Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Runaways
Loki stumbled into a building. He managed to catch Sigyn before she hit the ground. She was out cold. Loki grimaced as he lifted Sigyn into his arms. His pupils dilated in the evening dusk, as his eyes flickered quickly around his environment. The air was heavy and humid, he stood in a small cobbled stone pathway, pink flowers grew out of windowsill box.
Loki's curiosity was piked. Where had Sigyn taken them? Loki shifted Sigyn's body slightly as he walked down the cobbled pathway. He turned a corner and saw a canal. He crossed the footbridge halfway, and stared down the canal.
Memories came flowing back to him. gelato. tossed sheets. ink smudges from staying up all night writing their vows. laughter echoing off the rafters. Loki smiled underneath the muzzle.
They'd returned to Venice.
And somehow that made everything a little better, and manageable. He might feel utterly alone, and helpless, but Venice held memories of better times, happier times.
Everything wasn't okay, but he was going to be fine.
AAAAA
The sirens wailed as Thor rushed into the building. He thanked the All Father that he'd left the shawarma place earlier than his comrades.
"Thor!" Director Fury shouted from a distance, motioning for him to follow.
"Sir?" Thor followed the Director down the hall towards the cell he already knew was empty.
"Loki's guard just woke up, he'd been knocked out for who knows how long. Cell's empty."
"This is a mistake." Thor said softly
"Damn it! I'd thought we'd finally got- wait did you say a mistake?"
"The minute Loki was in custody, I sent word to my people to collect my brother. I am sure the knocked out guard was the result of an overeager soldier. I hope this guard can pardon this behavior."
Fury stared at Thor hardly before he spoke into his walkie talkie. "Turn off the alarms. Everything is fine."
Thor gulped nervously. He was never good with lies, but he hoped this one stuck.
"That wasn't your call. Here on Earth, we inform the government when we release prisoners into various hands."
"I apologize most ardently."
Fury grunted, and stalked away from the demigod, muttering midgardian expletives. Thor let out a breath he didn't know he had been holding. It was time to go home.
Oh no.
His father was going to be furious.
AAAAA
12 hours later
Sigyn felt peaceful. There was a time where that feeling was familiar, but that time was past and gone. She could hear water lapping gently nearby. She slowly blinked awake, taking in the sight.
It was sunrise, and her face was pressed into someone's thigh. Sigyn slowly sat up on the bench. Loki was fast asleep, head resting back against the brick wall. She couldn't help but smile faintly at the sight. When was the last time she'd seen him sleep?
Sigyn picked up a wad of legal paper that sat by her, clearly stolen from somebody as there were notes in Italian on the top. Loki's handwriting was scrawled on the bottom.
We're in Venice. I couldn't wake you up. I love you.
Venice. That explained the Italian. And suddenly their situation came flooding back to her.
AAAAA
Loki woke up cold. As his eyes adjusted to the new light, he realized he was also alone. He violently grabbed the notepad beside him.
I will be right back. Stay put. I mean it, don't move.
Of course she'd wake up in the few hours he'd managed to sleep. Typical. Loki stood up angrily, and began to pace. How long was he to wait?! He couldn't speak, or use magic. How was he to defend himself without attracting unwanted attention?
He heard footsteps echo off the cobblestone. Loki stepped into the shadows, and waited for the mystery visitor to pass through. The woman paused at the bench, her face hidden under a sunhat.
"I thought I told you not to move?"
Loki rushed at Sigyn crushing her to his chest. How could she be so playful?
"I missed you too." Sigyn laughed gently, pushing herself away from him.
Loki glared at her.
"We needed new attire." She nodded to the shopping bags her feet. "Also, I bought scissors."
He took a step back immediately.
"You need a haircut. You are too recognizable with that long hair."
Loki vehemently shook his head. There was no way she was getting anywhere near him with those shears.
"I suppose that can be last on the agenda." Sigyn sighed as she sat heavily on the bench. "We need a plan. I can feel Heimdall searching for us, so I haven't been using magic. I do not know if S.H.I.E.L.D. is looking for us. I have hope that Thor has led them off our trail, but he's never been good at lying."
Loki blinked twice. Thor? What was she talking about?
"Oh you don't know!" Sigyn slapped herself lightly. "Thor was there when we left the command station. He let us go."
Loki couldn't help but raise an eyebrow in disbelief.
"I don't have time to deal with your differences with your brother. Anyways, we have to lay low for awhile."
Loki pointed to his muzzle.
"Yes. Yes. We need to get that off, but that isn't priority at the moment. We don't want to get caught over it."
Loki rolled his eyes, before he grabbed the pad of paper, and scrawled a note.
What if they placed a tracking device inside?
"Shit. I didn't think about that."
Loki sat down as Sigyn began to pace the alleyway. He thumbed through the clothes she'd picked out for him as she muttered to herself. A leather jacket poked through the pile of fabrics. Thank goodness.
"OOoooh." Sigyn hopped into the air. "I've got an idea."
AAAAA
2 days later
Thor lifted the tesseract into the sky, and suddenly after a gut wrenching moment, he was standing on the edge of the bifrost.
"Thor!"
Thor smiled softly as he wrapped his mother into a warm hug.
"I am so glad you are alright, and safe, but most especially, home."
"I am a grown man, mother."
"But you will always be my clumsy little boy." Frigga patted Thor's chest lightly.
Thor cleared his throat gruffly.
"Where is Loki?"
"Gone." Thor responded tersely, acutely aware of his words. He did not wish to lie to his mother.
"Oh. I did hope things would go differently." Frigga stared at the ground. "But he isn't dead?"
"No. He isn't." Thor smiled as Frigga raised her head quickly. She quickly wiped at her eyes, though she hadn't actually cried.
"That's wonderful. I don't think I would have been able to handle his death again."
Thor nodded. He raised the tesseract in one hand, and offered it to his mother. "I got it."
"Keep it. We can present it to your father together."
They started to walk back towards Asgard, arms linked. To an outsider this scene may have seen as peaceful, a mother and son, royalty, out for a stroll, but with every step closer to Odin, Thor felt his heart constrict tighter.
AAAAA
Sigyn watched with amusement as Loki fiddled with hair. His curls showed more when his hair was this short. She knew he hated the curls, but she had to love them.
They were waiting to disembark off the plane. She had been careful with her magic use, but there were some things she couldn't avoid; Magiking money, fake identification, and casting a spell on Loki that prevented people from noticing his muzzle.
"Welcome to Great Britain. We hope you enjoy your stay." A cool woman's voice said over the speakers, as the doors up front opened.
Loki grabbed their bags from above the seats, and they slowly made their way down the aisle. When they finally made it into the airport, Sigyn paused to look at the address again. Loki took her hand gently, rubbing his thumb against her palm. She quickly glanced up to see him glaring at the people surrounding him. She could imagine with uncanny precision which swear words were running through his head. He hated crowds.
"C'mon. The cabs are this way." Sigyn led Loki by hand as they passed through the crowds.
AAAAA
"What do you mean, Loki escaped?" Odin growled dangerously.
Frigga shifted nervously as her son raised his hands in defeat.
"I was unable to capture him. He is somewhere, alive and well, but I don't where."
Odin raked his hands through his hair angrily, "Fine. Leave me. I have bigger problems at the moment." Odin gestured at the incoming army scout. Frigga and Thor nodded solemnly. "Someone tell that insolent girl the news of her husband."
Frigga gritted her teeth at the word 'insolent', but graciously responded in assent.
As the throne room doors closed, Thor spoke up quickly. "I think I should speak to Sigyn myself."
Frigga smiled gently as she walked towards Sigyn's rooms. "I think this news needs a woman's touch."
"Sigyn doesn't want to be coddled, she would want to know from the source. Me."
Frigga noted Thor's agitated behavior. "Is there something you haven't told me?"
Thor's eyes widened. "No. Of course not."
"Then I don't see a problem." Frigga briskly walked past him. "You can speak with her later."
"Mother! Wait!"
Frigga dismissed the guards with a flick of a finger, and pushed open the doors. Thor rushed in from behind her. Her eyes quickly took in the empty room as Thor let out a ragged breath.
Frigga turned towards her son, ice in her eyes. "Where is Sigyn?"
AAAAA
They made a mad dash from the cab to the small brownstone's porch as the rain poured down. Sigyn laughed wildly as she beat Loki to the porch. He rolled his eyes as he set down their bags.
"May I help you?" A befuddled old man opened the door giving them a suspicious look.
"I do hope you can, Professor." Sigyn responded carefully, checking her laughter. "We have some questions regarding your studies on Norse mythology."
The professor fumbled with his glasses as he stuttered, "Ah … well you see, that type of thing requires an appointment."
Loki raised an eyebrow at the him.
"I can have my assistant set up an appoint-" Loki brushed past the professor into the house. "-now see here!" The professor gasped, following Loki into his home.
"Forgive my husband." Sigyn followed them both in, slyly bringing in their bags. "He is an impatient man."
The professor turned away from Loki to glare at Sigyn. "This is completely out of line. I must ask you to leave at once."
"Alas, our questions are time sensitive."
"I study mythology, any question you have can certainly wait."
Sigyn looked past the man to where Loki had picked up an Asgardian sword.
"Professor Randolph. We know you are more than you appear."
He blanched, "What?"
Sigyn nodded to Loki who was admiring the workmanship of the sword. "That sword doesn't belong on this earth," Sigyn gave the professor a hard glare, "And neither do you."
"I..what are you implying?"
"That you are Asgardian. A turncoat, by the look of it. What year did you desert the All Father's army."
"How did you know? How did you find me?"
Sigyn raised an eyebrow, and joined Loki's side. "I think I can recognize my own country men. We found you by stealing a look at the S.H.I.E.L.D database. Seems you were a valuable consultant."
Loki rolled his eyes in frustration, motioning for Sigyn to hurry up the conversation.
"Are you still loyal to Asgard?"
Randolph gave Sigyn a hard look. "I've always been loyal to Asgard. I did my appropriate duty during wartime, and decided to stay here as my reward."
"Good."
"May I ask who exactly are you?"
Sigyn laughed slightly. "I am lady Sigyn, and this is my husband and prince of Asgard, Loki. We need your help."
"Anything for a prince of Asgard. Though may I ask about all the publicity surrounding New York?"
"No you may not. Sufficeth it to say, those actions won't be repeated."
The professor nodded, as he gave Loki a curious look. "How may I be of service?"
Sigyn waved her hand over Loki's face, light green magic trailed with her fingers, revealing the muzzle.
"Can you remove this?"
AAAAA
"Mother, please." Thor winced as Frigga stalked up to him, a finger thrust into his chest.
"Where the hell is Sigyn?"
"She is with Loki." Thor said softly, eyes flickering towards the ajar door.
"So you lied about that too? Where are they?"
"I don't know."
"Don't lie to me." Thor flinched as Frigga's hand swung through the air. Her hand hovered just above his cheek, as she froze in shock at what she almost did.
Thor sighed, recognizing his mother's anger for what it was, fear, he leaned into his mother's offending hand.
"I would never lie to you. Loki is with Sigyn, she helped him escape from capture, and I didn't stop her. Where she took him? I don't know. I presume they're most likely still on earth, they were both beat up from the fight."
Frigga paused for a moment, before nodding softly. "I believe you."
Thor pulled his mother gently into his embrace. He could feel her form shaking from dry sobs. He held for her what seemed like an eternity, and yet only more than a few moments.
"Father mustn't find out about this." Thor finally whispered.
His mother pulled away, clearing her throat. "No, indeed not." She straightened her hairpiece, as she glanced around the room.
"How does one keep such a large secret from him?"
"You don't breath a word of this to anyone, especially Sif." Frigga paused, "We told Sigyn the news, both of us, and she was severely distraught. I offered her a visit to my summer palace, to get away from all these reminders of Loki, as I did after his supposed death. No one will question that story."
"Are you sure this is going to work?"
"It has to, the consequences would be too great otherwise."
AAAAA
"You're incredibly lucky part of my service dealt with powerful prisoners." Prof. Randolph muttered as he fumbled with the object he was building on his desk.
"If luck was favoring us, we wouldn't need your help." Sigyn responded archly, as she hovered over the professor. She glanced over to where Loki was lounging on the couch playing around with a bag of cheetos, who nodded in agreement.
"Hmhm. I'm almost done."
Loki sat up immediately, cheetos forgotten on the floor.
"Are you sure it's going to work?"
"Well, I am not an engineer, but I did as much as I could." He wiped his hands, and smiled proudly at his work. "I think I've gotten enough PhD's on my time on earth to create a skeleton key based off Asgardian technology."
Sigyn picked up the small device, weighing it in her hands. It was light for something that took hours to complete. Her eyes flickered up to meet Loki's, a silent question passed between them, and he nodded in assent.
Sigyn lightly passed her hand over the device. Green light flickered between her skin and the device, simultaneously fulfilling the last step of charging up the device, while checking to see if the professor had added anything extra than what he'd said he would.
"That's enough." The professor placed a hand on her shoulder. Sigyn nodded, and passed it off to him without another word.
Loki stiffly stood in the middle of the room. Professor Randolph approached Loki slowly whistling an eerily familiar tune. As he whistled he touched the edge of the muzzle, that action would usually result in an electrical shock, but apparently those particular sound waves broke that firewall. He reached a notch around the jaw, and pressed the device against it, an opening suddenly appeared, and the device slid smoothly inside.
Sigyn heard a click, and the muzzle fell into the professor's open hand.
Loki gasped dragging in a deep breath.
"Honey?" Sigyn whispered softly.
"I hate flying. I can't believe you made me get on that plane."
"Really? Those are your first words?"
Loki smirked. "What did you want me to say? I love you? I'm too hungry to think." He snatched up the lost bag cheetos, tossing one in his mouth. "Bleh, what are these? This looked so much more appetizing when I couldn't have it."
The professor watch the exchange with a bemused expression. "I've already apologized about the food situation. And 'I love you' would've been nice. I did save you."
"Technically." Loki stepped up and brought Sigyn into his embrace, whispering into her ear, "I love you. Also, Venice was a nice touch."
"I actually didn't realize I'd brought us there." Sigyn mumbled against his chest.
"Hmmm odd."
Loki released Sigyn, and approached the professor. "Thank you. Your service to the crown is appreciated." He tilted his head to the side briefly. "Why can't I access my magic?"
"It should stream back into your control slowly."
Loki nodded, and sat down by an unlit candle. His face was focused as he made flicking motions at the wick.
Sigyn approached the professor who was watching Loki. "I trust this visit will be kept private."
"It will be."
Loki let out a short burst of laughter, and pointed towards the lit candle.
"Everything's back to normal, good." Sigyn sighed in relief.
"It would appear so."
Suddenly Loki stiffened, his eyes bulged tight against his eye sockets. He began to twitch unceremoniously, sliding off the chair landing hard on the floor.
Sigyn rushed to his side, fear painted on her face. "Loki?!" She glanced up to the professor standing above them. "What's happening to him?!"
Loki made a gurgling sound, before unleashing an unearthly howl.
A/N: I am so sorry for the infrequent updates, I have been applying for college. Hopefully you're still interested in this story. I'd love to know what you think. Also, if anyone cares, Professor Randolph appears in one of the Asgard episodes of "Agents of Shield."
Edit: The cheeto problem has been fixed leo0256.