Of course he gave in eventually. The constant begging from three sides finally had him take on the position of the vice king of Asgard. But of course he was way too proud to let any other of his obligations drop. He felt almost as if he was back posing as Odin though the fact that he did not have to pretent to be somebody else was way easier on his health.
So it came that these days one could only find Loki hurrying between the counsil hall, the library, the healing rooms and wherever else his duties would take him. Constantly moving he was the last to arrive at a feast and the first to leave, the first face that the servants would run into in the morning and the last one a young drunk couple would cross paths with on the way to their chambers.
Still it comes as a surprise to Julian that his uncle is late for lessons today. He has already reviewed all the material from the former day when finally Loki rushes into the library. „I apologize, Julian. There was no way to get out of counsil on time today. And I could not send you a messanger, since we had a secluded meeting. I shall discuss those news with you in a bit, just let me catch my breath for a second here."
"Three decades have passed since Thor´s crowning and the they continued to be blessed and merry. But lately troublesome news came from the different realms. Sure midgard had unfortunately always known war and battle. But lately there were missing people from all over the realms. And though S.H.I.E.L.D. had become a quite efficient agency in all the worlds, the missing stayed vanquished. Julian knows that there must be another disapperance nothing else would keep his uncle from his favorite duty.
"Both, Loki and Julian, anticipate the late morning of the next day when they step out of the library after 90 minutes to go to dinner together. Never had Loki thought teaching and sharing his powers would delight him as much but also that he would be patient enough to be good at it. Surely, Julian is the smartest kid among his age, no thanks to Thor.
„A week ago in Nidavellir an entire village disappeared. The village lay deserted, there existed no evidence for a battle. They found hammers and axes seemingly dropped in the middle of work. Julian, tell me what do you know about Nidavellir and it´s inhabitants? What are our political relations?"
This is how the lessons started. Loki would pick the most important topic from the morning council session and would go over it with his pupil in all it´s depth and review and investigate small aspects. It was way better than any school Julian had visited on earth. Loki at the same time was probably the best informed alongside Odin.
It happens rarely these days that Loki finds his way to Sif´s chambers. But tonight her routine is disturbed by the well familiar knock. She smiles to herself in the mirror and finishes the last two strokes brushing her hair before she walks to the door and whispers „Who is it?" - „It´s I."
"She slightly opens the door and Loki sneaks in through the crack, barely wide enough to let him through. The door has not fallen into it´s lock yet when Loki already holds Sif in his arms closely and buries his face in her hair. His arms are tightly wrapped around her waist and her body is firmly pressed against him, her face resting on his chest where the loosend up tie of his armor reveals a neat triangle of his pale chest. He places kisses on her hair and now that she looks up to his face he kisses her forehead „I miss you so much, my warrior queen!"
"Sif replies with a kiss and in between many more to follow Loki´s armor drops to the floor and her nightgown slips of her shoulders. They make love, hungry and passionate like the first time. The moonlight is their only witness while they rest together in the aftermath. Sif has her face resting on Lokis chest stroking his side, chuckling when she causes goosebumps and little twitches.
"Suddenly Loki turns towards her and his face becomes very serious. He frowns and looks into her eyes as if he was searching for something „You do know that I love you, Sif?"
„Yes. Do you know?"
„- know that I love you? Yes." Loki replies giggeling. The answer is a firm slap on his chest. The playfully struggle a bit before Loki gives up. „Enough! Enough Lady Sif I surrender!"
„Good. So what is it that you know?"
„That I love you" replies Loki before he abruptly turns and pins her firmly to the bed. His face close above Sifs. „You tricked me" Sif whispers into his ear.
„Yes, I did" Loki says before his mischievous grin melts on Sif´s lips into an affectionate kiss.