I forgot to do this with the last chapter, but...
Disclaimer: I don't own Marvel. Obviously.
He awoke in a garden, confused. This was not where he'd fallen asleep, was it? No, of course not; he shook the idea away as he got up. It was a nice garden, he thought, standing, surprised to find that he could get up easily, without his bones groaning in protest. There were different kinds of flowers, and the grass was soft. Frigga would have liked it, he thought to himself, and began to wander around, unsure of where he was going.
It wasn't long before he saw someone else wandering as well, sitting cross-legged on the ground, with wispy orange hair, the sleeve of their tunic slightly off their shoulder. They were drawing, or something. It took only a moment for the figure to look up and smile, blue eyes widening in surprised.
"Odin!" The figure stood, a grin upon xyr mischievous face. "How wonderful of you to join us."
"Loptr?" Odin said, eyebrows furrowing. No, that couldn't be right. Loptr was long since dead. And even then, xe wouldn't be greeting him like this.
"Well, good to see you still remember me, brother," the fire giant replied, stopping in front of him. Xe still towered over Odin, hair that still grew in wisps, like smoke. There was a pencil behind xyr ear.
How could I forget?" Odin said, cautious. Loptr seemed to note this and laughed, throwing xyr head back.
"Can we not put that behind us? It was in another lifetime ago. Come," xe said, offering Odin xyr arm, notebook under the other. "Your wife and son will be happy to see you."
"Hmm?" Odin looked up, confused even as he accepted. "My...?"
"Of course!" Loptr said. "They've been waiting a long time. And I even longer! Not that one can truly tell the passing of time here, but it must have been long. But Frigga is as beautiful as ever and Loki is a charming boy. I like him," Loptr's eyes sparkled as xe added "And I like his name even better. How thoughtful of you to name him after me! He's a better actor than I, though."
Odin nodded, staying in his confusion for only a moment longer before saying "Brother, where are we?"
"Have you not guessed?" Loptr replied, raising an eyebrow. "We are in Valhalla, Odin. Where else?"
Valhalla. Odin felt like a complete fool. Of course, he had died in his sleep. But Balder was king now. Thor had refused the throne long ago, and though it had pained him, he let the boy go. And Balder would do fine, he had reflected. Perhaps he hadn't been raised to be a king, but Vili and Ve would help him until they too passed. Perhaps even Thor would assist him.
"How are they?" Odin asked as they paused at an apple tree. "Frigga and Loki, I mean."
"Oh, they're just fine," Loptr replied and reached up to grab an apple. "Loki has long since discovered the library and Frigga has found company of her own. Both are happy, but they miss you. And Thor." Xe paused to take a bite of the apple, looking thoughtful as xe chewed. "Especially Loki," xe aid when he swallowed. "Miss him, I mean."
"And is he... Well?" Odin said.
"You mean sane?" Loptr corrected, and Odin looked away. Loptr sighed. "Yes, Odin. He is sane. He has made several friends as well. They play tricks." Loptr then snorted. "I may or may not have a hand in them every now and then."
"He does take after you quit a bit," Odin agreed. "I wish you had seen him when he was younger."
Loptr shrugged. "I see him now as I see you now. It is enough. Tell me, how do you feel?"
Odin tilted his head to the side, snatching an apple of his own. "I feel calm," he said. "Relaxed, almost. Nervous."
"Nervous? What, of seeing your wife and son again?" Loptr grinned and nudged him with xyr arm. "She'll be glad to see you, just you wait. Loki... Well, things with him may be awkward. He dislikes talking about his past." Xe laughed and added "You should have seen his face when I told him who I was in relation to you. It was absolutely priceless!"
"You told him?" Odin said, looking at his blood brother.
"How could I not? The minute he mentioned he was a son of Odin I knew. Adopted, isn't he?"
"How did you figure that out?" Odin asked. Loptr shrugged, tossing xyr apple core away.
"I guessed at first. Frigga may or may not have told me."
Odin sighed, shaking his head in exasperation. "I see you are as impossible as ever," he said. Loptr placed a hand against xyr heart in mock hurt.
"I am offended you would even consider to think otherwise, darling," he said. Odin couldn't help himself; he chuckled. Loptr smiled, dropping xyr hand. "Ah, there's the Odin we know and love. When did you get so stony?"
Odin's smile faded. "You know exactly when," he replied at length.
"Hmm. We'll have to fix that, then," Loptr said and pecked Odin's cheek. "Come, let's go find Frigga."
They walked on through the gardens, eventually reaching a gate. Loptr opened it, and Odin looked up at the large, almost fortress-like structure. He followed Loptr inside, looking around at the people of all races hurrying to various places, laughter ringing through the halls. Soon they reached a quieter place and Odin stopped, holding his breath.
Her auburn hair was loose down her back, a light purple dress covering her. She looked around as Loptr approached, her eyes sliding from xym to Odin. Her eyes widened a fraction, her mouth splitting into a smile. She walked—no glided—to where he stood, taking his hands in hers.
"Frigga," he breathed, reaching up to stroke her cheek. She smiled even more, leaning into his touch before reaching up to kiss him. When she pulled away, she spoke.
"Hello, my love." She reached up and wiped away tears he hadn't even known had fallen. He moved his hand to cradle the back of her head and leaned in to kiss her, gently. She gave a small laugh and put her arms around him.
"I missed you," he whispered, pulling away. "So much, Frigga."
"I missed you as well, Odin," she said. "More than I can say."
The moment was interrupted as a person turned the corner, almost falling over with the change of direction. He stopped at Frigga, kissed her cheek, and ran off again, shouting "I'll explain later!"
A moment later, about five men with canary-yellow hair and purple beards came charging after, shouting "Get back here, fiend!"
The other man cackled as he ran. "You have to catch me first!"
Odin stared as they vanished around another corner. He turned back to Frigga. "Was that...?"
Frigga was hiding her smile behind her hand and Loptr was leaning against a wall, doubled over with laughter. "It worked!" Xe said, unable to keep the utter glee out of xyr voice.
"Yes, my dear," Frigga said. "That was, indeed, our Loki."
Odin turned back to where the boy had disappeared. "He is well?"
"He is," Frigga confirmed, nodding. "I think once he is not running away from people, he'll give you a proper hello."
Odin nodded and Loptr said, still giggling, "I'll go help him," and strode off in the direction they had gone. When xe had gone, Frigga took Odin's arm.
"Come," she tell me. "Tell me what has happened since my departure. I only know the story up until Loki arrived."
Odin nodded and said "Thor refused to become King. I gave it to Balder instead, when the time came. Thor promised to help him in any way he could. He said he would rather be a good man than a great King."
"We raised him well," she said, smiling in her pride. "And I'm sure Balder will make a wonderful King. He's a sweet boy."
"Hmm." Odin didn't express his doubt, but followed her as they wandered around. It wasn't long before they found Loptr and Loki sitting on a bench, talking. Loptr was smiling as always, but Loki's face had turned serious. Odin stopped and watched them for a moment, drinking in the sight.
Loki's hair was longer, he thought. He looked healthy. His green eyes were bright and his skin was still pale, but with a bit of color at his cheeks.
Odin hesitated. They had burned Loki in a shroud of green and gold, when his body was retrieved from Svartalfheim. It was a simple funeral, with only a few people. Thor, Sif, the Warriors Three, and those who wanted to make sure the trickster was actually dead. But here he was, in a green tunic and dark trousers, a red cloak around his shoulders.
It looked an awful lot like Thor's cape, now that he came to think of it.
As if sensing Odin's gaze, Loki looked around, his eyes resting on Odin. He tilted his head, listening to something Loptr was telling him. He nodded once, then got up, walking over to Odin and Frigga.
"I always wondered what you looked like with both eyes," Loki said and it was in that moment that Odin realized he did have both eyes. He blinked once as Frigga reprimanded him for the comment, just by shooting him A Look. Loki ignored the look and waited for Odin to speak.
"Well," he said, choosing his words with care. "Now you know."
Loki's lips twitched, trying to suppress a smile. Odin looked him up and down as Loptr came over, standing next to Frigga. Xe made a face at Odin, who only rolled his eyes before looking back at Loki.
"Hello, my son," he said.
"Hello, Father," Loki replied after a moment.
"Aww," Loptr said, smiling. "You know, I remember when I had kids..."
Odin looked up, glaring, but Loki frowned at xym. "You had kids?"
"Have, technically," Loptr said. "Hela, Jormungandr, and Fenrir, Nari, and Vali."
"Hela?" Loki frowned. "As in, Queen of Helheim? That Hela?"
"Mm-hmm," Loptr said, then flashed a grin at Odin. "We did not part of the best of terms, did we, brother?"
Loki flinched and glanced away at the remark. Loptr slung an arm over the boy's shoulder and said "By the way, there was something I wanted to show you on-"
"Loptr," Odin said. "May I have a moment with my son?"
"Of course," xe winked at Loki. "Come find me later, yes?" Without waiting for an answer, Loptr pecked Loki's cheek and winked at Odin before wandering off somewhere.
Loki was still looking at the ground, his hands behind his back. Odin looked at him, then sighed, pulling Loki into a firm, but gentle embrace. Loki gave a little yelp in surprise as he did so, but Odin didn't relent. He reached up and stroked Loki's hair, closing his eyes.
"Loki," he murmured. "I am sorry. For the things I did. For the things I said."
Loki remained tense for a moment longer, then he seemed to relax, resting his head on Odin's shoulder. Soon, Odin heard the boy reply "I am too. I'm sorry. And... And I forgive you." There was a pause and he whispered "Do you... Could you...?"
"Forgive you?" Odin murmured. "Yes, my boy. My son. I forgive you."
It was then that Loki threw his arms around Odin, embracing him back. And after that, there was nothing more to say.
Okay so on Loptr and xyr affection; it is my headcanon that the jotnar (both fire and frost) are quite affectionate and have no problem whatsoever with kissing/hugging as forms of appropriate affection. This makes some of the aesir confused, but since Odin his half jotun (it's mythology canon; his mother Bestla is a jotun) and he grew up without hatred of jotnar, he and Loptr are actually good friends.
Also, I REALLY like writing Loptr. I may write something with just xym and Odin later. Also, as Loptr will explain in the next chapter, the frost giants use ze/zim/zir, while fire giants use xe/xym/xyr. It makes sense in my head, I don't really know why. (It's also my headcanon that all jotnar are hermaphroditic/intersex, so they're sort of fluid on the whole gender thing, so while most jotnar ARE big, there are some like Loptr and Loki who have a smaller/more feminine build.)
I forgot where I got it, but I got the idea that mythology accidentally mixed up Loptr's feats with Loki's, given that Loki's named after xym. So instead of Hela and the others being LOKI'S kids, they're actually Loptr's.
If anyone has other questions about Loptr/the jotnar, my tumblr is in my profile, or PM me!
