Hello all! Thank you for your reviews/favourites/follows, you're all brilliant people.
So this is, all in all, a fluffy chapter, despite saying they'd get back to normal soon, the action starts next chap.
Thor had long since gone to bed, and Katie and Loki were exploring the tower, in search of a TV or computer. They snuck around the tower, peeking into rooms, Katie pulling Loki away from investigating further if there was no television in that room. They finally came across a room with a large TV and a shelf full of DVDs.
"Perfect." Katie smiled, striding across the room to turn the television on, while Loki browsed Tony's large collection of titles. She hit a few buttons and frowned. The screen was on but was just black. She found a remote and studied it, pressing a few buttons experimentally. She grumbled and Loki looked up.
"I thought you of all people would be able to work this." he commented as he watched her struggle. She sighed irately as she managed to get a menu up.
"Yeah well, I was poor, I had nothing this technological." she explained bitterly, scrolling through the options. He didn't know how to react, she'd never really mentioned her home life before, and he'd never cared enough to ask.
"I can't imagine you being poor." he said noncommittally, seating himself on the sofa, she raised her eyebrows as she selected an option.
"Can't or didn't?" she asked distractedly as she cursed the machine and went back to the menu, selecting another option. He smiled at her.
"Bit of both." he answered. She tore her gaze from the screen and grinned at him before turning back to the device in her hand. He watched her study the remote before pressing another button, which turned the screen to black and white static.
"I mean we weren't poor-poor, I had everything I needed, but everything was basic, clothes, furniture, technology. I think it was more obvious to me because I went to a very middle class school." she explained as she pressed the button again and the screen came to life. She smiled in satisfaction before seating herself next to him, and flicking through the channels. He played with her hair while he thought.
"You've not mentioned a lot about home." he stated, watching her reaction. She shrugged, settling on a cartoon and looked up at him.
"Not a lot to tell. What do you want to know?" she asked quietly. He couldn't tell if she really wasn't bothered about her old life, or if it was a touchy subject. He shrugged back.
"I don't really know, who did you live with?" he asked her. She sighed.
"My mother and half-sister and half-brother." she answered curtly, waiting for the next question.
"Where was your father?" he asked as he brushed her hair back.
"Dead." she answered impassively, he blinked.
"I'm so sorry," he whispered, searching her eyes for any hint of emotion. She stared back, deadpanned.
"It's fine, I never really knew him, he died when I was about 3." she explained. He nodded. Not sure what to ask next. "Anything else?" she asked, flicking her eyes to watch the television. He smirked.
"You don't really want to talk about it do you?" he asked her, he understood, he was lucky she knew quite a bit about his past, because he sure as Hel would not fancy telling her about it all. She smiled up at him.
"I don't mind, the past is the past though, I don't really see why it matters." she answered, letting her head drop to his shoulder as she looked back at the screen.
"It doesn't really, just you know about my past." he said slyly looking down at her. He'd got her there. She sighed.
"I guess so. Well, I haven't done anything worse than a bit of petty theft and nothing more heroic than feeding a hungry cat." she smiled at him "So nothing that really compares to your's or Thor's history."
"So you like animals?" he asked quickly, changing the route of the conversation slightly, he didn't want her prying into his time with Thanos. She nodded, looking a little sad.
"Yeah, I had 2 cats, and once had a dog but my sister became allergic so we had to send him back." she explained "My little babies are the only thing I truly miss. Except for Jamie of course, she and I were inseparable. And Penny. That's why I wanted to find a computer, to talk to them, because my phone's in Asgard still." she told him sadly. He laughed.
"Don't miss your family then?" he teased, she rolled her eyes.
"No, I don't, we didn't really get along. I was just waiting to go to university, get away from them all." she laughed, he joined her.
"I know all too well what that's like. Maybe we can move back to England? So you can see your friends still?" he offered, she grinned. The idea of settling down with Loki in Asgard was perfectly fine, the idea of settling down with Loki in Midgard was a whole different story. She feared what her friends would think, married and settled at her age.
"I'd like that." she smiled and kissed him. He could sense her trepidation and wondered whether she was embarrassed. "When we find a computer I'll show you pictures of home." she said with a smile. "Which reminds me, Tony has a picture of the wedding dress they tried to get me to wear, it's vile!" she exclaimed happily "I completely forgot about that!" she laughed. He raised his eyebrows and laughed. She giggled again and settled back down to watch the TV. They sat silently watching the program.
"What is this?" Loki asked, pulling a face as a baby and a dog conversed.
"This is Family Guy. I dunno if you'll like it, but there's only this, some game shows, fucked up horror films or porn on at this time of night." she explained.
Tony walked around the tower the next morning, after discovering that Clarice and Hannibal weren't in their room. He was furious, had they left? He searched each room, getting more and more irate every time he revealed an empty room. He practically kicked open the door to his mini 'cinema', he had a much more impressive one back in Malibu, but this would have to do for here. He sighed when he saw them snuggled on the sofa, previously asleep.
"Where's the fucking fire?" Katie scowled at him as she rested her head on the back of the sofa, Loki, who was still asleep, moaned and buried his face against her. She looked back down at him briefly and smiled.
"Why are you in here?" Tony asked, his anger ebbing away slightly as he walked towards them. Katie rubbed her eyes sleepily.
"Dear god, you didn't fuck in here did you?" he asked, aghast. She grinned cheekily as he rubbed his face, trying not to imagine it. She laughed.
"No we didn't, I wanted to show Loki the wonders of television. Somehow I don't think 'Family Guy' was to his taste." she yawned, pressing her face to the top of his head. Tony looked between her and the still asleep god.
"Is he genuinely still asleep?" he asked, not sure how he could have slept through the dramatic entrance Tony gave, it was worthy of a SWAT team. Katie shrugged before giving him a little shake. He groaned. She shook him more forcefully.
"What?" he grumbled into her arm. Katie grinned at him and giggled.
"We're going out for lunch. Be ready sometime soon." Tony said, stalking from the room, Katie's surprised face followed him out, Loki huffed.
Tony had decided to take them to a fancy French restaurant. Katie looked around secretly impressed, before her gaze settled on Loki, who looked extremely disgruntled, fidgeting with the Midgardian clothes they'd put him in. She smiled as he scowled at her, rolling his eyes. They'd decided to leave Thor back at the tower. Well, Loki had convinced them too.
"I've tried shaking him, throwing water over him, everything, he's out cold." Tony had said exasperatedly, gesturing to the slumbering Thor, who's snores where shaking the room. Katie scrunched her face up, god of thunder indeed. Loki had pursed his lips.
"You'll never wake him. Few things can. Leave him here, he'll probably still be asleep when we get back." he'd said, clearly not as worried as the others. Loki left the room as Tony and Katie wrote a note for him to wake up to. Manners didn't cost a thing.
The waiter came over, a man of mediocre attractiveness, he beamed at the table.
"Bonjour," he greeted them "Je m'appelle Jaq, je serai votre serveur." he spoke to them. Tony looked blankly at the man who handed them menu's. Loki was still scowling, even more so when he noticed that he couldn't read the menu.
"Uh, what?" Tony asked, also frowning at the menu. Katie rolled her eyes as she scanned the card.
"He said his name is Jaq and he's going to be our waiter." she said, realizing her French didn't go so far as to understand the variety of dishes listed.
"Ah, you speak French?" Jaq asked her, pleased, Loki glared at the man, as Katie smiled demurely.
"Un peu." she replied "Can we possibly have these in English?" she asked him, handing the menu back to him. He nodded, collecting them back in.
"D'accord, one moment please." he said with a wink and a grin at Katie. She raised her eyebrows at Pepper and Loki shifted, adjusting his top again.
"I say we request another waiter." he told the group with a glare at the back of the waiters head. Katie rolled her eyes and placed a hand on his arm. He met her gaze with pursed lips.
"We can't just get a new waiter because you're over-possessive. Deal with it." Tony said, leaning back in the chair and raising his eyebrows at the pissed god. Loki sniffed and sat back, looking at Jaq who was coming back over.
"He does or says one more inappropriate thing and I swear I will-"
"Here you go," Jaq handed out the new menus, cutting Loki's threat short. "Call me when you are ready to order." he said with another grin. Loki snarled slightly, covering most of his face with the menu. Katie was smirking down at hers, occasionally looking at her husband. Loki met her amused look with a frown.
"Oh you're loving this." he growled, looking back down. She giggled.
"Maybe." she replied.
Loki had been silent the whole journey home, and stormed out of the elevator first, straight towards their room. Bruce was sitting on the sofa and watched him go past with raised eyebrows. Katie sighed and took off her coat and shoes before following him. Tony chucked his keys on the table and flopped down on the opposite sofa, rubbing his hair angrily. Bruce watched him.
"Going back on the idea?" he asked the billionaire with a teasing grin. Tony rubbed his face and shook his head.
"No, not at all, but He-Who-Must-Ruin-Every-Fucking-Thing was snarling at anyone who so much as looked at Katie. It was like having an untrained Rottweiler with us." Tony grumbled as Pepper brought him a drink. Bruce nodded to it.
"Drinking before 3 in the afternoon, nice." he commented and Tony gave him a weary look as he knocked back the drink, placing the glass in Pepper's still outstretched hand without giving her so much as a glance. She pursed her lips down at him, taking the glass away anyway.
"They're enough to drive anyone to drink." he said, wondering idly whether Fury ever got drunk. He couldn't decide whether that was something he wanted to see or not. Bruce shrugged, not sure whether his friend was exaggerating as usual.
"Thor still asleep?" Tony asked as Bruce went back to the screen in his lap. He nodded with a smirk.
"Can't you hear the snoring still?" he asked, Tony lifted his head and concentrated, he heard to distinct rumble of Thor's snores, then the muffled sounds of Katie shouting. He rubbed his temples.
"Peps, I think you'll need to bring the bottle over." he sighed.
Loki turned from her in anger, staring out at the city. He heard her footsteps as she crossed the room, she yanked his arm to turn him to face her.
"Don't you turn away from me!" she growled, he snarled in her face.
"You think this isn't brought on yourself? You waltz around flashing anyone a smile, dressing yourself up and giggling at anything that's said!" he shouted at her, gesturing to her long sleeved tight dress.
"Oh, so I'm meant to walk around scowling and looking like a tramp? I want to dress up for me, for you. Who cares whether people look at me, or if they try and flirt? I'm yours, Loki, you should be grateful people want what you have, take it as a compliment!" she yelled back, holding his angry gaze.
"You hardly look like a tramp without all that stuff on your face, it signals that you want attention, and you hardly shy away from their flirting!" he was really affected by her and the waiter, he was shocked by his reaction, but could not stop these feelings bubbling through him. Katie threw her hands in the air.
"Jesus Christ, if I reacted like this every time a woman so much as looked at you, we'd never fucking talk!" she shrieked back. He cocked his head, eyebrows knotted together.
"What?" he asked, his voice back at normal volume. She looked a little taken aback, and shifted slightly.
"You mean you haven't noticed?" she asked sheepishly, looking anywhere but at him. He smirked, taking a step forward.
"Not particularly," he admitted "Is my little Katie…jealous?" he asked, feigning surprise. She stared up at the painting above the bed and shrugged. He clucked his tongue at her.
"Pot calling the kettle black, eh?" he grinned predatorily at her, she snapped her gaze back to him.
"Hardly. I don't decide not to talk to you if someone takes an interest in you." she quirked an eyebrow at him, before turning to leave the room. He contemplated following her but decided it'd do more harm than good. He lay on the bed and stared at the ceiling, listening to Thor's ridiculously loud snores. It reminded him of when they were little and would run away, staying the night hidden away from parents, and Loki would stay up as look out.
He thought about what she had said. She wanted to dress up for him? He cared not what she looked like, in fact, that was one of the things furthest from his mind when it came to her. He was too busy trying to understand what went on in her head to be fussed whether she was wearing make up or not. He couldn't believe how much his feelings had changed so dramatically over such a short time, he was always possessive, even as a child with his toys, but this was a new level. She was not only being bedded by him, she was his wife, legally his. He hadn't really thought about it, but she was now his property, at least in Asgardian terms, he was sure she wouldn't react well if he told her that he owned her. Knowing that she'd noticed other women looking at him made him smile. He knew she was jealous of Sigyn, but that was within reason, any women would feel threatened in that circumstance. He'd overreacted, he could see that now, but was in no mood to grovel for her forgiveness yet.
He slid off the bed and exited the room, following the thunderous snores, leading him to Thor's room. He opened the door without bothering to knock, that wouldn't wake him. He stared down at his large brother with mild disgust. Thor was drooling proficiently, and it was gathering in his blond beard. Loki grimaced before waving a hand to vanish the offending substance, and sending an unpleasant jolt of magic through Thor, who sat up wildly. Loki waited patiently until he calmed down.
"Ah, brother, no need for such an awakening." Thor grumbled, rubbing his eyes. Loki smiled slightly.
"I'm afraid there was every reason, Tony had tried to wake you a few hours ago, to no avail." he informed his still half asleep brother. Thor sighed, looking around.
"What's the time?" he asked blearily, propping up the pillows and laying against them. Loki sniffed, seating himself in the armchair in the corner.
"About half 3." he replied. Thor's eyes widened slightly before ruffling his already messy hair. He rested his blue eyes on his little brother, who was sprawled in the chair, tracing his lips with one long finger. Thor inwardly sighed, the glint in Loki's eyes was never a good sign.
"What can I help you with brother?" he asked him wearily, and Loki just smiled serenely at him. Thor huffed, causing Loki's smile to widen to a grin.
"I'm guessing you're thinking about what we discussed last night?" Thor asked heavily, he rubbed his face, firstly it was too early for him to discuss such matters, secondly he had no intention of going through with the revolution idea.
"Of course." Loki grinned, letting his arm fall to the arm rest "I think we should ask the avengers. Or rather you should. I'll speak to my brother's, I'm sure they'd enjoy slaying Asgard's warriors." Loki spoke softly, the dark grin however was still present. Thor appraised his brother sadly.
"I really don't think this is the way to go about things-"
"Don't you realize how great Asgard could be under your rule?" Loki leaned forward "Odin has banned you from bringing Jane home, hasn't he? When you're king, she can visit as much as you wish, she could even be your queen. Odin was once a great king, let us not over look that, but you were right before, the old ways are done, he cannot accept that the way you do. We would not kill Odin, just…make him give you the throne, imprison him, let Katie be in charge of what happens to him." Loki reasoned with his brother, knowing all the ways to convince him. He hoped Thor would agree to Katie being in charge of his father, let Odin experience first hand this cruelty she had in her. Thor looked up at his brother and took a deep breath.
Tony watched the young girl as she sat on the sofa, expertly using the old tablet he'd given her. She'd come storming in, demanding access to the internet, she'd been tapping away on the thing since he'd given it to her, not a word more except 'thank you'. They'd heard the yelling and Bruce kept throwing her glances in case she had an outburst. He didn't fancy having a tablet to the head.
"Does this thing have a camera?" she asked, frowning at the screen. Tony got up and sat next to her.
"Yeah, let me get it up." he said, taking it from her hands and selecting a few things, then his face appeared on the screen. He smiled and handed it back to her.
"Thanks, has it got skype? Jamie doesn't believe it's me…" she trailed off, sweeping her finger across the screen in search of the little icon. She found it and created an account. Tony watched her wait for her friend to set up her camera, tapping her nails on the edge of the device. The screen came on and a brunette girl with pale skin appeared, the girl covered her mouth and almost began to cry.
"I thought you were dead!" Jamie's voice came through the machine sounding tinny and was a bit later than her movements on the camera. Katie grinned.
"No, not yet." she replied.
The girls were deep in conversation when Loki walked into the room, she looked up at him and smiled. They'd been talking about meaningless things really, Katie asking questions relentlessly to avoid Jamie asking her anything. Oh she'd tried, but Katie pretended the connection was bad. Tony had offered to bring them over, and Jamie had been hesitant.
Loki sat himself next to her and peered at the screen. He recognized the girl from the photo on Katie's phone. Katie hastily said her goodbyes and returned to browse Facebook, opening up pictures and handing the device to Loki.
"Click this arrow to go through them." she told him as she got up to get herself a drink. He frowned and looked at the screen, Tony peering nonchalantly at it. He barked a laugh, all subtly gone as he scooted over to look at the screen with Loki.
"How old were you here?" Tony asked, pointing to the picture. She smirked as she finished her drink.
"About 11, 12, keep going there's some awful ones on there." she told them with a smile as Thor came in. Bruce had moved to sit the other side of Loki, much to the latter's discomfort. He swore he'd never fully trust the man again, he liked to keep his distance, he had no intention of being smacked into the floor again. He clicked to the next photo and grinned.
"Are you sure you want me to see these?" he asked over his shoulder as she made her way over to them, Thor at her heels. She placed a kiss on his head then played with his hair.
"Yeah, it's not like they're private." she said as Thor leaned over. He chuckled at the picture.
"I am famished, where may I find sustenance?" Thor asked Tony who waved in the general direction of the corridor. Katie sighed as they all laughed at yet another picture. She elbowed Thor in the stomach.
"C'mon fatty, let's see if we can find the kitchen, I don't trust you alone." she smirked at her brother-in-law and led him away from the group. They searched the house much as her and Loki had the night before, except Thor didn't care about what was in each room. They soon found the kitchen, a large room with all the latest appliances, gleaming in the sunlight. As Katie looked around she doubted Tony ever used this room. Thor began searching the cupboards. She put a restraining hand on his shoulder.
"I think it'd be best if you let me cook." she reasoned, he chuckled.
"Yes, perhaps that would be wise." he agreed, seating himself at the island as she searched through the cabinets. For a room that was never used, it was well stocked, maybe Pepper cooked for him? She decided she'd have to help the woman to get a back bone if that was the case.
"What do you fancy?" she asked as she looked in the large fridge. She pulled out a full pack of bacon and held it up.
"What is it?" he asked, looking over the meat suspiciously.
"Bacon, I don't know a man on earth, except a vegetarian, that doesn't like bacon." she said as she threw the packet onto the counter, finding some oil in the cupboard and lifting down a frying pan from the rack.
"That sounds like a fine choice then." he beamed at her, she smiled back but could sense something was troubling him. She leaned on the island and fixed him with a stare. Thor shifted slightly, laughing uneasily.
"Loki's been to see you, hasn't he?" she deduced as she studied him "About what was said last night?" Thor looked at the marble table top and sighed.
"Yes, he said I should ask the avengers for their assistance." he told her worriedly. She scrutinized him for a moment before nodding and turning back to the hob and started to cook his breakfast.
"You should." she told him as the bacon hissed when she dropped in it the pan. She delved through the drawers for a spatula as Thor sat in silence. She turned back to him, leaning against the counter next to the oven. He was examining the coffee machine thoughtfully.
"You really think we should do this?" he asked her as she got a cup and made him a coffee. She looked down at his pleading expression and sighed.
"I do. It wouldn't hurt to mention it to the avengers. See what they say. If they seem to think it's a good idea, I'm sure they'd offer their services willingly. If not, we still have Byleist and Helblindi to ask, they were lovely." she said, raising her eyebrows as she turned back to flip the bacon over. When the only sound was the spitting of the oil for a good few minutes she turned what looked to be a radio on.
A pop song that she didn't recognize came on, it was catchy though, and she found herself dancing her way round the kitchen as she cooked. She placed the pile of bacon sandwiches on the table in front of Thor as he laughed at her. He ate each one as if he'd never seen food before. She was glad she was aware of his staggering appetite and had cooked enough for him. He gestured to her, frowning.
"Are you not eating?" he asked through a mouthful. She resisted the temptation to grimace and shook her head.
"No, we went out for lunch while you were asleep. We left you a note." she explained, he nodded and followed his last mouthful with the last of his coffee. He sat back and smiled.
"You're a good cook, Loki is in luck." he grinned at her, she rolled her eyes.
"It was hardly a gourmet meal." she replied with a laugh as she got up to return to the group. They walked in silence, until Thor cleared his throat.
"I will ask them today." he announced as they neared where their friends were gathered. She looked up at him and grinned.
"Good boy." she sad patronizingly, going up on her tip-toes to pat his head. He laughed and pushed her lightly and she stumbled into the room.
"Oh hey fat-ass." Tony greeted with a wide grin. Katie rolled her eyes as she wrapped her arms around Loki's neck, kissing the side of his head.
"I never knew you were once fat." Loki smirked up at her, she pursed her lips. "I much prefer you this way, although your assets were much larger before." he gave her a lopsided grin as she huffed, folding her arms under her bust and looking down at them.
"I do not have small boobs!" she pouted at him.
"They're smaller than Loki's." Thor commented with a chuckle at the look he received from his brother. She looked at the men quizzically.
"I'm sorry, did I just hear that right?" Tony asked, looking between the two gods, astonished. Thor laughed loudly as Loki chuckled, rubbing his forehead.
"It's…an odd story." Loki finally said as Thor continued laughing. Katie walked around the sofa to slid into his lap.
"We're all ears." she said brow furrowed in confusion as the brothers continued to laugh each time they caught each others eye.
"C'mon, this is getting creepy now, the story probably is no where near as bad as what we're imagining now." Tony rationalized. Loki took a deep breath.
"As children…adolescents, whichever, Thor and I would entertain ourselves by going to places only the women in Asgard could go," he started with a chuckle "To be honest, I think you come off in a worse light Thor! You used to suggest it!" he gestured to his brother who was still laughing.
"Carry on." Katie patted his chest impatiently.
"Well, as I can do magic…I used to transform myself into a female…whereas Thor used to have to dress up, using a stolen bra and a wig." Loki explained, shrugging, still grinning at Thor.
"In my defense, we were getting to see women naked, we were teenagers, it was the closest we got!" Thor explained with a laugh. Katie, Bruce and Tony all had their mouths hanging open, looking between the two. Katie snapped her mouth shut and coughed.
"We'll pretend we never had this conversation, and you promise to never show me you as a woman. Never." She pointed a finger in Loki's face.
"You have my word." he said with a smile.
Yeah, not a lot really happens here, but this sets up for their plan of action to come to light in the next chapter.
The female Loki thing will come in later on (poor Katie) it wasn't just random!
Love you all people! xox