Imagine Loki seeing the same youngster in the palace library nearly every day. He smiles politely and gives a gentle, “Hello.”
The boy ducks his head down and turns around, as if he’s shy.
A feminine voice softly calls the little guy by name. “Where did you run off to?”
He gasps and darts in the direction of the voice.
Loki chuckles to himself at how cute the whole thing is.
After a few similar exchanges, Loki starts sneaking little treats and goodies for the boy. He would hit the roof if anyone else did such a thing, but the kid’s just so adorable.
You are hustling through the library one day, looking in every section. Your focus doesn’t seem to be on the shelves, nor the titles on them.
“Are you expecting a book to leap in front of your face?”
You turn to glare before realizing it’s Loki, then take on a more respectful demeanor. “I’m looking for someone, your Highness. My… my little brother.” You describe him and give his name.
The boy from before!
Loki puts his book down and leaps into action to help look for your brother.
You split up, certain he couldn’t have gone far.
Loki finds the child first, lounging on a massive armchair like he owns the place, appearing to read Shakespeare… upside down.
“Do you know how to read, young man?”
Your brother peeks up at Loki and shakes his head no, his cheeks blushing pink.
You keep calling out for your brother, telling yourself he’s going to get an earful when you find him.
Find him, you do! He’s now sharing the armchair with Loki, sounding out Macbeth.
“Never… v… va… van… van… q-qu… qui… sh…”
“Vanquished,” Loki offers.
“Oh.”
“You’re doing just fine.”
“Never vaaanquiiiiiisshhed be, until…”
“There you are!”
You let them finish the scene before telling your little brother that it’s time to turn in.
“That was very sweet of you, teaching him to read. I guess I got so caught up in replacing Mother as the palace librarian that I forgot to teach him why libraries are so crucial in the first place.”
Loki turns to look at you. He vaguely remembers the previous librarian falling ill some time ago. “You’re… her daughter?”
“Yes. (Name). Mother was the librarian, and Father died in battle shortly before my brother was born. When Mother got sick, I was a teenager, and my baby brother was just barely walking.”
“That’s… a lot to ask of someone so young.”
“Well, we manage.”
Loki returns every day, now teaching your brother to read instead of selfishly hiding from his own brother.
After all, the kid needs a good male role model, right?
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The Dog Days Are Over
Summary: At the Daffodil Dance, Penny's encounter with Evy goes awry. Milo tries to intervene. Pluto returns. Chaos reigns. Then Penny...quits.
Ft. @evangelinee @plutothe-pup @exsqueak-me @prince--thomas
Read here!
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