Loki smiled back and Thor knew he had to get Loki to agree to come back with them.
Thor was lost in thought as Max and Frankie approached him.
"Hey," Max smiled at him.
"Good evening," Thor smiled back.
"Nice work," Frankie winked before indicating to Loki, who was talking to Fandral and Sif while Hogun and Volstagg sparred.
"I do not know what you mean?" Thor's brow drew together in confusion before he realized what they were saying. Oh. He thought. Is it that obvious?
He smiled awkwardly as they walked off.
"Loki, we're going to head to bed," Frankie told him, kissing him on the forehead and waving goodbye to everyone else. They both went upstairs to their separate rooms and Loki shut off the music.
There was an uncomfortable silence.
"Loki," Odin spoke, standing up.
"Yes, Allfather?" Loki replied, putting his drink down.
Odin looked slightly hurt by how Loki had addressed him so formally but covered it quickly before Loki could turn back round.
"Could I speak with you in private?"
Loki shrugged and walked outside, gesturing for Odin to follow. Frigga gave him a stern 'remember to keep your temper' as he left and Thor, Sif and the Warriors Three all joined her to discuss Loki's current lifestyle. Fandral and Volstagg found it fun. Hogun, Sif, Frigga and Thor on the other hand, didn't like it. Hogun didn't like how close he was to the mortals. Frigga didn't like the excessive drinking. Sif didn't like the major lack of responsibility and Thor didn't like that it was on Midgard.
Loki closed the door behind Odin to avoid the chance of anyone eavesdropping and moved past him before spotting the packet of cigarettes he'd abandoned.
He scooped down to pick them up, sensing he may need one and fished around in his pocket for his lighter which was, thankfully, still in there.
Odin watched him for a moment and asked if they could sit down anywhere. Loki walked to the end of the path and sat on the brick wall around the yard, flinching slightly. Odin followed and sat down gingerly on the wall.
"So?" Loki asked, wanting to get this over with.
"Loki," Odin began, not sure how to go about this conversation. "Please come back to Asgard. I know you don't feel you belong there after everything that happened but please. You once loved that place. It's your home and if you don't come back it will be destroyed," Odin pleaded.
"Was my home," Loki muttered. Yep, definitely need a cigarette. He opened the pack and pulled one out, slotting it between his lips as he get his lighter. He lit it without looking at Odin although he knew he was watching him closely.
Odin decided not to ask what the stick was.
"I actually would like to ask you a question, Allfather,"
"Call me Father. And go on," Odin gestured for him to continue.
"Alright. Father," He took the cigarette out of his mouth and held it between his index and middle finger. "Why are you being so civil? Not just to me, but to my friends too," Loki cocked his head to the side, watching Odin.
"Well, I have been… trying to learn to control my temper as of late. And I realized it wouldn't help your decision if I insulted who you have befriended in this realm… as much as I disapprove,"
Loki nodded, staring at the road in front of the house.
"Why have you been trying to control your temper?" He asked, taking another drag of his cigarette.
"Because, as much as I would prefer not to admit it, I feel I acted harshly the day I banished you," He confessed.
Loki nodded again. "This whole conversation pains you, doesn't it,"
It wasn't a question, more of a statement but Odin answered anyway. Loki lifted the cigarette to his lips again.
"I admit it isn't exactly pleasant to declare all of this but if it'll help in bringing you home then I shall do it,"
"You mean if it helps save Asgard," Loki retorted.
"Loki, you are still my son and I still want you back home with me,"
Loki sighed and stubbed out his cigarette, which had burned down to ash by now, against the wall.
"Did the Frost Giants tell you how long you had to get me back there?"
"48 hours,"
"And you've already had a day?"
"Yes,"
Loki nodded. "Then shadow me tomorrow, then you can see how I live here. At the end of the day I will give you my decision,"
"Is there any chance of me persuading you to decide sooner?" Odin asked.
"No, in fact, if you spend tomorrow trying to persuade me I'll be more inclined to say no so it'd be wiser not to mention it,"
"Very well then," Odin nodded, not satisfied with how the conversation went but he had hope.
"Is that all?" Loki asked.
"No, I'd also like to speak to you about you and Thor's relationship,"
"Oh no," Loki muttered, rubbing a hand across his face and debating getting another cigarette out.
"Thor really cares about you,"
"How do you feel about this? I take it you know what's going on,"
"If you're both happy then I support it fully," Odin answered truthfully.
Loki watched him for any signs that he was lying but found none.
He looked away before speaking quietly. "What if it doesn't work out?"
Odin moved closer and wrapped an arm around Loki's shoulders, something he hadn't done – or even had the chance to do – in far too long.
"If you truly love each other, that will always win through everything else. Your Mother and I have had our share of arguments. Some, we had both thought would end our marriage but we could always work it out," He assured him.
"Thank you, Father," Loki whispered.
"You are welcome, my son,"
"So," Loki cleared his throat. "What exactly is happening in Asgard at the moment?"
"Well, the Frost Giants are holding the whole realm hostage but they swore not to hurt anyone until our 48 hours are up,"
Loki nodded again and stood, turning to face Odin.
"Is that all?"
Odin shook his head and stood in front of Loki.
"One more thing. I need you to know that, no matter what, you are still our son and we always have and always will love you," Odin placed a hand on Loki's shoulder.
"And I you," Loki smiled, tears glistening in his eyes. Odin smiled back and pulled Loki into a hug, another thing he had not done in far too long. This time since Loki was a child.
They went inside and found Frigga, Thor, Hogun, Volstagg and Fandral talking in the corner. Odin went to join his wife and Loki followed silently.
"Everyone listen," Odin ordered and everyone stopped talking immediately, turning their attention to the Allfather. "Loki had agreed to think his decision over tomorrow and give us his verdict at the end of the day," Odin informed.
"But what if we don't get back to Asgard in time? Or the Frost Giants get bored and go against their word not to harm anyone?" Fandral asked, glancing back at Loki.
"They won't," Odin assured them.
'Alright, where will we be staying the night?" Volstagg interrupted before Fandral could comment further.
"You can all stay here," Loki spoke up, moving to stand next to Odin. "There are two spare bedrooms, you can organize amongst yourselves who stays in which room but we also have extra mattresses we can move into the rooms so none of you will have to sleep on the floor, there's a double bed in each room already…"
Thor nodded. "Brilliant idea," He beamed.
Everyone else nodded and went about organizing who shall stay where. They decided Sif, the warriors and Thor would stay in one room and Odin and Frigga in the other.
Loki climbed into the attic where the spare mattresses were and tossed them down for Thor to carry them into the room he'd directed him to.
It was a little cramped, there wasn't much room on the floor for both the mattresses but they'd deal with it. They agreed Sif should get the bed and bickered over the rest. They felt Thor should get to sleep in the bed with Sif as he was the prince but Thor were uncomfortable with that decision, much to Sif's disappointment. Fandral offered to sleep with Sif but Sif visibly cringed so eventually they decided Sif and Hogun would get the bed (with a wall of pillows in between them, which Loki laughed at but supplied none the less) and Volstagg and Fandral would share one mattress leaving Thor with the other to himself.
He shifted about on the mattress uncomfortably for a few hours until he was sure the others were asleep. He stood and looked around at his friends. Sif and Hogun's wall had been destroyed and Sif was curled up against his side and Volstagg had his arm around Fandral's waist and was nuzzling the back of his neck. Thor smirked and left the room as quietly as possible.
After tripping over a guitar, which was left in the hall, Thor decided to go downstairs. When he got there he realized there was a light on in one of the back rooms and wondered towards it, prepared to fight if necessary, and pushed the door open slightly. He saw Loki sat at a table with one of his arms resting on the wood and his other propped up by his elbow with a cigarette in his hand and his eyes closed, seemingly not realizing Thor was there.
The blonde pushed his door open more and smiled at him when Loki opened his eyes to look at him. He looked tired.
"Thor," He smiled anyway.
"Hello brother," Thor beamed back. "Do you mind if I join you?"
Loki shook his head and gestured to the seat beside him. Thor quickly sat down and clasped his hands together on the table.
"What are you doing up?" Loki asked, taking a drag of the cigarette and breathing the smoke out the corner of his mouth so he didn't accidentally blow it in Thor's face.
"Couldn't sleep," He answered simply, shrugging. "And you?"
"Same," Loki flicked the ash off the cigarette into the ashtray beside him.
They lapsed into a slightly awkward silence before Thor broke it.
"So… what are we doing tomorrow?"
"You and the others are going to shadow me for the day to see how I live here, then I'll make my decision whether I want to go back to Asgard,"
Thor nodded again and scooted his chair closer while Loki watched him lazily.
"And what would that entail?"
"Well, I have to work but I work from here so we wont have to go anywhere. Then I have a few hours where I do nothing. Then Frankie is playing at a local bar so I'll be going to watch him with Max and a couple of other friends,"
"What does Frankie do?"
"He's in a band, he plays guitar,"
"Ah," Thor nodded. "What do you do for work?"
"I tutor my friend's idiot child and babysit another friend's kids for a bit,"
"Idiot child? That's cruel," Thor laughed.
"Oh, you haven't met him," Loki smirked, taking another drag then stumping out his cigarette, exhaling the smoke slowly.
"Well, I will tomorrow. Why do you work?" Thor cocked his head to the side.
"It keeps me busy during the day and pays for my part of the rent on the house and utensils," Loki shrugged, pushing the ashtray away from him.
Thor nodded again and reached out to take Loki's hand. Loki watched their hands for a second then looked up at Thor.
"Are you alright?" He asked Loki.
Loki nodded and sighed. "It's just odd, you all being here… I missed you,"
Thor's chest constricted pleasantly. "I missed you too, Loki," He leant forward and placed a chaste kiss on the younger's lips and smiles when he felt Loki kiss back softly.
Loki was the first to pull back. "We should get some sleep, especially if I have to tutor that imbecile tomorrow,"
"Can I sleep in your bed with you?" Thor asked timidly.
"Of course," Loki smiled, taking his hand and leading him upstairs to their room.
"I love you," Thor muttered as he tucked Loki's head under his chin in bed.
"I love you too, Thor,"
The next morning the brothers woke up to the sound of pans banging together loudly.
Thor shot up and his head whipped round, looking for the source, flinging Loki off his chest. Loki groaned and buried his face in the pillows.
"Go away!" He ordered, his voice muffled.
Thor looked up to see Frankie stood at the foot of the bed with two pans, one in either hand.
"Wakey wakey, Princess!" He shouted and Loki threw one of the pillows at him but missed because he wasn't looking and Frankie had ducked out of the way, laughing and fleeing the room.
After Thor was sure they were in no danger he relaxed and rubbed his eyes, looking down at Loki, who was face down and still had his head buried in the pillows. They were both shirtless and Thor ran a hand down Loki's back, to the waistband of the sweatpants he was wearing. Loki shivered and leant into Thor's touch, making the latter smile tenderly.
"Get your asses downstairs!" They heard Frankie call up.
Thor leant down and kissed Loki's shoulder blades and stroked his hair.
"I think Frankie wishes for you to get up," He whispered against his skin.
"And I wish for Frankie to learn the appropriate way to wake me up before I cut off his hands so he can't bang those blasted pots as he usually does," Loki groaned in reply but turned so he was on his back.
"He does that a lot?" Thor ran a hand down Loki's side.
"Every. Damn. Morning." He glared.
Thor laughed and kissed him. Loki kissed back and draped his arms around his neck before separating.
"If we don't go downstairs Frankie will bring a water gun up here and soak us both with ice cold water," He stated and Thor raised an eyebrow before laughing and standing, helping Loki up with him.
They went downstairs after dressing and Frankie put a plate of bacon and beans in front of each of them. The others were still sat around the table except Odin, who opted to stay in his and Frigga's temporary bedroom.
"Hey," Frankie greeted, sitting next to Max, who was sat beside Sif, then Hogun, Fandral, Volstagg then Frigga. Thor sat next to Frigga, smiling at everyone in greeting and Loki sat on the other side of his and with Frankie to his other side.
"Eric will be round to drop Will off any minute now so I'm heading out now," Frankie told Loki, who nodded and started eating.
"Yeah, I'll be going too. No offence, Loki, but that kid makes my brain cells shrivel just being near him," Max announced.
Loki smiled. "Oh, trust me, I know," He muttered.
Thor quickly explained to the others what was happening today and Sif didn't seem happy about it but nodded anyway.
Frankie and Max left and Frigga went to get Odin. While they were upstairs, there was a knock at the door and Loki left to go answer it. A moment later a small child with lanky light brown hair, green eyes and a backpack ran into the kitchen and stopped when he saw the Asgardians who had moved to stand around the kitchen awkwardly.
Loki came in after him, followed by a man with dark brown hair and blue eyes. They were talking and Loki stopped when he noticed the child staring at them.
"Will, this is my brother, Thor, and my friends, Sif, Volstagg, Hogun and Fandral," He pointed at them all in turn and Will nodded, going over to the table – which Loki had cleared – and pulled books out of his bag.
The man rolled his eyes and thanked Loki before leaving.
"Just… do whatever," He muttered to the others, going to sit next to Will.
"Alright, Will, what do we have to do today?" He said hesitantly and Will pushed a small booklet to him with 'Homework' written on the front. Loki opened it and sighed after reading through the latest page.
"Math again?"
Will shrugged and smiled at him.
"Alright, so," Loki looked down at the book again. "Division? That's easy,"
"For you," Will corrected.
Loki sighed and picked up a text book. As this was happening, Frigga and Odin came downstairs and asked what was happening while everyone else watched Loki and Will, shocked that they actually kind of got along.
Thor explained and turned his attention back in time to hear the problem Loki read out of the book to Will.
"If you had ten chocolate cakes and someone asked for two how many will you have left?" He looked back at the child who answered without hesitation.
"Ten,"
Loki closed his eyes and tried again. "Okay, if you had ten chocolate cakes and someone forcibly took two from you how many would you have left?"
"Ten and a dead body," Will answered proudly.
They moved on to fractions and, to Will's credit, he really did try. But, still, Loki ended up dropping his head against the table quite hard. The others had been watching in amusement, occasionally cringing at the sheer stupidity of the kid's answers. Eventually, Will's father returned to pick him up and Loki almost let out a cry of relief but managed to control himself. Eric, Will's father, gave Loki a few 20 pound notes of money while the boy gathered his books and thanked him for the effort, shocked to hear that he'd actually managed to teach Will the nine times table.
When they left Loki slumped back into his chair then stood up and put the kettle on.
"Anybody want a drink?" He asked the others, who all nodded except Hogun and Odin who shook their heads politely. Loki made six cups of coffee and handed them to each of the others and kept one for himself.
"I see what that Max girl meant, that child was unbelievable," Fandral spoke up.
Loki nodded. "Three days a week I have to do that," He stated and everyone cringed in sympathy.
"Well, if you come back to Asgard…" Volstagg started but Loki just glared, affectively shutting him up.
Fifteen minutes later there was another knock on the door before whoever was there let themselves in, accompanied by the squeals of excited children.
"Koki!" All three yelled at once and attacked Loki's legs, hugging tight. Loki had put the cup down having anticipated this but stumbles slightly and laughed.
"Hello, children," He patted their heads.
There was the smallest – a little blond girl with big blue eyes and a pretty sky blue dress, a brown haired girl with brown eyes and a red t-shirt and jeans and a boy with jet-black hair and big brown, almost black eyes and a black t-shirt and jeans who looked about the same age. An exhausted looking woman with brown hair walked in after them, said hi to Loki and crouched down to the kids.
"Sweeties, mommy has to go, be good for Loki as always, okay?"
The kids let go of Loki's legs and hugged their mother. "Bye mummy," They all shouted as she left, waving to Loki, who picked up the smallest girl and waved back.
He introduced the Asgardians and the children.
The blond girl was called Cassie, the brown haired girl was Romey and the boy's name was Billie-Joe. Romey and Billie-Joe were twins, both five, and Cassie was three. Cassie wrapped her arms round Loki's neck and refused to be put down but this was apparently normal while Billie went to stare at Volstagg's beard and Romey went to Sif, calling her pretty.
After half an hour Cassie was on Loki's back so he could still maneuver and Romey was sat at the table with Fandral as he told her story after story about all the battles he'd been in. Sif and Hogun were sat with them to make sure he didn't stray to a topic unsuitable for children. Billie was with Volstagg, eating anything they could find from the fridge while Thor, Frigga and Odin watched Loki intently, shocked at how good he was with them.
Loki sat Cassie on the island Thor, Frigga and Odin were stood beside and offered her a cookie, looking round to make sure the other children weren't watching. Cassie giggled when Loki pressed a finger to his lips and smirked. Cassie then shouted to the others and they both abandoned their previous activities and charged at Loki, managing to knock him over this time because he wasn't expecting Cassie's betrayal.
Thor laughed and Frigga hit his arm, looking worriedly at Loki in case he hurt himself. Loki just laughed and pretended to give up his struggle as Billie and Romey pinned an arm each.
"I surrender," He sighed and the kids high fived each other while Cassie laughed and, when they were off guard, Loki pulled them to him and stood up while they struggled and screamed happily.
"You," Loki looked at Cassie, "Traitor!" He pretended to scold but Cassie just laughed more, swinging her legs.
He dropped the twins on the table and got two more cookies and handed them each one then ruffled their hair. They went into the living room and Odin sat in an armchair while Frigga, Thor and Sif sat on the sofa. Volstagg took the remaining armchair and Fandral sat between his chair and the sofa while they watched Loki and the children play a game. Loki had a tie wrapped around his eyes and the children were stood round him giggling quietly as he tried to catch them.
He banged into the coffee table he'd pushed out of the way multiple times but it made the children laugh so after the second time he just started doing it on purpose, getting more and more dramatic each time which the children loved.
Cassie bravely pulled on the leg of Loki's jeans and jumped back quickly, trying not to laugh as Loki spun round wildly. He stood still and so did all of the children. Billie sneezed and Loki grabbed him. He screamed and started laughing as Loki tickled him and the others jumped to their brother's aid, hitting Loki's arm as hard as they could which, given that they were children, really wasn't very hard. Loki let go of Billie and quickly grabbed Romey and flipped her upside down and standing up.
"No!" Romey tried to protest through her laughter as Loki stood up, pulling the blindfold up with his other hand and drooping her over his shoulder. She kicked his back and punched his chest but he seemed unphased as the other's jumped up and down at his legs.
Their mother walked in then as it was 6:30pm and looked at Loki and the kids with one eyebrow raised.
"Hey Elle," He grinned, Romey still draped over his shoulder.
The other two gave up on helping their sister and ran to hug their mother instead. Loki put Romey down and she ran to the woman too.
Elle paid Loki and kissed him on the cheek then left after the kids had hugged him and said their goodbyes (they had to drag Cassie away).
As soon as the door closed Loki dropped to the floor, lying on his back.
"Tired?" Frigga asked, amused.
"Tremendously," He answered and sat up, groaning.
Loki picked up a remote control and turned on the TV. He quickly went over what it was for and taught Odin the basic function on the buttons, leaving him in charge of what they watched then took it back when Odin stared blankly at the remote. He flicked through the channels and put horse racing on and excused himself to go smoke outside after showing them how to control the volume.
Thirty seconds later Thor also excused himself and went outside to join Loki, who was sat on a row of slabs in the garden at the back of the house. He sat beside him and smiled.
"Hello," He greeted politely and Loki smiled back.
"Hello," Loki put out his cigarette and turned to Thor.
Thor turned to face him and cupped Loki's face, kissing him softly.
Loki leaned into the kiss and wrapped his arms around his neck to pull their bodies closer.
Thor moved his hands to his hips and lifted him easily into his lap so his legs were either side of him. Loki smiled into the kiss and wrapped his legs around his lower back, tangling his hands in his hair.
They stayed like that for a while until Thor shifted them again, moving Loki to lie on the slabs and kept his legs around him, pressing his own body against his to pin the younger there.
Loki stiffened slightly at the contrast in temperature between the cold stone of the concrete slabs and the searing heat of Thor's body against his own but quickly relaxed back into it.
The blonde's hands roamed over Loki's body, over his thighs, his hips and to his cheek then back down as the other stayed against the concrete besides Loki's head to steady himself. He moved his hand round to the younger's ass and squeezed lightly.
Loki gasped a little and tightened his legs around Thor's waist, rubbing their crotches together.
Thor moaned and ground down against him, releasing his lips to attack his neck as Loki shuddered beneath him.
Loki tightened his grip in Thor's hair, closing his eyes and the thunder god's hand moved to the button and zip on Loki's jeans but froze when they heard someone clear their throat from the doorway.
They both looked up and Fandral stood there with a small smirk on his lips.
Thor quickly scrambled up and stuttered as he started an explanation then realized Loki was still laid on the floor and leant down to take his hand and pull him up.
"We were… um…" Thor started and Fandral laughed.
"Thor," He placed a hand on his shoulder. "Loki," He placed his other hand on his. "We've all been convinced there was something more than brotherly love between you two since we were teenagers. The reason we've never said anything is because it obviously seemed a little… unorthodox. Then we realized Loki wasn't really a blood relative – no offence, dear friend,"
Loki shrugged.
"And since then we've been taking bets on when you would finally realize it yourselves," He smiled. "And I won,"
Thor laughed and Loki smirked as they all hugged and went back inside to sort out the TV because Odin had pressed something and accidentally changed the channel and none of them could remember how to change it back.
Max came in five minutes later wearing a white tank top with a black leather jacket over it and red and black checkered, skintight trousers with chains attached to the pockets and studded belt and red Doc Martins. She had eyeliner round her eyes making them look wide and intimidating.
"Hey! You're not ready, come on!" He whines at Loki.
"Oh, sorry!" Loki jumped up saying he'd be right back and went upstairs. He came back with skin tight black jeans and a red and black stripy t-shirt on with a black leather jacket open over it and black leather boots that stopped half way up his calf.
"Ready," He grabbed his keys and gestured for the others to follow him.
"Where are we going?" Odin asked.
"A club to watch Frankie's band,"
They walked to a bar a few blocks away and got a booth just off to the side so they could all sit together but were still close to the stage. The bar smelt strongly of spilt bear and smoke but Loki and Max were unphased. The Asgardians all sat down reluctantly as Loki and Max looked around for Frankie. The others looked round and felt very out of place. Everyone was wearing clothes similar to Loki and Max, all leather clad and dark.
"He must be backstage already," Max concluded and Loki nodded. Loki went to order all the boys – and Sif – beers and Max and Frigga cranberry juice with a little rum in.
When he came back and handed the drinks out the lights went dimmer than they already were and a loud voice boomed through the speakers.
"Ladies and gentlemen! Please welcome to the stage a brilliant up-and-coming rock band! LeATHERMOUTH!"
Everyone clapped and Max cheered while Loki whistled loudly. They both laughed and nudged each other then the curtains opened and revealed Frankie stood by the microphone and four others around him, two with guitars like him, one with a bass and another sat at a drum kit.
He introduced the first song as "5th Period Massacre" and loud music started.
They played a set of five songs, and people seemed to enjoy it although Max and Loki were the only ones singing along but they sung loud and appeared very proud of their friend. They clapped loudly after every song and cheered in appreciation when Frankie called out the names of each one, always recognizing them instantly and not missing a single word. Frankie looked over at them every few lines and smiled thankfully at them, gaining more and more confidence from their liveliness.
When they finished and thanked the audience Loki and Max stood up and cheered more and Frankie laughed at them when Max shouted "I WANT YOUR BABIES" with no shame but when Loki shouted "ME TOO!" Frankie pretty much collapsed in hysterics.
Frankie emerged from backstage ten minutes later and they started walking home. They all congratulated Frankie and said it was a great show.
Loki called to Max and Frankie to go ahead and stopped with the others.
"I made my decision," He shoved his hands in his jacket pockets.
"Yes?" Odin asked.
"I'll go back… under one condition," Thor, Sif and the warriors three all grinned thankfully.
"What is the condition?" Frigga asked.
"I can come back to Midgard and visit whenever I want,"
"Within reason," Odin added.
"Reason?" Loki tilted his head to the side.
"As long as you don't just get up and leave during an important event,"
Loki smiled. "I can live with that,"