"Loki has been going out of the palace more often now," Frigga said as she gazed over all of Asgard from a balcony in their home.

"Is that so?" Odin didn't look up from where he was looking over old scrolls, searching for a way to further Thor's study in becoming king.

"It would do you well to care for him," She sniffed, turning to face her husband. "Loki is your son as well yet you continue to belittle him."

"He uses magic, Frigga," He said, finally looking up at her. "He does not practice the ways of a warrior like Thor."

"I taught him to use magic," The queen of Asgard said sharply, aiming a glare at her husband. "Does using magic mean I am not a warrior as well? Had I not fought alongside you years before? Does that mean nothing to you?"

"Of course it does," He rose, reaching a hand out towards his wife, who frowned at him. "It is just, Loki-"

"Is a male?" She raised an eyebrow, "Or it is because of his lineage? Whatever it may be, Odin, he is your son. We raised him and I will not stand aside and watch you continue to tell him everything he is doing is wrong."

"You are right, my love," Odin shook his head. "I have treated Loki unfairly all of these years. Tell me, what has he been doing? You mentioned him leaving the palace. For what?"

"Perhaps to live a life outside of these walls," She sighed sadly, turning her head to gaze across Asgard once more. "Some of our guards told me he has made a friend, someone who accepts him how he is," She didn't turn to her husband when she saw him flinch from the corner of her eye. "He is a warrior, if that pleases you."

"Truly?" He raised his eyebrows, "I have never known Loki to be drawn to warriors. You must tell me about him."

"Why? So you may place him in your guard?" She turned to face him once more, "He will not join. He will refuse you, king of Asgard or not. He is, as Midgardians say, a lover, not a fighter. Perhaps that is why Loki decided to befriend him. Our son has never cared for the battles you and Thor seem to enjoy fully. Or, maybe, perhaps it is because Loki's companion was actually interested in his magic and requested to see more. It could be a lot of things, my king, that had drawn Loki to this warrior. Tell me, which do you think it is?"

Odin watched as his wife left the room, the doors closing shut softly behind her, a thoughtful frown marring his face.


"Loki."

The god of mischief froze when he heard his father's voice, his mind racing as he thought of any reason Odin had of talking to him. "Yes, father?" He turned to face the king, schooling his features into a polite smile.

"I heard that you made a friend," Odin could see the moment his son tensed and had to suppress the urge to frown. He had done this to his son, caused him to feel that he could not even tell him of a friend he had made. "I expect to see him in four days to dine with us. It is important for me to meet my son's friends so that I may welcome them."

Loki could only gape after his father left, eyes wide. What had changed with Odin that made him seem interested in his life? "I must…" He murmured to himself, turning around to walk to his room in a daze, "I must tell Percy the next time I see him…"


"Say what now?" Percy looked at his friend with wide eyes, sitting criss-crossed in the field they made their own, "Odin requested my presence at dinner tomorrow?"

"Yes, he," Loki drew his legs up to his chest, resting his chin on one of his knees. "He wants to meet you. He said - He said that he wants to welcome his son's friends."

"That's great, Loki," Percy smiled brightly at the god, sitting up and pulling him close to his side in a hug.

"That he wants to meet you?"

"No," The green-eyed teen shook his head, biting his lip. "It means that he is reaching out to you. Odin is trying to be a father."

Loki's eyes widened in realization. So that was what his father was doing. "Truly?"

"Truly, Loki," Percy held him closer, not saying a word as his friend started to shake with tears at the fact that his father might actually love him. He gently ran a hand through the god's black hair, humming a soft tune he learned from someone in town. "He loves you, Loki, whether he shows it or not. He is your father and you are his son."

Loki leaned back some to look at his friend, "I- Thank you, Percy. I-I want to introduce you to Odin, to my father."

"And I'll be there, Loki. I'll be right by your side."


"You must be my son's friend."

Percy soon found himself face-to-face with the queen of Asgard, the woman smiling gently at him as they stood in one of the many halls of the palace. "My queen," He knelt, placing a fist on his chest.

"Rise, my boy," She put a hand on his shoulder. "What is your name."

"Perseus, my queen. I understand I was invited to have dinner with you by the Allfather."

"Yes, that is correct," Frigga could see her son, Loki, fidgeting nervously as she and Percy spoke to one another. "Come, let us not keep Odin and Thor waiting any longer."

The two teens nodded, following the queen down a hall and into a large dining area. Thor and Odin were already seated, the king at the head of the table and Thor to his left. Loki sat next to his brother, drawing into himself slightly, and Percy sat by his side. Frigga went over to sit by her husband, smiling slightly at him.

Percy leaned over to whisper in his friend's ear as Odin conversed with his wife and oldest son, "Are you as nervous as I am?"

Loki gave him a small smile, "Oh, good. I am not the only one."

Odin cleared his throat slightly, prompting the two teens to look over at him, "So, I hear you are Loki's friend."

"Yes, my king," Percy said with a slight, almost frosty, smile. He didn't incline his head to Odin, something that intrigued the man.

"What is your name, my boy?"

"Perseus."

"Are you a warrior, Perseus?" Odin ignored Thor, who was looking at him oddly. Did he find it so strange that he was suddenly taking an interest in Loki's life?

"I once was," Percy said after a moment of silence. "I trained to use the sword."

"Are you any good?"

"I am skilled enough, your majesty," Percy's smile was turning colder by the second. "I've been training since I learned to walk."

"Why so young?" Frigga wondered, tilting her head. "Thor did not start his training so early."

"Long live Asgard," The green-eyed teen's eyes were distant as he spoke before they darted to Thor. "How is your training, Thor? I hear you are very strong."

Thor seemed surprised that he was mentioned when someone was speaking to his father but was pleased, "It is going well, I suppose. I am not that good of a fighter quite yet."

Percy nodded, "Perhaps with time, Thor, you will get to where you need to be." 'The godling can be humble. Interesting.' "My queen," He smiled at the woman, nudging Loki gently under the table to get his attention slightly. "I hear you were the one to teach Loki how to use magic."

"Indeed, I was," She tilted her head in acknowledgment. "But Loki has far surpassed my abilities. He is creating his own spells."

"Yes, I saw some of them," The green-eyed water user said. "His magic is very amazing- beautiful even. I always find magic to be a wonderful thing." Percy knew Loki was looking at him in shock and nudged his friend again, allowing a small grin to grace his face as he looked at him from the corner of his eye.

Frigga turned slightly to her husband, tilting her head at the exchange, "It seems that we do not have to worry much about Loki."

"You are quite right," Odin murmured, looking thoughtful.

Thor just smiled, happy for his brother. He never liked how their father always ignored his little brother. It wasn't fair. While Thor tried to understand Loki's magic, he couldn't. He always tried to be supportive but his father always frowned upon that when he was in the same room as them. "I am happy for you, brother," He said softly, looking at Loki interact with the green-eyed teen.


"Well," Loki breathed once they were out of the palace and back at their field. "That went better than I expected."

"Quite," Percy agreed. "It is late. You should head off to bed, Loki. Today must have been tiring for you. I will see you again."

"Yes, you are right. Good night, Percy."

The other smiled, "Good night, Loki." He waited until the god left before his smile dropped and he turned around, "You may come out now, Thor Odinson."

The blonde came out from behind some tall bushes, smiling sheepishly, "How did you know I was here?"

"I could hear you breathing," Percy said. "And I felt a displacement in the air. Now, tell me, why have you come here?"

"You told us, at dinner, that you fought before- that you were a warrior once."

"Yes," The black-haired teen nodded. "That is correct. What of it, godling. You do not expect me to fight you, do you?"

"No," Thor smiled, shaking his head. "I feel as though I would be outmatched."

"Smart," Percy nodded. "If not that, then why are you here?"

"My father has me fighting some of the guards," Thor started. "But my training does not go beyond that. I was wondering, perhaps, if you wouldn't mind assisting me."

Percy was silent for a moment before speaking, "Give me some time to think upon it. I will inform you of my answer in a few days. Was there anything else you needed to ask?"

Thor knew this was the only chance, probably, that he'd have to ask the teen some questions about himself, "Are you a god?"

"Clarify." It sounded more like an order than a question.

"As I am the god of thunder and Loki is the god of mischief, among other things, what are you? Are you a god like us- a man with abilities unlike the people of Asgard?"

Sea-green eyes met sky-blue before Percy nodded, "Yes, I am. I am the god of water, battle strategy, heroes, and healing."

"Battle strategy?" The blonde raised his eyebrows, "That is a remarkable skill to have."

"Indeed, it is," The black-haired god nodded. "Lady Athena, a Greek goddess, blessed me with this ability. I knew one of her demigod daughters."

"You met the Greeks?" Thor was surprised. Odin told them that they were not to contact them, that it could cause a war.

"Yes," Percy nodded. "My father is Lord Poseidon, god of the seas. My mother resides here in Asgard as one of the healers outside of the palace."

"Is that where your healing comes from?"

"Partially. I trained a bit with Lord Apollo after taking a liking to healing. It was only for a week but I learned quite a lot." The black-haired god looked up at the darkening sky, "I do believe it is getting late."

Thor knew a dismissal when he saw one, "Good night, Perseus."

"Good night, son of Odin. We shall talk again later."


Loki and Percy were at their field again, three days from the dinner, and Percy was telling the other god about his daily life, what he does aside from talking with Loki.

"I assist my mother at our home. She heals many people if they're sick or injured. I, um, also work with sewing. We, uh, trade cloths with other realms. We're- We have a very popular business."

"That sounds interesting," Loki smiled up at his friend from where they laid on the grass side-by-side. "You must show me some of the clothes some time."

"Would you like to see some tomorrow?" Percy grinned, "I'm sure my mother would like to meet you anyway."

"I would love to. Her healing- how well is it, if I may ask."

"She deals mostly with sickness than the injured. I am the one that deals primarily with injuries but I have heard from many people that she is very skilled. She enjoys helping people."

"That is good," Loki nodded. "Perhaps I could learn a thing or two from her."

"I'm sure she would love to have a student," Percy laughed, leaning his head on his friend's shoulder for a moment. There was a bit of silence before he spoke again, "Thor came to me to talk after the dinner."

Loki looked over, "What of?"

"He asked me to assist him in his training. He believes that he would not progress further if all he ever does is fight the guards."

"He is right," Loki nodded. "But you do not have to do anything for my brother, Percy. You do not have to do this."

"I want to, though," Percy smiled slightly at his friend. "I may be done with fighting but I can make sure that someone is strong enough to defend Asgard in my place."

"You are powerful," Loki said. It was more of a statement than question. "You do not just have water abilities. You are a god as well, like me."

"Yes," Percy nodded and told the god of mischief what he told Thor. "I do not flaunt my powers. I only use my healing to help people."

"I believe you," Loki smiled. "It is quite refreshing, though, to know you will be around longer than most."

Percy grinned. "You can't get rid of my that easily, Lokes."

"Yes, oh, woe is me," Loki dramatically placed a hand on his forehead, rolling his eyes.

"Hey, you love me," Percy laughed, pushing his friend.

"I tolerate you," Loki said but his grin gave him away.

"Whatever, Lokes, I'm awesome."

"And full of himself, apparently."

"It's called self-appreciating."