Disclaimer: I don't own Marvel.

In this chapter, Loki is masculine and goes by he/him/his pronouns.

After over a thousand years of the same routine, Odin wasn't surprised to find that he woke early that morning. There was nothing for him to do really; he realized he didn't know when Loki would wake, if he wasn't already. Instead, he closed his eye in an attempt at falling asleep again.

When sleep didn't come, and he started to get bored, Odin got up and dressed, finding the two little pastry tarts Frigga had packed for him. He paused a moment after finding them and ate one as he finished his morning routine. He then made his way downstairs for a more filling breakfast, finding Loki seated at a table in the corner, drawing in a sketchbook. Odin made his way over, slowing to allow the boy time to look up.

"Oh," Loki said. "Good morning."

"Good morning," Odin said. "Might I sit?"

"Yes, of course," Loki said and grabbed his coloring pencils, his cheeks flushing. Drawing, then, Odin thought as he sat.

"Don't stop on my account," Odin said. "Have you eaten already?" He added, spying the teapot and steaming cup.

"Yes, F-Father," Loki said, half stumbling over his words, but slowing as he put the pencils back into their box. Odin didn't bring attention to it, but he noticed all the same.

Instead he asked "Do you regularly get up this early?"

"No," Loki said. "But I found that sleep evaded me shortly after four." Changing the subject then, he added "What are we doing today?"

Odin looked up at him. "Today we are going to the jotun community. Today happens to be the start of an annual tradition."

Loki raised an eyebrow. "And I assume there is a celebration of sorts?"

"You assume correctly," Odin said. "Anyone who wishes to attend may go."

"Hmm." Loki was dangerously close to sticking the end of one of his pencils in his mouth, seemingly absently. Odin wondered whether he should say something when Loki pulled it away again and asked "What is this tradition?"

Odin smiled slightly. "It is to celebrate the beginning of winter on Alfheim," he replied. "When the first snow falls, the celebrations begin. When it snows again, they stop. As this suggests, it means the celebration can go on for days, weeks, even months." He paused there a moment before adding "I think the longest of this celebration went on for nearly three months. There will be music and socializing. Food will be sold, along with various wares, and perhaps even storytelling." Odin smiled again and added "It has been quite some time since I last attended this."

Loki nodded, drinking this in as he put his pencils away, forgetting one that he had placed behind his ear. "Was there ever a community of jotnar on Asgard?" He asked. Odin considered, trying to remember.

"Not quite like there is a community here," he said. "Even when my mother was Queen, there was never a large population. However, there were missionaries and diplomats who came from Jotunheim. Like how Hogun comes from Vanaheim, but remained here for his training."

Loki looked down at his lap, thinking about something. Odin let the silence stretch and ordered his breakfast. He had already begun eating by the time Loki said "Did the jotnar also train here as warriors?"

"Several did," Odin said, nodding.

"But... Healer Evyn informed me that the jotnar are not particularly violent," Loki said, not quite hesitantly as cautiously. A sudden memory of a red-haired jotun falling into the dirt and pouting made Odin huff out a laugh.

"No," he said, still grinning to himself. "No, they are not. The jotnar who trained on Asgard all fell a bit behind, but could handle themselves well with long-distance weapons—like arrows and throwing knives and spears—before they even arrived. They are also possibly the best trappers in the Nine Realms. Ah- They were hunters," he added at Loki's confused expression. "Very, very skilled hunters, but not warriors, save those trained for the royal guard. Had Laufey's army been properly trained for war, they would have most certainly won."

Loki watched him for a moment, as though he were about to ask a question. Odin looked up at him. "What is it, Loki? You look as though you wish to say something."

Loki shook his head, almost too slowly to be entirely truthful. "No," he said. "Not really. I merely wondered if you personally trained any of the jotnar."

"Only a handful, myself," Odin said. "They became very good warriors before they were called back to Jotunheim."

Loki looked up at that and frowned. "'Called back'? What do you mean?"

Odin sighed. "There were still several jotnar on Asgard after I became king. About a year or so before the war started, they began calling back their warriors. At first, it seemed like a civil war, but then of course, they invaded Midgard." Odin stopped there as uncomfortable memories started creeping towards the front of his mind. "Excuse me," he said and stood, turning to find a restroom.

"Down the hall, third on the left," Loki said. Odin grunted and went on his way.

When he returned, Loki had his sketchbook out again, having taken the forgotten pencil out from behind his ear. Odin ate, watching the boy as he drew; his brows were slightly knitted together, lips pursed. Sometimes he blew on the paper, or fiddled with the pencil in his fingers, sticking the end of it in his mouth at times.

That was something Thor did as well, Odin noted; when Thor became frustrated with a document, he would stick the end of his pen or pencil in his mouth. A strange habit, in Odin's opinion, if not a little endearing. Although now he was thinking on it, he wasn't quite sure where his children had picked it up.

As if noticing Odin's stare, Loki's eyes flicked up. He took the end of his pencil out of his mouth and raised an eyebrow in silent question. Odin raised his as well, eye flicking momentarily towards the sketchbook. Loki rolled his eyes and gave a small sigh before returning to his drawing.

"What are you drawing?" Odin asked at last.

"Nothing."

"Really." It wasn't a question and Odin got no reply. Odin sighed to himself and finished his breakfast in silence. When the plate was taken away, he stood, Loki glancing up.

"Shall we?" Odin asked. Loki inclined his head for a moment, the sketchbook and pencil vanishing as he stood, a cloak appearing in his hand.

Odin donned his own cloak and they left the inn, walking down the road in silence. It was a crisp, quiet morning in Odin's opinion; the early morning mist was beginning to thin, and the frost crunched under Loki's feet as he insisted on walking on the grass. He almost didn't seem to notice what he was doing, hands in his pockets, an expression of contemplation on his face.

"It's going to rain," he informed Odin, face turned towards the sky.

Odin glanced up. It was a little cloudy, but the sky could be seen clearly. "That is most unfortunate, since the festival is outside."

Loki hummed and shrugged. "I could be wrong," he admitted. Odin glanced at him, but said nothing in reply. They continued on their way, Loki beginning to trail behind a little, reminding Odin slightly of when the boy was younger, stopping every so often to look at a flower or animal. Sometimes, as a child, Loki would race back to Odin's side to show him an interesting stone or flower, or else pull him back down the path to look at a set of animal tracks he had found.

Those instances had started to annoy Odin as Loki grew older. He felt a pang of regret at the memory now, turning his head slightly to look at Loki. The boy's had face turned towards the ground again and Odin faced forward, sighing to himself.

"We're almost there," he said to Loki after a while longer. Indeed, they could both hear music in the distance. Loki looked up and hummed in reply.

When the festival came into sight, Odin realized that Loki wasn't following him. Turning, he noticed that Loki had stopped walking, as though frozen to the spot, eyes wide. Odin sighed and walked back. "What is it, Loki?" He asked.

"I-" Loki stopped, licking his lips, eyes darting to Odin's face for a moment, shaking his head as if unable to speak, his face paling. Odin looked at him in concern.

"Loki, are you well?" He asked.

"I-" Loki repeated and began chewing on his lip. "I can't. I can't."

"Can't what, my boy?" Odin asked as Loki continued to shake his head, eyes fixed behind him at the festival. "You're nervous," Odin realized. Loki flushed, eyes flicking to the ground.

"I'm sorry," he said, shaking his head. Odin sighed and placed his hands on Loki's shoulders.

"Don't apologize. Take a moment," Odin replied, squeezing Loki's shoulders a little. "What are you afraid of, Loki?"

"Nothing," Loki said too quickly. The boy was tense, his posture turned in on itself, like he was trying to hide, or protect himself from the impending future. Odin watched him before nodding.

"Would you like to go back to the inn?" Odin asked. Loki shook his head. "Are you saying that because you don't wish to go back, or because you are afraid of displeasing me?" He asked and Loki didn't meet his eyes. Odin closed his eye a moment. "Loki," he said. "Do not misunderstand me. I wish for this to be a time of discovery for you. I wish for you to learn what Asgard cannot teach you, but I cannot—will not—force you to enjoy what you are afraid of. Do not do this to please me, or your mother, or even Thor. If you are not ready, then we will wait."

Loki clenched and unclenched his hands a few times before shaking his head. "I just- I'm sorry," he whispered and Odin heard his voice shake.

"Come," Odin said firmly and placed a hand on Loki's shoulder. "Let us walk back to the inn. We are here for several days and the festival will not suddenly vanish. We have time, Loki."

Loki gave a jerky nod and let Odin lead him away, not stumbling, but tense. Odin kept a firm grip on Loki's shoulder, watching him out of the corner of his eye. Loki was crying, his lips pressed together and bringing a hand up to quickly wipe away any wetness.

Odin was at a loss of what to do. Emotions and comforting had always been Frigga's area of expertise, and Loki was very clearly trying not to make a scene. Odin waited until the festival was far behind him before stopping and turning towards Loki, seeing the redness in his eyes before Loki looked at the ground. He had no idea what to say to Loki, what he even wanted to say.

Instead, he did the next most reasonable thing and pulled out a handkerchief. "It is alright if you are not ready yet," he said, handing it to Loki. "And not everyone knows their limits. Or, rather," he amended as Loki looked up at him, "many men know their limits, but few truly listen to their limits and try to push themselves." He waited for Loki to wipe his eyes hurriedly before continuing "I am proud of you for listening to your limits, Loki. It is important and we are not in a rush."

Loki looked up at him again, eyes wide and threatening to spill over again. "You-" he said. "Really?"

"Of course," Odin said and raised his eyebrows. "Now, let us return to the inn, perhaps take some more tea, and we will decide what to do with the rest of our day."

Loki only nodded, swallowing, and let Odin lead the way.

Notes:

I'M SO SORRY THIS IS SO LATE, I SWEAR I'M ALRIGHT. I've been kinda bluh about writing lately and my main fandom seems to be switching from Marvel to Undertale. *shrugs.* Still, I'm not gonna abandon this, so don't worry! I'll keep at it!

This chapter is written in Odin's POV. I want to make it so that Odin is actually trying to help Loki, but I'm not sure if I'm writing him right yet. Feedback would be deeply appreciated!

Okay, as a little side not, the little tarts were an idea had when AO3 user RenneMicheals commented and asked about the food Frigga had packed for Odin and Loki. I thought it was too adorable to pass up!