Chapter 33: Normal
Loki found Steve easily. Bruce and Natasha were with him.
"Mister Rogers, I have a request and I know it's big," started Loki.
"Loki, you know if it reasonable, it will be granted," said Steve.
Loki lowered his head. He had not thought this through.
"Oh, it's really big," said Bruce. "Maybe we can help."
"Alex would like to go to a park. Outside of the compound. And he would like me to go with him. I told him he could maybe go with one Avenger. I'm asking you for permission to go to a nearby park, or, at the very least, to send someone to go with Alex. I will repay you in anyway you see fit. And if you allow me to go, I will respect all and every rule you might place upon me."
Loki hoped it would work. He really wanted to see Alex happy. And normal children do go to some parks.
"Steve, every kid goes to the park with their parents every now and then," said Bruce.
"But Loki cannot leave the compound," said Natasha.
"Please, Mister Rogers, allow Alex to go. I have explained to him that I may not have the permission to go, but allow him, please."
"Alex can go, but he will probably want his father with him," said Steve.
"Letting Loki get out of the compound requires Fury's authorisation," reminded Natasha, "and surveillance. We need to be at least two Avengers with him in case he tries to run away."
"I won't escape. I only care that Alex is okay. I don't even need to go."
In truth, Loki would love to go, but he also knew it was part of his punishment to stay at the compound.
"Fury needs to authorise it, and he won't," said Natasha.
"But Loki is Steve's responsibility, not Fury's," said Bruce. "If Steve agrees, then Fury doesn't have a say in the situation."
"It is when it's a risk for the national security," argued Natasha.
"A security risk? Come on, Natasha, you have been living with Loki for nearly a year now, you know he is not a treat," said Bruce.
"But he could be bidding his time and choose the perfect moment to escape," said Natasha.
"Stop! Both of you," ordered Steve. "Loki, on Asgard, are slaves sometimes order out of their... master's... land?"
"Yes. A master can order a slave to the shop or to a farmer's market to buy things. Usually, the slave won't handle the money and sometime, the owner only uses his slave to transport his purchases, but a master can send his slave to buy what he required. However, going to the park is not part of the normal slave's duties."
"And therefore, Loki should not go," said Natasha.
"Nat, we cannot run everything by Fury. We are not Shield and Loki had been — I hate to say it — given to me. I am responsible, not Fury. So Loki, you can go to the park."
Yes!
oOo
It had been decided Wanda and Bruce would go with Loki, Alex and Storm. There was a park not too far from the compound so they could walk there, well, the adults were walking. Storm was in her stroller looking around and Alex was ridding his tricycle. On the way to the park, Loki had to stay close to either Wanda or Bruce. Because Natasha said that if Loki were to escape, he would take both his children, the three of them were supposed to be kept apart. While Loki did not mind that ridiculous rule, Wanda and Bruce did not care at all, as long as Loki stay close by.
The walk was nice and the park was beautiful, but the part that interested Alex was the playground. Loki had given a few toys to play in the sand — that had previously been under the stroller on the way to the park — to Alex. Loki took Storm and sat her in the sand next to where Alex was building a sand castle. Wanda decided to participate while Bruce was just watching. Loki could hardly help with the castle because he was busy keeping Storm from eating the sand. Then, he decided he would stay back with Storm and Bruce. While Alex and Wanda were still in the sand, Loki took Storm to the baby swing. Once the castle was big enough, Alex had fun in the play structure. Loki had to admit he was pretty good with the monkey bars now.
"Do you have those kinds of things in Asgard," asked Bruce who was standing next to Loki behind the baby swings.
"We do. But I admit those here are more colourful. We have some made in wood or in the wood. Some are made only of metal. We don't have plastic on Asgard."
Loki loved to just sit in the grass with Storm and play with her while watching Alex have fun. And with Steve staying at the compound, it was the furthest Loki has been to his master/owner and it was a weird sensation. He was not free and if he tries, he could feel the bond and knew exactly where Steve was — in Natasha's room, at the compound — but he liked to think that, at the moment, he was free to enjoy himself. But soon, he would think about his guilt, his sentence and his lack of true freedom. And he thought about who he was, which his children were. Because, who were there, really?
Loki had been a Jotun raised Asgardian, royalty, but all that was in the past. He had been a criminal, wannabe dictator and conqueror, but that was also in the past. His children were a mix between Jotun and Aesir. But right now, they were just a normal family on Midgard. Well, normal single-father family in which the father was a convict currently under house arrest. And they had magic. And they were living with the Avengers. Loki had passed from royalty, to slave, to father and prisoner. Okay, he was a complex being, but he could not simply describe himself.
"How do you do it," asked Loki to Bruce. "You have a monster inside you, but you also have a brilliant career as a scientist and are part of the mightiest heroes on Earth."
Bruce removed his glassed and pitched his nose, then rubbed his eyes and his face.
"You know, it just happened one step at the time. I hate being the other guy, but he's part of me. I'm trying to learn to love him. It's a slow process. We are one, but we are not one."
Loki then did not answer.
"No one is normal" said Bruce. "We just use that word to describe what should be the norm, but it's an artificial concept. Each of us has our own problems that others don't understand. And the Avengers are definitely the weirdest group there is. None of us are normal."
"How do you cope with being abnormal?"
"It's not too bad. One can be abnormal bad or abnormal good. Like having some liability that makes the person an outsider in the community, a pariah. Like me with the other guy. But one can also be above average, having particular abilities that the community respect and admired, like me with my intelligence. It's possible to be on both sides of that spectrum."
"But not for everyone," said sadly Loki. "I am a pariah everywhere I go. And now, I am not even allowed to go to Jotunheim. I don't really care or even want to go there, but it hurts a bit to be in exile."
"Maybe I should return your own question. How do you cope with… well, all this? What happened with your father, knowing who you are, the battle of New-York, Thanos, your sentence, the training, the rapes, the children, the slavery, the loss of your magic… Yeah, everything?"
"I do not cope, not really. I never really had time. I learn what I really was just before being king for like a day before I fell from the bifrost. And then, Thanos caught me. When I finally broke free from him, I was made a prisoner by the Avengers. And then, I got sentenced to slavery and was sent in training. It all went too fast. I never accepted the fact that I had been lied to for all my life. I am considered the god of lies, but I was not even able to decipher when people lied to me for my whole life about who I am."
"You feel betrayed."
"Well, now I know how it feels…"
"Have you ever lie to your children?"
"Yes, of course. Just remember Santa Clause."
"Parents lie to their children all the time. They keep the truth away from children because they are deemed too young to understand. Parents twist the truth. Will you tell them you never wanted them, that they are from rapes? Tell them their other parent is a rapist?"
"No! Of course not! Well, maybe I should, though. They have the right to know. But I should protect them from the truth."
"My point, exactly," said Bruce. "Being a parent is a tremendous job with the need for decisions at every moment. Just tonight, you had to decide if they would go to the park. You do it out of love because you want the best for them. You put them first."
"I am always tore between putting Steve first or the children. I have been told during five years that my master always comes first. But for four years now, I have been a father and put them first."
"You have to unlearn how to be a slave. It won't happen over night. You have been with us for eleven months now, but it's still not enough to repair a life time of damages and hurts."
"Did you refuse to be my owner just because of the other guy?"
The question let Bruce speechless for a moment.
"Thor took me by surprise. I have to say I told the truth in my reasons for not taking you. Slavery is illegal and I cannot own someone. People had tried to use me since I got the other guy. Also, just looking at you that first night, when Thor removed the drape, I panicked and I truly thought the other guy would make an appearance. If you had been put in my care, I would have been a threat to you and Alex. I refused for a lot of reason, but one of them is because I did not want that much responsibility. Did you take it the wrong way? Did my decision makes you feel like a pariah?"
"Your reaction did, but not the decision. You panicked and, even if I could not show it, I was panicking when Thor announced you were the first choice. I had only been told I would serve on Midgard first, I lived through the training not knowing who my master would be, but I had other preoccupations. However, I was relieved you refused. Don't get me wrong, but I did not want you as my master because of the other guy. Honestly, I did not want any of you as my master, but you even less."
Loki had only known the people he had wronged would be his owners, but he had wronged so many.
oOo
"He had wronged so many people and you just letting him go outside," screamed Natasha.
They were in her room, arguing.
"Natasha, how many people have you killed," asked Steve.
"Don't make it about me. It's about Loki."
"We stopped Loki when he was dangerous. Now, he cannot use his magic and he is redeeming himself. You did the same."
"I was under the influence of the red room, I had to," defended Natasha. "Steve, I did bad things and I wronged a lot of people. I am not without guilt, but Loki and I are different."
"You got a life, but would you say no one deserves a second chance, even after that kind of life?"
"Look, Steve. I believe Loki deserves a second chance and I have spent a lot of time with him. I must admit he changed so much. But I think it's a big step to allow him to the park."
"Do we agree Alex has the right to a normal childhood?"
"Yes, Steve, we agree the boy — and Storm — deserves a normal life, away from slavery. It is bad they had to grow up in it. But Loki is not his children. We agree he won't leave the compound and I cleared it with Fury the only time he went out."
"I am Loki's master, meaning I am responsible for him. I don't run everything by Fury. And how long would it take for him to respond? Alex wanted to go to the park tonight, and it's a beautiful evening, so why not? Let's look at the pros and cons of letting Loki outside. Do you think he would attack people? Or escape?"
"No, he won't," said Natasha. "But the punishment cannot just stop because Loki had changed. It was a necessity he goes to see the daycares, but the park is not essential in his life."
"We banned the reward system because Loki has a job now, but even prisoners in jail have furlough sometimes. Let's call it a privilege that can be allowed from time to time. All three of them would come back happy."
Natasha did not speak for a moment.
"I still have to put it in my monthly report to Fury," said Natasha. "He won't like it."
She silently agreed to disagree with Steve, but did not push further. After all, Loki was his responsibility.
oOo
A few days after the park, Loki still had an idea in mind. He knew Storm had power, but he wanted to see how much. The magic lesson with Wanda and Steve for Alex had continued, it was still once a week usually during Storm's nap.
But to test Storm, Loki would need space, a special space. He could have gone to Steve and run the idea by him, but he went to Tony instead. Well, to be fair, the Avengers were out of town, trying to find Bucky in Europe. So Loki went to the lab to tell Tony his idea.
"Mister Stark, I hope I'm not bothering you."
"Well, this experience just blew up in my face, but Dum-E over there managed to get the fire extinguisher, so a break is appreciated."
"I would like to make a request," said Loki respectfully.
"Sure! What about?"
"Well, Storm has powers and I would like to test them. But I need a special space."
"Oh, cool! Test! I already want to help. How are we going to test her magic, exactly?"
"Well, I would need access to a room where we can regulate the temperature and that is easy to clean if she makes it snow or rain. It is my assumption that she can control the weather, even inside."
So Tony led Loki, Storm and Alex into an empty swimming pool. Well, that swimming pool had been emptied to be cleaned, the work was nearly finished, but better use it empty while it was still time.
Loki sat Storm at the bottom of the shallow end of the pool. Alex sat in the stairs, observing from afar.
"Alex, I will need an assistant," said Tony. "Can you hold a camera?"
Tony would usually use Dum-E for that, but the dumb robot would not do well if Storm flooded the pool. And Alex was happy to help. Further, Loki was holding his tablet. He had asked Friday to come up with short movies and pictures of different weather events, like snow, rain, but also hurricane.
"Ready Storm?"
The baby just smiled and giggled.
"I think she is ready," said Tony.
So Loki showed her the first video. Just a video of trees dancing with the wind.
Storm laughed. Then, there was wind in the room.
"Wow! There you go, Storm," said Tony. "Loki, did you really choose that name for a reason?"
"I did not know," admitted Loki. "But she might be able to do much more than just control the weather. We will focus on that for now."
The slave bond forbid Alex to use his magic when he was Storm's age, but since Steve did not consider Alex nor Storm as a slave, the magic bond had faded on them, so Storm could do magic even if she was only six months old. She might have so much more potential with magic though.
Next, Loki showed her a picture of some light rain. And Storm made it rain, inside, right on her father. Only Loki got wet because the small grey cloud was just above him. Storm laughed even more, but Alex and Tony joined. Loki, even though he was now fully wet, did not care and just smiled. He had anticipated he might get wet, that's why he had brought some towels and extra clothes and left them in the locker room. He had also wrapped his tablet into plastic to make it waterproof and Friday had told him it would be fine —or to use rice if there was an accident, but Loki had not understood that part.
Next, Loki showed her a video of a warm sunny afternoon. Storm looked at it, but nothing happened.
"I was hoping for a nice warm breeze right now, too bad," said Loki.
To get the idea of warmth across, he showed her a picture of fire and some blankets. Then, it worked. The room got hotter and slightly suffocating.
"It's too hot," complained Alex. "Storm, made it colder."
Storm cried between she too was hot. So Loki showed her a picture of snow.
Suddenly, clouds formed all over the room and snow started to fall. Storm clapped, so Tony imitated her and applauded. Alex jumped in the snow, barely keeping the camera aimed at Storm as he jumped into the snow.
"More! More snow! More, Storm."
Well, he got what he asked. A giant snow cloud formed in the room and Loki picked up his daughter so she would not get too cold sitting in the snow. But she was just clapping her hands.
"Wow, that's impressive," said Tony.
"How about a real tempest," asked Loki to Storm.
What could go wrong naming a child Storm? So Loki proceeded to show her a video of a snow storm. Immediately, all around the room, it was a blizzard with a lot of wind. But Storm wanted to protect her family, therefore, the snow in the shallow end of the swimming pool was undisturbed. It was a bit like watching a tempest from inside, while also freezing.
"Think we could go for something a bit warmer for the next part," asked Tony holding himself to keep warm, but still freezing.
He was the only human in the room. Alex and Storm, being half-frost-giant, were not feeling the cold as intensely as Tony or even Loki while in his Aesir skin. So, to be nice, Loki put her down and showed Storm a video of a nice warm beach.
The warmth was expected. All the snow melt rapidly. What Loki did not expect was the sudden sand everywhere. Storm was giggling happily, throwing small fists of sand around her. Behind Loki, Alex and Tony started building a sand castle.
"You can do sand too," asked Loki while picking up his daughter again.
"Hey, maybe we should convert this swimming pool into an indoor beach," suggested Tony.
"Yeah! It would be fun," said Alex.
Well, children's magic was sometime ephemeral, so the sand might disappear soon. Storm was starting to yawn, but Loki had expected her to be sleepy after so much magic.
"Tony, Alex, do you want to play in the sand while I go put Storm down for her nap," inquired Loki.
"Don't worry about us, we will build a magnificent sand castle," answered Tony.
Loki was not worried to let his son alone with Tony Stark, after all, they both acted like four years old at the moment. Well, maybe it should be concerning.
oOo
Outside the swimming pool, in a nearby tree, a raven had been watching the whole magic seance and would be reporting on it soon.
oOo
On another day, Loki was feeding Storm at super with the Avengers. She had moved to solid food a while ago and Loki was relieved to not have to breastfeed again. He didn't mind the breastfeed, and he did not mind the changing of form anymore, but it was nice to not asked for permission every time. So, the Avengers, plus Tony, Bruce, and Loki's family were just eating when…
"Baaaghhh!"
"What," said Loki surprised. "Say again."
Everyone around the table stayed silent.
"Daahhhh ahhh."
"Did you say 'dada'? You said your first word! Congratulations," said Loki happily.
"Hey Storm, say my name! Say Alex."
"Aaaa' Eexx"
"She said my name! She said my name," said Alex.
"Dadadaddadadadada," said Storm.
"Yes, I'm dada," said Loki.
It sounded silly, but Loki was so proud of her. Oh, he had been proud when Alex had started talking, but for his first born, he had to keep him quiet because slaves need to not be heard. It was a relief to be able to encourage Storm to just talk.
"Can you say Tony," asked the man.
"Oooh… Yyyy."
"Yeah, you got it," said Tony.
"Storm, can you say Bruce's name," asked Alex. "Say Bruce."
"Huuuusss."
"Yeah!"
Bruce was flattered and blushed a little.
"Say Steve, can you say Steve," asked Alex.
"Eeeveee."
Steve smiled.
And the evening went on with Alex asking Storm to say a lot of words. It was children talk, but Storm could talk, more or less.
oOo
A few days later, the television announced that James Barnes had been sighted. Immediately, Steve and Tony asked Friday to confirm the news and to be one hundred percent sure before they made plans. All the current Avengers would be going plus Tony.
But, just before they could all exited the building, on a clear blue sky day, thunder started and Thor arrived via the bifrost. He looked darker than usual when he came in and just said, "The AllFather requests the presence of the slave."
