#realises

“My darling Queen, you’ve no need to stare from the sidelines, when the prize is yours to claim.” Loki rose majestically from the throne and you moved to stand before the steps leading up to it. “Or, rather, it is I who shall claim a prize - your lips.” You smiled back at him, your heart beating a little faster from his praise. Silver tongue indeed.

Loki reached the bottom of the steps and took you in his arms, tilting down to give you a gentle, lingering kiss. His hand cradled your face and he stroked your cheek with his thumb, an appreciative moan grumbling in his chest. He pulled back to gaze into your eyes and for a moment you felt as though you were alone in the world with him.

“I have missed you today,” Loki said quietly. “It’s been dreadfully dull, handling business without you there to sweeten the deal. You absolutely must come to the next trade meeting. Vanaheim would trade all their resources for a glimpse of your beauty.”

“Alright,” you promised. “I have some news for you, so you have to be at supper tonight instead of training.”

Loki cocked his head and gave you a smouldering pout. “Oh, why not tell me now? We’re all alone, we could do anything we wanted.” He raised his eyebrows suggestively.

You shook your head, smiling. “Thor will be returning soon with Astrid,” you reminded him, lacing your fingers together with his. “You know how energetic she is when she gets home from school.”

Loki laughed. “Especially when her uncle flies her home on his back.”

As if on cue, footsteps and laughter funnelled into the throne room from the exit corridor, and your daughter, giggling so hard she could hardly hold herself upright, ran as fast as she could toward you and Loki. Her face was red and her skirts were flying. A few steps behind her was Thor, deliberately letting her win. You laughed at this spectacle and decided to let it go, just this one time. Astrid looked too much like her father, and acted like him too often, for you to be strict with her for long.

Loki held out his long arms and bent down, grinning broadly at his Princess. “Daddy, daddy, daddy, daddy!” she screamed gleefully as she jumped into his arms, giving him a bear hug. He rose to his feet, cradling Astrid on his hip. Her eyes were wide and she was breathless with excitement.

“I fought a brave battle, dear niece, but you won this time!” Thor gave Astrid a high five and hugged you in greeting. He was sweaty but it didn’t bother you. “How are my brother and sister on this fine afternoon?”

“Quite well. Thank you for taking her home from school. We would love for you join us for supper tonight, if you’re up to taking a night away from the pub,” you teased. “I have some news to share.”

“Oh? Good news, I hope?”

“The best,” you said, smiling.

“Guess what I found out today!” Astrid directed the attention back to herself.

Loki feigned amazement, imitating her expression. “What did you find out?”

“Everyone has a first name! Even Ms Helsudöttir!”

You and Thor laughed at Astrid’s revelation. Loki pretended to be shocked. “Wow,” he gasped. “What is her first name?”

“Freya!” Astrid broke down into shrieking giggles again, burying her face into Loki’s armour-clad shoulder. Her black curls shook from her laughter. Once she could compose herself again, she raised her head up, smiling broadly, and poked her father in the chest. “What’s your first name, daddy?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Loki joked, grinning broadly. “My name is Daddy. Or Your Majesty.”

“Daddy!”

“Oh, alright, I can’t resist that face. My first name is Loki.”

Astrid looked thoughtful, her little eyebrows furrowed. “Is that why my last name is Lokidöttir?” Loki nodded. “What about you, Mommy?”

You were going to answer but Astrid wanted to prove how smart she was. “I know! Your name is Darling! That’s what Daddy calls you all the time, so that has to be it.”

You adults laughed, and Loki squeezed Astrid tight. “That has to be the purest thing I have ever heard from a child’s mouth,” said Thor, placing his hand on his chest. Loki turned his head to look at you, and his icy blue eyes gleamed with pride.

“I call Mommy that because I love her,” Loki explained. “It’s the name I save especially for her, when I feel so much love that I forget her name.”

“My name is (Y/N),” you told your daughter.

Astrid looked amazed. “Wow, then you must love her a LOT.”

Loki pressed his forehead to your daughter’s. “That I do, Princess. And I always will.”

You sent Astrid to her room to change her clothes, and Loki went with his brother to get some early training out of the way so he could shower before supper. Once you were all gathered at the table to eat, you decided it was time.

“Okay, everyone, I have an announcement to make.” You had everyone’s attention, especially Loki’s. “In light of recent events, this news is especially for Princess Astrid.”

Your daughter started bouncing in her seat. “A surprise, for me? What is it, Mommy?”

“Well, we were talking about names earlier, do you remember?” Astrid nodded, her curls bouncing. “People call you Princess and Astrid. Well, soon you will have another name.”

Loki and Thor figured it out at the same time, their eyes and smiles growing wide, but Astrid still didn’t know. “What name?”

You smiled at your daughter, your hand over your stomach.

–

Loki knocks on the wooden door before stepping back. His heart beating wildly in his chest. He doesn’t know how to speak to Iris again after the way he had left it last night. She must be freaking out. He spent most of the evening and today thinking about how he was going to approach the subject of their son Edvard.

The door suddenly opens revealing an armour clad Edvard. His son. “Is your mother in?” Loki asks, a small smile playing on his lips.

Edvard nods. “She was just finishing making my father and I presentable for training, you can wait inside Prince Loki.”

Loki steps into the small living room, taking a seat near the door while Edvard sits beside him. “Your very well spoken for a village boy Edvard.” Referencing the small cottage on the outskirts of Asgard that the boy has grown up in.

“Yes Frigga, when she teaches me magic always says; a magic welder should always-”

“Speak with the flow of their power.. my mother taught me that too.” Loki interrupts the boy, smiling to himself at the memories of her instilling that lesson into him. He guesses that’s why most magic users have impeccable speaking skills. “I hear you have a natural talent for magic. That your very good at it Edvard.” He only knows this after quizzing his mother this morning.

He sees Edvard share a similar smile with him before nodding. It’s moments like this he realises this boy is definitely his son. It’s also moments like this that he has missed throughout the young boys life. Moments he should have been here for. “You can do magic too Prince Loki?”

“Of course. I’m the master of magic.. do you want me to show you a trick?” They both smile, mischief written all over their faces.

Iris watches Loki create a duplicate of himself before it turns into hundreds of small butterflies at Edvard’s touch, they float around the room before slowly disappearing.

She smiles to herself. Maybe if she had given Loki another chance then he would have been a wonderful father to him.. now it was too late, Fandral was considered her son’s father.

“Alright my precious boy, wait outside. Your father will take you to warriors training soon.” She kisses his forehead before smiling at Edvard’s rosy cheeks.

“Mammy that is so embarrassing in front of the Prince.” He mumbles as he waves a goodbye to Loki before disappearing out the front door.

“Your turn Loki.” Iris whispers, turning to face Loki before sitting beside him on the small sofa.

“Not while Fandral is in the house.”

As if on cue Fandral suddenly appears in the doorway. “So when are you going to be gracing us with children Loki?” He says, kissing Iris’ cheek before strolling towards the door. “Mind you Edvard could easily be your child with the mischief he likes to cause.” Fandral continues, raising his voice in a joking manner. His joke still causing Iris and Loki to freeze. “Anyway.. bye love!” He calls out, the door closing with a soft thud behind him.

Loki watches the door close. “I feel bad lying to him.. both of them.” Loki whispers. “But it’s in the title. God of Mischief and Lies.”

“Don’t grow an inability now Loki.” Iris hisses out, her voice making Loki’s eyes whip round to meet hers. “Why did you come?”

“To sleep with you so we can have a girl next.” His voice low, almost seductive. Loki smiles when Iris’ eyes go wide. “I’m joking. I did come to say that I’m not going to do anything about being Edvard’s father but the way you spoke to me a while ago then I may need to rethink that.”

Iris begins pleading. “I’m sorry Loki..”

“I was joking again Iris. I’m really just letting nature take it’s course. If he finds out I’m his father then so be it, we can deal with it but for now I’ll take a step back like it’s always been.” Loki replies, he smiles when he sees Iris relax. Her shoulders slump and her face lifts. “If he needs anything..”

Iris smiles. “You will be the first to know.” She says, her hand reaching for his.

Loki lets their hands intertwine. “Tell me about him.. please.”

He sees Iris’ face lift again. Her eyes sparkle and her smile widens. “Oh he’s brilliant. He’s the best son anyone could ask for.” Loki takes all the information in, storing it away forever. “Edvard loves apples.. like you. He’s so mischievous and cunning but he only really does it in good ways. He’s smart, funny and has the best personality. He is like you in so many ways.” Her green eyes find his. “He really is your son.. I don’t know how Fandral hasn’t realised it yet.”

Loki grins. “We all know Fandral isn’t the brightest warrior.”

“Hey!” Iris calls out, hitting his arm. “He’s currently teaching our son to be the best warrior in the Nine Realms so cut him some slack.. it’s hard raising a mini God of Mischief and Lies.”

“You really have forgot my jokes.” Loki whispers, rolling his eyes when she chuckles. “I’ll help in any way. When Fandral isn’t about or you both need a break I can easily train Edvard, like my mother does with his magic.”

“You would do that?”

“He’s my son. I want the best for him.. even if that means he never knows who I truly am.”

“Thank you Loki. I’m sure he would love you for it.”

–

*20 years later*

A cloaked figure makes his way through the halls of the palace, cutting down anyone that tries to challenge him.

Strolling into the Throne room he meets Loki. A dagger in each of their hands, same stance and same deadly expression. “You came to kill Odin.. why?” Loki says, his voice low. Pronounced. Slimy. Almost like a snake.

“He took something from me.” The figure whispers, his own voice low. Loki can feel the figure close his mind off.

“What would that be?” Loki asks, taking a step forward. 

“My father.” The cloaked figure hisses, also taking a step forward.

“Who’s your father?”

The cloaked figure removes his golden hood. Piercing green eyes meet fiery green. Raven black hair and pale white skin. Loki freezes as he looks at his mirrored reflection. “You.”

“Edvard?” Loki whispers, his eyes wide and his hand dropping the dagger. “Why would you want to kill Odin for taking me away from you? You never knew me.. not like that. Fandral is your father!”

“Not my real father!” Edvard shouts, his voice echoing through the long hall. “If you want nothing to do with me though..” He points his dagger at Loki’s throat.

“I never said that.” Loki punches out, his heart beating wildly as he tries to decipher the young mans expression. Failing as everyone does with even Loki’s expressions. “I helped train you. My family helped make you the man you are today. Never say I want nothing to do with you!”

“I actually have a new position in Asgard.. father.” Edvard bites out, both locked in a battle of the mind. “I can easily kill the King now.”

“What would that position be?” Loki bites back, fire with fire. 

“The God of Mischief and Lies.” Edvard digs his dagger into Loki’s neck. “I am your son! I just have to wait until you die. Hopefully soon.”

Loki lets out a deep sigh. “Who says I’m going to die soon?” He replies, pushing Edvard away.

“Me.”