LokiSon

Part 1: A Prince of Mischief and Babes, Chapter 7:

“What?" Loki asked, obviously still dumbfounded. 

“Please do not pretend you do not know what I am referring to.” Freya gave him an annoyed look. 

“I honestly don't know what you mean.” Loki tilted his head. 

Freya thudded her head against the matted floor, letting out an annoyed sigh. Loki kept looking at her strangely. 

She said that Peter did not have to be a Midgardian. But else could he be? The boy was a mortal through and through, there was nothing he could do to change that about him. He aged like wine after it was opened, with him having such a short life. Freya had been right when they were in the garden earlier. By the time they blinked, Peter would already be a toddler, to a child, to an adult and keep growing until he dies.  

But Loki hated talking about it. He did not know why, but the fact that Peter was going to die in about sixty years made his heart swell. Peter was a babe, so he was not going to remember any of this. 

He was going to have no idea that he had been in the land of the gods. Have no idea that Loki came and protected him from the cold and shielded him from all that was horrid for about a month and some change. Perhaps he will have dreams of being up here, with the gods. Well, the only two gods he would remember were he and Freya, but they were still gods nonetheless. A Prince and a Lady. Some of the best gods Peter could have gotten his hands on. 

But what the hell was Freya referring to then? Peter was a mortal. A Midagrdian. There was nothing else he could be-

Loki’s green eyes widened. 

He simply kept looking down at the woman, with his mouth slightly opening. Freya had ceased removing herself from his grasp a while ago, obviously trying to leave him with his thoughts. But the woman had the nerve to smile once he realized what she was talking about. 

“N…” He cleared his throat. He could not even speak. “No.” 

“Yes.” Freya said confidently. “It is the only thing that makes sense.” 

“Nothing about that makes sense!” Loki shook his head, trying to talk some sense into the woman. “I can’t keep Peter locked away in my bedroom forever. It would not be fair to him, and it would not be fair to you. You have already told me you tire of him keeping up half of your time.” 

“I never said that. Those are words you have filled in your head. Yes, he does take a lot of my time, but I have never said I despised it.” She defended, her eyes narrowing. “I have seen a lot of babes in my day, and Peter is something completely different. You know, and I know it. Perhaps that was the reason you took him from Midgard.” 

“Yes, Peter is different, I agree.” He nodded. “But he cannot stay. He… he simply cannot.” 

“He can !” She exclaimed, vigorously. “You just cannot allow yourself to see it.” 

“How then?” His voice cracked. “How can I make this so? Even if we did make Peter Asgardian, there would be no way I can hide him forever. Though he will grow, and be able to leave him by himself, I will not have him locked away in my rooms. It would be unfair to him.” 

“Then say he is your bastard child. On a whim from a different realm.” Freya answered, though she herself did not seem all that convinced. “It would make sense. You travel through the realms already as it is. And you even say that your father is already suspicious of your ‘nightly’ travels…” 

Loki threw his head back and laughed, looking back down at her. 

“That is ridiculous.” He shook his head. “And you know how they are here. Blood runs true in Asgard. If there is not one ounce of Asgardian blood in him, they would never accept him. He would be shunned. Even there in the Lower Parts.” 

Freya growled, clearly frustrated. 

“Then what would you suppose then, if you have any good ideas?” 

“Send him back to Midgard.” He said. “Somewhere nice. And warm. With a family. Or anyone. Just someone who loves him and will take care of him.” 

“He already has that here!” The blonde asserted. “With you.” 

“I…” He swallowed. “Yes, I care for him. But I do not love Peter…” 

“Ha! A fool if I ever saw one.” She let out a sour laugh. “Loki, don’t you see? I am not a Goddess of Love, but it was love at first sight. Picking him up from an ally, taking him to your rooms. Risking not only your safety, but his.” 

Loki felt his insides burn. His throat began to thicken, and his eyes soon filled with water. 

No, it… it simply was not true. He did not love Peter. 

That was such a powerful word. A word he did not even know the meaning of yet. At least, that was what his father would tell him once he found out about his flings. And what Loki hated to admit was that the man was right. He knew nothing about love. All he knew was that he needed to have a marriage like his mother and father. To find someone who truly loves him, and he would love back with all his heart. 

But Peter was a child. This was a different kind of love. Not the kind of love of romance and lust, but of tenderness and care. It was the kind of love that his mother had for him. The kind of love that his father claimed to have for him. Loki knew the man loved him, maybe not to the same extent as Thor, but it was somewhere deep in there. He just needed to go down deep and he would find it. 

Yet, was that what it was? Every time he had the urge to protect Peter. The first time they had met, in the alleyway, where he was dark and alone. The urge to take him and make sure he would be safe in his rooms. The way he would risk the entire kingdom to make sure he was safe. 

Was that love? 

No! It could not be! That would be absolutely ridiculous. He had met Peter only a month ago. And to Asgardians, a month was not even a blink to the eye. Not even a… a… 

But Loki knew he wanted more. More months. More days. More years. He wanted centuries with the young babe. And he hated that the blonde was right. 

But as Loki was lost in his thoughts, he took note of how a droplet of water fell on the woman’s tanned cheeks, rolling down the side of her face. 

Freya gave Loki one of the most sympathetic looks. 

“Oh, Loki …” 

Loki finally let go of her wrists and sat backwards, with his ass hitting the mat. Confused, he slowly raised his hands up to his cheeks, making sure that there were really tears coming down the side of his face. 

But when Loki looked at his moist fingertips, all he could say was: 

“Oh.” 

Loki does not even remember the last time he cried. There has not been a moment over the last few decades where he actually needed to shed tears. No one important to him has died yet, and there really was not any reason for him to. Yes, Loki has been to a few funerals, but they were for people he did not really care about. His father only took him because of political reasons, and Loki did not want to go, but he would have to. And he would just stand there, pretending to look sad. 

But this was different. This was real. And he felt a ball keep bouncing back and forth in his throat, and when he tried to clear it, a sob came out instead. 

By the Norns, this was embarrassing. No matter how much he wanted to deny it, he was crying. But not only that, over for something stupid. And he was doing it in front of Freya. 

Loki slowly looked up, as he took note of how the blonde young woman had looked. Her brown eyes were soft, and not full of rage like they had been just moments before. They were filled with sympathy, and kindness. It reminded him of all the times he had seen her caring for not only Peter, but all of the other young that she tended to as the Goddess of Fertility. 

He hated it. 

She moved, kneeling in front of him, with their bodies just inches apart. Loki could not even bear to look at her. He simply threw his face in his hands, and sobbed. It was an ugly, loud, and disturbing sob. It reminded him of Peter whenever the young babe would throw a tantrum. 

He then felt her grabbing at his wrists, but he did not remove them from his face no matter how softly she tried to push them open. 

“Oh, Loki…” She said again between sobs. “That burning you feel, deep in your soul? That pain you feel at the thought of giving him away? That’s love.” 

“N-no it’s…” He choked out his words through his hands. “No it’s n…not.” 

The woman let out a laugh. “Yes, it is. You stubborn goat.” 

He still did not believe her. But nonetheless he asked, “H-how…?” 

“Only the norns know, darling…” Freya chuckled. It was a nice, light chuckle. Loki had always liked it. “We don’t choose who we love.” 

“But… b-but I cannot , Freya.” He said slowly, hands still clasped over his eyes. “I… I am too young. S-say he is my… my…” Loki could not even say the word. Just referring Peter to that made him sick. “ Bastard child. M-my father would search for the m-mother. You know he will.” 

Freya let out a deep sigh. Loki finally removed his hands from his face, looking at just how wet they were. Everything had a watery tint to it, as if he had just dunked his head in water and now his vision was blurred. If that even made sense. 

Freya was currently looking up at the ceiling, deep in thought. The woman then licked her lips. She looked back at Loki with the most serious brown eyes he had ever seen. 

“Then…” She started. “Then say I am Peter’s mother.” 

Loki’s jaw dropped. 

“Pardon?!” 

The young woman shook her head and closed her eyes. “It is the thing that makes the most sense. And it would help the situation. It would be what is best for Peter.” 

“I… You…” Loki struggled to find the words. “Do you even know the callousness of what you have just suggested? My father plans to marry me to whomever he sees fit. From someone either from a different realm, or a person here in Asgard.” 

“ I am of Asgard.” Freya said, her chest held high. “And so are you. Think of it, Loki. If the two of us wed, then we do not have to hide in the care of Peter. We can make him an Asgardian, and all will be right.” 

“I am one of the greatest lie smiths in the universe, but I think that would be a lie that is too much for me.” He sniffled. 

He knew it was gross, but he rubbed his sleeve against his nose, rubbing the snot away from his nostrils. These were his training clothes, so he would just send this down to the laundry anyway. And Freya did not seem to mind. She was simply staring at him, waiting for him to continue. 

He cleared his throat. His mind became more clear than it was just a few moments ago. But just barely. 

“It is absurd, Freya. My father is unaware that I know, but I know it is in his heart to marry me outside of Asgard. Either before or after Thor becomes King, he will marry someone of this realm, someone Asgardian. Most likely it will be Lady Sif, like most of the court already knows. But I? I will be married to politics. To keep an eye out for whichever realm my father wants to keep in check.” 

“I know that. At least the Thor part. But I believe in your mother. She wants you to marry for love. For you, and for Thor.” 

Loki let out a dry laugh. “Then we are still lying, yes? If we marry, it will be a farce. A ruse. Just so Peter can be in my life.” 

“It would not be a ruse.” Freya shook her head. “You are marrying for love. You would be doing it for Peter. To have him in your life. To watch him grow in the realm of the Gods. Maybe for him to even become one, one day.” 

“And what of you , Freya?” Loki asked. “I know you care for Peter, but… What is your love? Do you not wish for a prince or princess like most in the realm do? Like most parents tell their children stories before bed?” 

Freya breathed in. 

“Yes, my father used to tell me stories like those. Of a prince saving a princess. But I am no longer a child, Loki. I am grown. Or at least, starting to be.” She shook her head, looking out towards the balcony. The sun glowed in her brown eyes. “My father is the same. He wants me to marry someone of this realm. Or someone with great caliber. Perhaps that of a prince.” 

“I… I don’t understand.” 

“If you were to marry Loki, then we would be pleasing both of our fathers. Frey will be happy that I would be marrying the second in line for the throne, and Odin would be happy that you would be marrying a Lady such as I. And the best part, you would not be able to give Peter away.” Freya suddenly looked sad. “And I understand what kind of marriage we would have. I know we are young, but we have responsibilities. We can do our duties, and not be shackled by the thought of marrying someone we do not even admire. That would be our happiness.” 

This is… quite an idea. He understood everything that the blonde was trying to say, but it would be one of the biggest lies he had ever told. To fake an entire marriage just so that Peter could stay with him. It would be a big sacrifice. 

But… it would be Freya. Someone he trusted, and admired. And it would be exactly what she said. A fake marriage where they could have their own lovers, have everything they could ever want. Loki was already a creature of the night, there was no doubt about that. But if they came out saying they wanted to marry, saying that they had been courting for some time and Freya had a baby without anyone’s knowledge, it would change everything. 

This was a lot. And he needed time. And it did not help that the Lady was now looking at him with such vulnerable eyes, shining in the glazy, setting sunlight. 

“I just…” He sighed. “Please, give me time, Freya. I have things I need to do. Things to check.” 

There was a pause, but Freya ultimately sighed and nodded her head. 

“All right…”  

But before Loki could even say anything, he heard a certain rumble coming from the balcony. 

His entire stomach dropped and he immediately turned to Peter. 

The boy was still sleeping soundly on the other side of the room, hugging that Odin doll tight. If this was any other moment, Loki would have found a way to snapshot the memory so it could stay in his head forever, but he had no time. With a wave of his hand, green magic illuminated, and he moved the objects around the baby boy. The racks of weapons and bags grinded against the marble floor as they covered Peter from view. 

It was not foolproof, as though Peter was away from sight, he could still be heard if he started to cry or giggle, so he prayed none would be an option. 

He turned back to look at the blonde, who had a panicked look on her face as well. But by the sound of that rumble, he was glad she knew what was coming as well. He tried to give her a look of reassurance, but he simply licked his lips and turned towards the balcony. 

And all of a sudden, a giant burst of lightning appeared, showing the room with blue before a blonde figure emerged from it. 

Thor walked into the training room, with mjolnir in his hands. He was wearing his typical armor, with the long red cape that he loved to wear, with the silver armor that was clearly of Asgard. At that moment, he thought of Peter’s blanket, but the reds were different. Thor’s red was more vibrant, while Peter’s was darker. More somber. Different from the blonde oaf who was about to ruin everything. 

The man whistled as he came in, seeming to not have a care in the world. He kept spinning the hammer with his finger, eyeing the place until his blue eyes landed on the two sitting on the mat. 

Thor’s eyes widened. 

And that was when Loki noticed just how close he and Freya were sitting. Loki did not know when it had happened, but Freya’s legs were crossing over his lap, with her feet behind him. Not to mention, Loki had both hands on her hips, keeping her in place. He probably had done it on instinct, so she did not fall. But the two of them were basically sparring just seconds before, then they argued and cried and all that. 

But Thor did not know that. All he knew was that the two of them were now just inches apart. 

Thor stared at the two of them for a few moments, and they stared right back. Freya had a nervous look on her face, and he knew that every inch of her body wanted to look over to the rack of swords Loki had pushed in front of Peter to hide him from view. Loki simply looked at his brother, annoyed. 

“Do you not know how to use the door?” He snapped at him. 

Thor looked at him dumbfounded. But then, his opened mouth became that of a growing smile. And Loki wanted to snap it right out of him. 

“I did, but no one answered.” Thor took a few steps forward. He nodded towards the woman. “Lady Freya.” 

“Prince Thor.” She said with a tone of formality. 

Thor turned back to his brother, with that smile as wide as ever. “I’ve been looking for you all day. Father wants to continue talks of negotiations with the people of the Lower Parts.” 

“Well, I have been busy. As you can see.” He gestured to Freya with his chin, and the woman gave him an unimpressed look. 

“I can see very clearly… Ah, my dearest brother!” Thor let out a booming laugh before he was just a few feet away from them. 

Freya simply sighed as she soon let go of Loki’s shoulders and removed herself from his lap. Once the woman stood, she offered a hand to the black haired prince, and he took it gratefully. 

“We were just training, my prince.” She explained, turning to the blonde. 

There was the formal Freya. The Freya that the court saw when she entered the throne room. With the way that she held her chin up high, with her back straight and her hands clasped behind her back. It was the elegance of a lady. Loki felt special that he was able to see her for who she really was. Not some Lady, but a woman who held more than her name. 

But Thor simply laughed. “More than that I see!” 

Thor turned to Loki and put two meaty hands on his shoulders, smiling at the younger brother. Loki tensed at the touch, but he was sure that Thor did not notice.

“Loki!” Thor said with cheer. “It is all starting to come together. Is this why you defended Freya against Lady Sif so? Because of your hidden attraction?” 

“Lady Freya can stand on her own. And there is no ‘attraction.’” Loki rolled his eyes. “We were training. There is nothing much to it then that.” 

“But why hide? Mother would be joyous at the news-” 

“We are not hiding, Thor, as there is nothing to be hidden.” Loki raised his chin. “Now, take me to Father. So we can get these negotiations started.” 

He needed to get out of here. 

“Why, Loki, that is no way to leave a Lady. Especially when the two of you were-” 

“Prince Thor, it is all right.” Freya waved the two of them off. 

The woman walked a few feet and reached down towards the bronze sword, picking it up by the hilt. The woman swung it around a few times, practicing her form. She turned back to the two of them. 

“I know I cannot keep the prince to myself all day.” She smiled at Loki. Thor’s smile widened even more at that, and he looked like a dog. Loki just licked his lips and rolled his eyes. “But he had duties to attend to, and so did I. But I will be here for a little while longer to practice. So please, give the king my regards.” 

“Come, Thor.” Loki was already walking towards the door. 

“But-” 

But Loki was already out of the room, with Thor chasing after him. 

-000- 

That was one of the most embarrassing moments of his entire life. 

And no, he was not talking about the fact that Thor had caught the two of them close together. He was talking about the fact that he had cried in front of Freya. 

But he was smart enough to know that his crying was what Freya wanted. She wanted him to confront the fact that he was going to have to let Peter go at some point. But he had convinced himself that he was going to do it, he just did not know the reality of the situation. One day, he was going to have to give Peter away to someone who could give him a better life. A place where he could truly be happy as a mortal. 

But, Freya was right. He didn’t have to be a mortal. 

And there were so many more implications than just that. If Loki was to marry Freya, then their entire lives would be changed forever. The blonde had suggested a fake marriage. One where they could be themselves behind closed doors but a perfect family in front of the rest of the kingdom. 

The two of them were good liars. Freya had proved time and time again of her prowess. And Loki was literally the Silvertongue. Lies danced across his mouth every day. But that would be one of the biggest lies he had ever told. To completely fake his life, to be something that he was not. Loki was used to pretending. To be quiet, unseen. But if they told the kingdom of their bastard child, one born without the power of wedlock, that would surely give shame to their family. 

Loki does not know what hit him, but just the thought of letting Peter go set such remorse down his throat, his mind, his body. He had stuffed it all down, not wanting to think of the fact that he was going to have to let Peter go at some point. He would no longer have the babe crawling around his rooms. No longer hear the shake of that damned vial. No longer being able to feed him, dress him. There were nights where Loki would get up from his bed and cross over to the guest room, watching the babe sleep. 

But there was always this voice at the back of his mind whenever he thought Peter would be better somewhere else. They were in literal Asgard. The land of the fucking gods. This was a literal paradise. And Peter would be in the highest tower of them all, living with the royal family. He would never want for anything. He could be who wanted to be, love who he wanted. 

And Loki would be able to protect him. 

Loki had told her he needed time. To figure things out. And he was starting now. 

Loki was wandering the halls of his mother and father’s rooms, trying to find the Drawing Room that his mother was so fond of. Their rooms were so different from his own. Except for the fact that there was gold everywhere, they seemed brighter. More welcoming. While his was filled with greens and darkness. 

Something that was completely different was the fact that there were a few servants around, walking amongst themselves, with either trays of food or simply cleaning supplies. Loki had banned them from his rooms, as his ‘experiment’ could be dangerous, and he did not want anyone getting hurt. But that did mean he had to clean his own rooms, but that was something different altogether. 

They bowed as he walked past them, but Loki did not even acknowledge one of them. He was on a mission, and he needed to play it. 

Once he found the Drawing Room, he noticed his mother sitting on one of the couches, reading one of her books. She was dressed far more casually than normally, but maybe that was because he was in one of her rooms, after all. 

Frigga slowly looked up from her book, but smiled when she noticed who it was. 

“Loki.” 

“Mother.” Loki nodded his head. 

He made his way over to one of the single couches, sitting gracefully, just as a prince should. His back was tense, and so were the rest of his muscles all over his body. 

Frigga closed her book and gently placed it on her lap, giving her son her whole attention. 

“How are you, my son?” 

Loki simply nodded his head. “I am well, mother.” 

“Is your experiment going well?” She asked. “I know you have been working on it so hard. Which is why you’ve been in your rooms so much now of late.” 

“It is going well, but there is still much I need to work on.” His silvertongue let out. “But when I am finished, I will be sure that you are the first one to know my results.” 

The best thing about a white lie was that it was partially true. When Loki told lies, he hated the ones that were completely fabricated and had no backing on. Loki loved the lies that were partially true, and he twisted them to make them seem more believable. Or turning them into something that they were not. Those were his favorite. 

But thankfully, he had gotten some backing for that lie. His experiment had been going well, much to Peter’s dismay. Whenever he was watching the young lad, he would most likely be in his study, his personal library, or the guest room. His study was Peter’s favorite place, as there were so many gadgets and gizmos all over the place, but it did cause Loki’s heart to panic. There were so many things in his study that could hurt the young babe, especially that he was a Midgardian. 

“I am glad.” Frigga nodded her head. “My one issue is that it is taking so much of your time. I miss spending time with my son.” She smiled sadly. 

Loki sighed. “I know, mother. But even beyond my studies, I have responsibilities. Even going past my magic.” 

“But yet, you still have time for your mischief.” Frigga looked down to the tea in front of her. She began to pour a cup for her son, making it just the way he liked it with four spoonfuls of sugar. As she stirred the cup, her blue eyes shined. “I know the rats found in Lord Fandral’s quarters were obviously your doing.”

Loki put a hand to his chest. “Mother!” He said, suddenly looking hurt. “You think that was I ? Lord Fandral has many lovers. Perhaps it was one of them. Scorned.” 

Frigga simply hummed, passing him the cup of tea. Loki took it gratefully, raising the cup to his lips. The tea was magnificent, but he definitely preferred coffee better. But tea was more of a traditional drink, so he thought it would be best not to raise the subject to his mother. She did get defensive when it came to her tea. 

Loki kept sipping into his cup, ignoring the unimpressed look that his mother was giving him. She shook her head. 

“So you say…” She picked up her own cup. “But I am glad you are, my son. Not only so I can see your face, but there is something I would like to discuss with you.” 

Loki paused. “Oh…?” 

“Yes.” She nodded her head. “Thor told me something very interesting a few days ago…” 

Loki slouched in his seat, rolling his eyes. 

Of course Thor would go running to his parents about what he had seen. If there was one thing he could trust about the blonde: a secret would not be one of them. There was a reason Thor was not in one his nightly escapades, and he never will be. Because the first thing he would do is either run to his friends and tell them what they had done, or run to his parents. Loki really does not care about what Thor’s friends think, as they were scoundrels, but his parents were something different entirely. 

But he needed to watch his words carefully. Freya was one of his mother’s best members of her court, not to mention, one of the most smart and beautiful women in the realm. 

“Nothing is going on between the two of us.” Loki sipped into his tea. “Freya and I. To be specific. Since I am very aware that is the subject you wish to speak of.” 

Frigga sighed, setting her cup down. “I am not upset that you are with Freya.” 

“I know you are not upset. Why would you be? She is one of the best maidens I could have achieved.” Loki scowled. “Or is it hard to believe someone as she would want someone like me?” 

Frigga raised her chin. “Loki. Anyone in the realm would be lucky to have you. Whether they be man, woman, high born, from the Lower Parts. You are not only a prince, but also my son, at that.” 

“Then why do I feel that you are upset with me?” 

“I am not upset with you.” She gave him an empathetic look. “I just wish you did not feel the need to hide it with the rest of us. Especially with me.” She sighed. “I understand wanting to keep it from your father and Thor. Your father is… Well, your father. He’s very protective of you. And Thor wants you to brag to the world that you are courting Lady Freya, one of the most powerful maidens in the realm.” 

“I just…” Loki tried to find the words. He sighed, leaning forward and putting his cup back on the table. His mother kept looking at him with the softness eyes known to the realm and he felt himself swallowing. “Mother, I do not know what Freya and I are. But I can definitely say we are not courting.” 

Frigga softly smiled at that. “My son, I just wish for you to be happy. You are aware of that, yes?” 

“I am.” He nodded. Sometimes it was hard, but he knew it to be true. 

“Then I will say that whatever happens between you and Freya will be up to the Norns to decide.” The blonde said gently. “When I heard the news, I suspected as such.” 

“Oh?” 

What did the woman mean by ‘she suspected?’ The two of them were good at hiding their tracks. 

“Yes.” She laughed. “It was about…” The woman looked up, thinking. “About a month ago, yes. Perhaps a month and a half. Freya suddenly said that her time is going to be taken up helping some of the other families in the Lower Parts and other areas of the kingdom. Which is why she would not be at all of my court’s meetings and such.” 

“She was not lying.” Loki defends. “She was helping families.” 

“I know that, my son. But then there were times when a lady or lord here and there said they caught the two of you walking through the gardens, talking.” Frigga smiled. 

That must have been before Peter showed up. The two of them would walk the gardens and have such wonderful conversations. 

“And your father is not totally against it.” She pointed out. “You and Lady Freya, that is.”

“Oh?” Loki eyed his mother, skeptically. “And why would father be happy about that? Or at least, ‘not totally against it’ as you would say.” He made a point to mimic his mother’s voice at her quote. It was clear that the woman was not amused. 

“Why, of course he would be happy, Loki. You have managed to snag one of the most beautiful maidens in the realm. That would surely make your father happy. It definitely made Thor jealous.” 

“Thor will sleep with any lord or lady that will come his way.” Loki waved the woman off. “He can be jealous all he wants.” 

It is true though. 

Some people think Fandral is the one who sleeps with anything that moves. Of course Thor did not do the deed with just anyone, as the man did have a certain taste, it was no secret that the blonde got around. Of course, being that he was a prince of Asgard, it did not look well to the council and the higher court that he was giving his body to just anyone, but no one would dare speak about that out loud. It would bring shame not only to Thor, but to their father as well. And no one wanted to upset the thing. 

But… Loki was no saint either. The difference between him to Thor and his friends was that his escapades were more secretive. All of his lovers kept their mouths shut, and in return, Loki would give them what they desired. And if they did not, he would find a way to keep their mouths shut, like threatening to kill one of their family members or something of the sort, or just straight up killing them. 

And Thor would be jealous that he was sleeping with Freya. It made the most sense, as Freya was also a Goddess of Beauty. And with the way that she looked, every citizen in the realm wanted to get into her undergarments. 

He suddenly felt his mother’s gaze on him. 

“Something is troubling you, my son.” Frigga observed. Her eyes were old, and wise. “And I do not think it is Lady Freya that troubles you so.” 

Of course not. The thing that was troubling him so was the baby that was currently in his rooms, taking up a lot of his life. But it was not Peter himself that was bothering him, it was everything that came with the fact that he stole a baby from Midgard and now he was trying to find a way to keep him. 

No! Hold on, Loki. He was trying to see something before he decided to keep Peter. If he decided. Okay, he was still trying to figure everything out. 

Loki sighed. 

“Mother, I come needing to ask you a question.” His mother sat straighter in her seat, looking at her son, critically. “I need to know… If… If a person lost something, is there some kind of spell that would lead me to them? Some kind of enchantment or some of the sort? I know they exist, but I have never had the need to use them…” 

“There are plenty of sort. I’m honestly surprised you do not know them.” Loki knew Frigga did not mean that as an insult, she was just observing. His mother would never really insult him. “But Loki, you used the word ‘someone…’ Have you lost something, my son? Please, do not be embarrassed if you have. It would help me locate the right spell for you.” 

Loki thought for a split second, and knew the best course of action to take this. The young man rubbed the back of his neck, suddenly looking embarrassed. He did not look his mother in the eyes. 

“I… I’m trying to find one of my friends. I haven’t heard from them in some time, and I just wanted to locate them.” Loki licked his lips. “It has just been a long time since we have spoken. And I do not know where they live. And I just wanted a spell that could lead me to them. I do not think they are trying to hide from me, but I simply do not know…” 

“Oh, Loki…” His mother gave him a sympathetic look. 

She moved to the otherside of the couch so that she would be closer to him, and put a hand to lap. Loki was not shy to show affection to his mother, and he immediately removed his hand from his neck and placed it on top of hers. Frigga smiled warmly at her son. 

“You know, when I was younger, I would lose time with my friends as well.” The blonde told him. “Being a Lady, a young sorceress, a Queen, a mother. Time gets the best of us, my son. Even when we have thousands of years of it.” She smiled at him. “But, now that you’ve been honest with me, I can get you just the right kind of spell.” 

The woman leaned back and waved her hand around. Blue magic began to accumulate in the air, sparkling. Loki had always loved his mother’s magic, it was so bright, so fresh. It reminded him of the wind on a cool summer day. Though their magic was the same, Loki’s had always come from an emerald kind of enchantment, with it being a vibrant green. Much the same, but very different at the same time. 

Not seconds later, a book appeared in his mother's hands. Loki saw the cover from where he was sitting and saw the runes on the cover. The book was old, older than Asgard itself it seems. But his mother did not hesitate to open the book with ease, flipping through its old, orange pages trying to find whatever it was that she was looking for. As she looked, Loki took note of all the pictures that were inside, eyeing some of the drawings of potions and measurements and stars and moons. 

But once his mother found the page she was looking for, she smiled, passing the book to him. 

“Here.” She said confidently. “This should do it.” 

Loki looked down to the pages in front of him. It was simply a list of ingredients, along with what appears to be a few random objects. But as Loki kept reading, the random objects symbolized a belonging of the person one would be looking for. 

“This is an enchantment.” Loki took note of. He looked back up to his mother. 

“Aye, my son.” Frigga nodded her head. “I hope you have a belonging of your friend’s. Get a cauldron and make the potion for the enchantment. And when you are done, throw the object in there, and it should lead you to the person you are looking for. Whoever that may be.” 

Loki smiled, warmth filling his chest. He knew his family was rocky, but he knew he could always rely on his mother. That was a constant that never changed. 

“Thank you, Mother.” He smiled. 

“You’re very welcome, my son.” She nodded her head. “May I ask who this friend is?” 

Loki simply licked his lips. “In time, Mother. Please, trust me. I’m sure… I’m sure you’d be ecstatic to meet him.”