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He made the familiar walk to the Bifrost and steeled himself for the amused look he knew was coming.
“Loki-prince,” said Heimdall. “What brings you here?”
“Must we do this again, Gatekeeper?”
Heimdall looked infinitely amused.
“I cannot help, if you do not tell me what you’re looking for.”
It went like this; every day since Thor was sent to Midgard for his trial, Loki would come to the Bifrost and ask Heimdall how his idiot betrothed was doing. Not once had Loki asked about his father, or either of his brothers. Only of Thor, his misadventures and the company he kept.
“Very well. How is our prince doing today? Is he safe? Is he…happy?”
“Prince Thor is adjusting admirably to his situation and has located Mjolnir. His companions have introduced him to a new snack, one which he will undoubtedly have you try soon.”
“And his companions?”
Heimdall paused. He knew exactly why Loki came every day, being all-seeing, all-knowing and so on, but he never once mocked Loki for his insecurities.
“He is getting along well with them,” he said, kindly. “Darcy Lewis is quite boisterous and suited to his temperament, and the scientist Dr. Jane Foster seems to be quite taken with our prince. Though her focus is on the science of his arrival, and not the prince himself.”
Loki’s face took on a pinched look, before smoothing out once again. Every day, he hoped for a different answer, but it looked like Thor would be stuck with the same mortals for the duration of his trial.
“Thank you, Heimdall.”
“Of course, Your Highness.”
Loki didn’t need to look back to know that the man was smiling.
**
Ordinarily, Thor’s adventures wouldn’t matter. His betrothed had travelled extensively across the Nine Realms, for the sake of a hunt and come back with more friends and companions than Loki could make in a lifetime. Except, they all knew that Thor was to be married to the youngest prince of Jötunheimr, and that Loki would slit them mouth to anus should they even try to lay their wiles on Thor.
But Midgard was untouched, unaware. To them, Thor and Loki were myths, brothers, gods. Any literature about them was hopelessly inaccurate, and dated. So why wouldn’t some Midgardian hope to claim Thor’s heart?
He was golden in all senses of the word. Loki had mapped out his skin with a dedicated tongue, been forgiven for slights that would cause great offence with nothing but a furrowed brow and a kiss. Loki had known the goodness of Thor more intimately than others, and across the Nine Realms, his relationship with Thor was feared and respected. Except Midgard.
Midgard, where intelligent and kind women just so happened to be where the All-father had sent Thor. Midgard, where rules and traditions of courting and settled into something easy and comfortable, and so, so unpredictable. Midgard, where Loki’s betrothed, golden and beautiful, had been placed without anything to signify that he was spoken for.
Frigga had once told him that it was natural to get jealous, but be careful with what those feelings led to. Laufey had told him to get rid of everything that stood in his way, and offered to destroy what made his youngest jealous. Helblindi…had laughed and told him to trust Thor.
“Your prince is smitten with you, Loki. No need to see things that are not there. Besides, has the Odinson not behaved when people have flocked to you? Did he not restrain himself from killing that Vanir where he stood for attempting to proposition you?”
And as much as it pained him to admit, Helblindi was right. Thor had been beautifully polite to the Vanir nobleman who thought that telling Loki all Jötun were promiscuous was a sure way of getting into his bed. Loki had declined, over and over, until Thor managed to make their excuses and drag him away from the banquet hall.
The next day, Loki was in his Aesir skin, with marks blooming across his neck and collar. There was a particularly vicious bite, just below his jaw that made the All-father roll his eye and Thor undeniably smug. He even made a big show of feeding Loki and kissing those marks again, all in plain view of the Vanir nobleman. The All-father’s grumbling about inappropriate sons and shameless guests was the only thing that put an end to the display, and Loki was never accosted again.
But that was Thor. Loki’s jealousy was a stabbing, cruel thing and he wanted to hurt everyone with it. The woman had been nothing but kind to Thor and all he wanted to do was rip her from his betrothed’s side and plaster himself to Thor like a fungus that wouldn’t scrape off. He had always been prone to mischief, never cruelty, but he often wondered that if his life were not how it were, would he have given into his impulses?
Loki took a deep breath. There would be a time, when he would go to Midgard with Thor and be introduced as his husband. That alone would suffice in keeping people away.
It didn’t stop him from systematically destroying a pillow, though, imagining it was everyone that got too close to his love. Thor was possessive, yes, but Loki was ten times that. Everyone found Thor beautiful, only a handful thought that way about Loki. He didn’t care, he did not want to be wanted or loved. He had Thor.
That thought helped him sleep at night, because despite everything, despite the Nine Realms existing and people professing their love for Thor, at the end of the day, Thor was Loki’s, and happily so.
He closed his eyes and thought that maybe he should make Thor jealous again. It had been far too long.
They were all sharing a drink at the tower, when the balcony lit up in a stream of colorful lights.
“Oh man, I am not ready for another army.”
Except, instead of the Chitauri, there was a tall, blue creature with waist long black hair. Thor made a weird noise, and ran towards the alien, a bright grin on his face.
“I’m guessing that’s a friendly then?” asked Tony.
Thor picked up the blue alien by the waist and spun them around before pulling them in for a tender kiss.
“Definitely a friendly then."
They stared at the couple a little longer, laughing at Thor’s puppy-like behavior. He had rubbed his beard all over the blue alien’s neck, pressed kisses to their hair, their face, their chest and spent at least five minutes squeezing them in an impossibly tight embrace.
Then Thor noticed them looking, and carried his partner inside.
“Honestly, is this how you want to introduce me to your Midgardians? Carried in your arms like a helpless maiden?”
“I have not seen you in a week, forgive me if I don’t let go of you just yet.”
The blue alien gave Thor a fond look, and pinched his cheek until they were set down. Up close, they could see that raised lines ran across their skin and they had bright red eyes. They were wearing something that looked like a mix between a fancy loincloth and a mini-skirt, and a thin gold chain was draped around their waist. They looked gorgeous.
“Friends,” Thor announced. “I would like you to meet Prince Loki of Jötunheimr, a great seiðmaðr, warrior and my husband.”
Steve choked on air, but the rest of them seemed pretty unfazed.
“Congratulations big guy, when was the wedding?”
“Right after my trials on Midgard! Loki was most impressed by the changes in my behavior.”
Loki gave them all a fond, but exasperated smile.
“My husband had a certain penchant for arrogance before arriving on your realm. It was charming when we were younger, but not the best quality to have as a king.”
Thor gave him a wounded look, and Loki clicked his tongue before pressing a soothing kiss to his jaw.
“Come now, darling. We’ve spoken of this before, no need to look so hurt.”
Tony, who was thoroughly enjoying the conversation, spoke up first.
“Nice to meet you, highness. Or is it just Loki? Welcome to my tower, you can call me Tony Stark. Hey, Jarvis, make sure no one takes any pictures of the tall, handsome smurf over here. This is exactly the kind of alien the kids on Tumblr are talking about.”
“Noted, sir.”
Loki nodded to him, looking briefly curious about the voice that had come from nowhere. Natasha was next, and he surprised her by answering in fully fluent Russian, and speaking in ASL with Clint.
“Welcome to New York, Your Highness. I’m Steve Rogers.”
And then, Steve stepped up to shake his hand. Or he would have, had Thor’s arm of steel not stopped him from getting close to Loki.
“Apologies, Captain. Loki’s skin can cause frostbite to those not of his realm.”
“I wouldn’t hurt your friend for no reason, Thor.”
Steve’s eyebrows shot up at the ‘for no reason.’
“Fandral almost lost his arm because of you,” Thor said, faintly disapproving.
“That’s because the first time Fandral met me, he thought it would be appropriate to grope my behind in front of my family.”
The Avengers gave them both a look of shock so similar across five faces, that Loki’s small smile turned into a full-fledged grin.
“While it is heartening to know that all of you would defend my honor, please be assured that my brother broke Fandral wrist and almost slit his throat for his impudence.”
Clint nodded in approval.
“Good big bro instincts.”
“Oh yes, big is certainly what you would call him. Helblindi is at least twelve feet tall, and that’s an approximation because I haven’t been home recently to measure the big brute.”
Loki used the continued silence to slip into his Aesir form and took Steve’s arm.
“Shall we? I do believe you were about to show me around, dear Captain.”
“I-. Yes, of course, Your Highness.”
“Please, call me Loki.”
Tony reached over and closed Thor’s mouth.
“Dude, your wife is insane, I love it.”
“I have never seen Loki get along with someone so quickly.”
Natasha gave him a look.
“Well, if all people in Asgard are like how Fandral was, I’m not surprised.”
**
For the lack of a better word, Thor sulked around as Loki enthralled and entertained his Midgardian companions. He insisted on being shown the city the next day, to help with repairs.
“That is the original purpose of my visit,” he said, wryly. “The All-father is not so kind to send me only to comfort my husband.”
“I am not a child to need comfort,” Thor grumbled.
“Why, I was under the impression that you missed me, husband.”
And just like that, Thor was once again cheerful and manhandling Loki until he was seated on his lap.
“Stay,” he said, quietly into Loki’s neck. “You have given them far too much attention, and me far too little.”
Loki laughed and leaned back into his husband’s firm chest. The first thing he had done once the Avenger’s had finished their post battle feast, was push Thor into a bath and dress him in comfortable clothes. Now they all lounged in the one, non-damaged part of the tower, in varying stages of sleep.
“Are you jealous?”
“A little,” Thor admitted. “You get along well with friend Tony, and the Captain is very beautiful. They have been more welcoming to you than my friends in Asgard were.”
“For all their faults, some Midgardians seem to be quite accepting of those that are different. Must be an outcome of their short lives.”
Thor hummed and lay down, pulling Loki down with him on Tony’s absurdly large sofa.
“I have not been away from you for long, but it feels like I am holding you after years of separation.”
“Sentiment.”
“Love,” Thor corrected.
They lay there quietly, falling asleep amongst the Avengers, after a long, strange day. Tomorrow would be better, and perhaps, Thor could convince Loki to wear one of Lady Natasha’s lovely dresses.
**
As promised, Loki spent the next three days fixing most of the damage the Chitauri had done to the city, leaving only enough for the Midgardian authorities to judge the damage and make records. At the end of it, he was exhausted and Tony wanted to throw a party.
“Currently Anthony, there is nothing more I want than to spend the next day sleeping.”
Thor was carrying him again, but this time Loki was leaning into him. It was very sweet, how they gravitated towards each other, picking food from each other’s plates like the thought of existing without the other was not even remotely possible. Their behavior even made Natasha smile.
“Come on, Ice Prince! It’ll be fun. I’ll schedule it for day after, you can meet all the fun people and drink on my tab. We can even get Thor’s friends from New Mexico to come up here. Dr. Foster, was it? Selvig is with SHIELD already, we can set it up.”
Loki had a calculating look on his face. He nodded.
“As long as you give me two days to rest, you can have your party. I look forward to meeting your guests.”
“Fantastic! Any requests, Pointe Break? Special effects with your entrance? A gown for your queen?”
Thor grinned and shook his head.
“Nay, thank you friend. Loki’s sense of style is most extraordinary, I am sure he’ll dress us well for the occasion. Now I’m afraid I must get him to bed before he turns my hair green.”
“It was one time, let it go darling.”
“Never.”
Loki gave them a languid wave, and Thor shot into the air with Mjolnir, heading towards the tower.
“Does anyone else hate how sweet they are?” asked Tony. “Is that how marriage is really supposed to be?”
“They do make me want an unrealistic romance,” admitted Steve. “But Loki told me that they used to fight a lot when they were younger. Asgard is a lot more racist than Thor notices. He also said that they had to work on their relationship, with a really disgruntled look on his face. Something about his father being extra overbearing since he’s the youngest.”
They all looked at Steve with varying expressions.
“What? He’s the only one that wakes up at the same time as I do. And he makes a killer breakfast. You would know if any of you woke up before nine.”
“Does Thor know you’re putting the moves on his queen?”
“Shut up, Tony.”
The party was surprisingly small, by Tony Stark standards. Pepper had only invited a few people apart from SHIELD personnel and Thor’s friends. Natasha had volunteered to bartend and Tony was well on his way to getting properly shit faced. A true revelry to celebrate the end the battle they had only a few days before.
Loki had sent Thor out before him, dressed to the nines in a navy-blue Midgardian suit and hair in his usual braids. Loki had woven tiny white flowers in the braids as well, giving his husband an ethereal look. Thor had been so pleased with the overall look, he had spent ten minutes between Loki’s legs saying thank you and ruining the hard work taken to fix his hair.
He left with a wolfish grin, with a plea for Loki to come quickly.
“I would show you off to every person there, with great pride and happiness.”
“Get out and let me dress, you oaf.”
He chose a suit similar to Thor’s but in a deep forest green, and forewent the jacket for a vest. The suit jacket accentuated Thor’s broad shoulders, and the vest would bring attention to Loki’s narrow waist. The quickly wove flowers into a braid that looked like a crown, and let the rest of his hair tumble freely. When Thor got drunk, he enjoyed playing with Loki’s hair and Thor had planned to get very drunk that night. Loki took one last look in the mirror and nodded; it would do for the night.
When he got out of the elevator, he could easily spot the Avengers spread across the room. Tony was sipping something from a tumbler and speaking to an African-American gentleman; Steve, Clint and Bruce were having a spirited conversation on a sofa where Pepper was watching them and eating chips; Natasha was at the bar, clearly enjoying people watching.
And Thor, Thor was sitting with the Midgardians that Loki had seen only through the Bifrost and his jealousy fueled dreams. One of them, Dr. Jane Foster was touching his hair with something akin to wonder in her eyes. Loki tamped down the urge to smack her hand away. It wasn’t her fault that his husband was so ridiculously good that even unwittingly, everyone was drawn to him.
Loki moved through the crowd, grabbing a flute of champagne on his way to Thor. There’s a frisson of satisfaction that goes down his spine at the dark, hungry look Thor gave him as soon as he noticed.
“Loki,” he said, voice thick and gravelly.
“Won’t you introduce us, darling?”
Thor grinned and grabbed his wrist, gently maneuvering him to sit on Thor’s lap. Loki laughed as his husband immediately buried his face in his unbound hair, and took a deep breath.
“Thor, you are being terribly rude.”
“Forgive me, I am busy appreciating the beauty of my beloved.”
Loki observed the faint look of disappointment and shock on Dr. Foster’s face, and couldn’t help but feel sorry for her briefly. Thor had never been meant for her, but he could not blame her for wanting.
“Lady Darcy, Lady Jane,” said Thor. “Please allow me to introduce you to Prince Loki of Jötunheimr, seiðmaðr, warrior and my husband.”
“Husband?”
“Woah, you never mentioned a husband big guy.”
“Ah yes, we were only betrothed at that time. And I could not speak of him because I missed him so, and any failure on my part would have led to our separation.”
“Wait,” said Dr. Foster. “If you hadn’t gotten your hammer back that time, your marriage would have been broken off?”
Loki hummed.
“Not quite, sorry to disappoint you. But it would have made things a little difficult, certainly. If Thor would have failed on Midgard, I would have asked to be disowned and allowed to join him. If they refused me, I would have done so anyway.”
There was a brief silence at his words, and Thor’s grip on his waist got tighter. Loki offered them a smile.
“There is very little that can keep me away from my husband, Dr. Foster, especially after spending centuries together. I hope you too someday find a love that is as all encompassing and fulfilling as ours.”
Dr. Foster gave him a wane smile at that and knocked their glasses together.
“I hope you’re right. Congratulations on the Thor.”
Loki finally laughed, the last knot of fear unravelling at her words. She had been kind, despite her disappointment. And Loki had no reason to be cruel. He cupped Thor’s beaming face and kissed his nose.
“Congratulations on the Thor, indeed.”