A/N:

Please note that—in this story—Loki was married to Sigyn, but he didn't love her. It was an arranged marriage. They were friends, but never had any children (that's right, no Vali and Narfi trauma).

Also, Hela is half dead like the myths, but Loki doesn't mention it, because he never cared. He thinks she's beautiful anyway. ='(


Many people have tried to tell Loki what beauty is—Fandral not least among them. They would go on about the symmetry of a face, the fullness of lips, the size of a bust, or the curve of a jaw, but Loki knows the truth. He knows that true beauty can only be found in a smile.

He remembers the quiet dignity of Frigga's smile and the beaming light of Thor's grin. Yes, it is the smile, and what the smile does to the eyes, that make a person beautiful. Did Odin ever smile? He can't remember. If he did, it was never at him.

He reaches further back in his memories, to things and people he had sworn to forget: Angrboda and her lopsided smirk so full of wiles, transforming her plain face with radiant loveliness; his boys, Fenris and Jormungandr, just so much like their mother; and his little Hela, with all the warmth of the sun in her smile. Nobody ever saw their beauty but him.

He wonders—if he looks—if he can find tears to cry for them. Even after all this time, he thinks he can, so hewon't look.

Sigyn was like Frigga, he remembers; their whole beings aglow with charm and grace, their smiles stretching only as far as propriety allowed. That was alright, too. Propriety was who they were. It belonged in their smiles, and did nothing to skew their sincerity.

Waiting for Barton to set him free, Loki thinks, has given him far too much time to think. He hears something then—a guttural roar that makes him look up. He can see his reflection in the starkly lit glass cell. It takes all of a second for him to realize what the sound is, and the magnificent chaos that it will unleash gives him such a thrill that he can't help but smile.

He looks at himself in the glass, and wishes it were beautiful.


A/N:

God, that ending makes me want to listen to Mr. Jones (Counting Crows). You should, too. It's a good song. =)