as told by kae

Broken Bonds by Fireflysummer -- He is dying but not yet dead. But it is enough to see his mother again before circumstances return Loki to his body on Svartalfheim.

Death Awaits by Florafangfei -- A translated fic. Odin has sentenced Loki to death, then informs Thor that he is returning to Odinsleep and Thor must choose the date of Loki's death. Meanwhile, a talkative old prisoner in the cell next to Loki's tries to forge a connection with him while Thor struggles with deciding what to do.

Abandoned by Haroku-Mizumi (Rewrite) -- Loki's time in prison ends sooner rather than later when his family refuse to abandon him. Also The Hardest Person To Forgive (Loki staying at Avengers Tower) and others.

The Frigga Variant by Hawkeye221b -- Frigga is pruned, and the Lokis in the Void get a mother back.

Undying by @iguessyouregonnamissthepantyraid -- Loki joins with the Avengers to fight Thanos when Thanos crushes Thor's neck instead of his own. When half of all life crumbles to dust in front of their eyes, however, a desperate plan is hatched -- to find and use the Time Stone to prevent it from happening by fighting Thanos in the past, the last time he was on Earth -- during Loki's Midgard invasion.

Imposter Syndrome by Infinite_Monkeys (@aninfinitenumberofmonkeys) -- Loki Odinson didn't attack Midgard, Loki Laufeyson -- Odin's blood-brother -- did, after tricking his nephew into freeing him from his prison in the Void and then delivering him to Thanos. Now, newly escaped, it's up to Loki Odinson to save his home and family with a little help from the Guardians of the Galaxy.

Some Do Tricks by @jaggedcliffs -- Post-Avengers AU. When Thanos comes to Earth to retrieve the Mind Stone, Loki -- free, but in hiding -- must step out of the shadows to save Thor's life and join the Avengers to defeat Thanos. Very good ending with a lot of hope for a better future.

The Changeling by KennB -- Loki is shoved through a time door at the TVA and ends up in New Asgard. Set after Thor: Love and Thunder. Something like this is exactly how I'd love to see the series and the movie canon merge.

Life's Great Lie by @laeveteinn -- Loki will do anything to escape the TVA. Fantastic ending.

Loki Odinson by Livin4Jesus -- When Loki refuses to speak up in his own defense at his trial post-Avengers, Odin uses magic to expose Loki's memories to all in attendance instead. This changes everything as Loki is pardoned and welcomed home. Includes the Avengers on Asgard and an eventual confrontation with Thanos.

The Apple Is A Lie by @lookingkindofdumb -- Odin sneaks himself and Loki into Jotunheim, where Loki is tasked with repairing the damage the Bifrost left and Odin attempts to repair the bond between himself and his youngest son.

And You Have Made Us Proud by Loki Is Not Low Key -- Loki arrives in Valhalla to find his parents there to welcome him.

a species of desperation by Mira_Jade -- Thor AU. As Sif lies dying from the black ice spreading across her body after killing Helblindi Laufeyson, a desperate Loki embraces his heritage to save her life. Includes a penitent, not-banished Thor, father-son hugs, and talk of the brothers ruling together one day.

(she sings) come home by neonheartbeat -- Sylvie finds a home in New Asgard while Loki becomes increasingly engulfed in the ever-expanding timelines of the multiverse. Can she find a way to free him and bring him home to her and Thor?

the breath and the dirt and the fires are burned by neverwherever -- In New Asgard, Thor knows that Loki is dead. But he can't quite give up that last desperate hope that his brother might come back to him again. (Endgame fix-it)

The Worst Laid Plans by @omnicat -- Fluffy fix-it crack set post TDW. Also:

Like Father-KIng, Like Wannabe-Dictator-Son -- Thor can't figure out why Odin is welcoming Loki home so warmly after Loki's invasion of Midgard. Neither can Loki at first, but he's cheerfully rolling with it.

All the very best of us string ourselves up for love by 100indecisions (aka @thelightofthingshopedfor) -- During the battle with Thanos in space, Heimdall sends Loki to Earth instead of the Hulk -- to Stephen Strange. Infinity War AU.

My son, my son, my son, (my son???) and me: A Frigga Story by palwithpen -- TDW/Loki series AU. Frigga gets pruned instead of killed and meets up with Loki in the Void. All four of them. (Crack treated seriously) 🐊

Wanted: A Nursemaid For Two Adorable Children by Petofi -- Loki is saved from falling into the Void by Mary Poppins, arriving centuries after two young princes wrote a notice for a new nursemaid, much delayed but also at exactly the right time.

First and Foremost, Red by RC_McLachlan (@rcmclachlan) -- Odin engineers Thor and Jane's break-up, but when Tony and Loki, with Thanos hot on their heels, bring Jane the Infinity Gauntlet in hopes she can undo it, she resists the pull of the Infinity Stones to shape all of reality to her liking -- and gets what she wants most anyway. Infinity War AU.

In the Land of The Frost Giants by RecordRewind -- When Loki learns the truth of his heritage as a child, he runs away to Jotunheim. But when both Odin and Thor show up looking for him, Loki accepts that they are his family, and they all return safely to Asgard.

We were under the same sky at least by rories -- Valhalla is beautiful, and his parents welcome him. But there are two people missing that keep Loki from fully enjoying it. Odin suggests there might be a way back to the living.

Rattling Realisations by @runarelle -- Thor brings Loki's scepter back to Asgard and Odin recognises exactly what the stone inside it is. This time, when he seeks out answers from Loki, he refuses to leave until he gets them. First part of a 3 part series, the next 2 fics deal with Loki's relationships with Frigga and Thor.

David Attenborough is In My Bedroom by RunRabbitRun -- As a rare Pygmy Jotun, Loki has been placed on the Endangered Species list. Crack.

None So Blind by Sarah1281 -- Thor AU where a disgraced but not banished Thor is the one who finds Loki in the Vault. His stubborn refusal to see Loki as a Frost Giant actually calms Loki down so that when Odin appears, things go much better. Crack treated seriously.

Dishonor by Scotchkiss -- When Loki's body is brought back from Svartalfheim, a priest confirms his soul is already in Valhalla, but that Odin's is in jeopardy. But Odin gets a chance to change his fate when the Norns decide Loki needs to work out his relationship with his father to find peace and send his soul back to his body.

Time and Trouble by shinyopals -- Loki's only in the background here, but it's a Dark World AU where Frigga lives and Jane Foster gets to be the heroine who brings her back.

Chaos Theory by @slightweasel -- After Loki flees with the Tesseract in Endgame, he stops someplace safe to look into its depths -- and sees hints of another timeline. He casts a spell to retrieve that knowledge, and when he's done, everyone has two sets of memories.

Silver and Cold by STIXandMANNY -- Thor finds Loki in his cell covered in runes and with a dagger in his chest and looking only 15 years old. When the palace healers see the runes, they refuse to treat Loki, and Thor must take his brother to Midgard in the hopes that his friends there can save Loki's life.

That Moment When You're the God of Lies and Everyone Can Read You Like a Book by tonystarkhasaheart3000 -- When questions about Loki's behavior on Midgard are raised at his trial, Odin casts a truth spell on his son to find out what really happened.

the only soul I've ever saved by @valkyrisms -- Post Endgame. Peter Parker finds Loki's body in a dumpster, his neck broken -- but still, somehow, alive.

Then Neither Am I by Writinthestars -- Thor finally gets a chance to see Loki when the prisoners' riot draws him to the dungeons. Set during TDW.

The Sincerest Form by @xparrot -- Confined to a cell in Asgard's deepest dungeon while his son rules above in his name, Odin receives an unexpected visitor one day who makes everything better and gives him hope for the future. Set post TDW.

Bodies move lazily along the boardwalk; children run with blue tickets in their hands, an older married couple share a cone of cotton candy between them, another is pressed closely together in front of the pier – staring out at the boats that cruise through the harbor.

The Santa Monica Pier is lively – music is played throughout the pier, but it is the conversations and laughter that are the true symphony.

It was only a few days ago when Pope had been taken by surprise when you asked him if he would like to go to the carnival – on a date.

The two of you had been sitting on your rock, and the sunset had made the brown of your eyes become copper, soft and molten as you stared at him. Pope’s voice had disappeared at your question, throat constricting at the silence in his head.

“I haven’t been to the Santa Monica Pier, and I heard it’s real nice this time of year.”

You had solved a problem before Pope could even bring it up; Pope wanted to keep you from the life he lived, from possibly running into his siblings or worse – Smurf.

It wasn’t as though you could not guess or even identify the stressors in Andrew’s life; it was all in the halts in conversation as he weighed his words, which only appeared when it came to discussing his family. You understand what he can’t say, what he won’t say because this is new and if the shoe was on the other foot, you would do the same.

Almost an hour and a half separates Santa Monica from Oceanside, but it is enough for a man to lower his guard.

In a crowd of this size, it is easy for Pope to blend in, gaze still alert but his spine is loose as he stands behind you.

The man in front of you is older, grays at his temple but his smile is kind. He spotted Andrew and Willow walking and cajoled them with a dare.

Pope was unphased, more focused instead on you and the way your eyes brightened at the challenge. He saw the way your mouth twisted into a wry smile as you diverted your path of movement towards the booth.

“All right! Jimmy’s got a challenger!” The man refers to himself, wasting no time in explaining the rules though they are self-explanatory.

It would have been easy to disregard the man and continue walking, carrying on that quiet conversation that made Andrew tilt his head slightly down, so that he could hear every word that crossed your lips. But you were competitive.

Too competitive, if anyone ever asked your Daddy or Mama – there are plenty of family reunions that can attest to you showing out over a friendly game of softball.

You took another sip of your lemonade that Andrew paid for, nodding your head at Jimmy before you turned, handing the cup to Andrew.

Pope glances at the cup almost shoved in his hand as you quickly turn around, picking up the toy shotgun.

Pope knew – in the general sense – that you weren’t shy around guns: “Mon cher, my Daddy was from Louisiana, and my Mama is from Texas – and we always lived in the countryside.” That had been the only explanation given.

The eldest Cody watches the way you bring it up, bracing it against your right shoulder while your left hand holds the barrel and your right is by the trigger. Pope observes the breath you take once Jimmy turns the track on, targets now in motion.

Yellow.

Blue.

Green.

Red.

A multitude of colors pass before your eyes, but you keep focus on the white bullseyes, pulling the trigger with ease the moment you catch it in your peripheral.

The pellets are not loud – not like a real bullet – but it makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up while your smile grows bigger.

A memory comes to you, fond but sweet – tinged with nostalgia and dull grief. But you don’t let it choke you, instead you focus on the here and now. Your arms are a fraction of a second behind your eyesight, just like thunder comes after lightning.

If Jimmy is shocked that you’re knocking down these pins, he doesn’t show it. You can hear the man get more exited as the last bullseyes darts by you – easily shot before you put the gun down onto the counter.

You laugh. “It’s been a while! But glad to see I ain’t rusty.”

Jimmy hears that Texan drawl in your voice and his eyes spark with interest. “Ah! Should’ve known with that accent you could shoot,” no genuine offense is detected in his voice.

You shake your head and laugh again. “Not all of us can,” you chuckle thinking of your cousin, Alexis, who couldn’t shoot to save her life.

You turn slightly to glance at Pope but he’s already staring at you like another piece has been added to the puzzle he’s solving.

The smile you give him is bright and sunny, and aimed at him, Pope feels his chest tighten once more.

You are debating between the stuffed blue and gray elephants when Pope steps forward and puts down a crisp twenty-dollar bill on the counter.

Jimmy is all for another customer and he restarts the track after resetting the pins.

Hips pressed against the counter you’re leaning on, the condensation of the lemonade cup cools the palm of your hand, but it does little for the heat that begins to bloom across your face.

Even under the hoodie that Andrew wears, you can see the outline of his muscles. His gaze is intense, the smirk that had been on your lips is absent from Andrew’s while he shoots.

He looks so serious, you think to yourself. You edge closer, unable to help yourself as you smell Andrew’s cologne.

“Shit! I got another set of pins, a little small, you should try that one.” Jimmy is tempting them for another go, but you raise a brow at Andrew in question.

The explanation is simple.

“You wanted both of them,” Pope deadpans, shrugging his shoulders.

A huff of laughter escapes before you shake your head, fondness growing once more for the man who said more with his actions than his words.

By the time the two of you leave the booth, you have two elephants stuffed in your arms – with a grin stretched wide across your face.

The sky is getting darker.

With the sun fading on the horizon, the lights of the boardwalk brighten to a feverish pitch.

Pope breathes easier once his hand is settled on the curve of your back; you do not deny him the touch – the access – you press yourself closer to him.

The imprint of Andrew’s hand burns through the jacket you wore, searing through the white tank-top and branding onto your skin. His hands are large, and his palm is spread, covering as much surface as he can.

In the distance, you see large neon lights.

“You want to get on the Ferris wheel?” You ask.

The Pacific Wheel Ferris Wheel is a beacon, and without giving a verbal answer, Pope leads you towards it.

This late in the year, the air grows brisk – but you are comfortable and warm. The cowboy boots you wear stop just below your knees, and the skirt you wear is not short enough to leave you frigid or shivering.

On either side of you both, the elephants are tucked in, causing the two of you to sit close but neither of you seem to care.

You sag slightly in your seat, silently thankful to be off your feet. The pier is large and with no interest in the rollercoasters, you and Andrew have walked almost the entirety of it.

“Tired?” Pope questions. His watch is hidden by the sleeves of his hoodie, but he knows it is getting late from the appearance of the stars.

You hum softly, not immediately answering. “I’m up for the drive back,” you murmur.

Pope merely glances at you before he stares down at your hands, folded on your lap. Quietly, in the depths of his mind, he weighs his choices.

Should I? Will she like it? She’s grabbed my hand before but not like this…this is a date. This is different. Too different? I should, I don’t want to ruin this-

“Hey.”

Your voice is an arrow shot through the dark.

“Okay?”

Pope doesn’t flinch when your hand comes close to his face, your thumb brushing between his brows – smoothing out the pinch that has formed.

“You’re overthinking.” Your hum in thought before inhaling a short breath. “What’s going on in that head of yours, Drew?”

You don’t say it like an insult, nor with exasperation – but with a quiet curiosity as you sought to understand him better.

Pope knows that, as sure as he knew that water is wet and that you are beautiful.

Unwilling to lie, Pope is forthright. “Your hand, do you…do you like holding hands?”

Unfortunately for Pope, he doesn’t have a standard that he can reference back to. Ever since the two of you met, he has consistently checked with you, understanding your boundaries so that he doesn’t mess things up but there are moments like this where he hesitates – out of fear that perhaps this is too good to be true.

Pope watches as you glance down at your hands before moving them, easily grabbing ahold of his as though it no matter.

And it’s not, Andrew Cody will come to understand. This is normal between two people who like each other – it isn’t like what he had with Cath, something that must be hidden, dismissed and unacknowledged.

You can feel the callouses on Andrew’s hand, but you also feel strength as well. He does not hold your hand like he did the gun from the booth; his grip is not tight, but it encompasses yours, his thumb gently swiping against the smooth space of skin between your thumb and index finger.

Without thought, you enjoy his inexperience. Because it gives you space to be as unsure or surefooted as you can be. Because you know that the question may be in Drew’s head and he is just waiting on permission to act on it.

It is not power, but it is patience that makes you like him even more.

Patience to not force each other before you are ready, to not demand more than what is willingly given, to not take without replenishing what becomes possessed.

“It all looks so insignificant, from up here.” You whisper to Andrew.

Pope takes a glance, voice guttural. “Yeah, it is.”

He doesn’t feel as though the world is squeezing him through a tube when he’s with you, and if he wasn’t so afraid of you running off by his intensity, he would tell you. But the way you squeeze his hands, Pope thinks that you already know.

Fingers intertwined, the Ferris wheel rocks before it stops. Andrew and you sit at the top, overlooking the world. It makes all the sense that your first kiss would be here.

It does not happen quickly.

But time suspends just for this moment.

Two heads turn fully towards the other, bodies rocking slightly from the breeze that brushes against the Ferris wheel.

Their heads do not collide, instead they slot in place – two pieces of a puzzle that fit together perfectly.

Pope holds himself a fraction away, but even with eyes closed, he can smell the sweetness of your perfume as you got closer.

Your lips are as soft as your skin.

Pope can taste the remnants of lemons on your breath, he can feel a hand press against his chest, just above his heart.

You pull at his shirt, pulling Andrew closer as your lips moves over his; tongue warm and pink as you lick the seam of his mouth.

Pope parts his lips at your silent demand.

It is not a chaste kiss, not by a mile.

You free your other hand from Andrew’s and set it on his shoulders, fingers brushing against the soft auburn curls at his nape.

Emboldened by your own movements, Pope sets his hand on your lap, fingers gliding your skirt and settling on your bare thighs. The heat of your skin moves to his head as he begins to feel lightheaded and it is only when you pull away does his vision clear again. In a span of a minute, Pope forgot how to breath.

You’re staring at him, eyes like liquid copper. Lips shiny and smudged, from spit and gloss that has been transferred to his, not that Pope minds. He watches the way your tongue slips from your mouth, licking the traces of him as though to savor it. He breathes harshly when you bite your lower lip, eyes alight with something else.

Pope shifts, feeling the tightness in his jeans and his movement does not go unnoticed by you.

Previous conversations lingering in your mind, you smile – innocent and patient. “We have time.”