Christmas Day came and went and not long after so did New Years. Maisy, Loki, and Linn planned on returning to Asgard on January 2nd. That way they'd have all the celebrations out of the way and they could go before Loki threw a fit at being cooped up with the Avengers for so long. And before Mr. Sichore could change his mind about his tentative blessing on their marriage. He and Loki had been surprisingly civil toward one another the whole time they'd been there, but Maisy suspected that they were one poorly said word away from getting into another fight.
And she was right, it turned out.
On the morning that they were preparing to leave Loki was grouchy because it was, well, morning. Mr. Sichore was grouchy because his daughter was going back to a foreign planet. Maisy was a little grouchy herself because she wanted to bring some of her clothing back with her but Loki refused to help her carry anything.
So they all stood, giving each other stiff goodbyes and wishing everyone well. Linn and Maisy each had a box of Maisy's clothing with a few other personal items shoved inside. Linn was proudly wearing a Stark Industries T-shirt and she seemed to be the only person in a good mood that morning. She was hugging every Avenger and anyone else she could get her arms around. It was safe to say that the girl would be the most missed guest out of all who had stayed for the holidays.
"Goodbye Tony!" Linn exclaimed, "Fanks for having us!"
"Sure, whatever kid," Tony brushed it off, "Thor made me do it."
Maisy was in process of saying goodbye to her father when the drama went down.
"Bye Dad," she was hugging him fiercely and trying to hold back tears, "I love you."
"I love you too, Maisy," he said, his voice gruff, "We'll get this whole documentary business sorted out and everything, I promise."
"I know we will."
"Goodbye Maisy."
"Alright, perfect!" Loki piped up, "Everyone has said goodbye. Let's get going, hmm?"
"Hold on just a minute," Maisy snapped and gave her dad another hug, "We'll be back soon, I promise."
"I hope not too soon," Loki groaned, "If it takes us this long to leave every time!"
"Hey!" Mr. Sichore took an angry step in his son-in-law's direction, "You saying you don't want Maisy to come back?"
"Honestly? I'd prefer it that way," Loki sneered and Maisy gasped.
"Loki!"
"Let's just get going."
"Maybe I don't want to go if you aren't going to let me come back!" Maisy exclaimed.
"Uh oh," Linn whispered.
"Of course I'll let you come back," Loki rolled his eyes, "Perhaps we just won't visit this irritating old man."
"He's my father!"
"Oh wow, I hadn't noticed."
"Boy, you'd better start showing some respect-" Mr. Sichore started.
"Or what? You'll throw a tantrum? Behave like the toddler you are?"
"That's it!" Mr. Sichore swung a mean right hook, but Loki's was meaner and suddenly they were rolling across the room just like they had in that tavern in Asgard. The Avengers were watching with concern, but no one made a move to help. Maisy face-palmed and growled angrily.
"Stop it! Stop it right now!"
"Dis is getting exciting!" Linn whispered to Tony.
"I feel like I should stop it," the billionaire whispered back, "But it's so entertaining! Like a really bad soap opera!"
"Why would soap sing opera?" Linn asked.
"Alright brother, that's enough," Thor grabbed Loki by the back of his tunic and held him aloft like a misbehaving kitten, "You'll hurt him."
"That was the idea!" Loki yowled.
"I think he's gone a bit stir crazy," Thor apologized to everyone, "I'll escort them back to Asgard to make sure he behaves himself."
The blond dragged his brother out onto the helicopter pad and Maisy glumly followed, heaving a box and her luggage along with her. She hated fighting, but at the moment she was pissed at Loki and she wished her hands weren't full so she could smack him. Linn was still in a good mood.
Thor only had to look up the sky, call Heimdall's name, and a beam of light was enveloping them. They landed in the golden dome quickly and Maisy couldn't help glaring at everyone, even Heimdall.
"My prince," the Gatekeeper spoke to Thor, "I do not know if it was wise to bring the princess back here."
Maisy sighed in irritation at being called a princess again and she tried to shrug Loki's hand off her shoulder when he placed it there nervously. She was so consumed by her own grouchy thoughts that she had barely caught what Heimdall had said.
"Why not?" Thor asked.
"Loki informed you of those who might wish Maisy harm," Heimdall gestured toward the city, "They have stopped hiding in the shadows."
"What do you mean?" Loki snapped, his hold on Maisy's shoulder tightening until it was almost painful, "What have they done?"
"They are petitioning the king… or rather, they are rioting."
"Who?!"
"Tyr leads them. The group is not large and could easily be wiped out by our forces," Heimdall shook his head, "But Lord Tyr has convinced many innocents to join him as well. Children are shouting for a cause they do not understand. The palace forces cannot attack."
"Then jail them all," Loki snapped, "What is it they want?"
"Tyr is calling for Maisy's head on a pike. He still harbors much anger over what happened with his son."
Maisy's irritable thoughts disappeared and her eyes widened in horror.
"He wants to kill me?" She whispered.
"I am afraid so."
"What does Father say?" Thor growled, grip tightening on Mjolnir, "Surely he has done something?"
"He is reluctant to stand up against an old friend," Heimdall sighed, "He has reminded the public that he cleared Maisy of any charges for what she did to Drin, but he does not do anything to stop Tyr from riling up the city against her."
"Why do they hate me?" Maisy rubbed her arms, feeling a sudden chill.
"Drin was not well liked in life by anyone who met him, but in death they recall the heroic deeds he's done and the very few charitable acts he committed. Tyr has fashioned him into a hero and you into a villain. It does not hurt that there are those who think you were the weakest choice of bride."
"Who would they have had me pick? Melantha?" Loki scoffed, "I can assure you the riots would be much worse if that were the case."
"They think you bribed Tzefira into dropping out. They want her to return and replace Maisy."
"This is ridiculous!" Thor growled, "I will fly to the palace and speak with Father immediately. Tyr must be stopped. He threatens a member of the royal family and that is going too far!"
"Yeah, good luck trying to convince Odin to spare me again," Maisy clenched her fists, "He hates me."
"I thought you two were coming to terms," Thor said.
"We were, but it's not like he's ever going to take my side over Tyr's again. Look at how much trouble that's caused him!" Maisy's fear disappeared for a moment and her anger returned, but directed at someone other than Loki, "Thor, take me to Tyr. I wanna talk to him."
"No," both brothers said at the same time.
"Fine," Maisy turned to Linn, "Here."
She put the box she'd been carrying on top of Linn's box.
"I'll go to him myself," she rolled up the sleeves of her fuzzy sweater and started marching down the Rainbow Bridge. She knew this was the stupidest idea ever, but she'd had enough near death experiences in the past year and she wanted to put an end to this one right away. Maybe Tyr could be reasoned with. Probably not, but there was always the chance.
"Maisy, this is a terrible idea," Loki was walking along side her. She was grateful that he wasn't stopping her by force, though it would have been easy for him to do so, "Tyr would shoot you down before he'd let you speak."
"I need to try and talk to him," Maisy insisted, "I might not be able to do anything about the people on earth hating me, but I'll be damned if I let everyone on Asgard hate me too."
"Not everyone here hates you. Only the fools that Tyr has stirred into a frenzy!"
"I'm going to talk to him," Maisy said firmly, "So either drag me home kicking and screaming or help me out."
"Norns, you are in a terrible mood today, aren't you?"
"If you want me to be in a good mood don't rile my dad up into fighting you!" She snapped.
"Is that why you're so angry?"
"It's just been a not very fun day, okay?" She stopped and looked at him, "I'm sorry for being so grouchy with you, Loki, but I can't just sit by and let them all try and kill me."
He regarded her carefully, studying her face and finally sighing. He put his hands on her shoulders and kissed her forehead.
"Alright, fine. We'll try to speak to Tyr. But the moment it gets too dangerous I am getting you out of there one way or another. Alright?"
"Works for me," she smiled a little, "Thank you."
"Well, what was I supposed to do? I love you far too much to let you get yourself killed."
Maisy stood on tiptoe and kissed his cheek. "I'm still mad at you for messing with my dad, but I love you too. Now. Let's show that old fart, Tyr, that I'm not a horrible murderer."
A note from the author: I mean... you didn't think I was going to let them have nothing but fluffy happiness forever, did you? *grins sinisterly* I'm not saying we need to get the PFoD up and running again, but... it wouldn't hurt to start baking comfort cookies. ;)
Thanks so much for reading and being patient with me! Sorry I never got that Christmas one shot posted. I couldn't think of how to end it and it was getting kind of boring. Maybe I'll revisit it when Christmas rolls around again. In the meantime, I hope you enjoyed this chapter!
Special thanks to all of my dearest reviewers:
Lwolf: Sorry I didn't get the update out before New Year's Eve. :P I was pretty busy helping with my friend's wedding. Hopefully the wait wasn't too horrible. ;)
xlokiswolfx: Hope your studies and your volunteer work are going well! Glad to hear that you are still reading! I agree, Loki would make a good Avenger... we'll see if he puts any more thought into that particular idea. ;)
ferbette: Linn has seen the footage of Loki and Hulk's last interaction and even if she knows she can get away with most things, she's not willing to risk making Bruce mad. XD
SilverStorm5: And a happy New Year!
CheetahLover: Glad you liked it! I was seriously stumped about what to have Maisy get Loki but I figured a personalized lamp/box/thingy would work. :P
MetallicarBaby: When Loki stops being tricksy and/or grouchy once in a while he can actually be a considerate guy lol. Hope your holidays were amazing as well and that you're starting 2019 off awesomely! :)
Ninja Squirrel: *hugs you back* I HOPE YOUR CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEARS WERE AWESOME! And don't worry about Maisy. Earth might hate her now, but later... they still kinda hate her. But I promise everything works out in the end! Loki is totally not a team player (unless he got to hand pick the members of his team and possibly mind control them all), but we shall see! :D
nina del carmen: I hope you have a great 2019! Thanks for being patient with me. :)
Love you guys! Seriously, you are the bestest readers on this whole website.