Chapter Text
In the end, it was both harder and easier than Loki’d thought it would be. The World Council delegation grudgingly agreed that Asgard would have sovereignty over the land granted to it by Norway, with extradition agreements with all members of the UN. With the help of Stark’s lawyers and Loki’s own discerning eye, the Sokovia Accords were amended such that the Avengers would not have to wait for permission to deploy, but would be answerable to a special legal team assembled by the World Council as needed (and would be entitled to representation on that team). In addition, Loki had insisted on removing the clause of the Accords that required registration of every enhanced human or alien being on the planet. Membership to the Avengers would be public knowledge, but otherwise privacy and liberty was to be as respected for enhanced beings as they would for ordinary people. Steve had breathed a sigh of relief and signed the amended documents.
As for Loki himself, he was “on probation.” As such, he was forbidden from leaving New Asgard’s borders without a magic suppressant and one of the Avenger’s chaperoning, until such a time that the World Council was as satisfied as T’Challa was that the prince presented no threat. It was less freedom than Loki hoped for, but not as bad as he had feared. When the word was passed down, Thor had relaxed into his seat and closed his eyes, looking as though he’d finally been given permission to rest. Loki had felt a strange surge of emotion at the sight, some sort of mix between gratitude and irritation and a need to do something about it. When they’d left the deliberation hall, Loki stabbed his fountain pen into Thor’s ribs, making his brother jolt up and swipe at his head. Thor’d continued grumbling about it the entire way to Loki’s quarters, and the need inside Loki had settled into something like satisfaction.
“Next stop, New Asgard.” The pilot of the Quinjet said as Loki boarded with Thor and Stark. He started.
“We are going straight there?” Loki checked, distress flaring up in his heart.
“That was the stipulation of the Council.” Thor pointed out. He looked exhausted, depleted, even. Even his formal armor seeming to have lost its shine now that the ordeal of sorting Asgard’s future was ended. “King T’Challa spent much of his political capital justifying his harboring of you. It would be unfair to press his charity even further. You do have all your belongings in your pockets, do you not?”
“Well, yes.” The God of Mischief frowned at the floor, gnawing at the corner of his lips. Stark snorted next to him.
“Deep pockets, Rock of Ages, or not much to keep in them?”
“Interdimensional pockets, Stark.” Loki said coldly. “So very deep, and quite beyond your reach.”
“No joking about my height on this jet, I designed it.” Stark complained, making Loki roll his eyes. “You’ll have to explain how that works to me.”
“It’s magic.” Loki worried at his lips more as the jet flew at impressive speeds towards New Asgard. The longer they were in flight, the more the desire to turn south tugged at his heart. He ached almost to the bottom of his soul to change his form and take flight, ride the wind until he landed in front of that small farm house where Bucky would be just finishing dinner, perhaps heading outside to let Einar chase him for a treat. He ached… he ached to go home.
“Magic isn’t an explanation.” Stark complained next to him, startling Loki into an icy glare.
“It is all the explanation I am required to give you, Stark.” Shuri was fascinated with his pocket dimensions. He’d spent much time indulging her by taking things in and out of them while she recorded and bubbled with ideas of how his magic could change Earth’s understanding of science. He had no intention of doing such tricks for Stark.
“Not trying to pick a fight, Reindeer Games. Just scientific curiosity.” Loki readied himself to snap back about exactly what Tony Stark could do with his scientific curiosity, but then Thor nudged his foot.
“Lo.” Any other time, such a pleading look from his brother would egg Loki on, but today…. He couldn’t quite bring himself to add more weight to Thor’s shoulders. He breathed through his nose.
“Perhaps you could consult with Princess Shuri, Stark. I imagine the two of you would get on spectacularly. I, on the other hand, am in no mood to entertain you.” Loki said evenly, and Stark pouted for a moment.
“Fine.” He said, then began making his way towards the cockpit. “You don’t have to be so pouty, Princess.” He had the nerve to say as he went. “You’ll have a roommate in New Asgard too.”
Loki snarled to himself, only Thor’s hand on his arm stopping him from throwing one of his knives in Stark’s general direction. They spent the rest of the flight in silence, Loki steadfastly refusing to ask for what he wanted most. He would not beg like some lovelorn fool for the chance to go back just one last time. He would not bare this weakness to Thor and Stark, who had already seen him far too low for comfort.
By the time they disembarked in New Asgard, Loki was every bit the prince he needed to be. He made his way to the home that had been assigned to him, and told himself he did not miss Wakanda at all.
“You sure about this, Buck?” Steve asked as pulled a coffee filter out of his pocket. Bucky snorted.
“How many times are you gonna ask that, Punk? I’m sure.” He shook his head as he watched Steve filter his coffee. “Can’t believe you got so buff and somehow you’re still a wimp.”
“I’m not a wimp, you’re insane.” Steve grumbled. “Really though, I know this can’t be easy for you. You guys are so close.”
“Einar needs to be with Loki.” Bucky insisted. “I can’t give him those magic boosts, or talk to him like Loki can. If Loki can’t come back here, Einar needs to go there. He’ll understand.”
“Which one of them?” Steve asked, only half joking. He’d left Tony’s legal team with everything they needed to revoke Bucky’s status as an international criminal, but it would be a long process to exonerate him completely. Until then, he could not live as a free man. Still technically wanted, the safest place for him to be was Wakanda, where he had sanctuary and protection from any rogue Hydra agents or bounty hunters. That’s what Steve and Bucky had said to each other, several times over now. It still felt hollow to Bucky.
“Both of them.” He answered at last. “I’ll visit when my shit gets sorted out. Gotta do it all legal like, don’t we?”
“That’s the ideal.” Steve sighed. “How are you gonna get Einar to Norway, anyway?”
“New Asgard.” Bucky corrected. “And the answer is Shuri. She’s the answer to most things.” And Loki was the answer to everything else, Bucky thought but did not say. Steve knew enough, would probably hang around for a while. Probably try to spoil him, distract him from the empty house. The punk didn’t need to worry harder than he already would.
“She’s a smart girl. Now that things are smoothing over, I bet her and Tony are gonna get along great. They’ll either save the world or raze it to the ground.” Steve joked, and Bucky didn’t doubt it.
“That kid from the airport is more her age. The one with the webs.”
“Right. He’s from Queens.” Steve remembered.
“Of course he is.” Bucky smiled and led Steve out across the field to where Einar was grazing under the setting sun. “Hey, buddy.”
Einar’s ears pricked, and he walked slowly over to them. He nosed around in Bucky’s pockets, then Steve’s, snorting gently when he did not find any treats. Bucky laid his hand over Einar’s neck.
“We’re gonna get you to our Tricksy-friend real soon, Einar. You’ll have to take care of him for me, for a little while, okay?”
Einar blinked and pressed his head into Bucky’s bereft shoulder.
“I’ll be fine. And you, you’ll be living the high life! You’ll be the royal horse or something. Blue skies and sunshine, bud. And Loki’ll keep a whole room full of melons for you. Melons and apples and carrots… you won’t have to share with any rhinos or anything.” Bucky blinked hard, looking away from Einar and towards the horizon, where he could see a hovercraft flying towards them. Probably Shuri, he thought.
“Buck…” Steve sounded pained. Bucky nudged his shoulder, shaking his head.
“Hey, you say it’s not forever? I believe you. Einar just needs a pep talk before he gets on that thing.” He nodded towards the ship that was now hovering above the field. Einar neighed and danced anxiously, and Bucky ran his hand over his neck, making shushing sounds. “Relax, buddy. You’re fine.”
The ship blew all the grass around it flat as it landed but made surprisingly little noise. Shuri left it running when she hopped out of the pilot’s seat.
“White Boy! You don’t look ready.” She called as she jogged over to their side of the field.
“We’re ready.” Bucky assured, tugging gently on Einar’s halter. “Come on buddy.”
Einar snorted and did not move, his ears pressed back.
“It’s nothing to be scared of, ya big wimp, come on!” Bucky tugged harder, and Einar took a reluctant step. “That’s it, come on. You’re going to see Loki. Loki. You can do it, come on…”
Step by step, Bucky led Einar to the rear of the ship, where a ramp was open and waiting. Einar stepped right up to the ramp, then tossed his head, whinnying.
“You’re almost there, Einar, come on!” Bucky coaxed, but Einar wouldn’t budge. “You’ll get a special treat so you can relax, and it’ll be easy as pie. Up you get!”
Shuri stood at the foot of the ramp with Steve as Bucky slowly led Einar up the ramp, having to get in front of the horse and get in the ship himself. Finally Einar was situated in a repurposed cargo container that was clearly meant to serve as a stall.
“Princess, how do you secure this thing?” Shuri bounded up the ramp.
“I will secure it, you go get your things!” She urged.
“Whaddya mean get my things? I don’t have the all-clear to go anywhere.” Bucky said reluctantly.
“Bucky Barnes, do you mean to tell me you are going to make this horse travel by himself?” Shuri asked as she slipped special harnesses over Einar. “I thought you were meant to take your steed and reunite with the Prince!”
“This ain’t a Disney movie, kid.” Bucky said, far more seriously than Shuri. “Me sneaking into New Asgard—that’s asking for trouble. Trouble Loki doesn’t need. Once my shit gets sorted…”
“Oh, what does it matter where you stay?” Shuri waved him off. “New Asgard is just as secure for you as we are.”
“Steve said—”
“Yes, yes, he’s very concerned. Ha! And I thought he was supposed to be a rebel.” She called this last down to Steve. “The hovership technically is Wakandan sovereign territory. Go and pack a bag, you have all the clearance you need. Right, Einar?”
Einar snickered and ate up the treat Shuri offered him, laced with a tranquilizer. Bucky looked down at Steve, who shrugged helplessly. Then he grinned and dashed down the ramp and towards his house.
You had to be bold, after all, to catch a Prince.
When the hovership arrived in New Asgard, Loki and Thor went to meet it. They’d gotten straight to work in planning where the permanent structures would go, Stark flitting around and helping with the installations. They were expecting a shipment of building materials today, and decided to meet it themselves, allowing the citizens to see their King and their Prince working just as hard as the rest of them.
“That’s not a cargo shipment.” Loki told Thor, frowning in the direction of the approaching craft. “It’s from Wakanda.”
“So it is.” Thor said easily. Loki raised a brow. He’d penned a letter to Bucky as soon as he’d settled into his new home, but otherwise had had no contact with his lover. He tried not to appear overeager as the ship landed. If they were receiving something from Wakanda, perhaps Bucky had sent along a reply.
“Magic Boy!” Shuri hollered as she turned jumped from the ship.
“Princess.” Loki said, brow raised regally. Shuri glanced around at the many civilians milling around and shrugged, but when she approached she still bowed her head towards Thor.
“King Thor, it is an honor to be received by you and Prince Loki directly.” The grin on her face belied her stiff formality, and Thor answered her with a smile of his own.
“Had we known you were coming yourself, you’d have had a royal welcome.” Thor said with his own bow.
“I cannot believe neither of you can convincingly make a proper royal greeting.” Loki shook his head.
“What’s propriety amongst friends, brother?” Thor asked, tugging him after Shuri towards the ship.
“It’s exactly that. Propriety.” Loki sniffed, but allowed himself to be pulled to the opening ramp. The ramp touched the ground, and there was immediately noise from within. “What—”
Tricksy-Friend-Loki!!! Missed you! Loki barely had time to register his surprise as Einar clopped down the ramp. Funny-Princess-Shuri made me a bird. I do not like being a bird, I deserve melons. You miss me too, should give me a house of melons. No funny treats. Tricksy-Friend-Loki do you see the bird? Loki was assaulted with an onslaught of sensation from Einar even as he wrapped his arms around his neck. There was joy, and love, and pain, and a heady feeling that must have been a tranquilizer. There the altogether uncomfortable feeling of having been in the Hovership, but mostly there was just happyfreehomefamily and it was wonderful.
“He missed you.” Shuri said warmly as Loki pressed his forehead to Einar’s, forgetting anything that was not his dear friend. “He’s not the only one, though.”
Loki finally looked up and over Einar’s shoulder, heart in his throat when he saw Bucky descend the ramp. Their eyes met, and the world fell away. Loki wanted to run to him, to draw him in and never let him go.
“Hey, dorogoi.” Bucky said, and his lips were curled into that beloved half smile. “Hope it’s okay I visit.”
“Visit?” Loki walked past Einar, who was still exuding joy. “You… you preposterous, incredible, ineffable man…”
“That’s a lot of five dollar words there, dorogoi.” Loki did not know how Bucky could stand before him so calmly. “I heard you couldn’t come to me, so I came to you. Is…” And now Loki could see the nerves behind Bucky’s eyes. “Is that alright? I know things are complicated with us but—”
“Stop talking.” Loki said. And there, in front of his brother, Shuri, and all of Asgard, Loki drew Bucky close and kissed him. He pressed what felt like a hundred kisses to Bucky’s eager lips, and each was returned. He tangled one hand in Bucky’s hair, and the other with his fingers. The moment would have dragged forever, except for Thor clearing his throat to bring them back to reality. Loki pulled back but left his hand tangled with Bucky’s defiantly.
“Nice, Lackey.” Valkyrie called from Thor’s side, having apparently approached without Loki noticing. She was grinning, and so was Thor, who was accepting a high five from Shuri.
“I thought Asgard might take on the responsibility of watching over the White Wolf for a time.” Thor said, his one eye sparkling. “To repay Wakanda’s kindness towards you.”
“Only if that’s alright.” Bucky said quickly. “There’s a lot going on, I don’t have to stay here, but Einar needs you and—”
“Stay.” Loki interrupted. “Stay with me. Here.”
Bucky was quiet for a moment, then grinned.
“Loki, you remember how I said I’d tell you if you came up with any million dollar words?”
“Yes.” Loki smiled and Bucky’s fingers tightened around his.
“Those count. Those definitely count.” Loki’s face hurt with how hard he was smiling, and Bucky’s smile was equally large.
Melons are better than dollars. Show us to the melons, Tricksy-friend Loki! We are togetherfamilysafe now. Einar interjected with a whinny.
“You will have your melons, my friend. We will enjoy them… together.” Loki looked to Thor, who smiled and waved an arm in the direction of Loki’s quarters. He had planned this. Loki felt that strange surge of emotion towards his brother again, that gratitude, fondness, that irritation. But he could find something to stab Thor with later.
For now… he led Bucky and Einar towards home.