Lilimar Times Gazette

PROMPT.

Don takes in an injured little magpie one day. Most people in his little suburb of Cleveland were glued to the television sets, their phones, their computers watching coverage of the alien invasion of New York City and the fact that the guy who started it had apparently gotten away and there was a manhunt on for him.

But in Ohio most people felt safe. Invading New York made sense. Hell, invading Washington D.C. would make sense. But Ohio? Those would be some stupid aliens to come to this place. Most Ohioans didn't even want to be in Ohio.

Okay, that wasn't totally fair. But as a lifelong resident and citizen of Ohio he felt like he could get away with saying that.

Besides, this is what the Avengers are for, right? And this is what various government agencies are for. It was scary to be invaded, even if it was elsewhere in the country, but most people had confidence that we would be okay.

Still, he had gotten sick of looking at the footage. It was still unsettling and frightening, even if the lead alien in the fancy armor was hot as he'll.

Listen, leave Don alone. He's been alone for a long time after the divorce and dating hasn't even worked out and the one time he tried one of those apps the guy was super weird. In a sketchy way. Don was desperate but not desperate enough to bring that home.

But, no longer wanting to look at the footage and the boys being at their mother's for the weekend, Don walked outside to get some fresh air, maybe touch some grass or something. Calm down.

And that was when he saw the little magpie in his yard, hopping around drunkenly. He could tell that was an indication of an injury. Don's parents had both been veterinarians and they'd taught Don a thing or two. And, though he had not used it, he had gone to school for it himself. But he didn't think that was a career path for him. He couldn't handle having to put animals down or having them die when there was no way to heal what was killing them. His heart was too soft for that.

Technically, he should call a wildlife rescue or an actual veterinarian. But at this hour most places were closed and he would have to leave a message and hope someone got back to him.

"Hey, it's okay," Don said soothingly as he slowly approached the little magpie.

It tried to get away from him, but given that it couldn't fly it couldn't get away. And Don knew if he left it out here a cat would get it, or an owl given the time of day soon, or possibly even a snake. Less likely around here, but still possible.

He gently scooped up the little bird.

It squawked its protest loudly and indignantly and pecked at his hand.

"Ow, hey. Calm down, sweetheart, I'm trying to help. Don't be scared," he said, gently. He wasn't angry. He thought if he had been injured and some random giant came along and picked him up in his hand, speaking a language he couldn't understand, he'd be pretty terrified too.

He took the bird inside.

"Unhand me!" The bird yelled.

Don smiled. He had forgotten that magpies were actually very clever mimics and could easily mimic human speech.

"Where'd you learn that one?" He asked. People didn't usually talk like that anymore. Maybe sitting outside the open windows of someone watching an old black and white movie?

Don brought the bird into his house and set him down on the kitchen island, got his supplies and began to examine and treat the bird.

Thankfully, the wing wasn't broken but it was injured and he was sure that had made it too painful and difficult to fly even a couple feet.

The magpie had continued to peck at him and hurl verbal abuse until it seemed to realize Don really was only helping it.

He wasn't sure what to do after that. The bird couldn't go back out yet. So, he decided to keep it in the house and do his best to deal with any problems that might arise from having a wild bird loose in the house. At least right now it couldn't fly so there wasn't really a chance it could get up somewhere high enough Don had trouble getting it down.

"You hungry?" He asked. "I don't have any frogs or insects or whatever in here..."

The bird gave an indignant sound and ruffled its feathers.

"Hey, sorry. I didn't expect to have a magpie for a houseguest," Don defended.

He looked through his fridge and took out an apple, coring it and cutting it up before bringing it to the magpie. It was a little small, so he suspected it was a juvenile.

The bird eyed the apple pieces but decided they were acceptable and ate them.

Loki was quite hungry and he had watched the Midgardian prepare the apple so he knew it wasn't poison. Then again, why would he bring an injured animal into his home, treat the injury with his own supplies, and then promptly intentionally poison it? That would make no sense.

He had evaded capture by the skin of his teeth, and he had thought for a moment that he had come all this way only to be too exhausted and injured to force himself to fly any further and meet death at the hands of some Midgardian peasant. The Norns do so love to mock him so it wouldn't surprise him.

But instead, it seems as though this time he had had the good fortune to encounter a kind and gentle man who cared about creatures he thought were weaker than he. And his brother and his friends would surely not think to look for him here, so far away and in the home of a random Midgardian living the life of a pampered little bird.

Whether or not Don's previous marriage happens and the boys resulting from that union exist depend on who decides to write this and their preference for or against that in this story.

TW: Past child abuse, current abuse of an adult child.

PROMPT.

"There are things that he cannot bring himself to speak of, even to me, his husband, in the privacy of our own home. Things that I know were perpetrated against him at your hands. And now, I come home to you looming over my beloved, berating him while he sobs? And you thought I would just...mind my own business, as you put it? How dare you. If you think that my husband's tears are not my business, that our home being invaded by bullies and abusers right beneath my nose is not my business, then you are sorely mistaken," Loki growls, angry and dangerous.

TW: Cheating/infidelity (not between lokius), age gap (Mobius is a young man, Loki is over a thousand years old), abuse/neglect of disabled spouse (not between lokius), emotional/mental abuse (not between lokius), disabled character (Mobius is a paraplegic wheelchair user), mention of horrible accident leading to permanent injury of Mobius.

Additional: Idiots in love, Loki is bad at feelings, Loki to the rescue, protective Loki, supportive/understanding Loki. Mobius is a sweetie pie. Young Mobius. Rekindled friendship. Friends to lovers.

PROMPT.

Ragnarok happened when Loki and Thor were still children. The people of Asgard were forced to abandon their beautiful planet and make Midgard their home. Odin and Frigga oversaw this.

New Asgard exists near Norway, and when he was a teenager, Mobius moved there with his single mother for a fresh start.

In New Asgard the royal family was far more accessible than they had been on Asgard, and Mobius met Loki. They became fast friends together. Mobius harbored a deep crush on Loki, but Loki was from a very long-lived race and was already over a thousand years old while Mobius was still a teenager, a kid. So, he did not speak of his feelings to Loki.

To Asgardians, Loki was the equivalent of a teenager himself and he could tell that Mobius may be interested but he never gave away his own feelings. He knew Midgardians and Asgardians had different thoughts and ideas about these things and he didn't want to take advantage of Mobius or offend his mother.

When Mobius turned 18 the two said goodbye to each other and promised to keep in contact as Mobius went away to university.

At first, they did. But being so far apart was painful to Loki and he was the one who stopped keeping in contact first.

Mobius is 20 when he gets married. Loki is invited but he is attending to matters of state and diplomatic visits around the world as a working member of the New Asgardian Royal Family and does not attend, but he does send an expensive gift.

Truthfully, Loki was jealous and the idea of Mobius wedding another hurt to think about. He couldn't imagine watching it happen. But he still cared, so he sent the expensive gift to make up for his absence and made sure his excuse of being too busy was a truthful one.

His mother tutted at him, but he pretended it was for the best.

When Mobius is 23, he becomes paralyzed from the waist down due to a horrible accident. It makes the local paper, because his spouse and their family are wealthy and influential in the community, but it does not make international news and Mobius requests that his mother not mention it to anyone he used to know. He didn't want to worry anyone.

When Mobius is about to turn 26, this changes. He has found out that his spouse is cheating on him and he has endured neglect and abuse from them because their interest now lies elsewhere. So, he files for divorce.

He doesn't ask for anything from his spouse, not even the things he would be entitled to due to a divorce, because he doesn't want a fight and long, drawn-out, expensive, exhausting court battles. He just wants a clean break.

He lets his mother know that he's filed for divorce, but he does not ask her for any help. He knows she would do her best, but while she is comfortable she is not rich. He is effectively penniless, though, so he can't afford a plane ticket.

He had never had access to his spouse's money and after the accident that left him paralyzed he didn't work. His spouse had discouraged him from it and promised they would take care of him.

So, he contacts Loki for the first time in a long time to tell him what happened and ask him for help getting back to New Asgard.

Much to Mobius's confusion, his soon-to-be ex-spouse is angry and jealous. He doesn't get it. He would think they would be thrilled. They told him recently he was nothing but a burden in many different ways including saying it outright to his face, and had been cheating on him for years before he found out. He was leaving, that should make things easier for them.

His last night in that house is awful and he is glad when Loki shows up the next morning, though he thinks the fleet of expensive black SUVs with diplomatic plates and men-in-black style bodyguards and assistants is a bit much.

With everything going on, he had forgotten to tell Loki he was paralyzed now. Most people he spoke to knew so the major issues were what he had asked for help with. His spouse was cheating on him, he was getting a divorce, could Loki help him get home to New Asgard.

He could see the surprise on Loki's face at the sight of Mobius in the wheelchair, but it wasn't due to disgust or disappointment. Mobius knew what worry and confusion looked like on Loki's handsome face.

"Darling, are you alright?" Loki asked as he walked over to him after exited one of the SUVs.

"I'm fine. Sorry, I forgot you didn't know. I'll explain on the way," Mobius said, apologetically.

"I would welcome an explanation, but do not apologize," Loki said, gently. He had no right to be angry when he was the one that had effectively cut off the friendship while Mobius was away at school those years ago. Besides, Mobius was going through a hard enough time with the divorce. He didn't need Loki acting like a spoiled, petulant child over a slight Loki himself had caused by disappearing without explanation from Mobius's life for years.

And, honestly, it was hard to think of anything but how Mobius both looked amazing and terrible. His blond hair had gone a little shaggy, could use a styling, but he had kept his face as clean-shaven and neat as ever. His eyes were the same gorgeous blue. But those same beautiful, ocean blue eyes were tired and ringed with dark circles. His tan tha the usually had was gone and he was almost as pale as Loki now. He seemed to have lost some weight.

Loki had the overwhelming desire to hold him and promise to make everything better. But now was not the time.

Mobius was hoping to get away without his soon-to-be ex making a scene.

Fat chance of that, though. He should have known better.

Loki didn't mind a scene, though. Mobius's soon-to-be ex might think they had the market on dramatic diva cornered, but they had never met the full tilt diva that was Loki Odinson before and they had no idea what they were in for as he slipped off his dark mirror shades the moment they came out screaming at Mobius and accusing Mobius of being the one who was dramatic and had too much audacity.