Of Favoritism and Norwegian Kids
a few moments later…
Clint was fairly certain he was going mad. Either that, or a random teenager had just appeared out of thin air, cursed profusely in what appeared to be Norwegian, then strolled off as if it was an everyday occurrence. Which it might’ve been. New York was weird.
Deciding to ignore his impeding insanity, Clint stretched out his back, switched his hearing aids back on and jumped down off the wall he was sitting, landing neatly on the pavement. He made his way back down the street, tossing his sandwich wrapper into a nearby trash can, before heading back up the steps and into headquarters.
The lobby was bustling with office workers, secretaries and pockets of agents carrying combinations of massive files, bubble tea and various hidden weapons. Their occupation didn’t necessarily dictate which.
“Laura kick you out?”
Clint smiled at his best friend, who’d materialized beside him in her usual fashion.
“I left of my own free will, I’ll have you know.”
Tasha smirked, “and not because you were tearing down parts of the house through sheer boredom?”
“We needed new floorboards for the spare room!” he protested, “and I was due back soon anyway.”
They had passed security and were heading up the stairs, scanning their passes as they went, Natasha hip bumped him.
“I’ll take your word for it. How is Laura?”
Clint felt himself melt slightly at the thought of his wife.
“She’s good,” he said, “The farmhouse is perfect, it’s nice to have somewhere quiet for once, and it’ll be a good place to raise the kids.”
“… the kids?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.
Clint grinned proudly, “Lore’s pregnant. Only a few weeks along, but it’s looking good. Kid’s due next June.”
Tasha squealed slightly and wrapped him in a rare hug. She wasn’t particularly touchy-feely, but she’d make an exception for this kind of news.
“Laura didn’t tell me! The traitor!”
Clint laughed “I asked to tell you in person, so don’t be too harsh on her, тетя паук” (aunt spider)
“I hope you know I’m going to be the favourite, right? The cool aunt who buys him ice-cream and leather jackets.”
“I’d expect nothing less.””
They had just reached the corridor where the gym was, when Maria turned the corner.
“Hey Hill.”
“Hawk! Fury didn’t tell me you were back!”
“Flew in this morning, haven’t seen him yet. Oh, how’s Elena getting along, she’s due next week, isn’t she?”
Maria smiled “She was, seems the kid didn’t get the memo. Elena gave birth the day before yesterday.”
Clint blinked for a moment, before rounding on Nat.
“You didn’t tell me!”
“Because we’ve been talking for literally 3 minutes!”
Clint grinned, “Guess you’re already an Aunt then, Ellie loves you.”
Nat chuckled, “everyone loves me.”
Maria grinned flirtatiously “Oh really?”
“Is that a challenge?” Nat purred.
“Maybe – “
Just as Clint debated making a break for it, he was saved by Hill’s comm buzzing.
She tapped it and listened to whoever was on the other line, before grinning in slight exasperation.
“Guess who put in an appearance upstairs?“
She answered her own question.
“Elena.”
“… as in, ‘ just gave birth Elena?”
“Yup, guess we’re gonna say hi.”
Deciding to take the elevator this time, the three entered the box, and Hill scanned her pass, clicking the floor for the common room.
“Aren’t you meant to stay on bed rest for like a week.” Clint asked slightly confused and more than slightly worried.
Tasha shrugged “She’s Elena. If she decides to do something, she’ll do it, injuries and all.”
“Oh god, do you remember Romania.” chimed in Hill
“Where she attended that meeting with 3 literal bullets in her?”
“Yup, that’s Ellie in a nutshell.”
The lift dinged and they stepped out, Hill breaking off.
“As much as I’d love to say hi, I’ve got a report due in about 12 minutes. Give El a hug from me.”
They waved her off, and entered the common room, where a bundle of people stood cooing and babbling at what appeared to be a blanket in a familiar women’s arm.
“Barton! Natty! Get over here!”
The crowd parted for them as the pair entered.
“Hey Lena, heard you’ve got a plus one. How’d you sneak past the helicopter?”
The women chuckled, adjusting the bundle in her arms,
“Snuck out while he was asleep, left a note. Seriously, I love that man to pieces, but he’d treat me like a glass bauble if I gave him half a chance.”
“How come Tasha gets a nickname and I’m still Barton?”
“Because Nat’s my favourite.”
Nat smirked smugly at him with a whispered “told you so.”
He very maturely ignored her. Mostly.
The smirked widened.
Just as he was about to poke Nat viciously in the ribs, the sleeping child awoke with a mewl, Elena immediately starting to rock her.
The agents around them crowded back around the new-mother almost in sync, held back only by one of Nat’s famous glares. When they failed to back off entirely, she upped the wattage. Clint could’ve sworn a few grey hairs appeared on the closest head. They backed off.
Only when the mob had retreated far enough, dispersing through the room with occasional longing glances, did Nat turn back.
“Hiya there.” She murmured, talking normally rather than the baby voice most people used. Clint hated the baby voice.
“Say hi to Auntie Nat, Ava.”
The child fluttered her eyelids rapidly, until a pair of mismatched eyes peeked out, shimmering in forest green and ocean blue.
“She got Michael’s eyes, then,” remarked Clint,
“And your hair,” Natasha added, “… she’s beautiful. You decided on Octavia, then.”
“Isn’t she just. And yes, it seemed fitting.”
“And did you finally sort out – “
Clint never finished his question. Partially because he managed to get something in his eye at that moment and was busy rubbing it. But mainly because of the teenager who’d just appeared in the middle of the room, landing on the sofa with a muffled thump, and rolling off neatly to face the suddenly blade-wielding assassin, and the gun-toting mother.
“Oh, it’s the Norwegian kid.”
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Of all the ways Loki had thought he’d meet his soul-bonded, he didn’t quite expect to be upside down on a sofa with a gun pointed at his head. Although, to be fair he did just break into their building and appear out of nowhere.
“Uh, hello there. I don’t suppose you’d mind not pointing the gun at me? No? Worth a try.”
Loki shifted slightly, trying to move to a more dignified position and was met with the gun clicking.
“Stay where you are. Clint, you know this guy?”
“I saw him like 10 minutes ago. He did the appearing thingy, cussed out something in Norwegian and walked off. Though I kinda assumed sleep deprivation was to blame rather than actual teleportation.”
“I’m Asgardian, not Norwegian.” Loki added in helpfully.
“Shut it kid. And for God’s sake sit up properly. Move slow and she won’t shoot.”
Carefully he swung his legs over the back of the sofa and moved to a sitting position, crossing his legs and resting his face on his chin. If he was going to be threatened with bodily harm he might as well be comfortable.
The red head moved in front of him, knife gone, but Loki would bet quite a bit she could take him down in a moment without it. If he played fair of course.
“Name?” she asked with a raised eyebrow.
“Loki Odinson, Lady …?”
“You can call me Red, for the moment. Want to explain how you got in? And what you’re doing here if it’s not too strenuous.”
Loki grinned – he had a feeling he was going to like this one.
“Teleportation, as your friend stated. And as to why I’m here, I’m merely bringing up my end of a deal.”
She wore a careful mask, expression wiped out. Interesting. “Would you care to expand?”
Loki chuckled, “why don’t you ask your friend over there. I believe she’s already figured it out, impossible as it seems. Congratulations, by the way, I was wondering why you were so hard to find.”
Red turned to the blonde women, whose face was rapidly matching her hair.
“Wild? What does he mean?”
“… it’s impossible.”
“So’s a teleporting child, but no one appears to have told him.” Clint butted in with.
“Hey! I’m not a child.”
They ignored him. Mortals.
“Mike and I… we… we couldn’t decide on godparents… so we… we decided…” her voice dropped to a whisper “we named a god as her godfather. As a joke.”
“… that’s impossible.”
“He can’t be…”
All three turned back to Loki. He waved.
“What did you say your name was?”
“I feel like we’re going in circle here. And it’s Loki. Yes, as in the God of Mischief, Liesmith, Sky walker. Really, you lot are inventive when it comes to nicknames. On the note of humans, I don’t suppose I can meet my goddaughter, can I?”
The blonde pulled away, arms tightening around the bundle in her arms.
“It’s a trap, a rig of some kind. Elaborate sure, but no way we summoned a god.” As she spoke her voice got steadily higher, yet the barrel of her gun never wavered. Truly excellent training.
“Is it so impossible? Gods of all kinds have appeared throughout the ages, why would we stop now? Though we have gotten better at blending in” Loki chuckled “Well most of us. Half the Pantheon still can’t resist a dramatic entrance. Bloody Greeks.”
“Prove it.” She demanded “prove you’re a god.”
“How would one go about doing that?” he drawled.
“…Do something. Something impossible.”
Loki frowned for a moment in thought, then smirked.
“Your wish is my command.”
With a twist of his wrist, he flung a few seeds from his pocket dimension into the air, growing them instantaneously into vines which grabbed the man by his ankles and hoisted him into the air, before setting down root in the floorboards and flowering.
The man sneezed.
“Impossible enough for you?”
…
“holyshitnatitthinkiactuallysummondagodwhattheFUCK.”
Red stared at him while the witch continued her babbling.
One word.
“How.”
“Magic.” He rolled his eyes, “we’ve covered this.”
Unlike the blonde, Red was clearly still unconvinced. Norns, what did this women want.
Sensing that nothing he could say would convince her, Loki resorted to his final measure. If he couldn’t tell her, he’d show her.
He reached his seidr forwards, connecting it with a crackle of power from his mind to hers.
RainbowbridgeGoldengatesPalaceSpiresFamilyMagicThorOdinFrigaKasSeidrHeimdalCourtBattlesBloodPainGuiltLove… and a bond. Stronger than the mind could imagine.
Red stumbled a little, the information hurtling through her in an instantaneous deluge. She blinked rapidly, blank eyes absorbing all he’d shown her.
Proof enough? He asked, still connected to her mind.
…yeah she sent back, tentatively pushing back with her mind. Interesting, seemed blondie wasn’t the only latent witch in the room.
“Na- uh Red?” asked the man “you good?”
“…He’s telling the truth Clint.” She said “he’s really a god…. And bonded to Ava.”
“How?” gasped the blonde. Really, this again?
“You’re a witch.” He explained, “albeit a coven-less one. It’s rare, but it does happen that occasionally a gifted child will be born to ordinary parents. Some go their entire life without every awakening their talent, so it’s a blessing that you have awoken yours, especially at a latent age. Your daughter too, carries the gift.”
“Like Harry Potter?”
Everyone ignored the man, Clint, as he believed Red had addressed him as.
The blonde women worried her lip, half turning to Red, who nodded.
“Say we believe you. What do you want with Ava?”
“If you are referring to your child, then I merely wish to seal my claim on her. The bond you created by naming me as her godfather is an ancient one, and strong at that. It is an honour to be named a guardian on Asgard, and one I shall fulfill to the very best of my ability. It is an oath to serve and protect, to shelter her from every storm, and to teach her how to shelter herself when I cannot be there. I can be everything she needs, be that friend, brother, teacher or father. I can be her shield, her sword, I can stand at her side or guard her back. A bond of this kind is loyalty that cannot be bought, once its sealed, its forever.”
“You’ll protect her?”
“Against the universe itself.”
“… okay.” She took a deep breath. You can do it. Seal the spell I mean.”
The woman stepped forwards, untucking the bundle from her chest, and Loki got his first look at his goddaughter. She was perfect. A tiny ball of wispy hair, and stunning eyes that blinked up at him sleepily. And magic. He could feel her power, raw and untamed even at this age. Give her a few years and this child could rule the world.
“Hello little one.” He whispered, finger brushing her cheek.
“What will you need to do?”
“I’ll need her full name, to begin with.”
“Octavia Raelyn Kingsley.” She murmured, distracted by his proximity.
Loki focused once more on the bond between them, pulling on the threads of fate binding the pair. Undiluted power rippled for an eternal moment through the room, making the hair on the back of his neck stand on end.
“It’s done.” He whispered, barely more than a soft exhale.
She was his, and he was hers.
Red had moved closer, staring down at Ava as well. Her eyes were alight with adoration – she’d clearly felt the ripple, and had subconsciously absorbed a little into her system. Loki smiled slightly – the addition was harmless, Ava had merely acquired a second devotee. Useful, for when he couldn’t be present.
They stood together, the four of them, basking in the tiny girl’s presence. Carefully, the blonde shifted her over, gently pushing her into Loki’s arms. He cradled his godchild as he’d seen the nursemaids on Asgard do, rocking her gently, deeply touched by her mother’s trust in him. Clearly, she was feeling the power as well.
“I never got your name,” he mentioned.
“Oh, it’s Elena. This is Natasha, we call her Nat, but don’t do that without permission. The last person almost lost a hand.” She chuckled.
“I barely threatened him.” Natasha protested, and both Elena and Loki laughed now.
“What should – “
“Uh guys?”
“Guys?”
“GUYS!”
“What-” snapped Loki “-oh. I forgot about you.”
“I figured. Mind getting me down? My head –“
Clint’s cry of pain and the thump he made on the couch narrated what had happened.
Nat chuckled.
“You have to teach me how to do that.”