Disclaimer: I don't own Marvel characters or Beauty and the Beast.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
"Please, I meant no harm! I just needed a place to stay!"
"Oh, I'll give you a place to stay, all right!" Master Thor picked up Laufé in one large furry paw, and carried him out of the room. He slammed the door, causing Lumiere, Cogsworth, Mrs. Potts, and Chip to plunge into pure darkness.
. . . . .
Loki watched as his father rode down the hill and into the forest. He walked back to the basket of eggs he had set down earlier, picked it up, and walked inside to make his breakfast.
Setting the basket on the counter, he took out two eggs, cracked them into a bowl and stirred them up. He put some wood into the stove and lit it up. Getting a pan out, he poured the egg into it and cooked himself some breakfast.
. . . . .
Loki lay in the flower speckled grass. He had decided that this was his spot. He would come here to think, but mostly to read. He didn't think of it as a meadow, even though it technically was. He thought of it as a field enclosed in trees.
He had his hands clasped behind his head, looking up at the clouds, very relaxed. Loki loved to look at the clouds. One cloud that passed him, he thought, looked like a helmet with horns. Another looked like a duck.
Loki turned on his side, facing a small patch of bright green clovers. He reached out a hand and ran his fingers through it. As he was doing so, a four-leafed clover popped up. Loki smirked and picked it. He rolled back over onto his back, scrutinizing the tiny plant. He remembered how four-leafed clovers are supposed to bring good luck, so he kissed it and put it in his pocket.
He looked at the tall grass surrounding him. He wished he could stay there forever. The sky was clear, the clouds were white and puffy, and the sun was beaming down at him through patches in the leaves. At some point, Loki had dozed off. The grass and trees blocked off most of the noise that half the village was making as they passed him nearby.
. . . . .
"Oh, goodness! Loki's gonna get the surprise of his life, Gwen! Your dress is beautiful, just like you!" Larissa gushed.
"Yes, yes, yes! This is his 'Loki' day!," Gwenevere giggled at her pun, "Have you ever heard of a woman asking a man to marry her? No! This is so very exciting!" Gwenevere squealed. Her dress was a lavender color, knee length with an empire waist and a sweetheart neckline. It wasn't a typical wedding dress, but this wasn't the typical wedding, either, "It sure took everyone long enough to get ready.
Gwenevere turned to the band, wedding guests and practically the entire town, (everyone except the book keeper, who refused to come! How rude!) who had gathered outside, just a short distance away from Loki's cottage and got their attention.
"I'd like to thank you all for coming to my wedding. But first, I had better go in there and... Propose to him!" The minister, baker, and others laughed heartily. A group of three Bimbettes were crying their eyes out, due to the fact that the most attractive man in town was about to be wed. "Now, you La. When Loki and I come out that door—"
"Oh I know, I know!" She pulled a conductor's baton out of her bosom, turned and began directing the band in "Here Comes the Bride."
Gwenevere slapped her arm, "Not yet, you idiot! Do you want him to hear us?!"
"Sorry!" Larissa apologized as she quieted the band and placed the baton back into her bosom.
Gwenevere straightened her shoulders, smoothed out her dress for the fourth time, "All right, this is it. I'm going to propose to Loki Lauféson. Wish me luck, La."
"Good luck." Larissa smiled as she hugged her friend as she made her way to the door.
. . . . .
"Nicholas?" Loki called out as he entered the Bakery, "Clint? Is anyone here?"
He checked behind the counter and in the kitchen, "Hello? Nicholas? Are you here? Clint?" he called out again, "I guess they're not here. I'll just leave them a note. It's strange that the door is open, even though they don't seem to be in the shop."
Loki found an order form and on the back of it, he scribbled:
The Banana Nut bread was delicious.
You should definitely put it on your menu!
- Loki who was here in the morning
He put it the note on the counter and looked at the pastries and breads in the display cases. Every once in a while, Loki would treat himself to something sweet. He figured that now would be a good time, since his father just left for a few days, and he was feeling lonely.
He spotted some Mille-feuille and decided he would take it. He walked around to the other side of the counter, opened up the display case, and took one out. He found a paper bag and wax paper, wrapped it up, and put it in the bag. He placed it in his satchel and took out his coin purse. He counted off the amount and put it in the cash register. Licking his fingers, he scribbled something else on the note:
I took a Mille-feuille. Hope you don't mind.
I put the money in the register.
Loki stepped outside the bakery. He looked around him and noticed the lack of people wandering around. Sure, it was only ten in the morning, but the streets were rarely ever devoid of civilization. He walked to the bookstore, which took less time than usual because of the lack of people to get in his way.
He stopped at the door and peeked through the window. He was relieved to see Monsieur Hill sitting at his desk inside.
"Oh, bonjour, Loki. I was wondering when I'd see you next. Finish already?" Monsieur Hill asked Loki as he walked into the store.
"Almost, monsieur. Just two more chapters. I came to ask you something, actually. Why is the town so empty?"
Hill pondered this for a moment, wondering if he should tell Loki the truth. He decided against it, "The town is empty? Are you sure, Loki? I could have sworn I heard them earlier this morning."
"Yeah, the shops are closed, so is the tavern," Loki informed him.
"Surely you're mistaken. Go home and get some rest, Loki. Maybe that bread did something to you," Hill was starting to sweat. He was never a good liar, and to lie to his most valued customer was simply unbearable.
"Erm, alright, I will." Loki figured that it would be easier just to listen to him instead of try to convince him that the town was deserted.
"Better get going, then. Go home and read," Hill took a book off of a shelf, "Here," he said, shoving the book in Loki's hands, "Read this one when you finish your first one."
As he was being literally pushed out the door, Loki told the old man, "But sir, this is an Encyclopedia-"
"Okay, Loki, bye-bye now."
"And it's not even the first volume, how am I supposed to-" He didn't finish his sentence, because if he did, he would be talking to a shut door.
Loki sighed again, "What could possibly be going on that's caused the entire town to vanish?" he pondered this question the entire walk back to his home.
As he was walking, he decided to take an alternate route back to his home. The way led to a rather large clearing, and he thought he could spot a few birds.
What he found when he got there though, wasn't birds. It was, instead, the entire village. Loki, completely baffled, walked up to a man he knew as Steve Rogers, a military man who recently moved from America.
Loki laid a hand on Steve's shoulder, "Pardon me, but what is going on? Why is everyone collected here?"
Steve jumped, obviously surprised to see Loki, "Loki! What on Earth are you doing here? You're not supposed to be out here yet, you're supposed to be in there!" he pointed in the direction of Loki's house, which wasn't very far away.
"Erm, pardon? Why is everyone gathered here?" Loki asked again, even more confused.
"Oh, erm-I'm-I can't-"
"I'll ask someone else, thank you though, Monsieur Steve." Loki said as he walked away, trying to find someone who would actually be of use.
As Loki walked through the crows of people, they stared at him, startled, not knowing what to do. They parted as he neared them just as Moses had parted the Red Sea.
"Ex… Excuse me," he asked a short red haired girl, "Can you… Can you tell me what's… going on?"
The girl looked at him with eyes finned with surprise, confusion, and love. She was no doubt one of his admirers. She violently shook her head no.
Loki turned and saw a band and a white arch with leaves covering it. Before he could see any more, he heard a shriek. Before he knew it, he was tackled to the ground.
"What in Odin's beard are you doing here, Loki?!" Larissa shrieked.
"What doyou mean, 'What are you doing here,' my house is just beyond those trees! I should ask you the same thing!"
"There's no time for that, get home!" Larissa said as she got off of Loki. She tried to help him up (no doubt to be able to touch him some more), but he denied her. Standing up, he brushed off some strands of grass and readjusted his satchel. Figuring that there was no way he was going to get an answer out of anyone here, he stomped off to his home.
When he could see his house, he saw Gwenevere banging on his door, yelling.
"I know you're in there, Loki! Open this door right now! You can't hide forever! I swear, if you're ignoring me for your books-"
"Hello, Gwenevere." Loki said from behind her.
She froze.
Loki put a hand on her shoulder and turned her to face him, "I said hello, Gwenevere. Might I ask you why you're bothering my house? I'm sure the door doesn't like to be hit like that."
With wide eyes, Gwenevere glanced at the hand on her shoulder and then at Loki, "I-I-," she stammered.
"Why don't we go inside, Gwenevere." Loki said, taking his hand off of her shoulder and opening the door, "Would you like some tea?" he led her into the house.
"No!" Gwenevere said faster and stronger than she would have liked.
"Alright then, no tea," he leaned against a wall, "Care to tell me what's going on? It's awfully surprising to find the entire village shocked to see me and a girl wearing a hole into the door."
'Snap out of it, Gwen! Now's your chance!" Gwenevere thought to herseld.
Her entire persona changed over the course of a few moments, "Isn't it though? I'm just full of surprises. You know, Loki. There aren't many beautiful women in this town that can compare to you. Well actually, there's only one. Me. And today is the day," Gwenevere paused by a mirror and fixed her hair, "Today is the day your dreams come true!"
"What do you know about my dreams, Gwenevere?" He challenged.
"Plenty! Here, picture this. Gwenevere leaned against the stairwell railings, "An adorable cottage, my latest kill roasting on the fire, and my gorgeous husband, massaging my aching feet, while the little ones play with the dogs," Loki wasn't following, "We'll have six or seven."
"Dogs?" Loki asked.
"No, Loki! Gorgeous children, like me! Er-I mean us!"
"Huh, imagine that."
"And do you know who that husband will be?"
"Let me think," Loki said, pretending to be deep in thought, "I haven't the slightest idea."
Gwenevere walked over to Loki and got very close, standing so he would be able to see down her exposed chest as he looked down at her. Loki didn't even glance at it, "You, Loki!"
"Gwenevere, I'm speechless. I'm flattered." Loki lied as he stood up and leaned against the door, trying to put space between them.
Gwenevere would have none of it. She stood up and walked over to Loki, pressing her body against his, "Say you'll marry me." She breathed.
Loki wasn't going to deal with this madness. He couldn't stand Gwenevere, and her personality wasn't exactly wife material. Reaching for the doorknob, Loki feigned an apologetic voice, "I'm very sorry, Gwenevere, but I just don't deserve you. You're simply far too beautiful for me." He twisted the doorknob and the door opened. He ducked out of the way of Gwenevere as she tumbled out the door and into Larissa's arms, who had no doubt been listening in.
They made an "Oompf!" sound as they collided. Loki slammed the door.
"So, how'd it go?" Larissa said excitedly.
"I'll have Loki for my own, make no mistake about that!" she declared, angrily pushing Larissa out of the way.
"Touchy…" Larissa whispered to herself.
. . .
Loki leaned against the closed door.
"You've been Loki'd…" he thought to himself.
He felt bad about what he did, but he didn't necessarily care.
He walked into his bedroom and threw his satchel on his green bed comforter, then headed for the back door. He opened it a crack, checked to see if anyone was there, and when there wasn't, he opened it all the way. He picked up a large tin bucket and walked over to the water pump. He pumped it a few times until the water started to flow out. He filled up the bucket, carried it inside, and poured the water into the bathtub. He did this multiple times, and when the bathtub was half full, he set the bucket back outside and went back to his room. Opening his dresser, he took out a pair of brown pants, socks, and his favorite green tunic with his initials embroidered on the collar in gold. He smiled as he ran his thumb over the gold letters, remembering how his mother had given it to him when she had begun to get sick.
"Loki, I've made you something. Come see." His mother called from her room.
Loki ran into her room and jumped onto her bed, "What is it, momma? What did you make for me?"
His mother held out the tunic, "This, my darling. I've put your initials on the collar, see?" she pointed to the golden L J H.
Loki ran his small finger over the letters, "I love it, momma. Thank you. But…" Loki held up the tunic, "It's so big…"
She laughed lightly, "I know, my darling. I've made it big so that you can wear it when you get older and you'll always be able to remember me by it." She smiled.
Loki beamed, "I love it," he said again, this time hugging her.
"And I love you, my darling."
Loki hugged the tunic and wiped away his tears. Calming himself, he stripped off his clothes and walked to the bathroom to bathe.
. . . . . . .
Now that he was clean, cozy, and had just finished the last few chapters of his book, he was bored.
It had just started to rain, which made his urge to read even more intense. He could read his book again, but he had just read it.
'Monsieur Hill gave me that Encyclopedia today… I should look at that.' Loki thought to himself. He reached to the foot of his bed and pulled his satchel close. Remembering about the clover he had put in his pocket earlier, he reluctantly got out of bed, retrieved his shirt, and took out the clover. Retreating to his warm bed, he opened up his book to a random page and placed the clover on it. Pressing it closed, he put his book back into his satchel. He turned his attention to the Encyclopedia. He plopped the heavy book on his lap. The Encyclopedia was labeled as 'La-Ny.'
'I should try to find my name in here.' Loki thought to himself.
He came to the page with the 'Lok''s and scanned down. Surprisingly enough, he found his name.
"Loki – See: Mythology, Norse; page 472."
He turned to the page and read.
Loki, according to Snorri Sturluson, in hisEdda(c. 1220 A.D.), was an Aesir god and the son of Farbauti and Nal. His brothers were Byleistr and Helblindi. Loki is also called a giant.
The earliest literary treatment of Loki myths is from the 9th century. His depiction is complicated and contradictory. Many people advanced theories, including linguist and folklorist Jacob Grimm, who thought Loki the god of fire, like Prometheus (who brought fire to man and for his disobedience to Zeus was chained to a rock where his liver was eaten and regenerated each day) or Lucifer (whose name means 'light-bearer'); Jan de Vries, who considered Loki a typical trickster god; and Georges Dumezil, who considered Loki an incarnation of "impulsive intelligence."*
"A trickster god? I never knew there was such a thing… How interesting!" He read more and was directed to Odin.
"Ah, so that's where the phrase, 'Odin's beard!' comes from!"
He didn't realize that it had started thunder storming until he heard a particularly strange sounding clap of thunder. It sounded strangely like the sound of a horse. He thought it odd, so he ignored it until he heard it again, this time more prominent. He shoved the Encyclopedia into his satchel, grabbed his cloak and slipped on his shoes. Grabbing his satchel, he ran outside into the pouring rain.
Sleipnir was in front of his house, running around and rearing in fear. Loki looked at him, disturbed that his father was not with him.
"Sleipnir! What are you doing here? Where's Papa? Where is he, boy? What happened? Oh, we have to find him; you must take me to him!" Loki shouted through the heavy rain.
Loki unhitched the wagon from Sleipnir and jumped onto his back, "Go, Sleipnir!"
Sleipnir started to run. They both got smacked by branches many times, scaring Sleipnir again, making him rear. Loki almost fell off of him a few times, but the adrenaline rushing through him caused him to hang on. Sleipnir didn't know where he was going, he just knew he was running. Eventually, they came to a large gate.
"Whoah, Sleipnir. Hold on," Loki moved his horse to the gates, "What is this place?"
Sleipnir snorted, then began to buck as if something was scaring him. Loki dismounted and comforted him as best he could.
"Steady, Sleipnir. Steady, boy," He put a hand to the gate and pushed it open. Grabbing a hold of Sleipnir's reins, he led him through the gates.
Loki looked around him and saw his father's hat on the ground, "Father..." Loki ran to the entrance of the house, dragging Sleipnir close behind him. Tying the reins to a post under the awning, Loki approached the door.
. . . . .
In an upstairs corridor, Cogsworth was having a blast scolding Lumiere, "Couldn't keep quiet, could we. Just had to invite him to stay, didn't we? Serve him tea, sit in the master's chair, pet the pooch. 'Let him stay,' they said, 'It will be fine,' they said. I told you not to, and you went against the better judgement!" Cogsworth lectured Lumiere.
"I was trying to be 'ospitable, which is much more than I can say for you." Lumiere poked Cogsworth in his torso.
"Hello? Is anyone here?" Loki called out as he opened the largest doors he had ever seen in his life, "Hello? Father, are you here?" Loki had too much adrenaline in him to realize that he was unhesitantly searching a probably abandoned castle.
. . .
In the kitchen, Mrs. Potts was standing next to a tub of hot water. Chip came hopping into the room.
"Momma, momma. There's a boy in the castle!" Chip informed rather excitedly.
"Now, Chip, I won't have you making up such wild stories." She scolded.
"But really, momma, I saw him! Really, I did!" Chip tried to convince her.
"Not another word. Into the tub." He hopped into tub as a Feather Duster came rushing in.
"A boy! I saw a boy in the castle!" she announced.
Poking his head out from the water, Chip said rather proudly, "See, I told ya!"
. . .
"Irresponsible, devil-may-care, waxy eared, slack-jawed—"
"Father?" Loki said, walking to the corridor that Lumiere and Cogsworth were currently in.
Cogsworth and Lumiere, startled out of their wits, jumped and hid behind a large statue.
"Did you see zat?" Lumiere asked, poking his head around the statue, "It's a boy!"
"I know it's a girl, you fool." Cogsworth said as he looked out from behind the statue, too.
"Don't you see? He's ze one. Ze one we 'ave been waiting for. He has come to break ze spell!"
Cogsworth held him back before Lumiere could go chasing after Loki, "No, he's not. He's a he, not a she! A he could not possibly break the spell!"
"Ze spell never specified if it 'ad to be a he or a she, Cogs!" Lumiere challenged.
Cogsworth rolled his eyes dramatically.
Loki advanced down the corridor, passing the statue that the clock and candlestick were hiding behind. Cogsworth and Lumiere snuck around behind him and opened the door that leads to the tower where Laufé was being kept. The door creaked open and Loki heard the sound.
"Father? Father, please be in there!" Cogsworth hid behind the door and Lumiere rushed up the stairs,
"Hello? Is someone here?," Loki saw a shadow, "Wait! I'm looking for my father!"
Loki began walking up the stairs, but didn't realize that Lumiere was watching him, "That's funny, I'm sure there was someone there just now... I-Is there anyone here?" he called up the steps.
Laufé called to him from his cell. "Loki? Loki, is that you?"
Loki rushed up to the cell to find him, "Oh, Father! I was so worried!"
"How did you find me here?"
"Sleipnir and I found this place," Loki grabbed his father's hands, "Your hands are like ice. We have to get you out of here!"
"Loki, I want you to leave this place."
"Who did this to you?" Loki demanded.
"No time to explain. You must go...now!"
"What? No, I won't leave you!"
Suddenly, a large furry paw grabbed Loki's shoulder and whipped him around.
"What are you doing here?" Came a gruff voice, masked in the shadows.
"Run, Loki!" Laufé shouted.
"Who's there? Who are you?" Loki said, his voice firm.
"The master of this castle."
"I've come for my father. I demand you let him out at once! Can't you see he's sick?"
"Then he shouldn't have trespassed here."
"But he could die," changing his argument, "Please, I'll do anything!"
"There's nothing you can do. He's my prisoner." He threatened.
"There must be some way I can," feeling stronger than he was, Loki decided, "Take me in his place."
"You! You would take his place?"
"Loki, no! You don't know what you're getting yourself into!"
"If I did, would you let him go?" Loki said with a calm voice, ignoring his father.
The captor was silent for a few moments, "Alright. But you must promise to stay here forever."
This time, Loki was silent for a minute. He realized that he couldn't even see the captor, "Come into the light."
The Beast paused then dragged his legs, then his whole body into the beam of light. Loki looked at the Beast, his eyes growing wider, "That's… interesting…" Loki thought to himself.
"No, Loki. I won't let you do this!" Laufé tried to convince him.
Loki regained his composure, then stepped into the beam of light, extending his right hand.
"You have my word."
"Done!" the Beast said quickly.
The Beast moved over to unlock the cell, and Loki fell to the floor with his head in his hands. The second Laufé's cell door was unlocked, he ran to Loki.
"Loki, listen to me. I'm old, I've lived my life-"
The Beast dragged Laufé out of the room and down the stairs.
"Wait!" Loki called after his father.
"Loki!" his father's voice sounded very far away.
. . .
The Beast dragged Laufé toward a Palanquin.
"No, please spare my son! He's never done anything to deserve this!" Laufé tried to tell the Beast.
"He is no longer your concern," The Beast said, throwing Laufé into the Palanquin, "Take him to the village."
The Palanquin broke the ivy holding it to the ground, then slinked off like a spider with Laufé inside.
"Please, let me out, please!" Laufé shouted.
The Beast walked back up the stairs, Lumiere still at his earlier post.
"Master?"
"What!" Master Thor shouted angrily.
"Since ze boy is going to be with us for quite some time, I was zinking zat you might want to offer him a more comfortable room," Master Thor growled at him, "Zen again, maybe not."
"I'll show you to your room." The Beast said curtly.
"My room?" Loki said, surprised, "But I thought-"
"Do you want to stay in the tower?" The Beast asked threateningly.
"No."
"Then follow me."
The Beast led Loki to his room. As they proceed, Loki began to lag behind. He looked at the hideous sculptures on the walls and the light casting shadows on them. Getting frightened, as he had never seen anything like them before, he gasped and ran to catch up with the Beast, who was carrying Lumiere as a light source. The Beast looked back at Loki, and sees a tear form at the corner of his eye.
"Say somezing to him." Prodded Lumiere.
"I... um... hope you like it here, "He looked toLumiere for approval, who motioned for him to continue, "The castle is your home now, so you can go anywhere you wish," then headed, "Except the West Wing."
"What's in the West Wing?" Loki asked, intrigued.
Stopping angrily, the Beast growled, "It's forbidden! Why would you even ask about a forbidden place!"
Master Thor continued on, and Loki reluctantly followed.
Soon, they reached Loki's room. The door opened and light spilled in.
"Now, if there's anything you need, my servants will attend to you." Master Thor said tenderly.
"Dinner-invite him to dinner," Lumiere suggested.
" You...will join me for dinner. That's not a request!" The Beast said harshly, slamming the door behind him. Loki, terrified, ran over to the bed and flung himself onto it, finally breaking down and crying.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
A/N: * .