To Those We’ve Lost (And Found)
Not long after the other Avengers, Natasha arrived with Loki and Sylvie. The party was much larger and fancier than the dinner Tony had held two nights previous. The venue was a large rooftop garden above The Metropolitan Museum which looked out over both Central Park and the city.
For a brief moment Sylvie felt a sense of unease and trepidation at the sheer number of people. She’d seen too many crowds panic to not feel at least a little nervous in large boisterous groups. Then she felt Loki’s hand take hers and the set of her shoulders relaxed somewhat.
“You okay?” He whispered softly in her ear.
Sylvie looked at him briefly and nodded with a small smile.
“Brother!”
Loki turned at the booming sound of Thor walking over with his arms outstretched and a large ale in one hand.
“And Sylvie, and Natasha! I am most happy to see you three arrive,” he beamed and waved his arm in a sort of grand bow, clumsily sloshing his drink on himself as he stood up again.
“Oh dear,” Loki said with concern and glanced around nervously. He had never been shy about performing magic in front of strangers before, but for some reason he now felt compelled to not draw attention to himself.
Loki reached into his jacket and conjured a handkerchief which he produced and handed to his brother.
“Thank you, brother, perhaps you might step inside with me to remedy the situation?”
“Certainly, Thor. Ladies if you will pardon me momentarily,” he kissed Sylvie’s cheek softly and bowed his head slightly to Natasha with respect.
Sylvie watched them go, already missing the comfort of Loki’s hand holding hers. When she glanced at Natasha she noticed the woman was grinning, but for once not in amusement over Sylvie’s lovelorn expression.
Turning to follow Natasha’s gaze, Sylvie saw a little girl being carried triumphantly around on Bruce’s shoulders. The child was giggling uncontrollably as Bruce made monster noises and stomped around dramatically while fellow partygoers laughed.
When he caught sight of Natasha, the physicist turned his body dramatically like a bull taking aim to charge. He held the little girl’s legs tight and jogged over. From his shoulders the girl shrieked with delight and hung on to his head as she bounced.
“Oh goodness me, a beast approaches and I don’t have my widow’s bite! Whatever will we do Sylvie, we’re trapped!” Natasha feigned terror loudly as Bruce came to an abrupt stop in front of them.
“Don’t worry auntie Nat! I won’ let him hurt you!”
“Phew!” Natasha wiped dramatically at her brow looking overwhelmed with relief.
“Down! Down!” The girl cried and Bruce lifted her over his shoulders and down onto the ground in front of him.
“There you are, little miss,” Bruce said kindly.
“What do we say?” Natasha asked with a teasing smile.
“Thamk you!”
“Anytime, little one.”
“Now, how bout a hug for Auntie Nat?” Natasha leaned down with her arms outstretched and the girl flew at her excitedly.
Natasha scooped her up in a hug and swung her around to the girl’s delight before setting her down carefully.
“There’s somebody here I’d like you to meet— Morgan Stark, this is my very good friend, Sylvie.”
Sylvie froze like a deer in the headlights—content to watch unnoticed but unsure how to now interact with the girl herself.
“Hi,” the little girl said sounding a little shy, finger twisting a loose strand of hair nervously.
Sylvie’s heart clenched to think this little girl might be afraid of her. She knelt down on one knee in front of Morgan and held out her hand.
“It’s very nice to meet you, Morgan. My name is Sylvie.”
The girl shook her hand tentatively but smiled at the gentle warmth in Sylvie’s expression.
Inside, Thor had lead Loki to an empty hall near coat check.
“Brother, I must ask a favor—would you kindly conjure me new attire?”
“Why not allow me to merely remove the stain? It’s easy enough—”
Thor looked a little sheepish.
“I’m afraid the spill was in fact a ruse, brother. I confess I feel somewhat underdressed and rather hoped for your aid. I’ve not acquired new formal attire since I—ahem—‘bulked up’, might you assist?”
Loki smiled at him in understanding, then suddenly lit up at the prospect of getting to redress Thor as he saw fit. He rubbed his palms together excitedly but Thor stopped his hands momentarily.
“Nothing extravagant Loki, I do not wish to appear too flashy amongst my peers.”
A low chuckle rumbled from Loki’s chest as he shook his head softly.
“Not to worry brother, you shall be the picture of effortless style.”
Thor smiled gratefully and released Loki’s hands awaiting whatever clothing choice his brother felt would look best.
Dressed in a lightly tailored charcoal gray suit and clean white button down shirt, Thor looked far more presentable. Loki even opted for a pair of suspenders instead of a belt for added comfort.
As they walked back a server offered them champagne and Thor and Loki accepted two glasses each.
Loki looked at his brother, for a moment confused as to who the second one was for. He then rolled his eyes as Thor drank one in a single go and tossed the glass into the bushes.
As they approached Loki saw Sylvie kneeling down in front of a little girl and smiling. The child was talking excitedly but froze looking a bit nervous as he approached. Loki stopped in his tracks, concerned to have frightened her.
Sylvie turned and saw him, gesturing for him to come over.
“Morgan this is Loki, don’t mind him—he’s not so bad,” Sylvie winked at him as he neared.
“Loki, show her your fireworks.”
Lighting up at the suggestion he knelt down beside Sylvie and handed her one of the glasses of champagne.
“Hello there, do you like fireworks?” He asked with a friendly smile.
The girl shrugged nervously and chewed on her thumb.
“How about magic?”
Her eyes widened and she nodded excitedly.
“Excellent. How about a bit of both?”
With his free hand Loki demonstrated the little fireworks show he’d first done for Sylvie. Morgan gasped and clapped her hands with delight, a few adults sounding impressed as well.
“How’d ya do tha?”
“Ah-ah, I’m afraid a magician never reveals his secrets—”
“Well, I don’t know how we’ll ever be able to hire her a human magician for a party after this…”
Loki looked up at a strawberry blonde woman who was approaching. Her arms were crossed but there was a faint smile tugging at her lips.
“Apologies, I did not mean—” Loki started to apologize as he stood up feeling somewhat out of place.
The woman shook her head and smiled a little harder, “Not at all, how many times is she going to get to see the famous ‘Loki’ do magic tricks for her?”
Loki huffed a laugh and straightened his jacket self consciously.
“Nice to finally meet you, I’m Morgan’s mom, Pepper.”
She held out her hand and Loki shook it, inclining his head respectfully.
“It is a pleasure, Lady Stark, to meet you.”
“Just Pepper, I kept my last name—despite Tony’s efforts.”
Loki chuckled at that, “My apologies once again, that was rather presumptuous of me. Might I introduce my own better half?”
He turned to Sylvie who had come to stand beside him.
“Nice to meet you, I’m Sylvie,” she said confidently holding out her hand and earning a pleased smile from the other woman.
“Pepper. You know you’re everything I hoped you’d be,” Pepper said warmly as she shook her hand, eliciting a confused expression from both Loki and Sylvie.
“You put my husband in his place, I haven’t met many people who can—especially not someone who can also make friends with Morgan the way you seemed to.”
The little girl had run to her mother shortly after seeing her. She now leaned slightly against Pepper’s leg with her arms wrapped around her mother.
Pepper looked down at her daughter fondly and brushed her hair back from her face. She then looked over to Bruce.
“I guess she wasn’t too much trouble then?”
Bruce looked a little embarrassed for not keeping a closer watch on her and rubbed one arm self consciously.
“Uh, yeah, sorry Pep we were playing and she saw Nat and wanted to say hi, and—well, ya know…”
Pepper smiled at him, “it’s alright Bruce, I trust your judgement—and I certainly know what a handful this one can be—just like her daddy.”
Morgan laughed and grinned up at Pepper playfully.
“Anyway, Tony is going to be making a little speech shortly, so I’m here to collect her and let everyone know to brace themselves.”
Almost as if on cue there was a crackling sound as a mic was switched on and brushed against something.
“Testing, testing, one, two.”
“There he is now,” Pepper smiled and leaned down to scoop Morgan up into her arms, “alright, let’s go make sure daddy doesn’t get into too much trouble.”
Everyone slowly made their way over to a small platform which served as a makeshift stage where Tony stood to make his speech.
“Welcome, everybody, to our little ‘Avengers Reunion’ soirée. I know there are plenty of parties you could be at tonight, but without the people on this roof we wouldn’t have anything to be celebrating—and let’s be honest, we all know that nobody throws a party like yours truly.”
People laughed and cheered as he feigned modesty and blew kisses to everyone.
“As I explained in the press conference, we successfully reversed the blip yesterday—”
The air filled with cheers and applause.
“Yes, absolutely, give it up.”
Tony clapped as he held the microphone in his elbow.
“But there are two people who deserve an extra shout out for helping to undo the work of that homicidal nut job yesterday, and my wife has insisted I be the one to give it. Sylvie and Loki—”
Tony gestured to the couple before holding his hand over his heart sincerely.
“I know some of you may still be hung up on 2012, I certainly was—but Loki paid his dues, and if it weren’t for Sylvie and him, we might not have made it.”
Tony smiled genuinely as he looked at Pepper and Morgan.
“So let’s leave the past where it is—and toast to what we have here today. I invite you to raise your drinks to those we lost, and those we found. To all we’ve gained—to The Avengers, and last but most certainly not least, to Loki and Sylvie.”
People cheered and clapped while glasses were clinked ceremoniously. Loki smiled feeling overwhelmed, almost afraid it was some kind of trick.
It seemed unbelievable that these people should not only accept him after what he’d done, but that they would then extend gratitude to him as well.
Sylvie smiled at him softly and clinked her glass against his and kissed his cheek sweetly. He drank from his glass with a still somewhat unsure smile.
“Relax, min elskede,” Sylvie whispered in his ear, “I know it’s overwhelming, but they appreciate your help—accept the love.”
Loki looked at her feeling cautiously hopeful and she smiled with a small nod. He kissed her gently and a few nearby people, including Bruce and Natasha, whooped and cheered at the public display of affection.
A faint blush crept across Sylvie’s cheeks and she ducked her head nervously to hide it as she took a large drink of her champagne. Loki watched with amusement, then tipped her chin up softly to look into her eyes affectionately.
“Thank you, for being my courage…”
“You can thank me later…” Sylvie smirked coyly, “I’m gonna to go get another drink.”
Loki’s chest shook as he chuckled at her mischievous flirtation. He reluctantly released her hand as she stepped out of reach, his arm dropping slowly as he watched her saunter off to find the bar.