Chapter Text
Seven months later…
Loki had been working on the first draft of a trade agreement with Vanaheim when he realized he had been staring out the window of his office for some time. It was a beautiful day outside, and he was sorely tempted to ditch his office and go for a walk. He shook his head and tried to concentrate on the administrative drivel again.
His office was a tiny, pine-paneled room in the simple building that housed New Asgard’s version of a city hall. Unlike Asgard’s golden halls, this building was typically Scandinavian – simple but warm. His office was roughly the same size as the desk in Odin’s office in the palace, but Loki found he didn’t mind. Asgard’s grand palace had been theater more than anything else; he could be just as productive here.
He had finally managed to regain his concentration when he heard the front door of the building open and Thor clomp inside. His brother had had a couple of meetings today. He must have finished and come to harass his poor, overworked brother.
“Ah, he’s in here,” Thor said to someone, gesturing into the office as Loki raised his head. He wasn’t expecting Pepper Potts to enter the office.
Knowing he wasn’t at the top of the list of her favorite people, Loki stood but remained behind the desk. “Miss Potts.” He gave her a slight bow and asked her to sit.
To her credit, she walked to the chair and waved to Thor. She looked bemused as she sat. “Shouldn’t I be the one bowing to royalty?”
Loki chuckled as he sat; he liked her already. “From what I understand, it is thanks to you and your foundation that the Asgardians have been able to make their home here on Earth. For that alone, you will always have my greatest respect and gratitude.”
She shrugged as it was no big deal. “It was the right thing to do. Tony was adamant that he wanted to help the Asgardians. The fact that your people are now thriving is a nice memorial to him.”
Loki cleared his throat. “I’m sorry for your loss,” he said quietly. And he was – he had been impressed and amused by Stark’s intelligence and wit during their encounter at Stark Tower. “I wish he and I could have met under better circumstances.”
Pepper smiled sadly. “He did too, you know. He liked you, even if you did throw him out of a window. It didn’t take him long to realize that you weren’t completely control of your actions during the invasion.”
Loki swallowed hard and looked down at his desk.
She continued: “To be honest, I shudder to think about the trouble you two would have gotten into together. I don’t know if the universe could have handled it.”
He didn’t know how to respond to that. How could the humans truly be so forgiving? And not just to explain away his actions, but to actually show friendship…?
Instead, he changed the subject. “What brings you to New Asgard, Miss Potts?”
She smiled as though she could see through his deflection, but she played along. “Curiosity.”
“Oh?”
“You see, for years now the Asgardians have been slowly putting themselves back together, building their community and learning how to live on Earth. Even with our financial help and some modest adjustments, they have been struggling to get along.
“Then, suddenly, a few months ago, things started changing. The economy diversified, a New Asgard brand emerged, and there was talk about New Asgard acting as an agent for Earth to trade with other planets. Now, instead of the Stark Foundation supporting you, suddenly New Asgard is paying back some of the funds it received and telling us to use them for other worthy causes instead.
“I have to admit that my curiosity was piqued.” Her eyes drifted to the wall behind Loki’s right shoulder, where a drawing hung that had been sent to the brothers by Morgan Stark as a thank-you for her care package months ago.
“I hope you have found everything to be in order here,” Loki said, hoping she hadn’t noticed the drawing but knowing that his hopes were in vain.
Pepper leaned forward. “You’ve done well, Loki. You should be proud of what you have accomplished here in such a short time. I know it’s not Asgard, but it is a fantastic start toward building something new.”
Before Loki could respond, a voice from the doorway said, “She is right, you know. You have accomplished great things for our people, Brother.”
Loki promised himself he didn’t jump, not having noticed Thor rejoin them, standing propped the doorframe in a very unkingly, but very Thor-like manner.
How many times in the past had he yearned to hear those exact words from anyone? Now that it had happened, he didn’t know what to do.
Thor’s smile had just a hint of sadness in it as though he could read Loki’s thoughts. He pushed up from the doorframe and said, “Come, Brother. Pepper hasn’t seen the gardens yet. Perhaps after that we can take her to the tavern for some proper Asgardian food.”
“At least then she won’t get poisoned by your cooking,” Loki shot back, ducking as Thor tried to mess up his hair in retaliation.
He could hear Pepper laugh at their antics as they made their way out into the golden light of a late afternoon in their home.