The Trickster's Mistress
Chapter 1: Under the Stars
Monsters are not born, as the old adage goes. Not all monsters are without feeling. Sometimes it only takes one person to help them find who they truly are. Others find who they really are. Or in some cases, who they truly want to be. Such was the case between a remarkable woman and an extraordinary man.
"Brigid! Brigid, where are you? It's time for bed!"
A dark-haired woman scoured her house, searching through a bedroom filled with toys and plastered with pictures of stars and planets.
"Brigid Mairead Regan! It's time for bed!" the woman cried.
"Astrid, what's going on?" said a blue-eyed, brown-haired man as he entered the child's room.
"Declan, I can't find Brigid," Astrid said, exasperated. "It's twenty minutes passed her bedtime."
Declan smiled. "I think I might have an idea."
Outside her home, six year old Brigid Regan lay sprawled out on a blanket, with stuffed animals and books all around her as she gazed through a mock telescope made from a paper towel roll.
Brigid saw a man in a dark grey suit and blue tie standing before her and she jumped into his arms without hesitation. "Uncle Tony, Uncle Tony!"
Tony took the little girl around in his arms.
"Oh no, gravity is collapsing on me!" he cried as he fell to the ground as Brigid giggled. "Seriously, Leprechaun, you've got to stop growing."
"I can't. I hit a growth spurt," Brigid giggled.
"Is that so?" Tony chuckled.
Brigid sat up and pointed. "But Tony, tonight Jupiter is the closest than it's ever been! I had to see it. I couldn't miss it. Look!"
Tony idly glanced over the flimsy makeshift telescope."The eye glass is a little flimsy and the length of the 'scope means it's not all that powerful, but you built a good one for now. I bet I could do better." Tony drawled, planting himself in his thousand dollar suit on the blanket next to the girl. "Also. You should be in bed, or your mom will bring out the axe."
Brigid scrunched up her nose, huffing cutely. "Well, if my uncle gave me better materials, I'd have a better view, silly! So when are you gonna hire me at Stark Industries?" Before Tony could answer Brigid continued looking through her low-tech telescope through the expanse of space. "Look, there's Jupiter, you don't need a good telescope. Look!"
Brigid handed Tony her makeshift telescope and Tony gazed up at the night sky. "Oh, that is cool. That big round, white, ball of cheese up there?"
"Tony! That's the moon, you goose!" Brigid laughed.
"Right, wrong one," Tony said. "Oh, I see it! You spotted that?"
Brigid smiled, staring up at the night sky dreamily. "Yes, I did. One day, I'm gonna come work at Stark Industries, just like you."
Tony's spine stiffened. "You'd have to ask your mom and dad about that one, kid."
"Why?" Brigid questioned. "When I'm older it won't matter and everyone wants to work for you. I'd be a great assistant to you."
Tony stroked her hair. "Yes, you would. I'd be proud to have you as my assistant, Leprechaun."
"Mommy doesn't like your number two guy, though," Brigid said candidly.
"And how did you know that?" Tony asked.
"I have ears and I used them," Brigid replied.
"Brigid Regan, you know you shouldn't be eavesdropping," Tony playfully scolded her.
"I wasn't eavesdropping!" Brigid argued. "I just heard mama and papa arguing about him."
Tony chuckled. "You're just like your mom. Nothing gets by you."
Brigid was not paying attention to her beloved "uncle" as she was gazing up at the stars. "Do you think anyone's ever been exploring up there?" she asked thoughtfully. "Been to all those planets?"
"Well, other than Star Trek, I don't think so," Tony said.
"I wanna go there someday," Brigid said.
"Well, maybe someday we both will," Tony said.
"Brigid! It's time for bed!" Astrid shouted from the house.
"That's your mom," Tony said. "You'd better get to bed before she brings out the ax on my a*"
"I heard that!" Astrid screamed from inside the house.
Brigid pouted. "Aww, but Tony, I'm not done! The stars are out. Five more minutes."
"Brigid, I'm not going to tell you again!" Astrid shouted, her face red as she huffed and puffed with exasperation.
"Aww," Brigid groaned.
Tony smiled. "Tell you what. Why don't I tuck you in, and I'll tell you a story?"
"Yes!" Brigid said.
"Jump up, little Leprechaun," Tony said, taking Brigid in his arms.
Tony carried Brigid into the house, holding her very close. He laid her into bed and tucked her soft purple blankets.
"What story do you wanna hear, little Leprechaun?" Tony asked.
"The Ugly Duckling! "Brigid piped up.
"Ugly Duckling? Well, that is a good choice," Tony said.
Tony picked up the storybook and read. "On a beautiful summer day, a row of ducks took to the summer water to play..."
After ten minutes of reading, Brigid was drowsy, but not yet ready to part from her beloved Tony.
"Wait, Uncle Tony, I wanted to show you what I've been reading," Brigid said.
She pulled out a book from under her pillow and showed it to Tony.
"Norse Myths?" Tony asked. "What's this all about?"
"Mommy's been teaching me. She said it's part of my culture because that's where she came from, and her grandma and her grandma," Brigid said. "She said the Norse gods live in a place called Asgard, far away from here. One day, I'll explore it."
"Well, I don't think that's possible, Little Leprechaun," Tony said.
Brigid frowned. "Why not? Mommy said anything is and anyone who tells you different is full of horsesh-"
"No, no, no, that's mommy's words," Tony said. "But what I meant to say, was that I don't think it's possible because I will explore it with you."
"Promise?" Brigid asked.
"No horsesh," Tony chuckled, making Brigid give him a sideways look. "Okay, but I think it's really time for you to go to sleep. I love you, Little Leprechaun."
"I love you, three-thousand," Brigid said.
Tony smiled. "Three-thousand? Wow. I can't beat that. Wait till I tell mommy and daddy."
Tony kissed her head. "Good night, little Leprechaun."
Later that night, Tony, Astrid, and Declan enjoyed a late night cup of coffee in the dining room, when they heard a terrible cry.
"Mama! Uncle Tony!"
Brigid sat straight up in her bed, soaked in sweat and panting as if she had just run a marathon. Tony, Astrid, and Declan raced in to find the girl in a state of terror as they sat by her bed.
"What is it, my darling?" Astrid asked.
"You look like you've seen a ghost," Tony commented, holding her tight.
Declan took her hand. "What happened, love?"
Brigid caught her breath. "I had a nightmare. I was alone. I was trying to save you but you slipped away into the dark."
Astrid shook her head and hugged her daughter. "It was only a dream. Nothing ever will happen to us."
"We'll always be together," Declan said.
"Now go to sleep, and no bad dreams. Let Nott bring you good dreams tonight," Astrid said, kissing her daughter's head.
Astrid sang her a soft lullaby. "Solen dør ned Månen skinner sterkt Nott synger vuggesangen sin Hys a farvel min kjære"
Brigid was drowsy, but still unwilling to sleep, afraid the dream would return with a vengeance. "Uncle Tony, will you stay with me?"
Tony smiled. "Sure, but while I do, I'm just gonna be going over some boring stuff."
Brigid giggled. "Goodnight, Uncle Tony."
"Good night, my Little Leprechaun. And no more bad dreams," Tony said, kissing her head.
Tony waited until Brigid was asleep before he joined Astrid and Declanin the dining room.
"She seemed really scared," Tony said. "Do you think we should do something?"
"I've heard stories, legends from my mother, grandmother," Astrid said. "I never believed them. I am-"
"I believe you," Declan said.
Tony shook his head. "I love that girl but I don't think it's serious. She's just a kid. It's just bedtime stories. Kids have nightmares. Kids pee their beds. It's not fairytales."
Sun dies down
Moon shines bright
Nott sings his lullaby
Hush a bye my love
A/N: How is that for a new beginning? The story is going through a major overhaul to show the relationships between Brigid/Tony, Brigid/Loki. Please, let me know what you think. This story is for you and would be nothing without you!