What was he supposed to do? What on earth should he do? Harry was literally freaking out. How in the world was he supposed to deal with this level of strangeness? This was even worse than his usual string of bad luck.
Why couldn't he just deal with the physical transformations and be done with it? He paced back and forth in the hallway, the only sounds breaking the morning silence were his footsteps and the steady ticking of the large clock.
Harry tossed his hair back and groaned as he clutched it tightly. He tugged at it, feeling a stinging and sharp pain in his scalp, but in his frustration, it actually felt somewhat relieving.
He awoke not just encircled by concerned centaurs and foals milling about him, but also facing a new twist of fate that seemed determined to complicate his life further. The latest memory, still burning vividly in his mind, had left him with an unexpected gift.
At first, he thought he might relive the agonizing moment of Harald's death; he could still vividly feel Loki's pain and despair, almost as if it were his own. After all, he had to go through that to become who he is today, right? He was Lord Harry Potter-Black, not Harald Fayereson, the fae prince and fiancé of the mischievous god.
Yes, Harry had begun to realize that he was transforming, becoming more like Harald with each passing day. It was as if his two lives were merging into a harmonious blend. He remained Harry, yet he was also becoming Harald. With a sigh, Harry paused and gazed up at the beautifully ornate ceiling. It wasn't just his mind grappling with an identity crisis; the memories were also causing another alteration in his physical appearance. And this time, it was the most substantial change yet!
Why could his life not be normal? Nooo, he had to get bloody freaking green wings that had decided to grow out of his back. And he was freaking out. Not to mention that they were huge!
Harry could feel them flexing on his back with each strong emotion that shot through his body. And to boot, he was getting more and more annoyed by the minutes as his mind started to tell him to as he quote -get a fucking grip- on himself. It felt like his very own mind had expanded with the new development, and he could process things scary fast. Then, there was that damn tingling sensation in the back of his mind screaming that something was missing, something that should be there. He felt empty, hollow even.
This was unsettling for him. Harry shut his eyes and took deep breaths. It felt like winter had overstayed its welcome, even though it was already April, casting a chill around him. Yet, the hallway he stood in was comfortably warm, quite the opposite of cold, which only confused him further. How could he feel so icy while actually feeling fine? Was he starting to develop another persona? Could it be that 'Harald' was a separate entity in his mind, and he had misunderstood the situation entirely?
Though it did not feel right either, Harry rubbed his chest, just over his heart. It was not in his head that the feeling came from; it was from his core. It was as if he was missing a piece of himself as if it had expanded, but the magic that would be there was dormant. Harry exhaled heavily, his shoulders sank, and so did the wings that gently pulled against his back, but they were still there.
The memory had given him much to think about. On one hand, he began to realize that it was more to this situation than he understood. He could no longer deny the warming ever-growing feeling he felt for Loki, even though he physically, in this body in any case, never met him.
He recalled experiencing this emotion once before when he first began dating Ginny. However, as they matured, they realized their affection was more akin to that of siblings. Despite this, the sensation was recognizable, and he was certain he already loved the ingenious black-haired deity. He needed answers; in fact, he needed several.
Harry ran his fingers through his hair once more before ascending the stairs, moving with deliberate steps towards Ron and Hermione's section of the manor. He paused outside their bedroom door, uncertain. It was still early, yet they were typically up by now. He lifted his hand to knock but hesitated just before his knuckles could tap the heavy door that secluded them from the outside world. He had to discuss this new development with them. A soft murmur emerged from behind the door, and Harry wiped his sweaty hands on his trousers.
"emh, guys," he started, a little unsure how to name his current problem, "I… .might have a bit of a problem this morning that I need your help with"
"Noo… go away" Ron's groan could be heard through the massive door, and Harry could not help a chuckle to escape him. Ron had never been a morning person.
"I would love to, but this is kind of a big problem" he should perhaps feel more ashamed of disturbing their morning because it sounded like they had had a long and undoubtedly fun night.
"Oh god, Harry," he could hear Ron groan again, "we are not helping you with your little morning 'problem', go away!"
He could hear Hermione's tired muffled voice, and he stared strangely at the door before casting a nervous glance at the green wings. They should be happy that he did not rush in right away when he had come back to the mansion two hours earlier. But he needed to get rid of these wings quickly; he had a god to find, and a pair of massive wings would only attract more attention than his scars used to do.
"I'm serious. I need your help with this one. I would not disturb you if I did not feel it was important."
"I'm so not awake for this," Ron grumbled behind the door, and Harry could hear the squeak of the bed as he got up from the bed and the heavy steps leading up to the door.
Harry's wings trembled and unfurled slightly, betraying the nervous energy coursing through him. He wrestled with his emotions, trying to quell the unease. These were his closest friends, practically family, who had supported him through the bizarre transformations he had recently undergone. Yet, doubt lingered—would they continue to stand by him through this new challenge?
"Harry, mate, we love you, but not like that. Could you handle your morning issue in the shower or something?" The rustling of clothes was audible, and Harry stared at the door as it seemed to suddenly lunge at him.
Why bother taking a shower? It wouldn't fix his current predicament... or would it? He gazed at the wings, tilting his head slightly, curious if they were as water-resistant as a bird's. Could he actually fly with them? A tiny voice in his mind suddenly affirmed he could, and fast too. Great. He now had a voice in his head—Harald's voice, to be exact. It was official: he was losing his mind.
"Seriously, Harry," Ron said as he opened the door and got tired in the face before looking at him. Just to blink again, and then again. Ron rubbed his eyes to try to get his sight in order, but the wings did not disappear.
Harry looked at him and waited; they just stared at each other before Ron cleared his throat a little nervously, " Herms, I think you need to see this, this is a problem that no cold shower would fix, I guess."
"No! I do not want to see his so-called problem, Ronald," she groaned. "Not when he disturbed my morning plans."
Ron chuckled nervously and blushed a little while Harry raised his eyebrows amusingly. "I can promise you that you want to see this, love," Ron said to his girlfriend before taking a step around Harry.
"You just have to perform one miracle after another," the red-haired man shook his head, amused, "are they real? Can you move them?"
Harry nodded and let his wings flex, and Ron whistled impressively
"yes, to all question, the problem is I can't get rid of them," Harry said and angled them slightly forward so they could spread more in the corridor.
"bloody hell Harry, you do not do things the normal way, do not you?"
"apparently not."
"Can I touch them?"
Harry nodded, "yeah, but be careful" A shiver went through him when he could feel Ron's fingers pulling against his wings, and he frowned slightly at the strange feeling that spread within him.
"Oh, blimey… they are solid."
Harry twitched under his touch again and unwrapped them when he heard clattering steps from the household's female person. Her hair stood in all directions and edges, and the magic lay tightly around the slightly upset woman and made her hair stand out even more. However, her anger suddenly disappeared when she looked at Harry's so-called morning problems. He stared at them for a second before sighting.
"I'm just going to change my clothes, we'll meet in the library in a moment," she just said and turned in the door and went back inside.
Harry and Ron looked at each other before shrugging, and the red-haired man followed his girlfriend and left Harry in the hallway.
It felt good to no longer have to deal with this problem alone, and with those thoughts, Harry went back to his room. He needed to change his clothes. It wasn't long before Harry stood in front of his mirror and took in his whole new look.
The patio door was slightly open, allowing the soft chirping of birds to filter in, creating a soothing background ambiance. However, Harry couldn't appreciate the calmness as he used to; his focus was on his own reflection, particularly his wings. Sunlight streaming through the large windows gave the wings an almost iridescent quality. The once dark green shades appeared more vibrant, and with a slight turn, they seemed to have a metallic sheen. As Harry ran his fingers over the wingtips, he noted mentally that his touch was entirely different from Ron's. Ron's touch had felt off—accepting, yet somehow inappropriate.
However, if it wasn't one thing, it was another, and now Harry faced a new challenge: figuring out how to remove his clothes. Initially, he attempted to pull them over his head, but his wings detached, causing discomfort as bent feathers were quite unpleasant. Ultimately, he sent his clothes to the laundry basket and stood there in just his trunks. Harry glanced over his body again. His skin remained light but with a golden hue; his right arm displayed the soul mark that extended over his shoulder, and when he twisted, he could see how it continued down his back, stopping just above his buttocks.
The wings grew out of his shoulder blades, and when he flexed them, he could see the extra muscles that moved under the skin. Silvery scars were still clearly visible in the sun's rays, a testimony to his tough childhood. He noticed them scattered across his body and ran his hand over his chest and down his somewhat defined abdomen. While he wasn't exactly a hulking mass of muscle, he was slender with long, sinewy muscles beneath his skin and not a trace of fat.
He had always had a hard time putting on weight, and no matter how much Madame Pomfrey tried to remedy this. It was a curse; in fact, he had wanted to be a few pounds heavier. He had never understood the female sex when they complained that they needed to lose a few pounds and how difficult it was to lose it, so they skipped food.
Honestly, it was just as hard for him to put some pounds on his body as it was for them to lose some!. No matter how much he ate, his body refused to get the amount he needed before it threatened to come up, and his brain shouted at him several times not to eat, to freaks that he did not need food, he could survive on air if so required.
Harry shook his head vigorously, clenching his teeth. The memories of his difficult childhood burned in his mind. He despised it. He felt broken, unable to fully escape the shadow of his past, despite all his efforts. Eleven years of physical and mental abuse couldn't be undone in just a few years. Thankfully, he had a supportive family who cared for him and understood his struggles.
He also had Loki; he just needed to find him. Harry had never really been a person for fashion; if he could wear the clothes, well, then they were good enough for him. Any clothes were better than Dudley's hand me down.
He gently let his fingers stroke the tips of his wings again. It almost felt like he was patting a velvet pillow or something. He looked down at the shirt he had chosen, it was impossible to put on the usual way, but he also did not like having to conjure one on himself. When he did, the material always felt wrong against his skin. As if someone decided to put a rock in them or something.
Harry grimaced and threw away his shirt to try to find something else. The bed pile grew as he threw more and more clothing in the ever-growing pile before he got to the tops. Why could he not have thought of this before? He pulled out a white training top where the back joined together in a Y, which left the shoulder blades almost entirely free.
Now came the next problem, to put it on. Harry would forever keep quiet about the strangest and most demanding attire he had ever had to go through, and he also promised never to complain about having too much clothing. He simply did not have enough variety to choose from, so with the first day's goal completed, he went down past the kitchen to pick up some food and entered the library.
He put down the tray with fruit, and even the tea he had levitated behind him; he was the first to be there. He picked up the parchment and started writing down what he needed to find. The first was a book about creature heritages, and the second was about Nordic gods and mythology.
He bit into the apple while writing down what he knew about Loki and his current situation realized that it was still apart. Florence had confirmed that the memories were from previous lives, so it meant that there was a reason why they were awakened now in connection with his creature's blood appeared. Harry tried to look more objectively at his memories, but it felt like he still did not have all the puzzle pieces.
They were there, just out of reach, but he suspected that his brain needed to have a rest period between the different visions and be able to adjust itself to the changes. So that meant he could expect more memories. But at the same time, a feeling within him had begun to grow, his magic was trying to take shape after the cavity, and it was almost as if he could feel it.
Harry closed his eyes and 'poked' at the feeling; he pressed a little harder and suddenly felt how it pushed back hard; a wave of irritation hit him, irritation that was not his own, and the memory flashed before him.
.⬝:*¨¨*:⬝.💓.⬝:*¨¨*:⬝. .⬝:*¨¨*:⬝.💓.⬝:*¨¨*:⬝.
Harald inhaled deeply, savoring the fresh air permeating the room. The fragrance of flowers wafted in through the wide-open window, mingling with the scent of impending spring rain that hadn't yet begun to fall. He had returned to Asgard after several weeks of recuperating from a near-death experience. His magical core, if such a thing could be described as tender, was still sensitive. Regardless, his magic had expanded significantly, bringing with it the growing pains associated with this transformation.
Harald had fully embraced his heritage. He had anticipated that mastering his magic would be more challenging than it turned out to be, and he likely owed this ease to Loki. Throughout Harald's recovery, the dark-haired prince rarely left his side, always there with comforting words, gentle touches, and ready to cater to his every need. Eventually, it became overwhelming, and Harald had to send Loki away, instructing him to focus on his royal responsibilities. After all, Loki wasn't going to abandon the palace, and Harald was secure there.
After everything that had happened, everyone involved had agreed that Harald would move to Asgard. It was also here that it had been decided that they would live after their wedding, which was fast approaching. They had not been able to find his aunt, who had almost suceeded to killed him. He still could not understand what he had done to earn that treatment. Why had she betrayed him? Her family none the less.
Even though he had sent Loki away to have some peace, it didn't mean he got to be alone; not at all. He felt a twitch of annoyance at his temple as he looked over at his currenly problem that was casually leaned against the doorway.
"Why are you here?"
"Because I have nothing to do," Thor's voice was light and could easily be misinterpreted as innocent, but Harald could see through it, and his eyes narrowed suspiciously.
"... really?" Harald looked at him with a deadpanned expression. He did not believe the blond prince for a second. He knew what he was doing, and Harald promised that he would punish Loki thoroughly after this.
The blonde brother was simply on babysitting duty, and he was going to be this annoying the whole time.
"I can help you with that," Harald said slowly and closed the book he had been reading until now, "you can start with this; put the book where it belongs."
Thor gave the book a strange look, "And why should I do that?"
"Because you have nothing to do," Harald replied with a gentle smile and pushed the big, heavy book forward with magic to the other side of the table, and Thor slowly walked towards it. He then took the book up, walked over to the next table, put it down with a loud thump, and turned contentedly towards Harald again. Mission accomplished.
The black-haired male stared at him, his mouth half-open, and closed it only to then open it again in pure disbelief. "Did… Did you just move the book from one table to the next one?"
"yes ..? you asked me to."
"So only to make it clear, you took the book from this table right in front of me, and put it away on the other one, next to you… and not where it belongs?"
Thor glanced at the book, then back at him, nodding, puzzled by why the small man seemed on the verge of laughter.
"It's a book; it belongs in a library, and we are in a library, so it belongs here" Thor had done what he had been asked to do; he had put the book where it belonged. Right? There were books all around the tables, so why not?
Harald could no longer hold it in, and he broke down in giggles, which then broke out into a loud amused laugh. He needed to take support on the table for not to fall to the ground in a helpless heap as his shoulders shook in laughter.
Thor gave him a confused look that narrowed when he realized that he was just laughed at and grinned. Two could play this game. So he picked up his belovwe hammer and went forward to put it down on the table with a broad smile while the young man continued to laugh at him.
Harald collected himself and shook his head; this whole thing was amusing; he was so telling Loki when he was back. But as he reached out for his next magic totem to read, he stopped and stared at the large, but strangely, beautiful hammer that now sat heavily upon the book.
"Thor… Why is mjölner on my books?"
"I demand compensation for your laughing at my expense so that the book will do fine for a payment."
"No, just no. You can not go and put mjölner wherever you want," especially not on top of that book. Hadrian stretched out and tried to move the damn thing, but it was heavily seated on the spot.
"move it," he ordered, annoyed
"No"
"Now Thor"
"Not going to happen."
"Please?"
"Nope"
"I will destroy it."
"You are welcome to try."
"argh, THOR ! move it"
The massive lump of straw hair chuckled, "move what now, dear brother of mine?"
Energy started to collect around Harald's hands, and his lip parted in a cold smile; magic had created the damn hammer, witchcraft could destroy it just as "I ask you just one more time, move the hammer before I corrode it!"
"if you do that, you will destroy the books."
Huh, fair point. Harald started at him before grinning again. He knew exactly what to threaten him with then to get what he wanted.
"I know a spell that will make it impossible for you to enjoy the pleasure brought out by the more intimate parts of a relationship; let's say you can get a little problem with the performance."
" You would not dare…."
"try me," Harald threatened with a shit-eating grin, making Thor rethink his revenge. Nothing was worth that punishment.
Thor held out his hand, and the hammer quickly fell into his waiting fist and muttered softly about the devil's invention of pit spawn to brother. How could someone so fair and innocent hide such a demonic side? But this was Loki's fiancé, so it was no wonder he had such side.
"thank you very much" Harald now smiled contentedly and brushed off the book, Energy fields, and foundations of magic; thankfully, the hammer had not destroyed it. He opened the book and began to skim through the chapters until he found the part that interested him and began to read.
After Loki shattered the seal that was harming him, his magic merged with Harald's. Harald could literally sense Loki within his own magical core, and with some focus, he could feel Loki's magic pushing back. Occasionally, he even heard whispers carried on the magic. They had connected on a level deeper than anything he had ever encountered. Being soul mates was already an exceedingly rare occurrence, but having this kind of soul bond? It was like a telepathic link.
Thor still stood firmly in the doorway, looking over the much smaller male, "I have to know," he hesitated as Harald put a finger in the text to look up at him. His intense viridian green eyes focused entirely on the blonde god who was trying to formulate his words.
"Were you the one who saved Loki that night so many years ago?"
He did not even have to say what night he meant because Harald knew right away what he meant. Harald turned his gaze to the window and the budding forest that could be seen from the royal palace. There was no reason for him to deny it.
"Yes," Harald replied, turning his gaze back to Thor. "Even back then, I sensed Loki's presence and how near he was to death, yet it wasn't his time," a cold shiver ran through him. He had been on the verge of losing him, and he was grateful that fate allowed him to save Loki.
Thor was silent for a moment before he bowed his head slightly "Thank you, Harald. Thank you for saving him, for loving Loki"
Harald could not help the laughter spreading, and he shook his head in amusement. "There is absolutely nothing to thank for, Thor; I would give my own life to save Loki if needed."
He shook his head. "You saved his life, and I am forever in debt to you, and never say so again; without you, Loki would be lost."
"Didn't Loki tell me it was me?" Harald ignored the last bit. He knew that if he lost Loki, the horrible though it was, he would lose a piece of himself and guaranteed to become blinded in madness.
"No, he did not say a word about it to the healers, but after that incident, he was almost obsessed with finding you again, finding the black-haired youth that saved him, calling you a dream made true" Thor chuckled.
Harald felt a blush spread across his cheeks, and Thor gave off his classic booming laugh and patted him hard on the back.
"He was horrible to live with for a while, and we had no idea why; now, of course, we know better," Thor grinned. "It is an honor to welcome you oficially to the family,"
Harald smiled at him and wished that the treacherous blush would disappear. He blushed worse than a virgin at this moment. Something that both brothers found very amusing, one more than the other.
"Now, all that is needed is for you to name your firstborn son after me, and we are one big and happy family."
Harald unexpectedly choked on his own saliva, leading to a fit of coughing and spitting, just as the blonde deity burst into laughter. His face and neck burned with an intense blush, and he worried it might never fade. The oblivious Thor, whom he had been smiling at, gave him a final pat on the back before casually exiting, leaving Harald to wallow in his embarrassment.
Harald genuinely believed he might die right then and there. He groaned and let his head hit the cold stone wall with a thud. Trying to dispel those thoughts, he shook his head, feeling the heat of embarrassment linger. Gazing out the window, he took slow, deep breaths, allowing a sense of peace, inspired by Loki, to wash over him. He couldn't help but smile slightly; he hadn't considered having children before. Of course, he knew it would happen eventually, but children? They were still young, and it was certain it wouldn't happen for several more years if that was what lady magic wanted.
Magic. It was something to marvel at; in many parts of their kingdom, it was considered that magic was something for the female sex. That ment that it was considered a weakness, something that had begun to change with both Loki's practice and his own. Loki had even been given the title, god of magic, for his exceptional magical ability. And even Harald was considered to have an unnatural amount of magic. So that they both were intersexual did not come as a surprise. Magic does not specialize in the sexes; it creates wonders.
Harald shook his head, amused and picked up the thick book, and went to his favorite place by the window. The wide window frame was a great place to read a good book, but his thoughts were still scattered, and he kept his eyes fixed on the training ground where Thor had picked up his weapon and fought an unsuspecting trainee.
Kids, huh, the thought did not feel so strange after all. Harald could very well see a black-haired mini Loki running around and creating chaos and mischief. He rested a hand on his stomach as he placed the book on his lap and continued to read and gradually began to test the theories they contained. He was finally able to sense Loki's feelings more clearly than before and smiled proudly at the development.
Harald's gaze suddenly drew down to the floor when a soft sound came from there, and he blinked in surprise; he had not felt that someone had sneaked upon him. Below at his feet sat a cat that usually visited the palace, or he thought it was a cat anyway. It looked like one. Or maybe it was a fox? It had a long enough nose, but he still decided to classify it as a cat. The semi-long cream white cat looked up at him with his sapphire blue eyes that could only be challenged by Thor's sapphires, and he smiled down at the creature.
"hey there, what are you doing here?"
The cat jumped up smoothly in front of his feet when he made himself known, and Harald could now see two pairs of tails loosely waving behind it. Two very fluffy tails. Harald gently stretched out his hand to the cat, for that was what he intended to call it, and let it gently smell on his fingers before stroking his head against his hand, which obviously permitted him to touch it.
"What a beautiful creature you are," Harald smiled, scratched the cat under the chin, and a low spinning sound vibrated through the slender body. But what fascinated him was the feeling of magic that vibrated around it just as well. The cat stroked towards him, and with determined steps, it went up in his lap and lay down to the right and looked up at him.
He chuckled low and felt that the cat more or less ordered him to continue and slowly began to stroke the cat over the back, and the soothing vibrations were pleasant. As the cat settled down, he suspected that it would stay there for a while, so Harald picked up his book again and continued reading while his fingers continued to be pulled through the silky fur.
It was in this position that Loki found him. Call him bias, but he had never seen anything so beautiful or heartwarming than his fiancé sitting at the window with a book and the demon cats in his lap.
However, he should not be surprised; these demon cats have some lore associated with death and usually never let anyone pet them. It was even said that the cats originally came from Helheim and were death's own eyes and ears in the other realms. So that one of death servants turned to Harald was just a confirmation of what they already knew, that he still was a candidate for death throne. The two swans that hung down from Harald's lap testified that this was also one of the older demons. She seemed to be feeling very well in his lap, and Loki was not a bit jealous, not at all, and if anyone said that, he would forever deny it.
He could feel a caress over his magical core from Harald, and an amused smile crept upon Harald's lips, but he never took his eyes off the book that caught his interest.
"will you stand there the whole day, or are you going to great me?"
Loki smiled and gave only a humming sound in response before slowly walking up to him. "just admiring the beautiful creation sitting in my window."
Harald now looked up and looked at him, "your window, huh? I did not see your name here" he looked mocking down on the window, "nope, no name"
Loki gave him an amused look. "I'm pretty sure my name is somewhere, and considering you're on my property, it must mean I own you too. Who could have guessed that?"
Harald grinned, "possessive much?"
Loki bent down and caught his lips in a light kiss, but the feeling was so strong that he almost lost his breath. Loki took the opportunity to deepen the kiss, he placed his hand behind Harald's neck, and he held him firmly and felt how his lips were shaped after his. He had missed his other half, even if it had only been a few hours. He closed his eyes for a second and felt the sweet yet spicy taste he associated with Harald before slowly and almost reluctantly pulling away.
"Over you? Always" Loki caressed his cheek and could not help thanking the gods for still being by his side. He sat opposite him in the wide window frame and exhaled; he could finally relax. If it had not been for Harald's testing of their bond, he would have rushed to him every two minutes just to see that he was still there. That he was alive and that the nightmare was finally over.
"a lot happening today?"
"Indeed, my mother couldn't stop talking about the wedding, and Thor was his typical foolish self during the meeting, which led to him being unexpectedly kicked out," he grinned, his eyes sparkling with mischief.
"Oh? And here I thought you sent him to act as my babysitter" Harald put a hand on his chest. "I feel so loved."
Loki gave him a teasing look, "the one who would need a babysitter is my brother. We should thank you for keeping an eye on him"
Harald smiled and pulled his hand through the demon's cat fur. "Wow, don't be so hard on him, he has a big heart but is not aware of his limits, or lack of them, and he gives his trust to everyone he considers worthy."
Loki snorted, "Yes, and he is our future King. I fear for our people."
Harald hummed, "then perhaps it is a good thing that he has you, right? To keep him on the right track."
"Perhaps" Loki looked out the window
Harald looked over to his mate and let his leg closest to the window extend so that his foot was next to Loki, "What are you thinking?"
Loki neither looked at him nor responded; his mind was so cluttered with thoughts that he couldn't determine where to start. On one hand, he was thrilled about the life he had and the future they envisioned together. Yet, he was also fearful—concerned for Harald's safety and the security of the kingdom.
His aunt remained uncaptured, and they lacked any solid answers as to why she had attempted to kill him. Something felt off, something crucial that they had overlooked, but he couldn't pinpoint what it was. Harald observed him intently for a while before gently placing the cat and the book on the floor and moving closer. He positioned himself with his legs on either side of Loki, finally capturing the attention of the dark-haired man.
"what are you doing?"
"looking at you."
"Noo... really?" Loki said with an amused expression, as if he wasn't already aware. "By all means, continue."
Harald snorted and rolled his eyes at his lover's antics, but he concentrated again and stared at him the whole time.
'talk to me'
Loki blinked and looked down at his little lover, he had heard his voice, but his lips had not moved. He opened his mouth in surprise, "What? how did you…"
Harald's smile grew, and he put on the other half of his magical core again, success! so now that he knew how it felt, he could concentrate and send over another thought.
This way, talk to me, and do not even try to lie or avoid answering my question.
Loki's mouth twitched, "I have no idea what you're implying."
"yeah, and I'm a pink bilgesnipe, now try and talk to me, in that big head of yours" Harald replied loudly, and poked at him, "try to answer me in the same way, idiot. With magic"
Loki shook his head in amusement and sat down so that he sat directly opposite him and stared intensely at his little light. Viridian eyes meeting jade. He concentrated on the interconnected feeling of magic and put his thoughts back.
'Just scattering thoughts,' Loki said, embracing the sensation of the new magic as it enveloped his core. He allowed the feeling to saturate him while subtly probing Harald's emotions.
'...And a little worried,' Harald admitted, meeting Loki's gaze with defiance, anticipating a challenge. Yet, he smiled as they both started to grasp how a small aspect of their connection functioned.
'And a little worried,' Loki agreed a little reluctantly; he would never say it out loud. But to Harald... to him, he could show a more insecure side of himself.
'Is there anything you can do about it?'
'That depends'
Harald snorted, "so, a no then" He released the mental connection, so he felt how it pulsated too hard in the temple.
Loki sighed heavily but did not deny his words. Even though he knew this, he could not help his anxiety. It was always there, biting, gnawing feeling that tore at his insides. The feeling that came from seeing him dying in front of him, blood flowing out where it should not be.
The emotion of his uneven pulse and the feeling of his heart struggling almost stopped beating. Harald suddenly jumped up from the window and turned around, waiting for him. He did not like the feeling of sneakingness over their connection.
"what are you doing?" Loki asked with a frown
"getting up."
"I can see that. Why are you getting up?"
"We are going to the training ground."
Loki blinked slowly, "No ... we not"
Harald studies him for a moment and then shrugged, "then I'm going without you."
Loki stiffened and was quickly up and in his way, almost growing as he stared down at the smaller male, "no, you have not nearly healed enough from the whole ordeal; you are not going to train, magic or anything else."
Harry rolled his eyes. "Look, you can either go with me or get out of my way Loki. I'm not going to bulge, and I'm not made of glass" He knew he was pushing a little hard, but he needed slap Loki out of that mood he was digging himself in. He could feel the darkness inside of him, feasting on his fears.
That can be debatable, Loki thought as his lips straightened out, "No."
Stubborn ass of a horse, Harald stared at him before he took a deep breath. "Then let us have some fun with Thor; I believe that both he and you require a good fight. He has asked to go up against the two of us. Claiming that he can beat us both at the same time."He raised a defiant eyebrow. He could already see how it sparkled in Lokis eyes at the challenge
"Oh, has he now? then, by all means, I fight him, and you can be my support, but nothing else."
Okay, the training did not go as Harald had planned. But for the moment, he took what he could. In any case, he got what he wanted, and it should be fun. And it had been enjoyable, right up until Thor lost his temper and accidentally put too much force into one of his attacks. Harald had reacted instinctively in response. Thankfully, it didn't end too badly.
"I'm…" Thor began to apologize.
"No, do not."
"But .."
"-app."
"now see…
"- app, app."
"Harald-"
"I said don't," Harald said and grinned slightly "besides, it is I who should apologize ."
Thor shifted and looked over to a fuming Loki, and nervously back to the smaller man "... it wasn't too bad?"
"I sent you flying two fields over and crash landing in the weapon racks; if that's not bad, I do not know what is." Harald snorted," We were only going to play a little bit, not hurt each other"
"Do not flatter yourself, I could have stopped the attack any time, and it was my fault, to begin with," Thor boosted as he puffed out his chest, never going to admit that, nope, never.
Harald chuckled, "But it sort of was? The shield was designed to reflect the blow with twice the force it received. But listen, Thor, just because you're big and strong doesn't mean you're automatically suited to lead," Harald advised his future brother-in-law. "You're perfect for protecting the realm, sure, but you need to start thinking, evaluate your surroundings, and avoid pushing things if you don't recognize the danger. Next time, you might not be so lucky, and the last thing we need is a deceased crown prince." Harald himself was in line for the throne of his realm, while Loki had no interest in assuming that role, claiming it would consume too much of his time.
Thor gave him a slightly puzzled look and shrugged. He didn't dwell on thoughts about war and battles; his strength was his mainstay, as you couldn't win a battle if you hesitated or paused to think. The enemy needed to understand that challenging Asgard meant certain destruction.
Harald glanced over at Loki, who sighed and put a hand on his face. It seemed unlikely that they would penetrate Thor's stubborn mindset anytime soon, but they had the time to do it. Harald promised himself he would help Loki shape Thor into one of Asgard's greatest kings.
As they walked back to the palace, Harald couldn't help but wonder about what he had just said to Thor. He knew that his words may have seemed harsh, but he truly believed in them. Being the leader of a realm meant more than just physical strength and bravery; it required intelligence, quick thinking, and strategic planning.
He hoped that Thor would take his advice to heart and try to become a more well-rounded warrior. The future of Asgard rested on his shoulders, after all.
Back at the palace, Loki was still fuming over what had just happened. He couldn't believe that Thor had lost control like that, even if it was an accident. Loki prided himself on being in control at all times, and seeing someone so easily lose their composure irritated him.
But he also knew that Harald was right. Thor needed guidance if he wanted to be a successful king. And who better to teach him than Harald? Loki trusted his mate.
The three of them sat down for dinner together, and despite the tension from earlier, they managed to have a pleasant meal. Harald shared stories from his past battles and gave insight into how he approached different situations.
Thor listened intently, taking mental notes as he ate. He could see why Harald was held in such high regard among his people; not only was he skilled in combat, but also wise beyond his years.
By the end of the evening, Thor felt inspired. He made a promise to himself to start thinking before acting and to learn from Harald's teachings. He realized that being a great king required more than just brute force; it required wisdom and strategy as well.
Loki couldn't help but smile as he saw the change in Thor's demeanor. Perhaps there was hope for him yet.