cffidelityy

[cffidelityy]

"I know, s'what makes it so cute," She says, her speech begging to slur from pleasure as her speed continued to increase. "Not gonna last much longer my love."

"I'll do it." Loki stated before taking a deep breath. "Not to cause offense, but your magic is till in practice, and I would rather not chance this to you." A blinding flash of green and Loki was gone, replaced with a Ulysses butterfly. The vibrant blue butterfly fluttered about before landing gently on Sigyn's shoulder. It fluttered its wings and the light revealed beading red eyes hiding in its black body. Loki changed into something subtle and small, which used little of his energy, especially since he didn't have to hide his colors in this form.

[cffidelityy]

Sigyn couldn't stop the moan that escaped her this time. Another one followed suit as her walls fluttered and clamped around him. "Y-You can go a. . . a little faster," She suggested, her blush now creeping up to her ears.

Loki couldn’t help my laugh a little. Not in her face like he was making fun, but at the thought of his gaze being too much. He wondered what exactly it meant until she admitted to being embarrassed.

“Ah.” He thought for a moment at how to reply. “Do you know why I want you to look at me?” The thought honestly hadn’t occured to him for why he wanted her to look at him while they made love. He knew it mattered but didn’t know why until just now.

“Love comes in through the eyes.” Loki answered and pulled himself mostly out of her. His lips gently kissed hers. Then, she kissed her cheek. “Sigyn… look at me, please.”

[cffidelityy]

Sigyn startled awake at his help, quickly sitting up and looking around before realizing where she was and slowly relaxing. "Shit, you okay? Scared the hell outta me," She mumbled sleepily, looking down at the boy next to her. "What time is it? I need to give you s'more medicine."

Loki nodded toward the stairs. He glanced over his shoulder, thinking he heard his moron of a brother. He saw his brother briefly taking a blonde into their father’s office. More trouble Loki didn’t want to deal with but knew he would have to layer down the road.

The two ascended the stairs, and the boy was sweating. Never had that stairway been so strenuous. They made a right hand turn into his room. One he unfortunately shared with Thor despite having the room for them to have separate rooms. Loki’s side was mostly organized with a few small messes of varying books, while Thor’s was messed with sports gear, jersies, and food wrappers.

Loki stumbled over some of Thor’s things and landed on his back onto his own half made up bed. “Fuck” he grumbled as he landed.

[cffidelityy]

Veronica blinked as he turned his arm, revealing more of the scar. Her brows lifted slightly—not in disbelief, but fascination. The burn didn’t look fresh, but something about it… lingered. Like it had been earned in a moment that had changed everything.

“Freeze burn?” she echoed, eyes flicking from the mark back to his face. “Okay, see, I was going to guess hair straightener or angry ex-girlfriend, but that’s much more dramatic.”

Her voice was light, teasing—but she was still watching him carefully, filing away the way he said oaf brother and worthy of something, like it was a story he’d told a hundred times but never quite casually.

She stepped forward again, letting the space between them shrink just slightly. “So that’s the kind of kid you were, huh?” she said with a crooked grin. “Picking fights with your brother and walking away with ice burns?”

Then, gentler—still playful, but curious: “Were you always like that? All fire and trouble?” She looked up at him, waiting—not just for an answer, but for whatever he wouldn’t say out loud.

His eyes watched her fingers trace his skin. It sent a sort of chill up his spin. Watching her pick a scar and then coming up with a reasonable story was going to be interesting. How close to the truth could he get without freaking her out.

A smirk as she decided on the burn. "It's not a burn from fire." He twisted his arm to show the full coverage. The years had faded it greatly, enough it no longer looked like the handprint it was. Thor was always good for an adventure, and trying to destroy all frost giants was an interesting adventure.

"My oaf brother wanted to prove he was mighty and worthy of.. something. Honestly not sure what of.. Anyways. We got into a fight and I managed to get this freeze burn." He looked her in the eye as he spoke.

"It was all a blur. The closest thing to compare is dry ice. That accidental touch that aches for a week, but this burn was held against my arm for about a minute and took a month or more to heal."

Loki watched her watching him. He closed the distance between by taking a half step toward her. "Any other scar take your fancy? Or have you another kind of question for me?"

[cffidelityy]

Sigyn didn’t answer right away. She just let the silence settle between them, her hand still over his.

“No more secrets,” she echoed softly, as if testing the weight of the promise on her tongue. Her eyes stayed on the water’s surface, unfocused, her voice barely above it.

“I don’t know if hearing it will make me feel better…” She exhaled slowly, then turned her head just slightly, brushing her cheek against his. “But I want to know. I want to try.”

A pause, then quieter: “Tell me what you saw.”

Loki didn't answer for a while. He knew there wa snothing he could do to reassure her until the boys were born. "No more secrets." Just the one, "I promise."

"I will hold you together until the boys are born." He kissed the top of her head. "Do you want me to tell you what I saw?"

[cffidelityy]

Sigyn stopped when she saw his hand—hesitant, fidgeting, then offered. A flicker of old instinct told her to retreat. But instead, she reached forward and took it. Her fingers slid into his with quiet care, warm from holding herself too tightly.

She didn’t speak at first. Just stood there with him, their hands joined at last, like something fragile but still breathing. After a moment, she looked up—eyes soft, unsure.

“Come on,” she murmured. “You can help me with dinner.”

And she gave his hand the smallest tug, leading him through the open door, where their sons' laughter spilled out like light.

Their boys chased after the other until reaching their doorstep. Loki unlocked the door and the twins scrambled inside. He turned back to see Sigyn slowly following behind. For a moment Loki fidgeted with his fingers. Slowly he offered his hand to Sigyn

[cffidelityy]

Sigyn let her hand rest over his, not quite holding it, but anchoring herself there. Her voice was low, wrapped in exhaustion but trying—really trying.

“You said you saw flashes. Little glimpses of what could be.” She paused, her breath catching for a moment as her thumb brushed over his knuckles.

“I know even those are rare. I know you wouldn’t have told me unless you truly believed in what you saw.” Another beat of silence passed. She didn’t pull away, but her shoulders didn’t fully relax either.

“I want to believe that’s where we’re headed… I do. But flashes aren’t the same as feeling them grow, day by day, wondering if every twinge is something slipping away again.”

She leaned her head back slightly, resting it near his. Close. Not fragile—just open. “I’m holding on the best I can. But I need you here. Really here. No more secrets. No more disappearing without warning.”

Her voice softened to nearly a whisper. “If we’re going to walk this path, I need to know I’m not walking it alone anymore.”

Her husband nodded and followed her to the bathroom. While she brushed her teeth Loki started the bath. Once the lukewarm water filled the tub he helped her undress and climb into the water. He lingered a moment before stepping out to fetch a tray of food.

Loki walked toward the dining hall. An uproar occurred as he walked in. Friends and family that had no idea he was awake after nearly three months. The hugs and mindless chatter of the goings-on were overstimulating. He pushed through the crowd, not saying anything, gathered some food, and walked out. He could hear the hall quiet for a moment as he left.

[cffidelityy]

Veronica held her breath for a heartbeat, then let it go in a soft laugh. Her fingers drifted down his forearm—just to the bend of his elbow—tracing lightly over the raised silver line of a scar, then pausing at a small, pale burn a finger’s width below it. She glanced back up, blue eyes dancing.

“Well,” she said, voice teasing, “since you’ve opened the door… what happened here?” Her fingertip hovered over the burn. “Cooking mishap? Campfire accident? Or did you try to toast a marshmallow and end up nearly burning the world down then, too?”

She straightened, slipping her hand from his arm and stepping back just enough to reclaim a little space. A slow smile curved her lips. “Your move, Professor—answer honestly, or I’ll have to earn even more questions to get the truth.”

He stepped back toward her and took the knife. "Look" he threw the knife off target and it stuck in the wall. "I can patch a wall. Just try. I've shown you how." Another blade was offered to her. "Throw the knife, and I'll answer one more question. Hit the target, and I'll talk about some of the scars. Hit the target twice and I'll show you all the scars."

[cffidelityy]

Sigyn didn’t follow right away. She watched him walk ahead—watched the boys trail behind him, close but not quite touching.

Her arms wrapped around herself again, not in anger, but in longing. In mourning for what once had been so easy. But he hadn’t turned away this time. He’d stayed. And that… that mattered.

Softly, almost to herself, she whispered, “One step at a time.” Then she moved, slow and quiet, falling in behind them—not to chase, not to lead. Just to be near.

The man smiled slightly at the memory. Vali was a dirty thief as a toddler when it came to food and meal times were always a hassle. Loki often ate after the family because of it. Only half filling his plate, knowing his son would steal from him. Vali used to be his shadow, now barely acknowledged him.

Loki looked at his feet in shame at Sigyn's next comments. He chewed the inside of his cheek. Everything for his family fell apart and he blamed himself. "I never should have left..." His sorrowful green eyes looked up toward her hand. Loki didn't dare look her in the eyes. Her eyes reminded him of what he abandoned long ago and he was too ashamed to be reminded. Loki hardly looked anyone in the eye anymore.

As Loki looked at her hand, he noticed how she trembled. Reluctantly, he reached his hand toward hers. Another hesitation before linking his little finger with hers. The god could cry. How was linking pinkies so terrifying?

[cffidelityy]

Sigyn simply gave Loki a look that said, “I know,”as she nodded her head towards Syn and then towards the exit of the stables. It was going to take every bit of magic she had to save both foal and mother, if at all possible. Her sister didn’t need to see this.

“I need you two to go gather as many apples as you can. Nimona and her babies deserve a special treat after all of this, don’t you think,” she said, feigning a smile, one she knew her sister wouldn’t see through but Loki would.

“Hurry now.”

The horse whinnied and chuffed again, trying not to be distraught in front of the small girl.

“What are you going to do if I don’t make it, my queen? Little Syn is going to be devastated, and my foals?” Nimona spoke to her goddess.

“You don’t worry about that Nim, just try to relax as much as possible.”

He sighed as her lips met his head and grabbed her hand. Loki's hand squeezed hers lightky before letting her go. The god hated discussing her council. There was no respect toward her. More specifically no respect toward him. Loki felt his wife was undermined for being a woman most of the time. He was brushed aside as being arrogant and mischievous. Arrogance came from pride, which Loki justly earned as a seasoned warrior. It was often forgotten that Loki was more than just a trickster and warlock. He had plenty of skill with a blade.

[cffidelityy]

Sigyn's mouth opens and closes as he gets in the tub fully clothed, as if she were going to say something but decided against it. Instead, she simply clicks her tongue, sighs, and shakes her head before leaning into him.

"Your mother said that was likely the case. . . we just hadn't expected it to take so long for you to wake up."

Her husband nodded and followed her to the bathroom. While she brushed her teeth Loki started the bath. Once the lukewarm water filled the tub he helped her undress and climb into the water. He lingered a moment before stepping out to fetch a tray of food.

Loki walked toward the dining hall. An uproar occurred as he walked in. Friends and family that had no idea he was awake after nearly three months. The hugs and mindless chatter of the goings-on were overstimulating. He pushed through the crowd, not saying anything, gathered some food, and walked out. He could hear the hall quiet for a moment as he left.

[cffidelityy]

From this distance, the boys were just muted echoes of laughter and hushed awe, their silhouettes flitting from case to case beneath the Sanctum’s golden lamplight. Sigyn's eyes followed them for a moment longer before she turned her gaze toward Strange.

"That’s... kind of you to say," she replied, her voice even and courteous, as though still speaking in the careful cadence of diplomacy. "I’ve no illusions about how easily the presence of children can upset the balance of a place like this."

Her posture was perfect, still, but something in the way she held herself—too light, too carefully arranged—betrayed the exhaustion beneath.

"I will make sure they understand the lines that are not to be crossed. I only ask for patience in the meantime. We’ve been... between places for a long while now. Rest has been a luxury." Her mouth twitched, not quite a smile. "And rest does not always mean peace."

She hesitated, then added more quietly, as if the words had to pass through something raw just behind her ribs, "They lost their father. I lost… more than I had words for. But they need normalcy. Some kind of structure. If this Sanctum can offer that, then I’ll see to it they rise to meet the standard."

She exhaled through her nose, steadying, eyes now forward rather than on him.

"I appreciate your willingness to accommodate us, Doctor. I know it’s not a small thing, inviting grief and chaos to share your walls."

After a pause—long enough for it to feel like maybe that was all she’d say—she added, just a touch lighter, a whisper of wryness beneath the practiced poise:

"And for what it’s worth, you’ve already impressed them. I caught Vali trying to mimic one of your spell gestures with a spoon earlier.

Across the room, Narvi pressed his face to the glass around a dark, forked glaive—its twin blades shimmered with faint gold veins, pulsing like breath.

“Mom!” he shouted. “Did you see this one? The spooky one with the glowing cracks? I think it’s calling to me. Can I touch it? Just a finger?”

“Not today,” Sigyn replied evenly from across the room. “Or ever.”

Narvi huffed dramatically and turned to Vali. “Back me up.”

Vali didn’t speak. Instead, he watched the weapon for a moment longer, then quietly signed in their mother’s direction:

“It sings like something broken.”

closed for @tangleweave

||

Despite being centuries old, the last few years up until now had been one of the greatest challenges that Sigyn had ever faced. In her first encounter with the Mad Titan, Sigyn had lost her husband, most of her people, and worried that she might even lose her sons. Luckily, the latter had not come to fruition. However, the next five years were not easy. In a few days, she had become a single mother who also had to take care of her brother-in-law and herself, all while fighting off the ever-lurking depression of her own after losing who had once been the love of her life. That and helping out where she could in figuring out how to come back from the phenomenon now known as 'the blip."

After the second battle with Thanos, Sigyn was lost, without a purpose. That's when she met Stephen Strange. They had worked together on healing the wounded after the final fight and hadn't actually talked much then. However, once he'd decided to journey with the Guardians, Thor wanted to ensure Sigyn had someone looking out for her and the twins, who were just now starting to discover their own magic. So, he'd formally introduced Sigyn to the Doctor.

It happened to be the luck of the draw that the Sanctum Sanctorum was still looking for a weapons master and combat instructor to replace the one before her. Sigyn had no other choice but to accept, as it was the perfect opportunity for both her and her sons. Today was their first official day after moving into the sanctum, and it would be evident to anyone who laid eyes on her that the goddess was nervous as she watched her sons move about excitedly as she moved to stand beside the Doctor on the far corner of the room.

"I want to apologize for them again, they are... excited. I hope they don't give you too much trouble," She says lightly, a nervous smile on her face as she folds her hands in front of her.

[cffidelityy]

Her fingers brushed his again, feather-light, as she took the blade, her smile tipping toward a grin.

“Well, I do like dramatic men,” she teased, turning the knife in her hand. “But you might be overselling the ‘end of the world’ bit. Little intense for a first date, don’t you think?”

She stepped back with a casual sway, eyes still locked on his. “So you’re luring me in with ominous warnings and sharp objects? Bold strategy.”

A wink, quick and wicked. “Gotta say... It's kind of working.”

She threw the knife. Another solid hit. Then she turned back to him, smirking.

“Your move, villain.”

He stepped back toward her and took the knife. "Look" he threw the knife off target and it stuck in the wall. "I can patch a wall. Just try. I've shown you how." Another blade was offered to her. "Throw the knife, and I'll answer one more question. Hit the target, and I'll talk about some of the scars. Hit the target twice and I'll show you all the scars."

[cffidelityy]

The faintest of smiles pulled at the corner of her lips, quickly fading as she shifted in the tub, allowing enough room for him to settle in behind her.

"You've been asleep for months. Get in here."

Her husband nodded and followed her to the bathroom. While she brushed her teeth Loki started the bath. Once the lukewarm water filled the tub he helped her undress and climb into the water. He lingered a moment before stepping out to fetch a tray of food.

Loki walked toward the dining hall. An uproar occurred as he walked in. Friends and family that had no idea he was awake after nearly three months. The hugs and mindless chatter of the goings-on were overstimulating. He pushed through the crowd, not saying anything, gathered some food, and walked out. He could hear the hall quiet for a moment as he left.

[cffidelityy]

Sigyn’s eyes met his, wide and shining with everything she was too afraid to name. His words knocked the breath out of her chest—Not without you. She should’ve been ready to hear that. But she wasn’t.

Her voice was barely more than a whisper. “Then don’t.”

She stepped forward—not enough to close the space completely, but enough that he’d know she wasn’t turning away. Not yet.

“I’m still here,” she said, throat tight. “Not whole. Not healed. But I’m here." Her gaze dropped to the space between them, then lifted, slow and steady.

“I’m here,” she whispered. “That’s all I know how to be right now.”

The man smiled slightly at the memory. Vali was a dirty thief as a toddler when it came to food and meal times were always a hassle. Loki often ate after the family because of it. Only half filling his plate, knowing his son would steal from him. Vali used to be his shadow, now barely acknowledged him.

Loki looked at his feet in shame at Sigyn's next comments. He chewed the inside of his cheek. Everything for his family fell apart and he blamed himself. "I never should have left..." His sorrowful green eyes looked up toward her hand. Loki didn't dare look her in the eyes. Her eyes reminded him of what he abandoned long ago and he was too ashamed to be reminded. Loki hardly looked anyone in the eye anymore.

As Loki looked at her hand, he noticed how she trembled. Reluctantly, he reached his hand toward hers. Another hesitation before linking his little finger with hers. The god could cry. How was linking pinkies so terrifying?

[cffidelityy]

"Isn't he amazing?" Syn asked, standing up on the stall door to peer at the foal. "He is," Sigyn said, gently patting the mare on the neck before pressing her forehead to her. "You did so well, Nimona," She whispered, "Do you need anything?" Sigyn was obviously using her animal speech to communicate with the horse, who nickered and chuffed before nodding her head at the Druid. "Oh? Two? Syn watch out..." Sigyn opened the gate to enter the stable with the horse feeling on her belly. "Ah, I see-- Loki, Syn, I need you both to do me a few favors. Our girl here was meant to have two, but it seems the other may be stuck."

He sighed as her lips met his head and grabbed her hand. Loki's hand squeezed hers lightky before letting her go. The god hated discussing her council. There was no respect toward her. More specifically no respect toward him. Loki felt his wife was undermined for being a woman most of the time. He was brushed aside as being arrogant and mischievous. Arrogance came from pride, which Loki justly earned as a seasoned warrior. It was often forgotten that Loki was more than just a trickster and warlock. He had plenty of skill with a blade.

[cffidelityy]

Sigyn reached up and just let her fingers linger against his, the water warm but her skin cold.

“…It wasn’t just losing them,” she said quietly, allowing herself to open up about it with him for the first time. “It was everything after. The silence. The bleeding that wouldn’t stop. Lying there thinking—if I died, would anyone even find me in time?”

Her voice caught, and she exhaled slowly, grounding herself in his touch.

“I cleaned the sheets. I folded their little things into a box I couldn’t even bring myself to close. And then I smiled when people finally came around, like it hadn’t already wrecked me.”

A pause. Her fingers curled slightly around his.

“I’m not asking you to fix any of it, Loki. I just… don’t want to hold this alone anymore.”

Her voice softened to a whisper, eyes finally meeting his. “I don’t know how to believe in the future the way you do. But I want to believe in you. So please… just hold me like I’m still here. Because I don’t feel like I am.”

Her husband nodded and followed her to the bathroom. While she brushed her teeth Loki started the bath. Once the lukewarm water filled the tub he helped her undress and climb into the water. He lingered a moment before stepping out to fetch a tray of food.

Loki walked toward the dining hall. An uproar occurred as he walked in. Friends and family that had no idea he was awake after nearly three months. The hugs and mindless chatter of the goings-on were overstimulating. He pushed through the crowd, not saying anything, gathered some food, and walked out. He could hear the hall quiet for a moment as he left.