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]

"I've had those moments. I wanted to rule Asgard, or if not that then I wanted to destroy it all. Everything. I was... very all-or-nothing." Understatement of the year right there.

But she's silent as he speaks, thinking on his words. Because he's certainly right in his assessment, and it's... comforting to know that she's not alone in this. Not that she was before, she had Steve and knew that he would defend her and their children without hesitation, but her counterpart here understood intrinsically the worries she had.

Hope Loki wasn't too attached to that shirt because he's getting an abrupt hug, and his twin's hands might still be a bit sticky from the rolls.

"You're right, of course." Yeah this is her Loki everyone else can fight her.

[coldsong]

He gives her a long, thoughtful look, because there's a lot he could say about his more unfortunate recent activities, and some of it's widely known, and some of it's only known by Thor, and he's more or less on probation as far as the Avengers are concerned. But here he might find the sympathy he has both desired and been reluctant to accept.

Before he says anything too foolish, he's being hugged, though, and he makes a grunting sound of surprise, flailing briefly. The better part of him decides 'fuck it' within half a second though, and he hugs back. No one's here to see him spoil his ice-prince persona, so why not?

He pets her upper back, a bit awkwardly, and then he gives a fond little laugh and settles into it. "What is this power you're using against me? Sweets and hugs, and already I am conquered. Don't tell Thor."

[magpiemythos]

"Certainly not." She replied primly, letting the serious moment pass for now. Letting them both have something lighter, as she shot her twin a smile. "Thor will have to try and puzzle that one out himself. If I share my secrets then I can't monopolize your attention so easily and I can be rather selfish at times."

And to be honest she's pleased at the acceptance her affection gets here. Not always an easy thing, but it's just the two of them so what was the harm with indulging a mutual want for hugs?

[coldsong]

He laughs again, and his arms are loose enough she can pull away whenever she wants, but he's in no hurry to withdraw, himself. "I can't recall anyone seeking to monopolize my attention before. Certainly not in centuries."

"I think you're trying to get babysitters lined up early," he accuses. "But I can't blame you for it. Is there anything you need for the nursery? Or anything in the way of baby clothes?"

[magpiemythos]

Nope, Loki is quite content to enjoy the hugs for now. "Well now you've got me mugging for your attention. Best get used to it, I can be quite greedy about getting it."

The accusation earned a laugh from the other trickster, light and unrepentant. "I might just be. Better to start early though, hm? But... yew wood. For the crib." Just staying settled where she was because yes she was here for some nice casual affection. "I trust if anyone could ferret out an appropriate tree, it'd be one of us."

[coldsong]

"No, no, I think this is an ideal solution for the both of us. We're both bottomless pits demanding adoration, this way we both get what we want at the same time."

"Yew wood," he sounds pleased. "I was going to offer to shop or take you shopping, but I can certainly get you a good yew tree. Do you want it from Midgard or Asgard?"

[magpiemythos]

"And the Ten Realms breathed a sigh of relief!" She paused, brow furrowing in thought. "Or is it nine here?"

Multiverse shenanigans could get confusing at times.

"Well, whenever I do go shopping, as if I wouldn't invite you along." Shifting just enough to snag another piece of cinnamon roll to nibble, but certainly not letting go of her twin just yet. "Asgardian if you can manage it. And I'll likely need some help finding a carpenter, you'll know better than I which are up to our exacting standards, hm?"

[coldsong]

"Wait, you've got ten? What's the tenth?" He's immediately intrigued. Why haven't they compared notes sooner?

"Asgardian it is. Don't you dare get crumbs in my hair." He doesn't mean that, but if she's going to hug and nibble, so will he, taking up his teacup and sipping carefully.

"Well...I mean, if you'd like to borrow one of our carpenters, I don't think Thor would begrudge you. Or if he would, I could get around him easily enough." Norns know they have a few artisans around Asgard.

[magpiemythos]

"Heven. Newly rediscovered after Thor and I rescued our sister from there. It was a whole big to do." And Angela was a million times more awesome a sister than Hela so there was at least one element of his home universe that was superior.

"Got it. Frosting only." Not that she was serious about that, but she had to tease.

"I think I'm still getting... reacquainted with the idea of Thor not hating my guts again. A nice change, but definitely an adjustment." Because yes she'd fucked up that badly back home.

[coldsong]

"Heven," he repeats, and shakes his head. "Well, I want stories, then, as long as you're getting sugar all over me."

He tilts his head to get a better look at her face and gives her an uncertain smile. "Surely it can't have been as bad as all that?"

[magpiemythos]

"Oh yes. Apparently years and years before, the Angels who dwelled there waged bitter war with Asgard, and their Queen stole Odin's firstborn, the infant Aldrif, to try and force him to surrender. Odin of course refused, and as far as he knew, his child was murdered so he sealed Heven away from the other Nine Realms to protect them."

A shake of her head as her attention was drawn by that uncertain question, brows lifting. "He by his own words loves me no longer, and considers me no sibling of his. If not for a promise made to another, he would have killed me."

Deceptively calm words, but Loki would certainly be able to read the deep hurt that lurked under the veneer.

"Didn't it seem odd that it was only the All-Mother who accompanied me here at first?"

[coldsong]

"Honestly, is there anyone who hasn't waged war with Asgard?" he murmurs rhetorically. "Sometimes I think perhaps the Aesir aren't as nice as we'd like to think we are."

That was so audibly tongue-in-cheek the next door neighbors probably picked up on the sarcasm.

His voice gets gentler again after that, though. "He said something similar to me, once, but has since changed his mind. There is...a tremendous gulf of experience and outlook between Thor and myself, and always will be."

"You'll have to forgive me for not questioning your entourage," he adds, a wry note creeping into his voice. "I was distracted."

"But what matters is that you are here, now, and we can make that a good thing."

[magpiemythos]

"Oh no, clearly everyone simply doesn't understand the Aesir ways of being neighborly." Because y'know conquering was being a great neighbor right?

"I... this is different than the usual. I think I may have finally pushed too far past what he can forgive, and to be honest I don't say I could blame him for it."

A soft chuckle slipping from her at that admission, brows lifting in an almost contrite manner. "I did feel a bit bad that you were caught in the crossfire on that."

"...I think only you and Steve have ever considered my presence to be a good thing as well. I rather like this change."

[coldsong]

Tentatively, he reaches up and strokes her hair a few times. "I hope you're mistaken, but I have no basis to argue with you."

He shakes his head a little. "I was furious at the time, but in retrospect I have to admit it was a good prank. And it prompted a conversation Thor and I should have had years ago, so all's well that ends well."

"He adores you, doesn't he? I'm impressed. I thought this marriage would be...rocky. But you both seem happy."

[magpiemythos]

She let out a soft sigh, tilting her head slightly for that touch, taking reassurance from it and his words. "You may be correct. Time will tell, and well he does have my number."

"To be fair I wasn't sure you would even be there. But I'm glad that it seemed to end well for you, even if you were impressively upset. I was half-certain I'd be stabbed on the spot, decorum or no." Teasing lightly as she nudged lightly with a shoulder.

"I'm sure there will be things we don't agree on, beyond minor domestic squabbles... but somehow we fit, and I'm glad for it. I was expecting well... you've seen plenty of political marriages I'm sure to know the typical best-case scenarios. This one is so easy to forget that it began that way, and I am... as content as I'm able to be. Even happy, as you've seemed to notice."

[coldsong]

"And in the meantime, I'll let you borrow my Thor, provided you take proper care of him. If you return him to me all wrinkled and stained I'll expect you to pay for cleaning."

He laughs. "Now that would be an old-fashioned wedding. Knife fights between the bride and the guests? Why isn't that a tradition, it sounds glorious."

"Rogers doesn't trust me as far as he can throw me, you know." He smirks, then considers. "Although he could probably throw me, come to think of it. Perhaps you'll be a tempering influence between the two of us."

[magpiemythos]

"You're a gem. I'll of course return him in the same condition I found him in."

This was... it was nice. She'd at least expected they could be civil to each other, but easy banter and teasing was comforting, that they might be proper friends of some manner even with the rocky beginning to things.

"Have the bride fight the groom's friends and family and vice-versa, make it a real party. Bonus if it has to be in secret at some point during the wedding, no one else other than the combatants can know it's happening."

"He could probably throw you a decent distance if he put his mind to it." She agreed, tilting her head consideringly. "But I'm sure he can be convinced to play nice, even if it's for my sake at first."

[coldsong]

"Good. He's always been a disaster but it took years to make him the right kind of disaster and I like him this way."

Now that the physical barrier has been broken, Loki seems to be settling into the fraternal contact, sipping his tea and taking a bite of his cinnamon roll with one arm still around her.

"Who do we know who we can talk into getting married so we can do this? Not me, I don't have any prospects right now..."

And Thor is a stubborn romantic. He's bound to want a long courtship if he finds someone to date.

"We'll have to work on that, then," he says. "If you want him to let me babysit the children."

[magpiemythos]

"Training Thors isn't an easy task; I'll be sure to be mindful of your preferences."

It was nice to be able to settle like this. An easy sort of companionship that she might not admit aloud that she wanted but would seek out regardless.

"Maybe when Natasha finally sinks her claws into someone. She'd certainly be able to take all comers."

And she'd be very good at the sneaky part of things, entertaining to watch when one wasn't squaring off against her themselves.

"Well luckily we have time. Just means you'll have to come around more often. I think seeing you outside battles or with Thor as a 'shield' will help him start to relax some. And my being insistent might help. Not like I have much family of my own here to share this time with, and I'd like to count you among them."

[coldsong]

"Oof. That might take a while. I know I'd be a little wary of dating someone who uses the code name 'Black Widow'." Although, really, aside from that there's nothing not to like about Agent Romanoff. Beautiful, intelligent, completely ruthless and frightening. The whole package.

"Oh, I see. Now you want me to visit more often. Sneaky." It's too half-hearted even to be a pretend complaint, probably because she's just called him family. "I suppose I may as well. I have to bring you wood for the cradle, anyway."

[magpiemythos]

"To say nothing of her being utterly terrifying even without the code name." Even on her relatively good side, Natasha could cut an intimidating figure. "Who do you think would dare attempt though?"

"Is it sneaky if you saw through my clever ruse?" Loki was pleased that there wasn't an actual complaint there, leaning absently against him. "You can show me more of what's fun in this dimension. It'll be like an adventure but without the fighting and mess that sometimes end up part of them."

[coldsong]

"I understand she and Banner have some history, but they seem to be dodging one another right now. I would say Barnes, potentially, but I've seen him and Wilson interact and I'm not convinced that's not building up to something more than a mild tolerance for one another's presence." For someone who's not on observably friendly terms with the Avengers, Loki seems to have taken note of the group dynamics.

"Mmm...what kind of fun? Intellectually stimulating fun or 'I can't believe this is legal' fun? I assume we're saving 'it's a miracle we survived that' fun for after the twins are born."

[magpiemythos]

"Who knows, maybe there's a dark horse contender neither of us has even heard of. She plays things awfully close to the chest after all." Loki is not at all surprised that her twin is well aware of the group interplay. It's an important thing to watch for a trickster after all!

"I'd say the first two. Option three is definitely for after the twins are safely in their crib."