Yay! An update! It will start picking up a bit in later chapters.
Two weeks had gone by and Loki had already found himself more relaxed and comfortable in his surroundings then he had in the lifetimes he had spent in Asgard. Everyday was a new discovery. About the manor, about the occupants and even about himself. His students, ranging from young children to older teenagers adored him. They found him to be delightful and charming.
Loki had gotten the honor of meeting Magneto only two days ago. He had been eating waffles with Kitty when the imposing mutant had walked by the doorway, helmet off and tucked under his arm. Kitty had issued a pleased little giggle and slunk off towards the door dragging Loki with her.
"Kitty, what-"
"Shhh." Kitty stated and the two watched from the doorway and Magneto made his way up the steps, a little fond smile tugging his lips.
"Where is he going?" Loki asked and Kitty ushered him towards the stairs. They slunk up the step, hiding and watching as Magneto knocked on the professor's door. After a moment, the Professor opened the door, smiling up at Magneto and ushering him into the room. The Professor closed the door as Magneto entered, his eyes shifting to Kitty and Loki and raising an eyebrow in amusement as he closed the door.
"The Professor and Magneto are together." She explained.
"Oh?"
"Mhm. It's so cute. Magneto stops by at least twice a month, sometimes with flowers and goes right for the Professor's room."
Loki smiled.
"Spying again are we?" Ororo's amused voice rang out. Both Loki and Kitty turned to see the woman smiling at them from the bottom of the stairs. Kitty laughed. "Just explaining their love life to Loki." She replied and Ororo smirked. She looked towards Loki.
"It used to mystify me. How Magneto could cause Charles all that pain, but still be taken back. Despite all the bad blood and pain that they have caused, they always manage to return to one another." A smile quirked her lips. "It's a love that has stood the test of time." Her eyes shined for a moment before glancing outside.
"It's a nice day out today. Finish your pancakes and we can go to the gardens."
Loki's eyes lit.
Wolverine stood in the grass; arms behind his back watching the students run down the field, racing each other to the marker on the other side. Some students were already on their way back to where he stood and he smirked. From the corner of his eye he spotted Ororo and Loki walking towards the gardens. He loudly let out a high-pitched wolf whistle, causing the two to look at him.
"What are you crazy kids up to?" He asked. "Going to the gardens." Ororo replied, smiling. Logan rolled his eyes. "Damn doe eyed people and their gardens... Hey, Morticia!" He called, causing the God to blink when he realized Logan meant him.
"Yes?"
"After you're done dancing around in the secret garden I was hoping you would help me with something."
"Of course." Loki nodded.
"Don't make me carry you out, cause I will." Logan stated, as the first student reached him, panting for breath. He glanced at the student.
"Hey bub, nice job."
"T-thank you sir!" The boy panted, as two more students finished running. Logan nodded at them. "Nice job ladies. I expect you to beat him next week." He told the two girls who laughed breathlessly.
"We will!"
Logan looked back towards where Ororo and Loki had stood, but the were gone.
"Those losers!"
As Ororo and Loki approached the gardens, Ororo chuckled causing Loki to glance at her.
"What?"
"He called you Morticia." She stated and Loki blinked. "Is that bad?" He asked softly. Ororo shook her head. "He gave you a nickname. It's a good thing."
"Oh…"
"You've never heard of Morticia Addams?"
"Who?"
"So you've never seen the Addams family?"
"Are they our neighbors." Loki questioned and Ororo laughed. "We're watching movies tonight okay?"
"If you say so." Loki stated sounding uncertain.
That night as Ororo said she would, she, Loki, and several other faculty members gathered in the faculty office and watched the Addams family. Magneto had taken the Professor out for the night and the students were all getting ready for sleep. Logan sat next to Loki who was curled against Kitty's legs.
"Now I understand." Loki stated as Morticia Addams glided around the screen. Logan snorted, glancing at Loki. "Pass the popcorn." Rouge told Kitty. Kitty snorted and tossed a piece of popcorn at the other woman.
"Shit!" Clint cried out as a laser beam barely missed him face as it whizzed by. The building behind him was smashed and began to burn. Overhead, Clint watched as Stark zoomed by, a glint of gold and red.
Thor stood several blocks away from Baton, the captain standing at his side, both staring at the robotic spider that was attacking.
"Does this have anything to do with that Spider kid?" Steve asked squinting. Thor shook his head, the sun blinding him. They watched as Stark flew closer towards it. A burst of light escaped the man if iron and struck the spider. They watched as it stumbled slightly.
"Doom's getting more elaborate with his robots." The captain murmured. The spider swung one of its legs, striking Stark and sending him hurtling into a building.
"We should get Hulk."
"Yes, let's get Hulk." Thor agreed.
"That's the third Doombot this month." Bruce griped, that night after he had showered. Tony was sprawled on the couch with a singed arm, watching TV. He glanced at his friend as the man slumped beside him.
"It's getting to be too much." Bruce went on. "We beat one robot and another comes in its place."
"I still don't understand why we don't ask Magneto to pretty please smash Doom and his bots."
"Because he hates humans."
"Well maybe if Thor asked." Tony prompted. Bruce rolled his eyes, heavily sitting beside the other man.
"We need reinforcements."
"The Fantastic Four?"
"No! Someone else!' Tony declared.
"…Quicksilver and Wanda left for Italy."
"Not them…maybe one of the X: Men." Bruce suggested and Tony scoffed. "I think Magneto would be more helpful."
"Maybe we can ask Professor X to talk to him."
"Have him bat his eyelashes a bit." Tony snorted. He turned off the television with a scowl. "You know what? Fuck it. Let Fury figure it out." He threw his arms into the air.
"Works fine for me."
The past couple of weeks between Steve and Bucky had been…tense? Awkward? Painful? All three actually. They avoided each other in their own apartment. During team meeting, they refused to look at one another. During battle they barely spoke.
It was like an awkward dance between two headless chickens. Natasha had mocked Steve for his behavior. "My God, it's like you two were never best friends or something!"
Steve had a lot on his mind, and Bucky only made it that more obvious. Not to mention the thick animosity between Bucky and Tony. Bucky never came to Tony's floor during dinner and Tony remained cold towards the man. It was like the Avengers initiative all over again.
And Thor.
Thor losing his brother seemed to cerement his need to pull from the team. Having Loki, no longer so close left him feeling apprehensive. He kept his phone close at hand in case Loki called. He had intended to visit but a mission had called him away.
This weekend however he was going. The city could burn for all he cared but he would go to Loki.
"How long will you be gone?" Steve asked, looking up from the book he was reading as Thor shifted. "Three days." Steve offered Thor a smile. "I hope you have fun." He stated and Thor nodded absently. The rest of the team moved around Thor's loft, looking at the Asgardian artifacts in interest.
Tony was sitting at the counter, awkwardly hunched over his drink. He watched as Steve and Thor exchanged niceties. He couldn't join Bruce, Clint and Natasha in looking around at the things Thor had in the loft. He had seen it so many times already. The floor he had replaced still scream at his from the night he had found Loki. It still wailed at him for his failure. He took a deep gulp of his drink, enjoying the way it burned down his throat.
He barely noticed when Thor left, leaving them promises of calling upon his arrival to the school.
When Thor arrived at the school he was stunned by the sheer beauty of the place. Tucked away from society and nestled in a generous forest. This was certainly a place Thor knew his brother would thrive.
"Hey, Thor!" A voice called in greeting and he looked away from the trees to see Storm approaching him with a smile. "Glad you could come." She shook his hand and he smiled. "I am glad to be here." He stated. He followed Ororo towards the mansion, looking around in interest. He was the first to spot Loki, in the company of two women and the Wolverine. He beamed as Loki looked up and smiled. He made his way over to his sibling and smiled heartily.
"Nice of you to show up." Loki teased. The women at his side regarded Thor curiously, while the Wolverine stared at him, a cigarette jutting from his mouth.
"I'm sorry it took me so long." Thor replied and Loki waved a hand dismissively. " No worries Thor. It's good to see you." He nodded to the mansion.
"Come. I'll show you around."
Thor would quickly learn that Loki had made friends in his weeks at the school. It filled Thor with immense pleasure to see Loki so happy. His few weeks here were improving him slightly. He still had that sullenness about him but he smiled more and laughed more.
He had become friends with nearly everyone at the manor but was closest to Wolverine and Kitty and Rouge. Kitty and Rouge had taken a shine to the God and had offered to show hi the ropes of the manor, while Wolverine was always close by to tease the God. It was returned in turn.
Charles Xavier was as enigmatic as his metal wielding enemy/friend/lover. His bright blue eyes had bore into Thor's as he studied him and slowly smiled. "And how is Director Fury these days?" He asked over coffee and Thor had chuckled. "If the man had any hair it would have gone white." He stated, before realizing Charles himself was bald. But the mutant had laughed at him and rubbed his bald head. "If my hair grew in I do hope it would be as luscious as it was in my youth."
His eyes had shifted over to Loki who was eating his waffles and grinning at something Iceman was saying.
"He is quite happy here."
"I am glad, I-"
"But," Charles interrupted. "He is still filled with sadness and doubt. I believe him being here will do him much good." The old man looked down at his coffee. "I hope he will eventually be a full member of my team. He is quite an asset."
Thor looked down for a moment.
"He is a God and therefore cannot die by simple means, but I worry or him more than I worry for the Midgardian's in this realm. I feel like I need to always be there for him."
"He's your brother," Charles replies softly. "You will always feel that deep need to care for someone so dear." He spoke as though he truly knew how Thor felt and it helped.
He followed Loki around during those days, marveling at the students Loki pointed out to him. They shared rooms that night, staying up late and quietly talking about whatever crossed their minds.
"We can return to visit Asgard during the hotter parts of summer." Thor offered. Loki snorted. "It'll be awful there brother. I despise the heat."
"Jotunheim then?" Thor suggested and Loki swatted him. "Oaf."
Wolverine began to refer to them as the quasi-incestuous bros. They were extremely close, close enough to be considered...raunchy. Not that Logan really gave a single fuck, but he called it as he saw it. Except of course it was obvious that Thor was to fond of Loki to even think of anything sexual with him, and Loki barely seemed to notice anything out of the ordinary with his sibling.
The days passed too quickly and soon it was time for Thor to go home. He swore he would visit again and reminded Loki three times to call him if he needed anything. Loki had scoffed and rolled his eyes at Thor's overprotectiveness, but couldn't help but feel glee at his obvious care. He bid his sibling farewell and soon was dragged into the festivities that Kitty was starting. He missed the fond glance Thor shot him as he whirled away.