Asta led him down to the grounds and began walking him away from the tower.
He took her hand and allowed her to lead him in the walk. "Darling, I am amazed at how close you are to everyone here. I wouldn't have expected such a motley crew to form such a bond," he said.
She had been wondering how long until this conversation would happen. Asta was all the more pleased at their destination now, if this was what he wanted to talk about. "I suppose we are quite the mashup of personalities. But we are a loving family nonetheless."
"Loving family isn't a notion I'm very well versed in."
She chose to not drill the fact that, even if Odin was a lousy father, Frigga and Thor still loved him. She'd work on that later.
"Well, they're loving and also protective. I know they'd have my back in any situation. We're just a big, dysfunctional, but happy, bunch."
"That sounds lovely."
"Well, you're stuck with us now."
"I don't know that the others share your sentiment."
"Oh, Steve and Tony are just over protective. The rest of them have no problem with you at all. And Steve and Tony don't either, but their personalities and their pasts make them very untrusting. You'll see, you're an Avenger now."
"I hope you're right, my love."
"You needed this, didn't you, my mischief?"
Loki's face dropped. "It's been a long few years without you, Asta. I've made many mistakes and I still need to atone for many of my actions. Odin made life miserable whilst you were gone, even to the point where my mother couldn't make things better. And Thor was almost always away on missions and adventures. I lashed out often. I felt very alone. Very isolated. Very much like Elsa."
Asta stopped their walking and put her hand on his cheek. "I wondered if seeing that would make you feel worse."
"Worse? Sweetness, I don't know that I could have felt worse. But I did see myself in her actions. Fear and anger gripped her and instead of opening up, she closed off everyone she loved, chasing them away even. Those that ran from me were justified and those that wanted to stay close were just disappointed in my actions. And the one that I did want near was realms away."
Tears instantly sprung to her eyes. "I'm so sorry, Loki. I should have fought to stay with you."
He placed his hands on her shoulders. "No, no, Asta. You couldn't have. Odin wouldn't have allowed it and likely would have made things worse for the both of us. This was all something I brought on myself. And because of that, I've always thought of myself as unworthy of love."
"Unworthy? Loki, there's nothing further from the truth. You deserve happiness and love. You deserve a family that loves you. And Frigga and Thor love you desperately. Even Odin in some way loves you. And this team? They are a family that will love you too, if you let them."
He laughed sadly. "Let someone love me? What a foreign concept."
Asta tucked a lock of hair behind his ear. "My prince, you are loved. Even if there was no one else – but there is – you would still have me. And I love you more than anything."
His eyes shone with the tears that he refused to spill. "My princess. My Asta. Your love is truly all I need. But if you say that these others are also wanting to perhaps show me a kindness, then I shall be open to that. I trust you to not lead me astray."
She pressed a tiny kiss to his lips and they continued their walk in comfortable silence. Finally, they reached their destination.
Loki gasped. "Is this what you wanted to show me?"
"Yep. Does it look familiar to you?"
"Asta, it looks just like our tree in the palace gardens!"
She beamed. Years before, in her garden wanderings, she had found the weeping willow that looked so similar to the tree that she and Loki hid under in their youth.
"I've told no one about this tree, or ours for that matter. Some days, when I wanted to feel closer to you, I would come out here and touch the branches and hide in the shade.
Loki pulled the branches aside and found several plastic totes.
"What is in those, my love?" he asked.
"Pillows, blankets and books. Some snacks too. I can spend hours out here and occasionally I do. Good to be comfy and prepared."
"Indeed. Leave it to my beloved to always be thinking."
"A certain prince I knew taught me that."
He smiled as they removed some cushions and blankets. They cuddled together against the trunk of the tree. "May I tell you something that I likely have never told another soul?" he said softly.
"Please do."
"I feel… safe with you. I always have. Your very presence makes me feel like I am safe to be myself, safe to not have to hide behind princely regalia or stone faced politics. You make me feel like royalty, but not in the pomp and circumstance manner, but like I am important… and… and special."
Asta felt the tears prickling her eyes, but wasn't sure if she should let them fall. "My Loki. That's what I have wanted to hear for years. Even as children, I wanted you to feel special. Anyone with eyes could see that Odin didn't treat you fairly, so I wanted to at least try to give you that feeling."
Oh how it still made his heart soar to hear her call him her Loki. "I wish I had understood it sooner, understood what love from other people felt like. Perhaps my behaviors wouldn't have angered Odin to the point of separating us."
"There is no use trying to change the past. We should just be happy that we are finally here. We have forever to make our own now."
He pressed a kiss to her forehead. "That sounds wonderful, darling. There is no one in all the realms I would rather spend this eternity with."
"I'm glad we had this talk."
"I am as well. Sometimes it's comforting to know there is someone I can drop the façade for."
"Loki, you can drop the façade for everyone here. And I think you already have been. Let them in." She grinned at him. "Like you have with Morgan."
He returns her grin. "Well, Morgan is a very easy-to-like Midgardian. She reminds me very much of you. She's a charming girl, but there is a spirited side to her as well. What do you call her? Sassy pants?"
"Oh yes, she's a sassy pants, alright."
Loki wrapped both arms around Asta and pulled her close. "And I can see why you consider each other sisters. You're both a wonderful combination of feisty and sweet-tempered."
"Yes, but don't kid yourself. Morgan is also highly selective about who she trusts and interacts with. It's a trait she got from both her parents. If she's accepted you already, that's a clear sign of your worthiness. And I need you to stop doubting it. I'm grateful that you trust me with your heart, but it's time to allow others to have your friendship."
He sighed. "For centuries, you've been my only friend."
"Wouldn't you like to see how others can fall into that role?"
Loki was quiet for a moment. "I very much would."
Asta smiled. "There's a Mario Kart tournament tonight. I will likely dominate, but you are welcome to participate."
"Ah, the famous Mario Kart. Yes, at the very least, I wish to see what this game is all about. Perhaps I'll give it a try, but maybe I'll just watch your prowess at it."
"Maybe Mario Party will be more your speed. There can be a bit more strategy to it."
Loki raised an eyebrow. "What is this Mario that's attached to everything?"
"Ah, I have so much to teach you! But for now, let's just sit and relax."
He turned and put his fingers under her chin. "I have another idea. I have always wanted to kiss you beneath the branches of our tree. And while we are not on Asgard, this place seems like a perfect substitute."
Loki gently tugged at her chin as he brought his lips to hers. What started off as a sweet and slow kiss, instantly heated up as their arms wrapped around each other.
When they finally broke for air, Loki rested his forehead on hers. "Well, that was certainly better than I had ever imagined it. Perhaps someday we'll return to the Asgardian tree and try it there. See how it compares?"
Asta giggled. "I think that sounds like a wonderful idea. I look forward to seeing how the two equate. For science and all."
"Yes, for science," he agrees with a laugh. He placed another kiss to her forehead. "I love you so very much, my dearest one."
"I love you too, my troublemaker."
It took all of Loki's willpower not to propose marriage to her on the spot. But it had to be special and he needed to wait.