In a few short hours, Thor and Loki presented both Peter and Bjarne to Odin, with Anthony, still covered in bruises and shackled hand and foot, standing before the king's throne. Loki's heart broke when he saw him, his shoulders slumped from pain and grief. More than anything, he wanted to soothe him, tell him that he was not at fault for what others had chosen to do to his designs, but for now, the second prince remained silent, only standing by his side in support. He avoided looking to the left of the king's throne where a hooded Einherjar stood, an enormous ax in his grasp, ready to fulfill the command of execution at once.
Odin had insisted on making the trial public since it was a case of treason, which meant the people were entitled to hear the evidence. The result was the room was packed. Wincing, Loki watched as Peter was called forward. He was pale, but he kept his head high. When he spoke, he left out not a single detail.
"You can sense danger and climb walls without regard for gravity?" Odin asked, looking incredulous.
"I can."
"Show me," Odin demanded.
As Anthony stared in complete astonishment, Peter proceeded to easily climb one of the columns in the throne room, then continued without a pause across the ceiling until he stopped at the exact center of the room. He kept his eyes fixed on Odin, but Loki could tell Peter was trying to ignore the whispering of the assembled population of Asgard. The poor lad was living his worst nightmare, being treated like a freak in front of everyone he had ever met as his oddities were put on public display, but he remained as dignified as it was possible to be while hanging upside down from the ceiling by his fingers and toes.
"Come down, child," Frigga said, giving her husband a reproachful look as he continued to gape at the boy. She had not spoken until this point, sitting quietly beside Odin and observing as was tradition in such matters, but she broke protocol due to her own tendency towards kindness. Loki had never been fonder of her than at that moment. "Thank you for your honesty, young Peter. I am certain that was not easy for you."
Peter gave a polite nod and quickly skittered down the wall. Even Loki found it rather unnerving, but he was fiercely proud of him.
"And you heard the man Obadiah Zebediahson contract Bjarne to deliver a missive to Niflheim?" Frigga asked gently, obviously trying to move the proceedings away from Peter's unusual abilities and back to the matter at hand.
"I did," he said. "I swear to that."
"Thank you," Odin managed, still stunned. "Bjarne, what say you?"
While Peter had been eager to help Anthony and had answered all questions quickly and fully without regard for the consequences to himself, Bjarne tried to wheedle his way out of any responsibility. Odin had to threaten him with five years in the dungeons before he finally explained the complete contents of the letters he had carried back and forth. When at last he was done speaking, silence filled the throne room.
"It appears that the true culprit, Obadiah Zebediahson, has eluded us, at least for the moment," Odin said. "I find no true blame in Anthony Howardson. Do the people agree?"
Loki's heart stopped until the cry of "Aye!" was heard loudly echoing from every mouth present, including, Loki noted, Thor's and Frigga's. At that instant, the shackles fell from Anthony's feet and wrists, leaving him still battered, but free once again.
"Thank you, my king," Anthony said quietly
Odin nodded his acceptance before he and the queen left the dais, followed by the ax-wielding Einherjar. The people began to move out, back to their own lives.
Anthony stood perfectly motionless. The weight of the chains was gone, but he still seemed rooted to the spot, as though he was unsure what to do. That problem was solved when Peter shot towards him like a barn owl swooping down on a mouse. He threw his arms around the man in a tight hug.
"Thank you, Peter," Anthony said softly, "for everything. The queen was right; that must have been very difficult for you."
"It doesn't matter if you're free again," Peter said, finally letting him go. "I will see you back at the workshop."
"Yes, we have much to do," Anthony said.
Loki looked at the apprentice's retreating form with a fond smile, then turned his attention to Anthony.
"I thank you, most sincerely," Anthony said, looking at both Loki and Thor, who was now standing beside his brother.
"No need," Thor said. "Now, if you will excuse me, I must speak with the other warriors. We have a traitor to catch."
Few people were left in the throne room now, and Loki felt relief begin to sweep through him. He very nearly sobbed with it, and he felt Anthony's hand grasp his wrist, his thumb gently stroking over the place where his pulse was pounding.
"I apologize," he said.
"For what?" Loki asked.
"I caused you grief. I had no desire ever to do so," Anthony said, then took a shuddering breath before he looked the other man straight in the eye. "I have only ever wanted to make you happy."
Loki knew there were others still watching, but he found he didn't care. Slowly, he bent forward, placing his lips to the other man's temple and letting his kiss linger there before drawing the weaponsmith against him, pressing his chin against Anthony's hair. He heard a sigh, felt the air of it against his throat, and for a moment he debated bringing their lips together in the kiss he had desired for so long, one he had been afraid he would never feel.
"Can you remove us from this place?" Anthony whispered. "Please? I don't think I can bear to be on display any longer."
In an instant, the pair of them were no longer within the palace walls but standing under the willow tree in the scrubby garden behind Anthony's forge. Loki wrapped his arms around the other man, reassuring both of them that he was truly there, free from possible death, alive and held in his embrace. He was so consumed with the joy of holding him that he was surprised when Anthony suddenly lifted his face upwards and tentatively kissed him. The warm presence of Anthony's lips was like something out of a dream, only better, because it was real. Loki let himself respond, melting into it, the tension of his body in the last few days finally releasing, muscles unclenching that he hadn't even realized were knotted with worry. For now, this, holding Anthony, feeling his nearness, gently kissing him in safety and happiness, this was exactly enough.
When Anthony eventually drew back, Loki was startled to see a tear on his cheek. Instinctively, he darted forward and kissed it away, letting his long fingers stroke through Anthony's beard, the prickly sensation exactly what he had craved for so long. Anthony curled his whole body towards him, burying his face in Loki's chest, and as Loki held him close, he felt the other man silently weeping. Loki made no move to stop him. Instead, he held him for a long time, soothing him with soft words of reassurance, the gentle touch of his hands on his back, and sweet kisses in his hair until he was still once again. By then, the candles were lit in the forge. Peter had returned. When he found them sitting on the bench outside, Anthony, having finally succumbed to sleep, was resting against the prince, whose arms still held him tightly. Not wanting to disturb Anthony, Loki looked up at Peter, who smiled in understanding and silently shut the forge door once again.
When at last Anthony awoke, he and Loki walked back into the workshop under the glow of starlight. They found all the tools perfectly put away and two bowls of stew and bread sitting on one of the tables, still piping hot. Beside them was a note scrawled in a woman's handwriting: "Quit hesitating! You are perfect together!"
"Pepper?" Loki asked.
"Pepper," Anthony confirmed with a grin. "She knows me well."
"Apparently she knows me well, too," Loki said. "Shall we eat before it grows cold?
They spent the night talking together, laughing in relief, enjoying the delicious knowledge this was only the beginning of what would be something beautiful and strong. Anthony began to lay forth plans to change the trajectory of his business. He had amazing ideas for protective armor for the Einherjar, suits that would keep them safe in the midst of battle. While his own father had followed a path of weapons and he had first chosen to continue in his footsteps, Anthony saw another way ahead, one that might lead someday not to war but to peace. Loki listened to him, adding his own ideas from his magic, spells of protection that could be placed on helms and shields, charms that would work to repel arrows and shrapnel. Their fingers laced naturally together as they spoke and ate, and Loki's heart felt full in a way he had never permitted it to feel before.
Weeks passed. The protective suits stood in gleaming rows in Anthony's shop, rank upon rank of silver and gold armor. Though Peter's revelation had caused quite a stir among the other Aesir at first, things began to quiet back down again, possibly in no small part due to Loki's tendency to glare menacingly at anyone in his vicinity whom he caught making the young man uncomfortable. After one particularly loud gossiper suddenly realized his shoes were on fire, people left Peter alone. Now, Anthony was proudly surveying a new defensive apparatus that Peter himself had suggested and was helping to design. It was affixed at the wrist of each gauntlet, and merely by flicking one's hand so that the wrist pointed at an adversary, a thin, strong cord burst from a hidden hole, wrapping around the person's legs and toppling them to the ground. It really was a rather brilliant idea, and Loki was able to work with the cord to make it adhesive to the point of being nearly impossible to remove without the right countercharm.
"Good," Anthony said, looking around the workshop with a dazzlingly happy grin. "These are close to perfect, and by this time tomorrow, I think we will be able to take away the words 'close to.' I still want to add the Vanaheim technique for protecting them against extreme cold. Right now, if they were used on a place like Jotunheim, the cord might possibly misfire if frost formed around the gauntlet. All we need to do is spray them down with a solution of essence of fireleaf, but it has to be cleaned off again exactly twelve hours later or the metal will begin to melt."
The solution was quickly prepared, and the trio of them wiped every gauntlet inside and out liberally with it, the spicy scent of the fireleaf occasionally making them sneeze. In less than two hours, it was done.
"Nine o'clock by the tower bells," Loki said as the soft pealing rang out over the city.
"I believe that ends our work for the day," Anthony said, slapping Peter on the back. "I shall see you tomorrow."
Peter bid them both a tired goodnight and left.
"Do you fancy some mead in celebration?" Loki asked.
"A good idea," Anthony said, grabbing his jacket and throwing it over his shoulders like an impromptu cape. "Would my prince be ashamed to be seen with so filthy a workman?"
"No, only proud to be seen with so handsome and clever an artist," Loki corrected him with a grin, then slipped his arms around him to pull him into a kiss.
He had thought of Anthony's mouth all day, hungering for this kiss as he might for a succulent sweet just out of reach, and now that he had it, his hunger only increased with the having. His hands moved to the shorter man's shoulders, slipping down his arms and back up again, feeling the rough fabric, lingering and letting his fingers take in every sensation of the strong biceps that were his to touch. Anthony shivered at the contact, his own hands splaying against the front of Loki's silk tunic, then gripping it tightly over his heart. Loki allowed his mouth to wander over the smith's throat, back to his ear, nipping lightly and savoring the sweetness of the low moan that passed Anthony's lips. In that moment, Loki found the courage to say what he had wanted to for so long.
"If I were any more in love with you, I would forget how to breathe," Loki confessed in a whisper, pulling back so he could look at Anthony's face. "My heart is yours as surely as if you had branded it with your mark."
"You love me?" Anthony said, and wonder lit his face, making his eyes dance with happiness. "You truly love me as I love you?"
Loki nodded, fearing his voice would fail him if he tried to speak. Anthony's trembling hands were clasping Loki's own. Holding his gaze and letting his feelings gleam deep in his eyes, Loki slowly kissed the back of Anthony's hands, then turned them over and placed his lips to the roughened palms.
"Will you stay tonight?" Anthony asked him while looking up at him with a grin that was both hopeful and seductive, his hands now slipping gently from his grip and resting against Loki's sides under the edge of his tunic, tentatively stroking his bare skin. Loki all put purred in response, his eyes fluttering shut in bliss.
"I would stay with you forever," he said, pressing Anthony to him in a kiss sweet and hot with desire.
A moment later, the room was empty save for a handful of shimmering emerald and gold sparks.