Aether
It was the usual morning for the father and son, Loki helps Harry get ready for school, packing his lunches and box juices. He puts a little more snack for him to share with his friends during breaktime and of course he decided to leave a little note with the words “Dad loves Harry, always” on his Ironman lunchbox courtesy of Tony of course since he basically bought almost all of his stuff so why not. Team Ironman right?
Harry didn’t grumble as much as before now that he have friends and that he enjoys interacting with other kids as well as his teachers. He adjusted quickly with his other peers and Loki was so proud of him and will always listen to his stories after school.
Loki straightened up his collar and pats down his uniform to look presentable. Today he will be joining Happy to send his child to school, Happy will drop them off while Loki wanders around to pass the time, SHEILD has no need for him today. Though he couldn’t say much for others, SHEILD shipped off Bruce to another country to work on a case, the remaining ; Tony, Steve, Clint and Natasha disappeared who knows where. Although he noticed Tony sneak in once in a while to his lab on another project he assumed. He did hear something about “Winter Soldier.” But he couldn’t care less.
Loki didn’t really bother keeping up with SHEILD, only when they’re calling in for his help. After school today, he planned to take Harry with him to their old house. He missed their cottage and when it was just the two of them but he appreciates the other company, it’s good for Harry. He should make a list for their groceries knowing they did not have any food at home.
“Have a good day sweetheart, I’ll pick you up later okay? I love you and have fun!” He leaned down and pressed a chaste kiss to his gem’s forehead.
“Okay, bye dad I love you!” Harry waved enthusiastically at his dad as he enters the school. Loki missed Harry already. He felt a tug at his heart now that Harry is growing up, he’ll miss the memories when Harry is still small and clings to him like a koala to a tree.
He walked to the nearest park and sit on the first bench he sees. Loki likes to just sit and think about the things going on around his life, about his family, he wouldn’t admit it loudly but he missed Frigga and even Odin sometimes even though he wasn’t the best father or that he lied to him for his whole entire life. Odin was the only father figure in his life.
Odin is also the reason why Loki is slightly clingier than normal to his child, Harry. He’s scared of making mistakes too, whenever he tried to be stern with Harry, he’s scared that it’ll be too much with Harry and that Harry would abandon him one day or stop calling him Dad or Papa. He lost his family, now he only have Harry with him and also Thor but Harry was different because he adopted him.
As he continue to be absorbed in his thoughts, he felt a shift and boy oh boy. It was his brother and a woman? Must be the girl he was talking about before, Joyce was it? Jean? Ah, Jane. They were travelling using the bifrost which he cocks an eyebrow at, Jane was wearing a clothing that reminds him of home. Something must’ve happen, his brows furrowed, already worried at their arrival.
“Loki!” Thor walks, half-jog to Loki who stands up and sigh as Thor hugs him and he pats him on the back.
“Jane, meet my brother, Loki and Loki meet uh Jane.” He introduces them to each other.
“Hello, I’m Jane Foster.” She did not offer her hand for him to shake just stare at Loki up and down, assessing him.
“Yes, I’ve heard of you from Thor, I’m Loki. Just Loki.” Loki considers her rude, a bit.
“Loki, Asgard was under attack earlier.” Thousands question rushing to his head.
“By who? How’s Asgard? How is mother doing? Is everyone okay?” Loki panicked slightly but Thor gripped his forearm to calm his rushing thoughts.
“Everyone is fine, it was minimum damage and Heimdall held the fort well. Father handled the intruders as well and mother is fine. She was attacked by the Dark Elves but I came at the right moment. Father have told me of something important, I need your help Loki. We need you.”
“I will do my best to help, Thor. What did Odin say?”
“Do you remember the story Mother used to tell us about the Dark Elves.” Loki nods, memories of Frigga reading to them for bedtime floods his mind. Thor told his brother what Odin told him and Jane about the Aether, the infinity stones and so on. Loki absorbs the information rather quickly and thought long and hard about the Aether.
“Do we know where this Aether is? If we could get to it before Malekith and destroy it, there’s a chance we can stop him for once.” Thor went quiet and shifts from one leg to another and stealing glances at Jane. “What is it. Please don’t tell me you have the aether with you already. Where is it?”
“Well, you see, here’s the funny thing. Jane stumbled upon it and it kinda went in her?”
“I’m sorry please repeat that again? I did not just hear that.” Loki scoffs in disbelief but one look at the both of them he sat down on the bench aggressively and the two follow suit. “Now what?”
“Now we will try to extract it from her as soon as possible and destroy it for good before it destroy her.” Jane gulps, feeling weak already.
“We’ll need to hide where others can’t find us. We cannot risk going to the tower, the others live there.” Loki rack his brain on places to hide till one pops up, it’s not ideal but things will be easier for him and also for his child.
“I have a cottage here, I have sealed it even from Heimdall’s eyes. It’s the perfect place.”
“Good thinking brother! Let us go now to this cottage of yours.” Thor stands up ready to depart meanwhile Loki just look at him with a straight face.
“Well, first thing first, I need to buy groceries and pick up Harry after school.”
“Buying groceries? No way a God is buying groceries.” Jane said looking at Loki weirdly as he ignores her.
“Well, what do we eat then and what kind of a parent am I to let my child starve. Come on, there’s a supermarket few blocks from here or so.” He stands up and walk before Jane could ask him about his child. Thor happily fills her in about Harry, his cute nephew who has the fluffiest hair he have ever seen, Jane nods at the info he gave her and ask more about his age and all that and enjoying how Thor’s smile gets wider at the mention of Harry.
Loki’s dislike for Jane passed by when she offer to help him with the groceries, telling him on what to buy and what he could do with them. She also told him of things that a kid might enjoy eating, which is very helpful, Harry is not a picky eater but Loki just wants him to eat more. They bought vegetables, fruits, snacks for Harry and some beverages that are healthy. Thor tagged along behind them, pushing the carts as Loki converse with Jane about groceries and what not, he also bought snacks for himself along the way, dropping things into the cart.
They paid with Tony’s card, he gave one to Loki knowing he didn’t have human money so he lend his card to him knowing Loki rarely use it since he lives in the tower. Jane stared at the total with wide eyes but said nothing as Thor lifts all the bags himself, Loki holding two bags himself. They walked to a narrow and dark alley, so that Loki can transport them to his home.
They landed in front of his cottage, the area seem well maintained despite being left alone for a long time, though they did visit once in a while. A sense of familiarity came to Loki as he opens the door and allow the others to enter, memories of him and his gem spending time here came up and made him smile as he closes the door behind him. They have less than a few hour to spare before Loki fetches Harry from school, Pepper told Loki since Harry is still new to all this, enrolling him for a full day Kindergarten might be too much for him at first, so she said that since Harry is already smart for his age he can have part-day at the Kindergarten. They would alternate between full day and part-day to balance it and yesterday was a full and tiring day for Harry. Jane suggested they start preparing lunch for them while waiting to pass the time. Jane and Loki made macaroni and cheese for lunch as well as garlic breads. Thor lounge around the house, helping to taste the food and setting the table up.
The clock shows the time for Loki to pick Harry up, he left everything to Jane, she only needs to put them in a bowl and all that. She also made them strawberry lemonade hoping Harry might like it once in a while. Loki waits along with other parents, here to fetch their kids from the kindergarten.
“DAD!” Harry ran straight towards Loki and drops his Ironman lunchbox on the ground and jumps so that his dad can catch him and hoist him up. Loki smiles from ear to ear seeing his sweet Harry and nuzzles into his black hair.
“I miss you little one.” He whispered softly, pressing soft kisses to his hair, smelling the kids shampoo that Pepper bought and the one Harry loved. “I miss you more.” Harry relaxes into his arms as he took a deep breath of Loki’s comforting scent. Loki’s scent makes him feel like he’s at home, safe and sound.
“Let’s go home, precious. Your uncle Thor is at our cottage along with his friend. I’ll introduce you later.” Harry lets out a small huff.
“I thought it would only be two of us today?” Loki chuckled as he tuck a strand of Harry’s hair behind his ear.
“I thought you like Uncle Thor? Don't you want to spend time with him too? It has been a while since we saw him hmm.”
“I do but I just want to be with dad today. It’s Harry and Dad day.”
“Uncle Thor needs oour help in something, after all that I promise we’ll have our own day together or a week, as long as you want darling. We should help everyone in need and plus Uncle Thor and his friend even helped to make some lunch today, behave okay?” Harry nods against his chest. Loki transports them home where Thor and Jane awaits.
“Mmm smells good doesn’t it precious?” He tries to coax Harry to lift his head as they enter the cottage. He lifts his head, smelling something good in the air as his dad carry him to the kitchen where he saw Thor already sat and an unknown lady next to him.
“Harry! Oh how I’ve missed you little warrior.” Thor snatched him from Loki as soon as he saw them approach, Harry giggles as Thor spins him around and pecking his cheeks with kisses. Jane stares at them fondly liking how good Thor was with kids.
“Harry, I want you to meet Jane, she’s my friend. Jane this is Harry.” Thor sets him on his own two feet, slightly dizzy, Jane crouch down so that she could meet his eyes better.
“Hello Harry, my name is Jane Foster but you can call me Jane.” She extends her hand for Harry to shake, but he was shy. Loki smiles seeing Harry fidgets, it was almost unnoticeable but if it was Harry he would notice it immediately. He knew Harry was shy, he walks and stops behind Harry and nudges him a little to accept her handshake.
Harry slowly moves lifts his hand and shakes Jane’s hand, he smiled when suddenly Jane’s grips became tight. She was staring straight into Harry’s eyes. Her eyes were all black with specs of red, Harry felt trapped staring into her eyes. Loki and Thor notices that Jane’s eyes turned black and tried to pry them both away but was stopped by a red shield surrounding them.
“HARRY!” Loki tried calling for Harry but Harry remained rooted at his spot, swirls of red in the air coming from Jane and she dropped to the floor.
“JANE NO!” Thor shouts and rushes to her body, and pull her away from the red swirls. Loki tries again to reach Harry but unable as the shield was now focused on Harry alone and pushed him back further. He tried using his powers to penetrate the shield but it was of no use. Thor summoned his hammer and aimed at Harry.
“No! your lightning might hurt him.” Before Thor could even do anything the Aether was absorbed by Harry and his veins glow red through his whole body, his eyes looked like Jane’s before, black with red specks.
Harry’s body hits the ground before Loki could catch him.