Chapter 12.

Kagome dragged her feet into breakfast the next morning with crusty eyes and a pounding headache. She'd sipped on all of one glass of Asgardian wine all night long, but apparently even that was too strong for her human body to handle.

'That crap is even stronger than demon sake.'

She probably looked as dreadful as she felt, and going on as little sleep as she'd had, she didn't have the energy to care.

She'd slipped on the softest, plainest dress she had and left her hair long and loose. Her throbbing skull would permit nothing more than that.

She blearily pushed open the dining room door and tumbled inside, the door's weight almost more than she could handle on her own in her exhaustion.

She was the first to arrive, so she found her usual seat and laid her head down on the table. All the curtains were drawn to let the morning light stream through, and no matter how hard she scrunched her eyes closed, she could not shield herself from the brightness of it.

She cracked one eye open and grabbed the nearest napkin, unfolding it and draping it across her head, making a dark little sanctuary to soothe the throbbing in her skull.

"I am never drinking Asgardian wine again."

A delicate snort answered her and she flinched. There wasn't supposed to be anyone around to hear that, but she'd tamped down her miko senses to give her poor head a break from all the extra stimulation while she recovered from a hangover she hadn't even gotten drunk for.

She peaked up, lifting the corner of her napkin tent to see who she'd just embarrassed herself in front of.

'Loki. Of course. Brilliant.'

She sat up and rubbed her temples while Loki delicately arranged himself in his seat with a cup of tea and a book. He didn't look at her, but he did, surprisingly, respond.

"That's what they all say."

She chuckled and filled her glass with the water pitcher and took a large, refreshing gulp.

"Yeah, you're probably right."

Leaning her face against her hand, Kagome glanced over at her only breakfast companion so far. He looked immaculate.

'What a jerk. Doesn't even have the decency to look like he partied all night like the rest of us.'

The door slammed open and Thor glided in, hair disheveled but a beaming grin on his face.

"Good morning family!"

Kagome groaned and placed her forehead back on the table, the pain in her skull multiplying with Thor's brash enthusiasm.

"What's wrong Kagome?"

She mumbled something, her words stifled by the napkin she'd placed back over her head.

"She's recovering from last night's festivities, Thor. Do try not to be such a bother so early in the morning."

Loki's voice was dry and uninterested, and she would just bet he hadn't looked away from his open book for even a second.

"Oh shut up Loki, You're just jealous."

Loki rolled his eyes and turned back to his book.

Lifting her head back up, Kagome picked at a piece of bread.

"He was the star of the show last night, why would he be jealous?"

Kagome's brows rose at the sight of a subtle blush spreading over Thor's cheeks, and suddenly she thought she didn't want to know.

The soft tink of a spoon stirring tea at her side started her attention away and Thor sighed in momentary relief.

Loki leaned against the table at her side, stirring the cup of tea delicately, a sly look on his face as he watched the liquid spin.

"Thor stubbornly believes that I am envious that every insipid female on this rock would give an arm to warm his bed for even one night. He doesn't understand or appreciate my preferences for quality over quantity."

It was her turn to blush, his green eyes glinting and dancing, secrets swirling with amusement and trapping her, holding her captive. She blinked to break the spell and he held the cup of tea out toward her.

"Here. Drink."

She stared dumbly at the cup for a moment before taking it from him, the warmth of it leaching into her finger tips.

"Uh. What is it?"

"Hangover cure."

She looked up at him again, realization settling in.

"You don't need it?"

He pushed away from the table and sauntered back to his seat on the other side and waving a dismissive hand.

"I'll live."

With a small grin, she took a sip. It was pleasantly warm, but bitter and slightly medicinal. Her nose scrunched up, but she took another sip and marveled that the pounding in her head was already receding.

"Thank you Loki, that's much better already. And also, ew Thor, no one wants to here about your gross after party at the breakfast table."

Loki snorted again, and Thor flipped a rude gesture before digging in to the food platters the servants were laying out on the table. One of them informed them that lady Frigga would be taking breakfast in her rooms, and then they cleared out and left Kagome alone with the two princes.

She piled some food on her plate and glanced at the silent brothers. Thor was shoveling food in his mouth faster than he could swallow it, While Loki nibbled delicately on some sort of pastry.

They were so very different.

"So, I heard some interesting stories last night."

She glanced between them again but neither gave any indication that they'd heard her.

"It made me curious for some other stories I know, stories from Earth."

"Why would we know anything about human stories?" Loki asked with a bland look, but she caught the barest flicker of interest deep in his gaze. The God of Stories could not fight his nature.

"They're stories about you guys. I'm curious if they're based on anything true or not."

"Alright, ask your questions."

She beamed and sat up straighter, pushing her plate aside and folding her hands together in front of her. Her first questions were for Loki as he had some of the more interesting myths tied to his shapeshifting tendencies.

"Okay! So, do you have any children?"

Silence met her question, and Loki narrowed his eyes, taking in her eager posture warily.

"Why?"

"Well, it's just that legends on earth say you have several children, including a serpent, a giant wolf, and an eight legged horse. But you gave birth to horse."

"I WHAT?!"

Thor choked on his food, descending into hysterics in his seat next to her.

"I mean no offense, I'm just curious." she quickly reassured, but he looked thoroughly offended.

"I can assure you I've never given birth to anything much less a horse. I don't have any children. Honestly this is why I never went back to Earth."

Kagome giggled despite her best intentions to appease his wounded pride, but then she cut a glare at Thor, he was smacking the table, bent over and clutching his middle, barely able to breath as he laughed so hard Kagome thought he might just pass out.

She crossed her arms and huffed.

"I don't know what you're laughing so hard for, I haven't even said what they say about you yet."

"Oh do tell," Loki purred and leaned forward, interest plain on his face. "This ought to be good."

Thor sat up straight and wiped the tears from his eyes, his laughter slowing to chuckles.

"Yes, it ought to be good indeed. Tell me little sister of the tales of strength and victory the tell of me on Earth."

She met his smug look square on, smiling innocently in a way that sent alarm bells off in his head.

"Okay. There's one story of a giant who stole Mjolnir from you. He wouldn't give it back unless a goddess named Freya was given to him as his wife. You disguised yourself as a bride to get it back from him. Loki helped you."

Thor's face fell and Loki threw his head back in laughter, face scrunched up in delight.

"That really happened! You're such an idiot Thor!"

Kagome couldn't hold back her own laughter anymore. That had always been one of her favorite myths and knowing it was true made it all the better. Especially now that she actually knew the god at the center of it all, and considered him family.

"How do they even know about that on Earth?"

"I told them of course."

"Loki you little-"

"I made a much prettier bridesmaid than you made a bride."

"Loki I swear I'll-"

"Mother had a portrait commissioned."

Kagome clappped her hands in excitement.

"No way!! Where is it?!"

"Don't you dare Loki!"

Loki looked straight into Thor's eyes and smirked, answering the challenge in his brother's warning.

"It's in the library. I'll show it to you."

"Yes!"

Thor stood abruptly, his chair falling to the ground behind him. Loki stood as well, his face lit with that mischievous glow that transformed him from poised and regal to boyish and chaotic. He laughed merrily as Thor chased him from the dining hall, and Kagome sat back with an indulgent smile at how homey it felt to witness them like this.

Not as princes of a shining palace, but as brothers misbehaving at the breakfast table.

She picked up one of the pastries like Loki had been eating and finished her morning meal.

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Loki could feel Thor watching him from the doorway to the library storage where he rifled through old tomes and books and paintings for the portrait of Thor dressed in wedding finery. He glanced back at him and rolled his eyes.

Thor was pouting.

He may be stronger than anyone else on this planet but Loki was faster- and smarter in his opinion.

And was it his fault he was able to change into something very tiny and hide in hard to reach places and wait for Thor to fall into his traps? Was it his fault Thor fell for the same tricks over and over?

'He has no sense of humor, honestly.'

"You know, for someone who said they wanted no part in any of this, you sure are being nice to her."

Loki rolled his eyes again. Thor could be such a child sometimes.

"I said I wasn't going to concern myself with making her part of the family, but I never said I would be cruel to her. If she's going to be around for at least the length of a human lifespan I'll have to talk to her sooner or later."

"She's going to be around longer than that. I told you she's immortal."

"We'll see. Ah, here it is."

He held up the portrait he'd been looking for and dusted off the frame.

"I think I'll have this cleaned and displayed in the family sitting room. Excuse me."

He swept out the door, ignoring Thor's narrowed eyes and questioning gaze.