Chapter 1
ASGARD
Loki slowed down at the cave’s yawning entrance, hearing the sound of a bone cracking. There was a simple illusion in place to hide the entrance so that it appeared to be a path that led to a dead end. Loki hadn’t considered a need to suppress noises. He felt his non-existent, at least in this form, hackles raise. Abyss’ fur stood on end, hiking up on his toes from his usual position on Loki’s shoulder. They glanced at each other.
As soon as the trickster walked past the illusion and saw where the noise was coming from, he sighed.
Abyss spat, ‘Stupid mutt!’
Fenris was chewing on a bone inside. And what a bone it was. It was too large for most indigenous wildlife on Asgard. Taking a guess. “Fenris. We talked about this!”
The wolf glanced up and she licked her nose.
“I can see it is delicious—I do not care. If they figure out you are here that will mean trouble for all of us.”
Asgardian wolves were enormous and very extinct. But suddenly Fenris existed once more. He still wasn’t quite clear on how it had happened but he suspected a certain Norn had a hand in her resurrection during the battle to stop Thanos.
The warriors would see hunting her as a sport. The elders would fear her. The Vanir wouldn’t be much better. But Hela was very much aware her beloved familiar lived once more. She would never forgive any of them, including him, if something happened to Fenris.
Not that the stubborn wolf was making things easy for him. She had an annoying ability of sneaking through the dark passages to roam on Vanaheim. That was bad enough. That she had apparently returned with a giant bone to chew on was alarming.
More alarming that apparently no one noticed a giant wolf more than 20 feet in height trotting around with the thing in her mouth. He knew where the dark passage was to Vanaheim. It wasn’t that remote of a location. He’d have to have a quiet word with Tyr about that.
Fenris grumbled.
“Do not take that tone with me.” Loki had signed up for four children. He had not agreed to be a pseudo-parent for this four-footed pain in the ass who was older than he was but more entitled than he had ever been. The cave was too dark. She was lonely. She was cold. And on. And on. He blamed Hela for that entirely.
The large, pointed ears turned backwards.
Loki narrowed his eyes. “You growl at me and I will lock you in your cave.” His mother would be in stitches right about now.
Reluctantly the ears turned back around.
He sighed, “I understand you are bored and miss Hela. We have to wait for the right time.” It wasn’t just an easy matter of sending her through the barrier on Helheim. His life didn’t work like that. Familiars were tied to their casters. The barrier was designed to keep Hela as well as the dead in. Fenris made everything messy because she was part of Hela, yet she wasn’t. “But if you get Asgard’s attention you will not be able to safely stay here.” Nidavellir might be an alternative if she couldn’t behave herself. He didn’t want to resort to that, and the dwarves wouldn’t be thrilled with him, but he just might have to if she forced his hand.
Fenris chewed a bit harder on her bone.
He waved a hand. “Yes, yes you are a big, scary wolf who can use Aesir as toothpicks. You can also die, Fenris. It would devastate Hela if anything happened to you.”
Those eyes flicked in his direction.
“I just know. Hela is not so removed from life that she does not carry one of a caster’s greatest fears.” He knew that from experience.
Abyss decided to chime in sarcastically. ‘Aw.’
Loki rolled his eyes. “Yeah, yeah furball. Rub it in.” But then what little levity fell from his face. “I will have to say goodbye to you too soon as it is.” He never liked to think about it. He’d made many four-legged friends over the course of his life. Magical or not, their time was always so short in comparison to his own. He tried to live in the moment instead of thinking about the eventual outcome. But times like now were a harsh reminder.
Fenris growled, not at Loki, but at Abyss.
The cat hissed right back.
Frowning as he looked between the two of them. “Tell me what?”
A short yip from Fenris.
Abyss flicked guilty eyes towards his mage. ‘Did I forget to mention a familiar bond reflects the lifespan of the caster?’
A blink from Loki, his face now blank. “Yep.” He had thought Abyss would have at most the lifespan of a Vanir-cat.
The cat’s face contorted in an attempt to look indignant. ‘Ravens do not live for thousands of years, yet Hugin and Munin are older than you are. How could you not know?’
Tone unamused and dry. “Pretend I grew up on a realm where no one talks about such things.” Which he had.
Abyss went back to looking guilty.
Fenris had an air of being smug.
The mage pointed a finger at the gloating lupin. “Stop popping over to Vanaheim when you get peckish.” It’s not like he hadn’t been feeding her every day.
A soft whine.
She wanted to hunt for her meal, not just have it provided to her like a dog. Loki sighed but gave in much too easily. “At least wait for me next time so I can ensure you are not seen.”
Her tail thumped happily as she went back to chewing on her bone.
***
Loki was very thoughtful in his decision for sending out certain invitations. Before, when inviting most of SHIELD for the feast that was being held in his honor, that had been largely to annoy his father. That wasn’t the case this time.
The wedding before the throne was just a formality. In all the ways that mattered, and also by Alfheim’s standards, he and Sigyn were married. Mated. Forever a pair. But this was Asgard and he was a prince of the realm. To meet the sometimes (oftentimes) super critical standards of the society and legitimize their union, this little bit of political dancing was required. But that aside, there were people that he either wanted there, or to at least extend the offer as a gesture of good will.
From Midgard Tony was a given. Pepper, too. Bruce, he was friendly with. There was history between he and Clint that might always keep them at a distance. Natasha he respected, although she apparently couldn’t be found. He’d create the invite anyway. If she showed up, he’d uncover what was really going on. He had his reservations about Rogers since the man was such a bore but purely because the others were being invited he would receive one as well. Fury he decided to invite because if the SHIELD Director declined, he wouldn’t be able to argue later the lack of civility between them was Loki’s fault.
Autenhal from X-30. Moss. His Vanir relatives. Faurete from Jotunheim, of course. Angrboda and her mate because she was entertaining. But also the remaining mages of the Nine. That would be Meythew from Vanaheim, Jaya from Alfheim, and Hetangnan of Muspelheim. As Hetangnan was technically also the ruler of Muspelheim he may not be able to come, but an invitation would be sent regardless.
Sigyn would have her own series of invitations. As would Odin, since this was a society wedding that required certain dignitaries receiving an invite. Not all of them could necessarily attend, but to not receive an invitation was a social snub that could ruin relations between Asgard and other realms.
He hesitated for a moment, before adding one more name to the stack. Dúrnir. His hesitation was no reflection against the man. It was purely a learned response when it came to all dwarves. But Dúrnir had proven to be an honorable man, even forging Laevateinn for him. The sword was a constant presence at his side now and he would be remiss to exclude him.
A series of stone sprites were flying around him. They were comfortable in this side of the palace. Mentally he labeled it Sigyn’s side, because the rather gaudy necessity of inlaid gold wasn’t a decorating feature over here.
The stone sprites were currently doing laps around him in anticipation, grey little creatures that resembled a bumblebee in shape. They had volunteered to help distribute the invitations. They also had the temperature tolerance to be able to travel to any realm to deliver messages. Odin was less than impressed with their presence but had kept the grumbling about the surge in Fae representation in Asgard to a minimum.
The aristocracy weren’t as diplomatic.
Loki had told Moss flatly that if a member of the aristocracy was the aggressor they had just cause to defend themselves. A stance that not even Odin could dispute without looking like an ass.
He would be taking a few of the stone sprites with him to Midgard. It was the perfect excuse, after all. They would fly out to drop off the invitations, while he checked up on the Thompkins to see how their punishments were coming along.
“Dad?”
Loki didn’t even turn his head from finishing his task, recognizing El’s voice instantly. “Yes, little cat?”
“Can we come, too?”
Now he turned, to see not just El but all four of his children in a little cluster with pleading looks on their faces. Even Talia, who had needed some coaching from her human sisters to learn the correct way to look woefully hopeful. He knew it was an act, but it still made his heart twinge. His devious brood. “Why do you wish to go?”
A shrug from El. “We like hanging out with Tony.” Although the way El wouldn’t meet his gaze indicated she had a different reason.
“Wear Midgard friendly clothes.” Excited smiles and a chorus of thank you’s before a stampede commenced for their rooms. “Amelia.” El froze, shoulders bunching up towards her ears. She hated her full name. “I know why they wish to go. Why do you?”
She played confused. “We just said.” Loki silently lifted an eyebrow. “But—”
“What is the rule?” He gave her a look.
She paused to study him. Sighing, “Be a better liar or don’t do it.”
He nodded once. “Correct.”
It was sooo unfair their dad was a super detector of lies. Huffing. “How are you so good at it?”
Winking. “Centuries of practice.” And he had been dealing with Aesir who are largely ill equipped to deal with a liar. She wasn’t as fortunate.
She scuffed the floor lightly with a boot. “I figured you were going to check in on the parentals.”
Abandoning the desk, he walked up to her. “Why would you think that?”
“Two birds type of situation.”
It was a good point. He was a proponent for multiple reasons for the actions he took. But he wasn’t quite certain about her interest on the subject. “Should I leave them to their fate?” He felt the parentals should be miserable for the rest of their lives, but their punishment wasn’t revenge for himself, it was vengeance for how they treated El and Melody. Ultimately it should be the girls’ decision.
Her brown eyes flicked up for a moment. “Are they sorry?”
His expression soured. “I doubt it.”
“Then hell no!”
Ah. She wanted to know, not hold him back. Putting a light hand on each shoulder until she looked back up. “I intend to take away that which they hold most dear.” For any normal parent, by taking away their children he already had.
El snorted. “How? He loved his job and she loved being president of committees and stuff.”
He bared his teeth, glad his assessment of their desires had been accurate. “A simple matter of revoking their good name and eternally tarnishing it.”
She frowned just a bit. “How would you do that?”
He narrowed his eyes a small fraction. She was in that teenage age category physically. A youth. But now that she was no longer mortal she would be like this for a long time before moving to the next age bracket. It had been his hope that he could help piece back together the girl that had been damaged by her former parents. He was concerned that if he let her get too immersed in this act of vengeance, she could lose some of the progress she’d made. “Do you wish for a proving ground when you are old enough?”
"Kinda thought I was too old—girls have that, too?” She blinked.
His shrug was casual. “They can. It is a personal choice for females.”
She wrinkled her nose. “That means learning to be a warrior though, right?”
On Asgard for boys, it was a given. A girl’s path was not nearly so set in this regard. Most girls didn’t have a proving ground since most were raised to either be healers, or to prepare for a married life. Sif’s path could be a different standard, because she chose the warrior path. “A warrior path is one way. Elves have their own traditions to celebrate the transition from child to youth. If you like, we would train you with a preferred weapon as well as how to hunt. Your spellwork would incorporate defensive and offensive techniques.”
“But I don’t have to go for warrior training?” She didn’t want to be a warrior. But the idea of learning all of that was very appealing.
Reassuring her, “Certainly not. Each of you may be what you wish to be.”
She blinked, realizing he’d changed subjects and she hadn’t caught it. “Wait. Why would you…this is a trick.”
He smirked. “As you say, two birds.” She mock-scowled at him. He chuckled deeply. “On the eve you return from your proving ground triumphant, I shall tell you exactly what happened to them. Until then, just know that they shall remain in my sights for the remainder of their pathetically miserable little lives.”
She smiled a little and nodded. He shooed her off to get ready to go. Only once she was out of sight did he glance back at his mother who appeared behind a pillar. Where did he learn to be sneaky? This is the parent he learned from.
Frigga was dressed in her typically flowing colors, her flaxen hair neatly pinned. She had been Queen for a very long time. She played the part flawlessly. But there was sometimes a twinkle of mischief in her blue eyes. Today she was concerned. “A journey to Midgard?”
“A small one. They get to annoy Tony. I get to torment the Thompsons. A perfect visit.” Then he tilted his head to consider her. She was a very doting grandmother, enjoying the opportunity to gently spoil her new grandchildren. If this were Thor, he would wonder if there was an issue of being left out. His brother could be jealous at times. “Did you wish to come with us?”
Instead of answering she asked a question of her own, “Are you certain they should not be immersing themselves here instead of holding onto previous ties?”
“Honestly I do not know either way.” He mentally wavered between those two decisions. Was it better to let Midgard fade into the past? Was that even possible as long as Tony was a prominent part of his life? “If nothing else, I allow them little visits while memories of their previous home are still fresh. Once they become engrossed in school and new friends here, the weeks and months will soon turn into decades. Mortal worlds change fast. By their next season it will be unrecognizable and no longer home. All that will remain in their minds of Midgard are old, fading memories.”
She nodded to herself before smiling, seeing his logic. Gesturing to his desk. “Have you created the invitations?”
He nodded and pointed to the sprites hovering nearby. “I have. The sprites have agreed to assist me.”
"Be certain to be present when the first wave of dignitaries arrive.” He blinked and gave her a sharp glance. That hadn’t been a typical bit of motherly advice. That was a careful warning from a seer. His mother’s gift was a natural one. And like others of her ilk, sometimes what she saw was just a vague glimpse of a possibility. A flash of insight that warned of trouble. Even if she knew more, sometimes oversharing was worse than no warning at all. At his look she just nodded very slowly. “It does no harm for a prince to be aware of all who tread upon his realm.”
He wondered what sort of trouble was coming.
Frigga smiled and after giving his wrist a gentle squeeze, took her leave of her son.
***
MIDGARD
Daniel Thompkins blinked, not understanding where he was. His mind was a bit muddled, his surroundings unfamiliar. He saw in front of him a table and almost on automation he took a seat. There were documents on the table. Blueprints. A set of car keys.
He looked up as someone joined him. His wife, Kate. But she looked just as confused. He hadn’t seen her in…he couldn’t remember how long. Nor why.
There was silence for a moment, both of them seemingly detached from reality in their current state. Daniel asked first, eyes slightly unfocused. “Where are we?”
Kate’s response was not quite mono-tone, but it seemed almost uncaring. “I don’t know.”
He frowned ever so slightly. “Where have you been?” A pause before he realized there was another question that should be distressing but wasn’t. “Where have I been?”
“I don’t know.” Her reply was still a bit distant.
They lapsed into silence, considering the yawning unknown around them and not finding they particularly cared currently. But it wasn’t distressing. It just was. They both startled as a man sat down with them. He was vaguely familiar. Something about his green eyes guaranteed trouble.
The expression on his face was amusement. “Confused?” He hadn’t done much. A slight tweak of one of the spells his mother had taught him years ago. A little mental fog to keep them malleable until they were in the proper place.
Daniel blinked slowly before asking almost casually. As if it were the polite thing to do. “Who are you?”
Tilting his head as he watched the humans. “Me? I am Loki. You? The former parentals.”
Kate mumbled that word to herself. “…parentals…”
Loki nodded, purposefully using the girls’ names to help shatter the mental fog. “El’s description for the pair of you. Fitting, after she explained it. She uses it a lot more often to describe you than Melody does.” The two humans started to blink rapidly. He just watched them curiously.
“Why--…what—”
Patronizingly Loki reached over to pat the top of Kate’s hand as she incomprehensibly muttered. “Not to worry. Their new mother will provide them the love you are incapable of providing.”
Kate stiffened in shock at the verbal slap and the fog shattered. “I am their mother—”
Loki cut her off effortlessly, “No. You are not.”
Daniel had returned to enough awareness to frown. Kate snarled, “You think you can call yourself their father?”
That jolted Daniel. “He is a kidnapper, not a parent.”
Loki just rested his elbow on the table and propped up his chin with his hand. “The title of mother and father or parent is just that. It is a title. It is not necessarily a confirmation of biological relation. And as a title, there are duties tied to it.”
“Duties.” Kate spat out the word.
The trickster nodded. “Yes. Duties which the pair of you are woefully deficient. A parent must provide care, ensure basic needs are met…and most of all, must offer nurturing. Protection. Instruction.”
“We provided EVERYTHING for them.”
Loki gave the pair of them a disgusted look. “You offered a roof over their head, clothes on their backs, and food in their bellies. But as soon as you tried to use a method of fear and pain to suppress their abilities, when love was twisted against them, you lost the right to that title. From then onward, the pair of you were a penis and a womb. Parentals. You made them. But you are unworthy of the title of mother and father.”
Kate cried, “They’re mutants!”
“And…what? Why is that an argument point? That makes them less than you? That attitude is why you are parentals while we are the girls’ new parents.”
Daniel quietly stated, “They’re not normal.”
Loki shot him a glare. He hated that word. “As a hobby you collect round bits of metal based on age or defect…laughable considering how old I am.” A glance at Kate. “You are obsessed with products to hide the wrinkles and sagging skin of your slowly decaying body. A fool’s errand. As El would say, normal is a dryer setting.”
The woman almost but not quite growled, “Why are you here? What do you want?”
The mage gave her a serene expression. “I am here to see how your punishment has progressed.”
Daniel frowned. Kate made a questioning sound.
Loki smiles. “Yes. My punishment. I desire for the pair of you to learn the error of your ways. Though I doubt you shall. Let us reflect.” With each word and with each gestured the memories started to slowly return. “Your work has accused you of theft.” Loki clicked his tongue in a chiding motion at Daniel. “Former work, I should say. Stealing the taxation refunds from your clients. Quite naughty. You are currently under confinement awaiting trial for what humanity labels a white-collar crime.” At least until he posted bail. Which might be difficult. Mockingly, “Through an unfortunate series of computer and paperwork issues you are losing your home. Your modest wealth.” Giving Kate a sly little look. “With your husband in jail…your reputation.” She turned beet red. Daniel was dazed. “I was curious if you had, by some miracle, learned better.” Their emotions were still lagging, their thoughts lost on the ruin that they would never recover from. Tutting, “Obviously, you have not.” Snapping his fingers so they were both staring at him, too compliant for it not to be persuasion keeping them obedient. “Tell me. Would you prefer to never have children with this mutant gene?”
“You can…do that?” It was depressing that they both seemed to latch onto this idea, as if that were the cause of everything.
Loki just silently lifted a questioning eyebrow.
Slowly Daniel nodded while Kate’s nod was much more vigorous.
As if he were granting a magnanimous gesture Loki sat up straight and held out a hand to each of them, palm up. And waited. Kate instantly offered her hand. Daniel dithered until his wife hissed at him. Loki focused. A brush of fingers against skin and an unspoken word.
Immediately Loki retracted his hands as if he would catch a disease by touching them for too long. “There. All better, now.”
“Does that mean…our next child will be normal?” Kate’s desperation was cringe worthy.
Baring his teeth. “Not quite how these things work. But I shall explain.” He wasn’t just toying with them. He could see the last of the fuzziness fading. He wanted them to feel the full force of horror. “You have produced 2 children. Both strongly talented and both showing such talents at a very young age. That would indicate this gene is within both of you instead of just one of you being a carrier of it. Luck is not necessarily a factor so it is quite possible that any child the pair of you create would be a mutant. There is only one way to ensure you never produce a mutant again.”
Raising her voice, “I don’t care about the why or the how. Did it work?”
A succinct nod. “Yes. The pair of you are now sterile. You will not be able to produce another mutant.” They both froze. Giving them a magnanimous smile. “You are welcome.”
With an inarticulate scream Kate lurched for Loki, stopped by a pair of manacles on her wrists, threaded through the legs of the table. Loki leaned back and laughed mockingly.
Daniel looked around. “Where are we?”
Gesturing broadly. “We are sitting outside of your current prison. But it seemed unfair to me. It is painfully obvious you are spineless and take your queues from her.” Alarms started going off, carrying through the air. “Judging by the sounds, they have confirmed your escape.” Daniel’s eyes widened in alarm. Kate was too busy swearing and struggling with her manacles. Loki’s eyes flicked down to the items still on the table. “Quite the detailed plan. You went to the trouble of obtaining blueprints and noted the guard rotations. Even an emergency code to override a few of the more troublesome doors.” Kate froze. “Two guards are unconscious and will no doubt testify to being assaulted by the pair of you. Now, you will be known for your assistance in aiding an escaped felon. Between this and the documented evidence of how you abused your former daughters now in the appropriate hands, I suspect he will not be the only one locked in a jail cell tonight.”
Even now the guards were scrolling through the perimeter cameras. They would be spotted very soon. Loki had already ensured he wouldn’t show up on those images. To the humans, it would appear these two idiots met up to discuss their next step rather than immediately running.
Loki snapped his fingers and the manacles disappeared.
Still a bit dazed, Daniel held up a set of keys. “What are these?”
Answering as if the man were stupid. “Keys.” Kate glared at him. Smirking, “There is a car with a full tank of petrol in that direction.” A vague gesture in a direction. What neither knew was that it was five miles away. They would never make it. But when they were caught, no doubt the authorities would find it. All to help support the new charges. Baring sharp teeth at both of them as he slowly faded from sight. “Have fun…I know I will.”
***
When Loki appeared in Stark’s Tower, Tony didn’t even jump. He just calmly held out a wine glass. The mage took it gracefully. The pair of them were standing side by side, watching the kids playing a game.
Tony, not looking at him, “I take it parental dumb and dumber got what’s coming to them.”
Loki just hummed in agreement.
The inventor nodded, not asking for details, and moved his own glass to clink it against Loki’s.