Chapter 20: Calm and Storm

After Thor departed, things were calm at the compound for a few days. Loki had yet another doctor appointment.

"Well, it looks like the baby is ready to arrive any day now," said Banner. "And she's going to be healthy."

"As a Jotun, I decide when I give birth. I was planning maybe Friday evening. I have less work to do during the weekend usually."

"You know Steve is going to give you some time off. Not a few days, but as much as you need."

"But I still have to serve."

"Okay, time to go to the other room and discuss things with Steve," said Banner.

Steve was usually present for the medical appointment, but he was only in the room when both Loki and Bruce invited him, meaning at the end of the meeting.

"Steve, please tell him he won't work once he got the baby."

"What? No, Loki, I thought you already knew. I'm not going to give you any work for a while."

The phenomenon of maternity leave had been strange to Steve at first, but he thought that women should have the right to a job. The concept of them returning to work after took him more time giving that he was coming from an era when a married woman would give up her job to take care of her family. But the 21st century was different, more evolved. It makes sense that a woman could go back to work and raise children at home. Daycare was just something that wasn't around before the war. But even Sarah, Steve's mother, had worked when he was young, though, mostly to make more money for the family. But Steve would not force Loki to work right after giving birth.

"I am supposed to serve the Avengers."

"You will have plenty to do. If you want works, I'll give you something light. Maybe just cleaning the kitchen."

"But," interjected Bruce, "with the decrease of tasks, Loki won't be able to go to as much place. Maybe it's time you enlarge his area," suggested Bruce.

"Yes. Loki, I've been thinking about it for a while. You know the compound, at least inside, and we all trust you not to run away. So I am going to enlarge your perimeter. Friday will show you a map of the new places you can go without supervision. It is not the whole compound, not the basement or the labs, but some of the gyms, those reserved for the Avengers exclusively."

"Thank you, but I don't understand why..."

"We trust you. And it's time we show you," said Steve. "Also I wanted to decrease the price to go outside, in the playground. You will still be supervised outside, but it will now cost you five stars to go outside."

"Why don't we speak of the birth," proposed Banner. "Loki, what will you need?"

"Not much. I will need permission to use my magic in order to change form. In my Jotun body, I will then be able to deliver the baby without problems. She will need pyjamas or a blanket, but that's about it."

"And will you need something? It's my first time delivering a baby from another specie," said Bruce.

"No. The birth will go well."

"I still would like to monitor you during the labor."

Loki nodded.

"If you want. You can refuse. But if there's a problem, it might be better."

"There will be no problem. Jotnar and Aesir are stronger than humans in that regard. And since I have a special bond with the baby, I know she is alright."

"As for Alex, do you need a babysitter? We could ask any one of the Avengers, they will love it," asked Steve.

"No. I can give birth in my room and it will only take around ten minutes. Jotun's births are simple."

"I will advise to give birth here, at the infirmary, just in case," said Bruce.

oOo

So on Friday morning, Loki was with Alex and the Avengers in the kitchen.

"Alex, I want you to listen to Wanda and Vision, and Sam, and everyone else, okay?"

"And I will be a big brother after?"

"Yes, you will."

Steve had decided to just give a day off to everyone and when Loki asked for a babysitter for a day, everyone volunteered.

"I love you Alex. And I will come back with your little sister."

"Bye Daddy!"

Loki pushed the stroller with all the things he needed and went with Steve and Bruce to the infirmary.

"Okay, how do I give you permission," asked Steve once everything else was ready. Loki, now shirtless, had been connected through wires to all sorts of machines so Bruce could monitor his heart rate, breathing, blood pressure body temperature, basically everything. In the corner of the room, there was a small crib with pyjamas on it, waiting to be used.

"You just have to order it," said Loki.

"Okay Loki, I order you to change to your original form," ordered Steve.

And Loki did. It was so good to have his magic back, but it was strange to have the bound allowing him to do it. The transformation was not too fast, starting by his head and going down. Lines appeared on his now-blue skin.

"Just don't touch me. My skin is cold. The baby won't be as cold though," informed Loki.

Bruce was actually looking at the numbers on the screen and saw the temperature dropped to way below freezing, which should be concerning, but Loki had informed him it was normal; at least, normal for Loki.

A strange hole on his belly then started to expand. Loki decided to sit on the edge of the bed. He was small for a frost giant, therefore birth was not as easy as the other members of his specie. The hole expanse and soon, it revealed the head of the baby. Loki just took her and welcome her into the world.

There she was, his little girl. She didn't cry, because frost giants don't need it, but she was observing her father with her big eyes. She looks like a miniature version of Loki in his Aesir form, with black hair, but lighter pale skin.

Loki hugged her and placated her to his chest where she could get milk. Jotun's milk was colder than other's, and it seems to be just fine for her.

Bruce and Steve just observed the scene with admiration. Steve had never seen a birth before and was just amazed. Bruce could say everything was normal, if you forget the fact that the baby didn't need to scream and that the temperature of the room was now freezing.

"She's beautiful," said Steve.

"She really is," said Bruce. "Have you thought of a name?"

"Storm," said Loki. "Her name is Storm."

It might appear strange to name a baby that now looked so calm Storm, but knowing she was Loki's daughter, it was appropriated.

"Loki, how do you feel? Are you hurt in any way? Do you need anything," asked Bruce.

"No. Like I told you, the birth would be without problems."

He finished breastfeeding her and stood. He then proceeded to put a diaper and dressed his baby girl.

"She is not as accustomed to the cold as normal frost giants, but I remembered Alex had started crying because he was cold. She should handle the variety of temperature more than her brother."

"If it's okay with you, I would like to make sure she is alright," asked Bruce.

Loki transferred Storm to Bruce who took her delicately.

"She is not as fragile as human baby, just so you know."

But Bruce was very careful with the baby.

"May I be ordered to take my usual form now, mister Rogers?"

"Yes, I need to order you, right? Loki, I order you to take your Aesir form," said Steve.

And Loki did. He felt way more comfortable and normal in this form. Not because of the birth, but because it was not the form of a monster. The cold didn't bother him in his original form, he was just more at ease in this skin.

"We should handle the birth certificate," suggested Steve. "So the first name is Storm. Last name? Wait, what is your last name? Or Alex's?"

"She is Lokidottir. Alex is Lokison. As for me, I guess I am Loki of the Avengers since I belong to you. I am not an Odinson, and I should not be a Laufeyson. A slave doesn't have a last name."

"And your children will have a different last name?"

"In our tradition, it is different. We are the sons or daughters of our parents."

"So Storm Lokidottir," said Steve.

"Giving that she is both, she could choose to go by Lokison. All Jotnar are both, like you know. It can change."

"Okay, now, do I put your name under mother or father..."

"Well, I'll act as both anyway. But go for father. I may be the biological mother, but I am a man."

"Do I put mother unknown?"

"Yes."

"Well, people don't need to know the whole story," said Steve. "And I just won't tick the gender. There we go. Congratulations, it's Storm!"

"And she is healthy," said Bruce giving back the baby to Loki. "Do you need some time? Or anything else? I must admit, I was way more stress that the situation called for."

"Well, it's done. She is born," said Loki.

oOo

Steve didn't give Loki any task for the day, saying he should get to know Storm better. They made their way back to the common area and as soon as Alex saw his father, he ran to him.

"Daddy! Do I have a sister?"

"Yes, you do."

Loki crouched down to show Alex his little sister. She was looking at her brother with big eyes.

"Hey Storm. I'm Alex. I'm your big brother and I will protect you against every danger."

Loki smiled. He was just happy. The situation was surreal. How could he, a monster who attacked New York, now have two children and be living with the Avengers?

They then proceed to introduce Storm to the others.

"Wait, how come he knew the baby's name and not us," asked Tony jealous.

"Because he can keep a secret," answered Loki.

oOo

Storm was crying out and there was nothing Loki could do to calm her. Nothing except one. Loki had been glad Alex had not cried that much and that the guards were usually so close. But now, Loki had to use the bond with Rogers to find him.

When Loki arrived with the screaming baby, well, no need to say he attracted attention.

"Mister Rogers, I need you to order me to feed her, please?"

At least Rogers understood instantly.

"Loki, I order you to change to your original form."

And Loki changed into a frost giant. He didn't lose time moving to the side of the room and removing his shirt. He then nested Storm close to him and she calmed down as she was having her lunch. As soon as Storm was finished, Steve decided to talk to Loki.

"You know, we cannot keep doing that," said Steve.

"Doing what, mister?"

"Me having to order you every time she is hungry," clarified Steve.

Oh... Loki had hoped he could breastfeed as long as possible. But the Avengers didn't care about saving money on food for the baby and they could furnish her with something else.

"Can I just give you the order of changing when you need to?"

"No. It doesn't work that way. It is always one command at the time and you need to be close by," said Loki. "I would understand if you don't want me to breastfeed."

"No Loki, it's not that. She needs that and you too. What if you stayed in that form more often, is there any down sides?"

"Yes, there are."

"Which ones?"

"Well, you will have to see a monster all the time. But you could send me to my room to solve that problem I suppose. Nobody can touch me, except Storm and Alex. My skin would give a frostbite to anyone. And the air around me would be colder, the room would be colder."

"Loki, you are not a monster and no one care if you are blue or white. Really!"

"In training, when Alex was born, the guards didn't let me go to my Aesir form for around a month. And they would laugh at me for being a Jotun. They were cruel. I don't like this skin, I'm not good in it."

"So what do you propose? She needs milk, you don't like being blue and I have to order you to change at all time."

"I don't know," said Loki lowering his head.

He hated his form, he hated being a monster. Having to go through that for Alex had been tortured, but he went through it for his baby because of love and he would do whatever he needed to for Storm now.

"I could stay in this form, but there are consequences," proposed Loki.

"Loki, we can handle not touching you or adjusting the temperature, but if you don't love this form, I'm not going to force you."

oOo

At supper, everyone was around the table celebrating the birth. Someone had put up a banner to welcome Storm and there was even a cake. Everyone was happy and congratulating Loki for the new baby.

Storm was looking at the scene with her big eyes. Then, she attracted attention by her light cries. Loki understood she needed to be fed again.

"Mister Rogers, she needs me to change form," said Loki.

"Well, then, Loki, I order you to change form."

And Loki did in front of everyone. He then stood up and went to his room to breastfeed. Some of them had assured him there was nothing wrong with breastfeeding in front of them, even though it was strange to see a man breastfeed, a man without breasts, but it was different for Jotnar, their breasts didn't show. Loki just wanted to hide because he was blue, he was a monster.

He came back soon after with Storm, still blue. For both Storm and Alex, it didn't matter if Loki was blue or white. For the Avengers, it was just strange to see him in a different form, but he still looked like the Loki they knew.

"I love blue," exclaimed Alex. "Can I be blue too?"

Loki was a be surprised that his son just like his new look.

"Do you like daddy's form, Alex," asked Bruce.

"Yeah! It's cool."

"Well, I think it's awesome," said Vision. "He has cool lines, the eyes pop out a lot. It's beautiful. But personally, I love red more than blue."

"I love red too," said Wanda, "but blue is good on you, Loki."

"Hey, we have a red guy, a green guy and now a blue guy," said Tony. "How awesome is that?"

"Tony, you know I'm not awesome," said Bruce. "I'm a monster when I am green."

Loki freeze on that, not because of the cold, but because of the monster.

"But a nice monster. You are on our side," said Tony. "And Hulk is a nice guy. He only hurts the bad people. There is some control over Hulk. And he is a nice fellow."

"I thought I was a monster at first," said Vision. "Turned out I'm not. I am not human, but I can change my form to one. I just prefer this red skin."

"Why? Why did you think you were a monster? Why do you love that form," asked Loki.

"I was created by Ultron, an enemy. Therefore, I must have been the enemy. But it is I who decide who I am. It took me time to find put how to change, so I got use to be red."

"Oh... But you are on the side of the Avengers," asked Loki.

"Yes. They accept me for who I am, even in a different colour."

"So the colour of people doesn't matter," asked Alex.

"I'm not the same colour as Tony, and he's my best friend," said Rhodey. "Every individual just have to get to know the others, to look past the visual. It's what inside that matter. I have seen real monsters, awful people that looked human, and they were human."

"So you don't care if you have a monster among you," asked Loki. "A Jotun?"

"No Loki, we don't care. We know you. You did some bad things in the past, but your genetic doesn't predetermine you to be a monster. That's just racist," said Steve.

"Thank you."

Later that evening, Loki had asked for the order to turn back and Steve hadn't given it, because he was too busy in the kitchen. So he was blue, just sitting in the living room. Storm and Alex were now sleeping in their room and Friday had promised to tell Loki if Storm were to awake.

"Mister Steve, I think I would like to stay in this form for the nights. It would be easier if I don't have to wake you up before breastfeeding. I still prefer my Aesir form, but I care less about being blue."

"Okay Loki," said Steve. "You can just ask me whenever you want to change. Or just have Friday tell me when I should come so you can change."

"Thank you, for everything, I mean it."