Fiat Lux
Loki woke up before Thor and snuck out of the bed.
In his little kitchen he started making some tea with shaky hands. He sighed at his trembling fingers. He had gone too long without food.
He stuck a piece of bread in his mouth while he looked out the window. New York would need a lot of time to rebuild from this last attack. It was strange, before Loki had never been a part of the fighting. To think that he was such an integral part of the destruction was a little saddening.
He looked at his reflection in the glass of the window. He looked tired still, his hair was all crazy curls and his eyes had an old sadness to him.
Compared to his thousand year life time his almost thirty spent on Midgard were some of the happiest in his existence.
Loki had been very happy with Thor. But so bitter about Thor getting the throne. Bitter about Thor getting everything. It had been exhilarating to know he had Thor’s love, and to know that his place in Asgardian society had been secure.
An image flashes through Loki’s mind. A silver ring. Thor wanted to marry him.
How strange. Loki thought as he sipped his tea. He hadn’t thought that he and Thor were the marrying type. And why would Thor want to marry his brother when he could marry anyone else? He could have someone so much more eligible.
Loki set his tea cup down and went to his book shelf. In times like this Loki liked to turn to his favorite authors. Cicero was always nice when Loki was feeling indecisive. Marcus Tullius Cicero who always knew what was right and what was wrong. It was nice to read clear words from someone.
Loki laughed quietly to himself as he opened the book. It could be written in Latin for all Loki knew, the All Speak would have corrected it for him. No wonder he had been able to test out of his language requirements.
He opened the book to Cicero’s letters. They were so calm and soothing to Loki’s addled mind.
“You’ve always liked reading.” Thor remarked as he stepped into the kitchen.
Loki looked up. “Indeed.” He said. “It is all I have done for years here. This world is truly opposite of everything we thought.”
Thor sat down on the other chair. His eyes were dark with emotion as he looked at Loki. “Will you stay here?”
Loki looked down at the book. What could he do in Asgard? Play in politics and marry Thor? Retire to the countryside and write?
As much as an early retirement didn’t sound so bad Loki knew that Thor wanted to rule. And Thor had the ‘divine right’ to rule over Asgard. Loki had never had it.
Part of Loki liked the idea of lording over Asgard and by extension, the rest of the realms as Thor’s spoiled Queen and consort. But such a complacent life is one Loki had never wanted. And an even greater part of him knew that if he truly had any power in Asgard he would force them all to read books and educate themselves and that would probably result in another revolution and Loki would get tossed off the bifrost again.
And something told Loki that if he were tossed again Thor probably wouldn’t wait around for him.
“I still need more time to decide about that.” Loki said absently.
“At least eat something other than bread while you decide.” Thor pleaded. “Do you like eggs?”
“Yes.” Loki said. “I like them over easy with toast.”
“Do you want any bacon?”
Loki felt himself blush as he said the next line. “I don’t eat meat.”
Loki heard Thor drop a fork. “That’s new.” Thor said tonelessly.
“I told you I’m not the same.”
Thor laughed. “I like it. It is very much like you.”
Breakfast was cut short when Loki felt a definite disturbance in magic. Soundlessly Loki stood up and closed his eyes. Feeling Amora out.
They were in Oklahoma.
“Thor. We need to get the Avengers I know where they are.” Loki said as he summoned his armor. “They’re in Durant.”
“Where?”
“Oklahoma. We’ll need the Avengers’s jet.”
Within fifteen minutes Loki, Thor, and the disgruntled Avengers were all flying toward Durant, Oklahoma.
“You look snazzy.” Tony said when he saw Loki’s Asgardian attire.
“It’s nothing.” Loki said with a smirk.
Loki looked out the window and shook his head slightly at the desolate landscape. America had its own Jotunheim it seemed. Just in great plains version.
Once they landed Loki told the Avengers where Tyr and the two were and then promptly teleported himself there.
The three of them were on some poor farmer’s land, messing all the crops up and trying to draw runes into the ground. The wind whipped Loki’s outfit and his feet crunched the straw underfoot as he approached.
They all turned and Loki saw fear flash through their eyes when they saw him.
He smirked cruelly at them. Popping his neck for effect as he spoke.
“I’ll have to ask you to leave these parts and go back to Asgard.” Loki said in his best approximation of an Oklahoman accent.
“Ha ha. Very funny Loki. We all know you’ll only back that up with Thor’s help. And he isn’t here.” Karnilla said. “After all, what is a Prince of Asgard without his King.”
They were trying to ruffle Loki’s feathers. And it was working.
He stomped on the ground and instantly it froze completely beneath his feet. The nearby crops died, but the runes they were trying to make failed.
Amora stood up as if she was going to give Loki a piece of her mind. But Tyr only pointed her back to her task and he went to attack Loki.
If Loki had been in proper fighting shape, he would have been able to dodge, but as it were Loki was sliced horribly down one arm while attempting to dodge.
But being hurt was Loki’s plan, because right then Thor appeared. Thunder and lightning roared in his wake and when he saw Loki had been harmed his elemental seidr spiked and he launched into a feral attack against Tyr.
Sometimes the best fighting is all done indirectly.
While the other Avengers dealt with Amora and Karnilla Loki knelt down next to the runes and examined them. It was a summoning spell, the results of which would have been catastrophic. Which explains why they were in Oklahoma. If they summoned a monster out here it would take a few minutes for the world to discover it.
In a few moments the spells were gone and useless and Loki cast his own spell, which transported the evil three back to their jail cells in Asgard.
Loki was tempted to send Thor off to Asgard as well. It would end Thor’s pestering and give Loki some reprieve with which he could gather his thoughts.
But that would undoubtedly hurt Thor beyond repair. Not something Loki was too keen on doing, accidental deaths aside.
Once Loki had cast the spell he collapsed into the muddy thawing ground with a sigh and without a care for his armor. He was bone tired after the last few days and he wanted to sleep for an age.
“Where did you send them?” Thor asked as he lifted Loki from the ground.
“In their jail cells.” Loki giggled. “I know its anticlimactic, but I really didn’t want to mess up anymore of this farm.”
Loki looked around and smiled. “In fact Thor, it’s so pretty here. Why don’t we retire and work on a farm? Then we don’t have to be Kings or Gods.”
“I’ll think about it.” Thor said as he crushed Loki to himself in a hug. Then he dragged Loki to Asgard to receive proper medical care.
Epilogue. 5 years later
“What are we facing today, o wise one?” Peter Parker asked cheekily as he and Loki were in route to face an enemy.
“I do not know. And I promised Stark that I wouldn’t look ahead with my powers. He said that it’s someone who will make us laugh.” Loki said mischievously.
“I’m excited.” Peter said brightly.
“Don’t you have a thesis to be working on?” Loki asked as they swung between the buildings.
Peter’s scowl was visible through the mask. “Thanks for reminding me Dad.”
Loki laughed. “It’s in my nature now I guess.”
They landed in Central Park and saw a man in purple spandex terrorizing some citizens.
“Looks like a run of the mill villain to me.” Peter said.
“I have to agree.” Loki said as they approached.
The man in the Spandex was speaking Latin of some sort. It was so garbled though that not even the AllSpeak could decipher it. Quite interesting.
“I believe some people are rolling over in their graves.” Loki said loud enough for the villain to hear. He didn’t look like he was doing much harm though, just being a public nuisance.
“Ah ha! At last, the fake God has arrived.” The man said with a flourish. “I have been waiting for you, Chaos God.”
“He must have seen your office.” Peter remarked.
Loki shot him a glare. “I’m here now, so do tell us your spiel so that we might arrest you.”
“I! am Bible man.” The spandex clad man said. “I am here to show everyone the light of Jesus and convert them to Christiantity. If you will listen, I will tell you some of my favorite lines from the bible. And we may discuss them like scholars.”
Loki rolled his eyes. “I don’t actually have time for this.” Loki said with crossed arms. “I left the baby at home with Grandma, and she’s teething. I don’t have a lot of time.”
“You didn’t bring Hela with you?” Peter pouted. “But she loves Uncle Spidey!”
“I’ll bring her next time. Thor was worried about the danger after Stark’s message. The man simply cannot take a joke.”
“But! But! In Leviticus-“ Bible Man tried to interject.
Loki merely waved a hand. Effectively silencing him and putting hand cuffs on him. The spell would wear off once he was in custody.
“I got the day off.” Loki said to Peter. “How about we play some hooky? I want some coffee.”
“Of course!” Peter said brightly. “Brooklyn here we go.”
At the end of the day Loki returned to Asgard with coffee and bagels.
“I’m home!” Loki said as he walked into his hall. He could hear murmurings from the nursery and he poked his head in to investigate.
Thor was sitting in front of the fireplace with their tiny blond daughter. She was wrapped in a blanket and looked to be just fallen asleep.
Loki walked over and placed a hand on Thor’s shoulder. Thor looked up at him with a smile. “Did you vanquish your foe?” Thor asked quietly.
“As always.” Loki said as he took his daughter effortlessly out of Thor’s arms. Thor stretched his arms out and stood to follow Loki to the crib.
Once Loki had set her down Thor took his hand. “I missed you today.” Thor said quietly as they left Hela.
“Did you?” Loki asked sweetly as he lifted Thor’s fingers to his lips.
“I worry about if you don’t return.”
The words sent a pang through Loki.
It is a real concern. While Loki has moved back into Asgard and even borne Thor a child, he never agreed to officially marry Thor. So Hela is not officially Thor’s heir, cannot inherit Thor’s throne, and upon Loki’s death would be sent to live with Loki’s next closest kin.
In Jotunheim.
Loki laughed uneasily. “You know that won’t happen.” Loki said. “I am especially hard to kill.”
“But if we were married-“ Thor began.
“You know my stance on that.” Loki said as he turned away and went to make himself comfortable. “I don’t want my daughter to inherit a throne she doesn’t want.”
Thor sat down. “All of Asgard already knows we are married in everything but name, why not officially do it? It won’t change anything. You can still come and go as you please. I promise.”
“I don’t want to be married to a King.” Loki said as he sat down. “I’ve told you.”
“You would be my equal in everything! I promise!” Thor said.
“Thor. I’m done talking about this.” Loki said as he huffed and went to bed.
The next morning Loki woke late and went into the nursery, but before he went into the room he heard Thor murmuring to Hela. Like a rascal, Loki hid and listened.
“I love you.” Thor cooed. “Yes I do. You’re perfect and you’re my daughter, my little bundle of joy. My perfect little Hela. Do you want to be Queen of Asgard? Because I want you to be Queen of Asgard. The first woman to ever sit on Asgard’s throne in her own right. Even though your Father is being obstinate I’ll find a way to make you my heir. Don’t you worry little one, I’ll protect you.”
Loki bit the inside of his cheek. Thor knew how to play him. Promise their young daughter a throne. And promise her everything. Well it wouldn’t be enough.
“And all of Asgard will see how strong and smart you are. But Daddy will make sure you’re safe as long as he can. Yes I will.”
Loki gnashed his teeth. Oh Norns he wanted to see it. His daughter sitting on the throne of Asgard. The first ever Queen. The first woman to rule Asgard in her own right without a man.
It would be beautiful.
And it would be his daughter.
Damn Thor.
Loki stepped into the room and glared at Thor. While Thor just smiled at him sweetly.
“I want the biggest wedding in the nine realms. And if you have an affair I will push you out a window and seal Mjolnir.” Loki said darkly.
That didn’t seem to faze Thor in the slightest. “Of course Loki.” He said.
And the bastard pulled a ring out of his pocket.
It was the tiny ring from Loki’s memories, a sweet secret between the two of them.