Tara had to fight to keep from laughing as Loki sat hesitantly on her couch. He seemed woefully out of place next to the pile of fuzzy pastel blankets. Still, he tipped his head in thanks when she handed him a glass of wine with one hand and the folder with the other. Loki kept a hold of the glass, but with a casual flick of his fingers, the file hovered in the air before him.
Tara did her best to keep the shock off her face. She'd seen lots of things, but never genuine magic up close or used so… casually. The mutants she knew had explained (more than once, to her amusement) how there was a difference between their powers and magic.
"So," she started lamely as she settled next to the Asgardian, a respectable distance left between them. "A few weeks ago, we received a request from Audrey Belvins, a five-year-old girl with acute myeloid leukemia. Her parents read her mythology books before bedtime, which started her obsession with legends. Her brother encouraged it by making a game out of 'Thor and Loki's Legendary Adventures' with her. Her diagnosis causes her to bruise easily, so with her being… well, you, she was able to play with minimal risk of contact injury."
Loki hummed noncommittally, so Tara plowed on. "You're her hero. She's been begging to meet with you."
She fell silent, taking small sips from her own glass as the god perused the file for himself. As far as she was concerned, this was just another regular case.
"Heimdall said in your message that you called me Loki Laufeyjarson."
Tara glanced at him in confusion. "...Yes? I apologize if I got your name wrong. It's how it was written in a book I found."
"You misunderstand me." He didn't look at her. "Laufeyjarson– son of Laufey. How did you know to call me that and not Odinson?"
"The stories I read said she was your mother…?" Her voice went up at the end uncertainly as he finally turned to face her.
"It seems there's always something lost in translation," he snorted. "Laufey was my… father of birth. At least, in this reality," he adds as an afterthought.
"Oh." There wasn't much she could say to that.
"Oh, indeed," Loki agreed with a hum. He turned back to the file. "When is young Miss Belvins expecting us?"
"Well, we can only go during the daytime when they have full services present and they'll need more than 12 hours' notice, but other than that…" She shrugged. "At your earliest convenience."
"Excellent."
"Any chance you have a cell phone, or will I have to bother Heimdall again?" She asked with some sass of her own this time.
Loki's grin looked more like bared teeth. "Unlike my brother, I am not an uncouth heathen." He held out a hand, and Tara smiled as she placed her phone into his palm, a new contact open and ready for him to enter his details.
"Thank you," she said genuinely when he handed it back. "I'll get everything arranged and then let you know. I'll aim for three days from now, around noon."
"That is acceptable." He stood in one fluid motion, plucking the file from the air and making his way back towards the kitchen and, thus, the window.
Tara jumped to her feet. "Absolutely not!" She pointed accusingly at him. "You're not leaving through the window– go out the door. Please," she added belatedly at Loki's amused stare.
"I was simply returning your glass to the kitchen," he said innocently. He slowly set it down on the countertop, drawing the movement out on purpose to try and spark a reaction out of her. Tara forced herself to appear unimpressed. He'd only be encouraged by anything else.
Regardless, Loki didn't let any disappointment show. He somewhat seemed to enjoy her non-reaction. Nevertheless, he made his way obligingly towards her door, undoing the locks with another casual use of magic. She very much thought it was also a subtle warning… unneeded, in her opinion, considering had already he disguised himself as another person and an animal.
"It was a pleasure meeting you, Ms. Knight," he said with a nod. "I look forward to hearing from you soon."
"Say hello to Heimdall for me!" She called after him. His answering chuckle filtered through before the door shut behind him and the lock clicked into place.
Unsurprisingly, Audrey Belvins was more excited to hear Loki's stories straight from the source more than she wanted to see a display of his magic. Tara watched them from her seat near the door with a soft sense of pride.
It was like years of stress sloughed off Loki's shoulders. He conjured glowing green silhouettes of himself, Thor, Sif, the Warriors Three, his children: Hel, Jörmungadir, Fenrir, Slepnir. They cast a calming glow across their forms as the forms dance around them leaving sparks in their wake.
He told her of the Nine Realms and the Tree of Yggdrasil. He told her of Asgard, the golden Kingdom; of Migard, the middle realm. He told her of Jotunheim and the Jotnar; of Muspelheim and its fires and Surtr; of Svartálheim and Alfheim and the elves; of Niflheim and his daughter's throne; of Vanaheim and the wise Vanir; and of Nidavellir and the dwarves. He told her of Ragnarok and the roosters who will crow to signify its arrival, of Balder's prophesied death and his children being set free. He tell her of the mighty Valkyrie and how they guide those who die a warrior's death to Valhalla.
"My mommy and daddy are afraid I'm gonna die soon," Audrey whispered to him, her secret carrying clearly across the room to Tara. "I hear them cry about it when they think I'm asleep." She looked up at Loki with a mixture of hope and awe. "Do you think the Valkyrie will know to come get me? Maybe then they wouldn't be sad, because I'd be in Valhalla."
Tara bit her lip to try and keep her composure, but Loki appeared lost, or perhaps stunned. He rested a solemn hand on Audrey's shoulder.
"Only those who die in combat or are weapon-marked in the manner of Odin are granted entrance to Valhalla, because they are to be the Allfather's armies at Ragnarok," he murmured. "I cannot say what the fates have woven for you, but if you are not one of Freyja or Odin's chosen, my daughter will be there to guide you."
Audrey nodded seriously. "I think I'd like that more. I don't want to be in an army."
He hummed sagely in response. "It can be both exhausting and tedious," he added thoughtfully.
"I'm tired now," Audrey agreed. "I don't want to be tired after this, too."
"Quite understandable, my dear."
"Thor likes to fight?"
"Certainly more than I."
"Do you ever miss him?"
Loki fell silent. Tara held her breath, as if a reminder of her presence will keep him from answering. "More frequently than I expected to. We were inseparable for many years, and it is hard to forget those times."
"My brother plays with me every day, even when I'm here." she sighs deeply. "I'm afraid he'll miss me like Thor misses you. He'll get angry and fight a lot." She sat up straight, pinning him with the youthful sincerity in her expression. "Could you check on him in case he gets in trouble, if I tell him to pray to you?"
Tara caught the quick glance Loki sent her way before his fingers slid through the air, a brown and green leather band braiding itself into existence. He placed it carefully in the girl's waiting hands. "Give this to your brother to wear on his wrist and tell him to ask Heimdall for me. He shall pass on any message to me."
Audrey's face lit up as she grinned brightly. "I will! This is ah-mazing! Thank you, Prince Loki!"
The formal title seemed to surprise him. "I hope he has your manners," the god chuckled as he rested a hand gently on her head.
"I'll make sure he does," the girl answered seriously. "If you see your brother, tell him you missed him! It might make you feel better. It makes me feel better."
"I'll… take your suggestion under consideration. Rest now, little one."
Audrey giggled and waved at them both. Tara smiled back. "I'll let your nurse know you're ready to eat."
"'Kay, thanks miss!"
Tara led the way out of the room, a soft ripple of light in her peripheral vision alerting her that Loki had changed his appearance from his regal leathers and glistening horned helmet into a more modern yet still formal suit. The low profile was appreciated on her part. She wasn't quite sure if she had the energy to handle the press attention for a god.
He stayed at her side as she escorted him out of the building– it'd been her request as it was a standard practice to make sure all guests left their visit sites unimpeded. If it also meant her personal concerns were alleviated that she wasn't leaving them in a hospital for something to happen outside of her supervision, well, that was just for her to know. With his disguise, Loki passed through the building like a board member or high-ranking vendor representative, so they weren't bothered.
"Thank you for coming," Tara said once they exited the lobby into the busy reception area on the street.
Loki raised an eyebrow. "You're not going to lecture me for what I gave her?"
She tilted her head to one side. "Was it a weapon?"
"No."
"Will the magic interfere with her medical care?"
"Doubtful– it's only a mild tracking spell, and her brother will be the one wearing it."
Tara shrugged. "I see no reason to censure you then. You gave her a wonderful gift."
Loki cautiously observed her for several moments before granting her a hesitant but true smile. "I-" He started but cut off abruptly, eyes focusing on something over her shoulder.
"Brother!" It was shouted angrily, and from close by.
"Apologies," he said tightly. Tara barely had time for her eyes to widen in understanding as Loki wrapped his arm around her waist and teleported them away.
The wind suddenly swept at her clothes and braid; the only side spared the chill was the part of her pressed up against the god of mischief. A belated yelp escaped her, but she quickly clamped her mouth shut. Her head was reeling.
She did not like teleportation. Lesson learned.
"Stay behind me, and away from the edge." Loki instructed sharply. "I'm afraid this family reunion is happening sooner than I expected, and it will get rather windy."
Tara stumbled back as he released his grip on her, hands falling to brace against her knees as she willed her nausea away. The giant 'H' under their feet let her know where he'd taken her– they were on the roof. It was a quick but brilliant move– he didn't leave her to face the god of thunder alone, he moved them to an area without bystanders, and it was the nearest option that gave him full line of sight.
She tried not to draw attention to herself as she slipped her phone out of her back pocket and quickly added two people to a group chat, sending off a quick text. She hoped they were close enough to see the change in weather and be suspicious enough to check anyways.
The sky rumbled as Thor landed across from them, hammer in hand and red cape fluttering behind him.
"Thor," Loki said flatly.
"Loki." Tara wasn't sure if it was his voice that was rough or if the encroaching storm clouds were responsible. "We need to speak."
A/N: ahhhhh I want to spill about my inspiration for this chapter but then I'd doxx myself rip (if you know me irl tho... omg)
love the comments and kudos as always! very privileged to have such lovely readers 3 if you feel so inclined to leave comments for this chapter in other languages (if you know any), I'd love to read them!