What to Expect when You're Expecting ((Arranged marriage AU, magpiemythos))

[shieldborne]

It's not hard for Steve to dote on Loki at the best of times, but given the additional excuse of incoming babies, his skills rise to new heights. Partly it's necessity; to protect his friends from god-induced damages he needs to make sure he's between them and his spouse as often as possible, but also...

There's something right about it, funny and wholesome, to be making trips for ice cream and flowers and honey candy to please the expectant parent. Steve doesn't sleep much, anyway. He's happy to go out late at night or early in the morning for food runs.

There's some inherent stress in Loki being even more mercurial than usual, though. Steve finds himself on edge at times, but there's no doubt in his mind it will all be worth it. For children. For a family.

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[magpiemythos]

Loki was trying not to be as impossible as she knew she could be. Trying to be reasonable. It wasn't anyone else's fault here what had happened in the past, none of them were responsible for the poor fates of the trickster's previous children but there was still that protective ire that rose around most of the others. Bucky had managed to ease in as someone trusted mostly on the back of being Steve's oldest, dearest friend, and Natasha was somewhat accepted as well, at least when Loki's moods didn't turn utterly black.

Of course the news that they were expecting twins was more than enough to send Loki's emotions into a tailspin and there was no effort that could keep her from snapping at the others a bit more than usual, not unlike a cornered cat.

Which might be why Bucky was sending Steve a quick text to see how long it would take him to be getting home again before Loki tore someone's head off for straying too close to the corner of the living room that she'd staked out as her territory for the moment.

[shieldborne]

That bad, huh? Steve texts back. He's not trying to dawdle or avoid his wife, but it is kind of nice to get out of the house for a little while, and not on a mission.

He's not fooling himself. He only sort of understands where Loki's coming from. As much as he cares, as much as he's falling in love here, he can't know what it's like to have children and lose them. He's never experienced it. Hopefully, he never will. Ten minutes. Just stay out of range of her throwing arm.

True to his word, he arrives before the ten minutes is up, a feat which probably involved some traffic violations (but who would ever give a traffic ticket to Captain America?). He comes inside a little warily, half afraid he'll find someone unconscious on the floor, but when he sees Loki he can't help but smile like a sap.

"Hey," he greets. "Rough evening?"

[magpiemythos]

Luckily Loki doesn't expect Steve to understand. He knows what happened, is sensitive to it, which is important, but it's not something that can really be grasped without experience that she never wants him to have.

Well Clint almost met his demise from ignoring the angry god signs of 'get out of my space' but so far no blood shed yet.

Luckily it seemed no one has been maimed, Loki ensconced in the armchair she'd claimed, burrowed under a pile of blankets, while the others were piled onto the sofa watching whatever movie had been voted on. She didn't look especially pleased with Clint still, but her expression softens slightly when she spots Steve returning, a faint smile crossing her face.

"Better now." Arms up because come give your wife a hug now, okay?

[shieldborne]

Steve doesn't hesitate, coming over to her with a little plastic bag of tribute from whatever stores he's been to. There's candy, a bottle of juice, a package of oreos, a couple magazines, and some kind of lavender-scented lotion he thought she might like. He sets it gently in her lap and perches on the arm of her chair to take advantage of that offered hug.

"Well, just let me know what else I can do to improve it," he murmurs into her hair, and despite the potential danger, he closes his eyes and sighs quietly, enjoying the moment.

From his place on the sofa, Bucky looks both amused and skeptical.

[magpiemythos]

"Already did." Mumbled against his shoulder, Loki just leaning in against him, enjoying the solid warmth of that embrace. Steve luckily managed to get the least of her ire. Not immune by any means, but more likely just to get some grumpy snapping than any actual violence. And he was the one guaranteed to be able to talk her down from her blacker moods.

Bucky however will be getting a glare from over Steve's arm when she spies that skepticism. Watch yourself Barnes!

[shieldborne]

Well, he contributed some of his DNA to the infant she's carrying, so she has a practical interest in leaving him intact. He couldn't be happier about that--about the child more so than being left intact, but both are good.

"Yeah? I'm impressed with my skills. Y'watching this movie, or just nesting in the space?"

He sees her shoot that glare at Bucky, and while he's more or less the godparent here, Steve suspects he's not immune to Loki's ferocity, so he'll just gently intervene by tilting his head down to kiss her. It's a good distraction, right?

[magpiemythos]

"Just settled out here more than anything." Mumbled more than said against his shoulder, Loki definitely feeling a bit more relaxed with Steve there again. It didn't always work, but when it did it was something of a relief. She knew rationally that those in the room would sooner cut off a hand than harm a pregnant woman, especially given she was carrying Steve's children, but then instinct was rarely rational. Having her 'backup' definitely helped get her back down a little bit.

And a kiss was definitely a good distraction, the trickster much more interested in returning the affection than continuing to glower at the others. At least for now.

[shieldborne]

"Okay. Well, if you feel like settling anywhere else, I could read to you or something," he offers.

Heaven help them if he gets called into a fight while she's pregnant, because he will go, but in the meantime some of his obsessive training has fallen to the wayside in favor of doting on her. Privately, Tony and Sam have been teasing he's going to end up with 'dad bod' but realistically that's unlikely. His muscle mass and weight are real stable thanks to the serum. Focusing on something else for a while is probably good for him.

He's going to do his best to keep the PDA to kissing and sweet cuddling, since they're in the room with other people, but after a moment he decides to move, scooping her up gently, sitting in the chair, and setting her in his lap. There.

[magpiemythos]

Loki knows that if something happens, Steve will have to respond. They've talked about as much, for all the idea still agitates her a bit. But she was trying not to let that worry her while he was here and so very attentive to her and her needs.

The sudden shift earned a low huff of surprise, but when Steve settled with her in his lap, she couldn't help but chuckle, winding arms around his neck and settling in against him with a pleased little hum.

"Hm... I'll keep that in mind but I do rather like this too."

[shieldborne]

"That's what the serum was really for," Bucky says offhandedly without looking over at them. "To create the world's most perfect living furniture."

Steve snorts with laughter and buries his face in Loki's hair. "Shut up, Bucky. I'm trying to save your life over here."

Natasha smirks and elbows Barnes. "What did I tell you? Don't tempt fate."

"Besides, you're just jealous," Steve adds.

[magpiemythos]

"Well clearly it was a rousing success." Loki replied in a playfully prim tone. Something about being nestled in with Steve was doing wonders for the nerves she'd been dealing with, even if she was more than happy to let him continue to soothe her, and tease Barnes in kind. "Because I'm feeling less homicidal by the second."

[shieldborne]

Not a perfect soldier, but a good cuddler.

Steve slides lower in the chair, positioning himself so she can lean on him, and one of his hands finds her lower back, rubbing lazily at the base of her spine where all the ache seems to concentrate these days.

"Jealous of all the diapers you'll be changing?" Bucky grins at Steve. "Sure, pal."

He's ridiculously happy for them, actually, and it shows.

Steve just smirks at his old friend and settles his attention on Loki comfortably. "I usually have the opposite effect on people, but I'm glad it works this way with you."

[magpiemythos]

That definitely got her to relax, just melting to lean against him with a low, pleased sort of hum as his fingers seemed to zero in on the muscles that always seemed sore lately. But then Steve had done this so many times that it was little surprise he knew almost as well as she did where the aches were.

"You say that as if you'll escape diaper duty yourself, Barnes." Murmured more than actually said, but the crook of lips was a good sign that the darker mood had been chased off for the moment.

"I think everyone's glad that we aren't at each other's throats 24/7 too." They bickered of course, but then that was natural when you lived with someone.

[shieldborne]

"Wait, hold on, when did I volunteer to help with diapers?" Bucky protests at once, but he doesn't seem entirely serious about it.

"Don't argue with the lady, Buck," Steve scolds him. "Anyway, he or she will be your godchild, so suck it up."

He nuzzles Loki's hair. "I guess we all got lucky, hm? Did you eat dinner yet? Hungry?"

[magpiemythos]

"Did I say anything about volunteering?" Loki replied in a deceptively sweet tone, mischief glinting in her gaze. Not that she'd actually force Bucky to help, but she had a feeling that he'd offer of his own volition.

"Haven't eaten yet, but I'm not especially hungry yet." Tilting her head into that nuzzle, enjoying the affection for what it was before rewarding Steve with a kiss on the cheek. Not that her odd eating habits were any surprise at this point- in an hour or two she'd likely be positively ravenous after all.

And not saying anything about the comment of one child. No, she knew when she wanted to let Steve in on what was going on, and this wasn't the place.

[shieldborne]

Loki wouldn't have to force Bucky to help. Steve would totally do it himself, if need be.

"You're eating for two," Steve tells her, not knowing the half of it. But he's not going to force the issue, either, content to just hold her if that's all she wants. Probably in the next half hour or so he's going to be ready for something to eat, but in the meantime there's a lot of peace and contentment to be found in just coddling his wife and listening to the movie play in the background.

There's a lot that could go wrong here. And if it does, he might not be able to handle the devastation. But if it doesn't, if they can really have this, together--seems like the long road to get here might have been worth it.

[magpiemythos]

"I certainly am." Loki commented, though there was something considering in the tone, a blink and you miss it sort of thing really. She was tempted to just stay snuggled where she was. It was a rather nice little moment of peace and quiet, and she always did like being nestled into Steve's arms, like his embrace could shield her from ill fates. Maybe it really could. Things certainly seem to have been going better than she could ever have hoped after all.

"But talk of food aside, I was thinking." Pausing to let that make everyone in the room jolt, tone and expression innocent. "We should tell your mother the good news, don't you think?"

[shieldborne]

Haha, yeah, 'I was thinking' is always a statement that, when coming from Loki, ought to be paid attention to. Natasha looks over with raised eyebrows, Buck gulps quietly, and everyone else except Steve gives side-eyes.

Steve just kisses the top of her head like nothing she could say is going to faze him here, and waits for the rest of her suggestion.

He's not disappointed. He breaks into a grin; he doesn't like to ask to visit Sarah, although he suspects he could get Loki to indulge him nine times out of ten if he did, but every time they go makes him feel a little more...human. Connected to home and family. Less like a lost soldier and more like one that's finally come home.

Besides, his mother deserves to know she's getting grandchildren. "I'd love that," he tells Loki softly.

[magpiemythos]

Loki does so like getting those reactions. Not out of any cruelty, but just because she likes to cause a stir at times. And that grin from Steve is just one of her favorite reactions to get as of late- she makes it a point to offer to take him to visit his mother as often as she feels they can get away with, partly because she likes Sarah but also because of how happy it makes Steve.

"I thought you'd like that idea. Suppose that means I have to move." Not that she could until Steve relinquished his grasp on her. "Then after we can see about scaring up something to eat."

But good news and minor mischief first!

[shieldborne]

The people who know Steve best and care about him most--other than Loki, that is--have noticed how much more stable he seems since his marriage. The visits to Sarah are certainly a big part of that, but they're not the only gift Loki has given him. They all thought he was taking a huge risk, marrying a trickster god. If so, the payoff has been enormous.

He's happy.

"Umnn," he sighs and kisses behind her ear. As much as he wants to go, he's not eager to kick her off his lap. But after a moment he releases her and grins. "Do we have to scare it first?"

[magpiemythos]

It's a stabilizing influence on the both of them it seemed, for all the others didn't know this Loki well enough before he came here to know for sure one way or the other.

"Depends on what I'm in the mood for." Loki commented conversationally as she eased herself up off his lap, giving his hair an affectionate ruffle. "I could just send you on a chase for a bilgesnipe."

Not that she would. They were edible sure, but for all she knew Steve would go after one if he thought she wanted it, she wasn't about to send him on that sort of miserable trek.

[shieldborne]

"You wouldn't do that to me," he says, giving her puppy eyes. He's never actually seen a bilgesnipe, but from what he's heard about them, he has the impression that they're big and mean and he doesn't want to tangle with any.

He would probably have a hard time scaring one.

He waits until she's on her feet, then he rises, too. "Anyone want anything while we're out?"

[magpiemythos]

"Wouldn't I?" Said in a mild, innocent tone as Loki was carefully arching her back to stretch those lower muscles and maybe ease some of the stiffness.

"I'll take a slice off that bilgesnipe!" Clint piped up from his end of the sofa. And as the trickster was wandering by he froze utterly as a black-nailed hand patted his hair in passing, Loki letting out a low chuckle at that reaction.

Not that anyone was going to tell him his hair was now a charming shade of lavender just yet, though.

[shieldborne]

Under normal circumstances, Steve would confidently reply that no, he's pretty sure she would not. But she's pregnant and she's been a bit more mercurial lately, and he's a little afraid to tempt fate. His expression goes from playful to contemplative and wary, and he looks like he's not sure how to respond.

Luckily, Clint volunteers himself as tribute, and Steve is off the hook for the moment. He grins, but manages not to laugh, and simply follows his wife from the room like a little lamb.

[magpiemythos]

No one was looking at Clint too long at the moment, even as someone stifled a snort of laughter of their own as the man inquired nervously as to what was so funny, earning an amused grin from Loki as she led the way out of the room. Not too far, just enough to give some room to open a rift to that vista that Steve would certainly find familiar at this point before turning towards him to take his hand.

"Shall we?"