Loki watched in dismay as the captain allowed Anja to leisurely approach the goal and lightly tap the ball between the goal posts.

“Great job, sweetheart.” Steve praised as the crowd cheered from the stands. Anja smiled, squeaking with surprise when Bucky swooped in from behind and she found herself sandwiched between the pair.

“Gross.” Claire’s nose wrinkled as both men kissed Anja on the cheek.

“Victors are meant to celebrate,” Loki mused from the ground. “No kiss for me, I suppose.” he sighed theatrically.

“And risk scandal? Perish the thought.” Claire replied.

“It’s the least you could do after besting me.” Loki groused.

“Told you I’d wipe the floor with you,” Loki’s ire faded as Claire grinned down at him, arms crossed over her chest. Seeing her satisfied grin was worth being knocked to the ground. “Need a hand?” she helped him to his feet, helping him brush dirt and loose grass off his tunic.

“Well done.”

“Thanks. How’s Thor?”

“In awe of your skill, apparently,” Loki chuckled. “You shall have to teach me that move.”

“You know, I offer private lessons.”

“Do you?” Loki purred. “When could one partake in said lessons?” Claire wasn’t able to respond, as she and Loki were swept up in celebrating both her teams victory, and the end of the wedding games.

~~~~

“Say what you want,” Claire said around a mouthful of fire-roasted bird (she kept telling herself it was chicken). “They might be a little weird, but the Asgardians know how to party.” Despite the full day’s itinerary, people had flooded the beaches at sunset, setting massive mounds of wood ablaze along the coastline. People milled all around them- dancing, laughing, and eating and drinking as they celebrated the summer solstice. It seemed everyone with hair had braided beautiful blooms of flowers into their hairdos, even the men.

Claire sat beside a large bonfire with her uncle, taking a break from socializing with all the guests. She had to hand it to her new mother-in-law, combining her and Loki’s wedding with the celebration of the summer solstice had garnered a massive turnout. All around them people seemed to be having the time of their lives as they danced around the monumental fires.

“Do you think you could be happy here?” Phil asked somberly, breaking the happy spell cast on the evening. Claire stopped chewing, looking at him in surprise. She knew that as the wedding loomed closer, her uncle’s guilt for talking her into this grew. Now that it was less than 24 hours away, he was a mess. (Let’s be honest, so was she.)

“Honestly…” Claire looked around at all the frolicking people, adorned with flower crowns and henna tattoos of runes and sigils, and felt oddly at home. She’d always felt called to witchcraft so she was familiar with runes and divination, both of which seemed ingrained in the culture here. In Asgard, she wouldn’t be considered weird for her witchy proclivities. “I think I’m gonna love it.”

“Don’t lie just to appease me, Claire. I know you’re nervous.”

“I am, it’s true. All of this is definitely going to take some getting used to, but I can see myself being really happy here. This beach party makes me feel right at home.” Further along the beach, Claire spotted Thor and Loki among the crowd, both of them bedecked in braids and flowers. She had seen Loki sporadically through the crowd, nursing a mead. Thor was already drunk, hanging onto Loki for balance as they made their way to a blanket. Loki was in his signature green, although he’d forgone the leather for the beach party. Instead he wore soft-looking pants and a linen-type shirt, the fabric draping over him sensually as it shifted in the breeze. The v-neck of the top showed a triangle of his skin, and Claire wanted to see more. Bereft of his leathers, he looked practically naked. Slutty.

As if he knew she was gawking, Loki’s green eyes flicked in her direction, catching her in the crowd immediately. The heat of his gaze scorched her. He’d opted to line his eyes with kohl, making the green stand out even more than usual. Without taking his eyes off her, he said something to Thor and set off toward her.

“Even considering…” Phil’s question was lost on the wind as the intense eye contact with Loki continued unbroken as he made his way toward them.

“Hmm?” Claire offered helplessly, lost in the intensity of the gods gaze. Fuck, he’s hot. She suppressed a shiver as she remembered their passionate kiss under the willow tree. She wanted more of those kisses, and she wanted them bad.

“I said-”

“Gleðilegt Jónsmessa!” (Icelandic) Loki announced as he reached their blanket.

“Bless you?” Claire offered. Loki laughed heartily, shaking his head.

“Happy Midsummer to you both,” he translated. “May I?” he gestured to the open space between them on the blanket. Phil looked irritated, but Claire tucked the fan of her skirt beneath her to give him room to sit. “Are you enjoying the celebration?”

“I am, actually. It's not too different from the beach parties back home. Although we didn’t paint runes on our skin and people were usually crossfaded.”

“Crossfaded?” Loki asked.

“Right, sorry,” Claire smiled. “Remember the pot we smoked in the garden?” Loki nodded, ignoring Phil's confused look. “If we'd gotten drunk too, we would have been crossfaded.”

“I see. Is that something you enjoy?” Claire shrugged.

“It's alright, but I prefer weed to alcohol,” She explained. “Can I ask- why is everyone drunk? Is it part of the tradition or-”

“Did no one tell you?” Loki balked. “What a terrible slight,” He scooted closer to her, close enough that their knees pressed together. “Lore has long said that evil spirits walk amongst the living on the longest day of summer. The bonfires are to frighten them away, and ensure a good harvest later in the year. One tradition is that the more a man drinks, the more successful his crops will be come harvest time. Over time it's changed to anyone's endeavors and people imbibe in Freyja's name.”

“She's the goddess of midsummer? I thought it was love and fertility.”

“She is also associated with the sun and the warmth of summer,” Loki replied. “There is also a tradition for lovers to jump over a bonfire together- it is supposed to bring good luck.”

“Good luck as in lots of babies? The pagans considered midsummer a celebration of fertility.”

“That they did,” Loki chuckled. “And yes, that is the belief here as well.”

“Are people going to make us jump over a fire?” Loki laughed at her question.

“Possibly,” he said sheepishly. “My mother is all but frothing at the mouth at the idea of children.”

“My mom would be too.”

“What happened to her?” Loki asked gently. “You said she passed when you were young, but-”

“I don't like to talk about it,” Claire chewed her bottom lip, her fingers rubbing her wrist in agitation. “It was really traumatic.”

“My apologies.” Loki frowned. He knew mortals were fragile, but how bad could it have been for the usually composed woman to act that way? Phil looked back and forth between them in silent astonishment. It was like a night and day difference between their first meetings. Instead of shouting and insulting each other, they seemed to have found an equilibrium, or at the very least a modicum of intimacy. Seeing them sit in companionable silence, Phil felt a bit better about talking Claire into this.

“Gleðilegt Jónsmessa!” A young child crowed happily as she waved at the prince and future princess. Her mother looked on from the beach, offering a sheepish smile as her daughter spoke a mile a minute to the prince.

“She is asking if you would like flowers.” Loki translated, smiling at Claire.

“Oh! I thought I couldn't have them,” Claire had wanted flowers, but as an unmarried woman, she wasn't allowed the braids other women wore theirs in.

“The braids, no, but you may have as many flowers as you like.”

“Just one, please.” Loki accepted an orange blossom from the little girl with a smile, turning to offer it to Claire. Claire swept her long hair over her shoulder, and Loki took the opportunity to lean closer.

“Next year,” he murmured as he tucked the stem behind her ear. “You will have a flower crown to put the others to shame.”

“I'll hold you to that.” Claire laughed, glad she wasn't the only one of them thinking about the future. The little girl squealed with delight, throwing her arms around Claire's neck in a surprise hug. Her mother gasped and reached for the girl, but Claire laughed and hugged the little girl back. The girl said something quickly, her small finger toying with the flower petals.

“She says it is as pretty as you are,” Loki translated. “It’s true. The color suits you.”

“Even though it's not green?” Claire teased. “How do I thank her?”

“Tack själv,” Loki replied, charmed when Claire repeated it flawlessly to the young girl before sending her back to her mother with a wave. “You have no runes? No wishes for the coming year?” He asked in surprise when he spied her bare arms.

“I didn't know where to get them! Do you have them?”

“Of course,” Loki grinned, pulling up his sleeves to show off the artwork on his skin. Claire recognized the runes, the symbols for abundance, joy, power and transformation. “Do you know them?”

“Mmhmm,” Claire hummed, tapping each rune with a finger. “Uruz, wunjo, dagaz, fehu.”

“How is it that a Midgardian is wise to the ways of magic?”

“My mom was very religious, but it was never the right fit for me, and when she died...” Claire swallowed. “I rejected it completely. I had a hard time believing a just god could allow her to die the way she did. Still do. Eventually, I found my way to witchcraft.” Claire grinned.

“I see. Someday I will ask you about it. I'm curious how our magics compare.”

“I am too.”

“Loki!” Thor called from a ways down the beach. He had gathered all the Avengers around him, along with a few of the political guests and Asgardians. “LOKI!” he waved cheerfully.

“Norns, what does he want?” Loki sighed.

“You must jump the fire!” Thor cried, miming a jump as best he could in his inebriated state. “Bring your wife to be!”

“He’ll never leave us alone.” Loki groaned, looking over at Claire apologetically. Claire threw her head back and laughed as Thor continued his poor pantomime, spilling mead over himself and the unsuspecting sand beneath his feet.

“We should put him out of his misery,” she said as Thor’s inner lack of equilibrium caught up with him and he dropped his mead. “Just this once.”

“Just this once.” Loki echoed, offering her his hand once he’d gotten to his feet. The group of onlookers cheered as they approached, garnering more attention from the party goers. Before long, a large crowd had gathered around the bonfire. Excitement filled the air as space was made for them to approach the fire, welcoming them into the circle.

Loki was even more handsome in the firelight, the dancing flames casting shadows that danced along his sharp cheekbones like a lovers caress. If she stretched up on her tiptoes, she’d be able to kiss the smooth expanse of his cheek. She considered it, until she saw how worried he looked.

“Loki? You okay?” she asked. Loki’s eyes darted from the fire to hers, the wild edge receding when she grabbed his hand. Was she imagining it or was his hand shaking?

“...yes, I’m fine,” Loki replied absently, his throat fighting to close up as he tried to ignore the flashbacks of the last time he’d been this close to fire. Claire wasn’t convinced; he could tell by the way her lips twisted. Thankfully, she said nothing as the crowd parted began calling for them to jump. “Are you ready?” Tucking her concern aside for the time being, Claire looked back at what awaited them.

The fire beckoned like a glistening promise of what was to come, if they were brave enough to face it. Coming to Asgard was a challenge unlike any Claire had ever faced before, but Loki made the struggle worth it. Despite their rocky start, Claire felt they’d found their equilibrium at last, and formed a strong bond to see them through the challenges still yet to come. She just hoped he felt the same.

The fire crackled loudly, wispy fingers of smoke beckoning them closer. The only way out was through.

“Ready, Freddy,” Claire looked up at Loki, smiling when he laced their fingers together. “Let’s do this.”

There was a short run, a flicker of heat, a feeling of weightlessness, and then sand between her toes as they touched back down.

Loki's shirt collar rode low on his chest as they landed on the other side, allowing her to see the rune above his heart. It was the bindrune for love. For all their flirting and skirting the line of the rules, seeing the rune made Claire's heart flutter like nothing else. Physical connections were one thing, but to know he wanted something deeper made her happy enough to burst. He does feel the same.

An eruption of cheers met them as those gathered shouted their congratulations and showered them with blooms from their braids. Loki’s hand reached out to fix the flower in her hair, his thumb tracing the apple of her cheek. Claire was about to tackle him onto the sand when Thor lumbered his way over.

“Congratulations to you both,” he said warmly, massive hands clasping their shoulders. “My new sister!” he shook her excitedly, releasing her as he leaned in close. Loki’s hands steadied her when she staggered, warmth from his palms blooming over her hips. “I was able to procure the gift you asked for.”

“Are you shitting me?” Claire burst into laughter, rocking back into Loki’s broad frame. “You actually found a talking llama?”

“Of course! A prince of Asgard always keeps his word,” Thor puffed up with pride, his face breaking into a huge grin as he pulled her into a hug. “I am joking, sister. It is only a regular llama. Try not to be too disappointed, hmm?” he laughed as he released her again. “In the name of Odin All-father- I, Thor Odinson, do hereby bless this union!” he shouted in his booming voice, spurring another round of cheers from the crowded beach. “May you be fruitful, and happy.” he gave Loki a meaningful glance, embracing them both again before going off in search of more mead.

“Would you like some runes?” Loki asked over the roar of the crowd. “I can paint them for you.”

“Yes! I'd love some.” Claire was grateful for a reprieve from the mortification of strangers cheering for her to get pregnant.

“I will fetch the supplies,” Loki smiled. “Excuse me.” Claire made her way back to the blanket where Phil waited, waving at the people who greeted her.

“So you two are friendly now?” Phil asked as she sat down again. Claire's cheeks turned pink as he stared at her knowingly.

“We've been spending time together.” she replied defensively.

“Supervised time?” Phil pressed.

“Obviously,” Claire said. “You know the rules as well as I do.”

“Mmhmm.” Phil wasn't convinced, but he wasn't going to run to Odin about it. Even if Phil did not like or trust Loki, they were adults.

“Something to say?” Claire challenged as she picked at the hem of her skirt. She really wasn't one for dresses, but they were growing on her. The material was so soft it felt like butter.

“Just weird, that's all. You seem awfully close for people who haven't spent any time alone.”

“Mmhmm,” Claire said absently. “Look I know you're not fooled, so just don't say anything okay?”

“How did he do it?”

“How did who do what?” Claire asked innocently. “I don't know what you're talking about.”

“Mmhmm.” Phil grumped. Claire returned to picking at her skirt as Loki returned with henna ink and a brush.

“Which runes would you like?”

“Surprise me, but I have one request.”

“Of course.” Claire smiled shyly before looking directly at the spot above his heart. Loki grinned, and she thought she saw a faint blush on his cheeks as he took brush to ink and got to work. He worked methodically, creating straight, confident lines with a steady hand. She watched him work, completely relaxed under his hands. She took the opportunity to really study him, the sharp angle of his cheek bones, the arch of his eyebrows, the length of his eye lashes. A strand of his long black hair had escaped the braids and hung in his handsome face, curling softly against his cheek and looking sleek as an oil spill in the light from the fire. Claire studied the elegant shape of his hands, appreciating the soft sensation of their skin brushing as he worked. His forearms were slim and toned, and she could see the veins and cords of muscle flex beneath his skin. Though hidden from her gaze, Claire knew his biceps were just as luscious and the way the fabric of his shirt stretched over them was making her feel feral. He really was a beautiful man. Between them, their legs touched at the knee, the tops of their bare feet squished together. The hem of Claire's dress fluttered in the breeze, exposing her ankle, and Claire laughed suddenly at the thought of Loki fainting at the sight.

“Are you alright?” He asked, looking up from his work.

“Yeah, just had a funny thought,” she explained. “My ankle is showing.”

“How scandalous.” Loki teased.

“Not gonna faint?”

“Not after seeing your-” Loki stopped, glancing over at Phil. “Never mind,” Claire smiled wolfishly as she recalled how he'd reacted to seeing her in leggings. The poor bastard had no idea what was coming. “It's not funny.”

“I think it's hilarious. God of mischief, struck dumb by a pair of leggings.”

“It was not the leggings, but what they contained. Or rather, barely contained. I have half a mind to disallow you from wearing them in public.”

“Fat chance,” Claire replied. “And honey, if you think those were scandalous, you've got another thing coming.” Loki hung his head, exhaling through his nose.

“You're trying to distract me. Let me work, please, lest you end up rich in fish.” Claire giggled at his ludicrous threat.

“Considering my love for sushi, that sounds lovely.” Loki snickered along with her as he finished the last rune.

“I'm afraid I can't give you this one,” he tapped the end of the brush on his chest. “It wouldn't be appropriate.”

“Okay, I'll do it then. Lemme see?” She asked, taking the brush from him. Loki swallowed before tugging his shirt collar down to expose the rune. Claire tugged her own collar down to begin painting the rune when Phil finally seemed to wise up to what they were doing and flicked water at them from his glass.

“Behave please. You're in public.”

“For fucks sake, he's gonna see it tomorrow anyway!” Claire groaned in exasperation, rolling her eyes when Phil shook his head.

“Look I personally don't care. But there are very specific rules here.”

“Fuck the rules. We're getting married in less than 24 hours,” Claire huffed. “Ridiculous.”

“Perhaps it would be best-”

“It'll take two seconds, mischief,” Claire pleaded. “Unless you really don't want to risk it.”

“Do it.” Loki challenged, pulling his collar back down with a smirk. Claire grinned back, getting to work painting the rune above the swell of her left breast. Each time she glanced at the rune on Loki's chest, he was staring at her unrepentantly. She figured he was ogling her just as she'd done to him earlier, and pulled her collar lower just to give him something to stare at.

Loki couldn't help but stare as she lowered her collar further than necessary. He'd had reservations going into this farce, but now...he dared any to stop them from being wed tomorrow. His ever present desire for her bubbled in his veins and any man who dared try to take her from him would die slowly and painfully. He spied a speck of black in the valley between her breasts and straightened, trying to see it better.

“It's a tattoo,” Claire said knowingly, catching his eye as she finished painting the rune. “Similar to these, but this is permanent. Wanna see?” She grinned wolfishly, making him laugh as he nodded. She glanced around for any naysayers before exposing the tattoo. Loki found himself filled with a new appreciation for the moon cycles as he drank in the sight of her tattoo. Whimsical and delicate star bursts lay scattered around phases of the moon connected by a thin line of dashes. Dividing her chest in half, the tattoo graced the valley between her breasts like a hanging chain. The black ink contrasted her creamy skin beautifully, and he longed to trace it with his fingertips and tongue.

“It's lovely.”

“Any chance I'll see you later tonight?” Claire asked quietly. “I could show you up close.”

“I cannot tonight, darling. At least, not as I have been. I have wedding duties to attend to after this.”

“That's unfortunate,” Claire sighed. “Here I was hatching schemes.”

“You’ll have to hatch your schemes tomorrow night, menace,” Loki's eyes shone with mischief as they shared a smile. “Otherwise I will be unable to fulfill my duties tomorrow.”

“Well when you put it that way,” Claire dabbed the rune on her chest with her finger to test its dryness. When her finger came away clean, she released her collar and Loki mourned the loss. “It’s a date.”

~~~~

Halfway through the night, Claire was jostled awake by a woman asking her to follow her. At the woman’s insistence that it was important, Claire begrudgingly left her warm bed and followed the woman out of her chambers and down the darkened palace hallways. After what felt like an eternity of walking, the woman ushered Claire into a dimly lit large room and closed the door behind them. As Claire’s eyes adjusted the low lighting, she noticed the unusual number of couches as well as people that filled the room.

“What in the hell…?” Claire’s foggy brain was working overtime to try and process what was going on. Loki’s words from early echoed in her mind: Sleep well. You will need it. Turning back to the woman she asked, “What is this?”

“It is your kvángaðr vaka, my lady.” The girl replied.

“My what?” Claire asked, blanching as a man approached her with his arms outstretched. “Um…hi. Can I help y-hey!” Claire slapped the man’s hands away when he tried to remove her nightgown.

“Please don’t be alarmed, my lady. We only wish to please you.” The man said apologetically.

“I don’t understand. I am half asleep and confused and I want you to stop touching me.” Claire said, pushing the man’s hands away a second time. “Who are you? What is going on?!”

“This is a safe place, my lady; no harm will come to you here,” the woman replied gently. “We are masters in the sacred arts of pleasure. This is called a marriage awakening in your tongue. It is meant for you to discover what pleases you so that your marriage bed will be enjoyable.”

“Be that as it may…” Claire said hesitantly, trying to think of the most diplomatic answer. “I’m not sure Prince Loki would like the idea of-”

“But he is already here, my lady.” The woman answered, gesturing to a far corner of the room.

“What?” Claire balked, following the woman’s arm to where Loki stood…with his cock in a blonde woman’s mouth as she knelt in front of him. How charming. “Oh,” she added quietly, pointedly ignoring the lines of muscle she could see from here. Loki hid his physique behind all the metal and leather, and oh my was he hiding a feast for her eyes. Claire wasn’t sure where to look first- his large hands as they guided the woman’s head, the peppering of dark hairs that trailed enticingly down his chest, his thighs, his biceps…

Arousal pooled between her thighs as she gaped at him helplessly, her jaw slack as she burned in awe of his strength. She’d seen his muscles up close in the training arena, but she wanted to know what his hands felt like in her hair as he fucked her mouth.

“My lady?”

“I wasn’t drooling,” Claire blurted quickly, snapping her attention away from the smooth motion of Loki’s hips to the woman beside her, curling her lips inward as the woman gave her a respectful look that clearly meant ‘okay bitch, whatever you say’. “I still don’t understand.”

“That’s alright, my lady; we will guide you,” the woman said. “Our goal is to help you learn what your body likes. Tomorrow before the wedding ceremony, we will give our report to Prince Loki. Don’t worry, my lady, you shall receive a report as well,” she added, placating Claire before she could open her mouth. “This way, when your marriage is consummated, it will be more enjoyable for you both.”

“That…actually makes sense,” Claire found herself saying. “But what about the ‘no-sex-before-marriage’ thing?” she asked.

“Do not fret my lady, your maidenhead will remain intact,” the serving girl assured her. “We would never deny your husband his privilege.”

“Privilege,” Claire repeated numbly, glancing over at Loki again, who still had his cock in a woman’s mouth (not that she was surprised) and was face-fucking her rather roughly. Jesus dude. Definitely ignoring how hot that is. Wait, is that a different girl? “Riiiight.”

In the firelight, Claire could very clearly see the flex of Loki’s strong thighs and the dimples of his ass cheeks as he fucked into the pliant mouth of the woman on her knees. Her hands grasped at his thighs for balance, and Claire’s insides burned with fury and jealousy. How dare that cunt think she had a right to touch her Loki?

“You said arts? Multiple?” Claire asked. The woman smiled, offering her hand.

“Indeed I did, Your Highness.”

~~~~

“Enjoying yourself?” Loki’s silky smooth voice hissed in her ear, completely shattering her little world. She was laid out, naked, on a remarkably comfortable couch, with the man from before face-planted between her thighs. The woman who’d woken her sat behind her, cradling Claire against her chest as she caressed Claire’s goose-pimpled flesh with soft furs.

“I was,” Claire sighed irritably as she opened her eyes to glare at him, her jealousy from earlier coming back to the fore. “What do you want?”

“I’m simply curious what has you making so much noise.” Loki said teasingly, enjoying the annoyed look on Claire’s face.

“I’m surprised you could hear anything over your grunting.” Claire shot back. Loki grimaced for a brief second before flashing a joking smile.

“Yes well…dry spells will have that effect on anyone.”

“True.” Claire conceded as a shiver ran through her. She could feel her orgasm building but if she was honest, the man between her legs was prolonging it more than helping her reach it. She could easily give him instructions, but she was content to enjoy the prolonged pleasure at this point.

“Have you come yet?” Loki asked softly, his eyes rapt on the dark hair between her thighs.

“Working on a third,” Claire sighed. “Why, have you?” she asked nonchalantly, shivering as a fur trailed across her nipples.

“Of course I have. Twice.” Loki scoffed.

“That’s twice?!” Claire balked as her eyes dropped to his still-raging hard on. Loki shot her a wolfish smile.

“And I have several more left in me. Think of the fun we’ll have, little wife,” he smirked, dropping to his knees behind her head. “Shall I give him directions?” he said softly in her ear, sending a chill down her spine. Claire nodded helplessly, wanting so desperately to reach her peak. And maybe, just maybe, a small part of her wished Loki would touch her. Okay, a big part.

“Please.” She said airily, her face flushing when he grinned predatorily at her.

“You’re off center, boy. To the left,” Loki instructed the man, smirking satisfactorily when Claire’s body seized and she gave a loud squeal. “Hold her down, for goodness sake; you’ll never get any traction with her thrashing about,” he snapped, watching with delight as Claire’s face flamed, her breath coming in pants as her hips twitched. The man’s grip turned to iron, keeping Claire in place as the woman’s arms locked around her to keep her still. “Harder,” He commanded, growling appreciatively as one of Claire’s hands fisted in the hair at his nape. “Better?”

“Better!” Claire gasped, her body tensing and jerking as she imagined how nice it would be if Loki were to pinch her nipples. Her orgasm swelled and burst suddenly and she stopped caring that she was on display as she felt as it crashed through her.

“Oh, I can’t wait to do this to you myself,” Loki groaned in her ear as his hand snaked its way down her belly, leaving electric ripples of pleasure in its wake. “Tomorrow it will be me pleasuring you- my head between your thighs and my tongue on your clit,” Claire’s muscles clenched in anticipation as his long fingers neared the top of her sex. “What do you think of that, little wife?” he murmured heatedly.

“Prince Loki.” the woman holding Claire broke the spell, her eyes focused on his hand pointedly.

“My intended is more than capable of saying whether she minds my touching her,” Loki replied shortly as he stood up. “Aren’t you?” Claire was puzzled by his question. Did she mind? Two seconds ago she was aching for him to touch her between her thighs, but now she just wanted a nap. Well, if she didn’t know, he wouldn’t either. Or so she thought, until the smug bastard grinned at her. “Focus, darling, do you wish for me to stop?”

“Not really, but shouldn’t your dick be in someone else’s face right now?” she managed to ask in an exasperated tone. Good job Claire. Loki gave a soft laugh.

“Quite right,” he agreed. “But since I helped you…whom do you think I should solicit next? The brunette or the redhead?”

[gthreepio]

i’ve been thinking about the future of the mcu and realized there’s a LOT that i didn’t know/didn’t remember in terms of where things are going so i figured i’d sum it up incase anyone else was in the same boat!! 

quick recap of (unresolved) mid-credit scenes:

doctor strange: mordo (a sorcerer that is one of strange’s mentors, who by the end of the movie becomes disillusioned with magic/the ancient one and quits) confronts pangborn (the paraplegic who healed himself with the mystic arts, who tells strange about mystic arts in the first place) and steals his magic because according to mordo, there are “too many sorcerers." of note, this guy is typically a villain in the comics but hasn’t been thus far...

gotg2: ayesha (leader of the sovereign, a golden skinned alien race obsessed with genetic purity), after spending most of the movie chasing the guardians for stealing some stuff, is revealed to have created an artificial being named “adam” which is presumably, adam warlock. (other stuff that is less relevant: kraglin appears to take up yondu’s mantle; the ravagers regroup and several old and obscure comic book characters are introduced [charlie-27, aleta, martinex, mainframe]; the watchers are watching things.) 

far from home: j jonah jameson basically tells the whole world spider-man’s secret identity, and frames him for what happened with mysterio....making him public enemy #1. ALSO, turns out nick fury and maria hill in the movie were ACTUALLY the two skrulls from captain marvel (talos and soren) attempting to do their job, while the real fury (and presumably hill) is ... up in space on some spaceship!!!

wandavision: monica (who we can assume is photon) is called by “an old friend of [her] mother’s,” up in space, which presumably means fury, talos, or carol. ALSO, wanda sits in the middle of nowhere reading the darkhold and hears the voices of her children who.. by all accounts, should not exist. 

aaaaand what we know about future movies (i’m not even going into the tv series.....): 

black widow: 

takes place after civil war

nat confronts a “dangerous conspiracy with ties to her past,” likely has to do with taskmaster who has apparently taken over the red room where nat was trained as an assassin

prominent new characters: yelena belova, who will take over the mantle of black widow after this; alexei shostakov aka red guardian, an ollllld marvel hero analogous to captain america except for the soviet union.

tony stark will make an appearance... SOBS

shang-chi and the legend of the ten rings:

shang-chi has never been seen in the mcu before, but he is, essentially, a superhero that is a master martial artist, and in some adaptations can also create duplicate (fake) versions of himself to confuse opponents

main villain will be the the mandarin who we have *sort of* seen before... he is the leader of a terrorist organization called “ten rings” whose main goal is to destroy world peace. brief history -- in iron man 1: one ten rings cell kidnaps tony stark and tries to force him to make weapons (he of course, makes his suit instead). stark and ten rings become enemies and fight a bunch. nat and nick fury fight them too. in iron man 3, the villain aldrich killian hires a dude to pretend to be the mandarin and claim responsibility for a bunch of stuff, but its not the ten rings or the mandarin at all. this makes the mandarin v mad and he has a dude kidnap the faker to punish him. they also briefly show up in ant-man, when a ten rings agent tries to buy the yellowjacket suit that darren cross is selling. BUT IN SHANG-CHI....... looks like we are FINALLY going to see the real mandarin after over a decade!! 

the villain razor fist will also show up, he is lesser known... he has no superhuman powers but he has surgically replaced his hands (1 or 2, depending on the version) with a steel blade, and is highly skilled at hand to hand combat.

besides the presence of these characters, the only bit of plot we know is “shang-chi is drawn into the ten rings organization and forced to confront his past.” so... yeah. we don’t know much at all.

eternals: 

quick explanation: the eternals are an immortal alien race who have been secretly living on earth for thousands of years. they were created by the celestials, who are most prominently in gotg2. 

more entirely new characters!!! their names are: thena, who can form any weapon out of cosmic energy; gilgamesh, who can make a super strong exoskeleton out of cosmic energy; ikaris, who has superhuman strength, flies, and can project cosmic energy out his eyes; kingo, who can shoot cosmic energy projectiles from his hands; makkari, who creates sonic booms, has super speed, and is deaf; phastos, who has enhanced intelligence, and is also gay (and married with a kid!); ajak, who has healing powers; sprite, who can project illusions; sersi, who can manipulate matter; druig, who can mind control; and dane whitman (black knight), a human with a mystical sword. 

regarding the plot... it seems the eternals have kind of dispersed, but have to come together again to fight the deviants, who are their “evil counterparts” (also created by the celestials, though i’m unclear on why). thena and gilgamesh have apparently been in exile, unclear why; sersi, who is posing as a museum curator, has apparently been in love with ikaris for centuries and it seems as if their love story may be central to the film; and kingo is a bollywood film star in his spare time. aaaaand that’s pretty much all we know.

directed by chloé zhao of nomadland fame! 

spider-man no way home: 

based on the post-credits scene in far from home, peter parker will now be known as spider-man to everyone. unclear if he’s going to be seen as a bad guy due to mysterio framing him, but i guess we’ll see! 

jamie foxx is electro, and alfred molina is doctor octopus; which is VERY interesting considering they played these roles in other spider-man franchises, once again stirring up excitement for possible multiverse. 

there have been *multiple* reports that andrew garfield, kirsten dunst, tobey maguire, and emma stone will be in the movie but tom holland has repeatedly denied this... so... who knows. 

there are also rumors that matt murdock / daredevil (from netflix) will be in several scenes! not confirmed though. 

MJ is still his girlfriend and i hope it stays that way!! 

doctor strange will be featured in the movie, taking on the mentor role now that tony stark is gone :( this will be interesting as i.. haven’t really seen them interact much before. because of this inclusion some people speculate that the film may draw inspo from some comic storylines where peter’s secret identity is restored with magic. 

doctor strange in the multiverse of madness: 

scarlet witch is essentially co-starring!!! it’s going to be really interesting to see if they bring vision or the twins into this at all, though i’m not counting on it. 

seems like mordo will be the main villain -- recall the ds1 post credits scene where he is apparently running around trying to steal people’s magic.

america chavez will make her debut!!!!!! i have no idea how this plays into anything but i am so excited!! 

regarding the plot, all we really know is that strange has been researching the time stone, mordo messes with him, and this results in him accidentally unleashing “unspeakable evil.” presumably there will also be heavy involvement of the multiverse, and who knows what kind of craziness that will bring!! 

initially was going to be directed by scott derrickson who did ds1; however he stepped down to being just EP due to “creative differences.” i am presuming this is because derrickson really wanted to make this more gothic and horror than disney was comfortable with. i REALLY hope they keep some of those elements though and don’t erase the idea entirely! anyway, it will be directed by sam raimi now (of evil dead and spiderman 2002 fame). 

the film also reportedly ties in with the loki series (will loki show up!?) and spiderman 3 (which is obvious enough, given that strange is in that movie and those curious electro and doctor octopus castings...)

thor: love and thunder

directed by taika waititi again, hell yeah!!! and he has stated, the film will be “so over the top now in the very best way" and would make ragnarok look like a "run of the mill, very safe film" .... so.... oh god

so many great returning players!!! including.... valkyrie (now the king of new asgard), jane foster, lady sif, korg, star-lord, mantis, drax, nebula, and kraglin (takes up yondu’s mantle after he dies in gotg2)

in this movie, thor isn’t thor anymore.... it’s JANE!!! she gets cancer :( and is undergoing treatment while simultaneously being thor. i’m a little nervous how this will be handled, but i’m excited. (it’s based off an amazing comic series by jason aaron) 

the big bad: gorr the god butcher, played by christian bale! the gist of it is, this dude HATES gods because nobody helped when his family was dying and in need. his weapon is “all-black the necrosword,” forged from the head of a celestial, and allows the user to create wings and fly at extreme speeds. honestly, he sounds cool as fuck. 

valkyrie is going to be made canonically bisexual!!! 

it will explore more of korg’s backstory, and also include... space sharks!?!?! an alien race from the comics.

taika has called the script “very romantic” so take that as you will 

black panther 2

will again be directed by ryan coogler

not much is known at this point, does not have an official name

t’challa will NOT be recast (which i’m happy about) so..... honestly no idea what to expect for this one. i think we can probably expect shuri to have an expanded role. all we know so far is they will be “exploring the world of wakanda.” not clear to me how this is different from the upcoming wakanda D+ series. 

tenoch huerta has reportedly been cast as a villain, but no one has any idea who. there’s also rumors that donald glover is in “informal talks” to play a role. note all of this is unconfirmed.

captain marvel 2

will be directed by nia da costa (candyman!) and written by megan mcdonnell, who is one of wandavision’s best writers! 

will take place in the present day 

will feature kamala khan / ms. marvel, monica rambeau / photon!!! this will be so interesting.... kamala is a huge fan of carol’s in the comics, she is her mentor/idol. the ms. marvel series will also resportedly lead into cm2. and monica, well, monica knew her when she was a little kid. wandavision implies that there’s some bad blood between carol and monica though, not sure why. maybe because carol left and never came back? (until endgame) 

post-credits scene of wandavision appears to tie into this, having monica go up into space at the reqeust of her “mom’s old friend.” again, not clear who that is. this could also be a tie in to secret invasion though, so we’ll see. or both.

zawe ashton has been cast as an unknown villain... a lot of people are actually speculating that she may play rogue? which would be fascinating, as there’s a comic arc where rogue steals her powers and memories. BUT there’s still no confirmation that X-men exist in the MCU so for now i remain skeptical.

they are looking to cast a ‘john boyega’ or ‘michael b jordan’ type which makes me wonder if they are going to create a new character, a “younger” war machine to be her love interest? (note: carol and rhodey are a huge thing in comics!) carol obviously does not look her age but her and don cheadle.... that just doesn’t work. which is why i wonder.

ant-man and the wasp: quantumania 

in addition to scott and hope, pretty much all the major players are returning including: luis, hank pym, janet van dyne

cassie lang has been recast with an actress 5 years older, which is really making me wonder if they are going to make her stinger in this movie! (aka one of the main young avengers)

the villain: kang the conqueror! this dude time travels. original name nate richards. in the comics, kang travels back in time to rescue his younger self (nate) from an attack that would help shape him towards a life of villainy. kang also gives him some fancy armor. his younger self actually is like, what the fuck dude? and renounces his destiny, becoming a hero. and he makes his armor look like iron man, calling himself iron lad. who is a young avenger. which also makes me wonder about cassie lang.

otherwise not much is known! 

guardians of the galaxy vol. 3

james gunn is returning, i’m mixed about this...he really does *get* the guardians though. 

based on the gotg2 post credits scene, i think we can assume adam warlock will be a HUGE part of this. there are multiple versions of him, some villainous and some heroic, but no idea how this is gonna turn out.

no word yet on whether thor will be involved, or if those ravagers they introduced will be involved. 

fantastic four 

will be directed by the spiderman guy, john watts.

otherwise we know literally nothing.

aaaaand that’s the roundup! 

[unqualified-critic]

I’d like to start off this review with the reminder that these people put their heart and soul into their work. They work countless hours, while I sit on my ass and type on a blog. I have no film experience, or writing skill, yet plenty of opinions.

I was initially very excited for the series, I love Loki as a character and Tom Hiddleston always does a fantastic job playing him (I actually wish they had him write the character instead of giving him minimal input) However, I wish I didn't watch past episode 3. The directing and writing felt sloppy at best. Loki felt extremely out of character. The development he goes through feels overnight. Remember this is the same Loki that ripped out a guys eye and the next day is in the TVA.

We see Loki go through great change in Dark World and Ragnarok (I get it we can’t all be Taika Waititi) despite the limited scenes featuring him. I’m the movies we see his transition from evil, but he is still the god of mischief, first and foremost. Those movies were maybe 5 hours together, yet better translated the characters depth, than the entire show about him. If it really was about Loki... the series felt as if Loki is back seat to a long monologue filled with plot holes.

There is a severe lack of action. At one point it is addressed that magic cannot be used in the TVA; but Loki is still witty, a good fighter, and has super human strength. We see none of that here and he is reduced to a powerless shell of himself. The few over the top “super hero” effects used, were produced beautifully by the cgi and film crew. The TVA set was well produced and fun with the retro “DMV” feel. The simple costume design with neutral colors and progressively darker lighting, could've paired nicely in contrast against Loki’s character. He’s typically sarcastic, quick on his feet, egotistical, and energetically self absorbed. This series he didn’t even feel broken or exhausted, just bland. Hey, you should always have artistic vision and change material. But characters can only be changed so far, and so quickly without any sustainable reason. It felt almost like a fan-fiction written from the writers ideas, and not the source material.

One of my biggest issues and final straws was the relationship. The relationship felt very forced and wrong. Slyvie and Loki are essentially twins, due to the same parentage. A love interest is not necessary in every series, and it took away from this one severely. I found myself dreading the finale due to the obvious upcoming kiss. The director, Kate Herron, addressed that it was to represent self love...however if you have to explain why it's not incest, it's probably incest. I understand some people don't mind because Slyvie doesn't feel like a Loki (Maybe it's the fact that she looks like and is named after Enchantress rather than lady Loki...not very creative guys) But it made me very uncomfortable. The director is a LGBT woman herself, yet I feel she was locked in a very male gaze, heteronormative, direction. A woman can co-star without being a love interest. An example of this done well is Loki’s friendly relationship with Verity in the comic Agent of Asgard. They met and became friends in only a matter of comics, with better tangibility of relations. In the comics we also see as a version of Lady Loki, and expression of gender-fluidity; without feeling forced or “woke.” On that note, if Loki is established as gender fluid in the MCU, why is there only one female variant of him. The other variants even express surprise of there being a female variant.

Slyvie lacks depth and felt “gatekeep, gaslight, girlboss.” Sophia Di Martino plays Slyvie well and I have no qualms with the castings. I was very excited for a female character with more story than Black Widow, but it was never given. It’s been confirmed that Sylvie isn’t Enchantress, however for the sake of character design, continuity, and incest...I hope she is and that they’re just keeping it a secret.

With a second season coming, I’m glad a new director will be taking the reins. As bad as I feel saying it. Disney has the budget to do better, and not use a “well let’s see what they make” strategy.

I’m not sure how a series can feel so rushed and so empty at the same time. As if it was drawn out to waste time and tell us nothing.

I also found the secondary characters like Owen Wilson’s Mobius and Wunmi Mosaku who plays hunter b-15 likable but underused. Something that left a bad taste in my mouth was how all the characters played by POC were bad guys or killed off. For those unaware this is a trope often exercised by “progressive” creators, usually attempting to include black or Hispanic characters but promptly killing them off or reducing them to a villain. This all just contributes to an absolutely messy series.

No, I didn’t think they’d reverse Loki’s death, give us gender shifting Loki, or Lady Loki as she is from the comics. However the lack of coherent writing (not that I’m one to talk,) contrast of Loki’s character, and rushed emptiness, was a major disappointment. If you love this character, don’t go past episode 2. Feel free to let me know your thoughts both critically and enjoyability at face value.

TLDR: good acting, casting, special effects. Poor character development, weird incest relationship, empty “progressiveness” and lack of action.

Wouldn’t watch past episode 2 if I could go back in time

[yet-another-fan-girl9]

Panic

Summary: A prank Loki pulls has much worse consequences than he anticipated. OR Loki doesn’t really know how to deal with his feelings. [Set after Ragnarok but IW and Endgame doesn’t happen]

Warnings: language, spiders, arachnophobia, panic attack

Word Count: 2492

A/N: This idea has been bouncing around my head for a while so here it is! 

~*~

In Loki’s opinion, the Avenger’s compound in upstate New York (apparently the ‘State’ was called New York but the city he had invaded almost a decade ago was also called New York, those strange Midgardians) was as ugly as a pile of horse shit. It was short and wide, plainly white with large windows. Completely different from Asgard’s beautiful golden towers and spires. The only thing he would have enjoyed was the forest surrounding the compound. Keywords being: would have.

The fucking ‘Earth’s Mightiest Heroes’ didn’t trust Loki enough to let him off of the compound’s property. Thor had vouched for him but then he had left with the Valkyrie to find a good location for the people of Asgard to rebuild their lives. Thor had said that Loki has changed and had helped save the Asgardians. Obviously the Avengers didn’t trust Loki.

He felt like a goddamned child being watched constantly and he knew that they felt the same. That they were babysitting Loki. To earn their trust, the infamous God of Mischief began his stay on his best behavior, but he was just that. The God of Mischief.

And he couldn’t stay out of trouble for long…

Now, first things first, there were a few more all righteous Avengers than the last time Loki was on Midgard.

There was the Witch. Loki thought her abilities were quite remarkable. When he had first been brought to the group of heroes, she was the one who probed his mind for malicious intent. Although he wouldn’t admit it, Loki was surprised at how powerful she was and how easily she had gotten into his head. She had gotten her powers with the use of the Mind Stone from his staff.

The same Mind Stone sat on the Vision’s forehead. It didn’t take long for Loki to deduce that there was something going on between the Witch and the android.

There was a kid. Parker always called him ‘Mr. Loki’ when he got the chance to speak to him. And every time Loki spoke to Parker was interesting, he was a clever kid, until Stark whisked him away.

There was another supersoldier like the Captain. Apparently the metal armed man was the Captian’s friend from long ago. He had been forced to be an assassin by an evil organization. The same organization that had given the witch her powers. The assassin didn’t talk much but Loki had quickly learned not to get on Barnes’ bad side.

The same couldn’t be said about the seemingly always joyous ‘Falcon.’ He wasn’t enhanced and relied on a suit like Stark or the James Rhodes who occasionally popped in and out of the compound.

Then there was the Siren. Another victim of ‘Hydra’ (their emblem wasn’t a hydra at all, but rather an octopus. Fucking idiotic Midgardians.) To say Loki liked her or was curious about her would be an understatement. Obviously, though, he hid his interest well. The Siren wasn’t just called the Siren because she could control people with her words, but also because she inexplicably called to him in a way he could not resist.

The first day he spoke to her, she had shocked him with her quick, witty replies that could rival Stark’s, and dare he say even his. Loki remembered her sauntering off with a smirk and a swish of her hips before he could recover from her unexpected remark. It didn’t make him mad as he had expected. What made him mad was the feelings in his chest and stomach whenever she was around. He didn’t know what to do.

Second things second. Loki was tired of being good and compliant. He wouldn’t do anything bad, but Wilson gave him an idea when Loki watched the dark-skinned man placed magnets on Barnes’ arm. Pranks. Loki could, and would, cause a little mischief through small and harmless pranks.

He made hallways seem longer than they actually were; leaving his victims confused as to why it took them five minutes to walk fifty meters. He made it look sunny outside when it was actually pouring; chuckling to himself when they came running back inside, soaked to the bone.

There were definitely some members of the team he avoided. Barton definitely still held a grudge against him. No need to make it worse. Stark, the Captian, and Banner were the same. As was the Widow, but he avoided her because, in all honesty, Loki did not want to be on the bad end of her wrath.

There was too much history with the Avengers he had fought in the past so he picked on the new members, save for Barnes.

The Witch was tricky. Rub her the wrong way and she could absolutely decimate Loki. She could also predict when something was going to happen. It was either because she heard his thoughts or from the experience of someone pulling these things on her before. Loki heard she had had a brother.

The Vision was quite naive which made him a good target.

Parker, when he was around, was also very trusting. But he was also still a kid and Loki would be facing Stark’s anger if he ever took it too far.

The Falcon, who was wary of Loki, still enjoyed a good prank. The god had to keep an eye out for possible retaliation, though.

He didn’t know why he usually picked on the Siren. Or maybe he did. To deal with these feelings? Especially when she was always understanding and patient with him all while still shooting him smart remarks. Especially when she seemed to… could he call it reciprocate if she didn’t know how he felt?

Loki would notice her beginning to stumble over a few words. She would sit next to him, laugh at the snarks he mumbled under his breath, comfort him when she found him awake at strange hours of the night. But was it just hopeful thinking?

He wanted her to notice him. To keep smiling at him. To keep talking to him. For a terrifying moment, Loki found himself wishing he was more like Thor: a magnet for the ladies. Or even more like Stark with experienced charm, but he quickly waved those thoughts away, not even giving them another glance.

One day, she gave him inspiration. An idea to bring her right into his arms. 

It was a quiet morning in the compound. Loki was sitting by a large window reading a book while people still kept their distance. Then, a sudden shriek, her shriek, pierced the silence. Everyone rushed to the kitchen where she was, prepared for anything.

What they found was the mighty Siren standing on top of the counter wide-eyed and chest heaving. Wilson, who had gotten to her first, was shaking his head as he threw a crumpled ball of tissues away.

“What happened?”

“What’s going on?”

“Are you okay?”

The questions spilled from everyone’s mouths.

“It was just a spider,” Wilson explained. He held out a hand to help her down from the counter. Loki wished it was his hand she had taken.

“A spider?” Barton raised an eyebrow. “You screamed bloody murder ‘cause of a fuckin’ spider?”

“It was a big spider,” she said as Wilson behind her shook his head and brought his pointer and thumb together to demonstrate the actual size of the arachnid.

“Honestly,” the Widow smirked, “I’m a bit offended.”

“Haha,” she rolled her eyes. “You’re so fucking funny, Nat.”

~*~

It has been a week since your spider incident and it seems like the rest of the team had forgotten it. For now. It was only time until someone brought up the embarrassing experience at dinner or at one of Tony’s many parties. No need to tell more people about your phobia.

You hated that you hated spiders. Really any bugs. Anything creepy crawly. Anything with more than four legs. You were supposed to be this powerful being who could bend anyone to your will just by speaking to them. There was one thing behind this. Behind everything: Hydra.

Fucking Hydra. Always had a hand, or should you say a tentacle, in your life. Your parents were esteemed Hydra agents and your brother was eager to follow in their footsteps. When he discovered your power, he wanted to exploit it. He tortured you to make you compliant. Tortured you when you weren’t. Torture, torture, torture. That’s all Hydra really does now. Fucking torture.

The worst one was when he tied you to a chair and…

No. Don’t think about that. Don’t think of the reasons behind your phobias.  You’ll only spiral and there will be no one here to help you. Everyone was either on a mission or at home with family. The only other person in the compound was Loki. 

Everyone had wished you luck before they left, but you liked Loki. You didn’t have any bad history with him and he honestly seemed to have redeemed himself. He was an interesting character with a tragic backstory like most of the other people on the team. Bucky and Nat have been able to redeem themselves, so why wasn’t the rest of the team giving Loki a real chance? 

You really liked Loki. He was clever and definitely a looker. Fuck, did you like him that way? Maybe? It wouldn’t be a bad thing, but you never really had feelings like these before, your history didn’t give you much time for crushes. 

You pondered over your feelings for the God of Mischief while eating your cereal. Unbeknownst to you, the man in question stood around the corner. You didn’t know of his plans and when you picked up a spoonful of cereal, it wasn’t cereal. The metal spoon held a multitude of spiders of all sizes.

You were paralyzed. Your only movement was the shaking of your hand.

You couldn’t breathe. Fuck, just breathe.

You couldn’t move. Not until the arachnids moved first, crawling up the handle towards your fingers. The spoon fell back into the bowl, causing spiders to crawl out of the ceramic as well. You fell off your chair and landed roughly on the floor.

You blinked and suddenly they vanished. Droplets of milk and spilled cereal replaced them. But you could still feel them.

You could still feel their legs crawling along your body. Crawling into your nose, ears, and mouth. Don’t breathe them in.

You had to breathe.

Don’t let them near your eyes. Close your eyes.

But when you did you saw your brother. Standing over you, a terrifying glint in his eyes as he watched the waves of arachnids wash over your body.

You looked up and it wasn’t your brother standing above you. It was… it was… who… He was speaking. You couldn’t hear him over the sound of your rapid heartbeat and the blood rushing through your ears.

Get the spiders off you. Get them off.

He was speaking. Just breathe. He was trying to get an answer out of you.

Don’t speak. Don’t let them use you. Don’t let them hurt anyone else.

A sharp pain made you look at your arm. Had a spider bitten you? Was it venomous?

You saw blood. And long, angry marks on your arms. You had to get the spiders off.

His voice pierced through your panic. Loki. It was Loki. He was telling you to breathe. Calm down. It was if he spoke directly to your mind. Calm down. Breathe. You flinched when he brought his cool hand to your hot forehead, but then your mind was flooded with memories. Pleasant memories.

Get the spiders off.

You were laughing with your friends.

Don’t let them use you.

You were sketching a picture of the forest outside.

Your brother.

The delicious smell of your favorite homemade meal. The glorious colors of a sunset. The soft sounds of waves on a beach. The warmth of the sun on a fine spring day. Breathe.

You opened your eyes and saw the raven-haired god kneeling by your side. He held your hands in his. To stop you scratching yourself, you figured, reevaluating the marks on your arms. Obvious worry and… guilt? was etched on his face. His eyes searched your face for any other signs of distress.

“Are you okay?” Loki said when he found none. You nodded. Then shook your head. Then shrugged. You didn’t know. Loki understood. “Let’s get you cleaned up.”

He helped you to your feet and slowly led you to the kitchen table. A first aid kit appeared on the table in front of you. Loki took one of your still trembling hands and examined one of the particularly deep scratches.

“I’m sorry,” he murmured. Why would he be— oh. It hit you.

The sudden appearance and disappearance of the spiders. The guilt on his face. It had been one of Loki’s little pranks. Well, you wouldn’t have called it little.

“Why,” your voice was hoarse. You swallowed dryly and tried again. “Why did you?”

“I- I don’t really know.” Loki pulled out the antiseptic spray and you braced yourself for the sting. “Maybe I just— sorry,” you had let out a small whine when the spray hit your wound, “I just wanted your attention.”

“You could have just talked to me.” You watched as Loki gingerly bandaged the scratch before moving onto the other arm. “I would always talk to you.”

“I’m sorry,” he said again. “I didn’t mean to… bring up bad memories.”

“It’s not your fault I’m fucked up.”

“You’re not.” Loki’s eyes met yours. “If anyone is fucked up here, it’s me.”

“You’re not fucked up either, Loki.” You felt the need to explain yourself. “My-my brother, he was so—”

“You don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to,” Loki interrupted and you nodded your appreciation. “Are you alright?”

“Yes, I’m okay. Just a bit tired.”

“I’ll let you rest.” He got up to leave.

“No, wait.” You grabbed his arm and led him to the living room. You sat on the large couch and motioned for him to do the same. “You said you wanted my attention, talk to me.”

“I don’t want you to feel like you need to do this,” Loki said still standing.

“I do, though,” you assured him hastily, face growing warm. “I don’t want to be alone.” He nodded and sat next to you, though his posture stayed stiff. “Tell me a story.”

The two of you hardly moved throughout the rest of the day, only to get more snacks from the kitchen. Loki finally relaxed around you, even to the point where he draped his arm over the couch behind you. When Sam and Natasha returned from their mission, they found you asleep on the couch. You were tucked to the God of Mischief’s side and your head on his shoulder. His arm was around you as he slept next to you.

[justthehiddleswrites]

Destiny Has Other Plans | Loki x OFC (Alexis Randall) | Chapter 3

Pairing: Loki x OFC

MASTERLIST IS HERE

Summary: When Loki goes to ask his father for permission to marry, he is shocked to discover his destiny has already been made for him.  He is already betrothed to Sjofn, the daughter of the King of Vanaheim.  An arranged marriage to bring the two kingdoms closer together and strengthen the bond.  Never mind that Sjofn and Loki can’t stand each other.  

After The Battle of New York, Loki is sent to live at Avengers Tower as punishment for his misdeeds.  But it doesn’t mean he has to like it.   A year later, he has adjusted to life on Midgard but has avoided any romantic or emotional entanglements, still bitter over his lost love.  Dr. Alexis Randall is skilled at helping others fix their relationships as a couple therapist, but can’t help her own love life.  A chance encounter with Loki in a dive bar has life altering consequences for both of them.  Now, Alexis and Loki must figure out a way to co-habit without killing each other in the process, plus navigating impending parenthood and other roadblocks along the way.

This Chapter:   Now that Alexis is definitely pregnant, Loki insists that she stays with him in the Tower. And the Avengers find out about the whole thing. Loki and Alexis must now navigate a most unusual relationship.

Warnings: Arranged Marriage, Forced Marriage, Pregnancy, Unplanned Pregnancy, Smut, Angst,  Semi-Public Sex, Mentions of law enforcement, Oral Sex, Cursing, Vaginal Sex

Taglists are Open, please let me know if you wish to be added.

-

“No fucking way!” Alexis screamed at the top of her lungs as the two of them made their way back to Loki’s quarters.

“Can you keep your voice down, please?” Loki hissed as he did a poor job of ushering her towards his quarters.

She sidestepped Loki’s arm. “WHY!? Are you embarrassed for your friends to see me?”

Loki’s eyes darted around the room to see if any of the Avengers come out of the woodwork. So far nothing, but that wouldn’t last long if Alexis kept it up.

“That’s not it. Now if you follow me to my room, we can discuss this like calm and rational adults.” Loki tugged on her arm, but she pulled away.

“But I’m not calm and rational, am I? I’m a hysterical pregnant woman you want to lock away like your crazy uncle who thinks he can talk to Elvis through his toaster!!”

Doors opened as the sound of the two of them reached down the corridor. Tony appeared first, slipping off to side, soon joined by Steve and then Bruce.

“What the hell—” Steve started.

“—lover’s spat. Saw her with Horny earlier today.” Tony sipped from his coffee mug.

“Did I hear that she’s pregnant? How does that even—” Bruce asked.

“YES YOU HEARD RIGHT!” Alexis stomped towards the three men. “Is there a fucking problem here? I thought the Avengers had better things to do than stare mouths open like wide mouthed bass at a pregnant woman having a mental breakdown?”

Loki had never seen those three men move faster than they did in that moment, not even when being chased by HYDRA agents. Had he not been fearful for his own well-being, Loki would have been impressed by the short order in which Alexis handled them.

“Good luck, man.” Steve clapped his shoulder as he hustled out of sight.

Satisfied, Alexis stomped off to collect her things from Loki’s apartment.

Loki rubbed his temples. “What have I got myself into?”

“It would seem you have got that young woman pregnant with your offspring. But how you anger her so is a mystery. Not that I blame her, you seem to bring the rage out in others, Brother.” Thor sat up from where he was lying on the couch, eating Pop-Tarts, unfazed by the outburst earlier.

“Have you been there the entire time and said nothing?”

“Yes.” Thor bit into the manufactured pastry, crumbs and frosting catching in his facial hair. “Why would I make my presence known and incur the wrath of Lady… what is her name?”

“Alexis.”

“Lady Alexis. So what exactly did you do to receive such a tongue lashing?” Thor smiled smugly at his brother.

Loki took a deep breath. “I suggested she stay here with me for the duration of her pregnancy.” Loki squared his shoulders. “For her own protection.”

“Suggested or demanded?” Loki threw a withering gaze at his brother. “Well, that explains it. You’re lucky to still have your head.”

Loki fisted his hands. “Do you not realize that enemies of the throne would love to get their hands on Odin’s only grandchild? She needs protection.”

Thor finished up his snack and rose to join his brother. “On the contrary, I realize all too well the threats that hang over both our heads and those we hold dear. But strong-arming her is not the answer.”

“Then what do you suggest?” He overheard a door slamming in distance.

Thor held up his hands. “Let me speak to her.”

Alexis stormed into the room, stopping in front of them. “Don’t stop me from leaving.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it, Lady Alexis.” Thor stepped in front of Loki, who rolled his eyes.

“My brother, Thor.”

“Pleasure.” She extended her hand. “Dr. Alexis Randall, would be prisoner.” She threw daggers at Loki.

“A doctor?” Thor glanced over his shoulder. “Loki, you never mentioned the mother of your child was a doctor.”

“She never told me.” Loki muttered.

“You never asked!” Alexis responded, lunging at Loki, who ducked back behind Thor. “You’ve been too busy either accusing me of lying or trying to lock me away.”

“My brother is only concerned for your safety, as am I.”

Alexis rolled her eyes. “There are enemies who would seek to do me harm, blah, blah, blah.”

“I’m afraid that in this instance my brother does not exaggerate, and as you carry Odin’s only grandchild, you would be a valuable bargaining chip to any enemy of the throne. Not to mention whatever other enemies Loki has picked up along the way.”

“He was serious?” Alexis leaned against the back of the sofa. She assumed Loki was lying to trick her into staying.

Loki leaned beside her, arms crossed. “I don’t wish to disrupt your life, but it the only way I can assure your safety.” He took her hand and squeezed. A slight gesture of sympathy. “Please stay. If anything were to happen to you or this child…”

Alexis sighed and squeezed Loki’s hand back. “I guess I could stay.” Loki beamed. “On a trial basis.” Even as she said the words, she knew there was no trial basis. But lying to herself comforted her.

Loki nodded. “Absolutely.”

Alexis pointed a finger in Loki’s face. “And be nice. And don’t be one of those overbearing fathers to be. I am not some porcelain doll.”

Loki held up three fingers. “Scout’s honor.”

Alexis cocked her head. “Do they even have scouts on Asgard?”

-

Tony insisted on moving them to another apartment on the same floor, but tucked away from the rest of the team.

“Away from prying eyes.” He commented when Loki informed him of the new living arrangements.

The new apartment had two master suites with a door connecting them. “I get the impression the two of you might need some space. And if not, nursery!” Tony threw his hands up and grinned.

“Thank you, Mr. Stark. For everything.”

Tony waved her off. “It was nothing. Anything for this horny little devil. And call me Tony, you’re basically family now.” He gestured at Loki, who scowled in return.

“Now to get used to the commute to my office.” she commented more to herself than anything.

“There is no way you are traveling across town five days a week.” Loki scoffed.

“But my clients…” she protested.

“… can travel here.” Tony interjected. With a few phone calls, Tony arranged for her entire practice to move into one of the offices in the Tower and never even left the room. Alexis handed over the keys reluctantly to both her apartment and office to Tony. He said the movers would be here with boxes from both places by the afternoon.

“Looks like you met your match, Trickster.” Tony whispered once Alexis left the room.

“What does that mean?” Loki scowled at Tony.

“I’m just saying I sense a bit of a connection between the two of you.” Tony wiggled his shoulders back and forth.

“You’re mistaken, Stark. Our only connection is the fact she is carrying my child. Anything else is the machinations of your overactive imagination.”

Tony shrugged. “Suit yourself.” Alexis stepped back in the room. “Alexis, it was lovely to meet you and I will have someone call when your stuff arrives.”

“Thank you, Mr... uh Tony.”

Tony threw a knowing glance at Loki before leaving the two of them alone.

“What is that you even do?” Loki asked, crossing the room to settle into one of the leather club chairs he had brought over from his place down the hall.

“I’m a couple’s therapist.”

“Ironic.”

“How is that?” Her voice grew more tight.

“You help others to salvage their relationships, yet you can’t manage to keep on of your own.”

“You and I are not in a relationship.”

Loki chuckled as Alexis sighed and flopped onto the couch.

“I was speaking about whatever mouth-breather you broke up with that night in the Whiskey Front Room. Come to think of it, it is his fault we are in this predicament.”

“The mouth-breather’s name is Eric, and he broke up with me.”

“Even worse.”

Alexis stared around the empty apartment. “So this is my cell for the next nine months. There are worse places to be trapped.” Her voice sad. The tears brimming in her eyes.

Loki fiddled with his bracelet. A constant reminder of his past misdeeds. A debt he could never repay. “I felt much how you did when I first arrived. My brother advised me to make the best of things. If I thought it would bring you comfort, I would do the same.”

Alexis chuckled as tears fell. “It wouldn’t.” Her finger flicked his bracelet. “What’s that?”

“A tracking device. My prison cell. I’m not here voluntarily. After my failed attempt to gain power and overthrow my father, he sent me here. To repay my debts.” He sneered.

“I’m sorry.” She stood and walked over to grab his hand and squeeze.

Loki moved to leave. “It is a prison of my own making. I expect you have people you need to contact about your move. I will leave you to it.”

“Not really. My parents died when I was little in a car crash. My aunt raised me. She lives in Florida now. Hannah is my only friend. I struggle with relationships.”

“Says the couple therapist.”

“It is like you said. I can help others, just not myself.”

Loki rose and extended his hand. “Then help me find some lunch.”

Alexis smiled and took his hand.

-

When the boxes arrived from Alexis’s apartment, Loki refused to allow her to help, ushering her to a chair.

“What did I say about being overbearing?”

Loki stopped mid-lift. “Not to be.”

“And what are you doing?” Alexis tapped her foot.

“Being helpful?” He smiled hopefully.

She grabbed the box and tugged. Loki held tight. “Things will go much smoother if you don’t treat me as though I will break in a strong breeze. I got along just fine before you and I will after you’re gone.”

Loki would have dropped the box had Alexis not been holding it.

“Am I going somewhere?”

Her lips curled in a slight smile as she pulled books out of the box and placed them on the bookshelf in her new bedroom.

“Loki, come on, who are we kidding? This is no love match. We bicker as it is. Adding a child to the mix will not make that better. Probably make it worse. I see it all the time, having a child to save a relationship.”

“It is my child and I will do everything in my power to make sure it and its mother are cared for and protected.”

“Which does not require us to be in a relationship. Or even living together, technically.” she mused. Loki opened his mouth to protest. Alexis sighed. “I am more than willing to stay during this pregnancy if it eases your mind, but I do not expect you to change your life for me. And I would hope you grant me the same courtesy.” She turned her back to finish unpacking the box. Loki’s hands lighted on her shoulders, timid.

“If that is what you wish.”

“Thank you, Loki.” She twisted to smile at him. “Now I am famished and the kitchen is empty. I am going to grab a snack.”

“We just ate lunch.”

Alexis rubbed her stomach. “Blame him. Or her. Think you can unpack these boxes without me?”

“I believe I can manage. Will you bring some food for me as well?”

“Sweet or savory?” She asked, heading for the door.

“Sweet. Pop-Tarts and chocolate of some sort.”

“I’ll see what I can do.”

Loki turned his attention to the boxes.

-

Alexis rummaged through the pantry when Natasha snuck up behind her. The perks of being an assassin.

“If you are looking for Pop-Tarts, they are on the third shelf on the left, behind the granola.” Nat commented, leaning against the counter.

Alexis reached up and pushed the canister away to reveal several boxes. “Jackpot!” Alexis cleaned out the pantry of Pop-Tarts, grabbing a bag from one cabinet to hold everything. She added a couple of chocolate bars, a jar of creamy peanut butter, and then some chips and cookies for good measure.

“No problem. My name’s Natasha.”

“Alexis Randall.”

Nat smirked. “So you’re Loki’s girl.”

Alexis dropped the bag onto the counter. “I’m not… Is that what people are calling me?” She reached over Natasha to grab a few apples to add to the bag.

“What would you prefer we call you?”

“Alexis. What should I call you? Natasha? Nat? Black Widow?” Alexis rummaged through the fridge for a few Diet Cokes, tossing them into the bag.

“Nat.” Alexis went for the bag, but Nat got to it first.

“I’m capable of carrying my own bag.”

“I know you are. It’s an excuse to keep talking to you.” She glanced around the room suspiciously with narrow eyes. “I don’t know if you realized, but this place is testosterone city. Another woman on the floor is a breath of fresh air.”

The two women giggled while they walked down the hallway. A loud metallic thud echoed above.

“What the hell was that?”

Nat laughed. “Barton. Clint. He prefers the vents. But don’t worry, he sticks to the common areas. Says he thinks better up high.”

Alexis swallowed hard and nodded. Eyes darted up to the ceiling as she started walking again.

“Any morning sickness?”

“Not yet. But I am getting some cravings.”

Nat shook the bag. “I can feel. Is there anything left for the rest of us?”

“Some of it is for Loki.”

“The ultimate sweet tooth.” Nat nudged her shoulder. “Hide your candy stash from that one.”

Alexis chuckled nervously, tucking her hair behind her ears. “Good to know.”

“So how did you exactly meet? I haven’t seen you at any of Tony’s parties.”

Alexis flushed. How to explain all of this is a one-night stand, not even that, a fuck in a bathroom, gone horribly awry?

“Well, it’s an interesting story…” They reached the door, and she grabbed the bag from Nat. “… for another time. Got to go, can’t leave Loki waiting, Bye!” She opened the door and slammed it in Nat’s face, Alexis leaned against the door still holding the bag.

Loki peeked around the corner, holding a pair of high heels.

“Should I keep these in their boxes or—” Loki dropped the shoes and rushed to Alexis’s side when he spied her panting. “Are you hurt? Who did this to you?” Loki clenched his fist.

“I’m fine. I’m fine. Stand down, Tiger.” Alexis held out a hand as she moved to the kitchen. “It was just Natasha.”

Loki frowned. “What did she do?”

Alexis sighed. “She didn’t do anything. She asked how we met.”

His expression softened. “What did you tell her?”

“I didn’t. I ran like hell.”

“Why?”

“Because I didn’t think the truth sounded great, and I panicked. What would you have me say? I was depressed at getting dumped, so I let a stranger fuck me in a bathroom stall of a bar?”

“When you say it like that…” Loki commented before moving to help her unload the bag. “Perhaps we should agree upon a plausible story?”

“I would appreciate that.” Alexis fished out a box of Pop-Tarts and threw them at Loki. “Think fast.”

Loki caught the box mid-air and placed it on the counter.

“You said you wanted Pop-Tarts.”

“I can’t stand the things, processed pastry? Why, when fresh baked is better?” Loki wrinkled his nose, rooting around in the bag and extracting a large chocolate bar.

“Then, wh—”

“They are Thor’s favorite. I hope you grabbed all the boxes.”

“You lied to me! I trusted you!”

Loki popped a cookie into his mouth and grinned. “Your first mistake.” And he walked away.

-

The rest of the Avengers grew accustomed to Alexis and Loki arguing with each other about anything and everything. Tony only added fuel to the fire by providing Loki a copy of What To Expect When You Are Expecting. Anonymously, Tony didn’t have a death wish. Loki took the book less as an informational book, more of aspirational goals, much to Alexis’s chagrin.

“You can have my bodega deli sandwich, Loki, or my Diet Coke, but you can’t have both!” Alexis screamed as they passed through the common area one evening.

“But the book says…” Loki grabbed his already dog-eared book from a pocket dimension. Alexis snatched the book and hurled it across the room, narrowly missing Clint’s head.

“I am fucking sick of that goddamn book! If I find out who gave that to you…” She shot daggers at everyone in the room. “… they will pay.”

“I want the best for my… our child.”

Alexis narrowed her eyes at Loki. Steve, who had been moving to intercede, stopped in his tracks and backed away. “Then I would think you want the mother of your child to be happy! Do I look happy, Loki?”

Loki raked his eyes up and down Alexis’s body. “Decidedly not. If anything, I would say you look a little bloated. The book—”

Alexis lunged for Loki’s throat, only to be pulled back by Tony, who stepped between the two.

“Hey, hey, Killer.” He gestured to Alexis. “Don’t kill him now. I just had the carpets cleaned.” He whipped around to point at Loki. “And you… It’s not exactly Manners 101 that you never say that a pregnant woman looks anything other than glowing. Even I know that!” Tony spun around to grin at Alexis. “Have I mentioned you are glowing?” Alexis rolled her eyes through the tears.

Loki huffed and leaned around Tony to see Alexis, sniffling. “I am sorry. I will try harder to be more considerate of your feelings.”

Tony leaned in and whispered in Loki’s ear. “Invite her to dinner.”

“What?” he hissed. Tony elbowed him. “Will you accompany me to dinner tonight? As an apology.”

Alexis wiped her nose. “It would be a start.”

“Is that a yes?” Tony interjected.

“Yes.”

“Great. You two lovebirds head home to get ready and I will make all the arrangements!” He clapped the two of them on the shoulders and gave a shove towards the hallway.

Once they were out of earshot, Steve snapped at Tony.

“What the hell are you playing at, Tony?”

Tony gestured in the air. “A bit of matchmaking, nothing more.”

“What matchmaking? They hate each other.”

Tony scoffed. “No, they don’t. Pepper and I used to argue like that all the time and look at us now.”

“Still arguing like that all the time.” Natasha piped in.

“Et tu, Romanoff? Trust me guys, I’ve got everything under control.”

[justjessame]

Glorious, Before the Burden - The Comfort ~ 5

Odin was grief stricken and angry.  For once, at least in my recent memory, neither was focused upon me.  His knees met the marble beside me, his arms pulled Frigga’s head from mine and his gaze met mine.  Pain rushed through me, but I relinquished my hold, knowing that at least in this - his affection for her was equal to, if not more than, mine.  

Thor was holding Jane, and I knew as surely as I knew my own name, that Odin’s ire would be directed at the Midgardian and his son soon enough.  They’d brought the Dark Elf’s aggression and thirst for the Aether home to roost.  This, the queen’s death at their hands while she played guardian over both Jane and the Aether, would be a final pin in Odin’s distaste for the pairing.  How pitiful and terrible.  I almost thought my own banishment and supposed suicide was merciful in comparison.  

Preparing the dead for their final trip - Valhalla awaits after all - is one of the hardest parts of grief.  When Odin insisted Loki was dead and I assured him he was NOT, we dared not go through the playact - not that I assumed they would have done it for someone so many insisted was a traitor.  I had to wonder, as I watched Frigga, my queen and mother, draped in silks and set off along with all those who died at the hands of the Dark Elves and in collateral damage from the invasion, had I been given such a funeral?  

Odin, standing tall at my right, Thor as tall at my left, I watched as the archers lit the pyres and the sky was aflame.  A warm hand touching my right hand made me flinch, so unprepared for the touch, but then Odin’s voice joined it.

“If you would, Lady Sigyn,” my jaw clenched, as he continued, his voice quiet and soft.  “A moment alone, please?”  

Alone? Without witnesses, of course.  A tilt of my head was the only answer I felt capable of giving.  My eyes were dry, tears burned out and I yearned to go to Loki, to tell him and comfort him, but a moment with Odin I’d allow.  

The throne room was in shambles.  Dark Elves destruction all around and Odin seemed at a loss of whether he should sit or stand.  Rudderless without Frigga near.  

I chose not to kneel.  I’d been banished, and felt that freed me from fealty to his leadership.  

“Sigyn,” he stared down at me, voice still quiet and I wondered if he was feeling as lost and broken as I felt when I woke up in Midgard alone and confused.  “You must hate me so -”

I shook my head, I didn’t hate him.  I felt sorry for him.  “No, I don’t.”  His eye widened.  “You just lost the love of your life, mine is simply locked away.  I still have hope.”  

He huffed out a breath and sat hard on the throne.  “Yes, I suppose that does make you come out ahead.”  He looked far older than he ever had to me.  “Did she tell you why?”  My arms were crossed over my chest as I waited for him to expound on his question.  “Frigga, I mean, did she tell you the reasons for -” he gestured at me, as if all of me was a reason to be had.  

“Do you mean, did she give me a reason for banishing me and telling my husband and everyone here that I committed suicide?”  Odin’s eye closed as if he needed strength to deal with me, strange since he’d asked for the audience, not me.  “Yes, in part.  Something about Loki making a deal with a terrible being and THIS being a way to keep him safe.”  The amount of sarcasm and disbelief coloring my tone would have choked a lesser being.  “I have doubts.”  

“The young always doubt their elders,” he sighed, opening his eye to study me.  “You love him still.”  Not a question, he’d stopped questioning how I felt about Loki finally.  A harsh laugh and he sighed again.  “You remind me of -”  His eye went tight and my eyes burned again.

“I’ll always love him.”  I reminded him.  “I should go check on him.”  He shook his head and I wanted to throw something.  “I’m not going to release him, Odin.”  I bit my lip and wanted to scream.  “He’s alone and his MOTHER just died.”  

“I know, Sigyn, I know.” Odin looked down and I waited.  “He’s been told.”  By a guard, I wanted to argue.  “I can’t let you -”

“That’s where you have it wrong,” he looked up at me and I wasn’t sure what he was seeing, but it stopped him from opening his mouth and giving another edict.  “You won’t be LETTING me do anything from here on out.  I will be visiting my husband.  I won’t go into the cell, but he will have me as a visitor.”  Turning on my heel I walked away from Asgard’s king, leaving him to grieve alone, much as he left me to grieve alone on Midgard.

I had to sidestep several guards and cleaning crews - the cells had been partially destroyed along with the throne room and a greater portion of Asgard then Odin cared to speak about - wearing my regular clothing, my gowns and my hair in my normal way felt both freeing and strange after so much time in Midgard.  Although not as odd as seeing my people stare and gasp as if they were bearing witness to a ghost haunting the very halls.  

Loki was sitting with his back against the far wall, the entirety of his cell destroyed within, but the integrity of the cell itself was perfect.  He didn’t see me, not at first, and I took a moment to appreciate the reversal from when I was a child in the gardens to our current state.  Barefoot, hair down and wild, he looked as if he’d finally allowed his inner turmoil and madness to have free and full reign.  His grief coupled with the reality of not making peace with her before she died had done this.  

“Sigyn?” His tear stained, red rimmed blue eyes locked on me - where I was standing on the other side of his cage - and he sounded unsure.  Was I real or was I simply another vision?  

“Yes, my love?”  I drew closer, touching the surface of his cell, letting my hand press against it, letting him see the golden ripple to prove I was real.  

His gasp followed by a sob cut through me.  “Oh my,” he didn’t stand, choosing to crawl across the floor, our faces were almost level that way - when he made it to where I stood.  “You’ve come home.”  

I nodded, no longer trusting my voice.  He lined up our hands and I blinked away my tears, not wanting this to be a tear filled time, even with Frigga’s death - oh no Frigga’s death.  

“I was with her,” somehow I managed to say the words and his eyes grew tighter.  “I was.” I nodded and when his first tear fell so did mine.  “I’m so sorry, Loki.”  

“Don’t, love, don’t.”  He shook his head.  “At least she had you with her,” he was clutching at whatever threads he could.  “The daughter she always wanted.”  

“The son she must have dreamt to life,” I whispered.  

I didn’t stay as long as I wanted, simply because being on the wrong side of the cell didn’t make either of us happier.  And Loki actually forbade me from coming INSIDE the cell with him.  Having me closer, he promised, helped.  

“I could be closer,” I tempted, but he shook his head.  

“I won’t have you a prisoner too, Sigyn.”  His red rimmed eyes pleading for me to understand.  “Go, please?”  

Promising to come back, vowing that I would regardless of Odin or anyone else, I left.  As I ascended the stairs, I wondered if our rooms had made it out of the invasion intact.  

I should have known, perhaps it was being home surrounded by the comforts of Asgard and the familiarity of the walls that I’d known from such a young age that had allowed me to forget just who I shared those walls with, but I should have known that Odin’s distrust of Jane and the fact that her body was currently nothing more than a warm a living container for the Aether - awaiting the Dark Elves’ next attempt at taking it by force - would lead to Thor attempting to free her from her own prison.  And who better to aid him in this, than his adopted brother and my own heart, Loki?  

How had I not known it? How had my own powers of premonition failed me so?  Simply put, I couldn’t control that power, I couldn’t aim it at what I wanted to see and force it to show me what would be coming.  I was powerless and rudderless, much as Odin was without Frigga, and as such, didn’t see Thor freeing Loki to aid him in his madness.  

That was a failure in my powers, but in my own knowledge of MY FAMILY?  That just couldn’t be forgiven, not only by Odin - who looked at me with pity this time, not suspicion - but by myself.  How could I have missed the reality of it? Thor, as desperate for Jane’s freedom from both Odin’s heavy boot and the draining power of the Aether would have gone to ANYONE for aid, and Loki was NOT as troubling to ask for help as so many would assume - even if Volstagg, Sif, and Fandral all made pains to make it sound so.  I would have laughed, if I wasn’t scared to my very marrow by the idea of the three of them alone and facing the monsters that I saw behind my closed eyelids - not simply the Dark Elves, but that thing that had faced Frigga.  

“Leave us,” Odin entoned, anger radiating off him in waves.  He was on his throne, the debris still littering the throne room, but nowhere near the top of the list of problems facing my king.  I knew when he said ‘us’ he meant the two of us - our remaining family.  I was leaning against one of the remaining pillars, close to the throne, and praying for strength.  “Do you see ANYTHING, Sigyn?”  He was pleading for hope, that the two of us - our duo - wouldn’t be all that remained for the rest of his reign.  

My eyes went shut and I tried with every ounce of my being to try to follow them - Thor, Jane, and the one who should have been easy to follow MY LOKI.  Taking a deep breath, I centered myself and tried to find HIM.  Instead of finding the one I so desperately wanted to see, I found another - the one I’d left with Sylvie, in his own desperation, wandering stacks much like in a library or bookstore, searching for SOMETHING and I tried to brush him away - NOT NOW.  But I couldn’t, and I nearly screamed when he found Agent Mobius, even as I felt the wave of relief flow over him, but it left just as quickly - Mobius didn’t recognize him, had no idea of his name or who he was.  

Shaking off the vision, I growled at my frustration.  Why was this so damn difficult?  “Nothing,” I opened my eyes.  “I cannot find them, Odin.”  Why was it that I GLOWED, but I saw nothing when I searched for Loki?  How was that fair?  

My king studied me and I could have sworn that his lip twitched.  “When your parents first brought you here,” a nod and he went on.  “You were tinier than I expected, I asked Frigga if she’d been wrong about your birth.”  My lips curled at the idea of him daring that - and he laughed, a sound that I hadn’t heard in so long from him that it startled us both.  “It went over quite well.”  He sighed and sat back in his throne.  “So small, yet -” his gaze fixed on a sight that seemed farther away than where I stood.  “Like a flame, you burned so bright, Sigyn.”  My smile dropped.  “She didn’t tell you?”  She had, I just assumed it was Loki who saw it - ONLY Loki.  “I knew you were powerful, so did she.”  

“He thought you took him as a souvenir.”  I swallowed down the dryness in my mouth.  “Loki,” Shaking my head, I took another deep breath.  “You make it sound as if I was simply another one.”  

Odin let out a long breath of his own.  “I haven’t been the best parent,” he conceded, and I chose to remain silent.  “I should never have explained taking him in the way I did.” He was still staring off in the same way, and I wished I could see what he did.  “Seeing an infant, left to die, Sigyn -” he swallowed something as hard as I had.  “I hope you never have to see something so cruel, I truly do.  I couldn’t have left him there, no matter the reasoning.”  He looked down at his hands.  “When I touched him, he changed, his naturally blue skin, red eyes - they changed.  I didn’t do that, he did.”  I felt the tear roll down my face, but didn’t move to brush it away.  “When I tucked him against my chest and brought him home, Frigga met me and one look at him and she was in love.”  His smile was soft, the memory like new.  “He was hers from the first look, first touch.”  

“She told me,” I was surprised by how strong my voice sounded, even as my tears were running down my face.  “Before Loki and I first -” Brushing away my tears, I shook my head.  “She told me how my future husband’s family would cherish and honor my honesty.”  Our gazes met and he waited.  “Instead, I was punished for it.  Was it because you chose not to exercise it with Loki about his parentage, Odin?”  

He shook his head, and I wished we could continue speaking - we’re interrupted by a guard informing us that they’ve learned where Thor, Jane, and Loki had disappeared to. 

[hitbythunder]

The Roll of Thunder -5

A Thor x Reader and later some Loki x Reader story

Warnings: non-con in later chapters

~º*º*º~

“Welcome, my son. It has been too long.” The All-Father said, his voice echoing through the empty throne room when Thor rose again. “How fares your new live on Midgard?” “It is very different, many things have changed... I have changed.” Thor replied hesitatingly and averted his gaze for a moment, trying to hide his sadness from his father. Odin sensed the discomfort lingering on his son and thus he didn't press the matter further. “Your visit is as joyful as it is surprising yet I wonder about its cause?” the All-Father said, his one eye watching his son intently. “I came to seek your knowledge and advice on this.” Thor replied while he placed the pieces of the sphere, which he had carried loosely, in front of the throne where they were more visible. The gold sparkled brightly in the well-lit throne room, causing the engravings to be more prominent and Odin rose abruptly when he saw them.

“These are the remains of a sphere. The engravings seem to be Asgardian...I hoped you could decipher their meaning.” Thor said in a low voice, not wanting to admit to his father that he had paid little attention during his history lessons. Odin had descended the steps of his throne when he picked up one of the pieces to observe it closely, his eye full of wisdom scanning every detail of the fine lines in the metal. “These are from an ancient dialect, once spoken here in Asgard. Only few possess the skill to read them... Where did you find that?” the All-Father said then, pensively stroking his snow-white beard with his free hand.  “On our last mission we secured the golden sphere along with Loki's scepter.” Thor reported and noted how his father's one eye lit up briefly at the mention of the weapon. “At first we thought it to be an ordinary artifact and tried with all means to open it. After two days it did so on its own and forth came a woman.”

“A woman? Of what race?” Odin asked, turning the piece of the sphere around in his hands. “She is of no race I am familiar with, father. Her ears are pointy and her complete back is covered in golden scales. According to Midgardian technology one can assume that some sort of magic is involved and that she is still growing.” Thor replied and he purposefully left out the fact that she looked like the fallen prince of Asgard, knowing that his father was grieving too – probably more than he himself was. “Not human nor Aesir, not Jotun nor Vanir...” Odin mumbled, more to himself than to his son, before he finally looked at the blonde god, who was waiting impatiently for the response. “I am afraid that some time is needed in order to solve this riddle but fret not, my son, I shall uncover the truth behind this phenomenon.” Thor's shoulders slumped visibly at those words, had he expected some answers to the many questions in his mind. But time was not a problem, Thor had plenty because of his immortality. The only thing that bothered him was that no one knew what the black-haired woman would change into, what dangerous creature or beast she would become if more days passed.

“In time the truth will come to light and until then you should travel back to Midgard and ensure that this woman does not escape or inflict harm.” Odin said reassuringly, reading his son's expressions like an open book. Meanwhile a guard approached and picked up the pieces of the sphere to carry it away into the king's study, his every move watched by the Thunderer. “But...” Thor said barely audible but was cut off by Odin. “You sought advice, now heed it.” On his way to the palace gates, Thor came to a halt when he heard a familiar voice call him. “Lady Sif!” he said joyfully and bowed slightly as did she when she stood beside him. Clad in her finest armor, her black hair floating loosely down her back, she smiled ever so cunningly at him. “My prince, it's good to see you. I wasn't informed on your visit.” “No one was since I am already leaving again.” Thor replied and her smile faded instantly. “Oh... well, we can't let Lady Jane wait.” Sif said and forced herself not to let the words sound as sore as she felt right now. Since she first met the golden crown-prince she had deep feelings for him, but due to her low birth there was no way he would choose her. Later, when Sif had accomplished a high status amongst the Asgardian warriors, leading the Warriors Three herself, hope flamed up inside her that there could be a happy ending for her with Thor after all. Days before his coronation, Thor had been a real gentleman to her and there were some signs that he felt drawn to her. But then he was banished and met Jane. Thor hesitated to reply but decided it wouldn't matter if she knew what had happened. “Jane and I go separate ways now.” “Oh...” Sif's voice rang a little bit too high and loud, betraying the delight she felt at this revealing. “Nevertheless, I must go. It was a pleasure to meet you again and please present the Warriors Three my compliments.” Honestly, Thor had no intention to stay any longer since he knew how awkward the conversation would become if he did. Thus he bowed again and quickly made for the Bifrost.

Nothing holds me here... *** It was evening when Thor arrived at Stark Tower and the other Avengers were gathered in the living room, some of them watching a baseball match while Tony and Bruce talked about science. The Kitten sat beside Steve on the large cream couch and immediately looked over to the balcony door when Thor landed outside, her sharp sensed had already alarmed her of his presence long before the others noticed. “Hello friends.” Thor said when he entered the living room, carefully shutting the fragile glass door behind him – he had already smashed it several times using too much force. “Ah, welcome back Goldlocks! And? What did daddy Odin say?” Tony said and enjoyed the god's irritation because of the nickname. The other team members turned to listen to the answer. “Not much, I'm afraid. The engravings are indeed Asgardian but it will take a while to decipher them. For now we ought to surveil her and keep her within the tower.” Thor replied sternly and although he didn't look at the black-haired woman, he could feel her burning gaze on him. “And here I thought Odin has cosmic knowledge?” Tony quipped and gained a very angry stare from the Thunderer, causing him to regret his loose tongue. “Mind your words. The All-Father's wisdom is far beyond your understanding, Man of Iron.” Thor said as he sat down beside Bruce on a smaller couch of the living room suite. Luckily, Tony decided not to add any remark and everyone turned back to watching TV or conversing.

Later, Thor and Bruce stood at the bar, fetching some drinks and snacks for everyone, when Thor noticed how close the Kitten sat to Steve. In fact, she leaned on his shoulder casually and he didn't seem to mind at all. Under the dark blue shirt, his broad chest heaved slowly as did the woman accordingly but her black tank-top was way more showing. The scales had spread further as Thor realized, covering half her arms down to the elbows and he wondered if her legs looked the same. Suddenly he remembered how he met her accidentally in the bathroom. Her still wet body had been covered only by a towel which had squeezed her breasts lovely together, her slender legs bare in front of him. Despite his distrust and grudge for her, Thor had to admit that she was beautiful and he couldn't help but imagine her naked form, wondering which parts were covered in scales – and which not.

His alluring daydream was interrupted when Thor saw how the Captain put his right arm around the Kitten in a kind embrace and on top of that, she snuggled up to him. Thor's mood darkened as did the sky outside and he took a long sip from his drink. “Everything alright?” Bruce asked cautiously. As an expert on anger-management, the change of Thor's expressions didn't elude his eyes. Although the god didn't reply, Bruce only had to follow his gaze in order to get one. “Ah, you don't approve of those two and judging from the face you're making right now I guess you're jealous.” the scientist said in a low voice, not wanting the others to eavesdrop on their little chat and Thor almost choked on his drink at the words. “I am certainly not. This miserable creature...” “Look, Thor, I know she reminds you of your brother but she is definitely not like him. She's a very kind being and deserves to be treated nicely, not threatened with a hammer. Steve protected her from you, that's why she likes him and he grew quite fond of her...” “I can see that...” Thor muttered into his glass, narrowing his eyes at the sight of the Captain and the woman almost cuddling on the couch. “Please don't act foolishly.” Bruce said calmly and Thor snorted half amused, half offended. “My mother often told me that too.”

Thor grabbed the bowl full of popcorn and walked over to the others when suddenly all windows on the north side shattered into million pieces due to an explosion. Luckily the living room suite was far enough away from the windows so that no one got hurt. Everyone jumped to their feet, ready to face whatever caused this disruption, Tony called for his suit while Thor grabbed Mjolnir when about twenty men came through the destroyed windows. They were clad completely in black, masks covering their faces and on their helmets flaunted a red skull with tentacles. “Hydra!” Steve hissed and darted forward, followed by Thor. They reached the enemies just before they could draw their guns and sent five of them right back outside the window. However, the remaining Hydra agents pressed forward and attacked the others which were unarmed at the moment, even Tony wasn't in his full suit yet. Clint and Natasha, both experts in hand-to-hand combat, fought them off as best as they could while the Kitten hid behind the couch. She was very frightened, her whole body trembling as she cowered on the floor. Then there was a loud bang and a scream. “Natasha!” Clint shouted and furiously kicked the agent looming above her away before he knelt down beside her. “Nat?” he repeated but the red-head only grunted and pressed her hand flat against her stomach, red liquid welling up between her fingers. “Shit...” Clint muttered and tried to lift up the wounded assassin as gently as possible to carry her away but he didn't see another agent approaching them. Nor did he expect the Kitten to jump forth from her hiding place and tackle the Hydra agent behind him. The agent tried to shake her off but she wouldn't let him, she scratched him across the face, she bit him in the hand – she fought him with everything she had. Clint watched in amazement and noted another agent coming at her.

"Watch out!" he cried and suddenly something emerged from beneath the Kitten's red skirt, something flexible but indefinable – and it became longer and longer.  "Is that a tail?" Clint muttered to himself as he dragged Nat behind the couch and as he took another glance at the fighting woman he was sure. "Holy shit, it's a tail!"  Said part of her body was wrapped around one agent's neck, squeezing life out of him while she kicked the other one fiercely in his crotch before she lashed across his face with her now long black claws, wounding him badly at the eye. She was furious, her emerald eyes sparkling dangerously and she would show no mercy to those men who had hurt Natasha. The Kitten owed her that. The face of the agent whom she was strangling became red first than purple until he fainted and collapsed onto the ground. The other in front of her was blinded, blood gushing from his face and the Kitten simply turned to face the next opponent.  In the meantime, more Hydra agents had entered the Tower but they stood no ground against Thor, Tony in his suit and Steve, one after another landed unconscious or badly wounded on the floor.  With his mighty hammer he had crushed a man's skull through the black helmet, the sound of shattering bones being familiar to the god. Then Thor turned and saw the Kitten fight fiercely with three agents and another two lying at her feet.  

"That's the last one!" Steve shouted as he sent an agent flying across the living room by a nice left upper cut. The same moment, Thor walked over to the little woman and eliminated two of the agents she was facing.  Panting she stood before him and glared at him because she was not sure if he would attack her too. But Thor had no such thoughts as he was stunned by the newest changes to her body: from her lower back a long tail had grown, covered completely in golden scales and with a spike at its end. The scales on her body had stretched further, reaching down her whole arms and legs which sparkled with every movement. Then Thor noticed the long black claws she had, blood dripping from the sharp tips as it did from her pointy fangs.

What in the Nine Realms are you?! Thor thought to himself while Tony, Steve and Bruce – who had hidden behind the bar so that he wouldn't turn green and trash the whole Tower – stood perplexed beside him.  "Incredible..." Bruce muttered and cautiously took a step closer. "I wouldn't get too close, buddy. She's definitely biting!" Tony said and refused to take off his suit, maybe the fight wasn't over yet. "She has become a monster as I feared. We shall have her in chains from now on!" Thor yelled and didn't wait for a response before he stepped towards her. The Kitten hissed dangerously and bared her fangs at the approaching god as she crouched before him, ready to lunge at him and rip his throat out if she must. This time her eyes were different, there was still fear but also blunt determination to fight him and Thor felt a cold shiver running down his spine as he met this intense gaze. "Stop it, you idiot!" In time, Clint stepped between Thor and the Kitten, shielding her as best as he could from the blonde giant. "She's no monster! Nat and I would be dead if not for her!" he added while Bruce ran over to the wounded red-head. "I need her down in my lab, NOW!" Bruce said as he examined her belly while Steve walked past Thor. "Go and tend to her, I'll take care of the Kitten." he said to Clint who nodded and turned to pick up Natasha.

"Of course you do, in every possible way I bet. You would let that scum even suck your cock!” Thor spat, his voice full of bitterness and all eyes were on him, except for Bruce and Clint who entered the elevator with Natasha. "You better watch your language." Steve said surprisingly calmly as he turned to the god. "Or perhaps you enlighten us on what your problem really is." he added and walked slowly towards the blonde. "Have you lost your eyesight? Look what she has done, look at her, she is -" Thor began but Steve wouldn't let him use that particular word again, especially not in the Kitten's presence. "None of us knows what she is but I don't care! I like her and there is no shame in that!" Steve said now louder and harsher than before. Thor chuckled condescendingly. "You must be truly desperate to be drawn to such a creature."

"Stop this bitch-fight, you are embarrassing!” Tony put in while the Kitten snuck away towards the elevator without any of the three man noticing. “You have no saying in this, Stark.” Thor replied ignorantly but Tony wouldn't have it. No one cut a Tony Stark short. “Well, since you seem to have overlooked the neon sign outside, this is my tower and I don't want the two of you trashing it because of some silly fight over a woman!!” “We are not!” Thor and Steve said in unison – much to Tony's surprise – and glared at the scientist. “Oh come on, of course you are! You fell head over heels for the little, helpless Kitty because of your 'protective-nature'!” Tony yelled at Steve before he turned to Thor, pointing accusingly at the god. “And you are horny whenever you see her but won't admit it because she looks like Reindeer Games – which makes me wonder about your relationship with Loki... did you let him 'wield the hammer'?”

And again, Tony regretted his loose tongue only seconds later, his cunning smile fading instantly when both Steve and Thor were on him. Now they were fighting each other and him too. When the three squabblers were done, half of the living room was trashed and everyone had some bruises here and there. Thor sat alone outside on the balcony, his head throbbing from the Captain's mean sidewinder as he watched the streets of New York at night. Besides the slight pain, his mind was plagued by confusing thoughts and he pondered over Tony's words for quite a while, not sure if there was some truth in them after all. Although Thor had envied Loki for his elegant looks, he had loved him as a brother, always, and there was nothing more. Honestly, Thor didn't know why exactly he acted so out of control when the Kitten was around, why his fury took the better of him several times. He remembered how he had loomed above her with his hammer ready to strike, her tiny body shaking in fear which had pleased him. And in the next moment, his mind would torture him with pictures of her naked form, posing playfully before him, those emerald eyes sparkling seductively while a sly smirk graced her lips.

Just like Loki... The god shook his head wildly to get rid of these images and stood up again. He needed some rest now, although he dreaded the dreams he might have tonight.

[imagine-loki]

The Good Guys Dressed In Black

TITLE: The Good Guys Dressed In Black CHAPTER NO./ONE SHOT: ½ AUTHOR: @timeladylaufeson ORIGINAL IMAGINE: Imagine Loki meeting and falling in love with an MiB agent. RATING: Everyone, I guess? There’s some language but nothing bad I’d say NOTES/WARNINGS: Took the title from the song Men In Black by Will Smith :) I wouldn’t say you need to know the MiB films too well to understand, but I guess you should have some basic knowledge. Anyway, I hope you enjoy!!

A woman in a smart black suit stood in line at a Starbucks not far away from the large concrete cube on Battery Drive. When her turn came, she was greeted by one of her favourite baristas, and they chatted for a moment as she handed him her thermos.

“It’s on us today,” the barista said and smiled, sending the cup towards the espresso bar.

“Aw, thanks Pete,” she smiled and moved over to the handoff. She rested against one of the tables beside it and waited, looking around the café mindlessly.

“Venti iced soy vanilla latté with an extra shot for… Teetee?” the barista at the handoff called, a confused frown on his face. She smirked and walked over to him, grabbing the cup.

“You’re new here, aren’t you?” she asked and the barista nodded. “Nice to meet you! I’m Double Tee, I’m here all the time.”

“I’m Luke,” he said. “You work in the cube, don’t you?”

“Yeah,” she nodded.

“Can you tell me-”

“Top secret organisation that deals with extraterrestrial threats.”

“For real?”

“Of course,” she grinned. “Now, if you would please look over here,” she pulled what appeared to be a pen from her pocket and put a pair of sunglasses on her eyes. She pressed a small button on the side of the device and it flashed brightly, the young man’s face turning completely blank. “Do yourself a favour and don’t ask questions that you don’t need an answer to. For your concern, I work for the government. Also, this is not soy. Please be more careful, someone could be allergic and you could get in trouble. I’m not, so I’ll just drink it, but I’ll be bitter the whole day because almond milk sucks. Have a good day, Luke.”

She turned around to leave, but as she was walking through the door, she bumped into someone that was coming in.

“Oh shit, fuck, I’m so sorry,” she blurted out as she watched the coffee spill on their shirt. “I really need to start closing the cup before I start walking, I’m so sorry!”

“It’s alright, nothing happened,” a smooth voice replied to her. She looked up and saw a face that she knew all too well from the screens all over the Headquarters.

“No, I… I just messed up your shirt, I’m really sorry,” she kept apologising. “I’ll buy you a coffee.”

“It really is alright,” he tried to assure her.

“Please, I insist,” she said, desperately trying to ignore those crystal blue eyes and the amused little smile. She practically dragged him to the cash desk and told him him to pick whatever he liked.

“It’s really not necessary,” he said.

“Yes it is,” she told him. “Pete, get this nice gentleman whatever he wishes, I’m paying,” she handed him a twenty dollar bill. “Keep the rest. I have to go to work now. Have a good day! And I’m sorry for spilling coffee on you.”

She crossed the street and walked in to the HQ, greeting Frank the talking pug and the Guard, who was just reading his newspaper as usual.

“You have coffee on your shirt,” Frank said in his disturbingly deep voice.

“I know, I was stupid and didn’t look where I was going.”

“As per usual,” the Guard grumbled.

“Funny as per usual,” she sneered back at him as she stepped into the lift. As it arrived in the office, she couldn’t help but smile. Her job was a fantastical adventure and she loved it. There was a line of aliens waiting for their documents to be verified over at the front desk. Another group of aliens walk/crawled/flew past her. There was Kay, showing some rookies around. Someone was putting up a fight.

“Double Tee! Are you running around neuralysing random people again?”

Yeah. That was the life. 

The following morning, as Double Tee entered the Starbucks and joined the queue, someone tapped her shoulder.

“Excuse me, aren’t you the lady that so kindly bought my drink yesterday?” the now familiar voice asked.

Double Tee chuckled. “Don’t you mean the dumbass that spilled coffee on you yesterday?”

“Well but you did buy me a drink afterwards, didn’t you?” he asked, a cheeky smile on his face.

“That I did,” she nodded.

“Let me return the favour,” he offered. “I’ll buy your coffee today.”

“Absolutely not! Yesterday was for… well, yesterday,” she shook her head. “I ruined your shirt, that’s why I bought your coffee. We’re even now.”

“What if I just really want to buy a coffee?” he suggested. “I… I heard that’s what men do when they find a woman attractive. I’m Loki.”

That was how it started. Every day, one of them bought the other their coffee. The next day, they switched. Double Tee knew she shouldn’t engage with a civilian, even less so with an alien, but God, was this one incredible in every way imaginable. They talked for hours on end, about virtually nothing. He respected her avoiding questions about her job and very politely pretended to be deaf when something slipped her lips. He caught on the fact that it had something to do with stars and excitedly talked about them, ocassionally mentioning that he missed them and that he couldn’t really see them in the city. She felt herself falling for him while the reasonable part of her brain screamed bloody murder about it being the worst idea in history. He was, after all, still listed as a potential threat, despite having joined the Avengers now.

One evening, it was fairly late, they sat together at the Starbucks with their coffees, Loki looking out the window wistfully.

“What’s wrong, El?” Double Tee asked. “You’re looking even sadder than normal.”

“Ha ha ha,” he glared at her. “I don’t want to be moaning about this stuff.”

“You know you can tell me anything, right?” she said.

Loki let out a sigh. “I told you about my mother, didn’t I?”

“You did, yes,” she nodded. “She died, didn’t she?”

“Yes,” he said. “And… I can’t see her star.”

“What?”

“On Asgard, when someone dies, their soul goes up to the sky and becomes a star. But… I can’t see hers from here. I can barely see any, to be honest.”

Double Tee thought for a brief moment. “Do you trust me?” she asked.

“Of course I do, why?” he frowned.

“Come with me,” she said, downed the rest of her coffee and stood up. “Come on.”

Confused, he stood as well and followed her outside, across the road, into the Headquarters. She greeted the Guardian and Frank as usual, mumbling something vague about a witness. Loki’s curious face made them believe her lie, so they said nothing. In the lift, Double Tee pressed a button that said garage and down they went. She led Loki all the way to the back where a small, unsuspecting motorcycle was parked.

“Do you really trust me?” she asked again as she opened what appeared to be a closet.

“I really do, but what-”

“No time for questions,” she interrupted him. “Put this on,” she threw a leather jacket at him and got herself the same one. “And this,” she handed him a helmet. “We’re going on a tiny little trip,” she told him as she sat on the motorcycle. Loki took a breath to ask her something, but decided against, and sat right behind her.

“I need you to hold on tight,” she said.

“On to what?” he asked.

“Me, dumbass,” she chuckled. 

“That doesn’t sound very safe,” he pointed out. 

“It’s completely safe, don’t worry,” she dismissed him. “It’s an MIB certified vehicle, it’s safer than like… all normal cars.”

“MI what?”

Instead of replying, Double Tee started the motorcycle and Loki could only clutch on to her quickly as they left the garage. They soared through the ever so busy streets of New York, zigzagging through the traffic like it was nothing. Double Tee was way too aware of Loki’s arms around her waist, but did her best to ignore them.

As they left the city and got off the main road, Double Tee slowed down for a moment.

“Do you seriously trust me?” she asked once more having to shout al ittle to make sure he heard her.

“The fact that this is the third time you asked me in the span of thirty minutes makes me seriously question it,” he said. “But I still do.”

“Then hold on a little tighter and feel free to scream,” she said and pushed a tiny button on the side of the right handlebar. 

“What-”

Too late. The motorcycle went about twenty times faster now, the roaring of the engine deafening them. In a few moments, they could both feel the wheels leaving the ground and the motorcycle went flying through the night. When it got high enough, the engine quietened again and switched itself into flight mode.

“You can let go of me now,” Double Tee said.

“No, I don’t think I will,” Loki shook his head, but loosened his grip on her a little. “What in the nine realms-”

“You can’t tell anyone about this, alright?” she said. “Never. Ever. This is a secret, okay?”

“Absolutely,” he nodded. “But what-”

“Men in Black. That’s who I work for,” she interrupted him again. “A top secret agency. We deal with aliens and stuff. This is… our tech. Well, not exactly, it’s alien mostly. But it has some Stark Industries parts.”

“Stark knows about all this?”

“God, no.”

“And why exactly are you telling me this now?”

“I wanted to show you the stars. Push the little button on the right on the helmet, you’ll see better.”

With a shaky hand, Loki found the button and pressed it, his helmet opening and jaw dropping. The chilly wind made prickly tears flood his eyes and blur his vision, making the beauty above him barely recognisable. He blinked a few times and everything came to focus, but new tears replaced them, this time emotional ones. The last time he saw this much beauty was back on Asgard, where he used to sit on his window and just stare at the night sky for hours. He tried to find his mother’s star, but couldn’t see it in the speed.

“Don’t worry, we’re gonna land soon,” she said as if reading his thoughts. “Just a few more minutes.”

In that moment, a tiny red light started blinking on the inside of her helmet. An incoming call. Her brain went into panic mode and in the frenzy, she sent it to voice mail, hoping that whoever was calling would think she was busy escaping from something.

They landed on top of a small hill, in the middle of a thin forest. Double Tee switched the motorcycle off and took off her helmet. She turned to Loki, noticing the tears that stained his cheeks.

“Oh god, I’m so sorry, did I- did I do something wrong?” she asked.

“No,” he chuckled, shaking his head. “It’s perfect,” he added, pulling her into a tight hug.

“Don’t mention it,” she whispered as she nuzzled into his neck. “But you know, you’re missing out on the stars right now. Wanna climb a tree?”

In just a few moments, they sat atop a giant oak, watching the stars.

“What’s your real name?” Loki asked.

“Double Tee,” she said. “It’s my official name now. I don’t really exist anymore.”

“So… what was your name?” he wondered.

“Theresa-Taylor Barnes,” she said.

“Barnes?” he frowned. 

“Distant relative,” she nodded, knowing exactly what he was about to ask. “Poor uncle James. How is he?”

“He’s… he’s fine, I think,” Loki said. “I think we’re good friends, but I’m not really sure.”

“I’d tell you to say hi to him, but… he doesn’t know me. He’s not supposed to know me. No one is.”

“Then why-”

“I don’t know,” she sighed. “I should have never started talking to you, but I just… couldn’t help it.”

“It must be quite lonely,” he pointed out.

“In a way,” she agreed mindlessly. “I… I suppose I have the other agents, but familiarity isn’t really a big thing there. We’re just colleagues mostly. We don’t… we’re not like you guys.”

“Us?”

“The Avengers. Aren’t you this really cool team that’s real good friends? Doesn’t Stark always organise these parties where you all drink and dance and shit?” 

“I suppose.”

“Must be cool.”

He took a pause. “I could… introduce you.”

“No,” she shook her head. “Not a good idea. I’m not supposed to be friends with anyone, ever. If someone finds out about you, I’m toast.”

“Is it really that bad?”

“I don’t know. And I don’t think I want to know.”

None of them said anything for a moment. 

“Theresa-Taylor?”

“Don’t,” she mumbled. “It’s a stupid name. Call me Terry if you really want to.”

“Terry,” he tried again. “It doesn’t really suit you.”

“It’s been years since someone called me that,” she smiled. “It doesn’t even sound right anymore, but it’s nice to hear it.”

“What if I called you mine instead?” he suggested. Double Tee’s eyes widened.

“What?”

“You’re amazing. You took a huge risk taking me here just to make me feel better. You’re the only person who gets me. You’re funny, you’re smart, you’re kind, you’re…” he took a deep breath. “You’re the best person I have ever met. I’m in love with you, Terry.”

“El, I-”

“You don’t have to say anything,” he interrupted her. “I just… wanted to get it out of my system.”

With her eyes full of tears, she leaned in and planted a chaste kiss on his cheek. He looked at her for a moment, then turned his head ever so slightly and closed the remaining space between them. It was only for the shortest moment, but it still felt as if time had stopped.

When they separated again, Loki gently put a strand of Double Tee’s hair behind her ear. “Don’t cry, darling,” he whispered, hugging her tight.

“This shouldn’t be,” she sobbed. “I shouldn’t have feelings for you. I’m so screwed.”

“No you’re not,” he said. “No one has to know.”

But then-

“Double Tee and Loki, sitting in a tree,” they heard from below them. “K-I-S-S-I-N-G!”

They flinched and look down, only to see two other agents, Jay and Kay.

“Man, I never thought I’d get to sing that again,” Jay snickered.

“Get down here, Double Tee,” Kay said, his arms crossed on his chest. “You too, sir.” 

Double Tee sighed and jumped off the branch, landing on her feet but nearly falling over.

“Are you out of your mind?” Kay asked.

“Kay, wait,” Jay stopped him, noticing her puffy red eyes. “What’s wrong, girl? Is he hurting you?”

“Nothing’s wrong, I’m fine,” she snapped back. “Loki’s not… hurting me.”

“Then why are you crying?” he frowned.

“Because you are going to neuralyse him, aren’t you? You’re gonna take my only friend away from me.”

“You sure you guys are just friends?”

“Jay. Focus,” Kay scolded him. “You know the rules, Double Tee. No relationships with the outside world. And especially not stealing an MIB vehicle to go for a ride with the outside world. You of all people-”

“Me of all people!” she exclaimed. “Me of all people is sick of this! Me of all people is tired of not having anyone for myself! Me of all people is-”

“Lonely,” Jay finished for her. Double Tee gulped and nodded, noticing Kay’s face softening ever so slightly.

“We’ve all been there,” he said. “Sooner or later. Everyone gets lonely. And… sometimes falls in love with an alien.”

“That doesn’t sound stupid at all,” Jay mumbled.

“Point is,” Kay glared at him. “We just move on.”

“No,” Double Tee whimpered. “Don’t take it away from me. Please, Kay. I’m the happiest I have ever been.”

“You know the rules, Double Tee,” he insisted. “We have to neuralyse him and suspend you.”

“Kay, wait,” Jay interrupted him once more. “Look at her. You really want to break her? Maybe we could come up with something. He’s not really outside world, is he? He’s kind of one of us when you think about it.”

A spark of hope lightened Double Tee’s features. “Please, Kay.”

The older agent thought for a moment. “Fine. But if Oh finds out, you’re toast, understood?”

“Thank you!” she let out a sigh of relief. 

“We’ll still have to suspend you for the bike though,” he said. “We’ll take you both back.”

Double Tee turned to Loki behind her and smiled. “We’re okay,” she whispered, reaching for his hand. He returned the smile end entwined his fingers with hers.

“Aw, man, look at how cute they are!” Jay said.

[samcarpnter]

my endgame thoughts (MAJOR SPOILERS)

Alright so I saw Endgame last night and I have had time to process my feelings about it so be ready for my rant, and again this includes MAJOR ENDGAME SPOILERS

I first want to say that I did really like the movie. After all of the spoilers got loose and people who hadn’t even seen the movie were just slandering it nonstop, I was really scared that I was gonna hate the entire thing. That definitely wasn’t the case. I hate a few of the decisions the Russo brothers made but overall I thought the movie was really good. It’s not going to be my favorite marvel movie, nor do I think it’s the best one, but I think it did have an overall good ending to the Infinity Saga, even if some of the character’s endings weren’t what I liked.

C A R O L. Fuck the Russo brothers for teasing her so much just for her to be in five minutes of it. I will say though, when she was in it, she was the goddess we knew from her own movie and she KICKED ASS. I’m looking forward to seeing her lead the rest of the next chapter of the MCU. And I am really shocked that we actually got Carol in her iconic pixie cut, definitely didn’t think the MCU was gonna give that to us.

I am LIVID at the Russo brothers for saying “oh yeah we have a gay character in the film whoohoo!” AND IT WAS FUCKING JOE RUSSO’S STUPID FACE TALKING ABOUT GOING ON A DATE WITH A MAN. OOH I’m mad, because number one that is QUEERBAITING because we thought it meant Carol but no the Russos don’t want us to have nice things.

Thor. My god that was awful. I knew about his awful hair but I did not know about the beer belly and his weight gain. That pisses me off so goddamn much. It wasn’t necessary, it really fucking wasn’t. There are many other ways they could have depicted his depression without that. As a plus size person, I was disgusted because everyone in the theater was dying of laughter just at the sight of Thor almost anytime he came on screen. He was there just to be a lazy source of humor because people love fat jokes. Obviously, there really isn’t plus size representation in the MCU and I am perfectly fine with that because I mean these are superheroes and aliens and literal gods, it makes sense that they aren’t, and sure there was a fat joke every once in a while but even I find the occasional one funny. When it is pretty much the biggest source of comedy for the movie minus Scott, that crosses a line. It really felt like the only reason Thor was there was to supply constant fat jokes, and honestly that’s just lazy writing on the Russo brother’s parts not that I expected much more let’s be honest

Nat’s death … I mean if you’ve followed me for a while I don’t think it’s a secret that I don’t like Scar Jo and I don’t like MCU Nat because the writers have screwed her over time and time again and then on top of that, Scar Jo just doesn’t … do anything ?? Like I do not see the appeal to her acting if that’s what you want to call it. Hell, I could probably do a better Nat. Honestly I’m pretty happy that they killed her off because that means Nat won’t have to be portrayed poorly anymore and I won’t have to see Scar Jo’s face for the rest of the movies, with the exception of maybe the Black Widow movie if that happens but it’ll probably be a prequel so I am all good with that. I am sad that any version of Natasha dies but I just don’t want to see one of my favorite characters get treated so badly anymore.

Nebula. I was really happy with how big of a part she played in this film, she has always been a favorite of mine and her development has just been amazing. Karen Gillan really did so well in this film and I’m happy she was given the chance to show how important of a character she is.

Where was Okoye ??? Why put her on the poster, why have Danai on this huge press tour, why do any of that if I saw her A TOTAL OF TWO MINUTES?!?! They just baited us the whole time ugh....

I was not a fan of Professor Hulk. I don’t know it was but I just ... it just felt like something was off about him the whole time, and I really hope that it’s the end for Hulk just because I don’t know if I could take that again.

Scott is a gem. Scott is perfect, no one hurt him, no one change him, he stays forever. 

The time travel plot wasn’t bad, I thought, it’s basically what we expected even without the spoilers. The little changes when they went back in time to get the stones were great, especially Loki. Like the Tesseract just appeared next to him and he said YEET and left.

The final battle was EPIC especially the moment when all the portals open and everyone appears oh my god that was magical, though I wish we got to see more reunions like Steve should have RAN to hug Bucky :( but Sam saying “on your left” to let him know they fixed the snap was incredible. And the Steve fucking WIELDING MJOLNIR !!! AMAZING. And that scene when all of the super ladies were helping Carol get the gauntlet to the van I mean GODDAMN that was breathtaking. Literally everyone in the theater was cheering and shouting during it which made it so much better too. And Pepper as Rescue, wow I’m so happy I was given that.

I was really happy that we got to see Gamora again, I mean seeing her kick Chris Pratt in the balls was one of the highlights of the movie for me. I hope that maybe they’ll find a way to bring her back but I’m a little hesitant because then that might mean Scar Jo would come back

Tony. As much as his death hurt me and as much as I love him and wish he didn’t die, I really do think that his death was the right way for him to go. We all know Tony, he could pull himself away for a while but he always went back to the fight, and he died to protect the family he found and that is the most Iron Man thing he could’ve done. And the fact that his last words were “I am Iron Man” ?? I mean come on that is how this whole thing started and we’re gonna end with that ?! Oof that was the most beautifully heartbreaking part of the movie. I love you x3000 Tony.

And now we get to the part that I’m most angry about … Steve Rogers. One of the best characters of the MCU (in my opinion) and the Russo brothers gave him That. I was seething when I saw it play out on screen, even though I had known it would happen from spoilers. There is no way, absolutely NO WAY Steve would have gone back and just lived a mundane life while KNOWING that Bucky was out there being brainwashed and tortured and he knew HYDRA was invading S.H.I.E.L.D the whole time, the place that Peggy, the person he went back for, built up and dedicated so much of herself to … and him leaving Bucky after Bucky had just gotten back to him? Nope, that is not the Steve Rogers that we have grown to love and I would rather he had died protecting those he loved than THAT. Yes, I think he deserves to be happy and Peggy is one of many sources of happiness for him, but he has so many more in the timeline he left behind that I just don’t see him risking all of that for Peggy. I really think this was the easiest way for Marvel to establish that Steve is heterosexual and that there is Nothing There with Bucky because they are cowards. And another thing, it just completely goes against literally everything Agent Carter was about. I love Peggy, and I always loved her with Steve, but she moved on and he needed too as well WITH BUCKY OR SAM OR TONY OR REALLY ANYONE ELSE. Agent Carter was basically all about Peggy proving herself to be more than just Captain America’s girlfriend, and Steve going back to disrupt all of that is just so wrong on so many levels. The only good thing that came out of this ending for Steve was that he gave Sam the shield, and I hope in the Falcon and Winter Soldier show we get to see Sam fulfill that role. I love Bucky (if you couldn’t tell from my URL) and I loved him as Cap in the comics and I would love to see him as Cap in the MCU, but I really think Sam should take the mantle from Steve, at least for right now just because Bucky is really still healing from his memories of HYDRA and everything that happened with Civil War, and my baby just needs to rest at least a little bit

I do like that Thor is partnering with the Guardians, I really think they will be a great new family for him. And we were fed well when he crowned Valkyrie the king of Asgard, which is what she deserves. It does worry me that maybe we won’t see her again unless there is another movie with Thor in it, but it’s not really confirmed if Hemsworth is done with the franchise, so if this was it for her, I’m glad she got that ending.

So I’m still pretty heated about Steve and Thor and the fucking Joe Russo queerbaiting cameo, but overall it was a really good movie, and I think a good ending for most of the characters. It was a crazy ride but I am very much looking forward to Far From Home and everything that is to come, I think we have a great lineup of superheroes to fulfill the next phase of the MCU. And also, the America’s ass line was the best thing that happened in the movie.

[fanficshiddles]

I’m still breathing, Chapter 18

‘We could say you’re sick.’ Loki said as he paced back and fore in Sophie’s room a few days later.

‘Loki. It will be fine. You’re over-reacting. You will all be there. All I have to do is go inside, go to the main office and pick up some documents.’ Sophie said as she tied her hair back.

They were planning to attack that night. Sophie couldn’t deny she was a little nervous about it. Considering it was her first mission after all. But she knew it was low risk and after going over the blueprints for the building over and over, she had it all mapped out in her mind.

Loki rushed to her and spun her around to face him. He held her upper arms, his face full of concern.

‘I can’t teleport to you once you’re inside. As I’ve never been in there before, I can’t teleport to places where I haven’t been. It’s too dangerous.’

‘I know, you’ve told me plenty of times. But you won’t need to.’ Sophie smiled and reached up to cup Loki’s cheek. ‘I’ll be fine. I’m sure of it.’

Loki just grumbled in response.

He wasn’t happy about this. At all. He was super pissed off that the team didn’t heed his warnings and listen to him. While he knew she was skilled and coming along really well with her fighting and powers, she still wasn’t ready yet. He didn’t want her in any danger.

The team all piled onto the jet that was waiting to take them to the Hydra base in Ukraine. Sophie was feeling nervous, but she knew once she was there and started doing what she had to do, she would be ok.

Pepper waved them all off as they took off. Loki was gripping Sophie’s hand tightly between them for the duration of the journey, she was surprised her hand didn’t fall off from how tightly he was holding it.

‘Stop pouting, Loki. This mission will be over before you know it.’ Tony teased. But Loki didn’t see the fun and gave him a death stare, making Tony back off instantly. Not wanting to be choked by the god again.

When they arrived, they dropped Sophie and Thor off not far from the Hydra HQ. Thor was going to fly Sophie to the building once the others had caused a distraction. Loki made sure that Sophie had her communication device turned on first and that it was working.

‘There is still time to back out of this, you know.’ He said before leaving her.

‘It’s alright, Loki. Go on, go cause some mischief with a distraction!’ She shooed him away and he reluctantly got back on board.

As soon as they took off, his voice came across her earpiece.

‘Just wanted to make sure this is working.’

‘It is, Loki. Speak to you later.’ Sophie replied.

‘I didn’t realise Loki could be such a worrier.’ She said to Thor as they started to walk towards the base, until it was time for him to fly her in.

‘I didn’t either, to be honest. But he loves and cares for you deeply. It’s nice to see this side of him, one I’ve never seen before.’ Thor smiled.

‘What was he like as a child?’ Sophie couldn’t resist asking.

‘He was pretty much like he is now. Mischievous, liked to play pranks. Yet he was more of an outsider when we were kids. Always kept to himself, nose stuck in his books. Aside from when he was annoying us with said pranks. He’s more sociable now, at least with those around him.’

‘I bet you were both cute kids.’ Sophie grinned and Thor laughed.

‘I don’t know about that. Father and Mother were always chastising us for various reasons. Especially when we were really young. Father always said how we caused him to age quicker.’ Thor chuckled at the memories.

‘Do you think your Father will ever allow Loki back on Asgard?’

‘I do not know. He has shown he is capable of redemption. In my eyes he has changed, for the better. He’s over his past. Now he has you, I can only see him continuing to do better and better. Whether Father sees that or not is a different story.’ Thor sighed.

Their little chat was interrupted as they heard alarms blaring and explosions coming from the far side of the forest, a few miles away from the Hydra HQ. Meaning that the team was in place for the distraction.

Thor put his arm around Sophie, told her to hold on, then he used Mjolnir to fly. Sophie clutched onto Thor while they sped through the air, then in no time at all they were back on their feet and Thor released Sophie.

‘Good luck, Lady Sophie.’ Thor nodded at her, then took off again with Mjolnir to join the fight.

Sophie turned to the large building that loomed over her. She felt sick. Part of her was wondering whether she could do this or not. But she took a deep breath and concentrated, then she started to phase through the walls.

It was easy enough to get into the building. Remembering the layout of the place in her mind, she soon located the office where the files would be. Well, the office where the Avengers hoped the files would be.

She scouted around the room, but there wasn’t anything obvious sticking out to her. So she started searching through the desk drawers, but then she heard a door open behind her and footsteps entered.

Shit.

She spun around in time to see a Hydra agent aiming his gun at her and shooting. She panicked, not knowing what to do. But her powers kicked in and she fell through the floor, but not before the bullet fired hit her in the upper left arm. She cried out in pain as she fell through the floor and landed on the lower floor with a thud, on top of some boxes.

‘AAARGH!’ She cried out in agony as she clutched her arm, she’d never felt pain like it.

‘Sophie. Sophie, are you ok?’ Loki’s voice came over the coms.

She took a minute to calm her breathing down, even though the pain was excruciating.

‘SOPHIE!’ Loki and others shouted through the earpiece at her, worried.

‘I… I’m ok. I’ve been shot. I don’t know where I am, I fell through the floor of the office.’ Sophie groaned.

She heard a whole bunch of expletives come from Loki, along with cries of his victims as he slaughtered multiple Hydra agents at once in his rage.

‘LANGUAGE!’ Steve shouted, making Sophie laugh slightly, even in her situation.

‘I’m coming to get you.’ Loki said firmly.

‘No, Loki. It’s too risky. I’ll get out, just keep the distraction going.’ Sophie said and got up to her feet.

She could hear the battle going on over her earpiece as she went to the nearest wall and attempted to phase through it, but her powers wouldn’t work.

‘Shit.’ She hissed and tried again, but still she couldn’t get through.

‘What is it, Sophie?’ Steve asked.

‘I can’t get out. My phasing isn’t working.’ She said, panicked.

‘It’s alright, we will get you out. Do you know where you… HULK! NO! WAIT!’ Natasha trailed off.

‘What’s going on? Loki?’ Sophie asked, panicking even more now.

She couldn’t really tell what was going on. She kept hearing them fighting more Hydra agents. But then suddenly she started to hear really loud almost explosion like noises from within the building. That sound got louder, then trailed off somewhere from the upper floor.

‘Guys… What’s going on? There’s something in here.’ She said, worried. Her voice was shaky.

But her communication stopped working. Hydra had used a special radio blocker, blocking all communications within the area.

‘Fuck!’ She cried out and tried hitting the wall, desperate to get out.

Suddenly the loud noises got louder again, this time she could tell it was coming from the same floor she was on. It seemed like something was crashing through the walls, and it was getting closer.

Her fear piqued, her entire body was trembling in a mixture of fear and pain. She still managed to get her dagger out with her good hand and poised herself, ready to attack if need be. But whatever it was coming closer to her, she knew it was large. And she didn’t know if she was going to be able to take it out.

But when the wall opposite her exploded on front of her eyes, she relaxed more. It was Hulk. He stormed straight over to her and stopped, noticing her slight fear.

‘Sophie.’ Hulk said.

There was sounds of footsteps from Hydra agents coming towards them from the corridor outside the wall that Hulk had just smashed through.

Before Sophie could do or say anything, Hulk grabbed her and ran. She hid her face against him as he smashed his way out again, destroying the walls in the process.

Well, this is one way to go through walls. She thought as within seconds they were outside again. There were guns fired at them, but Hulk shielded Sophie from them and kept running until they were at the other side of the forest, far enough away from the HQ.

But from the rush of adrenaline and the pain, Sophie passed out in Hulks arms.

The rest of the team were quick on the scene. Hulk was reluctant to put Sophie down, wanting to keep her safe. He growled at them and kept hiding her from them.

Loki stepped forward cautiously. ‘Put her down, Hulk. You saved her, and we thank you. But I need my girl, I need to see to her.’ He said firmly, yet calmly. Knowing to keep his own emotions in check or else he would struggle to get her back from the green beast.

Hulk looked between Sophie and Loki for a moment, then he carefully placed her down on the ground and slammed his fists to the ground with a roar. Natasha went in and started her lullaby while Loki rushed to Sophie and scooped her up in his arms.

‘We need to her back, NOW!’ Loki snarled.

The team rushed back to the jet, Loki carefully lay her down on the stretcher inside. Natasha tore at Sophie’s sleeve to see to the wound.

‘Luckily there’s not bullet inside her, it grazed her arm. Still painful though. That fall from the floor down has probably given her a few bruises. We won’t know till we get her back though.’ Natasha cleaned up the wound then wrapped it in a bandage.

Sophie slowly started to come round then.

‘Loki?’ She called out, her eyes in a daze as she tried to focus.

‘I’m here, love. I’m here.’ Loki said softly and crouched down at her side, taking her hand in his.

Sophie calmed a little when she felt Loki take her hand. She closed her eyes and fell asleep again. Loki kissed her hand and turned to glare at the others, who were all stood watching with guilty looking faces while Clint flew them home.

‘I told you this was a bad idea!’ He hissed at them all.

When they returned to base, Sophie was rushed straight to the doctors. She was patched up and checked over for any more injuries. She had bruised ribs, the obvious wound on her arm and a slight concussion. Which would explain why her phasing stopped working when she fell through the floor.

Loki took her back to his room and got her comfortable on his bed.

‘I’ll be fine in my own room, Loki.’ She smiled.

‘Nonsense. I need to keep an eye on you.’ He said sternly, sorting the pillows for her. ‘I’ll be back. I just need to go fetch you some food.’ He placed a gentle kiss upon her forehead before disappearing.

He went into the kitchen where the others were.

‘Are you all happy now? She’s injured and will be out of action for a while thanks to you reckless idiots!’ He snarled.

‘Hey, she wanted to help. It’s not our fault her powers failed her.’ Tony snapped.

‘I TOLD YOU SHE WASN’T READY! IT IS NOT HER FAULT!’ Loki roared at Tony and launched for him again, but this time Thor was quick and put himself between them both.

‘Calm down, Loki. This won’t help matters. We were wrong, and you were right. We should have listened to you. She wasn’t ready. But she’s safe, it’s all good.’ Thor said as calmly as he could.

Loki glared at his brother, but took a step back.

‘It’s not all good though. Hydra will be moving on now. Hulk destroyed their base. It took us months to find that location and it will take months, possibly even years, to find their new place.’ Said Wanda.

‘I’m sorry. But you know I can’t control Hulk.’ Bruce said, feeling guilty.

‘It’s not your fault either, Bruce.’ Natasha sighed. ‘It’s no one’s fault. We made a mistake thinking Sophie was ready so soon. While it would have been better if Hulk hadn’t destroyed the place, it’s a good thing he got Sophie out so quickly.’

Everyone mumbled in agreement. But Loki was still seething with anger that Sophie had even been put in that position in the first place. So to avoid any more conflict, he ignored the rest of them and got some food for Sophie before returning to her.

‘Is everyone ok? Did I mess up real bad?’ Sophie asked when Loki returned.

‘No, love. You didn’t mess up. Everyone is fine. Bruised egos perhaps, but all is well.’ Loki assured her.

‘I couldn’t find anything in the office. I was searching through drawers when an agent came in. Then my phasing just went haywire and pulled me through the floor. Though I guess that was a good thing.’ Sophie sighed.

‘Indeed. Relax, love. It’s not your doing.’ Loki sat down on the bed and helped with the tray of food on her lap.

‘You were right. I’m sorry for not listening to you.’ She said, leaning into him slightly.

‘I’m always right. That’s something you will soon learn.’ Loki said cockily, making her laugh but it hurt.

‘Oww. Don’t make me laugh.’ She whined.

‘I was just being truthful.’ Loki feigned innocence and kissed her head.

[screw-real-life-i-pick-fandoms]

My Beautiful Night-Wing (LokixReader)

Chapter Ten: Is This Love?

Part: 11/?

Words: 1,750+

(Y/N POV)

I stood on the balcony outside of my room and tried to calm myself down. It was a long day and my magic needed a rest, so I was letting my wigs show. I have felt it for a while now, but today I have fully accepted it. I was in love with Loki Odinson, and that was that. Why did it have to be him? Everyone who I have ever cared about has suffered and died because of what I am! Jenna was the only one I had told about my liking Loki, and I planned on keeping it that way. Better Loki doesn't find out and save me the hart brake and our friendship.

While I was thinking to myself I heard a knock on the door to my chambers'. I quickly hid my wings as the door opened and I could see Loki standing in the doorway holding something.

"Good evening Y/N," Loki said stepping into my room and closing the door behind him. "I found your book next to the pond. I thought I would bring it to you."

He held out the book to me as I came inside from the balcony.

"Thank you, Loki," I said gently taking the book from his hands. I felt a slight shiver as my hand brushed agents his. "I was wondering what I had done with it."

I walked over to my nightstand and placed the book on its hardwood top. We both said nothing for a few moments, and the silence was starting to make me feel tense.

"Y/N," Loki started after about a minute of saying nothing. "Would you be up for a ride through the woods? The stars should be magnificent tonight, and I know a great place to watch them."

I could hear the hopefulness in his voice, and was he nervous? No, that couldn't have been it. I must be misreading him.

"That would be lovely," I said and could see he looked pleased. "Give me a few moments to get ready? I will meet you at the stables."

"Great," Loki said happily. "I will see you soon."

With that, he walked out the door leaving me alone, and I began to get ready for a night ride.

(Loki's POV)

As I walked down the halls to the stables I ran into Thor, and he stepped into my path.

"Well," Thor asked expectantly. "What did she say?"

I rolled my eyes at him as I walked past him, but he followed me.

"She said she will meet me at the stables," I said to Thor who had a huge smile on his face. "I will be getting our horses ready in the meantime."

"Will you tell her tonight, brother?" Thor asked me, and I stopped for a moment. "I mean, you did chicken out this morning."

"I did not "chicken out", Thor," I snapped back. "I was going to tell her, but she left before I had the chance!"

"Yeah. Sure," Thor said with a laugh. "You better not let her leave tonight. She likes you a lot you know."

"How would you know that Thor," I asked knowing he was just bluffing. "Did she tell you?"

"No," Thor said. "But I do know she has feelings for you Loki. Just as you have feelings for Y/N."

I sighed as I walked past him opening the doors to the stables, leaving him behind. I thought about what Thor had said, and knew he was right. I will tell Y/N that I have feelings for her tonight and hope that she feels the same.

(Y/N POV)

I had put on some warm pants, a long-sleeved F/C shirt, and a black hooded cloche. I walked out my door and headed down the huge halls to the stables where Loki was waiting for me. When I was about halfway there I ran into Thor, who, as usual, had a smile on his face. Thor may look like a huge, scary, "I can kill you in two seconds" look to him, but in reality, he was a sweetheart. We would train sometimes when I was free, and we would train till we dropped. He reminded me of Erett in a way, training me with fighting and being an all-around good brother.

"Hello Thor," I said happily. "How are you this evening?"

"I am fine, thank you lady Y/N," Thor said with a larger than normal smile. "What are you doing this evening?"

"Loki asked me to go horseback riding with him," I said trying to hide my excitement. "We plane to see what stars are out tonight."

"Well," Thor said as we approached the stables. "Sounds like a great time. I will leave you to it then. Good night Y/N"

"Good night Thor," I said as I walked out the door to the stables.

I could see Loki standing next to two beautiful horses, one of which was mine. Loki's male horse was lean and midnight black named Abbas. My horse had black hair with white dots that looked like stars all over her, I named her Polaris.

"Ready to go," Loki asked once he saw me come in. "I have everything all set."

"Alright then," I said as I got onto my horse and he got on his. "Let's see what you have for us tonight, Loki"

*Kind of time skip*

I followed Loki out of the city and into the woods, and we rode for about two hours before we got off the horses. We tied them off, and Loki led me towards a clearing. Once we got out of the trees I could see it wasn't just a clearing, but a cliff that overlooks the city of Asgard and its ocean. I looked up and gasped, the stars were incredible. More than I had ever seen from the city, and I had never been out this far. All the colors of the nebulas, all the stars, and moons were absolutely breathtaking.

"Do you like it," Loki asked taking my attention away from the sky. "It's one of my favorite places to come, so I thought you would like it too."

"Like it," I said almost breathlessly. "Loki. I love it! It is beautiful."

"I am glad you think so," Loki said with a smile, and I realized how close we were. "Y/N I have....Well...I."

I have never seen Loki look this nervous, and I was getting a little worried.

"Loki," I asked. "Is everything alright?"

"Yes," Loki said softly. "Everything is fine, it's just. Well, I wanted to tell you something. That's why I brought you up here, I needed to ask for your advice."

"Alright Loki," I said questioningly. "You can ask me anything."

"It's about a girl who has caught my feelings," Loki said after a few moments of silence, and I felt my heart begin to hurt. So, Loki already has someone he likes. I knew he could never like me, but it still hurt. I knew I had to be supportive, so I hid my pain under a small smile. "How do I tell her I like her and want to spend the rest of my life with her?"

Wow, he must really like her.

"Well to start," I said almost shakily. "I need to know who she is. That's a big part of how you should tell her."

"I can't tell you who she is," Loki said looking down. "You know her, and I don't want her knowing before I am ready."

"You are not giving me much to go off of her Loki," I said trying to get him to look at me. "Can you at least tell me about her?"

"She is the most beautiful woman I have ever seen," Loki started and he was now looking up at the night sky above us. "She has silky H/C hair that I would love to run my hands through as I hold her in my arms. The way her amazing E/C eyes sparkle with emotion when she talks about something she is passionate about." He stopped for a moment as if to collect his thoughts then continued. "But she is not just beautiful, she is the most loving, sweet, intelligent, caring, and amazing person I have ever met."

"She....She sounds great Loki," I said sadly. Hearing him talk about someone with so much love made me feel so much pain, but I couldn't let it show. Not here, not now. "I think you should just tell her how you feel. It is obvious you care about her a lot, and anyone would be crazy to not like you Loki, you are a great person. You should just tell her."

"Are you sure," Loki asked with a sad tone in his voice. "What if she doesn't like me back?"

"She will," I said pulling him in for a hug. I could tell he needed comfort, and I could feel a tear slipping down my face, and I didn't want him to see it. "Trust me, Loki. She will."

"Thank you, Y/N," He said softly. Before I knew what was happening he pulled me to face him and brought his lips to mine in a sweet, loving kiss. His arms warped around my waist, and I put my arms around his neck. The kiss probably only lasted a few seconds, but to me, it felt like hours and I didn't want it to end. There was so much love and feeling in the kiss, it was like all the words we wanted to say but couldn't. Finlay, we pulled away for air and stared into each other's eyes, not saying anything.

"But I thought," I said sadly. "I thought you liked someone else. The girl you described can't be me."

"Oh Y/N," He spoke softly brushing the tear from my face with his thumb. "That was only the beginning, my love. I could never say how much I love you."

"You...You love me?" I asked unsurely.

Loki let out a soft laugh and pulled me agents his chest.

"More than anything," He said softly into my ear. "And I would like to prove it to you if you will allow me. What do you say Y/N, will you allow me to court you?"

"Yes," I said happily. "I would love to."

"Thank the gods," Loki said. "I will love you till the end of my days."

We stayed like that for a long while, just warped in each other's arm watching the stars.

Tag List: @mybabydrivesa67impala @theoneanna @camu-winchester

Let me know if you want to be tagged. Fic requests are open.

[larrykins]

MYTHS, LEGENDS, LIES AND STORIES: An Attempt to a Loki-centric Fanfic

AUTHOR’S NOTES:

The last fan fiction I wrote was Absolution (for Broadchurch) which was two years ago. I haven’t returned into creative writing in years. To be honest, I’m just too tired to think sometimes and moreo ften than not, I find myself lost in my thoughts. Most of the story ideas I have remains as ideas because I am just too damn lazy to write these days. Now, confined at home for almost two weeks due to chicken pox, I I have the time to sit and write down these story ideas in my head.

This is my first attempt to write a fan fiction that is Loki-centric. I have so many feels after watching Thor; Ragnarok last November and frankly I got hooked in so many fanfictions about Loki. I am putting aside my fear of writing a fan fiction about Loki and decided to let go much like what I did when I wrote “After Life” (a Soujiro-centric fan fiction under Rurouni Kenshin). I do not know whether I’d be able to get Loki’s characterization correct but I am using his MCU incarnation and will reference a few materials from Loki: Journey Into Mystery and Loki: Agent of Asgard comic books. I do hope you enjoy this work. This is me and my imagination running wild.

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Loki or any other Marvel Characters that appears in this fan fiction. All characters belong to MARVEL. All original characters that will appear in this fan fiction is min though.

gifs and pictures are not mine. Credit goes to the photographer(s) and creator(s). 

MYTHS, LEGENDS, LIES AND STORIES

Only one of you can ascend to the throne. But both of you were born to be kings.

  Loki opened his eyes. His fitful slumber was interrupted by a gentle ray of sunlight peeking through the windows. He groaned in frustration as a realization dawned on him. It was another boring day in this hel hole in Midgard. Closing his eyes as if to muster the courage to get up, Loki consoled himself with the thought that at least this time he had a room and he was not confined in some glass prison.

Midgard was on high alert after Thor and the rest of the surviving Asgardians arrived in the Grand Master’s ark. Migardians, while fond of Thor, was not overly keen on welcoming a few hundred survivors from Asgard who could potentially be as powerful as he or Thor. Heimdall and Valkyrie were surely powerful Asgardians but they are far too loyal to Thor to even think of conquering Midgard.

He was a different case however. As Loki got up, he smiled at the memory of seeing Midgard’s welcoming party for him. High-powered artillery fit to incapacitate an “alien” (as what Midgardians call those who come from space) were on stand-by. A replica of the handcuffs and muzzle he wore when he was captured in New York was immediately placed on him. Thor pleaded with the Midgardians and tried to regal them with the story of his heroic rescue of the Asgardians but apparently it was not enough to vouch for his “change of heart”. In the end, it was Midgard’s Sorcerer and master of the New York Sanctum, Doctor Stephen Vincent Strange who took the responsibility to be his keeper. 

Which brings us to Loki’s present situation. As he got up from his bed in his appointed room in 177A Bleecker Street, Loki opened the curtains of his window to allow the soft morning light to enter the room. He raised his hands and observed his wrists as a thin band of light briefly shined before it disappeared. 

As Doctor Strange took over the responsibility of watching him (since according to the sorcerer, he was among the top 10 of his most dangerous beings watch list), Doctor Strange installed a power dampening spell which limits his powers to mere party tricks. It was only Doctor Strange who can adjust or remove the spell on him. 

The god of mischief and lies has been reduced to an almost mortal existence. His adopted older brother on the other hand, the god of thunder and king of Asgard was busy rebuilding Asgard on the place where they had last seen Odin (and encountered their older sister Hela). Norway and the European Union was kind enough to allow the Asgardians refuge on that place.

I am the better diplomat. Came the bitter thought as he slammed his fist against the window. Thankfully it did not break (because he will never hear the end of it from the second rate sorcerer) and the same time, it was a bitter reminder of how weak he has become.

 But both of you were born to be kings.

 Odin’s words from a distant memory. Loki smiled and his reflection on the window smiled back at him. Yes, he and Thor were born as heirs to the throne but one of them was the unwanted heir. He was neither welcomed in Jotunheim and Hel would freeze before Asgard sees a frost giant ascend its golden throne. 

Odin’s words were neither truth nor lies; they were not empty promises too.

He was king of nothing. His entire existence was built on a lie.

”WOOONNGG!!!” The loud shrieking outside his room was enough to cut any more thoughs from Loki’s morning musings. Pushing himself away from the window, Loki decided to prepare and join the rest of the occupants of the Sanctum for breakfast.

 ----OoO----

 “I swear you are trying to kill me.” Zelma Stanton said as Wong served a cup of tea to the energetic librarian and apprentice of Doctor Strange. She was about to make another remark but she was rendered speechless as Loki waltzed inside the open-spaced breakfast area. Doctor Strange and Wong eyed him warily and followed his every motion. It was a daily dance routine that he has gotten accustomed to since becoming a “guest��� in the New York sanctum. 

Loki took the seat opposite Zelma. Carefully placing the napkin on his lap, Loki chose to have the freshly baked bagel and cream cheese for breakfast. As he was spreading the cream cheese on his bagel, Doctor Strange spoke. “Your brother sends word that he will come and visit you this week. Seems like the Asgardians are settling well in Norway.”

“Visit? He is more likely to check if I am up to something here.” Loki responded.

“Maybe. Maybe not.” Strange agrees. “So be good won’t you.” Loki rolled his eyes in response to Strange.

“Tea?” Wong offered.

“Early Gray with milk.”

“How come you ask him and he gets to choose his tea?” Zelma complained. “And here you give me another tentacle tea with lemon squeeze. Talk about bias Wong.”

Wong was about to respond to Zelma when a portal opened in the breakfast room. A young woman with dark brown hair messily tied in a pony tail appeared from the portal. Wisps of hair beautifully framed her face as her amber eyes seem to sparkle in amusement.

“Looks like I am in time for breakfast.” She cheerfully announced as the portal closed behind her.

“And the prodigal apprentice returns.” Wong teased. Setting down the teapot, Wong opened his arms as the young woman ran towards him and embraced him.

“I am not a prodigal apprentice. Doctor Strange ‘loaned’ me to Thor to teach Asgardian scholars about Midgard.” The woman responded as she glared at Strange. Strange just smiled at her.

“Good to have you back though.” Zelma declares as she stood from her chair to give the young woman a welcome hug. As soon as Zelma released the young woman from her embrace, she turned to Loki.

“Good Morning Prince Loki. Your brother says he misses you and that he looks forward to visit you this week.”

“Doctor Strange have relayed that message to me already.” Loki retorts gently. “And welcome back Lady Brielle.” Loki offers.

“Please, Brielle is just fine. I’ve had enough of the ‘lady’ title to last me a lifetime! Asgardians and their Victorian sensibilities.” She counters as she takes the seat beside Loki.

The breakfast table was then filled with lively chatter and friendly banter. Loki mused as he carefully observes Brielle how her presence easily changed the atmosphere of the room and the dynamics of its occupants. In the months he had spent in the sanctum, he had several interactions with Doctor Strange’s valet and guardian, Wong, his librarian and apprentice Zelma and his other apprentice Brielle Aine McKenzie.

Strange as his sworn keeper has always been guarded around him despite disguising it under intellectual conversations. Wong have always regarded him with careful measure of caution while Zelma occasionally converses with him but he realized that his mere presence unnerves the woman. Brielle was Zelma’s complete opposite however. While he knows that he intimidates her, the woman has never took a step back whenever they discuss and debate. She possesses the cool and calm intellectual facade of Strange but underneath it all is a fiery and fierce creature prepared to tackle any obstacle before her.

“Brielle Aine. Your name suits you perfectly.” Loki commented as he smiled. They were in the middle of a heated argument about the true meaning of freedom when Brielle lost her temper and pushed him in the mirror dimension.

“Your compliments won’t save you from this argument Loki, Prince of Asgard.” She chides. She was in her battle stance.

“God’s bravest and brilliant woman. Whoever gave you that name must have seen into your future.” He quips. He raises his arm as if surrendering already.

“My name has nothing to do with what we were discussing. Freedom is not something you derive from fear and subjugation. Freedom is the choice to follow what you believe in.”

“And from that argument darling, I do have the freedom to conquer Midgard since I believe that to be its benevolent leader would mean to give freedom to Midgardians.” Loki argued.

“Where is freedom if we fear you and fear for our very life. That is not freedom, that is a prison.”

“And so you are prepared to fight me to prove your point then?” He inquires. “Punching me in the face to make me agree with you is not freedom at all.”

“No it won’t.” Brielle answers confidently. “But it will give me one hell of a satisfaction that I punched the would-be conqueror of New York in the face.”

‘A warrior indeed’ Loki muses as he listened to Brielle’s story about her ‘classes’ with the Asgardian scholars. ‘And brilliant as the sun, it warms and burns at the same time’.

 ----OoO----

 Loki was not really allowed to leave the Sanctum. Not that he blames Strange for that. New Yorkers were still recovering from the trauma his failed invasion has caused and he knew that walking around New York would provoke people to attack him just for vengeance. Loki values his life and his keen sense of self-preservation has always kept him out of sticky situations. The last thing he would want was to die in Midgard from an attack by the Midgardians because he is ‘almost’ mortal.

And so, he has found a quiet reprieve in the sanctum’s library. Zelma was quiet enough to allow him to read in peace. He was in no mood to spar today despite the fact the Wong generously offered to spar with him. Loki preferred the quiet of the library especially now that too many unwanted thoughts have plagued him since he woke up.

 Your mother calls me.

I love you my sons.

 A moment of sentiment creeped into Loki’s being as he heard and remembered Odin’s last words to him and Thor. Did the mighty king of Asgard truly loved him as a son? Was it sentiment that moved Odin to bring Laufey’s unwanted child to Asgard?

 “What am I?” Loki asks.

“You are my son.” Odin answers.

 He never really was his son. The thing about Odin is that his words were never plain. He’d lead you to thinking that he was speaking of a fact but underneath that lies more meaning and more messages. Odin’s words were like a cipher, you have to decode it in order to truly understand it. Odin was never a man of simplicity when it comes to his words. He was a wordsmith.

 A silver tongue just like him.

The truth about mortality is that it leads you to questions everything about yourself. So many things to do with so little time. So many dreams to plan but none really turn out as you envision it. Loki, being almost mortal, have come to a moment in his long existence that causing mischief had become tiresome and evaluating what he knows about himself has become more excruciating. The god of mischief and lies’ life has been founded on an intricately woven lie. It would have been better if he was abandoned in Jotunheim or have died in the void.

 The   Void. Another moment in his life that blurred everything he knew about himself. The Void and The Other made him question what is real and what is not. It tormented him in so many ways that made him fear beyond logic. And his failure to conquer Midgard had already sealed his fate. It was only a matter of time. Not even the sanctum can protect him from his fate. This, everything that he experiences now, were just a momentary reprieve. The inevitable would be coming.

 And he chooses to use this momentary reprieve to ponder on his existence. 

I have grown soft. He thinks.

 “Just in case you haven’t noticed, you haven’t really turned a page in that book you are reading. I wonder if you even understood that page or you were merely projecting an image that you are reading.”

 Loki looked up and saw Brielle leaning against the library’s doors. Her sling bag was around her and she was holding her coat. Loki cleared his throat as he closed the book, doing his best to regain his composure. Brielle laughed softly at him.

“Are you heading out?” He inquired. “You just got back from Norway.”

“I have to get a few things from my office in the university.” She responded. “Would you like to come?”

It took Loki five seconds to register and comprehend what he had just heard. He had a surprised look on his face while she looked at him determinedly.

“I beg your pardon?”

“I said, do you want to come?” She repeated. Her eyes locked on his piercing green eyes that were full of questions.

“Strange won’t...”

“I already asked permission from Doctor Strange. He is confident that you will be under control since he has cast a limiting spell on you. I may not be as strong as the sanctum’s master but I am also confident in my own abilities that I can take-on a de-poweered demigod.” She explained. Loki looked at her incredulously. She smiled at him warmly. “Since you still have a little magic in you, you think you can cast a glamour or disguise? I wouldn’t want the Prince of Asgard to be mobbed by angry New Yorkers.”

 ----OoO----

 It was his first time out of the sanctum since he arrived six months ago. He was seeing New York from a different perspective. He saw it before atop Stark’s Tower but seeing the city from the ground was a far more different experience. He walked closely behind Brielle. The last thing he needed was to get lost since he doesn’t have enough magic to transport him back to the sanctum.

New York is indeed a concrete jungle, Loki concluded.

“Jeez, you could have chosen a more subtle disguise?” Brielle admonishes.

“I believe I have chosen the perfect disguise. Polished, sophisticated and commanding. It is very appropriate for this city.” Loki retorts proudly as he examined his reflection from the cart of the train they had ridden.

(In case you are wondering, this what I had in mind when I imagined Loki’s disguise.)

“And I look like your trashy personal assistant. Feels like I am walking with that famous British actor that every female student I have is going nuts over with.” She rants as her companion offered her a smug smile. Loki examined their reflections and he could not help but agree to her analogy. She was after all wearing a baggy coat, faded jeans and worn-out chucks. Her scarf was hastily wrapped around her neck. Whereas he, he wore a three-piece suit and a trench coat to compliment his polished look. He changed his hair color from black to blonde and wore a pair of eye glasses that made his green eyes look like deep blue instead.

“Thank you for your compliment.” He teased and she rolled her eyes.

“A little cliche with the eyeglasses for a disguise though.” She smirked at him but Loki was lost as to how the eyeglasses made his disguise a cliche.

“I believe my dear Lady Brielle, you are just jealous of how I look.”

A few minutes later, they emerged from the subway to an expansive university grounds. Loki took on the scenery while keeping Brielle in sight. She knew the place like it was the back of her hand and he followed her around. They entered one of the buildings that Brielle called a hall. Taking several flights of stairs, they stopped by the third door on the third floor’s corridor. She opened the door and they were greeted by a cheerful middle-aged woman sitting by the reception desk.

“Doctor McKenzie! Welcome back. I hope you had good trip.” She greeted.

“It wasn’t vacation Betsy. It was work. Thank you though.” She responded as she removed her scarf and coat. The woman called Betsy carefully studied Loki then. He nodded at her as his way of greeting and acknowledging her.

“Quite a handsome fellow you have here. Are you sure you didn’t go for a vacation?” Betsy quips as she raises a brow to her.

“Oh he is an Asgardian envoy who flew back with me. Part of the culture and history exchange program we have agreed with Neo-Asgard.” Brielle explained without looking at Betsy. She quickly rummaged her desk for various documents and stacks of papers.

“Is he now? I hope Doctor McKenzie is not giving you a hard time?”

“Doctor McKenzie is an excellent guide.” Loki answers. “I have learned much about Midgard, I mean Earth’s history and culture from her.”

“As long as she isn’t grading your paper son. You don’t know how many students have come to me begging to have an appointment with her.” Betsy recalls.

“In my defense, their papers were poorly conceptualized and poorly written.” Brielle said from behind the desk. “Found it! I knew I left it here.” She triumphantly raised two worn out books and was grinning like a child.

“And here I thought you were here to get the papers your students have submitted for their final paper.” Betsy shook her head in disapproval.

“Oh I am getting those too. Time to raise some merry hell on them.”

After shoving her worn out books and a stack of papers in her sling bag, Loki and Brielle left Betsy and began their trek back to the subway. Brielle asked if he wanted to look around for a bit which Loki agreed to. She pointed various halls that house the university’s colleges and schools. She showed him one of the university’s libraries (which he found impressive) and brought him to a park that students would usually use a hang-out place. Brielle then took him to a small cafe within the campus. Since she has been a regular customer, the cafe attendant was quick to give them a quiet yet cozy spot by the windows.

“Thank you.” Loki said as they were waiting for their orders to be served.

“You are welcome. I hope you are enjoying your field trip.”

“For once its nice to be out and about.” He reveals.

“You look like you needed fresh air anyways.” She counters. “You were so deep in thought earlier I wasn’t so sure whether you were musing about something or just plain depressed.”

Loki smiles sardonically. “No time to be depressed. No time to mourn.”

“Says the god of mischief and lies. For once you do not sound convincing.” Brielle informs him. Loki was not surprised because he didn’t believe himself either.

“Tell me Doctor McKenzie, what makes history fascinating to you? For all we know, history is just a big lie.” He challenges.

“As an old saying goes, history is written down by the victors;” she begins “however, it doesn’t mean that those on the other side of history have no story to tell. Every experience, every account is a truth that is truer to the person who experienced it.” She looks outside the window, her eyes were thoughtful and warm. “You learn history not to become a bitter person. You learn history because you want to understand how things were before, how they came to be and how they can be better. Learning history changes you because you value more what you have right now and work hard to be better than the ones who have come before you.”

“It could be lies. Evidences can be falsified and accounts can be twisted to serve a specific intent and purpose.” Loki asserts.

“Could be. Could not. It is always a search for understanding and truth. Every story fabricated or not is tied to another story. There is always a bigger picture.” Brielle answers. The waiter finally came and served their meal. There was a brief interlude in their discussion and Loki welcomed it.

 Every story fabricated or not is tied to another picture. There is always a bigger picture.

 ‘So what is my history then? What is the bigger picture?’ He asks himself.

 ----OoO----

 ‘So why did he lie?” Loki asks. He was in Odin’s bedside as the king had fallen to another Odinsleep.

“He kept the truth from you so you would never feel different.” Frigga answered. “You are our son Loki and we are your family.”

 Sleep eluded Loki that evening. What was the bigger story of his life then? He kept asking himself and yet he seems nowhere near the answers he seeks. The more he looks back, the more he realizes that there was nothing about himself that was true.

 “Am I not real and true my son?”

 Loki snaps out of his reverie. It was surely his tired senses playing on him but he thought he heard Frigga. Frigga, his adoptive mother who treated him like he was a child that came out of her own flesh and blood. Frigga who stood by him but never condoned his wrong doings. Frigga who probably was the only one whom he can truly acknowledge as someone who cared for him.

 Always so perceptive of everyone but yourself.

 What is the point of looking inside when people around you are busy pointing out who you are in the first place? Loki was a prince, a god, an heir, a silvertongue, a son, a brother, a deceiver, a usurper, a traitor, a villain. He was all of that and none of that at the same time. He was no one, and his only birth right was death.

 His birth right would be fulfilled very soon.

 Can a person be someone and no one at the same time?

 His self-reflection was interrupted by a knock on his door. Getting up from his bed, Loki openned his door and was surprised to see Brielle with her hair disheveled standing in front of him.

 “Sorry to disturb you but I really have to ask you something. I’ve been meaning to ask this to you before but I got shipped away to Norway.” She says while catching her breath.

“Did you run from your room to here? Whatever it is you will ask, it must be of grave importance.” Loki concludes.

“Not really but I have to ask you this before it slips my mind again. Is it true that you are the father of Hela and Jormundgrd? And did you really give birth to an eight-legged horse named Sleipnir?” She asked.

“What?” was all Loki could say because of the absurdity of the question. If only he could resurrect Volstagg and Frandal and kill them again with his own hands.

“I said...”

“I know what you said” Loki interrupts. “But I fail to see how important those were that you had to run here looking disheveled.” He points out. “The answer is no. It was a rumor that Volstagg and Frandal started spreading after Sigyn turned down my proposal.”

“Since you had your heart broken, you turned yourself to a horse and had sex with another horse? What a strange rebound practice.” Brielle joked and she was doing her best not to laugh out loud.

“And Hela is apparently Odin’s oldest born. The rightful heir to Asgard’s throne. Since she became megalomaniac, Odin had to cast her out somewhere.” He leaned on his door frame and began massaging the bridge of his nose. “Since Hela draws her power from Asgard, Thor and I decided to destroy Asgard. I went to Odin’s vault, took Surtur’s crown and placed it in the eternal flame therefor summoning Surtur in Asgard that led to its destruction and fulfilling the prophecy about Ragnarok. It’s the reason why we ended up here in Midgard.” He explained.

“I know about the last part but the one about Hela...well...” Brielle cleared her throat. “I’m sorry about that.”

“Just in case you are wondering, I was never married and am still unmarried. I know your Midgardian myth says I was married to Sigyn and we had sons named Vali and Narvi. Fact, we were never married. She turned me down. Your myth also states that I was chained to a rock while snake drips his poisonous venom on my face and Sigyn collects the venom in a bowl. That never happened as well. Thor and I were both punished by Odin because we played a prank on an Alfaheim princess who was supposed to be Thor’s fiance.” Loki explained.

“So King Thor is a mischievous little child too. Something I can use to tease him when I see him again.” Brielle excitedly announced and Loki just sighed.

“I told you, history is a lie. Look at how they twisted our stories.” He proclaimed.

“First and foremost, Asgard shut us out after the Jotuns attacked us during the ancient times. Second, myths and legends came into existence to explain things that does not make sense to us. They were created as a source of learning and to teach morality.” Brielle then let out a laugh. “Too bad but it seems like you are the Norse Mythology’s Hades, painted as perpetually evil but for all intents and reasons, a perfectly misunderstood being.” Loki refused to comment further on what Brielle said. Brielle smiled as she walked away from Loki’s door. She bid him goodnight and proceeded to return to her room.

Loki closed the door and leaned on it for a couple of seconds. He was catching his breath. His mind was raising and his carefully structured thinking was destroyed in mere seconds.

...painted as perpetually evil but for all intents and reasons, a perfectly misunderstood being.

He closed his eyes willing every fiber of his being from clinging into something he had no right to ever have.

----OoO----

[upsmymindwanderedagain]

Story of The Ice Wolf

PART 4.1

OTHER PARTS:

PART 1      PART 2    PART 3    PART 4.2

WARNINGS: mentions of blood, major character death (reader), mentions of suicide (kind of).

By the way this chapter is +5K words.

Hey fellas! now I know that by the warnings I spoiled a little what is to come in the story, but I hope you enjoy the chapter.

Now regarding the chapter this is NOT THE LAST CHAPTER, we have a couple of twists ahead, so buckle up, grab onto something and twist your undies this is getting wild.

Almost everyone in the room nods their head in approval. The only ones that don't are Wanda, Pietro, Bucky and I. Fury turns his head towards us waiting for an answer "Wolf, I rather have you choosing before I have to command you to go". (assholes). I lock gazes with Bucky, he sets his jaw and faintly nods, stiffly I answer "We are going".  I give Tony some lasts words, my voice a low hiss of rage "Stark” he locks gazes with me, we stay like that for brief moment before I sneer at him “Don't cry like a bitch if this turns out to be a trap". I stroll past Fury. Wanda, Pietro and Bucky following behind, the latter lingers in the back briefly, without turning around he adds "Suit up with extra ammo. We won't waste bullets saving your stupid asses". ----  [Two days later S.H.I.E.L.D base in Russia] I lift the lid of a 30-inch-long metal suitcase. Inside is all the gear we used during our days as Hydra's top assassins. "You don't have to wear that. You are an avenger, not Hydra". Wanda says while collecting her weapons, consisting in twin daggers and twin pistols. He taught us well. Every weapon of mine has a white howling wolf head, I start putting on my gear. Everything is matt black, bullet proof vest, cargo pants, gear belt, gloves, the left shoulder pauldron has a wolf head but I choose not to wear it. I strap on my chest harness with my matt black twin katanas on my back, twin baretta pistols are holstered to my thighs. Lastly a matt black uzi is clicked on over the katanas. "I know, but this will be our clue is someone tries to shift into me and gets in the building. You are the only one who knows where I keep it. If something feels off, never doubt in using our conditioning". I give her one of the gas masks. The same model as Bucky's except Wanda's is deep red. Mine is a wolf muzzle. Lastly our leather hooded long trench coats. "Something is indeed off" Wanda states, her voice and eyes showing her worry. "Be careful little one, you and Pietro are targets just as Bucky and me, watch each other backs". She locks gazes with me "Don't do anything stupid Y/N/N". "I can't promise you I won't, I miss playing with this toys". I say while point to my back. "I'm serious Y/N" she says while crossing her arms. I stand in front of her, my hands run up her arms before taking her face in my still bare hands "I know my love, I will be careful". I caress her face with my thumbs I lean in kissing her slowly, her hands travel behind my neck pulling me closer, we keep kissing until I feel our need of air intake, I slowly untangle our lips putting a last kiss on her forehead lastly I engulf her in my arms. I choose our mother language to tell her a last "I love you Wanda". "I love you too Y/N". ---- “Y/N!” I rush of air pass me by to reveal Pietro, “why didn’t you tell me you are going all Ice Wolf mode?” he says groaning a little “We could have gone full Hydra mode to kick their asses”.“So, you didn’t see that coming?” I state raising my eyebrow in mockery.“I expect my copyright money by tomorrow sistra” he says with a smirk.“Don’t whine silver devil, I got this for you” I hand him his grey long trench coat and gas mask, Wanda hands him his weapons twin handguns and a set of daggers.“Have I ever told you how much I love you sistra?” he says full smirk in his face, he rushes to put the items on.“The deadly four back together? Hydra won’t see that coming” Bucky says walking towards us.“Copyright dude!” Pietro exclaims groaning. We only laugh at his exasperation.---Everyone is already on the hangar, all suit up and ready. Thor Is leaning against the aisle wall to the hangar. "Thor! Is good to see you my friend, are you coming with us?". "Wolf! Lady Wanda, sir Pietro is good to see you my friends" he says while he engulfs Wanda on a bear hug we lock our forearms as greeting. "Bucky is good to see you too". "Where's Loki?" I ask looking around for the god of mischief. "One of us had to stay in Asgard, he sends his regards and this" He gives me a small liquor flask. "Thank you Thor" The five of us walk to the main platform, 3 quinjets are ready. Tony wastes no time to be full sass ass mode "looking like that I'd think you are truly going back to mother Hydra". We only give him a mighty eyeroll. "Don't you dare to start tin can" I glare at him. Clapping her hands agent Hill calls for our attention. "We have three quinjets. Two for attacking and one more for backup. The first one will be led by agent May, and her striking team Morse, Daisy, Mack, Fitz and Hunter, Y/N you are joining them. You are alfa team” the five of you nod in understanding.The Second quinjet is for the avengers, Beta team. And lastly the backup team is Simmons and Dr. Banner leading the medical team, a squad and myself. Let's go". --- --- [Alfa team quinjet] The ride has been comfortably in silence, since hunter is not in the plane there’s no one throwing nonsense around, however you can feel the gaze youngest one of the group set on you, which is amusingly fun to you “Daisy you either have a question or you are stalking me”  Her eyes widen comically in realization of her mistake, but she can’t hold back her questions "What's that gear?" curiosity written all over her face. "This was the gear I used back when I was Hydra". Bobbi twist het body towards us "You are pretty lucky Daisy, they are a few that can say that they have seen the "Ice Wolf' face and gear and live to tell the tale" she winks at Mack. Mack’s eyes widen in realization "You are the 'Ice Wolf’?". "Yes" my voice has a hint of arrogance. "Bobbi, May you knew?!" his eyes bounces between the two woman piloting the quinjet, he is having a hard time believing the mockingbird, "You have to be kidding me, I worked undercover to kill you".Poor Fitz and Daisy only look at us a little lost about the exchange. "I have the scar to prove it" I say winking at him. He looks a little sheepish "You let me live". My only answer is a nod and a lopsided smile. ---- We land a few miles away from the meeting point. We grab our weaponry and get down. "Alfa team ready to move on”. May says through the comm. "Fitz stay back, we need someone watching for interferences". If you detect any hacking running, blow off the channel". His eyes widen in surprise "Wolf tha-that was not the plan, May?" his gaze shifts between both of us. "She is right Fitz, do as she say" May orders before putting up her balaclava and eye gear. ---  --- The cold is indeed a bitch, and having almost half of my body made of steel doesn't help my cause. We see a tag laser flicking three times. I return the signal "I'm taking the lead". We creep towards the source point me in the front, behind me is May and Bobbi lastly Daisy and Mack are guarding the back. We get to the place, Hunter is crunching hands behind his neck. "what the fuck are you doing Hunter?" I enquire with annoyance. "Well you hesitated, besides you are dressed up like Hydra. I didn't want to get shot". "Pick up your gun. Everything is set up". I give him one of the coms, “put this on”. I nod towards May. *All clear, Alfa team moving towards the target*. *Beta team moving on* Steve says. --- --- The more we move into the base, the more I fell something is wrong. Hunter is never this serious. We reach an intersection. Hunter starts moving to the right hallway. That is the wrong path to the cages. I can hear some banging and thuds on the far end of the left hallway. It doesn't take me long to realize that is a morse code. -Trap, get out-. (I look towards Bobbi and May, silently telling them to play along) "Hunter there was a change of plans". We alfa team are collecting intel instead. I stroll to the left, Hunter catches up to my right. But I see that he starts to get nervous. The banging starts increasing, I can hear two guards hidden at the end of the corridor. When we are closing in there's a scream "GET OUT IS A TRAP!". Without hesitation and before the impostor can react, I slam my elbow on his left side crashing him against the right wall, having no time to lose, I smash my steel fist on his ribcage breaking the sternum, stopping his heart. I take off the com from his ear. The guards show up and start shooting at us, I use the shifter body as shield and then throw the dead body towards them, knocking them off, Bobbi moves over and makes the final two shots. "Bobbi, Mack go for Hunter". Y/N, Daisy stay sharp" May orders. Daisy raises up her assault rifle. I take my twin guns; the corridor is too narrow to weld my twin katanas. *Agent Hill. Hunter was a shifter, enhanced and two guards down*. *Avengers currently fighting off a group of enhanced. Natasha, Clint and Bucky are deeper in, on the archive, bombs in place* Steve calls through the coms. *Alpha team there's a unit marching up to you*. Fitz says while searching for an exit route. *Hill speaking. Widow take what you can and hurry back to regroup*. *All the teams securing the base is priority* Fury sternly orders. *Roger that, Alpha out*. *Roger that, Beta out*. *Roger that, Widow out*. Shuffling can be hear in the back. We turn around as them get close. "Seems like you are no longer the pretty face Hunter". "Fuck you Wolf" his voice is raspy and tired, but his usual smirk is in place. "With that face? Ha you wish, Morse he is all yours" Bobbi only rolls her eyes. Hunter indeed took a beat down, he has several gashes on his face and has a mild limp. "Anything to be worried about?" I sternly ask.  "You aren't the only one that can take a private dance with Hydra Bitches Ice Wolf, I said nothing". I took off the uzi from my back "A treat for your silence" I hand him the machine gun and three extra mags. His eyes light up like a kid in a candy store, he lets out a low whistle. "Can I keep it?" "Is all yours If I die, which is not happening" I say spinning the hand guns a little. *Are you done playing? Move* Hill says through the com. May takes the lead, Daisy at her left, myself on her right. We engage a couple of guards, nothing big. When we reach the main hall, we are met with a rush of bullets. We dodge them diving back to the corridor. "Everyone ok?" May asks. "Yeah". I try to peak behind the wall, but more bullets are fired. "Damn it! Daisy how many?" "20 and two enhanced" She says looking towards May for instructions. I chose to holster my twin guns. Pressing a bottom in the jawline the muzzle transforms into a full wolf head. Slowly I draw out my twin swords. Daisy is staring at me part speechless and confused. "Eyes on the enemy kid, don't blink. Bobbi, May with me. Mack, Hunter watch our backs, Daisy rip off as many guns as you can". May and Bobbi roll two sets of smoke bombs towards the enemies, as soon as the cover sets the hunt begins. Agony screams, and clash of metal fill the space, like a switch you let yourself dive in the thrill of the fight, instincts taking over. The six of you work like a team taking down every single one of the agents, a couple of minutes later when the smoke vanishes, the only ones standing are the enhanced soldiers. One has inhuman strength, the other one shifted into a weredog. That damn dog is fast, it takes me a little more time to figure out her attack pattern, this time when she leaps towards my face let her bite my left forearm as I bury my right katana through her heart. Mack is holding on place the strong one but not for longer, Hunter puts a bullet on his head. Daisy gets close to me gun down. "Are you ok?". "Yeah, I didn't give her chance to bite deep", with a swift move I remove the blood from the steel of the sword, leaving a streak blood line. “Let's move on, the fight has just started". --- --- *deep breath in* *breath out* The thundering of my heartbeat is almost deafening. This was indeed a well-planned trap. We fell like moths into buzzers. Someway Hydra now has iron man like suits, luckily not as strong as Tony's, but still too many, to make it funnier they have more enhanced on their ranks. My ribs are hurting like hell, my spine feels like it's on fire. No doubt I saved Tony's stupid ass shoving him off the way of falling debris, but I end up in the path of a blast from the suits, it hit me in the lower back, the force pushed me forward to an awaiting suit it's round kick took a toll. Tony blew it up, but there's no wonder why I'm currently trying to catch my breath. The teams have merged and even Maria joined us with twelve more agents as backup, we are fighting side by side. *Wolf?* *Wolf?! Where the hell are you?!* A very angry Captain America was shouting through the coms. More bullets ricochet in the debris close to my location. *Wolf?!* *No need to shout Cap, not deaf. Had to dive behind the debris south to your location. I have ten Hydra goons shooting non-stop*. A body slides beside me. "Wolf, do you have more ammo?" Bucky says leaning on my left ear, between the thundering of my heart, instructions through the coms and the sounds of the battle is actually a surprise we can hear each other. "I just said I'm hiding, does it looks I have ammo?". "No hurt in asking" Bucky says, with a hint of humor. *Hill we need a plan to get the hell out of here* Tony says clearly out of breath. *Says the one who is bullet proof* I grumble. *Don't be Smartass (Y/N) besides you are half bullet proof robowolf*. *Key word ‘half’ Asshole, my ribs are killing me* *That's enough!* Fury shouts through the coms. Maria takes over to order around *Vision, Scarlett, Daisy go ahead and keep the quinjets doors free from enemies they are getting close**Silver take Daisy first, then come back for Hunter, start retrieving whoever is hurt* Hill orders. *We need a distraction team* May says. I Turn off my com, and press the bottom of the muzzle to retract it "Hey Bucky what if we make Hydra remember why they should miss us? Pass a mag". "What makes you think I have a mag?". “If you didn't you wouldn't be smirking”. You look up searching for the Asgardian “Thor! Can you clear the middle of the battle field?!". *Bucky! What is Y/N up to? her com is off, but I can hear her* Steve screams. *Wolf! don't make anything stupid* Hill chastises you. "Sure Wolf, on your mark!" Thor shouts back a big smile on his face no doubt he is enjoying the thrill of the battle. I take out the liquor flask from my trench coat to take a good gulp, I pass it to Bucky, he briefly takes off his mask to end the other half as I take off the bulletproof vest, it’s weight make it harder for me to breath with the broken ribs, after roll around and crawl in snow the damn thing is heavy. I turn on the com again *Guys three count. I'll give you a distraction* I set on the muzzle again *Three, (Y/N!), two, (Don't), one*. *Fuck!* Hill and Steve shout through the com.*Language cap* Tony calls out. Thor lands shocking at least thirty of the soldiers. Bucky and I jump out of our shelter to start clearing a path towards him. As we get close to the middle I see a soldier aiming at Wanda’s back, I didn’t think twice to leap in the bullet path, making it clash against the right side of my chest while throw a knife burying it in the middle of his forehead “Scarlett go I’ll cover your back”.Vision flies close to lift Wanda, the briefly lock gazes (“Be careful puppy”). ("Stay sharp little one"). Hunter and Mack cover Pietro while he takes Daisy. "Everyone back off!" I yell. Steve features are set on a deep scowl even his helmet can’t hide it "Wolf! Bucky! Don't make anything stupid!” he glares at both of us.When I ran out bullets I unsheathe my katanas, Bucky rises his uzi and hand gun, we start a lethal dance his bullets barely missing my body as we take down the agents around us. "For fucks sake Wolf!" Steve shouts again through the coms, exasperation clear in his voice, the rest of us only laugh at him.*Language capsicle* Tony sass through the coms. *Don’t sweat it cap. Thor raise a storm as cover* I say. Pietro rushes back and retrieves Hunter, Maria and her unit cover him. In the distance I see Nat getting hit by a round of bullets, she takes down the soldiers that aimed at her before diving for shelter. "Wolf! Widow is down!” Bucky is now full panic mode, his voice can’t hide his worry. *Everyone listen up run to the quinjets, Bucky I’ll back you up. Pietro meet me halfway to retrieve Widow she is down*. I slash down three more goons, using the last one’s body as shield when a rush of bullets comes at me before Bucky shot them down *Nat we are going for you!*. We reach her just in time to shield her with our bodies from an explosion". Clint and May shoot down the ones close to us and run up to us to cover our backs "Guys you alright?" We lift off from Nat.  "Guys you are bleeding" May points out, blood is slipping from our ears, my head is pounding with a buzz. "I'm fine” I try to shake off the dizziness “Nat hang on". Bucky lifts her off the ground, the red head refrains from showing any pain, barely grunting, we start running to meet Pietro, May, Clint and me covering them. Clint lists Natasha’s injuries through the coms *Banner Widow has three bullets on the right leg and burns*. We see a blue blur, Pietro skids a little bit before coming to full halt.  "Today is your lucky day Piet, you get to have Nat in your arms" I say as Bucky carefully puts her on his arms. "See ya at home honey, Wanda and I will start the party by ourselves" Nat says seductively at him, Bucky briefly takes off his muzzle to kiss her in the forehead. "Battered and bloodied and still an asshole Nat” I say while shoot down the agents around us. I squeeze Pietro’s shoulder "Go Piet".  "Hurry up Y/N your wife is a wrecking mess" Pietro says before running off. "May, Clint go ahead we will cover your back". A deafening sound races over our heads we follow them with our heads *Stark, thirty suits are getting close to the quinjets. Take them down*. May and Clint are unaware. But more suits are coming. Before I can warn them, we start move on to the quinjets, a blast knocks them.  May took the worst and I ran up to her, as we run another blast lands near us too. Leaving us even more dizzy and buzzed. We try to shake off the dizziness and keep going, but we end up falling like a new born fawn, Thor comes to our help. We push through the wounds, Bucky, Thor and I fight around May and Clint to keep them safe while the silver devil returns "Guys!" Pietro's face appears before my eyes, Thor lands close "Come on, we have to go". "Piet, take May. Thor take Clint go ahead. Go don't look back. Buck and I will hold them off". "Damn it sistra! Hurry your fucking ass" reluctantly both men head back to the planes.We go back to intercept and incoming group.--- Pietro and Thor enter de Med Quinjet, laying down May and Clint on stretchers.  *Thor! I could use some help, I have quite the number of suits smashing me up*. Tony says. *Y/N, Barnes get your asses back to the quinjet. More suits and soldiers are heading towards the jets* Fury says. Pietro is back in the Avengers quinjet trying to catch his breath, when he realizes something. -Don't look back Piet- "Fury! Block the bombs, Y/N will..." too late several bombs go off, the force of the waves shut close the doors. Tony and Thor are slammed against the planes.--- [before the explosion] Barked orders in Russian can be heard alongside screams of pain. The Ice Wolf and the Winter Soldier are making a carnage out of the Hydra soldiers. *Angel retrieve them on my mark. Snipers set the guns* ---  [Before the bombs go off. Quinjets] *Avengers, is everyone in the quinjet? Hill asks* *Pietro where is Y/N?! Wanda ask with a trace of worry in her voice* she is still outside keeping the quinjets guarded. *She is not with me, I lost her in the middle of the battle field after she handed me agent May*. *Alpha team we have agent May with us, is Wolf and Buck with you?* Banner inquires as he tends stabilizes the Russian wounds. *Negative* Bobbi answers as shoots down some soldiers. *Damn it!! I should have known better than leave them behind!* Tony starts panicking, He and Thor are fighting suits outside above the jets. Tony starts shouting *Wolf?! Buck?! Are you there?*. *Y/N! James! You have to get your asses back here now!* Hill orders. *heavy breathing, clashes and gun shots* ---- [before the explosion battle field]. The clashing of metal is the only thing that can be heard, blood stain and becomes one with the snow. Something hits me in the head, metal against metal, sparks fly. "Fuckers!" That blow broke my com, damn it. (Too much for an abandoned shelter. These fuckers keep coming at us, seems like everyone is in the quinjets now). I feel the sting but no pain, several bullets have grazed my body, I know where I need to head to. I start running again slicing everything that feels close, I ran out of ammo, long ago, I’ve taken and used some Hydra guns but I still have my two 27-inch katanas. I see a shadow running towards me, "Bucky! Why are you still here?!".  "Fury is calling us back, everyone is back in the quinjets". "There's a wave of suits racing to pass through here to the quinjets. Stark suit is damaged, Thor can't strike them with the quinjets that close". We stand in the middle of the battle field, there’s smoke and blood around us, my swords are pointing downwards. "Turn off your com Buck". *Barnes don't...*. I sheath my swords. "I hacked the bombs". I show him my phone screen. "Let's try to outrun them". He laughs drily “Too much for not saving their asses” a bittersweet smile takes over his features. I flash him a lopsided smile “At least we go down as heroes Buck”. I take the lead sprinting ahead, I didn't see Bucky turning on the com again before he sprint off with me. We run as fast as we can to put as much distance as we can before I set the bombs off. --- "Sir, we have them in sight".  "Shoot them down. Angel go for the bodies".  --- We were too focused on ignoring the pain and running, our already damaged eardrums barely register faint whistle. Little spider drones get attached to our steel limbs, we try to shake them off, but an awful electrical shock takes us down, the snow crunches under our weight, we scream in agony, like panicked animals set to scape we try to stand up to run again, another whistle, this time the little spiders pierce the skin. Before the charge hits us. I press the button. Our lasts screams are deafened by the bombs going off. --- [Fury's quinjet above the battle field] "The quinjet is stabilized sir, no damage" the co-pilot calls. *Agent Hill, what the fuck was that? I ordered you to hold off the bombs* Fury angrily says through the coms. Maria’s voice can’t hide her shock *Y/N hacked the bombs sir and set them off. The bombs took down the suits and soldiers heading here*. "Sir, there's no more activity in the area" the co-pilot calls again. --- [Avengers quinjet] The energy wave rattles the boarded quinjets that are still on ground. Wanda shackily gets off the metal floor her voice trembles under the wave of emotions trying to overcome her “No… no… this has to be a sick joke”. *Steve please tell me that Bucky and Y/N are with you* Nat says through the com. *They are not here Nat* Steve sternly says in his attempt to keep his emotions in check. The quinjet gate opens, Thor and Tony walk in, the billionaire his suit starts to crumble. Wanda tries to run off to the explosion site, but Pietro stops her hugging her. "Sis... is not safe to go". "They could be alive..." Her voice starts to tremble "the-they have to be alive" she tries to look into Steve's eyes, but his gaze in downcast. "Steven, we have to go back". *Negative Scarlett we scanned the area, there's...nothing there* Hill stern voice gone, sounding more sad that commanding. *Everyone get ready to take off* Fury orders. "F.R.I.D.A.Y, run a scan". *Already done Mr. Stark, negative*. Wanda breaks into heart wrenching sobs and starts fighting against Pietro’s hold. Steve gets up and hurries to hold her in place, he tries to stay strong but silent tears run down his face too "I'm so sorry Wanda".  The billionaire tries to stay calm his mind racing in possibilities "Thor seems like you forgot Mjolnir there". Tony motions Vision to go too. The Asgardian his shocked but he gets the hint, he Vision hurry back. *Captain, Stark. We need to…*  *Not now Fury* both of them angrily say. [Med Quinjet] Clint limps to Nat’s stretcher to engulf her in his arms "I'm sorry Nat". She starts to silently cry on his shoulder.Jemma and Bruce keep tending them and setting the equipment but their silence is their attempt to not crumble down.

As the title says this chapter is divided in two, the second part will be up right after this.

I hope you all enjoyed the chapter.

PART 4.2

[lunarfox22]

Bloodied and Broken - Part 5

Pairing: Loki x OFC (of color)

Warning: Violence, language, blood, mentions of suicidal thoughts, angst, fluff

Words: 2681

AO3: Bloodied and Broken by lunar_fox22

FFN: Bloodied and Broken by lunarfox22

Summary:  Loki has fallen from the Bifrost, a disgraced prince. He meets Angela Lawrence, a SHIELD agent who helps him, but can he let go of his scorn? Or will he betray the only person who is on his side?

Part 4 - Part 6

Masterlist

“That’s where I went earlier today before I picked up the groceries,” Angela said.

But Loki wasn’t listening at all. A wicked light entered Loki’s eyes at the realization of his good fortune. He was an opportunist, after all. All he needed to do was befriend Angela, and gain her trust. Enough trust that when he asked, she would tell him more about her SHIELD, particularly where she worked. And then he would be able to find the Tesseract.

He looked her over with a critical eye. He took in her profile as she stood over the stove cooking dinner silently. His earlier assessment of her still held true; she was attractive. Perhaps he should seduce her after instead of just befriending her. It would be a bit of fun, and an easier way to ensure her trust. He never had problems seducing people before. He wasn’t called the Silvertongue for nothing.

‘No,’ he decided. He shook his head to clear those thoughts. Angela had been kind to him - kinder than anybody had been to him in a while. He wouldn’t be that cruel to her. Though he still would use her as a pawn for what he wanted to achieve. Asgard would burn by his hand. And to get that he needed allies. Angela was disposable, despite her kindness.

The sound of Angela’s soft voice pulled him out of his scheming, “So, I’ve been wondering something.”

He glanced at her. She had finished cooking and was bringing over two plates full of pasta. His emerald eyes followed the plate as it sat in front of him. The food looked and smelled delicious, and he was absolutely ravenous. Angela handed him a fork and he took it graciously with a quiet thank you.

“And what’s that?” He asked before taking his first bite.

“How did you get here?” Angela questioned, “What happened?”

Loki took another bite to buy time for his answer. He should have expected the question. It wasn’t every day that a man came crashing down from space. Especially on Midgard. He couldn’t tell her what actually happened. She would kick him out of here, and he needed her.

“There was an accident.” He finally answered after he finished chewing. His voice calm, almost unperturbed. As if he hadn’t tried to commit genocide, and he was currently lying through his teeth.

“An accident?” Angela pressed.

He didn’t answer for a moment, taking the time to devour his food quickly. He had to think of a lie. No, the best lies were based on truth.

By the time he did answer his plate was empty. His eyes seemed to gloss over, and his lips pulled into a thin line. Thor didn’t appreciate him trying to destroy Jotunheim. “There was a misunderstanding. The Bifrost broke. And I–” I let go. “fell off the side. I was sent through space and it landed me here in Midgard.”

Angela stopped eating. Resting her face against her hand as she took in his story. Was that what happened? A misunderstanding? She doubted it. There had to be more to his story, but it seemed like he did fall.

Then she began to wonder. What would it be like to just be floating through space? With no idea if you’ll survive or not? Or where you’ll land? It must be terrifying.

She took note of his empty plate. He must be starved. It had been three months, and he had just landed here last night. She doubted he had eaten in that amount of time.

“You can get more if you want,” she told him.

He lifted his head and nodded at her before getting up and heading over to the stove to get more food.

“I’m sorry that happened to you. It sounds horrible.” She said, genuinely.

He didn’t bother responding at first, opting to just fill his plate some more and sit back down. He didn’t want her pity, but for now, he would have to take it. So he muttered out a “Thank you,” when he went and sat at the table again.

Both of them lapsed into a somewhat awkward silence, in favor of their thoughts. The only thing that could be heard was the sound of their forks scratching against their plates.

Angela was the first to break the silence, “Will you ever go back to Asgard?”

Loki looked up from his plate. Yes, he would, but she didn’t need to know that.

“No. There’s nothing left for me there. I will stay here until I figure out what I should do.”

She nodded, got up from her seat, and placed her empty plate in the sink. So he was wandering. Angela remembered herself being in a very similar situation when she was only 15; lost, just trying to figure out where to go and what she could do. It wasn’t something she thought of often, it was a very painful memory. Before SHIELD found her, before they reconnected her to her birth mother.

Shaking her head to clear the thoughts, she turned to address Loki once more. “I have work tomorrow, but afterward we can go buy you some clothes.”

“Clothes?”

“Yeah, unless you want to wear that every day?” She points to his green tunic and black leather pants. Surely it was uncomfortable to be wearing those pants every day. Though he did look great in them, but that was beside the point. “I’ll buy you some clothes, a toothbrush, stuff like that so you can be comfortable here while you figure this all out.”

Once again, her kindness baffled him. She was willing to do all this for a stranger? Surely she felt she was getting something out of this. Loki eyed her, before following suit and dumping the plate he had in the sink. He relaxed against one of the counters and watched her take out the tupperware from a cabinet and begin to put away the food.

Then he remembered he was supposed to be befriending this woman.  “Thank you, Lady Angela truly. Allow me.”

His magic swarmed through his body and gathered at his palm in a green wisp. He muttered a small spell under his breath. And then the kitchen was spotless. The plates washed and placed where they were supposed to, and the food put in the tupperware that was now placed nicely by him on top of the counter.

Angela blinked, the tubberware in her hands vanishing and then turned to see what had happened. She saw the green wisp, the magic. She could feel it lingering. She took one look at everything, and then her eyes landed on Loki.

“That’s handy,” she commented. “Thank you.”

“It is no trouble at all,” he said with his most charming smile.

She smiled back at him, “Well I guess I’m going to bed then. Good night Loki.”

He inclined his head towards her, “Good night, Lady Angela.”

Angela gave him a small wave, and then headed into her room and softly shut the door. She changed into her pajamas, and then sat on her bed and waited. The moment she heard Loki shut his door, she got to work.

As silently as she could, and she could be extremely quiet, she went over to her closet and pulled out a shoebox that was filled with cameras. She took the smallest one she had and began to rework it.

While he was being nice now, it didn’t mean he was always going to be nice. And she had no idea what he was planning. He was the God of Mischief and Lies, everything he said had to be taken with a grain of salt. However, she did truly want to help him.

She wasn’t going to bug her own house, no that would be a bit too obvious. He had magic, and she didn’t know how far it extended and what exactly his powers were. And she wasn’t going to bug him. She was bugging something else, or rather someone else: Dr. Jane Foster.

Angela didn’t know how much Loki knew about Thor’s time here on Earth, but it was better safe than sorry. If Loki had attacked his own brother then Jane Foster, Thor’s girlfriend, was most likely in danger.

As she was the only one who knew the potential danger Dr. Foster was in, it was up to her to protect her as best she could. Though she wasn’t in charge of Jane’s personal wellbeing and safety. Agent Barton was actually in charge of Dr. Foster’s safety, however, she was taking it upon herself to help in this particular situation.

Angela was here to report progress and to help if anything went wrong with the Einstein Rosebridge. If things didn’t go to plan and the bridge needed to be shut, Angela could do that with her powers.

She could create and close wormholes at will. They called her powers ‘spatial manipulation’ in her files because she could do more, but it wasn’t something she did often. It took a lot out of her and caused her whole body to crash afterward. She only did it when absolutely necessary.

Right now though, she would simply bug Dr. Foster’s bag, and check in to see if anything was amiss. She would be able to hear and see anything. Easy peasy. And Loki would know no different, just in case, he did try something. She prayed to whatever god that was out there listening that he wouldn’t. But for now, it was better safe than sorry.

With one last look at the tiny camera, she placed it on her nightstand and then went to sleep.

After getting ready for work in the morning, Angela went straight to the kitchen to start the coffee pot and begin making a small breakfast. The sun had barely risen in the sky, and she barely got any sleep last night as usual.

Getting a cup of coffee had been the only thing on her mind, and maybe that’s why she didn’t hear Loki. But she felt the shift of space in the room, and she quickly turned around and found him coming up behind her.

He didn’t look any better than she felt. His hair was ruffled from sleep, and he seemed like he had just woke up. Loki seemed to realize he had startled her and gave her an apologetic smile, “My apologies.”

“Don’t worry about it,” she dismissed. It wasn’t like her to not notice someone sneaking up on her. Well, it wasn’t actively trying to sneak up on her, but still. She really needed this fucking coffee.

And maybe Loki did too, but the look of things. “I’m about to make breakfast and some coffee, do you want some?” she offered.

“Coffee?”

The pot was filled and Angela poured herself a cup first and then Loki. She handed him his mug and then went to the refrigerator to get the cream and picked up the sugar on the way back to begin fixing her coffee cup.

Loki looked down at the dark beverage, contemplating it. It smelled wonderful, unlike anything they had on Asgard. The last thing she fed him was great, so this one should be too. With that thought he took a sip of the coffee, only to immediately regret it.

It was bitter, exceedingly so. A sound of disgust left his lips, causing Angela to look up from her own cup. His face should have been the picture in the dictionary for the definition of disgust because his lips were curled, his nose was scrunched up and he was looking at the cup as if it had just offended his whole family. Angela couldn’t help but laugh.

He looked over at her. Was this some sort of joke to her?

Her laughter died down, “Sorry. Some people like it black. I don’t, I hate bitter stuff.” She offered him her cup, “Here try mine.”

Loki looked from his cup to hers. The coffee in his cup was just as she described it, black. But the coffee in hers was a light brown. Slowly, hesitantly he sipped hers. It was far more pleasant than the rubbish she gave him early. In fact, he enjoyed it.

“Better?” She asked, eyeing him.

He nodded, “Much.”

She took both cups back from him and began to fix his up as she did hers. “I can make yours sweeter if you’d like?”

He nodded. He did enjoy sweet things, “Please.”

She smiled and obliged by adding a bit more sugar to his cup. She should have known, it’s said that tricksters have a sweet tooth. But she wasn’t going to say that, last time she talked about his titles, he grew upset.

She quickly whipped up some bacon and eggs while Loki sipped on his coffee. They ate, both of them not really discussing much because they were both still waking up. When Angela was finished Loki cleaned up with his magic one again.

She tied her boots up and headed for the door. She paused, put her jacket on, and looked back at Loki who was now looking through her books. “I’ll be back around six-ish. Then we can go and pick some stuff up for you. I got books, and the TV you can watch. If you get hungry, there are the leftovers in the fridge. You can heat them up in the microwave,” she told him.

Loki glanced over at her and threw her a bright smile, “Of course. I’ll await your return, Lady Angela.”

A soft huff escaped her lips, “You can just call me Angela, you know?”

“Angela then,” he ceded.

“See you later, Loki.”

“Goodbye, Angela.”

Angela closed and locked the door, and went to her car. Once in there, she pulled out the mini camera and checked it once more. She made it to where she could check it from her phone and laptop. It was ‘offline’ right now, but she would turn it on once it was in place.

Good. Everything was in place.

The drive into Albuquerque and to the SHIELD facility wasn’t long. Angela walked in, greeting the staff there as she searched for Dr. Foster. She was in the middle of the lab, working with Dr. Selvig, and Darcy Lewis sitting in a chair on her phone. She looked up to see Clint Barton watching from the second level. Ever the hawk…

“Good morning,” Angela greeted.

“Morning,” Jane muttered, focused on whatever she was looking at on a screen.

Dr. Selvig was a bit more personable, “Good morning, Agent Lawrence.”

“Hey, Lawrence,” Darcy said with a small wave.

Angela casually scrolled over by Jane, quickly taking note of her bag not far from the scientist. Angela’s hand fiddled with the camera inside her jacket pocket. ‘Don’t be suspicious.’ “How goes the Rosenbridge?” she asked.

“Very well actually,” Selvig answered for Jane. “We think we’re on the verge of a breakthrough.”

Looking up, Angela tried to see if Barton could see her, only to find him gone. Now was her chance.

Angela looked over to the bag and started to head towards it, “Really? That’s great to hear. Hey, Dr. Foster?”

Jane looked up at her, “Yeah?”

Quickly, with deft hands, Angela attached the camera to the side of the bag, where Jane couldn’t see her, and then held it out. “Where’d you get this? It’s cute, and I need one like it to take some stuff with me back and forth to Puente.”

“Oh!” Jane smiled, “Target! But I got it a long time ago, so they probably don’t have that one anymore, but I’m sure they have some like it.”

“Okay, cook. Thanks!” Angela smiled while setting the bag down she made sure that the camera couldn’t be seen at all. Once satisfied, she started making her way out. “I’ll let the Director know what going on here. I’ll see you all tomorrow.”

Before she could leave though, Barton stepped into the room and stopped her.

“Actually Agent, you’ll be staying here for the time being.”

[see-arcane]

I want to be clear here, I don’t dislike Jason Aaron’s writing as a whole. 

Most of his time on The Mighty Thor has gone to writing and plotting an entertaining story for Jane. He’s gone to great lengths to retroactively staple some legitimate notes of actual Norse Mythology into the Marvel version of the myths. It’s a big title to work with, a big character to keep fresh and enjoyed--especially at the start when there were so many fake fanboys griping about a Thor with lady parts--and for the most part he’s penned some very enjoyable dialogue and actions for the cast, heroes and villains included.

The only real problems I have with his arc(s) is 

1) The pacing and

2) The twofold Issue of Freya and Loki

The pacing problem kind of goes without saying. Whether it’s part of the grand authorial design or commands coming from higher up the Marvel food chain to keep this very lucrative thunder goddess gravy train rolling, the War of Realms is taking far, far too long. 

It isn’t a badly written conflict. It displays an appropriately insidious grandiosity in Malekith’s planning, stacks the odds against our heroes, and the inevitable victory will be all the more sublime when Jane and friends pull out a win at the eleventh hour. A classic formula, very Ragnarokian, audiences dig it. 

Unfortunately, the amount of issues it’s taking to get to the climax is making the villain arcs in Dragonball Z look like a GIF by comparison. It’s gotten to the point where I wonder if I’ll be a year and a half older by the time Jane gets to sock Malekith in the teeth. Or even make eye contact with him again. 

As Odinson points out in #702, Jane’s been going through miniboss after miniboss after event after tie-in after miniboss without making any real headway into the meat of the War of Realms. All the while we keep getting little tragedies thrown in to keep the tension high, ala Karnilla and the nigh-pointless War Thor mess with Volstagg and the incinerated elf children. Karnilla at least got reunited with King of Hel Balder, but Volstagg just got handed a big pile of trauma, a pseudo-Mjolnir to make him a Dark and Edgy Thor who only existed long enough to have yet another Thor vs Thor scuffle, followed by a pummeling from Mangog. The latter was likely the only point War Thor had for happening in the first place, just an excuse to say, ‘Look at How Scary and Badass this New-Old Villain Is!’ :O

It’s important to have conflict in a story, especially in a superhero story, doubly especially in a superhero story centered on a vein of Marvel so focused on legendary-level god brawls. Sure. Fair enough.

But it’s just turning into a big, depressing, dragging meat grinder. It’s getting harder and harder for the valiant efforts of Jane and her costars to carry the weight of it all. 

Aaron needs to condense some of this stuff down, or at least stop hoarding piles of sub-subplots and mini arcs just for the sake of giving Jane more action-packed busywork to do. 

As for Freya and Loki...

Well.

Freya is still--still--STILL--being put in the frame of matronly grrl powered role model, as if she were goddamn Leia Organa. Which is irritating on its own merit, considering her history with Kid Loki and Agent of Asgard Loki, but also because Aaron has to be aware of this. Why?

Because whenever he introduces Loki to an issue, Aaron is remarkably on top of portraying them as the God of Stories. Think back on it: in all his TMT appearances, Loki is shown obviously (to the audience) that they’re feigning allegiance to Malekith and actively plotting/hoping for the Accursed one’s failure. Case in point, their chat with Laufey about starring in a fan-fucking-tastic new Story of their own, poison-stabbing Freya to avert a proper assassination, chucking Queen Aelsa into reach of Mjolnir rather than just killing her on the balcony, the nigh constant asides to themselves and the reader that they hate playing the part Malekith wants of them while just barely keeping in outright laughter when the playdate between Queen Sindr and Malekith appears to be on the rocks, et cetera

All of this is in line with a proper chaotic neutral/good God of Stories, the product of somebody who must be aware of Ewing’s work with Agent of Asgard and, likely by extension, Gillen’s heartbreaking JiM run. Aaron is trying to do right by Loki’s character, however little the trickster is used.

Which begs the question: why is he so dead-set on everyone kissing Freya’s ass, himself included?

There hasn’t been one thin hint of Freya or Odin or any of the other co-Allmothers that they’ll bring up the kerfuffle with King Loki. At all. Period.

Nor has there been any sign that Odinson will be clued into all the other unpleasant truths that AoA Loki had to share on the day of his big confession, nor the reality of that Loki’s own spiritual suicide, nor any evidence at all that would reveal Loki as being on the lighter side of gray morality--hell, does he even know about the Sorcerer Supreme thing yet? We can guess not. 

While over in Doctor Strange, we get a glimpse of Jane perhaps seeing a little more clearly through the Loki is Still 110% the God of Evil blindfold, and working with them amicably. Great.

But Loki has either dropped out of Malekith’s Dark Council to do the Sorcerer Supreme thing full time or else Aaron is still juggling them, trying to figure out what their big covert plan was the whole time. Either way, this is a really precarious place to leave not only Loki and Freya, but the larger part of the heroic cast as well.

The audience is aware of Loki’s change. Loki is the very popular, very sincere, very beloved God of Stories and an active protagonist/supporting character in two other titles, Doctor Strange and The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl. Even in Marvel Legacy #1 we see Loki speak directly to the reader, declaring they want to save the world. There’s no getting around the fact that Loki is not only a fan favorite, but an ex-villain leaning suspiciously, endearingly close to a dented and tricky brand of heroism. 

That being said, how are we supposed to take their still being crapped on by the heroic Asgardians in The Mighty Thor? How are we supposed to stomach Freya still being so lauded by those same heroes? By Odinson? 

We know Loki is trying to do the right thing. Other authors who aren’t even working on a Thor-specific title know it too. And, most gratingly, Aaron clearly knows this because he’s writing Loki the right way. And the heroes are starting to give off a really, really bad taste every time Loki’s backstabbing “”v i l l a i n y”” is brought up with all the same bile as if this were the Loki of SIEGE.

I’m hoping like hell Aaron has some secret exonerating ploy up his sleeve. Something to showcase to the heroes that Loki has been working on their side the whole time. Something that perhaps opens the door to Odinson considering more facts--both about the state of his brother and the ugly truths his parents would rather keep swept under the carpet--than he’d thought were on the table, perhaps seeding the start of a reconciliation.  

But even if this is the case, at this rate I may be waiting until 2021.