Author's Note: Thanks for reading and reviewing!
Once again, since I did not read the comics, my depiction of Asgard's law system and rules sparks out of my own imagination, except for Odin being the absolute monarch. That, as far as my knowledge goes, really is the case. So I hope you forgive me that, in case you find it bothersome.
Anyways, I move a bit forward in time to push the story – and have Loki's pregnancy proceed.
I hope you'll like it.
As always, reviews are welcome and very much appreciated – I swear I do happy dances each time.
Read, review, and hopefully enjoy ;)
After the many revelations which came about in times of crisis, the two Norse Gods are not only faced with the trouble of a raging Allfather whose plans remain as dark as the shadows haunting his face, but also their own little fortune threatened by exactly those shadows looming above their heads the same way.
Even though Loki dares to hold on to that scrap of hope Thor persistently tells her is out there, or rather, as he says, within her, the God of Mischief finds her mind wandering as her stomach grows, a wonderful, yet terrible memento of what might be in the future, or what may not be.
On a positive note, their secret plan of finding allies without treaties actually seems to succeed in most cases. However, Loki knows that one of the greatest threats comes from her own home realm, Jotunheimr, for they will hardly agree to any so such oral treaty for as long as it comes from Thor, the man who helped bring down and balked their plans.
And one of the greatest threats is the invisible clock ticking relentlessly – for no one knows when Odin decided that Thor has to return to Asgard and stay there, while he shall cut all ties to Midgard as a final piece. Loki thought time and time again about a scheme that would grant them extension, but the trickster fears that there is no such trick, or rather… that her power of trick and mischief will not suffice to hold on to the man she loves and the child she loves, growing under her heart with every day passing.
And that is what makes her heart ache ever the more.
There is nothing she can do.
She cannot fight.
She cannot design a scheme to bring Odin down or at least stop him.
She cannot leave this place and seek protection as Loki did with her other children for a fleeting moment, if only the bathrooms or some distant cave.
Loki feels not helpless. She knows she has support on her side. She does. The Avengers, each of them, does anything to support her, emotionally, and physically. Tony already muses about child rooms and starts on toys, the fool, and everyone shows not only concern, but allows Loki to continue with her work and carry on with the usual routine, rather than wallowing in self-pity, knowing that this is for her best after all. They know her and they care for her, regardless of the danger both Gods put them in, if indirectly, by their connection to Odin and his plan of cutting all ties to the other realms.
Yet, she feels unable in that certain way. Because Loki finds herself once again in the position where she cannot do anything other than stand by and watch as Thor goes off to fight the fight not only for Asgard, but for them, too, for their future growing under her heart. And that makes Loki shiver. She hates to be bound to stand by. She wants to change a situation.
That spirit made her go against the Allfather.
Against Thor.
Against the realms.
And even though it was obviously to no good cause, the trickster felt at least not stuck in one place, not locked in a room while the others acted.
As corny as it may sound, at least she tried. At least she didn't allow stasis to overtake her, but now? It looks just like she will become one of those women from the old tales looking out of the window, waiting for her heroic and brave man to go and fight the evil monsters, hoping for a safe return. Loki loves books, she loves old tales, but she always hoped she wouldn't be imprinted upon those pages in such a manner.
Suddenly the world seems so small again, like walls closing in on her. As though life suddenly is just a sheet of paper stacked up in the book with the painting of her glancing out of the window as thunder rolls outside.
"… Loki?"
The trickster shakes her head, forcing her mind back to the mansion, or rather, her significant other looking at her with a mixture of worry as both sit on the couch in the lounge area.
"I beg your pardon? What did you say? I was absent for a moment," she shakes her head to turn her attention back to the thunderer.
"I asked what is on your mind," Thor repeats, his voice soft.
"Many things at once. You know how I am," Loki shrugs.
"Truly, but you are alright?" Thor smiles, concern pulling his brows down.
"Perfect, well, according to the circumstances," the trickster corrects herself. Thor grimaces at her.
Because he knows that everything is far from perfect, though it should be. It should be the happiest and most joyous time of their lives, of their life together. They should spend their days arguing about how the child's room should look like, or what name it should have, they should spend their days together dreaming of their wonderful future. Just that they do none of that. Instead they anxiously wait for the next messenger to come to claim Thor for Asgard's duties, tearing him away from his loved ones. Instead they have to worry about what Odin is up to, what this will lead to, and how to build up a good protection to make sure the child lives safely.
Thor dreamed of children and now to have one with the person he loves like no one else should be like walking through Valhalla, just that… there are rocks in the way, and above, raining down on them in an avalanche, followed by a session of earthquakes, tearing up the ground beneath them. He wished he could just treat it like some enemy to slay. Thor would fight it till the bitter end. But it is no single enemy. It is so many things at once.
Even though…
Thor finds it ever the more tempting… this one thought… because there is this one single cause whose removal might mean their happiness in a brighter light again.
His heart clenches for the mere consideration.
What if he fought Odin?
Killed him?
Would that solve all problems for them?
Would that be worth it?
There was a time when Thor was by no means in doubt about his father. Even when he called him an old fool and was banished for it, Thor always believed in this man's integrity and… well, he believed in his father, maybe not the king, but the father he was to him. The person who brought him up, held his hand, taught him so many things, and brought with him in a bundle the creature from Jotunheimr that grew to be the center of Thor's life, who wanted to offer everything to him, his kingdom, his realm. However, shadows were cast upon that illuminating picture of Odin the more Loki shed light on it, about all the mistreatments and mistakes Thor didn't see or, upon more honest reflection, didn't want to see sometimes. The lies he told him. The lies he also told him to keep him away from Loki. However, even as those revelations unfolded, Thor dared to hold on to maybe not the Allfather, but simply his father. Even through all the hatred, there are feelings for this man, feelings that bear the same light as they did during childhood.
Will it really come down to it that Thor has to choose between the man who brought him up and the woman who shares his heart and through her inner darkness brought out the better in him?
Thor absently runs his hand over Loki's growing stomach. It calms his nerves and hushes his thoughts out of the dark places of his mind.
It's like touching hope, because beneath the layers of skin, there grows his flash of hope, a new life, life he created with her. It's curious how small it seems to some people when in fact it is… so much more, so much more a miracle.
"Is it awful to say that I miss going to battle?" Loki suddenly asks, turning to him.
"What?" he frowns at the trickster, who shrugs, "I agreed to stay out of the active missions ever since… my one foolish mistake with Sinister, but… I do miss it now. And I never thought I would. It's awful, isn't it?"
"Well, I will hardly blame you for it. You know that this is how I feel when I have to stay behind in battle," Thor argues. He went nearly insane when he had to stay in sickbay after the battle against Gorr.
"For once this is actually serving a good cause, then," Loki snickers.
"But you're still of great help, you know that," Thor insists. She really is. Even though she does not join into the fights anymore, she coordinates, points out strategies, and directs them home safely.
"Obviously. If not for my coordination, you'd often run around like chicken," Loki huffs. Sometimes she can't believe how they managed before. Even though this again makes a smile creep to her lips – Loki is a part of that team which grew to be so central to the Avengers that its absence… actually makes a difference. Something is missing when she is not there. And that is a feeling she honestly missed in a long time when back in Asgard. Not only to be missed, but really needed, that her absence left a wound.
Thor chuckles softly, easing back against the couch. Loki copies his movement. Tony already commented that those two are utterly boring. Thor and Loki, at least these days, do nothing much but spending time together sitting on the couch, on the bed, reading and getting read to, and "hanging out" with the rest of the Avengers. Not that either of the two really minds the comment. For them it's actually the best treatment for their aching hearts. They are close to each other, close enough to feel each other's breaths. They enjoy the privacy they have, the intimacy that they lack when they are torn apart.
You don't need words to express your love, neither das it take grand actions.
"Why do you miss the battlefield, though? I know for a fact that you do not necessarily love it," Thor frowns.
"Well, I guess it's always as the old saying goes, you have to lose something to miss it. I could fight before, because I always had to. Now I shouldn't, so… my system is seemingly confused. Though I will blame it on the pregnancy as a side-effect on any other occasion," Loki shrugs.
"Well, in any case I'm glad that you listen to reason," Thor grimaces. He was honestly fearful that Loki would insist on continuing to assist on the battlefields. As much as he loves that woman, she is maybe even more stubborn than him on some occasions, and that seems hardly possible.
Loki means to say something when suddenly a beeping sounds fills the room. The trickster rolls her eyes as she fishes a small panel out of her trousers pocket.
"… we are about to have guests from Asgard, as it appears," she sighs.
"What? So early?!" Thor cries out. It has only been a short while since he came back to Earth.
Loki shrugs at him, "I honestly ask myself what takes Odin so long. I thought he'd rather cut down contact all at once, but his plan takes unnaturally long to unfold."
"But still," the God of Thunder insists.
"Yeah, I know, but… it's nothing we can change. You have to go once the King calls," Loki shrugs.
"Maybe he just lets me know that he is finally back to his senses," Thor huffs.
"Don't make me laugh," Loki rolls her eyes. Thor grins at her. Both know how utterly ridiculous that is.
"Well, I guess we should prep up for the meeting then," she sighs as she gets up. "I'm already looking forward to the day when I can see my feet again. I always hate that about pregnancy."
Thor chuckles softly. Never did she look more beautiful – and that seems hardly possible. Even with her growing stomach, she has the walk of a queen, graceful as ever. And she glows from the inside so bright that sometimes Thor has to squint to believe it.
The two make their way to the lab where Tony and Bruce are already hovering over the computer systems.
"We're having Asgardians over for barbecue," Tony declares upon their entrance, already working on the screens, as does Bruce. Loki walks up to them to overlook the findings as well.
"I hope they bring something decent with them. Their party presents weren't too good lately," Loki grimaces as she swipes with her fingers over some of the graphs.
"Oh, someone's finally catching up to my humor," Tony grins at her dumbly.
"Just that it isn't funny nevertheless," Loki huffs, before turning to Bruce more seriously. "What are the estimations?"
"In twenty minutes. Approximate destination… over here," Bruce says, pointing to the place on the map they calculated. If anything good came of Thor's constant come-and-go, it is that they received a lot of data. That means their calculations are now almost perfectly accurate.
"At least they try to stay away from the city. That always takes so much explaining," Loki makes a face.
"I actually find it funny what news then come up with for a fitting storyline," Bruce smirks.
"My personal favorite was how it was just something like the aurora. To the day I can't believe people bought that," Tony snickers.
"Never underestimate people's foolishness," Loki huffs.
"Well, I guess we'd do good sending them their Prince as a welcoming party. The usual procedure, no?" Tony shrugs.
"I have a really bad feeling about this," Thor makes a face.
"That's more of Loki's line, for the record," Tony grins. Loki rolls her eyes before she hands a cube to Thor, "I suppose we'll do fine just observing, right?"
"I see no reason to change the winning team," Bruce shrugs.
"What if they take him hostage?" Tony argues.
"… their own prince? Seriously?" Bruce huffs.
"Stuff happens," Tony insists.
"Like you being smart?" Bruce snorts.
"Oh, that almost hurt my feelings right there, Doctor Banner," Tony grins.
"I'll see you later," Thor waves at them.
"Make sure you do," Loki tells him, her emeralds flickering with their usual intensity. Thor turns around and leaves the mansion to get to the open field Bruce and Tony pointed to. He soon finds himself standing amidst it.
He waits until the time is up. And as predicted, the white light erupts from the sky and three people step out, Sif in company of two of the royal army. Thor hoped for a moment it would simply be his friends, but at least it is one fellow among them. That is at least something.
"My dear Sif, it is good to see you," Thor greets the warrior as she steps closer, bowing her head, "My Prince."
"Not so formal, Sif, not so formal," Thor reminds her.
"Though it is for a formal reason that I am here," Sif argues.
"I already assumed such, but what is it that brings you here formally, then?" Thor questions.
"Your Father orders you back to Asgard as soon as possible," the warrior replies, bringing Thor's heart to sink. His face turns dark as he speaks with utter disdain, "What realm does he now mean to exclude?"
"It is not about that… for now," Sif replies, making the thunderer frown even more, "Then what instead? Does he finally come to his senses?"
"The Allfather seeks your presence for the sake of the throne, Mylord," one of the soldiers speaks up in a booming voice. At this point Thor is really glad that Loki didn't come along – she wouldn't have managed to hold back the laughter at the stiff behavior.
"What is that supposed to mean?" Thor grimaces.
"He means to give the throne to you, or so he said," Sif explains.
"… what?" the God of Thunder blinks at her incredulously.
"Well, not right at this moment. It is more of…," Sif shrugs, her voice trailing off, but Thor completes knowingly, "A test."
That is actually one of Odin's traits that will seemingly never change. He always sought to teach Thor lessons by making him undergo some kind of test – even his stay on earth, in the end, was a test for Thor learn modesty, after all. However, such tests now only bring about within him more anger. Thor doesn't need foolish tests to teach him some lesson when the real test is here on Earth, growing under Loki's heart. That is the kind of test that should be in focus now, and not an old man's antics.
"I suppose so, my Prince," Sif grimaces, noting his annoyed tone.
"That man must have lost his wits," Thor mutters, making the other of the two soldiers almost jump up in protest, "Mylord!"
"T'is none of your business, Soldier, so you do better staying out of internal affairs," Thor growls at the man, who instantly bows his head, "Of course, Mylord."
Thor grins to himself. They are good men, no doubt, and they are very loyal to Odin, even more loyal than to him, but that is natural. After all, he is the Allfather. Yet, it's always funny to observe how they jump once they see they overstepped some boundaries.
"If you would grant us some privacy?" Sif turns to the men.
"But Milady," the first one means to insist.
"This was a polite order. Now step back and let us talk," Sif demands.
"Of course," the soldiers say in unison. The two take a few strides back to grant them the demanded privacy. Thor grimaces, yet another novelty that doesn't add up to the rest. Why does Odin send soldiers with Sif, or Sif with soldiers? Before, it was either one.
"I know that you rather stay here on Midgard and not on Asgard, for a while now, but Thor – you have to see that this might be… a good chance," Sif argues, drawing closer and a little away from the guards. "If you seek to make changes, as you promised, sitting upon the throne will greatly help your cause."
"I do not seek the throne," Thor tells her sternly, his voice low.
"It's what you dreamed of all the while," Sif argues with wide eyes.
"My priorities changed," the thunderer explains.
"And surely those priorities now revolve around Midgard," Sif huffs, making her disappointment no secret. Something that he actually likes about her a lot is that Sif never holds back her opinion of anyone or anything. Very much like him in that regard.
"In fact they do," Thor agrees. There is no reason to make that a secret, is there? His persistent wish to return to Midgard is surely broad enough a hint.
"Do I really have to remind you what is at risk here? This might be the olive branch you were secretly looking for. You took a risk for this to happen. And now that hope for Asgard and its people is just within your grasp, you draw away?! What is the matter with you?!" Sif curses.
"No, no, you get me wrong," Thor assures her.
"What is it that you are not telling?" Sif asks, now in a softer voice.
"I am not withholding anything," Thor insists.
"Right. Thor, we have known each other since the early years of our lives. I do know such a lie when I see it," the warrior huffs.
If only she knew…
"I do not wish to leave my friends here. I have the feeling that I will not return once I set off to take my seat upon that throne. As my father seems to be proof of it, it tends to suck people in and keep them there, as bloody fools," Thor snarls.
"I can only implore you to obey his orders. This is the chance. Don't give it away," Sif argues. "Whatever is it that holds you here so tightly, I do not know, but… but I beg you not to forget the people whose protection you vowed by the coronation and for whom you already took the risk of the… treaties."
To tell the truth, he did not take that risk for them alone, or rather, they were only the second thing on Thor's mind ever since. The first was and still is to ensure Loki's and their child's safety.
"I will not. And I won't let my people down, Sif. You know that I stand to my word," Thor argues, now with a stronger voice.
"And so did the King, but as you said, people change," Sif snorts.
"I don't ever change," Thor grins at her.
"You have greatly changed, my friend. I do not know why or how, but you are no longer the man that I used to know a while back," Sif shakes her head.
Indeed he changed.
For Loki. Thanks to Loki.
For this child. Thanks to this child.
Thor doesn't know if he really matured over the matter, but he feels different in certain ways. He still holds dear most of the paradigms he laid out early on in his life. He holds on to the virtues of loyalty, of integrity, and pride. And sadly, he is still more often a fool than a man of wisdom. Nothing much has changed about that, but yes, indeed he feels a kind of strength growing within him he didn't know was there, a kind of steadiness that was long overshadowed by his bold and often overly dashing character. He feels calm when there once was thunder rolling deep within him.
However, it is oddly satisfying to hear it from an outside observer who knows the former him that he has indeed changed. It makes him more confident in that he can also change things outside of himself. In the world Thor seeks to create for his loved ones.
"But my devotion and my loyalty have not, I assure you," Thor tells her credibly.
"So will you come?" Sif asks tentatively, her arms crossed over her chest.
"I would like to talk to the Avengers first," Thor grimaces.
"What do they have to do with Asgard's business?!" the woman breaks out.
"They have to do with it, for they are my friends also, Sif. I cannot just take off," Thor replies.
"You make it sound as though you sought their council to decide if it is a good idea to go, or to stay, should I rather say?" she narrows her eyes at him angrily.
"I do seek their council, but not to make decisions in my name, but to hear their opinion. As I do with all my friends. Or did I never seek your council, or that of the Warrior Three?" Thor retorts.
"You did," she sighs.
"And so I ask them for their opinion to make up my mind," Thor shrugs.
"Does the trickster have his hands in this, too?" Sif huffs.
"… are you sincere?" Thor can't help the angry facial expression. He knows that Sif and Loki never got along, but it is especially her who means to put the blame on Loki for Odin's actions, and that even though it seems hardly possible even from Sif's perspective that the God of Mischief is behind all these happenings.
Sif shrugs.
"After all this time, still the same feud?" Thor shakes his head, now almost sounding disappointed.
"Your Father says…," she means to say, but he quickly interrupts her, "And you just told me not long ago how much you are against his decisions lately. So you should do better not listening to his inquiries and take them to heart."
Sif looks to the side.
"This is not Loki's doing. This is business between my Father and I that he, sadly, seemingly wants to take out on the battlegrounds of all realms, but Loki has nothing to do with that," Thor tells her another time, now in a softer voice. He knows that the warriors suffered heavy at the loss of Hogun as he was sent back to his homelands, which explains most of their anger, but it does not justify them in blaming it on Loki. And regardless of being forced to hide the true nature of their relationship from the outside world, Thor will not accept it that people talk about Loki in that way.
"You said so before and…," Sif means to argue, but Thor holds up his hands, "Sif, I will not hear it."
"But…," the warrior tries another time, but Thor is fed up with it, "Just stop right there, mind you? I ask you as one of your oldest friends. Trust my judgment. It is not Loki's doing. Given the banishment, there is nothing much Loki can do to affect Odin or Asgard, especially since the exclusion is actually not in Loki's favor."
"Is it not?" the woman frown.
"Trust me, no," Thor shakes his head, his expression instantly back to sadness. Because the exclusion from Asgard, regardless of the positive note of their reunion and the prospect of their child, left Loki weaker than before, unable to escape Odin's wrath if it came to it, and generally a broken person for a long time until brighter days came again.
"Loki did not have it easy here on Earth to adjust. And as the loss of Hogun as our companion does it to you, it should actually make you aware how much it tears at all of us to be apart. Loki is no different, so I would kindly ask you to leave it at that. I do not care if you gossip with another fellow if you feel the need to, but do not turn to me about such business."
"I'm sorry," Sif sighs, though her apology sounds more credibly than Thor had anticipated. "I guess it really is the entire situation that forces me into an even fouler mood than I can be in most of my times."
She manages a weary grin Thor sends back at her, "It is alright. I do understand that this is difficult for you, my friends, especially."
Sif nods gratefully at him.
"Then so it is… I think you got the message. If you seek to come, you should do so at least by next day or else the Allfather will be raging, again. If you don't come… I don't know what he will do to convince you, so you should better be prepared," Sif warns him.
"Thank you," Thor nods.
"… I hope to see you back home soon," Sif grimaces uncertainly.
"I will see if I come to Asgard," Thor nods.
"Home, Thor, home," she corrects him.
"I don't know if it still is," the God of Thunder admits. It didn't feel like home the first time he came back, when he learned about Odin's bad disposition, and it felt less like home every time he was forced to return. Actually, his life was turned around in terms of that longing for return. When he and Loki didn't get along at all, he found his mind longing for Asgard, he dreamed of the golden halls, of the mountains and statues, of his father and mother. But now it is that he sleeps in the silken sheets in Asgard's palace that he yearns for emerald eyes and woolen sheets in the mansion, where there is no gold but simple metal.
"Well, you are the only one capable of making it one again," Sif sighs, stepping back a little. "Goodbye, my Prince."
"Goodbye," Thor nods, bowing his head a little.
"Then we shall head back," Sif speaks to the soldiers. They take their position and soon the light claims them again, swallows them up greedily. Thor watches as the light dies out.
Stones, stones everywhere. Stones are even in the sky.
He makes his way back to the mansion as quick as possible, knowing that they now have very urgent business to discuss. The others already gathered upon the news of Asgard visitors. Thor looks at them with mixed feeling, but once his eyes fall upon Loki, it's as though she looks right inside of him to know what the matter is. Her eyes darken as the curtain of hair falls into her face.
"… It did not go well," she says. A look in his eyes is enough to know.
"Not really," Thor grimaces.
"What is Odin up to?" Clint questions.
"He wants to see me back," Thor replies.
"Well, newsflash," Tony huffs.
"… to have me… test… the throne," Thor adds uncertainly, his eyes fixed on Loki, seeking her reaction – because he does not yet know how to react to those news.
"… that came out weird," Tony snorts. Natasha nudges him in the side wordlessly.
"He wants to crown you King? Well, that'd be marvelous! You take all his orders back and then it's done and dealt with," Steve grimaces.
"It's surely not that easy," Natasha argues.
"Sadly not," Thor agrees, to which Loki adds, "Odin will hardly give Thor such important power in times when he has to question his loyalty to Asgard. It might be that the Allfather is insane these days, but he is no fool. He would not make such a fatal mistake to work against his own plan."
"Why would he do that, though?" Steve frowns.
"Well, obvious reasons," Loki shrugs.
"… which would be?" Bruce grimaces.
"He seeks to bind me to Asgard and the throne," Thor translates.
"As a last token to make Thor say 'no' to Earth and return to his homeland. By now it's still safe to suspect that he does not yet know about me or the child, so I don't think he does that to keep you away from me, but I think he does so to keep you away from Midgard's business. The moment you are King, you are bound to the throne, as the old rules go. And I don't know if he didn't make some humorous changes to the law while you were here," Loki says, hugging her arms.
"What now? He can't just change the law like that, right?" Natasha makes a face.
"He can. He is the Allfather. An absolute monarch. He does not have to listen to anyone's order," Loki shrugs.
"I thought he held council," Bruce frowns. He can recall that Loki spoke about that couple of times.
"Because he thought it helped him reach better decisions, but by the old constitution, he is the only King. The Father of the All. The Ruler of All. It was actually his former spirit of openness that brought about that change in the politics. He sought council rather than just making the decisions. It was thanks to Odin's politics that a council was brought into existence in the first place," Loki explains.
"You make it sound like you suddenly like this guy, I'm confused," Tony grunts.
"I can very well draw the line between the man I hate and the man who set out very good political decisions for a while… until megalomania got the better of him," Loki argues.
"So, as the absolute monarch, he can change the law as he pleases," Clint summarizes.
"Well, given his words about how he seeks to return to former order, I doubt he'd even attempt to change the very old laws that were the groundwork for Asgard's society and politics. I would suspect that if he were to change any rules, it'd be the ones only recently made. That is also what he is bound to by the old constitutions. He cannot change the old rule, but the present ones made under his reign. Such as the peace negotiations. Well, and of course he might reconsider my banishment, well to my disadvantage," Loki shrugs, sounding almost nonchalantly, though that is obviously a very thin masquerade.
"Yeah, but that's not gonna happen," Tony snorts.
"I do not wish to paint the world in dark colors for that matter, but you can believe me that if Odin set his eyes on that – he will find a way to make it happen," Loki warns them.
"So do we," Steve joins sides with Tony.
"Human wantonness is about just as curious as the megalomania of the Allfather," Loki shakes her head. Humans never cease to amaze her in that regard.
"But is it then really a good idea to have Thor go?" Natasha grimaces. "If chances are that high that it might just as well be some kind of trick?"
"Well, I do not really think that Odin will leave him much of a choice, right?" Clint shrugs.
"My father will most certainly not. It has been this game for a while. I either get to do it by my own free will, or so he claims, or he forces me in the end," Thor agrees.
"Tempting options, really," Tony huffs.
"So, what do we do now?" Steve asks.
"We will do nothing much, other than wish the God of Thunder farewell," Loki says at last, bringing all eyes on her.
"Now what?! Seriously?!" Tony breaks out. Loki shrugs at them.
"You really think I should go?" Thor asks in a softer voice, his eyes still trained on her, seeking reaction, seeking guidance. Why would she say that? She knows what that means!
"For all it's worth, yes," Loki says, gesturing wildly.
"But Loki," Thor means to say.
"Let's look at this rationally. First of all, as Thor rightly pointed out, there is not much arguing with Odin once he sets his eyes upon the target. Secondly, even though we were able to hold up the shadow treaties with most realms, this did not work for all, so Asgard is in dire danger at any given moment, with its Commander in Chief here on Earth. Thirdly, with staying here, Thor has no chance to properly observe the Allfather to perhaps figure out what is behind all this, if it is not more than a fit of megalomania or some evil chant or just some… Khan worm…,"
Tony snickers, though Loki tries to ignore that. Slip of the tongue. She has to stop watching films at Tony's choice, really.
"Fourthly, the closer Thor is to the throne, the more rights will be given to him. If Odin follows through with the plan and crowns him King, then Thor can push the treaties again, and the like," Loki carries on. Thor looks at her sternly.
"Well, that sounds reasonable," Clint shrugs.
"Right," Natasha agrees.
"So I guess you should get the crown, Big Guy," Tony grimaces.
"I do not think it's a good idea, especially considering that…," Thor means to say, but the trickster quickly interrupts him, "Thor, you must go. For everyone's safety, including that of your friends and your family."
She runs a hand over her stomach to stress her point.
"It is the best decision, at least for now. The main problem is that we don't know what exactly Odin does during your absence. You are the only one who can keep harm out of our way if it comes to it. This might be our only chance, Thor," she tells him urgently.
"When do you have to go?" Bruce asks.
"By next day the latest," Thor replies.
"Well, then you should take counsel with your pillow – and decide tomorrow, I'd say," Tony offers.
"That might be for the best," Thor agrees.
"Either way, we will support you," Steve says.
"Right," the others agree.
"I thank you, my friends," Thor nods at them appreciatively.
At least that is the one constant that will not change within this world – they have their support, through thick and thin.
Later on, the Norse Gods are in their room. Once the door closed, Thor's face darkens considerably. Loki sits on the bed.
"Will you explain it to me now?" he speaks up at last.
"Explain to you what?" she asks.
"You know exactly what the implication of me taking the throne is. Do not sell me for a fool, Loki. Though I often am, I am not that stupid not to see it," Thor grunts angrily. He hates it that even during times such as these, Loki wants to play this kind of game.
"I didn't mean to imply that," she argues, now much more credibly, which forces most of the anger out of Thor's body already.
"Then what was that in the council? Loki, there is no way I climb the throne," Thor argues, drawing closer to her.
"There is, and you should know better than to turn that offer down," the trickster argues.
"But that is not how it should be," Thor insists.
"We knew that this wouldn't ever be perfect, Thor. Maybe that is the best we can get. You have to look at it… optimistically. If you manage to take the throne, then perhaps we can find arrangements, arrangements that certainly were not there before," the God of Mischief objects.
"I told you before and I tell you again – I do not seek arrangements to see my beloved ones. I want to have them with me," Thor argues.
"I know," she whispers.
"So how can you say that I should go ahead?" Thor looks at her.
"You have to see the greater good," she sighs, leaning back a little.
"The greater good is in front of me," Thor replies, making her look at him with a gentle blush creeping up her cheeks. It's odd how he can so often end up saying the sweet-bitter all-too-right-all-too-wrong things that make her want to forget the world and its troubles and simply hold on to that man.
"I do not care about the worlds for as long as they mean that I am apart from you for longer than a few weeks' time. Already during these times I was sent off for the duties of messaging it was almost killing me that I couldn't be around you, couldn't be with you," Thor goes on.
"Well, that is what you get when you fall for a criminal to Asgard who is very stubborn on tops," she snickers mischievously.
"I don't want the throne, Loki," Thor says, his chest heaving with sadness. "You know that I actually… want anything but that."
"Yes, I know. And I normally wouldn't ask you for it, selfishly as it may be, but… but yes, the good of the more is now more important, too. If we ensure Asgard's stability, then so do we for the other realms. I do not want to see Odin raging against Earth, just because of his plans or… because of the hatred he bears me," Loki argues.
"Of course. I don't want that either," Thor nods solemnly.
"Well, this might be a good way to prevent that – and ensure Earth's safety," Loki shrugs.
"I cannot leave you," Thor shakes his head.
"You don't want to. You can, but you don't want to. That is a difference, my dear Thor," she scolds him.
"Then so I don't want," Thor grunts.
"Then change your mind," Loki argues. "I don't want to bring up our child, always having to fear Odin's wrath. If you have the throne, then there is no such fear."
"But worlds will keep us apart," Thor insists.
"So they did before and still we managed. Maybe I overcome my utter distaste of Asgard after all, to follow you one day… though that will hardly change anything for now. After all, the rules say that Odin's orders cannot just be undone once you have the throne," Loki huffs.
"And that is why I see even less sense in this. I can't just undo the things he said. Because of that law. How would I change anything for the better, seated upon that bloody throne?" Thor argues. Because that is something he honestly fails to understand.
"You cannot undo the rules he laid out. Just as he can't touch the old laws of his ancestors. But that doesn't mean you are bound to just let it happen. You can make other calls, other rules which work to the effect to nullify his treaties," Loki argues.
"You think he will let that happen?" Thor grimaces, not really convinced.
"He will have to. He did it, too, so he cannot say anything against it that would threaten you in your position. All you have to do, once upon the throne, is to figure out a strategy to move around his rules. And then… there will be the peace treaties you sought, just in a different way… and even my banishment might be… circumvented," Loki tells him. And Thor can't help but muse that Loki is always the one to come up with a kind of strategy, a plan, even during times such as these. Yet… it does not remove the fact that this is… wrong on so many other levels that even such a nice plan won't help fix the situation.
"That is not how it should be," he sighs.
"It's not, but it's actually better than the options we had in front of us until recently. That is at least a scrap of hope," Loki argues, her fingers ghosting over his back to offer a bit of comfort. She knows what it is doing to him to be apart from the child and her. She feels it in every embrace she finds herself in once Thor returns, which becomes tighter each time, more desperate for contact, feels it in the intensity of the welcome-home kiss, in the way his hands move over her stomach to detect the child's movements almost frantically. Thor pains at their absence, at his own absence.
"I don't know," he exhales, trying to ease to her touch, to the tenderness of the gesture.
"Listen to me, Thor. I wish it were all different, I do, but… but our child's safety is more important to me now than ever. I cannot bear the thought that something happens to it. You have to protect it in both our name. And it is seemingly that the only protection you can give it… is by climbing the throne," Loki argues, seeking his eyes as her fingers continue to trail over his back.
"I can't believe it," Thor sighs, running a hand over his face.
"We will find a way, I'm sure. Maybe we will just… need a bit more time. And if you move now, we might just get this time we need to figure out a plan, a plan for our child's safety, and for our love to be protected," Loki tells him. Thor suddenly straightens up a bit again as he adds, "And open."
"What?" she furrows her eyebrows at him.
"I do not want to keep it from the world forever. I am in love with you. There is no doubt. I know that this is still far way, for the priorities are now on the child's safety, but… but I will not give up until I can hold you in my arms for all to display, just as I want to hold my child out for everyone to see as a token of our love," Thor explains, his voice firm and steady.
"Now don't be a bloody romantic," she grumbles. Thor turns to her, his blue eyes flickering like lightning, "That has nothing to do with romantic, Loki. I will not let you or my child live a life in the shadows. I promised you and I promise you again. That also means that the time will come that we will no longer have to hide it."
Loki looks at him sadly.
"I will find a way, for us, into the light," Thor tells her.
"That just sounded like a very odd group suicide note," she huffs. Thor can't help but smirk, "Even if I don't know how yet, I have that goal, and I shall not stop until it's done. The day will come that we will stand in the limelight, with our child, no hoods upon our faces, just us… and happiness."
"Corny," she snickers.
"I love you," Thor keeps going, his voice and his expression absolutely sincere. Loki's grin vanishes, her facial expression softening, "I love you, too."
"So you really think I should go," Thor sighs.
"Yes," she agrees. He takes her hand and guides it to her stomach, "For the both of you, I will do it – and I will find my way back home, to you."
"I know," Loki agrees, pressing his hand. He kisses her forehead, both their hands still resting on her stomach, a promise sealed by touch between the three of them.
It's odd how love between the two became this constant telling of goodbyes in an open field before light claims Loki's significant other to take him away to the realm she cannot and doesn't want to follow to. Just that now it is ever the bitter as she feels the third heart beating under hers, can feel it moving.
It was decided that Thor shall go back to Asgard, now with the prospect of maybe earning the throne, or at least figure out why Odin would offer him that position in the first place. The Avengers told their goodbyes already and went back to the cars to grant the Norse Gods the much needed privacy for their goodbye. They stand close to each other, the day surprisingly bright for such a sad occasion.
Thor holds on to her stomach lovingly as he speaks, "I promise to be back soon."
"Don't promise what you know you cannot keep," she scolds him with a wink. Yet another curious thing about their goodbyes is that they seem so easy. Both normally smile. Ever since Thor became a wave, crashing back and forth against the shore, against Midgard, their goodbyes have been filled with more smiles than tears.
"I promise you to be back soon. You will hardly realize me gone," Thor tells her.
"You're on oaf," she sighs. Both know that this will hardly be the case.
"I wish I could just stay here with you and our babe," Thor grimaces with a sad expression. That makes his heart clench ever the more. He would rather not miss a single day of the pregnancy. He wants to feel he stomach grow, wants to see it every day when he wakes up.
"But you have to go," Loki tells him again. He bends down, both hands on Loki's stomach, softly caressing it with his huge palms, a big smile on his face. Loki learned by now that touching her pregnant stomach is the one cause for him to smile so brightly, and to actually calm down. Thor still constantly falls asleep next to her as he holds her stomach.
"And you listen to me, child. You have to grow strong while I'm gone, yes? You must, for I am your father and she your mother. It is already in your blood that you will be strong. You must grow a strong warrior and sorcerer, or warrioress and sorceress," Thor smiles.
"Don't pressure it," Loki huffs playfully. It is foolish, but… nice. It makes her feel a little more like a normal couple going insane and talking to children who will most certainly not understand the content of what they say.
"You may grow weak also. I will love you no less. Just be healthy, for your own sake," Thor grins.
"That's better," the trickster smirks. The thunderer straightens back up to look at her. He then presses a soft kiss on her forehead, holding her close to him, "And you make sure that you stay healthy, too."
"I'm in the best hands with Bruce as my physician," Loki shrugs.
"Very well, because I could not stand the thought of me away and you sick," Thor shakes his head.
"You know that I'm as strong as an ox when it comes to these things," Loki smiles.
"You used to get sick all the while when still a child," Thor argues.
"But I'm hardly a child anymore. The only children here are that in my tummy... and you," Loki argues with a tug of her lips. He holds her close again, breathing against her scalp, "I will be back."
"If I have this child before you do, then...," Loki means to say, but Thor interrupts her, "I will be back for its birth. Even if I have to tear down the Bifröst with bare hands. I shall be there when it's time."
"Thor...," Loki rolls her eyes.
"Master Stark gave me this," Thor says, holding out a small device. "It works even in Asgard. It's an alarm. I tested it when on my voyages, it works. So once the child comes, I will know. And then I shall leave everything aside and rush to you to hold your hand as we have our child."
"Sometimes I ask myself where you take that much faith from, Thor," Loki shakes her head. He makes it sound so easy, right? Just the way people call the father to let him know his wife is going into labor and he rushes off to the hospital in a mad car chase… at least that is what TV tells her is often the case. Yet, here they are, with entire worlds against them, and Thor still thinks that one magical phone call will speak him free of all duties, of all ties to Asgard, to hold her hand as they have their child. And the curious thing is that whenever she looks in his eyes, Loki dares to hold on to that foolish hope for some reason. There always is a maybe in his eyes, a maybe she would love to get lost in.
There is future in his eyes, and it is far brighter than the one she sees reflected in her emeralds when she looks into the mirror.
He is her chance of a maybe, her chance of a tomorrow, of a life in the light.
Thor cups her chin lovingly, "I take it from you. You give me hope."
"I'm the God of Mischief, I do the opposite," she shakes her head softly.
"Not to me. You give me faith. If you can love me, then I think... I can do anything," Thor tells her with a bright smile, before he leans into another kiss with her.
"Will you miss me?" he asks with a wink once he pulls away, making Loki snort, "It will be a blast without you constantly hovering over me."
He lets out a thunderous laugh. At least she didn't lose her wit.
"But now seriously," Thor smiles. Loki doesn't say anything, though, but simply kisses him back. He grasps her around the head to pull their foreheads against each other. Both close their eyes, for a moment being just them, and no one and nothing else. After a few moments, she breaks free to look at her lover again.
"You should get going," Loki tells him softly.
"I know, but...," Thor sighs.
"We don't want to keep your father waiting, now do we?" Loki scolds him playfully.
"I wouldn't mind," Thor shrugs.
"We talked about this, Thor...," Loki sighs.
"I know, I know. I just don't want to leave you. Or our child," Thor argues credibly.
"But it has to be – and you should hurry now. Don't prolong this moment, would you?" Loki huffs.
"But...," Thor grimaces.
"Thor, my feet hurt from standing that long. Your child weighs a ton already. So now, don't make this more of a teary moment as it is already. Get going!" Loki shakes her head.
"I will be back soon," Thor tells her another time.
"I know, I know. Now go!" Loki rolls her eyes with a smile. She pushes him away affectionately. That is when the Bifröst takes a hold of him. He slips away from her hand as he is swallowed by the Bifröst. She bites her lip as she walks back over to the rest. They quietly get into the cars and head back. Loki suddenly smiles.
"What is it?" Natasha frowns.
"He believes he will come back," Loki shakes her head, her emeralds reflecting the sky.
"Well... we all surely hope so," Natasha frowns.
"He doesn't see it," Loki smiles.
"See what?" Natasha questions.
"That this was very likely the last goodbye," Loki whispers, running a hand over her stomach.
"Oh, Loki...," Natasha sighs sadly, but the trickster shakes her head with a smile, "I am not sad. I am really not. I am glad."
"Why?" Natasha furrows her eyebrows.
"I was once loved by whom I truly love. What more can I wish for?" Loki exhales with a smile.
"For it to continue?" Natasha shrugs.
"That is... a faint hope... wishful thinking, perhaps... but to me... that knowledge is enough. And I am glad he still has hope, for the both of us," she chuckles softly.
"But you don't believe in it?" Natasha questions.
"Let's just say that I'm always rather skeptical," Loki replies. "But that doesn't mean that this has to pull him down, too. I love him. I want him to be happy. If only for a short while. I will not deny him his hopes of managing everything, throne, family, love, Father, Mother. Those hopes make him the good King he will be."
"And what about you and this child?" the other woman argues.
"He will be raised in the knowledge that his father loves him more dearly than anything in the nine realms, no matter what," Loki declares with a swell of pride in her chest.
"His? A boy?" Natasha blinks at her. Loki nods.
"Does Thor know?" the agent questions.
"No," Loki replies, shaking her head.
"Why's that?" Natasha grimaces.
"If I had told him before he went to Asgard, Thor would have let his mind lead astray once again," Loki explains.
"Astray to where?" Natasha questions.
"To where he would accept him as his son, present the babe in the Great Hall of Asgard for all Aesir to see his firstborn son. A girl would have another meaning... for her position is not immediately settled. A firstborn son is much likelier becoming King, a daughter not automatically... And I don't want his vision to be clouded by such dreams and hopes when he has to have his eyes on the dangers surrounding us," Loki explains. She actually considered telling him, but then decided against it. Loki loves this man for the hope in his eyes, but it scares her, too – that he is too hopeful.
Because too hopeful people are those who fall, hard, and deep.
"He will find out eventually," the other woman argues. "You know, once the child is there, there isn't much hiding anymore."
"I will not give birth to our son right now... so Thor will have been seated on this throne once before, and that's all I want. He shall climb the throne with as little judgment ahead of him as is possible. I don't want him to turn the throne down only just for us...," Loki then says, making Natasha blink at her incredulously, "You don't?"
"I love the man, but I have to see that he is more than the man I love. He is also the Prince of Asgard. And I can't just demand whole Asgard to give the man to me at the cost of their Prince," Loki shrugs.
"So you actually suggest the whole 'serving the greater good'?" Natasha grimaces, knowing that Loki was not always the greatest supporter of that notion.
"Indeed. It must sound foolish, I guess, but… a part of me honestly felt proud when Thor declared the news that Odin considers giving him the throne. I see in Thor also the great king he would make. It made my heart sink once I learned how much he was against it, for I know just how much he is made for this position. I would love to see him as the ruler of Asgard," Loki sighs dreamily. She saw it in one of her dreams a little while ago, him with a crown upon his head, holding Mjölnir high in the air as the whole of Asgard cheered him on, as all was fair and prosper. If that is the future, it is a future she can live with.
"I thought for a long time that you found him unfit of that position," Natasha frowns.
"I see things now in a different light, obviously. I now see the man of integrity who has more devotion than all of Asgard's soldiers together. As much as it may hurt my ego to admit, Thor is the king his people will follow. And he is the king they should follow. So if there is a chance that he can claim that position… it's actually… not the almost bad for me. I'm… simply proud of him," Loki smiles.
"But still," Natasha grimaces.
"Well, and I still dare to hold on to that foolish hope he promotes. I think… that there actually is a way for us, for all of us. Just that one part of the path seemingly contains that he climbs the throne," Loki goes on. She runs a hand over her stomach, "I think… we will manage somehow."
"We will surely all work for that to happen," Natasha assures her. Loki looks at her for a moment.
"You are not alone," the redhead tells her. "Never forget that."
"I know," Loki smiles at her appreciatively.
"And... even though I see your skepticism… There is one thing I learned by now: Very often it's the people we expect least from who will astonish us the most. Look at Stark. He's an idiot, still saved the planet couple of times already," Natasha grins.
"Yeah... that might be," Loki agrees, looking out of the window again.
She still dares to hope.
Loki looks up into the sky, finding the same sensation within her as she did when glancing into Thor's eyes.
She finds a scrap of hope in a scrap of clouds.
She gets lost in it.
Maybe there is a maybe.