Disclaimer: I do not own Thor.
Loki had adapted well to life on Midgard. He was content with his Darling Wife and Little Kids That Happened To Have Popped Into Existence, and he was more than happy to ignore whatever life continued on at Asgard. Adventures happened, people went in and out of his life as quaint humans were wont to do, and Loki thought that, after all the evil in his pre-Darcy days, his world had settled down and things would never truly change.
He hadn't counted on Amy. And he hadn't figured love into the equation of life.
Darcy knew. She knew almost from the start. She recognized Sven's wistful looks across the pond and into the neighbors yard. These looks were instantly remembered because she had been on the receiving end of them years ago, back when Sven's father had a penchant for capes and mischief.
Well, Darcy silently corrected herself, he still likes his mischief. Loki recently had been teaching their daughter Egyptian history, and things had gotten out of hand when a mummy and some tourists got involved. Sarai was more than happy to giggle at her father's antics, further fueling his fire.
"Would you like to go outside?" Darcy glanced at her eldest and pretended she didn't know anything as she opened the back door to let the family's over-sized cat in. "I'm sure the new girl on our street would like someone to play with." She sneaked another glance at Sven and let the door close shut, blinds hitting the window panes with a satisfying smack. She went out the front door to walk down the dirt road to collect the mail. When she peeked back into the kitchen on her way to Loki's study, the dinner chair her son had been sitting in was empty.
Darcy suppressed a laugh and went to give her husband another angry letter from his editor asking where the next book was and why it was late and if it was even coming.
Loki caught his wife's contagious mood, the letter was discarded, and the household was happy.
Save for Sven.
He never forgot his first meeting with Amy.
She had just moved into the empty house next door and Darcy had sent him and Sarai to welcome the new child. She had a nasty American accent, wild hair and a freckled nose, but she was kind to Rai-rai so Sven figured they would all get along smashingly.
But then she uncovered a book from one of the brown boxes and opened the page to a picture of a red-haired god and an eight-legged horse.
"He's the god of fire," Amy looked at the new boy seriously, "and this is his son. He's a horse. Though mom won't tell me how he had a horse. A horse for a kid, I mean. Do you know?" She peered up at Sven. He was always taller than her. Even through the awkward years of junior high he had been taller.
Sven blushed and Sarai laughed, only half getting the joke.
"But Loki doesn't have red hair," She managed to say, glancing between her blushing brother and the funny American. Sarai's eyes danced, forever looking like they held a secret. Sven had wished his eyes could smile like that but, when his mother told him he grinned like his father, decided he was fine with his inheritance.
Amy slammed the book shut, already moving onto the next exploit. "Do you have frogs in the pond?" she demanded.
Sven nodded.
"Good!" She smiled and a few laughs escaped her mouth.
It was the laugh that was his undoing. So much like his mother's and beloved sisters, but unique to the blasé shrimp of a girl. He had tried not to be impressed with the fact she was unknowingly interested in his family, but when she laughed he, like his father before him, suddenly lost his heart to a Midgardian.
Stupid girls and their stupid cuteness.
He ducked his head and followed after the girl who was running away with his heart.
