Abandoned

"Okay, so let me get this straight," Tony whispered, "Loki has children? Children that he can't locate?"

Steve nodded solemnly. He hadn't been too upset about the way everyone treated Loki until the most recent incident. However, he felt intensely uncomfortable knowing how Loki felt about his kids and allowing the others to continue mocking him. It was just wrong. 

"Yeah. There are four that I know of, but I think there may be more. But like I said, Loki doesn't know where they are. He only knows where Sl- Sle- the horse is." 

Steve put his hand on Tony's arm. "And that little joke you made? Bucky told me that Loki carried the horse. He's the mother. Evidently, Odin caused that somehow. Bucky wouldn't go into the details. Said he didn't want to betray Loki's trust."

"He didn't want to...what?"

"Can you blame him, Tony? Look what happens when the people in this tower get one speck of information. Loki hasn't been to dinner with us in three days! I'm surprised he hasn't killed you."" 

 "He won't come to dinner because he has ears and a tail! Not because of what I said. Come on, Steve. Do you honestly think Loki is that sensitive? This is the guy who tried to kill everyone on the planet," Tony scoffed. 

"Yes, well...except Bucky said he got rid of those on the first day. Not too long after the incident in the common room. He's avoiding us. It has nothing to do with the cat parts." 

Steve didn't like defending Loki, but he was doing it for Bucky. He knew Bucky felt a connection to Loki, and no matter how much he didn't like it, Steve understood it. People tended not to trust Bucky, and it hurt him even if he knew why they didn't trust him. Bucky had always been extremely empathetic, so it didn't surprise Steve that he had taken up with Loki. He just hoped Loki didn't drag him down. 

 "Are you ever planning to come out of your room again man?" 

Bucky had entered Loki's room without knocking. Again. Loki had asked him to, at the very least, knock on the godsforsaken door. But apparently, he had decided since Fennie was inside, he was allowed to treat the place like it was his own. And Loki was just too damn tired to give a fuck. 

"As a matter of fact, I'm not." 

Bucky laughed. 

"Well, you know what day it is, don't you?" 

Loki did know what day it was. He was well aware, but since he and Tony had their little- whatever it was, he suspected he wouldn't be allowed out of the tower, even if it was to go purchase more cat food. 

"I don't care." 

Bucky walked over to the bed where Loki lay on his back with Fennie perched on his chest. He didn't dare try to pet the kitten while she was laying on Loki. He knew he might get stabbed for that transgression, but he was definitely going to try to convince the god to at least venture into the common room for a few minutes. 

"You know, Fennie is almost out of the food she likes..."

Loki glared at Bucky, but looked down at Fennie with a soft expression. He stroked her ears and smiled as she purred at him. 

"Do you honestly think Stark is going to let me leave the tower?"

"Do you honestly want Stark to create some new cat food product for her in his mad scientist laboratory?" Bucky countered. 

Loki sat up so fast, Fennie rolled into his lap in a heap. 

"Fuck that. I'll kill him first." 

Bucky chuckled. "Alright then, get..." he looked Loki up and down, taking in his disheveled appearance, "...cleaned up, and meet me out there in a few. I'll try to get Steve on our side." 

It had been a while since Loki had felt this bad about himself. For whatever reason, Loki had taken Tony's remark- and the others' cackling laughter- to heart. It wasn't as if he actually gave a damn what they thought of him, but he had tried so hard to prove that he wasn't the villain they all thought he was. And lately, it felt like he had made some progress with them, especially when he'd brought Fennie home. He'd been so afraid that Tony wouldn't let him keep her, or that Natasha would think he was incapable of taking care of her, or that any one of them might think he couldn't handle the responsibility. But then, against all odds, they had said yes. And Loki had done something he never allows himself to do. 

He began to hope. 

He started to hope that things at the tower could improve for him. That maybe, just maybe he could show the Avengers that he wasn't the guy they all had in their mind's eye. That he was someone different. Maybe he was just as dark and just as dangerous, but not to them and not to the people of Midgard. That maybe he could have a bit more time to himself without someone watching over his shoulder all the time. That maybe he could stop being their scapegoat. That maybe the jokes would stop for just one fucking day. That maybe he could feel just a tiny bit less lonely for a few moments each day. 

But Thor.

Loki found himself thinking that over and over when he replayed the moments of his life... But Thor.

But Thor came in and wrecked it for him. With just a few words, Thor came in and destroyed the hope he'd gained. All it took was for the lightening queen to come in and say a few words, and all was lost for Loki. It happened every damn time. 

"Loki? Have you, er, showered yet?" Bucky asked.

This time, he actually had the courtesy of standing at the doorway, instead of barging inside. Loki assumed it was because he didn't want to see him naked. Loki waved his hand around himself, instantly refreshing his appearance, and called to Bucky. 

"You can come in. I am not nude, Barnes. That is, unless you were hoping I would be nude. In that case, I can undress. But don't even think about touching." 

Bucky scrunched his face in horror.

"Fuck, dude! Why would I want to... I mean... shit, nevermind. It must be some Asgardian shit... you guys stand around letting people look at your junk. I dunno..." 

Loki could tell that he had flustered the soldier, and it amused him greatly, so he smirked and continued. 

"Actually, it has nothing to do with Asgard. I just thought you might want a look since you seem so keen on barging into my chambers." 

Bucky didn't answer, but Loki didn't expect him to. Making Barnes uncomfortable was the highlight of this miserable day. Come to think of it, Loki was beginning to think that Bucky might be his friend. A tiny flicker of hope blossomed once again, but Loki frowned and mentally stomped it down. He definitely didn't need more of that. 

"So, I talked to Steve, and he convinced Tony that you need some time outside the tower..." Bucky said, trailing off. Loki suddenly wondered what the catch was. There had to be a catch. Surely, someone would be tailing him, or Stark would have a helicopter follow him wherever he went; high-powered rifles pointed at him the entire time. 

"But I was wondering...can I, maybe, tag along? Steve said he didn't care, and I know where all the best stuff is at Petsmart, and I know how to talk to the girls in there without freaking them out- not that you don't know how to talk to girls-" 

Bucky had caught Loki's glare and realized he'd made a critical mistake. 

"Dude, you could have anyone you wanted... but I meant I was good at talking to, you know, sales people. Midgardians, er, whatever you call us." 

Loki had already decided that he would be okay with Bucky going, but he wanted to see how long Bucky would ramble before he tired himself out. When he finally stopped talking, he just stood there looking like a lost puppy, and Loki stared at him for a moment before nodding. 

"Why not? At least you're not Stark." 

Of course, Loki liked Bucky a lot more than Stark, but it was against his nature to let Bucky know that. 

"Great! Thanks! We should take Fennie! I have a big tote bag, and I think she would love riding in it. We should put her blanket inside and let her ride in it." 

Ten minutes later, Loki and Bucky were on their way to Petsmart with Fennie, who was mewling loudly from inside Bucky's bag. Several passengers stopped to peer inside the bag, only to be frightened by Loki's hissed move along. 

Bucky simply chuckled and jabbed Loki in his side. "They just want to say 'Hi' to her." 

"Yes, well that's what the Aesir said when they took my Fenrir away from me. They just wanted to 'say hi' too. Until they decided he was too dangerous to be free."