This is really not what Loki wanted. At all.

He sits on the throne of Asgard as its king.

Loki wishes the last few days were simply a nightmare. It would make his life much better. He can practically hear Laufey laughing at him.

Loki shuts himself in the throne room and brings up ice from the ground (it is a strain to do so in Asgard whereas in Jötunheim it is easier than breathing) and creates a throne out of the ice, next to the one that Odin usually sits in. He settles into it and relaxes somewhat, glaring at the spear in his hands.

A throne suits him ill.

At the present Thor would be worse but still. Why in the name of ice did Odin have to fall asleep?

Stupid succession rules.

Loki sighs and ponders whether pouting for the next hour would be deemed procrastination. Mayhap he could pretend to go insane? Take himself out of the line of succession by being totally unfit for the throne? He would have to do something drastic, something like trying to destroy an entire realm. Maybe an attempt at taking Thor's life would work, it would certainly cheer Loki up.

Loki sighs. Again. Slumping into the ice.

Footsteps approach and Loki hurriedly sits up straight, rolling around from where he was practically upside down in his newly fashioned throne.

"My king we-" Sif cuts herself off as she catches sight of him, her eyes widening. "Where is the Allfather?" She asks, regaining her wits somewhat.

"He fell asleep." Loki says sourly, maybe he could use that excuse and give Frigga the throne. For that matter, why did she not take it herself? Once it gets out that there is a Jötunn on the throne there will be riots.

"The Odinsleep?" Volstagg enquires. Loki nods miserably. Even with all the power being king of Asgard grants him he can further none of his aims. Perhaps that was why he was sitting on the throne, Odin didn't trust his scheming. If only he wasn't so wise.

Sif looks aghast.

"I can still hear Laufey laughing." Loki mutters sullenly.

"Was this your plan all along?" Sif asks, pale, her hand going for her sword.

"Yes, because I so longed to sit on that monstrosity and rule over people who would sooner cut me down than obey an order and who will probably dispossess me as soon as possible and free their beloved prince from his wicked consort." Loki says sarcastically, rolling his eyes.

She settles a little but the suspicion doesn't leave her eyes. Smart woman. So Loki may have already made several discrete amendments to a few treaties lying here and there that no one will notice until they bother to look over them again. Which will hopefully be never.

"There will be so much unrest over you sitting on the throne that you won't be able to pass a single act as king." Hogun observes, speaking more in one sitting than Loki has heard him yet.

"Exactly. Odin is very canny." Loki complains. He is half admiring too but no one need mention that.

"Will you recall Thor from his banishment?" Sif asks hopefully. Loki blinks at her.

"Did you not hear your friend? If I try to do anything, let alone repeal Odin's latest act then I will be lynched." Loki says. "My job as king, is to keep that seat warm for Odin." He sniffs, leaning back further in his much more comfortable icy throne. He gets up after a moment and head down the steps to them, he is bored of sitting and waiting.

"So, may we go to Thor to help him finish his banishment sooner?" Sif asks, looking more at ease now he is not seated on a throne. Maybe she isn't that smart after all.

"No." Loki answers. Sif opens her mouth to argue but he cuts her off. "Asgard is uneasy as it is, you four are the known as the realms greatest warriors. What would it look like if you all jumped ship?"

"Asgard would be more settled if the crown prince was back here." Sif counters.

"Even if you manage to bring him back, until he fulfils the terms of his banishment, he is mortal. How long would he last in Asgard?" Loki points out. Seeing that Sif still looks to argue Loki continues. "Asgard needs you to keep the peace." He says simply.

She quietens but Loki doesn't for one moment think she has come around to his view point.

"Did I hear correctly in Jötunheim," Fandral begins, hoping to bridge the gap and turn things to more light hearted matters. "did you call Laufey your mother?"

Loki blinks.

"Yes." He answers, wondering where this is going.

"Laufey is a woman?" Volstagg blinks. Abruptly Loki realises that these four have not grown up in the court of Jötunheim, that they would not have heard the gossip or tales that everyone in Jötunheim knew from childhood.

"Not quite." Loki says. "There is a running question in court as to whether or not Laufey birthed me and my brothers or sired us."

"So, the court doesn't know if Laufey is male or female?" Fandral asks.

"No one knows." Loki shrugs.

"So why did you call Laufey your mother?" Sif enquires looking intrigued despite herself.

"Laufey hates it when people assume one or the other so I always call my King mother or father." Loki shrugs.

"How can nobody know?" Fandral says, bewildered.

"You would say I am male, correct?" Loki asks, adjusting his stance subtly and making his voice just a touch softer.

"Of cours-" Fandral falters and looks at Loki from head to toe. Fandral is one who knows intimately the female form, and can recognise it with or without protrusions at the chest area.

"And you would be correct." Loki nods, shifting back into a more natural pose. "But see how easy it is to cast a seed of doubt? I am a shape shifter, essentially I become any form that I am, so while I am male now, I could easily become female."

"But Laufey is not a shape shifter." It is more of a question than a statement.

"I do not know the extent of Laufey's magical abilities but I suspect not." Loki shrugs.

"So would your people revolt if it turned out Laufey was female?" Sif asks. Loki looks at her.

"Why would they revolt over something like that?" He asks, bemused.

"Women can rule in Jötunheim?" She sounds slightly strangled.

"Of course not. Only the king can rule. Whether that king is male or female matters not however."

"I am starting to see the appeal of Jötunheim." Fandral says so that Sif doesn't have to.

"Oh, I had forgotten the Æsir were odd about gender." Loki abruptly realises. Sif huffs. "The Jötnar have different prejudices." Loki informs her. "All people throughout the realms have something in their culture that is 'undesirable'. Or focuses on persecuting a minority group."

They stand in silence for a few moments digesting it before Volstagg frowns.

"Would you not have been old enough when your youngest brother was born to remember if Laufey carried or sired him?"

"I was fostered with a rival clan for five years. When I returned Býleistr was there. Helblindi was learning how to capture wargs and saw Laufey rarely. It is possible he knows more than he lets on." Loki answers truthfully.

The four warriors blink bemusedly at him.

#

Barely half a year passes before Thor returns, having learnt the lesson his father was trying to impart.

Odin is king again (thank the ice), in fact it was only three days before he woke up which was only enough time for Thor's friends to commit treason by disobeying his orders and going down to earth. Loki had expected it but that only meant he had time to deliberate over their punishment. They had to join in the diplomatic talks between Jötunheim and Asgard to stop the war Thor started. And make reparations for the absent prince.

When Odin woke up he seemed amused by the action and possibly a little relieved Loki hadn't left his realm in ruins. He had only been a little tempted. Odin also didn't reverse any of the changes Loki had made to the treaties, Loki had checked. Which either meant the king didn't care or was waiting for an appropriate time to drop the shoe. On Loki's head.

Loki had actually found life in Asgard easier without Thor's presence. His chambers were entirely his again (not that Thor had visited them much but there was always the possibility), he was not always expected to be at his husband's side and he was freer to achieve his own ends. Not to mention that (as per the adjustments to the treaties) he was able to visit Jötunheim and his brothers from time to time.

Thor seems both pleased to be back and endlessly wanting to return. It seems he enjoyed his time on the planet with the mortals.

Loki and Fandral are discussing a particular type of sword fighting that the Light Elves employ when, for the first time since his return, Thor approaches him.

"But the footwork is key, that is what differs between a good swordsman and a mediocre one."

"I was not arguing that point. I was just commenting that the footwork is very similar to the basis of one of the most common dances of the Jötnar, usually danced during funerals."

"Maybe that is so. There are crossovers of cultures dating back through the millennia. I am sure that the palace design is based on an ancient library in Vanaheim-"

Thor clears his throat, interrupting Fandral.

"Thor." Frandral greets with a smile and an incline of the head that counts as an informal bow.

"I would speak with the Prince alone, if I am not interrupting something important." Thor requests in a way that isn't really a request. Fandral stands and gives a proper bow this time.

"Of course. Next time we should discuss this during a match lest our sword fighting skills go rusty." He suggests before leaving.

Loki looks at Thor, waiting. The last time they saw each other they got into a fist fight before Thor started a war with Loki's home realm. It isn't lost on Loki that the times he has caught Thor staring at him since he returned, the emotions on Thor's face were predominantly guilt and trepidation.

He hopes that Thor isn't about to try and get their marriage dissolved. It would be nigh impossible but for the fact that there is no heir and the matter of...consummation might come up. Loki had wondered if getting the marriage consummated might be something he should do sooner rather than later just in case but he had never gotten around to a decision let alone broaching it with Thor.

"I have wronged you thrice over." Thor eventually says, jolting Loki out of his thoughts. He frowns. "For the slights against your person, for the thoughtlessness I treated you with when you first came to Asgard, against Jötunheim and-"

"I do not actually need a list." Loki says dryly. He doesn't need a reminder of the slights sent his way, he does not forget such things.

"I suspect not." Thor agrees, surprising Loki with his amiability. "But know this, I am truly regretful for my conduct and wish to tell you that though lapses on my part may occur I will take great pains not to behave so again."

Another surprise. Loki can feel his eyebrow rise despite himself.

"Also know this, that in spite of my past actions I have no desire for war and wish to keep the peace between Asgard and Jötunheim."

"And what has wrought such a change in heart?" Loki asks archly. Thor looks out to the horizon. "Or should I ask whom?" Loki's other eyebrow rises to join the first.

"My banishment opened my eyes to much I had missed or ignored." Thor shoots him a guilty look.

"That maybe so but there is something else." Loki presses. Thor's eyes drop to the ground.

"I encountered a woman like no other I have met before."

"I am sure all in love think so." Loki says cynically. Thor shoots him a look that disagrees but doesn't order him to the ring to fight for his lady's honour which is an improvement.

"You are not...hurt?" Thor asks tentatively.

"Hurt by what?" Loki returns, puzzled for a moment before it clicks. "Hurt by the fact you have fallen in love with a mortal? Hurt that you are abandoning our love for that of a mayfly? Hurt that I am being cuckolded from our loving marriage bed?" He catechizes sarcastically. Thor flushes a little but grins when he realises that Loki truly is not mad or hurt.

"We are married through a contract that forms the basis of our peace treaty. I don't like you, let alone love you." Loki says bluntly, just to make Thor aware of the egocentric nature of his concern.

Thor looks relieved.

"It is just Jane made it clear to me all the ways that courting her could be hurtful to both you and her." Thor says sheepishly. Loki senses a story behind that.

"Besides I made adjustments to our marriage contract while I was king." Loki adds airily, walking away.

"What sort of adjustments?" Thor asks, vaguely panicked as he catches up with him. Loki smirks.

"Nothing too bad." He says with a wink and disappears, sliding incorporeally through the palace until he reaches his chambers. It isn't as instantaneous as his usual method of transportation but it does the trick in close quarters.