So, life decided to give me one massive fuck you right in the face for the last couple of weeks. I'm sorry to all of my lovely readers who I've left hanging, but I've finally gotten everything figured out (for the most part) and I should be back on pretty regular updates coming up. I'm finally getting into the movie, so the plot aspect is much easier! Hawkeye comes into the next chapter, which I'll be having fun with, and then the rest of the bunch after that. And I already have a sequel in the wings \o/. As always, loves to everyone =)
xXx
"We should go ice skating" Siobhan stated as Loki walked bleary eyed out of their bedroom at one in the afternoon. She had already been up for a few hours with Nenna, and was currently attempting to feed her an interesting lunch of pureed peas along with her bottle. So far, they had succeeded in painting her face breen and that was about it
"We are in the middle of a desert. Pray, tell, I beg of thee, how the hell will we go playing on any ice?"
Siobhan laughed, secretly amused by how crabby Loki was when he woke up, no matter what time it happened to be "There's an ice skating rink one town over. I already looked up directions. It'll be fun"
"Nenna cannot walk, much less skate," Loki challenged as he continued into the kitchen to find something to eat
"And Stan has already agreed to watch over her today. You know how much he loves her. There's some French toast in the microwave, just nuke it for 30 seconds or so" Loki stared at her blankly while the baby flailed her arms, sending pea goop everywhere. They both turned their attention to Nenna as she squealed and laughed, earning instant forgiveness for the mess
"Just warm it for a bit. Come on, I want to go do something fun. You get to go out and do whatever you do, disappearing for a day or two at a time now, and I'm working at a freaking diner. Serving coffee when it's bloody 120 outside. I was a teacher. Teaching. Doing things that didn't involve coffee. I'm bored" She whined as she gave up on trying to feed their daughter peas and handed over the bottle, which Nenna happily took for herself. Loki shook his head as he took his food from the microwave and went to pick it up from the plate with his hand
"Oh my god, what are you doing? You don't eat it like that! Use a fork" Siobhan rolled her eyes as Loki stood awkwardly in the kitchen, his toast wilting from his hand and back onto the plate
"You said it was toast"
"Yeah, but no. Just eat it with a fork. You'll make a mess otherwise and I already have pea-apocalypse to deal with here"
Loki sighed and waved his hand in the air, causing the pea mess to dissolve into nothing except for on the child's face. He thought that her mess was rather adorable, though he would never admit it to anyone. "Fine, get changed" He forfeited, careful not to show his amusement at her excitement. He was becoming soft around her, and that was the last thing he needed before putting his plan into motion
xxx
"What're you doing?" She asked as Loki walked past the teller and towards the main doors
"Going inside"
"But we need to pay to get in"
"You can go inside without paying, can you not?" Loki smirked, opening the door and stepping aside to allow Siobhan in first. If they were to going to do this, he was at least bound and determined to have a bit of fun before leaving
"But you have to have a bracelet to get skates" She mumbled softly to him as he pushed her gently past him
"We have no need for theirs. We will be fine" He reassured her as he continued to steer her towards the skating rink with his hand in the small of her back. She was too nice for her own good, he thought with a tinge of weariness. How will she survive me leaving her to prove that I am ready? The war? He brushed his worries aside as they sat down on the bleachers to watch the masses circle around the rink squealing and falling every now and then
"So, oh lord of trickery, what's your next trick up your sleeve? We don't have any skates now" Siobhan teased as she leaned back on the bleachers and looked at him expectedly. Loki had worn a toned down version of his asguardian dress, and as he lifted his feet hie waved his hands over the bottom, summoning a skating blade on each in turn
"You doubt me" He grinned as he stood, testing out his balance on his new skates. Siobhan rolled her eyes and lifted her own feet, watching her shoes glow slightly and become heavier as her own skates took form
"I elect a race" Loki stated as they walked out onto the ice and got their barring. Siobhan looked on wearily at his comfort and grace on the ice, versus her struggle to gain her balance. She had taken lessons as a child, but that was when she was 5 and she was nearly 25 now
"And what will the bet be?" She accepted, pushing off from the wall to gain some speed and more balance
"I am in need to leave and prove myself worthy for controlling the tesseract and an army" He kept up easily with her, mindlessly lifting one food and then the other to appear as if he were walking along the ice
"When were you planning on telling me this?" Siobhan cut in, grabbing his wrist to keep him from being able to skate off
"Today, but then you came up with this brilliant idea. So my wager is this; should I loose, I will put off leaving by a week"
"When are you leaving?" She interrupted again, laughing slightly as a child slammed into his legs and fell
"Two days time" Loki growled, stepping over the child and pushing off once more
"If I lose, I'll make you a gallon of pudding. Three laps starting from the entrance, no use of magic or throwing people in the way. And kids count as people" Loki laughed and turned around to stake backwards as he shook on the deal
"How did you learn to skate so well?" She asked as he pulled her forward and skated forward once more with his hand resting in the small of her back
"Many a bored winter when Thor and I were young. And still brothers" He added in a whisper. They fell silent and continued around the rink, slowing as they came to their starting point
"Ready?" He asked, taking a racer's stance
"Don't race me like Thor. I promise I'm not that good" She whined as he laughed and relaxed his position to mimic hers
"Readysetgo" Siobhan said as fast as she could, pushing out to leave Loki chuckling behind her
"You said no cheating" Loki warned, easily keeping pace with her though he found himself having to slow now and again to avoid hitting other skaters
"I said no magic. Never said anything about a head start" She grinned, easily weaving in and out of the crowed. "It's just like getting through the halls at school!" Siobhan called over her shoulder as she took advantage of a gap to quickly pick up speed. The first lap went to her while Loki got the hang of moving through the crowds "Do you really want to leave so soon?" Siobhan challenged, watching Loki pull out in front before turning to face her and skate backwards again
"You underestimate my desire for pudding" He teased as he raced forward, forcing her to speed up after him. They both fell into childish pushing and shoving each other for the lead, Loki winning only after Siobhan happened to push him forward instead of to the side across their finish line
"I would be liking white chocolate, thank you" Loki grinned as they drifted to the side and settled to glide around hand in hand
"I should make you toothpaste flavored" Siobhan stuck her tongue out as the crowd started to thin out. Loki filled the silence by singing songs from Asguard for her, spinning her around now and again to make her laugh. He watched her sadly, dreading having to leave her but knowing that it was for the best. Once he got his army, once he took control of the tesseract and gained the power and respect he deserved, he would take her as his queen and he would be the king he deserved to be on Asguard. But if he were to fail… well, he simply couldn't fail. Wouldn't fail. Humans were dull creates, no different than ants who followed in a line and did as they were told. Break that line, and they would run around like fools and the nest would eventually starve. One little break, and they would all die. And when that didn't work, a good boot always did the trick
"Come on, we should head out. I need to stop at the store and get stuff to make a stupid amount of pudding before you go" Siobhan urged, pulling Loki towards the exit. A quick wave of his hands removed their skates as they stepped over the ledge and walked away as if nothing had changed
"Once I come back, once I have my army, I will come collect you and Nenna. What is a king without his queen?" Loki asked with a smirk, causing Siobhan to blush. "And pudding. Cannot forget pudding" He added, earning an elbow to his ribs as they both laughed and climbed into the car to leave