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Chapter Text

“Welcome to Asgard, Prince Loki."

Loki inclined his head the way he’d been taught, and tried to ignore the woziness he felt from his first time traveling on the bifrost.

“Thank you, Lord Heimdall." He had never met Heimdall before, but he had heard stories of Asgard’s famous gatekeeper, and it would be well to be on good terms with him.

There were three men standing beside the gatekeeper. One was older and larger, one dark haired with a grim expression and one was fair and good looking. This, he assumed, must be his husband to be, although he looked very different from his description. Loki had been told that Thor was well built and muscular, a golden god in very truth, whereas this man was lean. Still, people often exaggerated the finer qualities of princes.

Loki swallowed and stepped forward nervously. He must be sure to make a good impression, for he would be spending the rest of his life with this man. He bowed low. "Prince Thor."

The large man let out a sudden guffaw and Loki straightened, confused. Surely, the larger man could not be Thor? It was certainly not the other man, for everyone knew the prince was fair in coloring.

The blond man suppressed a grin and looked slightly embarrassed. "I am sorry, Prince Loki. My name is Fandral. This," he gestured to the larger man, "is Volstagg and this," he indicated the other man, "is Hogun. We are the Warriors Three!"

Loki stepped back and tried to adopt a defensive position. Warriors! Was this a trap? Did they mean to attack him? And if so, for what purpose? If they thought to ransom him back to Jotunheim, they had vastly overestimated his worth.

Fandral stepped forward, his hands raised to show he meant no harm. "Peace! We mean you no harm. It is just that Thor was unable to come and meet you, so he sent us to escort you to the palace."

"He did not come?" Loki's eyes widened in shock. This was the height of rudeness, and the Warrior's Three looked perfectly aware of that as they avoided his eyes. Loki took a breath. There was no reason to jump to conclusions and assume an insult where none was intended. Perhaps there had been some kind of emergency that required the attention of the crown prince. It would be better to have all of the facts before he said anything further. "Very well. Is the palace far?"

Fandral looked pleased by his acquiescence. "Not far at all. We have a horse for you - I assume you can ride?"

Loki stared at him. "No," he said, trying to bite down his irritation, "we don't have horses in Jotunheim."

The three men looked at him in surprise. "What do you have instead?"

“Mammoths… frost beasts." He had never actually seen anyone riding a frost beast, but no-one needed to know that. He also didn't feel the need to mention that he had never ridden anything himself - he was a runt, and far too small to ride anything but one of the smallest dire wolves or ice hounds. Even if he had the opportunity, it would not be considered appropriate for a son of the king to ride like a child on the back of a domestic beast.

Fandral smiled winningly. "I am sure you will soon learn. In the meantime, you can share my mount and ride to the palace with me!"

Loki frowned. "Would that not be unseemly?" It had been heavily impressed upon him that he must not forget he was representing the royal family of Jotunheim.

Fandral shot an amused look at Volstagg, who gave a grin and a small shrug. "I can assure you, there would be no impropriety."

Loki considered for a minute, but since there were no other options… "Very well."

Fandral climbed up on the horse and held out a hand, pulling Loki up behind him. "Just hold onto my waist and we'll soon be there!"

"Hold… what?" Surely, he could not have heard correctly!

"Here!" Fandral reached out and pulled Loki's hands until they were round his waist. Loki tried not to pull back, even though the contact felt too familiar and intimate.

It was quiet as they rode through the streets. The people that saw them stared, watching them silently. A Jotun riding through the streets of Asgard was not a familiar sight.

At the gates of Valaskjalf they dismounted, Volstagg helping Loki from the horse by grasping him around the waist and dispositing him on the ground. Loki tried to suppress a shudder. He supposed he should get used to it, but he didn't like being handled so freely. He wasn't used to being touched.

He brushed himself off and stood apart from the others as they walked towards the palace. As they walked, they crossed the path of two people fighting with swords.

Fandral quickly put a hand in front of Loki, halting his progress as the two came perilously close to where he was standing. “Thor!"

The larger of the two fighters stopped and turned towards them. "Fandral!"

Loki stared at the swordsman in shock.

"What are you doing here?" Fandral asked. "I thought you were going to be in the training grounds!"

Thor grinned and signed to his partner. “Sif and I found the grounds too confining, we needed more room for our sparring!"

A dark-haired woman came up beside him and scowled at Loki. Loki resisted the urge to shrink back from the looks the two of them were giving him.

“So this is my bride-to-be is it?" Thor asked coldly.

Fandral put a hand on Loki's back and gently pushed him forward. “Thor, this is Prince Loki of Jotunheim."

Thor looked the Jotun up and down as if he were an animal for sale in the marketplace.

Loki couldn't help the widening of his eyes and the flush of his cheeks as he looked Thor over as thoroughly as Thor had examined him. Thor was everything he imagined an Asgardian god to be - tall, golden, muscular and handsome. He was perfect. It was no great surprise that he wasn't exactly thrilled to be marrying Loki, but Loki had hoped that Thor’s agreement meant that he was prepared to accept it. Unfortunately, it didn't seem as though that was the case.

He bowed low. "Prince Thor, it is an honor to meet you."

Thor smiled meanly. "I know. I wish I could say the same, Jotun."

“Thor…" Volstagg chided.

Loki tried to keep his own temper in check, narrowing his eyes but saying nothing. So this was why Thor hadn't come to meet him when he arrived. He felt his anger rise, but managed to bite back an angry response. He was here to forge an alliance with Asgard and that's what he would do, whether Thor liked it or not.

Loki attempted a small sympathetic smile. "I trust that over time we will come to know each other better, and grow to like each other."

Thor shrugged rudely. “I suppose anything is possible. My parents will greet you tonight at a feast in your honor. I will come to your room and collect you when it is time.” He turned away, dismissing Loki. "Hogun, will you join us? Sif?"

Sif nodded and lifted her sword to continue sparring. The grim man took up a position beside her, his sword drawn.

Loki felt Fandral gently pull him aside. "Come, I shall take you to your room."

Loki allowed himself to be led away.

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The room he was taken to took his breath away. It was large and luxurious, with a window that spanned one side of the room from floor to ceiling, looking down on magnificent gardens. Volstagg threw open a door to show a connecting room that held a private pool for bathing. Loki tried to control his expression as he stared in wonder - he had never imagined such luxury existed, even in books.

He ran his fingers over the fabric on the bed and the curtains; everything was soft and delicate. He suddenly became aware that Fandral and Volstagg were watching him curiously.

"Is it very different from your rooms in the palace at Utgard?" Fandral asked.

Loki ran his fingers over the fine carved figures on the bed and nodded wordlessly. It wasn't necessary to tell them that in Utgard he had been little more than a prisoner, a shameful secret kept alive only because he might one day be needed for this very purpose.

"Well, we should leave you to rest and get ready for tonight. The feast will begin in two hours, so Thor will be here to escort you before then. We will see you there."

Volstagg walked to the door while Fandral bowed and followed him, leaving Loki alone.

Loki, free of constraints, looked around the room again. He realized that it must have had an enchanment placed upon it, for it was cool and comfortable. He opened a drawer and found that his luggage had already been unpacked. He wondered who had done it, and wished they hadn't. The Jotnar had no fine tailors and needed none; they were proud of their physique and wore very little clothing.

Loki had been raised to be ashamed of his body, considered by all to be grotesque and shameful. He had been given clothes to wear in Asgard that were the finest the Jotnar could supply, but compared to everything he had seen so far, they were coarse, shabby and hopelessly unappealing. He wore loose trousers and a tunic top, covered with a heavy robe - based, he had been told, on the Allfather’s own clothing - and designed to cover his shamefully slight figure. The robe was so voluminous and long that it almost felt like a dress.

The clothes were so uncomfortable that at the last minute, Loki had decided to bring the old shabby trousers and shirt that he had worn in his cell. He blushed to think of the palace servants unpacking his threadbare rags and judging him for them.

He pulled out the outfit he had been given for the welcoming feast. Compared to the clothes and fabrics he had seen so far, it wouldn't be as fine as those worn by the servants. Still, he needed to make the effort.

He thought about soaking in the pool, but his hair had been carefully cut and slicked back with oil before he left Jotunheim, and he had been warned against the risk of the humidity making it frizzy. He wasn't used to trying to make himself look attractive; no-one had ever seen him except for his jailors. When he was on his own, it wouldn't matter to him how he looked - he would either leave his hair loose and curly or braid it back. Very few of the Jotnar even knew how to style hair; most of them had their heads shaved after they were bloodied on their first hunt. It was an honor, a right of passage that Loki had never earned.

He changed into his best clothes and sat carefully on the straight-backed chair. As tempting as it was, he didn't want to lie on the large, plush bed in case he became too comfortable and fell asleep, and he didn't want to sit on the balcony where the heat might cause his cheeks to flush. He felt conspicuous enough without turning an even darker shade of blue.

The light faded away. He couldn't find any candles, so he used one of the spells he had taught himself and made a small light for the room. He wondered how much time had passed. Occasionally, he walked over to the mirror to check his appearance.

Eventually he heard a knock at his door. Before he could answer it, the door was pushed open. He stood in surprise.

It was Prince Thor. "Why are you sitting in the dark?"

"I'm not." He pointed to the dim light in the room, then he hesitated. He wasn't sure what people in Asgard thought about magic users, but it was probably best not to mention it until he knew.

"You may as well be. It's time to go, are you ready?"

Thor already seemed to be in a temper, so Loki decided not to mention that there were no candles in the room. Instead, he simply nodded and ran his hands over the rough fabric of his robe to smooth out any wrinkles.

Thor strode out of the room leaving Loki to follow. After a few minutes of walking, he slowed and narrowed his eyes at Loki.

"What in the nine realms are you wearing? You are being presented to the court and meeting the king and queen of Asgard! You did not feel that you should dress in your finest clothes?"

Loki reddened. He wasn't sure what to do - admit they were the best clothes he had, or bluff it out. He decided to try something more neutral. "I thought they would be appropriate."

Thor sniffed. "Well, it's too late now. Come on."

He walked briskly, never once slowing or looking back to see if Loki was following, until they reached a large doorway. Taking a deep breath, he flung open the door and walked in. Loki lengthened his stride to walk by his side. It would not look good for Jotunheim if Loki was seen hurrying behind him like a whipped dog.

The noise in the hall died down to nothing as the Asgardians watched a frost giant - the creature that would marry their beloved prince - walk through the feast hall as if he belonged there.

Loki kept his eyes focused on the king and queen. He had seen pictures of Odin, but they hadn't come close to capturing the sense of power that emanated from him. Frigga was beautiful and smiled at him kindly. She was well named as the Allmother. He had never known his mother, but she seemed to embody everything he thought a mother should be.

He knelt before them, his head bowed.

"Rise, Prince Loki. We welcome you to Asgard."

“Thank you, King Odin, Queen Frigga, the honor is all mine."

Odin gestured to a seat beside him. "Come, Prince Loki, I would like to know you better."

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Despite the fact that he was dressed like a Midgardian monk, Odin was surprised and impressed by Loki. Unlike his sire, he was soft-spoken and respectful, tactful and cautious. While they were talking, Odin set traps to see if he could trick Loki into an unguarded remark, but each time the foreign prince managed to answer the question with no impropriety.

Odin was pleased. A spouse like this would be a great help to his son, who was frequently tactless and often needed reigning in. When they were first married, he and Frigga had shared a similar dynamic, and he credited his desire for peace over war to her influence. And he thought the new prince might be naturally clever - not well educated, certainly - but everything he had been taught, he retained. Odin would have to arrange for a tutor for him; with a little training, he could be invaluable to Asgard. He wondered at Laufey's stupidity, throwing away such an asset.

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Loki was very aware that Odin was testing him, and did his best to answer every question to the best of his ability, but he couldn't help but notice the attitude of the other Asgardians.

Although Odin's cup and plate were constantly refilled, the servants seemed not to notice when Loki's were empty. At the beginning of the meal, a surly servant had served him with a piece of dry, over-cooked meat and some soggy vegetables, and they had ignored him ever since, despite Loki’s attempts to get their attention.

After a few bites, Loki abandoned the meat. It required far too much chewing, and he was trying to talk to Odin. He did his best to make the vegetables last as long as possible, but he was hungry. He had been too busy that morning to eat breakfast, and it seemed he had missed lunch, since he had not been offered anything when he arrived. Still, he didn't want to complain. It was his first day here and he didn't want to make enemies.

He was surprised by how much he already missed Jotunheim. He had lived in his small cell for his whole life, passing the days by reading and trying to teach himself to use his sedir. The use of magic was considered shameful on Jotunheim, condemned as Asgardian trickery; but since there was no-one there to witness it except for his jailers, it hadn't really mattered very much. They could hardly imprison him again!

He longed to be back there now, instead of sitting in this great hall where everyone despised him, especially his husband-to-be. But he had been the only possible choice for an alliance with Asgard, because of his size. He could almost laugh to think that the same deficiency that made him suddenly valuable to the Jotnar, was the same one that had kept him imprisoned and shunned for all those years.

He heard a laugh, mean and mocking and forced himself not to look. He felt their eyes upon him and the weight of their hatred and disgust, and he wished again that he could be back in his prison on Jotunheim.

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The king and queen stayed for only a short time after the dinner had ended. A few others left soon after - Loki was aware that no-one could leave the hall before the king - but most people remained.

Loki wondered what he was supposed to do. Thor ignored Loki and immediately went over to talk to his friends. Loki decided to follow him. The Warriors Three were the only people in the hall that he knew, and Fandral and Volstagg had at least been polite to him.

Hostile eyes stared at him as he went to stand beside his fiance.

Thor broke off in the middle of his story. "Did you want something?"

Loki swallowed. "I merely thought to join you."

Thor smiled meanly. “There is no need, I have all the company I desire. You may leave."

Loki felt his cheeks burn and Volstagg let out a sudden hoot of laughter. "Look, they go dark blue when they blush!"

The others joined in his laughter and Loki fled the hall. He ignored the hateful glares as he all but ran to his room and slammed the door against them.

Chapter Text

"Prince Loki!" Fandral called out. He tried to see where he had gone, but the crowd had swallowed him up too quickly. "Volstagg, you hurt his feelings!"

Volstagg looked slightly shamefaced. “That was not my intent! I thought it peculiar, that's all. I did not mean to upset the lad."

"Why are you so worried? Perhaps he will decide he dislikes it here and will choose to return home."

Fandral eyed his friend reprovingly. “Sif, I don't understand why you are so against him! And Thor, why are you determined to judge him so quickly? Have you even looked at him properly? He is comely, his manners are good and his voice pleasant. You might like him, if you give him a chance."

"I do not want to give him a chance. He is a frost giant, or have you forgotten?"

"But we are trying to put an end to all of that! The Jotnar have not bothered anyone for centuries."

"Because they no longer have the means or ability. They are little more than animals waiting for a chance to attack."

Fandral laughed. "Come now, Thor, you surely cannot believe that. Prince Loki is no animal!"

Thor quirked an eyebrow. "You seem very taken with him."

Fandral shrugged. "I won't deny that I find him to be an attractive creature."

Thor grinned wolfishly and slammed his hand against the table. “Then that is our answer! Fandral, if you could seduce him, then he would no longer be suitable. The laws of Asgard clearly state that I can only marry a virgin… You could save me from this!"

Fandral looked alarmed. “Thor, think of what you're saying! Surely, you cannot be serious!"

"But I am! This is the best solution by far. I have told my parents how objectionable I find this marriage and they will not listen. But if it was discovered that Loki was no longer pure, I would be free from this accursed marriage!"

"You would still have to make a political alliance. You are still the Crown Prince of Asgard," interjected Volstagg.

"But I would not have to ally myself with a Jotun beast! Who even knew that Laufey had a child that was a runt?"

"There have been rumors for years," answered Hogun.

"Of a deformed and corrupted child that he kept hidden," added Sif, darkly.

"YES!" Thor threw down his tankard. "I, too, have heard such tales. DEFORMED and CORRUPTED! And you would want me to ally myself to that?"

Fandral ran his fingers through his hair. He couldn't deny that he had heard the same stories. "Loki does not seem to possess any deformity that I can see."

“That you can SEE, no. But he is certainly well-covered for a Jotun. Every one I ever met was half-naked, and yet his body is completely concealed by those shapeless robes. I ask you, why?"

“There must be a reason he's been hidden away for all this time."

"YES! Sif, you are RIGHT!" Thor turned again to Fandral. "If you are my true friend, as you claim, you would do this for me."

Fandral considered. The others made some good points. He would not want his friend to be tied to life to a creature that was misshapen and disfigured. It would not be pleasant for himself to discover such a thing during a night of love-making, but it would be better than the lifetime Thor would be condemned to. It was a sacrifice he would make for his oldest and best friend. And perhaps Loki's deformity would be relatively minor. Fandral could not deny that he found him exotic and appealing.

Decision made, he nodded. "Very well. If - when you are sober - you still wish me to do this thing, then I will do it. For you and for Asgard."

"For Asgard!" his friends echoed, and they smashed their tankards together.

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Loki woke early the next day. It had been too hot to sleep, but the cool of the morning felt good. He rolled out of bed and decided to try the bathing pool that beckoned so delightfully. The temperature was perfect and he blissfully floated in the water.

He wished he could stay in there and soak for hours, but he would have to get ready for breakfast and whatever he was going to have to do that day. No-one had told him what was planned for him, but he didn't want to keep anyone waiting.

He hurriedly dressed and fixed his hair, and then sat down to wait.

And wait.

And wait.

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Odin and Frigga sat together at the breakfast table. "No sign of the young ones this morning?"

Frigga smiled indulgently. "I heard Thor didn't get to his room until the early hours, so I imagine they're both still sleeping. I told him he could be released from his duties for the next few days so that he could get to know Prince Loki better, so I would be surprised if we see much of them."

"Is he starting to accept the marriage?"

Frigga frowned slightly. "I know he was still angry about it before Loki arrived, but perhaps his feelings have changed after meeting him. The prince is certainly attractive. If Thor could just get past the fact that he’s Jotun, I think he would be very pleased with him. I didn't get a chance to speak to him last night - what did you think of him?"

Odin nodded. "I was impressed with him. From what I could tell, he's cautious, clever and thoughtful. I think he will be a perfect match for Thor. Perhaps he will be able to help Thor combat some of his more… reckless tendencies."

Frigga rolled her eyes. "Oh, wouldn't that be wonderful! We can't keep sending him to Midgard, poor Mr Fury will be gray before his time!"

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Thor lay in bed and thought about what his mother had said the night before. Quickly making his decision, he threw some things into a bag and hurried to the training yard. He found his friends almost immediately. "Friends! Gather your things, we are going on a hunt!"

Fandral sighed dramatically. "Now? My head hasn't recovered from last night!"

"Yes, now! Hurry! I will go on ahead and meet you at the waterfall!" He hurried away in the direction of the stables.

"Wonderful. Now we have to be one on one with the frost giant," grumbled Sif.

"At least he has decided to get to know him better. I agree with Fandral, I think he may like him if he just gives him a chance," Volstagg opined.

Sif glared at him. Although she personally had no romantic interest in Thor, she would never approve of a spouse he didn’t want.

She and Thor had tried dating years ago, both aware of how easy and convenient it would be if they fell in love. Sif - although not royal - was at least noble enough to be a suitable match for the prince. Although the council would prefer a foreign bride and an alliance with another realm, they would not have objected to a love match with a well born Asgardian of Thor’s choosing. But it was not to be.

The sex had been… well, just okay. In fact, they still occasionally slept with each other to relieve stress when no-one else was available, but that was all it was. There was no deeper love or emotional connection, beyond their friendship. In fact, they irritated each other. Thor wanted a spouse that would look up to him and worship him as the god he was - which Sif never would - and Sif wanted the kind of love and passion that people told tales about, not the shallow, superficial connection that Thor seemed to prefer. They were a perfect example of people meant to be friends rather than lovers.

Still, their friendship survived the experiment, and Sif felt fiercely protective of Thor. If Thor said he didn’t want to marry the frost giant, then he would have her complete support.

----------

It took them most of the morning to prepare for their trip. Sif had to tell her parents that she would be gone for a few days, and Volstagg had to tell his wife and say farewell to his children. They left the palace almost three and a half hours later.

The waterfall was one of their favorite places to hunt and camp. The scenery was beautiful, and the hunting easy. If it hadn't been so far from the palace, Fandral would have brought all his romantic partners to the spot. As it was, he and Thor had enjoyed a few dalliances by the lake, and he knew that Volstagg brought his wife there as well.

They were surprised to see only Thor when they arrived.

"Friends, welcome!"

“Thor! Where is Loki? Tell me you did not let him go into the forest alone?"

Thor's face clouded over. "As to where Loki is, I neither know or care. I have not seen him since yesterday."

Sif's mouth fell open. “Surely you did not just leave him at the palace?"

"I did. You would not wish me to bring him with us and ruin our fun?"

His friends exchanged horrified glances. Whatever their feelings about Thor’s future spouse, they did not want to be caught in the middle of a battle between Thor and his parents.

"No, but the king and queen…" ventured Sif.

“My parents are the ones that wanted him here. They can entertain him."

Volstagg protested, "But they will not be happy…"

“Then they will see what that feels like," said Thor.

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By the time the sun had reached its highest point, Loki knew that no-one was coming for him. He wondered what he should do. He was a Jotun in Asgard, and he didn't much like the idea of wandering around unchaperoned. On the other hand, he was hungry. He had barely eaten yesterday, and had nothing at all today.

He decided to risk going to the feast hall. Perhaps that was what they were expecting him to do anyway... Perhaps they were annoyed that he hadn't joined them there for breakfast? Mind made up, he double-checked his appearance to make sure that he covered as much blue skin as possible, and headed for the feast hall.

The raucous shouts of the Asgardians confirmed that there were certainly people eating inside. He peered in through the open door. The royal table was empty. Had they already eaten and left, or did they eat later?

He bit his lip, considering. Would it be presumptuous if he sat alone at the royal table? Or would it be considered insulting, since - until his marriage, at least - he was simply a guest, and not a part of the royal family?

"Well, look at this! Looks like our lunch has come to find us!"

Loki whirled around to see a large, rough-looking man walking towards him. He felt a sudden stab of fear. He had heard stories of Asgardian soldiers eating the Jotnar children they killed, but he had never believed them. Perhaps he had been wrong…

"Best leave him alone," someone shouted, “That's Thor's bride-to-be!"

Loki's cheeks flamed as the hall erupted with laughter. But his embarrassment turned to fear when the rough man grabbed his chin and turned his face towards his own.

"Hmm… maybe he sent him here to get him broken in! Is that it, little icicle? Does he want to make sure you won't freeze his dick off?"

Loki pulled away and fled, running as fast as he could from the cruel laughter behind him.

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Despite the enchantment that was cooling his rooms, maintaining his Jotun form in the Asgardian heat was like running a triathlon every day. Because of the amount of energy he was burning, by the next morning he was desperately hungry.

He heard footsteps outside his door and pulled it open to find a servant girl scurrying past. He hurried to catch her. "Excuse me!"

She whimpered and backed up against the wall, a terrified look on her face.

"Please," he held up his hands, "I'm not going to hurt you, I just want…"

She didn't stay to hear the rest of the sentence. She shrieked and ran down the corridor.

Loki wanted to cry. He hated being considered a freak in Jotunheim, but it was better than everyone thinking he was little more than a beast. He wished he could be more like Thor and openly declare how much he wanted to go home. But Loki had a strong sense of duty, and even though his life in Jotunheim hadn't been happy, he knew how much everyone there suffered. One of his jailers, Hafli, would talk to him during his shift, and tell him of the poverty and hardships of their people. It was worth the sacrifice of Loki's already miserable life if it could bring prosperity to his homeland.

He tried to consider what he could do.

As part of the marriage contract, he had sworn an oath not to assume an Aesir appearance - male or female - until after he was married. Surprisingly, both Laufey and Odin had been in agreement about that. Although it was clear that Loki would have to change eventually just to survive on Asgard - the heat would make it impossible for him to remain as he was - Laufey wanted Loki's Jotun form to be clearly seen and acknowledged by everyone before the wedding. Odin, for his part, wanted Loki to transform immediately after the ceremony, becoming Aesir in a symbolic act. Loki couldn't help but think that, although everyone thought of his magical abilities as something base and disgusting, they were certainly happy enough to benefit from them.

But that did leave the problem of what to do.

He was hated by everyone in Valaskjalf, but he needed to eat. There was no way he could disguise himself within the feasting hall - there were be far too many eyes on him already - but what if he covered himself up as best he could and tried to find food on the streets outside?

Perhaps, if he wore his old cloak and covered his face with a heavy hood and scarf, the common people would think he was simply another vagrant? He had seen such people during his ride to the palace. His beggerly appearance might actually work to his advantage, since he had no money and precious few items that he could try to barter with. In fact, he couldn’t imagine any Asgardian wanting anything he might possess.

He remembered seeing Volstagg throw alms to some of them, and wondered how he would feel if such a thing happened to him. Although it was true that he had nothing - and he desperately needed to eat - he knew he would be shamed to the ground if anyone found out that a prince of Jotunheim had begged in the streets for food.

He sighed as his stomach growled.

Decision made, he changed into his old clothes, wrapped a scarf around his face and threw on a cloak, pulling the hood down as far as possible. A pair of gloves completed his disguise. He was ridiculously hot, but at least he was thoroughly concealed. Only his eyes were uncovered and they were shadowed by his hood.

Nervously, he left his room. He kept his head down and walked briskly. He was sure that he would attract some attention - it was warm outside and he was wearing a heavy, hooded cloak - but hopefully, no-one would question him.

He managed to get out of the palace without incident. Once outside, he was torn between fear and elation at being free. It was the first time in his life that he'd ever been outside without supervision; it was a heady, if nerve-wracking feeling.

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Udr watched as the figure crept from the palace. They were clearly trying not to be seen. Her father always said that her curiosity would be the death of her, but she wanted to know who would be creeping around so furtively.

Quietly, she tiptoed towards the figure. When she was right next to them, she said loudly, "Good morning!"

The figure jumped. Her breath caught in her throat and she jumped back at the sight of red eyes and a flash of blue skin. No wonder they were trying not to be seen! She looked around and saw that she had attracted the attention of half a dozen people outside the palace. The Jotun - for it could only be a Jotun - looked terrified.

As well he might, she thought. While she felt guilty for attracting attention to him, he appearence had given her an idea… She hesitated for a moment while she considered the risks. The figure was no taller than an Aesir, so they were either a child or a runt, like the one that was going to marry Prince Thor. She supposed it made sense that Prince Loki’s entourage - she knew that all foreign visitors would have an entourage - would be as small in stature as he was. She hadn’t heard anything about Jotnar runts until Thor’s marriage had been announced, but perhaps they were common. But anyway, she was just as tall, and hard work had made her strong. If anything happened, she thought she would be able to defend herself against them.

Her mind made up, she said loudly, “Loptr, is the light bothering you? Do you have one of your headaches?"

Without waiting for a response, she pulled his hood down further, threw an arm around his waist and pulled him away. Confused and terrified, Loki followed.

She led him to a run down building in a side alley. "In here, quick!" She checked behind them and locked the door. "I don't think anyone saw you. You can take your cloak off, by the way. It’s just us in here and you must be roasting with it on."

Loki hesitated for a moment before removing it. Since she had already seen him and knew he was a Jotun, there was little point in continuing the deception. Besides, she was right; he was almost ready to pass out from the heat.

He didn't know why she had brought him to this building, but if she was planning to alert others to his presence, she could have done that outside on the street.

Udr stared in fasication at the first Jotun she had ever seen, and reached out a hand. He - or was it they? It looked like a ‘he’ but what did she know? - tried to pull back, but she simply ran a finger across the back of his hand. "Huh! You're cold, but you didn't burn me."

“The Jotnar only burn people in self defense." He didn't tell her that he had never had that ability anyway.

"Huh! I didn't know that. We don't hear much about frost giants. Who are you? Are you here with the prince? And why are you so short? Are you a child or are you,” she stopped herself before she said ‘a runt’, “small, like Prince Loki?"

Loki wondered which of the questions to answer first. "I am full grown. I am short because I am a runt." He decided to leave out the words, ‘and considered to be deformed because of it’.

"Like the prince! They say that's why he can marry Prince Thor."

Since she hadn't actually asked a question, Loki decided not to respond.

"I felt bad for our prince at first - we all did, of course - but I had no idea frost giants could be so attractive. Is Prince Loki as pretty as you?"

Loki couldn't help but be surprised by the question. “Amongst my people, I am not considered to be attractive. Most people don't think much of Prince Loki's looks," he answered as honestly as he could.

"Oh!" She look disappointed for a moment and then brightened. "Well, I think you’re beautiful. As for the prince, perhaps it doesn't matter. From what I’ve heard, when Prince Thor has had a few drinks, he’d try his luck with a goat if it had lipstick on!"

Loki couldn't help his sudden laughter, although it died away quickly when he realized that - despite this girl’s opinion - he was even less attractive than a goat. Perhaps he should try wearing lipstick…

He was so distracted by the thought that he almost missed her next question.

“I’m sorry, but I know that you’re,” she blushed, but continued, determined, “intersex,” she blurted out quickly. She breathed out, as if the worst of the question was now over. “So how do I refer to you?”

Loki frowned. “I’m sorry, I don’t know what you mean?”

“Well,” she reddened even more, “are you a ‘he’ or a ‘she’ or…” she tapered off, nervously. She hadn’t meant to ask such a personal question, but she had wondered ever since the subject of Thor’s marriage had come up. Most people seemed to be referring to Thor’s future spouse as ‘it’, and that didn’t seem right at all.

Loki’s face cleared. “Oh, I see! I identify as male, so you would refer to me as ‘he’.” Her face was still bright red, and he felt bad for her. She hadn’t asked rudely, and was obviously only trying to learn. “Thank you for asking.”

She smiled again, relieved that he hadn’t taken offense. “So, why are you sneaking out of the palace?"

"I have my reasons. Why did you bring me here?"

She drew herself up. "I also have my reasons."

He drew back and eyed her warily.

"Oh, I'm just kidding. I do have an idea, but it's nothing sinister." She realized she should at least introduce herself first. "I'm Udr. What's your name?"

He hesitated; he certainly couldn't tell her he was Prince Loki. "You can call me Loptr."

She grinned. "Ah! I see, you're not meant to be sneaking out! It's alright, I won't tell anyone. It's just that, when I saw you, I had an idea. Once I realized that you're a frost giant -"

"Jotun," corrected Loki.

"I'm sorry?"

"I am a Jotun. Frost giant is a derogatory term."

"Oh! Sorry. So… okay. Once I saw what you were, I wondered if you could help me with something. After all, I did sort of help you out there."

Loki stiffened. She had helped him - after almost exposing him. He wondered how high a price she would charge for her help. "What do you want?"

"You can make ice, right?"

"Yes," he answered cautiously.

“My sisters and I go out and catch fish and sell them in the market. The older fishermen, they have established clients, and even though our fish are just as good, no-one comes to our stall."

Loki frowned. He had no idea why she was telling him all of that.

"I was thinking that if you could freeze a thick slab of ice in our cart, the fish would stay fresher, longer. It would give us just the edge we need!"

"You don't have ice in Asgard?"

“We do, of course, but my family couldn’t afford to buy any. Certainly not as much as we’d need. And it would melt so quickly! I’ve heard that fro… Jotnar ice takes a long time to melt."

Loki considered for a moment. It wasn't an unreasonable request and it would be easy to do. He looked around. "What is this building?"

“This? Oh, this used to be the fishmonger's store that my parents ran. We own the building and live upstairs, but people don’t really come by here since my father had to stop working. Now we have to use the handcart and take the fish to the market.” She grimaced. “They don’t think my sisters and I can run the business like he did. I’d love to prove them wrong!"

Loki wandered around the room. There was a large counter running from one side to the other where he assumed they once displayed their fish. In front, he saw a rickety handcart with a few fish in it; they were already starting to smell ripe. Despite that, his stomach rumbled. "I can make ice on the cart, but it will make it much heavier and I'm not sure it will take the weight."

She looked downcast. "I know it's not in the best condition, but it's all we can afford."

He walked back to the counter. It had been kept spotlessly clean and was sturdily built. He put out a hand and ice began to flow from his fingers, running from one end to the other. He heard her gasp, but didn't stop until it ran the length of the counter and was two foot thick in depth.

Udr clapped her hands. "Oh, Norns! That's amazing!"

Loki smiled shyly. No-one had ever praised him before. “You're welcome. I don’t know how hot it gets here but it should last for at least few months."

"Well, this will certainly bring them to the store now! We'll be the talk of the town! Thank you!"

He blushed, and with the darker blue contouring his cheeks, she thought he looked even more handsome. "I can even freeze some of the fish for you, if you’d like."

She clapped her hands. “That would be wonderful!" She thought of something and added, “Wait, that doesn’t mean they won’t defrost, does it?”

Loki grinned. “No, I’ll do it so that you can defrost them by putting them in water. But I’d like something in return."

He looked uncomfortable and she wondered what he was going to ask for. She didn't have much money, and he didn't seem like the type to ask for intimacies, but you could never tell. Certainly, she found him attractive, but she wasn’t that kind of girl.

She straightened up and her face became harder. "What?" she demanded.

"I’d like some fish as payment."

She stared at him in surprise. "Fish? How much fish?"

He considered; he knew she probably couldn't spare much, but he was so hungry… “Three or four whenever I come down to freeze them?"

She ran a swift mental calculation. Three or four didn't sound like much, but it could add up. On the other hand, if the fish were frozen, they could bring back more of their catch without worrying about them spoiling. And if they became as popular as she thought they would, they might not even notice the expense.

Still, she was curious. "Can't you get fish in the palace?"

Loki shrugged. "I would like to get them from you."

Perhaps he would bring them back to the palace and the prince would eat some! A picture formed in her head of a sign outside their shop reading ‘Fishmongers to the Royal Family’. She grinned and held out a hand; he stared at it, bemused. Laughing, she grabbed his hand in hers and pumped it. "Deal," she said.

Chapter Text

"We should like to greet Prince Loki of Jotunheim, and offer our best wishes for his forthcoming marriage. We have heard almost nothing of him and wish to know him better."

Queen Frigga smiled at the ambassadors from Alfheim and Vanaheim. "I, too, am eager to know my future son, but alas! He and Thor left for a hunt and have not yet returned. In fact, I have a book that I wish to give him and, if you don’t mind, since we pass his room on the way to your own, we will stop there briefly so he may have it on his return."

"Certainly, your majesty."

They chatted happily as they walked. The queen was always eager to hear news from her home, and she had many good friends in Alfheim that she wished to know about.

At last they reached the wing of the palace reserved for guests.

"Here is Prince Loki's room. If you will excuse me, I shall be but a moment."

The ambassadors smiled as she pushed open the door without knocking. Frigga froze in shock at the sight of Prince Loki jumping up in surprise; she had clearly caught him as he was eating.

The prince recovered first. "Your majesty," he said as he bowed.

"Prince Loki, I must apologize for bursting in on you so rudely. I did not know that you had returned."

Loki froze. “Returned?" Did she know of his escape from the palace?

"From your hunt with Thor. I have not yet seen my son - when did you get back?"

Loki looked confused. "I am sorry, your majesty, I am not sure what you mean."

Now it was Frigga's turn to look confused. “Thor took you on a hunt, did he not?"

"No, your majesty."

"But then - where have you been?"

Loki looked more bewildered than ever. "Here, your majesty."

"But… where is Thor?"

Loki couldn't help a trace of annoyance as he answered. "I do not know."

Frigga stared at him blankly. She knew for a fact that Thor had left for a hunt and taken his friends with him, and that had been more than two weeks ago. Surely he wouldn't have… surely he would not have dared…

She felt her mouth go dry. "When did you last see him?"

“The night of the feast, your majesty."

“The feast?" She prayed that she had misunderstood. Please, she prayed to the Norns, let me be wrong…

Loki was staring at her as if she was an idiot. “The feast you gave to welcome me when I arrived."

She opened her mouth and then closed it again. She suddenly realized that the ambassadors were standing behind her, witnesses to this horrible revelation. She turned to them, her smile false and fixed. “My apologies. Prince Loki, allow me to introduce Gullveig, Ambassador to Vanaheim, and Milkmane, Ambassador to Alfheim."

Loki bowed. "Ambassador Gullveig, Ambassador Milkmane, it is a pleasure to meet you."

Milkman's smile was wide. “The pleasure is all ours, I assure you."

Gullveig nodded in response, but gestured to the table. "But we interrupt your meal!"

“I had just finished," lied Loki, a little irritated. He was still hungry, but it would be impolite to continue to eat in their presence. "If you will excuse me for just a moment?" He picked up the plate Udr had given him and paused, uncertain where to put it. The smell would linger if he left it in the room, but it would surely look odd if he put it in the bathroom or on the balcony…

Frigga held out a hand. "Allow me."

Reluctantly, Loki handed the plate to her and she looked at it, puzzled, before placing it on a small table outside the door. The plate was clearly of Asgardian make, but not one of theirs.

Loki turned back to his guests. “May I offer you a seat?"

Frigga couldn't fault his manners, but wished that she could have a moment to speak with him in private and get to the bottom of what had happened. Had he refused the invitation to hunt with Thor? And if so, why had Thor not canceled the trip and planned something more to his fiance's liking?

Contrary to Frigga's hopes, the two ambassadors sat down happily. Milkmane was always friendly and open, and she was sure that he simply wished to talk with the young prince; but Gullveig, though a friend and relative, loved gossip. Frigga was sure that he wished to learn more about why the Crown Prince of Asgard had gone hunting and left his future spouse sitting alone in his room.

Once they were seated, Loki bit his lip, aware of what was expected of him as a host, but knowing there was very little he could do about it. "I would offer you some refreshment, but I am afraid I have nothing but water."

"A glass of water would be extremely welcome, Prince Loki. Thank you!"

Gullveig nodded in agreement, but shot a look towards the queen to see what she thought of the situation.

Frigga smiled tightly. "Nonsense, I shall send for some wine!" She walked over to the corner of the room and pulled a cord Loki had wondered about before. He had pulled it himself experimentally, but nothing had happened and he’d assumed it was there as some sort of decoration.

After a few minutes of waiting, Loki decided to pour some water for them anyway. Frigga glanced towards the door. She wondered what on earth could be taking the servants so long...

Gullveig took a sip of his water - it had to be said, it was deliciously cold - and asked, “So, what do you think of Asgard so far?"

Loki tried to think of a tactful answer. “It is certainly one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen."

"Indeed! And what do you like best so far? The forests? Or is it the lakes and waterfalls?"

From the corner of his eye, Loki saw Frigga tense. He wished he could tell her not to worry. While he could have easily complained about his treatment, he would not risk his position by embarrassing her in front of a foreign ambassador.

"You forget how short a time I have been here. I’ve yet to see all of the wonders you describe."

"Of course, forgive me. I simply assumed that Prince Thor would be eager to show off the beauty of Asgard."

Loki could sense the trap - the ambassador wanted him to admit that he had been confined to his room while his future spouse ignored him. He sighed, and watched as Gullveig's eyes gleamed. "Alas, I fear my husband-to-be is determined to honor me with a trophy worthy of the Crown Prince. Even now, I fear he is tracking a great beast, in the hopes of presenting me with its head for my wall!"

Milkmane laughed, Frigga looked relieved and Gullveig looked disappointed by his diplomatic response.

Unfortunately, when the next pitfall appeared, it happened so innocently that Loki missed it.

Milkmane asked for more water - “So refreshing!" - when Loki's long sleeves fell back to reveal his hands.

“That looks nasty, Prince Loki. May I ask what ails you?"

Loki looked down. His hands were a nasty shade of dark blue and purple, and slightly swollen. "I am afraid I seem to have a reaction to the cleaning fluids they use here."

“The soap?"

Loki shook his head and scratched a little at his palm. "No, the liquid they use for cleaning. I use it to clean my sink after preparing my lunch, and my hands begin to burn almost immediately."

Loki seemed unaware that he had blundered, but the sudden widening of Gullveig's eyes showed Frigga that he had not missed the implication - the Prince of Jotunheim, a guest in Asgard and the intended of Prince Thor, had been preparing his own food and cleaning his own room.

Frigga wished she could bury her face in her hands.

Gullveig's smile was wolfish. "I am sure the kitchens would be happy to prepare your fish the way you like it, is that not so, cousin?"

Frigga gritted her teeth. "Of course. The prince has only to direct them and they will do as he commands."

Loki said nothing, sensing danger but unsure how to avoid it.

Gullveig was now thoroughly enjoying himself. "I confess, I find myself ready for that wine now. Will it be much longer, do you suppose?"

"Perhaps they missed the bell." Frigga pulled the cord again and they fell silent as they waited.

Five minutes passed, and then ten. They made desultory conversation to pass the time.

After fifteen minutes, Milkmane tilted his head. "I think I hear someone!" No-one doubted the elf's superior senses. Then Milkmane's face fell. "Oh! I think they walk past."

Gullveig decided to test a theory. "Perhaps, as the youngest amongst us and the one closest to the door, Prince Loki would not mind going to the door and hailing them?"

"Of course." Loki said, hesitantly. He didn’t see how he could refuse, but he had a horrible feeling he knew what kind of reception his request would receive. Nervously, he opened the door and saw a servant at the end of the hall. "Hello," he called, "Excuse me!"

The servant glared at him, disgust on his face. "Wish we could excuse you, monster! Wish we could excuse you all the way back to the filth you come from!" The servant's voice carried clearly and Frigga felt her face flame.

She pushed back her chair and hurried to the door, but the servant was already gone. Loki felt sick.

Milkmane - for once aware of the tension in the room - pushed back his chair. "You know, I think it's time we were going, don't you, old friend?"

Gullveig stood in agreement. He had wanted to provoke Frigga a little, but he never intended to hurt the young prince. He held out his hand to the Jotun. "Prince Loki, it was a pleasure to meet you. I hope that one day soon we will have the pleasure of entertaining you in Vanaheim."

"But only after you have visited us in Alfheim!" interjected Milkmane. “This has been an enjoyable interlude. I hope we may meet again soon."

Loki was surprised to realize that they were both completely sincere. He gaped wordlessly after them as Frigga led them away. At the door, she turned and said, “May I return after showing the ambassadors to their rooms?"

"Of course, your majesty." Loki swallowed. He sensed that she was angry about the way the conversation had gone. He felt a surge of annoyance. How was he supposed to know what he should say? She was the one that had burst into his room with two guests he hadn't been prepared to meet.

He smoothed out his robes and checked his hair, and then sat and waited nervously. He knew what he had to do. It was his responsibility to fit in, and he needed to make concessions if he was going to make it work.

The queen returned a little later, and Loki bowed low as she entered. "I am sorry, your majesty."

Frigga stared at him, her expression bewildered. "For…?"

"For… um…" Honestly, he wasn't sure what he had done to upset the queen. He decided to throw himself on her mercy. "For distressing you. I'm not sure what I did wrong, but if you tell me, I will be sure to never repeat the error."

For some reason, she gave a sad smile. "You did nothing wrong. Please, sit down."

They sat opposite each other and she reached for his hand. “This looks dreadful, is it very painful?"

"It is a little uncomfortable."

“Ambassador Milkmane gave me a salve for you. He said it would clear it up within a few hours." She handed him a small tub and motioned for him to start applying it. "It would seem you have already charmed him!"

Loki narrowed his eyes to see if she was mocking him, but she didn't seem to be.

"Gullveig also liked you. I hope you did not mind his teasing. He and I are cousins, and he lives to bait me!"

Loki was still unsure if she was being honest; no-one had ever been charmed by him. Disgusted, repulsed and annoyed, yes… charmed, no. "I liked them both. Ambassador Milkmane had some interesting stories."

"Yes, as a magic user yourself, you would like his tales. How advanced are you in your studies?"

Loki looked embarrassed. "I'm afraid I have been teaching myself. I cannot do much."

Frigga reached again for his hands. “May I see?"

He nodded hesitantly, self conscious about the ugliness of his hands and the greasiness of the salve. He was unsure about what she was doing, but also unwilling to refuse the queen. They sat, his hands in hers, her eyes closed.

After a few minutes she opened her eyes, startled. "But you have so much sedir! How is it that you are untrained?"

"Jotunheim does not feel it is a respectable skill."

"Ah! We have many here who share the same opinion, especially when the magic user is male. You identify primarily as male?”

Loki nodded and the queen continued, “It’s ridiculous really, when you consider that their own king keeps his throne with a combination of strength and sedir. We will find you a tutor. Until then, if you wish, I could try to teach you."

His eyes lit up. "Your majesty!"

She held up a hand in laughter. “You must call me Frigga, until you call me mother."

Loki tried to hide his emotion. He had dreamed of having a mother; it seemed incredible that she would want to be his.

She swallowed a lump in her throat when she saw his feelings so close to the surface. They knew so little about this boy. Indeed, no-one had even known of his existence until Laufey needed a bargaining chip. "How old were you when your mother died?"

Loki swallowed. “She died giving birth to me."

She tried to recall when they had heard of the death of Faubarti. "Oh! Was that not in the last days of the war?"

He nodded. Her heart went out to him again; she had not realized he was so young.

"I see. Your father said you and Thor were of an age, but in fact, you are a few years younger than my son." She noticed the boy looking worried again, and rushed to reassure him. "It is not a bad thing. I can see you have wisdom beyond your years. Thor can be impulsive and not consider all the outcomes; you will be able to help him chart his best course."

"I hope so, your majesty."

"What did I tell you?" she asked, smiling.

He gave an answering smile. "Frigga."

"Good! Now how are your hands?"

"Better, thank you. I must thank Ambassador Milkmane."

"I am sure he was happy to help."

Frigga looked at him curiously. "Loki, why did you not ask the servants to clean your room?"

Loki stared at her blankly. “I'm sorry, I didn't know I should. When I saw the cleaning supplies, I thought it meant I should clean it myself."

She realized that it was entirely possible that Loki would not know what to expect. Until this peace treaty was ratified by the marriage, no foreign dignitary would dare defy the Allfather by visiting Jotunheim. How would any of them know what was due to a noble guest?

She was still curious, though. "Did none of them ever offer to clean when they came in to make up your room or light the lamps?"

Loki looked blank.

“They have been making up your room?"

Loki shook his head. "I'm sorry, I don't know what you mean."

She took a breath. "Have the servants been coming in to straighten your bed and tidy your room?"

Loki wasn't sure what to say; he didn't want to get the servants into trouble, he was hated enough already. It didn't matter though, she could read the answer on his face.

"Have they been lighting the lamps at night?"

He bit his lip and her eyes widened in disbelief. "What have you been doing when it gets dark?"

Nervously, he conjured his small ball of light.

She tried to smile. “That’s very good for a beginner, but hardly enough to see by."

Loki shrugged. "I usually just go to bed when it starts to get dark." He didn't want to tell her that after a long, boring day spent sitting in the room by himself - without even his jailers to talk to - he was very happy to go to bed early.

She sighed. "And I take it they don't answer your bell?" She gestured to the cord.

He grinned suddenly. "I didn't even know it was a bell."

She was pleased that he could laugh about it, but privately she was horrified. "Loki, I know you haven't been eating at the feast hall - someone would have told me if they’d seen you there - and you haven't come to join us in our private dining room. Tell me at least that they’ve been bringing you food!”

Loki began to nervously scratch at his palm.

She felt sick. “How have you been getting food?"

"I went outside," Loki admitted. He didn't want to talk about his single attempt to eat in the feasting hall. "And I met a nice woman who sells fish at the market."

Frigga frowned; she had heard nothing about a Jotun wandering through the marketplace, and surely it would be dangerous for him to venture out unaccompanied?

Anxious to reassure her, he clarified, "I didn't switch my form, I promised I wouldn't. I covered my face and wore a heavy cloak."

"I see." Frigga felt there was more to the story, but she didn't want to push. She decided to try another subject. "Did Thor really say he wished to present you with a trophy from his hunt?"

Loki looked down, nervous about being caught out in a lie. "No."

"And did he tell you he was leaving?"

"No, your… No."

She took a deep breath. "What have you been doing during his absence?"

Loki tried to think of something to say. He didn't want to sound as though he was complaining. "I’ve been enjoying the bathing pool - I could spend hours in there! And I brought my books from home." He gestured to a small pile of books stacked on the floor.

For two weeks he had been sitting on his own in his room, barely eating and entertaining himself by reading books he had read before, bathing and sleeping. She tried to focus on the problem at hand. "You like to read?"

"Yes, very much."

"Have you visited the library?"

Loki's eyes lit up. “There's a library?"

“Thor didn't show you around the palace?" Of course he didn't. Frigga loved her son, but at that moment she could have cheerfully slapped him. "Well, you must allow me to show you around! Are you free now?"

Loki could have laughed; of course he was free. What else did she imagine he might be doing?

----------

Frigga enjoyed her time with Loki. She loved her husband and son, but neither of them were interested in sedir, and she missed talking about it. In contrast, Loki was hungry for her stories and questioned her about everything. She loved his enthusiasm and his interest. Odin was right, Loki was clever and careful in his speech. He never gave any indication that the marriage with Thor might be distasteful to him, or expressed any dissatisfaction about Thor's treatment of him. He obviously cared about his people and was determined to do his duty to save them. Oddly, he never talked about his father or his family. The only person he spoke about was someone called Hafli; she wasn't sure of their relationship, but the way she spoke about them made her think that they might have been a personal servant, rather than a close friend.

Loki seemed to be extremely unworldly, but she imagined growing up on Jotunheim would have that effect. Although she did think it odd that he didn't talk about living there - he seemed to know even less about the royal palace of Utgard than she did, and her knowledge was secondhand from their ambassadors. Clearly, he had been raised away from the palace - perhaps Utgard would have been dangerous for him because of his size. She must warn her husband and son to make allowances for his sheltered upbringing.

----------

Thor's friends exchanged anxious glances as he threw open the door to the feasting hall. They had come straight to the hall without stopping by their rooms to clean up and change, and even Sif didn’t want to flout convention that much. Attending a feast dressed in the same clothes in which they had camped was going a bit too far. They looked and smelled less than fresh.

They had tried to talk Thor out of the idea, but they had stopped at an alehouse on their way back to the palace, and Thor was, if not completely drunk, then very close to it.

The men nearest the doorway greeted him noisily, and the Allfather looked up at their shouts. His expression became hard. He had been furious when Frigga told him of Thor’s disobedience. He did not like his orders to be defied so openly.

"I see you are back from your hunting trip." Odin's voice broke through all the others and silence descended on the room.

Thor grinned widely and made an expansive gesture. "As you see."

Whatever the king had been about to say was interrupted by Gullveig. "Ah yes, we have heard the mighty Prince Thor was seeking a trophy to present to his fiance. Can we assume that he found such a prize?"

Frigga cursed under her breath and hoped that once - just once - Thor would not embarrass them in front of everyone.

Thor looked startled for a minute and then gave a great hoot of laughter. "Indeed! I have just the thing to present to my bride-to-be!"

His friends were whispering in his ear and trying to pull him away, but he wouldn't be dissuaded. Turning to the door, he called to one of the grooms outside, "Hey! You there! Yes, you! Bring in my kill, so all may see it!"

Thor's friends were now desperately trying to make him stop, but he would have none of it. After a few minutes, both doors were pushed open to their fullest extent and four servants wheeled in the stinking corpse of a bilgesnipe.

Thor laughed loudly while the rest of the hall fell silent. This was an insult, to Loki and to Jotunheim. In the current circumstances, it was tantamount to a declaration of war.
Frigga stared in horror. Beside her, the king rose, his face suffused with fury.

But before he could speak, there was a scrape of a chair to her left and Loki rose to his feet. Everyone held their breath to see how the prince of Jotunheim would react to such blatant disrespect.

Loki tried to bite down his anger. He would not allow his people to suffer for his temper, but he could not allow such an insult to go unanswered.

In the driest, coldest tone he could manage, he said, "A great brute indeed. I have never before looked upon such a gross and repulsive creature. Who would not wonder at their luck when being offered such a gift? However, perhaps it would be best if we remove it from the hall; its stench may be offensive to some."

Thor frowned. He had drunk a little too much ale before dinner and his mind was a little muddled, but it almost sounded as if Loki was talking about him and not the bilgesnipe. He looked around the hall. A few people seemed to be fighting down laughter, shoulders shaking silently and some biting their lips. He felt the color rise to his face as he realized how his gesture had backfired.

Odin's voice interrupted his thoughts. “Remove the beast from the hall!"

For one very unfortunate moment, the servants seemed to vacillate, as if unsure about which beast Odin was referring to. A suspicious round of ‘coughing’ seemed to erupt throughout the hall. Thor glared angrily, but there was nothing that he could have called anyone out for. Prince Loki's veiled remarks were far less of an insult than the one he had given.

Odin's voice once again broke into the room. "I understand how eager you were to present Prince Loki with this gift, but now that it is done, you may go and make yourself presentable for dinner. We look forward to hearing of your trip when you return."

Dismissed and thoroughly humiliated, Thor spun on his heels and left the feasting hall.

----------

Loki sat and played with his food, his face aflame. If his father had been present, they would now be at war with Asgard. Loki had turned the insult but he still felt it deeply. Thor's words were meant to discredit Loki and the marriage alliance, and it was only Loki's cleverness with words that had saved the day.

He wondered whether he should have acted differently. Odin had been about to address Thor, and perhaps Loki should have waited to see what he was going to say, but he couldn't let everyone present think that he could not defend himself; that he needed the protection of his soon to be father-in-law. He could also have couched his words a little differently, acted as though he saw no insult in the gift - but then he might have given the impression that it was alright to insult him and his people in that way. Every way he looked at it, there was risk.

"You handled that well." Frigga's voice intruded on his thoughts.

He sighed with relief. “Thank you. I did not want trouble."

"It was well done, although perhaps your remarks may have been a little… open to interpretation, shall we say?"

Loki lowered his head, readying himself for a rebuke.

"Calm yourself, child. Thor more than deserved it."

Loki managed a small smile. "Will the Allfather be angry?"

"I doubt it. You diffused the situation well enough, and that's the most important thing."

"What about Thor?"

Frigga was silent for a moment and then spoke in a falsely optimistic tone. "It will do him good to learn that you are no pushover. There are few enough people that will stand up to him, Norns only know." Her voice became reflective. "Perhaps we should have been stricter with him, but he is our only child…" She trailed off as she imagined what he might have been like if he had brothers and sisters. With a brother like Loki, perhaps he would have grown up to be less selfish; perhaps the constant criticism of a sibling would have given him a more realistic view of himself and his abilities.

She reached out and clasped Loki's cold hand in her own. "I think you will be very good for him."

Chapter Text

There was a knock at the door. Loki went to answer it, expecting the queen or even Thor, but to his surprise, it was Fandral.

"My prince!"

Loki answered his small bow with a nod of his head, “Sir Fandral."

"Prince Thor suggested that I teach you to ride. It would help you get around Asgard and enable you to join us on our hunts."

Loki was surprised and pleased. Perhaps Thor regretted his rudeness the night before and had decided to give Loki a chance. Loki did have a question, though. "Why does his majesty not teach me himself? Why did he send you to instruct me?"

Fandral's grin was wide. "As you may have noticed, Thor is not the most patient of people. This is the best way to ensure that your lessons will not end in bloodshed!"

Loki gave a small smile at the jest. It certainly rang true that Thor would not have the patience to teach him. Still, he hesitated. "Would it be appropriate for you to teach me?"

Fandral frowned slightly to give greater sincerity to his words. He had no idea why the prince kept on talking about propriety, as if the Aesir were narrow-minded prudes. "It is very appropriate for me to follow the orders of my prince."

Loki flushed. "Of course, I am sorry. I did not mean to imply…"

“Think nothing of it," interrupted Fandral. He held out his arm. "May I escort you to the stables?"

Loki did not take his arm but he did follow Fandral, his face bright with excitement. He enjoyed learning new things, and riding seemed to be an important part of life on Asgard.

He couldn't decide if he liked the smell of the stables or not. It was a rich, earthy smell with an undercurrent of something much less pleasant. Except for when he had arrived - which, in his mind, didn't count - Loki had never before been so close to a horse. At one stall, a pretty gray horse watched him with interest. He began to raise a hand and then drew it back. Turning to Fandral, he asked, "Will it bite?"

"Not if you're careful. Try not to startle him and avoid eye contact. Let him sniff your fingers first - yes, just like that - and now flatten your palm." Fandral placed a small piece of apple on Loki's outstretched hand. "Hold it out to him."

Loki watched nervously as the horse took the treat from him. His face broke into a slow smile.

"Alright, now you can pet him. Keep your fingers together and scratch his neck. That's it, he likes you!"

Fandral watched Loki as he petted the horse. His smile grew and his eyes shone; for the first time since he had arrived, Loki lost the tense, closed-off expression that he usually wore. Fandral thought he suddenly looked very different - relaxed, carefree; happy.

He thought it was a shame Thor couldn’t see Loki like this. "Come," he said, "let's begin your first lesson."

----------

Although he was nervous at first, Loki learned quickly. He checked with Frigga, and she told him there was nothing improper about the prince riding out with Sir Fandral. She even seemed to think learning to ride was a good idea, one that would bring him closer to Thor. With that assurance, Loki was soon having lessons almost everyday.

They quickly discovered that they enjoyed each other's company. They both liked to read and learn new things, and they loved wandering through the forests and valleys in Asgard. It felt like a fairytale to Loki; he had never before experienced such freedom. He had never even dreamed of being allowed to ride for miles, the way he did with Fandral.

“Tell me about the Jotnar," Fandral said one day.

"What about them?" asked Loki, not wanting thoughts of home to ruin his day.

"Well, what are they like? We know so little about them. Are there many like you?"

"You mean, without horns and sharp teeth? Or small?" Loki smiled wryly to show that he wasn't offended. "I've heard what your people think about us."

Fandral grinned in return. “It seems there has been a certain amount of misinformation."

Loki quirked an eyebrow. "Horns?!"

Fandral laughed, embarrassed. "Children's stories and old wives tales."

“So what did you want to know?"

"Oh, I just wondered about the people, what they like to do? Do they ride out like this in Jotunheim?"

Loki looked away while he considered his answer. He could hardly admit that he didn't really know. "Jotuns are much like Asgardians." Seeing Fandral's look of surprise, he continued, “Some are warlike, some are peaceful, some are industrious, some are lazy."

Fandral smiled at his answer and moved his horse closer to the prince. "And you? What are you like?"

Loki seemed to consider for a long time before he answered, “I don’t know. I suppose… I’m different.”

Yes, thought Fandral, looking at his dark silky hair and luminous ruby eyes… he really was.

—-------

Even though he no longer needed to - Frigga made a point of escorting him to dinner and having meals sent to his rooms - Loki continued to visit Udr at the fishmongers. He still wore his disguise as he walked through the streets, but once he reached the store, he would go straight to the back room where he would remove his heavy cloak. He would work there for a few hours, freezing fish and sometimes helping them to prepare it, but primarily talking to Udr and her family. They had been wary of him at first, thinking of everything they had heard about the Jotnar - but after meeting him, they found it impossible to be afraid of someone so innocuous.

They kept him hidden, though. They knew how the Jotnar were viewed in the city.

They were sitting talking one day when the door to the back room burst open and a woman rushed in, clutching a bundle, her face streaked with tears. Thyra, Udr’s sister, was at her heels.

When the woman saw Loki, her eyes widened and her face drained of color. “A frost giant!”

“I’m sorry,” said Thyra, breathlessly, “she ran straight past me!”

Udr’s father, Kare, stood up quickly and moved in front of the Jotun. “Hilda, what is the meaning of this?”

Hilda swallowed and raised her head defiantly. “My boy, he’s sick with fever - nothing the healer tries will cool him! I thought, perhaps your ice would help him.” She lay her bundle down on a chair. It was a small child, insensible and sweating profusely, his face red with fever.

Loki took a step forward. “May I touch him?”

Hilda swallowed and looked anxiously at Kare.

“He can be trusted. He will not harm the babe.”

She nodded. With a catch in her voice, she said, “It hardly matters. If we cannot lower this fever, then he is lost anyway.”

Loki swallowed; he had no idea how he could help, but clearly he had to try. He moved slowly and gently, lifting the child into his arms. Turning to Thyra, he asked, “Have you a damp cloth?”

Thyra returned in less than a minute and presented him with a small square of fabric. Loki began to peel the blankets away from the child, and started to wipe the cloth across the overheated body. The air in the room began to cool. They sat like that until the boy began to fuss and whimper; then he opened his eyes and gasped at the sight before him.

“It’s alright, sweetheart! Mother is here.” Hilda moved forward to take the child from Loki’s arms.

“Mamma?” The boy's voice was weak but clear.

“You are safe,” she reassured him, smiling down into his clear eyes. She placed a hand on his cool forehead and turned back to Loki, tears rolling down her face. “He is better! You have broken his fever!”

Loki swallowed. “I tried…” He hadn’t known what to do, but instinct had taken over and he had naturally cooled the boy in his arms.

“They said there was nothing they could do, his fever was too high! He would have… have…” She burst into tears and hugged the child closer to her. Wiping her eyes, she said, “You saved my boy’s life. I owe you a debt I can never repay, but if I can ever do anything for you, you have only to ask!”

Kare opened his mouth to say that she could repay the favor by staying silent, only to see that the door to the back room remained open. Half a dozen Asgardian mothers stood framed in the doorway, mouths agape.

Hilda turned to follow his gaze. She lifted her boy in her arms. “The frost giant healed him and saved his life! He is better, you can see for yourself. ”

At her words, the women filed in and examined the boy. They all knew how sick he had been, and they had seen Hilda rush in with tears in her eyes.

They stared at Loki with interest. They were not warriors, always angry and calling for blood. They were housewives, mothers, working women - they were practical. They had suspected something, of course. Kare and his family had experienced such a reversal of fortune, and just about the time when everyone knew there were Jotnar in Asgard; they could put two and two together as well as anyone. So, although they were shocked, they were also curious.

One of the bolder women reached out for his hand. She gasped, “It doesn’t burn!”

Udr appeared behind them. “Of course his touch doesn’t burn! They only do that in self defense,” she said expertly.

Loki couldn’t help but smile a little at her air of authority.

Udr pulled Loki’s hand away from the unknown woman and gave it a reassuring squeeze. “Honestly, Gertrud, don’t you know anything?! This is Loptr. He’s here with Prince Loki.”

The women stared at him curiously. Loki waited for them to attack, to denounce him. When one of them spoke, it was not what he had been expecting to hear.

“Is Prince Loki…”

Udr interrupted with a shake of her head. “No, he says Prince Loki isn’t nearly as attractive.”

The wave of ‘oh’s’ that passed around the group told Loki that really had been the intended question. The next remark was also not one he expected.

“They make a confection on Midgard called ‘ice cream’ - can you help us make it? My husband brought some back from a trip and it was delicious!”

Loki stared at her in disbelief. She had a Jotun monster - a frost giant! - standing in front of her, and this was her question? “Um… I’m not sure?”

Another woman frowned. “Surely he could. How hard can it be if Midgardians can make it?”

There was a chorus of agreement, until one woman spoke over the others. “You are all being ridiculous!”

Here it comes, thought Loki, and he braced himself for her words.

She stepped forward. She was a large woman, strong and muscular. If she chose to attack him, the others could do little about it.

Fixing them all with a stern eye, she said, “Do we even have a recipe for it? And we need to decide on a flavor!”

One of the other women nodded. “She's right, best to find a recipe first.”

And just like that, they had recovered from the shock of meeting a Jotun and were busy discussing how he could help them make frozen desserts.

The next time he left the palace, Hilda and several of the other women were waiting. Taking his cloak from him, they escorted him through the town with his face uncovered, glaring at anyone that dared to look disapproving. The message they sent was clear to everyone - he was under their protection, and only a fool would risk the wrath of the women of the town. Loki - or ‘Loptr’ - would be safe walking the streets of Asgard.

—-------

Now that Loki was able to properly explore Asgard, he quickly came to love it. Although he was often too warm (and how he wished he had not sworn to remain in his Jotun form until after the wedding!), he loved the countryside and the animals. He became so horrified at the suggestion of hunting that Fandral quickly dropped the idea. The idea of killing anything so beautiful as a deer or even a squirrel simply for sport was abhorrent to him, so they would ride through the forest, sharing it with the animals and enjoying the peace and tranquility.

Loki found himself spending a lot of time with Fandral. He had no idea why the warrior sought him out so frequently, but Loki began to look forward to the moments they spent together. More than that, he was actually starting to like living on Asgard.

For the first time in his life, Loki felt as though he had friends. Even though Frigga was often busy with her duties as queen, whenever she had a free moment she would seek him out and teach him how to use his sedir, and Ambassadors Milkmane and Gullveig also visited him frequently and gave him advice. He was now able to walk about the town with relative freedom (although he still used his alias), and the townspeople had begun to treat him as a friend. He was even helping three of the women - widows with young families - to set up an ice store.

Even better, in his opinion, was the fact that Thor never sought him out. On the few occasions that they had to attend a function together, Thor would ignore him completely and try to avoid even looking at him.

Despite that - or perhaps because of it - Loki began to see that their marriage could work. They could live separately, pursuing their own interests and enjoyment. There would be the unpleasant matter of their coupling, but hopefully that could be quickly done. Once Loki had produced one or two heirs for Asgard, they would have no further need to see each other.

A rap at the door caught his attention and he found Frigga outside. He smiled, happy to see her, and she took his hands in hers.

"Loki, my child, are you free for the next few hours?"

"Yes." He hoped she was going to continue her lessons, there were a couple of spells he was having trouble with.

"Good!" She looked uncomfortable, as if worried about what she was going to say next, and he began to feel anxious. "My dear, I hope you do not object, but I have arranged for you to spend a few hours with my seamstresses. While you always look delightful, I think you would find Asgardian styles very flattering to your figure."

He blushed and looked down at his shabby robes. "I would like that very much, your maj… Frigga."

Her smile widened. “Then let’s go!"

----------

There was a small moment of embarrassment when it came to measuring the Jotun prince. The seamstress bit her lip. "Prince Loki, do you have anything to change into that would be…" she searched for the right words, "less voluminous?"

He frowned down at his robes.

"It's just difficult to take measurements with so much fabric, you see," she clarified.

Loki blushed. The coarse, heavy robes were all he had to wear when he was anywhere that people might see him; he had even worn them when riding with Fandral. The only other clothes he brought with him were the shirt and trousers he used to wear in his cell, and they were so old and shabby that he couldn't possibly wear those in front of the queen.

"I only have these," he murmured, “I’m sorry.” He felt a small flash of anger - wasn’t that why they were here?

"Oh." The seamstress thought for a moment and then grinned. "I have an idea!" She walked over to a table beside her and pulled out a pair of trousers. "I was making these for Sir Fandral. You seem to be about the same size - could you wear these?"

Loki felt uncomfortable; they were clearly figure hugging, and he was used to covering his body as much as possible. He swallowed nervously. "Do you have a shirt?"

"No, I’m sorry. I do have this…" Runa held up a large shawl. As Loki reached for it, Frigga took it from her hand.

She was beginning to feel worried. They had all heard the rumors that Laufey's youngest son was deformed, but they had been assured he was not. However, Loki's reaction was starting to concern her. With a touch of steel in her voice, she asked, “Surely, it is not a problem? I can assure you that Runa and I are both mothers and very used to seeing young people in a state of undress."

He heard the note of suspicion in her voice and guessed what she was thinking. He raised his chin and asked with quiet dignity, "Is there somewhere I may change?" He would suffer the embarrassment of letting them see him without a shirt, but he would rather not strip in front of them.

Runa pointed to a screen in the corner, and he approached it like a man walking to the guillotine.

The two women waited in silence, looking up expectantly as he stepped out from behind the screen. He blushed heavily and crossed his arms over his chest.

Frigga stepped forward. Hating herself for it even as she did it, she gently peeled his arms away and carefully looked him over.

He was beautiful. His skin was the same soft, sky blue as his face, as smooth and unmarked as fine porcelain. She stepped back and saw that the rest of his figure was slim and elegant. As she looked up, she caught his eye.

"Are you looking for my deformity?"

Now it was her turn to blush. "We all have to do our duty, and my duty is to Asgard and to my son. If there is a problem, then we need to know about it now."

“Surely, you asked about this before the marriage was arranged?"

"We did, and we were assured that you were sound of body, but -"

"But?"

"But, your figure is always so hidden by those heavy robes, and just now you seemed so nervous..."

He nodded. As much as he would have liked to, he couldn't fault her reasoning. “May I cover myself now?”

"Loki, my dear, why are you so worried?" There was still a note of concern in her voice, and he understood why; he was, after all, a shape shifter and magic user - she still couldn't know for certain if she was looking at his true figure.

He tried to resist the urge to grab the shawl and cover himself again. Instead, he held up his head and faced her. "I do not know what you have heard, although I can imagine - I have heard the rumors. My people are less eloquent than yours; they have fewer nuances in their speech. The Allspeak translates our word for ‘malformed’ as ‘deformed’."

Frigga's face showed nothing, and he realized that to her ears, malformed probably didn't sound any better than deformed.

“Our definition of ‘malformed’ is quite simply ‘abnormal or different in appearance’. I am considered to be abnormal - malformed - because of the way I look." He gestured to his body and pulled at a lock of his hair. "Let's be honest, I don't look much like a Jotun."

Frigga's expression softened. “This is you? This is no glamor?"

Loki shrugged. "Is there a way you can check?"

“You do not mind?”

“I understand why you must, and I give you my consent.”

She nodded. He might not like it, but he would do this for his people. She stepped forward and placed her hands either side of his head, and let her sedir flow through him.

He closed his eyes and lost himself in the strange sensation. It was actually quite pleasant, a warmth that spread through his body. After a few minutes, he felt it pull away. Frigga's hands moved from his head and wrapped around his body in a hug. She couldn't help but wonder if Odin had planned this when he suggested she take Loki to be fitted for new clothes. "I’m so sorry. You know I had to be sure."

He leaned into the embrace. Of course he knew why she did it - she did it for her son. He wondered if there would ever be anyone in his life that would care for and protect him like that. "I know."

She pulled back and smiled, pushing a lock of hair behind his ear. "For what it's worth, I am not the only one in Asgard that thinks you're beautiful. Come, let us choose some clothes that will show the rest of them how attractive you really are!"

Chapter Text

Loki was reading in the library when Fandral approached. "I have something I think you will enjoy!"

Loki looked up and smiled eagerly. "Is it a horse?" Now that Loki had learned how to ride, it was quickly becoming his favorite pastime. Fandral frequently joked that his love of horses bordered on obsession.

Fandral rolled his eyes. “There's more to life than horses, you know."

Loki sniffed theatrically. "I refuse to believe it."

Fandral grinned. He liked Loki's sense of humor. "Come on, I promise you will like this!"

Loki pretended to resist as Fandral pulled him along. "Where are we going?"

“To my rooms." He expected the sudden jolt as Loki stopped moving. "Don't worry, Volstagg will be there with his wife, and Hogan is coming as well. It will be quite respectable." He knew Loki was worried about propriety to an absurd degree, although he had a small pang of conscience when he considered what he was planning to do and why. After all, Loki's concerns were valid. Nevertheless, he pulled Loki along with him as he walked to his room.

To Loki's relief, Volstagg and a woman Loki assumed was Volstagg's wife, were indeed waiting inside. Volstagg nodded a greeting and said, "Ah, Prince Loki! It is good to see you! Allow me to present my wife, Hildegund."

Hildegund curtsied nervously. Volstagg had said only good things about the new prince, but she still felt nervous being so close to a Jotun, even one as small as this. She wondered if it was true that they ate babies…

Loki saw her nervousness and stayed as far away from her as he could. He wondered what she thought he could do, surrounded as he was by Aesir warriors. Trying to hide his annoyance, he turned to Fandral. “So what is it? Why have you brought me here?"

"I was at a market in Vanaheim and I found this!" He held up a rather large silver box.

Loki looked unimpressed. "I think you have been cheated, it isn't even real silver."

Fandral grinned. “That isn't why I bought it. First, let me get you a drink."

Loki had noticed that the Aesir drank wine frequently. Although he didn’t really like the taste, he would have to start adopting their habits if he was to ever be accepted. Besides, he was thirsty; the room was stiflingly hot. “Thank you."

Fandral handed him a glass, and Loki reached for it, surprised when Fandral didn't release it immediately. "Fandral?"

Fandral let go of the glass and looked away. He knew Loki was unused to wine, generally preferring water at dinner. Volstagg had brought the liquor, a particularly strong port from Vanaheim. It was sweeter than anything the prince had tried so far, so Loki probably wouldn't notice how strong it was. Fandral felt dirty, resorting to such low tricks. He was the greatest seducer in the nine realms! He wanted to seduce the prince honorably - or as honorably as he could, given the circumstances. He wasn't a whore and he wasn't a rapist, and Thor and the rest of his friends seemed to constantly suggest that he was both.

Fandral liked Loki, and not only for his looks. He had been surprised to find that he missed Loki’s company when he wasn’t around; he enjoyed the time they spent together. The Jotun prince was charming, clever and, when they were alone together, funny.

But he was also an innocent, completely unworldly; taking advantage of him, as Fandral had promised to do, seemed like the worst kind of perfidy.

The night was warm and it was only then that he noticed how close the room was. He realized Volstagg had built up a fire. It was barely comfortable, even for him. Fandral noticed that the prince was sweating and his cheeks were flushed as he drained his glass. Volstagg leaned over and refilled his glass.

Seeing Loki watching him expectantly, Fandral smiled tightly. "Alright - are you ready?"

At Loki's nod, he pressed a button and the room was suddenly filled with the most incredible music Loki had ever heard. He gasped and Fandral grinned in satisfaction. “There! I knew you would like it!"

"It is incredible! I thought Midgard was a primitive race?"

Fandral shook his head. "No, indeed! They are far less primitive than Jo…" he stopped himself just in time, "you would think."

Loki flushed, catching his slip, but letting it go. They certainly had nothing like this in Jotunheim, although since the same was also true of Asgard, perhaps Fandral shouldn't be acting so superior. Still, at least he had tried to cover his mistake. Asgard and Jotunheim had been enemies for so long, he supposed it was only natural that their everyday speech included a lot of racial slurs.

He moved closer to the device and tried to focus on the music, which was harder than it should have been; for some reason, his head was swimming and he was finding it hard to concentrate. “This is amazing," he breathed.

"Well I think it sounds dreadful, don't you, my dear?" Volstagg turned to his wife, who nodded in agreement.

"It's awful," agreed Hildegund. “So screechy!"

Loki stared at them, open-mouthed. “It's beautiful!" he breathed. He closed his eyes, to better concentrate on the sound. "Just listen to it."

Fandral wasn't listening to it. His brain seemed to have short-circuited as he watched Loki, sitting in front of him, eyes closed, his head tilted, a small smile on his face. He found himself wondering if Loki would look like that when being kissed.

“So," said Volstagg, loudly and pointedly, "I think we will take our leave."

Fandral started when Volstagg nudged him and tried to ignore the hint he was making by leaving them alone.

Unfortunately, Loki also began to stand up, the alcohol making him clumsy. “Then I must leave as well."

Volstagg looked puzzled. "Why?"

Loki looked at him as if he was an idiot. "It would not be seemly for me to be alone in a room with him."

"Nonsense!" protested Volstagg. Loki had to stay in the room with Fandral. Like his friends, Volstagg couldn't understand what was taking so long. Fandral was one of the greatest seducers in the nine realms - people told stories about his prowess! So why was one simple seduction dragging out like this? “There is nothing wrong with friends spending time together! Why, we usually visit each other in our rooms, and nobody thinks anything of it. In fact, Thor and Sif are alone together now." He didn't add that no-one thought anything of it because they had all been friends with Thor since childhood, nor did he mention that it was common knowledge that Thor and Sif occasionally slept together.

Loki bit his lip, uncertain. He DID want to hear more of the beautiful music…

"Anyway," added Hildegund when Volstagg elbowed her, "isn't Hogun meant to be coming as well? I’m sure he'll be here soon."

Loki shot a questioning look at Fandral.

Fandral swallowed. He hated having to lie to him. "Yes, I’m sure he will be here any minute now. Relax and enjoy the music, I assure you there is no impropriety. Please, sit down again."

Against his better judgement, Loki allowed himself to be guided back to a chair. He still felt unsure, but everyone acted as though his concerns were so absurd, and he had no wish to make himself an object of ridicule. Besides, he did love the music, and wanted to hear more of it.

Fandral led Volstagg and his wife to the door. As Volstagg turned to leave, he hissed in Fandral's ear, "What are you waiting for, man? Get on with it!"

Fandral grimaced and closed the door behind them.

"May I have another glass?"

Fandral whirled around. Loki had finished his port already, and there was no way Fandral could refuse to pour another. He slowly refilled the glass.

“Thank you. It's very good. I think it's the nicest drink I’ve ever had!" Loki giggled and quickly drained his glass. Fandral's eyes widened. "Not that I’ve had many. Do you know I never tried alcohol until I came here?"

"No?" Fandral tried to keep the smile on his face. He could do this. He filled the glass again. "Do the Jotnar not drink?"

Loki shrugged, the unaccustomed liquor loosening his tongue. "I don't know." Seeing Fandral's quizzical look, he explained, "My father was ashamed of me. I am considered deformed, because of my size. Most runts are killed at birth, but he kept me locked away, in case he should ever have need of me." Loki stared at his empty glass. "King Laufey plays a long game. When he needed to sue for peace, he had me to bargain with - isn't that lucky?" He gave a small, shaky smile.

The music seemed to match the change in mood, becoming somber and melancholy. Fandral's heart gave a lurch. He had known Loki wasn't very worldly, but he hadn't known that Loki had been little more than his father's prisoner.

"Oh, Loki!" He sank to a chair beside the prince and impetuously put his arms around him. He felt Loki lean into the embrace, for once allowing himself to be comforted. Loki's soft, silky hair brushed against his hand. After a minute or so, Loki pulled back.

Their faces were only inches apart. Fandral leaned closer, not for Thor or Asgard but for himself. Loki raised his eyes to his, and Fandral saw that they were slightly unfocused and wet with unshed tears.

Fandral raised a hand and brushed a lock of hair from Loki's overheated face. The Jotun prince looked like a deer frozen in front of a hunter.

Fandral sighed. Damn Thor and damn Asgard! His sympathies were with Loki, not with his petulant friend. He stood and stretched out his hand. "My prince, I believe the heat of the fire and the strength of the wine have not agreed with you. Will you allow me to escort you to your chambers?"

Loki's relief was obvious. He nodded and rose unsteadily to his feet.

"One moment." Fandral grabbed a small vial and handed it to Loki. "Drink this. It will help counter the effects of the wine and lessen the hangover tomorrow."

Loki swallowed it trustingly and asked, "Hangover?"

Fandral grimaced. "You'll find out."

Fandral supported the prince as they walked through the corridors. Fortunately, most people were at dinner and they met no-one. Asgard wasn't quite as free and easy as Fandral and his friends had implied, and the last thing he wanted was to be seen with his arms around the drunken prince, on their way to his rooms.

When they reached Loki's apartments, Fandral deposited him on the bed and fetched a flagon of water from the bathing room. "Here, drink this."

Loki took the glass and obediently began to drink.

"Good. Try to finish the flagon before you go to sleep. You'll feel better in the morning." Loki was staring at him, his eyes wide and trusting.

Fandral allowed himself a momentary indulgence. Leaning forward, he kissed Loki gently on the forehead. “Rest now. Do not worry, I shall tell no-one of this night."

Loki touched the spot where he had been kissed. He looked at his friend, his eyes shining. Trusting. “Thank you. You are a true friend, I shall not forget this!"

Fandral thought of all the times he had helped Thor with never a word of thanks. "No, I do not think you will. Goodnight, sweet prince."

----------

“What?” roared Thor. “You said you would do this!”

“And now I am saying I will not!”

“How hard could it have been? Prince Loki was already half drunk when we left; surely it could not have taken much more wine to make him docile?”

Angry color suffused Fandral’s face. “I am not a rapist!”

“No-one is suggesting that you rape him,” said Hogun, “but surely there is nothing wrong with seducing him when his defences are down?”

Fandral clenched his fists. “If the other party is not fully consenting, then it would not be honorable to sleep with them!”

“But you promised!” Thor slammed his fist against the table. “You said you would do it for Asgard!”

“Well now I am doing this for Asgard! Loki is a good person. I think he would be a good prince and a good husband for you. You would like him, if you would only give him a chance…”

Thor stepped closer threateningly. “He is a filthy Jotun animal, and there is no more to be said on the matter. You have betrayed me and broken your word - get out!”

Fandral saw there was no reasoning with him, and quietly left the room.

Thor threw himself into a chair. “So what am I to do now?”

—-------

It was while Thor was escorting Loki to meet with some ambassadors that he noticed one of the Einherjar staring at Loki speculatively. Thor thought he could see lust in the guards eyes as he assessed the Jotun prince’s figure.

Hmm, he thought, perhaps all was not yet lost... Telling Loki he had forgotten something and would catch him up, Thor sent him to go ahead. Loki nodded and continued on his way as Thor approached the guard.

“I saw you watching Prince Loki… You find him attractive?”

The guard’s face became a blank. “No, my lord. That is, yes - I mean -”

Thor held up a hand. “You may speak freely. The prince is comely, is he not?”

The guard looked uncomfortable. “I would not presume to say, my lord,” he said awkwardly.

Thor supposed that, as a lowly soldier, he needed to be tactful about the wife of the crown prince. With a confidential air, he said, “Alas, I do not think so myself, but I have been told others consider him so. Are you perchance one of those people?”

“Um…” Clearly, the guard was not sure how he should answer.

“Alas, even though I do not like him, I will be forced to marry him against my will, and place a Jotun beast next to the throne of Asgard. Our children will be of the royal family of Jotunheim! I cannot get out of it. The only thing that could save me now would be the discovery that he was no longer a virgin…” he trailed off.

The guard’s eyes widened as he realized what his prince was telling him.

“I would like to think that a loyal Asgardian would be happy to do whatever he could to ensure the happiness of his prince and the safety of the realm, don’t you?”

The corner’s of the guard's mouth turned up in a smile. “I think anyone would be honored to serve their prince, however he commands them, my lord.”

Thor smiled back; the battle was not yet lost.

Chapter Text

When Loki answered the knock at the door, he was surprised to find two einherjar outside. "Yes?"

"Prince Loki, I have to tell you that people in the palace have been plotting against you. Prince Thor has asked for my help in this matter, and so I am here to escort you to the feasting hall for dinner." The guard chose his words carefully, staying as close to the truth as possible; it would serve him well if he was questioned later. Lies, he knew, were best when they were built on truth - there was a plot against the prince, although he and his friends were the plotters, and Prince Thor HAD asked for his help.

Loki glanced at the clock in his room. "But dinner is still almost an hour away…"

"It would be best if you got to the hall early. There would be less chance of us being intercepted on the way."

Loki nodded, he supposed he could see the sense in that. "Very well, I am ready."

The einherjar gestured for him to walk between them. Loki felt uncomfortable - it was almost as though he were in their custody, with each guard walking closely on either side. He felt there was something they weren't telling him. He looked around to see if anyone else considered this to be strange, but the corridors were strangely deserted.

They reached the small ante-chamber that led into the hall, and the guard that had spoken to him gestured for Loki to walk ahead of them. Loki stepped into the room as his escort pulled the door closed behind him. He barely had time to register the three other guards waiting inside before the two beside him pulled up his hands and fastened cuffs around them. A third pressed a cloth into his mouth and tied a gag around it.

Loki pulled against the cuffs but they were tightly fixed around his wrists. He felt for his powers, only to discover that nothing happened. He had the same result when he tried to reach for his ice.

One of the guards grinned. "Ice and magic suppressing cuffs, them are. Won't get out of them, no matter how hard ya try. Got ‘em from my grandpa. He used ‘em during the war, back when we knew how to deal with your kind!"

The first guard - the one that had come to his door - reached up and pulled at a lock of Loki's hair. "But we know how to deal with you, don't we, brothers? Prince Thor asked for our help, and we'll do this for him and for Asgard!"

Loki's eyes widened in hopeless appeal as he frantically looked around the room. He tried to pull away but another guard held him in place. The five guards were all bigger and stronger than him, and without his magic, there was no chance that he could escape.

The first guard's hand trailed down to the gag. “Shame we have to cover that pretty mouth of yours, but I guess we'll find a way to get along without it."

He stepped back and made a sign to the man behind Loki. Loki felt hands grab his ankles and pull them out from under him. He fell to the floor with a thud, only managing to turn his head at the last moment to prevent his nose from taking the full force of the blow. His forehead and cheek crashed against the solid floor. He felt someone hold down his shoulders as rough hands pulled up his robes and grabbed his legs.

He heard someone shout, "For Asgard!", and four other voices chorused the sentiment.

The gag muffled his screams of pain.

—-------

The queen and her ladies approached the feasting hall as her personal guard hurried forward and threw open the large doors leading to the ante-chamber. It took a moment for everyone outside to realize what they were seeing and time seemed to stand still.

The shadowy figures of four or five einherjar were silhouetted against the light. As the door opened, there was a flurry of movement as most of them turned and fled. One of them appeared to be crouching on the floor before suddenly rising and running with the others.

The women stared in shock at the scene before them.

The youngest son of the King of Jotunheim was lying on the floor, naked, the clothes beside him a pile of bloodstained rags. His back showed the marks of a lash and his face was a red, swollen mess, one eye sealed shut.

One of the women in Frigga's train began to scream, but most, like Frigga, seemed frozen to the spot, unable to move.

Running footsteps came towards them.

“Mother, what's -" Thor stopped abruptly as he and his friends took in the sight.

Hogun was the first to recover. Snatching the cape from Fandral's shoulders, he threw it over the prince. Loki looked up, dazed, noticing his audience for the first time. Blood from a head wound ran down his face.

As Sif shouted for someone to fetch a healer, Fandral knelt beside him, unsure what to do. "It's alright, help is coming," he said.

Volstagg knelt at the prince’s other side. "Did anyone see who did this?"

One of the queen's ladies called out, "Einherjar! They were einherjar!"

Loki tried to raise himself, his movements slow and painful. Fandral put out a hand to steady him, but instead, Loki grabbed his jacket. "Help… me… ...please! Thor!"

Fandral turned his head, thinking Loki wanted to see his fiance, but Loki continued, “Thor's orders - he… he sent them..." Fandral put his arms around the prince as he fainted.

Every face was frozen in shock and horror as Volstagg quickly slammed the large doors closed. A minute later, the queen, Thor and Sif stepped into the room.

Fandral sat cradelling Loki's unconscious body as Frigga turned a shocked face to her son. “Thor, what was he saying? Why would he tell such a lie?"

Sif shook her head. "It is nonsense. He has taken a blow to the head, he must be confused."

Volstagg nodded in agreement, but Frigga was still watching Thor. He was staring at Loki in shock, but there was something else, as well. Something Frigga recognized from long years as his mother.

Thor looked guilty.

Her voice was little more than a whisper. “Thor, what did you do?"

Sif whirled to glare at her, eyes blazing, forgetting all decorum as she defended her friend. “Thor would NEVER…"

Frigga ignored her. “Thor!"

Thor ran his hands through his hair. His face was as white as death. "I didn't… It wasn't…" He swallowed, "I only meant…"

Frigga swayed and Volstagg hurried to help her to a chair.

The door flew open and Odin strode in, Eir hurrying behind him. "What happened?"

Eir sank beside the figure on the floor as Odin looked around the room for an answer.

Fandral was the one to answer him. "Prince Loki has been attacked."

Odin's expression tightened. "Do we know who did this?"

All eyes flew to Thor.

Odin frowned. "What is this foolishness? Thor has been with me all afternoon, I only just released him."

Sif barely had time to look self-righteous before Thor cleared his throat; whatever his faults may have been, he wasn't a coward. "It may have been…,” he tried not to look at his mother, “That is to say, I think I might bear responsibility for some part of this."

Odin turned to glare at his son. "How?"

"I…" He swallowed, "I saw one of the guards watching Loki. I thought… I thought he desired him. I thought that perhaps he might seduce the prince and I would no longer have to marry him."

Everyone in the room was staring at him in shocked disbelief.

"And exactly what did you say to him?" Odin's voice was as hard as flint.

"I said - I said I had seen him watching the prince and that, if he liked him, he should do something about it. I told him…" Thor closed his eyes at the memory. "I told him I would not have to marry Loki if he was not a virgin."

For a moment, everyone was speechless. Then Eir broke the silence, her voice as cold as the wastelands of Jotunheim. "Well then, I suppose congratulations are in order. Prince Loki is no longer 'pure' enough to marry a prince of Asgard."

----------

The royal family and Thor's friends sat in the waiting area outside the healing halls. Nobody spoke or made a sound until the door opened and Eir stepped out.

Frigga clenched her hands together. "How is he?"

"He is in pain but resting."

Thor jumped to his feet. "Why can you not give him something to heal him? Use a healing stone!"

Eir drew herself up to her full height. For a woman almost a foot shorter than Thor, she managed to be impressively intimidating, and as a close friend of the queen, she was one of the few that did not need to watch her words around the prince "I do not need to be told how to do my job, and unlike some, I do not take pleasure in his suffering!" She turned back to the queen. "Unfortunately, our healing methods do not work as well on the Jotnar, and the prince has refused to be treated with healing stones. As you are aware, they restore a body to its natural state, and Prince Loki refuses to take any healing measures that may threaten any child he may be carrying."

Fandral looked up, his face aghast. “Surely, he would not want to bear a child conceived in such a manner?"

Eir shrugged. "It seems he would, and it is his choice to make."

“That is ridiculous!" Thor stormed. “Surely, you can make him -"

Thor wasn't used to being interrupted, but Eir's temper had risen. "I think Prince Loki has had quite enough forced upon him today, don't you?"

Thor glared at her, but could find no argument.

“Thor, sit down," ordered Odin. "Is it likely that he is with child?"

“There is a strong possibility. He is at the most fertile point in his cycle, and given the number of assaults and assailants…"

“The number of assailants?" Odin questioned. “There were more than one?"

"Prince Loki said there were five of them."

Frigga drew in a breath; she had hoped the others had been acting as lookouts.

Odin turned to his son. "A detail you forgot to mention?"

"No, I only spoke to one!"

"Well, it seems I must praise General Tyr. Our palace guards are finally showing some initiative. It seems that support for their future king is great."

Thor sagged in his chair. "I did not mean for this to happen! I only thought that Loki might prefer another and then I might be freed. I did not think anyone would treat him so!"

"For better or for worse, there are many who would gladly prove their loyalty to you."

The Warriors Three and Sif kept silent, but could not help but think how they had pushed Fandral to seduce Loki, regardless of his objections.

Thor got on his knees before his mother. “Mother, please believe that I did not mean for this to happen and I am sorry for it! I will behave better from now on, I promise! I will atone for this by marrying Loki -"

"You will not."

"But father…"

"As you yourself have observed, the laws of Asgard clearly state that for a royal wedding to be accepted and blessed by the Norns, the child-bearer must be intact before the wedding. You have done your work well, my son. The council will never approve this marriage now. The queen of Asgard cannot have lain with common guards, no matter what the circumstances. Especially when it was witnessed by most of the court and may have resulted in a pregnancy! Prince Loki must be returned to Jotunheim, an act which will almost certainly result in a war between the realms. Hundreds - if not thousands - of people will die because of your actions today. I hope you will think it worth it, for I can tell you now, no-one else will."

Chapter Text

Everywhere Thor went, eyes seemed to slide away from him. He hated the feeling of being a pariah amongst his own people. He needed to make things right again.

He made his way to the healing rooms. "I wish to see him," he demanded.

"I'm sorry, but he is resting."

"I will not disturb him, I simply wish to speak with him and see that he is well."

The healer arched an eyebrow. "He is here to get well, my lord."

"You will let me see him, he is my fiance!"

Something flashed in the healer's eyes. "No, he is not."

Thor narrowed his eyes; he was not used to people telling him ‘no’. "Enough of this. Unless you have been told differently by the king, you will step aside and let me speak with him."

The healer said nothing, but reluctantly took a step back.

Triumphant, Thor pushed past her and stepped into Loki's room. His satisfaction died when he met Loki's gaze - half fearful, half hateful. He tried to push down his sense of guilt.

More than half of Loki’s face had now swollen and darkened to various stages of deep blue and black bruising. One eye was puffy and closed, and there were stitches running from his upper lip to his cheek. As Thor walked farther into the room, he spat out angrily, "What do you want?"

Thor opened his hands to show his innocence. "Loki, I wanted to apologize, to say that I am sorry for what happened. I did not mean for you to be hurt, it was a misunderstanding."

Loki's expression changed to one of disbelief. "A misunderstanding?" he repeated incredulously.

"I saw the guard liked you and thought he might try to seduce you. I did not think for a moment that he would… do what he did.” He offered a small, awkward smile. “I hope you can forgive me for my small part in what happened."

Loki's jaw dropped. "Are you mad? Are you quite mad, Prince Thor? You want me to forgive you for your 'small part" in what happened? When, if it were not for that 'small part’, I would not be here now? Did you not see what they did?" He felt his voice rising in hysteria, but he couldn't stop himself. Was Thor really not aware that he was to blame for all of this?

Thor's face became red with anger - he was trying to apologize! "I had no way of knowing that he would act as he did," he said defensively.

Loki sneered in reply. "Ha! You had no way of knowing that, if you told a loyal servant you could be saved from this marriage if I was no virgin, he would not do everything in his power to serve his prince? Are you really such a fool?"

“I tried to make amends! I even offered to go through with the wedding and make you my -”

Loki didn’t let him finish, pushing himself up with a wince. “Your what? Your ‘bride’? Your ‘queen’? I am sick of your insults and no longer have to take them!”

Thor clenched his fists; small sparks danced around his knuckles as a clap of thunder sounded outside. "Have a care how you speak, Jotun!"

The door flew open as he spoke, but neither of them noticed.

“Threats? What will you do, oh mighty prince? Send a few more guards to beat and rape me? Again? I can say anything I like to you, oaf! You have ruined me already - there is nothing more you can do to me! Kill me if you wish, I would welcome it!"

"Loki!" Frigga rushed over to his side. "Odin, call for a healer! Loki, dear one! Calm yourself and don't say such things."

The healer helped Frigga settle Loki back against the pillows. The color had drained from his face and he was breathing heavily. Thor remembered hearing something about cracked ribs.

Loki wasn't finished, but his voice was calmer when he said, "You don't even seem to realize what you’ve done, do you? Our alliance was to cement a peace treaty between our people. Because of your actions, it is now null and void. Hundreds of our people could die because you couldn’t bring yourself to marry me! And do you know the worst part? Did it ever once cross your mind to wonder what I thought about YOU? Do you know how people speak of you? Do you think I wanted to spend the rest of my life with the ‘Beast with the Hammer’ - Thor the Thug, Thor the Bore, the offensive oaf that put the ‘ass’ into Asgard? Do you really think yourself to be such a prize?"

—-------

Thor stared at him, stunned. Of course Loki must have wanted to marry him, he was the first prince of Asgard - women and men throughout the realms respected him and desired his attention! And perhaps he had forgotten that there were important reasons for the marriage, but really, how could he have been expected to marry a lowly frost giant?

The healer gave Loki a pill and a glass of water. “I would suggest that he be allowed to rest, your majesty.”

Frigga nodded. She leaned forward to kiss Loki’s cheek, only to see him flinch from her. Her lips pursed as her fury towards her son rose. However, she kept her voice gentle as she said, “My dear, you should try to sleep.”

As soon as they left the room, Odin hailed a servant. “Gather the council, make sure General Tyr is present. Thor, you are with me.”

“But…” Thor began to protest but Odin fixed him with a stoney stare.

“Thor, because of your words, five members of the Einherjar committed treason and rape, defiled a prince of a foriegn realm, and have likely plunged us into a war with Jotunheim. Attending a meeting with the council is - quite literally - the very least you can do!”

Silenced and sulky, Thor turned on his heels and marched away in the direction of the council rooms. Odin sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose.

One of the healers appeared at his side. “Have you a headache, my lord? I could prepare a draught.”

Odin nodded. “That would be appreciated.” He turned back to Frigga. “Can you handle things here?”

Frigga nodded. “I will. Good luck, husband.”

—-------

Frigga sat by Loki’s bedside and watched him sleep. She was trying to keep calm for Loki’s sake, but she was furious with her son. She understood that he hadn’t actually committed the act, that he had done little more than spoken unadvisedly, but his thoughtless words had led to this. As a result, an innocent young man had been badly hurt and two realms plunged into war. Good men and women would die because of the chain of events Thor had set in motion.

And on a personal level, she had grown to love Loki. She had been excited for the day when he would be her son by marriage, they shared so many interests. She loved having someone to share her magic with, and he liked studying with her in her garden. They had even discussed taking a holiday to Midgard, once his official tour of the realms had ended.

Even that was a point of sadness for her. She would have enjoyed traveling with them, introducing Loki to all the wonderful things the nine realms had to offer.

She wanted him to meet her family in Vanaheim and explore the great forests that grew there, wandering through the remains of castles that had been built when Odin was just a child. Thor had called them ‘dusty old ruins’, but she thought Loki would appreciate the beauty of them.

They would travel to Alfheim, to see the magical trees in the enchanted gardens, and she knew he would be excited to meet the ice elves, who shared his affinity for ice but were so very different from the Jotnar.

She would have treated him to a feast of candy and firefly wine, and she had imagined how his eyes would light up when he tasted the sweet confections.

Then they would have visited the dwarves in Nidavellir. They would journey to the Skornheim Mountains and travel through the Valley of Avalanches; not a quest, as Thor would want it to be, but an exploration.

But now none of that would happen. Loki would have to return to Jotunheim and his father, and Frigga would not be able to contact him again, an enemy prince in a warring realm.

She had never told anyone - who could she tell? - but she was often lonely on Asgard. Most people that tried to befriend her wanted to use her as a stepping stone to her husband, or were trying to gain an advantage of money or power. And so few people on Asgard understood her. They didn't think of sedir as a talent worth cultivating or refining; either you had power and used it, like Odin and Thor, or you didn’t.

She was angry as well for Thor’s sake. Loki would have been good for him, the balance he needed. Loki’s caution and timidity would have countered Thor’s more reckless impulses, and Loki’s good sense would have provided other solutions than fighting and war.

There was no point in regretting it now, the deed was done. But she vowed to herself that from here on, she would take a firmer stance with her son. She had indulged him too long, and she would do it no more.

She would speak to Odin about it as well. A few days of banishment without his hammer was hardly the deterrent that Thor needed, especially when he was still strong, handsome, confident Thor. Sending him down to Midgard for punishment was absurd, since they still remembered worshiping him as a god. That foolish mortal woman, Jane, hadn’t helped either. Thank heaven she had finally broken off the relationship when she realized it could go nowhere. Thor was not mortal and had no wish to live like one, and she had no desire to become a god and outlive everyone she loved.

A movement from the bed made Frigga look up. Loki was waking up, his swollen face contorted as he tried to find a comfortable position. She stood and helped him to raise up slightly, propping a pillow behind his back. He gave a hiss as he moved.

“Can I get you something for the pain?”

He almost said yes. He knew what his probable fate would be, and was it really worth worrying about the health of a child that might not even exist? Even if there was a babe in his belly, there was little likelihood he would be allowed to carry it to term. Still, he shook his head. At least he could say that no child of his would come to any harm by his actions. “No, thank you. May I have some water?”

“Of course.”

He drank it greedily. His throat was still sore from screaming. Frigga quickly refilled it.

“Thank you.”

For once, the silence between them was uncomfortable, awkward. It was broken by Frigga. “I’m sorry this happened. I would have liked to call you my son.”

He looked at her, his eyes wet with unshed tears. “I would have liked that, too.”

“He…” she looked down and picked nervously at her hand. “He didn’t mean for this to happen.”

Loki stared at her in disbelief. “You’re saying this was an accident?”

She flushed. “He meant only for the guard to seduce you, he didn’t mean for …for them to act as they did.’

He felt tears well in his eyes as he realized that, even if he could have stayed in Asgard - if, by some miracle, they could prevent a war - they could never again have the relationship they had before. Now there would always be a distance between them that was more than physical.

Frigga may have been the Allmother, but more than that, she was Thor’s mother, and she loved her own son before everyone. She could never admit - never fully believe - the true extent of his crime against Loki. It was why Thor was the way he was - he could do no wrong in her eyes. Even the occasional banishments to Midgard were completely ineffective and no real punishment. From what Loki had heard, Thor had so many friends on Midgard that it was more of a holiday. He even had lovers there!

For the first time since he had got to know her, Loki wished Frigga would leave; they had nothing more to say to each other. Even that wish hurt, for she understood him, as she usually did, and stood to take her leave, promising to return later.

—-------

Eir approached the bed. “Sir Fandral is waiting outside. Would you like to see him?”

A part of Loki wanted to say no. He felt embarrassed and humiliated, knowing that Fandral had seen him abused that way, but he had never needed a friend more. Besides, his conversation with Frigga had started a train of thought, and he wanted to know the truth.

Fandral hurried to his bedside, looking anxious and worried. “Eir said you had agreed to see me. How are you feeling?” As soon as he asked the question, Fandral cursed himself for his stupidity. Loki was covered with cuts, bruises and bandages, his face a swollen mess - it was obvious how he must be feeling.

As if recognizing the absurdity of the question, Loki didn’t bother with an answer. Instead, he said, “If I ask you a question, will you answer me truly?”

Fandral looked surprised, but nodded. “If I can.”

“Do you promise?”

Fandral considered. He may live to regret it, but at the sight of his friend’s suffering, he could deny Loki nothing. “I swear it.”

“Did Thor ask you to seduce me?”

Fandral’s mind went blank; he didn’t want to have this conversation, especially not right now. But he had given his oath. Hating himself, but ready to accept his punishment, he said, “Yes.”

Loki watched him carefully. “That night - the night in your rooms - you were meant to seduce me?”

Fandral couldn’t look him in the eye. “Yes.”

“So why didn’t you?”

“I…” Now Fandral did look up, “I couldn’t do it. I - I like you, Loki.” He swallowed. As if changing the subject, he said, “They are saying you will have to return to Jotunheim."

Loki tried to suppress a shudder. To have tasted freedom, only to have it ripped away! “Yes.” It was, after all, one of the possibilities, if not the most likely.

"Could you stay? If you wanted to? Odin and Frigga like you, perhaps you could stay as an ambassador or something?”

Loki shook his head sadly. He thought of Frigga’s discomfort around him; everyone would feel like that now, and not just because of his Jotun blood. He had been violated and shamed in front of the court. Whenever they looked at him, that is what they would see. But rather than say that, he answered, “No. This was an insult to Jotunheim, and my father will see it as such. He will want war. There will be no ambassadors.”

“What if…” Fandral’s voice faltered a little as he tried to find the courage, “I wondered if you could stay here… with me.” He met Loki’s look of surprise. “We could marry.”

Loki drew in a breath. “Fandral…”

Fandral spoke quickly, interrupting him. “I mean, just because you can’t marry Thor, it doesn’t mean you have to go back to Jotunheim! And… I like you. I might… That is, it might even be more…” He realized he was nervously wringing his hands together, and tried to still them. How funny that of all the men and women that had tried to win his heart, the one that had come closest to succeeding was the most problematic. “Loki, I think - I think we might have something together. Something special.”

Loki looked at his earnest face, and his heart twisted inside him. He tried to keep his voice steady as he asked, “You would marry me for ‘might’?”

Fandral gave an embarrassed chuckle and shrugged. “If it is the only way to keep you here.” He looked into Loki’s eyes, and Loki was surprised by the sincerity he saw there. “What if it is love? What if it is true love and I lose you?”

Loki’s mouth went dry. Could it be love? He didn’t know. He hadn’t allowed himself to think that way about his future husband’s best friend. He thought of Fandral often, and missed him when they were not together… was that enough? Was that love?

He realized that it didn’t matter. It could never be. Whatever happened, he could never stay in Asgard after this - his father would never allow it.

He reached for Fandral’s slender hand and squeezed it gently. “I thank you for your offer. Perhaps, if things had been different, it would have worked. I enjoyed our time together, and I hold you in the highest esteem.” He seemed to realize that was not enough. “I have come to admire you greatly, Sir Fandral. Anyone would be honored by such a proposal.”

Fandral brightened. “Then…”

Loki looked up at him, letting him see the sadness and regret he felt. “No. I am sorry, but it cannot be. I cannot stay in a hostile realm, married to the best friend of my rapist.”

Fandral winced. “Thor did not…”

“He may as well have. He set them upon me. That he didn’t commit the act himself is a detail.”

“We could go somewhere else… Vanaheim perhaps, or even Alfheim.”

Loki raised an eyebrow. “You could be happy living in another realm? You, who love Asgard, and will be loyal to it until the day you die? You would be miserable anywhere else.”

Fandral lowered his head. Loki was right, he could never leave Asgard. Not even for Loki and the love that might have grown between them. “I will miss you.”

Loki tried to keep his voice steady. “And I will miss you too.”

There was nothing left to say. Fandral stood. “Will you write?”

Loki shook his head. “No. You will not hear from me again.”

He didn’t want to tell him why not, what his fate was likely to be as soon as he set foot in Jotunheim. Instead, he turned his head, so he would not have to watch his friend walk away from him.

Chapter Text

Eir removed her hands from Loki's stomach and covered him again with a sheet.

“You are sure?” Loki asked.

“I am. There is no child.”

Loki closed his eyes in relief. It changed everything, and made it possible to enact a plan he had been devising. He would not have risked a life he had been gifted, but since the Norns had seen fit to spare him that, he knew what he must do.

He was not Thor, a spoiled brat that never took a moment to consider the consequences of his actions - charging into every situation like a mindless animal, unheading and uncaring about what followed. He loved his people, for no better reason than they were his people; but he had come to love many of the citizens of Asgard for their own sake. If there was a war, they would all be at risk - Udr and her family, Hilda and her babe, the townspeople, Eir and the rest of the healers that had been so protective of him… Fandral.

His heart skipped as he thought of Fandral. In another time, another place, what might they have had together?

But there was no point in thinking about that now. Now, his path was clear.

—-------

Frigga sat down heavily next to her husband. His hands were buried in his hair as he studied a pile of papers in front of him.

"What are we going to do about Thor?"

Odin groaned. "Any chance you could turn him into a frog?"

"I was being serious."

Odin pushed away the papers and reached out for her hand. "I know. Unfortunately, there is very little we can do."

Frigga frowned. "Why?"

"We are on the brink of war and rumors will already be circulating. We must stand together to present a strong and united front. It doesn't matter what Loki said - Thor was clearly not one of his attackers; but if we make any attempt to punish him, we are signaling to the realms that we believe him to be culpable. It would weaken our position amongst the realms if we confirm his guilt this way."

Frigga gaped at him in shock. “So we do nothing?"

Odin slumped in his seat. "For now, at least."

—-------

Loki was still thinking about his plan, when there was a knock at the door. Odin and Frigga entered, looking grave.

"Your father, King Laufey, has been informed about the situation and just announced that he is coming to Asgard. We have two hours before he arrives."

Loki paled. Just two hours left… He had run out of time.

He knew that his father would immediately declare war when he found out what had happened. Loki also knew that, despite Laufey's overconfident bluster, Jotunheim would not win a second war with Asgard - especially when they were still suffering from the effects of the first. He pushed himself up from his pillows, hissing with pain as he moved.

Frigga reached out to steady him. "Loki, dear, you should not be moving yet."

He shook his head. "I must. There are things I need to do. But… I will need help."

Odin moved towards the bed. "What is it that you plan to do?"

“There is only one way to prevent a war - my father must believe that I was to blame. It will not be hard for him to do so, his opinion of me has never been high."

Odin and Frigga exchanged a look. "How could he believe you were to blame?"

Loki swallowed. He had no appetite for the lie he was about to tell. “I must take responsibility for what has happened. My father must believe that the fault lay with me; that I… I encouraged the soldiers.” Loki ignored Frigga's horrified gasp. “He must believe that I seduced them and,” he swallowed bile, “and things got a little out of hand.”

Odin examined him thoughtfully. “You would be willing to tell such an untruth?”

Loki drew himself up a little straighter. “I would do anything within my power to save our people!”

“Clearly. Your sacrifice is appreciated, but I am sure it will come at no small cost to yourself.”

Loki shrugged. “It is a price I am willing to pay.” He meant it. He knew what the penalty was for unchastity for one of his rank and, at this moment, he almost welcomed it.

“You are sure?” Odin was torn. This was a way out, a way to save the lives of both their people, but he wasn't a monster. He liked this boy, and would not force him to do anything that might cause him further harm.

“I am sure.”

Odin sighed. He, too, knew what a war between Asgard and Jotunheim could cost, and how easily it could extend to the other realms. “Then you have our thanks, as well as the thanks of all who will be saved by your actions.”

Frigga reached for his hand. “Is there truly no other way?”

Loki covered her hand with his own; he felt he needed some comfort. Tears came to his eyes. “No. You know my father. If we are to avoid war, then the fault must be mine and mine alone.”

“Will you have to return to Jotunheim?”

Loki paused. He did not want to lie outright to Frigga. “I will not be allowed to stay in Asgard.” He did not add, nor would I wish to. However happy he had been there, it was spoiled for him now.

She tightened her grip on his hand. “We will miss you.”

He swallowed. Regardless of their earlier conversation, they had formed a genuine bond while he had been in Asgard. He would be sad to leave her. “I will miss you too.”

“May I write to you? If we are not at war, then surely it will be allowed?”

“No. I am sorry, but my father will never allow it."

Something in his tone made her narrow her eyes and stare at him intently. He tried to avoid her gaze. “We must move quickly if this is to be achieved in so little time. All who witnessed the …,” he swallowed again, “the attack must be silenced, and the new story must be spread among the people. There must be no doubt of its truth.”

Odin put a hand on the boy's shoulder. “It will be done as you say.”

He felt a sharp pang of regret. Loki's actions were well reasoned and dutiful; he would have been a fine consort for his wayward son. With such a partner by his side, advising him, Thor might have grown into a fine king. Now Odin wondered what they would do with him. He needed discipline, patience - control. Things that Loki could have taught him. Odin didn't know if Thor realized how few eligible partners were available to him. They had been lucky with Loki - he was the right age, could take on an Aesir appearance and bear children, and in behavior and intelligence, had far exceeded Odin's expectations. Odin had been pleased to think of him marrying Thor. Who knew what kind of a spouse they would find for him now?

He sighed. At least they would still have the truce with Jotunheim.

----------

"Now that it is safe, will you not let Eir administer a healing stone?" Frigga asked.

Loki shook his head. “She warned me that they can act like a drug upon certain constitutions." He grimaced, "I can't take the risk. My head must be clear when I speak to my father."

He looked down at the letter he had just written. Reading through it quickly, he gave a nod and folded it. "Would you ask Lord Fandral if he would deliver this?"

Frigga took it from him, looking curiously at the address.

"Udr was my first friend in Asgard, and I would not want to leave without a word of farewell." He hesitated, and added, “They have a fishmonger's shop in the town. They are good people, trying to make a living, and…"

Frigga smiled. "We will be happy to appoint them as royal provisioners, you have my word."

For the first time that day, Loki allowed himself a small smile in return. “Thank you. Udr will be very happy!"

Frigga put the letter into her pocket and studied Loki's face. "Loki, will you tell me what you expect your father to do to you?"

Loki looked away. "Does it matter?"

"Of course it does!"

"When hundreds could die? When the fate of at least two realms is at stake?"

She opened her mouth to reply, but realized that, of course, he was right. Whatever happened to him couldn't be as important as saving their people. Instead, she said what was in her heart. "I don't want to see you suffer; I don't want to see you hurt."

His eyes filled with tears. Despite her defense of her son, she still cared for him. He tried to keep his tone light and make a joke of it. “Then perhaps it might be best not to watch."

She didn't smile. "You think he will hurt you?"

"I think this is a pointless discussion. There is nothing we can do to change anything, unless we are prepared to go to war."

She had no answer to that. She knew that he was right.

—-------

Laufey looked larger than ever against the backdrop of Himinbjorg and the air was cold around him. He glowered at the assembled Asgardians - Odin and Frigga, Thor and, in the background, the all-seeing Heimdall. “I have been told the wedding has been canceled. I would know why.”

Thor bristled at his tone - did he know who he was speaking to? - but Odin stepped forward and motioned for Loki to stand at his side. “King Laufey, you are welcome to Asgard.”

Loki bowed to him. “My king.”

Interesting, thought Odin. Not ‘father’, but ‘king’. Loki's words were always measured, so he could only assume that it was intentional.

Laufey glared at Loki. No love lost there, Odin realized. Loki was right, his father would believe it of him.

“Well? What have you to say?"

“My king, I must confess to a vile and treasonous act.” Loki took a breath, knowing what it would cost him to say the next words. “I seduced members of the prince's guard and lay with them; we were caught in the act. I have tainted the name of the royal house of Jotunheim and brought disgrace upon us all.”

Laufey growled deep in throat, sounding very like the monster Asgardian children believed him to be. He moved forward, fists clenched, towering over his son. "YOU DARE STAND BEFORE ME AND TELL ME THIS!”

Loki lowered his head and swallowed. "My king - I would not have you blame the Asgardians for my licentiousness. The wrongdoing was all mine.”

Laufey pulled back his hand and struck Loki, the blow knocking him off his feet and sending him sprawling at the edge of the bridge. Frigga took an involuntary step forward, but Odin put out a hand and held her back.

Loki scrambled to his knees. “I am sorry, your majesty. I await your punishment.”

“You know the sentence for unchastity in our realm.” Laufey's voice was as cold as ice.

“I do, sire.” Loki lowered his head.

A large sword of ice grew from Laufey's arm.

Alarmed, Frigga asked, "Wait! What do you mean to do?"

Laufey moved to stand over his son. "In Jotunheim, it is an act of treason for a member of the royal family to dishonor themselves in such a way. The punishment for treason is death."

"No!" Thor stepped forward, trying to place himself between his former fiance and the king of Jotunheim. He may have been the cause of Loki's fall, but he would not be responsible for his death.

"You will stay out of this!" Odin growled.

Laufey glared at Thor. "His act dishonors you also! His very existence is a stain upon Jotunheim, and he should have been disposed of long before this. His birthright was to die; I am merely fulfilling his destiny."

Frigga was shooting glances from one to another, as though everyone before her was insane. She gripped her husband's arm. "Husband!"

Odin pried her hand away and stepped forward. With a quick glance at his wife and son, he said, "You are right. My son - and Asgard - have been insulted by the actions of Prince Loki."

"Odin!"

Odin frowned at his wife and continued, "Because of this, I believe it should be our right to pass sentence upon him."

"HE WILL DIE FOR THIS!" thundered Laufey.

"I understand. I simply request that you allow ME to strike the blow for Asgard."

Laufey considered for a moment before agreeing. It seemed that, despite the actions of his despised offspring, the king and his family bore no hard feeling towards Jotunheim, and their uneasy truce would continue to stand. "Of course, King Odin - as long as you allow me to be a witness."

"Certainly." Odin heard Frigga's gasp of horror and turned to her. Squeezing her hand with unnecessary force, he said pointedly, “My dear, I am under no ILLUSIONS about how much this will upset you. I know that it will DOUBLE the pain you already feel, but it must be done."

Frigga stared for a moment and her eyes widened as she caught his meaning. Nodding quickly, and hoping she had interpreted him correctly, she stepped back, raising her hands in front of her, as if in prayer.

Perhaps she was praying, for she began to mutter under her breath. Odin smiled in her direction before turning back to Loki, raising Gungnir.

Thor stared open-mouthed. "You can't mean to do this! It wasn't his…"

“SILENCE!" Odin swung around, Gungnir in hand, and Thor was knocked off his feet. He gasped, incredulous.

Laufey moved to stand next to Odin as the Asgardian king raised Gungnir. With a decisive gesture, Odin thrust the spear towards the still kneeling figure.

His movement must have startled Frigga, for she threw out her hands, as if reaching for the boy.

There was a flash of light, and Thor frowned; for a moment, it had looked as though there was an outline around the Jotun prince.

Loki's body lay still on the ground.

Odin turned to his wife. "Frigga, if you would."

Frigga gave a small bow of her head and approached the figure. She knelt and placed her fingers against the pulse of his neck. "It is done. He is dead."

Odin dipped his head in acknowledgement. “Dispose of it, would you, my dear?"

Thor watched, mouth agape, as his mother extended her foot and pushed the body from the Rainbow Bridge.

Odin smiled, satisfied. Turning to Laufey, he asked, “This has been a difficult time for all of us; may I offer you some refreshment?"

Laufey drew his eyes from the figure disappearing into the void. “Thank you. I have heard much of Asgardian ale, I would indeed like to try it."

“Then let us wait no longer! Follow me." Odin led him along the rainbow bridge towards the palace, Frigga following closely behind.

Thor stared after them in shock. He felt sick. Prince Loki, despite being a Jotun, had acted with honor and courage and he, the Crown Prince of Asgard, had not. He had caused the death of an innocent man, a man who had given his life to save countless others. To add insult to injury, his parents were acting as though his death meant nothing. Worse still, his father had even demanded that he be the one who delivered the killing blow, while his mother had kicked away the body as if she was disposing of a pile of bilgesnipe guts.

For the first time in his life, Thor wondered who amongst them really deserved the title of monster.

Chapter Text

Loki groaned. He hurt everywhere.

He wondered why. He must be dead and in Hel, so why would his body ache? Why did he even have a body?

He realized that he was lying on something soft, with a light covering over him. He shifted and felt a jolt of pain from his ribs; his eyes shot open.

"You might want to take it easy, you’ve got a couple of broken ribs and some impressive bruises - although they seem to be healing pretty quickly."

Loki turned to see a mousey-looking man wearing glasses. Beside him was a smaller man with a goatee.

"Hey, sleeping beauty! How're you feeling?"

Loki ignored the question and stared around him in confusion. His shock only increased when he realized he was in his Aesir form, the one he was supposed to assume after the wedding. He tore his eyes away from his white hands and their delicate translucent nails.

"Where am I? What is this place?"

"New York City," answered the smaller man.

Loki stared at him blankly.

"Earth? Midgard?"

Loki frowned. “Midgard? How? Why am I here?"

The two men shared a look. "We were kinda hoping you could tell us."

The man with glasses stepped forward. "What's the last thing you remember?"

Loki hesitated; was this some kind of test? Odin must have sent him here, but for what purpose? How much did these Midgardians already know? Why wasn't he already dead, and did his continued existence depend upon his answers now?

He decided that his best course - his only course - was honesty. "I was about to be executed."

The two men stiffened, instantly alert. One of them raised his hand, and Loki noticed that he was wearing an unwieldy looking glove.

"What’d you do, try to take over the world?"

Loki lowered his eyes, his cheeks flaming. "I was found to be unchaste."

"Uncha… wait, WHAT?"

"I was bedded outside of wedlock," Loki clarified. "I am a -" he stopped short of saying ‘a prince of the Jotun royal family’, Laufey had made his distaste for Loki quite clear, "Jotun. I am - I was - connected to a noble house. Therefore, it was a treasonous act for me to be bedded out of wedlock."

The smaller man's mouth dropped open. “Remind me never to go and visit Jotunheim. I’d be public enemy number one," he quipped.

The other man rolled his eyes. Despite himself, Loki couldn't help a wry smile.

“Shame you weren't on Asgard," the man continued. “Thor seems to be allowed to bed anything that moves."

Loki's cheeks burned and he tasted bile. He didn't want to think about Thor.

“Tony," Bruce warned. He saw something in the injured man's expression that made him think that Thor might be a touchy subject. Then he remembered - hadn't the Jotuns been enemies of Asgard for centuries? He knew Thor was meant to be taking a Jotun bride, but it would take people a long time to rethink their prejudices.

He saw that Tony had realized the same thing. Awkwardly, he said, "Oh, yeah - sorry. Forgot about the whole Asgard/Jotunheim thing."

Bruce stepped forward again. "I'm sorry, but I have to ask - your, um… bedding - was it,” Bruce cleared his throat, his face bright red, “consensual? Because when you landed I noticed you were bleeding and had to examine you. There are some nasty contusions and bruises, especially on your back and - um - thighs. Your face is pretty beaten up, too."

Loki stiffened. He didn't want to talk about it. "I didn't… I don't…"

Tony put a hand on his arm and Loki flinched. Tony backed away again, hands up in the universal gesture of ‘peace’. "Hey, if you don't want to talk about it, that's fine."

The mousey man nodded. "Just so long as you tell us if you're in pain, okay?"

Loki nodded, relieved.

“Can you tell us your name?”

Loki considered for a moment. He had told the truth about the important things, and they hadn't judged him for it, but if they knew Thor, they must know that Thor had been destined to marry him. He didn't know what Thor might have told them, but he didn't want to see their looks of either disgust or pity when they heard his name.

"I am Loptr."

Tony raised an eyebrow. "Just Loptr?"

Loki looked confused. "What else should I be?"

"I don't know. We’ve met a few Asgardians, and they're usually 'sir’ or ‘lady’ and 'son of’."

Loki looked down. He was no longer a prince and no longer a son of Laufey. He had only his name left. "As I told you - I'm not Asgardian."

Tony studied him for a long moment, as if he was a puzzle to solve. Loki could understand that; he certainly felt that way about himself. He had no idea what had happened or why he was there, and he didn't even know how he could find out.

Tony seemed to come to a decision. “Okay... So, my name's Tony Stark, this is Bruce Banner… and this is Jarvis," he said, signaling to the air. “Say hello, Jarvis."

Loki looked around, puzzled, and jumped as a disembodied voice said, "It's a pleasure to meet you, sir."

"He's my AI," Tony said, explaining nothing.

"Is it magic?" asked Loki, causing Tony to chuckle.

Jarvis himself answered, "I am an artificial intelligence created by Mr Stark." At Loki's look of puzzlement, he clarified, "AI's are machines that mimic human intelligence to perform tasks and improve themselves based on the information they collect. Monitoring devices in the walls allow me to assist him as needed."

“That's impressive," admitted Loki. “I didn't know Midgard was so advanced."

Tony looked a little smug. "You should get out more."

Loki stared in the direction of the artificial voice. "Indeed…" He wondered if he would ever be able to. For most of his life, he had been a prisoner on Jotunheim. He had enjoyed a small taste of freedom exploring Asgard with Udr or Fandral. He had no idea what his circumstances were to be now, but he wouldn't get his hopes up.

Tony seemed to see something in his face. "Get some rest, okay? And don’t worry, we’ll figure this out. We'll talk more later."

----------

After the two men left, Loki tried to work out what had happened. For some reason, instead of being dead, he was on Midgard, and in the Aesir form he would have adopted after his wedding. A quick mental check showed him that he was healing, albeit slowly, and that he still had his powers, although they felt sluggish and weak - the aftereffects of the sedir suppressing cuffs, he assumed.

He lay back, exhausted. Too much had happened too quickly and he didn't know what to make of it.

The door opened and Tony barged in, carrying something awkwardly. Loki jumped, and the other man looked shamefaced. "Sorry. Didn't mean to startle you, but this just arrived. I think it's for you."

He placed it in front of Loki. It was a large crate, richly decorated with gold and gems. It was clearly of Asgardian make. He wondered why they thought it would be for him - he had already told them he was Jotun. "Why do you think it's not for one of you?" Perhaps Thor had sent a gift to his friends.

Tony shrugged. "Won't open for any of us. Try it and see if you have better luck."

Biting his lip nervously, Loki reached for the lock and instantly heard a click. Emboldened, he lifted the lid. A letter sat on top.

Tony smiled and moved away to give him some privacy. Loki picked up the letter and opened it, and a small bag of something that looked like dust fell into his hand. He started to read.

‘My dearest Loki, son of my heart!

I am so sorry about what happened. Odin and I will forever be grateful for your sacrifice. Thanks to you, peace continues between our two kingdoms.

I hope it will not upset you too much when I tell you that your father felt he had no choice but to apologize for the insult to Asgard. I do not tell you this to distress you, but to show you that your selfless actions bore fruit and war has been avoided. More than that, King Laufey sat with us for some time lamenting his troublesome children. It created a bond between us - and thus between the realms.

Although we know that his disappointment is unwarranted, ours is currently at the forefront of our minds. How we wish our son could have put aside his prejudice and taken you for his spouse. Asgard would have been fortunate to have such a prince as you on its throne.

To his credit, Thor was horrified at what he believed to be your punishment, and locked himself away for many hours. We have decided to wait and let him consider the consequences of his actions before we enlighten him as to your fate.

I am sure that you also have questions, so I shall do my best to explain what happened.

Finding King Laufey to be obdurate about your punishment, my husband quickly devised a plan. Unable to do anything but give me the broadest hints he could, I fortunately understood what he was planning. As you lay on the ground awaiting punishment, I created a double of you. When Odin pointed Gungnir, he sent you to the Avengers in Midgard, in a form that would enable you to blend in with the people there. He sends his apologies for any discomfort your landing may have caused. It is not a gentle way to travel, and with your existing injuries, it could not have been pleasant. It was, however, better by far than the alternative. I have enclosed a crushed healing stone with this letter. Mix it with water and drink it, and hopefully it will help alleviate the worst of your injuries.

The illusion I created was ‘killed’ by Gungnir's blast, and the body pushed off the edge of the Rainbow Bridge. As far as anyone else knows, Prince Loki is dead. Only Odin, Heimdall and myself know otherwise.

Midgard is far enough removed from the other realms that you are unlikely to be discovered there, and we know the Avengers to be good people who will help you to adjust to a new life - may it be happier than the one you left behind!

In thanks for your great altruism, we give you this chest. It is made of gold and set with many precious stones - its value should be great enough to allow you to live well for many years. I have also filled it with your possessions, as well as some of the books in which you expressed an interest. I hope, with these tomes, you will continue the study of magic. You have a great deal of natural ability and, with practice, could become one of the greatest sorcerers in the nine realms. It is my great regret that I can not lead you on your journey.

Farewell, dear Loki, and may the Norns bless your future!

Frigga.

It took Loki a few moments to recover from such a letter, and he only moved when a tear splashed onto the page. He quickly brushed it away, not wanting to mark the precious signature.

He and Frigga had become so close so quickly, and he had longed for the day when he could call her mother. Now he never would.

Something was being pressed into his hand, and he looked down to see a handkerchief.

"You okay?"

He nodded, not quite ready to speak.

"Anything we can help with?"

He shook his head, and then realized there was much he needed help with, and he probably didn't have the luxury of waiting. “This chest is a gift so that I can afford to live here. How can I go about selling it?"

Tony examined the trunk. "It's pretty spectacular, probably worth quite a bit. We should get it appraised first."

"Appraised?"

"Valued. We'll make some calls, get some experts in." Tony took a closer look at it. "It's really something - are you sure you want to get rid of it?"

Loki swallowed. "I need money now. I shall need a place to sleep, and food, and…" He broke off, suddenly aware of the enormity of it all. Food, shelter, clothing, and whatever items he would need to find work… His breathing began to quicken.

"Hey, calm down!" He felt a hand grasp his chin and Tony brought him into eye contact. Oddly - in view of his recent history - it didn't feel threatening. “There's plenty of time and you don't want to rush into something like that. You'll get ripped off if you seem desperate."

"But I need…"

"You'll stay here until you're ready."

"But I have no money…"

Tony grinned. “Then it's lucky you landed on the roof of one of the richest men on the planet!"

Chapter Text

Loki slept solidly for twelve hours after drinking the healing stone potion. He woke up feeling sore and groggy, but at least his ribs were healed and he wasn't in pain anymore.

Tony was reading beside his bed. Loki should have been worried, with a stranger beside him when he was so vulnerable, but oddly, no alarm bells were ringing inside his head. For some reason, Loki was reminded of Hafli, his jailer in Jotunheim, watching over him in his cell. Instead of feeling intimidated, it made him feel safe. Protected.

Tony put down his papers and smiled. "Hey, you're awake! How are you feeling?"

Loki smiled a little wryly. "Better."

"Well, I guess that's something. Hungry?"

Just the thought of food made him feel nauseated. "No. Thank you."

"Would you like to get out of here and see where you'll be staying?"

Loki hesitated. "I should not impose…"

Tony interrupted him. "No trouble at all - I like the company. Do you feel up to walking around, or would you like a wheelchair?"

"I can walk." Loki began to sit up and froze. He had been in pain and so tired that he hadn't been thinking clearly, but now he realized he was wearing only a thin gown that - for some reason he couldn't begin to fathom - was open at the back, held together by only a few ties. He pulled the sheets higher to cover himself.

Tony looked stricken. "Oh, yeah. Sorry, didn't think. Like we said, you were in pretty bad shape when you fell, and the robes you were wearing got pretty messed up. Bruce had to remove them to examine you, we needed to make sure you weren’t seriously injured. But hey, you know what? If it makes you feel any better, we can show you! Jarvis, play the footage of Loptr's arrival!"

"Certainly, sir."

A screen lowered itself from the ceiling and Loki watched, fascinated, as he saw himself fall from the bifrost. On the screen, two figures rushed out, one wearing red and gold armor - was that Tony? - and Bruce.

As he looked at himself on the screen, he could see the healer's point. The impact caused his nose to bleed and his stitches must have reopened. Patches of blood stained his thick robes.

He watched as the armor's faceplate opened, revealing Tony. Bruce performed a quick examination before signaling to Tony to lift Loki and carry him inside.

The picture changed. Tony bustled about the lab while Bruce cut away Loki's clothing and covered him with the gown he was now wearing. It was all done as quickly and respectfully as Loki could have wished.

As Bruce began to examine his patient, Loki turned away from the screen, "Please - no more."

He had seen enough to convince him that they had not taken advantage of his vulnerability, but he didn't want to watch the rest.

The screen went blank.

Tony looked uncomfortable. "You okay? Should I not have shown you that? I thought it would help, but -"

"No, it was fine," Loki interrupted. He took a breath. "It did help. I just… didn't want to see anymore."

Tony nodded. “Sure, I get that." He looked around for a way to lighten the tension.

Jarvis came to the rescue. “There are robes inside the closet, sir. I'm sure that one of them will be suitable for Mr Loptr."

Tony relaxed and exhaled. "Yes! Thanks, Jarvis." He pulled open the door and began to sort through piles of fabric. "Okay, here we go, try this on."

Loki took the robe and pulled it on. It felt stiff and new, but it fit him.

"Come on, I'll show you your apartment."

Tony led the way, but slowly, allowing Loki to set the pace. Although the healing stone had done its work extremely well, Loki was still tired and a little stiff.

When they arrived, Tony threw open the door and gestured for him to walk inside.

From behind him, Tony said, “So obviously, this is the living room, kitchen over there - don’t worry, when you’re feeling more awake I'll show you how everything works! Bedroom is here," he threw open a door, showing a large, sunny room with windows that faced two ways, "and the bathroom is through there."

Loki stared around him, stunned. Everything he had ever heard had led him to believe that Migardians were a primitive race, but this room was every bit as luxurious as his rooms in Asgard.

Tony frowned, a little unnerved by his silence. "Is this okay? I'm afraid it's a little basic, but if you tell me what you need, I can get Jarvis to -"

"No! No, this is incredible." Loki took a breath and tried to smile. "But it is too much, I can't stay here." It was one thing to stay in such elegant rooms when he was a royal prince, about to marry into the royal family of Asgard, but it was surely not appropriate for the disgraced former prince of Jotunheim.

Tony frowned. "Why not?"

"A room like this must be for visiting dignitaries and ambassadors; I no longer carry the name of a noble house. I am little more than a commoner - less, in fact, for I have been disowned and cast out. I don't deserve such accommodations."

Tony raised an eyebrow. "Yeah? Well, we don't worry about stuff like that here. I'm Tony Stark, and this is my house. If I want you to have these rooms, then the only thing that matters is whether or not you like them. Do you like them?"

Loki was still unsure, but to argue further would have been to insult his host. “They are wonderful, thank you." He walked over to the window that spanned the length of the room from floor to ceiling. He seemed to be in a great city, with buildings as far as the eye can see. "What is the name of this city?"

"New York."

He noticed that they seemed to be higher than any of the buildings around them, and Loki suddenly realized what that might mean. Embarrassed and shocked that he hadn't thought to ask earlier, he said, "Are you the king of this realm? I am sorry, I should have asked how to address you, I hope I have not offended -"

Tony held up his hands to stop the flow of words. "No, no! This is America, we don't have kings here." He grinned and shrugged his shoulders, “I'm just incredibly rich."

They looked out of the window together. "What do you think, is it anything like Jotunheim?"

Loki gave a small laugh. "I’ve never seen anything like it, it's amazing."

“See, I knew I liked you! When you're feeling up to it, I'll take you out and show you the sights - then you'll really love it! See the water there? That's the East River. And that -" he pointed to a building, “that's the Chrysler building." He turned to examine his guest. "What kind of things do you like to do?"

Loki bit his lip. He had done so little in his life that he really didn't know how to answer. “I like reading."

Tony smiled. “Reading's good. What else?"

"Umm…" he tried to think of something else. He had enjoyed helping out at the fish stall in Asgard, but he didn't think that counted. "I like studying."

Tony grinned. "Erm, still counts as reading, I'm afraid. Do you like to do anything outdoors?"

Loki brightened. "I like the countryside. I was learning to ride a horse."

Tony grimaced. "Well, it is possible to go riding in Central Park, but it’s probably not what you’re used to. Do you like shopping? Jarvis ordered some clothes for you, but as soon as you're feeling better, we'll go out and you can choose whatever you want."

Loki stared at him in disbelief. He had never in his life been allowed to choose his own clothes. "Why are you being so kind to me?"

Tony shrugged. "You're having a rough time and like you? What can I say, I'm an eccentric billionaire, I do crazy things."

Loki had never before felt so uncertain about his position. "I will try not to trespass on you longer than I have to. If you can help me find work…"

"Hey! What did I just say? I'm a billionaire! You could eat caviar and oysters for every meal, and it wouldn't even make a dent in my bank account."

Loki's eyes lit up. "You have oysters here?"

Tony laughed. "Didn't mean for that to be taken so literally, but yeah. You like oysters?"

"Yes. I like most seafood."

"Caviar too, I'm guessing?"

Loki frowned. "I don't know what that is."

Tony's mouth dropped open in mock horror. "You don't know what caviar is? Jarvis!"

"Yes, sir?"

"Order in some caviar and oysters for dinner!"

"Certainly, sir."

—-------

Tony insisted that Loki rest before dinner, and he was glad of it.

He was exhausted. He thought he would fall instantly into bed, but at the sight of the crisp white sheets, he paused.

So much had happened, it seemed impossible that it had only been a few days since the attack. He had been in the healing rooms until the confrontation with his father, and then he landed here. His mind was much clearer now, thanks to the healing stone, but with that clarity came the remembrance of everything else that had happened.

He stepped into the bathing room. A bathtub stood in the corner. It was much smaller than the pool he had in his rooms at Asgard, but it was still far better than the rusty old shower that had been in his cell in Jotunheim. A few minutes of fiddling with the taps showed him how it worked, and within minutes the tub began to fill.

He began to pull off his robe, only to suddenly freeze. He looked to the ceiling and said, "Jarvis?"

There was no answer. He walked back into the other room and called out again. This time the answer was immediate. "Yes, Mr Loptr?"

"Can you see me in the bathroom?"

"No, sir. There are no cameras or microphones in the bathroom. Furthermore, if you wish to be unobserved, simply ask for privacy and I will disable all monitoring devices in your area."

Loki let out a breath. “Thank you."

“My pleasure, sir. Can I assist you with anything else?"

"No, thank you. I am going to take a bath."

"Certainly, sir. Might I recommend trying some of the bath salts in the green jar? I believe they are specifically formulated to soothe aching muscles."

Loki retrieved the jar and opened it. The scent was wonderful.

"A couple of handfuls should suffice, sir."

“Thank you, Jarvis.” Loki smiled. He didn't care if Jarvis was a machine; as far as Loki was concerned, he was a friend.

—-------

The water was hotter than he would usually find comfortable, but it was what he needed. He felt as if it could boil him clean. Jarvis had been right about the salts - the scent was relaxing and his muscles did feel better.

The room was fully stocked with everything Loki could need, and he washed and scrubbed himself until his strange, white skin was red and sore. He knew that simply bathing wouldn't make him feel comfortable in his body again - it would be a long time before that happened - but it helped, and that would have to be enough.

A chime sounded in the other room. Loki wrapped himself in a towel and poked his head outside. "Jarvis?"

“Mr Loptr, Mr Stark would like to know if you will be ready to eat in half an hour?"

Loki's stomach rumbled at the thought - how long had it been since he’d last eaten? "Yes, Jarvis. I will be ready. Where should I go?"

“Mr Stark will bring the food to your room, if that is acceptable."

Loki thought about his lonely rooms in Asgard, where he had been abandoned for weeks and almost starved without anyone even knowing he was there. He felt a sudden rush of gratitude for Tony Stark. "Yes, Jarvis. I would like that."

—-------

Tony, being Tony, had been unable to stop at just caviar and oysters. Bruce had suggested that Loki was a little underweight, and since he liked seafood, Tony was going to get the best selection he could find. He watched eagerly as Loki sampled everything.

Loki loved caviar. He also discovered that he liked sushi, nigiri and sashimi, and Tony was careful to explain what was in each one. He enjoyed pickled ginger, but emphatically did NOT like wasabi. To be fair, Tony had tried to warn him - if a little half-heartedly. Tony had laughed until he had almost cried, and to Loki's surprise, Tony's laughter had been so contagious that Loki found himself joining in. Tony had apologized by letting Loki eat all of the ice cream, which was by far the most delicious thing Loki had ever tasted.

He had a sudden pang as he thought of his friends in Asgard and their dreams of ice cream. He felt suddenly sad as he realized that he would never be able to help them make it.

"Everything okay?"

Loki looked up to see soft brown eyes watching him worriedly. "I'm fine. I was just thinking about some people I know." He stirred his spoon around. “They wanted to know how to make ice cream… We were going to do it together."

Tony's expression was sympathetic. "Your friends?"

Loki nodded. "I’ve never really had friends before…” Tony frowned, but before he could ask why, Loki continued, “I wish I could have said goodbye properly."

“You couldn’t say goodbye?”

“There was no time. I sent a letter explaining everything.” He bit his lip. “I wasn’t completely honest with them. I hope they will understand and forgive me.”

Tony couldn’t stop himself from reaching out and gently squeezing Loki’s hand. “Of course they will. That’s what friends do. And you’ll soon make friends here, you already have me and Bruce!”

“And Jarvis?” Loki added, and then he froze - perhaps it was not appropriate to consider the AI to be a friend?

But Tony gave a smile that seemed to brighten the whole room. “Just goes to show you have great taste - Jarvis is very definitely a friend!”

Chapter Text

Fandral snuck out of the palace in the early morning light. He didn't want to meet anyone he knew. He could just about stand Volstagg, but if he met Sif or Hogan, he knew they would get into an argument. He felt sick at the way the two of them were constantly trying to make Thor feel better by justifying his actions and telling him it wasn't his fault, when it would have been clear to the blind beggars in the street that none of this would have happened if Thor would just grow up and behave like the prince he was.

Which was another reason why he was sneaking around the palace like a thief - if he met Thor, he would want to hit his prince until he lay face down in the dirt and apologised for what had been done to Loki.

He missed Loki.

Was it love? He really didn't know. He knew he missed his friend - missed his smile, his gentle humor, his growing sense of adventure.

Loki had come to love Asgard. The way he died had proved it. Again, Fandral couldn't help but think of the difference between their own selfish, immature prince and the man they once called 'the Jotun monster’. Fandral knew that he was as guilty as any of them for behaving badly, but he at least had learned his lesson.

He was sitting in the stables, petting Loki’s favorite horse, when the queen found him. His eyes widened in surprise at seeing the queen of Asgard with the hem of her dress dragging through the muck and dirt of the stable floor. Surely, if she wanted to ride, a groom would bring her mount to her?

He bowed. “Majesty."

She smiled. "Rise, Sir Fandral. I have been looking for you. It seems you are hard to find lately."

Fandral blushed. "I apologize, my lady. It is only that I -" he paused, trying to think of an explanation for his absence.

Frigga held up a hand to forestall him. “That you were trying to avoid my son."

Fandral only reddened further and didn't reply - how could he?

"I cannot blame you. Indeed, if it were not that we are the royal family and constantly watched and reported upon, I think his father and I would be doing much the same. We have not been impressed with his actions of late."

"I am sorry, my lady, I -"

Again, she interrupted. "I would think less of you if you were unaffected; your feelings do you credit. Alas, it is the nature of royalty that we often must smile when we would censure, and approve where we would like to condemn."

Fandral's temper flared as he realized the implications of her words. “Thor will receive no punishment?" The minute the words were out of his mouth, he remembered that he was speaking to Thor's mother.

Frigga did not admonish him for it. "No. We cannot. It has been such a scandal, and despite our best efforts, there are so many rumors. Any kind of punishment would only serve to confirm them and renew tensions between the realms. Prince Loki," her voice broke a little at his name, “offered himself as a sacrifice to prevent that. We will not be so ungrateful as to throw away that gift."

Of course they couldn't. She was right, it would undo everything Loki had been trying to achieve. There was more at stake here than Fandral's desire for justice.

Still, he asked, "And the soldiers?"

She shrugged unhappily. "I'm afraid the same argument applies. Especially since they will undoubtedly defend themselves by saying they took their orders from the prince. It would be his word against theirs. We can't officially prosecute them without implicating Thor."

Fandral noticed her emphasis on one particular word. "Officially?"

"It is a difficult situation. They cannot be tried in a court of law, and yet their actions almost plunged us into a war. The brutality of what they did is particularly distasteful, and I would not have such men under my roof."

“So what can be done?"

This time, her shrug was pragmatic. “They are soldiers, they are constantly being sent to face danger. It may be that an accident will soon befall them."

Despite himself, Fandral was shocked. "You would arrange such a thing?"

Her face hardened and he saw the shield maiden beneath the queen's facade. “They are a threat to us and to Asgard. They cannot be prosecuted by traditional means, but they must be removed before they cause greater harm. They have been silenced for now, but it would only take one night of drinking in the right company for the whole story to come out. That must not be allowed to happen."

Fandral nodded. “So they, at least, will meet justice."

The queen reached out and took his hand. “Sir Fandral, I know it seems wrong - it is wrong - that my son will face no repercussions at this time, but I strongly believe that the Norns will not let his transgressions pass. I am old enough to know that one way or another, he will pay for what he has done." She pulled a letter from the pocket of her gown. "In the meantime, I have a service to ask of you. Loki wished for you to deliver this to his friends in town - will you do so?"

Fandral took the letter, smiling a little to see Loki's rather chaotic scrawl. "I will."

“Thank you." She studied him for a moment. "When you return, come to my garden. I wish to speak with you about another matter."

Fandral raised his eyebrows, but she didn't elaborate. "Certainly, my queen." He bowed low as she turned and walked away.

—-------

He found the fishmongers easily. It was in a small back alley, but people were milling around, bundles of wrapped packages under their arms. He didn't remember seeing a store there before, so it must have recently opened.

He walked inside and stared in shock. A large block of ice ran from one wall to another, fish arranged artfully on top.

It must have been Loki's work.

A young girl came up to him, her smile wide. "Welcome, my lord! How can we help you today?"

Fandral looked at the paper in his hand. "I'm looking for Udr?"

The girl stood a little straighter. "I'm Udr." She looked quickly down at the letter. "Loptr!" Snatching the letter from his hand, she raised her voice, "Hey everyone, it's a letter from Loptr!"

Fandral didn't even have time to be annoyed by her before confusion took over - Loptr? Who on Asgard was ‘Loptr’?

He was suddenly surrounded by a group of extremely loud and pushy women. He felt a hand shove him aside as someone said, "Well, read it!"

Udr tore open the letter and cleared her throat -

My dear friend -

You must forgive me for saying goodbye by letter. I am forced to leave Asgard, and I am unable to say goodbye to all of my friends in person. I wish that I could; I dearly wish I could see all of you one last time.

Since it can no longer matter - and since you are bound to find out the truth sooner or later - I must confess that I lied to you. I hope you will forgive me for the deception.

I am not, alas, one of Prince Loki's attendants. In truth, I am Prince Loki," here she broke off and stared at the page in shock. She looked around and saw that the other women were as stunned as she was. She began to read again, “Third son of King Laufey of Jotunheim. Know that I enjoyed working in your shop more than almost anything else I have done. For the first time in my life, I felt accepted by you, your family and your friends - people that I now consider to be my friends as well.

You will hear terrible things said of me. I only ask that you keep an open mind and know that I have always followed my conscience and done my best, both for my people and the people I came to love.

I sign this, not as a prince, but as your friend,

Loptr.

—-------

Udr held the note tightly in her hand, crumpling the paper slightly with the force of her grip. She saw tears in the eyes of the women around her and knew that hers were the same. She wiped at them with the back of her hand.

Looking up, she said, "I'm sorry, I don't know your name?"

It took Fandral a minute or so to realize she was addressing him. "Fandral." He remembered himself and gave a small bow, "Fandral the Dashing, at your service."

She tried to smile. "You were his friend. You… you were teaching him to ride."

"Yes."

She saw her own pain mirrored in his eyes. "He was very fond of you, he talked about you all the time."

Fandral tried to smile, but didn't quite make it. "I'm afraid he never spoke of you at all."

Udr gave a small shrug. "I don't think we can blame him for that. I can't imagine what the royal family would have thought of Prince Thor's intended working at a fishmongers."

This time, Fandral did manage a small, genuine smile. "I think Queen Frigga would have found it hilarious."

Udr gave an answering smile. It died away quickly as she asked her next question. "We - we have heard rumors..."

The women around her began to mutter, and a young woman that looked a lot like her - a sister, perhaps? - gripped her arm.

“They are saying…" she swallowed, 'they are saying…" her voice choked on a sob.

One of the women - a large, muscular woman - pushed forward. “They are saying the prince was executed for seducing the palace guards."

All eyes turned to Fandral.

He wished he’d never agreed to deliver that damned letter. "Yes," he said shortly, "he was."

She eyed him sharply. She was clearly a woman used to ferreting out the truth. "And how was his trial? Was he found to be guilty as charged?”

Fandral met her eyes. "There was no trial. He confessed to it in front of King Laufey, who sentenced him to death, according to the laws of their realm. The Allfather carried out the sentence."

The woman stared at him sharply, holding his gaze as if she could read the truth in his eyes. Then she turned away, hiding her face for a moment. He had the impression she was a woman that would never let others witness her emotion.

Udr's temper flared. "Loptr would never have done that! They say -"

The other woman interrupted her. “They say things that would lead to war if they were true." She fixed Udr with a steely gaze. “They are saying things about our prince that would give Jotunheim just cause to invade Asgard. Things so terrible that the rulers of Alfheim and Vanaheim would find it difficult to justify fighting by our side. And without their support, do you think Nidavellir would join us in our fight?"

Udr opened her mouth to argue and then closed it again, wordless.

The woman holding her arm said, "But what of Loptr - sorry, Prince Loki?"

The rest of the women nodded in agreement.

"Prince Loki confessed. Remember his note - he followed his conscience and did his best for his people. ALL of his people. He made his choice, and we should respect his decision."

Udr lowered her head, and Fandral saw a tear fall from her lashes.

"But that doesn't mean we can't honor him."

One of the other women asked, "What do you mean?"

"He was one of us, and we should mourn him as such."

Udr looked up, her eyes red but determined. "Yes! Yes, we should! We WILL!"

Murmurs of agreement chorused through the crowd.

Udr turned to Fandral. "Will you come?"

Fandral was surprised and pleased to be included. They were right - Loki deserved a funeral and Fandral wanted the chance to mourn him.

"I will," he decided.

—-------

Thor walked into his father's study. "You wanted to see me?" he asked sulkily.

"I did," Odin glared at him from his desk, "and next time you will knock before entering my office."

Thor scowled at his father. “May I sit?"

Odin motioned to a chair and Thor sat down heavily.

"I have brought you here to discuss your marriage."

Thor raised an insolent eyebrow. “Since you killed my fiance, I assumed it had been canceled."

Odin felt his temper rising. "You would do well to tread carefully, boy! You well know the circumstances that surrounded the execution of Prince Loki, and the part you played in them!"

Thor jumped up and clenched his fists. "I did not rape him!"

"No, you had others to do it for you!"

Thor slumped back into his chair. "I did not mean for things to happen the way they did."

"And neither did I. Nor, I assume, did Prince Loki. Unfortunately, it is now up to us to make the best of it."

"How can I marry now? Loki is dead, and surely Laufey has no other children he can offer."

"He does not. However, that does not remove the need for your marriage. Indeed, the council insist that you must be married before you become king."

Thor crossed his arms. "I have no idea why you allow them to dictate terms to you - you are the king!"

"And I rule with the support of the council."

Thor made a dismissive snort, which Odin ignored. It was an old argument.

“So who am I to marry?"

Odin sighed. “Since you can obviously not marry a fire-demon or a dwarf, and Midgardian lives are far too short, the only remaining option is to look for a bride on Vanaheim or Alfheim."

For the first time since this whole mess had begun, Thor brightened. He was - even if he said so himself - extremely popular with the women of Vanaheim, and had also had considerable luck with the elves.

He suddenly felt very good about his prospects.

—-------

“So how was your audience with our son?" Frigga asked.

Odin grimaced. "I'm happy that you are willing to accept equal responsibility."

“That bad?"

"He seems to have no idea how serious this is. He thinks only that now he will have a wife more to his tastes."

They sat in silence for a few minutes.

"Are we bad parents?"

Odin sighed. “The evidence seems to suggest that we could have done better - although we couldn't have been worse than Laufey, and see what kind of a son he got."

Frigga gave a wry smile. "I suppose so." She paused. "One of my ladies told me that the townspeople are having a funeral for Loki."

Odin raised an eyebrow. "Why?"

She gave a small laugh. "Apparently, he was working at a fishmongers. A position he probably undertook to prevent himself from starving to death when he first arrived."

Odin sighed and rubbed his forehead. "You have to admire his resourcefulness."

Frigga gave a sad smile. "I did. There was much to admire in him."

“There was." He paused. "Would you like to go to the funeral?"

—-------

The crowd gathered at the water's edge. Loptr - Loki - had made enough of an impression that most households had someone that knew him, and now that they knew who he was - a prince, no less! - they were even more impressed that he had worked amongst them and tried to help them.

They had no body, but they would still honor him with a traditional Asgardian ceremony.

Udr and Fandral approached the boat at the same time. Fandral stood back while Udr placed the best fish from the day's catch into the boat.

Fandral had found it hard to decide what to contribute. It should be something meaningful, something special. He had thought about it for hours.

Loki had loved horse riding, but what Fandral remembered most was the look on Loki’s face while enjoying the Midgardian music. In the end, he decided to put in the blanket from Loki's horse - which had also served as a picnic blanket on several occasions - and the music that swept Loki away and had been the cause of that first gentle kiss.

They stepped back, letting others add items to the boat. Since many people hadn't known him well, they left gifts as a mark of respect. By now, they had all heard the rumors, and they guessed what he had done for them.

Fandral's eyes widened as an older couple wearing shabby cloaks with heavy hoods shuffled forward. The man went first, placing a book in the boat, and he stood back as the woman - with a surprisingly well manicured hand - placed a blue rose on top of the book. Her blue eyes met Fandral's and she pulled her hood forward to hide a lock of golden hair.

He was practiced enough as a courtier to say nothing.

When the boat was pushed out onto the water, Fandral raised his bow and shot the flaming arrow into the air. The crowd watched silently as the boat burned, before turning and heading to the town square for the feast.

Chapter Text

Loki slept heavily again, still suffering from the lingering effects of the healing stone.

He soaked in the bath until even he was bothered by the cooling water, and then returned to the bedroom to dress. Tony had asked Jarvis to purchase some clothes for him, so there were a few things to choose from.

Surprisingly, it bothered and confused him… Was he supposed to wear something different? The selection in front of him seemed to suggest so. He didn’t want to keep bothering Jarvis with endless questions, but in both Jotunheim and Asgard, he had an extremely small selection of clothes with very clear instructions on what to wear and when. He wasn't used to choices. His head ached and he felt uncertain and worried. How was he to know what was appropriate? He didn’t even know what he was going to be doing!

Flustered, he threw on the clothes he had worn the day before (Tony had called them 'sweats’). He left his bedroom, only to face more decisions.

Tony brought him dinner the night before, but what was Loki supposed to do for breakfast? Was there a room or hall that he was meant to go to, as there had been on Asgard? Or should he wait for someone to bring him his meals?

Tony had pointed out the kitchen - was he meant to make something himself? And if so, how? And what? He’d never needed to make his own food before, the only thing he knew how to prepare was fish. He wasn't familiar with Midgardian foods, except for the delicacies he'd tried the night before.

His stomach grumbled and he walked hesitantly into the kitchen. If Tony hadn't told him what it was, Loki wouldn't have known - he’d never spent any time in a kitchen before. When he had lived in a cell, his meals were brought to him, and obviously, he had never visited the kitchens in Asgard. He had occasionally eaten a meal with Udr, but her mother always brought food to them. And although he had spent considerable time listening to the townswomen talk about how to obtain recipes for ice cream - as well as something called 'sorbet’ - he didn't know how to actually make anything.

He tentatively opened a cupboard door. It was filled with brightly colored boxes. Pulling one out at random he saw the name ‘Froot Loops’. There was a picture of a bird standing over brightly colored rings in a bowl - was it food? He didn’t think it could be, it didn’t look like anything he had ever seen before. He pushed the box back in place and pulled out another that read ‘Pop Tarts’. The front of the box said ‘Confetti Cake’, but the picture didn't look like any kind of cake he had ever seen. Besides, if it was a cake, surely it must be for some kind of celebration? He pushed the box back and felt tears of frustration pool in his eyes.

It was Asgard all over again, only this time he couldn't imagine going out into that vast town - Tony had called it a city - to find food.

He didn't know what to do or where to go, and he was so, so hungry, and suddenly, more than anything, he just wanted to go back in time and be safe and untouched in his cell in Jotunheim, where he was told what to wear and what to eat and how to behave…

"Is everything alright, Mr Loptr?"

The voice in the empty room made him jump back, and he knocked over a vase, which fell onto the floor with a crash.

He stared for a moment in horror before bending down to collect the pieces. "I'm sorry, it was an accident! I didn't mean to… didn't mean…" His eyes welled with tears and he didn't notice as he sliced his hand on a shard. He could hear Jarvis’ voice, but couldn't make out the words.

He began to sob, his breath coming in panicked gasps.

—-------

"Wake up, sir!"

Tony started awake with a jolt. "What the fuck, Jar?"

“Mr Loptr is exhibiting signs of distress."

“Huh?”

“I believe he is having a panic attack.”

"Fuck!" Now completely awake, Tony slid out of bed. "Okay, I'm on my way."

“May I suggest putting on some pants?"

"What?" Tony glanced down at his boxers, frowning.

"In light of Mr Loptr's recent …experiences, it might not be prudent to visit him in your underwear."

"Oh, shit! Right." Tony pulled on a pair of pajama pants and hurried to the elevator. "Is Bruce here?"

"Yes sir, he's sleeping."

"Why should he have all the fun? Wake him up, J, and tell him to come quickly!"

—-------

Tony didn't see him initially - then he heard a sound from behind the kitchen counter. Loki was sitting on the floor, his back against the cupboard doors and his head in his hands.

He looked up when Tony squatted down beside him, his tearful eyes looking impossibly wide and hopeless. “Hey, Bambi, what's up?"

Loki frowned. “Bambi? My name is -"

Tony smiled. "It's just a nickname. Your eyes looked so big, you kinda reminded me. Wanna tell me what's up?"

Loki ran his hands through his hair. "I don't know what I'm meant to be doing! It's just like Asgard again, I don't know anything and… I… I just want to go home!" His breath hitched and he repeated more softly, "I just want to go home."

Tony barely had time to register the words ‘It's just like Asgard’ before he heard Bruce's voice.

"Hey, what's up?"

"Not really sure. Loptr’s saying he wants to go home."

Bruce knelt on the floor beside them. "Loptr?"

Loki's voice was plaintive. "I don't know what I'm supposed to wear or eat or where I should go, and everything's wrong and different, and I just wish I could be home again but I can't and I just… I just…" He lowered his head and began to sob.

Tony turned a worried look to his friend. "What can we do, what's wrong with him?"

Bruce's voice was low. "It's a little outside my field, but I'm guessing it's a reaction to everything that's happened to him lately. Given how fresh his injuries were when he first arrived, this might be the first chance he's had to really start to process it all."

Tony nodded and began to gently rub a hand over Loki's back. At first, Loki stiffened, but then he relaxed into the touch; there was just something about the two men that made him feel safe. He was dimly aware of Bruce cleaning the blood off his hand and placing a dressing over it.

Eventually, his breaths evened out and he looked up, wiping his eyes. "I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me."

Tony gave his arm a reassuring squeeze. "Hey, no problem. Feeling better?"

Embarrassed, Loki nodded. Tony led Loki to the sofa and motioned for him to sit. "Just relax, okay? We'll get you something to eat."

He and Bruce went to the kitchen and began to move about. They kept their voices low and non-threatening as they cleared away the broken glass and began to pull things out of the cupboards.

Loki began to feel calmer, and embarrassed about his breakdown. He continued to watch them for a few minutes more, and then slowly got up and went over to join them in the kitchen.

Tony looked up and smiled. "You good?"

"Yes. I’m sorry, I don’t usually…”

Tony held up a hand, “Hey, no problem, okay? You’ve been through a lot, it’s totally understandable.”

Loki smiled gratefully and looked around at all the pots and pans. “What are you making?”

“Pancakes. It’s a traditional breakfast here. Trust me, you’ll love 'em.”

“Could you show me how to make them?"

“Sure!” Tony answered confidently. “How about you just sit there and watch us? They’re pretty easy, but let me know if you have any questions."

“I have one,” interrupted Bruce. “Are you deliberately trying to set off the smoke alarm?”

“Shit!” Tony scraped a black disc out of his pan, returned it to the stove and poured in more batter. “Wasn’t paying attention. That’s the secret of a good pancake, you’ve really gotta watch them all the time or they’ll -”

“Tony!” Bruce admonished.

“Aw, crap.”

Loki bit his lip and tried not to laugh as Tony scraped another charred mess out of the pan.

Bruce sighed. "Just leave it to me, Tony. I've got this." He leaned forward and dropped a perfect round onto the plate in front of Loki.

"No, dammit, I can do this! I'm an engineer and a scientist, I should be perfectly able to make a god-damn pancake!" He poured a generous amount of oil into the pan, and a thick plume of smoke rose into the air.

“Tony, the pan's too hot. Besides, it's a non-stick pan." Bruce leaned over and winced. "At least, it used to be."

At that moment, a loud siren began to wail as Tony shouted, “Jarvis, turn off the smoke alarm! Turn it off!”

Loki couldn't hold it back any longer - he laughed.

—-------

They sat and ate their pancakes - mostly made by Bruce, although Loki managed to make a couple. Tony gave up after ruining the pan, and spent the rest of the time talking to Jarvis about designing a machine for making pancakes. Loki understood very little of what he was saying, but liked to listen to him talk. It reminded him of Udr and the other women of the town, and all of their plans. He loved listening to their ideas; Jotunheim - and even Valaskjalf, the palace at Asgard - had been traditional, static places. He found that he liked the idea of change.

The other realms were ancient in comparison to this world, and yet they were so advanced. Perhaps having shorter lifespans led to them making more of the time they had.

But listening to Tony talk only made Loki feel worse. He had been educated only in the things they thought he would need to serve their needs and be an acceptable spouse for Prince Thor. He couldn’t think of anything he could do that would help him to earn any money - he knew almost nothing and had never worked with his hands. Once again, he began to feel helpless about his situation.

“Bambi, I can hear you thinking from here.” Tony’s voice broke into his thoughts.

“You… you can?” Loki had not thought Tony had such abilities, but perhaps he had powers that Loki knew nothing about.

Tony grinned. “Relax, it’s just a figure of speech.” His eyes widened. “Wait! Can people do that where you’re from? Can you?”

“No, I’m afraid not.” He smiled wryly, “I wish I could, it would make life a lot simpler.”

Tony nodded sympathetically. “Shame. Could have had a lot of fun pranking Nat and Clint.”

“Pranking?”

“Playing a joke on them.”

“Oh!” Loki’s eyes lit up. “Fandral told me of some of the jokes they played on people… perhaps we could find a way to do it anyway?”

Tony grinned and Bruce groaned.

—-------

The end credits of the movie rolled and Tony leaned forward and switched off the set. He stretched and looked over at Loptr, fast asleep on the sofa.

“Should we wake him?” he whispered.

Bruce shook out a blanket and gently placed it over the sleeping figure. “Seems a shame to wake him and he looks comfortable enough. He’ll be fine.”

“Hmm.” Tony looked thoughtful. “I’ve been wondering about something… I thought he came here from Jotunheim, but I guess I didn’t really think about how he got here and - do you remember this morning in the kitchen? When he was upset? He mentioned Asgard…”

Bruce thought back. “Did he?”

“Jarvis?”

In a low tone, Jarvis answered, “His exact words were, ‘It's just like Asgard again’.”

Bruce nodded.

“And isn’t Fandral one of Thor’s friends?”

Bruce considered for a moment. “We mentioned Thor when he first arrived, and he didn’t react well - remember?”

“Huh! You’re right, I forgot that. So what do we do? Think we should ask him what’s going on?”

Bruce shook his head. “I think we should wait and see, I guess. They sent him here using the bifrost, and they sent him that chest, so whatever’s going on, it’s sanctioned by Asgard.”

—-------

Loki took Bruce’s advice and spent the next few days quietly resting.

He began to learn more about his hosts and the day to day running of the tower. He met Pepper and instantly liked her - her no-nonsense attitude reminded him of Udr. Tony also introduced him to someone called Happy, although the name seemed to suit him about as well as ‘Volstagg the Svelte’ had suited Thor’s friend. Still, he insisted that Loki call him if ever he needed anything, and seemed determined to make sure that Loki knew he was a friend.

Bruce was a steady, calming presence, and a complete opposite to Tony, who would get carried away and spend hours describing something Loki barely understood. He seemed to have the strangest sleep schedule Loki had ever witnessed. Loki, still easily tired, was sleeping at odd times, and would often meet Tony in the early hours of the morning in the communal kitchen or staring at the night sky on the large balcony.

Tony was like nobody Loki had ever met before. He was a strange mixture of easy-going charm, manic energy and snarky wit. When his face broke out in a smile, Loki often found himself smiling along with him, even though he didn’t even fully understand what they were talking about.

And there was Jarvis. Steady, patient Jarvis, who answered all of Loki’s questions and would even help him decide what to wear in the morning. So far, Loki had stuck with the ‘sweats’ and a few other loose fitting, comfortable items, but he knew that soon, he would have to dress more appropriately, so that he could get a job and start to earn his living in this large, scary world. That was another reason why he was so grateful for Jarvis - there was so much to learn and he needed so much help with everything.

Even learning how to feed himself was a challenge. Tony and Bruce would bring him food, but he knew he needed to learn how to make things for himself. Thankfully, Jarvis was teaching him about Midgrdian foods, and what to do with them. Oranges had to be peeled first, but not kumquats. Meat was almost always cooked, but he had eaten Steak Tartare with Tony, and that had been raw. It was very confusing.

Loki had so many questions that Tony decided to show Loki how to use the television. It seemed like the easiest way to explain Earth society. Loki watched it for hours, fascinated; it was so different from anything he had ever seen before.

The way they people dressed was so strange. They coloured their hair and pierced their skin, and even had elaborate works of art imprinted on their bodies (tattoos, Tony called them). Some of them even reminded him of his Jotun heritage markings. Loki thought they looked amazing.

But there seemed to be so many of them. He had hardly seen anyone on Jotunheim, except for jailers and teachers and occasionally healers. Asgard had been busier, although the hostile crowds in the palace had been far more intimidating than the bustling streets outside. After Udr had taken him under her wing, he had felt safe there, despite everything.

He tried to imagine going out into this huge world, where motorized vehicles and people seemed to be in a constant state of motion. He flicked from channel to channel, his eyes wide as he listened to reports of violence and murders.

Bruce took the remote from him and clicked the television off. “Maybe CNN isn’t the best idea.”

Tony looked sheepish. “Yeah, don’t want you to get the wrong idea about us.” He perched on the arm of the sofa next to Loki. “Shoulda warned you to stay away from the news until you’re a little more comfortable here. It’s really not as bad as all that. It’s their job to tell you about all the terrible things that happen everyday. There’s plenty of good stuff too, they just don’t don’t talk much about that.”

“Why not?”

Tony shrugged. “No idea.”

“I think people just want to know about the bad things, in case they need to be prepared,” Bruce added.

Loki nodded; he supposed that made sense. He flicked a glance towards the blank screen. “There are so many Midgardians!”

Bruce gave a sympathetic smile; Thor had told them about Jotunheim’s decreasing population. “I guess there aren’t many people on your planet, huh?”

Loki shook his head. “No. Our population has been steadily diminishing since the casket was taken from us. It’s one of the reasons why -” He stopped abruptly, not wanting to finish the sentence - ‘it’s one of the reasons why I was sent to marry Thor.’

Tony and Bruce looked at him curiously, but after sharing a look, they didn’t press him.

“I imagine it’ll be pretty intimidating at first, but you’ll soon get used to it,” Bruce said kindly.

“Sure,” said Tony. “Once we show you around and you see how everything works, you’re gonna love it here, trust me!”

Chapter Text

“Well, you can’t blame him for being nervous. If your only experience of the world was from a tv set, I don’t think you’d go anywhere,” said Pepper.

“Yeah, probably shoulda started him on Gilligan’s Island or something,” Tony agreed.

“I have an idea. I was planning to have a spa day tomorrow, how about I take him with me?”

Tony grimaced. “I don’t think he’d appreciate a massage right now.”

Pepper rolled her eyes. “Of course not! But he can’t keep walking around in those sweats. I could take him to a few places where he could pick out some clothes for himself, and maybe he’d feel better after a manicure and a haircut?”

Tony considered. He enjoyed the occasional manicure himself, and he got the impression that Loptr had never had much attention paid to him. Pepper was right, he might enjoy being pampered for a while. “You know, maybe it’s not the worst idea.”

“It’s a great idea. And it’ll be a good opportunity for us to get to know each other better. Tell him I’ll pick him up tomorrow at ten.”

“Just the two of you? Shouldn’t I come with you?”

Pepper leaned forward and kissed his cheek. “It’s sweet of you to offer, but Loptr needs to make some other friends. He’s starting to imprint on you like a baby bird, and it isn’t healthy for either of you. Especially when you bear in mind what happened when you literally tried to look after a baby bird.”

Tony grimaced at the recollection; it had not ended well. “Yeah, I guess you’re right.”

“Of course I’m right. Don’t worry, he’ll be fine! See you tomorrow!”

—-------

“Look, it’s okay if you don't want to go out today. You could probably still use some downtime and get some rest. We could order some clothes online if you’d prefer.” Tony knew Pepper was right - when was she not? - but it didn’t stop him from worrying about Loptr taking his first foray into the big, wide world without him.

Loki considered. He was extremely nervous about going out, but after his embarrassing breakdown earlier that week, he didn’t want to appear even more pathetic. He screwed up his courage and straightened his spine. He had braved the streets of Asgard when he was alone and had far more to fear - he could do this.

“I would like to go out, I think. I would like to see more of your realm, and experience for myself how Midgardians dress, how they speak.”

“You sure?”

He nodded, and then, feeling that wasn’t enough, added, “Yes.” He was proud to hear that his voice sounded firm and determined, “I’m sure.”

“Ohh-kay…” Tony looked at him for a long moment, assessing him. Seeing his determination, he capitulated. “Pepper will be with you the whole time, but I got you this.” He held something up and gestured to Loki’s wrist. Loki held out his hand, puzzled.

“It’s a watch, but it’s open to Jarvis at all times.” He fastened it carefully. “If you want privacy for any reason, just press this button here.”

He looked up to check that Loki understood, and Loki nodded in acknowledgement.

“Not that there’s any reason to expect it, but if there’s any kind of a problem - anything at all - hit this button here, or yell out for Jarvis. He’ll send help immediately.”

Loki felt a wave of gratitude flood through him. He knew he shouldn’t be worried - Tony said he would be safe, and he would be with Pepper. He had no doubts that there were few situations that Pepper could not handle - from the first day he had met her, she had impressed him with her competence and intelligence - but it was nice to know that Tony cared, and the watch already made him feel safer. “Thank you.”

The door slid open to reveal Pepper. She kissed Tony lightly on the cheek and smiled at Loki. “Good morning! Are you ready, Loptr?”

Loki took a deep breath. “Yes… I think so.”

“Don’t worry, we’ll have fun,” she said kindly.

He threw a nervous look at Tony, and Tony realized that Pepper was right - Loptr had to do this without him. Nevertheless, he squeezed Loki’s shoulder. “If you need me or have any problems, just tell Jarvis. I can be with you within minutes, okay?”

Loki bit his lip, but nodded.

“And I’ll look forward to seeing all of your new clothes when you get back! Do you have your credit card?”

Loki held up the unfamiliar square of plastic. “Yes.”

“That reminds me, we should buy you a wallet.” At Loki’s look of confusion, Pepper answered, “Don’t worry, we’ll get you everything you need.”

They headed for the door, Tony called out, “And don’t let him worry about money! Make sure he gets everything he wants!”

—-------

Loki felt very self-conscious walking into the clothing store. He didn't know much about Midgardian styles, but even he could tell that he was dressed very differently from everyone else he had seen so far. He plucked awkwardly at his oversized baggy gray clothing. Once again, he was uncomfortably reminded of Asgard, with everyone dressed in elegant gowns and tunics, while he stood out in his rough, shabby robes.

Pepper walked in confidently, while Loki trailed behind her, trying to remain hidden from view.

A smiling man appeared almost instantly beside her. “Miss Potts! Good to see you again. I hope you are well?"

“Very well, thank you.” Pepper gestured towards Loki, a little surprised to find he wasn't by her side. She reached for his hand and gently pulled him forward. “Barney, this is Loptr. He needs a new wardrobe."

The smiling man seemed to show no surprise at his appearance. "Certainly, Miss Potts." Turning to Loki, he asked, "And what kind of clothes were you looking for?"

Before Loki had a chance to worry about his answer, Pepper replied, "He’d like to change his image. Let's look at a few things and see what he likes."

She gently steered Loki towards a rack of clothing. He walked towards it hesitantly and began to peer at the selection.

Pepper came to his side and started to slide the clothes along the rack. "Let's see… what about this?” She held up a t-shirt similar to the ones Tony liked to wear. Loki stared at it in horror; he couldn't imagine leaving his arms so exposed.

"Okay, that's clearly a no. I'll take it for Tony, though. He burned a hole in the last one." She handed the shirt to the waiting attendant who swiftly passed it to another assistant.

“So you don’t like t-shirts - is it the style or the fabric you don’t like?"

Loki tried to relax. He didn’t get the impression that she minded, only that she wanted more information. “The style.” He swallowed nervously and continued, “I’m used to covering my arms.”

Barney led them to another rack, this time filled with long sleeved shirts of various shades. He held up a red one. "These have been very popular."

Loki shuddered. The color reminded him too much of Thor.

"Okay, that’s another no,” said Pepper. “What are you thinking, Loptr? What looks good to you?"

Tentatively, Loki stepped forward and began to shuffle through the clothes on the rack. After a few minutes, he pulled out a soft green shirt. "I like this."

Pepper leaned over and inspected it. "It’s lovely. It matches your eyes."

Loki frowned. "Is it suitable?"

Pepper's smile was gentle. "Yes, very suitable. Now let's find some things to wear with it."

It was unlike anything Loki had ever experienced. He wasn’t used to wearing clothes that outlined his figure so clearly, but Pepper and Barney kept assuring him that they were appropriate. And although he quickly found things that fit him, they kept handing him more and more clothes to try on. They also encouraged him to make selections for himself. He found himself drawn towards soft fabrics and muted, natural colors - greens, blues and browns.

After what seemed like - and probably was - many hours, he had a ridiculously large pile of clothing to sort through. He stared at it helplessly, once again overwhelmed.

Pepper came to stand beside him. "Is something wrong?"

"I don't know how to begin sorting through them all."

"Sorting through them?" she asked, puzzled.

Loki frowned. "I don’t know how much I can afford and what I’ll need!"

"Need?"

"For whatever work I’ll be doing. And will I need to attend any social occasions? How many sets of clothes should I have?"

“Well, as you say, it depends what kind of work you do. And what kind of clothes you like to wear."

Loki ran a hand through his hair and his breathing started to become erratic. "I..I don't know!"

Pepper recognized the signs of a panic attack. "Hey, it's alright! We can get these for now and worry about what you need later."

Loki turned panic stricken eyes towards her. “But surely, even if I sell the trunk, I can't afford all of these?" He’d never even seen so many clothes in his life, they must cost a fortune!

Pepper felt her heart give a lurch. "Don't worry, okay? I'll take care of everything, leave it with me. Just give me a minute."

She stepped away and spoke to Barney, returning a few minutes later. "All taken care of." She picked out a few items and handed Loki a small pile. “I thought you might want to change before we go."

Loki felt a wave of gratitude wash over him. Pepper had turned that unmanageable heap of clothing into this small stack. He took them gratefully. “Thank you."

In the small dressing room, he pulled on a soft green sweater and a pair of trousers. He came out, fiddling nervously with his clothes.

"Do I look alright?" They were much more form-fitting than anything he usually wore, and although he was now dressed like the other men in the store, he felt self-conscious about showing so much of his figure.

Pepper and Barney exchanged smiles; Loptr seemed to have no idea how attractive he was.

Pepper took one of his hands and gave it a comforting squeeze. “Are you kidding? You look great!"

Loki blushed.

“So, what next? I was thinking about getting our hair done and then our nails, what do you think?"

Loki raised a hand to his hair. In his cell, he hadn't really cared how it looked. Since then, he had tried to keep it slicked back and braided, although locks of his hair were constantly escaping and falling over his face. From what he had seen of Midgardians, most men wore their hair much shorter than his.

“I should cut it," he decided. "It seems to be the style here to wear it shorter."

Pepper glanced at his long, messy braid. "Not necessarily, lots of men here wear their hair longer. It’s entirely up to you."

Loki sighed and fingered the end of his plait. He wished she would just tell him what to do, but he understood that he needed to start making his own choices.

He took a deep breath and considered. When he got a job, he wouldn’t have time to waste on his hair, and it had always been a lot to take care of - it took forever to dry.

He felt ridiculously pleased with himself for making a decision. "I think I would like it to be shorter, it would be easier to manage.”

Pepper grinned in approval. “Then let’s go and get it cut!”

—-------

“Loptr, this is Joe, he'll take care of you."

Loki swallowed nervously and shot her a look of appeal, already starting to second guess himself.

“It’s alright, I’ll be in the chair next to you.”

Another man walked up to Pepper, kissed both her cheeks and hugged her, and they all headed towards the chairs.

“Well, that’s quite the head of hair!” said Joe. “What would you like us to do today?”

Loki settled himself in the chair and said with determination, “I’d like it cut, please.”

“Sure, how short did you want it? And did you have a particular style in mind?”

“Um…” Loki swallowed, still unaccustomed to asking for things for himself. He had never before had his hair cut, how was he to know what style to ask for?

“Perhaps he could look at some pictures?” suggested Pepper helpfully.

Loki sighed with relief as Joe presented him with a book of different hair styles. His relief was short lived; there were so many different looks, how could he choose?

Beside him, Pepper had no such issues. As far as he could tell, she hadn’t even discussed anything with her stylist. He bit his lip anxiously.

Meanwhile, Joe was freeing his hair from his braid, running his fingers through the silky strands. “Lord, your hair is amazing! It’s almost a shame to cut it, although I imagine it’s kind of a pain to deal with, right?”

“Right,” agreed Loki.

“How much did you want taken off?” Seeing Loki’s look of uncertainty, Joe continued, “Because I think it would be criminal to cut it really short. How about we cut it to about here -”

Loki breathed a sigh of relief as Joe gestured to a point just below his shoulders. He had been worried that he would have to cut it much shorter than that, but if Joe thought shoulder length hair was acceptable, he would trust him. After all, surely Pepper would not have left Loki in his hands if she didn’t have the utmost confidence in him? Loki realized that he had missed the rest of what Joe had said.

“I’m sorry, could you repeat that?”

“Sure! I was saying how about we cut it to here, and pick it up a little with some spiky layers? Trust me, it’ll look fabulous!”

Loki shot a sideways look at Pepper, who shrugged.

“If it sounds good to you, then I’d say go for it. Joe does great work, I don’t think he’s ever given a bad haircut.”

Reassured, Loki nodded. “Alright.”

Joe grinned. “Trust me, you’re going to look amazing!”

—-------

Tony had enjoyed spending a few days lounging around the penthouse with Loptr and talking science with Bruce when their guest was sleeping, but the shopping trip with Pepper meant that Tony got to enjoy some extended time in his lab. After what seemed like a couple of hours - but was apparently seven - Jarvis let him know that the others had returned. He went back to the penthouse and saw Pepper browsing through some takeout menus.

“Hey, d’ya have a nice day?”

“Yes, I think so. He was a little nervous at first, but he seemed to relax eventually. He was very worried about how much he was spending.”

“Yeah, I’ve told him it’s not an issue. That chest Frigga sent him is worth a fortune if he really does want to sell it, but I think he might like to hold onto it. I get the feeling he hasn’t had much in his life.”

“Yes, I think you’re right. He was a little overwhelmed by everything today, very different from Thor.”

“Well, that’s a relief.” Thor was trying to improve, but he tended to speak to people as if they were his servants, rather than paid employees. One of these days, Tony was going to sit him down and ask about the social structure of Asgard. “No mugs thrown on the floor?”

Pepper rolled her eyes in remembrance. “Not one, thank heaven.”

“Did you get him a good selection of clothes?”

“Yes, but I’m afraid I wasn’t entirely honest with him. We put everything he liked into a pile and he asked me to help him sort out what to keep. I just picked out an outfit for him to change into and asked them to deliver the rest.”

“Good. Where is he now, anyway?”

“He’s in his room, putting away his new things.”

“Ah.” Tony poured out two drinks and handed one to her. “He says he wants to get a job and start earning money.”

Pepper shrugged. “It’s not the worst idea. It would help his confidence, and having his own money would make him feel a little more independent.” She took a sip of her drink. “I’ll talk to him, find out what he’s good at, what he’d like to do.”

“What would I do without you?”

Pepper grinned. “I shudder to think. Oh, hi Loptr!”

Tony turned around smiling, and his breath caught in his throat.

So far, he had only seen Loptr in ill-fitting clothes, his hair pulled back into a messy braid with long strands that constantly broke loose, hiding his face - it made him appear much younger, and was probably why Tony felt so protective of him. But now an older, more sophisticated Loptr stood before him, his silky black hair cut to shoulder length, combed back but hanging loose. It framed his face, highlighting his sharp cheekbones and the unearthly alabaster of his skin. The new suit showed off his slim figure and impossibly long legs, while the color of the shirt highlighted the intense green of his eyes.

Tony swallowed. He didn’t have to be told that Loptr was fragile, that he had been raped and abused but was still putting his trust in Tony, trust that he wouldn’t be hurt, wouldn’t be made to feel uncomfortable or, even worse, at risk. People had said many things about Tony Stark, but no-one had ever accused him of preying on someone vulnerable. Loptr trusted Tony, and Tony was determined not to abuse that trust…

…but as he looked at Loptr - slim and elegant and all kinds of sexy, yet still shy and hesitant in a way that made Tony want to hug him tight and keep him safe - he could see that was going to be a much bigger challenge than he thought.

Chapter Text

"Excuse me, sir. Mr Loptr is requesting entrance."

Tony flipped up his visor and put down his tools. “Sure, let him in." Tony waved him over to where he was working. "Welcome to my lab!"

"I hope I'm not intruding…” Loki stepped forward and stared in amazement at the suit Tony was working on. He reached out tentatively before he thought better of it and pulled his hand back.

"It’s okay, you can touch it."

Loki stroked the smooth steel. "You made this?"

"Yep."

"It's incredible."

Tony’s grin grew wider. "Thanks. You want to see it in action?"

Loki's brow furrowed. "You wish to spar?"

“Spar?"

"To fight? Is this not armor?"

"Well… kind of, I guess. But not in the way you're thinking. Let me show you."

He made a small gesture and the suit began to appear around him. Loki gasped.

"Okay, stand back."

Loki moved behind him as Tony raised a gauntlet and fired. Loki jumped as the target standing against the wall was obliterated. Then - pausing only a moment to make sure Loki was well out of the way of his thrusters - Tony rose into the air.

Loki gaped in amazement. "Is it magic?"

"It's science."

"Could you teach me?"

Tony flew back down to the ground and removed his helmet. “Sure, if you like."

—-------

“Hey, Pep. These are the papers you wanted me to sign?”

“Yes. Sign where there’s a red tag, initial where there’s a yellow one.”

Tony pulled the stack of papers towards him and sat down. “Where’s Loptr? I thought you were going to meet with him today.”

Pepper grimaced. “He went to his room. I think he felt a little disheartened.”

Tony stopped what he was doing and looked up. “Why, what happened?”

Pepper sank into the chair next to him. “We looked at his skill set and talked about the kind of jobs he was qualified for, and then he wanted to look at places to live and… well, it didn’t really work out. I think he was shocked to discover how much of his earnings would go just to paying his rent. There’s no way he can live anywhere near here unless he sells that chest of his, but you’re right - I don’t think he wants to.”

“Surely it can’t be that bad? He’s always reading and asking questions. And he’s a quick learner, he isn’t stupid.”

Pepper made a face. “No, he isn’t. But he doesn’t have any qualifications or experience, and his education is patchy at best.”

Tony raised an eyebrow and she sighed, marking things off on her fingers as she spoke. “His logical reasoning is sound and he can express himself well, but he has no mathematical or mechanical ability whatsoever. It pretty much limits him to the service industry or physical labor - neither of which would be enough for him to afford a place to live anywhere near here… and I think he’d like to stay nearby.”

Tony was thoughtful as he finished signing the papers. He thought of Loptr bustling about in his workshop, asking him eager questions about everything, and apparently interested in listening to Tony’s long and convoluted explanations. Bruce would always be his science buddy, but he liked to be quiet when he worked, and was often gone for long periods of time.

Before he could think better of it, Tony said, “Pep?”

“Yes?” She looked up from sorting the papers.

“You think he’d like to work with me? I could use an assistant.”

Pepper stared at him in surprise. “I thought you liked to work alone?”

Tony shrugged. “I’ve kinda got used to having him around. Besides, he's a fast learner, and sometimes it’s nice to have a second pair of hands.”

Pepper chose not to remind him that he had Jarvis to bounce ideas off, as well as U, Dummy and a host of Ironman suits if he needed an extra hand to hold something in place. She liked Loptr, and this way, he could stay at the tower as long as he wanted to.

She smiled, happy that a solution had been found so easily. “I think he’d love that.”

—--------

They worked surprisingly well together in the lab. At first, it was just Tony teaching his new assistant about the fundamentals of engineering, but Loptr continued to be a quick study. Within weeks, he knew what tools Tony would need, and even surprised him a few times by making suggestions of his own.

The subject of his magic came up within the first couple of weeks, and Tony did everything he could to encourage him to practice and improve. He even sectioned off a part of the lab so that Loptr could try difficult or dangerous spells in a safe environment and, with the help of the books Frigga had given him, his magical abilities increased by leaps and bounds. Tony even tried a few spells himself - because, magic! - but found he had no aptitude for it. Apparently, you needed to be born with the ability and unfortunately, Tony had not.

But Tony was not one to give up so easily. Whenever Loptr practiced his spells, Tony would scan him and take readings to try and find a way to recreate his magical abilities.

And if it meant that he spent hours in Loptr’s company, talking about magical and scientific concepts and watching and recording every move he made - well, that was just an added bonus.

Tony liked working with people who were quick and clever, and Loptr's fresh perspective frequently opened up avenues of thought he hadn’t even considered.

From that first moment on the roof of the tower, Tony had felt protective of him, and the more he got to know him, the more he liked him. Everything that happened since then had only reinforced his first opinion. If he was honest with himself - and he was, sometimes - it wasn’t just Loptr's sharp mind that Tony liked. Tony couldn’t help but find him desirable, especially now that he was shaking off his former timidity and his true personality was beginning to shine through. It certainly didn’t hurt that Loptr was tall and elegant, with a porcelain skin, wide green eyes and a smile that could light up a room.

But despite what many people thought, Tony had a code that he lived by. Loptr had been violated and beaten, and Tony had offered him shelter. He would never - NEVER - reveal his attraction to someone vulnerable, someone that was in his care, that trusted him.

As long as Loptr lived under his roof, he would be completely safe from Tony’s advances.

—-------

Loki turned over in bed and punched the pillow, frustrated. He had worked with Tony all day, and now couldn’t sleep, his mind running over and over in an endless loop - Tony leaning forward and accidentally brushing against him; Tony stretching, his t-shirt riding up and revealing a tantalizing glimpse of a toned and tanned stomach; the sparkle of his eyes when he smiled.

Loki tried to push those images away, only to find his mind presenting him with even worse tortures; Loki thought of the films he had seen, and pictured Tony running his fingers through Loki's long hair, tangling it in his rough workman's hands as he pulled him in for a deep kiss. He imagined Tony’s lips against his, the scratch of his facial hair against his skin as he gazed into deep brown eyes…

"Arrgh!" Loki sat up with a cry and threw his pillow across the room.

"Is something wrong, Mr Loptr?" enquired Jarvis.

Loki buried his face in his hands. "No, thank you, Jarvis. Everything's fine."

"Mr Stark is also having difficulty sleeping and is currently in the penthouse. I am sure he would appreciate your company.

Loki sighed. "I don't want to disturb him."

"I am sure he would be delighted to see you." There was a brief pause before Jarvis continued, "He does not seek out the company of many people, but I have noticed he holds a particular fondness for your company. In fact, I might almost go so far as to say that he prefers your company to any other."

Loki froze. "Me?"

"Yes, sir."

"But why?"

Loki didn't know why Tony would have programmed Jarvis to dramatically sigh, but he did so. "Perhaps you would do better to ask him yourself."

Loki grabbed his robe and started to walk towards the door, before hesitating, turning around and hurrying to the bathroom to clean his teeth and brush his hair. Almost as an afterthought, he added a spritz of cologne and checked his appearance.

He was still finding it hard to adjust to his new appearance, and he thought his skin was too pale and his face too thin. At least his hair was tidy and his clothes looked good. He wore emerald green silk pajamas that Tony had bought for him shortly after he’d arrived, and his robe was made of something Tony called ‘faux arctic fox’. Loki had loved it from the moment Tony had given it to him - although he had initially protested, saying it was far too expensive and that he would happily pay for it (one touch had ensured that he would never send it back!) - but Tony had refused, saying that it was a gift, and it hadn’t been very expensive. When Loki had protested, disbelieving, Tony had shown him how faux fur was produced and emphasized how cheaply it could be made. Even so, the feel of it was luxurious to Loki. He pulled the robe closer to feel its softness, but left his feet bare to keep them cool as he padded to the penthouse.

"Tony?"

"Oh, hey, Loptr! Jarvis said you were on your way. Tea?"

Loki smiled at Tony's consideration, he knew the other man preferred coffee. "What about hot chocolate?" he ventured.

Tony grinned. "Yes! Great idea!" He stared helplessly at the kitchen as if it would suddenly appear before him. Loki made a pretended ‘tut’ and proceeded to make the drink for both of them. "Here."

"Thanks."

They sat together comfortably, drinking their cocoa. The silence was predictably broken by Tony. "No marshmallows."

Loki wrinkled his nose. "Marshmallows are disgusting."

"Are not!"

Loki refused to be persuaded. "You can't have marshmallows and whipped cream, it's too rich."

"You can't be too rich!" grinned Tony. He wiggled his eyebrows and mimed holding a cigar, and Loki laughed, getting the reference at once.

Tony leaned forward and used his thumb to wipe the corner of Loki's lip. "You had a little whipped cream," he explained.

"Oh," Loki breathed. Tony was very close but he didn’t pull back.

Without thinking, Tony stretched out a finger and gently brushed it against Loki's mouth. "That's why marshmallows are better."

"Oh," Loki repeated. He leaned a little closer.

Tony pulled away quickly. "Oh, hey, I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have done that!"

Loki blinked. "You shouldn’t?"

"Yeah, I mean, after everything you’ve been through, I shouldn’t have invaded your personal space like that, it was really -"

Loki shut him up by grabbing the front of his shirt, pulling him closer and kissing him.

—-------

Thor tried to hide his nerves as he waited at the bifrost for his new bride. He had been shocked to find that there weren’t many who were eager for the position. Despite their best efforts, it seemed rumors of Prince Loki's fate had spread - although thankfully, Jotunheim still seemed to be ignorant of it. Thor's reputation had suffered accordingly. No-one would say anything outright - no-one could, about the royal prince of Asgard - but there were whispers wherever he went, and more than once he thought he heard the hated and now all too familiar word - ‘rapist’.

With a flash of light, his new bride appeared before him. His smile widened with relief - she was pretty! He stepped forward, holding out his hand. "My Lady Lorelei, welcome to Asgard!"

She held out her own hand, simpering slightly. "Why, thank you, Prince Thor! I am happy to be here."

Thor faltered; there was something about the way she gave him her hand, as if he was the one that should be honored. And her voice was …well, a little shrill, if he was honest. He decided not to be honest.

He continued, "They have not spoken ill, those who say you are one of the fairest ladies in the nine realms."

Her face instantly darkened and she pouted. "One of?"

Thor recovered quickly, "The fairest! I misspoke, of course I meant to say the fairest!"

Her smile was back and she preened. "I am glad to finally meet a man who is worthy of me!"

It wasn’t quite the compliment he thought he deserved. He was a god and the Crown Prince of Asgard, as well as being the greatest and most desirable man in the nine realms. His smile became a little tighter. "Indeed."

She stepped forward, not noticing his reaction. "And who are these handsome men?" she asked, her smile flirtatious.

"This is the Lady Sif," Lorelei barely glanced at her, "and these are the Warriors Three - Fandral the Dashing, Hogun the Grim and Volstagg the," he glanced quickly at his old friend and grinned, “Svelte."

Svelte was, Thor knew, an old title that hadn’t been true of his friend for many years, but he was unprepared for her derisive laugh.

“Svelte? More like Volstagg the Voluminous!"

Volstagg's face grew red. He was accustomed to being teased about his weight by his friends, but this woman was a stranger, and her tone was malicious.

Lorelei seemed not to notice - or care - that she had caused offense, instead turning to the other two men. "Well, I don't know if you're always grim, but you," she ran a long, manicured finger down Fandral's cheek, "are certainly well-named. Dashing, indeed! Perhaps I might let you serve me in the future."

She spoke as though she was offering Fandral a great honor, and Fandral, better born and - despite recent events - still one of the closest friends of the Crown Prince of Asgard, felt himself bristle. That he would think it an honor to serve a low-born hussy like her! He couldn’t help but compare her to Loki, who had been the picture of humility and modesty, despite his title and position.

His smile became tight as he pulled away from her. "I'm sure I would not dream of wishing for such a great honor, my lady."

Thor shot his friend a reproving look, but she didn’t seem to notice. Instead, she turned to Thor and, in the same tone many would use with a servant, asked imperiously, "Well, are we going to stand around here all day, or are you going to take me to the palace?"

----------

Her obnoxious chatter as they rode to the palace made him grit his teeth, but he tried to keep a smile plastered to his face. He already had one failed engagement and would become a laughing stock if he tried to reject another bride, no matter how loathsome he found her to be.

He flushed with embarrassment as he introduced her to his parents. Her manner was overly familiar and presumptuous, and he saw his father try to ignore her attempts at flirtation, as his mother did her best to remain pleasant in the face of her impertinence. He tried not to wince as she laughed at her own jokes, with a harsh cackle that reminded him of the death cries of a bilgesnipe.

Thor put his head in his hands. He couldn’t imagine spending the rest of his life with that odious woman; she was incorrigible. Everywhere they went, she was overly flirtatious with the men, ignored the women and treated the servants as if they were dirt beneath her feet.

Tentatively,Thor approached his mother. "Mother, may I speak to you?"

"Of course, my dear."

"It's about Lorelei."

He saw her spine stiffen, but continued regardless. "Can she truly be a maid? I have seen the way she behaves around my friends and the lords of the court - even the guards! Are you sure that she is untouched?"

Was it his imagination, or did his mother look pained as she answered, “Without question. Her father had an enchantment placed upon her at an early age; her virginity can only be taken by her lawfully married husband.”

Thor frowned. “Isn’t that a little… unusual?”

Frigga gave a small, unconvincing shrug. “It is not the first time I have heard of such a spell.”

Thor had the impression there was more she wasn’t saying.

—-------

Frigga studied her sewing a little too intently. Of course it was unusual to have placed such a spell - it either meant that the girl’s parents were extremely strict or that the girl herself was not to be trusted. They had hoped for the first; having met the girl, they were sure of the second. Frigga felt sure that without such a spell laid upon her, Lorelei would no doubt have lain with the first stableboy that smiled at her.

After the debacle with Loki, Thor’s choices had not been plentiful. He had been popular amongst women, certainly, but what a woman chooses for flirtation is not necessarily what she would choose for marriage, especially when facing thousands of years ahead of them.

What Thor didn’t know - and no-one intended to tell him - was that this time, the council had intervened. They had not liked the idea of uniting with Jotunheim - they had been enemies for too long for trust to be so easily won - but they had seen the political sense in the match. But now that avenue was closed to them, and the council demanded the right to be heard in the selection of their next queen.

There were many who worried that ‘Thor might be too easily swayed by a woman with strong opinions’ - which was their tactful way of saying that Thor would be putty in the hands of a beautiful and clever wife, and in danger of being manipulated to work against Asgard’s best interests. Under the influence of the much admired Princess Freya, for example, it was a certainty that every trade agreement between the two realms would forever after be in Vanaheim’s favor. It had been one of their concerns about the prince of Jotunheim, but the benefits of that alliance had outweighed their fears. With that union failing so spectacularly and almost bringing Asgard to the point of war, they now insisted on being heard.

There were no more eligible matches in Jotunheim, and Muspelheim and Nidavellir were also ruled out. Midgard’s political structure meant that there was no single royal family they could form an alliance with, and the inhabitants of Alfheim enjoyed free and easy relationships that meant finding a virgin on that planet was like trying to find a dark elf with a sense of humor.

And they hadn’t been lying when they told their prince that rumors about him had spread far and wide, and women were not lining up for his hand. Asgardian ambassadors had heard it whispered that a woman would always bear the risk of being violated by the prince’s soldiers if she didn’t please him.

The Lady Lorelei had seemed like a good compromise. She was from a good Vanir family (the recent elevation to ‘Lady’ had made her an eligible candidate), but was not close to the throne, and therefore was unlikely to feel the need to exert any particular influence with the prince. She was known to be pretty and not too bright, which everyone seemed to feel would make her an ideal bride for Prince Thor. Odin and Frigga gritted their teeth at the constant implications about their son’s intelligence, but said nothing. Recent events would have made it hard to argue their point.

Chapter Text

Surprisingly, in contrast to the roughness of his hands, Tony’s lips were soft. He smelled like his workshop, a mixture of coffee, oil and burnt metal. His beard was slightly scratchy, but Loki liked the feel of it against his skin. He raised his hands to the sides of Tony’s face, feeling the roughness, and leaned further into the kiss…

He felt a hand on the small of his back and another on the back of his neck. In the low light, he saw a dark face next to his and suddenly, he was trapped, held there by strong hands as a mouth with foul breath whispered into his ear, “You like that, Jotun scum? This is how we treat beasts in Asgard!”

He broke away suddenly, gasping for air, his breathing ragged, as he fell to the floor. He could hear voices but couldn’t make out the words, and he began to try and crawl away…

There was an odd noise and wet droplets hit his face; he recoiled and frowned… the scent of lemon was almost overpowering. He faltered, and became aware of a loud, discordant noise…

He licked at the moisture on his lips and the taste was unpleasant, sharp and chemical. He became aware of a voice speaking gently but firmly.

“Yes, that's it. You can smell the lemon, right? Now touch your arm and feel the fur of your robe - feel how soft it is…”

It was. Loki rubbed it between his fingers, confused. He had worn no soft robes in Asgard, his clothes had been scratchy and coarse. He inhaled again, the scent of lemon still strong in his nose.

“You back?” he heard Tony ask.

Loki nodded slowly and began to look around him. Tony was crouching on the floor a few feet away. “What…”

“You had a panic attack, a flashback or something.”

Loki frowned, still disoriented. “I was… back there… they… they were…” His breath began to hitch again.

“Hey, no!” Tony’s voice was surprisingly forceful. “Don’t go back there. Stay here with me.”

Loki pulled his robe tighter around him. He wanted nothing more than to be in this place with Tony, he didn’t know why he had suddenly thought he was back there…

He winced at the sounds surrounding him. “What is this noise?”

“Hey, careful! This is a classic, Iron Man by Black Sabbath.”

Loki frowned. “I think the instruments are out of tune…”

Tony smiled gently. “Everyone’s a critic.”

“Perhaps this would be more to your taste?” Jarvis suggested, and began to play a more familiar tune.

“Do you recognize this?” asked Tony lightly.

Loki frowned for a moment. “It’s… The Entertainer.”

“By?”

Loki searched his mind, and pulled a name out of the fog that was starting to clear. “Scott Joplin.”

“Do you know when?”

“Um…” He forced himself to concentrate. “It was written in… 1902.” Tony was smiling encouragingly. “It was a style known as… as ragtime.”

“Anything else?”

Loki tried to think. “No…”

“No?”

“Um… I heard you play it once on the piano and I liked it. Jarvis plays it for me sometimes.”

“Good. I’m going to come closer now, is that okay?”

Loki nodded. He felt anxious and adrift and wanted Tony beside him. “Yes. Please.”

Tony settled close to Loki but left room between them.

Loki took a deep breath and closed the gap. “I’m sorry, I don’t know what happened.”

“You had a panic attack, it happens.” At Loki’s disbelieving look, he added with a sigh, “I get them occasionally.”

“You do?”

“Yeah. Used to get them a lot more, but they do get better. Eventually.”

Loki shot him a questioning look.

“Yeah, remind me to tell you sometime. But before all that, what we did just now makes me realize we should talk. Not tonight though, okay? Let’s get some sleep and talk about all of this in the morning, what do you say?”

Alarm bells rang in Loki’s head at the thought of what the talk might be about, but he was forced to agree; he was ridiculously tired. He wiped a hand across his face and frowned again. “Tony, why do I smell like lemon?”

“They say sounds and scents can help ground you. Lemon’s a good one for pulling you out of something like that. Sometimes Pepper makes me bite down on one to stop an attack. I didn’t think it would be a good idea to try and shove something in your mouth, so I used a spray instead.”

“You have sprays to help deal with them?”

Tony looked a little sheepish. “Not exactly. Well, I mean they make air fresheners and stuff like that, so kind of, I guess? I’m afraid you sort of took me by surprise and I used the first thing I could find.”

Loki raised a questioning eyebrow. “And that was?”

Tony grinned and held up a tin. “Furniture polish.”

—-------

Loki glanced at the clock beside his bed. 5.30am.

He had slept for a few hours, but had woken with Tony’s words in his head - ‘What we did just now makes me realize we should talk.’ Was Tony angry at him for what he’d done? First kissing him, and then pushing him away… Was he going to tell him that he didn’t want to be with someone so damaged, so …defiled? Certainly he had reciprocated when Loki kissed him, but perhaps he had simply been caught up in the moment, carried away before he had a chance to consider what he was doing…

Why would anyone, especially someone like Tony Stark, want someone like Loki? Penniless, friendless (at least in this realm), with no family or connections to enhance his position? He would not gain any kind of political advantage, as Thor would have. Surely, the great and desirable Tony Stark would want a partner that would bring further wealth and power, and raise him even higher in status and importance?

He huffed and sat up in bed, running his fingers through his hair. He was a fool, a fool to think that he had any hope of a relationship with someone as wonderful, as perfect as Tony Stark…

Sighing, he threw back the covers and headed for the shower. He wasn't going to be able to go back to sleep, so he may as well get up and make breakfast. At least he could be useful, if nothing else.

To his surprise, the smell of coffee greeted him as he entered the penthouse. Tony was standing by the window, outlined by the early morning sun. He looked like a king surveying his lands, and Loki once again felt how unworthy he was to even speak to him.

As he watched, Tony turned and walked towards him, his expression unreadable. “Hey, Rock of Ages, you’re up early. Want some coffee? Tea?”

Loki frowned at yet another new nickname, but decided not to ask. “I was going to make breakfast… what would you like?”

Tony shook his head. “I’m good. Had Jarvis send out for doughnuts, want one?”

Normally, Loki wouldn’t have been able to resist the lure of one of his favorite chocolatey treats, but the thought of eating anything that morning turned his stomach. “No. Thank you.”

Tony watched him thoughtfully as Loki moved around the kitchen making his tea. “Everything okay?”

“Yes. Yes, I’m fine.” His hand shook slightly as he poured water into his mug and he cursed as it spilled over the counter. He couldn’t even do that properly.

“Loptr…”

“What did you want to talk to me about?” Loki burst out. The waiting was killing him.

Sighing, Tony took his hand and led him to the sofa. The warmth of Tony’s hand somehow made Loki feel even colder, but he couldn’t make himself pull away. He wanted to hold this moment, this last moment before Tony told him that he would have to leave, to go away, because what he’d done was inappropriate and wrong…

He was so deep in thought, he missed the moment that Tony began to talk. All he heard were the words, ‘What happened this morning can’t happen again’.

—-------

Tony had been feeling guilty ever since Loptr kissed him - and he kissed Loptr in return.

Loptr had been beaten and raped, and had found safety and refuge with Tony. Tony didn’t need to be told that he was in a vulnerable position and saw Tony as his rescuer, his protector. He was probably wrestling with so much emotional turmoil right now that he couldn’t know for sure what he was feeling. Tony didn’t want him to rush into something he would regret - his reaction to the kiss had shown that he wasn’t ready for any kind of physical relationship.

What made it even more difficult was the way Tony was starting to feel about him. He liked Loptr more than he should - far more than he wanted to, when he had promised himself that Loptr would be safe and free from unwelcome advances while in his care.

Even without all of that, he knew that a relationship between them was a terrible idea. There was an insurmountable power imbalance between them that would be impossible to breach. Even ignoring the age difference - and how old was Loptr, anyway? - Tony Stark was at the peak of his wealth and power, and Loptr was dependent on him for the clothes on his back. He had nothing, and Tony had everything. If things went wrong - and with Tony’s track record, that was more likely than not - would Loptr feel that he could protest and walk away, when leaving Tony would mean losing everything he had? And no, Tony wasn’t forgetting about the insanely valuable chest that Loptr had been given, because it would only help if he sold it, and he clearly didn’t want to do so.

“Look, Loptr, I’ve got kind of an impressive history of fucking up relationships, and I don’t want to do that this time because I really like you. Like, a lot. So I don’t really know how to say this.” He paused for a moment, unsure about whether or not Loptr was hearing him, but Loptr quickly looked up, so he continued, “What happened this morning can’t happen again…”

—-------

Loki’s heart sank; he knew it. Tony was angry that he should presume so much, that he would dare to aspire to someone like him, a great man of his realm, a king in everything but title. He had ruined everything.

He tasted bile as he asked, “Do I have to leave immediately?” Surely Tony would allow him a few days to find a place to go… He knew there were shelters here for people without homes, perhaps one of them would take him in and help him sell his only valuable possession, the chest Frigga had given him…

“What? No! No, of course not! That’s not… that’s not what I’m saying! Of course you’ll stay here, why wouldn’t you?”

Loki didn’t even hear him. “It was wrong of me to think - to make advances! - to one of such a high station. I should not have presumed so much, I am truly sorry!”

Tony stared at him in shock. “No! Loptr, you’re not listening.”

“You said it can’t happen again,” he said plaintively.

Tony took a deep breath and ran his hands through his hair. “Yes, I did, but not because it was wrong or I didn’t like it.”

Loki looked up at him, frowning.

“I did like it - I liked it a lot. I thought you might have figured that out when I kissed you back.”

“Then why…?”

“Shit, I’m doing this all wrong! Look, sit down, I need coffee for this. Just - wait there, okay?”

Loki heard him moving about the kitchen and after a couple of minutes, he felt a mug being pressed into his hands, and inhaled the calming scent of lavender and chamomile tea.

Tony took a long drink of his coffee, and made sure Loptr was listening to him before he began to speak. “You know I have a big company here, right?” At Loptr’s nod, he continued, “Well, one of the first things you learn when you have a business, is that some people in power will try to use it to make other people - people without power - do things they don’t want to do.”

“But you didn’t make me do anything,” Loki said, a little insulted by the Tony was trying to explain things.

“No, not consciously. But I’m one of - what, three people? - that you know here. I’m the one that gave you a bed when you were injured, that looked after you and gave you a home and a job. How do I know how much of the kiss was love or desire, and how much was gratitude and self preservation? More importantly, how do you know?”

Loki stared at him in confusion. “I… I…”

Tony considered for a moment. “Loptr, have you ever been in love? Or thought you were?”

Loki blushed. “I… There was someone I liked, before I came here, but I don’t think… That is, it wasn’t…”

“Tell me about them.”

“We were friends. He taught me how to ride a horse; he was very kind to me.”

Bingo! Tony thought, and guessing further, he added, “Did you have a lot of friends, a lot of people who were nice to you?”

Loki looked away, remembering. “No, not many.”

“So his kindness to you made you think you might have been in love with him… do you understand now?”

Loki opened his mouth to object, but found himself unable to argue. How much of what he felt for Fandral had simply been the effects of loneliness and gratitude? And although he was almost certain that it was different from his feelings now, he couldn’t deny that the word ‘almost’ carried some weight in that sentence.

Tony was right about something else. If it didn’t work out, what would he do, where would he go? His whole life was here with Tony.

“See? While you’re dependent on me for everything, you can’t know for certain.”

Loki felt tears well in his eyes. He looked up to see that Tony didn’t look any happier about it than he did, and for some reason, that made him feel a little better. He hadn’t imagined it - Tony did like him, too.

Raising his chin and wiping away an errant tear, he said, “I understand - but I don’t agree. This is different from what I felt for Fandral, and I know that I would be attracted to you whatever the circumstances.”

For some reason, his reply made Tony smile. He reached forward and wiped the tear from Loki’s cheek. “Oh, you’re not gonna make this easy, are you?”

“No. I know how I feel and I know what I want, and I want you.”

Tony sighed again. “It just isn’t right, not the way things are. I’d feel like a heel, like I’m taking advantage of you. Just ask Pepper, she’ll tell you.”

“But I don't care!” Loki heard his voice break on a sob, and felt Tony’s arms around him. After a few minutes, his sobs died down and he felt able to speak again. “All my life, people have told me what I have to do and feel and think. I’m sick of it, I’m not a child! I’ve never felt this way before and I know it’s real. I’m tired of people telling me I can't make my own decisions!”

Tony stared at him helplessly. “Loptr…” He couldn’t turn him away again, not while Loptr was gazing at him with eyes as wide and helpless as a baby deer. He sighed. “How about this? We’ll wait, say - a year. During that time, we’ll get to know each other better, and you’ll meet new people and make new friends and do fun and exciting things. And after a year, if you still think a relationship with me is a good idea, then - okay.”

Loki wiped away his remaining tears and beamed at him. “Six months,” he corrected.

“Ten.”

“Eight.”

Tony may have been a good negotiator, but he was only human. “Eight months,” he agreed.

—-------

Thor swung his mace against the practice dummy, whittling it to nothing. He didn’t want to spar with someone, his temper was too dark.

He thought back to the first time Loki had seen him - the Jotun had stared at him in awe, as if he couldn’t believe Thor was real. Contrary to the way Thor had behaved at the time, he had liked that. It was clear that Loki had been impressed by his future husband. In contrast, Lorelei had given no such reaction. Instead, she expected Thor to compliment her twenty times a day, and seemed to think he should feel lucky that she had deigned to marry him.

Things only got worse. She complained constantly, about everything from the temperature of the bathwater to the food (after hearing her demands to the kitchen staff, Thor made it a point never to eat anything from her plate, for fear of what might have been done to it!). She was rude to the servants and to anyone she considered to be unimportant, and condescending to everybody else.

Even more irritating (if that was possible!) was the fact that she was constantly flirting with other men and making it clear how attractive she found them. Thor was starting to think that she had made eyes at everyone that wore trousers within a fifty mile radius of the palace.

Unbidden, his thoughts turned again to Loki. He must have been tempted by Fandral - Fandral had worked hard to become his only friend in Asgard, and was skilled in the art of making himself attractive to people - but Loki had never shown, by word or by deed, that he had any preference for the knight.

Thor tried to hold back the wave of guilt that hit him whenever he thought of the price Loki had paid. Though it had undoubtedly been an act of sacrifice to save his fellow Jotuns from war, there was no doubt that it had also benefited Thor's people. Although Asgard would have certainly won in a war against the frost giants, it would have come at a great price. Frost giants were hard fighters, and a war with Jotunheim would have dragged on for centuries.

He tried to assuage his guilt by remembering that he had been raised with gruesome tales of the last war and the viciousness of the frost giants. Like most children in Asgard, his nanny told him stories of their cruelty, warning him that if he didn’t behave, a frost giant would hunt him down and eat him. He had spent much of his childhood playing ‘Einherjars and frost giants’, a game which always ended with the slaying of the vicious frost beasts.

He hadn’t been able to believe it when his parents told him he was to marry one of them. He couldn’t have been more shocked if he had been expected to marry a bilgesnipe! "Why," he had asked them, "did you raise me to think of them as little more than animals, if you were planning to wed me to one of them?"

His mother had the decency to look shamefaced, but his father had simply responded, "Things change. Attitudes change. As king, you will be expected to change with them. The Jotnar have been our enemies for many years, but with this marriage, we stand a chance to finally have peace within the nine realms. We owe it to our people to try to make this work."

He had known they were looking for a bride for him. The council - who had far too much power, in his opinion - told Odin that they would not accept Thor as king without a partner by his side. He was, they said, too headstrong and reckless; a wife and family would temper that rashness and steady him.

He had been irritated, but not overly concerned - he was Thor Odinson, the most handsome, most powerful, most desirable man in the nine. Women had fainted in his presence. He expected to be matched to the best the realms had to offer, not to the deformed monster child of an enemy race.

True, Loki's appearance had surprised him, although he had hidden it well. Although he had never looked at the beast beyond the barest glances, its deformity was not obviously apparent, and at least it was of a reasonable size, with hair like an Aesir. If it had not been for that cold blue skin with its grotesque markings, and those malevolent, animalistic eyes, it might even have been tolerable - but that was like saying a bilgesnipe could be attractive if it wasn’t a bilgesnipe. He had no idea what Fandral could possibly have found appealing in the creature. Variety, he supposed.

His parents told him that Laufey had insisted Loki retain his Jotun appearance until after the wedding, but Thor couldn’t see how it could possibly matter - he would still know what really lay beneath that false skin.

His musings were interrupted by the cough of a nearby servant, and he whirled around angrily.

The servant took a quick step back. "My lord, your parents request your presence."

Thor threw his mace aside and made his way to the throne room. To his annoyance, Lorelei was there, loudly bragging to Odin about all the men that had desired her in the past. Odin was rubbing at his temples as if trying to ward off a headache. He looked up when Thor entered.

"Ah, my son!" he exclaimed, cutting Lorelei off in mid-sentence. "Heimdall has informed me that your presence might be required on Midgard."

Thor could barely contain his joy - to get away from Asgard and the irritating woman that would soon be his wife seemed like a blessing from the Norns themselves! Perhaps, once they were married, he could spend more of his time down there, away from her? He beamed at the thought. "Certainly, father. I shall leave at once!"

"You know," said his mother, her pained expression beginning to dissipate, "this would be the perfect time to introduce your fiancee to your friends on Midgard!"

Odin suddenly brightened. "An excellent idea! Yes, the Lady Lorelei must accompany you. And please feel free to take your time and show her Midgard properly - do not feel you have to hurry back!" He clasped his wife's hand and beamed at her. "A wonderful suggestion, my dear!"

Frigga beamed back. Their smiles seemed brighter when contrasted with Thor's scowl.

"I feel it would be rude of me to impose upon the Man of Iron…" he began, but his father interrupted.

"Nonsense! You are always telling us of his eagerness to show his hospitality! He will be honored, I am sure, to be the first foreign realm to meet the future queen of Asgard."

Lorelei preened at the words. "I'll go and pack!"

Frigga made a gesture towards her ladies. "Go and assist her. Make sure she forgets nothing! We would not wish her to have to return before she absolutely has to."

Lorelei took her comment as a peasantry, and didn’t even notice the muffled snickers that greeted the queen's remark.

Chapter Text

"My lady, are you ready yet? We must make haste if I am to be of any help to them!"

"I AM hurrying, Thor. But your mother was right, I don’t want to forget anything - no," she shouted to her maid, "not that one, stupid girl! Bring me the red one!"

Thor tried again a little later and received the same response. And again… and again.

He had no idea how long he had been waiting when she finally declared herself ready. They hurried to the bifrost, followed by a parade of servants, laden with bags and trunks.

“Greetings, Prince Thor and Lady Lorelei! Are you ready to go?”

“Is there even a reason now?” snapped Thor. “Is the battle still in progress?”

“You may be able to catch the end of it,” Heimdall said diplomatically.

Thor cursed and glared at Lorelei.

She didn’t notice, instead gazing thoughtfully at her luggage. “Wait, we have to go back! I think I forgot my pink gloves!”

That was the last straw for Thor. Grabbing her hand, he pulled her forward. “We’re ready.”

Heimdall tried to hide his smile as he bowed his head and activated the bifrost, and a familiar flash of light saw them deposited at the top of Stark Tower.

—-------

"Welcome back, Mr Odinson."

Thor grinned at Lorelei’s sudden start. "That's Jarvis. He's an invisible being that lives in the walls - he is all-seeing, like Heimdall." Stark had explained about Jarvis many times, but it amused Thor to continue to pretend that he didn’t understand.

Either Jarvis knew this, or decided it wasn’t worth the effort of explaining again, because he simply said, "I’m afraid Mr Stark and the rest of the Avengers have already won their battle, but you are welcome to stay and wait for them in the penthouse."

Thor's expression turned dark. He had been looking forward to a fight, and now he had missed it - and all because of the cursed woman by his side. He grunted in answer and lifted two of the trunks.

"What about the bags?" demanded Lorelei.

"You brought them, you can carry them," Thor answered shortly.

Once in the penthouse, he threw the trunks down on the ground and made his way to Stark’s bar. He reached to the back of a cupboard and pulled out a bottle of Asgardian mead he had brought with him on a previous visit. He poured out a generous glass and downed it quickly.

Lorelei appeared a few minutes later, dragging her bags behind her. "I thought you came here to fight, not to drink," she snapped.

Thor scowled. "Well, since we seem to have missed the fighting, I thought I'd get a head start on the drinking."

"Aren't you going to get one for me?"

"You want some of this?"

She sniffed dismissively. "You know I don't like mead."

Thor made an expansive gesture to the wall of alcohol behind him. "Help yourself to whatever you want, I am sure Stark will not mind."

She huffed. "I don’t know all these Midgardian liquors. How do I know what I will like?"

Thor gave a mean smile. "Experience suggests that you will not find anything to your liking."

"How dare you speak to me in such a way! I am to be your QUEEN!"

"I know. You haven't let anyone forget it since you ARRIVED IN ASGARD!" he shouted back at her.

"Everything alright, Point Break?"

Thor and Lorelei whirled around in surprise. Tony Stark stood before them, dressed only in the clothes he wore under his suit. The rest of the Avengers filed out of the elevator behind him, followed by a tall, dark man that Thor didn’t know.

Thor straightened. "Yes, thank you, friend Stark. I was just…" he cleared his throat. "Allow me to introduce my bride-to-be, the Lady Lorelei of Vanaheim. Lorelei, this is Tony Stark, who fights as the Man of Iron, one of my shield brothers on this realm."

Lorelei raised an eyebrow, still angry. "This is the Man of Iron? Isn’t he rather short?" she said sourly.

The stranger stepped forward and put his hands on Tony’s shoulders. He said coldly, "His height is normal for men from this realm, and even if it wasn’t, it hardly matters. He’s the most brilliant man in the nine realms and has saved this planet from countless threats. He has also sparred against your betrothed and won on multiple occasions, so evidently, height isn't everything!"

Tony took the taller man’s hands in his own and grinned. "Calm down, Bambi. I’ve been called way worse than short."

Loki continued to glare at the other two. "But these people are guests in your home!"

"It's okay, I…"

Thor interrupted, "Nay, Stark, your friend is right. We are here enjoying your hospitality, and my future wife," - was it Tony’s imagination, or did Thor clench his teeth as he said those words? - "insulted you. I cannot apologize enough for her behavior."

Lorelei's face flushed a deep red, but before she could speak, Tony said, "No need. Can I get you a drink? I see Thor already has one."

Thor flushed slightly. "I hope you don’t mind that I helped myself."

Tony grinned, "No problem, I’ve told you a thousand times. Just so long as you don’t chug my finest whiskey like it’s two-buck chuck, we're good. Anyway, drink?" Tony asked, turning back to Lorelei.

"Thank you," she said. She felt off-balance here. She had expected Thor to defend her when that horrible man yelled at her, but he had only agreed with him; to make it worse, she felt that everyone agreed with him. She wasn’t used to being the focus of so many hostile eyes - everybody always loved her!

While the short man made the drinks - and he WAS short, no matter what anyone else said - Thor seemed to remember his manners.

"My lady, allow me to introduce the Lady Natasha, who fights by my side as the Black Widow. This is the Hawkeye, Clint Barton, Bruce Banner, who can transform into the mighty Hulk, and their leader, Steve Rogers, the great Captain of America."

He turned to the dark-haired stranger and took a moment to take him in. He was the only one that didn’t look fresh from the battle. He was attractive, tall and slim, with long, dark hair, arresting green eyes and a snow-white complexion. There was something familiar about him, but Thor couldn’t recall ever meeting him before; he felt sure he would have remembered. Thor smiled winningly, and held out his hand. "I am sorry, but we have not yet been introduced. My name is Thor, son of Odin, Prince of Asgard, God of Thunder. Your name is Bambi?"

—-------

Loki had been sitting in the lab, watching the footage of the battle and listening to his friends talking through their comms. This was only the third time the Avengers had been called on since his arrival, and the first time they seemed to be up against a serious threat. He sat biting his nails and wishing he could join them. He hadn’t had much training, but Natasha and Steve were teaching him to fight, and Tony had promised to build him a suit when they thought he was ready. In the meantime, they had assigned him the role of coordinator, and given him the job of monitoring the battle and suggesting tactics. Loki suspected that Tony had only given him the job to appease him, since it was something Jarvis already did, but the others had argued that they didn’t have the same access to Jarvis, so it would help them. He reluctantly agreed, on the condition that as soon as his suit was ready, he would be allowed to fight. Loki wasn’t exactly happy that they all seemed to treat him as though he was made of glass, and he truly did want to help. Unlike Thor’s friends, he had liked the Avengers from the first moment they had met, despite what might have been a rocky start with some of them.

Tony had not given up on the idea of playing a trick on Clint, and had coached Loki in a few of the tricks involved in something called 'mentalism'. Together, they managed to convince Clint and Steve that Loki was a mind reader - much to Clint’s horror. Steve hadn’t seemed bothered by the idea, and Loki later formed the opinion that the man was so naturally good, he didn’t even have thoughts he was ashamed of. But Clint had been so stricken that Loki began to worry the joke had gone too far. Luckily, their trick was quickly exposed by Natasha, who had been unable to hold in her laughter for another minute. Once he knew her better, Loki suspected that she just decided she didn’t want to see her friend suffer any longer. Clint’s relief had been palpable, and he had vowed to get them back. Since then, they had launched into a prank war that they were all enjoying tremendously.

He had been surprised at how quickly he had come to care for his new friends, and would have believed that nothing could distract him from his worry for them…

…until Jarvis told him that Thor had arrived and was waiting in the penthouse.

Loki thought he might vomit. He still hadn’t shared his story with the others, so they had no idea that he knew him, although he assumed that Tony suspected something. They knew that both he and the chest had arrived via the bifrost, and therefore, from Asgard. Tony was no fool - quite the reverse - and Loki hadn’t wanted to lie to any of them, but he was happy now; he didn’t even want to think about Thor and Asgard and the horrible things that had happened there. Somehow, he felt that talking about them out loud would make it all real again, and bring it into his new life, tainting it somehow. He didn’t want that. He wanted his new life on Earth to be free of old associations.

But he always knew that he would have to see Thor at some point. He was living in the newly-named Avengers Tower, where most of the Avengers lived and where they gathered to fight. Thor was an Avenger - meeting him was inevitable. He just hoped that Thor would be embarrassed enough about his actions that he would keep his mouth shut, and not mention their shared history.

He had ever imagined that Thor wouldn’t even know who he was.

He held back while the others greeted their teammate, but despite his reluctance to speak to the new arrivals, he couldn’t help but rush to Tony’s defense when that unspeakable woman had the audacity to criticize him.

There had been no look of surprise on Thor’s face when he had seen Loki; perhaps, Loki thought, his mother or father had warned him in advance. But there had been no hint of recognition, no sign that Thor had ever seen him before. In fact, Thor had looked at him with approval, and his manner had been… well - almost flirtatious.

He couldn’t believe it. The man who had ruined his life - and might have been responsible for his DEATH - didn’t even recognise him.

Loki had spent many long hours studying his new form in the mirror, and he thought it wasn’t that different. Certainly, he had a different color skin, different coloured eyes, and shorter hair that he now wore loose around his shoulders - but he still had the same face, the same features, the same dark hair, the same height and figure. For the most part, he still looked like himself. Could the color of his skin really make that much difference?

Apparently so. With blue skin and red eyes, he was abhorrent. With pale skin and green eyes, Thor found him attractive enough to flirt with.

He looked down at the hand Thor was holding out to him, and realized that he had been asked a question. For a moment, he considered saying ‘yes, my name is Bambi’ - it would make Thor look stupid and Tony would find it funny - but Bambi was Tony's name for him. He didn’t want to hear it spoken on Thor’s foul lips.

"Loptr," he said. "My name is Loptr." He didn't take Thor's hand.

----------

Thor's eyes widened in surprise as the stranger pointedly clasped his hands behind his back. Was he not impressed? Did he not realize what an honor it was for him to meet the Crown Prince of Asgard? And to be allowed to take his hand, as though he were an equal?

Tony, picking up on the tension between the two men, stepped around Loptr and put his arms around his waist. Thor’s expression cleared; he knew that Stark did not like other people touching his things - clearly, that extended to his partners as well. "Ah, I see! You are together!"

"Kinda. It’s complicated." Tony didn’t think he was up to the task of explaining to Thor the dynamics of their relationship, and gave Loptr a quick squeeze. He didn’t know why Loptr was so tense, but Tony had often wondered about his history with Thor. Now, seeing that Thor clearly didn’t even recognise Loptr, he was even more curious. "Loptr lives here with me, and helps out with some Avenger’s stuff."

Thor gaped at them, taking in Loptr's slight form. "He is a warrior?" His disbelief mirrored that of Lorelei meeting Stark.

"He's really good at research and strategy,” Bruce said kindly, jumping to Loptr’s defense. “as well as…" he broke off, suddenly realizing that Loptr might not want Thor to know about his magic. "He helps us a lot," he finished awkwardly.

Thor beamed good naturedly. Any friend of the Avengers was, by definition, a friend of his! "Then I look forward to working with you!"

----------

The next difficult moment came while they were eating.

Seeing that Lorelei wasn't playing much of a part in their conversation, Steve turned to her and said, "So you're a Frost Giant?"

Lorelei gasped and dropped her fork. "How DARE you say such a thing to me! I am Vanir! I am no filthy Jotun beast!"

Everyone stared at her in shock, except Tony. Tony was looking at Loptr, and saw how still he became at her words, and how his cheeks reddened.

"I’m… sorry," Steve stammered. "I thought Thor said he was marrying a Frost Giant."

Thor had, in fact, spent many hours complaining about how he couldn't get out of the marriage, which would serve to unite the two realms.

Now it was Thor’s turn to blush. "Forgive me, friends, I did not intend to mislead you. My engagement to the Jotun," - Tony noticed Loptr gripping his fork so hard that veins were standing out clear on his knuckles and the fork was beginning to bend - "was broken off."

Tony narrowed his eyes. Now he was suspicious. "I thought you said it was unbreakable. ‘Impossible to get out of,’ were your exact words, as I recall."

"You told me that only death would save you," added Natasha. She, too, had witnessed Loptr’s reaction. "Did they die?" she asked, already guessing the answer was no.

Thor had the grace to look shame-faced. "No. Well, yes. Sort of. It… I mean, they were sentenced…"

They all stared at him, curious and - was he imagining it? - accusatory. All except Loptr, who stared at the table, his face flaming. Thor wondered why he looked so discomforted. "There is a law - a law almost as old as Asgard - that states that the heir to the throne can only marry a virgin. Prince Loki," his voice faltered as he thought of him, laying on the floor after the guards attack, "was not… that is, he…"

Bruce remembered Loki’s beaten body on the roof the day he arrived, and his explanation for what had happened. "We get the picture," said Bruce, with surprising acidity. "Would you please excuse me?" He didn’t wait for a response, throwing down his napkin and leaving the room quickly.

"Jarvis, let me know if I need to suit up, okay?"

"Certainly, sir."

They all jumped at the sound of breaking glass. Natasha jumped up, pulling Loptr with her.

"How clumsy of me, I’ve spilled wine all over you!” Addressing the room, she said, “Excuse us, we should get that in the wash immediately, so it doesn't stain."

Without waiting for a response, she headed for the door, gripping Loptr firmly by the hand and dragging him away. He owed her, Tony thought. Big time. Maybe a car. Or a house. He was grateful that she had managed to get Loptr - no, Loki - away before too much damage was done.

Clint seemed to have guessed what was going on as well. In an icy tone, he asked, "And they didn’t check that beforehand? Seems like something you’d make sure of before announcing it to everyone."

Lorelei grinned meanly. "Oh, he was a virgin when he arrived. He just met with," she shot an evil look at Thor, "a bit of trouble."

Steve frowned. "Trouble?"

Okay, so he grew up in the thirties and it was a more innocent time, but seriously? Tony rolled his eyes and poured himself another drink. He took a long gulp before asking, "Consensual trouble?"

If Tony was inclined to give Thor any credit - which he wasn’t - Thor looked wretched.

With his face burning, he, too, took a long drink before answering. "Nay, friend." Tony thought he was going to stop there, but he continued, "As you know, I was against the marriage, and I spoke too freely in my desire to stop it. Others heard my foolish words and acted on them, thinking they were serving their prince - but I did not order them to do so. I would never have done so!" He took another drink and continued, as if glad to finally speak of it, "I hoped only for someone to beguile him, to tempt him away, but -" he sighed. "Afterwards, I said that I would marry him, but it was too late; the council would not allow it."

"What happened to him?" Naive or not, Steve was asking all the right questions.

Thor seemed unable to answer, but Lorelei gleefully replied, "Jotunheim has a similar rule - anyone of royal blood must be pure before marriage. Most noble born families insist upon it, of course, but only Jotunheim has a death penalty if you aren’t. It was the scandal of the realms! Laufey insisted his son be put to death, so Odin executed him. Loki, that is," she laughed, "not Laufey. Although I daresay, Odin would have liked to kill him too!"

Tony sat up straighter, frowning. "Odin killed him?"

“Aye. My father struck him with a blast from Gungnir and threw him off the rainbow bridge."

It only confirmed Tony and Clint’s suspicions. Steve knew that something was amiss, but not the details, and Lorelei seemed to have guessed nothing at all.

Tony tried to keep a lid on his temper - he didn’t want to say anything until he had spoken to Loptr - Loki. Loki clearly didn’t want Thor to know who he was, and Tony didn’t want to risk outing him in a fit of temper. There was also a small chance that he was wrong; a 0.01% chance, admittedly, but a chance nonetheless.

He finished his drink and put his glass carefully on the counter. "I’m just gonna check on the others, see what’s keeping them."

He knew that when Clint called out, "Tell Loptr I hope it’ll come out okay!", he wasn’t talking about the wine stain.

Chapter Text

"Hey."

Loki looked up. His eyes were red and watery and he was holding one of his books. The chest lay open on the bed in front of him; he was obviously packing.

"Going somewhere?"

Loki wiped the back of his hand across his eyes. “I thought it would be best if I left."

"Erm… why?"

"I told you before that I was from Jotunheim, but you never seemed to care what that meant. But now you know what people think about us - what they say - surely you don't want me to stay?"

"Oooo..kay. Still not quite with you. Want to bring me up to speed?"

"You heard how they speak of us. I hadn't thought about it before, but I see now that you would be degraded by pursuing a relationship with me. I wouldn't do that to you. You deserve better."

Tony laughed and shook his head. "And you deserve better than me, but here we are. Besides, do I look like I care what anyone else thinks?"

“I should have told you everything long before this. I’m sorry."

"I knew you were hiding something, it wasn't that hard to guess. I am a genius." Tony sat on the bed and pulled Loki beside him. "Why didn't you tell me?"

Loki wiped a tear from his cheek. “At first, I didn't know where I was or what was happening. I thought it was best to say nothing until I found out what was going on. And after that… I didn't want to tell you. I didn't even want to think about it, I just wanted to live in the fantasy for a while."

Tony reached for his hand. "I’m sorry that happened to you."

Loki shrugged. They sat in silence for a few minutes until he asked, "Why aren't you angry that I lied?"

“I figured you had your reasons."

"You're always so good to me, but how can you not despise me now? Now you know who I am - what I am - why would you want to be with me? I was going to marry your shield brother but he didn't want me. He found me repulsive and didn't think I was good enough for him." He raised his eyes to meet Tony's. "You didn't know before, what they think about Jotuns. Most people consider us to be little more than beasts. The other realms shun us because of our brutal natures. We even invaded your planet and killed a great many people."

“Seems like that's something I would have remembered. When was that, exactly?"

“The invasion ended on the year of my birth."

"Could you be a little more specific?"

Loki considered. "In your years, it would have been 965."

"Yeah, I make a point of not holding a grudge about something that happened over a thousand years ago. And nice to finally learn how old you were, I was afraid I might be cradle-robbing. Might skip the candles on your birthday cake though, could be a fire hazard. Also gotta compliment you on your skincare routine, you don't look a day over 500. So, is that it?"

Loki stared at him. “I should have told you all of this before, I'm sorry."

Tony took one of Loki's thin hands in his. "Listen, none of this makes a damn bit of difference to me - to us. I know a Jotun, and he's clever and sweet and sexy as hell. Let the other realms think what they like; they're wrong, I’m right. End of story. Thor was a fool to not want to marry you, I’d -"

He stopped abruptly. He had been about to say, ‘I’d marry you in an instant’, before realizing with a start that yes, he would. He pictured his life with Loki, and suddenly, he wanted it more than anything. But he couldn't tell him that; they were only a couple of months into their eight month agreement. He would make no move until Loki had time to consider and knew for certain what his options were and what he wanted.

Realizing Loki was looking at him expectantly, he quickly extemporized, “- I’d imagine he's regretting it now, anyway. Gotta wonder what he thinks about his new bride, they seem like such a happy couple! Lorelei seems delightful."

Loki surprised himself by letting out a sudden snort of laughter. “Since I am telling you everything else, I suppose I should also tell you that although I was technically a prince of Jotunheim, I was not a favored child. I was never placed in the line of succession. I was considered deformed because of my size, and my father hid me away to hide his shame. Until I was used as a bargaining chip for peace, I was little more than a prisoner in Jotunheim. I was only educated in the most basic skills he thought I would need as Thor’s spouse. I am only now learning how to channel lower temperatures and work with ice, a thing most Jotun children are taught from birth."

Tony grinned and took his hand. “Trust me, as someone that's cuddled up to you on more than one occasion, you channel lower temperatures just fine. Seriously, I’m going to buy you some thick socks and mittens. Maybe I'll even make you wear them when we make out. I mean, I love you, babe, but sometimes it's like snuggling with a butterball turkey!"

Loki tried to translate what he was saying as he continued to gape at him. "Can you honestly tell me that none of this bothers you - that you want me to stay?"

"Yeah, I want you to stay. Of COURSE I want you to stay! That's not gonna change because I find out that you're not going to be king of the ...wait, is it frost giants or Jotuns?"

"Jotnar is the correct term."

"Okay…" He considered for a moment. “So when people say frost giant, does that mean…"

"It is generally considered to be a derogatory term."

"Okay. So we're just gonna put a stop to that here and now. So would you like to go back to being Loki, or do you want to stay as Loptr?"

Loki considered. "I don't have many happy memories as Loki, it's true; but I have so little that I can call my own, that I would like to keep my name. It's the only thing from my past that I still possess."

Tony leaned over and kissed him. "Loki it is, then. Are you okay with us telling the others?"

"I suppose." He looked downcast.

"We don't have to if you don't want to."

Loki picked at his palm. "Could we not tell Thor? At least for a little while?"

“Sure. Don't see why he deserves to know anyway." Besides, Tony thought - although he didn't want to upset Loki by saying anything - it was kinda funny watching Thor trying to work out why he was getting the cold shoulder from someone he was trying to flirt with. Although now Tony knew the full story, he was going to make it his personal mission to make sure that Thor never got within ten feet of Loki. Tony really hoped he could be there when Loki revealed to the Thunder god who ‘Loptr’ really was. Heck, he could probably sell tickets for that revelation!

Tony sighed as he thought of the others waiting in the penthouse. "I should probably get back to the others… ah, hell with it, let's just stay here. What about it? Want to watch a movie?"

"What about your dinner guests, won't they expect you to come back?"

"Eh, they're used to me being unpredictable. By the way, what do you want to do about Thor? Want me to kick him out?"

Loki straightened and shook his head. "No. He is still an Avenger, and this is the Avengers tower. I will not risk your peace with Asgard and his protection of Earth."

"You sure you're okay with that? He's used to hanging around the penthouse when he's here, and I want you to feel safe. I don't want you to feel you have to be around him if you don’t want to."

Loki smiled at his love. "I have my friends around me, and I have you. I no longer have any fear of Thor, and I refuse to let him have any power over me. Let him go wherever he likes, I won’t let him drive me from my own home!"

Tony grinned and squeezed his hand. "Proud of you, Bambi."
—-------

Thor wasn't sure how it had happened. One minute, he had been enjoying spending time with his friends, the next, he was talking about his former fiance and the atmosphere was suddenly very different. He was aware of a chill in the air, directed towards him.

Obviously, it was not because of the story he had told about Loki. There had been a few vile rumors in Asgard, certainly, but no-one had really believed them; it had simply been tittle-tattle for the common folk. No-one who knew him felt he was to blame, none of the lords or ladies. Certainly, none of his friends!

Although it was hard to know what was going on with Fandral these days. He had been very distant lately. At first, it had almost seemed as though he felt Thor was responsible for everything that had happened, as absurd as that was. Fortunately, Thor's mother had spoken with him, and although Thor never knew what she said, Fandral had left the interview seeming - if not happier - then at least, more at peace.

And Thor and his friends were not people who would hold Fandral’s eccentricity against him; they were his shield brothers, and they would not judge him for his odd attachment to the Jotun (Thor had learned not to call Loki a frost giant in Fandral's presence).

So clearly, although the story was tragic and perhaps distasteful to regale at the dining table, it could not be why there was such an odd atmosphere now; he and his friends had often discussed unpleasant subjects over dinner.

He scowled at Lorelei; it was no doubt something she had said or done. How he loathed that woman!

—-------

Barton grabbed a bottle of wine, topped up his drink and gestured to the captain, who nodded. As Rogers poured out a surprising amount of liquid, Barton drained his glass and asked, “So just to be clear, Prince Loki was sentenced to death because he was raped, and you said nothing?"

Thor frowned. "Nay, friend. I did protest, and my father struck me down for doing so. In the time it took me to recover myself, the deed had been done. I was shocked that my parents would do such a thing, but my mother later explained the reason for my father's actions, and I understood that they had been necessary.”

Romanoff reentered the room as Rogers placed his empty glass on the table with a small chink. "What were they?" he asked, his tone serious.

Thor was confused. Why were they still talking of this? “The council determined that - as decreed by the will of the Norns themselves - I could no longer marry Prince Loki. When the wedding was canceled, King Laufey would consider it a great insult to Jotunheim. Had he known the circumstances behind Loki's attack, Laufey would have instantly plunged the nine realms into war, a war which in all likelihood would have spread even as far as Midgard. Prince Loki knew that the only way to avoid that was to tell his father that it had been a seduction, instead of an attack. That way, the insult was to Asgard, not Jotunheim. That is why my father had to deliver the sentence himself."

“So not only was Loki raped, but then he had to claim that it was all his own doing? That doesn't seem fair," remarked Romanoff.

“Seems pretty fucked up, if you ask me," muttered Clint darkly.

"Aye, friends. He acted nobly, and saved many lives with his sacrifice."

Lorelei gave a small sniff of distaste and all eyes turned towards her. She pretended not to notice.

"Won't it get out anyway?" asked Romanoff. Gesturing to Lorelei, she said, “Sounds like it wasn't just kept within the family."

Thor grimaced at his bride-to-be. “There have been a few whispers, it is true, but they are unlikely to reach the ears of King Laufey, or anyone close to him. Anyone found spreading such a rumor would be dealt with most severely - whoever they were," he added pointedly. "Besides, no-one wants to be responsible for the death and destruction that would follow. A war like that would divide the realms and would likely continue for centuries - countless lives would be lost. Only a madman like Laufey would consider it."

That silenced them. Whatever their own thoughts and opinions, Loki had acted for the good of the realms, and further interference on their part would yield nothing but harm.

That didn't mean they had to like it, though.

Steve pushed back his chair. "I’m going to check on Bruce." The good manners instilled into him from birth made him turn to Lorelei and say politely, but with no warmth or sincerity, "It was nice to meet you, Lady Lorelei." And with even less warmth, “Thor."

Thor was startled. It was now clear that Tony, Bruce and Steve weren't coming back, and even as he realized that, Clint stood up. "Yeah, we should go too. We’ve… got a thing." Seeing Thor's eager smile, he added, "Nothing like that. Work event. Catch you later." He held out a hand to Natasha, who gave a small, tight smile as they left.

And then it was just Thor and Lorelei.

—-------

Thor dragged the bags down to his apartment, making a huge pile outside the door of the spare room - the room his friend Darcy had used when he had visited with Jane.

He remembered Jane's visits with a pang. They had always been such fun. The Avengers had stayed up into the small hours of the morning, Jane talking animatedly with Stark and Banner, while he and the others laughed at Steve's embarrassment as Darcy flirted with him. There had been such ease amongst them, such camaraderie.

And yet, their questioning led him to believe that his first suspicion had been correct - they blamed him for what had happened to Loki. He suddenly, desperately, wanted to speak to Jane, to tell her what had happened and hear what she thought. She had a gift for helping him to see things differently. For helping him to admit when he had done the wrong thing.

He sat up in bed and put his head in his hands. Sometimes he thought that Asgard wasn't very good for him. Everyone agreed with him in Asgard, no-one ever told him he was wrong or argued with him, and sometimes - when he was honest with himself - he knew that he needed that. He may constantly rail at his father for allowing the council to dictate to him, but perhaps it was good for a king to hear some dissenting voices? Perhaps it was better for a ruler to have people that would disagree with him, people who would tell him the truth?

He wondered what they would tell him, if he allowed them to be honest and frank.

He thought they would have told him that there was a price for the riches and the honors that came to him as king. That in exchange for the position he held, there were sacrifices that he was expected to make for his people to live in peace and prosperity. That the title of Allfather signified that he was to act as a father to all and, like a father in very truth, place their needs above his own.

Would it really have been so dreadful to have been married to someone he disliked? Royal families throughout the realms had been doing that for millenia. Like hundreds before him, he could have closed his eyes and done his duty and chased his pleasure elsewhere. Perhaps they would have come to an understanding, as many did; perhaps they could even have come to like each other.

If he was honest, he thought living with Loki would have been far more pleasant than living with Lorelei. At least his voice had been mellow and his manners good. For the first time, Thor wondered what Loki would have looked like in Aesir form, and found he couldn't do it. He had tried to avoid looking at the creature, and his figure had always been swathed in loose, hideous robes. All he could really remember was his height.

He found himself wondering why his parents had even suggested such a union after so many years of raising him to think of the frost giants - the Jotnar, he corrected in his mind - as little more than troublesome, vicious beasts. "Eat your porridge, or the frost giants will get you," his nanny had always said, "Frost beasts love to feast on naughty children."

The very thought of bedding a Jotun had caused an almost visceral reaction in him, a revulsion he had been unable to overcome. And perhaps his parents deserved their share of responsibility for what had happened, because he had been taught as a child to hate and fear frost giants; was it really such a surprise that he had learned the lesson well?

He wished Prince Loki could be here with him now, so he could try and explain and apologize - properly, not the half apology that he had offered to him before. He wished Loki had not had to pay such a price.

Would he ever have been able to overcome his distaste for the Jotun? He honestly didn't know. But he wished he would have tried.

—-------

They returned to Asgard after only a few days. The others seemed to be avoiding them, and when they did meet, the chilly atmosphere made everyone uncomfortable - except Lorelei, of course. The woman had the sensitivity of a bilgesnipe.

Was it his imagination, or did everyone look disappointed when they walked back into the throne room?

He saw his parents exchange a look and a part of him wanted to sink to the floor and cry out in frustration. Never before had the mighty Thor walked into a room and been unwanted.

They walked through the crowd of people and Thor watched as they tried to conjure up smiles for their wayward prince and his obnoxious wife-to-be.

As he now seemed to be doing all the time, he found himself wondering what it would be like if Loki was by his side.

Thor was beginning to re-think his views on the Jotnar. Laufey, certainly, was a despicable animal with no finer feelings, but Loki had been very different. Humble, dutiful, modest… everything Lorelei was not. How different would his reception have been if Loki was by his side? Somehow, the common people seemed to like him - although when and how they had met him, Thor had no idea.

Loki had not been popular with the court, but the court tended to follow his lead. His mother and father had certainly been pleased with Loki, and so had the lords that advised Odin. Tyr and Heimdall, usually the hardest men to please, had been impressed with him.

Thor's relationship with Fandral had become somewhat strained of late because of his friend's regard for the Jotun. Thor knew Fandral well enough to realize that his feelings for Loki had been genuine - perhaps his friend had even been in love with him. Certainly, he had been with no-one else since Loki's death.

If he had led by example and treated his future spouse well, how differently his homecoming would now be. If he had let everyone see the Loki that his parents and advisors had seen, would the court have loved him as they did? Would they have welcomed the couple home with open arms and eager smiles?

Too late to think of that now. He had been foolish and allowed his prejudices to influence his behavior. He had thrown away a spouse of great worth, and in return, he was to marry a harpy. He had caused the death of a saint that had sacrificed himself for the good of the realms, and this was his penance.

Chapter Text

"What are you doing in here?" Frigga's voice was unusually shrill.

Odin looked up guiltily as she walked into his study. "I’m working."

Frigga glared at him. "You're hiding."

Odin's eyes became wide as he tried to protest his innocence. "Wife, you wrong me! I was just…"

"Hiding from that wretched woman!"

Odin sighed. “She really is horrendous, isn't she?"

Frigga slumped into a nearby chair. “She has a voice like nails on a chalkboard. I simply cannot listen to her for another minute!"

"Four of our servants have given notice, and those appointed to her personally have all asked to be re-assigned."

"What are we going to do?"

—-------

Odin and his council were closeted away for almost four days, and the court was abuzz with rumors. The rumors became even more frenzied when the Lady Sif was sent for; everyone was wild with curiosity as to why the Allfather was speaking to her privately in his study.

Finally, Thor and his friends were summoned. They tried to catch Sif’s eye, but she stood looking steadfastly ahead of her, her face as white as death.

Odin’s voice broke the silence. "As you have no doubt guessed, we have once again been debating the subject of your marriage. We think we have arrived at a solution, but it will require a great sacrifice."

Thor's heart leapt. "Father, I will do anything, give anything, only say that I may be free of her!"

Odin fixed him with an icy glare. "If it did not affect anyone else, we would let you suffer the consequences for your actions; but we all agree that we could not suffer her to be queen. Lorelei of Vanaheim, following in the footsteps of Queen Frigga as Queen of Asgard and the Nine Realms! It would be an insult to your mother and to Asgard. We cannot, in good conscience, let it happen. We have a duty to our people."

Thor lowered his head shamefacedly. "I understand, father. I am deeply sorry for my earlier behavior, and I am grateful for this second chance. I will gladly make any sacrifice you require!"

He hoped his father would not ask for Mjolnir. Losing her before had been painful, like losing a part of himself; but if that was the price required to rid himself of Lorelei, he would gladly pay it and consider it a bargain.

“The sacrifice would not be yours. After some deliberation and debate, we realized that there is some ambiguity in the wording of our laws, which may now serve our needs. The laws of Asgard are frequently misquoted; although we have always stated that anyone marrying into the Asgardian line of succession must be a virgin, it is not technically the case.”

Thor gasped and Fandral began to protest. “You mean Prince Loki need not have -”

Odin held up a hand to forestall any further comments, “No, I’m afraid we could not have saved Loki,” he said, regretfully. “However, the actual law does not specifically require that the bearer of an Asgardian heir should be a virgin on the day they marry - only that they can have known the touch of no other man but their husband-to-be.”

It took Thor a few moments to work out the implications of what his father was saying, but once he did, his eyes widened and he shot a look at Sif, standing stiffly apart from them and avoiding his eyes.

“For many years, there has been talk of a union between you and the Lady Sif, and your close association has given rise to many rumors,” here he took a moment to glare at his wayward son. “It was a surprise to everyone when your engagement was announced to Prince Loki. If King Laufey heard such rumors, he evidently didn’t care about them, and I can only assume that King Freyr believed them to be false, since you were still seeking a wife. We have discussed this matter for many days and consulted the wisest men in the kingdom, and have arrived at a solution that may work. I am only sorry that, by doing this, we must dishonor the Lady Sif."

Sif made a small involuntary noise and covered her mouth with her hand.

Odin nodded sympathetically. "I regret it deeply, but it is the only way. The Lady has assured me that she has been intimate with no other man, and is willing to make this sacrifice,” Odin carefully tried to avoid mentioning the open secret of Sif’s previous relationship with his son, or her current dalliance with another woman; they had no bearing on the current situation. He turned once more to address her. “But if you have changed your mind, speak now, and your decision will be respected. This is no small thing to ask of you, and no-one -" he glared at Thor, "NO-ONE - will force you to agree to anything against your will."

Sif swallowed and straightened. “I have agreed to it and given my word; I will not turn back now."

Odin nodded gravely. "Very well. Then you must accuse Thor of lying with you in secret, and claim that he made promises to you regarding marriage."

Fandral drew in a breath. Hogun's eyes widened and Volstagg looked sick. This would be to confirm all the rumors about Sif's relationship with Thor; her good name would be ruined by such a declaration. When she had first struggled to be accepted as a warrior, many claimed that it was to attract the attention of the prince and get a great husband. She had fought long and hard to dispel that rumor, even going so far as to cut off her golden hair and bribe a mage to spell it so that it would grow out in a dark brown shade. To agree to this would be to throw away everything she had ever fought for.

For a moment, she looked like a trapped animal. Then she swallowed and composed herself. "I will do it."

Thor stared at her, aghast. “Sif, you must not!"

She stood straighter and squared her shoulders. She would not show weakness to anyone, especially now.

Meeting Thor's eyes, she said, "I was part of it, what happened to Prince Loki. I was rude to him, spread rumors, and disrespected him and his position. I thought I was supporting you, but in truth, I was enabling you to act like a spoilt child." She saw Thor's face redden, and she tried to offer a small smile. "It's alright, we all behaved badly - well, not Fandral, but the rest of us. Loki had to pay a terrible price for our behavior, and so it's only fair that we make sacrifices too. And at least we’re friends. Being married to each other won't be so very bad, surely?"

She didn't sound sure - she wasn't. She didn't love Thor, Thor didn't love her. Their last attempt at anything beyond friendship and sex had ended miserably. And she wanted love, she believed in love - she even believed she had found it. Only weeks ago, she had met the Valkyrie, Brunhilde, and it was love - true love at last! - and they had been so happy, and made so many plans…

But she had to atone for what she had done. If she had not interfered, if she had not supported and encouraged Thor, then he would have married Loki and all would have been well. Loki would not have had to die, and Thor would not have become engaged to Lorelei. Perhaps she could have considered Lorelei to be Thor’s punishment to bear, but above everything, Sif loved Asgard, and she would not allow that despicable creature to become their queen.

It occurred to her that she could empathize with Prince Loki; she would marry for political reasons and for the good of her realm. As the daughter of a noble family, it had always been a possibility for her. At least she knew Thor and liked him.

She felt Fandral squeeze her shoulder. He knew how she felt, none better. Their malevolent schemes had become real to him, and he had grown to love Prince Loki. Now he suffered every day as he mourned his lost love. She reached up and squeezed his hand in fellowship.

Thor's eyes were watery. He knew what she was giving up, she had told him of her love for Brunhilde. "Nay, it will not be so bad. But are you sure you want to do this?” He lowered his voice, “I would never force you; I know what you stand to lose."

Her eyes flashed. "I do this for our realm; for Asgard!"

"And Asgard thanks you," said Odin. They began to make plans.

—-------

Brunhilde was practicing her sword strokes when Sif returned. As Sif approached, she gestured to a nearby sword. “Care to join me?”

Sif shook her head. “No. Can we talk?”

Curious, Brunhilde sheathed her sword and reached to take Sif in her arms. “Something wrong?”

Sif evaded her. “Not here. Can we go to your house?”

“Alright.”

They walked quickly, Sif hurrying just a little ahead of Brunhilde. When they reached the house, Sif hovered nervously behind a chair.

‘Do you have any wine?”

Brunhilde raised her eyebrows. “I thought you didn’t approve of drinking during the day?”

Sif shrugged.

Brunhilde poured out two glasses, set them down on the table, and sat opposite her lover. “Well?” she prompted, after a few minutes of silence.

Sif took a drink and considered how to begin. There was no easy way to say it, she decided, no way to soften the news.

“I’m marrying Prince Thor.”

Brunhilde laughed and leaned back in her chair. “Ha! You had me for a minute there.”

Sif clenched her fist around her cup; of all the responses she had expected, laughter had not been one of them. “I’m serious.”

Brunhilde’s smile died away and she sat up straight. “If this is a joke, it’s not funny.”

“It’s not a joke.”

Brunhilde stared at her in disbelief. “Of course it’s a joke. You don’t like him that way, you told me that the first time we met.”

“You know that we …” Sif made an odd little waving gesture with her hand.

“I know that you and he have sometimes indulged in a little stress relief. I didn’t think it was more than that.”

“It wasn’t, it…” Sif couldn’t seem to find the right words.

“Then what the hel was it?”

Sif took a deep breath. “You remember Prince Loki?”

“The Jotun prince that came here to marry Thor until he was raped, sentenced to death and then executed by the Allfather? Yeah, I have a vague recollection. What does he have to do with all this?”

Sif swallowed nervously. “He confessed to seducing the soldiers.”

Brunhilde rolled her eyes. “No-one believes that, everyone knows it was rape. It’s the talk of Asgard.”

Sif looked alarmed. “But what if Laufey hears about it?”

“It’s the talk of Asgard and only Asgard. No-one’s that stupid or desperate for war. I heard it from some men in the town that were gossiping, but the minute a stranger appeared, they changed the subject. Besides, Heimdall and the Allfather would stop it, if they thought it would get out.”

Recognizing the truth of the statement, Sif nodded in relief.

Undeterred, Brunhilde returned to the point. “So what does Prince Loki have to do with all of this?”

Sif took another drink and told her the whole sordid story. Brunhilde listened in stoney silence, only getting up once to bring the wine bottle to the table and refill their glasses.

“And so I’m going to marry Thor,” finished Sif. She waited for Brunhilde to respond.

“I see.”

“That’s it? ‘I see’?”

Brunhilde shrugged. “I don’t know what you want me to say. You bullied Prince Loki, supported Thor in his idiotic plan and continued to defend him even when you knew what he’d done. It doesn’t exactly paint you in a great light, does it? I never met Loki, but everyone I’ve spoken to liked him. Well, everyone except the lords and ladies of the court, but I’ve never thought much of their opinions anyway.” She turned hard eyes on Sif. “I thought you were different; I thought you could think for yourself.”

Sif turned scarlet, and opened her mouth for an angry retort, before reconsidering. Deflating, she said, “I suppose I’m just used to always being there for Thor and defending him. We’ve been friends since we were children, and we’ve always had each other’s backs. I didn’t even think about whether it was right or wrong, I just wanted to support him.”

Brunhilde huffed but said nothing. Her mind was whirling with everything she had just heard. Sif had behaved abominably, but Brunhilde understood about loyalty. It was what made the Valkyries so formidable - they were strong because they stood together, united against their enemies. Sif’s loyalty to her friend was admirable; her behavior and common sense, less so.

“What are you thinking?”

Brunhilde sighed. “That you were a fool. That the next time I spar with Thor, I’ll trash him into the ground, crown prince or not. That I understand what you’re going to do and why, but I… I wish you didn’t have to.” Her voice broke a little on the next words, “That I wish I could take time back and tell you not to be such a damned fool. And that I wish you didn’t have to do this.”

Sif looked down, tears forming in her eyes. “I’m sorry. I… I really do love you.”

Brunhilde took a deep breath to hide her own emotion. “I love you too.”

They sat in silence for a few minutes, until Sif said, “We could still be together… if you wanted.”

Brunhilde shot her a questioning look.

“My marriage to Thor,” Sif said, the taste of the words bitter in her mouth, “it’s just a political marriage, for appearances. It won’t be that different to the relationship we had before, except this time I’ll be expected to produce an heir. But we’ll have separate apartments, we won’t have to sleep together every night.” Her voice took on a pleading note, “And you and I always talked about wanting children, this way we can do it; Thor would be their biological father, but in every other sense, they could be ours.”

“They could never be our children, they’d be Asgard’s children. Heirs to the throne.”

Sif reached out and took Brunhilde’s hand; it was ice cold. “We can raise them together, you can be my constant companion, my closest friend.

“People will talk.”

Sif’s eyes hardened. “Let them.”

“And what will Thor have to say about it?”

“Thor isn’t in a position to say anything,” she said, with a vehemence that surprised herself. She may have agreed to it, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t angry and upset - at Thor, at herself, at Odin. She took a breath to calm herself. “So what do you think? Do you love me enough to try and make it work, or do you want to throw it all away - everything we could have, everything we could be to each other?”

It was the cruelest form of emotional blackmail, she knew that; but sitting across from the woman she loved, she knew that she couldn’t bear to lose her, couldn’t bear to let her walk away.

And when Brunhilde looked up from the table, her eyes filled with pain, Sif knew that she had won.

And that in winning, she had lost everything.

Chapter Text

Trying to keep his distance from Loki was the hardest thing Tony had ever done. He had known that it was always going to be difficult, especially since they both lived and worked together, but it soon became clear that Loki was not exactly sticking to the spirit of their agreement.

Loki was like a cat wanting attention; while he didn’t exactly walk over the computer keyboards, he tried everything else, up to and including sidling into his lap while they were watching a movie. After a couple of months, Tony begged Pepper and Natasha for help.

“Don’t get me wrong, I think it’s great that he’s comfortable with me after everything that’s happened - but we agreed that we weren’t going to start anything until the eight months are up. It’s only been two and he isn’t even trying to make this easier.”

“What was your actual agreement with him?”

Tony rolled his eyes in amusement; trust Pepper to be concerned with the wording. “Jarvis?”

The room was suddenly filled with the sound of his voice saying, “How about this? We’ll wait, say - a year. During that time, we’ll get to know each other better, and you’ll meet new people and make new friends and do fun and exciting things. And after a year, if you still think a relationship with me is a good idea, then - okay.”

“A year?” Natasha raised an eyebrow.

“We haggled a little. He got it down to eight months.”

“Okay…” Pepper considered for a few moments. “I have an idea.”

“You do?”

She nodded. “Has he been going out and meeting new people?”

Tony considered. “No. He spends most of his time here with me.”

“Then he’s violating your agreement. Jarvis, can you ask Loki to join us?”

“What are you going to do?”

“There’s something I was already thinking about suggesting to him, I think it might help. What about you, Nat, any ideas?”

“Actually, yes… but I don’t think anyone’s going to like it. Scratch that, I can guarantee you’ll all hate it.”

“What were you thinking?”

Natasha paused. “I’d rather wait until Loki gets here. I don’t want him to feel as though we’re all ganging up on him.”

Tony looked sadly at his coffee and wished it was whiskey. “Will this plan of yours help him?”

“Yes. I think it will be good for him.” She considered. “For both of you.”

Tony shrugged, not exactly happy, but resigned and ready to try whatever she suggested. He knew that Natasha wouldn’t hurt Loki. “Okay then. Can’t believe I’m saying this, but I trust you.”

Loki appeared a few minutes later, looking worried when he saw the three of them waiting for him. “Is something wrong?”

“Hello, Loki. Nothing to worry about, but we just wanted to take a moment to discuss your agreement with Tony. Would you like to take a seat?”

Loki looked nervously at Tony. “Tony?”

“No idea,” he said, disingenuously.

Loki pressed himself into a seat beside Tony. “I was going over the wording of your agreement, and I realized that all the terms are not being met.”

Loki had the grace to blush, but argued, “We haven’t even kissed!”

Pepper smiled. “Well, that’s good to know, but what I meant was - Jarvis, would you replay the recording, please?”

“Certainly, madam. ‘How about this? We’ll wait, say - a year. During that time, we’ll get to know each other better, and you’ll meet new people and make new friends and do fun and exciting things’.”

“Stop there, please, Jarvis.” She turned back to the two men sitting in front of her and repeated, “You’ll meet new people and make new friends and do fun and exciting things. Tell me, Loki - have you met any new people or done any ‘fun or exciting things’?”

Loki swallowed nervously. He was not used to seeing this side of Pepper. “I-I-,” he cleared his throat, “I’ve done lots of exciting things…”

Pepper waved for him to continue.

“I’ve been to a spa -”

“With me,” she interrupted.

“And I’ve gone to the movies -”

“With Clint and I,” volunteered Natasha.

“I had coffee in a coffee shop…”

“I’m guessing that was with Steve?”

Loki nodded miserably. Tony reached out and squeezed his hand.

“Have you done anything that didn’t involve one of us? Anything at all?”

Loki shook his head guiltily.

“So, since I doubt you want to be in violation of your agreement, I am going to arrange some activities for you, based on your interests.”

Loki slumped in his chair. He liked spending time with Tony, he didn’t want to do anything else. “What sort of things?”

“You will be going out on your own,” Pepper emphasized, “and meeting new people.”

“Pep,” Tony began to protest, but tapered off at a look from her. He had, after all, asked for her help.

She turned back to Loki. “Don’t worry, I won’t sign you up for anything I don’t think you’ll enjoy,” she reassured him.

“Fine,” he said, grudgingly.

“And Nat, don’t you have something you wanted to add?”

“I do. When Tony first told us about this arrangement, he said it was because he didn’t want you to ‘settle’ - his words - for him. As he said, he wanted you to get to know other people. I think Pepper’s idea is great, but I don’t think it goes far enough. I think you need to go on a few dates.”

She heard a gasp from Pepper and Loki’s face paled; for once, even Tony seemed lost for words. She had shocked them all.

Tony was the first to recover. “What the hell? No! No way! I don’t want him on some seedy dating site with a bunch of assholes who are only after one thing!” Loki was clinging to his hand so tightly that Tony thought he was in danger of breaking a bone. “Human, Lokes, remember?” He began to gently pull Loki’s fingers away. “I may need that hand again.”

Natasha’s smile was understanding. “Do you really think I would do that to him? What I’m suggesting is that we all try to think of any single friends that we have, so he can get some experience of dating. Wasn’t that the point of all this? Making sure that he wasn’t just settling for the only person he knew and felt comfortable with?”

Tony slumped in his seat. She was right, as always. But she had also been right when she said he wouldn’t like it.

“Fine, but one of us goes with him to make sure he’s okay.”

“Tony, we’ve been teaching him to fight and he’s an alien with powers and abilities far beyond those of normal humans. He’s going to be fine on his own. And anyway, Jarvis will be with him the whole time, won’t you, Jarvis?”

“Certainly, Miss Romanoff.”

“I don’t want to do it; I won’t go.” Loki’s face was stricken.

Natasha knelt on the floor beside him and took his hands in hers. “Loki, you know I’d never expose you to danger or let you be harmed, don’t you?”

He nodded reluctantly.

“I believe in you, I know you can do this. I wouldn’t have suggested it if I didn’t think it would be good for you.”

“I know.” His voice was so low, it was almost a whisper.

“So will you do it? For me?”

They had all done so much for him and asked for nothing in return, until now. And even this was really for him, to help him.

Sighing, resigned, he nodded. “Alright.”

—-------

As soon as Loki had been officially added to the SI payroll, Pepper had - with Tony’s help - given Loki a few tests to get an idea of what he knew. Laufey played a long game, and from the moment he had seen his disappointing offspring, he had begun to lay plans for an Asgardian marriage. To prepare his son to best serve his country, Loki had been given a basic understanding of mathematics and economics, so that he could push Thor into making financial agreements with Jotunheim that leaned more to the Jotnar’s favor. He had been taught a little history, but only for the other realms - Earth had been considered to be unimportant - and before he left Jotunheim to marry Thor, Loki had been gifted with the All-tongue, which meant that he could speak and understand every language. Beyond that, Loki’s formal education had been severely lacking. However, they soon discovered that Loki loved to learn new things and soaked up new information like a sponge.

With this in mind, the next day Pepper signed him up for a few adult education classes. With no idea what he might enjoy, she decided to pick a few things at random, and he was nervous but excited when she told him that he was registered for classes in creative writing, watercolor painting and beginner’s violin.

On his first day, Tony was as anxious as a new parent sending their child to school for the first time, only relaxing when Loki returned home beaming with happiness and filled with stories about his first class.

Pepper only hoped that his first date would go as well.

—-------

Pepper walked into the penthouse to find Tony sitting in his favorite chair, gripping a whiskey glass tightly and staring into it, a grim look on his face.

She squatted beside him. “Hey, what’s up?”

“Loki’s out on a date. With that wizard friend of Bruce’s.”

“Oooh. Sorry.”

“‘S okay. I was the one that wanted him to go out and meet people.”

“Doesn’t make anything better though, does it?”

Tony sighed. “It’s just… I want him to get some experience. I don't want to be with him by default, because he’s never spent any time with anyone else. It’s just that…” His shoulders slumped. “Strange is a sorcerer. Loki’s gonna love having someone to talk to about all of that.”

Pepper gave him a sympathetic smile and reached for his glass, taking a sip. She did a double take and stared at the amber liquid in astonishment. “What is this?”

Tony grimaced. “Iced tea.”

“Iced… I’m sorry, what? Why are you drinking iced tea?”

“Loki’s worried about my health. He realized that human life spans were considerably shorter, started reading a ridiculous number of books, and then decided I needed to make some lifestyle changes.”

Pepper snorted with laughter and quickly covered her mouth. “You?!”

“There’s Greek yogurt in the fridge. And I had kale for lunch. Ever eaten kale? It tastes like misery and sadness.” He took a drink and winced. “And I freakin’ hate iced tea!”

Pepper couldn’t help it; she sank to the floor clutching her stomach as she laughed.

Tony’s lips twitched but he tried to look stern. “It’s not funny.”

“The hell it isn’t! You’re drinking ICED TEA!”

“I thought you came here to cheer me up, not to laugh at me!”

“I can do both.” Pepper laid a hand on his arm. “Tony, you’re worried that Loki’s going to leave you for someone else when he’s changing your diet so that you can be together even longer? More to the point, you’re going along with it! You don’t have to be a genius to know that the two of you are crazy in love and destined to be together. Loki’s on this date because you told him he had to see other people. I bet he’s hating every moment!”

—-------

Loki was hating every moment of his date. Doctor Steven Strange (he had stressed the word ‘doctor’ so much that Loki was taking a vicious delight in constantly calling him ‘Mr Strange’) was boring and pompous and Loki was getting a headache from rolling his eyes so much. He would have had much more fun if Strange had just left him alone in that wonderful library, but no, Strange had to drone on and on about magical theory until the most exciting subjects in the universe sounded tedious and dull.

By the time Strange - Loki couldn’t bring himself to think of him as ‘Steven’ - summoned dessert with a wave of his hand, Loki decided enough was enough. Did he have to use magic for everything? Why couldn’t he just walk to the kitchen once in a while? Loki threw all manners aside, ate the dessert as quickly as possible and made his excuses. He thanked Mr Strange for a pleasant evening (and enjoyed the irritated scowl that followed), gave him a business-like handshake, gave a significantly more respectful one to the man’s cloak (even if he did question its taste in choosing Strange for its master), and headed home.

—-------

Tony was waiting up for him. “Hey, how was your night?”

Loki smiled dreamily and Tony’s heart sank. “Oh, it was wonderful! He’s so handsome! He has the most amazing goatee. We ate dinner and talked about spellcraft - you should hear him talk! That voice! So resonant and distinguished! And he…” Loki slumped down into the nearest chair. “No, I can’t do it. Not even for the satisfaction of punishing you for making me go out with him. He’s the most obnoxious, self-satisfied blowhard I’ve ever met - and I’ve lived at the Asgardian court! He sat through the whole dinner wearing his full magical regalia - cloak included!”

Tony grinned. “So will you be seeing him again?”

“Yes.” Tony’s grin faltered until Loki added, “Everytime I can’t get to sleep, I’ll close my eyes and picture him droning on about magical doctrines. I’ll never suffer from insomnia again.”

And Tony smiled into his drink, his heart light as a feather.

—-------

As always, Tony was waiting for him when he got home. He looked worried. “Jarvis said you were okay but I was starting to get worried! It’s really late - or early, I guess. Did you have a good night?” His worry was only increased by Loki’s appearance - and smell.

There was an edge to Loki’s voice as he asked, “Who set me up with this person?”

Tony frowned in thought for a minute. “Erm… Clint.”

“Why?”

“Because he thought you’d have fun? He said Wilson was a nice guy with a good sense of humor. Why, what happened?”

“Well, it started out alright. We went to see a Wham cover band - have you heard of Wham?”

Tony winced. “Not really my kind of music.”

“Huh. I quite liked it. And I liked the way the lead singer was dressed. He was wearing leather trousers and a matching jacket; I was going to look and see if I could find something like that for myself.”

Tony perked up. The idea of Loki in tight leather trousers was not unappealing. “Jarvis, order some tight leather trousers for Loki. And a jacket.”

“Certainly, sir.”

“Tony, you can’t keep buying me things, I have to learn to be independent.”

“Sure. Right after I see you in leather trousers. Trust me, this is more for me than you.”

Loki rolled his eyes.

“So you went to see the band… then what happened?”

“Then he took me to a seedy bar that smelled like every imaginable human vice -,” he lowered his head slightly and sniffed, “which is now apparently embedded in my clothes. I’m not sure this will ever come out, I might have to throw them away.”

“What’s that?” Tony asked, pointing to a huge multi-colored stain.

“That? That’s where a man bumped into me, spilling his barbeque wings - can you believe they’re allowed to serve food in a place like that? - and his ‘boilermaker’, whatever that was. It stinks, that’s all I know.”

Tony hid a grin; Loki was usually quite formal and precise in his speech, and he must have been upset to use the word ‘stinks’.

“And that’s when you came home?”

“No, that’s when Wade decided to ‘protect my honor’ by challenging my ‘attacker’. It turned into a huge bar fight, so I left. As I walked out, Wade was pulling knives out of himself, saying, ‘Well, now we’re having fun!’. The man’s insane.”

“So,” Tony tried to hide his grin, “are you planning to see him again?”

Loki fixed him with a cold glare. “Perhaps. He has invited me to go and see ‘Aha’ next week, and it seems that I do have a preference for lunatics who live dangerously. I’m going to have a bath; there’s a small chance that if I soak for long enough, I might not smell like a waste receptacle in the morning.”

He turned back at the door. “And Tony? Let’s plan something extra special for our good friend Mr Barton.”

—-------

“So how was your date with the lovely Ms Hill?”

Loki sank down beside Tony. “Terrifying.”

Tony raised his eyebrows.

“Did you know that she knows twenty-five ways to kill a man with her bare hands? And if you want to know how, she’ll tell you. In great and enthusiastic detail.” He paused. “Actually, she’ll tell you even if you don’t want to know. At one point in the evening, she used the waiter to demonstrate one of her favorite moves. After that, he pointedly avoided the table. It was a shame, I would have liked some more bread.”

“Are you seeing her again?”

“Romantically, no; but Maria will be joining Nat and I at our next training session. I believe she has much she can teach me.”

—-------

Loki was straightening his tie in the mirror and preparing to go on his next blind date with Pepper’s choice - Phil Coulson.

Tony felt a sudden stab of - fear? Jealousy? He wasn’t sure which. He only knew that he didn’t want Loki to go on a date with Phil Coulson. Everybody liked Phil: Pepper, Nat, Clint, Steve - even Bruce, who normally disliked all of those government men on principle alone. Loki would like Phil, just like everybody else; he would want a second date with him.

And suddenly, Tony could no longer stand it. “Don’t go,” he blurted, “Stay here, with me.”

“I have to go, it’s part of our agreement - remember?”

“To hell with the agreement. I’m sick of the agreement.”

“As am I. But we still have a month to go.”

“I don’t care. I’ve had enough of telling you what to do. What do you want, Loki?”

Loki raised his eyes to meet Tony’s. “I want you. I’ve wanted you almost from the moment we met. No-one else has even come close.”

Tony smiled.

“So does this mean we can date now?”

Tony didn’t even think about his words before he said them. “No, I don’t want to date you.”

Loki pulled away in shock. “Y-you don’t?”

“No, I don’t. I want to marry you, Loki.” He shrugged apologetically. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to say it like this. I’d planned a dinner, and flowers and -” Loki interrupted him by grabbing him by the lapels and kissing him with the pent up fervor of seven long and frustrating months.

When they eventually broke apart, Tony grinned happily and said, “Well, that was worth the wait.”

—-------

“Miss Romanoff?”

“Yes, Jarvis?”

“You asked me to let you know the moment that Mr Stark - if I may quote you - ‘stopped being an ass and admitted he’s crazy for Loki’.”

Natasha grinned. “Wonderful! Thank you, Jarvis.”

“If I may, Miss Romanoff, thank you.”

Natasha widened her eyes and looked up at the camera in astonishment. “Me, Jarvis? I had nothing to do with it!”

“Of course not, Miss Romanoff. Would you like me to inform Mr Barton that he lost the bet and now owes you dinner?”

Caught - and why had she even tried to fool Jarvis? - Natasha grinned shamelessly. “Yes, Jarvis, you can let him know - thank you!”

Chapter Text

Thor was staying with his friends in New Mexico while he waited for his parents to finalize the plans for his wedding. Sif had gone to Alfheim for her traditional pre-wedding celebration, although in a break with tradition, she had been accompanied by only one ‘friend’ - Brunhilde.

Faced with Sif’s growing resentment of the sacrifice she had to make and the prospect of a long, loveless union, Thor and Sif had come to an agreement. They would do their duty to Asgard and produce heirs, but that was as far as it would go. Sif could discreetly continue her relationship with Brunhilde, and Thor could amuse himself as long as he was careful - any accidental pregnancies could result in a civil war, and he wasn’t prepared to risk that. Not when they had sacrificed so much for the sake of peace.

Jane, surprisingly, had been fine with that. When he stayed on Earth before, they had talked, and she told him that though she continued to be attracted to him and had enjoyed their time together, she didn’t want immortality and the throne of Asgard - she wanted to stay on Earth and continue her work in astrophysics. Chagrined once more, Thor had to face the fact that Jane’s feelings towards him were not what he had believed them to be - a deep and abiding passion - but simply a shallow infatuation that burned itself out with prolonged acquaintance. Jane needed someone she could talk to and share ideas with, and Thor found it ironic that, from what he had learned about him, Jane would probably have valued Loki’s company far more than his.

Still, reassured by the fact that Sif didn’t mind, and knowing that there were no strings attached, Jane was more than happy to resume what had been an easy, extremely enjoyable physical relationship. For some reason, the knowledge that Jane only wanted him for his body depressed Thor more than he was prepared to admit.

He hadn’t yet told his friends in New York of his return, not wanting to explain that he was now planning to wed yet another fiancee. His marital arrangements were starting to feel a little ridiculous, even to him.

Thor lay quietly next to Jane as he counted up the tally of lives he had ruined with his folly.

The first and greatest was obviously Prince Loki, who had lost his life trying to do his duty and prevent the war Thor had almost brought upon them.

There was Fandral, now a changed man, unhappy and distant, who would soon be leaving to become Asgard’s ambassador in Jotunheim. He had fallen in love for the first time, and his heart had been broken. He would never forget the part Thor had played in Loki’s defilement and death.

Then there was Sif, the woman he would be tied to until death, who was growing increasingly angry and bitter. She had found love at last, only to be forced to push it aside for the good of Asgard. That led his thoughts to Brunhilde, who would never be able to enjoy an honest and open relationship with the woman she loved. Publicly, she would be Sif’s friend and companion, and she would never be recognized as more than that. They could never live together openly, and they could never raise children of their own. It would be a lonely life, full of compromise and concessions.

He could add his mother to the list. She had been so very fond of Loki, and Thor knew she missed him. His mother was often lonely on Asgard; her position as queen meant that there were few she could talk to as an equal, and she had found an instant rapport with Loki. As much as she liked Sif, the two had nothing in common - Sif would be a very different kind of queen for Asgard. Frigga would have loved to share her magical knowledge and ideas with someone else, but magic users were not generally held in high regard. He now realized how ridiculous that was, when you considered that the king himself was one of the most powerful men in the universe.

For the first time, he thought of the soldiers that had suffered his mother’s vengeance after their attack on Loki. It was just and right that they should have been punished, but if he had said nothing and quietly married as he should have, they would still be alive today. Five men had died because they thought they were doing their duty and serving their prince; he could add their families to his growing tally.

Perhaps he should also add the people of Jotunheim - for he now acknowledged that they were people, not animals or beasts, but real people, with homes and families who would have benefitted from a closer relationship with Asgard. Perhaps there were many others that he hadn’t even considered, a faceless multitude that would have been much happier if Thor had just quietly done his duty, as everyone else must.

Thor had thought himself changed after his first exile on Midgard; how very wrong he had been.

—-------

Tony and Loki were entwined together on the sofa. Tony was running his fingers through Loki’s long hair, and Loki was nuzzling against him, peppering his neck with kisses. Tony was moving slowly, as always, letting Loki take the lead. Loki was upset by the slow progression of their physical relationship, but Tony insisted that they had time to take things slowly; Loki wasn’t so sure - human lifespans were short.

"Excuse me for interrupting, but there has been an explosion in a chemical warehouse near the docks. Director Fury is requesting all the Avengers to help with clean-up."

Tony groaned and sat up. "What kind of chemicals, J?"

"The director wished me to tell you it was, ‘really bad super villain excrement’."

Tony raised an eyebrow. "Fury said excrement?"

There was a short pause. "I may not have quoted him exactly."

Loki began to untangle himself. "We should go."

"Fine,” Tony sighed. “Ready the suit, Jarvis."

Loki stood and stretched. Tony leaned over and gave him a quick kiss. "Don’t get too close and stay safe, okay?"

"I would ask the same of you."

Tony grinned, the same reckless grin he loved so much. "Won’t do much good if I don’t get close! Don’t worry, I do this all the time.” The suit began to assemble around him. “Besides, Jarvis will look after me!"

"Indeed I will. Please don’t worry, Mr Loki."

Loki nodded and, with a bright shimmer of green, dressed himself in the battle armor that he had designed a few months ago.

Tony flipped his faceplate. "Don’t think seeing that will ever get old. And how am I supposed to concentrate on anything else when you look this good?"

"If this is a bad time, we can come back…" quipped Clint from the doorway. Tony flipped him the bird.

Steve stepped forward, all business. "Are we all ready? Where’s Bruce?"

"Right here." The doctor hurried out of the elevator. “Had to get my bag, sounds like I might be more useful as a doctor this time.”

Steve nodded in approbation. "Okay, let’s go."

—-------

Thor heard of the explosion and decided it was time to rejoin his old group.

He landed in the midst of confusion. The Captain, the Widow and the Hawk seemed to be trying to lead people away and clear the area. Banner was helping the emergency services, checking everyone for signs of injury or sickness. Stark was flying above in his suit of iron, and Thor waved to him. Stark made a gesture towards his ear and Thor nodded to show he understood.

"Great, you remembered your earpiece!"

"You said it was of vital importance."

"It is. Wanna join me up here on the roof?"

Without another word, Thor flew up beside him. To his surprise, there was another man on the roof, this one wearing armor of green and black.

"Greetings!" Was it his imagination, or did the two suited men tense?

"Oh, yeah. Point Break, you remember Loptr."

"Of course! It is nice to meet you again."

Loptr acknowledged him with a brief nod. "We must hurry. The chemicals are flowing swiftly, we will need to act now if we wish to prevent contamination."

"Dammit! Jarvis, any suggestions? If that stuff reaches the water supply, it could wipe out half of New York!"

"Tony." Loki’s voice was quiet, and Tony noticed that he had moved a little apart. "I have an idea that I think might work."

Tony smiled encouragingly. "Great, Bambi. What are you thinking?"

"I haven’t really tried, I mean - I don’t really know if I can do it, but… well…"

"Kind of a time crunch here, babe."

Loki swallowed and shot a look at Thor. "If you can find someway to contain them afterwards, I think I might be able to freeze the chemicals before they reach the river."

Tony frowned as he considered. “Jarivs, would that work?”

“Based on the chemical analysis of the samples we have received so far, I believe it would.”

“Okay, great. I see some barrels over there, they should work for containment. You think you can do it?"

‘I believe so; I’ve been practicing."

Tony shot a look at Thor and lowered his own voice to a whisper. “You sure about this? Once you transform, he’ll know who you are.”

Loki shrugged. “He will know at some point; it may as well be now.”

Tony put a hand on his shoulder. "If you’re sure. Although it doesn’t look like we have any other options. Go for it."

Loki nodded and, aided by Tony’s tech built into his cloak, gracefully swooped down to the ground. As he descended, he allowed his human face to drop and let his natural appearance take over. He didn’t hear Thor’s gasp.

He dimly registered another explosion and saw a second stream of chemicals join the first and move closer to the water’s edge.

He took a deep breath to center himself and held out his hands, ignoring their slight shake. He heard Tony’s voice in his earpiece, "You got this, babe. I know you can do it."

He didn’t know why the human had such faith in him. He had been locked in a prison for most of his life and had never even seen a body of water before he went to Asgard. Although he had been trying to teach himself, he had very little practical experience when it came to manipulating temperatures, and had never frozen anything on this scale.

But Tony was counting on him.

He took a deep breath and forced his mind to focus on the water. He felt for the ice in his core and held out his hands, pushing it into the stream of chemicals as they inched towards the bank.

Tony flew forward and Loki called out to him, "I don’t have them all yet, they have different freezing points." He closed his eyes and let himself sense the temperatures he needed, letting the cold air flow from him until every drop was encased in ice. "It’s done."

"Knew you could do it! Cap, can you guys suit up and help me with this?"

"On our way. Great work, Loki!"

Silence fell.

"Oh! I mean - um -"

"No problem, Cap. Let’s just deal with this first, okay?"

It was Romanoff that answered. "Be right there."

—-------

Without anyone actually saying anything, they all decided to travel back to the tower in the quinjet. Despite Thor’s angry, questioning glances, the journey was curiously silent.

Guessing that he didn't want to be a part of what was coming, Bruce immediately went to his special suite, but the others filed into the penthouse. Instead of falling onto the sofa as they usually did, they perched upright on the arms of the furniture.

It didn’t take long for Thor to begin speaking. "Loki? You are Loki?" Thor stared in shock and finally, it was a statement when he repeated, "YOU are LOKI!"

How could he have never noticed? He stared in shock and looked past the ivory skin and those vivid green eyes. Now that he looked - looked properly - Thor couldn’t believe he hadn’t seen it before. The same ink black hair and fine features, the same tall, lean figure. Of course, his hair was different - much shorter and falling loose around his face, instead of a few loose strands escaping from his long braid. But really… had the color of his skin really changed his appearance so very much?

But of course, Thor hadn’t been looking for him; Thor had believed him to be dead.

He had admired this man many times, envying Tony for having such an attractive and interesting companion… and now he found out that the man he had been coveting could have been his… had very nearly been his, if he hadn’t been such an idiot.

"You still live... how?"

"Your parents were merciful. They created an illusion and sent me here."

"You are Loki," he repeated.

"Yes." Loki eyed him coldly.

"MY Loki."

"Never!" Loki hissed angrily.

Tony and Steve stood up, ready to intervene, but Natasha raised a hand to hold them back, saying quietly, “No. He needs to do this for himself.”

Thor caught the movement. "Stark’s Loki then, I suppose!"

"No. I belong to no-one. Though I choose to be with Tony, I am free to do as I please."

"You were betrothed to me."

"And you did everything you could think of to get rid of me! Up to and including rape, if I remember."

Thor flushed. "I said I would still marry you."

Loki’s lips twisted into a sneer. "How noble of you."

Thor’s temper flared. "I was prepared to wed you, despite everything!"

"The everything being that you sent men to rape me in front of the nobility of Asgard! Excuse me if I don’t think that makes you a particularly desirable husband."

"Not many men would be willing -"

"To take a spouse so widely enjoyed? Then perhaps next time you should send only one rapist!"

Tony decided enough was enough, and broke away from Natasha. Clint had quietly moved so he was standing behind Thor, and Steve remained standing beside Natasha, his fists clenched.

"I didn’t send them!" Thor roared angrily.

"No, you did not. You simply told your loyal and devoted servants that defiling me would be the only way to save Asgard and their future king!"

Thor opened his mouth to argue and caught himself. What was he doing? Why did this man have the power to anger him more than any other? Loki was speaking nothing but the truth… although, Thor reflected, that was probably what made him so angry.

He surprised them all by saying, "You are right."

Loki, who had been preparing for a fight, stared at him, confused. "What?"

"You are right. I was a fool. I should never have spoken in such a manner, and while we are about it, I was a fool to judge you without knowing you. The only defense I can offer is that I was always taught to consider the Jotnar to be our enemies, and I was unwilling to believe anything else." He decided that if he was going to do this, he would do it properly. Falling to his knees, he said, “Though I do not expect it, I beg you to forgive me for the wrong I have done you. It was not my intent,” he saw Loki’s eyes narrow, and hurried to continue, “but that does not mean that it wasn’t my fault.” He thought again of the people he had hurt. “I ruined many lives that day, but you were the one most harmed by my actions. I am sorry.”

Loki stared at him in shock, his mouth open. He felt Tony put a comforting hand on his shoulder.

Loki’s thoughts were whirling. He never thought - not in a hundred lifetimes - that Thor would ever apologize properly. He considered refusing, hurling the apology back at him and nursing his hatred for as long as there was breath in his body -

- but what good would that do? Tony and the rest of the Avengers would continue to have to tiptoe around the two of them, choosing sides and feeling uncomfortable. It would not help the dynamics of the team, and, quite honestly, what would be the point? Thor’s life would not be greatly impacted by Loki’s continued hatred. Glowering at Thor whenever he saw him would not bother Thor overmuch, and it would only serve to make Loki feel worse. Carrying so much hatred inside him was exhausting and soul destroying. Loki was happy now; he wanted to be completely happy, with no dark clouds or misery.

Whatever terrible things he had suffered through, they had led to him finding Tony, and he would never regret that. He had come through the darkness and Tony’s bright smile was his reward. He could afford to be generous, especially since he suspected that Thor’s life in Asgard was no longer a joy to him.

He met Thor’s gaze and suddenly felt lighter than he could have ever imagined. "I forgive you."

Thor’s eyes widened. "You do?"

He turned his head to see Tony’s equally shocked expression. "Seriously?"

He smiled. "Seriously. How could I not? If events had not played out as they did, I would be unhappily married to a man who hated me. Instead, I find myself to be loved and valued, surrounded by friends and about to marry the man I love - a man that loves me truly. I could wish the circumstances that led me to you were happier, but the ways of the Norns are mysterious indeed. It is, after all, the heaviest rain that leads to greenist fields."

Tony leaned in for a long kiss, while their friends relaxed their defensive stances, happy the issue was resolved at last.

And Thor stood apart from them all, separated by more than distance, as he stared at the two lovers and tried to hide his envy.

Chapter Text

To everyone’s surprise, Loki meant it when he forgave Thor. He was happy, and was prepared to spend no more time harboring anger and grudges. Initially, the Avengers found it harder to trust Thor, but most of them had done terrible things that they had come to regret and, since Loki was prepared to let it go, they could too. Steve, predictably, found it hardest to forgive and forget, but he had long ago accepted that sacrifices must be made for the sake of the team and the Earth’s safety. Besides, he could tell that Thor was genuinely sorry for what he had done.

So the team was surprisingly united on the day that Tony Stark married Loki.

Thor saw the way they looked at each other, his first Midgardian friend and his former fiancee. Every time he saw them, they seemed to be deeper in love than before.

His parents had decided to attend the wedding, looking surprisingly ordinary in their Midgardian clothes and calling themselves Mr and Mrs Alfoder. They had even brought a wedding gift for the happy couple - an apple from Idunn’s orchard. Thor gasped when they presented it, and Loki, after a speechless moment of shock, had flown into Frigga’s arms, his eyes filled with happy tears. Tony had shown no hesitation about accepting their gift, and had eaten it there and then, as Loki watched in delight, his happiness complete.

Tony was smart enough to understand the heartbreaks that would come with such a long lifespan, watching as the people around him grew old and died, but it was evident that he would bear anything with Loki by his side. Even without his mother’s powers of foresight, Thor knew they would be happy together forever.

Thor wondered what Jane would have done, had his offer of an Aesir lifespan come without the prospect of spending it with him. Would she have taken an apple, if it had been offered with no strings attached? He wasn’t sure he wanted to know.

He watched as his mother whirled around the dance floor with Nick Fury, laughing as they tried to outshine Odin and Maria Hill dancing beside them. Clint danced with his wife, who laughed happily every time he accidentally trod on her toes. Natasha and Bruce rocked slowly back and forth to the music, smiling as they whispered softly to each other. Steve Rogers was sitting at the bar, his expression relaxed and happy as he talked to his oldest friend - although perhaps it was more than friendship, how would Thor know? What, after all, did he know of love?

Everyone around him looked so happy and he realized that this, then, was to be his punishment. He thought he had escaped with only the weight of his guilt, but surely this was justice from the Norns themselves - that he, who had once believed himself to be so loved, so desired - would live for the rest of his life in misery, with a woman that was rapidly growing to despise him.

He would forever be surrounded by happiness and love, but he would never know it for himself. He would be no better than one of the peasants that came to watch the nobility dine - he would see it enjoyed by others, and never know the taste of it himself.

Sif was miserable, and cursed herself for the devil’s bargain she had made. Whatever noble sentiments she expressed at the time, soon faded as the reality of their situation became clear.

The love between her and Brunhilde had been a real and precious thing, but as each day passed, Brunhilde realized that she wanted more than socially acceptable politeness and an occasional overnight visit. She wanted a real relationship, not a hidden affair with long days and nights spent alone; she wanted a home and a family of her own, not someone else’s children that she could only help to raise. Sif knew that Brunhilde would soon find someone else, someone who would love her back, honestly and openly.

The knowledge of this made Sif even more short tempered than usual, and she took her frustrations out on the only person she could - Thor.

But even though they had agreed to an open marriage, he found he did not want to seek his happiness elsewhere, when he knew that he was responsible - at least in part - for destroying Sif’s. If she was to suffer, then he would do no less than suffer by her side. Besides, with rumours of rape still circling around him, and a shrewish, sword-weilding wife, Thor was a much less attractive prospect than he used to be.

Soon after their marriage, Odin decided that Thor was ready for the throne at last, although the council insisted on a greater degree of control than they had previously enjoyed. To his chagrin, Thor had to face the knowledge that they neither trusted or respected him as they did his father. Nor did his people seem to have much love for him. He had no idea how Loki had managed to gain so much of their love, but the common people seemed to revere him almost as a saint, and they held Thor responsible for everything that had happened to him. Their dislike shamed him, and made him determine to earn their goodwill and be a good king for them; but until then, he tried to avoid them whenever he could, spending more time with the lords and ladies of his court, who would never dare to speak so openly against him.

With so many responsibilities as king, he could no longer assist the Avengers, and instead, found himself enjoying the pleasures of the table rather more than he should. He lost much of his youthful, golden beauty. His perfect tanned skin became reddened with wine, and his admirable muscles were eventually lost under a thick layer of fat. He was unhappy, and could expect to be so until death claimed him or his wife, and since they were now surrounded by the power of the Odinforce, they could reasonably expect to live ten thousand years or more.

It seemed like a very, very long time.