A Poisoned Touch

He was finally able to get them to focus on their real reason for being there, but Frigga and Loki continued to periodically look at him with what he figured was admiration, or who knows. He wasn't actually sure what they were thinking. He was still shocked that everyone seemed to believe that he was going to marry Thor. Not that it was a bad idea, but really, a week? That was way too soon.

After dinner, Frigga showed Bruce to her garden and Steve went with them, needing a break from the ridiculous faces that Tony was throwing at him. Walking next to the queen, she offered her arm and Steve took it gratefully. He was still working on leveling his touch deficit and she was just as instrumental to that as Thor was.

“It is just as beautiful as I remember.” He says, when they walk under the arbor that leads to the gardens.

“I am glad that you like it, I know the last time you were here you were given a shock.” She replied as they watched Bruce look around. Probably cataloging the different plant species. He was still a scientist, even if he was more mild mannered than Tony.

“It is spectacular, your majesty.” Bruce says, as he stops beside them. “And you are sure that you do not mind me using it while we are here?”

“Absolutely. As was mentioned at dinner, you are all honored guests. It is the least I can do to allow such good friends of my sons’ to use one of my favorite places.”

“I appreciate it. Even with Loki’s display out there, it will take me a long time to ever come to terms with what I turn into. I don’t discount what he was trying to prove, but...”

“It is different, I know.” She laid a hand on his arm, and Steve noticed the normally twitchy man didn’t shy away from her touch. Maybe it was part of her seidr, putting people at ease. “I will never be able to say that I understand what you went through, but you could speak to our Eir, while you are here. Perhaps they can help you meld the two halves of yourself better.”

“Maybe I will. I would actually like to go with Steve when he speaks to her. I know that there are questions of his life span, and I would like to be part of that conversation. If it’s okay with you.” Bruce added, turning to Steve. He’d moved towards the tree in the center of the garden while they’d talked.

“Yeah, Bruce, of course. But with Eir, use they. I believe it is important to them to be gendered properly.”

“Oh, yes. Thank you. I would not want to make that mistake in front of them.” He turned to Frigga again, and smiled bashfully. “Now, this tree is fascinating. It is the Tree of Idunn is it not? When Thor and Loki first came to us, we all, or well, Steve and I made sure to read as much as we could in order to get a small glimpse of what might be true about you all.”

“It is. The original. We have an orchard on the outside of the city, all children of this one tree. They produce the fruit that we use for ale, but this one, it is what produces the drink that Loki drinks on his name day.”

“Yeah, Thor was tellin me bout that. How the Jotun do not age as the Aesir, so Odin gives him this to keep him with you. I think that’s pretty swell.”

“Swell.” Frigga repeated with a soft smile. “Yes well, I have loved him since he was a babe that my husband found abandoned in that temple. I would not want to outlive him. It is not natural for a parent to bury their child, and it would be even more horrible if it was because of something so simple as natural aging, which we can solve. To an extent.”

“That is why I’m curious about how Steve will age. He is already long lived for a human, from the freezing, but then we learn he is not human at all, so it’s a fascinating subject to study. Not to mention, with what happened to me, the Hulk is pretty much indestructible and I am not sure how that is going to interfere with my own aging.”

Steve is a bit taken aback for not having thought about that. He remembered clearly how Bruce had so boldly put out there that he had tried to end his life but the Hulk had not let him. He wasn’t sure how old Bruce was when the accident happened that turned him into the Hulk, but perhaps his aging process had slowed to a crawl as well, perhaps it won’t just be him outliving the rest of their team.

He would make sure that when Eir put him in whatever the soul forge was, that Bruce could be there to learn from it as well.

“I understand that the beast inside you is not your friend, but I concur with my husband. I would love to meet him. Thor and Loki both speak so highly of his power in battle.” She shrugged one elegant shoulder and it seemed so odd, from a queen. “But we would not force the issue. Now, do you remember how you got here?”

Bruce nodded.

“Good, then you are welcome throughout your stay here. I would simply suggest you not try to eat the apples.” She said it with a grin and Steve really, really liked her. She reminded him a lot of his own ma. They headed out of the garden, but Bruce elected to stay and spend some time in the quiet of the plants.

Alone, he wondered if it was out of place to ask her about what was said at the dinner table. Part of him wanted to just pretend it was never spoken of, but another, slightly bigger part of him wanted to know what it was about him that made her and Loki so certain about him. He did not get a chance to say anything however, since once they were passing the kitchens Loki appeared in front of them. The prince was wringing his hands and looked honestly distraught. Steve could not remember ever seeing him so unsure about anything.

“Steven. I must apologize to you again.” He started. Steve was about to tell him no, he was fine, but the prince kept on. “Mother too. Natasha has seen fit to explain to me why you might be embarrassed about us making jest of a handfasting.” He was racking his mind to figure out what Nat could have told Loki, when Frigga spoke.

“You must understand, it is not in jest. Not really. You are so kind, to everyone you meet and you are princely without any of the training that my boys have received. You make Thor smile, an honest, happy smile.” He blushed, again. And cursed his fair complexion and his instinct to be easily embarrassed.

“And Thor, well, my oaf of a brother thinks the sun shines out of your rear. Has since he first went to midgard. I heard Anthony call him ‘heart eyes’ and I concur. If you truly think that Thor is not planning for the long term, I will be forced to warn you not to break my brother's heart.”

“Steven does not plan to break Thor’s heart.” The queen spoke with such certainty that it helped Steve deal with the mess of emotions he was feeling, because she was right. He didn’t want to hurt Thor at all. He just felt this was all moving way too fast.

“Yeah. I really don’t plan to. Not a bit, but like i said, it’s been a week. That’s not long enough to know if you wanna marry somebody.”

“Yes. That is true. Again, I am sorry. You are a true and honest friend and I do not wish to put us at odds.” Loki bowed his head and nope, that wasn’t happening. Steve strode forward and wrapped his arms around the slimmer man, his wings following suit, so Loki was fully wrapped up in Steve.

“Stop apologizing, ya putz. Friends make fun of each other, that’s just how it is. I know you didn’t mean no harm. And really, being your brother doesn’t seem so bad a prospect. Let’s just shove it on a shelf for now.” Against his chest, Loki just nodded and Steve knew he’d be talking to Thor soon about why his brother was so worried that Steve was going to stop being his friend at the drop of a hat. But for now, he just squeezed and lifted, making Loki snort out a laugh. A sound that Steve hadn’t heard nearly enough.

When he left Loki go, he caught Frigga smiling with her eyes a bit glossed over with tears. Loki wrinkled his nose when he stepped back and he smoothed out his clothes. Steve rolled his shoulders and then pulled his wings back tight against his back.

“Where are the others?” He asked, he knew here Bruce was. But he knew he’d always be worried about what kind of trouble Tony might be getting into without supervision.

“Ah, Thor and father brought them to the stables. The lady spider mentioned seeing the guards on horseback and father got to speaking of Sleipnir and so they all wanted to meet the most legendary of Asgard’s steeds.”

“Oh, will you show me?”

‘Yes son, take Steve to meet the others. I must prepare the meeting hall for the morning. Please remind your father that he is meant to meet the minister at first light for a ritual.”

“Yes mother.” Steve and Loki went to walk off, but Loki stopped. “And please apologize to the kitchen staff, Anthony mentioned something about a midnight raid. I feel they should be prepared.” The queen shook her head but smiled at them before waving them off.

“At home we can’t hardly get him to remember to eat, but here he’s talking bout raiding the royal kitchens?”

“Anthony likes to believe that he is a man of mystery, when in fact he is simply a man who likes attention. And, a man who thinks that he has original ideas.” Loki smirked. “My brother and I have been conducting midnight kitchen raids since we were babes.”

Steve threw his back and laughed. He could easily picture a young Thor and Loki sneaking into the kitchen and gorging on whatever sweets they could get their hands on. He was still listening to Loki talk about their childhood misdeeds when they made it to the stables. Steve had seen these the last time he was here, but Odin had been away so Steve had not gotten to see Sleipnir, his favored steed. He could see why the beast was so well thought of.

There could never be a bigger, more beautiful horse. And that was not taking into account that it had eight legs rather than four. The big creature was prancing around the paddock, periodically tossing it’s main like he was modeling what a horse should look like.

“He’s gorgeous. Maybe after all this is done, i could come back and sit and sketch him.” Steve says to Odin once they end up near the group.

“That would be easily granted. Your friend, the lady spy, she says she can ride. This is true?”

“If Nat says she can ride, then she can. She would not say anything otherwise.”

“Then I have a treat for her.” He nodded to a man near the doors to the stables on the far side of the paddock. That was where Sleipnir slept, so Steve had not gone inside, and that explained why he was so shocked when a man led out a pure white horse with wings on her back. A pegasus. His jaw nearly hit the ground.

“You are not the only one with wings here, my new friend.” Volstagg said loudly. Steve was too busy staring to really pay attention to him. And when Odin himself led Nat over to the new arrival and helped her up onto the steed’s back without a saddle, Steve continued to stare.

Across the way Nat was giggling like a little girl, leaned down over the horses neck and rubbing her cheek along the braided mane. With a hefty slap on the rear end from Odin, the pegasus reared up and then took off. Nat screamed in delight as the hooves left the ground and then she was flying. Steve turned to Odin, who made his way over to him, Thor and Loki. Steve had tears in his eyes, he could feel them threatening to fall.

“Can I?” He asks and Odin nods. Steve rubs his palms across his eyes to clear them and then toes off his boots. He takes two steps back, and opens his wings. One stretch, then another and then he pushes off the ground to go soar over the area with Nat.