Thor used Alaric five more times after that to get Loki to stay. He managed to do it in a way that Loki couldn't predict when or where the small child would be present, ergo, when he did show up Loki had no choice nor any plan to escape and settled himself down for a few hours.
At the end of the fifth time, just as he dropped Alaric once more in Volstagg's lap he thought to mention, "You don't have to bring Alaric if you don't want to. You've been friends long enough Thor won't hold it against you if you say no." As good an out as any other Loki could have given.
Yet instead of nodding and agreeing with Loki's sound words Volstagg instead said, "I don't mind bringing him. He likes you."
Loki felt himself blink a few times, "Still," he said, "It's probably best you keep him away anyway."
"Don't see why. It's not like you haven't looked after a child before. You've got more experience than Thor anyway and he has his own younglings to see to."
Something Loki continued to ignore since thinking about it would lead to speculation and would then lead him to question every child he met in Asgard's parentage.
"Have you heard much from your family since you've come back?" Volstagg pressed, and not unkindly. He seemed genuinely interested in Loki's response.
"No." He left, not wanting to continue the conversation further.
He hadn't heard much from his family. All he had was what Frigga had told him. Helblindi was worried. That was all. Nothing more nothing less. No letters. No attempts to send a party to check on him. They really had gotten what they wanted out of him and left him to rot.
He ended up destroying the nursery instead of retreating to the woods. His magic made quick work of messing things up while his hands pulled and smashed whatever else was in his path. When he was done, lying in the carnage of his wrath, he tried to pin point just what made him do this.
He wasn't even angry. Not really. Yet there were tears building behind his eyes, ones he furiously scrubbed away in favour of destroying that bloody crib that still was somewhat standing.
Thor didn't even knock, just let himself in and lay down next to him. "Volstagg is gone."
"Wonderful," Loki spat.
"You know we could hear you from the next room?" Since there was only a wall between them. That way, when Loki did eventually pop out a child they wouldn't have to travel far to see to its screeching.
"I didn't exactly try and keep quiet." He sniffed, trying to keep his nose from erupting all over him. "Why don't you ever see your children?"
"Is that what this is about?" Thor asked gently. When Loki didn't rely he sighed, "I do."
"I never see you." Thor had his whole day planned out after all. The only free time he got Loki monopolised trying to make his day that bit less boring. Or, he had.
"I see them in the evenings, sometimes before I meet up with Fandral and Sif. There's not as many as you think there are," Thor tacked on, sounding defensive when he did so.
"I don't have a problem with your children," Loki hissed. "I just… I think there's something wrong with me."
Thor was quiet for a while, like he was waiting for Loki to add more onto that comment. When he didn't, Thor finally, gently, took his hand, "There's nothing wrong with you."
"If one of your children were in danger, what would you do?"
"Protect it," Thor answered immediately. "When my daughter was born, my first, I asked mother if she could stay in the palace. I always ask. She doesn't have a problem with it. Father doesn't either, but the mother's. They always want more than I offered. Father always lectured me about the trials of women, how as a prince I couldn't go around sleeping with everyone, I didn't really understand what he meant until every single one of them asked me to marry them."
Loki felt a smile tug at his lips, "I'm beginning to think I should have been warning you rather than teasing you when we were younger." Since even at that age Loki understood why Thor had to be careful who he shared a bed with, he just preferred ignoring or having fun at him instead.
"Probably. But, as I told them it wouldn't be fair to either of us. They always say no then, when I come asking if they would like to reside in the palace. A few have stopped me altogether from seeing my children. But I would still do anything for them. I try." Thor turned slightly to better see him, "Why?"
Why indeed. There was a real answer and then there was the modified one that he told Thor. The one still filled with bitterness at the deal fate had wrought him. "They all left me. Siv, she didn't look twice when she pushed me on that boat. She would always let me back in but every time they went back out I was there, waving at her retreating back. She handed me over to your people without even a fight. 'Take him' she said, because I was nothing more than a burden to her. And that was just her. The men didn't care about me. A few even tried to leave me behind too. Your mother let me go. She could have kept me away from Jotunheim." Away from Laufey and Angrboda. Away from destroying his ties with Asgard completely. "She could have kept me and she let me go. And now, they don't even try to ask about me. They're meant to be my family and they don't care."
If Thor had complaints about Loki's grip he wasn't saying anything. He went a step further and sat up, taking Loki with him until he could get a better grip when he hugged Loki. "People care."
Loki shook his head into Thor's shoulder. "I can't have children," he choked out. "I can't love them."
"Of course you can."
Whenever he saw Fenrir it wasn't love he felt for his son. He had respect for him for surviving this long. He also had fear, not for Fenrir however but for himself. It was Loki's actions that would end up with Fenrir in chains. If he was a good father he would be trying to get Fenrir out of Asgard, away from his fate, but instead fear was keeping Loki in place. Fear of the fates intervening sooner than they should and Odin chaining Fenrir because Loki had tried to free him. So Loki shook his head, knowing in his heat, "I can't. I'm not capable of it. There's something wrong with me."
"If you weren't capable of love you wouldn't be this upset," Thor argued gently. "There's nothing wrong with you Loki."
"There is," he said, traitorous tears falling once more. He was never more thankful than he was now Thor couldn't see his face. "They didn't come back for me. They didn't care about me. And I won't care about my children. It's how this universe works. Loki's just not meant to be happy."
Thor held him a bit tighter, not saying anything more as Loki finally let his frustration out.
When Loki calmed enough to be dozing in Thor's grip his human pillow decided to move. Hefting Loki up like he was a child, Thor carried them next door, somehow pulling off both of Loki's and his own boots on the way before laying them down gently on the sheets. Loki was probably going to regret sleeping in his clothes, the heat already making him uncomfortable, but the turmoil had drained him so much that all he really registered was being held and the comfortable sheets beneath his body.
Thor shifted until he was plastered up against Loki's front, his arms still very firmly wrapped around him. It reminded Loki of their time in Jotunheim, where Thor was so cold without his clothes or anything to keep him occupied that he ended up curling on top of an actual frost giant for warmth. The irony at the time had made him laugh, and even now brought a glimpse of a smile to his lips as he imagined Thor shivering away at some point to burrow into his heavy furs.
There was a nudge, Thor's nose against his own, and quiet words that followed Loki into sleep, "I came back for you Loki. Even when you pushed me away I came back and I always will."
He made a point to avoid Thor for a few days after that, hiding himself in the woods with Fenrir. While some part of him argued that Thor wouldn't use his little crying session against him, the rest of him kept asking why not. It wasn't like Thor hadn't changed since they were children. It wasn't like he had reason to keep this a secret either. So Loki didn't want children? His mother knew that, as did half of Asgard with a year in and no spawn on the way.
It wasn't like people wouldn't ask either. If Thor had heard him then Volstagg and Hogun had too. They would probably claim they needed to know in case Loki needed another set of eyes watching him. When they found out it wasn't anything malicious, just Loki feeling sorry for himself while Thor may not use it against him they would. They had reason to, and while some of them may have courtesy Sif certainly didn't, as soon as she got wind of this she would be climbing Thor like a tree and slandering Loki's name when she wasn't.
So he hid himself like a coward, spending his days and nights once more hunting and playing in the trees. When he did go back it was always disguised as a cat, since with so many roaming the halls another one wouldn't be suspicious. He nabbed a good few portions of meat that way, and others he discovered just what the people of Asgard had to say about him. Also that his own cat, the one Frigga had gifted them, still lived but had made itself at home elsewhere in the palace. Damned thing.
He was napping with Fenrir when their little hidey hole was finally breached by outsiders. A low growl sounded behind him, Fenrir so large now the sound seemed to seep into the very essence of the earth and managed to stall whoever had decided to disturb their nap time.
The bushes swayed once more, the leaves being pulled back to let familiar eyes peek through. Fandral soon ducked back behind, a whispered conversation that wasn't really all that secret to something with ears like Loki and Fenrir later the four Asgardians were revealing themselves, hands up to soothe Fenrir's temper.
"Loki," Volstagg called, "If that's you lad we'd appreciate a word."
So they could ridicule him? No way. He turned his back pointedly on them, burrowing further into Fenrir's bulk.
"Loki," Thor tried next, "Mother's worried about you. She hasn't seen you in a while."
The growl seemed to encompass Loki this close, promising the safety that the other four never could.
"Perhaps it would be best to leave?" Fandral suggested, the only one with sense it seemed. "I for one, would much rather not be mauled today. Well, not by this beast."
Fenrir barked savagely at the name, Loki whining low to soothe him. He wasn't a beast. He wasn't even fully grown.
"Loki," Thor tried again, "You can't stay out here forever. If you don't come back with us now Father is sending the Einherjar next. You know you can't- you can't go missing like this." He can't go anywhere without Odin knowing Thor meant. His chains, while invisible, were chains all the same.
He considered letting the Einherjar come get him. It would certainly give the people something to talk about. But, it might also restrict the limited freedom he had. If he was banned from so much as stepping foot outside the gardens Loki might truly go mad then. So, with one last nudge against Fenrir, he skulked his way over to Thor, sitting at his feet as a proper pet should.
Thor sighed at the dramatics, watching Fenrir closely as he picked Loki up while he was still a wolf, and started carefully back to the palace, his friends darting ahead.
Thor's words that Frigga had been looking for him held true at least. As soon as Thor plonked him onto a chair in her rooms she was there asking where he'd been. She didn't demand he changed back. She had been the one to teach him this craft to begin with, and merely pulled out a brush to untangle the knots in his fur.
He refused to change even as he followed Thor back to their rooms. It was actually easier sleeping like a wolf than it was in his usual Aesir skin, namely because he could soak up the cool on the floor without Thor demanding he get under the covers or risk a stiff neck.
Someone else was in the room with them when he woke, Loki wondering if he could risk bolting again as he heard Thor say, "He's a bit sensitive at the moment. I think I better stay with him today."
"If you think that's best," Sif said, "But you know he won't appreciate it. You may as well just leave him alone and come training with us."
There was a pause, then Thor saying, "No. I think this is best. Besides, I have to go see the twins this afternoon. It's probably best I don't get too distracted."
The door shut with a huff from Sif, Thor trying to quietly move about the room to where he stowed his less than practical everyday wear.
Thor tried to make conversation that morning. He was doing his best to pretend like he hadn't just called Loki sensitive, like nothing had happened at all really. It was preferable to talking about it, but it didn't change that fact that Thor was making a conscious decision to keep Loki's feelings in mind. If Loki had his way, and could be sure Frigga wouldn't notice his tampering, he would be wiping all memory of that night from Thor's mind.
He stayed a wolf so conversation ended up petering off once more and eventually Thor said he was going. Fine. Loki hadn't wanted to be back in the first place.
Yet when he went back outside, hoping to maybe sneak out and spend a few hours in the woods, he found himself picking up Thor's trail, his curiosity about who these twins were overriding his want for freedom.
He had images of two lovely ladies. Dark haired, obviously, and butch enough that they could take Thor on. Maybe one might be slender, but she had to have wit about her. Thor didn't really do boring, hence his interest in Sif. Although why Loki was thinking about the kind of girls Thor liked to sleep with he couldn't come up with an answer for.
He came out of an alley, a few people giving him a wide berth, some even wondering if he was Fenrir. But no one called the soldiers, which made happening upon Thor all the more easier.
He wasn't inside a house, like Loki thought he would be. Instead, he was sitting in the street with two little boys trying to climb him like a mountain.
Loki found himself oddly disappointed. Probably because if Thor had been with women he could have used that as a means to start an argument. Perhaps that argument in turn could remove this new hesitance with Loki's feelings and make his breakdown some long distant memory.
But, Thor wasn't with women, he was with his children. So, technically he was with a woman, but whatever they had was probably long over now. Especially since the latest child Loki had seen produced from Thor's loins looked younger than these two.
His nose twitched, picking up a scent he never thought he would in Asgard. He chanced coming closer, smelling it coming from the two boys and the house beyond. It was an electric twang, one he'd usually associated with Thor. It wasn't unusual for these two to have that smell. What was unusual was the other smell mixed in. It was sharp, something that brought up bad memories of an erupting mountain in Jotunheim.
One of the boys ran down to pick up one of his wooden swords, the other happily sitting in Thor's lap talking about something he found fascinating. Loki took another sniff, eyes fixing on the door to the twin's house. The mother had to be a half breed. The question was of what. Loki had only met three in his life, and those had been sired from Frost giants. But he knew now that Frost giants weren't the only giants in existence, and these boys didn't feel like they had a chill coming off them.
Something whacked him on the head, a battle cry following as he was whacked again and again until he was cowering away from the harsh hits.
"Modi!" Thor boomed, the hits stopping as Thor hefted the little boy up.
"It's a wolf," Modi protested, his sword still trying to reach for Loki's head. "He's gonna eat us."
"It's Loki," Thor set the boy down, keeping one hand on Modi's stomach to stop him from advancing again, "The most Loki's going to do is steal your sword."
It took some more convincing, and actually prying the wooden sword from Modi's hand before the little guy calmed down. His brother, thankfully, didn't share Modi's bloodlust as he stayed where Thor had left him last, sitting on his mother's doorstep watching the proceedings worriedly.
Thor didn't let Loki go when Modi finally went to sit with his brother. Instead, he nudged Loki forward until he was sitting in front of them, looking about as put out as the boys.
"Loki," he waved his hand around, "These are my boys. This is Modi and this is Magni. Boys this is Loki."
"I thought you said he was a frost giant," Magni whispered not very quietly. "He looks more like a wolf."
"Can I marry a wolf?" Modi asked, as if he'd completely forgotten he'd just tried to kill one.
"Loki's not a wolf." Thor amended himself, "Well, he's not always a wolf. He has magic. He can shape change."
"Mother has magic and she isn't a wolf," Modi frowned.
"Well, Loki has a different kind of magic to your mother." And because they were children they didn't question that answer. "Besides, Loki's not just a frost giant. He's a prince, one so powerful the Jotnar called him a God."
The awe he got from the boys had Loki preening a bit. Even if the praise was from Thor it was nice to know someone still remembered what he'd achieved in his short stay in Jotunheim. See, this was why he liked children. They were so impressionable. He could just tell them something and they would accept it as truth.
"Is that why you married him?" Magni asked, "Because he's a God like you?"
"Er," Thor shot Loki a look, Loki not even wanting to help Thor out here, "Sure."
The boys nodded, Thor crouching down next to them to ease the tension between the three of them even more. It didn't take much, for all Thor's talk of Loki's good nature all he really had to do was ask if they wanted to stroke Loki's fur and Loki was their new favourite person.
He played as gently as he could with the little terrors, careful both because of the untamed magic and because he'd been around children enough to know they were very breakable. Even Fenrir had been delicate when he was a pup. Not that they granted him the same courtesy. Magni was a bit more hesitant than Modi when Loki started chasing them around but once they got into it he was pusing Loki with all his might.
They were strong for children, both Thor's genes and their Jotnar heritage running strong in them. It was interesting to measure up against them. Even more because Loki knew these were the sturdy two that would end up resowing the earth after Ragnarok.
It was also frightening because of that fact. Twin sons born of a giant Loki was guessing called Jarnsaxa. Everything was falling into place, just like Skrymir wanted, like the Fates were setting in motion. It would only be a matter of time before Loki found himself setting off Ragnarok.
The boys eventually settled as it got dark, lounging on Thor's lap as he started on what they would do next time he came to see them. He seemed to be drawing it out, and for good reason too if what Loki knew of Thor's former lovers to be true.
However, not even Thor could stop time passing, and as night finally settled the door to the house opened and a sharp voice called for the boys to say their goodbyes. They did, loudly, with Thor clutching on until he couldn't anymore. Even when the door closed he stayed sitting there, staring at it like he could see through to the room beyond.
Loki supposed he wasn't the only vulnerable one here.
They stayed there for a while, Loki staying quiet and still, letting Thor make the move to go home. When he did, Loki took care to remember that smell as well as the way to the twins house.
They didn't speak, or, Thor didn't speak since Loki still refused to change back, and it was odd to be lying there waiting for something to breach the silence. It wasn't like before, where animosity was keeping the pair of them in their own world of hate. Now, well, while someone else might have turned to Thor with words of comfort Loki didn't. Namely because it wouldn't help. No words of everything being okay was going to help Thor, he couldn't go back there now and see his children, he couldn't go there tomorrow and see them either. He'd said outright that it was difficult even talking to his former lovers nevermind asking for an hour to spend with his offspring. Nothing Loki said was going to change that, and even if they did, Loki wasn't the best person to be offering those kinds of words.
So he stayed a wolf, and when Thor climbed under the sheets he hopped up himself. It may not have been a complete transformation and Loki giving in, but it was something. Thor certainly appreciated it too as he ran his fingers lightly, then more firmly when Loki didn't bite him, through Loki's fur.
The next day, Loki woke up with a renewed purpose. The way he saw it, if he could distract Thor enough then they would never have to revisit Loki's breakdown. After a few weeks it'll just fade into another distant memory, and sure, it might pop up every now and then, but by that time it'll just be ridiculous to bring up something that both of them clearly shouldn't be talking about after a significant time gap.
So, finishing his daily brushing session with Frigga and learning that, once again, he had nothing to occupy his day with, he set out into the streets of Asgard. Now, the twins, he noted, looked to be about twenty, maybe a bit older. Around Alaric's age most definitely.
He shifted just as he reached Volstagg's house. Painting on his winning smile and hoping he didn't look too manic he knocked and waited for Hildegund to answer the door.
"Prince Loki," She nodded, since no one in Asgard would ever deem him with a bow, despite him being of the same status and rank as Thor. "What can I do for you? Is Volstagg alright?"
"He's fine. Actually I was hoping I could borrow Alaric for the day. Nothing nefarious," he promised, spinning some lie about showing him the docks he'd first arrived on when he came to Asgard.
She was right to be suspicious, but thankfully Alaric had been listening in and immediately recalled Loki's stories. Hence, after some persuasion, namely Loki saying how bored he was now Sigyn had left him for another playmate, Hildegund handed Alaric over with thinly veiled threats of castration should any harm come to him.
"Do you think they still have the boat down at the docks? Could you remember it if you saw it?" Alaric rattled.
"I don't know and I doubt it." He stopped them before they got too far, making sure they hadn't been followed by Hildegund or one of her friends. He crouched low, "Now listen, we will go to the docks. But first, we have a special quest we need to fulfil. Can I count on you to keep your silence should I ask it?"
The mere mention of a quest had Alaric nodding, the eagerness to be just like his father setting his shoulders and solemnly promising Loki that he could trust Alaric with anything.
"Good." He shifted in front of the boy, his hair growing longer and robes changing to a dress.
With promises not to reveal his identity and drilling Alaric to call him Ikol later they were standing outside of the twins house, the half giant, like Loki had rightly guessed, Jarnsaxa, answering.
Her sire wasn't a frost giant. Loki knew that right away from the lack of chill coming from her. There were no harsh features either, no sharp planes on her face that would shift into shards of skin like ice. Instead, her face was soft, round, her hair fair and her body plumper than any Frost giant Loki had seen outside of pregnancy. He wanted to blame her other parent, most likely an elf from her ears and skin colour, but Loki had seen such features before, and knew the only giants that were as round as they were strong were the hillfolk.
Loki eyed her arms, making a small step backwards as he found his voice, greeting her a good morning.
"What do you want?" Was the first thing out of her mouth, her voice just as much a surprise as the rest of her. It was quite soft, but the malice and the way her arms just flexed that little bit too much had Loki sure she was ready to maim him if he didn't play this right. It was no wonder Thor didn't want to fight her to see the boys. He would lose. Horribly.
Clearing his throat, Loki picked his smile back up and said, "Well, I heard that you had two lovely boys of your own, and, as a mother, I know how hard it is to work and look after them on your own. So, I had this wonderful thought that maybe I could look after other people's children as well as my own for a few hours a day- for a small price. Wait, wait!" Loki snapped as Jarnsaxa tried to slam the door in his face. "Just think about it, a few hours where you can get your work done without needing to check on your boys. And you know they'll be safe I mean, woman to woman, we know our children are the most precious things in the world. I'm not even asking for much, just a small coin. And, I will even tell you where we will be every day just in case an emergency comes up and you need to collect them sooner."
The door ended up slamming in his face regardless of his argument, but Loki hadn't really expected it to work the first day. So, bucking up, he swore Alaric to secrecy, changed back to his usual form, and showed the kid around the docks.
Taking Alaric out for a second day proved to be quite the challenge when it presented itself. Despite Alaric not telling his parents about their visit to Jarnsaxa, and the fact that he'd had the 'best time' with Loki down at the docks, Hildegund was reluctant to hand over her son. It was like she thought Loki had ulterior motives.
Eventually he had to pull the same spiel with her as he did with Jarnsaxa, sprouting boredom once more and even promising to take her friends brats if she would just give Loki something to do with his day.
He ended up eating his words when that 'something' turned out not to be looking after Alaric but sitting quietly while he helped her sew up one of Volstagg's old tunics for her spawns. But, Loki's patience won out the next day when he came knocking. Hildegund, yesterday, must have taken Loki's willingness to actually behave as proof of his words that he really was that bored and deprived of good company that he just wanted someone to talk with since she did let him take Alaric out. As well as all of her other children.
When he knocked on Jarnsaxa's door he had a whole brood running around his legs and in his arms and he didn't know what it was, whether it was the number of children maybe giving him credibility, or the idea that Jarnsaxa was missing out on quality child care. Anything, but she caved that day and forked over a coin as well as her sons.
Magni and Modi, thankfully, didn't recognise Loki, probably because they'd met him as a wolf, and happily ambled along with Volstagg's brood when Loki started leading them away.
He had a few destinations in mind for the children, sure that Jarnsaxa had spies watching him as more than a few women he caught whispering to each other, the boys waving back oblivious to show they knew them. So Loki took them to the docks, where Asgard's less fortunate children liked to play and let them run loose for a while.
The women kept a close eye on him to begin with. But, since Loki wasn't actually inept at looking after children, they left him alone when he proved he was doing an okay job. He gathered up his charges, doing a head count when he realised he didn't actually remember their names, and as noon broke he took them to the market, got them some sweets, smiled sweetly at Jarnsaxa's spies and took them to the green fields around the back of the palace for the rest of the day.
When he returned the twins and Hildegund's brood he felt like he'd passed some kind of assessment. One that proved to be the scourge of his life when he went back the next day and found himself with more children.
Trustworthy Jarnsaxa thought he was, and as a result those little spies she'd had on Loki the day before thought him okay enough to look after their children too. He got ten gold coins for his efforts, and had Loki not left Asgard and was still needing the money to live he thought this wasn't exactly a bad way to earn it. As it was, this was only supposed to be a means to undermine Jarnsaxa, so while the gold coins let him buy the kids some haggled treats it wasn't worth being constantly pulled in fifteen different directions.
He let this go on for a few more days, staying a wolf around Thor and Ikol around Jarnsaxa and the children. Enough for everyone to believe the story he'd told them and not even think to track him down when he took the children for the day. Naturally, he had thirty hanging off him by that point, and thankfully some of them were old enough to kind of help him out. However, they were also old enough to be suspicious when Loki didn't take them on their usual path to the field and instead took a secret entrance into the palace gardens.
"We're not supposed to be here," A girl called from the back.
"Don't worry," Loki soothed, "I asked Queen Frigga herself yesterday and she said it was fine. So long as you don't pull the flowers." He'd already had to run around herding the flower pluckers to the middle of the herd.
Most of them seemed too hesitant, thankfully, to even walk in the garden rather than touch anything, so Loki only had to intervene a few more times before they reached the edge that would lead into the courtyard. He set the children down, amusing them with stories of grandeur Loki had heard as a child. Long enough for Thor and his friends to pass through the courtyard on their way to the city for the rest of the afternoon.
Loki timed it right, waiting until they were within earshot before saying, a bit louder than usual, "Look children, it's the mighty prince Thor. Defender of Asgard."
Thor's head turned, an easy smile already on his face at the praise. It fell slightly as he saw Loki, no doubt mulling over why he looked so familiar. Loki didn't really catch just when Thor caught on since as soon as Volstagg's brood saw their father they were running over Loki and screeching for attention.
"Oh, what are you lot doing here," he laughed, swinging a few around.
"Yes just what is going on here?" Thor asked coming closer, he stopped as he saw the twins, darting a look back to Loki as he waved slightly towards them, probably afraid any more contact would bring Jarnsaxa out of the shadows.
Thankfully the twins didn't have such fears as they picked themselves up and went over for a hug themselves.
"What's going on?" Thor asked Loki again.
"Well, your highness," He dipped down, seeing the girls following suit. "The Queen has kindly allowed me to bring my charges to her garden this afternoon. It makes a stak change to the docks and fields we usually frequent. Where we will probably be again tomorrow." He put a bit of emphasis into that last part, hoping Thor got the message as he turned to the rest of the children, amusing them once more with stories and little games.
Thor's shock was mobile enough that he was able to answer and move how the twins wanted him to. He eventually settled on the grass with them, a few other children too young enough not to know societal boundaries just seeing a nice plump lap and trying to slide themselves alongside the twins. A few were successful, while others went searching to Thor's remaining friends who, so far, had watched the proceedings with a suspicious silence. Except Volstagg. He was letting his children practically walk on top of him.
He had to take the twins back off Thor eventually, emphasising once again where they would be the next day. Volstagg took his own children off Loki, taking them into the city to join the rest of Thor's friends for the remaining hours of daylight.
With his burden only slightly lessened, Loki brought the rest of the children back to their homes, changing back into a wolf to see his own son before slinking back into the palace in the wee hours of the morning.
Jarnsaxa, either thought it was just happenstance or the boys merely didn't tell her since she didn't mention anything about the twins seeing Thor the day before. Loki got his coin, and a few more spawns added to his list and off they went. Well, off most of them went. As soon as Loki had knocked on Volstagg's door that morning Hildegund told him Volstagg had taken his children himself. If that wasn't an indication to the trust they had in Loki he didn't know what was.
Nevertheless, his business was legitimate enough that he didn't need them, and without the two really young ones weighing his arms down he found it much easier to reach the wandering fingers and toddling feet before they got themselves in serious danger.
They stayed on their usual routine, the children from the lower districts coming over for their usual playtime too. Loki just let it happen, and kept an eye on the major dangers they faced rather than whatever the children were individually doing. Thor didn't turn up there, and since the children wanted their usual treat or meal, whatever Loki was able to procure for them that day, he set them towards the market, making sure he had all of them along the way.
They settled with their food on the fields, Loki finally laying back and letting them run wild. He was beginning to think Thor didn't get his message at all yesterday, maybe he should have written the guy a note, when Loki found himself with a lapful of Alaric.
"Loki!" He squealed, a few children giving him a weird look. "Look, look, father let me join him for practice this morning." He went on to do a few drills so serious while he did so Loki couldn't help but smile.
When he did finally turn away he saw the rest of Volstagg's herd joining Loki's and Thor swinging one of the boys around. The rest of Thor's friends settled themselves next to Loki, Fandral telling Alaric to show Loki the rest of his lesson that morning.
"So, Ikol," Sif said, "It's been a while."
"I don't know what you mean," Loki said, "My lady."
Sif bristled, Loki knowing for a fact she hated being reminded of her feminine status in Asgard. She remembered herself after a moment, smiling over to Fandral who wasn't even trying to hide his attempt to look down Loki's dress. "Come now, surely you remember me. I was ever so nice to you. Much nicer than you were to me." She tugged on her hair for good measure, Loki finally remembering he'd been wearing this guise the night he cut Sif's hair.
"Ah." He pushed Fandral's face away, "You're not still mad about that are you? We were young and so very stupid. Besides, it grew back in."
"That's not the point," Sif hissed.
"Sif," Fandral said, "It was years ago. And it worked in your favour. If I were you I would stop with this animosity and join Ikol and I down by the river once the children return home."
"If by Ikol and I you mean yourself and your hand, then yes, I suggest you listen to your dear friend," He lifted himself up, joining in a game of chase with a few of the children so he wouldn't be letched on anymore.
Thor met Loki every day he could to see the twins. His friends too, Volstagg loving the idea now he figured it out. Sometimes Volstagg would take Alaric to the training grounds and meet them in the afternoon, but most days he would just let Loki take him and the rest of them. He often cornered Loki on those days, actually thanking him for giving Hildegund a little rest.
"I'm not doing this for her," Loki said.
"No," Volstagg agreed, eyes on Thor who was using this new time with his boys to actually teach them something. Today it was spotting animal tracks., "I guess you aren't."
Loki felt his face twist, "I'm not doing it for him either. Believe it or not this is for my benefit."
"Sure lad."
Since his plan was a success, and Thor spent most nights trying to smush Loki to his chest in thanks anyway, he stayed in his usual form once he'd checked in on Fenrir. His thumbs certainly helped him get a hold in the sheets when Thor turned over in sleep to seek out Loki's body.
