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.

Comments

[shieldborne]

"I don't think magical genetics work the same as human heredity," Steve tells Sarah with a shrug. "But they're part of me and part of Loki, and that's all that really matters."

Sarah studies her son for a second, and then breaks into a grin and pulls him into a hug. "You're going to be a wonderful father."

This prompts a few awkward noises out of the soldier. "Ma...! Aw, c'mon, now."

He's blushing.

[magpiemythos]

It still sends Loki about over the moon in her quiet way to hear Steve claim any part of her is good. Wanted. Appreciated.

That it was about their impending children of course just made that delight all the more deeply felt, a laugh slipping from her as she watched her husband fussing in his mother's grasp, giving one of those reddened cheeks a gentle pinch.

"She's right you know."

[shieldborne]

He made a commitment, to save the world, so he was bound to accept Loki as she is, good and bad. But what he's learned of her, he not only likes, but loves. She's been an unexpected blessing in his life. Which is probably one of the reasons the rest of the Avengers have begun to embrace her. She's been good for Steve. Babies will be just as good.

"Aaa!" He protests at the pinch, but he's laughing now, too, giddy with affection and impending joy. "I'm outnumbered! This isn't fair."

[magpiemythos]

"You'd best get used to it, darling dearest." Loki's tone was affectionate, but still teasing as she gave that cheek a pat following the pinch, amusement dancing in her gaze. "There'll be two more to gang up on you soon enough."

Assuming they didn't wind up on his side, ganging up on Loki instead. Surely that wouldn't happen though right?

"You don't stand a chance against the combined teasing of your whole family."

[shieldborne]

Steve laughs quietly, but then suddenly he's crying again, because family. This feels like all he's ever wanted.

They're there for a few more hours, and it's mostly Sarah and Loki talking about motherhood, with Steve just quietly basking in their presence and idly rubbing his wife's shoulders. But a good time is had by all, and they promise to return soon.

Steve lets Loki handle the birth announcements, and promptly regrets it when Tony and Bucky come to him covered with glitter. After that, though, they may both be surprised when a bouquet of white and yellow roses arrives for Loki, with a small baby gift (two of them) attached in a rainbow gift bag.

The card is signed, simply, L.

[magpiemythos]

Loki knows that every culture on every world has their celebrations for new life. Has seen quite a few of them over the years, but it's something else entirely to be one of the ones at the center of such a fuss. Even if she didn't have the twins to be so achingly delighted over, she'd still love the attention, the warmth and celebration that Midgardians seemed to do so well. For a race that was comparatively isolated from the other realms, the humans were amazingly open towards others at times in a way that fascinated her.

So she played her tricks, enjoyed her games. Sent Sarah a tablet so the woman wouldn't miss out on things, could send Steve messages whenever she wished. Started the process of plotting out the children's room, for all she was still changing her mind every week or so yet.

The gift from her counterpart was a surprise, but a pleasant one. She couldn't help but laugh at the sight of the little hats, sending a message in kind.

There's truffles here with your name on them.

It was while the others were busy- no threat to be had but some sort of charity event overseas. She'd promised Steve she'd come keep him company later, but this was the best time to invite the other Loki around, so they could feel out how they wanted to be now that it seemed the initial offense at her showing up had eased at least some.

[coldsong]

Perhaps it's the tacit understanding that new life is so vital to the human race because of their isolation, that makes them so effusive over it. Or maybe it's just an innate instinct to coo over cute babies. In any case, there's no harm in enjoying it.

Steve encourages her to enjoy it, in fact, and he's patiently bowing to her every whim in setting up the nursery, so she's going to be thoroughly spoiled by the time all this is over.

This world's Loki has been withdrawn. Civil, at least, ever since getting over the upset at the wedding, but not seeking out contact. It might be that he feels the need to be polite, and that's the only reason he sent the gift, except then she responds. And he could ignore the invitation, but...

But. In a weird way, the infants to come are kin.

He arrives at the step of their apartment shortly after the message, not bothering to knock physically, but his energies announce his presence perfectly clearly.

[magpiemythos]

She'll settle on something eventually. At least so far she hasn't made Steve set up four or five different room sets. But Loki is absolutely basking in the attention and spoiling either way.

Civil was a good start. But then Loki was a greedy thing and at the moment that focus was on improving relations with her counterpart. One for the fact that who would better understand her? And another point for this being well... her children's family. An aunt or uncle of a sort, perhaps a bit closer than that. She'd grown up without much blood family, and she'd be damned if the twins grew up with a similar sense of isolation.

Either way, when her guest arrived, even before the door was opened he'd certainly be able to smell that someone had been busy baking. Whatever there was, truffles weren't the only sweet in the place. Loki beamed when she did open the door to see her counterpart, stepping back to let the door open a bit farther.

"I thought the promise of sweets might lure you in." Her phone on the counter was still playing music, and part of the kitchen was still a mess from her baking, aside from the kitchen island where her cinnamon rolls and some other things were set to cool, the bouquet her twin had sent sitting in a vase towards one end.

[coldsong]

Honestly, he's likely to understand her well enough, but she might end up tainted by association with him, for this world's Avengers. That's less of a danger with Steve than anyone else. He knows and loves her by now, and he's more likely to warn this world's Loki to behave himself than worry about them conspiring. The others might have different reactions. But time will tell.

He's just standing at the door when she answers, hands clasped behind his back, and he's dressed a bit more simply than his usual garb. Tunic, trousers, boots, no coat or helm, and no weapons visible. This is a friendly visit.

"Are you suggesting we have the same taste in bribes?" He asks with a little smirk, and bows before he steps inside.

Her female form doesn't look quite like his. Curlier hair, a younger, sweeter face but with older eyes. It's interesting, and though she's not really showing yet, he can sense the thrum of new life within and around her. In spite of everything he is and has done, it touches him, right down to the heart he tries to hide.

"I'll remember that." He breathes in the scent of cinnamon with a sigh. "Thor and Barnes think they're planning a baby shower for you, incidentally. A surprise."

Yeah, he doesn't think so. "I thought perhaps we could improve upon their design."

[magpiemythos]

Loki on the other hand isn't too worried. If the others want to fuss over her cozying up with this world's trickster, well that's their problem. Steve wouldn't be too alarmed and his is the only real opinion that matters on the subject to her.

"Are you suggesting that you don't have a prodigious sweet tooth? Say it isn't so!" Leading the way into the kitchen as she teased, plucking the kettle from the stove to pour a cup of tea for the pair of them. Sure her normal method was to pour a cocktail or pass out bottles of ale, but well, concessions needed to be made at the moment.

The container of truffles will be flipped open and nudged in her counterpart's direction along with his cup as she perches on one of the stools to doctor her tea with honey, brows lifting at the news he brought.

"Thor couldn't keep a secret if his life depended on it. Sit, and we can plot about these improvements you're thinking of."

[coldsong]

He's on perfect court manners for the moment, which is a clear indication he's tense, but her easy acceptance of his presence is reassuring. He's still not thrilled about her just introducing herself in Jotun form, but this goes a long way to making up for it. His shoulders relax as he finds himself a seat at the counter. He lists to his left when he sits, resting his elbow on the nearest available clear surface.

"I like honey," he admits. "And vanilla, in particular. Mn, and coffee! But sweets in general...yes, that's a pretty safe bet."

Chocolate is not a thing to be refused, either, though, and he's not too shy to select a truffle to his liking, nibbling politely.

"Barnes has potential, given he's been an assassin, but his idea of surprising you is going to provoke anxiety in the rest of the Avengers, so I think his creativity will be hampered."

Really, imagine it: Well, look, if we can get her into an elevator alone--

Bucky, no!

[magpiemythos]

She could just come out and apologize for that but at the same time, she knew that she wouldn't appreciate having it called out if the roles were reversed. Better to pretend that he'd hidden his discomfort with her antics as he'd likely hoped to and just focus on making friends here and now.

"You can never go wrong with good coffee. There's a place down the street that makes Turkish coffee, I rather think you'd enjoy it. And the baklava is delicious, I'll have to take you there sometime."

Loki plucks one of the cinnamon rolls up onto a plate, even if they're likely still a bit too hot, but then they do smell too good to resist for longer.

"So he needs to be encouraged to just go for it without letting his fellow Avengers nerves dissuading him somehow. But obviously it can't come from me, given how I'm supposed to be blissfully ignorant of their scheming."

And okay. Okay, one of those rolls will be plunked on a plate and moved in her counterpart's direction. Sharing is caring!

[coldsong]

What's done is done, and she's right: Loki would rather start anew here than rehash the past. Besides, there is undeniable allure in the idea of having someone around who can't and won't look down on his past actions. They both have the same heredity and the same call to darkness, even if they've responded to it differently.

"An invitation?" Something in his expression softens. He doesn't get invited to social events on Midgard very often. "I await it eagerly."

He's not going to take a cinnamon roll without being invited, but he's actually already impressed because he's never baked in his life. Maybe he should try? No, if Thor found out he'd never live it down.

"Precisely," he agrees. "And he doesn't entirely trust me, but I think I could...steer him a little, as it were."

Or, you know, pretend to be Thor and steer him that way. He blinks when given a cinnamon roll and gives her a real smile. "Did you make these yourself? From scratch?"

[magpiemythos]

For all she looks and acts the younger, Loki has had a lot longer to do a lot more terrible things. She's heard of what her counterpart has done, can empathize with the situations that led him to what had been done. Could remember her own moments when nothing so nice could be said. She'd been evil for the sake of it for a long time, after all.

"I can think of no one better to gossip over treats with." She notices that look. Files the information away, even if she'd already had a good idea that perhaps Loki didn't get out much on Midgard. Which was a shame, as she thought he'd enjoy the place, if he was able to simply experience it on the ground floor as it were. She certainly did, after all.

"If there's anyone able to steer that ship to more entertaining harbors, I'd trust it to be you, masquerading as Thor or no." It would probably be the best way to go about it, truth be told. But then she was distracted by that smile, which just had her own widening in response. "I did indeed! I learned quite a bit about Midgardian cuisine. Much more varied than Asgardian fare, lots more options to suit the mood."

[coldsong]

"You're flattering me on purpose," he accuses," but he doesn't seem to mind. "I suppose it makes sense for us to be on the best terms we can be. People will worry we're conspiring; it'll be fun."

He seems to have no qualms about pulling pieces off the outside of the cinnamon roll with his fingers. He's just going to get sticky and that's all there is to it. "There's a traditional Swedish bakery upstate that I visit on disguise on occasion," he admits. "They make these little heart-shaped pastries with vanilla custard in the middle."

"You lived on Earth for a while, I understand?" He tilts his head at her thoughtfully. "Even before this marriage. Do you like it here?"

[magpiemythos]

"I never denied I was." Even if her purpose at this point was just for them both to enjoy themselves. "We could make everyone so hilariously uneasy simply by socializing which is always a good time."

There's no neat way to eat cinnamon rolls. They're both going to wind up with sticky fingers but it's entirely worth it. Loki's brows lift at the description of the place, interest clearly piqued. "Those sound delicious. You'll have to show me it sometime, hm?"

"I did! I had a little apartment in Manhattan for about a year or so- had to move it once, after I convinced a pack of humans that I was one of their celebrities. Entertaining but definitely not conducive to peace and quiet." The signs had been interesting though! "But I do. It's... well it's certainly never dull. Always something going on if you know where to look, and things change so quickly sometimes."

[coldsong]

"I had thought to keep my distance for your sake," he admits. "Or, rather, for the sake of your marriage. But children make a difference. I...have bloodlines here and there on this world, though my actual offspring are generations gone."

"In some way, we are kin. I thought...I thought I ought to make that clear. That I will defend your children as if they were my own blood." He sips his tea to hide the expression in his eyes. Truth be told, he was not entirely sure his pledge would be welcome, but her friendly overtures have given him the courage to go ahead and make it.

"But certainly, if you'd like a bakery trip, I'm not too aloof to enjoy sweets and company now and again."

He looks bemused, then, because if he was going to have a pack of mortals adoring him, he'd want it to be as himself rather than a celebrity of their own. But a game is a game. "They can be extraordinary, mortals. Thor looks for their courage and nobility and loves them for that. I admire their stubbornness and their propensity for chaos, and find much more of it than he does of what he seeks."

He looks away again. "Whatever impression the Avengers may have gleaned, I do not dislike Midgard or its inhabitants."

[magpiemythos]

"As far as I'm concerned, they are of your blood." She replied simply, sipping her own tea. "They're of my line, and so that makes you... oh, an especially complicated uncle? If you'd like to be, that is."

She knows her own complicated history with her children. Hadn't wanted to ask her counterpart and risk bringing up painful memories. But she knew she would want to be in the children's lives in his shoes, and so wanted to give him the option.

"Mortals can be exceedingly clever in working around their limitations, for good or ill." A slight softening of her own expression at his admission, smile turning a bit wry at the edges. "Of everyone I don't think you need to justify yourself to me in that respect. Even at my worst I never hated Midgard for all I might have said as much to upset Thor or alarm his friends."

[coldsong]

His expression says he wasn't expecting that response. He looks both startled and flattered, eyes searching her face for any hint that she's merely saying what she thinks he wants to hear.

Well, that's always a possibility with a Loki, but...he doesn't think so. Not here, not now. "I'd like to be," he says, with a small nod.

He takes another bite of cinnamon roll, and the set of his shoulders relaxes. He's much more comfortable now, and he snorts softly, licking icing off his thumb. "I wasn't trying to justify myself, just clarify. I'm happy to find we're of a like mind, though."

He's quiet for a moment, then admits, "I do want children again some day. I was never so involved with mine before as I ought to have been, perhaps. Merely a distant defender and a giver of gifts and food and furs."

[magpiemythos]

"It's settled then! The first uncle in what I'm sure will be a motley crew of them." Loki held little illusion that most of the Avengers wouldn't attach to the twins in some manner. "And it would not surprise me if you wound up being a favorite."

Children always did seem to enjoy mischief. And why wouldn't her children find her counterpart to be absolutely delightful? Her expression sobered as the other continued on, his admission familiar enough in some ways.

"My involvement in my children's lives... never went well. At least when I knew of them, or was in a state to care about anything." Admitted slowly, fingers lightly drumming at the edge of her plate, a physical sign of the unease that came from the admission. "Being Loki's child has always... ended poorly, it seems."

Steve has reassured her that they'd protect the twins, that any children they had would be safe. But how could they protect them when the Norns themselves seemed hel-bent on their sorrow? If something happened, Loki wasn't sure she could forgive herself.

[coldsong]

"I am also, at times, an aunt," he admits with a smile. "But as I was raised as Prince of Asgard, I will likely spend more time as uncle."

On the whole, he's a little tickled by the prospect. An opportunity to be just irritating enough to drive the humans to distraction, perhaps, while still protecting the children and keeping on their mother's good side. Sounds like a fun challenge.

He regards her more seriously when she speaks of previous children. Gods will almost inevitably outlive half-mortal offspring, but what she grieves is clearly more than that. "My descendants are outcasts, for the most part, shamans or outlaws or madmen on the borders of their society. It seems inevitable, with my blood. But I think you speak of more than that."

"I've wondered...many of the stories told of me in Midgard are exaggerations or patently untrue, but they must have come from somewhere, and I did not start most of them. Fenrir, Hel, and Sleipnir are all older than me, but I've wondered, if it isn't rude to inquire...?"

[magpiemythos]

"Well either way I forsee plenty of chances for entertainment for an enterprising aunt or uncle." Loki knew she'd be entertained by the human's scrambling to keep up, as always, that if the twins took after her, they would too.

Hell, with as playful as Steve was too, it was likely a given.

"No, not rude." A faint huff as she took another sip of her tea, considering things. "For the most part the stories are true. Some details are different- I'm Odin's ward rather than his brother, for example. But where my children are concerned things are... correct. To a point, anyways. I honestly don't know if Hela is mine, or how she came to be... not with the sorceress as Fenrir or Jörmungandr were, I know that much. It's possible I simply haven't had her yet." A small, strained sort of grimace appearing as her gaze stayed on the cup in her hands, brows drawing slightly. "The tales of Narvi and Vali were... distressingly accurate."

[coldsong]

Steve might take some adjustment to deal with a friendly relationship with this world's Loki, but his spouse will surely be able to ease him into it.

"Hela is apparently my half-sister. Or...adopted half-sister. I don't know. She's not friendly."

He frowns, and it deepens when Narvi and Vali are mentioned. There's a moment of uncertain silence, and then he sighs and reaches across the counter to put his hand on her arm, gently. "Oh, my dear...I am truly sorry. I had thought--I had hoped--well, there was an incident with one of my grandchildren, and that was bad enough, but I never had children by those names."

[magpiemythos]

Loki figures it will take a little bit, but she has faith that if anyone can accept the other trickster, it would be Steve.

"I don't know that Hela actually knows how to be friendly."

And thankfully she doesn't need to elaborate for her counterpart to understand just why the twins were such an unhappy subject. A faint smile, something grateful in it at the light touch of his hand, a short nod accompanying. "There were no portends or ill whisperings from the Norns when they were born. I... well I'd hoped that Sigyn's bloodline would temper whatever curse mine seems to carry."

Clearly that wasn't the case, unfortunately.

[coldsong]

"Our version of Hela seems to be a bit obsessed with ruling the universe," Loki says thoughtfully. "And I suppose some might think it's a bit rich for me to criticize, but really, at my worst I had my sights set on two or three worlds tops, and I was not in my right mind."

Seeing the comforting touch is welcome, he leaves his hand there, and the frown on his face softens into something more neutral, a gentle look that's neither smile nor frown.

"I don't think it's a curse. I think we are by definition between two natures. We do not fit into anyone's Order, and therefore neither, quite, do our progeny. There is inherent vulnerability in that, but there is also strength."

"And, whether he knows it or not, your husband is one who refuses to find a place in anyone's Order, as well. With at least three kindred spirits around them, I think your children will have a better chance here than ever before."