Chapter Two: Surprise Surprise
After the second week locked away Loki could tell something was wrong. He was throwing up more than he could keep down, despite is balanced diet. He would admit over the past few months he hadn't been taking very good care of himself, but he had never experienced something like this. It bothered him that he did not know what was ailing him, but there was little he could do in his current situation. After another morning of retching Loki decided to skip lunch and take a nap. He was grateful for his placement in the prison; he was in complete isolation except for the normal rotation of guards; which gave him the privacy he needed to rest.
One of the guards, Saksi, who was on permanent rotation as Loki's guard also noticed this. He served the morning shift and it was hard for him to ignore Loki's condition. Other guards told him to pay no mind to the trickster, as Loki was known to for his deception and underhanded ways. Saksi, however was having trouble turning a blind eye. On the start of the first day of his week rotation he stood and watched Loki pace his chamber for another morning in a row. Loki did not look well and Saksi could tell this morning would not end well. His regret in accepting this position grew, as he did not know what to do. He glanced at his countrymen guidance, but there was not a glimmer of mercy in his eyes. Saksi sighed and returned to watching Loki pace. Loki started at one end and walked to the other and repeated. After five minutes the episode began. Loki dropped to his knees before them and gagged and few times. Saksi grimaced but he could not turn away. Then it started, Saksi grimaced, he would be grateful when his shift ends. Finally Saksi's shift came to an end. He was more than eager to leave, but as he left he noticed Loki's tired eyes staring at him, he felt nervous under the trickster's glare. So Saksi quickly hurried out.
On his way to the mess hall he couldn't shake this uneasy feeling he had. He wanted to feel as indifferent about Loki as the other guards, but his upbringing didn't allow it. Prisoner or not nobody deserved to suffer as he did. At sun down, after Saksi's last shift he decided he could no longer stand to see Loki in this condition. He decided he would go to the Queen and ask if the healers could take a look at him. He was sure Queen Freya would be more compassionate, as asking the King would be out of the question. Saksi requested a private audience with the Queen and was granted special privilege to see her at once because of his post as Loki's guard. He was grateful for the chance to see her so quickly, but also very nervous. Saksi waited patiently, pacing around the rug in the Queen's private library. He rehearsed the words he would say to her in his head, but did not realize she had already entered the room.
"Captain Saksi, to what do I owe the honor." She smiled warmly at him. He spun around, nearly losing his balance in front of his Queen. Saksi bowed in honor gathering his composure. The Queen nodded in respect.
"My Queen, I have requested this audience with you in relation to the health of your youngest son, Loki."
"What is matter, is he not well?" She spoke with real concern, after all it was Freya alone who had saved Loki from the gallows.
"I'm afraid not, every morning for the past three weeks he has been." Saksi struggled to find his words without sounding too crude. "He has been, heaving."
"Heaving?"
"Yes my Queen, he has stopped eating his evening meals and barely touches his breakfast and mid-day meal." Saksi felt as though he was breaking some unspoken bond of trust between himself and Loki, but he could stand by no longer and watch Loki sink further into sickness.
Freya paused for a long time, before thanking her guard and dismissing him. "Could it be?" She rose and rushed to her shelves. In her private library she had many text, including books she had traded with refugee Jotuns in return for their save passage. She pulled from her collection a book of Jotun anatomy and development. She used her magic to scroll through the pages. "Oh my." She drew her hands to her lips and closed the book. She needed to confirm her suspicions before she could make her next move.
As the fourth week of hell came to a close Loki barely had the energy to move. Some of the other guards started to develop a soft side for Loki, taking petty on the god and brought him soups and medicines for his raging stomach. Loki tried and retried many different combinations of the medicines but nothing soothed him. So he spent his days conserving energy by sleeping.
One evening he was awoken by the sounds of loud chatter and footsteps. He pried open his eyes and saw a group of white shadows walking towards him. Surrounding them were about six or seven more guards, alarmed Loki forced himself awake.
"Loki, we are here for a periodical check of your health." Demanded one of the female healers. Loki rolled his eyes and settled himself back into his bed and turned his back towards the group. "This is not optional." Loki growled and wanted to tell them off, but he hadn't the energy. The women let themselves in, invading his privacy as the guards restrained him.
"I don't see what all the fuss is about, I am well." Loki complained.
One of the healers, who'd been taking care of Loki since he was a boy, hushed him as she turned on the portable health monitor. Loki grunted in frustration, he didn't like to be ignored, but what other choice did he have. He was just about to nod off when he heard a gasp from one of the healers.
"It can't be!" The healers circled round, double checking after each other.
"What? What is it?" Loki said anxiously.
"Loki, you're pregnant!"
"WHAT?" Loki's eyes nearly popped out of his head.
"Loki! Calm down!" Was all he heard before passing out in his bed.
Loki squirmed nervously under all the stares around him. He was sure the timing of this meeting was done to spite him because his stomach was having none of it. Voices became louder as Odin and Freya argued amongst themselves. Thor, his not-bother, sat across from him with a dumfounded look on his face that made Loki's stomach churn. His only relief was knowing this wouldn't last forever, but he was already not looking forward to his eleven month journey. Odin rose and slammed his hands on the table.
"Silence! I will listen no more! Loki is my son!" Odin shouted. Freya shook her head in disapproval refusing to entertain Odin any longer. "I will not be fooled by another one of his tricks!" He pointed at Loki.
"Do you not believe your Queen?" Freya stared at her King with hurt in her eyes. Odin wanted to dismiss her, but in his heart he knew his Queen would never lie.
"This is too outrageous to believe." Odin turned from her. He was angry and confused, unsure how to process the situation.
"Loki is Jotun after all." Freya did her best to defend Loki, who was one the edge of blowing up in all of their faces. Odin grunted and huffed. Despite Loki being his son, he knew very little of Jotun anatomy. He left those things to Freya and the healers. Odin sighed and took one more look at his Queen. Her eyes did not deceive him, he would not win this battle. He groaned and took a seat in between his son and Queen. "What do you purpose we do?" Freya smiled, Loki vomited, and Odin knew this was going to be the start of a very long decade.
Loki's rooms were prepared to house him and the new arrival. His pregnancy was not advertised as Loki nor Odin were ready to face the reality of this new situation. Loki would be only allowed to walk the castle, with other privileges earned by his good behavior and adherence to the laws. Thor was not happy with this idea, for he did not trust his brother. He believed Loki was up to something and shouldn't be trusted, but even for Loki it was hard to fake a growing child in your stomach. Regardless Thor was less than pleased with the situation, having now to forward all his time to watching over his brother. Thor went down to the dungeons to retrieve Loki, who was now nearly three months along.
"Brother!" Loki plastered the fakest grin on his face he could muster. "If I may still call you that." Loki pounced happily off his bed.
Thor glared at his brother as he approached and signaled to the guards to open the doors. "You may call me whatever you wish, but I will not fall for your tricks."
"Awww, still mad?" That struck a nerve as Thor marched forward and grabbed Loki by the arm. "Hey! Easy." Loki hissed.
"Silence!" Thor grabbed tightly onto Loki left arm, slapping a thick silver metal bracelet on his wrist he had never seen before.
"What are those for?" Loki asked, but Thor ignored him and only switched to the other arm and did the same
"There are bindings." Once on the spell activated at once. Loki shouted as the metal bindings seared into his skin and turned into black etched tattoos.
"Ouch!" Loki shouted in pain. Thor grinned, but soon regretted it as Loki's stomach did not agree with the bindings.
Thor walked Loki to his rooms in silence, he did not want to hear one word from his brother. He still wasn't one hundred percent sure Loki was even pregnant and if he was he hardly showed. Thor left Loki at the door and watched him go in. He left with one final warning, threating to throw him back into the cells if he so much as stepped an inch out of line. Loki ignored his empty threats and slammed the door in his face. His anger boiled as confusion and morning sickness set in. He felt very foolish for not knowing his own body, but who could blame him. He felt hopeless in his situation, not sure if he was ready to father a child. In his despair he sunk into the floor and cried. He felt his stomach in disgust, but sensed something there. It was faint, but he could feel it. He stopped crying and became quite and as he felt the energy of his unborn child. He sniffled as a tear escaped from his eyes.
"Oh my, hello there." He rubbed his stomach gently. "I'm Loki, I am your father." The warmth grew and pulsated deep within him. He felt an undescribed feeling of love and belonging, giving him a greater sense of purpose.
Loki was far from out of the woods. No one but Freya trusted him and his pregnancy was shunned by all. Loki grew tired of the judgmental eyes and kept to himself with only Thor checking in on him almost daily. Loki didn't care for the attention and at eight months he was too tired and slept often to be bothered with all the drama. He made it a point to not be seen and bathed and cooked alone, doing everything on his own. He devoted all his time to building his nursery. He painted the walls, covering them with the worlds Asgard watched over. He built bookshelves and filled them with his favorite stories, and made handmade toys and other playthings with his spare time. When the job was done Loki marveled at his work. His nursery was beautiful.
"Nice work Loki." Thor admired the detail Loki put into his nephew's new room. "It's beautiful." Thor meet it, he'd forgotten that Loki was a man of many talents.
Thor was coming around, but Loki only huffed and ignored him. His hovering presence made him tired and gassy. Loki quickly passed his brother without saying a word and shuffled off to the kitchen. Thor watched but did not say a word. He knew he could not make his brother come around, but he was happy for him. As the months passed Thor began to lighten up on Loki. He checked in less and when he did he only stood in the shadows only to make sure his brother was okay. When everyone else was getting more wary, he and Freya changed the mood, celebrating Loki's new arrival. Thor knew it would take longer for Odin to come around, but if he could see the glow in Loki's face and the change in his demeanor he would change his mind. Thor smiled to himself and left Loki alone, it was best thing he could do.
It was now nearing the end of Loki's eleventh month. He was big and round and explored less and slept more. Thor and Freya began to worry about him even more because of his recent case of weakness. Loki was withdrawn but determined to take care of everything by himself. He found different places to hide and sleep to avoid people as if it were sport. If not for the binding tattoos Thor would never find him. Deep in the baths near the family chambers Thor found Loki bathing. It had been awhile since they had used these baths. These were the same baths their mother would use when they were young. The baths were a large underground hot spring. They were quiet and peaceful, so it was no shock Loki would choose to bathe here. Instead of leaving, Thor quietly undressed and joined his brother.
"Loki." He whispered.
Loki jump and covered himself. He was developing in more than one place and he didn't care to share this new part of his body with anyone. "Thor! You buffoon! What are you doing down here?" Loki kept his back towards Thor, looking back only to put distance between them.
"I came to check on you brother."
Loki looked at him with disgust. "You've checked, now you can go."
Thor's smile warmed as he nodded. He didn't want to disrupt his brother's bath. "As you wish."
Loki watched Thor turn and walk away. He felt naked and exposed with nobody standing next him. For reasons beyond his understanding he longed to have someone by his side. "W-Wait!" Thor turned around. "You, you can stay." Loki turned his head, to hide his redden cheeks. "I-I need someone to wash my back."
"I'd be happy too." Thor smiled, feeling pleased to be allowed to help his brother.
Loki's new affection for Thor did not go unnoticed. Loki was in his final month and was being monitored heavily by all in the palace, not that it was hard to find him. He made it quite apparent who he wanted to be with. He had Thor running errands and caring for him left and right. Odin even picked up on this and it worried him. Freya on the other hand, had a very clear idea what was going on. She had not yet revealed that she had text on Jotun development, for fear that the information would drive Loki away. She was sure Loki would be repulsed to at the process that was happening before him. Instead she decided it would be best to tell him after.
Odin paced his chambers, back and forth in front of his queen. He was sure something fowl was at foot, but he could not say for sure.
"Please have a seat my king." Freya tried to console him, but he only waved her off. "Tell me what's on your mind my love?"
Odin gave in and stooped over the fireplace. "It is about Loki. This relationship he has with Thor, how can I be sure there is nothing sinister afoot?"
"There is nothing." Freya replied but Odin didn't seem convinced.
"Am I mad? I know my eyes. I see it." Odin turned to his Queen in frustration.
"There is nothing my king." She stood and walked over to him. "Loki, he is simply coupling." Odin stared at her warily. "It is nothing to worry about my king, in these final weeks it is completely natural for a baring Jotun to couple with someone they trust as the time nears. They rely on this connection to bring into the world a strong healthy child." Her words seemed to calm Odin's nerves. He was no longer as worried, he trusted his Queen. He hoped for everyone sakes that this delivery would not only bring happiness to his Queen but to Loki as well.
Loki and Thor walked through the halls joking and carrying on. Thor couldn't remember the last time he spent time with his brother just talking and enjoying each other's company. He felt as though this pregnancy had brought them closer together and he was happy to have been given this second chance with his brother. Thor was thought Loki would be expected to delivery any day now, so Thor made sure not to keep Loki out too long. Loki on the other hand was drunk on the feeling of joy and peacefulness he had when he was around Thor. When Thor was around all his worries and pain melted away. Loki felt stronger and safer in his arms than he has ever felt in his entire life. He enjoyed his brother's company so much he could not bear to be alone even for a second. The two had just returned from the accessory kitchen located in the royal chambers, like the baths it was rarely used, but Loki cooked there often because of its privacy.
"Thor." Loki rubbed his belly, Thor turned around and looked at his brother.
"Yes brother?"
"Will you be there with me? When the time comes?" Loki blushed red as his head started to spin. He started to topple and fall, but Thor balanced him.
"Of course." Thor agreed fool heartedly without much consideration.
"Thank you Thor. Thank you." Loki winced in discomfort.
"Wo brother, you might what to lay down."
"I'm fine." Loki used Thor's body to keep his balance. He was experiencing a rush of dizziness and euphoria at the same time, making it hard for him to concentrate. He groaned as he grabbed his stomach, he felt something shift inside of him. "Thor!"
"What is it Loki?"
"I think it's time!"
"Time? Oh! We need to get you to the healers at once!"
"No, no, no." Loki begged but Thor's natural instinct to protect kicked in. He lifted Loki bridal style and hurried him to the delivery ward.
Thor suddenly regretted volunteering to be with Loki during delivery and while it would definitely go down as one of his more interesting experiences he could have gone without it. Thor lied above Loki, grabbing hold of his hands. He held them above Loki's head as he pushed. Loki pushed, experiencing no pain at all. Jotuns, with proper coupling, release a powerful pain fighting hormone during childbirth, which helps ease delivery and solidify the bond between paternal and maternal partner. In their case, strengthen the bound between brothers. At the moment Loki could care less about the specifics. He was on cloud nine. He felt so good it was almost unreal compared to all the pain and discomfort he had suffered during the pass eleven months. Loki only stayed in labor for under an hour before giving birth to his son. It was a blissful moment and climax of joy and excitement for both Loki and Thor. The child heavily bared resemblance to his paternal parent. His skin was as black as coal with jet black hair and deep midnight blue eyes. He was delivered at ten pounds one ounce, much bigger than any Asgardian baby. Loki was not shocked at all, in fact he could care less, when their eyes met it was love at first sight. Loki's hearted filled with joy as he held his son for the very first time.
"Hello child." Loki whispered softly. "Welcome, welcome to the world." Loki pressed a kissed gently to the newborn's forehead.
"What is his name?" Thor asked still wrapped around his brother.
"Magnus, his name is Magnus."
Chapter Two End.
"Awwwwww." Thor quickly wiped a tear from his eye. "I remember that moment."
Loki chuckled. "Yes, it was magnificent. Seeing how big Magnus is now." Loki checked his watch. "Oh dear. I believe it's time for a sandwich."
Thor looked around. "Already? What about the rest of the story?"
Loki stood and hurried to the door. "We can continue after."
Loki exited, leaving Thor alone. "You heard him. We'll be back with chapter two." Thor winked. "So stick around, you don't want to miss this next chapter."