The day after Christmas, Loki puts on his sharp black suit and tucks the Yggdrasil necklace under his shirt. The fundraiser for the refugee centre promises to be the most formal event he has attended in Midgard and he is nervous. Magda has assured him by text message that he will be fine, but he still fiddles with his tie and wavers as to which silk scarf he should wear. He decides on a black one with emerald panels on the ends and short silver fringe. He smooths the front of his vest before putting on his jacket and goes downstairs to wait for Magda.
He has been reading the book on Sokovian magic all day. It is fascinating and the techniques for meditation and gathering energy are things he would have never thought of. Some involve herbs, some involve little objects on which to focus, and yet others are words in a language he does not understand, but he is finding himself more and more determined to learn. He turns to his marked page and tries to concentrate on the neat, slanted script. His phone chimes. Magda. She is just leaving. He places the book on the table and grabs his keys and wallet.
Magda's long green coat, trimmed in synthetic green fur, obscures most of her dress but he can see black lace peaking out under the hem, brushing the top of her boots. She carries a pair of heels with her.
"Are you still nervous?"
"Yes."
"But you will know at least a few people. Not everyone will be a stranger to you."
"This is not the sort of event I have ever been to."
"You will learn. Trust me. I will not leave you to flounder."
"Mr Stark will be there."
"Yes."
"That alone is enough to make me uncomfortable."
They listen to classical music on the drive and Loki asks about the different instruments, describing the ones similar in Asgard. Magda promises to take him to a music shop so he can see what these things look like and how they are played. When they arrive at the centre, Loki can hardly believe how it has been transformed. There are rope lights in the windows, wreathes on every door, and there is a red carpet leading from the parking lot to the entrance. People mill around the door in elegant jackets. There are a few press crews present. Magda parks and as they leave the car, Loki looks as though he might flee.
She slips her arm in his, "Relax, my darling. You are a keen observer of those around you. You will be fine."
"A few short years ago I would have cared so little about such a thing as this. I would have strode in, full of confidence and strength."
"And where have you tucked those skills?"
"I believe I lost them when I landed naked in the desert."
She kisses his cheek, "Perhaps it is time to find them again? Here. A deep breath." She slowly inhales. He follows her lead, "And let it out. Slowly. And again. In...and out. In...and out. Now. You are Loki. You are witty. You are confident that you can step into a room of strangers and engage. And you are charming, so they will love you when you do."
"Right. So let's try this and see if your magic worked."
She pats his arm as he leads her toward the door, "Of course it did." He laughs and feels a little more free. Perhaps she is right. "Do you know how I overcame my own nerves about these gatherings?"
"No. How?"
"I told myself I was a goddess. That Tony Stark came here to serve me, to serve us, his refugee masters. That he and his ilk were here at our beck and call. Of course, as Wanda would say, they caused our plight, there is no need to celebrate them, but I see this differently. I am not celebrating them or their money. They are making offerings. And when I first told myself these things, and when I first decided I would act out of this sort of queenship at this fundraiser, everything changed. Donors no longer frightened me."
"The last time I told myself I was a god I tried to take over your planet. That might not be the best tactic for me."
"Then be my prince."
"No, I fear I am a prince no longer."
"Only in Asgard. Here, you are my little brother. Prince Loki of Magda-gard."
He can't help but laugh with her- the pun is clever and her gentle teasing puts him at ease as they cross onto the red carpet. A few cameras flash, some from the press, some from the donors themselves. They enter the building and she leads him to a temporary coatroom set up in a nearby classroom. He helps her with her coat and hangs it for her while she switches from her boots to her shoes.
Then he takes in her dress. The skirt swishes and pools on the floor when she crouches to buckle her shoe. The black under layer ends a few inches higher than the lace at the hem. The lace falls in wide bell cuffs over her hands ending just past the first knuckle. She pulls the midnight hair-kerchief from her coat pocket and she unfolds it, shaking it out before tying it around her head, pinning it to her hair.
"There. Now I am ready. You?"
"Yes. You are lovely, dear Sister. Absolutely lovely."
"Thank you. You are quite handsome yourself."
"Thank you."
"Now come. Let us go dance."
"Dance?"
"Yes, Prince Loki of Magda-gard. Dance. And drink champaign. And eat finger sweets. It will be lovely." She slips her arm in his once again and he escorts her to the cafeteria, which has been transformed into a ballroom with fancy tall tables mingled with leather couches and chairs around the edge. People stand at the high tables and chat while sipping champaign, others perch on the chairs. There is music just loud enough that Loki thinks conversation is a bit uncomfortable. A server brings them tall flutes and they sip while wandering through the crowds of beautiful dresses and sharp suits.
Tony Stark holds court in one corner and while Magda and Loki avoid that corner in their drifting, he spies them and breaks free from his audience, "Hey! How are you two this evening? Great party, isn't it? Your people did a fantastic job putting this all together. Never ceases to amaze me. You know, I go to at least a dozen of these things a year and this is one of the best run out of all of them."
"Shelly is a brilliant organizer. I will be sure to pass along your compliments."
"Please, do! She deserves a medal." He pauses, "Is Shelly a 'she' name or a 'he' name?"
"Both. But our Shelly is a young woman."
"Is she here somewhere?"
Magda checks the clock, "Ah, no, it is likely that she is in the kitchen making sure that the deserts are keeping up with the demand. She rarely leaves her station there this early in the evening."
"Wow. Dedicated gal."
"She always is, yes."
"So...look, I'm sorry I didn't update you more often on Wanda. I should have. Pepper made it pretty clear that I was being a dick."
"She is home. We will move forward. But your apology is appreciated."
"Thanks. You're a peach." He sees someone approaching from across the room, "Rhodey! Hey! You sure that suit's expensive enough for a swanky gig like this? I seem to recall I made you something a little more fancy." He turns back to Magda, "Hey, catch you later. Have fun, kids."
James laughs and shakes his hand, "You sure did, but the subway wasn't busy, so there was no need to fly in."
Magda takes the opportunity to slip away with Loki, "You see? I can be gracious even when I am seething."
"That was seething?"
"There is a reason I did not state that I accepted his apology."
"You do not forgive him."
"No. Not yet. I may never, entirely. But at the moment I can manage appreciation of an effort, even if I yet wish to place a boot where the sun cannot shine."
"Oh. OH. Yes, I do know that phrase."
She leads him to the dance floor and places his hand on her hip and rests hers on his shoulder, "This is how we dance more formally. The man is supposed to lead, but if you wish, I am very good at leading without it looking like I am leading."
"There are no fancy steps?"
"No. Unless you wish to learn to waltz, and I will then teach you when the music is right."
"Yes, I would like that. But I think I will lead."
"You are gaining confidence? My magic is working!"
He laughs and begins to step from side to side, little steps in time to the music, "Yes, Magda, your magic is working beautifully."
They only stay a few hours, but it is enough time for Loki to both learn the waltz and to lead Magda in a few twirls and spins in the process. When they leave, they are laughing and excited by the crisp night air and the bright moon overhead. By the time they reach their homes, they are so very tired. Loki leaves his suit in heap on the floor before dropping off to sleep.