Sweet Understanding

Chapter 4: Lost and Found

They entered the park, a few scattered trees, a fountain in the center. Nothing compared to what they had back in Asgard, in fact, it paled in comparison… yet something caught his eye.

Fenrir froze, his eyes locked on a shadowy figure sitting on one of the benches facing the motionless fountain.

"Who is that, Father? He smells different." The pup whimpered, tail going between his legs as he shied away.

Loki hesitated, watching the silhouette for a moment.

"What can I do for you?" came a voice.

Both Father and Son froze in their tracks.

It was an older voice, one that sounded weary, though Loki gathered himself to step forward.

"Why do you ask, Midgardian?" the Trickster questioned.

"Because you're quite far from home, Loki." The figure answered simply.

Loki felt himself tense up.

"A-and how do you know that?" he answered, "I have no home, so the tricks on you!"

Though, he frowned, as the reality sank in.

"I…have… no home."

The man stood, and Loki eyed him suspiciously, though, the more he stared, the more he recognized him.

"M-Magneto?"

The older man gave a smile.

"The one and only."

Effortlessly, he reached back, and with an invisible force, the pipe at the top of the fountain broke, causing it to gush water.

The younger villain watched in awe. Granted, it was with basic magic skill that Loki could perform the same feat, but it was impressive to see a mortal accomplish it.

Loki laughed.

"Well, how did you know it was me?" he asked snarkily.

Magneto gave a sigh.

"Are you actually asking that ques-…"

He paused to face-palm.

"Have you seen your forehead? Not everyone goes around looking like a moo-cow." The older villain answered bluntly.

Raising his eyebrows, Loki glanced up at the gleaming yellow horns atop his head, before managing a sheepish grin.

"Oh…uh…yeah." He managed, with a nervous laugh.

Magneto watched him suspiciously, glancing down at the wolf pup, then back at the Trickster.

"What are you doing here?" he inquired, "It's awfully late for someone your age to be out… and what do you mean you don't have a home? You have a family, and that hero of a brother, remember? Don't tell me those horns finally started to cut off the circulation in your brain."

Loki glared at him.

"Of course not! They're extremely fashionable where I'm from!" he shot back, straightening them proudly.

"Ye~ah…" Magneto muttered, "Well, come on. I'm taking you home."

The mutant went to grab Loki's hand forcefully, but the Trickster pulled away defiantly.

"No! I told you! I don't have a home!" the Demi-god protested.

"I don't mean My Little Ponyville. Just come on. I don't live too far from here." Magneto answered.

Loki eyed him for a moment, not fully able to trust him.

"You don't want to be a bad dog, do you?" the mutant answered sarcastically, taking note of the pup at his side.

Fenny trembled, looking up at his Father with wide, yellow eyes.

"Do what he says, Father!" he whimpered, "Follow him to the ends of the realm of you have to!"

Loki sighed, rolling his eyes, though he stroked the Wolf's ears comfortingly.

"Fine. I'll follow you, but only because my son wishes for it." He replied, with a fake haughtiness.

When he looked over, Magneto already began walking.

The Trickster ran to catch up with him, Fenrir tagging along behind.

Though a small part of him couldn't understand.

Why is he being so nice to me?

~O~O~O~O~O~

As the older villain promised, it hadn't been a far walk.

The entire time, Loki would cast him skeptical glances.

He may have been young, but he knew Magneto, or at least knew him enough not to trust him completely.

After all, he was one of the greatest villains this realm had to offer.

Someone to look up to, granted, but that meant he couldn't be trusted.

Loki, of all people, knew about mistrust.

Magneto ignored the feeling of the boy's eyes bearing down on him as he went to unlock the front door.

As he opened it, allowing the younger villain to pass through, he stopped him for a moment.

"Okay, don't touch anything." He stated, "That goes for your pet too."

Loki shot him a glare.

"He's my son! Why doesn't anyone understand this?!" he wailed, "Fenrir is my son! Can't no one see the family resemblance?!"

Magneto just waved him off.

"Yes, yes… he's your son." Magneto replied, finally understanding the definition of 'cultural differences'. "And now you can meet mine."

He turned towards the hallway.

"Pietro! We have guests!" he called, voice echoing down the corridor.

In an instant, Loki didn't even have time to blink, before another boy appeared.

Loki recognized him from Amora's last failed plan, when she brainwashed his Father. It had been a great idea, but he already tried it.

Thor and his Squaddie friends were always there to rain on his parade.

"Wait, Father… what is Pasture boy doing here?" Pietro questioned, taking note of Loki's horns.

Seeing Loki's offended stare, Magneto took a deep breath.

"No, Pietro. This is Loki, from Asgard. Thor's brother." He explained.

As his son made a noise of recognition, Magneto nodded.

"He'll be staying with us for a while."

Loki's eyes widened and he looked back at the older villain, hearing his words.

"Wait? I can stay here?" he asked, feeling excited. "My son too?"

Magneto gave another nod.

"As long as he's housebroken." He specified.

He then turned to his own son.

"Get the boy settled in Wanda-… Scarlet Witch's old room."

Pietro visibly hesitated.

"Are you sure, Father?" he asked, voice trembling.

Magneto merely glared at him.

"Just do it, Son." He growled.

Pietro shivered, before turning to Loki.

"Uh, come on." He answered, motioning to the Trickster.

Loki followed him, feeling oddly obedient.

Everything was happening so fast, it was all he could do, yet he didn't mind. Anywhere was better than Asgard. He was never appreciate there, after all.

Pietro, also known as Quicksilver, if his memory served him correctly, stopped in front of a door, opening it.

"This is my sister's room." He said, "You can stay here, but don't touch anything."

He frowned, taking another glance around the bedroom.

"We want to keep it as it is."

It hadn't been easy with Wanda gone, and even though is Father rarely spoke of her, Pietro could tell that he missed her.

The Trickster nodded with puzzled understanding.

He supposed that he understood the importance of peoples' belongings, as his mind drifted to his diary.

Loki watched as Fenrir leapt onto the bed, curling into a sleepy ball. He went to join him, though when he looked back, Pietro was gone.

Quicksilver promptly left, closing the door behind him, before heading into the living room to rejoin his Father.

There, Magneto sat, twirling a coin between his fingers, a habit he had whenever he was deep in thought or upset.

"Father?" Pietro asked, his voice hesitating.

Magneto stared at the coin for a few more moments, before turning around.

"What is it, son?"

Quicksilver hesitated again, the words lodged in his throat.

"I… I was just wondering why you gave him Wanda's room. Surely he could've used the guest room!" the boy replied quickly, once he found his tongue. "You're not trying to… replace her, are you?"

The boy's eyes were wide and fearful at the very thought.

Magneto merely looked at him for a few moments before taking a deep sigh.

"You heard her words, Pietro. She would not hold back if she met us on the battlefield. She chose to be a hero." He answered. "Perhaps this young villain can… fill the void your sister's departure left."

Pietro took a seat next to his father.

"But maybe she'll come back! This is probably just a phase!" he tried to reason, but his Father's expression said it all, as the younger wilted a bit.

His Father then glanced towards the hallway.

"Eavesdropping, Loki?" he asked.

Pietro watched as the Trickster emerged from the shadows.

"So you heard everything, did you?" Magneto asked, a smirk appearing on his face.

With a quiet nervousness, Loki nodded.

Magneto chuckled in response.

"Haven't you heard of 'curiosity killing the cat'?" he asked, causing the Trickster to tense anxiously. "Nevermind."

He waved the thought off with a calm hand, putting the coin down on a dark wood table that sat next to him.

"What can I do for you?" he inquired, waving the young demi-god further into the room.

Loki stood, shifting between his feet. For a rare occasion, the Trickster of Asgard had nothing to say.

Magneto turned back around, facing the fireplace in front of him.

"Just lonely, I see…" he continued. "I understand. Leaving home is always a difficult thing to deal with."

Loki nibbled his bottom lip.

"Well, I had to leave." He answered firmly. "I couldn't stay there any longer!"

Magneto chuckled.

"Because you were different and didn't belong? Because your brother was driving you crazy? Ruining your plans? Stifling your villainy?" he asked.

The Trickster stared at him, his heart pounding, startled by the accuracy of his words.

"Y-yes! All of it!" he exclaimed, "But it's mostly as though I'm not even there. I'm always in the shadows! Being a villain is the only way anyone sees that I'm there!"

He sat down on the floor, frowning at his yellow boots.

"Well, I've seen your work, young man. You have quite the potential as an infamous villain. Have you considered widening the range of heroes and areas you target?" Magneto suggested.

Loki shook his head.

"Not really. I just want to rule Asgard… but do you think it'd help?" he asked, leaning forward with interest.

He had never considered spreading his mischief elsewhere. Olympus had been the spread of his plans, maybe he had considered Midgard, but not really seriously.

Magneto chuckled, glancing sideways at the youngster.

His enthusiasm was refreshing, and he smirked.

"Well, if you're going to accomplish anything, practice and experience are key." He replied. "Why not take advantage of that in a world of super heroes?"

Loki broke into a grin, hanging on every word the older villain said. Never before had he received actual advice about being a villain. He suddenly felt so inspired, as the walls of distrust fell about him.

"That's true! I never thought about that!" he pondered aloud.

"There's much more to being a villain than causing trouble and doing what you want." Magneto lectured. "But you know… I could teach you, if you want."

The Trickster gazed up at him, jaw nearly dropping.

A villain teacher of his very own?

"You'd really do that?" he asked, though he stiffened quickly. "What's the catch?"

He was still a villain, after all.

Magneto laughed.

"Just that you help me in my own plans, and work hard." He answered. "That's it. You have magical abilities similar to my daughter's, and therefore you'd not only come in hand, but I can also teach you along the way."

Loki looked him over, trying to spot a lie, but there was none.

"I'll also let you stay here as an apprentice."

When the young Aesirian was positive that the offer was legitimate, he grinned, never more enthusiastic than anything.

"You've got a deal!" he exclaimed, standing up to shake his hand.

Pietro, from the side, still seemed hesitant, yet seeing the gleam in his Father's eyes, he could only sigh.

Perhaps it was what his Father needed, after all.

~O~O~O~O~O~

The next day, Loki woke to a pre-set alarm clock.

He instantly startled, toppling clumsily off the bed as a guitar riff blasted in his ear.

"It's the heat of the moment!" the clock sang, as Loki reached over to shut it off.

Fenrir gave a groan, rolling over on the bed, blissfully unaware of the fact that his Father was on the floor.

"Good morning to you too, Fenny." Loki muttered, pushing the mess of black hair out of his eyes.

There was a knocking at his door, and the young demi-god stood up to open it.

Pietro stood, already dressed.

"Breakfast is ready if you're interested." He answered a bit awkwardly.

Loki blinked, not expecting such a statement.

"Oh… um… thanks." He answered, unsure of how to respond.

Pietro didn't answer, but rather closed the door behind him.

"Did someone say breakfast?" Fenrir yipped behind him, already energized by the very idea of food.

The Mischief god laughed.

"Yes, Fenrir. Are you ready?" he asked, standing up to go get dressed himself.

The pup wagged his tail happily.

"I'm always ready for breakfast!" he woofed, "Come on! I'm hu~ngry!"

The Trickster dressed and brushed his hair, before fitting it into his usual outfit, checking himself in the mirror once again.

"Come o~n, Father! You're taking forever!" Fenrir whined, jumping off the bed to tug at his Father's cape. "Then I have to go outside! But food first!"

Loki reached down to pet the Wolf's head.

"All right. Let's meet the Midgardians." He answered, adjusting his horns once again.

After all, if he was going to take over Asgard, he might as well look good doing it!

The pair followed their noses to the kitchen where Pietro and Magneto sat.

There was an empty chair and plate waiting for him as they looked over.

Awkwardly, Loki watched them, unsure if he was welcome… still getting used to the idea of having a family that didn't ignore him… but Magneto's voice broke his thoughts.

"What are you waiting for? Sit down with us and eat something." The older villain replied. "Do you really think we can start your training on an empty stomach?"

Loki sat down as he was told.

"N-no… I guess not."

Nervously, he began filling his plate.

They ate in a comfortable silence. There was no talk of Thor's latest achievement or victory. They just gathered their own, individual thoughts as Loki lowered a plate of bacon down to the drooling wolf under the table.

"After breakfast, we'll begin your lessons. Both of you." Magneto stated. "Pietro is used to this routine, and you'll get used to it too, Loki. Don't worry."

Hearing the words of encouragement, the Asgardian blinked for a moment, before trying to hide a smile.

It might take a while, yes…but he agreed.

"Yeah. I think I have nothing to worry about." He murmured softly.

As simple as the meal was, Loki felt that he enjoyed it much more than any meal he had in a very long time.

~O~O~O~O~O~

Loki found that days passed quickly on Midgard.

Whether it was between his lessons on old military history, Midgardian law, or simple physical training, Loki never grew bored.

No wonder Thor spends so much time here.

For the first time, he felt like he belonged, and the glimmer of pride in Magneto's eyes any time he succeeded, only confirmed it.

The Trickster found an inspiration in these lessons, not even having time to think or miss the home he left behind.

After all, what was there to miss? Being ignored and punished for no reason?

No way. As far as Loki was concerned, there was nothing to look back at.

Magneto, at the same time, watched the young villain.

The boy had a brilliant mind, yet he went ignored back home. The very idea baffled him.

This boy had such potential, and it seemed as though this diamond in the rough only needed polishing.

More often than not, he'd find himself grinning with pride at one of the boy's witty comebacks or enthusiastic responses.

It didn't take long for him to grow fond of the boy, raising him alongside Pietro as another child.

Maybe he was what the boy needed… and vice versa.

~O~O~O~O~O~

((A/N: I'm glad you guys are reading, but I'd love to see what you think! Good or bad, I swear! You'll get a cookie! :D ))