blondehairedknowitall: More cuteness in chapters to come.
: Amusing in a good way or a bad way? I hope you like what happens. Does know you're using their profile?
The Yoshinator: Hogun is awesome. I really just put that in there for some laughs. What exactly do you find interesting?
Indiarlme: Thank you. Here you go.
hungergamesawesomeness: Bingo. And don't feel bad. I didn't even know how to spell certain words without looking them up. Pretty sure everyone has a love/hate relationship with cliffhangers.
Disclaimer: I do not own Marvel.
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Chapter 14: Good Guy?
"Well, that's a relief. I thought I might actually have to kill you."
The entire group, excluding Odin and Heimdall, turned to look in wonder at the one who spoke. Laufey just stood there, smiling.
"It is indeed a relief," said Odin. Now everyone turned and stared at him.
"What are you two talking about?" Frigga demanded in a voice that, when they were younger, would have made Thor and Loki run for cover. Now, the brothers merely shivered in fright. Their mother could be one very scary woman when she wanted to be. They believed she could even scare Odin at times. And nothing scared Odin.
Well. . . almost nothing.
"It's a bit of a long story," Odin cautiously said to his wife. Frigga crossed her arms and stared directly into her husband's eye.
"I'm listening."
Odin sighed in defeat. He knew she wouldn't leave him alone until she got the story out of him. Best to get it over with now instead of later.
"I knew from the beginning that Loki had not succeeded in killing Laufey," he began. "But I did not believe that anything could be done on the matter, as we all thought Loki was dead. After he was found on Midgard I considered going to see Laufey, but then I had to send Thor, which did not leave me strong enough to go to Jotunheim. Of course, that was when I had a vision of a Midgardian woman who would be able to reach into Loki's heart. After Thor brought Loki back, I finally went to see Laufey."
"And I confessed that I, too, had had visions," Laufey included, "not only of that same woman, but also Odin's confession of Loki's true parentage and everything that followed. We agreed that if this woman did exist, and if she and Loki could earn each other's love, then he would be forgiven of all his crimes and allowed to live out the rest of his life in peace."
"Like Beauty and the Beast," Emma commented.
"Pardon?" Laufey asked.
"It's a story. A handsome but cruel prince is cursed. Unless he can learn to love another, and earn her love for him, he would remain a beast forever."
"If you're Beauty," Loki teased, pretending to be hurt, "then what does that make me?"
"Quite an accurate description," Thor said with a smile. "You can be a bit of a beast sometimes."
"Says the one who sounds like a bilgesnipe when he tiptoes."
Thor threw back his head and laughed, loud and long. Emma had to cover her ears to keep from going deaf.
"So what happens now?" Frigga asked. "Their love is mutual, his crimes are forgiven: what is to be done with him?"
Loki turned to Odin and Laufey with a look that was attached to many questions.
"He is a free man now," Odin answered. "He may go where he pleases, on the condition that he does not make trouble."
"None at all?" Loki feigned hurt. "That goes against my very nature."
"Think of it as a challenge," Odin replied. "You could never resist a challenge."
Loki had to smile at that. He did love a good challenge.
The Asgardians and Emma said goodbye to Laufey, and waited until he had left for Jotunheim before returning to the palace. Emma once again found herself in the healing room, and watched in amusement as Frigga literally dragged Odin away by the ear to give him a thorough lecture somewhere private. Loki and Thor, who had stayed with Emma, laughed and smiled knowingly at each other at the sight of Odin being castigated by their mother. Emma sat on the bed given to her, with Loki sitting next to her and Thor standing off to the side.
"So where will you go now, Brother?" Thor asked.
"I'm not your brother." This did not have the effect it usually did, as Loki was still smiling when he said it. "Perhaps I shall return to Midgard."
"After you just tried to rule it?"
"I will not go with the same intentions as last time. Besides, I grew a bit fond of it. And there is a certain family I should like to meet."
Loki looked at Emma. Her eyes went wide with excitement and she smiled big.
"Oh, I would love to introduce you to my family. Warning: they're a bit crazy." Emma remembered her family with fondness. "My mother would be all over you, since I've never had a boyfriend and she was always trying to set me up with people. My brothers would bother you nonstop with questions. Be wary of my stepfather. He's very protective of me."
"I'm sure we will get along just fine," Loki assured her.
"Perhaps I should remind you that Nick Fury will not welcome you back to Earth with open arms." Loki frowned a bit at Thor's comment. Odin and Laufey might leave him alone, but the human Cyclops most certainly would not.
"I could ask my stepfather if he could talk to him," Emma said. "He works for S.H.I.E.L.D."
"He does?" Loki asked. He was pleased with Emma's suggestion, but he didn't think it would be enough to sway Fury.
"Yes," Emma answered. "So does my uncle. They could both try. And Nick likes me. He's come to my house many times. I could probably talk to him myself."
"Are you quite sure you can persuade him to leave Loki in peace?" Thor asked.
"Even if he doesn't listen to me," Emma responded, "he'll listen to Cody and Uncle Phil, and they'll listen to me."
"Phil. . . Coulson?" Loki asked hesitantly. Emma looked at him with suspicion in her eyes.
"Yes. I'm guessing you've met him?"
Loki was silent, not knowing what to say. It was Thor who answered.
"You may have some difficulty convincing him. Loki stabbed him with his scepter when he was on Midgard." Emma turned to him, fear showing on her face. "He did not die, however. If I remember correctly, his body merely went into a self-induced coma as to better heal itself. He was awake when I left, so I had a chance to say goodbye to him. He did threaten a horrible death for Loki if he ever saw him again."
"I purposefully made sure to miss his vital organs," Loki defended himself. "I did not want to kill him. I only wanted to leave him incapable of stopping me."
"You got lucky," Emma said, glaring lightly at Loki and bursting out laughing when he showed fear. After she got her laughter under control, she continued. "I guess I'll have to appeal to his annoyance. Fury can get on his nerves sometimes."
"I did hear something about Fury getting blood on his vintage Captain America trading cards," Thor mentioned.
Emma's ears perked up at this. She knew, as well as anyone else, how proud Phil was of those cards. Of course he would throw a fit if they were damaged in any way. Blood wasn't easy to get out. Emma would bet anything that her uncle would demand that Fury find replacement cards.
"Well, now I know what I'm going to use in my argument," Emma said with a sly smile.
"Little fox," Loki muttered under his breath. The words didn't escape Emma's ears. She smiled and smacked his arm playfully. He laughed a bit and smiled back. They kissed, and Thor backed out of the room so they could get some privacy.
He made his way to the training fields, where Sif and the Warriors Three would be waiting eagerly for news. He passed his parents' chambers, the doors slightly ajar. Looking through the small opening, Thor saw Odin sitting down, looking weary as Frigga paced in front of him, shouting in ancient Norse. Thor quickly walked away, waiting until he was out of hearing range before snickering at his father's fate.
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I was sad when Phil died, so I decided to bring him back. Making him Emma's uncle was a bonus. And sorry, Odin, but there are certain characters that I just love to torture and you're one of them. So what does my audience think? Review and let me know.