Part 4: Chapter 16 - Domesticated
A meager shaft of light shone over Maria's crumpled form. She lifted her head from the hard floor, straining her eyes to see into the surrounding gloom and make out the metal walls that enclosed the limited space. She stood on bare feet, noticing with a rising panic, the grubby, ill-fitting jumpsuit she wore.
No! This can't be happening. I can't be back here.
"Maaa-maaa!" a young child cried from somewhere outside the cell.
Lachlan? No. Please God, no!
Flooded with fear-riddled adrenaline, Maria launched herself at the barred window of the door. She called for her son, Loki and for the guards that did not come. Her panicked screams mixed with the unseen child's echoing along the vacant corridor.
The horrors of the prison fled with a soft touch on her side, leaving Maria shaky and disoriented. The bright numbers on the bedside clock announced the time as four in the morning with a few minutes to spare. A weighted warmth pressed to her back and buttocks. She was in her bed, not Thanos's ship, and the form cuddling up within the sheets was Loki.
"Maria, are you alright?" he inquired in a groggy whisper.
She didn't answer. They tried to be honest with each other, and it was just too soon to make a proper evaluation. The nightmares sucked, no matter how much time passed. If only she'd remembered to take off the Aries charm. Perhaps then she wouldn't have disturbed his sleep.
"Sorry."
"Don't be. I still have them too."
His arm slipped across her front, tightening into a protective embrace that calmed her shudders. She folded her arms over his, comforted in the fact that he could be so gentle with her and Lachlan, yet also a strong protector. Even compared to the Inhumans of Lake Silver and neighboring communities, Loki proved a formidable specimen of intellect, instinct, charisma and physicality. And, at least until their son matured to adulthood, he was hers.
"Was it bad? The dream?"
"Lachlan was screaming for me, and I couldn't get—" Her throat clenched with sudden upset at the vivid memory.
"Lachlan's fine. We're safe."
A low sob escaped with her, "I know," which didn't make the assertion at all convincing.
"Come here," Loki requested, scooting back to afford her room to roll, then gathered her close again. He delivered slow kisses across her cheeks before his lips settled on hers.
Any free moment for togetherness had to be seized, especially when she felt so vulnerable. Maria returned the kiss with a needy intensity further emphasized by grabbing his butt and rubbing her pelvis against him. Then she chose to push him flat, straddled his thighs and tugged down his sleep pants.
Loki gave an eager hum as she caressed his most sensitive area. His hand slipped under her pajama top to encircle her breast and apply light pressure to the nipple.
Then it happened. A loud despairing wail arose from the next room.
Dammit! Every fucking time! her mind accused.
It was unfair to solely blame the kid for her recent lack of coital satisfaction. Like many couples, sex took a back seat to life's many demands of them.
Maria eased off Loki, noting his growl of disappointment as she vacated the bed and room.
Only a few steps behind her upon entering their son's room, Loki best summed up the horrific scene of an excrement covered child, sheets, blanket—and pillow?
"Aw shit."
Lachlan continued to bawl, reaching for them as he slid out of the bed onto the carpet.
"It's everywhere— even in his hair," Maria commented, trying to decide the best move to minimize tracking the mess through the upstairs.
Loki dashed away, returning with a large towel, which he wrapped around the distressed two-year old before carrying him off to the bathroom.
Maria followed, starting water running in the standalone shower while Loki stripped Lachlan in the tub and offered reassurances.
The trickster took nearly every aspect of fatherhood in stride. Raising Lachlan had done a lot to focus his energies and antics to more positive uses.
Maria left the boys to clean up, collecting the soiled items from both the bath and bedroom— even Lachlan's prized stuffed bear from the Guardians got plastered— before descending to the main level. In the washroom she loaded the machine, adding a little extra soap and setting it for a stain cycle. Then she armed herself with the carpet cleaning solution, latex gloves, a handful of rags and a bucket of hot water to tackle the rest.
She managed to scrub out the gray-brown spots by the time Lachlan wandered in sporting a clean towel wrapped around his tiny frame. Electric blue orbs stood out amid the pink puffiness around his eyes. His dark, wet hair stuck up in a myriad of spikes that the boy's father had no doubt bestowed upon him to help cheer away his grumpies.
"Feel better, love?"
"Yesh."
Lachlan exuded a distinct Loki-ness with an expressive smile that won over most people, women especially. Though he had an air of shyness about him, the youngster could still get ramped up into a Tasmanian devil-like state at times, 'bouncing off the walls' as the old saying went.
Maria held him close, pecking kisses on his cheek. Lachlan acknowledged the love by covering the spot with his hand and patting at the kisses. His mother didn't know why he did that, but it was a common occurrence.
The tyke glanced at the bare mattress then back at her.
"Doo?"
"I put all the icky stuff in the washer. Now let's get a pull up on. You can sleep with Dada and me. It's too early to stay up."
The little one dropped his towel en route to the dresser. He opened the drawer himself to select a pair of diaper briefs with pictures of Iron Man on the front and back. There really weren't that many choices of Avengers left since their stock was running low.
Re-diapered, but refusing pajamas, Lachlan joined Maria and Loki. He stretched out in the very middle of the bed, keeping his parents from engaging in any cuddling that didn't include him.
"I know I promised," Loki whispered to her as they sorted the covers, "but I can't bring a sick child to work with me."
Maria nodded.
Loki and Lachlan had anxiously awaited the take-your-kid-to-work event and had pre-selected their outfits with identical green and black striped ties.
Loki had also scheduled a special meeting to address affordable childcare in the community. He'd hoped Lachlan's presence would add some emphasis to the issue. In fact, he'd encouraged all the officials to participate in the family-bonding opportunity.
"Maybe if we hit the toast and bananas first thing, he'd be okay to join you later in the day."
Loki considered the suggestion as he settled with the dozy-eyed Lachlan.
"Alright. I'll come home for a late lunch, check how he's doing."
Because of their early-morning adventure and Lachlan's digestive uncertainty, the trio slept in, skipping their morning run through the neighborhood. Maria caught a quick shower then joined the boys in the kitchen for diarrhea-stopping toast with banana slices and a spot of ginger tea for good measure. As long as the parents partook of the same foods, the kid usually didn't fuss. Plus, the video of a particular singing and dancing dinosaur— who drove Maria nuts— helped distract Lachlan from scavenging.
At half past eight, Loki came back downstairs dressed for work. Deputy Mayor Odinson had made some changes to his appearance since taking the post. He wore his hair a little shorter and not slicked back all the time, which let the natural waves contour and soften his features better. By spending more time out in the sun, he looked less pale. He donned sharp business attire at the office and casual jeans and t-shirts at home. Honestly, he had a knack for looking good in anything.
Maria admired how much he'd matured in the last two years. Working to build up the community appeased his ambitious nature while interacting with the citizens fed his confidence and need for recognition. Overall, Loki had found some acceptance, gained respect and built friendships in Lake Silver. Of course, that didn't mean Asgard's banished prince couldn't be manipulative when he wanted something.
Lachlan noticed Loki pulling his briefcase out of the closet. Apparently, the tyke hadn't forgotten about the father/son work day. He jumped from the chair, preparing for a full blown meltdown when he plopped onto his father's shoes to wrap desperate limbs around his legs.
"No, Dada. Mine doo!"
Setting aside his case, Loki crouched to free himself of the toddler's grip and to speak on his level.
"You have a sick tummy today."
"No!" Lachlan insisted, tossing his head. "Mine doo. Mine doo."
"Hey, hey," Loki said, his tone impressively calm despite the chaotic state of his son. "I will be home later for lunch. If your tummy is feeling better, you can come to my meeting."
Mewling with fat tears running down his face, Lachlan went limp, falling into Loki's arms.
Maria came forward to accept the weepy bundle, shifting him onto her hip so he could rest his head on her shoulder. She figured she'd better break out the stomach medicine and electrolytes or there wasn't much hope of saving the day.
"Have a good morning," she said, giving Loki a farewell smooch.
Loki thanked her, casting one last glum glance at Lachlan and blowing him a kiss on his way out the door.
"Eleven?" the speech therapist asked, sounding skeptical.
"Yep. Only eleven words," Maria confirmed.
She held the cellphone to her ear by arching up her shoulder and contorting her neck to capture the compact device.
Perhaps if she'd been warned that Dr. Marron would be calling around dinnertime, Maria would have ordered something to be delivered or asked Loki to pick up pizza on the way home. But, nope. The doctor's call was unexpected and so far unnecessary as all she'd done was read back the answers Maria had written on the paperwork. Had the woman even tried to read the file before picking up the phone?
"And he's almost two?"
Maria held her breath to keep something nasty from slipping out. She and Loki knew their son was behind. Hence, seeking out the assistance of a speech therapist. This was all explained in the goddamn paperwork— fifteen pages worth!
"Dr. Marron, maybe you'd like to continue this after you've had a chance to read the papers," she suggested in the least emotionally-charged tone she could muster.
She poured the boiling water and spaghetti noodles into a colander in the sink, which sent a rush of steam up into her face.
"I haven't the time for that," the woman insisted. "Oh, here it is. Two years old tomorrow, huh? Alright. Well, yes, he should be using around one hundred words or so at his age."
"We're aware of that. Sometimes he'll repeat a word if we say if first, but he only uses those I listed on his own."
"Mama, dada, kiss, cookie, park, mine, no, yesh (for yes), uh-oh, yay and— doo?" she read aloud. "What's a doo? That's not even a real word."
"It's the one he uses the most often."
Maria set the pan in the opposite sink to free up her hands so she could take better control of the phone. She stirred the bubbling sauce.
"I'll just cross it off the list. Uhhhhh— what's this about him being under a doctor's care?"
God! Did the woman seriously just skip to the center of the paragraph when the first sentence states clearly that he has a history of seizures?
Maria's lips pursed and hand clenched tight around the phone. She really had no patience for disorganization. She had demoted agents for this sort of laziness back in the day.
"Lachlan had seizures when he was a baby. The last serious episode was almost a year ago."
"Do seizures run in the family?"
"Not that we're aware."
"Oh, is Lachlan adopted?"
Maria could hear the sound of flipping pages.
"No. His father was adopted, but Loki doesn't have seizures."
"Loki? Like the Norse god?"
She ignored the question, turning to collect the colander.
"Is there anything else to go over?"
"Well, I do have several more questions before I can set up an assessment for Loki."
"Lachlan," Maria corrected. "His name is Lachlan."
"Right. So, if you and your husband are just too busy— "
He's not my husband, Maria thought with renewed anger, and if you'd read the paperwork, you'd know that DR. MORON!
"No, we really need to get him in," Maria interrupted. "It's just— we've got guests coming for dinner."
Dr. Marron's tone turned a little nasty.
"Mrs. Hill, I personally tutor over a hundred children. I'm sorry if you're going to have to be a little inconvenienced. If you can't give me fifteen minutes of your time now then how are you ever going to manage speech sessions three times a week?"
That's when Loki and Lachlan arrived home. The toddler, toting his Captain America backpack, lit up when his gaze met Maria's and scurried over to grab a hold of her legs, prompting her to put the dripping colander back in the sink.
"Let's have you speak to Lachlan's father."
With this statement, Loki's pleasant smile faded. He stashed his briefcase and crossed the kitchen to her and Lachlan.
Maria didn't even register the therapist's response before slapping the phone into his hand.
"Well hello, Dr. Marron," Loki spoke jovially into the line seconds later. "How wonderful of you to call."
At the stove, the red sauce started to scorch and Lachlan held his mother in place, staring in wait for her recognition.
"Hey!" Maria said, reaching over to turn off the heat before smoothing his dark hair. "Were you good at Dada's meeting? Used your quiet voice and soft touches?"
His smile widened with pride. "Yesh."
"Great. Did you remember Guardian Bear and your crayons and coloring book?"
He released her to tap the bulky pack over his shoulder.
"Doo, Mama."
"Good job. Go try the potty, okay? Mayor Martin, Angie and Hannah should be here any minute."
"Yay!"
Lachlan took off for the adjacent bathroom, dumping his backpack and jacket in the middle of the floor.
Loki chose to follow behind him with the phone.
"Loki. Yes, like the god. So, how can I be of service?"
He stopped in the doorway, juggling the device while helping his son out of his pants and pull up to sit on the plastic, limited edition, God of Thunder Potty Throne, which was a tongue-in-cheek gift from Clint and Laura Barton when the new line of Avenger merchandise released in July.
Maria stirred the noodles into the sauce, adding a pinch more salt and oregano. With Lachlan's simple palate she couldn't go too crazy with the herbs and spices and expect him to eat. He tended to be less willing to try something that he hadn't helped prepare. That's why she chose to serve spaghetti, one of his favorites.
The doorbell sounded a minute later. She put the lid on the pot and tossed Lachlan's things into the closet before answering the door for their neighbors: Mayor Hayes, his wife and almost three-year-old daughter. Each of them carried an addition to their meal.
"Hi guys."
Maria waved the group in since none of them bothered to wear a coat for the short trip between the houses.
"Did Loki just get home?" Martin asked with concern and handed over a foil-covered platter that Maria assumed held Angie's to-die-for homemade breadsticks.
"Yeah, I guess his meeting ran late."
The moment she emptied her hands, Hannah pushed a tupperware bowl with a lid at her.
"Here's salad. I was careful," promised the girl sporting bows in her long, dirty-blonde locks and a pink t-shirt covered with Disney princesses. "Where's Lachlan?"
"In the bathroom. Give him a minute, sweetie."
With a conspiring grin Angie lifted the covering off the rounded dish she carried to reveal a peach pie.
"Thought I might as well order a couple of these from Georgetta. She does make the very best."
"Oh my god!" Maria said, exaggerating her reaction because Angie was right. No one made better pies than Grandma Mills, the beloved octogenarian who donated a huge chunk of her family's farmland for Lake Silver to be established.
"She's been having more trouble with theft and vandalism," the mayor shared, helping Maria clear a spot on the counter for the immense dessert. "Maybe we should drop by the farm this weekend. There's likely some opportunities out there for more youth service projects too."
"Good idea."
Angie moved to the cupboard to fetch dishes. The blonde beauty was generally supportive of her husband's tireless job, but tonight she was quick to frown at their shoptalk.
Maria and Loki both struggled with the separation of work and play because they handled different aspects of the same job and needed to keep apprised of every small change.
"Help me with the plates, Hannah," Angie requested, carrying a stack to the table.
Loki popped his head out of the bathroom to acknowledge the arrivals. Apparently, he was still on the call with Dr. Marron and starting to look frazzled.
Lachlan strolled out minus clothes and a pull up. Maria intercepted him mid-run to hug his friend.
Snatching him up, she asked, "Why are you naked?"
"Dada doo," he insisted and gestured toward the bathroom.
She didn't know what that meant, but hadn't planned to let the kid eat in the nice shirt and tie anyway.
"Excuse us a sec," she said to the visitors and carried Lachlan up to his room to find a clean pull up and some play clothes to put on him.
Loki wasn't far behind. He tossed the kid's dress clothes and Maria's phone onto the toddler bed with a low growl before attacking his tie.
"She said they can't enroll Lachlan after all."
"Why not?"
"The school district voted to redraw their boundaries. Lake Silver, Alta Point and Brooksdale won't be receiving special services this year— and no services at all come next Fall."
Maria fumed. "They can't do that! They can't purposely exclude Inhuman communities from public school and services."
He sighed and gave a dramatic shrug, the stress of the day visibly weighing on him.
"I'm going to change. Angie and Martin will want to hear about this too."
He wandered into their room and shut the door.
Lachlan asked with big, scared eyes, "Uh-oh?"
"He'll be okay," his mother promised. "Dada's just a little mad."
'Little mad' didn't quite describe the mood by the time Loki shared the news with the Hayeses. They debated all through dinner, coming up with media and legal options ranging from mild to outright extreme. Only when Maria recognized that the kids were getting loud and having trouble eating, did she put an end to the ranting.
"We'll contact the Board of Education and civil rights organizations," she told the other couple, "and if necessary, I'll call in some favors."
Apparently her serious tone was enough to assure them that she meant business. Maria wasn't generally into name-dropping, but those favors she spoke of covered quite a list of influential and powerful people.
After peach pie a la mode, Maria and Loki cleaned Lachlan up then walked the guests to the door. The women exchanged hugs. The kids did too. Loki and Martin parted with their usual cordial handshake.
The mayor backed off their step just as a brilliant mass of blue energy opened up in the front yard beside him. Loki snagged Martin out of harm's way while Maria crouched, gathering the kids.
They knew what this anomaly was, so when Lady Sif, Asgard's Keeper of the Space Stone, strode out with Thor and a second, unidentified man, Maria was quick to recover.
"Tor!" Lachlan yelled when the dazzling spectacle had blinked out. He twisted out of Maria's grip to run to his uncle.
"There he is!" Thor scooped up the boy, accepting his hugs with a hearty chuckle before asking, "Is it your birthday yet?"
"To-mor-row," Loki emphasized, sounding annoyed, yet failing to hide the hint of a smile on his features. To Lachlan he said, "Tell Uncle Thor how old you will be tomorrow."
Lachlan held up two fingers, just like they'd practiced, and announced, "Doo!"
Again the God of Thunder smiled.
"Close enough."
"He's grown a bit since you last saw him," Maria mentioned, leaning in for a quick half-hug from the armor-clad brute.
"A little taller and chubbier," Thor said, putting down the child who barely reached above his knee. "Father said we'd do that, pack on some weight then suddenly shoot up a couple inches."
"Yep," Maria agreed, "sounds like our Lachlan."
Loki started the introductions, but had to admit that he didn't know the solidly-built man with blue eyes and short, curly brown hair who'd accompanied the Asgardians.
The man stepped around the others to reveal his dull green armor. The chest plate had three glowing circles connected by lines to form a wide V shape. He stood almost as tall as Thor, closer to Loki's height. In his gloved left hand he carried a sort of energized container with a decorative silver orb suspended inside. It was his right hand that he held out to them.
"Rhomann Dey," the man identified himself. "I am Denarian of the Nova Corps of Xandar, and at the request of my people—" He paused to indicate the orb. "—Keeper of the Power Stone."
Martin was first to shake his hand, but all the adults took a turn.
"Welcome to Lake Silver," the mayor said with a genuine smile. "Do you have business in town?"
"Nah," Thor interrupted. "Rhomann is on his way to meet with Tony Stark and the Stonekeepers. They are to fashion him a suit or weapon capable of channeling the might of his stone."
Denarian Dey nodded in agreement with this response.
He gestured to Sif as he added, "We were just dropping Thor off so he could spend some time with his nephew." He turned to Lachlan, stooping a bit. "Happy birthday, by-the-way."
Lachlan met the man's gaze, but his focus soon drifted to the cylinder in his grasp.
"Mine?" he asked as if the mention of his birthday meant the container should be a present.
"No, no," Loki said and drew the boy back, snagging him under the arms to be hefted into the protective custody of an embrace. "That is Rhomann's."
"Doo?" the little one asked with despondent eyes.
Noting the child's confusion and upset, Maria decided to jump in.
"Rhomann and Sif brought you Thor for your birthday. That was very kind of them."
His gaze shifted from Rhomann to Thor then to Sif before settling on the Space Stone embedded in the woman's warstaff. A look of determination overcame his pudgy features, scrunching his eyes and mouth as the blue gem flashed with a sudden spark of energy which shot straight at the cylinder. Then, to Maria's amazement, a stone dropped free of the silver orb, passing through the container to land in the grass.
"Did— did he do that?" Rhomann stammered.
He made no immediate move to recover the stone as the group stood frozen with incomprehension.
Lachlan pointed at the ground, starting to squirm in his father's hold while shouting with excitement, "Mine!"
Maria gave Loki a shocked look, her expression warning him to do something quick before the kid got too ramped up to be controlled.
Adjusting his grip on the wiggler, Loki took a purposeful step back across the threshold of the house.
He announced, "Well, I think it's time to say goodnight. Thank you everyone for coming."
"No, Dada!" Lachlan hollered and started to slap at Loki's face.
Maria waited until father and son were clear of the doorway before closing the duo inside. She turned back to the group, cringing as the wails grew more obstinate.
Though the Hayeses didn't know everything that was happening, they knew more than most people and enough to realize that it was time to bow out of the situation. Angie stepped close to give Maria a sympathetic hug.
"Hope he's alright," she said. "We'll see you guys tomorrow at the party, for sure."
"Thanks, Angie."
Martin scooped up Hannah, the two of them waving to the bunch as they headed for their house.
"Nice to meet you!" they called back in chorus.
"Lachlan," Thor informed Rhomann next, "has a connection to all the Infinity Stones. It is his destiny to be a conduit for their will. For now, though— we limit his exposure to them."
Sif opined, "That is wise."
Maria watched Denarian Dey recapture the purple stone within the sphere and container.
"I'm so sorry for the trouble."
Rhomann's tension faded away under a sincere grin that spread over his wizened features.
"No harm done," he said. "My daughter, Duranna, caused quite a few shenanigans around your boy's age. I can only imagine how difficult it is to parent a child with extra abilities."
Maria appreciated both his insight and position on the matter. The military leader carried himself with a conviction and dignity that made it clear why he'd been chosen for the significant responsibility of wielding an Infinity Stone— especially since it took the leaders of Xandar and the Nova Corps two years to decide on their stonekeeper.
With more goodbyes, Sif and Rhomann departed, gulped up in a pulsing bluish mass of energy.
Maria noted concerned neighbors peeking out their doors at them and ushered Thor into the house.
They entered smack dab into the middle of Lachlan's continuing tantrum. Loki sat on the couch with his son restrained on his lap, but the kid bucked quite vigorously, shrieking to high heaven at every word spoken to him.
"Bathtub?" Maria suggested.
"Definitely."
Loki managed to get on his feet, hefting and fighting the little terror. He requested of his brother, "Help me get him into a warm bath."
Maria went to the freezer to get a sugar-free popsicle and joined the boys on the upper level. She let the brothers do all the hard work, waiting until the kid was naked in the filling tub before showing him the flavored ice.
Lachlan sobbed, "Mine, Mama?"
"This is yours," Maria promised. "Sit in the water and you can have it."
Plop. Down he went, and not another whimper left his mouth once the treat went in.
"Neat trick," Thor said to the parents.
"Warm water and a popsicle. Don't know why the combination works," Loki confessed, "but we have the Bartons to thank for the idea."
"I can handle this," Maria said and gave them a nudge. "Go talk or whatever. Be happy brothers for a bit. There's plenty of leftovers if you're hungry."
Thor brightened at the mention of food.
Loki frowned, because 'happy' was asking a little much. He wearily accompanied Thor out.
Maria took the time to blow dry and comb Lachlan's soft locks prior to coming downstairs, so the pajama-clad kid was plenty warm and mellow. He rested against her front, but perked up at the sight of his father and uncle seated in the living room area.
"Doo?" he asked, pointing their way.
She kept her tone low and free of anger. "Timeout first— for bad manners and hurting Dada."
His pretty blues looked away and tiny bottom lip jutted out, yet he made no fuss as they moved to the fridge to get the digital timer stuck to the door with a magnet.
This is going far too well, Maria thought, but didn't question the good luck.
Placing him on the bottom stair, she set the clock for two minutes then handed it to him, because watching the numbers count down somehow made timeouts easier.
Maria joined Loki on the couch.
Thor sat on the loveseat, having magically shed his armor— a process Maria would never quite understand. The men were almost as far apart as possible, but she realized their positions allowed them to directly see and speak to each other.
"I wish you'd change your mind," the older brother said, making Maria wonder just what topic of conversation she'd walked in on.
Loki insisted, his tone firm, "You can't take him."
Thor's eyes narrowed with rising anger. "Father just wants to see his grandson. I would bring him back. Maria can come if you're so distrusting."
Asgard. King Odin. That's what they're talking about, Maria surmised.
"No."
"Come on, Loki. Please?"
"I said no. If Father won't pardon me and lift my banishment, then there's nothing more to be said. Lachlan's not going anywhere I can't follow."
Thor leaned forward, placing his elbows upon his knees. He rubbed at his eyes and brow as if attempting to smooth out a tension headache.
Maria felt bad for him. She could see both men's point of view on the matter. The situation wasn't fair to them or Lachlan.
She tossed out, "Odin knows where we are. He can visit us here on Earth and on our terms."
The men stiffened, exchanged a brief glance then broke into light chuckles.
"What?" Maria asked, clueless as to what they found so amusing.
Thor eased back into the cushions, his arms limp at his sides in an almost surrendering posture.
"You do not know our father," he said to Maria. "The king summons those he wants to him. Pursuit is for the battlefield."
The timer went off with a shrill BEEP BEEP BEEP. The youngster headed their way, presenting the device to his father who silenced it while considering him.
"Can I have an apology?"
The boy nodded, holding out his arms. So, Loki pulled him up on his lap.
"Doo, Dada."
He gave his father a hug around the neck. Then he added a kiss on his face, patting the spot with his hand.
Loki appeared quite moved by the affectionate gestures.
"Thank you, Son."
Maria noticed a tinge of color and swelling around his right eye.
"Ow, I think he really got ya."
She was all too familiar with their son's unusual strength, having been on the receiving end of a few tantrum-driven strikes over the last year.
"Ow?" Lachlan repeated, searching Loki's features until he saw the affected eye. Then, of course, he felt the need to poke at it, saying, "Uh-oh."
"I've had worse. I'll heal it later."
Loki dodged the small, insistent fingers, but finally stopped moving so Lachlan could flatten his hand over the eye.
He asked the boy in a light, playful voice, "You're going to fix it for me?"
They all got quiet, not sure what to expect as the kid had not attempted such a thing previously, but had seen his father heal others. When nothing appeared to happen, Loki touched his finger to the boy's hand, conducting the magic right through his palm. The action delighted Lachlan who studied both his hand and Loki's eye with great interest for the next minute or so before scampering off for the coat closet.
He wanted to show Uncle Thor his Guardian Bear, which was still zipped up inside his backpack.
"I would have liked to see him use an ability he inherited from you," Thor admitted to Loki. He took the scruffy, well-loved toy in his large hands when it was shoved in his face. "Since the incident with Wanda, I worry about him."
The Wanda incident. That came up from time to time in their inner circle of Avenger and S.H.I.E.L.D friends. They all wondered if his seizures and lack of communication skills had more to do with that unfortunate run-in than the bullet graze, premature birth or just being a late bloomer.
All three adults joined in to help when Lachlan dragged out his puzzle collection and dumped the lot on the floor. Sorting and reassembly took almost half an hour, partly because of the sheer number of puzzles the kid owned.
"Time to make a donation to Goodwill," Loki threatened upon completion of the task.
He stopped the troublemaker from pulling anything else from the toy shelves and herded him for the stairs. Time for tooth brushing, using the potty and straight to bed for stories and maybe a song or two before lights out.
It sounded simple, but seldom went that smoothly.
Maria put away leftovers and loaded the dishwasher while Thor finished the pie and caught her up on Avenger gossip— most of which related to the fact that the Starks had a baby girl on the way, Pepper could pop at any moment, and Tony was going a little nuts.
Then the sounds of giggles, scurrying feet and Loki's growl of frustration rallied Thor to service. He rushed upstairs to lend his brother a hand subduing the blue-eyed beastie.