Reagan was sat in a lavish cushioned chair at the base of the steps to Asgard's golden Throne. She was dressed in one of the most exquisite gowns she'd ever laid eyes on. She wore the face of a stranger, courtesy of Loki, who held a glamour in place for each of them.

And she was bored out of her fucking skull.

I cannot believe you've spent your life competing against Thor just to do this. I fully wish I was dead.

In any position of power, there are going to be tedious duties to see to.

Okay, but why do I have to be here for them?

Because you insisted you wanted to join me to - and I quote "see what all the fuss was about."

Yeah, and I don't get it. You are Thor were absolutely gaslit into believing you wanted to do this. My God, I hate your father.

I'm sure if you just gave him a chance, the two of you would get along marvellously.

Reagan glanced back at the Throne to throw him an incredulous look. She found him already smirking amusedly in her direction.

I'm joking.

The morning had passed with a series of interviews after Heimdall had unexpectedly chosen to step down from his position as Gatekeeper. Thor and Loki had seen to the reprieve from power Odin so desperately needed, Loki had explained, and with his sister soon to pass onto the next realm - it was only merciful that he be allowed an extent of leave.

Loki had made the selection of Heimdall's successor his first course of action in his new position of rule and Reagan had thought it all sounded very exciting and had insisted upon tagging along. And so she found herself seated in the Throne Room wearing the face of a stranger - a delegate from Vanaheim here to review peace treaties, Loki had explained to his council members while wearing Odin's face.

Only Reagan was privy now to Loki's true form. Initially, it had been concealed from her also but when she had first looked his way to say something and visibly shuddered at the sight of Odin's face in place of Loki's- Well. Loki had clearly not cared for that in the slightest. And so, he was making the extra effort to allow her to see beyond his glamour.

You needn't stay, he told her at last. Go find something of more interest. I'll join you when I can.

You could just come with me.

I told you this was important, he reminded her gently.

I know, she grumbled, folding her arms. One more. Maybe the next one will be good. Then I can have you back to myself.

I should probably inform you now that this is hardly the only duty to attend to today.

Ugh! This is the worst! Okay, fine. Just send the next one in.

Loki waved to his guard to usher in the next applicant. I never envisioned being ordered around this much as King.

I'm just trying to make an effort to keep you grounded.

Well, thank you so much but do you truly think it's necessary? I've been in power for little more than a day.

Loki... have you met you?

It was then that Skurge came marching into the Throne Room. The clatter of his armour resounded through the cavernous space. And his face was an expression of sheer determination.

Reagan perked up in her chair at the sight of him.

Loki spotted it.

No, he said adamantly.

Please?

No.

Loki-

The man is a buffoon.

You've never even spoken to him before. I really like him.

Reagan, we can't make him the protector of the realm just because you like him.

Sure, we can. He means well.

I didn't realise that was on the list of qualifications required to guard our entire Kingdom.

Well, if it's not then it should be. Go on, please just give him a chance?

And when it all inevitably turns out to be a catastrophe and I need to find yet another replacement?

Well, then you'll get to say 'I told you so,' and you always enjoy doing that so much.

Loki heaved a weary sigh.

Loki... it would make me really happy.

And that was it; the nail in the coffin.

Reagan smiled as she felt the begrudging defeat sweep along the bond.

Thank you, she told him sweetly before he even had the chance to actually concede. I'll wear that green thing you like tonight.

Yes, I should hope so, he replied stubbornly. ...The horns, too?

Well, of course. It just looks silly without the horns.

Alright, enough of your mockery.

No, really. It's the thing Earth seems to get wrong about lingerie - very little focus on oversized metal headpieces.

Do you want me to appoint the role to this friend of yours or not?

Yes, please.

"Your Highness," Skurge said then with obvious false bravado. "My name is Skurge. And I've come before you to explain why I am the best man for the role of Gatekeeper. Now, you're probably thinking to yourself; 'what makes this nobody think he's qualified for such a distinguished position?' Well, Your Majesty, that question has one simple answer... In fourteen parts. Number one-"

"Leave us," Loki commanded then in Odin's voice. "All of you."

Skurge's face fell as he stared up at the king. He stood there for only a moment before he allowed his head to hang in disappointment and he turned slowly on his heel. Reagan, reading the misunderstanding just a little too late made to reach for him but then stopped herself.

Upon the Throne, Loki rolled his eyes rather dramatically.

Oh yes, this is going to go marvellously, he said to her dryly.

Reagan just waved the comment away impatiently.

"Pssst... Skurge," she whispered.

Skurge stilled, turning towards the strange woman. His brow furrowed, perplexed.

Reagan opened her mouth to say something but then thought the better of it as the Throne Room had not yet emptied entirely. Instead, she beckoned him back to where he had been standing before the King.

Skurge, obviously confused, eyed her suspiciously for a moment before edging back to that place. He raised an eyebrow at her for confirmation.

She shot him a quick wink and a nod.

They waited in silence for the Throne Room to empty. The moment it did, Reagan leapt to her feet, bursting with excited energy.

"Congratulations," she said as she approached him. "You just became the newest Gatekeeper of Asgard."

Skurge openly frowned at her, in a deep state of confusion.

"Why?" he asked.

Reagan shrugged a little. "I guess, it was just a really strong pitch. Also, I believe in you."

"You do?"

"Of course."

"...why?"

"Oh, right," Reagan laughed, realising she was still glamoured. "Skurge, it's me."

"Who?"

She looked back over her shoulder toward Loki.

"Show him," she insisted.

Dutifully, Loki waved a hand the glamour he'd cast over her fell away with a flash of green magic, revealing her true face to the warrior before her.

Skurge paled, his mouth falling agape.

"Reagan?" he choked. "Wha- I thought you were-"

Skurge cut his own sentence short as he strode towards her and wrapped her up in a bone-crushing hug. Reagan let out a sound somewhere between a laugh and a wheeze as the Asgardian lifted her up off the ground in something akin to a death grip.

"Skurge, I can't breathe," she managed to say, attempting to hug back what was, essentially, a hulking mass of metal with a person somewhere inside of it.

"Shit- sorry, love. Sorry," he said quickly, placing her back down on the ground and watching her gulp in a deep breath in amongst a fit of giggles. He took hold of her shoulders drinking her in. "I can't believe you're here. After your escape, word reached us that you'd- you were... Fuck. Reagan... have you heard about Loki?"

He asked the question so solemnly. He had such sincere concern in his gaze.

It warmed Reagan's heart. She hadn't realised how much she'd missed this strange, gruff warrior who had a fondness for Midgard, mead and even numbers.

"Oh, Loki's fine," she assured him, gesturing her head in the direction of the Throne. "That's him right there."

Loki closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose frustratedly.

Reagan, you cannot be serious.

She just looked his way expectantly.

"Go on," she insisted.

With a glimmer of green magic, the illusion fell away to reveal Loki, now slightly slouched, upon the Throne looking thoroughly displeased.

"Fuck me," Skurge breathed, his face paling as he stared up at the trickster sitting atop the Throne.

Good. At least he has the sense to fear me.

I don't know why. I've invested a lot of time explaining to him that you're actually a sweetheart.

You take that back.

No.

"Is Odin dead, then?" Skurge asked, swallowing thickly, visibly shaken.

"No, no," Reagan assured him. "He's... on a sabbatical. It's alright though, Thor's watching over him."

"Prince Thor knows about all this," he clarified.

"Yeah," Reagan confirmed simply. "It was actually his idea so that he could stay back on Earth. But enough about us. Do you want the job or not?"

"I mean- Yeah, course I do. And this isn't a joke?"

"Unbelievably, no," Loki muttered.

Reagan turned back to Skurge with a wide grin.

"Congratulations," she said simply.

After a beat, Skurge let out an excited laugh as he pulled Reagan in for another mildly painful hug.

And Reagan sensed the way Loki prickled at the sight of it. Much more of this and it wouldn't be long before he was sulking like a petulant child.

Skurge let her go at last, thumbing an affectionate pat down on her shoulders.

"Thank you," he said sincerely.

"I didn't realise that the two of you were so familiar," Loki drawled, still glowering at the heavily armoured man. "Darling, you never explained to me how very fond this one is of you. Is there something more to this relationship than I'm aware of?"

Loki, don't torture him.

You're the one who said you wanted to do something fun.

Beside her, Skurge seemed to blanche. His eyes followed Loki's frosty gaze to where his hands still rested upon Reagan's shoulders. He snatched them back as if she had burned him and staggered back to what he deemed a respectful distance - several yards away.

Clearly panicked, Skurge pointed an accusatory finger in Reagan's direction. She couldn't quite manage to suppress her smirk.

"What did I fuckin' tell ya? I told you to make it crystal clear to His Majesty that I haven't got any interest in ya, didn't I?"

"Watch how you speak to her," Loki warned, his tone suddenly deadly.

"No, he's right," Reagan insisted. "He did ask me to do that."

"An obvious rouse to have you lower your guard. Why else would he insist upon such a thing so adamantly?"

"I don't know, Loki," Reagan mused. "Maybe it's because it's because of the jealous murder vibes you're giving off right now?"

Skurge gestured at her in enthusiastic agreement.

Loki glared pure daggers at him.

Reagan moved to pat Skurge's armoured chest reassuringly but the warrior made every effort to remain well and truly out of arm's reach.

"Why don't you remove yourself from our presence while opportunity presents itself-"

"Loki will fill you in on the details of the position when he cools off, I promise."

"-before I change my mind."

"I'm really proud of you, buddy."

At that, Skurge shot Reagan a desperate look that could only be interpreted as one thing; please, stop speaking to me in front of him. He offered Loki a stiff bow before turning on his heel to retreat from the Throne Room.

"And Skurge," Loki called, almost as an afterthought.

He turned, looking nervous.

"Yes, my King?"

"If you ever place a hand on my mortal again, I'll have it cleaved from your body."

"He's kidding," Reagan insisted, waving her hand as if Skurge had nothing to worry about.

"Am I understood?" Loki continued.

Reagan rolled her eyes dramatically.

"Of course, Your Majesty," Skurge insisted, clearly flustered at this point, as he swept into a low bow, simultaneously making his way toward an exit.

When the doors sealed behind him, Reagan folded her arms as she spun on the spot to eye Loki.

"That was so mean," she told him.

Loki looked thoroughly delighted.

"Yes, it was, wasn't it?"

Shaking her head with a smile, she ascended the stairs to the Throne and sank herself down onto his lap. His hand settled on her waist securing her there.

"You're going to try and be at least a little nice to him, right?"

Loki tapped a finger against his chin, pensively.

"That doesn't sound like me."

And Reagan giggled, nudging her shoulder against his chest.

"Can we do something a little more interesting now?" she pleaded.

"What did you have in mind?"

Her face brightened. "Well, it only just occurred to me that the whole city thinks you're dead, right?"

"Indeed, they do."

"So, I have some ideas."

"Go on."

"I thought maybe it would be kinda funny to host a vigil for you. Force all the people you don't like to get up and say super nice, respectful things about you."

The very thought of it caused a mischievous grin to spread its way slowly across his features and Reagan couldn't resist but to lean in and press a kiss to his cheek adoringly.

"You have my undivided attention," Loki insisted.

"I was also thinking we should build you a statue."

"Oh. How big a statue?"

"Did you happen to see the one we have in New York?"

Loki beamed.

He traced his fingers along the iridescent cuff adorning her forearm.

"I'm beginning to suspect that you and I were destined for one another," he mused.

"Eh," Reagan teased. "I give it a month."

"Come now, it'll be at least three."

"You sound pretty confident. Care to place a wager on it?"

"Certainly. How does two hundred thousand dollars and a stolen aircraft sound?"

Reagan grinned. "You have yourself a bet, Mischief."

So something WILD just happened to me. I've been learning to read tarot cards for a few months for an original fiction piece I've had in my head for a really long time and I just drew a card to take a break before my final read through and edit before uploading. Guys. It was DEATH! For anyone who doesn't know, its a card that can represent a lot of different things, but BIG interpretation of it is usually endings and beginnings. On the day I'm posting the final and first chapters! So now I'm sitting here feeling like I've got the Shining.

To absolutely every last person who read, followed and/or commented on this story, thank you so, so much. It's been such a pleasure writing this fic. Plenty more to come so I hope you join me for the sequel.

I love you all x