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imagine-loki · 4 years

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Helmet Heists

TITLE: Helmet heists

CHAPTER NO./ONE SHOT: One-shot

AUTHOR: fanfictrashdump

ORIGINAL IMAGINE: Imagine “borrowing” Loki’s helmet to wear for a full day on a dare. The inside is unbelievably sweaty, and you can’t tell if the extra goo is hair gel or mousse, but a dare is a dare.

Loki walks up to see his helmet wobbling precariously on your head. “(Name), what are you doing?”

“Hunting bilgesnipe,” you retort. “What does it look like I’m doing?”

RATING: T

NOTES/WARNINGS: I’ve been on a kick of writing these one-shots as snapshots in the friendship of Loki and Becca because, why not? Tonight I felt like he needed a friend, so I made a funny, fluffy, friendly fic. Some language, dubious timelines (who even cares, honestly?) and Loki I-don’t-know-how-to-make-friends Odinson moments.

“Come on, Becks! You took the dare and now you have to deliver,” Sam teased. He was sitting on the benchtop of one of her lab tables, being a general nuisance. As always. Though she loved the man (and his absurd confidence), he had the uncanny ability of getting on her nerves (probably also because of his absurd confidence). At least he was a handy and willing test subject for her new inventions, as well as a decent ’here, hold this’ assistant.

Beside him, Rebecca was bent over a small circuit board and motor, adjusting the tension of some screws with the same precision a heart surgeon would pay to open-heart surgery. Behind her darkened UV goggles, she rolled her eyes, though he could not see. She had a feeling he could feel her expression. “Absolutely not, Sam.”

“The forfeit is much worse and you know it.”

“The forfeit won’t get me a dagger through the heart.” She paused, blowing the fringe out of her face and tilting up just enough to look at him. “Actually, that might not be true. He might stab me, either way.

This was ridiculous. Why had she even agreed to this stupid dare? Oh, right. She had been drunk as all hell when the challenge had been proposed. They had all been drunk, to be fair, but they seemingly had the fortitude of mind to remind her of this little adventure once the hangover had subsided.

Stupid superheroes and their stupid alcohol tolerance!

Sam snorted, lifting a single eyebrow at her. "Not with a dagger, he wouldn’t.” He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively to make her groan. “Come on, not even Prince Sourpuss could resist you a cutie like you laying one on him.”

“One, you’re disgusting, Sam. Two, I’m pretty sure kissing someone out of the blue is assault and I doubt he’d enjoy it.” Becca pushed him until he scooted down the line. “Three, you’re in my workspace. Please get lost.”

“Not before you get that helmet.”

The automatic doors hissed open, making them both look up. Tony was striding in with a grin on his face. He either had very good or very bad intentions. “Where’s the helmet, Buttercup?”

“Please, no,” she groaned. Of course, he would be here to pester her, too. Becca fought the urge to throw something in Tony’s direction–it had been he who set the dare.

“You took the dare! It’s the law!” He grimaced playfully. “And I’m morbidly curious as to whether or not he would try to kill the only person he tolerates in the tower as revenge. Think of it as research.”

The doors hissed open again. “Lady Becca, do you need assistance procuring my brother’s helmet?”

“For fuck’s sake! I am trying to work! You know, the stuff you pay me to do,” she jabbed a finger in Tony’s direction, “and y'all need me to do to survive on missions?” She gestured the other two with a frown.

Bruce rushed into the lab, glancing over his shoulder every couple of steps. “I think Loki just went to the gym, if you want to go grab the stuff.”

Becca’s mouth set into a grim line. All the faces looking down at her were clearly ecstatic to see how this dare would play out. If she didn’t know any better she would say they didn’t much care for her to continue breathing. When the expectant looks turned pleading, she rolled her eyes, pulling off the black nitrile gloves she had been wearing and tossing them into the bin beside the bench. Her goggles met the lab bench a second later.

Throwing open a drawer, she fished out a metal vambrace, a hybrid between Tony’s plasma-shooting gauntlets and Peter’s webshooters. Slipping it over her right hand, she flexed her fingers experimentally, enjoying the crackle of static that came from her fingers at he action. If she was walking into the lion’s den, she definitely wasn’t doing it without some sort of protection.

“Keep Loki in the gym. I’ll be in and out in twenty.”

Thor grinned huge, nodding enthusiastically before following her out into the hallways. While he turned towards the gym, she turned up to the emergency staircase. She took the stairs by pairs and allowed herself a second to catch her breath at the landing. Quietly, she sneaked towards the back of the east wing, hyperaware of all the noises around her.

It wasn’t that she was scared of Loki, volatile and moody as he was, it was… no… that was a lie… she was scared. It was well justified fear. Becca had once witnessed Loki skewer three opponents with a single dagger after one of them ripped his leather armor. He was very particular about his things. And though she was on friendly terms with the man (as friendly as anyone could ever be with the surly demigod), she wouldn’t put a light stabbing past him for “borrowing” his stuff.

The door to his rooms was unlocked, strangely enough. No one ever came back here, save for Thor, so it made sense that Loki did not bother with security measures. The inside was impeccably organized–all right angles and open spaces. The only cramped area seemed to be the towering bookcases, packed to the brim with leather-bound tomes that looked well-loved. As much as Becca wished she could dilly-dally and peruse titles, the voice in the back of her mind reminded her that she only had so much time before she had to disappear from the premises.

Slipping towards the bedroom, she stepped towards the old-fashioned wardrobe. Opening the dark wood door, she spied the helmet resting on its own shelf a little above her eye line. Reaching up, she pulled it from its resting place, letting a startled huff leave her lips as the unexpected weight pulled her arms down.

“How the hell does he even keep this on his head?” She wondered aloud, testing the heft of the golden horns with a frown.

Turning the helmet over, she peaked inside, pulling a face instantly. She should have expected–it was a piece of battle armor, after all. But as clean as he kept his room, she would have thought he cared equally for his armor. On the inside of the golden horns there were smudges and glistening patches of salt from dried sweat. A mysterious thick substance lingered at the very bottom. Was it gel? Was it oil? Something else entirely? She shuddered to think its true composition. A good wipe down was key before attempting to put the helmet anywhere near her face.

The lab was all abuzz as Becca stepped back inside, helmet bobbing at her side as she held it by a horn. Tony whooped at the sight, strangely ecstatic about the fact that she was to have the horns on all day. She worried she might need a neck brace when she was done.

Sitting at her bench, she pulled a microfiber towel and the same cleaning solution she used for delicate electronics. If anything went wrong with the helmet, she was sure that she’d be murdered. A cursory wipe pulled out grime and gunk that made her (and Sam, who still had not gotten lost) gag. The cleaning solution went on and when she wiped everything away, the inside of the helmet gleamed and glistened under the bright lab lights.

“Put it on. Put it on! PUT IT ON!” Sam chanted, Bruce and Tony followed suit a moment later. Even FRIDAY overhead joined in on the childish taunting until Becca groaned, acquiescing. All she had to do was stay in the lab and finish her work. The day would be over before she knew it and she could return the helm before it was missed.

The horns were a lot more comfortable than she would have thought, for an all-metal hat. It was easy to notice the difference in size between herself and Loki, as the horns would slide back over her head whenever she moved. The garment was also incredibly heavy, to the point that she could feel herself actively straining to keep her neck from snapping to whatever direction the helmet was slipping in.

“OK, there. Are you guys happy now? Can I keep working?” Becca asked, glaring. Her hands plucked another pair of gloves from the box, but they were quickly swiped from her hands.

“Oh, no, you don’t. You’re on the testing floor today,” Tony said, smiling.

So this was his grand idea–getting his weapons tech murdered.

“That is a hard pass. I can barely hold my head up as it is, and–”

“Testing floor. Now. That is an order.”

Becca snorted, stealing her gloves back and hunching over her workspace. “Tony, I’ve never followed your orders before. Why would I start now?”

He crossed his arms over his chest, looking eerily confident in himself. “Because I have hidden your Mark III for the proton gun on the testing floor and sent Peter to guard it.”

Her head snapped up and a muscle in her neck seized, making her groan while she massaged it. “You wouldn’t dare.” He simply pulled out a StarkPad and pulled the video feed of the testing floor. Becca stood up so quickly her chair toppled over. The group followed her as she ran past the lab doors and towards the testing floor.

Most of the techs had stopped tittering every time she walked past them in the insane headwear. At the very least, they had stopped throwing objects to catch on the horns, as if it were a bizarre game of horseshoes. A well-placed glare–a rare occurrence of the tech geek–had taken care of that rather quick. Becca had to admit, though, the extra height the helmet gifted her made her feel much more confident than she was. Her posture was better (though that had a lot to do with the fact that her neck was likely to break if she wasn��t ramrod straight); her speech, more formal. Thor had even remarked that she had adopted some of the mannerisms his brother often displayed.

She was sitting on a stool, adjusting some of Thor’s new smart bracelets when the room went deathly silent. Even Thor, who had been standing patiently while she turned him this way and that, stilled suddenly.

The hair on the back of Becca’s neck stood on end and she did not have to turn around to know that it was Loki currently staring daggers at her. Her hand grasped a horn to still the helmet as she tilted her head, trying to will Loki out of the room just by virtue of her thoughts.

“Rebecca, what are you doing?” The dark, smooth voice was deceptively nonchalant. Her whole arms erupted in goosebumps at the question. Oh, she was dead.

Turning her head slightly, she caught his form over her shoulder. He was dressed casually (well, casual for him), trousers and a sweater, one hand in his pocket–generally looking easy–despite the pointed intensity of his eyes.

“Hunting bilgesnipe,” she retorted, rolling her eyes. “What’s it look like I’m doing?” When she faced Thor again, he was staring back in wide-eyed panic and the feeling of dread settled in her stomach like a rock.

“I beg your pardon?” The phrase sounded a lot more like ’what the fuck did you just say?’, in her opinion.

The dare entailed for her to act like there was nothing amiss, should she be discovered by Loki during her day wearing the helmet. Right about now, she thought the idea was the stupidest thing she had ever agreed to.

“I’m just helping Thor with some gear.” Somewhere in the background Peter was chanting ’oh no’ over and over. “Is there something you need?”

A long stretch of silence followed the question. In her head, Becca supposed he was wondering whether to murder her now, in front of all these people, or later, in her apartment. She had not just stolen something of his, but she was being sassy and contrary–

He chuckled. “I suppose my business can wait. I’ll sit with the Spiderboy while you finish.”

“OK. Sounds good,” she replied, though her voice choked half-way through. She mouthed ’he’s going to kill me at Thor’, swiping her index finger over her neck to drive the point home. Thor merely blinked back at his brother, confused.

Becca procrastinated as long as it was physically possible. She had gone over the same specs so many times, that she could predict the radiation readings for every type of spark Thor could make. The god of Thunder smiled wryly, trying to be encouraging as he stepped away. He patted her shoulder, giving a light squeeze before leaving her workstation. The sensation of being watched surged, once more, and Loki had taken Thor’s place before her.

Glancing upwards, she offered him a shy smile in hopes of some sort of emotion breaking through his poker face. “What’s on your mind, Loki?”

He fought against a smile as he sat across from her, tossing his Stark mobile phone at her. “Seems to have frozen again. Do you mind taking a look?”

Becca tutted under her breath, swiping through the root directory, happy to be focusing on absolutely anything else. “I keep telling Tony his software doesn’t do well with your seidr, but he keeps not listening.” She had to react quickly to the horns slipping forward.

Balancing it back in a somewhat comfortable position, she continued to tinker away. When she shifted, her instinct was to guard the helmet, again, but found that where it had been too big and burdensome a moment before, it was now resting comfortably and snug on her head. Her blood ran cold and her fingers stilled.

“Anything the matter?” There was a laugh in his voice now and it was somehow worse than if he were mad. He had not been titled the God of Mischief for being a dear.

“No. Just thinking,” she fibbed, though she knew it was useless.

“Did you get a haircut?” When she cut her eyes up, he was resting his chin on his open palm, elbow propped on the table. His eyes sparkled with amusement. “No? There’s something different about you, I just can’t put my finger on it.” He brushed the fingers of his free hand over the sleeve of her t-shirt. “New top?”

“Er… nope. Nothing different. Nothing at all,” she squeaked. There was a lingering sensation to his touch, a strange tingle. Her fingers challenged themselves to a speed-run of rebooting his phone. The sooner he had no reason to be around her, the better it would be. He already knew she had stolen his helmet, which was the point of the dare. She would go straight up to his room after work and grovel for forgiveness, if needed. Cell phone restarted, she handed it back to him with a tight-lipped smile. “There we go. Ready to roll.”

Loki grinned, taking back the phone. “Thank you very much, Rebecca. You’re possibly the only good and true mortal in this prison!.” He rose from his seat, only to turn back about ten paces later. “Oh, darn. It seems to have gone again.” When she focused on his hands, there was a green glow over the screen.

“Oh, fucking hell,” she growled out through clenched teeth.

“Is there a problem, dear?”

She took a deep breath to relax and forced a smile. “Not at all, Loki.”

Becca reached for the phone, only to let out a yelp when he closed his fingers around her wrist. “New necklace. That’s it, isn’t it?” He was enjoying this game far too much.

“Why? Just… why?” She cried, pitifully, her meaning obvious. Loki merely shrugged and chuckled, releasing her hand from his grasp and assuming his original position. She set back to the task of rebooting his phone. Halfway through, she stopped, tilting her head curiously, recalling the glow a moment prior. “Does your phone crash a lot?”

“Every now and again,” he responded carefully. “As you said, Stark does not listen to recommendations.”

It was true, Becca had mentioned several times how Loki’s phone would inexplicably freeze while he was using it. Tony had assured her that there was nothing interfering with the phone, other than Loki wanting to be a bother. She also knew that he had not been at their evening of pizza and beer the night before, claiming to have better things to do.

She resumed her work, moving her fingers steadily over the holographic screen. “Do you like to read? I keep looking for book trade buddies, but they are in short supply on Stark tower.”

The turn in conversation took him aback. “Oh, er, well… yes.”

“Cool! I have lots of history and historic fiction–it seems your style. I also have a good mystery and fantasy collection, if that’s more your thing.” She returned the phone with a smile. “I can bring some over tonight, if you want. Ooh, and Chinese food. We can make an evening of it.”

He gave a confused nod before floating away, glancing over his shoulder every so often, stopping to explain the situation in his head, and continue on.

At the back of the testing floor, Tony and Bruce looked dejected while Peter just looked relieved. They had expected significantly more shouting and flying knives from the encounter. Becca half-thought that they just wanted an excuse to pick on Loki, despite the fact he had been behaving recently. She offered a smug grin before finishing her work and heading out.

Loaded up with cartons of Chinese food and books, horns still on her head (the delivery guy had nearly died at the sight), Becca knocked on Loki’s door. He answered promptly a moment later, somewhat hesitant. She placed the books on the counter, and unpacked the food as Loki hovered anxiously out of the corner of her eye.

“I won’t bite, I promise,” she teased. Loki reluctantly came nearer the table and pulled a seat. “Oh, one last thing.” With a quick tug, she removed the horns from her head. She massaged her head and attempted to tame her hair in one motion. “I think these are yours. I must have taken them by mistake. I swear, I have the same exact pair!”

Loki laughed easily, shaking his head. “I’m sure you do. Did you win, at the very least?”

“I did. Banner was too chicken to streak down Fifth Ave.” She grabbed an eggroll and took a bite. “You should join us next time.”

He made a noise of derision. “Then how will I know what you look like in my armor?” His sarcasm flowed easily, though Becca was aware of the implication of his statement. Who would they make fun of if he showed up?

Becca smirked, rolling her eyes. “I mean, I can go put it on right now, if that’s what you want.” They both laughed at the absurdity,. “It’s OK if you don’t want to, but it’d be nice. I’d appreciate a friend there.” She held out the helm with a warm smile, eagerly diving into a box of chicken when relieved of the armor.

Loki grabbed his helmet and hefted it easily. “I’ll think about it.” He frowned. “Did you clean my helmet?”

“Of course I did, dude. That thing was nasty!” She giggled, throwing a piece of carrot at him when he scowled at her. He retaliated with a noodle. She threw an eggroll. He donned his helmet, grabbed a carton of chow mein and gave chase, laughing freely.

Tony watched as his weapons tech dashed across the hallway, her track and field training giving her a slight advantage against the long-legged Asgardian who cackled as he followed a second later. He closed his eyes and sighed. Maybe the dare had been a bad idea.

#Loki #God of Mischief #Others #Submitted one shot #submission #helmet heists #Fanfictrashdump

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aion-rsa · 3 years

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Tom Hiddleston on The Evolution of Loki: From Villain to Hero and Back

https://ift.tt/3wpnGBO

After playing the cosmic superbeing and anti-hero Loki for a decade in six Marvel Cinematic Universe movies, actor Tom Hiddleston says he was “surprised, delightedm and in some ways completely thrilled” by the notion of continuing to personify the God of Mischief in the new Marvel/Disney+ series Loki.

“When I first started playing the character, I did a lot of research,” Hiddleston tells Den of Geek. “And the thing I realized at that time was the character has so much range and contains all these different characteristics sometimes which contradict each other. I loved what Marvel Studios had invented as a context for exploring and externalizing some of these things that he’s always contained.”

In Loki, an earlier version of the character than the one we have seen in recent years manages to escape the custody of the Avengers in 2012 with the help of an errant Infinity Stone. But he inadvertently creates an alternate timeline by doing so, bringing him to the attention of the extra-dimensional bureaucracy known as the Time Variance Authority, who are charged with keeping the timeline secure.

“I think the TVA, the institution that claims to govern the order of time, is a fascinating place to put Loki,” says Hiddleston. “Loki represents chaos and mischief and transgression and disruption, and he’s playful and charming and can be very dangerous. To have these two forces of order and chaos meet in the middle is really exciting.”

We first met the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s version of Loki, God of Mischief and member of the royal family of Asgard, in 2011’s Thor. He was a loyal brother to the title character and a dutiful son to Odin, ruler of the Nine Realms.

But doubt and ambition began to quickly chip away at Loki, especially once he found out he was not a true Odinson but the child of Laufey, leader of the Frost Giants, taken by Odin after the last major war between the Asgardians and the Giants.

Feeling hurt, betrayed and passed over in favor of the full-blooded Thor, Loki schemed to align himself with Laufey and his people, bring down Thor and Odin, and rule Asgard himself.

Defeated at the end of Thor, Loki survived a plunge into the void of space and aligned himself with the Mad Titan, Thanos, gaining possession of the Tesseract, vessel for the Space Stone, and leading an army of Chitauri to invade Earth in 2012’s The Avengers.

Although he was beaten back by Earth’s Mightiest Heroes in that epic battle, Loki would appear in four more MCU films — Thor: The Dark World (2013), Thor: Ragnarok (2017), Avengers: Infinity War (2018) and Avengers: Endgame (2019). Over the course of the first three, he would gradually evolve from a complex villain into an anti-hero of sorts — fighting once again alongside his adopted brother — and finally into a hero who sacrificed himself in a doomed, fatal bid to stop Thanos.

Marvel’s Loki: Making Sense of the MCU’s Time Travel Rules

By Alec Bojalad

Marvel’s Loki Episode 1: MCU Easter Eggs and Reference Guide

By Mike Cecchini and 4 others

But it’s in Endgame that a trip back to 2012 by several Avengers goes astray and allows that version of Loki — the still unrepentant trickster who just tried to conquer Earth — to snatch the Tesseract and vanish into space and time. So the Loki we meet in the new series is not the regretful and ultimately noble warrior who gave his own life in Avengers: Infinity War.

“I had to un-stitch some of the evolution that Loki had gone through in The Dark World and Ragnarok,” says Hiddleston when asked about resetting the character back to an earlier stage in his development.

“It was kind of like time travel in its own way, because I was going back to a time when I performed the character again in a particular context, in the first Avengers movie,” Hiddleston elaborates. “It was really interesting, because obviously Loki hasn’t lived through the successive evolution, but I have. I actually have real memories of doing those things. It was a really curious day at work.”

For director Kate Herron, who is guiding Loki’s progression as a character through all six episodes of the series, picking up with the God of Mischief as he was nine years ago was a “unique opportunity.” She explains, “I’ve loved Loki’s arc over the last 10 years of Marvel. I just was so pleased that I got to be the one that goes back in with him.”

Herron continues, “But he’s from Avengers, so he’s in a very different emotional head space. A really cool question I wanted to explore in the show was, is anyone truly bad or truly good or in that gray area in between? I feel Loki lives in that gray area so often for so many of the films. That to me was really exciting — can he move past decisions that he’s made in his past or will he always be defined by them?”

Although Hiddleston has had other successes on the stage, TV and in the movies — including hits like The Night Manager and Kong Skull Island — Loki remains his breakout role and, for millions of fans, the one that defines the actor in pop culture. But even after inhabiting Loki for more than a decade (and perhaps more to come), Hiddleston is careful to separate himself from the character.

“I can tell you, I am not an iconic character from ancient Norse myth,” he says with a laugh. “That’s not one of the strings in my bow, as it were. (But) I found him such a fascinating character and I understand that he means a lot. He means a great deal to a great number of people and that something he represents is something that’s part of the experience of being alive. He is unpredictable and spontaneous and playful, but he’s also emotionally complex and there’s some fragmentation there.”

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As for the appeal of Loki, Hiddleston adds, “I think his kind of chaotic energy is something that people are drawn to, as well as his vulnerability at the same time. Tricksters in all mythologies occupy this position, that you can’t ever pin them down. You can’t put them in a box or categorize them. It has been a real honor to step into those shoes for the time that I’ve been able to do it. Loki will live on in the minds of human beings for some time, I think, and I’m just a temporary passenger.”

Loki is now streaming on Disney+, with new episodes premiering every Wednesday.

The post Tom Hiddleston on The Evolution of Loki: From Villain to Hero and Back appeared first on Den of Geek.

from Den of Geek https://ift.tt/3wotHPf

#aion-rsa #Den of Geek

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etherealwaifgoddess · 5 years

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The Magical Healing Powers of Hot Cocoa

Main Characters: Loki x Read

Summary: After stealing the tesseract in Endgame Loki finds himself trying to figure out what he wants to do with the rest of his life. He's lost and reeling until he meets you (and your daughter) and suddenly he knows exactly what he wants in his life.

Warnings/ Content: Angst if you squint but primarily it’s just sweet fluff here!

Word Count: 10,376

Author’s Note: This fic was written for Sherry’s Fall Into You Challenge. I snagged prompt #14 which was “Drinking Hot Chocolate”. Hopefully @sherrybaby14 will forgive me for calling it cocoa, I had the whole thing written out when I reread my actual prompt! I had so much fun writing this and it went on for much longer than I expected it to. I just love the idea of Loki finding happiness after so many years of struggling. I also have it up over AO3 since I know it can be easier to read something this long over on their platform. Thank you all for reading and a huge thank you for @sherrybaby14 for hosting this super fun challenge!

XOXO - Ash

The Magical Healing Powers of Hot Cocoa

Part One

Loki watched as the tesseract fell from its case and slid across the marble floor to his feet. There was no time to think, everyone was distracted by Tony Stark collapsed on the floor. Loki knew of the power of the tesseract but had never used it to transport himself before. Grasping the glowing cube in his hands he desperately pulled at his seidr and with a burst of light found himself on the fifth floor of the building. Loki was shaking, his breaths coming in large gasps; he was free. Loki could hear the crackle of a Comm Unit and located the receiver docked at an abandoned desk.

“Loki is on the fourteenth floor.” the voice of Steve Rogers called out of the device.

Interesting, Loki thought to himself. He couldn’t resist investigating, he knew he was too curious by nature but he followed his instincts and crept silently up to the fourteenth floor where he found Steve Rogers fighting Steve Rogers. It was quite a sight and Loki stared at the scene in disbelief. The imposter was certainly not their Captain America but it begged to question, who was it? Loki stared at the second Steve with curiosity, he wondered how this second man had come to be and when he raced off after leaving their Steve unconscious Loki chose to follow him. There was nothing keeping him around and he loathed the idea of being captured by his brother again.

Quiet as a ghost, Loki wrapped himself in seidr and followed this new Steve out of the building and into an ally where he was met by an older looking Tony Stark and a younger, very confused looking man in the same style suit as theirs. Loki was irked as Steve handed the younger man his scepter but he wasn’t willing to make his presence known. After a heated conversation Tony and Steve started pressing buttons on a device they both wore on their wrists. Loki didn’t hesitate when he saw the air around their bodies shift, he grasped onto Steve’s arm and was hurtled through time and space with them. A moment later, Loki found himself standing in a military base many decades in the past along with Tony and Steve.

Loki released Steve’s arm, he might be cloaked from view but he couldn’t risk the captain feeling his touch by accident. It wasn’t easy following the two around the base and several times Loki doubted his own sanity for even attempting this fools mission. But he wanted to see what the men were doing and what they were taking from this place. Loki was ready when they started tapping away at their wrist devices again and he placed a tentative hand on Tony’s back. Just as before, he was pulled along with them.

Loki looked around the compound, unable to place himself in time. Tony and Steve were speaking animatedly with a sobbing Clint, and an assembled group of others all wearing the same suits. Loki silently moved away from the raised platform they’d landed on. He walked around inspecting the room and strained to see if he could recognize anyone else in the group. The moment his eyes locked on Thor he felt the wind knocked out of him. Surely this was another universe, it would take an impossibly cruel world to have ruined his shining god of a brother. Loki fled, unsure where was going or really, where he was.

Loki eventually found himself in an empty office filled with computers and he pulled up the date as quickly as he could. It was 2023, eleven years in the future from his time. Loki knew the last eleven years must have been rough on the Avengers and he needed to know what had happened. Pulling up files and reports from the main drive Loki downloaded as much as he could onto the laptop. Reports and files and photos whizzed past on the screen and one in particular caught his eye; Loki (Laufeyson) Odinson - Death Record. Loki clicked open the file and began reading the report. His head swam with the information. Killed, at Thanos’ hand, on a ship back to Earth with the remaining Asgardians after they caused Ragnarock to stop his tyrannical sister. Loki was on the verge of breaking down, his mind reeling trying to make sense of all this new information and the strange future around him. He feared in his distress that the cloaking of his seidr would fail him.

Pulling himself together, Loki knew he needed to get the hell out of wherever he was, but he also needed to know what kind of world he was walking out into. Loki rifled through the desks while he waited, looking for anything that could be useful to him. Pushing past stacks of paper he found a granola bar, a bottle of Pepsi, and a key to a safe. Loki quickly scanned the room, desperate to locate the safe before his time was up. The glint of a lock caught his eye on the bottom of one of the desks and the key slid it in with a click. Nothing too exciting inside, mostly paperwork, but there was also a thick envelope with $5,000 cash. Loki thanked the Norns, it was enough to keep him going for a bit. After several tense minutes the downloads were complete and Loki grabbed the slim black laptop off it’s dock. Cursing himself, Loki doubled back to grab the charging cable and then bolted from the room.

Loki hurried off the compound grounds and began walking down the street to wherever it would lead. Part of him wanted to just hop back to 2012 but he wasn’t sure how to go about that, even if he managed to get his hands on one of those wrist devices. And if he did go back, he was a wanted man whose death he had already seen. Loki made a decision not to go anywhere else in time until he had learned what missteps he took that lead to his untimely demise. Maybe once he knew, he could go back and do it all over, save his brother and his people. Wouldn’t that surprise them all, he mused as he walked.

Eventually Loki realized he needed to get out of wherever here was so that he couldn’t be accidentally spotted by one of the pesky Avengers or their allies. So using the tesseracts powers Loki jumped through space to the only place he could think of: New York City.

Part Two

The city was bustling, a sea of people flooding past the entrance to the alley Loki materialized in. Perfect cover for someone trying to disappear and stay hidden, he thought. Loki swept his seidr over himself, changing out of his beloved Asgardian clothes and into what he hoped would pass as an “Average Joe”. He hated the idea of being considered some common Midgardian but he needed to blend in. He materialized fitted black jeans, an emerald green tee, and black boots for himself hoping it was adequately innocuous. The October chill was more prominent in the city and Loki enjoyed the cool air nipping at his skin. He pulled his silky black hair back in low bun and then joined the sea of passing people.

After a few blocks he spotted a diner advertising free Wifi and Loki figured that was as good as he was going to find until he could procure a hotel room for the night. The scent of french fry grease hit him as he entered and he wrinkled his nose at it. But it was warm inside and the sun would be setting soon. It was better than nothing for now and he needed sustenance.

“Grab a seat anywhere.” you call out in an overly cheerful voice, not looking up from the mug you’re filling with coffee. You are eight hours into a twelve hour shift and are desperately ready for the dinner rush to die down a little so you can grab yourself a bite to eat. You see out of the corner of your eye a single figure take the farthest seat down at the counter next to the wall. You hate when people camp out at the very last seat along the counter, it makes it harder to keep an eye on everyone when they’re scattered. Still easier than being stuck waiting on the booths though.

Loki settles in at the farthest seat away from the people at the counter, thankful for the wall on one side of him and praying no one dares to occupy the seat to his left. He needs privacy so he can look through the files he’d downloaded without horrifying some nosy Midgardian. Loki opens up the lid of the laptop and sets it out in front of him on the counter, hoping it makes his intention to not be disturbed clear.

You swing down a minute later, order pad in hand. “Can I get you something to drink?” you ask, pen poised and ready.

Loki barely looks up from his screen other than to acknowledge that someone is present, “What type of tea do you have?” he asks.

The smooth, rich timber of his voice has you lifting your head. It’s accented, but you can’t quite place it’s origin. Possibly English but it’s refined, elegant, and somehow it brings to mind the legends of King Arthur and Lancelot. “We have plain Lipton. Or decaf.” you tell him. You hadn’t really taken note of him when he walked in but you realize he’s actually quite attractive after taking a moment to study him. His shiny blue-black hair looks impossibly soft, his skin porcelain pale, his body lithe but with broad shoulders and lean muscles. He’s far from your standard weeknight patrons. He has to be a model or actor of some sort.

Loki purses his lips in disapproval, “Coffee, then.”

“Coming right up.” You barely suppress your eye roll at his distaste for the tea choices. It’s a diner, what does this guy expect? But fancy voice most likely means fancy tastes, and hopefully for you a nice big tip. You dash back down with a mug of fresh coffee and a menu, depositing both next to him without interrupting whatever he’s working on.

Loki is engrossed in the files he downloaded. He sifts through the last decade of the world and it isn’t painting a pretty picture. As much as it pains him to admit it, his heart aches at the deaths of Odin and Frigga, the only parents he’d ever known, as well as for the destruction of Asgard. The details of Thor’s slide into despair and self loathing over the past five years are particularly painful as well. It is a bleak future for everyone and he’s planning how he can prevent it when he notices a file on the multiverse. There is no changing what happened in this reality, just as there is no way to go back and change the course of the one he came from at this point.

Loki hangs his head, defeated in a way that he rarely allows himself to feel. He notices the mug of coffee and takes a tentative sip. It’s dark and bitter but not as terrible as he’d expected. It’s cool at this point so he pulses a little seidr into the drink warming it back up. He lets the mug warm his hands, needing a moment to collect himself. He’s trying to work out what to do next, where to go. Loki has always been a planner, ensuring he is two steps ahead of everyone else, but now... he’s lost. It’s an uncomfortable feeling and one he has no intention of becoming well acquainted with.

You start and stop a few times to return to the end of the counter to check on your solitary customer. The pained expression he wears stops you in your tracks each time. He is clearly going through something and you don’t want to pester him. You are about to head down again when your daughter tugs on your apron hem. “Mama,” she says as she pulls. “Pleeease make me hot cocoa?”

You stare down into your daughter’s eyes and she gives you her very best behaved smile. You sigh, at least she has been keeping herself busy at the counter with her coloring book and not causing any trouble for you or the owner whose office she had taken over earlier in the day. “Okay, Lilly-pad. One hot cocoa, coming up.” you give her thin shoulder a squeeze and head back to make it yourself.

You had been so fortunate to find this job after your fiance and Lilly’s father, Max, disappeared. The owner, Beth, adores you both and lets you be flexible with your schedule to ensure you have childcare for Lilly. Though now that she is getting older she enjoys hanging out at the diner while you work and Beth enjoys having her there too. Max had gone missing the day of The Decimation, his name added to those of the lost. You went from a mostly happy fiance and stay at home mom to a single working mom, and it had been a rough adjustment. Lilly was only a few months old when it happened and you’d had taken the first job you came across, desperate for any income you could get. A year later you found out through a friend that Max was alive and well, living the bachelor life in New Jersey. He’d seen what was going on and took it as his chance to run. You knew Lilly hadn’t been planned, and sure, Max probably wasn’t your soulmate, but you had been happy once and it broke your heart all over again that he’d run out on you. But in the end you had Lilly and she was the absolute best thing you had ever done.

Tearing yourself from wallowing, you return to your daughter with her cocoa.

Lilly squeals as you hand her the mug and wiggles happily in her seat. “Thanks mama.” she grins. You notice a new couple has come in and you hurry over to greet them, “Be good Lilly-pad.” you remind her.

Loki is scrolling through photos of Thano’s destruction on other planets prior to what is being called The Decimation. Thanos was ruthless and Loki wishes he hadn’t fallen for the tyrants promises in his bid to take over Midgard. Loki is so deep in thought that he doesn’t hear the approaching pitter-patter of little feet. A small hand reaches out and pokes his arm, causing him to jump, startled. The child jumps too, sloshing a mug of something in her hand and making a small squeak sound. Loki had intended to tell the intruder off but as he looks down at her the words caught in his throat. She is a tiny, almost frail, little girl with long onyx hair and bright emerald eyes. It’s like another universe had opened up and spat out a child of his own creation. He has no words and finds himself just staring at her, inquisitively.

“My mama gives me cocoa when I’m sad. Cocoa is good for sad. I brought you some.” Lilly tells him as matter of factly as a five year old can.

Loki smirks despite himself, intuitive little Midgardian. “And why do you think I’m sad, little one?” he asks, genuinely curious.

“You looked sad. I watched you for a while. I like your hair, it’s like mine.”

Loki nods, “Indeed it is. And where is your mama?” He looks around, shocked anyone would just let their child take a beverage over to a stranger.

Lilly points over to you where you are taking two sodas to your new customers.

Loki stares for a moment. He hadn’t really looked at you since he’d sat down and now he wishes he had. You don’t share your daughters features but he pauses for a moment to take you in. He couldn’t have picked you out of a line up before but now; now he is absolutely entranced. The tendrils of hair escaping your bun to float around your face, the way you smile wide and disarmingly with apparent ease, the rounded curves of your body beneath your pale blue work uniform. Shaking himself a little, he returns his focus to the child who is still holding out a mug in his direction. “Thank you, little one.” he says as graciously as he can while taking the cup from her small hands.

“My name’s Lilly.” she announces.

Lilly hops up on the seat to the left of Loki and he is more amused than annoyed with his visitor. Children never took to him like they did to his brother. Back on Asgard Thor loved when the children visited the palace, he played with them endlessly as if he were a giant child himself. Which he sort of was, Loki muses. It wasn’t that Loki wasn’t fond of them, he just wasn’t as approachable as his oafish brother. This one though, this one looks at him like he’s her best friend.

“Hello Lilly. My name is Loki.” He extends a hand which she shakes dutifully and he suppresses a chuckle.

“Don’t you like cocoa?” She points to the cup he’d sat down on the counter in front of him.

“I’ve never had it before. Shall I try it?”

Lilly nods rapidly.

“Alright then, let’s see about this.” Loki eyes the cup as he brings it to his lips. It‘s blatantly some form of child’s beverage and he steels himself to politely pass it back to her after an obligatory sip. That is until the taste of sweet, creamy, chocolate hits his tongue. Loki’s eyes widen despite himself and his tentative sip becomes a long gulp. He would never admit to something so undignified but Loki has a serious sweet tooth, one he painstakingly ignores most of the time. Growing up, everyone thought it was only Thor based on the way he had sought out sweets at every opportunity but it was actually the pair of them. Loki just prefers to be a little more dignified about it. “This is perfect, little one. Thank you. Would you like the rest?” Loki wants to bolt down the rest of the drink but he reigns himself in as always.

Lilly shakes her head, “No, mama will make me a new one. That’s yours.”

“Only if you are certain.” Loki takes another sip, feeling the sugar hit his empty stomach, and he represses a shudder of delight.

“Yeah. It s’okay. Be right back Mr. Loki!”

Loki watches, still amused, as she jumps down and runs off, pulling at her mother’s apron and whispering excitedly.

Your daughter is normally pretty outgoing so it isn’t a surprise that she’s made a new “friend” while you work. Lilly rapidly tells you about her new friend who she got the cocoa for and now she needs a new one for herself. She points down the counter and you follow her finger to the dark haired man at the end. You’re stunned. One that she was so perceptive that something was upsetting him, and two that he had indulged her intrusion. You quickly make a new cup for Lilly and follow her down to the end of the counter.

Loki takes the cocoa from Lilly’s hand, setting it down so she can scramble up onto the stool again. He notices you came down too and he worries for a moment that you are not comfortable with your daughter drinking cocoa with him. Parents are protective of their children and he respects that, but he also needs the momentary distraction as his brain fights to process everything he has learned in the past few hours. “She just came running up with the cocoa. I’ll pay for it, just add it to my check.” Loki tells you in a rush.

You lips quirk in a half smile at his earnestness. He doesn’t seem harmful, a little tired maybe, but no alarm bells are going off in your head. You’ll only be a few feet away at all times anyway. “I’m sure she did, she’s a rascal. If you’d rather get back to work though, she has plenty of coloring books she can go back to.” you offer.

“No, it’s fine. I needed a break.” He assures you. Now that the sugar is hitting his system Loki realizes he is ravenous. He turns to face Lilly who is licking the whipped cream off the top of her mug as it sits on the counter. “I should probably get something to eat though. Lilly, what’s the best thing on the menu?”

Lilly squints, her little brow furrowing as she thinks. “Grilled cheese.” she finally announces.

“Well, that’s something else I’ve never tried. I’m going to trust you again, little one.” Loki turns back to you, “A grilled cheese. Please.” the ‘please’ is hastily added, like he isn’t used to pleasantries and you hold back a smile at the thought that he’d at least tried.

“Never had cocoa or grilled cheese, huh? What planet did you grow up on?” you tease lightly as you write it down on your pad.

Loki, who is already painfully pale, actually blanches a little. He regains his composure quickly, “Strict parents.” he mumbles and takes another sip of his cocoa.

“My mom is strict too. She makes me go to bed at seven thirty.” Lilly interjects dramatically.

“What horrors.” Loki feigns shock, holding a hand to his chest, “You should at least be able to stay up until midnight by now.”

Lilly giggles, “Mama, I like him.”

You shake your head at both of their antics and head back to the kitchen to drop off his order.

It turns out Loki is just as impressed with the grilled cheese as the cocoa. He’s starting to wonder what else he has missed out on Midgard. You linger longer and longer each trip down as the diner quiets for the evening. Lilly drags her coloring books over to show Loki her latest creations which he admires with all the seriousness of an art critic at The Met. He is so patient and kind, your heart aches a little watching them.

Eventually Lilly’s little yawns became big ones and you know it’s time to get her settled on the makeshift cot in the back office to sleep until the end of your shift.

“I’m fine mama.” She grumbles fiercely, overtired and not willing to leave her new friend.

“Now Lilly, you need to listen to your mama. It’s far past seven thirty already.” Loki shoots you a sympathetic look. He had never tried using an authoritative voice on a child before and he hopes it was convincing.

Lilly’s bottom lip quivers and for a moment, Loki is ready to say the hell with bedtimes. “But I go to sleep and never see you again. Ever.”

“Perhaps not, little one. You never know. I like the cocoa here an awful lot. I might come back again.”

“You come back tomorrow?” she looks up at him hopefully.

Loki knows it’s stupid but he’s nodding before his brain can catch up. “Absolutely.”

You scowl at him and he wonders what transgression he could have made. “Come on, Lilly-pad. Let’s go.”

Lilly throws her arms around Loki and he gives her a soft pat on the back, unaccustomed to such affections. “Night Mr. Loki.” she says through a yawn as you usher her into the back.

Loki is burying himself back into the files when you come back out. You stand, arms crossed, glaring daggers at him. He actually recoils in surprise when he sees you.

You’re fine with him being sweet to your daughter, who couldn’t be when she gives you that wide smile of hers, but someone lying to your little girl just rubs you the wrong way. “You shouldn’t have gotten her hopes up like that.” you all but growl at him. Yes, you have a mama bear streak in you and you aren’t ashamed of it.

“I beg your pardon?” Loki can’t understand why coming back is a bad thing when Lilly had looked at him with such innocent hopefulness.

“She’s going to be expecting you tomorrow and when you don’t show I’m going to have to deal with the fall out. It was a dick move.”

Loki’s eyebrows shoot up. He’s been called many things over the past fifteen hundred years, but never a dick. “Who says I won’t be here tomorrow?” he challenges.

You roll your eyes blatantly at him. “Let’s see...” you begin. You’re exhausted and don’t give a shit about a big tip anymore. “You’re not a local, you’ve never had something as common as a grilled cheese or cocoa so clearly you don’t frequent diners, fancy accent, fancy clothes, fancy computer, all still indicating this isn’t your typical hang out place…” You are cut off by Loki’s deep, belly laugh which just makes you scowl harder.

“I’m sorry.” he desperately fights to compose himself. He hates that he’d lost his composure at all. “Sorry, really. I’m not used to that level of honesty. It was… fascinating.”

You blush, realizing how far you had overstepped. He had spent most of the evening placating your daughter and had been nothing but friendly towards you since Lilly took him the cocoa. “No, I’m sorry. I get a little mama bear crazy about people lying to my kid. Her father…” you trail off, “Sorry, again. You don’t need to hear about that. I should be thanking you for keeping her occupied all night.”

“It was no trouble.” Loki says quickly, “She’s charming, really. And I don’t know how much longer your shift is, but I have time to listen. It’s not like you’re packed in here.”

You look around, it’s down to just him and the other waitress is hanging out in the back with the cook. You sigh. He looks genuinely interested and sometimes it’s easier to talk to a complete stranger than your friends, even about the tough stuff. You start out slowly, the story of Max and how you’d come to be a single mom unfolding with practiced calmness. You keep your voice even, refusing to let it come out as a sob story.

Loki listens attentively, his hands steepled under his chin as he leans forward on the counter. He can feel the tension radiating from you and he admires how controlled you keep yourself despite how horrible what you’d gone through was.

“So,” you conclude, “that’s why I had a problem with you promising to come back tomorrow.”

Loki nods sagely. “I feel like ‘sorry’ would be a little trite. But please know that it is my desperate hope that this Max fellow meets a very unpleasant end. Sooner, rather than later.”

The way he says it with a mischievous smirk makes your stomach flip. “You and I both.”

“You’re wrong about tomorrow though.” he adds, the smirk still in place.

“Oh really?” you push, leaning across the counter towards him.

“Yes, really. I do not break my word. I promised I would be back tomorrow and I will be. Right here.”

“Why?” the word is out of your mouth before you can stop it.

Loki’s smirk widens to an almost grin. He’s enjoying your company more than he’d like to admit. You aren’t afraid of him, you have a backbone to you, your bottom lip is distractingly full, and you make him think of his favorite statue in his mother’s garden growing up. He’d spent a lot of time as a boy staring at that statue and you are the living embodiment of it. It took him a moment to make the connection but once he did, it was all he could see. He remembers that you’d asked him a question and forces himself to answer, “As I said, I do not break my word.”

“That easy, huh? You don’t have anywhere better to be tomorrow than coming back here? You don’t even know what time my shift is.”

“I’m going to be staying around here, I know the food is palatable, and there’s free WiFi. Though the service is a little cheeky.”

You laugh, “Cheeky? That’s a new one.”

“Oh, I can think of all sorts of adjectives if you’d like to hear them.” Loki’s tone is bordering on predatory, thrumming with an undercurrent of dark, salacious promises.

Your pulse quickens and Loki doesn’t miss the way your pupils dilate and your breathing hitches for a moment. You swallow your nerves down and square your shoulders, forcing yourself to not get swept up in where the conversation is threatening to go. “So you’re staying around here?” you ask, regaining your balance.

Loki looks almost disappointed but he pulls himself upright, no longer leaning over the counter, and smoothes his t-shirt. “I don’t know just yet. I figured I would check online to see what was around that I could afford.”

“There’s a new boutique hotel about four blocks over. It’s a little hipster-ish but I’ve heard good things.”

“I just need a bed at this point. I’ll worry about something more suitable tomorrow.”

“Then head out to the right, go left at the intersection and then down three blocks. It’ll be on your right, The Hideaway.”

“The Hideaway. Got it.”

“You ready for your check, then?” you’re a little disappointed he’s leaving but it’s lessened knowing he’ll be back tomorrow.

“How much later is your shift?”

“Another hour but-”

“I have an hour to kill.” Loki’s smirk returns and damned if it doesn’t do things to your insides.

Your lips curl up with a smirk of your own and you shake your head at him. He is certainly a charmer. The conversation flows easily and despite your best efforts to learn more about him, he consistently turns the conversation back on you. You’re floored when the other waitress comes in for her shift announcing you’re free to go.

Loki frowns at the intrusion of the other waitress. “I guess I’ll be going as well.” he says packing up his laptop.

You hand him his bill from the pad in your pocket and he flips down a twenty without looking at it.

The bill was barely over $6.

“Let me get your change.” you go to head down to the cash register but his hand slips over yours, stopping your movement.

“No need. Keep it. A thank you for making this night a little less lonely.” Loki releases your hand, trying to reign himself in. He picks up the laptop and is heading out when he hears you call after him.

“I have the dinner shift tomorrow.” you call out, realizing you had forgotten to tell him.

“What time?”

“Three to eleven.”

“I’ll be here.” he promises.

Your smile is wide enough that the other waitress, Mara notices, “Who was that?” she teases you lightly.

“Just some guy. New to the neighborhood.” you play it off as casually as you can.

“Yeah, sure. And that’s why you two were making eyes at each other.”

You snort at her comment, “You’re delusional. I don’t date, Mara.”

“Who said anything about dating? He’s gorgeous and clearly wants to see you again.”

“Nope! Not having this discussion. I have a five year to get home.”

“Fine, good night.”

“Night.” you head back to collect Lilly who is sleeping heavily on the cot in the office. You’re thankful she’s a sound sleeper as you pick her up and head down the two blocks to your little third floor walk up. After you settle your sleeping daughter in to her own bed you make yourself a cup of tea and collapse onto your sofa. You try to focus on the show you put on but your mind keeps wandering back to Loki, wondering if he found the hotel easily and if was settling in okay.

A few blocks away Loki has found the hotel and is getting checked in to his room. He materializes a Midgardian drivers license, falling back on an old alias and paying cash despite their supposed credit card policy. It’s amazing what flashing around several large bills can do. Loki scans the room and finds it to be clean but very small. He misses the palace he grew up in for a moment but reminds himself Asgard is no more and he is just lucky to be alive in this world. He lets out a bitter chuckle as he sits down on the edge of the bed, with no one around to put on airs for he finds no need for the grandeur he usually surrounds himself with.

Loki tries to get comfortable on the overly stuffed mattress but tosses around futilely. It isn’t the mattress, it’s the spinning of his own mind. He’s still coming to grips with the world he has found himself in. The memory of the way your eyes flashed when you were chastising him earlier in the evening keeps fluttering across his mind. It’s quickly accompanied by the feel of your soft skin beneath his fingers and the sound of your voice. Loki knows better than to make any acquaintances until he figures out his next moves. He promises himself tomorrow he will make plans and stop in to the diner to visit and say goodbye properly. Loki finally gives up on sleep, materializing a book to read until exhaustion finally wins out.

Part Three

The next morning Loki wakes late, it’s almost noon by the time he’s heading out from the hotel. He materializes new clothes for himself and goes to a nextdoor coffee shop for something to help wake himself up. The shop is busy, people bustling around, many of them crying or holding on to each other. Loki can sense something is off with what should be a normal weekday morning. He looks at the flat screen TV in the corner where people are crowded around watching the news broadcast. There are images of people spontaneously appearing all around the world and flashes of pictures of the Avengers, including his brother. Loki watches along with the crowd as the anchorman explains what is being called The Blip. Thor and his friends had done it. They had managed to undo the horror that Thanos had inflicted upon the universe and from what the news is saying they are reporting no casualties at this time. Loki feels a swell of pride for his brother, the golden god had triumphed again in the end. He knows he will have to pop back to the Avengers compound and visit Thor eventually, just to let him know he’s alive in this world. It would be unfair to keep it from him. Loki wants to give him a few days to settle things after their victory and then he will go to him. He has enough money to keep himself afloat for a week or so and doesn’t want to intrude on the celebration surely going on back at the compound. Loki takes his cup of coffee to go and wanders until he finds a community garden where he can sit undisturbed to plan his next moves.

The morning of The Blip has been rough on you. Lilly woke up with more energy than ever, making plans to introduce Loki to mac n cheese and begging for new crayons so she could make him the “best drawing ever”. You promise to bring all of her art supplies with you to the diner later and distract her with scrambled eggs and cinnamon toast for now. You’re already exhausted when you sit down to watch the news with your coffee. The news is all covering The Blip and you watch, stunned, as people are reunited with their loved ones. You’re glad for them but you still have to turn it off after a few minutes so you won’t start screaming. Damn Max and what he’d done to you. While it’s the most amazing gift that everyone is back, it pulls at the old scars on your heart made by Max’s abandonment and deception.

You pull Lilly aside before school to explain what has happened. You don’t want her being confused with everyone talking about it in her class. She has lots of questions and you answer what you can despite how it taxes you emotionally.

The morning flies by as you busy yourself with chores and studiously avoiding the news. You’re on your third cup of coffee by the time you pick Lilly up on your way in for your shift at the diner and it’s helping a little. Lilly chatters endlessly along the way about The Blip and it grates on your already frayed nerves but you give her the expected sounds of acknowledgement. The diner is packed full of people, it appears no one is willing to cook on such a monumental day. Lilly settles in easily to do her flashcards and pulls out her newest library book. It’s a simple one, more pictures than words, but her reading skills are improving every day.

Every time the doorbell chimes your eyes snap over to the entrance. You, mostly, trust that Loki will show and are looking forward to seeing him again. Though for all you know he’s off reuniting with family, or maybe even a girlfriend or wife. You frown at the thought. It’s only five minutes but it feels like ages when the doorbell chimes and Loki strides in. He’s wearing similar clothes to the day before but has added a leather jacket to the outfit and his hair is falling freely against his shoulders. Your brain fails you for a moment and you blush as you ask the woman you’re waiting on to please repeat her order. Your eyes follow Loki as he takes his seat at the very end of the counter and sets up his laptop, just as he’d done the day before. You hurry to collect drinks and another persons order so that you can make your way down to visit him.

Loki is no closer to a plan when he walks into the diner than he’d been that morning. It’s frustrating and he feels like he’s crawling out of his own skin at times. Ever logical, Loki has made several lists of where he could go after visiting with his brother but none are very appealing. He has no home to return to and since New Asgard is apparently thriving under the eye of Valkyrie he sees no reason to head there and disturb the peace. Besides, he lost his taste for a throne after the New York incident. He considers traveling the galaxy, doing some exploring for a bit. He’s always loved that, but now some emotion pangs in his chest at the thought, one he won’t put a name to but feels regardless. Loki knows he has no marketable skills, not that he even wants a job, but he will need something to fill his days. He settles into his spot at the counter, scrolling through some inane blog about the places to see while in the city and trying to come up with at the very least a plan for the following day.

You’re finally able to swing down to the end of the counter to Loki and you assess his intent gaze and half frown before speaking. “Is it going to be another hot cocoa day?” you ask sympathetically.

Loki’s frown disappears at the sound of you voice. “I think it is.” he agrees.

“Lilly is going to be ecstatic when she sees you. Do you have work to do? Or can I send her down once she’s done her homework?”

“No, not working at the moment. I’m… taking some time off.”

“Luck you.” you try to keep the bite out of your tone and hope he doesn’t take offense.

“Not having anything to do is great in theory but I’m finding that in practice… not so much.”

You bite the inside of your cheek to keep your next comment to yourself. There is no way you are going to pity the poor, sad, rich guy who doesn’t need to work and doesn’t know what to do with his time. You give him a shrug and head off to get his drink.

“There’s always volunteering.” you suggest as you hand Loki his hot cocoa.

“Ah yes, working but not being paid for it. I’m not exactly skilled in anything to help though.” Loki explains.

You suppress the eye roll you so desperately want to give him. His comment solidifies in your mind that he must be some type of rich model. “You don’t need skills to volunteer at most places. You could help around an animal shelter, keep people company at a nursing home, stock shelves at the library, all sorts of things.”

Loki makes a small humph sound but seems to be considering it.

“Lilly will be done her reading soon and she’ll be down afterwards. If you want anything to eat just wave me down.”

Loki nods as he sips his drink and you slip away before he can respond.

It’s twenty minutes later when Loki sees a flash of pink out of the corner of his eye. Lilly is running full speed down the aisle towards him, hands full of papers. “Mr. Loki you came back.” she beams as she climbs up on the stool next to him.

“I promised I would. What do you have there?” he asks, pointing to her collection of papers.

Lilly spreads them out on the counter and starts showing off her favorites, of which there are six, and the other three that are “just okay” by her standards. Loki smiles and nods along, letting himself be swept away by her enthusiasm. After a depressing day, lost in the bleakness of his uncertain future, this is exactly what he needs.

“This is us.” Lilly points at the last page in her collection.

“I don’t think we have tails.” Loki jokes.

Lilly shakes her head, causing her hair to bounce around wildly. “Nooo!” she squeals between giggles. “It’s kitty us. Kitties with cocoa.”

“Well that makes much more sense.”

The rest of the afternoon passes by with Lilly drawing happily next to Loki while he researches the New York Public Library. The library had been on the list of places to visit and after your suggestion of volunteering Loki is toying around with the idea. He certainly loved the libraries back on Asgard and the one in New York is stunning. He can almost see himself spending his days there, though dealing with the public leaves something to be desired. Loki shakes his head at himself. Is he really considering staying in New York? One look next to him and then down to you at the other end of the diner solidifies the yes echoing in his mind. He’s too intrigued to leave just yet. Loki wants to get to know you better and he can’t imagine breaking Lilly’s heart and just disappearing. He has centuries before him and he can certainly afford to spend a little time on Midgard before moving on to more worthy endeavours.

Lilly somehow convinces Loki to order mac n cheese with her for dinner. You aren’t surprised he’s never tried that before either and you bring them two heaping plates. It’s a little odd that he’s missed out on so many standard comfort foods but chalk it up to his “strict parents” comment and the fact that he has to have been model.

You finally ask him about it after depositing a half asleep Lilly onto her cot in the back for the night. It’s seven o’clock on the dot and Lilly didn’t even fight you on it. “So, what kind of model were you?” you ask, certain of your guess.

You might as well have asked if he used to have six heads. “I beg your pardon?”

Uncertainty starts seeping in, “You used to be a model? Right?”

Loki chuckles, “No, I’ve never modeled. What gave you that indication?”

“Fancy clothes, not needing to work, not having tried the most basic comfort foods, and you know… you know what you look like.”

Loki laughs again. “You keep making the most fantastical assumptions about me. I quite enjoy it. But you are mistaken once again.”

“So, what did you do then?” your cheeks are stained pink with the slightest blush and you can tell Loki is enjoying flustering you.

Loki is hesitant to jog your memory since you clearly haven’t put the pieces together to realize who he is. But if he is going to actually try and stay in New York he needs to be honest. The irony is not lost on him. The trickster, the god of lies, finally desiring to be honest with someone even when it will likely end badly for him. Loki steels himself for your anger and chooses his words carefully, “My family is royalty so I haven’t needed to work. I traveled for a bit in my younger years. Got into a lot of trouble along the way.”

You have a sinking feeling in your stomach. He’s holding something back, you’re sure. The uneasiness is rolling off him like waves and you’re afraid that whatever he’s holding back is going to end whatever is starting between you. “What kind of trouble, Loki?”

“The worst kind, I’m afraid. I was here in New York eleven years ago. I’d gotten involved with the wrong people and couldn’t get out until it was too late. It almost destroyed the city.”

It’s like the floor has dropped out from under your feet. You brace a hand against the counter, steadying yourself. “Loki.” you breathe his name quietly.

Loki swallows hard as recognition floods your face.

“You were in league with Thanos. They said you were a monster.” the name Thanos spits out of your mouth like a curse.

“He fooled even me. I was blinded by my own desire for power and my hatred for Odin at the time. There’s no atonement for what I did.” Your horrified expression makes Loki cringe, “I’ll… I’ll leave now. I’m sorry to have… I’m sorry.” Loki pulls out a large bill from his pocket and collects his laptop and jacket. He’s moving away from the counter when you find your voice.

“No wait.” You call a little too loudly. Thankfully the diner has quieted down for the night.

Loki spins around, surprised.

“You’re not him.”

Loki furrows his brow and comes back to his spot at the counter. He keeps his distance, wary like a caged animal, his voice low and steady. “I assure you, I am.”

You shake your head, “You're not, though. The man who’s sat here the past two days is not the same one who invaded eleven years ago. People change.”

“People died because of me.”

“Would you do it again? If you had the chance now, would you try it?”

“No, of course not.” He tries to say more but you cut him off.

“There you go then. People change. I’m certainly not the same person I was back then. Let’s just get to know each other as we are now.”

Loki is speechless. He expected fear, disgust, hatred maybe, but certainly not this.

You check the time on the wall, “I have a few more hours left in my shift, you don’t have to stay all night again but I like your company.”

“I am quite fond of yours as well.” Loki manages. His voice is uncharacteristically soft and you give him one of your wide, genuine smiles in return.

You have no other customers at the moment so you lean against the counter and settle in. “So,” you begin, trying to divert the conversation to safer ground, “How many pictures were Lilly’s ‘favorite’ this time?”

Loki chuckles and just like that the tension dissipates.

Part Four

Loki spends every night that week hanging out during your shifts at the diner. The other waitresses have begun to tease you a little about him but you don’t feed into it. The routine is always the same. Loki comes in shortly after your shift, starts drinking cocoa or coffee, and orders whatever meal it’s time for when he gets hungry. You spend the quiet moments down at the end of the counter getting to know the real him. It's hard to compare the man you’ve quickly become attached to with the one who attacked New York all those years ago and you feel secure in your decision to look beyond his past.

With a little help, Loki gets a volunteer position at the New York Library and a tiny month by month rental apartment down the street. It’s not much but it’s furnished and he’s happy to have something of his own. He’s moving in next week and has his first library shift a few days later. He knows money is going to be an issue before long and resolves to go see Thor once he’s moved in. Hopefully there is some family loyalty left in his brother and he sees fit to grant Loki access to a little of the family money to get him by while he stays in New York. Though getting Thor to believe his plan is genuine will take some effort.

Monday is your first day off in ten days and as much as Loki insists he’s fine moving on his own you feel a little guilty you’re not there to help. He claims there’s nothing really to move but you at least could have helped with shopping or something. The day crawls by despite how much you are able to catch up on while Lilly’s at school and by the time you’re tucking her in you’re yawning hard. You’ve just crawled into your own bed when your phone chimes.

Loki: All moved in!

The text is accompanied by a picture of a posh looking living room decorated in shades of white, cream, and tan. You hadn’t expected to hear from him but you’re glad he reached out. It was a little odd not talking to him all day. You had given him your phone number the night before just in case he changed his mind and needed your help. Part of you had hoped he would text or call regardless.

You: Great! How does it feel?

You watch as the little typing dots blink almost immediately after your text.

Loki: It’s interesting. Quiet. Tell Lilly I need one of her pictures for my fridge.

You smile as you type.

You: Quiet is good! I’ll tell her tomorrow. Good luck prying one away from her though.

Loki starts and stops typing a few times.

Loki: Can I call?

You: Yeah.

Your phone lights up a moment later.

“Hey you. Too quiet over there?” You say putting the phone on speaker so you don’t have to hold against your ear awkwardly in bed.

Loki sighs heavily, “Yes, a bit. I’m not interrupting anything am I?”

“Nope. Lilly is in bed already and I had no plans.”

“Good. Good.”

“Did you need something?”

“No. Yes. I.. ah… I got a little wrapped up in my own head and needed to hear your voice.”

His honesty is disarming. “Oh.”

“Sorry, that was a little blunt wasn’t it?”

“No, it’s okay. It felt a little weird not talking to you all day. So what has you all wrapped up in your head?”

“I’m going to visit my brother tomorrow.”

“Thor?”

“Yes, the one and only. He doesn’t know I’m alive and I owe him that courtesy.”

“Shouldn’t you be happy about that? He’ll be so glad to see you, I’m sure.”

“My relationship with Thor is… complicated. And I don’t know how it’s going to go. I keep thinking of all the millions of ways it can go wrong. I’ve played dead before, intentionally, so I doubt he’ll believe it wasn’t intentional this time. And there’s the whole ‘I’m still a wanted man’ thing. He’ll likely turn me out on my ass. But if he does that I won’t have enough money forever. Maybe another month or two but then what do I do?”

Loki rambles frantically and you can hear the strain of anxiety running high in his tone.

“Loki! Hey!” You cut him off. “Take a breath.” You wait a moment and he doesn’t respond. “Do you want to come over?” It’s a bold offer but he sounds so distressed and you’re not tired anymore.

“I don’t want to intrude.”

“I have cocoa. And it’s better than the kind at the diner.”

You can hear his shaky exhale that’s almost a laugh. “Text me your address. I’m putting my jacket on now.”

“See you in a bit.” You hang up and pull yourself from your warm comforters to go heat the milk for cocoa.

Loki arrives barely ten minutes later and you welcome him to your little home. He looks around, taking in the sight of your living room and then your kitchen. You’re stirring the cocoa mix into the pan and he doesn’t try to make conversation, just content to watch you work and admiring how cozy your home seems to him. It’s warm and inviting, lived in looking without being overly messy.

“You’re catching me on a good day.” You tell him as you pour the cocoa into two large mugs. He’s obviously looking around and you’re glad you spent most of the day on chores. “If you’d been here this morning you’d’ve seen a mountain of laundry and about fifty of Lilly’s drawings scattered around.”

Loki shrugs before accepting the mug from you. “I’m not judging. Thank you for letting me come over. Things just snuck up on me today and it was a little much. You didn’t have to invite me over to your home like this.”

“I know I didn’t, but I wanted to. Why don’t we head out to sit on the fire escape? I have a set of chairs out there and we won’t risk waking Lilly.”

Loki nods and you lead him outside where you set up two lawn chairs for you to sit in. He scoots his chair next to yours and looks up at the sky wistfully.

“Not the view you’re used to, huh?” You ask.

He shakes his head, “No, not at all. But more stars than I would expect here.”

“Tell me about Asgard.”

“You really want to know?” His tone is skeptical. Loki fears talking about his past will remind you of his mistakes and have you giving him the boot. After an afternoon and evening beating himself up about his wrong doings and worrying about his reunion with Thor he needs a little peace and you’re the only one who can give that to him at the moment.

“That’s why I asked. Tell me. Anything. Everything.”

“Well, we certainly had more stars.” He begins.

You wrap your sweater around your shoulders, protecting yourself from the chill in the autumn air. Your cocoa is warming your hands and you lean unintentionally against Loki’s shoulder listening to him describe his home world to you. His voice is rich and smooth like high quality chocolate and you are lost in it. He relaxes the longer he speaks and you’re thankful he seems to be unwinding a bit. Hours later you put your empty mug down and Loki’s hand finds its way into yours. Your twine your fingers between his and smile over at him, the contact making you giddy like a teenager with your first real crush. He carries on, describing the difference between the ocean on Earth and the seas of Asgard.

Eventually it’s too cold to stay outside and you climb back into your apartment but Loki’s heel catches on the window ledge and he tumbles inside with a thud. You shush him and break into a fit of giggles. He’s so awkward looking splayed out on your living room floor and it’s hard to believe this man is royalty, and a god even. Loki brushes himself off and whispers sorry but it’s too late. You can hear tiny feet padding down the hall.

“Mama?” Lilly says sleepily.

“It’s okay, Lilly-pad. Go back to bed.” You assure her but she’s on the move and staring at Loki who is smiling sheepishly down at her.

“Mr. Loki?” She mumbles.

“He came over for cocoa, sweetheart. You just go back to bed. You’ll see him again soon.”

Lilly makes a disgruntled sound and throws herself at his legs in a sleepy hug.

“Goodnight, Lilly.” He says ruffling her hair.

“Night Mr. Loki.” She pulls herself away and heads back down to her room. You hear to door latch and nod to yourself, knowing she’ll be back to sleep in seconds. Loki follows you to the kitchen to place your mugs in the sink. He’s standing closer than he meant to and when you spin around it’s right into his chest. You let out a stifled squeak of surprise and he braces his hands on your shoulders to steady you. You’re both breathing heavily, conscious of the feel of your bodies pressed against one another’s.

Loki is trying to avoid staring at the rise and fall of your chest and the way your pupils are blown wide looking at him. It’s surprise but also, possibly, desire? Your body is so soft against his and he wants to be selfish and explore the curves you’re hiding underneath that bulky sweater. He moves one hand down to the curve of your waist and your breathing becomes more erratic. Tentatively he slides his other hand up to cup your cheek. He’s overstepping his bounds, he’s sure, but he can't quite stop himself.

You’re trembling as he runs his thumb along the side of your cheek. His whole body is tense and humming against yours and it’s driving you mad. He seemed as surprised as you were when you had turned into him but now that the contact is made, neither one of you seem able to break it. You want him; want to pull him against you and work your way up the lithe muscles of his chest, to explore the broad expanse of his shoulders. He’s complicated, and his past is even more so, but you’re too far gone at this point to care. You press your cheek against his hand, your lips parted and you lock your gaze to his.

Loki’s breathing falters when you stare into his eyes. He’ll hate himself tomorrow for being a greedy bastard if he’s wrong but the way your bottom lip drops down looking good enough to bite overrides his common sense. He moves his head closer, angling it slightly so you can’t mistake his intention, and pauses to give you a chance to back out. You nod almost imperceptibly, frozen in place, desperate for him to make his move. It’s enough though and he dives in, crushing his lips fiercely against yours.

You dig your fingers into his sides, anchoring yourself against him as he presses a torrent of kisses to your lips. Loki meant to gentle, he really did, but the second he felt your soft, plush lips against his he was lost. You taste like hot cocoa, sweet and rich, with the unmistakable taste of you lingering underneath. A breathy moan leaves your lips and he groans, pained by his rampant desire. He won’t take you tonight, as much as he wants to. Lilly is home and he doubts you’d let it go so far, so fast anyway. Loki is forcing his hands to stay over your sweater and you’re doing your best to keep yours in place instead of exploring his body like you want to. When he finally pulls back and you stumble apart, gasping for air, you are both grinning like fools.

“That was….” he falters for words.

“Yeah” you gasp out.

“Wow.”

“Definitely wow.”

You both laugh at the state of yourselves and you move back against him, wrapping your arms around his waist. You fit perfectly in his arms and he’s able to rest his chin on the top of your head when you press it against his chest. He pulls you close and breathes in the sweet, floral scent of you. “I should be going. It’s late and you have to get Lilly to school in the morning” he says with a frown.

“I know.” You agree with a frown of your own, “I’m working the late shift tomorrow if you get back in time to visit.”

“I don’t know how it’s going to go. I’ll text you though. And I’ll be by Wednesday after my first library shift. When’s your next day off?”

“Saturday.”

“Don’t make any plans, okay?”

“Making plans for me?”

“Well, you and Lilly. If you’re okay with that.”

Your heart melts at his inclusion of Lilly. He’s so good to her, to both of you really. “Sounds perfect.” You pull away and reluctantly follow Loki to the door.

“Thank you, again, for letting me come over.” He says standing in your doorway.

“Of course. I’m always here if you have a random need for cocoa.”

Loki chuckles, “Yes, there’s something magical about your cocoa. It seems to fix just about anything.”

“Mmm, it does.” You agree with a smirk. “Good night, Loki.” You lean in for one last brief kiss and you pause as you pull back to study his expression. Loki’s eyes are brimming with emotion and you can feel your cheeks heating.

“Goodnight, Y/N.” He says softly before he turns and heads down the stairs.

You watch him go until he’s out of sight and then close your door, resting against it from the inside. This thing with Loki is still so new and uncertain but it feels so right. You whisper a quiet thank you to the universe, for bringing Loki into the diner and also for the magical, healing powers of hot cocoa.

The End

#sherry's fall into you challenge #sherrybaby14 #loki laufeyson #loki odinson #loki x reader #loki x you #single parent reader #post engame #post avengers endgame #marvel #marvel fanfic #marvel fandom #marvel fangirl #marvel avengers #loki fanfic #loki fanfiction

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tydy-the-megnet · 4 years

Text

Five Times Michelle Jones Wasn’t Nervous When Meeting an Avenger (And One Time She Was)

What’s up?! merry christmas and felice anno nuovo! This is a gift for @megnetsworld (appropriately named) that was originally supposed to be a christmas gift but i’m a tardy hooligan so.

anyway, a month or two ago I was like “i know you like iron dad but if you had to choose between famvengers and peterchelle which would you choose?”

she chose famvengers, so i was like “but you like peterchelle, right?”

and she was like, “obviously” so i was like “:D”

anyway, little did she suspect I’d do ALL THREE!!!!

enjoy. I hope this puts a Meganwatt smile on your face

…..

The first time Michelle Jones met an actual Avenger was in school, when Dr. Bruce Banner came to give a speech about biochemistry. The speech itself was fine; Dr. Banner was mild-mannered and it got a little stale at points but all around made sense at least.

Really, it was pretty standard to have a scientist come talk at an assembly every now and then, though Dr. Banner was a rather high-profile case. He looked very much like a scientist with his pristine white labcoat and shiny green tie.

The weird part of the event came afterward, when Dr. Banner was leaving. The man dragged Peter – and by extension, Ned and Michelle – to the side. Just to say “Hi.”

“Hey, Mr. Doctor Professor Bruce Hulk Banner, sir.”

Bruce stopped awkwardly at the boy for just long enough for Michelle to roll her eyes at her friend.

“Oh my god, you’re Bruce Banner.”

And there was her other friend, just as awkward.

“Hey.” She shrugged, looking at the famed scientist with bored eyes.

Bruce shook his head, blinking, and looked at them, “I, uh, just wanted to ask how I did? It’s been a while since I’ve done a speech, let alone for teenagers. Did I do alright? This school is pretty up there with its education, so I don’t think I went over your heads, did I?”

“It was great—” “—The coolest thing to ever happen here—” “A little boring.”

Peter and Ned looked sharply at her and she smirked.

She almost felt bad when Dr. Banner actually deflated. As if there was an even smaller ego, like the Hulk but tiny and feeble. More so than Banner, anyway, who genuinely looked like he couldn’t hurt a fly.

“It was? I tried to make it interesting with the slideshow and demonstrations…”

“Don’t listen to her, Dr. Prof. Banner, she’s just not into biochem.”

She shrugged, “Not even becoming a hulk myself could make it interesting.”

He blinked, but Michelle didn’t say anything after that.

…

The second time Michelle met an Avenger happened one weekend when Peter brought Ned and Michelle to the Avenger’s Compound. She caught Clint Barton, more famously known as Hawkeye, snaking into an air vent.

“What’s going on?” She asked, peering curiously at the wriggling archer.

He paused, his body still half dangling from the vent, “Nothing. Who is this?”

“Michelle.” She answered. Swift as an arrow, Clint was on the floor again, staring at her with his arms crossed over his plain grey tee shirt.

She stared back unflinching, brows furrowing, “Are you shorter than me?”

“No,” He said without missing a beat. He was ignoring the fact that he had to stare up at her, even if only slightly, “Who are you? And what are you doing here?”

“I told you, I’m Michelle. I’m with Peter.” She replied lazily. Nodding to the vent, she added, “What were you doing in the vents?”

He paused, considering the question. “That’s official Avengers business. Classified. Top secret stuff. Parker or Quill?”

“Parker. Who’s Quill?”

“You ask a lot of questions.”

“Thank you.” She offered a half-smile.

Clint gave a sound that was equal parts scoff and laugh, or at least she thought it was. “I’m going to need to investigate this matter. Protocol, you understand. Come with me.” It was obvious he was going for intimidation, but Michelle knew she was allowed here; she’d been invited in, after all.

So she shrugged and followed.

She could also tell that Hawkeye was having fun, from the gleam in his eyes and relaxed posture. Knowing he was a spy made Michelle think he already knew a lot about her – likely more than she would be comfortable with, but it wasn’t like she could do anything about that.

“So,” He said, leading through the corridors toward where Michelle vaguely recalled the foyer being, “Our little Baby Avenger brought himself a girlfriend, huh?”

…

The third Avenger Michelle met was Natasha Romanoff, the Black Widow, and it was because Clint introduced her. Unsurprisingly to those who knew her, Natasha was more suspicious of Michelle’s presence at the compound than Clint seemed to be. It was fair, Michelle mused, since she probably shouldn’t have been wandering around the compound by herself.

But hey, she was curious, and Peter and Ned were nerding out over a plane, so here she was. She wondered if she was about to be arrested. She kept her bored stare on Natasha’s steely face, even as her stomach crawled toward her feet.

When Natasha failed to say anything after a few moments, Michelle started helpfully, “I’m with Peter.” She paused, waiting for any sort of reaction, but her poker face was unmalleable. “Parker.” She added for good measure.

Natasha nodded slowly, before speaking to nothing in particular, “FRIDAY, send for Peter and his other friend. And tell him not to leave his friends unsupervised in high-tech facilities.”

“Yes, Miss Romanoff.”

“I know who you are,” Natasha said. Even though Michelle already knew that Natasha knew who she was – and likely knew that Michelle knew that she knew – it was very weird to her those words spoken aloud.

It was also incredibly ominous. Very “Big Brother.” Though Michelle doubted Orwell knew about S.H.I.E.L.D. or what it would come to be when he wrote 1984.

It was at several minutes of awkward silence while Michelle waited for her friends under the watchful eyes of two former S.H.I.E.L.D. agents. And they were some of the top agents, too. Michelle had thoroughly scoured the data when Natasha had dumped that information into the public web several years ago. Hungry for information and curious of the shadow organization she’d only ever heard rumor of on the darkest parts of the world wide web had Michelle combing through file after file of everything she could find as soon as she could find it.

In fact, she probably knew more about these two agents than some of the other Avengers, though she’d never claim so.

It only made it funnier when Clint said, “You know, normally this is the part where you’d ask us questions? Is there anything you want to know?”

Michelle glanced thoughtfully at him, ignoring the sharp look Natasha gave him, “Yeah actually.” They tensed up, as if they hadn’t actually expected her to ask anything. If that was true, then they clearly didn’t know that much about her. She quirked an eyebrow at the pair, “Was George Orwell a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent?”

…

The fourth time Michelle met an Avenger, she should have been amazed at the fact that she now had met three of the original Avengers. The same team that had saved New York from a real life Alien Invasion. And yet, as she stared up at the god of thunder, there was no amazement to be felt. No, at that point she only felt weird, because she was staring at a myth, and that myth was staring back.

Except that myth was staring at her with a mouth full of poptarts, and a box in his arms.

With a mighty gulp, Thor Odinson finished his mouthful of poptarts, never ceasing his big, blue-eyed stare, and set the box on the table.

He stood to greet her, “Hello. I am Thor Odinson of Asgard. I do not believe we’ve met,” He stated kindly, “This leaves me concerned, for I thought only the Avengers and allies were allowed into this place.”

“Hey. I’m Michelle Jones of Queens.” She replied, debating whether to curtsy. She wasn’t wearing a skirt, so she decided against it. “I’m an ally. I’m Peter’s friend.”

“Ah! I see!” Thor stepped forward, and it seemed like he covered the entire kitchen in a single stride, “You are Young Parker’s companion.” The way he said it had her face heating up, like he was insinuating something, “Barton informed me that you were visiting with Parker and his other friend.” He cocked his head, “But I also understand that you and Young Leeds are not to wander the grounds unaccompanied.”

“I wasn’t wandering,” Michelle replied honestly, “I was just coming to get a snack.” And she found one, she thought, steadfastly keeping her eyes on Thor’s face.

“Ah! Of course! And how rude of me to interrupt!” He turned and leaned over the table, grabbing the box of poptarts he’d been devouring and offering it to her like a trophy of war, “Would you like one?”

Michelle stared at the box for all of two second before replying, “Sure. I love blueberry.”

Thor’s jovial laugh filled her ears and she soon found herself sitting with him, finishing the box and sharing stories. She quickly steered him from his tales of valor toward Asgardian politics and economics (he was a prince, after all) and found herself telling exciting stories of historic earth battles as best she could (history was one of her strong points).

The mythical man wasn’t all that strange, really, she mused as Thor spoke.

…

The fifth time Michelle met an Avenger, she met Captain America and the Falcon together. By now they had already heard of Peter’s two friends who were visiting for a weekend, so she didn’t get the skeptic treatment, but she did get treated to two soldiers in uniform. In his uniform, Steve Rogers looked almost exactly like the pictures from her history book – the costume was a bit different now. He did look exactly like he did in the PSAs though, right down to the look he gave her when he first saw her. So much was that obvious, that she couldn’t resist the temptation.

“Hey, I know you.” She said simply, pointing to the old soldier with a half-smile, “You’re the PSA guy.”

It was so satisfying to see the Captain America redden under her scrutiny. More satisfying than tricking Peter into admitting he was Spider-Man, more satisfying than acing her last French test, more satisfying even than beating Ned at Trivial Pursuit: Star Wars™ Edition.

Sam Wilson’s bewildered look made the comment all the sweeter, because enlightened Michelle to the fact the he did not know.

“PSA guy?” Sam turned to Steve, who was giving the floor an awkward-yet-still-award-winning smile, “What does that mean?”

Michelle replied before Steve could, bringing out her best Captain America voice, “Hey kids, I’m Captain America, and I’m here to talk to you about bullies. A bully is someone who regularly harms or intimidates those weaker than them. Maybe they think its cool, but take it from someone who was frozen for seventy years – it’s really cool to follow the rules—”

“Jeez, do you have the whole thing memorized?” the relic said through an embarrassed chuckle. He then straightened up, looking at her with a stern face that reminds her that she’s staring at a World War II captain, “Are you a bully? You know, the nazis were bullies, too. It’s why I had to beat them up. Don’t be a nazi – be cool, like me, Captain America.”

Michelle snickered at the line, which Steve had pulled directly from that same PSA. Sam looked back and forth between the two, bemusement slowly fading to amusement. “What are you two talking about?”

“I recorded some PSAs a few years ago.”

“They show them in schools. They’ve become a meme.”

Sam nodded, “I’ve got to see that.”

“They’re all on Youtube.”

Steve rolled his eyes.

…

“This is her?” Tony Stark queried, his eyes staring into Michelle’s eyes as if judging her every being. He was leaning on the counter of the Avengers’ kitchen, looking too casual in his jeans and a band tee, sipping coffee from a mug that says “#1 Avenger.”

“Yeah,” her boyfriend answered, licking his lips. Peter was standing beside Tony and doing that awkward shuffle that betrayed his nervousness. He kept glancing between Michelle and Tony as if one was going to combust at any moment.

She was stood across from Tony, her stomach flipping and flopping while the man calmly took another sip, so she figured it would probably be her in the flames.

The sixth time she met an honest-to-god Avenger was the time Peter Parker introduced her to Tony Stark; and seeing how the genius was basically her boyfriend’s father-figure these days, Michelle decided he was the most important, too.

She wished she could see her own face in that moment, so she could at least know what kind of expression she was making at Tony. From his solemn stare, she couldn’t be sure what he was feeling. Michelle prided herself on her observational skills, but there wasn’t much to observe other than the billionaire’s eyes that refused to blink.

“She’s cute. Good job.” He turned abruptly and clapped his free hand onto Peter’s shoulder.

Both teens practically exploded at the impact, from the way their held breaths left their bodies. Smiling tentatively at her, Peter moved closer, but was interrupted by Tony saying, “Hey, Pete. Why don’t you go get that other guy? I still wanna talk to him about how he hacked your suit.”

It seemed to Michelle that it was a subtle way of saying “Don’t make out in front of me, please.” But Peter didn’t seem to catch on when he obediently left without taking her.

Now she was alone with her boyfriend’s might-as-well-be father, who happened to be a famous billionaire philanthropist.

“I honestly didn’t think he could do romance. He seems too awkward.” He said suddenly.

Michelle replied honestly, glancing at the doorway Peter had used, “He’s still really bad at it, but I am too, so…” She trailed off.

“Ah, so you’re like that.” He laughed into the mug.

She looked to her feet and began scuffing her shoe against the linoleum tiles of the kitchen, “Yeah. I don’t mind it, though. And I don’t think he does either.”

“Oh, not at all.” He responded flippantly, and though she wasn’t looking at him she could tell he waved a hand, “He’s always talking about how cool you are. I thought you’d be out of his league.”

The words came out like a reflex, “Yeah, he’s lame like that.” And she almost jerked her head up to stare at him wide-eyed.

His laugh kept her eyes aimed down, though. “So,” He asks next, “Do you know about his internship?”

She did glance up at that, but her gaze only made it to his chest where an arc reactor clung to his shirt – Peter had said it housed nano-tech – and she answered with a question, “You mean the Spider-Man thing?”

“You do know. That’s good,” Tony decided, “It means he doesn’t have to make up dumb excuses when he’s late to dates.”

“Yeah, he’s really bad at that.” She managed a shaky laugh and finally met his eyes again only to see how amused he was. She blinked, and suddenly she was standing straighter, almost indignant.

“Oh?” He asked, noticing the change immediately, “Are you done being awkward now? Can we have an actual conversation? I heard from the others that you didn’t even react to them.” he smiled when she replied by flipping him off. “That’s it, relax, kid. I already gave you my blessing, not that he’d listen to me anyway. Why am I the one to get you all nervous? Thor’s an actual god, you know.” He said it mockingly, without any real reverence, as he takes a sip from his mug.

She almost said something about how much she liked Peter or something about how important Tony’s opinion of her was because Peter thought the world of him. Tony had said Peter wouldn’t listen, but she knew it would still make things weird.

But she said none of that. Instead she said, “It’s because rich white men are the scariest thing in the world.”

He choked.

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rhowena · 4 years

Text

Pile of stuff concerning what happened to Loki between Thor and The Avengers

Originally posted on r/FanTheories

https://inforapid.org/webapp/webapp.php?shareddb=IAxUFHnwkGJSYMj9OFbT8mRl5goHm9SC2qHbWw4knO1cng5qI5Wrg48nP1MdgbWlJmHj6UpwbN343IqnstQUwxIIO01M5Rvb

As it does not escape my notice that I’ve created a digital version of this meme, some navigation help for anyone who needs it:

Mouse over/tap an item or relation to view its description

For items with the yellow ‘Note’ label, select the node and then 'Notes on Item’ in the side menu to view an additional notes page

If an item has a globe icon it the top-left corner, click it to open a webpage

'Adjust View’ in the side menu has controls to zoom in/out, increase/decrease the distance between items, and filter items or relations by category

Relations (and items) are color-coded by type: solid green lines are for in-universe evidence (light green connects evidence to the theory it supports, while dark green connects pieces of evidence that should be looked at together), purple dotted lines denote parallels, and dark red lines mark cases of “one of these things is not like the other”

And an overview of the theories contained therein:

First, the central piece of tinfoil around which all other tinfoil is arrayed: remember how, at the end of the first Thor, Loki was pathologically obsessed with gaining his father’s approval? And how, when he next showed up after vanishing for an entire year, he’d gotten mixed up with a guy who keeps a menagerie of adopted children? And how, during his argument with Thor on the mountaintop, he said this?

Loki: Did you mourn? Thor: We all did. Our father– Loki: Your father. He did tell you my true parentage, did he not?

Loki: I’ve seen worlds you’ve never known about! I have grown, Odinson, in my exile. I have seen the true power of the Tesseract and when I wield it—

Tom Hiddleston: There’s a bit where Thor says, “We all mourned! Our father…” and Loki interrupts him and says, “YOUR father.” And it’s that sense of 'don’t include me in this anymore. I have no relation or connection to you.’ It’s his way of saying 'I’ve let go, I’m gone, I’m on the outside of the fence, I’m happy here, I don’t want to come back in.’

If I may take a minute to get out some of my extremely complicated feelings on this, while there’s a bunch more evidence in favor of Loki having been another of Thanos’s children that can be viewed on the mind map, I want to highlight this pair of quotes because it’s everything implied by the words “Your father” that makes it into a devastating punch in the stomach which draws on both halves of Loki’s Woobie, Destroyer of Worlds characterization: his genuine love for his family is his primary redeeming quality and that he forswore it like this puts the terrible moment when he first knelt before Thanos and pledged himself to the Mad Titan’s service firmly into archetypal Faustian sell-your-soul territory, but when you consider the straits he was in at the time and the implication that Thanos initially ensnared him not through promises of power but by preying on him emotionally, it’s a very human kind of tragic mistake.

youtube

The other mitigating factor is that based on everything we’ve heard from Thanos’s other children, it’s a safe bet that he did in fact do unspeakably horrible things to Loki too – indeed, noticing the resemblance between the existing theories about Loki having been tortured/brainwashed and Gamora’s “He took me, tortured me, turned me into a weapon” was what prompted the above realization in the first place. (It’s reminiscent of Theon’s storyline in ASOIAF/GOT: yeah, he betrayed his adoptive family and did some generally awful stuff, but no one deserves what happened to him.) It also bears emphasizing that accountability cuts both ways: one of the key takeaways from the previous bullet point is that the suffering Loki went through doesn’t absolve him of responsibility for his villainous actions, but the other side of the coin is that Loki’s partial complicity doesn’t absolve Thanos of responsibility for the choice he made to take a broken, desperate young man who’d just lost everything and turn him into the rabid animal we saw during The Avengers, and I dearly hope that exploring the rich font of psychological horror that is that time period will erase any remaining doubt that Thanos’s claims of acting For The Greater Good are nothing but empty, egotistical, self-righteous posturing and everyone in the audience who insists on taking them at face value is being duped just as Loki was.

Stephen: No. I mean, come on. Look at your face. Dormammu made you a murderer. Just how good can his kingdom be?

As for where this is all going, I believe there’s a good chance that the Loki Disney+ series will be where they finally address this as a. the split timeline Loki the series will be following is still fresh from his time with Thanos and it will therefore have to explain what happened if we’re to understand the kind of headspace that he’s in at that moment and b. Tom Hiddleston has revealed that the series will also clarify whether or not Loki really is dead in the main timeline, and everything I have so far indicates that understanding the nature of his original pact with Thanos is essential to understanding both Loki’s choice to die and Thanos’s choice to kill him (see the 'Pledge of fidelity’ and 'Limited use’ notes pages on the mind map). Character-wise, I think one of the points of emphasis will be that Loki’s death in Infinity War doesn’t wrap up his story as neatly as it may appear to on the surface; truly completing his redemption arc will require him to confront this part of his past in full, and with it his guilt over everything he’s done and his fear that he’s wrecked his life and relationship with his family so thoroughly that he can never, ever fix them.

Loki: Can you? Can you wipe out that much red? […] Your ledger is dripping, it’s gushing red, and you think saving a man no more virtuous than yourself will change anything? This is the basest sentimentality. This is a child at prayer… PATHETIC! You lie and kill in the service of liars and killers. You pretend to be separate, to have your own code. Something that makes up for the horrors. But they are a part of you, and they will *never* go away!

An additional giant red flag indicating we really should be asking more questions about that time gap is a group of lines in The Avengers which reveal that Thanos taught Loki how to use the Tesseract.

The Other: The Tesseract has awakened. It is on a little world. A human world. They would wield its power, but our ally knows its workings as they never will.

The Other: You question us? You question HIM? He, who put the Scepter in your hand? Who gave you ancient knowledge and new purpose when you were cast out, defeated?

Loki: I’ve seen worlds you’ve never known about! I have grown, Odinson, in my exile. I have seen the true power of the Tesseract and when I wield it— Thor: Who showed you this power? Who controls the would-be king?

Sharing that kind of knowledge and power with someone as volatile as Loki strikes me as an monumentally terrible idea (and as much as I don’t want to be the person who throws a tantrum because their fanfic didn’t come true, I’m kinda salty that Thanos was defeated without it coming back to bite him in the ass), which leaves me wondering what Thanos hoped to gain that he believed would be worth the risks. My thoughts on that particular sub-puzzle are still somewhat hazy, but my basic sense is that there’s something weird going on between Loki and the Tesseract and wanting to exploit that connection is one of the reasons Thanos went to all the trouble of breaking him into submission.

Loki: So I am no more than another stolen relic, locked up here until you might have use of me?

The other reason for Thanos’s interest in Loki ties back to all that emotional twistiness I talked about earlier: he planned to leverage Loki’s anger and resentment towards his family in a bid to destroy Odin and Asgard from the inside.

Zemo: An empire toppled by its enemies can rise again. But one which crumbles from within? That’s dead… forever.

As a prelude to this, during The Avengers Thanos had additionally tasked Loki with killing Thor as a way to prove his loyalty and destroy the last remaining shreds of his own humanity, a test Loki failed because he still loved his brother too much.

Coulson: You’re going to lose. It’s in your nature. […] You lack conviction.

What’s more, Thanos anticipated this, and the Scepter’s influence over Loki was aimed at forcing him to go through with it if he refused.

Loki: I won’t touch Barton, not until I make him kill you! Slowly, intimately, in every way he knows you fear! And then he’ll wake, just long enough to see his good work, and when he screams, I’ll split his skull!

Lastly, even with Infinity War having established that Thanos simply gets off on emotional torture, that he would go out of his way to fuck with Odin personally by turning his second son against him leads me to believe there was a special hatred there stemming from some as-yet unrevealed history between the two. I mean, when I picture the alternate universe where Thanos shows up to attack Asgard with a corrupted Loki in tow like “You screwed up so badly that he chose me as a father figure over you” …that isn’t something you say to a complete stranger.

GRRM on writing villain POVs: That’s a comic book kind of thing, where the Red Skull gets up in the morning [and asks] “What evil can I do today?” Real people don’t think that way. We all think we’re heroes, we all think we’re good guys. We have our rationalizations when we do bad things. “Well, I had no choice,” or “It’s the best of several bad alternatives,” or “No it was actually good because God told me so,” or “I had to do it for my family.” We all have rationalizations for why we do shitty things or selfish things or cruel things. So when I’m writing from the viewpoint of one of my characters who has done these things, I try to have that in my head.

#mcu #loki #thor #thanos #odin #loki's missing year #theory #analysis #mind map #i swear i will turn this into an actual essay one of these days

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algrimthestrong · 5 years

Text

@beautiful-mischief | Continued from here.

beautiful-mischief‌:

Though he had certainly had a couple of drinks - he tended not to lose himself in his cups early on as Thor often did - Loki liked to think that he was capable of composing himself enough to at least stop acting like a fool in Algrim’s presence. It was why he often drank so little in the first place, preferring to err on the side of caution and keep his faculties about him when everyone else was going wild. There was the slightest hint of a rosy flush upon high cheekbones, he supposed he could attribute that to the wine rather than his tutor’s fussing, the younger prince half tempted to scowl at the fact that Algrim was actually teasing him. The fact that he was seeing another side to his tutor, however, saved him from his ire. Loki had always been keen to see if Algrim could ever have fun, after all. For the most part the elf didn’t look much different - ever composed, seemingly distant from all the chaos and keeping a watchful eye as it unfurled - but Loki could certainly appreciate that he had dressed for the occasion, looking far more grand than he could ever recall for the sake of the festivities.

“You look rather regal yourself, Algrim.” He insisted in return, offering the councillor a similarly playful smile. “It’s almost as if you’re trying to impress someone looking so distinguished.” It was a stab in the dark, really. An attempt, albeit a rather ineffectual one, at trying to deflect his own embarrassment. Nothing about Algrim that he had ever seen indicated that he was even remotely interested in romance - but with plenty of dignitaries from Alfheim about, he supposed it was worth a little tease. It wasn’t as if the young prince was at all bothered about wooing anyone from the other court, rolling his eyes as Algrim brought up the royal twins and then promptly noticed the swarms of people around them. Including Thor, who as always had to be the first to conquer. And who could expect Asgard’s golden son to go for anyone save for a princess? At least Loki could take some satisfaction in seeing Algrim’s disapproval, his expression making it plenty apparent.

The second he heard his tutor’s query, however, Loki tossed his head away from the unfurling scene in derision and turned back to face Algrim, almost aghast that he had even thought to ask for his opinion on the matter. “As if I would be interested in either when everyone in sight is clamouring for their attention.” He retorted, that telltale flush of embarrassment returning despite how much he protested. “They are both…lovely, I’m sure, but were I to go and speak to them people would think that I was only there to try and compete with Thor.” Loki could picture it already, how he would no doubt seem desperate or like some copy-cat should he try and set his eyes on either of the royal twins. Some stubborn part of him was convinced that he could, were he even remotely tempted, but it seemed undignified to lower himself to his brothers level. Huffing out a sigh, the young prince took another sip of his drink. “To tell you the truth, I could fancy them both.” He admitted, staring down into the depths of his cup for a moment, preferring that to looking at Algrim for the moment. Though he had always been rather close to his tutor, forever seeking his praise when it came to his studies of the arcane, being so frank with him about other things was strange indeed. Strange, but…nice, somehow. Really he supposed he didn’t have many other people to talk to about matters of the heart save for his mother. “Thor makes it very clear that it is only women he prefers, and I’m not like that.” He added. “Most times it’s not the outside I care about at all.”

Loki’s attempt at flattery, while painfully obvious, was met with quiet laughter. “What do they say? Dress to impress.” There was the barest hint of a playful smile behind Algrim’s solemn facade. “All jesting aside,” he continued, having seen right through Loki’s tactic to try to get the elder to spill his secrets, “I am here in the role of both participant and formal observer. It is not often that we play host to such exalted guests. I could not have eschewed attending such an event even if I wanted to.” On any other day, Loki’s indiscretion would have earned him a lecture. Tonight, though, was an occasion for joy and merriment, and its atmosphere of euphoric excitement put Algrim in a forgiving mood. Besides, their banter was all in good humour. If Loki preferred to stay with his mentor rather than follow Thor’s example of pursuing amorous liaisons, then Algrim had no issue with it. Still, with Thor distributing his affections so freely among the female guests, one might expect Loki to feel compelled to match him. Hence, Algrim was glad that Loki had so far managed to keep his wits about him and his hands to himself. The younger prince had always been the more sedate of the two brothers, preferring to keep private matters private rather than make a public show of his love life. There was no telling what the evening would lead to, though, and the councillor would hardly begrudge him his fun if Loki chose to indulge his vices at some point during the course of the night.

Loki’s explanation as to why he refused to join the flocks of suitors trying to woo the Alfheim twins confirmed Algrim’s suspicions. He nodded sagely. Loki’s admission that he found both siblings equally appealing drew a knowing look from Algrim, as if he had expected such an answer. “It was not my intention to embarrass you, Loki.” Matters of the heart were a delicate subject Algrim had rarely dared touch upon with either of the princes. His own children had never had a chance to come of age, and though he felt woefully inadequate to counsel his royal charges on such intimate matters, he endeavoured to do so regardless. The brothers were at an age at which romantic pursuits were at the forefront of their mind. It was better to gently guide them through the rough years of sexual awakening than risk siring unwanted progeny. Thor, in particular, had already earned a reputation as a notorious philanderer. Yet, for all his efforts to charm the princess into his bed, Algrim knew that her parents kept her under close supervision. Try as he might, the eldest Odinson would need to find a different paramour to slake his thirst tonight.

“There is no shame in seeking variety in romantic partners,” Algrim responded in a tone of gentle acceptance. He drew his lips into his mouth to wet them before continuing, “I, too, care little about physical attributes. The most enticing form is without appeal to me if the mind that resides in it is dull and narrow.” Perhaps it was a mistake to grant Loki such insight into his personal preferences, but he felt that the younger would appreciate being trusted with such a matter rather than judge his mentor for his tastes. Algrim imagined there were few in whom Loki might confide, with how firmly the majority of Asgard’s warrior society was still entrenched in antiquated views of male pride.

#beautifulmischief #beautiful-mischief #thank you so much <3 #and the idea of Algrim acting as Loki's wingman is hilarious #I love it

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dearlazerbunny · 5 years

Text

Lie to Me (Ch. 8 of ?)

Pairings: Loki x Reader

Genre/Ratings: M eventually (aiming for a slow burn here); warnings for kidnapping and subsequent anxiety/PTSD (will be marked before every chapter)

Words: 1500

Summary: If you had to guess what the captured, traitor, trickster god Loki Laufeyson wanted or needed at this moment, a babysitter would be far, far down on the list. (Set after the events of Avengers 1.)

SHOUTOUT TO @molmcb and @jessiejunebug for doing the lord’s work

Requested Tags: @deraniel @iamverity @yasnooshka24 @wegingerangelica @themusingsofmany @dark-night-sky-99 @tarynkauai @stuffandstuff-stuff and the total sweetie @angelicshinigami

“You’ve been speaking with Thor.”

You don’t glance up from the rough sketch of Mjolnir you’re outlining in your notebook. The runes are a bit tricky to replicate precisely. “Um, yeah. How’d you know?”

He gestures to your drawing. “He let you ‘test your worthiness,’ yes?”

You giggle. “Yeah. Nothing happened, obviously.”

The noise of disapproval that he hums catches you off guard. “I’m disappointed, Witling. I would have thought you were more intelligent than to fall for his ploys. I suppose I was wrong.”

That makes you set your pencil down. The Trickster sounds even grumpier than usual. “His ‘ploys’? What, is he gonna lift my fingerprints off the handle to frame me for a crime I didn’t commit?”

The god, while still angry, now looks thoroughly mystified. “What on Asgard is the nonsense tumbling out of your mouth?”

“I- nothing, never mind. Why do you care if I talk to Thor? He’s sweet, and it’s nice to talk to someone and not feel like they’ll bite off my head for breathing in the wrong direction.”

You give him a pointed look, but it flies right over his head. “No, by all means, let the oaf wrap you around his little finger. Because of course, the true Prince of Asgard, mighty god of thunder, would be a much better companion than the snide, corrupt Loki.” There’s so much bitterness in his voice you could drown in it- and something makes you feel he already has.

“Whoa, hey, that’s- a lot of antagonism there. Are you okay?”

He lets his head rest back against the wall behind him in obviously reluctant defeat. “Even on Midgard, that brute is still the chosen one. I should have known the universe would not know impartiality, no matter the realm.”

“Mmm, yeah, life tends to play favorites a lot, and that favorite is rarely you.” You glance up. “I mean, not you, you in particular. Us, I guess?”

“Us. Do not lie to me, mortal; you know nothing of my life.”

“Well, no, I don’t know what it’s like growing up as a magical demigod prince, you’ve got me there. But I do have an older brother. I know how it feels to grow up in the shade of his shadow.” You glance down at your paper, tapping the butt of your pencil thoughtfully on the table. Oh. “That explains a lot, actually,” you murmur.

“Oh, please, by all means, psychoanalyze me into submission. I look forward to hearing your drivel; it is excellent to amuse myself with when sleep is elusive.”

Glaring at him, you throw your pencil across the room in a vague approximation of his location. It bounces off the glass barrier and clatters to the floor, but for once, the Trickster looks shocked and speechless. “Christ, aren’t you supposed to be a prince? How about acting like it for once?”

“You would lecture me about being royalty? You said yourself you have no basis for aristocracy!”

“I don’t, but I sure as hell know they act a lot better than you!” Now you’re both staring at the other, unwilling to be the one to look away first. “Look, I get it. You’re angry, and tired, and sad, but that doesn’t give you the right to lash out whenever you want. Stop bleeding on the people who didn’t hurt you.”

“And who might that be?” Once his tone might have frightened you. Yesterday it would have made you annoyed. Today it just makes you… pensive. Because now you have some puzzle pieces that are starting to fit together, and the picture it shows isn’t all that pretty.

“Me. Everyone else at SHIELD. The entire human race you just tried to enslave,” you add. “Thor.”

With a growl, the Trickster’s gaze traps you in your seat with an intensity you haven’t seen before. “Thor Odinson-” he practically spits his name like a curse- “has always been the favorite. The chosen one. Father’s heir, the people’s love, the golden child. Next to him I might as well be as inconsequential as the sand beneath his feet,” he hisses.

“Because Odin made you feel that way, not Thor! Your father is the one who played favorites, Trickster. He’s the one who made Thor his golden child, and gave him a magical hammer, and groomed him to be the heir. Your father may see you as lesser, but by all accounts Thor values you as his equal.” You pause, thinking back to your conversation. “He said he admires you.”

“Lies.”

“You’re the god of lies; I’d hope you’d be able to distinguish when I’m lying to you.” When he doesn’t respond, you get up, walk over to him, and tap on the cell wall. “Hey. You’re literally in a fishbowl, you can’t just avoid me. Am I lying to you?”

His green eyes search your face, thinking, even though he already knows the answer. “No.”

“No. I’m not. He specifically told me that he doesn’t understand your bookish habits-” you smile a little at that- “but he’s proud of your intelligence all the same.”

“Of course. How could he? That blundering idiot can barely string together two coherent sentences.” You can tell he’s aiming for derision in his voice, but his words aren’t nearly as harsh as they were a minute ago.

“Look, from what I’ve read, Asgard is a warrior’s culture, yes? They value strength, and brawn, and muscles, and how hard you can swing a sword. You’re… not that. Sure, I have no doubt you’re a great fighter, but it’s because you think your way through a battle, not go in there guns blazing and overpower your enemy.” You stop and glance at him, wondering if you’ve gone too far, but he’s actually looking at you with some interest. “It’s like asking a fish to climb a tree. You’re completely out of your element; the scales were tipped against you from the start.”

For a long moment, he doesn’t speak, and you think he’s going to throw your words right back in your face. But to your surprise, the god starts laughing. No, it’s not as hearty as Thor’s, and there’s an underlying bitter sweetness to the sound, but it’s a true, honest laugh. Probably the first one you’ve heard from him. “You say the strangest things, Witling.”

Smiling, you scrunch your nose up at him. “Yeah, yeah, I’m an oddball, I get it. But I’m also right.”

His eyes are slightly out of focus, as though he’s seeing his life through a new lens. “Perhaps.”

“When you start with the short straw time and time again; when you’re punished for doing things differently even though different is in your DNA… you’re going to get frustrated. And you’re going to get resentful. And eventually, there’s going to be an explosion.” Your expression is resigned as you look at him. “It’s not fair. And I’m sorry that’s what you had to deal with for a thousand years.”

His eyes are more thoughtful than you’ve ever seen them. “I cannot remember a time when someone apologized to me sincerely.”

“Thor probably tried, but he didn’t know how. Words are your thing, not his.”

“Indeed.” He nods to himself, seemingly settling an argument only he can hear. “May I ask you a question, Witling?”

“What? I mean-” you shake off your surprise- “Sure, Loki. Of course you can.”

Something in his expression brightens just a hint, though you’re not sure why. “Do you not prefer Thor to me?”

“Is that what you’re worried about, Trickster? Losing your annoying sidekick?”

Loki rolls his eyes. “You are not my sidekick. At best you are an unfortunate reoccurring side-bit.”

You snort. “Look, I like Thor a lot. He’s friendly, though he’s not the sharpest tool in the shed, and very… loud,” you say. “Kinda like a golden retriever. Lots of energy, bounding all over the place, leaping before they look. But I like that I can have a good conversation with you. You think, and you’ve got a sharp tongue, and you’re a bit of an enigma. If Thor is a golden retriever, you’re a witch’s familiar.” You give him a shrug and a smile. “And I’ve always been a cat person, anyways.”

“Color me relieved.”

“You’re the one who asked! Can’t have my favorite god getting jealous now can we?”

“Jealousy over someone implies they are something you covet. You are an annoyance. Thor can gladly take you.”

“In that case, I guess I’ll just go find him.” You gather your stuff, taking your sweet time putting it all away in your bag and watching Loki struggle to find a way to keep you from going. Because he doesn’t want you to go. Not really.

“Witling.”

You look over your shoulder. “Yeeeeeeeees?”

His gaze is very conveniently anywhere but on you. “I will… see you tomorrow?”

There’s a little smile on your face as you respond. “Yeah, Loki. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

A/N: I’d say from here on out things take a turn from fluff to more purposeful conversations :)

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takaraphoenix · 5 years

Note

Thor/Tony. What if Thor is courting Tony Asgardian style, but Tony being well Tony doesn't totally understand but is all kinds of confused/smitten. Bruce is just watching amused before stepping in to tell Thor that Tony is not good with subtle and needs a more direct approach? Smut is welcome but fluff is fine as well :)

The Avengers had defeated Loki and his army of aliens. They had secured the Tesseract. They had been ready to celebrate victory – and then everything had gone awry.

Tony had a heart-attack, probably an aftermath of going through the portal and temporarily dying there. Thor revived him using his lightning, but Loki used the distraction and turmoil to escape – stealing the Tesseract in the process. Steve, all the while, was busy battling Loki who had shapeshifted into Steve to mess with his head.

That, of course, changed their plans. What was only supposed to be one mission, one fight, turned into an actual... team. A project. They had to track down Loki and they had to find the Tesseract.

For convenience purposes, the team moved into Stark Tower, to have a headquarters. Tony easily designed floors for each of the Avengers, which was honestly all he got to do being tied to the bed. Figuratively, sadly, because literally would at least be fun. But oh no, you nearly die twice in one day and everyone suddenly fusses over you. How annoying.

It wasn't that annoying though, if Tony was honest. Nat had bought shawarma for them all and they ate around Tony's hospital bed, with Clint in the next bed over to get checked over after the mind-control. It had been the very first moment of team-bonding, actual bonding.

/break\

"Blueberries?"

"Thank you, Tony", smiled Jane in amusement as she accepted the treat.

She popped the blueberry into her mouth before returning her attention to the blackboard. Old-fashioned. It was more fun that way, or so Jane claimed. Tony and Bruce rolled with it and honestly, it really was more fun than a white-board. This was how the science trio had been sciencing for the past three months now. Ever since the battle of New York.

They had brought Jane Foster in, as the Earthly expert on Asgard and Loki. Honestly, Tony didn't understand why they hadn't called her during the battle of New York already, she would have been an asset to Tony and Bruce. Well, better late than never, Tony supposed.

Now Tony had two live-in scientists to science with. Even though Jane had started out as being Thor's ex-girlfriend (disappearing to Asgard for months without calling was a sure way to end a relationship), there was no ill-will between them. Jane and Thor still shared a deep connection, a deep friendship, and Thor respected her scientific knowledge and was grateful to have her help them try to track down Loki. Tony loved it. Loved having Bruce and Jane with him here.

Well, he loved having the Avengers here in general. Tony Stark had never been a pack-person. His parents had lived isolated, the closest he had ever come to having a pack had been his parents and the Jarvises. Then his parents had died in a car accident and Ana and Edwin... Tony was alone.

He had met Rhodey at MIT and he had Obie, but then Rhodey left for the army and further down the road, Obie betrayed Tony, betrayed him so deeply. And Tony, he found it hard to trust anyone. Only those he knew he could trust, even more so than he had thought to trust Obie. Rhodey, Pepper, Happy. Those were his people, but it was hardly a pack.

They said omegas needed a pack. Tony had always scoffed at that, because he never knew pack.

Now? Now that he had a pack? He finally understood. He understood what it meant to have a pack and he understood how much it meant. The safety, the comfort, the warmth.

It was the first time, since Edwin and Ana Jarvis had died, that Tony felt like he had a family. Yes, sure, he had Rhodey, Pepper and Happy, but – Rhodey was mostly gone, the job required it, and Tony had never actually lived with a pack before; Pepper and Happy lived together somewhere else, a happy couple. Now however, Tony had a pack, had a pack living with him.

"I don't think we'll ever find Loki", sighed Bruce exhausted.

He collapsed backward in his chair some, tilting his head back. Tony nudged him and pushed the bowl of blueberries toward him as a pick-me-up. It earned him a wry smile from the exhausted scientist and Bruce grabbed a handful of blueberries to eat.

"I mean, sure, we've been hunting him for over three months yet and sure, he keeps slipping away and sure, he is constantly making fun of us and—I think I lost my train of thought..."

"Your point, Tony", sighed Jane fondly. "Was that we can't just give up."

"Right. That. Thank you, star lady", nodded Tony pleased.

Jane smiled and shook her head as she exchanged a look with Bruce.

/break\

"What's with the pacing?", asked Clint.

The omega had his feet in his alpha's lap, with Nat having the fingers of one hand circled around one of Clint's ankles, while Clint was sharpening an arrow. It was a nice, calm afternoon where most of the Avengers were gathered in the common room. Natasha was holding a controller with her other hand, single-handedly beating Steve at Mario Kart.

"Thor's due to return today", replied Bruce without looking up. "And Nat, I really think you should let Steve win every now and again. This isn't good for the captain's morale."

"My morale is fine, Banner!", countered Steve. "I'll win the next round."

Bruce chuckled softly and exchanged a knowing look with Natasha. Jane and Darcy were sitting at the table with Bruce, sorting through newspapers, printed articles and magazines – most recent mentions and sightings of Loki. Darcy was mostly looking on the internet usually, though she often admitted defeat because sorting between legitimate sightings and thirst posts was hard.

"Wait. You people are talking about me", stated Tony as he abruptly stopped pacing.

"Truly, your genius is astonishing", quipped Darcy with a grin.

Tony scowled. He liked the girl. Darcy was a beta with snark and personality. She had come as a package deal with Jane and by now, he was happy about that. She was an excellent addition to the pack – and to the team. Not as an active Avenger, but as the PR manager of the Avengers, specifically their social media presence. After all, this new team made up of spies and a god and a science experiment gone wrong and a sober alcoholic playboy philanthropist, it didn't necessarily invoke confidence or trust. They had been a ragtag team thrown together by circumstances, so aside from internal team-bonding they also needed press and a good image for the public. Thanks to Darcy's posts online, they had gained a lot of favor (and fans).

"I'm not pacing about Thor returning. It's just, we're pack. I'm not particularly fond of a pack-mate being on another planet", grunted Tony defensively and annoyed.

"I dunno. No one else is that antsy about his return", quipped Darcy teasingly.

"It's an omega-thing", tried Tony irritated.

"Yeah, I'll debunk that for you", countered Clint. "I'm not antsy either."

Tony scowled at them, but at least Jane had mercy on him. "Thor's been bringing back books and technology for Tony. I think that's... more so what Tony's antsy about."

"Thank you. You're my new favorite Avenger", huffed Tony.

"That hurts. That hurts deeply, Tony", stated Steve with that sad puppy-pout. "I didn't even-"

"You didn't defend me either", argued Tony.

"I mean, they're right, so...", drawled Steve. "You always pace in particular when Thor's about to return. Not so much when Clint and Natasha return from a mission with the agents, or-"

"You're a traitor, Steve Rogers", accused Tony. "I think we need a divorce. I'm taking Bruce and Jane. You can keep the archer and the smirking widow."

Darcy snorted amused, though before anyone else could tease Tony about it, Thor landed not so lightly in the backyard – they had a special landing area closed off for this very occasion. Darcy's expression morphed into a teasing grin as she saw how much Tony perked up. She liked to consider herself the local Thor Odinson Expert and she knew what someone smitten with Thor looked like; had lived with Jane for long enough during her relationship with Thor. Tony Stark was smitten with Thor, maybe even more than just smitten. And considering all the gifts Thor brought back from Asgard – gifts very specifically for Tony – Darcy would bet it was not so one-sided.

The Avengers put what they did aside to get up and walk outside to greet Thor. Despite teasing Tony about it, they all had been looking forward to Thor's return, in some way or another. They were a team, they were a pack. The battle of New York and thrown them together, but the months that followed of searching for Loki had actually forged them into a team.

"Welcome home", greeted Jane with a smile.

"My friends!", exclaimed Thor with the usual joyous laughter bubbling in his chest. "It is truly good to be home again! I have missed you dearly! You have to tell me all about the glorious battles you have fought while I was gone. And do you have news on my brother?"

"Well, news yes, but...", drawled Darcy.

"He keeps getting away", supplied Natasha. "But let's not worry about that yet. Come on in. Let's order some food and catch each other up. I'm sure you're hungry."

That was a safe bet with Thor, always. At the prospect of eating Earth food, Thor perked up even more. He loved Asgard, he truly did, but every time he was there, he found himself missing Earth. Missing humans – especially his humans. And speaking of his humans, his eyes found Tony. The small, brilliant omega looked up at him with excitement sparkling in his honey-eyes.

"I brought more books for you, Tony", stated Thor, putting down a bag.

If possible, Tony's eyes sparkled even more at that and he eagerly went to look at them. "You don't have to, Thor. I wouldn't want you to get into trouble with your father-"

"Nonsense. These are merely school books for our youngest, he would not even notice."

"Who'd have thought Tony Stark would be excited about elementary school books?", teased Clint.

"Elementary school on a whole other planet", countered Tony pointedly, waving the book in Clint's face. "This contains mathematical equations that have never been seen like it on Earth!"

"The biology. Evolution on Asgard. Plant life", mused Bruce eagerly.

Of course did Tony share the shiny new wisdom that Thor was giving him. Half the time the science trio spent together was spent on the texts Thor brought him. Even though Thor always made rather sure to let Tony know it was for him. Which was flattering and nice. It was rare for Tony to get stuff. Most people didn't bother, because he was a billionaire – what was it that he couldn't just buy himself? Pepper, Happy and Rhodey were the only exceptions. Or used to be the only exceptions.

Darcy would make awful collages of pictures she had taken of the science trio, even with a hand-made frame. Steve sometimes gave him drawings he made – mostly those he made in the lab, of Tony with his bots. Tony had them pinned up all over the lab by now.

It was nice, having a pack. A pack that really cared for him, accepted him as part of them.

"And I bring food, for everyone", stated Thor after a long moment. "With greetings from mother."

Because while Thor was excited about human food? His human pack was very excited about Asgardian food. His mother liked to pack him a feast to go, a thanks for the people who took such good care of her son and accepted him among them, aided him, gave him a home.

"I love your mom", stated Darcy seriously. "That lady is amazing and knows exactly how to bribe."

The Avengers made their way back inside and set the table for them all, before they sat down together, as a family, to eat and catch each other up on their progress, or lack thereof.

/break\

Thor heaved a forlorn sigh as he grabbed his mead and took a long gulp from it. He was sitting together with Steve, Clint and Natasha. They held a party at the tower – not a rare thing, especially not when Thor would return from a stay on Asgard. Tony was standing off over with Jane, Bruce and Darcy, laughing and talking. They had many visitors, fans mostly.

"You know, relationships among the team aren't a problem", noted Natasha casually.

Thor hummed and turned his attention over to the Black Widow. She and Clint were in a relationship, Thor knew that. Every Avenger knew that. They weren't overly affectionate in public, they didn't make a big show of their relationship, but fighting alongside them made the deep bond they shared very obvious. They shared so much, a long history of suffering, missions and only being able to rely on each other. Thor felt humbled being among the limited number of people they both trusted, the people they now called pack and family.

"Of course it's not", stated Thor a little confused.

Clint sighed and rolled his eyes where he was leaning closely against Natasha. "Then what is it? Because if it's Jane, boy I got some news for you. She is so not hung up on you anymore."

Thor furrowed his brows at that and returned his attention back to the scientists and Darcy. Jane and Bruce stood close, very close, with Jane resting a hand on Bruce's arm as she leaned forward in laughter at something Tony had just said. Of course was Jane not hung up on him anymore. It had been over half a year ago that they had broken off and even before that, for a long while their relationship had barely counted as such, with him disappearing for months on end to Asgard, not calling or giving notice. It was for the best for the both of them to be friends.

"Jane is not a vengeful woman, she would never hold it against me to move on, no more than I would hold it against her to move on. She is very deserving of happiness", stated Thor.

"Thor, buddy", started Steve with a sigh and clapped Thor on the back. "Why haven't you asked Tony out on a date yet? That's what the spies are asking."

"Ah", nodded Thor in understanding. "I have yet to complete the first courting stage before I could move on to something so daring."

The other three didn't quite know what to make of that and just exchanged a confused look.

/break\

"I had a lot of fun tonight, Bruce."

"So did I", replied Bruce with a gentle smile.

Jane was holding onto his arm, returning his smile. The two had gone out for dinner, were now walking through the park. It was nice, having someone gentle, soft and yet fiercely brilliant to share everything with. They had slowly orbited closer over the past months until they reached this point.

"I'm sorry, but I have to ask", sighed Bruce as they returned to the tower. "I know you're not... interested in Thor anymore in that way, but I do wonder... is it awkward for you, to see your ex every day and now to see him clearly interested in one of your friends?"

Jane laughed a little at that and shook her head. "I mean, I suppose it was odd when I first realized it. But Thor is... He's a good guy. I care deeply about him. I want to see him happy. And, I suppose, he has a type, mh? The brilliant, brunette scientists from Earth."

Bruce hummed softly, fingers linked with Jane's as they reached the floor Jane and Darcy were sharing. He smiled when he leaned in to kiss her briefly before biding his goodbye. There was someone else he wanted to ask the same question. He had heard from Natasha that they already had asked Thor this very question, but it had apparently left the two spies and the super soldier confused. So Bruce had done a bit more digging, digging through the textbooks about Asgardian culture and then talking to Jane and Darcy a bit more.

"Thor. Are you... busy?", asked Bruce when he reached Thor's floor.

Clint and Natasha shared a floor, so did Jane and Darcy, Bruce had a private lab in his floor and thus no floor-mate, while Thor and Steve also shared one. Tony was far too generous to be real, most of the time. It would have already been a grand gesture of him to give them rooms, but the specifically designed floors? Tony, he had so much to give – not just money and material stuff, he had so much love to give and the Avengers were lucky. Not to be spoiled but because they were being loved this way. Tony did his everything to protect them, to make them happy.

"Ah, no, my friend. I was just considering if I should join the captain in the training facilities", replied Thor with a smile. "Or would the Hulk like to come out and train with me?"

"No. No, he wouldn't", chuckled Bruce and shook his head.

"Then what can I do for you?", inquired Thor, motioning for Bruce to walk with him.

"I... I didn't ask you this before because I didn't want it to look to Jane like I'm asking your permission to date her, but as your friend and pack-mate, I still wanted to know how you feel about me and Jane", replied Bruce honestly, a faint blush on his cheeks.

"I think that you are a wonderful match", laughed Thor joyfully, slapping Bruce's back.

Bruce stumbled a little under the force, though he smiled to himself. Thor was a good guy, a kind man. Bruce thought he too deserved to find happiness. But judging by everything he had been witnessing over the past three months, Thor would need a bit help there.

"I think you and Tony are a good match", offered Bruce after a moment.

And it was true. Thor and Tony had been particularly close ever since New York – after Tony had nearly died the second time in one day when he had the heart-attack and Thor restarted his heart with lightning. The two sparred together, Tony had developed technology capable of channeling and using Thor's lightning, enabling them to perform some spectacular attacks together.

"Why, thank you", smiled Thor, though it was a bit of a sad smile. "I wish Tony would see it that way too. Alas, I think... my courting is futile."

"That's... what I wanted to talk to you about", replied Bruce. "I think what you're not accounting for is that Asgardian customs and Earthly customs are... very different. What I'm saying is that I don't think Tony even knows you're courting him. He thinks that you are being a good friend and team-mate by bringing him all those books and all the technology and by getting to know his family. He doesn't know what those actions mean in your culture."

"...Oh", grunted Thor and paused, blinking slowly. "I... had truly not... considered that."

"Tony is a bit oblivious when it comes to those things, so that's not helping either", continued Bruce with an encouraging smile. "Maybe you should go and talk to him, put your feelings to words."

Bruce huffed as he was suddenly pulled into a hug by a very enthusiastic Thor. "Thank you for the advise, my friend! Can you tell Steve that I won't be able to make our sparring session after all?"

"Of course. And, good luck, Thor", chuckled Bruce as he watched Thor run off.

/break\

Tony was in his labs, hunched over the piece of Asgardian technology that Thor had brought him this time. Tony loved dissecting them, figuring out how they worked, what made them tick, what their function was. It was so exciting. He was grinning like a maniac in joy.

"Sir, Thor asks for access to the lab."

Blinking curiously, Tony put the tech aside and looked up. "Uh. Let him in, Jay."

Thor was not exactly a frequent visitor of the lab – mainly, and he knew that, because Thor was not exactly big on the fine-motor skills and he didn't want to break anything. Steve very often sat with Tony and drew here, Jane and Bruce of course for their own projects. But Thor...?

"I wish to take you out to dinner!", exclaimed Thor as soon as he entered the lab.

Again, Tony blinked, tilting his head a little. "I think Darcy dropped sandwiches for me off like an hour ago. You don't need to drag me out to eat. Though it's... nice you all care so much."

"No", huffed Thor, looking troubled. "Bruce said I need to put it into words for you don't understand Asgardian courting rituals. Which makes sense, of course, now that I think of it. I just... didn't. I wish to take you out to dinner, as a date. That is... how humans court, yes?"

"Court...? I... what?", asked Tony slowly, staring up at the tall alpha.

"You are truly the most impressive omega I have ever met", stated Thor seriously. "You are kind, brave, strong and brilliant. I have... cared deeply for Jane, but nothing I ever felt was this intense. I have been courting you for weeks and thought you were not interested and politely declining by not acting on my courting attempts. On Asgard, we court – we share knowledge with the one we love, we bring them food, especially that they enjoy truly, we make them gifts, all of the little machines I kept bringing to you from Asgard and the fabrics and clothes, they were not just for you to study, they were also simply for you to... enjoy."

"...Oh", whispered Tony. "I, we don't... We don't really court. We just date and the only kind of courting gift given is an engagement ring. I didn't... huh. You. Uhm. Okay."

"Okay?", echoed Thor unsure.

"Date. Okay", clarified Tony with a deep flush. "You... uh... I mean, come on, look at you. You're really out of this world. And you're not just... really nice to look at, Thor. You're... like an over-sized puppy. You're soft and sweet and kind. You're... unlike any alpha I ever met."

The smile on Thor's face grew with every word and he looked ready to explode from joy at the end. Unable to hold back, he grabbed Tony around the waist and lifted him up to whirl him around.

"Wonderful! Tonight?", asked Thor with a smile, kissing Tony's cheek softly.

(due to tumblr not allowing the NSFW tag anymore, the NSFW part is below the line, so consider this your warning.)

/break\

Thor really was like an over-sized puppy. He loved following Tony around eagerly, happy for every time he got Tony's undivided attention. He loved cuddling with Tony, very often the two would simply be curled together on the couch. Thor was very comfortable for cuddling, he was so large and safe and yet so gentle. Now that Tony understood what Thor was doing, he had far more intense reactions to every time Thor brought him something from Asgard. By now, Tony had also been to Asgard before – because Queen Frigga had insisted on meeting the omega her son was courting. And Frigga was amazing, a wonderful lady, while Odin was slightly unsettling, but in the end there was nothing Odin could do to change Thor's mind (and Frigga had her husband enough under control to make him back off). So, Tony had accepted this bizarre new reality of him being courted by an alien prince. In the end, it was just... Thor. His Thor. Royalty and alien origins didn't matter.

"Ye—es!", exclaimed Thor excitedly as their attack landed.

Him and Tony were the perfect team. The updates on his suit that Tony had developed – with the help of the Asgardian technology that Thor had brought him – were perfect to channel Thor's lightning. They managed stronger attacks, better hits, when Thor summoned lightning in the clouds, he was no longer the only one able to wield it. The armor landed and opened up and Tony stumbled out of it, a grin matching Thor's on his face. Though when Thor turned toward Tony, his eyes darkened. The armor was impressive, but the skin-tight black under-suit that Tony wore beneath it?

"You truly are brilliant, Tony", stated Thor with a smile, grasping Tony by the hips.

Tony gasped breathlessly as his strong, tall alpha lifted him up with ease and pinned him against the nearest wall. Thor's hands cupped Tony's ass, Tony's legs wrapping around Thor's waist as the two kissed deeply. Clumsily, they tugged each other free of their clothes, at least enough to make this work. Thor slipped a thick finger into Tony's hole, already wet just from the display of strength from his to-be-mate. A second finger followed soon enough and Tony was writhing on them, moaning loudly. Thor pulled out of Tony, his hand soaked with the omega's slick. He wrapped that hand around his own cock, lubing it up with his lover's slick while kissing Tony deeply.

"You are truly the most astonishing omega I ever met", whispered Thor gently.

He grabbed Tony safely with both hands on his hips and slowly lowered the omega onto his hard cock, effectively distracting Tony from any thought. Tony's eyes rolled back into his head as he leaned back against the wall. Thor was gigantic, which figured considering everything else about the alien. It always stole the breath right out of Tony's lungs when the thick, large cock invaded him like that, filled him up like that. Once Tony was fully seated on Thor's length, they paused. Giving Tony the time to adjust. Tony wrapped his arms around Thor's neck and kissed him again.

"You know, we can't let every sparring session end in sex in the training room..."

"What? Why not?", asked Thor, looking genuinely put off by that as he started fucking into Tony. "Do you not enjoy our little tradition of blowing off the last left-over adrenaline."

"I enjoy it a lot", groaned Tony, gasping as Thor hit his prostate. "But Clint's been giving me shit about it reeking like sex and everybody else is snickering about it too."

"So let. Them. Snicker", huffed Thor, punctuating each word with a sharp thrust.

Tony gave a strangled little sound at that, arching into his alpha. Thor thrust in harder and deeper, until the alpha's knot was pushed into him, making Tony moan in a drawn-out way. He loved being knotted by Thor, because if his dick was big? Damn, his knot really was something else.

"Okay, yeah", gasped Tony. "You're right."

"Of course I am", hummed Thor, kissing Tony's neck gently.

He let go of Tony's waist with one hand to jerk him off while his knot swelled to its full size and the two of them came together, Tony spraying his cum all over Thor's chest and Thor filling his omega up. Gasping for breath, Tony leaned forward to rest his head on Thor's shoulder.

"I really love our sparring sessions", laughed Tony breathlessly.

"Aye. So do I", replied Thor with a pleased look on his face.

He slowly lowered them both onto a training mat so they could cuddle until Thor's knot would deflate. Tony tucked his head under Thor's chin, his cheek resting against Thor's chest. Smiling pleased, he closed his eyes while his alpha wrapped his arms around Tony's waist. Who'd have thought that Loki escaping would lead to Tony getting all of this? Fate truly was twisted.

#Fanfiction #Marvel #Tony Stark #Thor Odinson #IronThunder #Lemon #can't believe we're back on the citrus scale #Naughty List #fallenqueen2

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eyesfixedonthesun22 · 5 years

Text

First Impressions

Summary: With the multiverse now in play, we visit an alternate universe where Steve Rogers is America’s first bisexual contestant on the ever popular and never lacking dating show, The Bachelor. Nick Fury is your illustrious host through the shocking announcement, contestant biographies, and the first night in the mansion. Only one question remains; who will get the first impression rose on what is promised to be the most dramatic season ever!? Pairing: Steve x Avengers Warning(s): Language. Kissing. A hell of a lot of cringe and bachelor/bachelorette tropes. Word Count: 3,238 Beta: The darling sweetheart @supersoldiersruined-me Notes: This is my entry to @revengingbarnes 10K writing challenge. My prompt was a Bachelor AU. Thank you so much for hosting this, Fatima! This prompt was honestly a challenge for me. I wasn’t sure which point of view and formatting I wanted. It’s certainly unlike anything I’ve ever written. Please no one hate me if I made your fav annoying. I just wanted to fit in as many bachelor personality tropes. The fic isn’t an actual representation of my thoughts on each character.

Live Studio Audience: Intro

“Good evening and welcome to this exciting season of The Bachelor. I’m Nick Fury, your host for tonight.” The studio audience erupts into choreographed uproar. “Looks like Bachelor Nation is out in full force tonight. Are you all ready for what I promise is our most dramatic season ever?”

Nick commands the stage with a casual grace that only comes from years of hosting. “Last season you all watched as the beautiful bombshell Peggy Carter embarked on her quest for love; which she found with her now fiance. While we wish her the best of luck with her engagement, we couldn’t help be as heartbroken as you all were when a particular fan favorite was booted just before hometown dates. Let’s take a look at this season’s Bachelor!”

Broadcast: Steve’s Bio

“My name is Steve Rogers. I’m twenty-six years old. Born and raised in Brooklyn. You may know me from Peggy Carter’s season of The Bachelorette.”

The audience is treated with a montage of Steve at home in Brooklyn. He walks down the street to a corner bodega on a spring day; smiling and greeting the owner at the counter like they’re old friends. The old tabby cat sat on the counter near the register curls into his hand as he scratches behind her ears.

“A little known fact about me is that I really love cooking.” The next shot is him cooking a large family style meal in a stunning modern kitchen. The black hexagon tiles frame the close up of the saute pan as he flips the food; clearly practiced. The camera zooms in once more for a close up shot of Steve’s large calloused hands making deft work of chiffonading the basal to top his culinary masterpiece. As far as lusting goes, the depiction of Steve as the bachelor is a lot less macho and hits more boy-next-door.

“Things didn’t quite work out with Peggy and I. While we’re kindred souls, I think it just wasn’t the right time.” Steve’s no longer shown at home in his cozy apartment but in a carefully crafted video confessional booth.

The audience hears the producer’s voice off screen, “Do you think you’re over her? Are you ready for love?”

“Definitely. I learned a lot from Peggy. I learned who I am and what I need from a relationship. I’m ready for the whole damn thing. I want a partner, I want kids. I like pretty pedestrian, domestic things.” He looks down at his lap, almost as if he’s embarrassed. “I like ceremony. I wanna carve pumpkins and do the tree at christmas; all that.”

“Anything else you’d like to add to your intro?” The producers prompt. Steve’s broad shoulders straighten and take up much of the booth; his body tense with nervous energy which he masks with a radiant smile. He takes a deep breath before looking the camera dead in the eye.

“I’m Steve Rogers… and I’m the first bisexual Bachelor.”

Live Studio Audience:

The audience goes wild; homemade signs wave, men and women alike scream their delight. Nick Fury stands in the small center stage waiting for the crowds applause to dissipate.

“So needless to say, this season will be unlike anything you’ve ever seen before.” He smirks at the camera knowingly. “Before we jump back into tonight’s episode, would you guys like to hear from America’s sweetheart himself?” More incoherent cheering. “Let’s bring him on out!”

Steve appears from behind the crimson velvet curtain waving sheepishly. They’ve slicked back his locks doing nothing to detract from the classic bachelor look. He unbuttons the slim navy suit jacket as Fury gestures for him to sit on the small interview couch.

“Welcome, Steve. How ya feeling tonight?”

“Not gonna lie, Nick. I feel super nervous.” He fidgets in the seat a bit; rubbing the flats of his palms on the tops of his thighs. “Being the bachelor is one thing. Being the first bisexual bachelor is another.”

“Well I’m not sure about you guys, but I thought it was about time!” Nick’s enthusiasm draws more cheering from the crowd. “We got to know you on Peggy’s season and America just fell in love with you. You’re such a great guy; so genuine and compassionate.”

“Thank you, really, thank you. I honestly was terrified to be the first bisexual man on the show. Being the bachelor has always traditionally been typecast as a very specific type of man; one that I didn’t really see myself fitting into. So to be given this opportunity to find love and to have the support that I’ve gotten since the announcement has been beyond my wildest dreams.”

“You ready to jump into your season?”

“As ready as I’ll ever be.”

“While Steve may be our first bisexual bachelor, you can expect not much to change on the show. Each week contestants will be eliminated at a traditional rose ceremony. We’ll still have the first impression rose, hometown dates, and the always anticipated fantasy suits!”

Fury eyes Steve hoping to make him squirm a bit. Steve manages to make his sinful blush look composed while he chuckles.

“Without further ado let’s meet the delightful men and women vying for a spot in Steve’s heart.”

Broadcast: Contestant Bios

“My name? Tony Stark. Don’t worry about having your little design guys whip me a tagline; I’m certain no one needs it. Household name n’ all.” A smirking brunette stares directly into the camera and winks. He’s wearing rose tinted sunglasses despite the dimmed lighting of the interview space. “So what do you wanna know?”

The producers sigh before proceeding. “Tell us a bit about yourself.”

The camera stays in the testimonial booth but now a blonde women occupies the seat. Unlike the previous occupant she isn’t slouching but sits with excellent posture and poise.

“My name is Sharon McCarter. I’m an agent for the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement, and Logistics Division. I need someone who’s ready for a fast paced lifestyle. My job keeps me on my toes.”

“What did you think when Steve was announced as the bachelor? What did you think of him being bisexual?”

“Honestly?” Sharon pauses a bit buffudled. “He seems a bit more clean cut then the guys I usually go for.” She looks at the camera with a hesitant smile.

“What would you say your passion is?”

“Fitness. Fitness and health, for sure.” The booth is now overwhelmed with an exceptionally huge man. His long blonde hair falls to his shoulders with delicate braids mixed into his locks. “I’m Thor Odinson. I own and operate Odinsons Gym with my brother Loki.”

“How would you describe yourself as a partner. What could Steve expect?”

Thor continues in his deep voice. It carries subtle hint of an accent not from the states, “Steve could expect the rough sexiness of a pirate mixed with the pure innocence of an angel; the perfect boyfriend if you ask me.”

“What kind of partner do you hope to be for Steve?”

“An attentive one. I’m a scientist by profession.” The tagline on the screen says that the brunette with the tossed curls currently answering his interview questions is Bruce Banner. “A good part of my job is being detail oriented and focused. I’d like to think I bring that same level of attentiveness and sensitivity to my partner.”

Live Studio Audience:

“Welcome back, Bachelor Nation! It looks like Steve has a great batch of men and women who couldn’t be more excited to get their journey started. Let’s see how Steve get’s along navigating his first night in Bachelor Mansion.

Show Footage:

The camera pans across a gorgeous california night sky and comes to land on Steve standing in front of Bachelor Mansion. They have him perfectly centered between two backlit trees with the ornate floral fountain babbling as a soundtrack. He fidgets with his plain black tie waiting for the first limo to pull up. He stares into the camera and mouths a very endearing “What do I do with my hands!”

From that moment on, it’s a parade of individuals dressed to the nines. The women stun in their gleaming and silky ball gowns. The men glow in their crisp suits. Each give their cheesy one liners to Steve before heading into the mansion.

A man named Phil, who insists that Steve call him Coulson, gives him a red, white, and blue sash emblazoned with the words America’s Sweetheart on it while wearing his own sash reading Mr. America. A women named Wanda introduces herself in a thick, sultry accent.

“Where are you from, Wanda?”

“Sakovia. I’m so excited to meet you. I look forward to teaching you about my culture and getting to know you better.”

After Wanda, the next person out of the limo is Clint. He makes a qippy one liner before sauntering into the mansion. A woman named Carol strolls confidently out of the limo nearly glowing in her crimson and gold gown. Next comes a bird. It’s not actually a bird; but rather a man in an oversized mascot type costume.

“Did you know that eagles mate for life?”

Steve stares at the camera for half a second as if questioning if the producers are serious. “I didn’t know that. Any chance I can see the eagle’s face? Or at least know his name?”

“We’ll save the pretty face for later, but the name is Sam.”

Steve takes a moment to compose himself after the bird’s introduction. The final woman exits the limo. She’s in a simple black dress that hugs her body dangerously. Her flame red hair cascades down one shoulder. Her introduction is clipped and to the point. Steve places a hand on her shoulder.

“Sorry I didn’t catch your name.”

Her face softens then. “It’s Natasha, but you can call me Nat.”

After the train of individuals Steve is looking more relaxed. He seems to have settled into his role with less nerves than when the show began. The final contestant steps out of the limo.

“Good evening, Steve. My name is James Barnes. You look so handsome tonight.”

Steve takes in the man across from him. He’s got equally broad shoulders as Steve; they’re nearly matched in height. He wears his silky brown locks at shoulder length with a dainty waterfall braid on one side. The baby blue of his pocket square matches his eyes.

“I can’t wait to get to know you, James.”

**************************************************************************************************

“Alright ladies and gentlemen, settle down. You all know who I am already,” Nick Fury is addressing all the contestants as they make themselves comfortable in the front living room at the mansion. “Steve! Why don’t you come on in here and get this cocktail party started?”

Steve enters the room gracefully. “I just want to thank you all for being here. I know that putting yourself out there in a new relationship is never easy; let alone in a situation like this one. It’s incredibly important to me that you all are your genuine selves. I wanna get to know the real you. Here’s to the start of something amazing!”

He raises his glass to a chorus of agreeing voices. There’s a half second of adjustment before Tony clasps Steve’s hand and tugs him away from the group.

“I’m gonna steal you first.”

Despite his depiction as an arrogant ass in his interview, Tony actually has a pleasant conversation with Steve. The audience is left wondering if Tony is the likeable wild card or this seasons possible obnoxious villain. Before Tony saunters off, he presses a deep kiss onto Steve’s lips.

“Had to get you first, handsome.” He winks and heads to the bar to refresh his drink.

Steve stares into the camera and states, “I guess we’re starting things off with a bang?”

**************************************************************************************************

Clint, being the critical observer, saunters over to the bar to find that Coulson is already posted up on one of the bar stools. It’s by sheer force of will that Coulson is upright as the lack of armrests and amount of alcohol he’s clearly consumed are working against him. Clint quickly surveys the situation and makes eye contact with the camera.

“How ya doin’ there Phil? Save some for us, huh?” Beneath the joke there is a hint of concern in his voice. It would appear the concern is warranted as Phil tips dangerously towards the edge of his seat before righting himself. The first stumble is corrected but the second lands him on the floor. “Whoa big guy. Can I get some help here? Producers? I think first night nerves may have lead Phil to throw back one too many.”

“No pro-hicc-ducers. I’m fine. I’m fiiiine,” Phil slurs. Despite Clint’s efforts to keep him upright he’s laying on the floor, cheek pressed firmly to the cold tile. “I just love Steve-hicc-so much. Ya know?”

“Sure you do buddy...sure you do?”

**************************************************************************************************

Steve speaks to Wanda, Bruce, and Thor in a series of rapid fire exchanges over the next couple of hours. After a warm conversation, Carol leaves Steve lounging on the plush chaise; promising that one day they’ll go stargazing together.

“No one told me these cocktail parties were so exhausting.” The camera crew chuckle. It’s endearing how much Steve utilizes them to break the tension. His unfiltered emotions only make him that much more of an approachable sweetheart. The makeup staff powder his face as Nick Fury approaches.

“We have about a half hour before the rose ceremony. Just a heads up. Any conversations you wanna have, have them now.”

Steve meanders through the expansive grounds. He’s clearly looking for something. He brushes off Thor asking for a second conversation with a polite excuse before take another turn in the winding paths. He turns his head over his shoulder to ask the camera men which way back inside when he collides with something. Someone.

“It’s probably ill advised to get the attention of the man of your affections by knocking him on his ass, huh?” Bucky jokes. “I actually was coming to grab you for a conversation. I haven’t had a chance to talk to you all night.”

The two men are sat side by side, dress pants rolled up to their knees, while their legs swing gentle waves into the surface of the pool. Dusk has gone and night has come. They’ve been talking for some time now. They’ve both discarded their suit jackets but it’s done nothing to prevent the evening humidity from clinging their shirts to their muscles.

“I have to ask. I feel like I know you from somewhere.”

“Is that you cheesily telling me you feel like you’ve known me for one hundred years?” Steve asks in a singsong mocking tone.

“No! Punk! I’m serious though.” Bucky thinks for a moment before exclaiming, “Do you go to that bodega on the corner of Clark and Henry with Mr. O’Sullivan and his cat Maevie?”

“See I was having a great time chatting with you but now I have to send you home cause clearly you’re a stalker.”

“I knew it! You look...different?”

Steve chuckles gently. “I bulked up a bit for the show. Had to fit the ‘look’ ya know?”

“I feel like such an idiot for not talking to you sooner but I hadn’t seen you there in a long time. I usually go super late though.” Bucky looks down at his hands; there’s more to the statement than he’s letting on.

“Chatting with Mr. O’Sullivan is always a good way to pass the time when insomnia strikes.” Bucky looks up at Steve in shock. He’s ready to explain himself but Steve jumps up abruptly out of the pool. “I’ll be right back. Don’t leave.”

In Steve’s haste to stand, he’s soaked most of his dress pants all the way through. He follows the twists and turns of the gardens and seating areas. Natasha sees him approaching the bench she’s sat at with Wanda. She raises her hand to grab his attention but before she can even get his name out of her mouth his jogged past.

“He’s disappeared for nearly an hour, no one could find him, and then he’s just not gonna talk to the rest of us?” Disappointment clouds her features as she sits back down next to Wanda with a plop.

“I’m so excited to talk to him. He’s just got great energy-” Sam’s discussion with Bruce is cut off by Steve skidding into the living room; wet bare feet nearly have him knocked on his ass for the second time tonight. “There’s the man of the hour himself. Can I steal you?”

Sam stands confidently looking rather hopeful; bird costume now discarded. Steve does a double take eyeing him top to bottom. He rests both his hands on the top of Sam’s shoulders before speaking.

“I would love to have a conversation with you. There’s just one thing I have to do first.” With that Steve takes off once more. He sprints to the small side table in the entryway. On the table sits a delicate gold tray holding a single rose. He quickly snatches it before dashing back out to the pool.

“Hey now. You may be more beefed up but I’m certain your probably still capable of cracking your head open. Careful now.” Bucky tuts laughing at the breakneck pace. His laughter is quickly stifled when he sees what’s in Steve's open palm.

“James-”

“It’s Bucky. Everyone close to me calls me Bucky.”

“Bucky… coming into tonight I was terrified. I know that sounds like the typical monologue speech I have to give but I was near ready to toss my cookies out front when the limo first opened. I had no idea what to expect and had convinced myself I’d made a huge mistake putting myself out here.”

Bucky takes a single foot out of the water and tucks it beneath his body to better face Steve. The hand that isn’t holding the rose is fidgeting with a fold of fabric from his pants. Bucky reaches out and plants his palm on top of the blondes ceasing the movement. His thumb strokes small circles onto the back of Steve’s hand; it seems to allow Steve to continue with what he has to say.

“My anxiety was at an all time high and then out you came. Speaking to you tonight has been the first time since agreeing to be the bachelor that I feel like I’m doing something right. I want to thank you for putting me at ease and being your true self.”

“You’re welcome, punk.” The joking nickname sounds more affectionate than insult.

“Bucky, will you accept this rose?”

“I’d be honored.”

Steve untwines his hand to pin the crimson rose to Bucky’s lapel. His hands hesitate once the rose is in place as if debating their next action. There’s a half second pause before Steve gently tugs on Bucky’s tie drawing the brunette into a kiss.

Bucky can’t contain the wide smile despite Steve’s lips still being against his. He breaks the kiss and places a final peck on Steve’s forehead.

“I know this isn’t going to be easy for you. But anytime during this experience you never need to doubt who I am with you. I’m here to get to know you, support you, and hopefully fall in love with you. I’m with you ‘til the end of the line.”

#fatimas10kchallenge #Stucky #Stucky fanfic #Steve Rogers x bucky barnes #Steve rogers #bachelor AU #AU

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littlejeanniebean · 4 years

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peter parker goes to marvel high (normal mcu au)

A/N: Peter’s first day of high school ft. Shuri, Mr. Stark, Mr. Loki, and co. ~1700 words teenaged angst then fluff. More Peter x Shuri in my masterlist :)

Heavily inspired by this post by @spellbounding-slytherin

I’m also a big fan of @tinymintywolf‘s art :))

- J xx

Fact: Peter Parker was a nervous wreck. May, ever the optimist, had patted his cheeks, kicked him out of the car, and told him to have a good day. Peter had never had a good first day of school. He was smart but had a severe attention deficit, so even his teachers never liked him. His one best friend throughout junior high, Ned Leeds, had moved to New Jersey, so he would probably end up eating alone in some empty classroom just to be safe. And he’d met the principal at orientation last Friday. He had an eye patch and a perpetual frown, used to head up the corrections department for youth offenders. So yeah, high school was going to suck big time.

“Move it, dickwad,” one of the larger boys shoved past him at the door to his homeroom.

Peter strategically chose a seat in the ambiguous, unnoticeable middle.

A short, bright-eyed girl marched up to him, “You’re in my seat.”

“Sorry! Sorry!” he tried to pick up his backpack but the strap was caught on the leg of his chair, so he just kind of ended up spilling himself over the floor.

“Crap, I was just messing with you, kid,” she helped him up, “You good?”

“Yeah, yeah, sorry,” he just sort of stood there awkwardly, not meeting her eyes.

“Dude, you gotta stop apologizing. I’m sorry, okay?” she tried to get him to look at her, “I’m Shuri. I have a messed up sense of humour that scares away any friends I might’ve ended up having. Is it cool if I sit next to you?”

“Yeah, sure,” he nodded, “I’m Perker Pat - Parker Pete - Peter Parker.”

“Cool.”

“Dude, you are sad,” the boy who shoved him coming into the room twirled an expensive-looking pen, sparing him the most derisive of sideways glances.

Peter was saved from actually having to come up with a response when their teacher walked in two-minutes after the bell and put his feet up on his desk, “Okay, kiddies. My name is Mr. Stark, you may call me Mr. Stark. I am your homeroom teacher unless you’re in the wrong room. I also teach AP Math and Computer Science. If you have questions at this point, I honestly wonder how you got this far in life, but I’m obligated to ask.”

The room was silent.

“Great, do whatever until the bell rings, I guess.”

The class emptied out.

Peter hung back, “M-Mr. Stark?”

“Yes, Proton.”

“I-it’s Peter, actually.”

“I was talking about your t-shirt.”

“I - Oh, yeah,” he looked down at the “I’m positive” joke print, “um… I just wanted to let you know that I have ADHD, mostly the AD part a-and I don’t expect any special treatment or anything and I’ll work really hard, but I also wanted to join Mathletes and I wasn’t allowed in junior high because I’d always get sidetracked at the meets but I think I can do better now if you’ll give me the chance… butifnotthat’sokay.”

Mr. Stark appraised him, “First meeting is in this room at three.”

“Thank you, sir!” he smiled, but when his teacher didn’t smile back, he fixed his face and walked to his next period.

“I’m Mr. Banner, and there are three things you need to remember if you want to succeed in biochemistry. One: If you’re unsure but proceed without asking for clarification first, I will be angry. Two: If you show up to the lab without completing the prior work assigned, I will be angry. Three: If you do not share work between your lab partners equally, I will be angry. Don’t make me angry.”

“Wanna be lab partners?” Shuri asked.

“Sure,” Peter squeaked and cleared his throat.

“You’re not going to break a test tube on me, are you?”

He shook his head quickly.

“You’re a lot of work, Peter Parker, but it’s kind of adorable.”

“Um… thanks?”

“You’re welcome. Now hand me that pipette and fire up the spectrophotometer.”

The last period before lunch was P.E.

“I’m Coach Barton, that’s all you need to know. Let’s do a few warm up laps around the circuit.”

Peter ran hard and was close to fainting as he crossed the line in the middle of the pack.

“Woah, kid, you need to go to the nurse’s?” Coach singled him out.

He tried to say ‘no’ but no sound would come out, so he just shook his head, gasping. He could hear the other boys snickering beyond the pounding of his blood in his brain.

“I think you need to go to the nurse’s,” Coach beckoned to the boy who’d crossed the line first, “Flash, take him to the clinic, would ya?”

“Yes, sir,” the bully from his homeroom smirked at him.

As soon as they were out of the gym, he jostled and picked at the smaller boy only to exhibit the epitome of sympathy in front of Nurse Man-Ti.

“Here, drink some electrolytes,” she told him and he finished the small bottle in under a minute.

As soon as Flash was gone, Peter let himself just cry. He wished his aunt would just homeschool him, but it’s been hard since his uncle died and in the face of that, Peter felt bad for feeling bad about his little problems and that made him cry some more.

“Hey,” the nurse sat beside him quietly, “Peter, right?”

He nodded, “I’m sorry.”

“What for? Better out than in, that’s what I always say.”

Peter sniffed.

“Do you want to talk about it? Or make an appointment with Counsellor Barnes?”

“No, no, I’m fine. I just needed, uh… electrolytes,” he leaves quickly after that.

Peter goes to his locker for his bag and clothes, red eyes trained on the floor so that hopefully nobody notices. He doesn’t notice Shuri arguing with Flash, gesturing forcefully back at his locker. Flash sees him put in his combination and open the door, a cheshire grin spreading across his face.

“Peter!” Shuri tries to warn him, “Don’t -”

But it’s too late and he’s covered in silly string, a few old socks found decomposing in the gym lockers, and the contents of a bathroom trash can.

“I’m gonna go change,” he whispers to no one in particular.

“I’ll save you a place at lunch?” Shuri called after him.

Peter stops in his tracks to shoot her a grateful smile, “Thank you.”

Mr. Thor Odinson was a very loud history teacher, but it worked well for keeping Peter’s attention throughout the class, so he was able to answer all the review questions.

“Teacher’s pet,” Flash scoffed at the sound of the bell.

“Dumbass,” Shuri fake-coughed and pulled Peter to the auditorium.

“I’m Mr. Loki Odinson, you may call me Mr. Loki to distinguish between myself and my hard-of-hearing brother, Thor,” said their quieter drama teacher, “Thompson, if you kick Parker’s chair one more time, I will send you to Fury’s office with no note, no explanation. And he has a very specific way of dealing with those cases.”

Flash stopped and sat straighter.

“Good, Parker, you seem suitably nervous. Come up here and help me demonstrate a quick improvisation exercise.”

Peter tripped on his way down the aisle to the stage, but kept going.

“Now, you’re a superhero and I’m a supervillain. You’re trying to turn me over to the good side, but we can only converse alphabetically. So you must start with the letter ‘A’, I must start with the letter ‘B’ and so forth. Are you ready?”

“No.”

“Ah, ah, first rule of improv: the answer is always, ‘Yes, and…’ Let’s go, Parker. You’re brave. You’re bold. You’re a hero.”

“Alright, Mr. Villain, you have two choices,” Peter surprised himself at how his voice carried. It must be the way the auditorium was built, “perish, or join our fight.”

“Blech, I choose to perish,” Mr. Loki dropped to his knees, “C’mon Hero, end me if you have the guts at all.”

“Come on, you know you never wanted to watch the city burn to begin with. The hive possessed you, used you. Now, you have the chance to redeem yourself.”

“Don’t presume to know me because you can’t possibly. You don’t know what I’ve been through. What I’ve lost!”

“Everything,” Peter said quietly, “Everyone you ever cared for. I do know… because so have I. We’re not so different.”

“Fighting the hive is a losing proposition. You have nothing that could work against them!”

“Gas. Even a million eyes are no good in a fog.”

“Huh… I never thought of that. I’ll join your fight, Hero if you’ll let me,” Mr. Loki proffered his “bound” wrists.

“I knew there was some good left in you, Mr. Villain,” Peter “unlocked” the “restraints.”

Mr. Loki mimed holding a knife to Peter’s neck, “Just not that much, I’m afraid. Hive Mother! I’ve got him! I’ve got the hero! Now release my family from the void as you promised!”

Peter wracked his brain from the next letter. The plot twist didn’t help him think either. “... Krap with a ‘k’?”

Mr. Loki broke character and laughed before clapping and shaking his student’s hand, “That was the most interesting improv demonstration I’ve had in awhile, Parker. You’re a natural. Now everyone pair off and try to top that performance if you can!”

English with Mr. Rogers was the last period of the day. He didn’t look up from his book until everyone was seated, silent, and had their eyes up front. It took a crazy long time and a good deal of organization and yelling on Shuri’s part.

“Sorry, guys, I was reading a book about anti-gravity. It's impossible to put down!” he joked.

Peter was the only one who laughed.

After giving a bit of a lecture on respect for their instructors, valuing their education, and how much they were going to love English this year, he let them go early.

“Okay, I’m calling you three Alvin, Simon, and Theodore from now on,” Mr. Stark addressed his small Mathlete gathering, “Our new mascot is a chipmunk, I don’t care that all our other teams are Rocket Raccoons.”

“Which one of us is Alvin?” Shuri asked.

“Since you asked, you are. Fancy-Pen is Simon and Proton is Theodore. Now, we have a competition to prepare for in… ages from now, so… drill, I guess? I don’t know. Who wants to do Euclidean algorithms?”

Three hands went up.

“Nice,” he brought out his expensive Japanese chalk, a gift from his wife, the well-known Fortune 500 CEO, Pepper Potts.

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kittyprincessofcats · 5 years

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MCU movies ranked by how well-written Loki was

Well, one person did tell me to post them, so here we go. This list ranks the 6 MCU movies Loki appeared in - solely based on how well-written he was. This list disregards how good/bad I thought the movie was otherwise, and also doesn’t factor in how well the story treats the character - it’s based just on how much I agree or disagree with Loki’s characterisation. (In other words if he gets brutally murdered or treated like shit by his family, that doesn’t necessarily mean he himself was ooc.) Also, this is of course just my opinion and very much up for debate :)

This ended up getting kinda long, sorry - I just really like talking about Loki :D

ALSO THIS LIST CONTAINS ENDGAME SPOILERS

6th Place - Thor: Ragnarok

Yeah... Sorry, I know people love this movie, but it really deserves last place on this list. Now, to be fair, I didn’t completely hate how Loki was written here, there definitely were some nice moments (”I’m here”), but overall I felt like the movie played Loki’s trauma for laughs to much, made him the butt of a joke too often and didn’t make him stand up for himself like he did in his previous movies - which is one of the things I liked most about him. I also didn’t like that the movie tried to retcon him into someone who’s been hurting Thor his whole life, or that they made his “redemption” involve forgiving Odin. And even though this movie is praised for its “anti-colonialism” message, it really fails to address that Loki was one of the biggest victims of Asgard’s colonialism and that Odin never really changed his ways after banishing Hela.

And beyond that, I just felt like there was something slightly “off” about how Loki was written here. It was his first time back on the big screen in 5 years, and somehow it just didn’t feel like the same character anymore. Ragnarok was the only movie Loki was in where I went out of the cinema and didn’t feel the need to read tons of fanfic about him. At first I thought it was just because I’d moved on in those 5 years and wasn’t as invested in his character anymore - but then Infinity War happened and (despite killing him off) absolutely nailed Loki’s characterisation and brought my love for him back full force. And that’s when I realized I hadn’t moved on - Ragnarok just hadn’t gotten Loki right.

5th Place - The Avengers

I initially wanted to place this higher, mainly because it’s such an iconic movie (that I really like) and because so many of Loki’s most iconic and well-known lines are from this one. Tom absolutely plays the sassy, charming but vulnerable trickster to perfection here. Then why is is to so low on my list? First of all, because I feel like there was a giant personality shift for Loki between this movie and the first Thor. Loki has previously stated that he never wanted the throne (of Asgard) and now he suddenly tries to conquer earth and we’re not really meant to question it.

Now before you all say it - Yes, I’m aware that Loki was tortured by Thanos between this movie and the last one. And while the movie doesn’t explicitly tell us that, I think between him looking like hell and limping in his first scene and his scene with The Other (”He will make you long for something as sweet as pain”), the implications were clear enough. Plus, there’s the whole revelation that the mind stone influenced his thinking. So yes, I think his personality shift is understandable - BUT I wish the movie itself had made that clearer instead of leaving it to fans to connect the dots and understand why Loki is acting so different now.

And lastly, I don’t like his “mewling q**m” line to Natasha. I think it’s incredibly misogynistic on the writers’ part (ahem... Joss Whedon again), and it’s also incredibly ooc for Loki, who subverts gender roles, is genderfluid himself if we go by the comics, and has always been shown to respect women, especially his mother. So I don’t feel like using gendered insults is something he would do.

4th place - Avengers: Infinity War

Yes, the scene was horrible. Yes, it broke my heart and made me angry at the Russos. No, I don’t have the desire to rewatch it. BUT the one thing I do have to give this movie credit for is absolutely getting Loki’s character right. This was the movie that reawakened my love for Loki after Ragnarok failed to do so. Tom’s acting throughout this scene is brilliant and heart-wrenching and the dialogue features some of my favourite Loki lines. I mean: ”For one thing, I’m not Asgardian - and for another, we have a Hulk.” “The sun will shine on us again.” “You will never be a god.” Loki finally acknowledging himself as “not Asgardian” and “the rightful king of Jotunheim”? Loki repeating “We have a Hulk” - symbolizing that he’s on the same side as the Avengers now? Loki looking his biggest fear in the eye and choosing to sacrifice himself for his brother? GOOD SHIT. That’s some good shit right there!

Even Loki attacking Thanos with a butter knife isn’t necessarily ooc - He didn’t do it because he thought it would work, he was simply out of ideas and decided to distract Thanos and save Thor. He knew he would die. And if you tell me that wasn’t absolutely heroic then I don’t know what is. Though I do agree that the writers (not just of this movie, but of all of them) seem to have forgotten all the powers Loki is supposed to have and I’m also annyoed that they just make him stab people instead. And also, I don’t like that Loki calls himself “Odinson” in this scene. Forgiving Odin shouldn’t be a part of his redemption, bla bla, we’ve been over this. I like to headcanon that that part was more meant for Thor than Odin.

3rd Place - Avengers: Endgame

I know what you’re thinking - Does Loki even have enough screentime in Endgame for it to be on this list? And yeah, good point. It’s hard to be completely ooc when you basically have two minutes of screentime and I did consider leaving it off the list for precisely that reason. But, I mean COME ON. I just had to give a shout-out to how absolutely iconic those two minutes were. Imitating Cap? Sarcastically waving at the Hulk from the elevator? Dramatically rolling his eyes when Thor mentions Odin? Grabbing the tesseract at the first chance and just noping out of that horrible mess of a movie? ICONIC. Two minutes of screentime and he somehow stole the show. When could your fave ever?

2nd Place - Thor 1

This is the movie that made me fall in love with Loki in the first place, so obviously it had to be high on this list. The way he was written (and acted) here was absolutely beautiful, his story is heartwrenching in all the right ways, he makes all the wrong choices but as a viewer you understand why he makes them. He’s presented to us as this outcast who doesn’t quite fit in, who’s always in the shadow of his brother, kind of gets bullied by his brother’s friends, yearns for his father’s love - and who one day has to deal with the realisation that his life was a lie and that his father resents him for something beyond his control. The confrontation between him and Odin in the Vaults is still the best Marvel-scene ever, hands down.

Fun fact: I literally first watched this movie because I wanted to know “who that Loki-guy is and why people love him so much”. I finished watching the movie and was like “Ah. I get it now.”

My only complaint would be that they deleted all the scenes that explained Loki’s motives and made him more sympathetic. To be honest, I sometimes forget that they’re “deleted scenes” because I’ve watched them so often that I just consider them canon.

1st Place - Thor: The Dark World

Honestly, it was close between this one and Thor 1. I love them both, but while I think the first one is a better movie overall, Loki’s portrayal in the second one is probably my favourite. He starts the movie already disillusioned with his family and spends it unafraid of calling them out on their mistreatment of him. This is the movie where Loki won’t be silenced about the injustices he’s suffered, and I love that about him. I also love how he just replies to threats with sarcasm now (”You’ll kill me? Evidently, there will be a line.”).

I also like that his movie gave more depth to his relationship with Frigga, and also showed Loki being heroic: Helping Thor, never betraying him, protecting Jane, sacrificing himself for Thor. In fact, I stick by what I said before: Loki wasn’t a villain in this movie. There isn’t a single evil thing that he did in this film. NOT ONE.

I also love how this movie makes Odin’s hypocrisy more evident than ever (Telling Loki they’re not gods and that he shouldn’t think himself above Midgardians, but telling Thor he shouldn’t date Jane because Midgardians are “goats”... You get the idea). I also like the contrasts painted between Odin and Loki and how they think about Thor’s relationship with a mortal - Odin tells him he shouldn’t date Jane because she’s “beneath” him, Loki tells him he shouldn’t date Jane because she’ll die one day and that’ll break his heart. And that’s just one of the many contrasts between them in this movie.

And THAT ENDING! Thor getting his only bit of good parenting ever and it was actually Loki - Loki still being alive - Loki sitting on that throne. HELL YES.

(I seriously don’t get how people thought that ending meant Loki was evil? Hello?? He just freed Asgard from a totalitarian dictator? Last time I checked that was a good thing? Have some people not gotten the memo that Odin’s evil? This movie in particular was very clear about that.)

My other rankings: Thor | Steve Rogers | Natasha Romanoff

#Loki #MCU #Loki meta #Thor movies #The Avengers #Thor the Dark World #Thor Ragnarok #Avengers Infinity War #Avengers Endgame #Endgame spoilers #long post

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amethyst-noir · 5 years

Note

I wish you would write a fic where... stuck as an animal!Stephen gets taken in by Pepper.

I love you and your messages, have I told you that? 🥰 I twisted it a little bit and since it would take about a hundred pages to tell that particular tale I’ve decided to do an outline. It ends up drpepperony, of course, because that’s how I roll.

🐈 It all happens very, very fast - there is a spell from Loki, there is a flash and instead of Stephen there’s a rather small black cat that looks up at the other Avengers for a moment before it bolts. It’s quick and it’s agile and knows the insides of the compound inside and out; it’s gone before anyone can react.

Loki laughs, Thor is mortified and pissed off at his brother, and the rest of the Avengers is confused. Tony is the first outside of the two Asgardians who comprehends the situation and calls for FRIDAY to scan for the cat before following her instructions in search of Stephen.

He doesn’t stick around for the explanations, too afraid for Stephen’s safety. What if he can’t remember who he is? If he thinks that he’s actually a cat? What if he gets hurt? The compound is big and filled with scary stuff and the split-second image of the frightened cat is burned into Tony’s memory. He has to find Stephen. NOW.

Stephen has become someone very important for Tony and Pepper over the last few months and the urge to protect him has become stronger and stronger over time. Pepper has actively pushed them into a friendship since she has seen the potential for one and wants Tony to have real friends who can watch his wit and intelligence. Bruce is great but spends so much time with the Odinsons and even offworld that she wanted someone else in Tony’s life.

Stephen is perfect. Funny, intelligent and duty bound to always come back home to Earth. Back to them. What Pepper didn’t expect was how much she herself likes Stephen. What was supposed to be a friendship between Tony and Stephen turned into a threeway friendship involving her, too.

She wouldn’t want to change it for the world. And now, while she’s pregnant, she’s glad for the extra support because Stephen a) watches over Tony for her and b) is a great sounding board for pretty much everything. The guy’s great at giving advice, even if he’s shit at taking it himself.

Pepper has started to work on that, too.

Tony calls her in the middle of a board-meeting (she’s only working half-days now but they are crammed full with stuff she would love to push on to Tony but since Tony’s busy with running the Avengers Initiative…) and tells her about Stephen’s mishap. He still hasn’t found Stephen-the-cat and the Avengers have been called out and he has to go, as much as he hates it. She promises to finish up as quickly as possible and come over to the compound to help. Pepper more or less boots everyone out of her office and Happy almost makes new record-time in getting them to the compound.

By the time she arrives Tony’s nerves are almost gone and he’s furious as hell, Loki is still amused, just like his brother, and the rest of the team doesn’t really comprehend what the big deal is. The spell will wear off in a day or two and if the sorcerer decides to spend them in the wild? So be it. He’ll come back when he’s human again. They have a mission to do and while it’s annoying that Strange can’t come with them they don’t need him in the field.

Pepper, on the other hand, not only gets but shares Tony’s concerns. “I’ll find him, don’t worry,” she whispers to him when they embrace each other in greeting. “He’ll know by instinct that he can trust me.”

Because Tony has already searched the complex itself she decides to try for the fields around them. Stephen loves nature, after all, and Pepper has more than once joined him in meditation outside.

She finds him playing with a butterfly in the sun. Tony’s description had been vague since he barely had time to look at the cat-version of Stephen and he’s adorable beyond words in that form. Black, yes, but there are some white streaks in his fur - especially the tips of his ears - and despite being rather tall in his human form he’s a really small cat.

Pepper falls in love in about 0.5 seconds. She settles down under a tree and watches. It’s clear that Stephen’s mind isn’t quite in attendance right now. He notices Pepper and comes over, curiously investigating her. He gently taps against her pregnant belly and looks up at her for a long moment before curling up in her lap. He begins to purr as soon as she begins to stroke him.

She tells FRIDAY to please send a message to Tony that she has found Stephen and that he’s okay before spending the rest of the afternoon in the grass with a purring cat in her lap.

When it gets dark and cooler she puts Stephen back on the ground and stands up. “You coming?” she asks and grins when Stephen follows her immediately. Happy just smiles when she opens the door to the car and the cat hops in there as if it’s no big deal.

“New family member?”

“No, not a new one.”

When Tony finally comes home, exhausted but unhurt, he finds his wife sleeping on the couch with Stephen watching over her. He comes over to Tony to be petted and fed. Tony indulges him to the maximum, having noticed how Stephen tries to avoid physical contact in his human form and wanting to give it to him now.

Pepper wakes up and they spend the rest of the night on the couch, the cat between them, while Tony talks about the mission and how he thinks that he’s getting too old for them. Especially now that they have a baby on the way.

Stephen, the cat, seems to concur.

When the spell finally wears off Stephen finds himself on a large couch with his head in Pepper’s lap and Tony stroking his belly.

They all look at each other for a long time, neither of them saying a word, before Peppers hands come down on his arms, gently stroking, while Tony continues to caress his belly and sides all while looking him straight in the eyes.

Stephen relaxes and falls asleep while being held and petted.

It’s a pattern that continues even as their relationship gradually changes from pure friendship to something more. Pepper and Tony insist on him staying even after the baby is born and Stephen, after some initial reluctance, surrenders to the inevitable.

He searches for and finds a spell to turn into a cat whenever he wants. Baby Morgan is a big fan and so is her little half-sister who’s born about two years later.

(Just imagine cat!Stephen like that but with his usual, unique eye-color.)

✨

#drpepperony #I wish you would write a fic where...#amy imagines #mistressstrange #inbox

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occasionalfics · 6 years

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Sugar || p.5

check out this awesome moodboard by @pointbreak-odinson!!! thank you syd!

Summary: Y/N, a plus size artist from Malibu, isn’t expecting much to happen at her Uncle Phil’s retirement party. What she never expected was for her cousin Daisy to introduce her to the tallest, most beautiful man she’s ever seen. Or that he’d want to spend any time with her at all, let alone date her.

A/N: So like a lot happens in this chapter. Some of it was gonna get cut but you know what? This whole fic isn’t that long to begin with and it’s super cute imo so I kept it ALL. You’re welcome. And that GQ interview? I live for it.

Warnings: Mostly fluff, insecurities about body image and financial situations, a dabble into smut here and there, generally just a good little romp. Oh, and cursing.

Words: 5,671

Unlike with some of your other relationships, sex with Thor changed only one thing: how much you trusted him. You’d never been so comfortable and relaxed with another partner, so sex came easily. You had few hesitations, and Thor seemed to enjoy himself just as much as you did.

So you felt a little bit better about going to Sweden.

You left the planning up to Thor and the yelling up to Daisy. She screamed for twenty minutes straight about how lucky you were, how much she wished she hadn’t passed up the opportunity to date Thor a few years back, and how much she was just joking about that. Then she spent another ten minutes telling you about the date she’d gone on with Grant, and you pretended to listen while you painted.

You and Thor managed to go on one last date before the wedding. You saw a movie, got dinner to take back to his place after, then hung out and talked. You asked him about his father’s company again, just trying to be casual, and he surprised you with his answer.

“My father learned his trade from his father. Odin wanted me to take the family business when he passed. It was never really what I wanted, but Loki didn’t, either, so I did it.”

“You did say your dad was a better realtor than you,” you mentioned, attempting to be playful. Even though you wondered what had happened between him and Loki more than you had before.

Thor at least seemed to go along with your joke as he chuckled. “He definitely was. And he knew I didn’t want what he did, but he still made sure I’d know how to take his place when I had to anyway.” You almost asked him what he meant by that, but after a short pause, it was like he knew you wanted clarification. “Odin was always very big on making sure the people that depended on his leadership could go home at the end of the day and not worry about a thing. Even the cleaning staff gets full benefits, a living wage, bonuses… Took me a long time to realize everyone that worked for him wanted to. I just wish I’d seen it before he passed.”

For a minute, you wondered how you’d found the single most perfect rich boyfriend-type-person. You didn’t focus on the lack of label on your relationship just then. You just thought that Thor carrying on his father’s legacy in that way was...something special, for sure.

“And you did all of this for your brother?” you asked.

He nodded, not meeting your eyes briefly. “He hasn’t really been himself since our mum passed.”

You pushed hair around his ear and felt something warm within you. “So we’re both orphans then,” you whispered, only really recognizing the truth of your words the second they were out. Your throat clogged quickly when you thought of your parents, but if he was willing to tell you about his, you wanted to talk about yours, too.

Thor nodded. “Seems so. But at least you’ve got your Uncle Phil, right?”

You nodded, too. “He’s as much a dad to me as my own father was. Uncle Phil’s kind of the best.” Still, you sighed. “But I do miss my parents. Often.”

He slid across the bed closer to you, pushing himself down so his ear fell on your shoulder. His arms went around your middle and he asked, “Tell me about them?”

What could you do but oblige and run your fingers over his scalp?

“My mom was a school teacher. I used to draw things for her classrooms, which was really how I fell in love with art,” you told him. “My dad was Phil’s adopted brother. They shared everything except an employer, because my dad was an engineer at Stark Industries for twenty years before their accident. Phil used to tell me Mr. Stark insisted on setting my parents up at some charity event for educators, and the rest is history.” You shrugged and shut your eyes, not that Thor would be able to see. “Except for the accident. I was staying with Daisy and Uncle Phil one weekend when they went to a concert in LA. They were driving back when they were driven off the road.”

You hadn’t stopped abruptly, or at least you didn’t mean to. But that was the end of the story. It was all you knew. You didn’t have any flashbacks or memories of their deaths because you hadn’t been there, and despite the therapy you’d gone through as a teenager, you had never really gotten over the idea that you might’ve changed something if you’d gone with them to the concert. It wasn’t something you blamed yourself for, but it was still a thought you had when you thought about your parents.

More than that, though, you knew that you didn’t have to tell Thor as much as you had. Eventually you might have, but so early on? It wasn’t something you normally did. But, as you sat with him, you didn’t care. You wanted to tell him.

He quietly said, “Daisy and Phil never told me he had an adopted brother.”

You shrugged. “Because it doesn’t really change our family, I guess. My dad was his brother, no matter who they shared genes with.” You could remember the crease in your father’s eyes when he smiled, especially as he laughed at Phil’s dry humor with the shake of his head. They were brothers through and through, no matter what.

Since the funeral, you’d always thought you and Phil had a mutual understanding. You’d both lost pieces of yourselves, maybe even the same piece, the day of the accident. Phil and Melinda would’ve taken you in and cared for you anyway, but there’d always been a little voice in the back of your head that told you that Phil loved you as much as he loved Daisy because you were what was left of his brother.

But you didn’t say as much to Thor. That was all better saved for another day.

“Well, Stark does fancy himself a good matchmaker. Sometimes his schemes work, sometimes they don’t,” Thor said, seemingly out of nowhere. When you looked at him, he had a small but almost sad smile on his face. You’d seen smiles like that before - the pitying kind from people either too concerned with how you looked or too concerned with your parents. You’ve tried not to let it get to you for as long as you knew what smiles like that meant.

“Let me guess, Stark was your father’s business partner?” you asked.

He shook his head. “Mine, actually. Odin wasn’t overly fond of Tony Stark’s particular brand of humor, but I don’t mind it. Sometimes.” He shrugged, glossing over using his dad’s name instead of a title. “But he’s got a rather large home improvement team that I like to work with when I design houses. And his wife’s quite good at planning parties.”

“Isn’t she also, like, the head of the company?” you asked, remembering something about a long, skinny woman with strawberry blonde hair that your father may or may not have mentioned a few times.

“I believe so,” Thor said. “But I’ve only been able to meet her at the extravagant events she personally plans.”

You sat a little straighter at that and nodded. “Speaking of extravagant events,” you started, “I found a dress.”

His smile became genuine, and he sat up, too, his arms loosening around you. “Great! Can I see it?”

You nodded and pulled your phone out of your back pocket, pulling up the shipping confirmation on the dress you’d already purchased. You hadn’t had the chance to tell him you’d gone ahead, with Daisy’s affirmation, and treated yourself. He glanced at your screen and his face fell into a scrunched expression.

“You already bought it?” he asked, looking at the generic confirmation message. You couldn’t tell if he was just confused or offended, but you were hoping for the former.

“I had a coupon code,” you said. “And it wasn’t that expensive to begin with. But...you think it’s okay? Like is it dress-y enough?”

He didn’t look up at you, but you watched his face. He gripped the phone, so you let go of it, and he brought it closer to his face. For a few quiet seconds, he examined the image of the dress, even clicking on it to go to the listing on the website. From there, he pinched the screen to zoom in and look at the details. When he didn’t really react at first, you felt your face fall with your stomach.

You wanted his approval. It was still weird thinking that you’d be going to Sweden with a guy you’d just started dating for his ex’s wedding. You wanted some part of this to be normal, and if that meant that you wanted Thor to like the dress you’d picked, then so be it. But his expression was unreadable at first, and it almost sent you into a panic.

He eventually nodded. His smile returned - if slowly - and you felt you could breathe again. When his eyes returned to you, you thought of the canvas back at Phil’s house, but only for a second. This wasn’t about that - although you did want to talk to him about possibly displaying the painting in the empty space between his bedroom and the workout room he’d made for himself.

“It’s lovely,” he said. “I can’t wait to see you in it.” His eyes seemed to sparkle, and everything inside of you that was ready to panic a moment ago righted itself. You felt like you could relax and smile back finally.

“I’m glad you like it,” you said, at once pleased and a little bashful.

He planted a kiss on your forehead before handing your phone back to you. “I do, and now I’m gonna have to find a tie to match it.”

For days before you were going to Sweden, you kept your cool at work and freaked out when you got home. You kept asking Daisy the same questions: What if this ruins everything? It’s so fast - what if it’s too fast? What if a 10-12 hour flight is the end of it all? And how could you think going to Thor’s ex’s wedding was okay? Even if they were still friends?

Daisy sat you down every night that you didn’t spend at Thor’s, hands on your shoulders and a stern look on her face, and reminded you of things you already knew: That Thor really, genuinely liked you; that he wouldn’t have asked you to fly internationally with him for a wedding if he didn’t want to spend the time with you; that he wouldn’t be paying for the flight if he didn’t want to; and that this trip might test your relationship at whatever stage it was at, but you just had to be careful and conscientious. You could make this work, and if it did, maybe it would be the best thing to happen to you.

“You keep forgetting how much you deserve something like this, (Y/N),” she said the night before you left. “You’re, like, the single most hardworking person I’ve ever met. And I don’t just mean at work - you put effort into every little thing you do and you barely ever reward yourself for it. I think you’re crazy for never giving yourself a break. So take one.”

Somehow, she’d said exactly the right thing.

You kept her advice close as you hugged her, Uncle Phil, and Aunt Melinda the next morning before you drove to Thor’s house. You were leaving your car with his Range Rover while you split the cabs to and from both airports. Before you got in your car, Uncle Phil held the driver’s door open for you and steadied you with a hand to your shoulder.

“If he tries anything funny, remember I have connections. I can get out there in half a day,” he said, even though the last part was an underestimation of how long it took to fly over the Atlantic ocean.

Still, you smiled and leaned forward to kiss his cheek. “I’ll be fine,” you told him. “This isn’t a Taken situation.”

“You say that now,” he mumbled, but he still smiled. The wrinkles around his eyes made him look a lot older than he was, but also a little bit like your dad. Just enough to remind you of him. You said your goodbyes and a few last reassurances to Aunt Melinda that you’d call her when you landed, and then you got in your car and went off to Thor’s house.

He’d taken Fenrir to a friend’s house the day before, so there was no barking when you rang the doorbell. He was only half-dressed when he let you in, and you bit your lip at the sight of him in nothing but red basketball shorts that hung low on his hips. Not fair you thought as you stared at the v-shape peeking out of the pants. Not fair at all. You shook your head and followed him into the kitchen, where a pot of coffee was just finishing brewing.

“I’m pretty much ready to go,” he said. “Just waiting for coffee and the cab.”

You nodded, and then the two of you leaned on the island hip-to-hip. “It’s really quiet here without Fenny,” you mentioned.

“Yeah,” he said. “Kinda miss him already.”

The coffee sputtered out its last bits of water loudly, so Thor turned his head and pushed off from the island. He pulled down two travel mugs from a cabinet above the pot, filled both of them, then returned to the island with one in each hand. You went to the fridge and pulled out milk and sugar, and in relative silence, you both poured and stirred until everything was just the way you liked it. Thor cleaned the pot, turned the burner off, and once everything was put away, he went upstairs to finish dressing.

Not thirty minutes later, you were on your way to LAX in the back of a yellow cab. Thor sat against the back driver’s side door and you sat in the middle - which normally you didn’t do, given how much smaller the seat is, but without a third person, you didn’t have to squish. You could sit next to Thor comfortably, his arm around your shoulders, your head on his as you sipped at your coffee and tried to stay awake.

Things moved even quicker then. You checked your large bags outside the terminal. The flight was early, so security was pretty empty. You went to take your shoes off before Thor called you over to the pre-check area, and since you’d let him book the flight and pay for the tickets, all you could do was follow with a little shrug. One TSA agent at the end of the row seemed to know Thor, but other than a short nod, they didn’t really acknowledge one another.

Thor held your hand as you waited in line at Starbucks for food and more coffee now that your travel mug had been emptied. You kept his fingers between yours when you went off and found seats at the actual gate. You ate slowly, then dozed off.

What felt like minutes later, Thor was shaking you awake to board the plane. You took your passport and ticket out, then got in the Preferred Boarding line - because of course Thor had purchased that luxury as well. You decided to wait until you got on the plane to say anything about it.

You were busy following Thor and barely noticed when he stepped out of the line and into a seat with a wall wrapped all the way around it. You looked at the seat next to it and realized that the chair itself faced his, and that the wall dividing the two had a sliding window.

“This one’s yours,” he said, pointing at the seat that faced his.

You glanced at him, then the seat, then you felt a push from behind and realized you were holding up the line. You moved forward and apologized to the people behind you, then slid into the little cocoon next to Thor’s seat. You put your backpack on the floor beneath the seat like you would any other seat, but you didn’t sit until you’d put the window between your little nooks down.

“You didn’t tell me we were flying first class,” you whispered to him through the open window.

“We’re not. This is Business class,” he said with a knowing, smug smirk.

“Same thing. Literally.” You sighed and leaned your head against the plastic opening around the window. “Please tell me you had miles or points or something. Make me feel like you didn’t really pay for the whole damn ticket and all of this.” With one hand, you gestured to the cabin.

He leaned on the window, too. “I had miles to use, yes,” he said, and immediately you felt a little less guilty about being in the nook, a little less like a moocher. “But I always fly business.”

You wondered if he even knew how rich he was. How privileged. Maybe that was his real flaw - an inability to see how much he had when people around him went without. But you also thought that a conversation about that would have to take place in private. It felt to invasive and rude to bring it up with strangers around, especially on a plane so early in the morning.

Thor dropped his smirk, but kept his eyes on yours. “What if, when the seatbelt light goes off, you come over here and we watch something together?” he asked softly.

You looked in through the window at his seat, thought about your own, and panicked a little. “Is there enough room?” you asked. You normally hated sharing seats - or, even worse, you usually weren’t even given the option. Maybe you and Daisy could squeeze into a tight space together but she was half your size. Thor wasn’t.

But he didn’t at all seem fazed by the his proposal. He shrugged and told you, “We’ll make room.” Something in his look melted you, made you forget about being anxious and a little peeved. He didn’t actually flaunt his wealth, you thought. He was always considerate and he took care of his employees and, because you’d peeked at the bill on your first date, you knew he tipped waiters well. You still had a lot to learn about him, so you sighed and nodded.

You went through the motions required before takeoff. The plane was boarded to capacity, then it pulled back from the terminal, and within half an hour, you were in the air.

Going to Sweden.

For a wedding for people you’d never met.

You shut your eyes and forced yourself not to worry about any of that. Thor would be there with you. Even if the introductions were awkward, you’d still be taken care of.

When the seatbelt sign was turned off, you took the pillow from your seat and pulled your bag out from under your seat and grabbed your earphones, a book, and some snacks before going around the nook to Thor’s seat. He’d already reclined his chair and pushed himself to the far side of the it, leaving just enough room for you to slide in against him. You put all your extra stuff on the floor by his backpack, then got almost comfortable. There wasn’t an ideal amount of space between you, but you tried not to care. Maybe this wouldn’t work for the duration of the flight, but for now, it was fine.

“You’re not upset about the seats, are you?” he asked, even though his face was still rather calm and unbothered.

You sighed. “Not really. Surprised, maybe. Not used to it.”

He pulled you closer, if that was possible, and kissed your forehead. “Fair enough.” He went to kiss a spot lower, close to your eyebrow, but you tilted your head up and met his lips with yours. It was funny, you thought, that you actually missed kissing him. You missed laying in his super comfy bed, listening to Fenrir bark from the floor below. So you put your hand on his cheek and kept kissing him, as if to remind yourself that he was real and he was on an international flight with you.

It was the middle of the night in Sweden when you landed. Your phone might’ve said it was almost 1am, but your body was working at about 4pm-ish. You’d had a meal on the plane, but that had been hours ago. You were a little swollen and slightly sore from sitting and laying out for so long, but your only other option was to walk around the cabin until you couldn’t bear to look at the lines for the bathrooms anymore.

You were exhausted, and Thor looked like he was, too. You dreaded the idea of going through customs, but there wasn’t a choice. Thor had multiple passports, so he kept his American one out so you wouldn’t have to wait in separate lines. Thankfully, the airport was relatively empty due to the time, so you didn’t have to wait too long before pretending to smile at the border patrol officer, answering their questions with, “A wedding. Four days. Oh, Malibu - super sunny, lovely beaches. No, not far at all from Los Angeles.” Once you and Thor made it through with the required stamps, you trudged to baggage claim and leaned against him as you watched bags go by. Thor managed to untangle himself from you to grab both of your suitcases, then led the way outside.

There was a thin blond man with a beard and mustache combo standing against a black luxury car that waved at Thor when you walked out. Thor waved back, then looked at you and nodded. “That would be Fandral. We’ve been friends since primary school,” he told you.

You tried to smile, but it took a lot of effort. It took even more when you pulled your suitcase behind you over to the black car. Thor greeted the man with a fun, childish handshake and a huge smile, then he turned to you.

“This is my date, (Y/N),” he said with maybe a little too much pride in his eyes. You let it force your smile wider as Fandral held his hand out to you. Even as the word date rang through your head.

Not girlfriend you thought.

“So good to meet you,” he said. “Thor hasn’t shut up about you for weeks!”

Your smile widened more as your face got hot. “That’s definitely good to know,” you said. “But he hasn’t quite given me details about his friends so am I congratulating you or…” You trailed off, raising an eyebrow at him.

Fandral looked at Thor like he was offended, hand to his chest and everything. “I can’t believe you, Asshole!” he said. “How could you possibly forget to tell this gorgeous woman about the best looking friend you have?” Then he turned back to you before Thor could do much more than laugh. “I appreciate the sentiment, but no, I’m not the one getting married. This oaf might’ve been more inclined to inform you of that had he not been distracted by your beautiful smile.” He wiggled his eyebrows at you, and you couldn’t help but laugh, too.

“Could you maybe not hit on my date?” Thor asked, though his face betrayed no sense of anger or entitlement. You realized, from that alone, that this was just how they were. This easy little teasing, Fandral being charming and humorous… It was normal, and not just for rich people. Just normal.

But that word again. Date.

“Not my fault you’ve been keeping this darling a not very well kept secret from us,” Fandral answered. He came over to you, pushed the handle into your suitcase, then lifted it and placed it in his open trunk. “Also not my fault you haven’t told her about us yet.”

Thor followed him, placing his own suitcase in the trunk. Fandral closed the hood, then came around and held the passenger door open for you. You thanked him before settling in to the plush leather seat. The car smelled new, and for a second, you felt a bit uncomfortable. You were in a foreign country with a man you’d been on all of four dates with before then. A man who was, apparently, just your date. And now you were in the front seat of his childhood friend’s car - a friend you hadn’t even heard about until you’d met him - about to go to a wedding for people you didn’t know and-

Your thoughts were cut short when Fandral opened the driver’s door and got in. Thor slid across the seat behind you before settling in the middle seat. You turned around and smiled at him. He smiled back, and most of your fears were calmed. He’d never given you a reason not to trust him. He’d insisted he wanted to take care of getting you to Sweden, at least in part so he could spend time with you.

So what if this wasn’t how a traditional relationship worked? Maybe it was just the way it was meant to be.

The reception was taking place at the groom’s family’s mansion, and since Thor was in the bridal party, you’d be staying there, too. You groaned internally when Fandral had pulled into the driveway, but you tried to keep it subtle.

When you and Thor were alone, you realized there was only one bed in the room. Of course there was only one bed - the place was a home, not a hotel. For some reason, one bed made you nervous, but Thor didn’t seem to mind at all. You’d shared his bed before, you reminded yourself.

You remembered to breathe. It wasn’t a big deal. But it was late and your body was begging for a few hours of sleep, despite having slept on the plane, so you pulled pajamas out of your suitcase and went into the bathroom to change. You noticed a large marble tub along one wall, a matching toilet at the other end of the room, and a long, luxurious vanity with soft lights lining the top of it. It was probably the nicest bathroom you’d ever been in, but you were too tired to truly appreciate it.

You lifted your shirt off and caught your reflection in the mirror for half a second. It was long enough for you to worry about what he saw when he looked at you, because at that moment, your eyes were red and your face looked a little swollen. Your tummy protruded over the band of your panties. You put your palm to the skin just below your belly button, but then there was a knock at the door.

“You okay?” Thor asked, his voice heavy and tired.

You looked away from the mirror and called out, “Yeah, sorry,” before resuming the task you’d come in to do. You turned away from the mirror to finish dressing, then folded your dirty plane clothes into a pile before heading back into the bedroom.

He’d gotten in bed, so all you could see was that he was shirtless and comfortable with his eyes closed and head drooping a bit. A mix of feelings stirred in you. On the one hand, he was an absolute piece of art just sitting there in the ornate bed with the duvet pulled up to cover most of his torso. And you knew pieces of art. On the other hand, you were wondering what it was he was doing with you because he was an absolute work of art while you stood staring at him in your pajama shorts with a variety of screaming goats printed all over them and a mismatched Harry Potter shirt. You tried to push past the thoughts, though. It was too late to worry about any of that - both in the hour and in the relationship.

After putting your dirty clothes in a plastic garbage bag, Thor opened his eyes as you climbed into the luxurious bed next to him. You realized that, despite the bed being even bigger than his back in Malibu, he was situated nearly in the middle. You tried to give him some room, but as you settled in, he reached out for you.

“Can I get you anything?” he asked, watching your face closely.

You shrugged and asked, “Like?”

“Water? Food? It’s been a minute since we ate anything.” He put his hand on your hip and scooted closer to you, and you moved closer in response. His body was warm like it usually was, which eased some of the tension in your muscles almost on impact.

“I think I’m okay for now,” you whispered.

He nodded, then closed his eyes again. But it wasn’t a minute later before they reopened and he whispered, “I’m really glad you came here with me,” before pecking your lips effortlessly. “I can’t wait for you to meet everyone.”

“Why didn’t you tell me about your friends before?” you asked, trying not to sound like you were angry. You weren’t, really. You were curious more than anything else. Fandral had made it sound like Thor had gushed forever about you, but he hadn’t said a word about his group to you beyond explaining how he knew the bride and groom. It was...a little off putting, to say the least.

He paused and thought about his answer, rubbing little stripes on your hip with his thumb. It was soothing but distracting, even as you bent an elbow into your pillow and rested your cheek against your palm.

“I guess I was so busy telling them about you that I forgot,” he said, and you believed him. His smile stayed quaint and easy. “But I can tell you now, if you’re not too tired.”

You were tired, but you were also interested in knowing more about him. So you nodded slowly and adjusted your legs to get comfy for a talk, rather than sleep. Your toes brushed against his shin, and you waited for some kind of reaction out of him, but nothing came other than his voice.

“Fandral and I went to school together. Our parents were really close, so occasionally we also vacationed together. We met Sif, my ex, at a sleepaway camp when we were teenagers.” He saw your eyes get wide when he mentioned that Sif was his ex, so he sighed and said, “When I say she’s my ex, I mean we dated at camp for a single summer, then decided that distance wasn’t worth it, given that we were both still in high school.”

“Why not just call her a friend, then?” you asked.

Thor shrugged. “We’ve been joking for close to twenty years about being exes. I guess it’s just habit now.” He waited a few seconds until you nodded again, and when you bit your lip, he went on. “Fandral and I met Hogun on a business trip to Japan a few years ago. He liked us so much that he bought a house in Norway and called it the Convergence, because Fandral and I would take trips out there to see Sif. So it really just became an annual get-together.”

You raised your brows at the fact that his friend Hogun named his house, but Thor just shrugged.

“Sif met Volstagg, her fiance,” he said with emphasis, “on a skiing trip in the Alps. I think you’ll like him especially. Most people do.”

You groaned and rolled your eyes playfully. “Ugh, your friends are so interesting. It’s gross, really,” you said, a sarcastic smile playing at your lips.

He laughed and leaned forward to kiss you again. You thought that, the more of those little quick kisses he left, the more you wanted. He made you feel wanted and welcomed, even as he gave you a quick rundown of his friends. When he relaxed again he said, “They’re...kind of family, you know? And I’m really glad you’re gonna get to meet them.”

You remembered all the times you’d worried about how weird it would be to go to Thor’s ex’s wedding and you tore the insecurities that came with that idea up. All it took was those two sentences, and you felt so much better about this whole weird situation. This wasn’t just an extravagant event that would turn awkward when he introduced you to his ex. This was a convergence of his worlds. This was his new girl meeting his old friends - his family. And you - of all the people in the world - were his new girl. You couldn’t believe how lucky you were to have him looking at you like you held the world on a string.

“Would it be really cheesy of me to say I’m super honored?” you asked, sliding down to put your head on the pillow again. You put one arm under the pillow and the other over his shoulder and around the back of his neck. You suddenly didn’t care about anything that existed outside of that bedroom. You put your body against Thor’s and sighed as he shrugged.

“Only a little, but it still means a lot. To me.” He kissed you again, and before he could pull back, you put pressure on his neck to keep him where he was. He smiled into the kiss and held onto you tighter. When you finally let him go, he kissed your forehead and told you to get to sleep because you both had a long day ahead of you.

Tags!

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Sugar: @bvckysmanbun @rhla18 @winchester-with-wings @tuliptx

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