#if anyone here needs to forgive the others and accept them as family it's Loki?? what was Odin on?? he's lucky Loki is selfless so it worked

[rantingsofthehumanmind]

A Diamond in The Rough

SFW (Yandere!Loki x Plus Size!Reader)

Part 2

If you are uncomfortable with yandere content do not proceed with this post

There's an intense pressure present in the air between you and Loki as you two sat across from each other in a cafe near his apartment, one of his chose of course. A soft thanks to the cashier sends them rushing back to the counter from the awkward silence.

You let out a yawn as Loki pulls out his phone probably typing away to one of his business partners. Or maybe was it his mother? Insulting you no less about the outfit you chose today while she tells him that he worries too much.

You're chewing your lip at the thought when Loki sighs, "Despite this being only a simple cafe I'd aspect some decorum from you."

"You call me after a week of silence and start with an underhanded insult how very like you," you roll your eyes and pick up the drink scrunching your nose up at the smell. "This is not what I ordered."

"Of course, I had them replace it with something more fitting." Loki smiles to himself as he takes a sip from his drink. "But in my defense you were the one who cut off contact with me"

Great. You place the drink down and take a deep breath, "Do you remember anything before that?"

"Other than being a gentleman and all around perfect boyfriend? Nothing."

Leaning into the table tou talk in a low tone to not catch the attention of anyone in the cafe. "Loki, I'm not in a joking mood. I meet one of your business partners for the first time and you tell them I'm you're assistant? Are you that much of an asshole? Do you not respect me."

"You were not looking up to par when we met," Loki shrugs. "Don't worry I'll clear everything up once we fix a few things."

"What things?"

"Well." He waves a hand at you. "While my family and I are accepting of how you look I can't really say others will. But dear just know I only say this from the bottom of my heart, I care.

Your face feels hot as you hold back tears, "Loki, am I some kind of embrassment to you. Do you even love me? Hell do you even like me? What was the point of us even being together."

Loki's cold slender hands offer no little comfort as he pets your cheek, "You my love are the most precious jewel to me. And as so you must be polished so the world can see it too. Don't you agree? I'm simply doing my best to give you the life you deserve, you should be grateful."

Grateful. Maybe he's right, he bought you expensive gifts. Treats you nicely, introduced you to his parents despite your lower status. It makes sense to try and form yourself into something worth his time. But what about those nights where he said he loved you just as you were. Kissing your scars, tracing your stretchlines... Was that all a lie?

You're gentle when you remove his hand from your cheek and offer a small smile. "Yes, let me be grateful for everything you've done for me. Starting with this drink here."

Picking up the cold drink you take off the lid and drop the contents on his head, making sure it poured down onto his expensive suit. You stand pulling out your wallet and tossing the emergency card he given you. "Loki Laufeyson, I never want to see your face again. We're done, fuck you and fuck whatever this was."

The chair scratches at the tile as you stand and ignore the chatter from the other cafe guests but Loki grabs at your wrist before you can pull away.

Wiping away the hair sticking on his face and you're hit with his bright green eyes with an intensity you’ve never seen before. "You're making a big mistake, darling. If you say sorry I might still forgive you."

It's a struggle to get out of his grip but you yank your arm free, feeling the pain from his tight grip. "I don't need forgiveness I just want you to be gone from my life."

You walk out the cafe feeling vindicated clutching your bag and refusing to look back. But the throb of your wrist and the look Loki gave you leaves an unsettling feeling in your heart.

[magicaltecito]

𝑷𝑰𝑪𝑲 𝑨 𝑪𝑨𝑹𝑫: Message from Loki!

- Admin Sun ☀️ Instructions: Focus on the energy of asking for Loki's guidance and choose the pile that calls to you intuitively! If it's more than one, then read them! My style: I used tarot, and oracle cards (mostly the star dragon oracle) but this was almost 90% intuition and what I felt Loki were trying to communicate to me! Disclaimer: First of all I work with Loki, and he was bothering me a lot to do this, this reading is not for all, so if no picture called you in, don't force it!. Second, deity work is super personal, so keep what resonates and only that with you!, if you feel called to work with Loki, my advice is to learn about him before contacting always! Treat this as any relationship, with respect and care, enjoy learning about him and connecting with him as you would do with anyone you wants to have part in your life. If you have any doubt about him, you can always come talk to me, I'm not an expert, I'll have all my life to learn more and more about our relationship, but I have some tips that might help you on the way uvu (and you might help me too). P.S: Loki never talks to me this way, I don't know why he's being so sweet with strangers but with me is like a big brother making fun of me 24/7.

Pile 1 Child, you've been in contemplation mode for too long, is ok to be on your shell if you need protection and care for your mental health but it's enough, is time to bloom, to show yourself, stop worrying about failure and things about the past, you cannot know if they're gonna repeat themselves if you don't try first. I know is scary but stop focusing on the scars, the wounds, and the failures but on the recovery, the bravery, and the path that brought you here, your achievements. Try this for me, tell yourself your story like you're the main character on a play or even on your favorite tv show/anime, all their journey, and look how easy it's to find all the great things about this character and how cool they are, how they handle their struggle, how they could have stopped or surrender but they kept on going and now are here in this new chapter of their story. All of your accomplishments will get noticed, but before that, my child, you must applaud yourself for getting here. You travel a lot on a bumpy road, you deserve a celebration! Go beyond, be honest to yourself and confront and accept what you truly desire, even if people get mad or some folks tell you "this is not the x that I know" "that's so not you", fuck them, is time for you to stand for what is right for you, for the real you, to shine like an emerald. Channeled things: Kaikai Kitan by eve, going with the flow, fuck your boss, dragons, potions, the moment is now, you can always rewrite your story, lord satan, plus ultra, animation, fight everyone who tells you how to be you. Pile 2 Everything is safer now, don't worry, you don't have to be perfect anymore. You don't have to quiet down and listen anymore. Whoever made you feel unworthy of love is going to pay, karma is going his way, don't worry, you don't have to waste your energy thinking about them, I'll take care now kiddo. Right now just focus on you and restoring the relationships that got hurt in the way, the friends you stop talking to, the loved ones you ghosted, they're waiting on you, the people that love you will always do, they just wanted you to be okay and happy, so let them know your free to be yourself again. Forgive yourself for the things that lend you to that abusive relationship (friendship/love/family) is not your fault, but also forgive yourself for the way you acted with other people, you were just hurting. You are now free to decide again what you want, to get your energy back and gather all your power with all the people that love you by your side. Don't be scared, you can hold my hand in the way, my child. Channeled things: "I'll hex them", Shake it off - Florence + the machine, beach trips, bath bombs, holding hands, motherly love, forgive yourself, I love you, 14:42, happy birthday Pile 3 Sweetie, if you think they're lying to you, they probably are. If you don't feel okay in your friend group is okay to leave, you don't have to be the peacemaker or the one that cares deeply about everyone but nobody cares about you, speak your truth, speak what's bothering you, you feel mistreated by them and nothing is going to change by waiting for some change, make it happen. If everything stays the same after you speak then you know, they're not the ones for you, but you need to step outside your "comfort zone" (not much of a comfort if you feel mistreated tbh) and speak out to seek better relationships for yourself and new opportunities. Trust me, my beloved child, you will find your soul family, people that will care for you as much as you care for people, but first, you have to filter your actual group and value yourself. Channeled things: Tokyo mew mew, Jasmine - dprlive, turning red, matching bracelets, childhood, memories, travel, Alaska, pretty nails, chocolate-flavored kisses. Pile 4 I'm happy you're focusing on your career right now, I know maybe you're not in the step you dreamt of being right now, and maybe what you want feels a little far, but trust me, even with all these stepbacks and delayed plans (maybe even a trip being delayed) you will succeed, take the

life lessons from it even if that has reduced your enthusiasm, just remember what you're passionate about and why you started. Continue to be responsible with the past you that dreamed something, maybe even with your inner child that felt like a black sheep back then, you can make it, just continue, I believe in you and I'm here to tell you that all your hard work will pay off even if you don't feel like it now. The universe is with you paving the way for you to step into your desired reality. Stop overthinking every delay, you truly are on the right path, just wait and walk, remember "Slow and steady wins the race" Channeled things: West end av, lilac, black sheep are the coolest, in dreams begin responsibilities, singing, music production, highlights, novel, japan, morning sun, infinity, toy story, sam.

[iamnmbr3]

Can I sign up for a Disney- Service where I pay them not to put out any type of new content or interviews? Bc wow I am tired of this show and I’m tired of Mike Waldron shooting his mouth off and spewing grossness. But here we go again. He’s given another interview and I am once again left wondering why Disney had to hire him and not...literally anyone else. Like if they just grabbed a rando off the street it couldn’t have been any worse and statistically it probably would’ve been a lot better. 

"I knew that I wanted to position somebody opposite Tom, opposite Tom's Loki, who had the same energy in a way, but also a totally different energy, that female energy”

Female energy??? Can someone please tell Mike that "girl" isn't a personality trait. Remember when I talked about how Sylvie isn’t a good female character because she’s physically strong but not strongly written? Remember when I talked about how she’s an empty “strong female character TM” who is a woman first and a human second because she’s not a good character who happens to be female but rather a character whose defining and only personality trait is her gender? Yeah.

"But it's one thing, I guess, to be narcissistic and to think you're great and everything, it's another thing to really believe that, to project that outwardly. It's another thing to really believe that and to actually practice self-love and everything. So if the show is about Loki falling for Sylvie a little bit, the hope was always that maybe that it's also about him learning to forgive himself." 

What. No really. WHAT. Mike’s pathetic attempts to justify his ridiculously bad romance and also pretend like he didn’t straight up lie to us about Loki learning self love are hilarious. this makes NO sense. huh???? This is just a really bad attempt at damage control. Loki doesn’t learn self love. He never says anything positive about himself. The show frames him internalizing other’s harmful messages about him like that he is a villain and a pathetic loser as something positive. What has he learned to love about himself? Mike has yet to be able to name one positive trait he has. His hatred for Loki is so obvious. And how is loving Sylvie him forgiving himself???? she didn't do any of the things he did???? This makes ZERO sense.

"He is just a character who doesn't like to self reflect, and would rather pontificate, and would rather scheme, because he's good at it, because he's very clever. "

Really? He would rather pontificate? Another comment that seems to indicate that Mike really didn’t watch Thor 2011. Remember how the opening scenes established how SILENT Loki is and how he is constantly spoken over? That’s a big part of his other and victim coding. The way Mike constantly shames Loki for speaking is very disturbing given the way Loki is Other coded. And also given the fact that he is now canonically queer. Why must the Other be silenced??? 

“And when faced with an actual mirror of himself, he sees things that are attractive and that he empathizes with. He also sees things that are broken and wounded, and it helps him understand those very things in his own psyche" 

Wrong. But also? Where? Where is that in the show??? This never happened. He’s just lying here.

"I mean, he has done terrible things. That was part of the work that the first episode had to do, was hold him accountable for that, sort of lay him bare and everything. And the journey that he's been on has been one of reckoning with that. Is it possible to atone for that? I think Loki's still trying to figure that out."

Terrible things? Huh. Kinda like Thor. Remember when he slaughtered all those Jotnar while laughing (which was considered totally acceptable in his culture)? Remember when Odin slaughtered and enslaved thousands? Remember when Loki was motivated by trying to PREVENT a war? And. Remember when Loki was captured and TORTURED by Thanos? Also. The first episode didn't do that. The first episode was about things he hadn't done bc it was him seeing his future. AND FURTHERMORE the TVA can't hold him accountable bc if what Loki did was bad then the TVA has no moral high ground bc what they did was orders of magnitude worse. And if what the TVA did was ok then Loki didn't do anything wrong. Why does the TVA get a pass for their horrific acts of evil???

"I think, for me, that's one of the most important scenes in the show because this is a guy who has been driven by glorious purpose, by the feeling that everything he does is in the service of his grand destiny."    

So Mike really just watched that glorious purpose clip and decided it was Loki’s whole motivation huh? What an idiot. So much for the Loki Lectures. Obviously this guy was asleep during them and didn’t bother to watch Thor 2011 either. You know, the movie all about Loki’s backstory and motivations. Guess he also missed the fact that Loki is LITERALLY KNEELING when he comes through the portal and looks awful bc he’s just been tortured is very obviously repeating the stuff Thanos told him while breaking him. Loki is not motivated by believing in a glorious purpose. He cries when Thor tells him to look at the destruction in Avengers. 

And in Thor 2011 he is motivated by wanting to avert a war and also more deeply by his desire for love and validation. He never wanted the throne. He wanted to be Thor’s equal. He has a mental breakdown and tries to kill himself when he comes to believe that he is inherently monstrous and that he can never earn his family’s love. LOKI IS DEFINED BY HIS LACK OF SELF ESTEEM AND HIS SELF HATRED! That is. The opposite of what Mike has said. Also Mike contradicts himself. Is Loki someone who is arrogant and needs to learn his purpose isn’t glorious or is he someone who needs to learn self love? It can’t be both. What a disgusting, victim blaming, abuse apologist lying hack.  

“In that moment, he sees that no, it was his destiny to get his neck snapped by the bad guy he was working for"

Excuse me? Working for??? Loki never went back to Thanos. He died sacrificing himself to save Thor. WTF!!!?!?

[darkshadow90]

TVA Loki x reader: You accidentally escape from your Timeline

Summary: You accidentally  escape from your timeline. In your timeline Loki succeeded to taking over Earth and rules it with an iron fist. Life in your timeline is hell and he’s trying to kill you because you and a few others had the guts to defy his rule. You jump through a portal, and soon people in strange armor and Loki show up. It terrifies you, and you try to get away. Things don’t turn out the way you expect.

A/N: Hey guys. This is an idea for a one shot I had. It’s based on Loki in the TVA. I know there’s only been one episode of the Loki show, so I’m not entirely sure how accurate the TVA will be or how in or out of character the characters will be so keep that in mind when you read this. Also I’m not exactly sure how the Loki variants work or what they look like, so the Loki that’s trying to kill the reader looks the same as 2012 Loki, but has a more malevolent personality. I just thought it would be easier that way. Warnings: References to murder. Hope you like it :)

It had been a few years since Loki successfully took over Earth. He defeated the avengers and ruled over Earth with an iron fist. He had killed many people over the years for displeasing him in any way. He was vicious and cold. One day, everyone was required to attend a “ceremony.” There was nothing celebratory about it.  A man had been caught stealing food. Everyone was required to bare witness to his punishment. “You are all gathered here on this day to learn what happens to those who think it’s wise to steal from me.” He started this off like he did all his grandiose speeches. It wasn’t the first cruel lesson to the public, but this wasn’t any less bone chilling. “Can your miniscule brain comprehend why I’m so angry?” The man was scared for his life. “Because I...didn’t bow to you.” Loki bared his foot down on the man’s head. “Wrong. I consider myself a benevolent god. I know you mortals have limitations, but I will not tolerate disobedience. I would’ve accepted it if you had been honest, but instead you tried to steal from me and lied about it to the guards. Did you think I wouldn’t notice?” Loki removed his foot from the man’s neck and grabbed his shirt collar, forcing him to look him in the eye. 

The man had tears in his eyes. “Please. I have a family. We haven’t had much food for weeks. I needed to feed them somehow. Please forgive me, my king. I’ll never steal again.” “Of course. Once again, look to him as an example.” Before anyone could react, the man began to disappear. His screams were agonizing. After he was gone, Loki turned back to face the audience. “One less mouth to feed.” Everyone was horrified. A few people near you were angry. You were shocked. Your shock gradually turned to anger. “How could you do that? He had a family!” One person yelled out. “You’re a monster!” Another person said. It gave you courage to join in. “You’re not a benevolent god. You’re absolutely cruel. You kill people for no reason. There’s nothing benevolent about you. We’ll never kneel to you!” He suddenly appeared in front of you. “It would appear the three of you didn’t learn from what just happened. Shall I give another demonstration?” The crowd began to panic. Loki walked over to you. He towered over you, holding that infamous scepter. His menacing presence made you quake with fear. “What’s the matter? You don’t have much bravado, do you little mouse?” Everyone began to scatter, including you. Loki wasn’t angry about it, and that worried you.

You ran as fast as you could. People were running aside you and some disappeared the same way the man disappeared just minutes ago. You suspected Loki was using his magic, but you didn’t see him chasing after the crowd. You were much more interested in staying alive. “Hey! Do you remember Stark Tower?” It was the man from earlier who stood up to Loki, the one who stood next to you in the crowd. “You mean Loki’s Tower? What about it?” “There’s a device there called the Tesseract. It can open portals. It may be able to get us to safety.” “How do you know all this?” “I don’t have time to explain now, so you’re gonna have to trust me.” You decided to follow him. The two of you made it to the tower. Whoever the man was, he made quick work of the guards. You wondered how he managed to be so skilled in combat. You made it to the top. There was a bunch of technology set up. “Excellent. Everything is still here. All I have to do is turn it on. When the portal opens, go through it. Do you understand?” You didn’t answer him. “Quickly! You don’t have much time.” You nodded. He activated the Tesseract which opened a portal. He pushed you through it.

You ended up in a grassy, muddy area. There was no sign of Loki or the man who helped you escape. It would appear he was right. You took a deep breath and sat down to rest for a moment. Before long, some people in strange armor, a man with short silver hair dressed in a suit appeared. To your horror, Loki was with them. He wasn’t wearing the green and gold armor, nor the horned helmet you were familiar with. Instead, he was wearing a dress shirt and tie, brown slacks, and a brown jacket. If it was his attempt to fool you, it didn’t work. “Okay, Loki, since it’s your third day and you’ve become more familiar with how our technology works, I’m gonna show you how we approach variants who aren’t a threat.” You heard the man tell Loki. “Y/N. I’m Agent Mobius with the TVA. We need you to come with us.” This certainly was a decent trick Loki was trying to pull. “No way! I’m not going anywhere with him he’s a monster!” Mobius held up his hands as if he cornered a scared animal. He signaled for the people in armor to put their weapons away. “It’s alright. We just want to talk.” The man seemed like he was being honest, but you couldn’t trust him. Not if Loki was there with them. You ran. “Wait. Come back!” 

You were running as fast as your feet could carry you. You heard them talking in the distance. “Sir, do you want us to go after her?” “No, she’s already scared enough--” “I’ll go.” “No, Loki, that’s not a good idea!” That was the last thing you heard him say as the distance grew between you and them. You kept running and found a large rock to hide behind. You weren’t able to stay in your hiding place for very long. “It appears the hunter has found his prey. This would’ve worked out a lot better for you if you listened to us.” “I’m not going anywhere with you. You’ll kill me just like you probably killed the guy who helped me.” “Oh, I wouldn’t be so sure about that.” “I don’t believe you! Just go away. I’m not going with you.” “I’m afraid you don’t have a choice.” He started to walk towards you. You tripped and panicked, trying to scurry away from him. Your eyes filled with tears. “Please...” The word barely came out of your mouth. He grabbed hold of you to restrain you. You completely lost it, kicking and screaming tears were streaming down your face. It didn’t matter how much you struggled. He restrained you with ease. Your hands and feet were cuffed to render you immobile. He put something strange around your neck. It was some kind of collar. He picked you up over his shoulder. “I really didn’t want to do this, you know.” He said it as if he felt guilty about what he just did.

He carried you back to where Mobius and the others were. “Loki, was that really necessary?” “We got her, didn’t we? and we have the Tesseract from this timeline. Now we can fix this and you can talk to her about whatever you want.” Mobius rolled his eyes in exasperation. You were taken somewhere for you and Mobius to talk. Your restraints were removed. “Are you gonna kill me?” “No. The TVA stands for the Time Variance Authority. We monitor timelines and keep them in check. You accidentally escaped from your timeline. You’re what we call a variant. Loki, who has been working with us is not the same Loki from your timeline even though they might look the same. He took the Tesseract from your timeline and saved you in the process.”  “That’s not possible.” Mobius gave you a sympathetic look. “I know this is a lot for you to take in, Y/N. We can’t send you back even if you wanted to go back. So I might be able to do something better for you. Casey works in our Admin department and he could use some help organizing our historical files. Are you up to helping us out?” After talking for a bit longer you agreed to help and you found out Loki was indeed the person who saved you that day. Maybe there was more to him than you thought. Maybe he wasn’t so bad.

[uhthor]

I’m a simple person. I see thorbruce, I immediately want to ask you things. Do you have any favorite headcanons about thorbruce or Thor in general?

aaaah hello!!

i’ve never officially done headcanons like written out so forgive me if they’re all wrong and strange but most of them i have are for a fic i’m writing about the five year time jump in endgame and how i thought it would go for them had the writers not fucked everything up.

first of all after the Garden, thor and bruce would not leave each other. it makes no sense to me that they ever did that, that thor was just left alone to wallow in his depression and ptsd by himself. knowing bruce’s character and the fact he even said to thor in endgame “it was you. you helped me.” literally proves that bruce would not have left thor alone during that time.

i like to think that after the snap the o6 lived in the compound together and looked after each other. they’re at a time where they literally can’t do anything to help the universe so they would be surrounded by each other.

steve, nat and bruce would take turns to check on thor and take him food when he never came out of his room to eat. thor wasn’t very good company in the first weeks but he always enjoyed eating dinner with bruce in his room because they’d talk about things that took his mind off his grief.

bruce would see him reading one day and wonder when he got the books from the compound library because thor was literally never out of his room. he must’ve snuck around at night and got them or asked some of the others to get them for him. thor reads a LOT during that time to take his mind off things. bruce is a little offended at first because why didn’t thor tell him he was reading?? they could’ve talked about books!! bruce is the only one in the compound who reads daily so he was rightfully upset!

one of their dinners he takes thor a book on astrology because it might remind thor of home, even though it’s a touchy subject. bruce is the only one who thor lets talk to him honestly about his situation and how he needs help and he’s the only one who thor lets sit on the edge of his bed with him. he’s the only one who thor feels comfortable with touching him.

when thor’s ready, bruce takes him to The Vanished memorial like the one scott visits in endgame. maybe the o6 go all together to try and work through their grief together and form a bond between each other that is actually one of family. if not, thor and bruce definitely go together. bruce wants to help thor on his journey through his grief because he knows exactly what it’s like to be so grief stricken and suicidal like thor inevitably was after the snap.

bruce helps thor try to locate the remaining asgardians who made it off the ship in time before thanos decimated it. they spend months trying to make contact, which brings thor out of his room and into more of a normal routine again. bruce works tirelessly at it because he knows that finding them will give thor a little shred of happiness.

of course, bruce checks every single green insect, animal, leaf etc. for loki upon thor’s request. i wrote a fic about this once, i’ll link it here!

when he’s accepted they’re gone, bruce helps thor give odin, loki and heimdall funerals on the beach. (i saw fan art based on this) they take the day and travel to a beach where thor can give them asgardian send offs and so that thor can connect to his home once again.

thor asks bruce to move to New Asgard with him. he tells him about odin’s death where he and loki sat on the rocks in norway and how he wants to rebuild Asgard there. bruce happily obliges, because at this point the compound only houses steve and nat (tony went to his lil cabin with pepper and morgan and clint went off on his homicidal rage :/).

thor and bruce are integral to building New Asgard and they are helped by korg, miek, valkyrie and the remaining asgardians that thanos didn’t kill. like korg says in ragnarok, it is a haven for all people and aliens of the universe, so thor grants entry to anyone who may not feel they belong anywhere after the snap (this is done in moderation of course) and we finally see what happened to ava starr post amatw - she lives in New Asgard with valkyrie.

thor asks bruce if he will help him seek therapy. i don’t know if thor would be able to take things like anti depressants but he would definitely reach a point where he wants to try and heal. he’s incredibly torn up by the guilt and grief he feels for not stopping thanos, but when he’s surrounded by positivity from bruce, korg, miek, valkyrie etc. he learns to believe that it wasn’t his fault.

there are memorials for loki, heimdall, frigga and odin in New Asgard in thor’s office. he looks at them every day for motivation and strength and even though they are painful, he never takes them down.

thor and bruce have their own house together in New Asgard. they start off as platonic roommates but eventually get closer and realise that they’ve been in love with each other the entire time. everyone around them in New Asgard has already realised months ago but nobody ever thought to mention it until one day korg blurts it out and they’re forced to confess to each other.

they don’t go back to New York until they’re called upon. bruce does not undergo the transformation into professor hulk. as bruce helps thor through his grief, thor unknowingly helps bruce learn to love himself and appreciate that he shouldn’t be ashamed of himself because of how the hulk acts. bruce remembers that he very in character hates the hulk and does not want to merge himself with hulk for the rest of eternity. he admires thor’s love for bruce banner, not the hulk, and tries to adopt it for himself.

most importantly they find some semblance of happiness and peace with each other. whether that’s possible through their grief following the snap i don’t know, but i’m absolutely 100% certain that it is canon in my mind that they never leave each other’s sides.

[yetanotherhiddlestoner]

                            The Asgardian and his Atlantean.

  (First time writing a marvel related story and and LokiXreader one at that. So forgive the way it is. I got bored one night watching Atlantis on Disney that I came up with this mixture of a story. Hope you enjoy I own nothing of marvels or disney’s. This story is also on my Wattpad -https://www.wattpad.com/user/HatterMoon )

Life at Stark Tower was good for you. All the Avengers loved you and they treated you like family. You loved helping out Tony the most with his suits and helping him advance the technology. This morning started like any other day, you woke before the sun had started to shine in the sky, you check your pendent. A couple more days before you need to be returning home.

You prepared breakfast for everyone, despite being told numerous times that you didn't need to do it.

You made sure to brew enough coffee for everyone as they all seem to need it first thing in the morning. You preferred tea to start your day, and so they have gifted you your own tea pot and tea set at Christmas.

The first to wander in was Nat, still in his PJ's with messy hair and rubbing her eyes, you chuckle silently. "Morning Nat. Sleep well?" She mumbled a reply, followed by the words "Need Coffee" One by one all the Avengers entered the common room, some more awake then others. "Tony where is Steve and Bucky?" Wanda asks as you take in notice that you are two short. "They left on a mission last night so for the time being it will just be us." Tony answers "Good Morning Y/N." Bruce said as he come to stand beside you. "Morning Bruce. I might need the lab later today to test out some test for healing drinks is that fine with you? "Hey I only borrow the Lab myself you best ask Tony since you know, he owns it" "I know but you are the one in there most of the time. It feels like I am invading  your space" "You can use the Lab Y/N. Do I need to remind you that you live here, you do not have to ask to use something." Tony said as he had overheard the conversation. You smile at him. Tony had become like a father figure to you over the years. "Thanks Tony."

It's not long before they all go off and do their own things, Clint goes to the shooting range, Natasha and Wanda go to the training, Bruce to the lab and Tony goes to the armory, leaving you to do your own thing. It unusually quiet this day. You so used to Bucky keeping you company while you wander through various jobs that need doing.

As the day went on you made your way down to the lab for a few hours, The Avengers went on a small mission, leaving you alone. As much as you hated them going on missions you enjoyed the quiet. You took note of the potions and ingredients and the ones that needed restocking.

"Miss Y/N. They will be returning shortly. I was informed by Mr Stark" "Thank you Jarvis, will they be requiring my assistance?"

"I am unsure Miss Y/N best to be prepared in case" You nod and gather a couple of jars in your hand and take them to the Med-bay.

"Hey kid we're home" Tony called out through the building. You make your way to them to see Nat and Clint heading to the med-bay, limping.

"There is a new stock of healing potions in there for you guys to try if you want." You smile and they nod at you as you continue your way to Tony. "How did it go Tony?" "Wasn't our best, wasn't as small as we had predicted." "That bad?" "You could say ,might be a problem in the future but not right now, also kid we have a new person for you to meet. They will be staying here for a while." He said as he poured himself a glass of whiskey. "Oh?" Now you were curious. "Yeah its Thor's brother, Loki. He will be arriving later today. If you want to join us in collecting him you are more than welcomed." "I might just do that. It has been awhile since I left the tower and I will be returning home in a couple days to grab supplies, So you will have to survive without me for about a week" Tony chuckles "You mean we have to cook our own breakfast? Oh no how will we survive." You roll your eyes at the sarcasm but smile. He pats your back as he walks out of the common room.

You head to your room and rest for a while, you slowly starting to feel the drain on your body. Closing your eyes you dream of your home, your friends and family.

A knock on your door alerts you to wake up. "Hey Lady Y/N, Stark told me to come and grab you." Only one person calls you by that nickname and its Thor so its no surprise when you open the door and see him there. "Please Thor call me Y/N. No need for formalities." "No. Lady Y/N we will be leaving soon, walk with me to the landing dock?" You nod and allow Thor to lead you to the Quin-jet. "So your brother is joining the Avengers?"

"Sadly no, he will be helping out on missions but will not be a Avenger. He is barely happy about helping us. He might even be able to help you in the Lab and with the suits." "I doubt Tony will allow anyone to touch his suits, do you remember the trouble I had when I fixed his suit the first time, I was all but grounded" "I am sure you could convince Tony to allow Loki to help?" "Ah the God of Mischief and Tony Stark agreeing on something. Is this not the same Loki that attacked New York?" You joke to the god of thunder. "The same one, I would like to think that Tony will one day sort of agree with him, he has done his time on Asgard and Father thinks this will help him amend the past." You stay quiet, you had not been here when the New York attack happened, that was the week Tony had sent you home to grab supplies, but he had filled you in on some of the details.

"Lady Y/N if you may" Thor says gesturing to the seat "We will betaking off soon." You smile and get strapped in to your seat. You stay quiet for the flight, everyone around is chatting between themselves, and joking. You pick up on bits and pieces here and thereof what they discussing.

"We might as well have a party for Reindeer games arrival." Tony says loud enough for everyone to hear. "Another party Tony? Must we, you know Loki won't like it" Nat says glaring at the male beside her. "Another reason to have it. He needs to get over it and show us that he is changing. So a party is the perfect way to do it." You sometimes wondered what went though Tony's head some days. He had to host a party for everything. He even held one for you when you finally agreed to help them. FLASHBACK It took a lot of convincing and asking for you to accept Mr. Starks offer to work for him. Some how your little secret was out in the open and now you had the richest man in the area, all but begging you to join his crew. "We could use a smart woman like you on the team. You would have your own room, hell I will even give you your own floor for your technology and gear." "Mr. Stark as much as I would love to join, I am afraid I will never fit in." "Why because your Atlantean? You do know Thor is a god, Bruce is the Hulk. You would fit in fine. I do not care what you are or where you come from."

You look at him and then look away to your garage filled with old Atlantean war machines. You could use a bigger place for them to be stored while you fix them up and get them back in the air. "Could I bring all this? I have worked to hard to give up" You wave your hands round the room. "Not to the tower, but I have a compound that we can store them at and you can go there and work on them whenever you need." "Alright Mr. Stark. I will accept." "Great and call me Tony. I will start arranging the transportation of your vehicles and your personal belongings. Please excuse me" You watch him walk out, a bit stunned at how quickly he got to setting everything up.

ENDOF FLASHBACK.

You feel Thor tapping your shoulder, you glance at him "Yes?" "We will be landing soon. Are you ok? You seem to be a bit distracted?" "Oh its all good Thor, I was just thinking." "As long as you are well Lady Y/N" A few moments alter you have landed and everyone has started leaving the Quin-jet. You look around you, nothing but grasslands for miles. Next thing you see a giant beam of light land on the ground ahead of you and in a flash it is gone, leaving nothing but a raven hair man in green armor.

Loki.

"Brother it is nice to see you again." Thor approaches the man alone. "Thor. I see you bought the whole team for this arrival. Couldn't trust me enough to come alone?" "It is not like that Loki. Do not start this" You watch the interaction between the brothers as does everyone else. No-one moves to greet him. "Come now Brother, there is someone I wish for you to meet." Thor looks in your direction. They make their way over to you. "Brother is is Lady Y/N." You bow a bit to Loki, knowing of his royal title, you have no choice but to. "Your Highness, nice to meet you" "Lady Y/N you do not need to bow to him." "Best you listen to my brother Mortal" Loki said with a smugness. You raise your head and you feel his eyes trail to your neck. You see the realization kick in once he sees your pendent. "You're Atlantean?"

[worstloki]

Wait...ATLA AU with Waterbender!Loki, and FireNation!Asgard. Mayhaps the spirits are more relevant in this AU, so people especially blessed by non-main/non-elemental spirits (so anyone other than La, Tui, Agni, uhhh Guain and Shu are the earth kingdom ones I think, and The Autumn Lord or air) can have some manipulation of Qi, but it works differently and is very, very rare, depending on the power level of the spirit, a bending blessing can last 1 generation without renewing it through more bending blood, or like 20 generations but it skips a few. So you can have Non-bender (but actually water bender Loki), or Insert Cannon Spirt that can give him some shape shifting blessed and maybe still Water bender but figures that that out waay later Loki. This ask is a little bit of a mess, but just Water Tribe Loki (who’s stuffed full of ‘water Tribe’s are barbaric’ propaganda) Living in Fire Nation Asgard.

because Loki, like me, simply must be the center of the universe:

- Asgard is the fire nation, obviously, and Odin has 3 kids: the fire-bending lightning-bending prodigy daughter, the spare fire-bender who is good but not as good who will strive to do what his father asks because Father simply must be right (even if he’ll realize later and switch sides), the non-bender who is the dishonorable family disgrace who freaks out and makes a run from home when he realizes he can water bend and neither of his parents can and realizes he was adopted? stolen?? and is maybe the avatar and oh frick Odin’s razing the other nations trying to find the avatar and AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

- The “air nation” can be four temples/realms (svartalfheim, alfheim, vanaheim, muspelheim) which were wiped out on by the last Sozin’s comet, so the cycle moved on to the water nation (southern water tribe/jotunheim) (northern water tribe/nifleheim) and there ain’t no way he’s going there those people are barbaric monsters... aren’t they?

- he joins a Midgardian (earth-kingdom) circus road-trip that’s touring across the realms (yes, he juggles) that’s actually just the Avengers and maybe they’re all non-benders? maybe some of them are? None of them are too flashy but Loki’s trying to observe the mix of bending styles and pick up on bending techniques without making it too obvious that he’s not a non-bender

- cue Loki getting in touch with the Earth spirit and getting some neat blessing gifts with bending and now he can Earth bend too and suddenly BAM Thor attacks the circus and Loki water bends to defend his circus friends from his fire and they make eye contact and Loki is so scared/devastated at having to go up against Thor who is angry at Loki for leaving home and has been tasked to retrieve Loki - the water bending throws Thor off and in his confusion Loki freezes him to the ground and apologizes and runs for it.

- now the circus folks are all “um, dude??? the prince of the fire nation just attacked us and you didn’t tell us you could bend?? what’s up with that???” so he tells them he may or may not be Fire Nation Prince Loki and they all feel betrayed because “those colonialist jerks??” but Loki explains how he’s actually a water bender... and may also be an earth bender... and they’re all totally on-board with the avatar returning because it’s about time and the earth kingdom is on thin ice with them (ba sing se is Svartalfheim btw) and yes the reason we’re a mix of benders is because this circus is actually the white lotus the avengers and were touring the realms to low-key try finding the avatar who is supposed to be the saving grace and end of this war please

- now the circus folks are helping Loki meet all the other nation spirits (yes they venture into the terrifying Jotunheim and Nifleheim while searching for the spirit (”what do you mean you don’t know where the spirit is?? how’d you find the last ones??” “I only met one!! and it came to me!!” “well I guess we’re stuck searching everywhere in this frozen wasteland then”) and additionally he only gets to meet the spirit who grants him the bending after he accepts parts of himself and others (for example, the water bending was a result of him finally realizing that he didn’t stand a chance at the throne and it wasn’t until every shred of hope that Odin could one day be proud of him was gone that he was messing with the turtleduck pool and maybe saw the water spirit in the reflection and bent water) (the earth spirit comes to him when he accepts that there are people that will still be proud of him and he can move on with life because the circus folk like him for who he is and were excited when he successfully landed a bunch of throwing knives on targets and decided on that as an act he can do)

- The circus folk are also trying to teach Loki what little they know about bending btw since he’s admitted to copying and mixing their techniques together (he does all the bending in one style and yes it’s as chaotic for the opponent as that sounds because you can never tell what he’s going to bend) but there 100% has to be an episode where he steals the water-scroll  

- Thor chases them down and Loki can bend water now?? and he’s just trying to bring Loki back like Odin asked him too and then one time he catches up to them and Loki panics and bends Earth too and Thor realizes and stops fighting and tells Loki to just go. Thor goes back to the Fire Nation and argues with Odin and calls him out because Loki is the avatar?? he’s from the water tribe?? and he feels betrayed and does the Zuko-Ozai-Black-Sun-Speech-Without-The-Black-Sun about how neither Loki nor Thor need to prove themselves and he won’t tear this family apart any further (Frigga is in fact an absent mother here btw) and then Thor goes and chases Loki down over weeks and saves him (blue mask hero?? except... feathered-helmet hero??) from Fire Nation soldiers who got their hands on him and the circus folk are NOT happy to have him around (air bending comes to Loki when he finally forgives Thor for being an arrogant self-righteous meanie to him for years because Hela is attacking them now and this is so much worse and Thor gets his eye burnt by Hela and Bruce isn’t that good but he can water-bend and heal a bit so it’s not too bad and he takes a moment to breathe and goes for a walk and BAM air spirit) 

- they get attacked a few more times, loki tries getting over the trauma that is realizing the harm that the fire nation has done to all the other realms (and thor is learning this too by the way so when hela attacks you bet they try mentioning the damage and loss of culture the fire nation is resposible for even if she doesn’t care because she’s the heir she needs to be perfect because her two brothers weren’t and look what happened to them they were exiled and live with a blasphemous blend of peasants (and rich-kid-metal-bending-earth-nation-runaway-royalty tony (”WHAT?! SO THAT’S WHERE YOU GET THE MONEY?? I thought you were scamming people not selling cool metal toys and what are we doing that attracts all these royal snobs to us??”))

- Loki has a dream where the fire spirit tells him to keep searching and then one day Hela goes to burn Thor again and Loki just goes ahead and fire bends right back at her and hoo boy his fire isn’t blue but it sure is a lot and Thor does the “........YES!!!” thing and Hela gets stuck in a ring of fire while everyone else laughs and leaves and she can’t lose so watch as her “close friends” end up not being ty lee and mai but the valkyries (the kyoshi warriors are the Red Room Assassins in this AU and no it’s not a childhood torture house it’s just a mostly-women midgardian protection group (maybe Nat trained there so if the circus ever bumps into them she’ll know them? Jane should get to be one of them too even if she’s more into inventing... she and tony should Talk... maybe she and Pepper can beat him up and give him some Respect Women Juice the same way Sokka got his?)) 

- epic chase across the realms since Loki can bend all the elements now he just needs to figure out how the Avatar state works but until then the gaang is struggling to stay ahead of the Valkyries and get Loki trained up to take down Odin (Thor teaches Loki fire bending so that’s covered but no one else except Tony who is a metal-bending expert really learnt properly and Loki isn’t even a metal-bender)

- eventually Hela snaps from all the losses and as she becomes more unhinged Brun jumps sides and Hela kills off (or fires, if we’re staying PG) the rest of the Valkyries and now Brun is super guilty but she’s fighting to avenge them now 

- blah blah blah Sozin’s comet day and Loki goes up against Odin with the help of the Avengers (maybe Thor can take down Hela with the help of Brun and Nat?) etc. etc. 

- so anyways Loki takes Odin’s fire bending and that was the first time he’s entered the Avatar state and when everyone asks how it felt Loki goes “oh i’m not the avatar” 

- “you’re WHAT” “not it” “but you JUST went into the avatar state and everything” “yeah and kyoshi gives good head pats but I’m not it” “but-- you mastered ALL THE ELEMENTS?!” “yeah because I was gifted them by the spirits” “but you needed to renew the cycle after it was gone from the world for so long--” “nah I think the spirits just liked me and wanted me to have it” “they... just... like... you...??” “yeah” “so you actually ARE a non-bender Brother??” “oh yeah definitely I was, but not anymore :)” “so you ARE the avatar” 

- [twenty minutes later] “I just went into the avatar state and they just told me i’m not it” “...this happened while you were in the avatar state though???” *shrugs* “eh” “don’t SHRUG this off is there an actual avatar out there or no???” “maybe the real avatar was the friends we made along the way” “shouldn’t we go find them???” *cue everyone setting out on another grand quest to find the ~actual~ Avatar*

[iamanartichoke]

I sometimes wonder if it's because it's more in the past when it comes to Natasha and other avengers, or their ark brings them redemption faster, whereas we see Loki fall, it's there in more real time, so I wonder if people are less likely to forgive because we are more confronted with it that way.

I mean, on the one hand this does make sense - the other Avengers’ backgrounds are either in the past (Natasha) or resolved during their first movie (Tony, Thor). In contrast, we see Loki fall in one movie, we see him being a villain for an entire next one, and then we see him villain-coded with a redemption arc (if you can still call it that at this point bc Loki’s arc has been fucked up so much) in the third. We get a lot more “real time” villain Loki than we do any of the other Avengers. 

But, on the other hand, it works both ways. We get more real time villain Loki, but that also means we get more real time redemption arc. Like, let’s try to break it down here. 

Thor 1: The Fall. Seeing Loki’s backstory play out as it happens allows us to contextualize the circumstances in which it happened - that he found out he was adopted, that he was already a misfit, that he and Thor have been pitted against one another since childhood, competing for something Loki was never actually going to get to have (the throne, yes, but also the respect and acceptance - nay, even love - of his family, friends, and people). We see all of that shatter, and see a Loki driven to so much despair that he literally tries to take his own life. This is not a steep dive into twirling-mustache villainy. This is a mental breakdown causing a rough tumble into morally grey-ism at best. Remember, Loki genuinely thought he was doing the right thing, and there is nothing to indicate why he should have believed otherwise, based on the culture in which he was raised. 

Avengers: The Villain. In Avengers, Loki’s one full villain movie, there are many context clues - and later it was ultimately confirmed - that Loki was not acting of his own volition. Not only was he being influenced by the sceptre, but he’d also spent god knows how long being indoctrinated into Thanos’s inner circle. What happens when you take someone who has already had a mental breakdown, tried to take their own life, has literally nothing left to lose, and you twist and manipulate them - possibly even torture them- to suit your own needs? You get a fucking villain. 

And even then - even then - there are further context clues that Loki (who at this point has probably lost most of his mind, is terrified for his life if he fails in this mission, and still reeling from whatever put him in such shitty physical condition when he first arrived on Earth) didn’t even want to take over Earth. When the battle finally starts, he doesn’t take any pleasure in it. He is stone-faced while flying through the air on a Chitauri ship. He cries when he stabs Thor, after looking genuinely unsettled (at best) by the havoc he’s caused. 

The Dark World: The Redemption. Loki is brought back to Asgard in chains. He’s been muzzled, he’s been defeated and humiliated by Thor, and he’s on the defensive. When he faces Odin - the man who is supposed to be his father - Odin does everything short of spitting directly on him. Loki gets disowned and sentenced to life - all remaining four thousand or so years of it - in prison. His mother isn’t too thrilled with him, and he antagonizes her (but with purpose, bc everything he says to her is true) during what turns out to be the last time he ever sees her. She dies and not only does Loki not get to go to her funeral, but neither his father nor his brother even bother to tell him in person. He has to hear the news from a guard. 

And we, as the audience, see all of that. We see the aftermath of Loki having a total sobbing meltdown, after which Thor shows up and refuses to share in Loki’s grief over their mother and further has the audacity to bargain for Loki’s help even while threatening his life. Loki is promised no gratitude, no forgiveness if he helps - he’s offered nothing but a return to his imprisonment. We watch all of that, and then we still watch Loki fight by Thor’s side and save both Thor and Jane’s lives. We see him die for Thor, see him apologize before he dies. We’ve arguably seen more screen time of Loki being wronged and trying to earn redemption than we do of him being an out-and-out villain. Yet it’s never enough. 

Ragnarok: The Grudging Acceptance. I’m not going to go into how Loki was portrayed in Ragnarok, bc it just invites too much discourse, but in this movie, Loki’s arc is ... stagnant, I think. He’s not a villain. He’s had the throne for years and I don’t think Thor is a reliable narrator in claiming the realms were all in chaos. Loki didn’t kill Odin, and furthermore he willingly brought Thor to where he’d left him. Loki doesn’t try anything manipulative, like striking a deal with Hela or betraying Thor (I’m ignoring the little bait-and-switch in the garage bc come on). Loki was never in cahoots with the Grandmaster, as it was made clear Loki planned to kill him eventually. He shows up to help save Asgard. He saves Asgard, actually, by bringing a ship and summoning Surtur. At the end of it, he gets this from Thor: “Maybe you’re not so bad after all.” 

And I think that kind of sums it up. The audience has seen Loki’s entire arc over the course of four movies. We know his backstory. We saw the fallout. We saw the redemption and the sacrifice, and we saw that Loki, when left to his own devices and away from his family, minds his own business and keeps things running smoothly. And the best he ever got, from anyone, is maybe you’re not so bad after all. 

And I just think that when you compare this background with the things the other Avengers have done - assassinations, fighting wars, selling war weapons, destroying Brooklyn - and consider how they are treated (they’re called heroes, they build a cameraderie with one another, they’re given fresh starts), there’s no way that Loki doesn’t come out severely lacking. 

[wiypt-writes]

Stark Spangled Banner

Ch36: I Bid You Farewell And Good Luck, Morons. Part 2- I’m Not Looking For Forgiveness.

Intro: Steve, Katie and the rest of The Avengers at the Compound try to understand what it is that they’re facing, but the more they hear the more they start to wonder if this is a battle they can win.

Warnings: Bad Language words.

Pairing: Steve Rogers x OFC Katie Stark

Disclaimer: This is a pure work of fiction and classified as 18+. Please respect this and do not read if you are underage. I do not own any characters in this series bar Katie Stark and the other OCs. By reading beyond this point you understand and accept the terms of this disclaimer. Shout out to my editing partner @angrybirdcr​

Chapter 36 Part 1​

Stark Spangled Banner Masterlist // Main Masterlist

“So start from the beginning.” Steve looked at Bruce where he stood near the window, one hand on the back of a chair, the other on his hip. He nodded encouragingly, he could see the man was nervous “Who took Stark and what are we up against?”

“I’ll give you the short version and we can plug in the gaps later.” Bruce sighed, “His name is Thanos. He’s a War tyrant, from a planet called Titan. He goes from place to place, destroying worlds, taking what he wants, when he wants. Loki’s attack on New York?” Bruce looked around “Thanos was the one who sent him to attack Earth,“

"But what does he want?” Katie asked.

“All six Infinity Stones…” Bruce supplied.

“Infinity Stones?” Sam questioned.

“Yeah, so erm… the big bang, when it happened, it sent six of these crystals out across the universe. They each control an essential aspect of existence. Space. Reality. Power. Soul. Mind. Time.” Bruce said, rubbing his temple.

“Thor told us about them, after Ultron.” Katie looked round and her eyes fell on Steve’s “He said there were three out there unaccounted for, and three that he could locate. One was with some collector or something, one was housed in the tesseract which was locked in a vault in Asgard and the other…”

"Viz.” Wanda murmured, glancing at the Stone in Vision’s forehead.

Bruce nodded again. “Thanos came to our ship for the tesseract, which means he already had the Power and Space Stones before he came to Earth looking for the rest. Just that alone makes him the strongest creature in the whole universe, if he gets his hands on all six he could destroy all life as we know it.”

“Hang on, the Tesseract was on your ship?” Katie looked at Bruce, “I thought it was on Asgard?”

“It was, but right before Ragnarok…” “Ragnarok?” Katie shook her head, her mind whirring “But that’s…that’s the fabled destruction of Asgard, I mean….” Bruce looked at her. “Asgard was destroyed as part of a battle between Thor and his sister. So was his hammer.” “What?” Steve let out a breath as Katie felt her mouth drop open.

“Look, that’s a whole different story.” Bruce’s tone was slightly frustrated. “All you need to know is that Loki –yeah, surprise, not dead, -stole the tesseract from the Vault before we left. Thanos boarded the ship and took the stone. Just took it.” The scientist’s arms swung out to his sides before returning with a slap, his shoulders slumping as he stood before them, utterly dejected.

The room fell silent.

“So Thor.” Katie took a deep breath and asked the question she wasn’t sure she wanted to know the answer to “Where…”

Bruce dropped his head. “I’m sorry.”

“Oh no.” Steve muttered as he dropped his head, looking downwards. He glanced up and saw across the table that Katie had her right hand against her forehead the heel of which was pressed hard into the space between her eyes as her face screwed up in utter dismay.

Thor. Gone.  

“He was no match for Thanos, not when he had those stones.” Bruce said gently. A single tear trickled down Katie’s cheek and fell to the floor and Steve watched as she took a deep breath, furiously wiping at her face.

“So the two we fought came for the mind stone.”  Sam spoke for the first time “I’m assuming the ones you fought were after another one that’s located somewhere in New York?”

"The Time Stone.” Bruce nodded “It was being protected by some mystical arts guy, or a Wizard as Tony called him, Dr Steven Strange.” Katie’s head whipped round to Steve and he took a breath and straightened up, before he glanced over at Sam and Natasha and the four of them shared an instant understanding, they’d heard that name before on top of a multi-storey parking garage in DC.

"A TV anchor in Cairo, the Undersecretary of Defense, a high school valedictorian in Iowa City. Bruce Banner, Stephen Strange, anyone who’s a threat to HYDRA! Now, or in the future.”

“But he was taken along with Tony.” Bruce finished.

Katie didn’t even want to think about that right now. She had to trust in her brother’s quick mind and sharp resilience, because the alternative didn’t bear thinking about.

"Well, we gotta assume they’re coming back, right?” Rhodey said and Steve looked down again, his mind racing as he tried to make sense of everything Bruce had said.

“And they can clearly find us.” Wanda added.

“We need all hands on deck,” Bruce started pacing, “Where’s Clint?”

“After the whole Accords situation, he and Scott took a deal,” Natasha explained, “It’s too tough on their families. They’re on house arrest.”

“Who’s Scott?” Bruce frowned.

“Ant Man,” Steve answered.

“There’s an Ant Man and a Spider Man?” Bruce looked around in confusion, but it was Rhodey who nodded, simply, like it was just perfectly normal. Bruce shook his head, realising that it didn’t really matter at the moment before he continued. “Thanos has the biggest army in the Universe. And he is not gonna stop until he gets Vision’s stone.” He said the last part softly, almost reluctantly.

“Well then, we have to protect it,” Natasha stepped forward but Vision immediately corrected her.

“No, we have to destroy it,” he said resolutely, his gaze focussed on something out of the window as everyone turned to him.  The Andrioid turned to face them and gestured to the stone in his head. “I’ve been giving a good deal of thought to this entity in my head, about its nature. But also its composition. I think if it were exposed to a sufficiently powerful energy source, something very similar to its own signature, perhaps” he made his way over to Wanda and held onto her upper arm, “Its molecular integrity could fail.”

“Yeah, and you with it,” Wanda looked at him, shaking her head “We’re not having this conversation.”

“Eliminating the stone is the only way to be certain that Thanos can’t get it.”

Katie noticed Wanda’s eyes flash as she glared at Vision. “It’s also too high a price.”

“Only you have the power to pay it,” Vision said quietly.

Steve shifted slightly. He knew that Vision was right, but the idea of losing someone else in their group didn’t sit well.

“Thanos threatens half the Universe.” Vision persisted “One life cannot in the way of defeating him.”

“But it should,” Steve argued, his eyes were diverted to the floor as he spoke gently, and it was right. Who were any of them to decide one life was worth less than anyone else? He took a deep breath and looked up and around the room before landing back on the android “We don’t trade lives, Vision.”

“Captain, seventy years ago you laid down your life to save how many millions of people? Tell me, why is this any different?”

Steve took a sigh and stepped towards Vision, unable to answer because he knew the android had him, but then Bruce did it for him.

“Because you might have a choice,” Bruce answered, and Steve could see the Scientist had suddenly had an idea, “Your mind is made up of a complex construct of overlays. Jarvis, Ultron, Tony, me, the stone. All of them mixing together. All of them learning from one another.”

“You’re saying Vision isn’t just the stone?” Wanda asked.

“I’m saying that if we take out the stone, there’s still a whole lot of Vision left. Perhaps the best parts.”

“Can we do that?” Natasha asked looking back and forth between the android and the scientist somewhat impatiently.

“Not me. Not here.”

Steve suddenly began to think, maybe not Bruce, but could Suri? She had fixed Bucky after all, surely she could do this. T’Challa would be happy to help. And with his defences, maybe Wakanda was the safest place for Vision to be.

“Well you better find someone and somewhere fast,” Rhodey pipped in.  "Ross isn’t just gonna let you guys have your old rooms back.”

Steve nodded to himself, his mind made up before he raised his head to look up around the group. "I know somewhere.”

His eyes momentarily locked onto Katie’s and he watched as the realisation crossed her face, she knew instantly where he meant.

“T’Challa?” She asked.

He nodded, turning to Sam. “Can we get wheels up in twenty?” Sam nodded and Steve looked at Rhodey. "That enough time for you to load up your suit?”

“Yeah. Should be.”

“Okay. “Steve took a deep breath. “Banner, I suggest you grab what you need. The rest of us, back to the jet.”

The team began to bustle about and then Katie remembered something.

“Rhodey?” She asked, hopping down off the table, “Where’s Steve’s shield?”

Rhodey paused in the doorway and turned to face her. “I don’t know, sorry Kiddo. Tony never mentioned it.”

“It doesn’t matter.” Steve said gently. As Katie opened her mouth to suggest they had a look for it, he cut her off “And we don’t have time either, we need to go.”

Truth be told he didn’t want the shield back. It wasn’t his, not anymore.

“Fine.” Katie replied somewhat stiffly. “I’m going to raid the armoury anyway, pick up a few things…” “Katie!” Steve called after her as she hurried out of the room. He let out a frustrated groan.

“I’ll go.” Rhodey said, patting the Captain on the shoulder. “I need my suit anyway.” The directions ingrained in her memory forever she headed to the armoury on autopilot and once inside she stopped dead. It had all changed. To the left were the usual lockers, although they now held no names she would lay odds on all the original seven of them still having kit in there. The guns, arrows, widow bites, shock batons were all still there on the racks. Rhodey’s War Machine kit stood in the corner, but what wasn’t was an Iron Man suit, or a Nova suit, of any description. Instead, in place of the the usual glass cabinets that held them were rows of smaller capsules.

“What the…” Katie mumbled, heading closer to examining “FRIDAY?”

“Welcome home Mrs Rogers…” The AI spoke, a hint of amusement in her voice “I believe Pod Seventy-Six is one of yours”

“Tony’s been working on upgrades.” Rhodey spoke from behind, making her jump. “Nano-tech, courtesy of some work with Helen Cho.” “Why doesn’t that surprise me?” Katie frowned as Rhodey made his way to the War Machine suit.

“Seventy-Six you say?” Katie’s eyes scanned the wall. “Okay, FRIDAY hit me up.” One of the capsules opened and a smaller capsule flew out, opening in mid- air and then out of nowhere a suit formed around her body.

“Woah…” Katie said, as the familiar heads-up display lit up.

“The suit is held in a simple bangle” FRIDAY explained. “I’ll show you once the calibrations are done.”

As FRIDAY rattled through the new features, including a shield, new weapons Katie stole a glance in the mirror. It was much sleeker and less bulky, almost like wearing a cat-suit in a way. It was dark blue and silver, as always, with her Supernova Star in the middle of the chest. She gently reached up to touch it and the suit melted away to a silver cuff with the star in the middle which she tentatively placed around her wrist.

“Impressive huh?” Rhodey asked as he stepped into the War Machine suit.

“One word for it.” She said softly, tracing the outline of her bracelet with her fingers. “I can’t… why did he make it?” She looked up at Rhodey who slid his face plate back up to look at her.

“You know what Tony’s like.” Rhodey shrugged. “Just because you left doesn’t mean he stopped caring.”

Katie looked down at the bracelet on her right wrist.

“Was- Was he okay, you know, after?” She asked, her voice cracking.

“He was as okay as he could be.” Rhodey hesitated slightly “To be honest, nothing was great though. The team was split and…”

Katie looked down “I had to go, I couldn’t stay, not after what he said to me.” Rhodey looked at her. “And have you ever considered why he said what he did?” “Because he hates me?” “No, because he loves you.” Rhodey took a deep breath “He knew full well that whatever choice you made it was going to kill you, but he couldn’t see you sat in a jail, he just couldn’t Kiddo. So he did what he had to do make sure you stayed away.” Whatever she had been expecting Rhodey to say it wasn’t that. His words hit her like a tonne of bricks and she felt her face screw up as she blinked back the tears. 

“Shit.” She managed to mumble out. “I could, you know we could have called him, or he could have called us, tried to …” “You’re both as obstinate as one another” Rhodey shook his head as he started to walk to the door of the armoury. “Which is why I know he’s still alive. He’s too much of a stubborn asshole to die. “

*******

Tony was pissed, really pissed. Not only was he stuck on this fucking ship, the kid was still here too. Peter Parker was almost as much of a pain in his ass as Katie had been when she was his age. The thought of his sister brought a pang to his heart, especially when he knew she was more than likely at the compound now after Bruce will have called them. He hoped anyway, he’d thrown the phone down before the fight after all, he just hoped the scientist had found it.

He looked around and glared at Peter before his shoulders fell. Well the kid was here now, might as well use him.

“Come on.” Tony sighed “We got a situation” He lead Peter over to a viewpoint to see the torture going on below. Peter crouched to study the situation, with that damned cloak leaning over his shoulder. “See him down there? He’s in trouble.” Tony continued “What’s your plan? Go.”

“Um. Okay, okay… uh…” Peter and the cloak popped back up suddenly, a smile playing on Peter’s face. “Okay. Did you ever see this really old movie, Aliens?”

It was a dumbass plan, but dumbass enough to work. Tony blew a hole in the side of the ship which caused a huge depressurization and as such the alien was sucked out of the side. A quick struggle and Dr Strange was rescued from drifting off to space, Tony repaired the side of the hull with nanites and that was that.

“We’ve gotta turn this ship around” Strange looked at Tony who rolled his eyes. .

“Yeah. Now he wants to run. Great plan”. 

“No, I want to protect the stone.”

Tony walked towards the expansive front view-port and from the way things were moving out there, he assumed they were travelling at some kind of hyper speed. The wizard was irritating him though, if he’d just agreed to get the stone out of the way they wouldn’t even be in this mess. 

“And I want you to thank me now. Go ahead, I’m listening.” He turned to glare at the arrogant bastard.

“For what?” Strange snorted, “Nearly blasting me into space? 

“Who just saved your magical ass? Me.” Tony looked at him.

“I seriously don’t know how you fit your head into that helmet”. Strange shook his head as he eyed the billionaire up and down. 

“Admit it.” Tony snapped back. For some reason he felt the need to make this guy admit he was wrong, just like he used to try and do with Rogers. No particular reason for it, other than the childis desire to be the one to come out on top. “You should have ducked out when I told you to. I tried to bench you. You refused.” 

“Unlike everyone else in your life, I don’t work for you”. 

“And due to that fact, we’re now in a flying doughnut billions of miles away from Earth with no backup.”

“I’m back up.” Peter said, raising his hand. 

“No, you’re a stowaway.” Tony waggled his finger between himself and Dr. Strange.“The adults are talking”. 

“I’m sorry, I’m confused as to the relationship here. Wh– what is he, your ward?” Strange frowned.

“No. I’m Peter, by the way.” Peter said, holding out his hand. 

“Dr Strange.” Strange replied, looking at him.

“Oh, we’re using our made-up names. Um. I’m Spider-Man, then”. 

Before Strange could respond, Tony piped up. “This ship is self-correcting its course. Thing’s on autopilot.”

Strange walked closer to where Tony was stood. “Can we control it? Fly us home?”

Home…Thanos…home. 

They’d almost flattened New York once, and then there was Sokovia…no, home was most certainly a bad idea.

“Stark?” Strange’s voice cut across his thoughts. “Can you get us home? 

“Yeah I heard you. I’m thinking. I’m not so sure we should.” Tony replied, honestly.

“Under no circumstance can we bring the Time Stone to Thanos.” Strange warned “I don’t think you quite understand what’s at stake here”.

“No. It’s you who doesn’t understand, that Thanos has been inside my head for six years since he sent an army to New York and now he’s back!” Tony said, stalking towards Strange, jabbing a finger in the air as he pointed towards the ground. “And I don’t know what to do. So I’m not so sure if it’s a better plan to fight him on our turf or his but you saw what they did, what they can do. At least on his turf, he’s not expecting it. So I say we take the fight to him. Doctor. Do you concur?“

Strange had to admit, the guy had a point. Let Thanos destroy his own place, not theirs. “Alright, Stark. We go to him. But you have to understand… if it comes to saving you or the kid or the Time Stone… I will not hesitate to let either of you die. I can’t, because the fate of the universe depends on it”

“Nice. Good. Moral compass. We’re straight” Tony nodded. Stepping over to Peter he tapped each of the kids shoulder with the edge of his hand, dubbing him as is done at a knighting. 

“Alright, kid. You’re an Avenger now”

Tony couldn’t look at him as he spoke, because he knew what he was signing the kid up for. 

******

The jet was filled with chatter as Rhodey, Bruce and the rest of the team were catching up but Katie wasn’t listening. She wasn’t feeling great either, that damned sick feeling was back, most likely this time down to utter fear about what was to come. If Bruce was right, she wasn’t convinced this was a battle they were going to win.

“You know,” she looked up at Steve and voiced her fear softly, “if he’s already killed Thor, and it’s going to take us, plus a royal army to attempt to fight this guy off what fucking chance does Tony stand?”

Steve didn’t answer, he couldn’t. Because what he was thinking wasn’t going to provide her any comfort. Instead he merely tightened his arm around her and pressed his lips to her forehead.

It was a couple of hours later before they hit Wakandan airspace.

"We’re coming up.” Sam spoke as Steve focussed his attention out of the front of the jet, one arm hanging lightly against the grab rails on the roof.

“Drop to 2600, heading 0-3-0.” Steve instructed.

Sam glanced back over his shoulder before he spoke, “I hope you’re right about this, Cap. Or we’re gonna land a lot faster than you want to.”

Katie gave a small smile as she drew up next to Steve, wrapping her arm around his waist. They both stood, waiting as Sam flew the jet right into the trees, and swore with a loud ‘holy shit’ as it passed right through the hologram barrier into Wakanda. Everyone on the jet moved to get a better look at the beautiful mountains, lakes, buildings as the jet circled and Steve directed Sam to the runway.

They disembarked and Katie strolled off shortly behind Steve, followed by Natasha. Vision and Wanda stayed put, Steve telling them he would get them some help soon.

Bruce, who was at the rear with Rhodey whispered as he shrugged his arms into his jacket, “Should we bow?”

“Yeah, he’s a king.” Rhodey answered casually without missing a beat.

Steve ignored their banter instead smiling warmly at T'Challa as he reached out to shake his hand. “Seems like I’m always thanking you for something.”

T'Challa smiled back and he shook Steve’s hand before embracing Katie in a warm hug. “Mrs Rogers, it is a pleasure to see you.” “And you.” She smiled softly, before she stepped back and T’Challa nodded to the rest of the group. The clearing of a throat caught Katie’s attention and she turned just in time to see Bruce bow forward towards T’Challa.

“What are you doing?” Rhodey asked, looking at him.

“Uh, we don’t do that here.” T'Challa said kindly waving a hand to stop Bruce’s bow. Everyone smiled in amusement expect for Bruce who turned and shot a disbelieving but amused look at Rhodey who grinned back at him, nudging him with his elbow.

Then they turned serious again as T'Challa asked, “So how big of an assault can we expect?”

His guards moved as he spoke, opening up a path that T'Challa took, leading them away. They followed quickly while Bruce piped up politely as he explained, “Uh, sir, I think you can expect quite a big assault.”

“How we looking?” Natasha added, addressing the king with a similarly concerned frown on her face.

“You will have my King’s Guard,” T'Challa listed, “the Border Tribe, the Dora Milaje, and-” He gestured to the side just as a familiar, dark-clothed man stepped out of the building to greet them by the door.

“A semi-stable, one hundred-year-old man.” Bucky grinned. Katie smiled back and then glanced at Steve as he walked forwards, that familiar boyish grin on his face as pulled the man into a hug clapping him on the back a few times.

“How have you been, Buck?” he pulled back to look at his friend. He looked as well as he’d seen him in years. Healthy and dare he say it, happy.

“Not bad,” Bucky shrugged looking down at his new black vibranium arm, “For the end of the world.” He turned his head towards Katie and nodded. “S’up, Doll Face?” Katie smiled and stepped forward to give him a hug and a kiss on the cheek. “You look good Buck,” she greeted him, stepping back to look him up and down before smiling, something that didn’t escape Steve’s notice.

And yes, he knew there was nothing in it, and this was the most inappropriate time to get jealous but still…

“I feel it.” Bucky smiled as Steve slid his arm around his wife’s shoulder, pulling her closer and pressing a kiss to her forehead. Bucky bit back the urge to snort and teas his best friend at the ridiculous display of possessiveness. “Goat farming suits me.” With that, Bucky turned to Sam. “Hey man.”  

“Frosty.” Sam responded with a jerk of his head.

They left Rhodey, Sam and Bucky with some of the guard to keep watch, and the rest of them followed T'Challa up to the labs where the person who was said to be able to safely remove Vision’s stone was waiting. Steve could tell that the rest of the group weren’t expecting that person to be T'Challa’s sixteen year old sister, Shuri. But T'Challa had full faith in her, as did Steve after she had managed to remove Bucky’s programming.  

"Whoa.” Shuri blinked as she stared at the hologram of Vision’s brain and the stone in awe, “The structure is polymorphic…”

"Right, we had to attach each neuron non-sequentially.” Bruce nodded and Shuri glanced at him with a raised brow.

“Why didn’t you just reprogram the synapses to work collectively?” She asked looking at Banner. Vision also glanced at the doctor in question.

“Because… we didn’t think of it.” Bruce admitted sheepishly.

Shuri smiled and Katie had to fight the laugh that was brewing at the Princess’ playful nature “I’m sure you did your best.”

“Can you do it?” Wanda asked stepping forward anxiously.

Shuri’s smile dropped as she became more serious. “Yes, but there are more than two trillion neurons here. One misalignment could cause a cascade of circuit failures.” Her gaze moved to T’Challa “It will take time, brother.“

"How long?” Steve asked, straightening up slightly.

Shuri shook her head. “As long as you can give me.” She answered honestly and worryingly.

A loud warning siren suddenly started and instantly Katie looked around. General Okoye tapped at something on her bracelet and she looked over at T’Challa.“Something’s entered the atmosphere.”

Seconds later, Sam’s voice called over their coms, “Hey, Cap, we got a situation here.”

Katie moved over to the floor-length windows of the lab to look out, Steve stood close behind her as everyone followed to see what was going on. In the distance, they could see the plains all around as far as the border stretched to the city. A giant ship descended from the sky and as they watched it exploded high above the city as soon as it touched the shield, causing Katie to jump back slightly. Steve gently caught her, his hands going to her shoulders as his focus remained on the exploding ship which dissipated above the invisible barrier they had flown through.

“God, I love this place.”  Bucky’s contented sigh rang over their coms.

“Yeah, don’t start celebrating yet, guys. We got more incoming outside the dome.” Rhodey warned.

More ships came crashing down to Earth just outside the Wakandan barrier disturbing the dust and sand on the ground as they landed. The lab they were stood in shook slightly and Vision sat up.

“It’s too late."  He whispered and both Steve and Katie turned to look at him as he sat up. "We need to destroy the stone now.”

“Vision, get your ass back on the table.” Nat replied snapping her head back to look at him as she made her way to the door.

“We will hold them off.” T'Challa said motioning to his guard.

“Wanda,” Steve spoke up, looking at the young woman, “As soon as the stone’s out of his head, you blow it to hell.”

Wanda nodded with promise, “I will.”

Steve turned his attention back to the window, watching the space ships which at the moment were doing nothing. T'Challa meanwhile, turned to his General and her warriors and began barking orders, “Evacuate the city. Engage all defences.”

Steve turned to look at him as the king pointed in his directing before adding firmly. “And get this man a shield!”

Steve gave a small nod before he glanced back out of the window. For almost two years his fighting days had been focussed on simple people. Small groups of nobodies. Now, they were being thrown back into the crazy world of Aliens, AIs…and he knew they were going to look to him for leadership.

He might not be Captain America anymore, but he was still Captain Rogers, still that dumb kid from Brooklyn. And he still wasn’t going to run from a fight. 

**** Chapter 37 Part 1

**Original Posting**

[cozy-the-overlord]

Dances and Daggers

Summary:   The Summer Festival is upon Asgard, as is the tradition of the dagger ceremony, where each unmarried gentleman chooses a lady to bestow with the honor of carrying his dagger for the night. As Prince Thor’s betrothed, Teki’s only goal is to accept his dagger with grace and hope that her violent stepfather doesn’t find fault with her in the process. But Prince Thor is unpredictable, and when he ignores his engagement on a whim Teki finds herself in a desperate situation. Luckily, Thor isn’t the only prince in Asgard…

Pairing: Loki x Original Female Character

Chapter 4: The Indiscretion

Previous Chapter  |  Next Chapter

Word Count: 4,191

Chapter Summary:  Prince Loki’s Nameday Feast gets a little out of hand.

A/N: So, when I write stories, I usually follow a very strict, detailed, scene-by-scene outline-- otherwise, I loose track of what I'm supposed to be doing. I had one such outline for Dances and Daggers. However, when writing this chapter, Teki and Loki just... decided not to follow it. I was writing it with a specific plan in mind, and they were were just like "nope!" and went and did their own thing. So... yeah. This chapter looks very different than I originally planned. I'm kind of nervous about posting it, but it was a fun writing experience, and I hope you enjoy it!

Thanks for reading! :)

TW: mentions of child abuse, cursing, threats of violence

Tags: @lucywrites02 @gaitwae

Read it on Ao3!

“You look beautiful, Tekla,” her mother was saying. Teki inhaled sharply as she yanked a brush through her hair. “Everyone will adore you.”

She studied her reflection—or, more accurately, she studied the scarlet gown in her reflection.

“Mama,” she whispered. “Shouldn’t I be wearing green?” It was a losing battle and she knew it, but the thought of being the only one dressed in red was mortifying enough to make her fight it.

“Nonsense. Why would you wear anything but your betrothed’s colors?” Her mother twisted her hair into an elegant bun, Teki flinching as she shoved pins in too close to her scalp. “Tekla, stay still.”

“But it’s Prince Loki’s Nameday Feast,” she pleaded, still keeping her voice low enough so that Osvald couldn’t hear her complaining from the next room. “Everyone’s going to be wearing green—”

“Then you’ll stand out, as you should.” She patted her shoulder. “Well, are you ready?”

Teki stared into the mirror, her reflection only returning her misery.

…

Everyone was wearing green.

Teki slunk through the Great Hall with her head down, praying to the Norns or anyone listening that everyone was too distracted with their own problems to notice her, a bloodstain on a beautiful emerald tapestry. When she saw Thor approaching, she knew even that was too much to ask.

“Lady Tekla,” he said, bowing. “Would you honor me with this dance?”

She curtseyed, holding back a sigh. “It is I who would be honored, my prince.”

It was a short song, but somehow the dance lasted for eternity. They moved together stiffly, not saying a word, Teki’s gaze never rising above her partner’s chest. Somehow, she knew Thor had only asked her to satisfy the demands of his parents. That was all right, she told herself. After all, she only accepted to satisfy the demands of hers. Hopefully Mama and Osvald are watching. Still, she found herself thinking about the night Loki had given her his dagger, how nice it had felt to know that someone had asked her to dance simply because they wanted to dance with her.

When the music came to a close, he bowed, she curtseyed, and they both went their separate ways. Lurking at the refreshment table, she watched her fiancé rush to ask that same girl to dance. Sif. Who trained with the boys in the courtyard. She was saying something with a smirk on her face. Thor burst into laughter, his cackles booming across the room like a drum.

Teki bit her lip. Loki had told her that Sif was nothing more than a passing fancy, but she couldn’t imagine herself ever making Thor laugh like that. She couldn’t imagine herself ever making Thor laugh at all. She had always told herself that would change, that when the time came, they would learn to love each other and be happy together, but… what if it didn’t? Was this going to be the rest of her life—forced curtseys and stiff dances, smiling for the crowd before slipping away alone when it ended?

“Having a good time?”

Teki jumped. Prince Loki grinned, reaching out to steady her.

“Why do you always do that?” she whispered.

He chuckled. “Forgive me, my lady. This time was unintentional.”

This time. There was a snarky reply right on the edge of her lips, but Teki caught herself.

“Happy Nameday, my prince,” she said

He nodded, his green eyes never leaving hers. “Thank you.”

They stared at each other for a moment. Teki was the first to look away.

“Have—have you had a good Nameday, my prince?” she asked awkwardly.

Loki shrugged. “No different than all the previous, I suppose,” he said. “Namedays are rather exhausting, really. I don’t need a feast to remind the world that I exist.”

There was something in his eyes, a darkness that Teki couldn’t quite read, but she could tell he was upset. “I can understand that,” she said softly. “But sometimes a little reminder is nice, isn’t it?”

“Perhaps,” he mused, staring into the distance. “And yet it seems people forget regardless.” Suddenly his head snapped back to her. “I’m going to the lake. Do you want to come?”

Teki’s brain short-circuited. “I—what?”

“I’m going to the lake in the gardens,” he repeated. “Do you want to come with me?”

“But—you mean—” she stuttered, glancing around wildly. “We can’t just leave.”

“Sure we can. I do it all the time.”

“But—how?” How was he so nonchalant about this? “What if someone notices?”

“No one ever notices as these things.” He motioned to the room, to the couples on the dancefloor, clusters of people conversing in the corners, servants rushing through the crowd with trays of beverages. “Just look around—everyone’s living in their own little world.

Teki didn’t say anything. Her mind was whirring. Besides her, Loki ran a hand through his raven hair, shifting uncomfortably.

“You—you don’t have to come if you don’t want to,” he said. The cocksure confidence seemed to have drained from his voice, leaving only hesitancy. “I—I don’t mean to pressure you. It’s just—it’s nice having someone to talk to.”

She frowned. This was a terrible idea. If someone saw that she was gone, if they told Osvald… this was a terrible idea. She knew it was a terrible idea. But Loki was right, likely more so than he realized. It is nice having someone to talk to.

Teki inhaled. “My stepfather—” her voice dropped to a whisper, as if merely mentioning his name could summon him. “We’d have to get back before he sees I’m gone, all right?”

He nodded vigorously, matching her urgent tone. “Of course. He’ll never know, I promise.”

“Okay,” she breathed. She couldn’t see any of her family from where they stood, which only exacerbated her fear that Osvald was going to pop out of the shadows and demand to know what she was doing.

Almost shyly, Loki offered her his hand. She took with equal timidity, her heart racing as his cold fingers closed around hers. What was wrong with her today?

She let him pull her out of the hall, through corridors she hadn’t realized even existed, until somehow they were standing outside, the warm summer air kissing her cheeks. Her pulse was thrumming.

“I can’t believe I’m doing this!” she murmured. It was madness. Tekla Osvalddottir didn’t sneak out in the middle of a feast to run around the gardens with a boy who was decidedly not her fiancé. But then again, she wasn’t Tekla Osvalddottir.

“It’s fun, isn’t it?” Loki asked. “Out here, you can actually hear yourself think.” He was right. The air was beautifully still. The only sounds she could hear were the crickets chirping in the distance. They made their way around the perimeter of the lake, eventually landing on the wooden dock that stretched out across the glittering water. For a while, they didn’t say anything.

“How often do you do this?” she asked after a bit. “You know, slipping away?”

Loki kicked at a pebble on the dock. “Oh, I don’t know. A lot. I don’t do it every time, but sometimes it’s just too much.” He laughed drily. “In case you can’t tell, I don’t particularly care for parties.”

“Not even your Nameday parties?”

“Especially not the Nameday parties! They’re so frustrating. Everyone’s pretending that they’re all celebrating for you, but they’re just looking for an excuse to get drunk.” He kicked the pebble one last time, watching as it plopped into the water below. “It’s all so fake. No one actually cares.”

Teki hesitated. There was something bothering him, definitely, but she didn’t know how to address it. How do you make someone feel better when you don’t know what’s causing them to feel bad in the first place?

“Well… I care,” she finally mumbled. The words hung awkwardly in the air, waiting for her to complete the thought, but Teki didn’t know what else to say.

Loki turned back to her. There were still pinpricks of bitterness in his emerald eyes, but they were slowly being overcome by a mischievous smirk. “Says the only person not swathed in my color.”

Teki burned. She knew everyone would notice. “That’s not my fault! My mother made me.” She scowled. “I wanted to wear green.”

His smirk widened. “Oh really? Were you going to dance with your fiancé wearing another’s color?” He covered his mouth in mock horror. “How scandalous!”

She rolled her eyes. “No more scandalous than sneaking away from your own feast, your highness.”

“True.” He wiggled his eyebrows, leaning in slowly. “This is all quite scandalous when you think about it.”

Teki giggled. “Stop it.” She shoved his chest playfully. It wasn’t that hard—her hands only just grazed his leather top—and yet, Loki flew backwards as if he had been hit by a skiff and tumbled over the side of the dock with a theatrical cry. Water splashed over the wood, soaking the bottom part of her skirt.

At first, Teki could only sputter. What just happened? She barely touched him, what was he thinking?

“Loki!” She peered over the edge of the dock into the rippling water. There was no sign of the prince. “Loki, what are you doing?”

It was a prank. It had to be a prank. The lake wasn’t even that deep, there was no way he couldn’t surface. But as the seconds ticked by, with no change in the inky waves, panic began to lodge in the back of Teki’s throat.

“Loki?” she called again, alarmed. What if he hit his head? Should she go in after him? Should she get somebody? How long would it take her to get back to the Great Hall? What if he stuck at the bottom and drowning? She knelt on the dock, leaning over as far as she could. “Lok—”

Without a warning, the prince shot out of the water like a leaping dolphin, grabbing ahold of her shoulders and yanking her down with him. The lake muffled her screams as she thrashed around like a wounded animal, desperately trying to surface. By the time she did she was shaking, gulping air like an addict. Behind her, Loki was chortling.

“You—” Teki didn’t have words. Droplets trickled down the sides of her face, her hair falling out its bun, her scarlet sleeves clinging to her arms like a clammy second skin.  “What—you—” she screeched like a bird. “Why would you do that?”

Loki only laughed harder.

She couldn’t believe this. The dress her mother had so carefully and so adamantly picked out was soaked—there was no way she could possibly return to the feast without causing a scene. Teki’s breath was coming too fast.

Why did she agree to go with Loki? Why?

“I—stop laughing!” she snapped, voice breaking. Loki fell quiet abruptly. Teki’s eyes were heating up. She blinked frantically, but the heat was climbing her throat as well. “My parents are going to kill me!” she whimpered.

Loki looked stricken. He swam toward her, hands outstretched. “Teki, I—”

She splashed water in his face. “Why would you do that?” she sobbed. “Why?”

“I was just—I meant it as a joke—”

“Well, it wasn’t funny!” she gulped. “How—how am I going to explain this?” He’s going to kill me. He’s going to kill me. He’s going to kill me…

Loki reached out again cautiously. This time, she didn’t bother to push him away.

“Here, please.” Gently, he guided her towards the bank. She stumbled as they walked out of the water, the weight of her wet dress pulling her down. When she tripped on the uneven ground, Loki grabbed her to keep her from falling.

Water cascaded into the grass as she tried to wring her skirt out. Norns, she’d never be dry.

“Here,” Loki repeated. He was holding out a towel. Where… oh. Right. Magic.

Shakily, Teki tried to wipe away the sopping mess she had turned into. Loki watched with a shamefaced expression.

“It should dry fairly quickly,” he said softly. “It’s a warm night. By the time we get back no one will know the difference.”

She shook her head. “He will.” He always knows.

“I’ll put an illusion over you,” Loki insisted. “You’ll look exactly as you did when you arrived tonight. No one will tell the difference, I swear.”

Teki looked up at him. The prince hadn’t bothered to make any effort to dry himself. Water pooled at his feet as it streamed down the sides of his leather armor, streaking the gold embellishments. Black strands of hair clung to his cheeks, his forehead creased with guilt. She inhaled.

“Can we go somewhere else?” she asked quietly. The lake had lost its serenity.

He nodded. “Of course.”

“Well, well, well. What’s going on over here?” They both whipped around to see a figure stumbling down the embankment, illuminated by the moonlight.

Loki stiffened. “Fandral.”

“I was wondering where the little prince had gotten to,” the boy called Fandral laughed. There was something in his tone that Teki didn’t like. “You stopped sulking in the corner, I see.” He took a wrong step as he navigated the slope and was nearly the third person to end up in the lake that night, but righted himself just in time.

Teki was frozen. She recognized this Fandral—he was the same person who Thor had been pummeling in the courtyard a few weeks ago. What if he told the Crown Prince what his fiancé was up to when she wasn’t dancing with him? What if Thor told Osvald?

“Thor’s not here, Fandral,” Loki said tightly. “I haven’t seen him all night.”

“Aha. I get it. The little prince wants to be alone with his lady friend,” he smirked, aiming a wink at Teki that sent chills down her spine. He turned back to Loki. “Aren’t you a little young to be making girls wet?”

Teki flushed, and Fandral burst out into laughter. Loki grabbed her hand and started pulling her back towards the palace. “Come on. We’re leaving.”

“Wait, wait. I haven’t met the lady yet.” Fandral pushed towards her, leaning down so that his face was inches from hers. His breath stank of wine. “What’s your name, kitten?”

Teki smacked him.

What happened next was a blur. Fandral stumbled backwards, cursing. Loki yanked her arm—“Come on!”—and then they were sprinting across the palace grounds, the night air whistling through their wet clothing. They didn’t stop until they reached the noble apartments, at which point they collapsed on the grass in a panting, giggling mess.

“Oh my goodness,” she gasped. “I can’t believe I did that!”

“The look on his face!” Loki choked. “Did you see the look on his face?”

“I hit him!” she heaved, still trying to comprehend. “I can’t believe I hit him!”

Loki clapped his hands. “He deserved it. That was beautiful—”

“Is he going to tell everybody now?” The thought dampened her excitement. I’m going to have a criminal record by the time this night is through. “Am I going to get in trouble?”

The prince shook his head. “Don’t worry. Even if he is sober enough to remember what happened, he won’t tell anyone.” He snorted. “It wouldn’t do for the realm to know that Fandral the Dashing got slapped in the face by a girl.”

“What was he doing away from the feast anyways?” she asked. He hardly seemed like the type to abandon a party.

“I wouldn’t know. Looking for fun perhaps? Or maybe he just got lost.” Loki stood up, offering Teki his hand.  She let him pull her to her feet as well. “We still need to dry off,” he said apologetically.

“Wait. My apartment’s right around the corner. We can dry off in there.” She pulled him towards her window. Climbing the ivy wall shouldn’t be an issue—if Teki could do it, then surely the prince wouldn’t have any trouble. She tried not to think about how Osvald would react if he knew she was alone in their rooms with a boy.

Loki frowned, but followed her just the same. “But we can’t get in from here, can we?” he asked. “Don’t we have to go through the main palace?”

“No, there’s another way,” she said, gripping the vines as she reached the wall. She had never done this after dark before, but luckily the light of the moon was bright enough to see clearly. Teki pulled herself onto a foothold.

Behind her, Loki’s eyes were wide. “You’re going to climb that?”

“Sure. I do it all the time.” She pulled herself up the vine, bracing her feet against the wall. Going up was much more difficult than going down.

When Teki glanced back, she realized Loki hadn’t left the ground. “Are you coming?”

“I—” Loki was staring pointedly at the ground, ears pink. “I’ll wait, until you’ve made it in.”

She frowned. “Is something wrong?”

“Um—” he glanced up, then quickly snapped his gaze back to the grass. “It’s—it’s just—” he motioned towards her as her dress fluttered in the breeze.

What was he—oh. Oh. He was trying to avoid looking up her skirt. Teki flushed.

Well, at least he’s nice enough not to look.

She scrambled up the rest of the wall as quickly as she could and pulled on the window. It didn’t budge.

What?

She pulled again. What was wrong? Teki never latched this window. Could her mother have done it? Certainly Osvald and Brant wouldn’t have—Osvald never came in her room and Brant didn’t know how. She pulled once more, this time with even more force.

“What is it?” Loki yelled from the ground.

She sighed. “I think my mother latched the window.”

“Oh, is that all? I can handle that.” Teki looked down just in time to see him flick his wrist. In front of her, the latch fell open. Her eyes widened.

“Wow!”

Loki laughed. “Thor hates that I know that trick.”

She pushed open the window and pulled herself into her room. A few moments later, Loki followed. He went to dry off best he could in the bathroom while fixed her appearance in front of the mirror in her room. He had been right about one thing—the warm air worked in their favor. Teki’s hair was almost completely dry. She quickly brushed through it and twisted it back into its bun—it wasn’t quite as precise as her mother’s work, but hopefully she wouldn’t notice. She realized as she was pinning it down that she must have lost a few pins back in the lake. Hopefully her mother wouldn’t notice that either.

Her dress, however, was a disaster. Not only was it still soaked, but the hem was stained from sitting in the dirt for too long. She peeled it off, making sure to stuff it down the dirty clothes chute before anyone else had time to notice. She’d just have to put on another scarlet dress and, again, hope that no one noticed.

It was only then that Teki realized she had another problem. While she had no shortage of scarlet dresses, she had failed to consider the type of scarlet dresses. The one she had been wearing had a sealed back—she could simply pull it over her head to wear without worrying about buttons or laces. All her other scarlet gowns had lacing on the back that somebody had to tie off for her to wear.

Oh no.

The panic was coming back, but Teki forced herself to breath. What were her options? She could wear one of her other sealed back dresses—but they were less formal, and the wrong color. It would be abundantly clear to anyone who saw her that she had changed for some reason. No, no.

She could try to get the original dress out of the chute, clean it up best she could, and wear it. Teki checked the black abyss into which she had tossed the gown moments ago, praying that it had caught on the way down. Nope. She reached into the darkness as far as she could—no sign of the dress.

She could stay in the apartment—tell her parents that she hadn’t been feeling well and left the feast early. But that wasn’t a real option. Osvald would see through that instantly. She shivered.

That left only one alternative.

“Loki?”

“Yes?” he called from the sitting room.

“Could—could you come in and help me with something?”

The door cracked open and Loki peeked in. “What can I do?”

“I—” Her cheeks were on fire. The dress covered her up—everything but her back, that is—but still she felt so exposed. “Could you lace the back for me?” She turned around so he could see.

“Oh—I—” Loki faltered, taking a step back. “I don’t know how to—”

“Please, it’s—it’s not hard, it’s—it’s just like lacing boots.” Norns, kill me now. “Please,” she added.

For a moment, she thought he wasn’t going to do it. But then, slowly, he made his way across the room, hesitantly taking the laces into his hands.

“Like lacing boots?” he asked.

Teki gulped. “Yes—the crisscross.”

At first, he fumbled with the eyeholes a bit, but he picked up the idea fairly quickly. It was only when he was halfway down her back that another problem became apparent.

“You’re—you’re not doing it tight enough,” she spluttered.

He wavered. “You want it tighter? I don’t want to hurt you—”

“If it’s not tight enough, the dress won’t stay up,” Teki interjected.

“But—”

“It’s all right. I’ll tell you if it’s too tight.” Please, just let this end.

Uncertainly, Loki pulled more at the lacings, stopping the moment Teki winced.

“Are you—”

“It’s fine—keep going.”

It was an eternity before he finally tied off the laces at the bottom. When she turned around, she found that his cheeks were as red as hers. Teki slipped into an awkward curtsey.

“Thank you, my prince,” she mumbled. She wasn’t sure why she had suddenly fallen back into formal titles when they were in possibly the least formal situation she could ever imagine, but here she was.

Loki cleared his throat. “Perhaps it’s time we—”

The downstairs door slammed open.

“Tekla!”

Teki felt all the color drain from her face.

She heard Osvald’s footsteps on the stairs. “Are you in here, you little bitch?”

Her breath was coming too fast, so fast her vision was going dark in the corners.

He’s going to find us. He’s going to find us both in here.

Loki was whispering her name, rubbing her shoulders and saying something else, but all Teki could hear was the pounding of impending doom as it opened her bedroom door. Loki clapped his hand over her mouth just as Osvald walked in.

She expected his eyes to narrow, his brow to deepen. She expected him to drag her by the neck down the hall and demand to know what the Hel she thought she was doing gallivanting about the palace the wrong prince. She expected him to throw her on the ground, or into the wall, or down the stairs, expected him to curse as he hit her, to tell her how she brought it upon herself, to demand that she clean up the mess her blood has made on the floor before her mother saw it and got upset.

But none of that happened.

Instead, her stepfather surveyed the room with a frown, looking straight at them as if they weren’t even there.

“Fucking Hel,” he muttered as he closed the door again.

Teki stood there shaking as his steps echoed back down the stairs, front door slamming as he left. Loki lifted his trembling hand off her mouth.

She stared at him, breathing heavily. “H-how—how did—”

“Illusion.” He smiled, but it looked more like a grimace of pain. “See? I told you no one would know the difference.”

Her head was spinning. “So—so when he walked in—”

“He just saw the empty room.” Loki dropped the act and turned to her, his face filled with concern. “Teki, please let me tell my mother about—”

“No, don’t—”

“Then you tell her, please.” He gripped her shoulder. “This isn’t—”

She shook her head. “You don’t understand—”

“You’re terrified of him!”

“It’s fine—”

“Nothing about what I just saw was fine!”

“Don’t tell anyone.” Teki gripped the fabric on his chest, pleading. “Believe me, it’ll just make things worse. Please don’t tell anyone.”

Loki stared at her, brow furrowed. “All right,” he finally said. “I suppose we should be getting back to the Great Hall.”

She nodded. “Yes, I suppose so.”

He offered her his arm awkwardly. Teki took it even more awkwardly.

She couldn’t blame anyone but herself. This had been a terrible idea.

[lokislittlesigyn]

OG616 : Thor 1 - Pt.6 [The Mourning]

[My masterlist, where all parts of this and my other fics can be found]

Pairing: Loki / Sigyn (basically an oc based off the marvel/myth namesake)

Warnings: Angst, some.. Hopelessness? And mild flirting.

Author’s Note: Very long one here. Hope you enjoy!

Taglist: @high-functioning-lokipath

To be added to the taglist, just ask me here or send a message! <3 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A very distinct, sharp pain washed over Sigyn as she pondered Odin's words. Like a knife plunging into her gut, twisting, pulling - but never leaving. Only hurting worse and worse, the very air in her lungs seizing up.

Loki is dead.

Her throat burned.

Loki is dead.

Tears streamed down her face.

My Loki is dead.

She broke. Her entire body shook with a sob as she collapsed onto the couch she was seated on, weeping. "He can't, he- He's not, he's not.."

"Sister.." Thor wrapped her in a hug, his jaw set firm. Frigga placed a hand on her back.

Odin’s grip tightened around Gungnir. "He's gone."

"No he's not."

"Sigyn-"

"He's NOT!" She screamed, struggling in Thor's grip, who clenched his jaw as he held her. "He's not- He can't be, he.. Loki.." Her body gave way, unable to cope.

Thor helped her stand, letting her sob against him.

"I wish it were true," Odin resumed, forgiving the interruption, "That he could still be with us. But he made his choice."

Sigyn glared at him.

"You made your choice when you lied to him! When you lied to all of us for countless years. We built our life around that lie!" She choked back another sob. "Now our lives are ruined because of it."

Odin didn't respond.

"Sigyn, have care how you speak." Frigga stepped between them, finally composed, though her eyes still glistened. "We need time to grieve, all of us. But perhaps, you most of all." She cupped Sigyn's cheek, wiping a tear away. "Go rest. Arguing will breed nothing but more pain."

Frigga was right. Arguing now would only make things worse - Odin wasn’t exactly known for a cool temper. But her head was still spinning. Loki couldn't be gone. There had to be some other way. Straightening up, Sigyn wrung her hands together. Swallowed. "I-I am sorry, Allfather.. I spoke out of line.."

Odin waved his hand, still looking away.

"Thor," Frigga managed a gentle smile at her son, "Please take Sigyn back to her chambers before you visit the healers."

Thor nodded, and without another word, he and Sigyn left.

~~~~

Sigyn stayed in her chambers for days on end. She ignored the time. Refused to eat. Refused to sleep in her bed - no, their bed - it still smelled like him. She spoke to no one. Retreated into the solace of being completely and entirely alone. Once the dust had settled, the wounded healed, and the palace put back in order, a feast was held for those who defended Asgard and helped Thor return home.

Sigyn was required to attend.

I can't exactly refuse... She reasoned, pulling on an emerald green gown. Putting on her favorite necklace, she gazed in the mirror.

She was pale. Paler than usual. Sickly and thin, with dark circles under her eyes. Hardly the shining goddess she would be expected to appear as. She looked down at the necklace. She’d had it for a long time. A rectangular medallion on a thin, metal chain - the medallion bearing two serpents, intertwined with each other, each biting their own tail. A symbol of Loki’s adaptability and cunning.

"If you should like to...” Loki had murmured, obviously nervous has he offered it to her, “I would be honored to see you wear it.”

It had been a perfect gift, marrying her colors with his symbol. She barely took it off, except of course when she was expected to wear coordinating clothes. Then it lived in a small wooden box on the dresser, safe from dust.

This will be my first meal without you. She ran her thumb over the symbol. I love you. I miss you.

Composing herself, she left her room.

~~~~

Servants and guests alike stared at Sigyn when she arrived. She was late. She adjusted the necklace, ignored their whispering. Ignored the stares, the side glances...

Maybe I should’ve stayed alone.

"Sigyn.." Sif walked up to her. "I am so sorry for your loss.."

Sigyn merely watched the warrior as she spoke. She felt like something inside her had died along with Loki. Something was lost. She wasn’t sure if it would ever return.

Sif swallowed. "Truly, I am."

With great effort, Sigyn spoke, her voice dry from lack of use. "Thank you, Sif." She forced as much of a smile as she could, then took her seat.

Conversation picked back up. Stories were told. Laughter spread.

Sigyn stayed there. Motionless. Expressionless. Staring at her untouched goblet. This wasn't worth it. Nothing was worth it. Nothing had meaning anymore.

She turned to look at all the guests. They were eating together happily, drinks sloshing over their food as they raised toasts and struggled to contain their laughter at Volstagg’s stories.

Their spouses hadn't been taken from them. They hadn't lost someone.

This is life now, isn't it. Sigyn turned back to her empty plate. This is the lot I was cast.

Her vision grew blurry with tears.

The curse worked. Loki is dead. I'll never be loved agai-

No.

She clenched her jaw.

Don't you dare start thinking like that. Don't you give up now. Keep going. Keep fighting. If not for yourself, for him. Do it for him.

She looked back at all the familiar faces around her.

Be strong. Be strong for him.

A tear ran down her cheek.

Make him proud.

"A toast, to Asgard! For the glory of our realm!" Roared Volstagg, raising his glass.

Be strong for Loki.

Sigyn stood and raised her glass with a smile.

"To Asgard. Our home."

~~~~

Time passed. The grief-stricken goddess still wept for her lost husband, still dreamed about him every night. But as the months went on, she wept less. She slowly began healing from the wound deep within her heart. Accepted that for now, Loki was gone.

For now.

She had thrown herself into old books and tomes, determined to improve, to make her husband proud. In the shadows of familiar bookcases within the palace library, she found writings on the Norns. The sisters Wyrd, Veranthi, and Skuld - three powerful beings controlling the past, present, and future. And there in the crumpled pages, she found a familiar symbol: the web of Wyrd.

Three sets of overlapping lines, the it symbolized the inherent interconnections of all actions - and all realities. How the past influenced the present, the present the future, and the future, perhaps the next life.

Our next life... Once the Asgardian twilight comes, and I embrace a final sleep, I will wake up and see him again.

We won’t be alone.

She would remind herself, with each new day, she was another step closer to seeing him again someway, somehow. Alive or dead, they would be reunited. The thought of it inspired a little spark of hope within her. With each passing day, she spent hours pouring over old spellbooks. Studying ancient runes, practicing spells. Mastering them.

She filled books with ideas, charts, musings.

And most of all, she remembered Loki.

She mapped out his entire life, beginning to end. Considered everything that had happened. Asking Thor, Odin, and Frigga exactly what he'd said to them - and exactly how they'd responded. Recorded what they said in books of her own. It helped her grieve.

But it also served her in other ways.

Rumors spread quickly throughout Asgard. Rumors of the prince who was hungry for power. Who stole the throne, and tried to kill his own brother to keep it. Who abandoned his wife in her time of need. Who betrayed his family and his realm.

The liesmith.

Trickster.

Murderer.

Sigyn considered it her duty to dispel false assumptions about him. And as she traded for a new book at the marketplace, she heard one such assumption. A group of ladies stood nearby, gossiping over their goods.

"There she is - that's her, the princess."

"Oh my,"

"Lokiwife, wasn't it?"

"Yes, that's her," A pretty brunette leaned in closer to the others, "I heard she and Loki had quite the time before he.. Well," she frowned, earning murmurs from her group.

Sigyn glanced their way, eavesdropping on their conversation, tucking the book into her satchel.

A blonde nodded in agreement. "Anyone would have a rough time if their husband abandoned them like he did."

"Abandoned?"

"Oh yes," The blonde shook her head, "It was just awful. The Warriors Three said he was always envious of Thor, always wanted the throne. And when he got the chance to steal the throne, he took it."

"If only Thor had been crowned in time. None of this would have happened.” The youngest piped up. The brunette shrugged an agreement.

“Such a waste - we waited hours for that coronation.”

“We had such a nice view, too.."

"A nice view of Prince Thor, certainly." The brunette nodded, her cheeks turning a slight pink.

The blonde smirked. "I'd even say Loki was glad Allfather Odin fell into the Odinsleep.. After all, that gave him access to the throne."

"Finally got him what he wanted," Mused the brunette.

The blonde huffed, "Though a lot of good it did him. Abandoned his wife and his honor, and what did he gain? He's likely in Helheim now.." The group murmured again in agreement.

Sigyn couldn’t take it anymore. "Excuse me - beg your pardon, ladies," She smiled, walking over to them. "I couldn't help but overhear your conversation."

The women's eyes went wide. They bowed, paying their respects. Sigyn nodded her own greeting.

The brunette was the first to speak. "Yes, Princess, we were discussing your husband.."

"And his life's motivations. I heard." Sigyn glanced at the blonde, who gulped.

"We meant no offense to you, Princess.."

"Tell me, did any of you know Loki?"

They shook their heads.

Sigyn sighed. "You must understand: he was not evil. The Loki I knew had not a single malicious bone in his body."

"But he was jealous, Princess. Lady Sif said so, I heard her discussing it over a goblet of mead.." The blonde fidgeted.

"And she's right."

The ladies blinked.

Sigyn straightened up. "Sif is correct. Loki was jealous. And do you know why? He spent his life feeling less than Thor. How do you think Loki felt, then, when he found out his life was a lie? That his greatest fear was true because he was different, he was lesser?”

The women were quiet. Sigyn paused, then continued.

“Loki didn't want the throne. He wanted to be like Thor. To be equal, not less. So when Queen Frigga gave him the throne - he took it. She told him to make his father proud, and he tried to do just that. He tried to prove to Odin he loved him, he was his son, and - and yes, he tried to have Thor killed." Sigyn swallowed.

"I won't deny that. He likely did it to prevent Thor returning and squelching his efforts. But consider why he did it. Loki was... Mislead. He made the wrong choices. He tried to prove himself by vanquishing the Frost Giants, Laufey among them. And what did he have to go off of?" She laughed a single, sad laugh, "We're all raised to fear Jotuns! Slay them like the stupid beasts they are! Hunt them down, bludgeon them! What else would you expect him to do?"

By now a small crowd had gathered. Curious passersby all stared at the princess.

They probably think I'm mad, Sigyn mused, But I don't care. This isn't about me. It's about Loki.

"So he tried it. He tried massacring the Jotuns - and was foiled. Again. By Thor. Again! He was trying to prove himself! Desperately grasping at the final threads of hope! And on the Bifrost," Her breath caught in her throat, "On the Bifrost, that night, he begged Odin for approval. And how did Odin respond? He said no to his son, to the boy who only wanted to be as loved by his parents as his brother was." A tear streaked down her cheek.

"And he fell. He gave up. My husband died because his hope ran out. He could bear the pain no longer." Sigyn stepped toward the blonde, "So the next time you talk about Loki, I ask you to remember that. I hope you remember how my husband, the most wonderful, beautiful man I knew, lost hope that night. And now he's gone."

Without another word, Sigyn turned. Pushed past the crowd, ignoring their stares and whispers.

"Come, Villeildr," She mounted her horse, squeezing his sides with her legs, "It's time we take our leave."

~~~~

Later that night, Sigyn was in the library when a familiar voice called her.

"I thought you'd be here." Fandral stepped in, smirking, his cape sweeping behind him.

"Here I am." Sigyn's focus remained on the book.

"I heard you had a run-in with some acquaintances of mine today."

Sigyn stopped reading.

Fandral continued. "Gave them quite the talking to. Did you rehearse it, or did it simply come to you?"

She shut the book, peering up at him. "They were lying about Loki."

"You seem to forget he lied too.."

"Of course he did. We all do; that doesn't make it right. They were lying about him, Fandral, disrespecting the dead - spreading false rumors about how he 'always wanted the throne.'"

"Well, he was always jealous of Thor.."

She huffed, "I know."

They sat a moment in silence. Fandral moved closer. "I was hoping you would join me for a drink tonight. You’ve barely left the palace in.. Well, far too long."

"I don't drink."

He looked hurt. "You used to."

"There are many things I used to do." She returned to her book, hoping he’d get the hint.

"And I could help you with more than one, if you so wished..."

She raised an eyebrow at him. "Remember that bit about respecting the dead?"

"Yes?"

"You're doing a horrid job."

He chuckled.

"Now, even I can't be the best at everything, dearest Sigyn."

"Oh, I believe it." She smirked.

His brow furrowed. "You were meant to be the goddess of compassion, you know."

"Compassion is like sympathy; I can sympathize with you and still point out the fact you're inappropriate."

"You sympathize with me?" He smirked.

"Fandral, do not twist my words.."

"Even if it makes you smile?" He tilted his head slightly. She couldn't resist a small huff of a laugh.

With a slight sigh, he took her hand and kissed it. "Ah, I may never be anything more than your friend, Sigyn," He lowered her hand, smiling at her. "But even if that's the case, I am honored to be your friend."

She smirked, nodding at him once. "Thank you. You're a good friend, Fandral.. Even if you are rude."

With another chuckle, he sprung to his feet. "Until we meet again, fair Sigyn," He bowed, "I take my leave." Turning on his heel, he headed for the door.

"Fandral?"

He stopped.

"Don't get too drunk. Lady Sif is tired of cleaning up after you."

He shot her a grin, then disappeared around the corner.

He's going to get absolutely ruined. Sigyn thought to herself, shaking her head.

[alirhi]

chapter 7 (the end? I'm not sure yet)

Title: Winter's Frost Chapter: 7/? Fandom: MCU Rating: R to be on the safe side Pairing: Loki/Bucky Summary: Loki never told anyone the real reason he became so obsessed with Midgard. Much better to let them think he wanted to hurt his brother than draw their attention to the one thing in the universe that makes the God of Mischief truly vulnerable.

WARNINGS: m/m, reference to rape Notes: since I don't read comic books and am a huge Loki (mythology) nerd, I'm pulling on some actual Norse mythology in this one. I've referenced Loki's shapeshifting/gender-bending abilities before, but here I go into something a bit more specific, and take a teensy bit of creative license in the process. so if you're reading and are like "wtf that didn't happen in the movies/comics!" that's because that's not the source material I was using.

The Bifrost was his last resort. The Destroyer had failed to even keep Thor in line or take out the bumbling idiots who didn't even know they were harboring HYDRA within their ranks. Loki had some power, but no allies, and it would take too long for him to ferret out every HYDRA operative hiding on Midgard, but if he could simply wipe SHIELD off the map, that seemed like a good start. But first he needed to know just how destructive the Bifrost really was. Could it be used for a surgical strike? Could he take out one building at a time, or would it truly destroy an entire planet?

Bucky would never forgive him if he destroyed his entire home world just to ensure that his captors were dead.

The obvious solution was, of course, a practice run. It was a good thing he had the perfect target in mind. He would destroy Jotunheim entirely, ensure there was no one left to avenge Laufey, and see how long it took to erase the planet from the cosmos. If the destruction took a while, if he could center it on one thing and have the damage radiate out from there, then after his cursed birthplace was eradicated, he could turn the Bifrost on SHIELD's headquarters. Then, all that remained was to go down, grab Bucky, and then come back and destroy the bunker in Siberia. There would be no more torture, no more Winter Soldiers. No more trauma for the man he loved.

Oh, who let bloody Thor out of his desert cell? The meathead always had to complicate everything. Loki lacked the time, and frankly the patience, to deal with his self-righteous adoptive brother's newfound life purpose, which seemed to be 'annoy Loki by any means necessary.' Not so new, then, he supposed. Simply a new method.

I don't have time for this, you oaf! "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to destroy Jotunheim!"

For all that it lacked delicacy, he really felt this plan was a perfect win-win. His father would wake to find his oldest enemies eradicated, his heir apparent revealed as the reckless idiot Loki had always known him to be, and a new heir standing proud and ready to take his place. Bucky would be safe and sound, and since all of his friends and family were likely dead by now, there would be nothing to tie him to Midgard any longer. Perhaps he could be convinced, finally, to come home with him to Asgard and rule by his side. With Loki's shapeshifting power, they could even have a family. Hopefully Odin would stop keeping Loki's children as pets. Truth be told, he was still a little bitter about Sleipnir; unintentional though his conception had been, he was still Loki's son.

Even if Odin didn't see reason when it came to Thor, now that the idiot had fallen in love with a human of his own – after a weekend – that could at least pave the way for Loki to come forward about his own star-crossed love, and maybe be accepted at last. At the end of the day, he had no real interest in ruling Asgard, only stepping out of his brother's shadow and not facing ridicule for who his heart chose. He didn't even know anymore what he was more afraid of; Odin finding out he'd fallen for another man, or Odin finding out he'd fallen for a human.

"Loki, you can't kill an entire race!"

"Why not?" He laughed, though he was more confused than anything else. Since when did Thor care? "Oh, what is this newfound love for the Frost Giants? You could have killed them all with your bare hands!"

"I've changed."

In three days? He doubted it, but he supposed stranger things had happened. It didn't really matter; all he wanted in that moment was to prove to Thor, and to himself, that all his years of practice had meant something; that he was truly every bit the warrior his brother was. Mostly, though, he wanted to kill time and keep Thor from breaking through the ice barrier to stop the Bifrost. It was taking its sweet time tearing Jotunheim apart; that was frustrating with Thor there waiting to muck things up, but encouraging for his true purpose.

"Loki, this is madness!"

"Is it madness? Is it?!" You have no idea! "Come on, what happened on Earth that's turned you so soft?! Don't tell me it was that woman!" I've spent years mourning a love I built and cherished and could tell no one about, and you get to parade around proud as a peacock after spending three days with her?! That is madness!

The look on Thor's face told him everything he needed to know, and he almost vomited. It wasn't just the ridiculously brief time he'd spent with her; Thor could do no wrong in their father's eyes. Even if he marched right up to Odin and announced that he intended to marry this woman and make her his Queen, he would suffer no consequences. No one would dare to speak against the heir apparent; the witless wonder could have anything and everything he wanted! Meanwhile Loki was raped in the service of one of Odin's pettier schemes, and he was ridiculed as weak and a pitiful clown, the son he bore taken from him to be ridden into battle like he was little more than another expendable tool for Odin to use and discard.

The more he thought about how differently their father treated them, the more embarrassed he felt for having been surprised to learn he was adopted. Stolen, really; like everything else Odin thought might one day prove useful. And still, Loki loved him. Still, he looked up to Odin as a father and wanted his love and acceptance. Odin had tormented and humiliated him for most of his life, and Loki still wanted to make him proud. How pathetic.

He was too distracted; too lost in his own spiraling thoughts. Thor kept getting the upper hand, and it was only thanks to Loki's talent for illusion and duplicate-casting that he hadn't outright lost yet. At least he did have those things going for him.

"Enough!"

Damn. Too stunned by how hard he'd landed to move, he could only watch helplessly as his adoptive brother approached, certain Thor would kill him. Instead, he sat Mjolnir on Loki's chest. The blasted thing weighed a ton! He could feel it crushing his chest, preventing him from moving and making it harder and harder to breathe. The painful weight of it was too much to bear, but he refused to suffer in silence.

"Look at you," he taunted with what little breath he could muster. "The mighty Thor! With all your strength... And what good does it do you now, huh?!" He could swear the stupid hammer was getting heavier by the second. He could feel the weight of it cracking his ribs, and he winced, gasping for air.

"Do you hear me, brother? There's nothing you can do!"

And suddenly it was gone, and the bridge was shaking. Stunned, he lifted his head to look, and saw Mjolnir back in Thor's hand. "What are you doing?" No, no, NO! He sat up, horrified as he watched his brother smash his hammer down over and over again. "If you destroy the bridge, you'll never see her again!" I'll never see him again!

No, he couldn't let this happen! Never mind all his desperate half-thought-out plans to save Bucky and destroy HYDRA... He couldn't bear the thought of losing him forever! It'd been hard enough to go on living when he'd thought his beloved was dead; knowing he lived but was a helpless slave, alone with no one to protect him, to rescue him? Loki would rather die.

It hurt to move, but he had to get up. He had to stop Thor! If he destroyed the Bifrost, Bucky would be left alone in the clutches of his enemies forever!

The world was a blur for a moment. He was running at his brother, the bridge was shuddering beneath their feet, there was a blinding flash, and then suddenly Loki was dangling over an empty void, his only tether to solid ground his grip on the end of Odin's staff. Thor held the other end for dear life, though he, too, dangled precariously over open air. How had they not both fallen yet?

Odin. Odin was holding onto Thor to keep both of his sons from flying off into oblivion. Did he know what Loki had done? What he'd tried to do? Was he finally proud?

"I could have done it, Father! I could've done it! For you!" For Bucky... "For all of us!"

"No, Loki."

He didn't care. No matter what he did, Loki would never be good enough; would never be Thor's equal in their father's eyes. And worse, now his only link to Midgard and to the man he loved was gone. Now Loki didn't care. To Hell with them all.

A strange sense of peace, of surrender, came over him and, without a single thought nor care for what might happen, he let go. The sensation of falling with nowhere to land was strangely comforting. Perhaps the next life would be kinder to him than this one had been.

_____________________________________________________

Next Masterlist

[imagine-loki]

Beauty and the Beast

TITLE: Beauty and the Beast CHAPTER NO./ONE SHOT: 50/? AUTHOR: nekoamamori ORIGINAL IMAGINE: Imagine Loki is under a spell that will return him to his Aesir one if he learns to accept himself for who he is RATING: T (so far)  NOTES/WARNINGS: Also on AO3 here

Thor nodded his agreement with Loki’s words about Morgan’s premonitions. “Mother also believes that Morgan’s premonitions are stronger and more accurate because of her blindness,” he agreed.  He paused, then added gently: “Wanda decided that if Morgan was having visions of you, then you were still alive.  She decided it best not to fret about the rest as long as you were still alive,” 

Loki chuckled.  “That sounds like Wanda,” he said fondly.  He adored his adopted little sister and magic student.  

Thor laughed and stroked Morgan’s hair absently.  The pair were clearly close and had gotten that way in Loki’s absence.  “That it does.  I’m surprised she hasn’t somehow found out you’re home and snuck her way here. I’m sure mother will send word to her once she’s gotten enough sleep,” Frigga also adored Wanda and treated her like an adopted daughter whenever Loki brought her to Asgard.

Loki had yet to move toward Morgan.  He wasn’t sure of his welcome.  Wasn’t entirely sure Thor would let him.  He didn’t deserve to be anywhere near her after how he’d treated her, after what he’d done to her.  Thor noticed and stood.  “I best get to the Bifrost to escort Wanda here, I’m sure she’s on her way,” he teased.  He moved to leave so Loki could be alone with Morgan.

Loki tensed up for a moment, but relaxed when Thor accepted him and somehow knew exactly what he needed.  Loki nodded and gave his brother a grateful look.  “I will be here when you return,” he promised Thor and moved to take a seat in the chair next to Morgan’s bed. 

Thor nodded and headed out to collect Wanda, even if he had to go back to Midgard to get her.  It wasn’t terribly long before Loki was tackled out of the chair by Morgan’s bed.  “Starshy!!” Wanda cried as her arms wrapped tightly around his neck.  As always, she addressed him as ‘older brother’ in her native Sokovian.  It was a term of endearment and Loki adored her for it. 

He laughed as he crashed to the floor, , using an arm to brace his fall automatically.  He wrapped his arms around Wanda, his magic was in effect keeping her safe from his cold.  He’d learned to control his Jotun abilities while he’d been on Jotunheim.  “Hello, sestra,” he said as he held Wanda tight, addressing her as his little sister as always.

Her arms remained tight around him as if afraid that he would disappear again if she loosened her grip on him.  “I missed you so much,” she managed to keep from wailing as she held him too tightly. 

“I missed you too, little sister. More than words can say,” Loki replied gently and stroked the teen’s hair.  He hated having hurt her.  

“Why did you leave us?” She asked him, tears in her eyes and in her voice.  

“To keep you safe from me. I didn’t have enough control over my Jotun abilities and I was a danger to those I care about,” 

Wanda thought that over and nodded as she curled herself in his arms.  “We were worried,” she finally said.  She understood that he’d had to leave, no matter how much she’d hated it and how much it had hurt.  

“I know, sastra. I apologize for worrying you so much. I never meant to hurt you,” Loki told her gently as he held her.  He absolutely loathed how much he’d hurt everyone around him, especially her and Morgan.  He didn’t deserve the family he had, especially with how much they clearly loved him and how much he’d hurt them. 

She nodded again, her head buried against his chest.  “Don’t leave us again like that. we love you too much, starshy,” she begged.

“I love you too, sestra. So much.” He hugged her tightly, his finger running through her hair soothingly.

She eventually relaxed in his arms, easy to forgive him since he was back and safe.  “Morgan said you were ruling Jotunheim?” she asked him, too curious as usual

“They figured out who I was. I didn’t really have much of a choice in the matter,” he said, grumbling about it. 

“Did Thor tell you everything you want to know about what you missed back home?” She changed the subject, understanding that he didn’t want to talk about Jotunheim. 

He shook his head “I didn’t really ask,”

“Anything you want to know?” She offered, knowing Loki found it easier to talk to her than to talk to Thor. 

“How has the team been? Bucky? Lady Natasha?” 

“Bucky and Nat are fine. And kissing. All the time,” she rolled her eyes at that.  “Bucky misses you, and keeps trying to be reassuring and saying you’re just off brooding somewhere and you’ll be back when you get your head out of your ass,” she added with a smirk.  

Loki laughed.  “That sounds like Bucky. I’m glad he and lady Natasha are finally together,”

“They’re happy together. Oh, and Doctor Strange has been teaching me some magic while you’ve been gone. Other than that I’ve mostly been hanging out with Pete and his friends…” Loki noticed that she had a glint in her eyes.  It was the slightly wistful look of a teenager with a crush.

Loki raised an eyebrow and smirked, teasing her.  “Am I sensing feelings for the arachnid?” He teased her gently.

She huffed and turned pink.  “Even if you were sensing feelings, it wouldn’t matter. He wouldn’t give me the time of day…” she pouted and grumbled.

“You won’t know if you don’t try, sestra,” he told her, his voice gentle and full of love and caring.

“He only has eyes for MJ. I’ve seen how he looks at her,” 

Loki hummed “Who is this MJ?” He asked with a glint in his eyes.  Maybe he could stab her so Wanda could be with Peter.

“The weird artsy girl. Her real name is Michelle,” she reminded him. 

Loki considered.  “You won’t know until you try, sestra. You might be surprised,”

Wanda nodded, but didn’t look convinced.  “Maybe…” she agreed to placate Loki. She gave him a look and then answered the question he clearly hadn’t wanted to ask. “She isn’t seeing anyone,” she told him gently, indicating Morgan.

Loki raised an eyebrow.  “And? I doubt, after the hurt I caused her, that she would be willing to give me another chance.” That was Loki’s biggest fear at the moment. And was something he deserved after how he’d treated her. 

“You won’t know until you try,” Wanda repeated his words back to him.  Annoying little sister.  

“Don’t use my words against me, sestra. You weren’t there. I broke her heart. I wouldn’t blame her if she wanted nothing to do with me,” Loki said firmly, hurt and pain in his voice.

“You did break her heart,” she agreed.  She had been there to pick up the pieces, as had the rest of the team. “She wouldn’t go into detail about what happened on Jotunheim, but she didn’t give up on you until then. That doesn’t mean you can’t fix it. And you clearly want to or you’d be literally anywhere else in the palace,” 

“I did what I had to in order to protect her. That doesn’t mean that I don’t still care about her. I love her. That will never change. But I will not dare to dream that I will be able to fix this or win her back. If she doesn’t want me, then I will leave her be. I only want her to be happy,”

Wanda sighed.  She wouldn’t waste her breath arguing with him when he wasn’t listening.  “Well, she hasn’t been happy without you,”

“That’s what I’ve heard. I just don’t understand why,”

“Love doesn’t always make sense,” she replied. She sighed again and admitted “Pepper did make her go on one blind date to get her out of the tower. It went so poorly that even Pepper agreed not to try to force her again,”

Loki looked pained, but nodded.  “She has a right to have a life…” he hadn’t expected her to wait for him.  He’d expected her to move on. 

Wanda shrugged and shook her head.  “She’s been as much of a recluse as you were. A few days ago was the first time she tried to leave the tower since she got back from Jotunheim,”

Loki looked over at Morgan, who was still asleep in the bed.  “I wish it could have been different. But after what I did to her, I thought it best to leave. I love her too much to hurt her,” he decided it best to change the subject. “Has there been any other troubling events on Midgard?”

Wanda shook her head. “Nothing of interest,” she reassured him. 

Before their conversation could continue, Morgan made a soft noise as she started to stir.  Wanda found herself picked up by Thor and forcibly removed from the room so Loki and Morgan could talk.  Loki was alone in the room with Morgan a moment later, somehow back in the righted chair next to her bed.

His heart was beating a million miles a minute.  He was terrified of her reaction to how he’d treated her.  But he was out of procrastination time. 

It was time to face the music.

[stxphxn-strange]

i want to start posting from my ironstrange college au (remember the makeup fic i posted in like november? i’ll link it below but it’s from that verse) so! let me explain it:

reminder that this is an au and it’s my au, so i decide how this all goes!

Ships:

IronStrange (duh)

ThorBruce

Valcarol

Sambucky

Christine x Hope Van Dyne* (this gets complicated)

Eventual Pristine

Past Stony, Past Stucky

(Lowkey I’m also figuring out if Rhodey x T’challa could be a ship? they both seem too independent but i also might add it in)

Character Notes:

Tony deliberately never specifies if he prefers to go by Anthony or Tony. People call him both, or also his friends call him Ant. Stephen does not/has never called him Tony, he’s always known him as Anthony.

Happy just tends to go by H or Harry (anyone who calls him Harold receives a death glare, but as a joke Rhodey got him a T-shirt and the pattern is just name tags that say “hello my name is Harold.”)

Rhodey just goes by Rhodey bc Tony *insisted* that all their friends call him that and plus he doesn’t hate the nickname.

Natasha is part of this but she doesn’t go to school with the rest of the group. She’s Tony’s half sister and is the biological daughter of Maria Stark and her best friend. She lives in Italy with some of Tony’s extended family and her bio dad. Few people know of her existence, or they know her as Maria’s niece (for her own protection). It doesn’t rly matter that Howard has no idea who she rly is, he wasn’t with her the entire time Maria was pregnant w Natasha bc she was in Italy (and brought Tony with her)

Roommates:

- Tony and Rhodey are roommates, and they live two floors above the four suitemates. The four suitemates are: Christine and Pepper (who share a room) and Stephen and Wong (who share the other room) despite that, the six of them tend to move fluidly in between both spaces.

- Hela and Carol

- Val and Hope

- Thor and T’challa (Bruce spends a lot of time w them)

- Bruce, Sam, and Loki (as chaotic as it sounds btw)

- Bucky and Happy, who I’ve decided are very close. (btw nobody particularly enjoys the fact that Sam and Bucky live next door to each other, when they’re Busy their roommates can be found w Stephen and Co. or one of the other Odinson siblings).

Friend Groups (note: people overlap/belong to multiple groups, this is also not the full list bc that could go on for a long time):

- The Main Six: Tony, Rhodey, Stephen, Wong, Christine, and Pepper.

- Team Big Brain: Tony, Bruce, Stephen, Hope, Carol, Christine, and Bucky.

- Doctors: Stephen, Tony, Christine, and Bruce.

- Dumbass Protection Squad: Hela, T’Challa, Carol, Happy, Rhodey, and Pepper (usually).

- Psych Majors: Pepper, Wong, T’Challa and Loki.

- Stark Industries: Tony, Pepper, Rhodey, and Happy.

- People who Like Astrology: Loki, Bucky, Val, sometimes Christine.

Storylines (There’s no established time frame for this really, but it doesn’t follow mcu canon or any canon):

- Stephen and Tony are lifelong friends. They met on the first day of kindergarten and went to school together in NY (where both their families lived at the time) until middle school. For unspecified reasons, Stephen’s parents opted to move the Strange family to Nebraska before the start of 6th grade. Stephen and Tony were Devastated but were already inseparable at that point and stayed in touch. A business opportunity moved the Starks from NY to California. Stephen stayed in Nebraska for high school but Tony’s parents sent him to boarding school (read: Howard sent him away to avoid having to actually parent, and he thought he was lifting a burden from Maria. This was Not The Case, as she loved her son dearly and would call him everyday. Tony appreciated this more than he ever thought possible.)

- Howard and Stane viewed boarding school as a chance to groom Tony into something malleable and submissive enough to take orders from anyone. His obvious feelings for Stephen (with whom he was still incredibly close) were a Great Concern, so the executive decision was made to set Tony up with Steve Rogers, a blond athlete from his school. It was a way to keep Tony’s sexuality controlled, and Howard didn’t think Stephen was anywhere close to the level he wanted Tony to be (of course, Howard didn’t think his son lived up to his expectations anyway. It was more about control). On the surface, Steve was sweet and everything you could want in a partner, and he even charmed Maria into liking him. She genuinely believed he’d be a good match for her son, so it hurt when she found out what he was really like. Rhodey was Tony’s boarding school roommate for all four (4) years. They met and hit it off overnight, Rhodey instantly feeling brotherly love and the need to protect Tony (or “Tones” as he called him. Rhodey is usually the only one to call him that). Rhodey and Steve did Not see eye to eye on anything, least of all how Tony should be treated. Steve was terrible to him, and Rhodey’s heart broke when Tony admitted he was too scared to break up with him.

- Reenter Stephen. After a particularly bad day, Tony called Maria and Stephen sobbing, missing the two (2) people he talked to more than anyone except maybe Rhodey. It was then he confessed what kind of boyfriend Steve was, and Maria gasped before saying, “Dump him. Let me handle the rest.” That very day, Stephen left school early and traveled to see Tony. It was 2am when he finally arrived, throwing rocks at the window and then scaling the side of the building once he had Tony’s attention. Stephen and Rhodey met the next morning, when Rhodey came back from classes and found his roommate asleep him.

- “So you’re the one who climbed in through my window,” Rhodey said. “For a good reason, I assume.” Stephen confessed it was because he loved Tony and wanted to be there for him, didn’t want him to hurt. (It’s fair to say, though, that Stephen visited before/Tony went to visit him, and they’d spent secret time together over the summers). Tony, believing himself incapable of love, didn’t reject Stephen’s confession but assumed it was only love between friends. The summer before they all left for college (Rhodey, originally from Texas, was also going to school in NY with Tony and Stephen. NY was a big part of who they both were, and they both dreamed of studying there together), they finally started dating at Maria Stark’s motherly demand.

- This demand came a short time before Howard and Maria died, and it also came with admissions of guilt and lots of tears. “I was wrong about Rogers,” she said. “You don’t have to accept what I say or forgive me, but I know Stephen is the right one for you. I think I’ve always known.” (No shit, everyone knew) Knowong she was genuinely sorry, Tony forgave her not knowing that she would die a few months later.

- Most of this canon I’ve created takes place starting in their junior year of college, so everyone has gotten to know each other quite well. I’m sure the more I write from this the more I’ll flesh out relationships between certain characters, but one I want to mention is that Tony and Bucky are very close and co-presidents of the “I Dumped Steve Rogers for Peace of Mind” club. Steve goes to college in the next state/a little further north (that’s as specific as it’ll get for now) and dated Bucky the group’s freshman year. Tony didn’t know any of this until Bucky brought him over one day, and after they (Tony and Bucky) had a talk about the way Steve is as a partner, Bucky realized some things and dumped Steve. He remains angry at them both, especially Tony, from a short distance away which terrifies Tony.

- Sam and Bucky kissed for the first time at a truth or dare night Thor and T’Challa hosted in the group’s sophomore year. After they kissed (Sam initiated) they both shyly admitted feelings for each other.

*Now here’s where things get a little dicey. I started this au with Christine and Hope together for no particular reason, maybe they were on a club sports team together and started dating from there? But Pepper fell in love w Christine at first sight, and it got worse and worse the more they got to know each other. Much like Stephen and Tony, they’re the kind of people who meet each other and just click, even if the eventual path to Pristine involves lots of tears and jealousy for Pepper that Stephen never really experienced. He didn’t feel jealous of Tony and Steve’s relationship, because he wasn’t at boarding school with Tony and there wasn’t much he could do. But as a supportive and concerned (and honest but kind) friend, he was always encouraging and there to listen to Tony. Is Pepper going to be as good of a friend to Christine as Stephen was to Tony while Christine gets ready to marry Hope after undergrad??? that’s the question my forthcoming college au fic will answer.

Also mentioned in my forthcoming fic (which I’m still writing rn)

- post undergrad Wong works as a museum director/curator (havent decided yet, maybe he works his way up the ranks) and double majored in psych and history.

- Stephen, Tony, Happy, Rhodey, and Wong all live together and the rest of the group lives around NYC.

- Stephen, Christine, and Bruce (The Doctor friend group) are all pursuing medical degrees while the SI friend group is transforming the company completely.

++++

Thank you for coming to my TEDTalk! Congrats on reading all the way to the end lmao. I second guessed posting this a lot but then i remembered that it’s mine and I’m just sharing pre-fic thoughts lol. Thanks for reading/for your support of my work y’all!

Read the makeup fic (it doesn’t have a title) here.

💜💜💜💜

[need-more-meta]

Why I Do Not and Will Not Accept the Loki-Was-Mind-Controlled Retcon

I’ll tell you a personal story. It will get heavy. Proceed with care.

My childhood was... ambivalent. I had an older brother. His accomplishments, multiple as they were, were always extolled. Mine, hardly noticed. My brother got an A, it was all my parents would talk about. I wrote a play and covered the apartment with invitations to come and see me acting in our living room. No one came.

So, believe me when I tell you I know what it’s like to live in the shade of someone’s greatness.

And believe me, also, when I tell you I loved my brother. I adored him. I worshiped him. He was the single important person in my life. He was my everything. I would have died for him.

Which is what I almost did. I knew that my moods, my roiling envy, my general inadequacy were making me a monster, and I wanted to protect my family, most of all my brother, from that hideous thing.

I tried to kill myself. It was frightening, but also soothing: I would never have to be a burden again. The thought calmed me as my body collapsed and my mind went blank.

As you can guess, I woke up. In the ER, where I spent the next three weeks. I opened my eyes, and I was horrified. I had to keep on living. I failed to kill the monster. I failed. I failed. I failed.

When I was released, I found out that my brother had moved out of our family apartment. I tried to text him. He replied: Decent people finish what they started. I will never forgive you. Don’t contact me again.

My brother disowned me for being alive (for being the monster that I was), and he didn’t stop there. He made sure I was ostracized by our shared social group (and I didn’t have any other). He had enough clout to do just that. My parents told me my brother was going through a hard time because of me, and it was more difficult for them to take care of him now that he lived in a different place, so they were even busier than before, and I ended up with literally no one to turn to.

Thor is, of course, a way better brother than mine. But Loki had no way of knowing that when he opened his eyes in the Void. Cold, broken, and absolutely alone.

I know that solitude. The highest form of isolation. I know it intimately. The feeling of being completely and utterly cast out. I would not wish it on my worstest enemy.

And I remember that time very well, the time I spent in my own Void. I was crushed, gutted, devastated. Sad. Bitter. And very, very, very angry.

Here’s the thing: if I had, at that time, the means to go and conquer a different world (a different social group), and stand tall there as people bowed to me, and be my brother’s equal, and look him in the eye and hold his gaze unflinchingly, and show to my parents that I was someone, too — I would have. I would have done that a thousand times over. God knows I wanted to.

I’ve done some smaller-scale awful things instead. I’ve acted horribly. I have probably hurt people who didn’t deserve it.

Were those the right things to do? Of course not. Those were very wrong things to do.

But they were my wrong things. They were my pain, my rage, my madness. Not some scrotum-faced space grape taking over my mind and taking away my control.

I lost that control myself.

And I need to know that I’m not a bad person for that.

I need to see that Loki has the right to go fucking mental after living through a horrible situation and finding himself in horrible circumstances. Because it means I have that right, too.

And I need to see that I don’t have to be killed off (canceled) after that. I need to see that I can keep on living, can start learning how to do better, and maybe, one day, can actually be better.

Be worthy.

That’s why I don’t, can’t, accept the Loki-was-mind-controlled-in-the-Avengers retcon. It strips him (me) of any agency, and agency is a rare and precious thing when darkness floods your mind and just keeps coming.

I need my right to madness. I need my right to snap. I need my right to go fucking mental after going through hell. I need my right to not always act perfectly, not always act rationally, not always act in a way that is wholesome and virtuous and impeccably woke. I need my right to fuck up royally and still have hope after that.

Loki’s story made that promise to me. And I will not let anyone take it back.

(You can, of course, believe whatever you want. Headcanon whatever you want. It’s your sacred right, and I respect and support it. This is only my story. No more, no less.)

[advernia]

hi hi!!! ( ´ ▽ ` )ﾉ mmm… i try not to expect something out of an unreleased route (bc most of the time i am horribly betrayed lmao) but there are loads of stuff i hope to see! forgive me for being rambly tho haha!  

mousse. i actually have no idea what to expect from his route but what i do know is that his current position as a diplomat bothers me in a lot of ways lmao! but anyway… naturally we should be getting details on why he left the red army in the first place, so maybe on that side i do wish we’d get more insight on the workings of the red army, i guess? not that i’m expecting something super detailed or anything (tho it would be great if cybird feeds us with details), but for starters, maybe something more concerning the chosen bloodline - for instance, how did it come to be that for the red army, those thirteen certain families are the only ones strictly allowed to fill in that one position in the chosen ranks??? do relatives or family branch members count??? additionally, is mousse the first case of someone stepping down / refusing to take over their designated rank??? i’d like to think that he isn’t, but then again i maybe wrong???

alternatively… maybe mousse’s route could fill in some bit of cradle lore too? lmao i mean he is a diplomat and alice is a ‘visitor’, so he’s the best suitor to fit in the role of a tour guide. maybe a little more idea on how cradle works as an actual country, bc god i can’t even imagine how it functions properly. who knows, maybe he actually knows about that abandoned building in the forbidden forest + why it’s there in the first place. maybe he can actually elaborate the background of the goddamn 500 year conflict. if he actually does, bless my soul.

on relationships… while mousse is neutral but a former red, i imagine we’ll be seeing more of the ra guys rather than the ba, maybe… that’s fine with me since i’m interested in learning more about his relationship with lancelot, and maybe how he interacts with kyle + edgar since we already have a general idea of how he is around jonah + zero. but since the neutral faction has increased now, i’d like it if most of his interactions would involve more of his fellow neutrals. they need more screentime.

and finally, romantically… man, that ‘love at first sight… or is it?’ bit on his profile really gets me. oh, i will be ridiculously happy if that whole ‘love at first sight’ thing is interpreted as just sheer interest on mousse’s part. he’s in love with the visitor from the land of reason, with alice the second who hails from the same land as the first alice. he’s in love with the thought of her, a person who lives in a world so different from his own…but has he ever seen alice the second as the woman she is, as another human being??? this is probably unlikely to happen as mousse doesn’t seem too cold as a character but OOOOHHHHH I’D LOVE TO HAVE A TWIST（○□○）

tl;dr: a focus on red army history / more expository stuff on cradle. a toss between mousse interacting with the ra + neutrals, preferrably more of the latter. if cybird pulls a surprising twist / interpretation on mousse’s ‘love at first sight’ for alice, then i will LIVE.

dean. for starters, i’d like a little more understanding on how the boarding school he works in operates haha… i get it’s open to all regardless of status (red/black, noble/commoner maybe?), but what type of school is it, is it a regular one or a military academy of sorts??? if it’s a military type, to what extent are the students trained - basic combat/magic or are there advanced classes or all that shebang??? from what age are you able to enroll in it??? who runs it??? probably someone from the neutral faction / government itself but seriously speaking, is this the only school available in cradle??? if you’re wondering why i think that, i just find it odd that two different factions that have been in constant conflict still send their kids to study in that one school where anyone and everyone is accepted… i’d imagine the red side isn’t so happy about this more than the black side is, but maaaybe it’s a government-mandated / treaty / pact thing??? tbh i’m still on the fence on those ideas since there’s a lot more questions that would arise from that but… yeah. just… details, pls _(:3」∠)_ oh, more bonus points if we get more info about the day everything went dark!

anyway… dean being a professor appears underwhelming but it’s pretty interesting to take into account that he probably trained all(?) of them army suitors so… personally i’d be interested if there’s your teacher vs. student(s) fight scenes lmao. preferrably with dean still able to hold his own. bonus points if he taunts his opponent in the process with words like ‘i see you’ve forgotten your fundamentals’ or something haha! even more bonus points if we get dean/alice fighting the forces of evil magic disciples together!!! oh, that would be so good.

it would be fun if dean’s the type to subtly poke his former students with their dark history past mistakes when he sees them / needs them to settle down or smth. maybe he has dirt on someone like luka (and no, it isn’t about him feeding birds on the rooftop lmao). maybe he’s the only one who can make sirius & lancelot feel nervous easily, holy shit. but again, as dean’s a neutral, i’d prefer his interactions to involve more of his fellow neutrals. especially dalim. though that might be a given considering their relationship. i will greatly appreciate seeing more of the tweedle twins dynamic. even more if it turns out that the main conflict/antagonist of their individual routes happens not to be amon, but their other half and it’s not because of alice. AHHHHHH ( ･ᴗ･̥̥̥ )

idk what dynamic they’re gonna shoot for with dean & alice, but i do hope it doesn’t give off your ‘teacher-student’ vibes aha…… considering how dean’s personality appears so far though, i’d like to think that a slow burn would be fitting for them…? maybe something similar to lancelot’s where the conflict is given more focus than the romance itself.

tl;dr: background on the school + the day everything went dark. teacher vs. student(s) fight scenes + dean/alice fighting duo. dean being lolz evulz to his former students. tweedle twins drama, bless. if dean/alice gives off the teacher-student dynamic, well… can’t say i didn’t see that coming.

dalim. oh boy, while i’m trying hard not to expect anything for now, i can’t help but pray for something good with dalim. i think he has the best potential among the new three since he’s only (or first) suitor in an actual antagonistic position - he knows it, he accepts it, and he’s still going with it. if cybird handwaves a redemption arc for him thru the flimsy power of kira-kira labu (or friendship), i will be very, very, very disappointed. seriously.

anyway, there’s a lot of question marks surrounding him that i want answered but of course, more dirt on the magic tower. perhaps whatever details about the tower that they failed to address in harr’s route they can add + elaborate here, though i really wouldn’t mind knowing more nitty gritty on the human experimentation bit. then there’s the matter about the regression magic he developed. though maybe all before that detailed stuff, maybe some background about how dalim came to be a magic disciple would be good. and how and why he manages a pub on the side. origin stories are a must.

not gonna lie though - i’m more interested in his social life, his relationship with amon the first priority. how long has he known amon, did he approach amon or was it the other way around, when did he start serving amon, do amon and he have similar goals, how ‘loyal’ is he to amon, was he already amon’s subordinate when amon killed his father, did he help amon kill his father, why does he even serve such a guy in the first place... yeah, all that and more. hopefully those are going to be addressed. then there’s dean... if dalim’s goals + ambitions are purely for the sake of his older twin, i’m gonna cry a river. even moreso if his determination is so strong that he still chooses dean over his kira-kira labu for alice. now if cybird really does pull that off, consider me IMPRESSED. HOT DAMN.

them aside, in general his relationship tree seems complicated... he has strained relationships with harr + zero + loki + oliver, though it seems that he and harr still can seem to hold ‘conversations’ with each other... lancelot + seth don’t like him... idk if he was already involved in the day everything went dark operation, but if he was then ray + fenrir would definitely knock him down... lmao that’s a lot of hostility there, and that’s as dalim. as dum, zero + ray + fenrir + oliver are still wary of him haha! well, i hope his interactions with the rest of the cast will fare better / some of those relationships may not be as strained as they seem???

and the romance... since dalim’s human experimentation is a step farther and darker than edgar’s history of murder, there is no way you are going to make me swallow the possibility that he could go down the same route and be pardoned by cradle through trial. or in any way going to be redeemed + forgiven / set free quickly. no, i won’t accept it either if amon does something similar to a claudius and suddenly decides to say that he pulled dalim along for the ride (rather, i’d be furious). ends i’ll accept are dalim himself demanding for or receiving proper judgement for his actions. the feelings between dalim and alice are there & acknowledged, sure, but sadly regardless of what ending they physically cannot be together.

too angsty??? maybe it is, since i personally feel that his situation has the potential to feel more... well, military/war-fitting than the other suitors. i’m not hoping for that scenario simply because i want that extreme angst + drama, but rather because it somehow doesn’t sit right with me that someone so goal-focused, someone who seems to have walked down the wrong path of his own volition, who stated himself that he isn’t human and won’t let ethics stand in his way (zero’s route), would allow himself to be easily forgiven for all that he had done. it’s like a disservice. believe me, i like redemption arcs. but for something severe like what dalim dabbled in for what seemed like years... redemption almost sounds too kind.

i hope whatever they have planned for dalim would appear reasonable and satisfying, both to how they will portray his character and to the plot of his route as a whole.

tl;dr: more magic tower info. his history with amon. tweedle twins drama, bless. more insight into his relationship tree. cybird, dalim/alice’s foe yay has potential, pls don’t mess it up.....