Iron Man - 1999-2009
Upstate Queens, New York, 2009
Loki, otherwise known as Mary Parker, looked at herself in the floor length mirror and sneered. She both loved and hated this guise of hers.
One the one hand, she had never felt so settled within her body, curves instead of hard muscle. She could never shift freely on Asgard, lest her punishment be harsh as it was the last time she had. The last half a century or so she had felt so feminine - and now, she could express that fully.
However, she would have rather done it in her own shape, than the one she had conjured to escape Sta- him. Her hair was a bright ginger, bordering crimson. It ran in loose rings until her hips. Similarly, her eyes were a chocolate brown, identical to both his and his.
Often she felt Midgard was both worse and better that Asgard. Maybe it was her proximity.
“Amma?”
She turned. There, in the doorway was a child. Around 9 years, and looking at her with doe-like chocolate brown eyes. His hair was short and curled around his small face. Tan skin and slight freckles decorated his skin.
“Peter, why are you up? It’s almost eight pm.” She spoke gently while crouching, her wine red dress parting around a pale leg at the slit.
Quickly, slightly too quick for a human, he ran into her arms and held her middle. He mumbled something into her shoulder.
“Krútt, my dear child, what is it that ails you?”
“I don’t want you to leave me amma. What if the monster comes for me? Please don’t go amma!” He wailed, tears spilling down his cheeks and he continued to try and mild himself into Loki.
“Skatten min, I will never leave you. Not come Hel or Ragnarok. I love you too much to consider even the thought. Now, banish it from your mind, and let us put you to bed now.”
“Okay, amma.” He yawned, now reassured.
Loki picked up her son, and balanced him on her hip, cradling the boy as he wrapped himself round her like an octopus. Gently, she nudged a brightly painted doorway covered in space and with a name plaque at eye level. Once inside, one could see that the walls were painted and warm and dark tone whick allowed for the warm lights to give an illusion of stars and galaxies.
She carefully placed the now sleeping child down within him bed and kissed his forehead. Then, she laid an old blessing, asking the Norns to watch over him and guide his dreams.
Once done, she slowly made her way out, muttering how she would be back by next afternoon at latest. After, she made her way down the stairs to greet her long employed nanny and babysitter, Carolline Danvers.
She was a large woman in comparison to Loki’s smaller frame and curves, but by no means fat. Everything was well distributed and she was kind to a fault. Her accent was heavily texan and her outfit was inspired by her heritage.
Once she saw Loki descending the stairs, she rushed up.
“Miss Parker, miss. The car is waitin’ for ya outside. They’re getting’ real antsy with all the waitin’. Clearly new to the business.”
“Thank you Caroline. Are you positive you are willing to look after Peter until tomorrow? I will understand if you are not.”
“Please, Miss, your sweet Suga’ is so cute that I just can’t resist. I’m sure, sweetheart. Go to the gala, and do your team proud. After all, this is a science convention. A meeting of the greatest minds. You’ll rock em. I’m sure!”
Loki looked at the young woman she had taken off the streets not to long ago. She smiled, crimson lips parted around dazzling white teeth.
“You are right Caroline, thank you.”
~~~
The celebrations were in full swing when Loki arrived at the event. It was celebrating the deal between OSCORP and Stark Industries, which she and a small legal team had written and printed. It seemed that no matter how far she ran, she was unable to escape Tony Stark.
As all parties Stark threw, it was lavish yet not gaudy, and modern enough to appease any overly fussy guest. Suddenly, she was grabbed by the shoulder and pulled into a side hug. She had to forcefully shove down any instinct to throw him (and it was a him, made clear the the overpowering colone) and looked up to see her boss. He dragged her towards to who she realised was Pepper Potts, Stark’s PA.
“Miss Potts, may I introduce the head of the legal team who finalised this momentous deal. This is Miss Mary Parker. Miss Parker, Miss Potts.” He introduced with a forced enthusiasm and a strained smile. Good, she thought, knowing he was scared of the thought of two powerful women communicating. Served him right.
“Pleasure to meet you, Miss Potts. I’ve heard many good things about you.”
“I would say the pleasure is all mine Miss Parker. The document was one of the most solid I’ve seen. No loopholes to be seen.”
The party continued to progress from there, though not missing its host, as it normally would. Eventually, Loki was able to leave, giving the excuse of that Peter needed her, and was able to exit through the back door. Only, she stumbled on Obadiah Stane on a call. One which sounded quite suspicious.
“You can do it, can’t you… I’m not paying you for anything until I see proof he is dead… yeah, well, those weapons don’t come from you, do they?… just, get it done, he’ll be coming your way tomorrow.” He hung up with some colourful language and stormed of to rejoin the crowd.
She was able to make her escape, wondering what on Midgard she had heard, and planned to spend the next few days stalking the news. Loki hailed a cab and got in, giving the address and the money.
Tomorrow, she would see the news and know that the kidnapping of Tony Stark was organised by Stane. That the 3 months in Afghanistan were his fault. That not only was he dealing behind his back, but illegally selling the nuclear weapons to terrorists.
But that was tomorrow, and tonight, Loki was able to distract herself from these thoughts with wondering about Peter and her family, happy to be away from the party and back home.