The Best Laid (Dinner) Plans of Gods and Men
Many smells often graced the halls of Avengers Mansion. More often than not, the scent of burning metal and rubber floated among the vents whenever Tony had a project go wrong. Occasionally Wanda would fill the mansion with various candles that were either to help her focus for meditation. However, one smell that had rarely, if ever, graced the halls of the mansion was that of good food.
It, sadly, came with the territory of their job that the Avengers more often than not ordered out. Missions could happen at any point in time, and having to abandon a home-cooked meal to deal with some looming threat was never ideal. That and the only one amongst them who had any real cooking skills was Scott, and that was mainly just the few foods he learned to make for his daughter.
It was for these reasons when Steve Rodgers walked into the kitchen after his final workout for the day, he was stunned by the mélange of delicious smells coming from the kitchen. He was even more shocked when he found the source of these smells to be the God of Mischief.
“I suppose if you are going to poison us, food that smells this good would be the way to go about it,” Steve commented as he stood just a way behind Loki, eyes narrowed in suspicion
“Ah, Rodgers. The man out of time. I was wondering how long you were going to dance about avoiding me. Funny how you wait until I’m all alone, and defenselessly cooking a meal for my family,” Loki didn’t bother to turn around to face the man, opting to taste the seasoning in his dishes and adjusting as needed
“Less chance of you putting a whammy on them if we have to fight. I find it hard to believe that you of all people would turn over a new leaf, let alone be involved with Tony and have a child,”
At those words Loki turned around, arms crossed around his green apron, the wooden spoon he was using dripping lightly with a red sauce,
“Believe whatever you wish Captain, but I’m here for my family, nothing else. You can choose to believe me or not, I have no plans on wasting time trying to convince you otherwise,”
“Good, because I won’t buy this act of yours for a second. The moment you slip out of line, and you will, I’ll be more than happy to pick up where we left off in Berlin,” Steve took a few steps forward, crowding Loki with his mass, “And no amount of magic is going to stop me from throwing you under a prison,”
Loki merely smiled, not letting his demeanor slip for even a moment,
“Quite right. Now if you excuse me, I have a consort and son to cook for and I will not burn this meal because of you. However, if you would like to indulge in my cooking, then feel free to come by later. I’ll make sure to make enough for you and the rest of the team,” Loki couldn’t help but needle the man with his words before returning to his cooking, seemingly forgetting about Steve just inches behind him.
With a small grunt, Steve took his leave, turning the corner to find Bucky waiting for him. The older, if only by so much, man looked over a Steve with a raised eyebrow,
“So, does he seem like he is on the up and up,” Bucky asked, falling in line with his friend as they made their way to their shared quarters
“I doubt it, Buck. He is still the man who leveled New York and I don’t buy this stuff about him being mind-controlled by someone more powerful, even if it was from Thor. There is something that they aren’t telling us, I just know it,”
“If you think so, I’ll keep an eye out. What about Tony? Do you think he’s in on it too? And this kid, he’s been so holed up in Tony’s lab I haven’t even gotten a good look at him. He can’t be all that bad,”
“If Loki is up to something, I wouldn’t be surprised if this kid was in on it somehow. For now, we keep a close eye on them both. The moment they make a wrong move, we will take care of them. Even if it means having to upset Tony,” Steve muttered that last part, not wanting a repeat of their last fight.
“Whatever you say, Steve, I’ll follow your lead,” Bucky clapped his friend’s shoulder with his non-vibranium arm, though his words didn’t reach his eyes. He let it linger for just a moment, before letting go and leaving Steve to his own devices.
Steve glanced back towards the kitchen, his ears picking up on Loki steadily cooking, and scoffed in annoyance. He wasn’t going to be caught unaware this time. Not when he had so much at stake to protect.
Loki, for his part, was honestly surprised by his more level-headed demeanor. Had it been any other time in his life, the god wouldn’t have thought twice about turning that mortal into dust. Not just Steve, but General Ross as well. While Steve was annoying, the man having a self-righteous chip on his shoulder, Ross was far more pressing for Loki. He didn’t know much about the man; just what Tony had told him before the meeting. About his almost crusader devotion to collecting Banner’s blood. Or his quest to get Tony’s suits as part of the military defense. Loki could handle all that as well as the man’s hatred of him, but he was not going to tolerate any attention given to his son.
His eyes looked over the stew that was slowly simmering over the stove. The deep, heady aroma of Asgardian spices puts his mind at ease. He could feel his memories drift towards nights when his Mother would make this same dish for both himself and Thor. There weren’t many meals like that, mostly due to Odin and his brand of fatherly love, but Loki cherished those moments all the same. It was something he wanted to share with his son. A true Asgardian meal, one that he should have had many times, had the world been kind enough.
“Or if I hadn’t been such a coward,” he sighed into the air
There were a lot of things that Loki held regret for, and missing out on Harry’s life was at the top of the list. There were so many milestones that he would never get to see. His first steps. His first words. The first time he connected with his magic. Getting his wand. So many pivotal moments he should have been there for. All of them lost to the ebb and flow of time. Seen by the likes of Petunia, or random Wixen. Loki should have been there for those, but no amount of wishing could make it so. Instead, he would make sure to enjoy the new bevy of firsts for his son. And he wasn’t going to stop with traditional meals, that was for sure. He had an entire summer to teach Harry the true depths of his magic and he would be there to witness when his son finally came into his own power. It was a year away, but Loki wasn’t going to miss that. He knew it was going to be spectacular.
“Oh, brother of mine, have you raided our dear Mother’s kitchen,” the voice of Hela heralded her arrival, her body seemingly melting away from the shadows, carrying with it the scent of ash, “And here I thought her cooking was gone with her,”
“If you must know, I watched her make meals like this several times. Whenever she would teach me a new spell or incantation, Frigga would take me into the kitchens and show me how to weave magic into food,” Loki explained, “And she isn’t in Valhalla yet. In his death, Odin did an honest deed and brought her back. She is trapped deep in something similar to Odin-sleep,”
“Thor mentioned that and the fact that there may be no way to wake her. Until such a time she graces us with her presence, I will continue to refer to Frigga in the past tense,”
“She will wake. Even if it may take a millennium, she will be with us again,” Loki swore, knowing full well that he would make it happen if need be.
Hela stood there, unsure of what to say or do next. Loki, to his credit, didn’t bother to push any particular conversation. She had only been around him and Thor for a scant few weeks at this point. More often than not Hela traversed around the stars, seeing the universe for the first time since her imprisonment. Though Loki often wondered if it was just her way of avoiding connecting with himself and Thor.
“Will you be staying by the way? It’s Harry’s first true Asgardian meal, one that should be shared with family. Even Thor is making an appearance, granted he has been itching to see his nephew since returning to Asgard,”
“Ah yes, Harry, such a mighty Asgardian name. One that invokes fear,” Hela joked, “I will stay if only to judge your cooking and this nephew of mine,”
“Harry is a respectable name, even if I had preferred Hrafn. I had told James as much, but I think he just had trouble pronouncing it properly,”
“Hrafn. You would have named your child Raven,” Natasha came walking into the kitchen, drawn in by the smell of food and conversation, “That would have set him up for a lifetime of terrible poetry and all-black clothing,”
Loki looked away from the pot to watch Natasha. While she hadn’t been as outwardly hostile as Steve had, Loki knew the woman still held a grudge,
“Don’t think so loud, I’m not here to stab you or be passive-aggressive like some of the others,” she responded to his silent thoughts.
“I hope you don’t mind if I doubt that. Between yourself, the archer, and the good Captain, I have to sleep with one eye open,”
“A son of Asgard, intimidated by mortals. Oh, how I wish to spread these whispers through our halls,” Hela laughed brightly
“Be sure to mention how he was flung around like a rag-doll by our local green giant,” Natasha added, much to Loki’s annoyance
“I will beg of you to never bring that up. Again,” Loki threatened, though it lacked any heat behind it.
“Did you want to see a video of it? Tony keeps it a part of this gag reel he has of our worse moments,” Natasha offered, as she looked up at the taller Asgardian woman.
“A chance to be around the most formidable woman on Midgard and see my brother be made a fool of? I don’t think I’ve ever been asked to a more enjoyable event,”
Loki sighed in defeat as he watched the two of them walk away, not missing the slight blush that lasted for naught a moment on Natasha’s face. Nor the satisfied smirk that was on his sisters. Frankly, he wasn’t shocked by the interest the two held for one another. He just wished that their bonding didn’t have to occur over his misery.
“FRIDAY, how far away are Harry and Tony from the Mansion,” Loki questioned the ever-present A.I.
“Boss and Mini-Boss are eleven and twenty minutes out respectively. Shall I inform them that you have finished dinner,”
Loki paused in his thoughts before waving his hand in the air. A light shimmer, not unlike a heat haze, rippled the air around the kitchen. Upon the large kitchen table and wide counters, many steaming dishes were made visible, each one adding to the heavenly smells that were perfuming the air. Exotic spiced meats were carved and delicately laid amongst cheeses. Loaves of bread, shiny with a deep mahogany color, steamed on platters. Sliced fruits were arranged in an appealing display. The only thing missing was a centerpiece dish, which Thor claimed to be bringing.
He may have gone just a tad bit overboard, but in Loki’s mind, he had years of missed meals with his son to make up for.
“No, let it be a surprise. Do inform the rest of his assorted bunch of defenders that they, too, are invited to this feast. I fear I may have made far more than I originally planned,” Lok paused for a moment, “Incidentally, what is the banal name Tony has given for me in your programming,”
“Boss has you listed as ‘The Baby Daddy’ under most of my protocols,” FRIDAY seemed to chirp just a tad bit too happily
“And the other ones,” Loki ventured to ask
“Those are classified, though they are slightly more endearing if that makes you feel better,”
A grimace graced the face of Loki. There was no telling what FRIDAY considered to be endearing. Nor what Tony thought would be endearing as well. Considering the man's penchant for nicknames on the childish side, he was willing to hedge his bets on something just as juvenile.
“Thought you should know, I am detecting the Bifrost energy signatures heading this way. Shall I direct Thor your way,”
His eyes once more went to the utter mountain of food before him. By the Norns, what had he been thinking when he started this?
“Yes, I believe his muscle will be put to good use putting out the spread,” Loki turned his gaze upwards towards the larger than-normal vents, “As would yours as well Barton, far easier to watch me up close and personal than through the slats of a vent,”
There was a beat of silence before a small sigh echoed through the vent,
“How long have you known I’ve been up here,” came the annoyed voice of Clint
“I have my ways, Barton. I have my ways. Now, come from out your roost and aid me in carrying this feast. Thor has a habit of snacking off of meals and I do not wish to leave him alone with the majority of this food,”
The Avengers Mansion was a sprawling complex that sat on well over 80 acres of land. While most of that was made up of the forest that kept the mansion hidden from sight, the building itself held a large footprint. Sitting at a grand four stories tall, not counting the multitude of sub-levels underground, the mansion boasted sixteen bedrooms, fifteen bathrooms, some multipurpose rooms, and two gyms filled with gear calibrated for the rigors enhanced individuals could put them through. The mansion had been designed by Tony after the events with Ultron, having found it far safer to keep their operations confined away from civilians. What he hadn’t planned for was large meals with his team. Or meals in general, considering the entire facility housed only two kitchens.
It was for this reason that Tony was left awe-struck when FRIDAY directed him towards the war room to find the large mahogany table laden with several piping hot dishes.
“Is there some obscure Asgardian holiday that I am not aware of because I didn’t buy any gifts,” Tony managed to get out between his slack-jawed awe, “And is that some sort of roast…boar,”
His fingers pointed to the centerpiece of the table, a larger pig creature of some kind. It had been well-roasted, its body glistening from where it had been cooked. Its massive head had been filled with some apples, with others speared on its tusks. All six of them.
“Ah, Stark, so glad to see my contribution has caught your eyes,” comes the boisterous voice of Thor, a wooden cup already in his hands, “Had to go Vanahiem to hunt this beast. It is said that the meat from this beast melts upon one’s tongue like ice in Surtur’s grasp,”
“Right, and the reason it is currently ruining the varnish on the table, alongside the other mountainous portions of food,” Tony questioned.
His answer came in the form of Loki, handling what looked to be a tray filled with a bevy of exotic cheeses,
“I did warn you that I was cooking dinner Anthony,” an exhausted-sounding Loki huffed as he added the tray to the rest of the food
“Yeah, and I expected like backed ziti or a bowl of cereal, not whatever this is,” Tony wanted to sound more upset, but the longer he stood there, the more he fell in love with the smells wafting in his direction, “This is more than this entire team could eat,”
“I may have gone a bit overboard, yes,” Loki began to defend himself, “But this is our first real meal with Harry,”
“Didn’t we have pizza like, two nights ago,” Tony countered
“It isn’t the same. It is a tradition in Asgard that the family is to sit down for a feast at least once a month. It is a time to build relationships and hash out misgivings over the shared meal,” Loki started, only for Thor to join in, slinging his arm over his brothers’ shoulder
“Though, if I recall, you didn’t care very much for them. More often than not you would slink away to your bed-chambers,” Thor happily joked, smiling widely
“Yes, well when Odin turned them into his occasions to berate me for my mere existence, they lost their flavor as it were. All the more reason why I am doing this for Harry. Not only does he deserve a far better childhood than I got to experience, I have several years of missed meals to make up for,”
Tony looked over at Loki, into those verdant eyes. He could see the passion burning brightly within them. A fervor that he couldn’t explain but could feel all the same. And, just underneath it all, a hint of someone who was looking for recognition.
“Well then, I suppose I should break out the fine china, seeing as this meal is important. Though we aren’t all going to be able to sit around this table, at least not with all this food. Hey, FRI,”
“Yes Boss,” chirped the A.I.
“Do me a favor, bring up that round table from storage, the one that Pep got for ‘team meetings,”
“I know just the one boss. Just so you know, she had requested that if I were to pull it up from storage she says, ‘I told you so’,”
Tony’s face flushed a bit before shaking his head. Leave it to Pepper to know him better than he did at times.
“Right, well best to not disappoint her and finally make use of it,” Tony walked over to Thor, patting the man’s shoulder, “Could you be a good brother-in-law and go grab the table for us? I’d do it myself, but seeing as I am involved with the cook I am exempt from heavy labor,”
“Anthony, unless you married me without my knowing, Thor is certainly not your brother-in-law,” Loki swiftly interjected
“Ah, not yet brother. When Mother wakes, you and I both know she will not rest until you consummate your union. Unless you wish to hear her speak on having a child before you are bonded,”
Loki’s went pale as his brother mirthfully went to go fetch the table, leaving Tony slightly confused
“Consummate our union? Am I supposed to make an honest woman out of you now,” Tony said in jest, only to earn a slap to his head
“This is serious Anthony. When my Mother awakes she will know the truth about my time spent on Midgard the moment she steps foot into the throne room. There is a tapestry of my family’s lineage, and Harry is no doubt on it. Frigga is the one woman, nay, the one living being in all of creation that Odin was afraid of. To anger her is to incur the wrath of all existence,”
“And when she finds out you had a kid before getting married-,” Tony asked, trying not to find the look of terror on Loki’s face funny
“Then I will have to explain to her not only why I wasn’t there for his birth, but also why she is just now getting to meet her grandchild. Only then, will she throw me into Muspelheim for all of time,”
Sensing the rising panic in Loki’s voice, Tony quickly grabbed one of the full goblets off the table and pressed it into the god's hand,
“Okay, why don’t you drink the hopefully Asgardian booze and breathe for a moment? Pretty sure all this panicking isn’t healthy,”
Loki lifted the cup to his lips, draining it in short order before tossing it away to the ground,
“You don’t understand, she has always wanted grandchildren. And I have kept one away from her for years. By the Norns, she could have died without ever knowing him,” Loki muttered darkly
“Yep, and there is nothing we can do about that. Like you told me, your mind was under so many whammy’s that you couldn’t remember a thing. If she is anything like my mom, she’ll understand. For now, the best thing we can do is just makeup lost time for Harry. Pretty sure that would count for something in her eyes,”
It took a few more moments, but eventually, the panic left Loki and he heaved a mighty breath, one he didn’t know he’d been holding in. The color returned to his face and with it the calm exterior that the god was known for having.
“Right. Harry will be here shortly and it wouldn’t do for him to see me so undone. Let’s get through this dinner and deal with…everything else at a later date. As far back as we can reasonably push it,”
“Sounds good. However, I need to start thinking about marriage again. Pretty sure that would make me second in line to the Asgardian throne if we did,” Tony gave Loki a rueful smile that earned him another smack to the head
“No time for jokes Anthony. Go make yourself more presentable while I finish setting things up,”
As Loki dismissed Tony, the mortal man couldn’t help but smile at the god. There was still something burning after all these years within Tony for Loki. Something that he could happily see himself fanning over and over to keep warm.
Maybe he could be marriage material. Just maybe.
“I’m telling you ‘Mione, PRONGS is working better than ever. After a few more tests I’ll be able to integrate him into Tony’s network,”
Harry looked down at the phone as he whispered in the back of the car, not wishing to disturb Happy who was irate at the traffic that had slowed them down.
It was his first video call with his best friend, one who was quick to berate Harry for not even texting her as soon as he landed. The only thing saving him from the intense tirade was the fact she was sitting with her mother who was tending to her hair.
“That’s great to hear Harry. I know you’ve been dying to update him on everything that’s happened. Do you think he will play well with Tony’s other A.I.,” she winced slightly as her mother pulled on a particularly thick patch of hair and began to detangle it as best as she could
“FRIDAY seems excited to have another A.I. to conversate with, but it is hard to tell if that is just her language model or genuine excitement. Tony interacts with her like she is just an everyday person,” the ‘like me and PRONGS’ bit was left unsaid, but Hermione picked up on the intent all the same
“Well, when PRONGS is up and running you better tell him to send me a message. I miss his razor-sharp wit now and again,”
“Are you saying mine isn’t enough,” Harry snarked
“Harry James Potter, you do not speak with me enough outside of school for me to know if it is sharp or not,” Hermione fixed Harry with a glare through the phone.
A beat passed between the two before they burst out into laughter.
“I am serious though, you aren’t with the Dursleys any more. I expect to hear from you more often. And not just when you are in the middle of a crisis,”
“I’d listen to her Harry,” Hermione’s mother chimed in, her face edging into view, “If she gets any more irked it is going to take me longer to get her hair finished,”
“I will Mrs. Granger, I will,” Harry attempted to placate through the phone. He looked up from the screen to see that the Mansion was looming in the distance, “I just got back to the Mansion, I’ll talk to you tomorrow. And if you get mail from Ron let him know Hedwig will be on the way with a letter from me,”
“Alright, take care. And Harry,” Hermione change in tone drew the boy’s attention, “I’m happy you found your family. Don’t be afraid to let them in,”
As he cut the call, Harry stared at the blank screen for a few moments before heaving a sigh. He didn’t want to think about her words, but Hermione did have a point.
“You know, your dad has a friend like that, don’t know if he’s mentioned her yet. Very strong-willed, probably knows was best for you better than you do,” Happy voiced from the front seat
“Yeah, that is Hermione. She’s been like that since I met her during my first year at Hogwarts. Wouldn’t have gotten through as many of the things as I have without her. Or Ron for that matter,”
“Sounds like you got a good group of friends. That’s important. I swear, if Tony had more friends he wouldn’t…well he would probably still do reckless stuff, but at least somebody other than myself, Pepper, or Rhodey would stop him,”
“You think Loki might help…temper him out,” Harry cocked his head to the side slightly as Happy leaned back as they came to a full stop in front of the mansion.
“Look kid, when I met Tony, there weren’t many things he would talk about other than weapons or booze or people to hook up with. However, the one thing he did talk about, was Loki. I mean, not exactly Loki, but Laci…you know what I mean,” scoffed Happy at the end as Harry chuckled, “Point is, Loki was always on your dad’s mind. If there is anyone who could temper him, it would be Loki,”
The pair sat in the silence of the car for a moment, both thinking so many different thoughts at once. The moment only lasted a second though,
“Alright, Stark. Jr, the moment is done and this is already over my emotional allotment for the month. Think you can make it to the front door without getting kidnapped,”
“You know, I’m honestly not sure, the door is like ten steps away. Almost anyone can snatch me up in ten steps,” Harry joked, but it was only met with an unamused frown from Happy, “I’ll be fine. You get kidnapped a few times and you learn to be more aware of your surroundings,”
Happy muttered something under his breath while Harry got out of the car. Even though the Mansion itself was well secured and protected, Happy waited until Harry got to the door before even starting the car again. With a cheeky grin, Harry gave the man a small wave before the door opened and he walked inside.
Even though he had only been out of the mansion a few times, Harry still felt odd when he stood in the place. His eyes just found it all to be overwhelming and imposing. Everywhere he looked there were empty spaces and harsh shadows. Even the sound of his feet echoing against the walls set him on edge. The only places he found comfort in were his room and Tony’s lab. Places that were disorderly and chaotic in a way that he found comforting.
Taking a sharp breath through his nose, Harry held it for a moment before letting it filter out past his lips. It was just enough to center him, something Lupin had taught him when he was learning to cast the Patronus the first time. It helped just enough to keep his mind on the emptiness he felt around him.
“Uhm, FRIDAY, do you know where Tony happens to be,” he paused for a moment, “Or Loki for that matter,”
“Hello Harry, welcome back. Both of your parents are currently in the war room, shall I direct you there,”
“War room? Did something happen? Are we under attack,” panic gripped Harry as his hand drifted down to his wand
“No, nothing so dire. They just needed more room. The entire team is down there as well, just follow the flashing lights and you’ll get there in no time,”
As she spoke, Harry caught sight of a row of blinking lights coming from the wall. Bright red and gold, because of course they were, strobe light illuminated the floor, giving Harry a direct path to the war room. As he stayed close to the light, his eyes wandered over the walls of the mansion. They were so bare, startling so. The only real comparison he could make was to his time spent in Grimauld, and he was not ready to deal with it at the moment. All the same, the lack of paintings or any sort of notable features just added to the uncomfortable emptiness of it all. He would never complain, as it was a far cry from where used to live, it still left him feeling just a tad lost at times. Adrift in an unfamiliar space.
His thoughts were pulled away from his current focus and to that of the smells that were filling the air. It was hard to tell just what precisely he was smelling, there seemed to be a jumble of spices that wanted his attention. None of them were unpleasant though. If anything, they were on the verge of making him salivate before he rounded the corner and walked into the room the strobe lights were leading him towards.
“Well, if it is the Heir to the Stark fortune, in the flesh,” came a jovial shout from Clint as Harry stepped into the room, “Though, if I may say, I may prefer your other dad’s endeavors. Provided they strictly stay in the kitchen,”
All of this was said as he kept an almost iron grip on the plate in his hand, laden with meats and loaves of bread, all of it steaming freshly in the air. Looking to his left, Harry spotted where the food had come from, a bounty of This was the same for the others that had gathered in the war room, though the oddest feature of this seemingly impromptu feast was the round table they all sat at. It looked to be heavily polished and made of some sort of dark wood. The most notable feature on it though was the logo for the Avengers carved into it, just barely able to be seen under many plates that Thor had near him.
“Ah, if it isn’t my nephew! Come, you must sit and enjoy this feast and regale us with your tales and adventures. As is family tradition,” Thor seemed incapable of speaking without shouting, making Harry wince slightly.
“What he means,” Loki finally stepped forward, having been talking with Hela at the time, “Is that it is a tradition in Asgard to share a meal once a month to air out issues and bond as a family. Seeing as I have missed a, frankly egregious, number of them I may have gone a bit overboard,”
“I feel like overboard is slightly underselling it,” Harry said, nervous tones tinting the sound of his voice, “Is…is that a boar on the table? I’ve never seen anything like it,” Harry turned his attention to the centerpiece, trying his best to pull away the attention from him.
It was far too much. He didn’t need anything like a family dinner. Not even the Dursleys did something like this.
As if sensing his ill-ease, Tony wrapped an arm around Harry,
“Think of it as a getting-to-know-the-team dinner. I mean, you’ve been here a week and I think I’m the only one who has had eyes on you,” Tony gave what he thought was a sly wink to Loki, before he wheeled Harry towards the table, “You get comfortable and get to know the team while I make you a plate. Sound good kid,”
The question went unanswered as Tony gave Harry a pat on the shoulder before heading off towards Loki, the pair muttering to themselves as they made their way to the table. Harry, for his part, was trying his best to not show off his nerves. It was not working in the least bit.
Any conversation seemed to stall as he took a seat, so many eyes either looking at him or trying their best to not look as if they were. Harry gave a nervous chuckle and waved his hand,
“Uh, hello,” he managed to get out
“Nephew Harry, you must tell us of your adventures. I’ve heard from Loki that you had fought a basilisk before,” Thor rounded, his enthusiasm leaking in spades
“I mean, I wouldn’t say fought per se,” Harry muttered under his breath
“Hey, hi,” Clint chimed in, having turned his chair around to face the table properly, “For those of us who don’t speak magic, what is this basil-thingie,”
“A basilisk is a mighty serpent, one of the children of Jormangander. It is said to look into its eye is to greet death. Its scales are neigh impenetrable, and its venom can even eat away the flesh of a god,” Thor spoke in low tones and reverence,
“And Kid Stark over there killed one of these things,” the question, more of a denial if the tone was anything to go by, came from Bucky Barnes as he sat with his arms crossed next to Steve, “Sounds a bit like a bedtime story to me,”
“Considering I was twelve at the time, it felt more like a nightmare than anything. And I’d like to see how’d you fare against it, maybe you’ll lose your other arm,” the venom that laced Harry’s voice came from nowhere, not in the mood to deal with disbelieving adults.
“Mind your tone kid, he was just curious is all,” Steve jumped in cautiously, his eyes set in a hard glare at Harry, his shield resting ominously against his chair
Harry was more than happy to return the barb all the same, not breaking contact until Thor spoke up once again,
“Had you lived in Asgard we would have hung its skull in the hall of trophies and made armor from its hide. Perhaps we still can, if there is anything left of your conquest,”
Harry held Steve’s glare for a moment longer before breaking it off to look over to Thor,
“I don’t know. It was two years ago and I’m the only person who can get into the Chamber at school. If it hasn’t decomposed or anything,”
“If it is a true basilisk, then not even the ravages of time will consume its body. The venom and its blood are far too potent to be decomposed of,” the smile on Thor’s face was impossible for Harry not to mirror, "It would make excellent armor for you,"
“I have no idea how I’d get it out of Hogwarts though. The snake was at least twenty-one meters long,”
“Leave that to myself and your father. That is your conquest, young nephew, it should be treated with the respect your vanquishing of it deserves,”
A warmth spread through Harry as Thor spoke so passionately about not the snake itself, but how Harry handled it. Peter had been the same way, and it was a good change of pace to either the worried looks he would get or the outright disbelief from others.
“Well whatever school keeps a pet snake that can eat children locked up doesn’t sound too safe to me,” Steve added, as he jabbed at a bit of meat on his plate
“Please, compared to the Red Room I’m sure this school isn’t too bad. Not like you have to deal with life-threating ordeals every day,” Natasha chimed in with a smile of her own
“I mean, we do have potions class. We have to brew things that can go wrong if you so much as stir them the wrong way,”
“How bad are we talking kid? Like…make your hair fall out bad,” Scott asked from the right side of Clint
“I have a couple of friends who made a hat that does that. But less that and more creating fumes that could liquefy your lungs or leave you with permanent boils on your skin,” Harry answered, chuckling at the face that Scott pulled.
“That’s the class that Severus teaches, correct,” Loki returned, a plate laden with far more food than Harry would even eat at the feast balanced in his hand. As if it was the most normal thing ever, he slid the plate under Harry’s face, “Potions has always struck me as probably the most dangerous of all the classes, though it is a handy art to learn,”
Harry bit the edge of his lip as he eyed the pile of food, his stomach lurching in protest as nerves seemed to claw along his back at it all. Nervously he picked at the food, taking small bites of the admittedly tasty fare.
“Potions and killer snakes, this is starting to sound less like a school and more like a place where they make messed up sociopaths,” Steve hissed, his eyes moving to Loki.
Harry was poised to strike back but was stopped by a gentle press on his shoulder from Loki,
“Be that as it may, Hogwarts has taught many great Wixen minds that have changed the world, even if I find most of the current curriculum to be lacking. Ignoring the theory of magic in a school that teaches magic will always be an oversight for me,” Loki finished, not opting to rise to Steve’s clear bait
“Yes, magic. Such a mighty tool, and yet it did not aid you in our battle as well as you would have liked, now did it, brother of mine,” Hela slipped into the seat between both Harry and Natasha, “Nothing compares to the might of blades in my opinion. When you tire of learning magic, Harry, I’d be more than happy to teach you how to wield a proper weapon,”
Harry looked up at the woman that Loki said was his Aunt. He hadn’t really met her before this moment, and to say she was intimidating would seem disrespectful in Harry’s eyes. Her body seemed to move with the grace and poise he’d seen from Draco’s mum before. Underneath it all, he could feel just how dangerous she truly was. Not just mentally, but his magic as well seemed to pick up on it too. It almost seemed to vibrate in her presence
“I…I may take you up on that. I probably would have looked less like a prat swinging around that sword if I knew what I was doing,” Harry sheepishly responded, only to blush slightly as Hela ran her hand through his hair,
“Oh, I will make a wonderful and powerful blade master nephew, in due time,”
The touch was gentle, something he wasn’t used to from someone whom he called an Aunt, but Harry found it to be oddly soothing, if not comfortable in its own way.
“Be that as it may, I would prefer to train him in magic before he branches out into weaponry. He is my son and is already a skilled Wixen. He needs to be prepared for when he comes into more power on his sixteenth birthday,”
“I…hang on. What is this about more power? And don’t I get a say in this,” Harry felt a hitch in his chest as a push of panic reared its head
“Harry, you have to remember, part of your blood comes from me. As such, when you reach the age of sixteen, or your magic deems it necessary, you will fully be able to tap into the latent power that courses in your veins. You already have access to some of it, mostly in times of stress and high emotions, but your birthday is when you will inherit the true depths of your power,” Loki offered as an explanation.
The panic in Harry seemed to grow just all that more at those words, meetings with Dumbledore about how he would grow powerful enough to vanquish Voldemort flashing in his eyes. The Dark Lord's words about wanting Harry to join him due to his power. More power. More responsibilities.
“So, we’re just going to have another version of you running around, but with the emotional depth of a teenager,” Steve said, “I’m sure that will go perfectly well,”
“Hey, Star-Spangled Bastard, not one more word about my kid or I’m taking you off the lunch boxes,” Tony suddenly appeared, having been distracted by Bruce, who had joined the table with a plate of his own
“Language Stark, you got a kid, don’t ya,” Bucky slipped in,
“A kid who has said a damn sight worse than bastard, you half-metal asshole,” Harry shot back, breaking out of his stupor
“Yeah, that’s definitely your kid Tony,” Bruce said, “And I’m all for banter, but I thought this was supposed to be like a team get-together. Like in the old days,”
“Technically, is an Asgardian feast for families. Airing out of grievances is to be expected. So what don’t you tell me what’s really on your mind Captain,” Loki didn’t move from his spot beside Harry, his hand still clenching tightly to his son’s shoulder.
“I don’t think you want me to do that. It won’t end well for you,” Steve growled, clutching the table tightly,
“Do you want to go there, Rodgers? I thought we hashed all this out when I didn’t kill you or your buddy back in Serbia,” Tony stood behind Loki, anger lighting his eyes, “Don’t make me regret that choice,”
“Tony, you brought Loki here. The same man who killed and led an invasion that cost hundreds of lives. Why you’d think I’d be okay with that is beyond me,” Steve stood, hands on his hips as he attempted to keep himself under control
“Yeah, because he is the father of my son. You don’t get a say in family matters Steve. Your feelings on the matter are the last thing on my mind,” Tony snapped
“Is he even your kid? How do you know that Loki hasn’t warped your mind? Or that the kid isn’t some play he has in mind,” it was Bucky who responded, standing to back Steve
The words cut deep into Harry, who was trying his best to maintain his composure
“That’s it, you’re off the lunch box. Keep it up and I’ll get rid of the action figure next,” Tony snarked
“Enough with the jokes Tony, I’m being serious,” Steve ground out between his teeth, “You vanish after some weird guy shows up and says you have a kid. Then Loki shows up with Thor and a woman he claims to be his sister and he is looking for you because the kid is somehow his as well. Now the kid is here, lying to our faces about having killed some monster snake in some freaky school where he learns to make poisons. You have to understand why I’m worried,”
Freak.
Liar.
The words echo in Harry’s mind, ringing like a bell and he can’t help but find himself pulled back into Privet Drive. Of hearing his Uncle’s tirades against his very existence. Of his Aunt’s hate of not just him, but her sister because of what she, and by proxy, he is.
Words he thought he had escaped, but here they were once again.
“I’m not a liar,” Harry uttered, as a dangerous chill filled the room
“What was that,” Steve asked, unaware of the emotional turmoil he was causing
“Steve, maybe you should ease up a bit,” Bucky said, worried at the shift in the kid’s demeanor
The only other people who noticed the change in Harry were Clint, Scott, and Hela. Out of the three, Hela was the only one watching with eyes filled with interest instead of worry,
“Oh, you are full of surprises aren’t you nephew,” Hela laughed, throwing her head back as she did so, “What trouble you will spell for these mortals,”
“You are not helping defuse the situation right now Hela,” Loki hissed, though he too looked down at Harry in worry, “Harry, you should go to your room,” he said to his son, returning his ire-filled glare to Steve Rodgers
Green eyes snapped up, swimming in magic that made them swirl with light and power,
“Not until he apologizes. My uncle called me a liar and a freak before he beat me. I’m not taking that from him,” Harry practically hissed
“I second this, Captain,” Thor stood tall, hammer in his hand, “I will not allow you to disrespect my family in my presence,” Mjolnir crackled with energy
“I don’t owe you an apology kid. I’m not letting another monster like your so-called dad hurt anyone I care about,” Steve directed at Harry
Steve Rodgers had dug his grave, and everyone at the table knew it other than him.
There was no telling who struck first. From where Clint and Scott sat, it looked as if it had been Loki who moved first, daggers in hand as he made to run at Steve. Natasha had seen Tony slipping a metal glove over his hand earlier and watched as it let out a blinding flash. Hela never let her eyes leave Steve and was moving to deflect the shield hurtling towards her nephew with a conjured blade of her own.
Yet none of that mattered as everyone at the table had been blown back by a cold burst of magic, sending them all toppling head over heels, food splattering over the walls from the force. Steve’s shield was stuck in the wall, as were Loki’s daggers. One of the light fixtures had taken a hit from Tony’s hand blaster. It was chaos all around and at the center of it, frost crawling from his fingers to cover the entire table had been Harry.
The world popped back into focus for him, his breath quickening as he saw the damage he had done. He watched as Steve tried to untangle himself from Bucky, more memories of his childhood running through his mind. All he could think to do was run, and that is what he did. He bolted, legs toned from years of Quidditch sending him sprinting toward his room.
“Stop right there,” Steve yelled, scrambling to his feet, only to be stopped himself as the imposing figure of Thor stood in his way, calmly placing his hammer against Steve’s chest
“I feel as though we have aired enough ills for one night, Captain,” he said in an almost silent roar, “Leave my nephew alone,”
Tony was the first non-god to recover, glaring flames directly at Steve as if trying to will the man into pain,
“I swear Rodgers, were it not for that stupid agreement I’d have you thrown out on your ass for that,”
“I’m not sorry Tony. You saw what that kid did, he is a danger-,”
“HE IS MY SON,” Tony bellowed, “He is my son and if you ever say one word to him again, let alone be anywhere near him, I will scatter what’s left of your body into space,”
Steve didn’t move, not at first. Not until Bucky touched his shoulder. Pulled from his thoughts, Steve went to the wall and pulled his shield free before sulking out the door. Bucky just looked from the retreating figure of his friend and back to the anger-filled Tony,
“I’ll talk to him. He’s just…I’ll talk to him,” Buck said, as he too left the disaster that was the war room.
Loki stood, tossing his head to fix his hair, his eyes looking at the table covered in a layer of ice, feeling an odd mixture of pride and woe in his stomach.
“You should go talk to your little raven, brother of mine. Make sure he has calmed himself before he lets his power take control of him once more,” Hela offered, stretching her hand out towards the ice and making it melt in no time, “I will handle fixing this room and continue the feast in your stead,”
“No. I should let Tony handle it, Harry seems to respond to him better,” Loki distantly muttered
“Be that as it may, he needs the father that best understands what he is going through and is more equipped to deal with magic,”
“And what makes you think I remotely know what my son is going through,” Loki rounded on his sister, “What insight do you have that I do not on not just his life, but my own,”
“The scars of our father run deep in all of us, more so in you,” Hela replied with an even tone, “I may not know what scars your son holds onto, but even I can tell they are ones of the mind and of the past. Go to your son. You should no better than to question the wisdom of your older sister,”
Hela didn’t give Loki a chance to reply, leaving him to help fix the mess around the war room. Loki gave a glance over to Tony, who gave him a small nod, before turning his attention to the damage the room had sustained.
Assurances were given, and Loki stalked off to follow his son to his room.
The moment Harry crossed the threshold into his room, he snapped the door close with far more strength than he had anticipated, cracking the frame slightly. The sound sent his mind reeling once more to his childhood when his Aunt or Uncle would slam his cupboard door shut. Or the resounding crack from when Moody would send him flying during his so-called training. His body shuddered as he felt the crack echo in his mind, accompanied by the words of Steve Rodgers.
It was so loud in his mind he couldn’t hear the soft hissing of the locket trying to reach out to him through their connection. Nor the worried insistence of his mental double trying to draw his attention. All he had ears for were the voices and demons of his past, and the harsh reality of his present. So much so, that Harry didn’t notice when his door was opened and Loki walked in. It wasn’t until Harry felt arms fold around him that he began to pull himself out of his mind.
“That’s it my little Hrafn. Just breathe with me for a moment. Just breathe,” Loki muttered, as Harry felt himself being pulled down into his bed.
Harry had no idea how he managed to fit into the lap of Loki, but something was calming about it. His head had found itself nestled against the man’s chest, as Loki’s fingers idly drifted through Harry’s hair. There had never been a time Harry had even been held like this. Comforted like this. Even in his moments with Sirius, the man had never been as affectionate as Loki was now.
There were no words said between them, none that needed to be said at any rate. Instead, Loki had opted to hum, his melodic voice adding to the ease that was starting to permeate Harry’s body. His mind seemed to let go of those memories, all of them fading into the background. In their stead, there was only the soft and calming melody that Loki whispered to Harry as he held him.
“Wh-what did y-you call me,” Harry asked between a poorly stifled yawn,
“Hrafn. It means raven. It was to be your name when you were born. My little Hrafn, with feathers as dark as night and free to take flight,” Loki said as he continued to card his fingers through Harry’s hair, “Odin had two ravens, Huggin and Muggin. They were my only real friends as a child. I had spent ages talking with them in a way that no one else ever could. I often wished to fly as free as they did. Away from Asgard. Away from Odin. Away from everything that felt wrong in my life,
“I called you Hrafn because I wanted you to be as free as a raven was. Free to live your life without regret and fear. Instead, I left you with a life filled with nothing but fear and regrets,” Loki’ words were quiet, and solemn as he let himself drift off for a moment
“You came back though,” Harry muttered, “You didn’t stay away. You came back for me. You didn’t…leave me in the cupboard,”
“I…Harry,” Loki began, shifting to look down at his son, “I should have never left you in the first place. If I hadn’t then none of this would have happened,”
“That doesn’t matter. Not to me,” Harry’s voice was sleepy, what little energy he had drained away, “You came back. No-not even Sirius came back fr-for me. Not really,”
Loki was stunned by his son and his words, unsure of how to proceed. There was so much he wanted to say that would contradict Harry’s words, at least in his mind. Yet, he would not say them. Not now, nor would he ever if he could help it.
There was a soft sound of breathing, and Loki looked down to find Harry had fallen asleep, still nestled into his lap. The urge to put his son into his bed rose and fell in his chest. Instead, he adjusted himself and cast a few comforting charms on them both, before he conjured a soft blanket to cover them. Leaning against the bed, Loki gently pulled Harry’s glasses, placing them on the bedside table beside his wand and his locket. Leaning against the headboard, Loki let himself drift away as well, content to enjoy this moment with his son.
There would be time to deal with the fallout of the feast another day. Right now, Loki was content to be there for his son to lean on.