Whatever nervousness everyone had about Loki being here, though still present, has been replaced by sadness and empathy. No wonder Rock of Ages lost his shit. Loki takes his turn plying questions to Lilly about her life, ambitions, and hopes. The two continue on in their own private little world as the others listen try not to cry.
"Thor, all this shit Loki is telling Lilly is pretty messed up and it sounds like you and Loki could do with some bonding time too. You two clearly need to talk about some stuff." Tony says.
"Aye I know, but weeding through my brother's imagined slights and legitimate grievances is a complicated thing to do. He never lets me in, I feel. It's like he's always guarding something that he refuses to tell me. He has shared more of himself with Lilly in these past few hours than he has with me in the past few centuries. I have never seen his heart laid so open." Thor says with something akin to jealousy in his voice. He feels ashamed of being jealous of his niece, but nevertheless there it is. She has managed to do what he could not. Thor thinks of Emily. What did that woman do to bring this Loki out that Thor did not?
Loki laughs heartily then at something Lilly said and it is like the depressing haze in the room lifts. Thor has not heard that sound in so long. Tony takes that as his cue to liven up the mood. He turns on some music, not too loud, but something lively in the background to make things happy. He goes to the bar and pulls out the glasses.
"Well Loki I think I still owe you that drink." Tony says as he starts filling lots of glasses with whiskey, scotch, beer, and whatever else is requested. Thor grabs a big glass of beer and gulps it down. It has been a long day today. It gets late and the detail of room and board must be addressed.
"I didn't look to see if I have a spare guest room, and if I do I don't know if it has bedding." Lilly says.
"I have already arranged for Loki to bunk with me Lilly." Thor says. Loki shoots Thor an annoyed look. Still he doesn't want to crowd out his daughter too much. What grown woman wants her dad living with her and spying on her love life? Speaking of which…..
XxXxXxXxXx
Steve tosses his clothes in the hamper and pulls down his sheets to hop into bed. Today had gone well. Any day he doesn't have to beat the crap out of his love interest's father is a good one he supposes. Lilly is just across the hall now, but Loki is right next door. Yeah, sneaking around is definitely impossible.
"Pardon me Sir but it appears Prince Loki has broken in to your living quarters." Jarvis says.
"What?" Steve leaves out his bedroom to find Loki standing in his living room staring out the window. "Can I help you?" Steve says sternly.
"I'm not blind you know. I see the way she looks at you, and the way you look at her." Loki says as he turns to face Steve. "What are your intensions towards my daughter?" Loki asks.
"I mean to court her. Properly. I don't want to hide or act like what we do or feel for each other is wrong, because it's not." Steve says meeting Loki's unflinching gaze. Loki assesses Steve. He's been assessing him all night. Steve is not a mere mortal and it remains to be seen if he ages as quickly as a normal human. All the ice did was keep him asleep for 70 years, that did nothing for keeping him looking as young as he does. More importantly, and much to Loki's ire, his former enemy has all the honorable attributes he would like for a husband for his daughter. Steve would treat Lilly well and he can protect her. The long silence makes Steve nervous.
"You do realize that she is only half mortal and that your children could potentially look like this?" Loki says as he shifts his appears to show his Jotunn heritage. Steve is shocked. He looks at Loki and notes the scary blood red eyes and the raised lines on Loki's face. He wonders absently if those lines appear on the rest of him.
"Why do you look like that?" Steve asks.
"I'm a Frost Giant. The appearance you are used to seeing is a lie, placed upon me as a child to hide my true heritage. It is a heritage Lilly shares. Her hands turn blue in the cold, did you know that?" Loki asks.
"No, she didn't tell me, but is doesn't matter. I still want her." Steve says undeterred. Loki regards him then.
"Very well. I give you my blessing, but you will proceed slowly, is that understood?" Loki says.
"Yes, I will." Steve says.
"I catch you deflowering my darling girl before you've walked her down the aisle I'll remove the appendage that dangles between your legs." Loki says with his arms folded.
"Understood." Steve says simply.
"Good night Captain." Loki says and then disappears. Well…that went as well as can be expected all things considered.
XxXxXxXx
Tony and Bruce give Lilly the grand tour of the lab and she settles in to her first day of work. Tony comes and goes as he pleases but Bruce provides a steady guiding hand. He gives her instructions on her first experiment for the project he is working on. Lilly smiles as she experiences a nerd hard-on. Tony Stark is a nerd. The Hulk is a nerd. She's a nerd. This is the fun. She loves her new job! She puts on safety glasses as she plays with different chemicals. If only she had a caldron.
Lilly thinks of Loki then. He told her he was going to teach her magic. Does that include potion making? He mentioned potion making and ingredient gathering in his story about her mom. Lilly feels like she is going to burst with excitement. The day goes by fast and Lilly loses track of the time.
"Okay kid. Time to knock off." Bruce announces. It's 5:17pm. Lilly puts her equipment away and rushes to the elevator to ride it back up.
"Jarvis where is my dad?" Lilly asks.
"He is in the clubhouse Miss Anderson." Jarvis chimes.
"Thank you." Lilly says and mashes the button to go up. Thor and Loki are in the gym. They are in the boxing arena fighting…..and fighting.
"Sif never liked me Thor! She only tolerated my presence because of you! She wasn't my friend." Loki says as he takes another swing.
"She had reason to be angry with you as you well know!" Thor says.
"How many times must I apologize for what I did to her hair? It was an accident!" Loki says. Loki dodges a blow from Thor. "2000 years and the bitch still hasn't forgiven me. Fuck her! I'm not sorry I tried to kill her." Loki yells as he lands a hit to Thor's jaw, which Thor shakes off easily.
"Dad?" Lilly says with shock.
"Lilly!" Loki says his daughter's name feeling scandalized. How much did she hear? "How was your first day of work sweetheart?" Loki says with a small amount of forced sweetness in his voice.
"It was great. I was wondering if you'd like to teach me magic now? Maybe that potion you were trying to make when you met mom?" Lilly asks.
"Yes darling girl of course." Loki says as he exits the box covered in sweat. "Permit me to freshen up and I'll meet you in your quarters in say 20 minutes?" Loki says.
"Okay." Lilly says brightly. Loki leaves and Lilly stands there looking at her uncle and her boyfriend. "You know I don't really know all the history but I think 2000 years is a long time to hold a grudge too." Lilly says to Thor.
"Lilly your father and I have a lifetime of grievances that span centuries. Loki is angry with me for things that happened centuries ago and only now is he venting his displeasure with me for all those incidents." Thor says.
"Did you guys not talk to each other before? I don't get it. You both seem to love each other a lot but dad keeps talking about how lonely he was and ignored he was and desperate for attention and approval he was. Honestly Uncle Thor how did you not notice? It's obvious he wants something from you that you aren't giving him. Figure out what it is already." Lilly says. She has no idea how right she is. No one does, not even Loki. She turns and leaves with Thor looking dumbstruck.
"What is she talking about?" Thor asks Steve.
"I don't know, but I'm willing to bet she's right. She seems tuned in to him. Maybe she has an advantage because he's so readily open to her. But then that just makes me wonder why he isn't that way with you?" Steve says.
"Believe me Captain I wish I knew." Thor says mournfully.
XxXxXxXxXx
Loki lays out all his magic books, vials, potions, herb stores, and other objects onto Lilly's kitchen counter. Their first lesson is to go over inventory and tools of the trade. Loki spent a large portion of his day fortifying Avenger's Tower with protective magic. The Avengers will benefit from his ministrations but it is Lilly he does this for. Still, it is not enough. One of the potions he and Lilly will be working on is a protection potion, which he will have Lilly drink. No one will be able to harm her once she drinks it, but the cost for such protection will be steep for Loki. It will take weeks to brew it up but once it is ready Loki's mind will feel more at ease.
Life settles into a new rhythm at the tower. During the day Thor takes Loki out with him into the city to repair buildings and remove debris. They even manage to fight crime and save some lives. In the evenings Lilly splits her time between her father and Steve. Her schedule feels so full. Her life feels so full. Now if only her father could feel as blissful and content as she does.