Siblings
Loki faces his scariest challenge yet.
Their footsteps echoed hollowly as they walked across the marble floor, it did nothing to calm down Loki. What am I doing? Why did I even agree to this? He thought. Facing down Frost Giants in Jotunheim? Attacking Midgard? Nothing was more terrifying than this. That might just be because this time he actually cared what people thought of him or more specifically what Reagan's siblings thought of him. She gently squeezed his hand and he tried to remember what she said would happen. Breakfast in the Conservatory. All the siblings would gather to have breakfast whenever they were all together. Just a casual affair, she said. He reminded himself. Two footmen pushed open the doors before them.
For one horrible second Loki thought that something had gone wrong and Thor sat at the table inside; a tall, broad blonde man was recounting some tale of glory to his dining companions with a booming voice. He didn't have time to absorb more of the scene in front of him before...
"REAGAN!" cried a high pitched voice and a mass of strawberry blond curls seemed to hurl themselves towards him.
The curls turned out to belong to Reagan's baby sister, Brid, who wrapped her sister in a big hug before latching onto Loki. He tried not to stumble as she pulled him forward. The others at the table by this point looked up to greet the new arrivals, all except the blond man who had yet to notice that his audience had stopped listening. "Brid, Loki would like to breath now." Reagan admonished lightly.
Brid stood back to allow Reagan to make introductions "May I introduce Loki, Prince of Asgard." Loki sent her a bit of a look at her use of that title. She quirked an eyebrow in returned but continued with her introductions without further remark "Loki may I introduce my siblings: Brid, who has thoroughly introduced herself," the blonde girl smiled "Cam," she gestured towards an auburn man who gave Loki a calculating look and a sardonic smile to Reagan "Eppie and Al," a redheaded girl and a brunette boy came forward to greet him "and Lu." Reagan finished rather lackluster offhandedly gesturing towards the Thor lookalike.
"Ah Reagan I was just telling everyone about that time I slew that fell beast, the mighty-"
"Yes, yes, the mighty Questing Beast. We have heard this story before, we've heard this story a million times." Reagan snapped at him, she had little patience for her brother's boasting. She waved a hand towards the spread of food laid out in front of them "Please may we sit and eat without your tiresome stories." The group settled themselves back down with plates of food.
Loki began to relax as light, trivial conversation danced around the table. He focused on observing those around the table , he was a great judge of character and watching Reagan's siblings gave him insight into what made them tick. His first impressions of Lu proved accurate, he was loud, arrogant and a little bit dim but, the others were clearly trying to make him feel welcome.
Is he always like this? Loki queried silently.
Reagan did not give any outward indication that she heard him but her voice echoed in his head A giant twat? Oh he's usually is much, much worse. He'll continue to go on and on and on.
He tried to stifle a laugh before the others at the table noticed the unspoken conversation going on. We need to do something about that. Lu suddenly gave out a cry of surprise, flinging himself back causing his chair to tumble over and his plate to tip over splattering his food all over his lap. His cup was vomiting forth thousands and thousands of ants. His siblings laughed, Reagan and Cam maliciously so. They both looked at Loki and shared a smile with him. It felt good to be appreciated for his more mischievous side. On Asgard he'd be scolded and scorned if he tried anything such as this.
As they walked back to their room after breakfast Reagan grabbed Loki's hand and leaned forward a planted a peck on his cheek. "Thank you for that, I know my family can be quite trying at times but you did beautifully. I especially like the prank you pulled on my brother." She laughed "I have never seen him looked so surprise in my life. I will cherish that memory forever."
He wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her tight against his side "It was quite the trial but I persevered for your sake." He said in a mock solemn tone.
She laughed again and pulled him into a searing kiss.