Chapter Three: The Arrangement, Life with Magnus
It was agreed that as long as Loki looked after the child it would remain under his care. Even with the bindings, many had their doubts about Loki raising a child. The council among others, petitioned for the child's removal but Queen Freya and Thor would not allow it. They believed Loki would be capable of caring for the child on his own. During the first couple of months Loki kept to himself. He did not allow hardly any visitation and once again stayed out of sight. It was within his nature to not be trusting and he didn't care to have too many prying eyes on him and his child. This worried Freya and Thor, but they gave Loki the space he needed trusting that he would know best.
Loki's time with his baby was all he cared about. He devoted hours caring for and pouring his love into Magnus. To him, Magnus was his only reason for living and he made sure Magnus knew that each and every day. Their day always started with breakfast on the balcony, where Loki would breastfeed baby Magnus until his belly was full and round. After breakfast Magnus was laid down for his mid-day nap, during this time Loki would clean his rooms and nursey. When Loki knew he had to run errands outside the palace he would tote baby Magnus along with him on his chest. For lunch Loki would eat a sandwich and watch his baby wiggle and smile. Sometimes Loki would read to him or play with his little hands and feet. Dinner time was never the same time every day, because Magnus ate so much, dinner time often happened many times a night, but their favorite time was bath time. Loki bathed his newborn in the fresh warm waters of the underground springs. Where the water was clear and there were no unwanted visitors to bother them. After bath time Loki dried and brushed his baby's beautiful curly black hair. Those lushest black curls were proof that Magnus was Loki's and through Magnus Loki re-discovered his love for his own curly black hair. So he decided to start wearing his hair in its natural state. It was important to Loki that his son loved every part of him; he didn't want his child growing up and hating his beautiful features.
As Magnus grew and progressed Loki started to notice he did not develop the ability to speak, worried Loki took to the library. Although he knew who the paternal parent was it was still a species he was not familiar with. He searched the text, but found nothing. He would have to handle this new development on his own. Despite his worries he still continued to talk and play with his baby. At twelve months Magnus still was not talking, only mumbling simple sounds. So he caved and took him the healers. They checked Magnus' brain and discovered that the combination of foreign genes lead to a rare birth defect that would not allow Magnus to speak. Heartbroken, but not defeated, Loki took the news in stride. He didn't love his baby any less and decided to teach his child a new form of communication that was popular on Earth called sign language. With a little help from Thor Loki was able to obtain many books on sign language. Satisfied with the level of sophistication and organization of the language, Loki adapted it to Asgardian and created a new language for his son to learn.
Creating a new language was no easy task, but Loki had the time and determination and he completed it within one year's time. Armed with this new language he could now teach his baby how to communicate. Loki spent hours with Magnus and Magnus absorbed the information like a sponge. His child loved to sign with his father and watched eagerly for each sign and copied. Loki did everything in sign language and paired it with the matching words, since Magnus was not deaf. The boy ate it up, which brought joy to Loki's heart. Now he was tasked with making sure everyone else used the language. When he introduced his new language to his family he was surprised how proud they were of him and his progress. Even Odin was surprised how efficiently Loki was able to adapt. It was strange at first but in that moment Loki lightened up a bit. He wasn't sure he trusted them completely but it was a start.
In the years that followed Loki poured all of his knowledge into Magnus. Even at the very young age of three Loki was teaching his son topics and subjects some Asgardian children would not learn until they were older. Loki read to his son everyday and as Magnus got older he started to ask his father if he could read to him. By five Magnus was picking out his favorite books and running to his father begging him to set down and listen. Loki always complied, but it was hard for Magnus to read and sign at the same time. He would clumsily hold the book in one hand and try to form signs with the other. It frustrated Magnus, so Loki, being the crafty father he was, came up with a solution. For Magnus he created a special easel for him to mount his books. It was small, but just the right size to be placed on his bed. So at night instead of Loki reading Magnus a story, Magnus could give it a try. Delighted, Magnus used it every night.
When Magnus was not learning his lessons, Loki would take him around the palace. Magnus's favorite place was the gardens. He loved all the diverse and beautiful plants found there.
"See Magnus, this is a humming lil." Loki pulled the branch down for Magnus to smell.
"It smells pretty." Magnus signed.
Loki let the tree branch go and walked through the gardens as Magnus toted behind them. Up ahead some of the queen's garden keepers were enjoying lunch to the sound of beautiful pan flutes. Loki only spared them a passing glance, by Magnus stopped and listened. The harmonic sounds of the pan flutes mesmerized him. When Loki was already halfway down the path he turned and found Magnus still in that very spot. He followed his son's line of sight and saw that he was focused on the flute players, that's when it hit him he'd never taught his son the joys of art. Loki mentally kicked himself. He would teach his son about art, music, and dance.
"Magnus." His son turned to him. "Would you like to learn how to play?" Loki said softly.
Magnus nodded as he ran to his father. "It sounds pretty father, I wanna learn. Please."
Loki smiled and reached down and lifted his son into his arms. "Of course, we will start at once."
Loki spent hours trying to find the perfect pan flute for his son. He searched every inch of the closets for a suitable instrument. Finding none, he figured he would have to go into town to find one. He hurried to his rooms to grab his evening robes, when he saw a nicely wrapped box on his bed. He lifted the letter on top, "Looking for this?" Read the note. Loki gently opened the box and inside on top a bed of blue silk was a beautiful handmade pan flute. Made from wild bamboo, with moss colored fabric wrapped around the pipes, Loki was in love the moment he picked it up. It was perfect. Under the flute was another note. Loki picked it up, it read, "A mother always knows what's best. I look forward to hearing Magnus play." It was signed by Freya. Loki smiled and sat on his bed and started to play. It had been a while since he played but his muscles still remembered and his harmonic sounds resonated throughout the room. It woke Magnus from his sleep. He got up and left his room and went into Loki's. He stood at the door and watched his father play for a few minutes. Loki stopped, when he sensed him and smiled.
"Come my child. This is for you." Loki reached out his hand, as Magnus ran to him. "It is from your Grandmother, so do your best to take care of it."
Magnus nodded with joy. "How do I play papa?"
"Here." Loki held the pan flute to his lips. "Let me show you."
Magnus blew and made rough unpracticed sounds. He was disappointed it did not sound like Loki's, he looked up but his father was not upset. Loki only smiled and encouraged him to try again. He looked forward to hearing his son get play, he was proud of him already.
Chapter Three End.
"Loki, I had no idea you started to teach Magnus to play so young."
"Well there's no time like the present." Loki stretched and rubbed his belly.
"Now, if only we can get you to slow down on the child birth." Thor joked.
"Don't tell me what to do Thor! I do what I want." Loki stuck out his tongue.
"I can see that." Thor looked at Loki's round stomach.
"Stick around folks, there is more to come." Loki forced a smile.
"Hey! Loki!" Thor fell over, pushed from his chair as Loki pretended he had nothing to do with it.